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STANFORD
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES

Tie |
English Works of John (tuer.

EDITED FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS,

WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARY.

RY

G. C. MACAULAY, M.A,

FORMERLY FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

VOL. I.
(Conressto AMANTIS, PRoL.— Lis. V. 1970.)

ae 25.5 ae

- . tetes ss." a * " 489
° e» 52 ry -* * * . te e? » M
'O gentile Eugleterrs, & toi Pesi-riva,’

m ee *6 ^ .
' fs ^ € a »

LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY,
BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., Lrp.

PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING CROSS ROAD.

M DCCCC,

^j

es

14648

Extra Series, No. Lxxx1.

OXFORD : HORACE HART, M.A., PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY.

PREFATORY NOTE.

NO apology is needed for a new edition of the Confessio
Amantis, which has long been among the desiderata of
the Early English Text Society. The work of the present
editor dates from the discovery, made some six years
ago, that the best authorities for the text were to be
found in the Bodleian Library, and consequently that the
main part of the work ought to be done at Oxford. At
the same time all due attention has been paid to the
manuscripts which arc to be found elsewhere, and thanks
are due to many Librarians and private owners for the
help which they have given.

It may be added here that the editor has become more
and more convinced, as his work went on, of the value and
authentic character of the text given by the Fairfax MS.
of the Confessio Amantis, which as proceeding directly from
the author, though not written by his hand, may claim the
highest rank as an authority for his language.

It is hoped that the list of errata, the result chiefly of
a revision made during the formation of the Glossary, may
be taken to indicate not so much the carelessness of the
editor, as his desire to be absolutely accurate in the
reproduction of this interesting text.

The analysis of the Coufessio Amantis which is printed
in the Introduction, was undertaken chiefly at the sugges-
tion of Dr. Furnivall. With reference to this it may be
observed that in places where the author is following well-
known sources, the summaries are intentionally bricfer, and
in the case of some of the Biblical stories a reference to the
original has been thought sufficient.

G. C. M.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION . . A . . . .

CONFESSIO AMANTIS : —
PROLOGUS . E . . e . .
LIBER I. " . " . , e
LIBER II . e . ° . , e
LIBER lll . . . . . . .
LIBER IV . . . . e fe

LIBER V. . . . . . e

NOTES ° " ° . °

INTRODUCTION

THE Confessio Amantis has been the subject both of exaggerated
praise and of undue depreciation. It was the fashion of the fifteenth
and sixteenth centuries to set Gower side by side with Chaucer,
and to represent them as the twin stars of the new English poetry,
a view which, however it may be justified by consideration of their
language and literary tendencies, seems to imply a very uncritical
estimate of their comparative importance. Some of these refer-
ences are collected below, and they serve to indicate in a general
way that the author had a great literary reputation and that his
book was very popular, the latter being a conclusion which is
sufficiently vouched for also by the large number of manuscripts
which existed, and by the three printed editions. We shall confine
ourselves here to drawing attention to a few facts of special
significance.

In the first place the Confessio Amantis is the earliest English
book which made its way beyond the limits of its own language.
There exists a Spanish translation, dating apparently from the very
beginning of the fifteenth century, in which reference is made also
to a Portuguese version, not known to be now in existence, on which
perhaps the Castilian was based. This double translation into con-
temporary languages of the Continent must denote that the writer's
fame was not merely insular in his life-time.

Secondly, with regard to the position of this book in the
sixteenth century, the expressions used by Berthelette seem to
me to imply something more than a mere formal tribute. This
printer, who is especially distinguished by his interest in language,
in the preface to his edition of the Confessio Amantis most warmly
sets forth his author as a model of pure English, contrasting his
native simplicity with the extravagant affectations of style and

viii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

language which were then in fashion. In fact, when we compare
the style of Gower in writing of love with that which we find in
some of the books which were at that time issuing from the press,
we cannot help feeling that the recommendation was justified.

Again, nearly a century later a somewhat striking testimony to
the position of Gower as a standard author is afforded by Ben
Jonson's English Grammar. The syntax contains about a hundred
and thirty illustrative quotations, and of these about thirty are
from Gower. Chaucer is cited twenty-five times, Lydgate and
Sir Thomas More each about fourteen, the other chief authorities
being Norton, Jewel, Fox, Sir John Cheke and the English
Bible.

Finally, our author’s popularity and established position as
a story-teller is decisively vouched for by the partly Shakesperian
play of Pericles. Plots of plays were usually borrowed without
acknowledgement ; but here, a plot being taken from the Confessso
Amant, the opportunity is seized of bringing Gower himself on
the stage to act as Prologue to four out of the five acts, speaking
in the measure of his own octosyllabic couplet,

‘To sing a song that old was sung
From ashes ancient Gower is come,’ &c.

The book was so well known and the author so well established
in reputation, that a play evidently gained credit by connecting
itself with his name.

The following are the principal references to Gower in the fifteenth and six-
teenth centuries. The author of The King’s Quair dedicates his poem to the
memory (or rather to the poems) of his masters Gower and Chaucer. Hoccleve
calls him ‘my maister Gower,’

‘Whos vertu I am insufficient
For to descrive.’

John Walton of Osney, the metrical translator of Boethius, writes,

‘To Chaucer, that is flour of rhethorique
In english tonge and excellent poete,

This wot I wel, no thing may I do like,
Though so that I of makinge entermete ;
And Gower, that so craftely doth trete

As in his book(es) of moralite,

Though I to hem in makinge am unmete,
Yit moste I schewe it forth that is in me.’

Bokenham in his Lives of the Saints repeatedly speaks of Gower, Chaucer
and Lydgate, the last of whom was then still living, as the three great lights

INTRODUCTION ix

of English literature. Caxton printed the Confessio Amantis in 1483, and it
seems to have been one of the most popular productions of his press.

In the sixteenth century Gower appears by the side of Chaucer in Dunbar's
Lament for the Makaris and in Lindsay's poems. Hawes m the Pastime of
Pleaswre classes him with Chaucer and his beloved Lydgate, and Skelton
introduces him as first in order of time among the English poets who are
mentioned in the Garland of Laurel,

*] saw Gower that first garnysshed our Englysshe rude,
And maister Chaucer,’ &c.,

a testimony which is not quite consistent with that in the Lament for Philip
Sparow,
* Gower's Englysh is old
And of no value is told,
. His mater is worth gold
And worthy to be enrold.’

Barclay in the Preface of his Mirour of Good Manners (printed 1516) states
that he has been desired by his * Master,' Sir Giles Alington, to abridge and
amend the Confessio Amantis, but has declined the task, chiefly on moral
grounds. The work he says would not be suitable to his age and order (he
was a priest and monk of Ely),

‘And though many passages therin be commendable,
Some processes appeare replete with wantonnes:

For age it is a folly and jeopardie doubtlesse,
And able for to rayse bad name contagious,
To write, reade or commen of thing venerious.’

Leland had some glimmering perception of the difference between Chaucer
and Gower in literary merit ; but Bale suggests that our author was ‘alter
Dantes ac Petrarcha’ (no less), adding the remark, taken perhaps from
Berthelette’s preface, ‘sui-temporis lucerna habebatur ad docte scribendum
in lingua vulgari! In Bullein’s Dialogue against the Fever Pestilence (1564)
Gower is represented as sitting next to the Classical poets, Homer, Hesiod,
Ennius and Lucan. Puttenham in the Art of English Poesie (1589), and
Sidney in the Defence of Poesie (1595), equally class Gower and Chaucer
together. The latter, illustrating his thesis that the first writers of each
country were the poets, says, ‘So among the Romans were Livius Andro-
nicus and Ennius, so in the Italian language. . . the poets Dante, Boccace
and Petrarch, so in our English, Gower and Chaucer, after whom, encouraged
and delighted with their excellent foregoing, others have followed to beautify
our mother tongue, as well in the same kind as in other arts.’

In Robert Greene's Vision, printed about 1592, Chaucer and Gower appear
as the accepted representatives of the pleasant and the sententious styles in
story-telling, and compete with one another in tales upon a given subject,
the cure of jealousy. The introduction of Gower into the play of Pencles,
Prince of Tyre has already been referred to.

The uncritical exaggeration of Gower's literary merits, which
formerly prevailed, has been of some disadvantage to him in

! [n some unpublished papers kindly communicated to me by Miss Bateson.

x GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

modern times. The comparison with Chaucer, which was so
repeatedly suggested, could not but be unfavourable to him ; and
modern critics, instead of endeavouring to appreciate fairly such
merits as he has, have often felt called upon to offer him up as
a sacrifice to the honour of Chaucer, who assuredly needs no such
addition to his glory. The true critical procedure is rather the
opposite of this. Gower's early popularity and reputation are:
facts to be reckoned with, in addition to the literary merit which
we in our generation may find in his work, and neither students
of Middle English, nor those who aim at tracing the influences
under which the English language and literature developed during
the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, can afford to leave Gower's
English work out of their account.

THE ENGLISH WORKS.

i. LITERARY CHARACTERISTICS.— The reason of the success of
the Confessio 4 mantis was naturally the fact that it supplied a popular
need. After endeavouring to ‘give an account of his stewardship’
in various ways as a moralist, the author at length found his true
vocation, and this time happily in his native tongue, as a teller of
stories. The rest is all machinery, sometimes poetical and inter-
esting, sometimes tiresome and clumsy, but the stories are the,
main thing. The perception of the popular taste may have come
to him partly through the success of Chaucer in the Legend of Good
Women, and the simple, but excellent narrative style which he
thereupon developed must have been a new revelation of his
powers to himself as well as to others. It is true that he does not
altogether drop the character of the moralist, but he has definitely
and publicly resigned the task of setting society generally to
rights,

‘It stant noght in my sufficance
So grete thinges to compasse,

Forthi the Stile of my writinges

Fro this day forth I thenke change

And speke of thing is noght so strange,’ &c. (i. 4 ff.)
He covers his retreat indeed by dwelling upon the all-pervading
influence of Love in the world and the fact that all the evils of
society may be said to spring from the want of it; but this is little
more than a pretext. Love is the theme partly because it supplies .'

LITERARY CHARACTERISTICS xi

a convenient framework for the design, and partly perhaps out of
. deference to a royal command. There is no reason to doubt the
statement in the first version of the Prologue about the meeting of
the author with Richard II on the river, and that he then received
suggestions for a book, which the king promised to accept and read.
It may easily be supposed that Richard himself suggested love as
the subject, being a matter in which, as we know from Froissart,
he was apt to take delight. *Adont me demanda le roy de quoy
il traittoit. Je luy dis, * D'amours." De ceste response fut-il tous
resjouys, et regarda dedens le livre en plusieurs lieux et y lisy'.’
It was certainly to the credit of the young king that he should have
discerned literary merit in the work of the grave monitor who had
so lectured him upon his duties in the Vox Clamantis, and should
have had some part in encouraging him to set his hand to a more
promising task ; and if it be the fact that he suggested love as the
subject, we cannot but admire both the sense of humour displayed
by the prince and the address with which our author acquitted
himself of the task proposed.

The idea of the Confession was no doubt taken from the ,

Roman de la Rose, where the priest of Nature, whose name is
Genius, hears her confession ; but it must be allowed that Gower
has made much better use of it. Nature occupies herself in ex-
pounding the system of the universe generally, and in confessing
at great length not her own faults but those of Man, whom she
repents of having made. Her tone is not at all that of a penitent,
though she may be on her knees, and Genius does little or nothing
for her in reply except to agree rather elaborately with her view
that, if proper precautions had been taken, Mars and Venus might
easily have outwitted Vulcan. Gower on the other hand has made

the Confession into a framework which will conveniently hold any .

number of stories upon every possible subject, and at the same time
he has preserved for the most part the due propriety of character
and situation in the two actors. By giving the scheme an apparent
limitation to the subject of love he has not in fact necessarily
limited the range of narrative, for there is no impropriety in
illustrating by a tale the general nature of a vice or virtue
before making the special application to cases which concern
lovers, and this special application, made with all due solemnity,
has often a character of piquancy in which the moral tale

! Froissart, Chron., ed. K. de Lettenhove, vol. xv. p. 167.

\

xii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

pure and simple would be wanting. Add to this that the form
adopted tends itself to a kind of quasi-religious treatment of the .
subject, which was fully in accordance with the taste of the day,
and produces much of that impression of quaintness and charm
with which we most of us associate our first acquaintance with
the Confessio Amanfis.

The success of the work—for a success it is in spite of its faults
—is due to several merits. The first of these is the author's un- /
questionable talent for story-telling. He has little of the dramatic
power or the humour which distinguish Chaucer, but he tells his
tales in a well-ordered and interesting manner, does not break the
thread by digressions, never tires of the story before it is finished,
as Chaucer does so obviously and so often, and carries his reader
through with him successfully to the end in almost every case.
His narrative is a clear, if shallow, stream, rippling pleasantly
over the stones and unbroken either by dams or cataracts. The
materials of course are not original, but Gower is by no means
a slavish follower in detail of his authorities ; the proportions and
arrangement of the stories are usually his own and often show
good judgement. Moreover he not seldom gives a fresh turn to
a well-known story, as in the instances of Jephthah and Saul, or
makes a pretty addition to it, as is the case in some of the tales
from Ovid. Almost the only story in which the interest really
flags is the longest, the tale of Apollonius of Tyre, which fills up
so much of the eighth book and was taken as the basis of the plot
of Pericles ; and this was in its original form so loose and rambling
a series of incidents, that hardly any skill could have completely
redeemed it. There is no doubt that this gift of clear and inter-
esting narrative was the merit which most appealed to the popular
taste, the wholesome appetite for stories being at that time not
too well catered for, and that the plainness of the style was an
advantage rather than a drawback.

Tastes will differ of course as to the merits of the particular
stories, but some may be selected as incontestably good. The
tale of Mundus and Paulina in the first book is excellently told,
and so is that of Alboin and Rosemund. The best of the second
book are perhaps the False Bachelor and the legend of Constantine
and Silvester, in the latter of which the author has greatly im-
proved upon his materials. In the third book the tale of Canace
is most pathetically rendered, far better than in Ovid, so that in

LITERARY CHARACTERISTICS xiii

spite of Chaucer's denunciation his devoted follower Lydgate could
not resist the temptation of borrowing it. The fourth book,
which altogether is of special excellence, gives us Rosiphelee,
Phyllis, and the very poetically told tale of Ceix and Alceone.
The fifth has Jason and Medea, a most admirable example of
sustained narrative, simple and yet effective and poetical, per-
haps on the whole Gower's best performance: also the oriental
tale of Adrian and Bardus, and the well told story of Tereus
and Philomela. In the seventh we shall find the Biblical story of
Gideon excellently rendered, the Rape of Lucrece, and the tale of
Virginia. These may be taken as specimens of Gower's narrative
power at its best, and by the degree of effectiveness which he
attains in them and the manner in which he has used his mate-
rials, he may fairly be judged as a story-teller.

As regards style and poetical qualities we find much that is good
in the narratives. Force and picturesqueness certainly cannot be
denied to the tale of Medea, with its description of the summer
sea glistening in the sun, which blazes down upon the returning
hero, and from the golden fleece by his side flashes a signal of
success to Medea in her watch-tower, as she prays for her chosen
knight. Still less can we refuse to recognize the poetical power
of the later phases of the same story, first the midnight rovings of
Medea in search of enchantments,

*The world was stille on every side ;
With open hed and fot al bare,

Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare,
Upon hir clethes gert sche was,

A] specheles and on the gras

Sche glod forth as an Addre doth:
Non otherwise sche ne goth,

Til sche cam to the freisshe flod,
And there a while sche withstod.
Thries sche torned hire aboute,

And thries ek sche gan doun loute
And in the flod sche wette hir her,
And thries on the water ther

Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge onde,
And tho sche tok hir speche on honde.' (v. 3962 ff.),

and again later, when the charms are set in action, 4059 ff,
a passage of extraordinary picturesqueness, but too long to be
quoted here. We do not forget the debt to Ovid, but these
descriptions are far more detailed and forcible than the original.

xiv GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

For a picture of a different kind, also based upon Ovid, we
may take the description of the tears of Lucrece for her husband,
and the reviving beauty in her face when he appears,

* With that the water in hire yhe
Aros, that sche ne myhte it stoppe,
And as men sen the dew bedroppe
The leves and the floures eke,

Riht so upon hire whyte cheke
The wofull salte teres felle.

Whan Collatin hath herd hire telle
The menynge of hire trewe herte,
Anon with that to hire he sterte,
And seide, * Lo, mi goode diere,
Nou is he come to you hiere,
That ye most loven, as ye sein."

And sche with goodly chiere ayein
Beclipte him in hire armes smale,
And the colour, which erst was pale,
To Beaute thanne was restored,

So that it myhte noght be mored' (vii. 4830 ff.),

a passage in which Gower, with his natural taste for simplicity,
has again improved upon his classical authority, and may safely
challenge comparison with Chaucer, who has followed Ovid more
literally.

It is worth mention that Gower's descriptions of storms at sea
are especially vivid and true, so that we are led to suppose that
he had had more than a mere literary acquaintance with such
things. Such for instance is the account of the shipwreck of
the Greek fleet, iii. 981 ff, and of the tempests of which Apollo-
nius is more than once the victim, as viii. 604 ff., and in general
nautical terms and metaphors, of some of which the meaning is
not quite clear, seem to come readily from his pen.

Next to the simple directness of narrative style which distin-
guishes the stories themselves, we must acknowledge a certain

\ attractiveness in the setting of them. The Lover decidedly
engages our interest: we can understand his sorrows and his
joys, his depression when his mistress will not listen to the verses
which he has written for her, and his delight when he hears men
speak her praises. We can excuse his frankly confessed envy,
malice and hatred in all matters which concern his rivals in her
love. His feelings are described in a very natural manner, the
hesitation and forgetfulness in her presence, and the self-reproach

LITERARY CHARACTERISTICS xv

afterwards, the eagerness to do her small services, to accompany
her to mass, to lift her into her saddle, to ride by her carriage,
the delight of being present in her chamber, of singing to her
or reading her the tale of Troilus, or if no better may be, of
watching her long and slender fingers at work on her weaving
or embroidery. Sometimes she will not stay with him, and then
he plays with the dog or with the birds in the cage, and converses
with the page of her chamber—anything as an excuse to stay ;
and when it grows late and he must perforce depart, he goes
indeed, but returns with the pretence of having forgotten some-
thing, in order that he may bid her good-night once more. He
rises in the night and looks out of his window over the houses
towards the chamber where she sleeps, and loses himself in
imagination of the love-thefts which he would commit if by
any necromancy he had the power. Yet he is not extravagantly
romantic: he will go wherever his lady bids him, but he will
not range the world in arms merely in order to gain renown,
losing his lady perhaps in the meantime at home. We take his
side when he complains of the Confessor's want of feeling for
a pain which he does not himself experience, and his readiness to
prescribe for a wound of the heart as if it were a sore of the heel.
Even while we smile, we compassionate the lover who is at last
disqualified on account of age, and recommended to make
a ' beau retret while there is yet time.

But there is also another character in whom we are interested,
and that is the lady herself. Gower certainly appreciated some-
thing of the delicacy and poetical refinement which ideal love
requires, and this appreciation he shows also in his Za/ades ; but
here we have something more than this. The figure of the lady, |
which we see constantly in the background of the dialogue, is both |
attractive and human. We recognize in her a creature of flesh
and blood, no goddess indeed, as her lover himself observes, but
a charming embodiment of womanly grace and refinement. She
is surrounded by lovers, but she is wise and wary. She is cour-
teous and gentle, but at the same time firm: she will not gladly
swear, and therefore says nay without an oath, but it is a decisive
nay to any who are disposed to presume. She does not neglect
her household duties merely because a lover insists upon hanging
about her, but leaves him to amuse himself how he may, while
she busies herself elsewhere. If she has leisure and can sit

xvi GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

down to her embroidery, he may read to her if he will, but it
must be some sound romance, and not his own rondels, balades,
and virelays in praise of her. Custom allows him to kiss her
when he takes his leave, but if he comes back on any pretext
and takes his leave again, there is not often a second kiss per-
mitted. She lets him lead her up to the offering in church, and
ride by her side when she drives out, but she will take no presents
from him, though with some of her younger admirers, whose
passion she knows is a less serious matter, she is not so strict,
but takes and gives freely. Even the description of her person
is not offensive, as such descriptions almost always are, Her
lover suspects that her soul may be in a perilous state, seeing
that she has the power of saving a man's life and yet suffers him
to die, but he admits there is no more violence in her than in
a child of three years old, and her words are as pleasant to him
as the winds of the South. Usurious dealing is a vice of which
he ventures to accuse her, seeing that he has given her his whole
heart in return for a single glance of her eye, and she holds
to the bargain and will not give heart for heart; but then, as
the Confessor very justly replies, ‘she may be such that her one
glance is worth thy whole heart many times over,’ and so he has
sold his heart profitably, having in return much more than it
is worth.

However, the literary characteristic which is perhaps most
remarkable in the Confessio Amantis is connected rather with
the form of expression than with the subject-matter. No justice
is done to Gower unless it is acknowledged that the technical
skill which he displays in his verse and the command which
he has over the language for his own purposes is very remarkable,
In the ease and naturalness of his movement within the fetters
of the octosyllabic couplet he far surpasses his contemporaries,
including Chaucer himself. Certain inversions of order and
irregularities of construction he allows himself, and there are
many stop-gaps of the conventional kind in the ordinary flow
of his narrative; but in places where the matter requires it,
his admirable management of the verse paragraph, the metrical
smoothness of his lines, attained without unnatural accent or
forced order of words, and the neatness with which he expresses
exactly what he has to say within the precise limits which he lays
down for himself, show a finished mastery of expression which

LITERARY CHARACTERISTICS xvii

is surprising in that age of half-developed English style, and
in a man who had trained himself rather in French and Latin
than in English composition. Such a sentence as the following,
for example, seems to flow from him with perfect ease, there
is no halting in the metre, no hesitation or inversion for the sake
of the rhyme, it expresses just what it has to express, no more

and no less :
* Til that the hihe king of kinges,
Which seth and knoweth alle thinges,
Whos yhe mai nothing asterte, —
The privetes of mannes herte
Thei speke and sounen in his Ere
As thogh thei lowde wyndes were, —
He tok vengance upon this pride.' (i. 2803 ff.)

Or again, as an example of a more colloquial kind,

* 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.' (iv. 2677 ff.)

There is nothing remarkable about the sentiment or expression
in these passages, but they are perfectly simple and natural, and
run into rhyming verse without disturbance of sense or accent; but
such technical skill as we have here is extremely rare among the
writers of the time. Chaucer had wider aims, and being an artist
of an altogether superior kind, he attains, when at his best, to
a higher level of achievement in versification as in other things ;
but he is continually attempting more than he can perform, he
often aims at the million and misses the unit. His command over
his materials is evidently incomplete, and he has not troubled
himself to acquire perfection of craftsmanship, knowing that other
things are more important,

‘And that I do no diligence
To shewe craft but o sentence.’

The result is that the most experienced reader often hesitates in

his metre and is obliged to read lines over twice or even thrice,

before he can satisfy himself how the poet meant his words to be

accented and what exactly was the rhythm he intended. In fact,

instead of smoothing the way for his reader, he often deliberately
+, b

xviii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

chooses to spare himself labour by taking every advantage, fair
or unfair, of those licences of accent and syllable suppression for
which the unstable condition of the literary language afforded
scope. The reader of Gower's verse is never interrupted in this
manner except by the fault of a copyist or an editor ; and when
we come to examine the means by which the smoothness is
attained, we feel that we have to do with a literary craftsman
who by laborious training has acquired an almost perfect mastery
over his tools. The qualities of which we are speaking are
especially visible in the more formal style of utterance which
belongs to the speeches, letters and epitaphs in our author's tales.
The reply of Constance to her questioner (ii. 1148 ff.) is a good
example of the first:
* Quod sche, **I am

A womman wofully bestad.

I hadde a lord, and thus he bad,

That I forth with my litel Sone

Upon the wawes scholden wone,

Bot what the cause was, I not:

Bot he which alle thinges wot

Yit hath, I thonke him, of his miht

Mi child and me so kept upriht,

That we be save bothe tuo."'

And as longer instances we may point to the reflexions of the
Emperor Constantine near the end of the same book (ii. 3243 ff.),
and the prayer of Cepbalus (iv. 3197-3252). The letters of
Canace and of Penelope are excellent, each in its own way, and
the epitaphs of Iphis (iv. 3674 ff.) and of Thaise (viii. 1533 ff.) are
both good examples of the simple yet finished style, e. g.

‘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 hicrafterward ;

Ye men and wommen bothe tuo,
Ensampleth you of that was tho.’ (iv. 3674 ff.)

In a word, the author's literary sphere may be a limited one,
and his conception of excellence within that sphere may fall

LITERARY CHARACTERISTICS xix

very far short of the highest standard, but such as his ideals
are, he is able very completely to realize them. The French
and English elements of the language, instead of still maintaining
a wilful strife, as is so often the case in Chaucer's metre, are here
combined in harmonious alliance. More especially we must
recognize the fact that in Gower's English verse we have a
consistent and for the moment a successful attempt to combine
the French syllabic with the English accentual system of metre,
and this without sacrificing the purity of the language as regards
forms of words and grammatical inflexion. We shall see in our
subsequent investigations how careful and ingenious he is in
providing by means of elision and otherwise for the legitimate
suppression of those weak terminations which could not find
a place as syllables in the verse without disturbing its accentual
flow, while at the same time the sense of their existence was not
to be allowed to disappear. 'The system was too difficult and
complicated to be possible except for a specially trained hand,
and Gower found no successor in his enterprise ; but the fact that
the attempt was made is at least worthy of note.

With considerable merits both of plan and execution the Con-
Jessto Amantis has also no doubt most serious faults. The scheme
itself, with its conception of a Confessor who as priest has to ^
expound a system of morality, while as a devotee of Venus he
is concerned only with the affairs of love (i. 237—280), can hardly
be called altogether a consistent or happy one. The application
of morality to matters of love and of love to questions of morality
is often very forced, though it may sometimes be amusing in its
gravity. The Confessor is continually forgetting one or the other
of his two characters, and the moralist is found justifying unlawful
love or the servant of Venus singing the praises of virginity.
Moreover the author did not resist the temptation to express
his views on society in a Prologue which is by no means
sufhciently connected with the general scheme of the poem,
though it is in part a protest against division and discord, that
is to say, lack of love. Still worse is the deliberate departure
from the general plan which we find in the seventh book, where
on pretence of affording relief and recreation to the wearied
penitent, the Confessor, who says that he has little or no under-
standing except of love, is allowed to make a digression which
embraces the whole field of human knowledge, but more

b 2

XX GOWER’S ENGLISH WORKS

especially deals with the duties of a king, a second political
pamphlet in fact, in which the stories of kings ruined by lust
or insolence, of Sardanapalus, Rehoboam, Tarquin, and the rest,
are certainly intended to some extent as an admonition of the
author’s royal patron. The petition addressed to Rehoboam
by his people against excessive taxation reads exactly like one
of the English parliamentary protests of the period against the
extravagant demands of the crown. Again, the fifth book, which
even without this would be disproportionately long, contains an
absolutely unnecessary account of the various religions of the
world, standing there apparently for no reason except to show
the author’s learning, and reaching the highest pitch of grotesque
absurdity when the Confessor occupies himself in demolishing
the claim of Venus to be accounted a goddess, and that too
without even the excuse of having forgotten for the moment
that he is supposed to be her priest. Minor excrescences of the
same kind are to be found in the third book, where the law-
fulness of war is discussed, and in the fourth, where there is
a dissertation on the rise of the Arts, and especially of Alchemy.
All that can be said is that these digressions were very common
in the books of the age—the Roman de la Rose, at least in the part
written by Jean de Meun, is one of the worst offenders.

Faults of detail it would be easy enough to point out. The
style is at times prosaic and the matter uninteresting, the verse
is often eked out with such commonplace expressions and helps
to rhyme as were used by the writers of the time, both French or
English. Sometimes the sentences are unduly spun out or the
words and clauses are awkwardly transposed for the sake of the
uninterrupted smoothness of the verse. The attainment of this
object moreover is not always an advantage, and sometimes the
regularity of the metre and the inevitable recurrence of the rhyme
produces a tiresome result. On the whole however the effect is
not unpleasing, ‘the ease and regularity with which the verse flows
breathes a peaceful contentment, which communicates itself to
the reader, and produces the same effect upon the ear as the
monotonous but not wearisome splashing of a fountain! More-
over, as has already been pointed out, when the writer is at his
best, the rhyme is kept duly in the background, and the paragraph
is constructed quite independently of the couplet, so that this

! B. ten Brink, Geschihte der Engl. Litt. ii. 141.

DATE AND CIRCUMSTANCES xxi

form of metre proves often to be a far better vehicle for the
narrative than might have been at first supposed.

ii. DATE AND CIRCUMSTANCES.— The Confessio Amantis in its
earliest form bears upon the face of it the date 1390 (Prol. 331
margin)', and we have no reason to doubt that this was the year
in which it was first completed. "The author tells us that it was
written at the command of King Richard II, whom he met while
rowing on the Thames at London, and who invited him to come
into his barge to speak with him. It is noticeable, however, that
even this first edition has a dedication to Henry earl of Derby,
contained in the Latin lines at the end of the poem ?, so that it
is not quite accurate to say that the dedication was afterwards
changed, but rather that this dedication was made more prominent
and introduced into the text of the poem, while at the same time
the personal reference to the king in the Prologue was suppressed.
If the date referred to above had been observed by former editors,
the speculations first of Pauli and then of Professor Hales, tending
to throw back the completion of the first recension of the Confessio
Amantis to the year 1386, or even 1383, would have been spared.
Their conclusions rest, moreover, on the purest guess-work. The
former argues that the preface and the epilogue® in their first
form date from the year 1386, because from that year the king
(who was then nineteen years old) ‘developed those dangerous
qualities which estranged from him, amongst others, the poet’ ;
and Professor Hales (Atheneum, Dec. 1881) contends that the
references to the young king’s qualities as a ruler, ‘Justice
medled with pite,’ &c. certainly point to the years immediately
succeeding the Peasants’ revolt (a time when Gower did not
regard him as a responsible ruler at all, but excuses him for the
evil proceedings of the government on account of his tender age) *,

! This date has hitherto been omitted from the text of the printed editions.

? The last two lines, which contain the mention of the earl of Derby, are
omitted in some MSS. of the first recension, and this may be an indication
that the author circulated some copies without them. A full account of the
various recensions of the poem is given later, under the head of ' Text.'

! The term ‘ epilogue’ is used for convenience to designate the conclusion
of the poem after viii. 2940, but no such designation is used by the author:
similarly ‘preface’ means here the opening passage of the Prologue
dl. 1-92).

! ! Minoris etatis causa inde excusabilem pronuncians.’

xxii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

that the reference to Richard's desire to establish peace (viii.
3014* ff.) must belong to the period of the negotiations with the
French and the subsequent truce, 1383-84, though Professor
Hales is himself quite aware that negotiations for peace were
proceeding also in 1389, and finally that the mention of ‘the
newe guise of Beawme' must indicate the very year succeeding
the king's marriage to Anne of Bohemia in 1382, whereas in fact
the Bohemian fashions would no doubt continue to prevail at
court, and still be accounted new, throughout the queen's lifetime.
It is on such grounds as these that we are told that the Confessio
Amantis in its first form cannot have been written later than the
year 1385 and was probably as early as 1383.

All such conjectures are destroyed by the fact that the manu-
scripts of the first recension bear the date 1390 at the place cited,
and though this does not absolutely exclude a later date for the
completion of the book, it is decisive against an earlier one.
Moreover, the fact that in the final recension this date is omitted
(and deliberately omitted, as we know from the erasure in the
Fairfax MS.) points to the conclusion that it is to be regarded
definitely as a date of publication, and therefore was inappropriate
for a later edition.

This conclusion agrees entirely with the other indications, and
they are sufficiently precise, though the fact that one of these also
has unluckily escaped the notice of the editors has caused it to
be generally overlooked '.

The form of epilogue which was substituted for that of the first
recension, and in which the over-sanguine praise of Richard as
a ruler is cancelled, bears in the margin the date of the fourteenth
year of his reign (viii. 2973 margin), * Hic in anno quarto decimo
Regis Ricardi orat pro statu regni, &c. Now the fourteenth year
of King Richard II was from June 21, 1390, to the same day of
1391. We must therefore suppose that the change in this part of
the book took place, in some copies at least, within a few months
of its first completion.

Thirdly, we have an equally precise date for the alteration in the
Prologue, by which all except a formal mention of Richard II is

! Dr. Karl Meyer, in his dissertation John Gower s Besiehungen su Chaucer
und Kônig Richard II (1889), takes account of these various notes of time,
having made himself to some extent acquainted with the MSS., but his
conclusions are in my opinion untenable,

DATE AND CIRCUMSTANCES xxiii

excluded, while the dedication to Henry of Lancaster is introduced
into the text of the poem ; and here the time indicated is the
sixteenth year of King Richard (Prol. 25), a date which appears
also in the margin of some copies here and at l. 97, so that we
may assume that this final change of form took place in the year
1392-93, that is, not later than June 1393.

Having thus every step dated for us by the author, we may,
if we think it worth while, proceed to conjecture what were the
political events which suggested his action ; but in such a case as
this it is evidently preposterous to argue first from the political
conditions, of which as they personally affected our author and
his friends we can only be very imperfectly informed, and then to
endeavour to force the given dates into accordance with our own
conclusions.

It will be observed from the above dates that we are led to
infer two stages of alteration, and the expectation is raised of
finding the poem in some copies with the epilogue rewritten but
the preface left in its original state. This expectation is fulfilled.
The Bodley MS. 294 gives a text of this kind, and it is certain
that there were others of the same form, for Berthelette used for
his edition a manuscript of this kind, which was not identical
with that which we have.

In discussing the import of the various changes introduced by
the author it is of some importance to bear in mind the fact
already mentioned that even the first issue of the Confessio
Amantis had a kind of dedication to Henry of Lancaster in the
Latin lines with which it concluded,

! Derbeie comiti, recolunt quem laude periti,
Vade liber purus sub eo requiesce futurus.'

This seems rather to dispose of the idea that a dedication to Henry
would be inconsistent with loyalty to Richard, a suggestion which
would hardly have been made in the year 1390, or even 1393.

! This has been equally the procedure of Prof. Hales on the one hand,
who endeavours to throw back the composition of the first recension to an
extravagantly early period, and of Dr. Karl Meyer on the other, who wishes
to bring down the final form of the book to a time later than the deposition
of Richard II. The theory of the latter, that the sixteenth year of
King Richard is given as the date of the original completion of the poem,
and not of the revised preface, is sufficiently refuted by the date ‘ fourteenth
year’ attached to the rewritten cpilogue.

xxiv GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

No doubt those copies which contained in the preface the state-
ment that the book was written at the command of the king and
for his sake, and in the epilogue the presentation of the completed
book to him (3050* ff.), if they had also appended to them the
Latin lines which commend the work to the earl of Derby, may
be said to have contained in a certain sense a double dedication,
the compliment being divided between the king and his brilliant
cousin, and very probably a copy which was intended for the
court would be without the concluding lines, as we find to be
the case with some manuscripts; but the suggestion that the ex-
pressions of loyalty and the praises of Richard as a ruler which we
find in the first epilogue are properly to be called inconsistent with
a dedication of the poem to Henry of Lancaster, his cousin and
counsellor, is plausible only in the light of later events, which could
not be foreseen by the poet, in the course of which Henry
became definitely the opponent of Richard and finally took the
lead in deposing him. It is true that the earl of Derby had been
one of the lords appellant in 1387, but after the king's favourites
had been set aside, he was for the time reconciled to Richard,
and he could not in any sense be regarded as the leader of an
opposition party. "That Gower, when he became disgusted with
Richard II, should have set Henry’s name in the Prologue in
place of that of the king, as representing his ideal of knighthood
and statesmanship, may be regarded either as a coincidence
with the future events, or as indicating that Gower had some
discrimination in selecting a possible saviour of society; but it is
certain that at this time the poet can have had no definite idea
that his hero would become a candidate for the throne.

The political circumstances of the period during which the
Confessio Amantis was written and revised are not very easy to
disentangle. We may take it as probable that the plan of its
composition, under the combined influence of Chaucer's Zegend of
Good Women! and of the royal command, may have been laid
about the year 1386. Before this time Richard would scarcely
have been regarded by Gower as responsible for the government,
and he would naturally look hopefully upon the young sovereign,
then just entering upon his duties, as one who with proper admo-
nition and due choice of advisers might turn out to be a good

2 For the connexion between this and the Confessio Amantis see L. Bech
in Anglia, v. 313 ff.

DATE AND CIRCUMSTANCES XXV

ruler. During the succeeding years the evil counsellors of the
king were removed by the action of the lords appellant and the
Parliament, and in the year 1389 a moderate and national policy
seemed to have been finally adopted by the king, with William of
Wykeham as Chancellor and the young earl of Derby, who had
been one of the appellants but had quarrelled with his uncle
Gloucester, among the king’s trusted advisers. By the light of
subsequent events Gower condemned the whole behaviour of the
king during this period as malicious and treacherous, but this
could hardly have been his judgement of it at the time, for
Richard’s dissimulation, if dissimulation it were, was deep enough
to deceive all parties. Consequently, up to the year 1390 at
least, he may have continued, though with some misgivings, to
trust in the king’s good intentions and to regard him as a ruler who
might effectually heal the divisions of the land, as he had already
taken steps to restore peace to it outwardly. It is quite possible
also that something may have come to his knowledge in the course
of the year 1390-91 which shook his faith. It was at this time, in
July 1390, just at the beginning of the fourteenth year of King
Richard, that his hero the earl of Derby left the court and the
kingdom to exercise his chivalry in Prussia, and for this there may
have been a good reason. We know too little in detail of the
events of the year to be able to say exactly what causes of jealousy
may have arisen between the king and his cousin, who was nearly
exactly of an age with him and seems to have attracted much
more attention than Richard himself at the jousts of St. Ingle-
vert in May of this year. Whatever feeling there may have been
on the side of the earl of Derby would doubtless reflect itself in
the minds of his friends and supporters, and something of this
kind may have deepened into certitude the suspicions which
Gower no doubt already had in his heart of the ultimate inten-
tions of Richard II. The result was that in some copies at least
of the Confessio Amantis the concluding praises of the king as
a ruler were removed and lines of a more general character on the
state of the kingdom and the duties of a king were substituted,
but still there was no mention of the earl of Derby except as
before in the final Latin lines. Two years later, 1392-93, when
the earl of Derby had fairly won his spurs and at the age of
twenty-five might be regarded as a model of chivalry, the
mention of Richard as the suggester of the work was removed,

xxvi GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

and the name of Henry set in the text as the sole object of the
dedication.

The date sixteenth year must certainly be that of this last
change, but the occasion doubtless was the sending of a pre-
sentation copy to Henry, and this would hardly amount to
publication. The author probably did not feel called upon
publicly to affront the king by removing his name and praises,
either at the beginning or the end, from the copies generally
issued during his reign. Whether or not this conduct justifies
the charge of time-serving timidity, which has been made against
Gower, I cannot undertake to decide. He was, however, in fact
rather of an opposite character, even pedantically stiff in passing
judgement severely on those in high places, and not bating
a syllable of what he thought proper for himself to say or for
a king to hear, though while the king was young and might yet
shake himself free from evil influences he was willing to take
as favourable a view of his character as possible. Probably he
was for some time rather in two minds about the matter, but in
any case ‘timid and obsequious' are hardly the right epithets
for the author of the Vox Clamanitis.

Before leaving this subject something should perhaps be said
upon a matter which has attracted no little attention, namely the
supposed quarrel between the author of the Confessio Amantis and
Chaucer. It is well known that the first recension of our poem has
a passage referring to Chaucer in terms of eulogy (viii. 2941*—57*),
and that this was omitted when the epilogue was rewritten. This
fact has been brought into connexion with the apparent reference
to Gower in the Canterbury Tales, where the Man of Law in the
preamble to his tale disclaims on Chaucer's behalf such ‘cursed
stories’ as those of Canace and Apollonius, because they treat of
incest. It has been thought that this was meant for a serious
attack on Gower, and that he took offence at it and erased the
praise of Chaucer from the Confessio Amantis.

It is known of course that the two poets were on personally
friendly terms, not only from the dedication of Zroi/us, but from
the fact that when Chaucer was sent on a mission to the Continent
in 1378, he appointed Gower one of his attorneys in his absence.
It is possible that their friendship was interrupted by a misunder-
standing, but it may be doubted whether there is sufficient proof
of this in the facts which have been brought forward.

DATE AND CIRCUMSTANCES xxvii

In the first place I question whether Chaucer's censure is to be
taken very seriously. "That it refers to Gower I have little doubt,
but that the attack was a humorous one is almost equally clear.
Chaucer was aware that some of his own tales were open to
objection on the score of morality, and when he saw a chance of
scoring a point on the very ground where his friend thought him-
self strongest, he seized it with readiness. Some degree of serious-
ness there probably is, for Chaucer's sound and healthy view
of life instinctively rejected the rather morbid horrors to which he
refers ; but it may easily be suspected that he was chiefly amused
by the opportunity of publicly lecturing the moralist, who perhaps
had privately remonstrated with him'. As to the notion that
Chaucer had been seriously offended by the occasional and very
trifling resemblances of phrase in Gower's tale of Constance with
his own version of the same original, it is hardly worth discussion.

There is of course the possibility that Gower may have taken
it more seriously than it was meant, and though he was not quite
so devoid of a sense of humour as it has been the fashion to
suppose ?, yet he may well have failed to enjoy a public attack,
however humorous, upon two of his tales. It must be observed,
however, that if we suppose the passage in question to have been
the cause of the excision of Gower's lines about Chaucer, we must
assume that the publication of it took place precisely within this
period of a few months which elapsed between the first and the
second versions of Gower's epilogue.

Before further considering the question as to what was actually
our author's motive in omitting the tribute to his brother poet,
we should do well to observe that this tribute was apparently
allowed to stand in some copies of the rewritten epilogue. There
is one good manuscript, that in the possession of Lord Middleton,

! Lydgate apparently did not take Chaucer's censure very seriously, for
he quite needlessly introduced the tale of Canace into his Falls of Princes,
following Gower's rendering of it.

! See for example the picture of Nebuchadnezzar transformed into an ox,
‘Tho thoghte him colde grases goode,' &c. (i. 2976 ff.), the account of the
jealous husband, who after charging his wife quite unreasonably with
wishing she had another there in his stead, turns away from her in bed and
leaves her to weep all the night, while he sleeps (v. 545 ff.), and the
description of the man who entertains his wife so cheerfully on his return
home with tales of the good sport that he has had, but carefully avoids

all reference to the occurrence which would have interested her most
'v. 6119 ff...

xxviii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

in which the verses about Chaucer not only stand in combination
with the new form of epilogue, but in a text which has also the
revised preface, dated two years later'. Hence it seems possible
that the exclusion of the Chaucer verses was rather accidental
than deliberate, and from this and other considerations an explana-
tion may be derived which will probably seem too trivial, but
nevertheless is perhaps the true one. We know from the Fairfax
MS. of the Confessio Amantis and from several original copies
of the Vox Clamantts that the author's method of rewriting his
text was usually to erase a certain portion, sometimes a whole
column or page, and substitute a similar number of lines of other
matter. It will be observed here that for the thirty lines 2941*—
2970*, including the reference to Chaucer, are substituted thirty
lines from which that reference is excluded. After this come four
Latin lines replacing an equal number in the original recension,
and then follow fifteen lines, 2971-2985, which are the same
except a single line in the two editions. It may be that the
author, wishing to mention the departure of the Confessor and
the thoughts which he had upon his homeward way, sacrificed
the Chaucer verses as an irrelevance, in order to find room
for this matter between the Adieu of Venus and the lines
beginning ‘He which withinne daies sevene, which he did
not intend to alter, and that this proceeding, carried out upon
a copy of the first recension which has not come down to us,
determined the general form of the text for the copies with
epilogue rewritten, though in a few instances care was taken
to combine the allusion to Chaucer with the other alterations.
Such an explanation as this would be in accord with the methods
of the author in some other respects ; for, as we shall see later on,
the most probable explanation of the omission in the third
recension of the additional passages in the fifth and seventh
books, is that a first recension copy was used in a material
sense as a basis for the third recension text, and it was therefore
not convenient to introduce alterations which increased the
number of lines in the body of the work.

1 The reading in the Latin note at the beginning of ‘quarto (decimo)! for
! sexto decimo is probably due to a mistake, for we find ‘ sextenthe’ in the
text of 1. a5. It may be noted that the MS. mentioned by Pauli as con-
taining the rewritten preface and also the Chaucer verses (New Coll. 326)
is a hybrid, copied from two different manuscripts.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xxix

iil. ANALYSIS.
PROLOGUS.

I-92. PREFACE. By the books of those that were before us we are
instructed, and therefore it is good that we also should write something
which may remain after our days. But to write of wisdom only is not
good. I would rather go by the middle path and make a book of
pleasure and profit both : and since few write in English, my meaning -
is to make a book * for England's sake now in the sixteenth year of
King Richard. Things have changed and books are less beloved than
in former days, but without them the fame and the example of the
virtuous would be lost. Thus I, simple scholar as I am, purpose to
write a book touching both upon the past and the present, and though
I have long been sick, yet I will endeavour as I may to provide wisdom
for the wise. For this prologue belongs all to wisdom, and by it the
wise may recall to their memory the fortunes of the world ; but after
the prologue the book shall be of Love, which does great wonders
among men. Also I shall speak of the vices and virtues of rulers.
But as my wit is too small to admonish every man, I submit my work
for correction to my own lord Henry of Lancaster, with whom my heart
is in accord, and whom God has proclaimed the model of knighthood.
God grant I may well achieve the work which I have taken in hand.

93-192. TEMPORAL RULERS. In the time past things went well:
there was plenty and riches, with honour for noble deeds, and each
estate kept its due place. Justice was upheld and the people obeyed
their rulers. . Man's heart was then shown in his face and his thought
expressed by his words, virtue was exalted and vice abased. Now all
is changed, and above all discord and hatred have taken the place
of love, there is no stable peace, no justice and righteousness. All

* for King Richard’s sake, to whom my allegiance belongs and for
whom I pray. It chanced that as I rowed in à boat on the flowing
Thames under the town of New Troy, I met my liege lord, and he bad
me come from my boat into his barge, and there he laid upon me a
charge to write some new thing which he himself might read. Thus I
am the more glad to write, and I have the less fear of envious blame.
A gentle heart praises without malice, but the world is full of cvil
tongues and my king's command shall nevertheless be fulfilled.
Though I have long been sick, yet I will endeavour to write a
book which may be wisdom to the wise and play to those who
desire to play. But the proverb says that a good beginning makes
a good end: therefore I will here begin the prologue of my book,
speaking partly of the former state of the world and partly of the
present.

xxx GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

kingdoms are alike in this, and heaven alone knows what is to be done.
The sole remedy is that those who are the world's guides should follow
good counsel and should be obeyed by their people; and if king and
council were at one, it might be hoped that the war would be brought
to an end, which is so much against the peace of Christ's religion and
from which no land gets any good. May God, who is above all things,
give that peace of which the lands have need.

193-498. THE CHURCH. Formerly the life of the clergy was an
example to all, there was no simony, no disputes in the Church, no
ambition for worldly honour. Pride was held a vice and humility
a virtue. Alms were given to the poor and the clergy gave themselves
to preaching and to prayer. Thus Christ's faith was first taught, but
now it is otherwise. Simony and worldly strife prevail; and if priests
take part in wars, I know not who shall make the peace. But heaven
is far and the world is near, and they regard nothing but vainglory
and covetousness, so that the tithe goes at once to the war, as though
Christ could not do them right by other ways. That which should
bring salvation to the world is now the cause of evil: the prelates are
such as Gregory wrote of, who desire a charge in order that they may
grow rich and great, and the faith is hindered thereby. Ambition and
avarice have destroyed charity ; Sloth is their librarian and delicacy has
put away their abstinence. Moreover Envy everywhere burns in the
clergy like the fire of Etna, as we may see now [in this year of grace
1390] at Avignon. To see the Church thus fall between two stools is
a cause of sorrow to us all: God grant that it may go well at last with
him who has the truth. But as a fire spreads while men are slothfully
drinking, so this schism causes the new sect of Lollardy to spring up,
and many another heresy among the clergy themselves. It were better
to dike and delve and have the true faith, than to know all that the
Bible says and err as some of these do. If men had before their eyes
the virtues which Christ taught, they would not thus dispute about the
Papacy. Each one attends to his own profit, but none to the general
cause of the Church, and thus Christ's fold is broken and the flock
is devoured. The shepherds, intent upon worldly good, wound instead
of healing, and rob the sheep unjustly of their wool. Nay, they drive
them among the brambles, so that they may have the wool which the
thorns tear off. If the wolf comes in the way, their staff is not at hand
to defend the sheep, but they are ready enough to smite the sheep with
it, if they offend ever so little. There are some indeed in whom virtue
dwells, whom God has called as Aaron was called, but most follow
Simon at the heels, whose chariot rolls upon wheels of covetousness
and pride. They teach how good it is to clothe and feed the poor, yet
of their own goods they do not distribute. They say that chastity
should be preserved by abstinence, but they eat daintily and lie softly,
and whether they preserve their chastity thereby, I dare not say:

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xxxi

I hear tales, but I will not understand. Yet the vice of the evil-doers
is no reproof to the good, for every man shall bear his own works.

499-584. THE COMMONS. As for the people, it is to be feared that
that may happen which has already come to pass in sundry lands, that
they may break the bounds and overflow in a ruinous flood. Everywhere
there is lack of law and growth of error; all say that this world has
gone wrong, and every one gives his judgement as to the cause ; but he
who looks inwards upon himself will be ready to excuse his God, in
whom there is no default. The cause of evil is in ourselves. Some
say it is fortune and some the planets, but in truth all depends upon
man. No estate is secure, the fortune of it goes now up, now down,
and all this is in consequence of man's doings. In the Bible I find
a tale which teaches that division is the chief cause why things may
not endure, and that man himself is to blame for the changes which
have overthrown kingdoms.

585-662. NABUGODONOSOR in a dream saw an image with the head
and neck of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of
brass, the legs of steel, and the feet of mixed steel and clay. On the
feet of this image fell a great stone which rolled down from a hill, and
the image was destroyed. Daniel expounded this of the successive
kingdoms of the world.

663-880. These were the FOUR MONARCHIES, of Babylon, of Persia,
of the Greeks, and of the Romans. We are now in the last age, that
of dissension and division, as shown by the state of the Empire and
the Papacy. This is that which was designated by the feet of the
image.

881-1088. We are near to the end of the world, as the apostle tells us.
The world stands now divided like the feet of the image. Wars are
general, and yet the clergy preach that charity is the foundation of all
good deeds. Man is the cause of all the evil, and therefore the image
bore the likeness of a man. The heavenly bodies, the air and the
earth suffer change and corruption through the sin of man, who is in
himself a little world. When he is disordered in himself, the elements
are all at strife with him and with each other. Division is the cause of
destruction. So it is with man, who has within him diverse principles
which are at strife with one another, and in whom also there is a fatal
division between the body and the soul, which led to the fall from
a state of innocence. The confusion of tongucs at the building of the
tower of Babel was a further cause of division, and at last all peace
and charity shall depart, and the stone shall fall. Thenceforward
every man shall dwell either in heaven, where all is peace, or in hell,
which is full of discord.

Would God that there were in these days any who could set peace
on the earth, as Arion once by harping brought beasts and men into
accord. But this is a matter which only God can direct.

xxxii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

Lis. I.

1-92. I cannot stretch my hand to heaven and set in order the
world: so great a task is more than I am able to compass: I must let
that alone and treat of other things. Therefore I think to change
from this time forth the style of my writings, and to speak of a matter
with which all the world has to do, and that is Love; wherein almost all
are out of rule and measure, for no man is able to resist it or to find
a remedy for it. If there be anything in this world which is governed
blindly by fortune, it is love: this is a game in which no man knows
whether he shall win or lose. I am myself one who belongs to this
school, and I will tell what befel me not long since in regard to love,
that others may take example thereby.

93-202. I fared forth to walk in the month of May, when every bird
has chosen his mate and rejoices over the love which he has achieved ;
but I was further off from mine than earth is from heaven. So to the
wood I went, not to sing with the birds, but to weep and lament; and
after a time I fell to the ground and wished for death. Then I looked up
to the heaven and prayed the god and the goddess of love to show me
some grace. Anon I saw them ; and he, the king of love, passed me
by with angry look and cast at me a fiery lance, which pierced through
my heart. But the queen remained, and asked me who I was, and
bade me make known my malady. I told her that I had served her
long and asked only my due wage, but she frowned and said that
there were many pretenders, who in truth had done no service, and
bade me tell the truth and show forth all my sickness. ‘That can
I well do,’ I replied, ‘if my life may last long enough.’ Then she
looked upon me and said, * My will is first that thou confess thyself to
my priest.’ And with that she called Genius, her priest, and he came
forth and sat down to hear my shrift.

203-288. This worthy priest bade me tell what I had felt for love's
sake, both the joy and the sorrow ; and I fell down devoutly on my
knees and prayed him to question me from point to point, lest I should
forget things which concerned my shrift, for my heart was disturbed so
that I could not myself direct my wits. He replied that he was there
to hear my confession and to question me: but he would not only
* speak of love; for by his office of priest he was bound to set forth the
moral vices. Yet he would show also the properties of Love, for he
was retained in the service of Venus and knew little of other things.
His purpose was to expound the nature of every vice, as it became
a priest to do, and so to apply his teaching to the matter of love that
I should plainly understand his lore.

289-574. SINS OF SEEING AND HEARING. I prayed him to say
his will, and I would obey, and he bade me confess as touching my five
senses, which are the gates through which things come into the heart,

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xxxiii

and first of the principal and most perilous, the sense of sight. Many
a man has done mischief to love through seeing, and often the fiery
dart of love pierces the heart through the eye. (289-332.)

Ovid tells a tale of the evils of * mislook,! how Ac/eon when hunting
came upon Diana and her nymphs bathing, and because he did not
turn away his eyes, he was changed into a hart and torn to pieces by
his own hounds. (333-378)

Again, the Gorgons were three sisters, who had but one eye between
them, which they passed one to another, and if any man looked upon
them he was straightway turned into a stone. These were all killed
by Perseus, to whom Pallas lent a shield with which he covered his
face, and Mercury a sword with which he slew the monsters. (389-
435-)

My priest therefore bade me beware of misusing my sight, lest
I also should be turned to stone; and further he warned me to take
good heed of my hearing, for many a vanity comes to man's heart
through the ears. (436-462.)

There is a serpent called 44522425, which has a precious stone in his
head, but when a man tries to overcome him by charms in order to win
this stone, he refuses to hear the enchantment, laying one ear close to
the earth and stopping the other with his tail. (463-480.)

Moreover, in the tale of Troy we read of Szrens, who are in the form
of women above and of fishes below, and these sing so sweetly, that the
sailors who pass are enchanted by it and cannot steer their ships: so
they are wrecked and torn to pieces by the monsters. Uluxes, however,
escaped this peril by stopping the ears of his company, and then they
slew many of them. (481-529.)

From these examples (he said) I might learn how to keep the eye
and the ear from folly, and if I could control these two, the rest of the
senses were easy to rule. (530-549.)

I made my confession then, and said that as for my eyes I had
indeed cast them upon the Gorgon Medusa, and my heart had been
changed into stone, upon which my lady had graven an eternal mark
of love. Moreover, I was guilty also as regards my ear; for when
I heard my lady speak, my reason lost all rule, and I did not do as
Uluxes did, but fell at once in the place where she was, and was torn.
to pieces in my thought. (550-567.)

God amend thee, my son, he said. I will ask now no more of thy
senses, but of other things. (568-574.)

THE SEVEN DEADLY VICES.— PRIDE.

575-1234. Hypocrisy. Pride, the first of the seven deadly Vices,
has five ministers, of whom the first is called Hypocrisy. Hast thou
been of his company, my son?

I know not, father, what hypocrisy means. I beseech you to teach
me and I will confess. (575-593.)

$* C

xxxiv GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

A hypocrite is one who feigns innocence without, but is not so
within. Such are many of those who belong to the religious orders, with
some of those who occupy the high places of the Church, and others
also who pretend to piety, while all their design is to increase their
worldly wealth. (594-672.)

There are lovers also of this kind, who deceive by flattery and
soft speech, and who pretend to be suffering sickness for love, but are
ready always to beguile the woman who trusts them. Art thou one of
these, my son?

Nay, father, for I have no need to feign: my heart is always more
sick than my visage, and I am more humble towards my lady within
than any outward sign can show. I will not say but that I may have
been guilty towards others in my youth ; but there is one towards whom
my word has ever been sincere.

It is well, my son, to tell the truth always towards love; for if thou
deceive and win thereby, thou wilt surely repent it afterwards, as a tale
which I will tell may show. (672-760.)

Mundus and Paulina. At Rome, in the time of Tiberius, a worthy
lady Pauline was deceived by Mundus, who bribed the priests of Isis
and induced them to bring her to the temple at night on pretence of
meeting the god Anubus. Mundus concealed himself in the temple
and personated the god. Meeting her on her way home he let her
understand the case, and she, overcome with grief and shame, reported
the matter to her husband. The priests were put to death, Mundus
was sent into exile, and the image of Isis was thrown into the Tiber.
(761-1059.)

The Trojan Horse. Again, to take a case of the evil wrought by
Hypocrisy in other matters, we read how, when the Greeks could not
capture Troy, they made a horse of brass and secretly agreeing with
Antenor and Eneas they concluded a feigned peace with the Trojans
and desired to bring this horse as an offering to Minerva into the city.
The gates were too small to admit it, and so the wall was broken
down, and the horse being brought in was offered as an evidence of
everlasting peace with Troy. The Greeks then departed to their ships,
as if to set sail, but landed again in the night on a signal from Sinon.
They came up through the broken gate, and slew those within, and
burnt the city. (1060-1189.)

Thus often in love, when a man seems most true, he is most false,
and for a time such lovers speed, but afterwards they suffer punishment.
Therefore eschew Hypocrisy in love. (1190-1234.)

1235-1875. INOBEDIENCE. The second point of Pride is Inobe-
dience, which bows before no law, whether of God or man. Art thou,
my son, disobedient to love ?

Nay, father, except when my lady bids me forbear to speak of my
love, or again when she bids me choose a new mistress. She might

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xxxv

as well say, * Go, take the Moon down from its place in heaven,’ as bid
me remove her love out of my breast. Thus far I disobey, but in no
other thing. (1235-1342.)

There are two attendants, my son, on this vice, called Murmur and
Complaint, which grudge at all the fortune that betides, be it good or
bad. And so among lovers there are those who will not faithfully
submit to love, but complain of their fortune, if they fail of anything
that they desire.

My father, I confess that at times I am guilty of this, when my lady
frowns upon me, but I dare not say a word to her which might displease
her. I murmur and am disobedient in my heart, and so far I confess
that I am ‘ unbuxom.’

I counsel thee, my son, to be obedient always to love’s hest, for
obedience often avails where strength may do nothing; and of this
I remember an example written in a chronicle. (1343-1406.)

There was a knight, nephew to the emperor, by name Florent,
chivalrous and amorous, who seeking adventures was taken prisoner
by enemies. He had slain the son of the captain of the castle to
which he was led; and they desired to take vengeance on him, but feared
the emperor. An old and cunning dame, grandmother to the slain
man, proposed a condition. He should be allowed to go, on promise
of returning within a certain time, and then he should suffer death
unless he could answer rightly the question, ‘ What do all women most
desire?’ He gave his pledge, and sought everywhere an answer to
the question, but without success. When the day approached, he set
out ; and as he passed through a forest, he saw a loathly hag sitting
under a tree. She offered to save him if he would take her as his wife.
He refused at first, but then seeing no other way, he accepted, on the
condition that he should try all other answers first, and if they might
save him he should be free. She told him that what all women most
desire is to be sovereign of man's love. He saved himself by this
answer, and returned to find her, being above all things ashamed to
break his troth. Foul as she was, he respected her womanhood, and
set her upon his horse before him. He reached home, journeying by
night and hiding himself by day, and they were wedded in the night,
she in her fine clothes looking fouler than before. When they were in
bed, he turned away from her, but she claimed his bond; and he
turning towards her saw a young lady of matchless beauty by his side.
She stayed him till he should make his choice, whether he would have
her thus by night or by day ; and he, despairing of an answer, left it to
her to decide. By thus making her his sovereign, he had broken the
charm which bound her. She was the king's daughter of Sicily, and
had been transformed by her stepmother, till she should win the love
and sovereignty of a peerless knight. Thus obedience may give a man
good fortune in love. (1407-1861.)

c2

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xxxvii

that which I did: for I saw in the pilgrims the image of my own
death, as appointed by God's ordinance, and to this law I did
obeisance; for compared to this all other laws are as nothing. There-
fore, my brother, fear God with all thine heart, for all shall die and be
equal in his sight. Thus the king admonished his brother and forgave
him. (2010-2253.)

I beseech you, father, to tell me some example of this in the cause of
love.

My son, in love as well as in other things this vice should be eschewed,
as a tale shows which Ovid told.

There was one /Varcissus, who had such pride that he thought no
woman worthy of him. On a day he went to hunt in the forest, and
being hot and thirsty lay down to drink from a spring. There he saw
the image of his face in the water and thought it was a nymph. Love
for her came upon him and he in vain entreated her to come out to
him : at length in despair he smote himself against a rock till he was
dead. The nymphs of the springs and of the woods in pity buried his
body, and from it there sprang flowers which bloom in the winter,
against the course of nature, as his folly was. (2254-2366.)

My father, I shall ever avoid this vice. I would my lady were as
humble towards me as I am towards her. Ask me therefore further,
if there be ought else.

God forgive thee, my son, if thou have sinned in this: but there is
moreover another vice of Pride which cannot rule his tongue, and this
also is an evil. (2367-2398.)

2399-2680. AVANTANCE. This vice turns praise into blame by loud
proclaiming of his own merit; and so some lovers do. Tell me then if
thou hast ever received a favour in love and boasted of it afterwards.

Nay, father, for I never received any favour of which I could boast.
Ask further then, for here I am not guilty.

That is well, my son, but know that love hates this vice above all
others, as thou mayest learn by an example. (2399-2458.)

Alboin and Rosemund. | Albinus was king of the Lombards, and he
in war with the Geptes killed their king Gurmond in battle, and made
a cup of his skull. Also he took Gurmond's daughter Rosemund as
his wife. When the wars were over, he made a great feast, that his
queen might make acquaintance with the lords of his kingdom ; and at
the banquet his pride arose, and he sent for this cup, which was richly set
in gold and gems, and bade his wife drink of it, saying, ‘ Drink with
thy father, She, not knowing what cup it was, took it and drank ; and
then the king told how he had won it by his victory, and had won also
his wife's love, who had thus drunk of the skull. She said nothing, but
thought of the unkindness of her lord in thus boasting, as he sat by
her side, that he had killed her father and made a cup of his skull.
Then after the feast she planned vengeance with Glodeside her maid.

xxxviii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

A knight named Helmege, the king's butler, loved Glodeside. To
him the queen gave herself in place of her maid, and then making
herself known, she compelled him to help her. They slew Albinus, but
were themselves compelled to flee, taking refuge with the Duke of
Ravenna, who afterwards caused them to be put to death by poison.
(2459-2646.)

It is good therefore that a man hide his own praise, both in other
things and also in love, or else he may fail of his purpose.

2681-3066. VAIN GLORY thinks of this world only and delights in
new things. He will change his guise like a chameleon. He will
make carols, balades, roundels and virelays, and if he gets any advan-
tage in love, he rejoices over it so that he forgets all thought of death.
Tell me if thou hast done so.

My father, I may not wholly excuse myself, in that I have been for
love the better arrayed, and have attempted rondels, balades, virelays
and carols for her whom I love, and sung them moreover, and made
myself merry in chamber and in hall. But I fared none the better:
my glory was in vain. She would not hear my songs, and my fine
array brought me no reason to be glad. And yet I have had gladness
at times in hearing how men praised her, and also when I have tidings
that she is well. Tell me if I am to blame for this.

I acquit thee, my son, and on this matter I think to tell a tale how
God does vengeance on this vice. Listen now to a tale that is true,
though it be not of love. (2681-2784.)

There was a king of whom I spoke before, Mabugodonosor by name.
None was so mighty in his days, and in his Pride he ruled the earth as
a god. This king in his sleep saw a tree which overshadowed the whole
earth, and all birds and beasts had lodging in it or fed beneath it.
Then he heard a voice bidding to hew down the tree and destroy it ;
but the root (it said) should remain, and bear no man's heart, but feed
on grass like an ox, till the water of the heaven should have washed
him seven times and he should be made humble to the will of God.
The King could find none to interpret this dream, and sent therefore
for Daniel. He said that the tree betokened the king, and that as the
tree was hewn down, so his kingdom should be overthrown, and he
should pasture like an ox and be rained upon and afflicted, until he
acknowledged the greatness of God. The punishment was ordained,
he said, for his vain glory, and if he would leave this and entreat for
grace, he might perchance escape the evil.

But Pride will not suffer humility to stand with him. Neither for his
dream nor yet for Daniel's word did this king leave his vain glory,
and so that which had been foretold came upon him.

Then after seven years he remembered his former state and wept ;
and though he might not find words, he prayed within his heart to
God and vowed to leave his vain glory, reaching up his feet towards

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xxxix

the heaven, kneeling and braying for mercy. Suddenly he was
changed again into a man and received his power as before, and
the pride of vain glory passed for ever from his heart. (2785-
3042.)

De not thou, my son, like a beast, but take humility in hand, for
a proud man cannot win love. I think now again to tell thee a tale
which may teach thee to follow Humility and eschew Pride.

3067-3425. HUMILITY. Zhe Three Questions. There was once a
young and wise king, who delighted in propounding difficult questions,
and one knight of his court was so ready in answering them that the
king conceived jealousy and resolved to put him to confusion. He
bade him therefore answer these three questions on pain of death:
(1) What is it that has least need and yet men help it most? (2) What
is worth most and yet costs least? (3) What costs most and is worth
least? The knight went home to consider, but the more he beat his
brains, the more he was perplexed. He had two daughters, the younger
fourteen years of age, who, perceiving his grief, entreated him to tell her
the cause. At length he did so, and she asked to be allowed to answer
for him to the king. When the day came, they went together to the
court, and the knight left the answers to the maiden, at which all won-
dered. She replied to the first question that it was the Ea:th, upon
which men laboured all the year round, and yet it had no need of help,
being itself the source of all life. As to the second, it was Humility,
through which God sent down his Son, and chose Mary above all
others ; and yet this costs least to maintain, for it brings about no wars
among men. The third question, she said, referred to Pride, which
cost Lucifer and the rebel angels the loss of heaven, and Adam the loss
of paradise, and was the cause also of so many evils in the world.

The king was satisfied, and looking on the maiden he said, *I like
thine answer well, and thee also, and if thou wert of lineage equal to
these lords, I would take thee for my wife. Ask what thou wilt of me
and thou shalt have it.” She asked an earldom for her father, and this
granted, she thanked the king upon her knees, and claimed fulfilment
of his former word. Whatever she may have been once, she was now
an earl's daughter, and he had promised to take her as his wife. The
king, moved by love, gave his assent, and thus it was. This king
ruled Spain in old days and his name was Alphonse: the knight was
called Don Petro, and the daughter wise Peroncile. (3067-3402.)

Thus, my son, thou mayest know the evil of Pride, which fell from
his place in heaven and in paradise ; but Humility is gentle and debon-
naire. Therefore leave Pride and take Humility.

My father, I will not forget: but now seek further of my shrift.

My son, I have spoken enough of Pride, and I think now to tell of
Envy, which is a hellish vice, in that it does evil without any cause.

(3403- 3449.)

xl GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

LIB. II.

1-220. SORROW FOR ANOTHER'S JOY. The next after Pride is ENVY,
who burns ever in his thought, if he sees another preferred to himself
or more worthy. Hast thou, my son, in love been sick of another
man's welfare?

Yea, father, a thousand times, when I have seen another blithe
of love. I am then like: Etna, which burns ever within, or like
a ship driven about by the winds and waves. But this is only as
regards my lady, when I see lovers approach her and whisper in
her ear. Not that I mistrust her wisdom, for none can keep her
honour better ; yet when I see her make good cheer to any man, I am
full of Envy to see him glad.

My son, the hound which cannot eat chaff, will yet drive away the
oxen who come to the barn; and so it is often with love. If a man is
out of grace himself, he desires that another should fail. (1-96.)

Acis and Galatea, Ovid tells a tale how Poliphemus loved Galathea,
and she, who loved another, rejected him. He waited then for a chance
to grieve her in her love, and he saw her one day in speech with young
Acis under a cliff by the sea. His heart was all afire with Envy,
and he fled away like an arrow from a bow, and ran roaring as a wild
beast round Etna. "Then returning he pushed down a part of the cliff
upon Acis and slew him. She fled to the sea, where Neptune took
her in his charge, and the gods transformed Acis into a spring with
fresh streams, as he had been fresh in love, and were wroth with
Polipheme for his Envy. (97-200.)

Thus, my son, thou mayest understand that thou must let others be.

My father, the example is good, and I will work no evil in love for
Envy. (200-220.)

221-382. JOY FOR ANOTHER’S GRIEF. This vice rejoices when he
sees other men sad, and thinks that he rises by another's fall, as in
other things, so also in love. Hast thou done so, my son?

Yes, father, ] confess that when I see the lovers of my lady get
a fall, I rejoice at it; and the more they lose, the more I think that
I shall win: and if I am none the better for it, yet it is a pleasure to
me to see another suffer the same pains as I. Tell me if this be
wrong.

This kind of Envy, my son, can never be right. It will sometimes
be willing to suffer loss, in order that another may also suffer, as a tale
will show. (221-290.) |

The Travellers and the Angel. Jupiter sent down an angel to report
of the condition of mankind. He joined himself to two travellers, and
he found by their talk that one was covetous and the other envious. On
parting he told them that he came from God, and in return for their
kindness he would grant them a boon: one should choose a gift and

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xli

the other should have the double of what his fellow asked. The
covetous man desired the other to ask, and the other, unwilling that
his fellow should have more good than he, desired to be deprived of
the sight of one eye, in order that his fellow might lose both. This
was done, and the envious man rejoiced. (291-364.)

This is a thing contrary to nature, to seek one's own harm in order
to grieve another. °

My father, I never did so but in the way that I have said: tell me if
there be more.

383-1871. DETRACTION. There is one of the brood of Envy called
Detraction. He has Malebouche in his service, who cannot praise
any without finding fault. He is like the beetle which flies over the
fields, and cares nothing for the spring flowers, but makes his feast of
such filth as he may find. So this envious jangler makes no mention
of a man’s virtue, but if he find a fault he will proclaim it openly. So
also in Love’s court many envious tales are told. If thou hast made
such janglery, my son, shrive thee thereof. (383-454.)

Yes, father, but not openly. When I meet my dear lady and think
of those who come about her with false tales, all to deceive an innocent
(though she is wary enough and can well keep herself), my heart is
envious and I tell the worst I know against them; and so I would
against the truest and best of men, if he loved my lady; for I cannot
endure that any should win there but I. This I do only in my lady’s
ear, and above all I never tell any tale which touches her good name.
Tell me then what penance I shall endure for this, for I have told you
the whole truth.

My son, do so no more. Thy lady, as thou sayest, is wise and
wary, and there is no need to tell her these tales. Moreover she will
like thee the less for being envious, and often the evil which men plan
towards others falls on themselves. Listen to a tale on this matter.
(454- 586.)

Tale of Constance. The Roman Emperor Tiberius Constantinus
had a daughter Constance, beautiful, wise, and full of faith. She
converted to Christianity certain merchants of Barbary, who came to
Rome to sell their wares, and they, being questioned by the Soldan
when they returned, so reported of Constance that he resolved to ask
for her in marriage. He sent to Rome and agreed to be converted,
and Constance was sent with two cardinals and many other lords, to be
his bride. But the mother of the Soldan was moved by jealousy. She
invited the whole company to a feast, and there slew her own son and
all who had had to do with the marriage except Constance herself,
whom she ordered to be placed alone in a rudderless ship with victuals
for five years, and so to be committed to the winds and waves.
(587-713.)

For three years she drifted under God's guidance, and at last came

xlii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

to land in Northumberland, near a castle on the bank of Humber,
which was kept by one Elda for the king of that land Allee, a Saxon
and a worthy knight. Elda found her in the ship and committed her
to the care of Hermyngheld his wife, who loved her and was converted
by her. Hermyngheld in the name of Christ restored sight to a blind
man, at which all wondered, and Elda was converted to the faith. On
the morrow he rode to the king, and thinking to please him, who was
then unwedded, told him of Constance. The king said he would come
and see her. Elda sent before him a knight whom he trusted, and this
knight had loved Constance, but she had rejected him, so that his love
was turned to hate. When he came to the castle he delivered the
message, and they prepared to receive the king; but in the night he cut
the throat of Hermyngheld and placed the bioody knife under the bed
where Constance lay. Elda came the same night and found his wife
lying dead and Constance sleeping by her. The false knight accused
Constance and discovered the knife where he had placed it. Elda was
not convinced, and the knight swore to her guilt upon a book. Suddenly
the hand of heaven smote him and his eyes fell out of his head, and
a voice bade him confess the truth, which he did, and thereupon died.
(714-885.)

After this the king came, and desiring to wed Constance, agreed to
receive baptism. So a bishop came from Bangor in Wales and
christened him and many more, and married Constance to the king.
She would not tell who she was, but the king perceived that she was a
noble creature. God visited her and she was with child, but the king was
compelled to go out on a war, and left his wife with Elda and the bishop.
A son was born and baptized by the name of Moris, and letters were
written to the king, and the bearer of them, who had to pass by Knares-
borough, stayed there to tell the news to the king's mother Domilde.
She in the night changed the letters for others, which said, as from the
keepers of the queen, that she had been delivered of a monster. The
messenger carried the letters to the king, who wrote back that they
should keep his wife carefully till he came again. On his return the mes-
senger stayed again at Knaresborough, and Domilde substituted a letter
bidding them on pain of death place Constance and her child in the
same ship in which she had come, and commit them to the sea. They
grieved bitterly, but obeyed. She prayed to heaven for help and devoted
herself to the care of the child (886-1083). After the end of that year
the ship came to land near a castle in Spain, where a heathen admiral
was lord, who had a steward named Theloüs, a false renegade. He
came to see the ship and found Constance, but he let none else see her;
and at night he returned, thinking to have her at his will. He swore
to kill her if she resisted him, and she bade him look out at the port to
see if any man was near: then on the prayer of Constance he was
thrown out of the ship and drowned. A wind arose which took her

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xliii

from the land, and after three years she came to a place where a great
navy lay. The lord of these ships questioned her, but she told him
little, giving her name as Couste. He said that he came from taking
vengeance on the Saracens for their treachery, but could hear no news
of Constance. He was the Senator of Rome and was married to a
niece of the Emperor named Heleine. She came to Rome with her
child and dwelt with his wife till twelve years were gone, and none
knew what she was, but all loved her well. (1084-1225.)

In the meantime king Allee discovered the treachery and took ven-
geance on his mother, who was burnt to death after confession of
her guilt; and all said that she had well deserved her punishment and
lamented for Constance. Having finished his wars, the king resolved
to go to Rome for absolution, and leaving Edwyn his heir to rule the
land, he set forth with Elda. Arcennus reported to his wife and to
Couste the coming of king Allee, and Couste swooned for joy. The
king, after seeing the Pope and relieving his conscience, made a feast,
to which he invited the Senator and others. Moris went also, and his
mother bade him stand at the feast in sight of the king. The king
seeing him thought him like his wife Constance, and loved him without
knowing why. He asked Arcennus if the child were his son, and from
him he heard his story and the name of his mother. The king smiled at
the name ‘ Couste,’ knowing that it was Saxon for Constance, and was
eager to ascertain the truth. After the feast he besought the Senator to
bring him home to see this Couste, and never man was more joyful
than he was when he saw his wife. (1226-1445.)

The king remained at Rome for a time with Constance, but still she
did not tell him who she was. After a while she prayed him to make
an honourable feast before he left the city and to invite the Emperor,
who was at a place a few miles away from the city. Moris was sent
to beseech him to come and eat with them, which request he granted ;
and at the time appointed they all went forth to meet the Emperor.
Constance, riding forward to welcome him, made herself known to
him as his daughter. Hisheart was overcome, as if he had seen the dead
come to life again, and all present shed tears. So a parliament was
held and Moris was named heir to the Emperor. King Allee and
Constance returned home to the great joy of their land ; but soon after
this the king died, and Constance came again to Rome. After a short
time the Emperor also died in her arms, and she herself in the next
year following. Moris was crowned Emperor and known as ' the most
Christian, (1446-1598.)

Thus love at last prevailed and the false tongues were silenced.
Beware then thou of envious backbiting and lying, and if thou wouldest
know further what mischief is done by backbiting, hear now another
tale. (1599-1612.)

Demetrius and Perseus. Philip king of Maccdoine had two sons,

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xlv

I myself have no help from it, I can conceal nothing from her which it
concerns her to know. To him who loves not my lady, let him love
as many others as he will, I feign no semblant, and his tales sink no
deeper than my ears. Now, father, what is your doom and what pain
must I suffer? (1879-2076.)

My son, all virtue should be praised and all vice blamed : therefore
put no visor on thy face. Yet many men do so nowadays, and
especially I hear how False Semblant goes with those whom we call
Lombards, men who are cunning to feign that which is not, and who
take from us the profit of our own land, while we bear the burdens. They
have a craft called Fa crere, and against this no usher can bar the
door. This craft discovers everything and makes it known in foreign
lands to our grievous loss. Those who read in books the examples of
this vice of False Semblant, will be the more on their guard against it.
(2077-2144.)

Hercules and Deianira. 1 will tell thee a tale of False Semblant,
and how Deianira and Hercules suffered by it. Hercules had cast his
heart only upon this fair Deianira, and once he desired to pass over a
river with her, but he knew not the ford. There was there a giant called
Nessus, who envying Hercules thought to do him harm by treachery,
since he dared not fight against him openly. Therefore, pretending
friendship, he offered to carry the lady across and set her safe on the
other shore. Hercules was well pleased, and Nessus took her upon his
shoulder; but when he was on the further side, he attempted to carry
her away with him. Hercules came after them and shot him with
a poisoned arrow, but before he died he gave Deianira his shirt stained
with his heart's blood, telling her that if her lord were untrue, this shirt
would make his love return to her. She kept it well in coffer and said
no word. The years passed, and Hercules set his heart upon Eole,
the king's daughter of Eurice, so that he dressed himself in her clothes
and she was clothed in his, and no remedy could be found for his folly.
Deianira knew no other help, but took this shirt and sent it to him.
The shirt set his body on fire, and clove to it so that it could not be
torn away. Heran to the high wood and tore down trees and made
a huge fire, into which he leapt and was burnt both flesh and bones.
And all this came of the False Semblant which Nessus made. There-
fore, my son, beware, since so great a man was thus lost. (2145-
2312.)

Father, I will no more have acquaintance with False Semblant,
and I will do penance for my former feigning. Ask more now, if more
there be.

My son, there is yet the fifth which is conceived of Envy, and that
is Supplantation, by means of which many have lost their labour in love
as in other things. (2313-2326.)

2327-3110. SUPPLANTATION. This vice has often overthrown men

xlvi GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

and deprived them of their dignities. Supplantation obtains for himself
the profit of other men's loss, and raises himself upon their fall. In
the same way there are lovers who supplant others and deprive them
of what is theirs by right, reaping what others have sown. If thou
hast done so, my son, confess.

For ought I know, father, I am guiltless in deed, but not so in
thought. IfI had had the power, I would long ago have made appro-
priation of other men's love. But this only as regards one, for whom
Iletallothers go. If I could, I would turn away her heart from her
other lovers and supplant them, no matter by what device: but force
I dare not use for fear of scandal. If this be sin, my father, I am
ready to redress my guilt. (2327-2428.)

My son, God beholds a man's thought, and if thou knewest what it
were to be a supplanter in love, thou wouldest for thine own sake take
heed. At Troy Agamenon supplanted Achilles, and Diomede Troilus.
Geta and Amphitrion too were friends, and Geta was the lover of
Almena : but. when he was absent, Amphitrion made his way to her
chamber and counterfeited his voice, whereby he obtained admittance to
her bed. Geta came afterwards, but she refused to let him in, think-
ing that her lover already lay in her arms. (2429-2500.)

The False Bachelor. There was an Emperor of Rome who ruled in
peace and had no wars. His son was chivalrous and desirous of fame,
so he besought leave to go forth and seek adventures, but his father
refused to grant it. At length he stole away with a knight whom he
trusted, and they took service with the Soldan of Persia, who had war
with the Caliph of Egypt. There this prince did valiantly and gained
renown; moreover, he was overtaken by love of the Soldan's fair
daughter, so that his prowess grew more and more, and none could
stand against him. At length the Soldan and the Caliph drew to a
battle, and the Soldan took a gold ring of his daughter and commanded
her, if he should fall in the fight, to marry the man who should produce
this ring. Inthe battle this Roman did great deeds, and Egypt fled in
his presence. As they of Persia pursued, an arrow struck the Soldan
and he was borne wounded to a tent. Dying he gave his daughter's
ring to this knight of Rome. After his burial a parliament was
appointed, and on the night before it met, this young lord told his secret
to his bachelor and showed him the ring. The bachelor feigned glad-
ness, but when his lord was asleep, he stole the ring from his purse
and put another in its stead. When the court was set, the young lady
was brought forth. The bachelor drew forth the ring and claimed her
hand, which was allowed him in spite of protest, and so he was crowned
ruler of the empire. His lord fell sick of sorrow, caring only for the
loss of his love; and before his death he called the lords to him and
sent a message to his lady, and wrote also a letter to his father the
Emperor. Thus he died, and the treason was known. The false

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xlvii

bachelor was sent to Rome on demand of the Emperor, to receive
punishment there, and the dead body also was taken thither for burial.
(2501-2781.)

Thus thou mayest be well advised, my son, not to do so; and above
all, when Pride and Envy are joined together, no man can find a remedy
for the evil. Of this I find a true example in a chronicle of old time,
showing how Supplant worked once in Holy Church. I know not if it
be so now. (2782-2802.)

Pope Boniface. At Rome Pope Nicholas died, and the cardinals
met in conclave to choose another Pope. They agreed upon a holy
recluse full of ghostly virtues, and he was made Pope and called
Celestin. There was a cardinal, however, who had long desired the
papacy, and he was seized with such envy that he thought to supplant
the Pope by artifice. He caused a young priest of his family to be
appointed to the Pope’s chamber, and he told this man to take
a trumpet of brass and by means of it speak to the Pope at midnight
through the wall, bidding him renounce his dignity. This he did
thrice ; and the Pope, conceiving it to be a voice from heaven, asked the
cardinals in consistory whether a Pope might resign his place. All
sat silent except this cardinal of whom we have spoken, and he gave
his opinion that the Pope could make a decree by which this might
be done. He did so, and the cardinal was elected in his stead under
the name of Boniface. But such treason cannot be hid; it is like the
spark of fire in the roof, which when blown by the wind blazes forth.
Boniface openly boasted of his device; and such was his pride that he
took quarrel with Louis, King of France, and laid his kingdom under
interdict. The king was counselled by his barons, and he sent Sir
William de Langharet, with a company of men-at-arms, who captured
the Pope at Pontsorge near Avignon and took him into France, where
he was put in bonds and died of hunger, eating off both his hands.
Of him it was said that he came in like a fox, reigned like a lion, and
died like a dog. By his example let all men beware of gaining office
in the Church by wrongful means. God forbid that it should be of
our days that the Abbot Joachim spake, when he prophesied of the
shameful traffic which should dishonour the Church of God. (2803-
3084.)

Envy it was that moved Joab to slay Abner treacherously; and
for Envy Achitophel hanged himself when his counsel was not preferred.
Seneca says that Envy is the common wench who keeps tavern for
the Court, and sells liquour which makes men drunk with desire to
surpass their fellows. (3085-3110.)

Envy is in all ways unpleasant in love; the fire within dries up the
blood which should flow kindly through his veins. He aloneis moved
by pure malice in that which he does. Therefore, my son, if thou
wouldest find a way to love, put away Envy.

xlviii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

Reason would that I do so, father; but in order that I may flee from
this vice, I pray you to tell me a remedy.

My son, as there is physic for the sick, so there are virtues for the
vices, which quench them as water does a fire. Against Envy is set
Charity, the mother of Pity, which causes a man to be willing to bear
evil himself rather than that another should suffer. Hear from me
a tale about this, and mark it well. (3111-3186.)

Constantine and Silvester. In Latin books I find how Constantine,
the Emperor of Rome, had a leprosy which could not be cured, and
wise men ordered for his healing a bath of the blood of children under
seven years old. Orders were sent forth, and mothers brought their
children from all parts to the palace. The Emperor, hearing the
noise of lamentation, looked forth in the morning and was struck with
pity. He thought to himself that rich and poor were all alike in God's
sight, and that a man should do to others as he would that others
should do to him. He resolved rather to suffer his malady than that
so much innocent blood should be shed, and he sent the mothers and
children away happy to their homes. In the night he had a vision of
Saint Peter and Saint Paul, saying to him, that as he had shown mercy,
mercy should be shown to him, and bidding him send to fetch Silvester
from Mount Celion, where he was hiding for fear of the Emperor, who
had been a foe to Christ's faith. They told him their names and
departed, and he did as they commanded. Silvester came and
preached to the Emperor of the redemption of mankind and the last
judgement, and said that God had accepted the charity and pity which
he had shown. Constantine received baptism in the same vessel
which had been prepared for the blood ; and as he was being baptized,
a light from heaven shone in the place and the leprosy fell from him
as it were fishes’ scales. Thus body and soul both were cleansed.
The Emperor sent forth letters bidding all receive baptism on pain of
death, and founded two churches in Rome for Peter and Paul, to which
he gave great worldly possessions. His will was good, but the working
of his deed was bad. As he made the gift, a voice was heard from
heaven saying that the poison of temporal things was this day mingled
with the spiritual. All may see the evil now, and may God amend it.
(3187-3496.)

I have said, my son, how Charity may help a man in both worlds;
therefore, if thou wouldest avoid Envy, acquaint thyself with Charity,
which is the sovereign virtue.

My father, I shall ever eschew Envy the more for this tale which
ye have told, and I pray you to give me my penance for that which
I have done amiss, and to ask me further.

I will tell thee, my son, of the vice which stands next after this.

(3497-3530.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xlix

LIB. III.

There is a vice which is the enemy to Patience and doth no pleasure
to nature. This is one of the fatal Seven and is called IRE, which in
English is WRATH.

25-416. He has five servants to help him, of whom the first is
MELANCHOLY, which lours like an angry beast and none knows the .
reason why. Hast thou been so, my son?

Yea, father, I may not excuse myself therof, and love is the cause of
it My heart is ever hot and I burn with wrath, angered with myself
because I cannot speed. Waking I dream that I meet with my lady
and pray her for an answer to my suit, and she, who will not gladly
swear, saith me nay without an oath, wherewith I am so distempered
that I almost lose my wits; and when I think how long I have served
and how I am refused, I am angry for the smallest thing, and every
servant in my house is afraid of me until the fit passes. If I approach
my lady and she speaks a fair word to me, all my anger is gone ; but
if she will not look upon me, I return again to my former state. Thus
I hurt my hand against the prick and make a whip for my own self;
and all this springs from Melancholy. I pray you, my father, teach
me some example whereby I may appease myself.

My son, I will fulfil thy prayer. (25-142.)

Canace and Machatre. There was a king called Eolus, and he had
two children, a son Machaire and a daughter Canace. These two
grew up together in one chamber, and love made them blind, so that
they followed only the law of nature and saw not that of reason. As
the bird which sees the food but not the net, so they saw not the peril.
At length Canace was with child and her brother fled. The child was
born and the truth could not be hid. The father came into her
chamber in a frenzy of wrath, and she in vain entreated for mercy.
He sent a knight to her with a sword, that she might slay herself;
but first she wrote a letter to her brother, while her child lay weeping
in her breast. Then she set the pommel of the sword to ground and
pierced her heart with the point. The king bade them take the child
and cast it out for wild beasts to devour. Little did he know of love
who wrought such a cruel deed. (143-336.)

Therefore, my son, have regard to love, and remember that no man's
might can resist what Nature has ordained. Otherwise vengeance
may fall, as in a tale that I will tell. (337-360.)

Tiresias saw two snakes coupled together and smote them with his
staff. Thereupon, as he had disturbed nature, so he was transformed
against nature into a woman. (361-380.)

Thus wrote Ovid, and thus we see that we ought not to be wroth
against the law of nature in men. "There may be vice in love, but
there is no malice.

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My father, all this is true. Let every man love whom he will ; I shall
not be wroth, if it be not my lady. I am angry only with myself,
because I can find no remedy for my evils. (381-416.)

417-842. CHESTE. The second kind of Wrath is Cheste, which has
his mouth ever unlocked and utters evil sayings of every one. Men
are more afraid of him than of thunder and exclaim against his evil
tongue. Tell me, my son, if thou hast ever chid toward thy love.

Nay, father, never: I call my lady herself to witness. I never dared
speak to her any but good words. I may have said at times more than
I ought, the best plowman balks sometimes, and I bave often spoken
contrary to her command; but she knows well that I do not chide.
Men may pray to God, and he will not be wroth; and my lady, being
but a woman, ought not to be angry if I tell her of my griefs. Often
indeed I chide with myself, because I have not said that which I ought,
but this avails me nothing. Now ye have heard all, therefore give me
absolution.

My son, if thou knewest all the evils of Cheste in love, thou wouldest
learn to avoid it. Fair speech is most accordant to love; therefore
keep thy tongue carefully and practise Patience.

My father, tell me some example of this. (417-638.)

Patience of Socrates. A man should endure as Socrates did, who
to try his own patience married a scolding wife. She came in on
a winter day from the well and saw her husband reading by the fire,
Not being able to draw an answer to her reproaches, she emptied the
water-pot over his head: but he said only that rain in the course of
nature followed wind, and drew nearer to the fire to dry his clothes.
(639- 698.)

I know not if this be reasonable, but such a man ought truly to be
called patient by judgement of Love's Court.

Here again is a tale by which thou mayest learn to restrain thy
tongue. (699-730.)

Jupiter, Juno and Tiresias. Jupiter and Juno fell out upon the
question whether man or wife is the more ardent in love, and they
made Tiresias judge. He speaking unadvisedly gave judgement
against Juno, who deprived him of his sight. Jupiter in compensation
gave him the gift of prophecy, but he would rather have had the
sight of his eyes. Therefore beware, and keep thy tongue close.
(731-782.)

Phebus and Cornide. Phebus loved Cornide, but a young knight
visited her in her chamber. This was told to Phebus by a bird
which she kept, and he in anger slew Cornide. Then he repented,
and as a punishment he changed the bird's feathers from white to
black. (783-817.)

Jupiter and Laar. The nymph Laar told tales of Jupiter to Juno,
and he cut off her tongue and sent her down to hell. There are many

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS li

such now in Love's Court, who let their tongues go loose. Be not
thou one of these, my son, and above all avoid Cheste.

My father, I will do so: but now tell me more of Wrath. (818-842.)

843-1088. HATE is the next, own brother to Cheste. Art thou guilty
of this?

I know not as yet what it is, except ye teach me.

Listen then : Hate is a secret Wrath, gathering slowly and dwelling
in the heart, till he see time to break forth.

Father, I will not swear that I have been guiltless of this ; for though
I never hated my lady, I have hated her words. Moreover I hate
those envious janglers who hinder me with their lies, and'I pray that
they may find themselves in the same condition as I am. Then
I would stand in their way, as they stand in mine, and they would
know how grievous a thing it is to be hindered in love.

My son, I cannot be content that thou shouldest hate any man, even
though he have hindered thee. But I counsel thee to beware of other
men's hate, for it is often disguised under a fair appearance, as the
Greeks found to their cost. (843-972.)

King Namfplus and the Greeks. After the fall of Troy the Greeks,
voyaging home, were overtaken by a storm and knew not how to save
their ships. Now there was a king, Namplus, who hated the Greeks
because of his son Palamades, whom they had done to death, and he
lighted fires to lure their ships towards his rocky coast. They supposed
that the fires were beacons to guide them into haven, and many of
their ships ran on the rocks. The rest, warned by the cry of those
that perished, put forth again to sea.

By this, my son, thou mayest know how Fraud joins with Hate to
overthrow men. (973-1088.)

1089-2621. CONTEK and HOMICIDE. Two more remain, namely
Contek, who has Foolhaste for his chamberlain, and Homicide. These
always in their wrath desire to shed blood, and they will not hear of pity.
Art thou guilty of this, my son?

Nay, my father, Christ forbid. Yet as regards love, about which is
our shrift, I confess that I have Contek in my heart, Wit and Reason
opposing Will and Hope. Reason says that I ought to cease from my
love, but Will encourages me in it, and he it is who rules me.

Thou dost wrong, my son, for Will should ever be ruled by Reason,
whereof I find a tale written. (1089-1200.)

Diogenes and Alexander. There was a philosopher named Diogenes,
who in his old age devised a tun, in which he sat and observed the
heavens. King Alexander rode by with his company and sent a knight
to find out what this might be. The knight questioned Diogenes, but
he could get no answer. ‘It is thy king who asks,’ said the knight in
anger. ‘No, not my king,’ said the philosopher. ‘What then, is he
thy man?’ ‘Nay, but rather my man's man. The knight told the

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king, who rode himself to see. ‘Father,’ he said, ‘tell me how I am
thy man's man. Diogenes replied, ‘ Because I have always kept Will
in subjection to me, but with thee Will is master and causes thee to
sin.’ The king offered to give him whatsoever he should ask. He
replied, * Stand thou out of my sunshine: I need no other gift from
thee.’

From this thou mayest learn, my son; for thou hast said that thy
will is thy master, and hence thou hast Contek in thine heart, and this,
since love is blind, may even breed Homicide. (1201-1330.)

Pyramus and Thisbe. In the city of Semiramis there dwelt two
lords in neighbouring houses, and the one had a son named Piramus,
and the other a daughter, Tisbee. These loved each other, and when
two are of one accord in love, no man can hinder their purpose. They
made a hole in the wall between them and conversed through this, till
at length they planned to meet near a spring without the town. The
maiden was there first ; but a lion came to drink at the spring with
snout all bloody from a slain beast, and she fled away, leaving her
wimple on the ground. This the lion tore and stained with blood,
while she lay hid in a bush, not daring to move. Piramus came
soon and supposed she had been slain. Reproaching himself as the
cause of her death, he slew himself with his sword in his foolhaste.
Tisbee came then and found him dead, and she called upon the god
and goddess of love, who had so cruelly served those who were
obedient to their law. At last her sorrow overcame her, so that she
knew not what she did. She set the sword's point to her heart and
fell upon it, and thus both were found lying. (1331-1494.)

Beware by this tale that thou bring not evil on thyself by foolhaste.

My father, I will not hide from you that I have often wished to die,
though I have not been guilty of the deed. But I know by whose
counsel it is that my lady rejects me, and him I would slay if I had
him in my power.

Who is this mortal enemy, my son?

His name is Danger, and he may well be called ‘sanz pite.’ It is he
who hinders me in all things and will not let my lady receive my suit.
He is ever with her and gives an evil answer to all my prayers. Thus
I hate him and desire that he should be slain. But as to my lady, I
muse at times whether she will be acquitted of homicide, if I die for
her love, when with one word she might have saved me.

My son, refrain thine heart from Wrath, for Wrath causes a man to
fail of love. Men must go slowly on rough roads and consider before
they climb: ‘ rape reweth,' as the proverb says, and it is better to cast
water on the fire than burn up the house. Be patient, my son: the
mouse cannot fight with the cat, and whoso makes war on love will
have the worse. Love demands peace, and he who fights most will
conquer least. Hasten not to thy sorrow: he has not lost who waits.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS liii

Thou mayest take example by Piramus, who slew himself so foolishly.
Do nothing in such haste, for suffrance is the well of peace. Hasten
not the Court of Love, in which thou hast thy suit. Foolhaste often
sets a man behind, and of this I have an example. (1495-1684.)

Phebus and Daphne. Phebus laid his love on Daphne and followed
his suit with foolish haste. She ever said him nay, and at length
Cupid, seeing the haste of Phebus, said that he should hasten more
and yet not speed. He pierced his heart therefore with a golden dart
of fire, and that of Daphne with a dart of lead. Thus the more Phebus
pursued, the more she fled away, and at length she was changed into
a laurel tree, which is ever green, in token that she remained ever a
maid. Thus thou mayest understand that it is vain to hasten love,
when fortune is against it.

Thanks, father, for this: but so long as I see that my lady is no
tree, I will serve her, however fortune may turn.

I say no more, my son, but think how it was with Phebus and
beware. A man should take good counsel always, for counsel puts
foolhaste away.

Tell me an example, I pray you. (1685-1756.)

Athemas and Demephon. When Troy was taken and the Greeks
returned home, many kings found their people unwilling to receive
them. Among these were Athemas and Demephon, who gathered
a host to avenge themselves and said they would spare neither man,
woman, nor child. Nestor however, who was old and wise, asked
them to what purpose they would reign as kings, if their people should
be destroyed, and bade them rather win by fair speech than by threats.
Thus the war was turned to peace: for the nations, seeing the power
which the kings had gathered, sent and entreated them to lay aside
their wrath. (1757-1856.)

By this example refrain thine heart, my son, and do nothing by
violence which may be done by love. As touching Homicide, it often
happens unadvisedly through Will, when Reason is away, and great
vengeance has sometimes followed. Whereof I shall tell a tale which
it is pity to hear. (1857-1884.)

Orestes. Agamenon, having returned from Troy, was slain by his
wife Climestre and her lover Egistus. Horestes, his infant son, was
saved and delivered into the keeping of the king of Crete. When he
grew up, he resolved to avenge his father, and coming to Athens
gathered a power there with the help of the duke. When he offered
sacrifice in a temp:e for his success, the god gave him command to slay
his mother, tearing away her breasts with his own hands and giving her
body to be devoured. He rode to Micene and took the city by siege :
then he sent for his mother and did as the oracle had commanded.
Egistus, coming to the rescue of Micene, was caught in an ambush
and hanged as a traitor.

liv GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

Fame spread these deeds abroad, and many blamed Horestes for
slaying his mother. The lords met at Athens and sent for him to
come and answer for his deed. He told how the gods had laid a
charge upon him to execute judgement, as he had done, and Menesteus,
a duke and worthy knight, spoke for him and championed his cause.
They concluded upon this that since she had committed so foul an
adultery and murder, she had deserved the punishment, and Horestes
was crowned king of Micene. Egiona, daughter of Egistus and
Climestre, who had consented to the murder of Agamenon, hanged
herself for sorrow that her brother had been acquitted. Such is the
vengeance for murder. (1885-2195.)

My father, I pray you tell me if it is possible without sin to slay
a man.

Yea, my son, in sundry wise. The judge commits sin if he spares
to slay those who deserve death by the law. Moreover a man may
defend his house and his land in war, and slay if no better may be.

I beseech you, father, to tell me whether those that seek war in
a worldly cause, and shed blood, do well. (2196-2250.)

War. God has forbidden homicide, and when God's Son was born,
his angels proclaimed peace to the men of good will. Therefore by
the law of charity there should be no war, and nature also commends
peace. War consorts with pestilence and famine and brings every
kind of evil upon the earth. I know not what reward he deserves who
brings in such things ; and if he do it to gain heaven's grace, he shall
surely fail. Since wars are so evil in God's sight, it is a marvel what
ails men that they cannot establish peace. Sin, I trow, is the cause,
and the wages of sin is death. Covetousness first brought in war, and
among the Greeks Arcadia alone was free from war, because it was
barren and poor. Yet it is a wonder that a worthy king or lord will
claim that to which he has no right. Nature and law both are against
it, but Wit is here oppressed by Will, and some cause is feigned to
deceive the world. Thou mayest take an example of this, how men
excuse their wrong-doing, and how the poor and the rich are alike in
the lust for gain. (2251-2362.)

Alexander and the Pirate. A sea-rover was brought before Alex-
ander and accused of his misdeeds. He replied, ‘I have a heart like
thine, and if I had the power, I would do as thou dost. But since I
am the leader of a few men only, I am called a thief, while thou with
thy great armies art called an Emperor. Rich and poor are not
weighed evenly in the balance.’ The king approved his boldness and
retained him in his service. (2363-2417.)

Thus they who are set on destruction are all of one accord, captain
and company alike. When reason is put aside, man follows rapine
like a bird of prey, and all the world may not suffice for his desires.
Alexander overran the whole earth and died miserably, when he

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS lv

thought himself most secure. Lo, what profit it isto slay men for covet-
ousness, as if they were beasts. Beware, my son, of slaying. (2418-2484.)

Is it lawful, my father, to pass over the sea to war against the
Saracen ?

My son, Christ bade men preach and suffer for the faith. He made
all men free by his own death, and his apostles after him preached and
suffered death: but if they had wished to spread the faith by the sword,
it would never have prevailed. We see that since the time when the
Church took the sword in hand, a great part of that which was won has
been lost to Christ’s faith. Be well advised then always ere thou slay.
Homicide stands now even in the Church itself; and when the well
of pity is thus defouled with blood, others do not hesitate to make war
and to slay. We see murder now upon the earth as m the days when
men bought and sold sins.

In Greece before Christ’s faith men were dispensed of the guilt of
murder by paying gold: so it was with Peleus, Medea, Almeus, and so
it is still But after this life it shall be known how it fares with those
who do such things. Beasts do not prey upon their own kind, and it
is not reasonable that man should be worse than a beast.

Solinus tells a tale of a bird with man’s face, which dies of sorrow
when it has slain a man. By this example men should eschew homi-
cide and follow mercy. (2485-2621.)

I have heard examples of this virtue of MERCY among those who
followed the wars. Remember, my son, that this virtue brings grace,
and that they who are most mighty to hurt should be the most ready
to relieve. (2622-2638.)

Telaphus and Teucer. Achilles and his son Telaphus made war
on Theucer, king of Mese. Achilles was about to slay the king in the
battle, but Telaphus interceded for him, saying that Theucer once did
him good service. Thus the king's life was spared but the Greeks
won the victory. Theucer, grateful for this and for other service before
rendered by Achilles, made Telaphus heir to all his land, and thus was
mercy rewarded. (2639-2717.)

Take pity therefore, my son, of other men's suffering, and let nothing
be a pleasure to thee which is grief to another. Stand against Ire by
the counsel of Patience and take Mercy to be the governor of thy con-
science: so shalt thou put away all homicide and hate, and so shalt
thou the sooner have thy will of love.

Father, I will do your hests; and now give me my penance for
Wrath, and ask further of my life.

My son, I will do so. Art thou then guilty of Sloth?

My father, I would know first the points which bclong to it.

Hearken then, and I will set them forth : and bear well in mind that
shrift is of no value to him that will not endeavour to leave his vice.

(2718-2774-)

lvi GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

LIB. IV.

1-312. LACHESCE is the first point of SLOTH, and his nature is to
put off till to-morrow what he ought to do to-day. Hast thou done so
in love?

Yes, my father, I confess I am guilty. When I have set a time to
speak to that sweet maid, Lachesce has often told me that another
time is better, or has bidden me write instead of speaking by mouth.
Thus I have let the time slide for Sloth, until it was too late. But my
love is always the same, and though my tongue be slow to ask, my
heart is ever entreating favour. I pray you tell me some tale to teach
me how to put away Lachesce. (1-76.)

Eneas and Dido. When Eneas came with his navy to Carthage,
he won the love of the queen Dido, who laid all her heart on him.
Thence he went away toward Ytaile; and she, unable to endure the
pain of love, wrote him a letter saying that if he came not again, it
would be with her as with the swan that lost her mate, she should die
for his sake. But he, being slothful in love, tarried still away, and she
bitterly complaining of his delay, thrust a sword through her heart
and thus got rest for herself. (77-146.)

Ulysses and Penelope. Again, when Ulixes stayed away so long at
Troy, his true wife Penolope wrote him a letter complaining of his
Lachesce. So he set himself to return home with all speed as soon as
Troy was taken. (147-233)

Grossteste. The great clerk Grossteste laboured for seven years to
make a speaking head of brass, and then by one half-minute of
Lachesce he lost all his labour. (234-243.)

It fares so sometimes with the lover who does not keep his time.
Let him think of the five maidens whose lamps were not lit when the
bridegroom came forth, and how they were shut out.

My father, I never bad any time or place appointed me to get any
grace: otherwise I would have kept my hour. But she will not alight on
any lure that I may cast, and the louder I cry, the less she hears.

Go on so, my son, and let no Lachesce be found in thee. (244-312.)

313-538. PUSILLANIMITY means in our language the lack of heart to
undertake man's work. This vice is ever afraid when there is no cause
of dread. So as regards love there are truants that dare not speak,
who are like bells without clappers and do not ask anything.

I am one of those, my father, in the presence of my lady.

Do no more so, my son, for fortune comes to him who makes
continuance in his prayers. (313-370.)

Pygmaleon. There was one named Pymaleon, a sculptor of great
skill, who made an image of a woman in ivory, fairer than any living
creature. On this he set his love and prayed her ever for a return, as
though she understood what he said. At length Venus had pity on him

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS lvii

and transformed the image into a woman of flesh and blood. Thus he
won his wife; but if he had not spoken, he would hawe failed. By
this example thou mayest learn that word may work above nature,
and that the god of love is favourable to those who are steadfast
in love. About which also I read a strange tale. (371-450)

ifhis. King Ligdus told his wife that if her child about to be born
should be a daughter, it must be put to death. A daughter was born,
whom Isis the goddess of childbirth bade bring up as a boy. So they
named him Iphis, and when he was ten years old he was betrothed
to Iante. Cupid took pity on them at last for the love that they had
to one another, and changed Iphis into a man. (451-505.)

Thus love has goodwill towards those who pursue steadfastly that
which to love is due.

My father, I have not failed for lack of prayer, except so far as
I said above. I beseech Love day and night to work his miracle for
me. (506-538.)

539-886. FORGETFULNESS. There is yet another who serves Acci-
die, and that is Foryetelness. He forgets always more than the half
of that which he has to say to his love.

So it has often been with me, father: I am so sore afraid in her
presence that I am as one who has seen a ghost, and I cannot get my
wits for fear, but stand, as it were, dumb and deaf. Then afterwards
I lament and ask myself why I was afraid, for there is no more
violence in her than in a child of three years old. Thus I complain to
myself of my forgetfulness ; but 1 never forget the thought of her, nor
should do, though I had the Ring of Oblivion, which Moses made for
Tharbis. She is near my heart always, and when I am with her, I am
so ravished with the sight of her, that I forget all the words that
lI ought to speak. Thus it is with me as regards forgetfulness and lack
of heart.

My son, love will not send his grace unless we ask it. God knows
a man's thought and yet he wills that we should pray. Therefore
pull up a busy heart and let no chance escape thee ; and as touching
Foryetelness 1 find a tale written. (539-730.)

Demophon and Phyllis. King Demephon, as he sailed to Troy, came
to Rhodopeie, of which land Phillis was queen. He plighted his troth
to her, and she granted him all that he would have. Then came the
time that he should sail on to Troy, but he vowed to return to her
within a month. The month passed and he forgot his time. She sent
him a letter, setting him a day, and saying that if he came not, his
sloth would cause her death. She watched and waited, putting up
a lantern in a tower by night, but he did not return. Then when the
day came and no sail appeared, she ran down from the tower to an
arbour where she was alone, and hanged herself upon a bough with
a girdle of silk. The gods shaped her into a tree, which men called

lviii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

after her Philliberd, and this name it has still to the shame of Deme-
phon, who repented, but all too late. Thus none can guess the evil
that comes through Foryetelness. (731-886.)

887-1082. NEGLIGENCE is he who will not be wise beforehand,
and afterwards exclaims, * Would God I had known!' He makes
the stable-door fast after the steed is stolen. If thou art so in love,
thou wilt not achieve success.

My father, I may with good conscience excuse myself of this.
I labour to learn love's craft, but I cannot find any security therein.
My will is not at fault, for I am busy night and day to find out how
love may be won.

I am glad, my son, that thou canst acquit thyself of this, for there is
no science and no virtue that may not be lost by Negligence. (887-978.

Phaeton. Phebus had a son named Pheton, who, conspiring with
his mother Clemenee, got leave to drive the chariot of the Sun. Phebus
advised him how he should do, and that he should drive neither too
low nor too high. But he through Negligence let the horses draw the
car where they would, and at last the world was set on fire. Phebus
then caused him to fall from the car, and he was drownetl in a river.
(979-1034.)

Icarus. As in high estate it is a vice to go too low, so in low estate
it does harm to go too high. Dedalus had a son named Icharus, and
they were in prison with Minotaurus and could not escape. This
Dedalus then fashioned wings for himself and his son, and he warned
his son not to fly too high, lest the wax with which his wings were set
on should melt with the sun. Icharus neglected his father’s warning
and fell to his destruction : and so do some others. (1035-1082.)

1083-2700. IDLENESS is another of the brood of Sloth and is the
nurse of every vice. In summer he will not work for the heat and in
winter for the cold. He will take no travail for his lady’s sake, but is
as a Cat that would eat fish and yet not wet his claws. Art thou of
such a mould? Tell me plainly.

Nay, father, towards love I was never idle.

What hast thou done then, my son?

In every place where my lacy is, I have been ready to serve her,
whether in chamber or in hall. When she goes to mass, I lead her up
to the offering ; when she works at her weaving or embroidery, I stand
by, and sometimes I tell tales or sing. When she will not stay with
me, but busies herself elsewhere, I play with the dog or the birds and
talk to the page or the waiting-maid, to make an excuse for my
lingering. If she will ride, 1 lift her into the saddle and go by her side,
and at other tímes I ride by her carriage and speak with her, or sing.
Tell me then if I have any guilt of Idleness.

Thou shalt have no penance here, my son; but nevertheless there
are many who will not trouble themselves to know what love is, until

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS lix

he overcome them by force. Thus a king's daughter once was idle,
until the god of love chastised her, as thou shalt hear, (1083-1244.)

Rosiphelee, daughter of Herupus, king of Armenie, was wise and
fair, but she had one great fault of sloth, desiring neither marriage nor
the love of paramours. Therefore Venus and Cupid made a rod for
her chastising, so that her mood at length was changed. She walked
forth once in the month of May, and staying alone under the trees near
a lawn, she heard the birds sing and saw the hart and the hind go
together, and a debate arose within her asto love. Then casting her eyes
about, she saw a company of ladies riding upon white horses. They
had saddles richly adorned and were clothed in the fairest copes and
kirtles, all alike of white and blue. Their beauty was beyond that
of earthly things, and they wore crowns upon their heads such that all
the gold of Cresus could not have purchased the least of them.

The king’s daughter drew back abashed and hid herself to let them
pass, not daring to ask who they were. Then after them she saw
a woman on a black horse, lean, galled and limping, yet with a richly
jewelled bridle. The woman, though fair and young, had her clothing
torn and many score of halters hanging about her middle. The
princess came forth and asked her what this company might be, and
she said these were they who had been true servants to love, but she
herself had been slow and unwilling ; and therefore each year in the
month of May she must needs ride in this manner and bear halters
for.the rest. Her jewelled bridle was granted her because at last she
had yielded to love, but death came upon her too suddenly. ‘1 com-
mend you to God, lady,’ she said, ‘ and bid you warn all others for my
sake not to be idle in love, but to think upon my bridle "Thus she
passed out of sight like a cloud, and the lady was moved with fear and
amended her ways, swearing within her heart that she would bear no
halters. (1245-1446.)

Understand then, my son, that as this lady was chastised, so should
those knights take heed who are idle towards love, lest they deserve
even a greater punishment. Maidens too must follow the law of love
and not waste that time during which they might be bearing the
charge of children for the service of the world. And about this
I think to tell them a tale. (1447-1504.)

Jephthah's daughter. Among the Jews there was a duke named
Jepte, who going to war against Amon, made a vow that if victory
were granted to him, he would sacrifice to God the first who should
meet him on his return. He overcame his foes and returning met his
daughter, who came forth to welcome him with songs and dances.
When she saw his sorrow and heard the vow that he had made, she
bade him keep his covenant, and asked only for a respite of forty days
to bewail her maidenhead, in that she had brought forth no children
for the increase of her people. So with other maidens she went

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixi

in battle, would not draw back from the danger, but with Jonathas his
son he met his enemies on the mountains of Gelboe, and won eternal
fame. (1935-1962.)

Education of Achilles. Prowess is founded upon hardihood, and
we know how Achilles was brought up to this by Chiro, called
Centaurus. He was taught not to make his chase after the beasts
that fled from him, but to fight with such as would withstand him.
Moreover a covenant was set that every day he should slay, or at least
wound, some savage beast, as a lion or a tiger, and bring home with
him a token of blood upon his weapon. "Thus he came to surpass all
other knights. (1963-2013.)

Other examples there are, as of Lancelot and many more, which
show how Prowess in arms has led to success in love. Let this tale
be witness of it. (2014-2044.)

Hercules and Achelons. King Oénes of Calidoyne had a daughter
Deianire, who was promised in marriage to Achelons, a giant and a
magician. Hercules, that worthy knight who set up the two pillars of
brass in the desert of India, sought her love, and the king dared.not
refuse him. It was ordained then that combat should decide between
them. Achelons, stirred up to prowess by love, fought boldly, but Her-
cules seized him with irresistible strength. Then Achelons tried his
-craft, changing himself into a snake first and then a bull. Hercules,
however, held him by the horns and forced him down, till at length he
was overcome. Thus Hercules won his wife by prowess. (2045-2134.)

So Pantasilee, queen of Feminee, for love of Hector did deeds of
prowess at Troy; and P&ilemenis, because he brought home the body
of Pantasilee and saved some of her maidens, had a tribute granted to
him of three maidens yearly from the land of Amazoine. Æneas also
won Lavine in battle against king Turnus. By these examples thou
mayest see how love’s grace may be gained, for worthy women love
manhood and gentilesse. (2135-2199.)

What is Gentilesse, my father?

Some set thatname upon riches coming down from old time, but there is
no true merit in riches ; and as for lineage, all are descended from Adam
and Eve. Rich and poor are alike in their birth and in their death ; the
true gentilesse depends upon virtue, and for virtue love may profit much.
E specially love is opposed to Sloth, and Sloth is most of all contrary to
the nature of man, for by it all knowledge is lost. (2200-2362.)

By Ladour it was that all useful arts were found out, and the names
of many inventors have been handed down by fame, as Cham, Cadmus,
Theges, Termegis, Josephus, Heredot, Jubal, Zenzis, Promotheus,
Tubal, Jadahel, Verconius, and among women Minerve and Delbora.
Saturnus found out agriculture and trade, and he first coined money.
(2363-2450.

Many philosophers have cortrived the getting and refining of

Ixii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS *

metals and the science of Alconomie, by which gold and silver are
multiplied, with the working of the seven bodies and the four spirits
for the finding of the perfect Elixir.

The philosophers of old made three Stones: the Vegetable, by which
life and health are preserved, the Animal, by which the five senses are
helped in their working, and the Mineral, by which metals are trans-
formed. This science is a true one, but men know not how to follow it
rightly, so that it brings in only poverty and debt. They who first
founded it have great names, as Hermes, Geber, Ortolan and others.
(2451-2632.)

With regard to Language, Carmente was the first who invented the
Latin letters, and then came those who laid down the rules of rhetoric,
as Aristarchus, Dindimus, Tullius and Cithero. Jerome translated
the Bible from Hebrew, and others also translated books into Latin
from Arabic and Greek. In poetry Ovid wrote for lovers, and taught
how love should be cooled, if it were too hot.

My father, I would read his books, if they might avail me ; but as
a tree would perish if its roots were cut away, so if my love were with-
drawn, my heart would die.

That is well said, my son, if there be any way by which love may
be achieved; and assuredly he who will not labour and dares not
venture will attain to nothing. (2633-2700.)

2701-3388. SOMNOLENCE. Thechamberlain of Sloth is Somnolence,
who sleeps when he should be awake. "When knights and ladies revel
in company, he skulks away like a hare and lays himself down to rest ;
and there he dreams and snores, and when he wakes, he expounds his
dreams. If thou wilt serve love, my son, do not thou so.

Surely not, father; it were better for me to die than to have such
sluggardy, or rather it were better I had never been born. I have
never been sleepy in the place where my lady was, whether I should
dance with her, or cast the dice, or read of Troilus. When it is late
and I must needs go, I look piteously upon her and take leave upon
my knee, or kiss her if I may; and then before I depart from the
house, I feign some cause to return and take leave of her again. Then
afterwards I curse the night for driving me away from her company,
and I sigh and wish for day, or think of the happiness of those who
have their love by their side all the long night through. At last I go
to bed, but my heart remains still with her: no lock may shut him out,
and he passes through the strongest wall He goes into her bed and
takes her softly in his arms, and wishes that his body also were there.
In my dreams again I suffer the torments of love, or if I dream some-
times that I meet her alone and that Danger has bcen left behind,
I wake only to find all in vain.

My son, in past times many dreams have told of truth, as thou
mayest know by a tale. (2701-2926.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixiii

Ceix and Alceone. Ceix, king of Trocinie, went on a pilgrimage for
the sake of his brother Dedalion, and left at home Alceone his wife.
She besought him to fix the time of his return, and he said ‘ Within two
months. The time passed and she heard no tidings, and Juno, to
whom she prayed, sent Yris to the house of Sleep, bidding him show
this lady by dream how the matter was.

Yris bent the heaven like a bow and came down, and she went to
the place where Sleep had his dwelling, in a cave where no sun ever
shone and no sound could be heard but the murmur of the river
Lethes, which ran hard by. He himself was sleeping in a chamber
strewn up and down with dreams, and long it was ere her words could
pierce his ears. When he at length understood the message, he chose
out three, Morpheus, Ithecus and Panthasas, to do this deed. Morpheus
appeared to Alceone in the form of her husband lying dead upon the
shore, while the other two showed her in action the scene of the tem-
pest and the wreck. She cried out in terror and awoke, and on the
morrow, going down to the sea, she saw his body floating on the waves.
Careless of death she leapt into the deep, and would have caught him
in her arms; but the gods pitied them and changed them into birds
of the sea, and so they dwelt together lovingly. (2927-3123.)

Thus dreams prove sometimes true.

Father, I have said that when I am in my lady's company, I do not
desire to sleep. But at other times I care little to wake, for I cannot
endure to be in company without her. Iknow not if this be Somnolence.

I acquit thee, my son, and I will tell a tale to show how little love
and sleep are in accord. (3124-3186.)

Prayer of Cephalus. He who will wake by night for love may take
example by Cephalus, who when he lay with Aurora prayed to the Sun
and to the Moon that the night might be made longer and the day
delayed, in order that he might follow only the law of love. Sloth cares
nothing for the night except that he may sleep, but Cephalus did other-
wise. (3187-3275.)

My father, that is no wonder, since he had his love by his side.
But this is never my case, so I have never need to entreat the Sun
to stay his chariot, or the Moon to lengthen her course. Sometimes
I have a dream that makes me glad, but afterwards I find it untrue:
so that I know not of what use sleep is to man.

True, my son, except that it helps nature, when it is taken in due
measure. But he who sleeps unduly may come by misfortune, as I can
show by a tale. (3276-3316.)

Argus and Mercury. Jupiter lay by Io, wherefore Juno changed her
into a cow and gave her into the keeping of Argus, who had a hundred
eyes. Mercury came to steal the cow, and he piped so cunningly that
Argus fell asleep. So Mercury smote off his head and took away lo.
Therefore, my son, beware thou sleep not overmuch. (3317-3364.)

lxiv GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

Love will not let me do so, father: but ask further, if there be more.

Yea, my son, one there is to tell of still. (3365-3388.)

3389-3692. TRISTESCE. When Sloth has done all that he may, he
conceives Tristesce, which drives him to utter wretchedness. With
Tristesce is Obstinacy, and despair follows them. So it is with some
lovers, who lose all hope.

I am one of these, father, except that I do not cease to pray.

My son, do not despair ; for when the heart fails, all is lost. Listen
to a tale about this. (3389-3514.)

Iphis and Araxarathen. \phis, son of king Theucer, loved a maid
of low estate. Though a prince, he was subject to love, but she would
not listen to his suit. At length being brought to despair, he came
before her house in the night, and having bewailed his case and
lamented her hardness of heart, he hanged himself upon the post of
the gate. On the morrow the maiden took the guilt upon herself, and
prayed that no pity might be shown to her, as she had shown no pity
to him. The gods took away her life and changed her into stone; and
men carried the body of Iphis to the city and set up the stone image
of the maiden above his tomb, with an epitaph telling of their fate.
(3515-3684.)

Thus, my son, despair, as I say, is a grievous thing.

Father, I understand now the nature of Sloth, and I will take heed.

LiB. V.

AVARICE is the root of all strife among men. He ever gets more
and more and lets nothing go, and yet he has never enough. He has
no profit from his riches any more than an ox from his ploughing or
a sheep from his wool: instead of being master of his wealth, he serves
it asa slave. Dost thou fare so in love, my son?

No, my father, for I was never in possession ; but I cannot here
excuse my will, for if I had my lady, I would never let her go; and
herein I am like the avaricious man. Moreover, though I have not
the wealth, yet I have the care, and am like that ox of which ye told
before. Judge if this be Avarice.

My son, it is no wonder if thou art a slave to love ; but to be a slave
to gold is against nature and reason. (1-140.)

Midas. Bacchus had a priest named Cillenus, and he being drunk
and wandering in Frige was brought in bonds before Mide, the king of
that land. This king dealt with him courteously, and Bacchus in
reward of this bade him ask what worldly thing he would. He debated
long within himself between three things, pleasure, power and wealth ;
and at length he asked that all things might be turned by his touch
to gold. The boon granted, he tried his power on stone and leaf, but
when he at length sat down to meat, then he saw the folly of Avarice,

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixv

and prayed Bacchus to take back his gift. The god took pity and
bade him bathe in Paceole, and so he recovered his first estate; but
the stones in the bed of the river were changed to gold. He went
home and put away his Avarice, and taught his people to till the land
and breed cattle rather than seek increase of gold. (141-332.)

Before gold was coined, war and usury were unknown, but now
through Avarice all the world is out of joint. When thou seest a man
have need, give him of thy substance, for the pain of Zanfalus awaits
those who will not give : they stand in a river up to their chin and yet
cannot drink, and fruit hangs over and touches their lips, of which they
cannot eat. Thus Avarice hungers ever after more, though he has
enough, and gets no good from that which he has. If thou desirest to
be beloved, thou must use largess and give for thy love's sake : if thou
wilt have grace, be gracious, and eschew the disease of Avarice. Some
men have no rest for fear their gold should be stolen, and so some
lovers cannot be at peace for Jealousy. (333-444.)

What is this Jealousy, my father?

It is like a fever, my son, which returns every day. It makes a man
look after his lady wherever she goes, and if she make the least sign
of countenance to another man, he turns it to a cause of quarrel.
Nothing can please him that she does. If he goes from home, he
leaves some one to report her doings, and finds fault where there is
none. The wife who is married to such a man may well curse the day
when the gold was laid upon the book. Asthe sick man has no appetite
for food, so the jealous man has no appetite for love, and yet like the
avaricious he is tormented with the fear of losing his treasure. Love
hates nothing more than this fever of which I speak, and to show
how grievous it is, I will tell thee an example. (445-634.)

Vulcan and Venus. Vulcan the smith had the fair Venus for his
wife, whom Mars loved and was beloved again. Jealousy caused
Vulcan to spy upon them, and he devised so by his craft that
they were caught as they lay together and bound with chains. He
called the gods to see, but was only rebuked for his pains. Hence
earthly husbands may learn that by Jealousy they bring shame upon
themselves. (635-725.)

This example, my father, is hard to understand. How can such
things happen among the gods, when there is but one God who is Lord
of all? How come such gods as these to have a place?

My son, such gods are received by the unwise in sundry places:
1 will tell thee how. (726-747.)

747-1970. THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD. There were four
forms of belief before Christ was born.

The CAa/dees worshipped the Sun, Moon and Stars and the Ele-
ments, which cannot be gods because they suffer change. (747-786.)

The Egyf/ians worshipped beasts, and also three gods and a goddess,

»* e

Ixvi GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

of whom the goddess, Ysis, came from Greece and taught them tillage.
(787-834.)

The Greeks deified the men who were their rulers or who became
famous, as Saturnus king of Crete and Jupiter his son,—such was their
folly. Of gods they had besides these Mars, Apollo, Mercury, Vulcan,
Eolus, Neptune, Pan, Bacchus, Esculapius, Hercules, Pluto, and of
goddesses Sibeles, Juno, Minerva, Pallas, Ceres, Diana, Proserpine;
also Satyrs, Nymphs and Manes,—it would be too long to tell the whole.
(835-1373)

Yes, father, but why have ye said nothing of the god and the goddess
of love?

I have left it for shame, my son, because I am their priest, but since
thou desirest it, I will tell thee. "Venus was the daughter of Saturn,
and she first taught that love should be common. She had children
both by gods and men : she lay with her brother Jupiter and her son
Cupid, and she first told women to sell their bodies. Therefore they
called her the goddess of love and her son the god. (1374-1443.)

The Greeks took a god to help in whatsoever they had to do.
Dindimus, king of the Bragmans, wrote to Alexander, blaming the
Greek faith, and saying that they had a god for every member of their
body, Minerva for the head, Mercury for the tongue, and so on. (1444-
1496.)

Idol-worship came first through Cirophanes, who set up an image of
his son, and after that Ninus made a statue of his father Belus, which
he caused to be worshipped, and third came the statue of Apis or Sera-
pis, who spoke to Alexander in the cave, when he came riding with
Candalus. (1497-1590.)

Thus went the misbeliefs of Grece, of Egypt and of Chaldee. Then,
as the book says, God chose a people for himself. Habraham taught
his lineage to worship only the one true God, and after they had
multiplied in Egypt, God delivered them wondrously by Moises and
brought them into the land of promise. But when Christ was born,
they failed and fell away; so that they now live out of God's grace,
dispersed in sundry lands. (1591-1736.)

God sent his Son down from heaven to restore the loss which we
suffered in Adam: so that original sin was the cause of man's honour
at the last. By this faith only we can attain to Paradise once more,
but faith is not enough without good deeds. Therefore be not deceived
by Lollardy, which sets the true faith of Christ in doubt. (1737-1824.)

Christ wrought first and then taught, so that his words explained his
deeds, but we in these days have the words alone. Our prelates are
like that priest who turned away his eyes and let Anthenor steal the
Palladion of Troy. Christ died for the faith, but they say that life is
sweet, and they follow only their ownease. Therefore the ship of Peter
is almost lost in the waves, and tares are sown among the corn. Gregory

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS lIxvii

complains of the sloth of the prelacy, and asks how we shall appear
beside the Apostles in the day of Judgement. We shall be like the
man who hid his lord's besant and got no increase upon it. We are
slow towards our spiritual work, but swift to Avarice, which, as the
apostle says, is idolatry.

My father, for this which ye have said I shall take the better heed :
but now tell me the branches of Avarice as well in love as otherwise.
(1825-1970.)

1971—2858. COVEITISE. Avarice has many servants, and one of
these is Coveitise, who is her principal purveyor and makes his gain
in every place. He is as the pike who devours the smaller fishes: for
him might is always right. I will tell thee a tale of the punishment of
this vice. (1971-2030.)

Vizgils Mirror. Virgil made a mirror at Rome, wherein the
motions of all enemies for thirty miles round might be seen. They
of Carthage had war with Rome, and took counsel with the king of
Puile how they might destroy this mirror. Crassus, the Roman
Emperor, was above all things covetous. "They sent therefore three
philosophers to Rome with a great treasure of gold, which they buried
in two places secretly. These men professed to the Emperor that by
dreams they could discover ancient hoards of gold, and first one and
then the other of these buried treasures was found. Then the third
master announced a yet greater treasure, to be found by mining under
the magic mirror. As they mined, they underset the supports of the
mirror with timber, and on a certain night these three set fire to the
timber and fled out of the city. So the mirror fell and was destroyed,
and Hanybal slew so many of the Romans in a day, that he filled three
bushels with their gold rings. The Romans punished their Emperor
by pouring molten gold down his throat, so that his thirst for gold
might be quenched. (2031-2224.)

Coveitise in a king or in those of his court is an evil thing, my son;
but he who most covets often gains least, and Fortune stands for much
as well in courts as elsewhere. (2225-2272.)

The Two Coffers. A king heard that his courtiers complained of
unequal rewards for their service. He resolved to show them that the
fault lay not with him, and he caused two coffers to be made in all
respects alike, the one of which he filled with gold and jewels, and the
other with straw and stones. He called before him those who had
complained, and bade them choose. They chose the worthless coffer,
and he proved to them by this, that if they were not advanced, their
fortune only was to blame. (2273-2390.)

Like this is the story of the Zwo Beggars whom the Emperor
Frederick heard disputing about riches, and for whom he prepared
two pasties, one containing a capon and the other full of florins.
(2391-2441.)

e2

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixix

with the daughters of king Lichomede. There he was the bedfellow
of Deidamie, and so her maidenhead was lost. The Greeks in the
meantime assailed Troy in vain, and it was told them by divination
that unless they had Achilles, their war would be endless. Ulixes
therefore was sent with Diomede to bring him, and coming to the
kingdom of Lichomede he could not distinguish Achilles from the rest.
Then he set forth the gifts which he had brought for the women, and
among them a knight's harness brightly burnished. Achilles left ali
the rest and chose this, and then he came forth armed in it before
them. He was glad enough, but not so Lichomede, who had been so
overseen. Thus came out the treachery of False Witness; and if
Thetis, who was a goddess, thus deceived Deidamie, what security have
women against the untruth of lovers? (2961-3218.)

My father, tell me some tale about Perjury.

I will tell thee, my son, how Jason did to Medea, as it is written in
the book of Troy. (3219-3246.)

Jason and Medea. Jason was the nephew of king Peleus; and
desiring to achieve adventures and see strange lands, he took a company
of knights, and among them Hercules, and sailed to the isle of Colchos
to win the fleece of gold. On the way they touched at Troy, where
the king Lamedon treated them discourteously, and then they came to
Colchos. Oétes, who was king there, endeavoured to persuade Jason
to leave his adventure, but without success; and then the princess
Medea entertained him with welcome. Moved by love of him she
offered him her help to win the fleece, and he plighted his troth to her
and swore that he would never part from her. She taught him what
to do, and gave him a magic ring and an ointment, telling him also
what charms and prayers to use, so that he might slay the serpent
which guarded the fleece, yoke the fire-breathing oxen to the plough,
sow the teeth of the serpent and slay the knights who should spring up.

He took his leave of her, and passing over the water in a boat did
as Medea bade him. Returning with the fleece he was welcomed
back by Medea and the rest, and that night he took Medea and
her treasure on board his ship and they sailed away to Greece. It
was vain to pursue: they were gone.

When they came to Greece, all received them with. joy, and these
lovers lived together, till they had two sons. Medea with her charms
renewed the youth of Eson, Jason's father, and brought him back to
the likeness of a young man of twenty years. No woman could have
shown more love to a man than she did to Jason; and yet, when he
bare the crown after his uncle Peleus was dead, he broke the oath
which he had sworn and took Creusa, daughter of king Creon, to wife.
Medea sent her the gift of a mantle, from which fire sprang out and
consumed her ; then in the presence of Jason she killed his two sons,
and was gone to the court of Pallas above before he could draw his

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixxi

If ever thou be wedded man, my son, use no such means as this.

4671-4884. PARSIMONY or SCARCENESS. Another there is whom
Avarice has for the keeper of his house, and his name is Scarceness.
It is easier to flay the flint than to get from him the value of a rush to
help another. How is it with thee, my son? Hast thou been scarce or
free towards thy love?

My father, if I had all the treasure of Cresus or the gold of Octovien,
T would give it all to her, if I might. But indeed I never gave her any
gift, for from me she will not take any, lest I should have some small
cause of hope. Yet she takes from others and gives again, so that
all speak well of her. As for me, she knows that my heart and all
that I have is at her command and will be while I live. (4671-4780.)

Babio and Croceus. Scarceness accords not with love, and often
a man has lost the coat for the hood. With gift a man may do much,
and meed keeps love in house. Babio had a love named Viola, who
was both fair and free ; but he was a niggard, and so she was ill served.
Croceus, liberal and amorous, came in her way, and she left Babio
loveless. (4781-4862.)

My father, if there be anything amiss in me toward my love in this
matter, I will amend it.

Thou sayest well, and I will pass on. (4863-4884.)

4885-5504. INGRATITUDE or UNKINDNESS. This is a vice which
repays no service, and when he has received a barnful, grudges to
give a grain in return. God and Nature both condemn this vice, and
even a beast loves the creature who does him kindness, as this tale
will show by example. (4885-4936.)

Adrian and Bardus. Adrian, a great lord of Rome, while hunting
in a forest, fell into a pit. He cried for help all day, but none heard
till evening, when one Bardus, a woodcutter, came by with his ass, and
heard Adrian promise to give half his goods to him who should help
him. He let down a rope, and first an ape and then a serpent was
drawn up by it. Bardus was terrified, but still the voice implored help,
and at length Adrian was drawn up. At once this lord departed with-
out thanks, and threatened Bardus with vengeance if ever he should
claim the promise. The poor man went home, not daring to speak
more, and on the next day, going to get wood, he found that the ape
had requited his kindness by gathering for him a great heap of sticks,
and so continued to do day by day ; and the serpent brought him a
precious stone in her mouth. This last he sold to a jeweller and after-
wards found it again in his purse, and as often as he sold it, the same
thing followed. At length this came to be known, and the Emperor
heard of it. Calling Bardus before him he listened to his tale, and
gave judgement that Adrian should fulfil his promise. (4937-5162.)

Flee this vice, my son, for many lovers are thus unkind.

Alas, father, that such a man should be, who when he has had what

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixxiii

sits at home waiting for her husband's return from hunting will hear
from him nothing of this, but only how his hounds have run or his
hawks have flown. (6075-6144.)

Nepiune and Cornix. Cornix was a maid attendant on Pallas, and
as she went upon the shore, Neptune thought to rob her of the treasure
which passes all others and is called the maidenhead. She prayed
to Pallas, and by her help escaped from him in the form of a crow,
rejoicing more to keep her maidenhead white under the blackness
of the feathers than to lose it and be adorned with the fairest pearls.
(6145-6217.)

Calistona. King Lichaon had a daughter Calistona, who desired
ever to be a maiden and dwelt with the nymphs of Diane. Jupiter by
craft stole her maidenhead, and Diane discovering it reproached her,
so that she fled away. She was delivered of a son, Archas, but Juno in
vengeance transformed her into a bear. In that likeness she met her
son in the forest, and he bent his bow against her, but Jupiter ordained
for them both so that they were saved from misfortune. (6225-6337.)

Such Robbery, my son, is ever to be avoided, and I will tell thee how
in old days VIRGINITY was held in esteem.

Valerius tells how the Emperor did honour to the virgin, when he
met her in the way, and we hear also of PAirinus, who thrust out his
eyes in order that he might the better keep his virginity.

Valentinian moreover, the Emperor, in his old age rejoiced more
that he had overcome his flesh, than that he had conquered his
enemies in battle. (6338-6428.)

Evil follows when Virginity is taken away in lawless manner, as when
Agamenon took Criseide from the city of Lesbon, and plague came
upon the host, so that they sent her back with prayer and sacrifice.

Therefore do no Robbery in love's cause, my son. (6429-6492.)

6493-6960. STEALTH. Coveitise has also aservant called Stealth,
who takes his prey in secret, coming into houses at night, or cutting
purses by day. Like the dog that comes back from worrying sheep, he
looks all innocent, so that no man knows what he has done. There
are lovers also who take by stealth, either kisses or other things.
Hast thou done so? (6493-6561.)

I dare not, father, for my heart is hers and will not do anything
against her. Moreover Danger is so watchful a warden that none can
steal anything from her. Strong locks make thieves into honest men,
and by no lying in wait can 1 slip through his guard. Yet at night 1
often wake when others sleep, and I look out from my window upon
the houses round, and mark the chamber where shelies. Istand there
long in the cold and wish for some device of sorcery, whereby 1 might
enter that chamber and steal. It brings me ease for the time to think
of these things, but it profits me nothing in the end. It is for you to
judge if I deserve penance for this or no.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixxv

hU

a man loves none of them, but goes there only to steal their hearts.
All this is Sacrilege.

My father, I do not so: but when my lady goes to»matins or to mass,
thither I go also ; and then my looks are for her alone, and my prayers
are that God may change her heart. I watch and wait to steal from
her a word or look, and when I lead her up to the offering with my
hand about her waist, I win a touch as well. Except in such things
I have done no Sacrilege, but it is my power and not my will that fails.

Thy will is to blame, my son ; the rest that thou hast said is of little
account. Yet all things have their time and place: the church is for
Prayer and the chamber for other things. Thatthou mayest know how
Sacrilege is punished, I will spend on thee a tale. (7032-7194.)

Parts and Helen. Lamedon was king of Troy, and against him the
Greeks made war, and they slew him and destroyed his city. With other
prisoners they took the fair Esiona his daughter, and she was given to
Thelamon. Priamus, son of Lamedon, built up Troy again, and with
advice of his parliament he sent Antenor to demand back Esiona. The
Greeks and Thelamon stoutly refused his request, and Priamus called
his parliament again to debate of war or peace. Hector spoke for peace,
alleging grounds of prudence, though he was ever the first in war;
but his brother Paris gave his voice for avenging the wrong. He told
how, as he slept beside a well, three goddesses came before him in
a vision, and Venus, to whom he assigned the golden apple which was
the prize of beauty, had promised to give him in Greece the fairest
woman of all the earth. Paris then went forth to Greece, though
Cassandra and Helenus lamented for the evil that was to come.
Landed in an isle he met the queen Heleine, who came to do sacrifice
there to Venus, and he stole her heart. Heleine was in the temple all
the night, offering prayer to Venus, and Paris came all suddenly and
bore her to his ship. This Sacrilege was the cause why the Greeks
laid siege about Troy, and at last burnt and slew all that was within
it. (7195-7590.)

Note also how Achilles saw Polixena in the temple of Apollo, and
how Troilus first laid his love on Criseide in a holy place. Take heed
therefore to thyself.

Thus Avarice has more branches than any other vice, and the work-
ing of it is everywhere seen; but if a man would live rightly, he must
do Largess. (7591-7640.)

7641-7844. PRODIGALITY and LARGESS. Virtue lies between two
extremes: here we see Avarice and Prodigality, and between them
Liberality or Largess, which holds the middle path between too much
and too little. Where Largess guides a man, he does what is right
both to God and the world, and God rewards him with the gift of
heaven. The world gives ever to him who hath; but it is better to
give than to receive, to have thine own good than to crave that of

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixxvil

is butler of both, and being blind he gives men to drink of them by
chance, now of this and now of that, so that some laugh and others
lower, I know by thy tale that thou hast drunk of the potion that is
bitter. (306-390.)

Bacchus in the Desert. But thou must ever pray to attain to the
other, whereby thy thirst may be allayed, as Bacchus prayed in the
desert, when he and all his host were in danger of perishing by thirst.
Jupiter sent a ram, which spurned the ground, and there sprang up
a fountain of water. (391-439.)

Pray thou thus in thy need: a dumb man seldom gets land.
Remember moreover that the butler is blind, and he may by chance
give thee a drink of the sweet, which shall cause thee to grow sober.

Of love-drunkenness an example is Tristram, who drank with Bele
Ysolde of the drink which Brangwein gave them: and that thou may
the more eschew the company of drunken men, hear this tale. (440-
484.)

Marriage of Pirithous. The fair Ipotacie was wedded to Pirotoüs,
and he invited his friends to the feast. They became drunk both with
wine and with desire, and so they carried away the bride by violence
from her husband. (485-529.)

Galba and Vitellus were rulers of Spain, and so drunken were they
both that the land cried out against them. They ravished both wife
and maid, but at length they were brought under the law and con-
demned to die. Then they filled full a great vessel of wine and drank
until their senses left them, and so they were slain, being already half
dead. (537-595-)

617-1260. DELICACY. The vice of Delicacy will not lack any
pleasure which meat or drink can give, and desires always something
new.

So he who is delicate in love cannot content himself with what he
has; but though he have a fair wife, yet he will set his heart on others,
and though his lady make him cheer, he must have more than she can
with honour give. .

I am not guilty of this, father: I would be satisfied if I could be fed
at all, except with woe. Yet some dainties I pick which please me for
the time. (617-752.)

My sight is fed with dainties when I look upon her face and form, yet
it may never be fed to the full, but always longs for more. (753-826.)

My hearing has a dainty feast when men commend her worthiness
and grace, and above all when I hear her speak, for her words are to
me like the winds of the South. Or again, I feed my ears with tales
of those who loved before I was born, of Ydoine and Amadas and of
many more, and I think how sorrow endures but for atime. (827-898.)

Finally, I have a cook whose name is Thought, who keeps his pots
ever boiling with fancy and desire, and sets before me on the table all

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixxix

men to the form of beasts, but he overcame them with his sorceries,
and at length he took his course for home, leaving Circes with child.
His wife and all his people rejoiced at his home-coming, but when
a man is most in his prosperity, then fortune makes him soonest fall.
He had a dream, as he lay upon his bed, and he seemed to see a form
of heavenly beauty. He embraced that image and it embraced him
again, and it said to him : * Our acquaintance shall be hereafter to our
sorrow : one of. us two shall take his death from this love in which we
now rejoice.’ It showed him then a sign, three fishes wrought upon
a pennon, and so all suddenly went forth from him. |

Uluxes started from sleep, and making his calculations upon this, he
judged that the danger was to be feared from his son Thelamachus.
Him therefore he shut up within castle wall, and he made for himself
a stronghold and set his servants to keep guard. But none can make
resistance against his fate: Thelogonus, his son by Circes, came to find
his father, bearing as his ensign a pennon with three fishes upon his
spear, and he came to this stronghold of Uluxes. The guards denied
him entrance and an affray arose at the gate. The king came forth,
and Thelogonus cast his spear at him, not knowing who he was.
Uluxes was wounded to death, but he recognized the figure of his
dream and the sign upon the pennon, and embraced his son, com-
mending him to the care of Thelamachus before he died.

Lo, what evil came to him of Sorcery : by Sorcery he begat his son,
and that which was done against nature was against nature avenged.
(1391-1788.)

Nectanaëus. The king of Egypt, Nectanabus, a great magician, fled
from his enemies to Macedoine. In the chief city there the queen
Olimpias kept the feast of her nativity and rode forth to be seen by
the people. Nectanabus stood with the others, and gazed upon her so
steadfastly, that the queen sent for him and asked him who he was.
He replied that he was one who had a message for her, which must
be said in private. She appointed a time, and he told her how the god
Amos of Lybia desired to be her bedfellow and would beget a child of
her who should subdue the whole earth. To prove his words he caused
her by his magic to have a vision, which she took for prophecy ; and
so at length, coming in the person of the god and transforming himself
into various shapes, he had his will of her and begat a son. Nectana-
bus caused Philip the king, being from home, to have a vision whereby
he supposed that a god had lain with his wife, and returning he found
her with child. Still he doubted, but by further signs and wonders
Nectanabus caused him to forget his jealousy. Amid portents of
earthquake and of tempest the child was born, and his name was
called Alexander. He grew up, and Aristotle taught him philosophy,
while Nectanabus instructed him in astronomy. On a certain night,
when they were upon a tower observing the stars, Nectanabus pro-

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixxxi

word must not be discordant with the thought, as when Uluxes by his
eloquence persuaded Anthenor to betray to him the city of Troy.
Words are both evil and good, they make friend of foe and foe of friend.
For a true example of Rhetoric read how Julius and the consul Cithero
pleaded against one another when the treason of Catiline was discovered.

1641-5397. PRACTIC. This has three divisions, Ethics, Economics
and Politics. A king must learn the first in order that he may rule
himself in the way of good living, the second teaches him how to order
his household, and the third how to govern his kingdom. (1641-1710.)

1711-1984. The first point of Policy is TRUTH, which above all
things ought to be found in a king ; and this is in part signified by the
jewels of his crown.

To show thee that Truth is the sovereign virtue of all, I will tell thee
a tale, (1711-1782.)

King, Wine, Woman and Truth. Daires, Soldan of Perce, had
three wise men about his chamber, Arpaghes, Manachaz and Zoro-
babel. To them he put the question, which is strongest, wine,
woman, or a king. Of this they disputed in turn, and Arpaghes said,
* A king is the strongest, for he has power over men and can raise them
up and cast them down: also he alone stands free from the law.’
Manachaz said, ‘ Wine is the strongest, for this takes reason away from
the wise and makes the fool seem learned, this turns cowardice to
courage and avarice to largess.’ Zorobabel said, ‘Women are the
strongest, for the king and all other men come of women and bow to
the love of women,’ and he told how he had seen Cirus upon his
throne overcome by the love of Apemen, daughter of Besazis, so that
she did with him what she would. Women too make men desire
honour, and woman is next to God the greatest help of man, as A/ceste,
wife of Ametus, gave her life to save her husband. Thus Zorobabel
told his opinion, but nevertheless he said that above all these the
mightiest of all earthly things is Truth: and so the question was
concluded, and Zorobabel was most commended for his judgement.
(1783-1984.)

1985-2694. LARGESS is the second point of Policy. A king must
be free from the vices both of Avarice and of Prodigality. As Aris-
totle taught by the ill example of the king of Chaldee, he must spend
his own substance and not that of his people, he must do justice before
he makes gifts, and his gifts must be to those who have deserved
them. (1985-2060.)

Julius and the poor Knight. A knight came to plead his cause at
Rome, where the Emperor Julius was in presence ; but he could get
no advocate, because he was poor. He prayed for justice to the
Emperor, and Julius assigned him an advocate. The knight was
angry, and said, * When I was with thee in Afric, I fought myself and

put no man in my stead; and so thou here shouldest speak for me
*$ f

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixxxiii

Ahab and Micaiah. 1 Kings xxii. (2527-2694.)

2695-3102. JUSTICE is the third point of Policy. A land is nothing
without men, and men cannot be without law. It is for the king above
all others to guide the law, and though he is above the law, yet he
must not do things whicb are against it. He must make his own life
right towards God, and then endeavour to rule his people rightly, and
he must see that his judges are both wise and true. -(2695-2764.)

Maximin, when he appointed a judge, inquired carefully whether he
were virtuous or no. Thus the course of law was not hindered by
coveitise. (2765-2782.)

Gaius Fabricius, consul of Rome, when the Samnites brought him
gold, tried it with taste and smell, and said he knew not for what it
would serve. It was better, he said, to rule the men who had the gold,
than to possess gold and lose the liberty to be just. (2783-2817.)

In those times none was preferred to the office of judge unless he
were a friend to the common right. (2818-2832.)

Conrad ordered matters so that in his time no man durst set aside
the law for gold. (2833-2844.)

Carmidotoire the consul slew himself rather than allow his own law to
be broken, when by inadvertence he had come armed to the Senate-
house. (2845-2888.)

Cambyses flayed a corrupt judge, and nailed his skin upon the chair
where his son was set to judge in his place. (2889-2904.)

Ligurgius, prince of Athens, having established good laws in his
city, took an oath from the citizens that they would change nothing
during his absence; and so he departed, never to return, desiring that
Athens might still enjoy good laws. (2917-3028.)

The first Lawgivers. The names of those who first made laws
ought to be handed down to fame. They are Moses, Mercurius,
Neuma Pompilius, Ligurgius, Foroneus, Romulus. Kings ought to be
led by law, and it is a scandal to a king if the law be not executed.
(3029- 3102.)

3103-4214. The fourth point of Policy is PITY. This is the virtue
by which the King of kings was moved when he sent his Son down to
this earth. Every subject should fear his king, and every king should
have mercy on his people. [The apostle James says that he who
shows no pity shall find none. Cassodre says that the kingdom is safe
where pity dwells. Tullius that the king who is overcome by pity
bears a shield of victory. We read how a knight appealed from the
wrath of Alexander to his pity and so obtained grace. (3149*-3179*.)]
Constantine said, ‘He who is a servant to pity, is worthy to rule all
else.’ Troian said that he desired his people to obey him rather from
love than fear. (3103-3162.)

[The Pagan and the Jew. Two travellers went through the desert
together, and each asked the other of his belief. The one said, ‘I am

f 2

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS Ixxxv

cruelty. Of men who have undertaken war for a righteous cause
there are examples in the Bible, and of those I will tell thee one.
(3514- 3626.)

Story of Gideon. Judges vii. (3627-3806.)

Saul and Agag. Saul failed to cbey God’s command to slay Agag,
showing pity wrongfully: therefore he lost his life and his kingdom.
(3807-3845.)

On the other hand Salomon obeyed his father David's command in
slaying Joab, and yet he showed mercy in his reign and wrought no
tyranny. Also he was wise and had worthy men about him, and there
is nothing better for a ruler than Wisdom. Salomon asked for this
gift from God, and this it is which a king chiefly needs in order to hold
the balance even between Justice and Pity. (3846-3944.)

Courtiers and Fool, Lucius, king of Rome, asked his steward and
his chamberlain what men said about him. The steward merely
flattered in his reply, but the chamberlain answered that people
thought he would be a worthy king if he had good counsellors. The
fool, who played with his bauble by the fire, laughed at both, and
said, ‘If the king were wise, the council would not be bad.’ Thus the
king was instructed and put away his bad counsellors. (3945-4010.)

Folly of Rehoboam. 1 Kings xii, 1-20 (4027-4129.)

Counsel of young men thus leads to ruin. There is a question whether
it is better that the king be wise or his council. The answer is that it
is better to have wise counsellors. (4130-4180.)

The Emperor Anthonius said he would rather have one of his
subjects saved than a thousand of his enemies slain. Mercy mingled
with justice is the foundation of every king's rule. Thus I have
spoken of four points, Truth, Largess, Pity and Justice. There is yet
a fifth. (4181-4214.)

4215-5397. CHASTITY, the fifth point of Policy. The male is made
for the female, but one must not desire many. A man must keep the
troth he has plighted in marriage, and this all the more in the high
and holy estate of a king.

Aristotle advised Alexander to frequent the company of fair women,
but not to beguile himself with them. For it is not they who beguile
the men, but the men beguile themselves. The water is not to blame
if a man drown himself in it, nor the gold if men covet it. It is by
nature that a man loves, but not by nature that he loses his wits: that
is like frost in July or hose worn over the shoe. Yet great princes
have been thus misled. (4215-4312.)

Sardanapalus lost his kingdom and his honour, because he became
effeminate in his lusts. (4313-4343.)

David, however, though he loved many women, preserved the honour
of knighthood. (4344-4360.)

Cyrus had a war with the Zydians, and he could not conquer them.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xxxvii

daughter of Raguel. Seven men who married her were strangled by
the fiend Asmod, because they took her only for lust; but Thobie,
taught by Raphael, had his will and yet kept the law of marriage.
God has bound beasts by the law of nature only, but men must follow
also the law of reason and do no lechery. Thus the philosopher
taught to Alexander. (5307-5397.)

I thank you, father. The tales sound in my ears, but my heart is
elsewhere ; for nothing can make me forget my love. Leave all else
therefore, and let us return to our shrift.

Yes, my son, there is one point more, and this is the last. (5398-

5438.)
LiB. VIII.

1-198. LAWS OF MARRIAGE. God created Adam and Eve to repair
the loss of Lucifer and his angels, and bade them increase and multi-
ply. Inthe first generation by God's law brother and sister were joined
in marriage, then afterwards cousin wedded cousin, as in the time of
Habraham and Jacob. At last under Christian law Marriage was
forbidden also in the third degree. Yet some men take no heed to
kinship or religion, but go as a cock among the hens and as a stallion
among the mares, Such love may be sweet at first, but afterwards it
is bitter.

199-2008. EXAMPLES OF INCEST. Caligu/a the Roman Emperor
bereft his three sisters of their virginity : therefore God bereft him of
his life and of his empire.

Amon lay with his sister Thamar, and Absolon his brother took
vengeance upon him.

Lot lay with his daughters, and the stocks which came from them
were not good.

Thus if a man so set his love, he will afterwards sorely repent it;
and of this I think to tell a tale which is long to hear. (199-270.)

Apollonius of Tyre. Ina Chronicle called Pantheon I read how king
Antiochus ravished his daughter and lived with her in sin. To hinder
her marriage, he proposed a problem to those who sought her love,
and if a man failed to resolve it, he must lose his head. At length
came the Prince Apollinus of Tyre, and the king proposed to him the
question. He saw too clearly what the riddle meant, and Antiochus
fearing shame put off the time of his reply for thirty days. (271-439.)

The Prince feared his vengeance and fled home to Tyre, and thence
he departed secretly in a ship laden with wheat. Antiochus sent one
Taliart in all haste to Tyre, with command to make away with the
Prince by poison. Finding that Apollinus had fled, he returned.

_ In the meantime the Prince came to Tharsis, and took lodging
there with one Strangulio and his wife Dionise. The city was suffer-
ing famine, and Apollinus gave them his wheat as a free gift, in return

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xxxix

daughter, until she was fourteen years old, grew up with the daughter
of Strangulio, but Thaise was preferred to the other in all places
where they went, and Dionise was therefore wroth. She bade her
bondman Theophilus take Thaise down to the shore of the sea and
there slay her. He brought her to the sea, but her cry called forth
pirates from their hiding-place, who carried her with them away to
Mitelene and sold her to Leonin, master of a brothel. (1272-1423.)

The young men who came to her were moved by compassion and
did her no wrong, so that Leonin sent his own servant in to her.
She entreated to be permitted to make gain for him in some other way,
and being taken from the brothel and placed in security, she taught
such things as gentlewomen desire to learn, and her name went forth
over all the land. (1424-1497.)

Theophilus reported that he had slain Thaise, and Dionise, pretend-
ing that she had died suddenly, made a great funeral and set up
a tomb with an epitaph. After this, Apollinus came to seek for his
daughter at Tharsis, and hearing that she was dead, he put forth to sea
again in grievous sorrow. He lay weeping alone in the darkness of the
Ship's hold, until under stress of storm they came to Mitelene. (1498-
1617.)

Hearing of his grief, the lord of the city, Athenagoras, sent Thaise to
comfort him. He at first rejected all her consolation, but then to his
joy discovered that she was the daughter for whom he mourned.
Athenagoras asked for her in marriage and was wedded to her. (1618-
1776.)

They went forth all together with intent to avenge the treason at
Tharsis, but Apollinus was warned in a dream to go to Ephesim, and
there in the temple of Diane he found the wife whom he supposed to
have been dead. Thence they voyaged to Tyre and were received
with joy. Athenagoras and Thaise were there crowned king and
queen, and Apollinus sailed away and took due vengeance upon
Strangulio and Dionise. (1777-1962.)

When this was done, a letter came to him from Pentapolim, praying
him to come and receive that kingdom, since the king was dead.
They had a good voyage thither, and he and his wife were crowned
there and led their life happily. (1963-2008.)

Thus, my son, thou mayest see how it is with those that love in
a good manner, but it is not love when men take their lust like beasts. _

2029-3172. CONCLUSION. Father, I may acquit myself in this,
but I entreat your counsel as to what way I shall follow in my love.

I counsel thee, my son, to labour no more in things which bring thee
no profit. The end of every pleasure is pain. Love is blind, and makes
all his servants blind: thou mayest yet withdraw and set thyself under .
the law of reason.

It is easy to say so, father. My woe is but a game to you, feeling

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. ANALYSIS xci

pressed round to see. Some said that love was folly in the old, and
others that no age could be free, and that while there was yet oil in the
lamp, it might always be set alight. Cupid groped after me till he found
me, and then he drew forth that fiery lance which before he had cast
through my heart, and Venus anointed my wound with a cooling oint-
ment and gave me a mirror in which I might behold myself. I saw my
face wrinkled and my eyes dim, and I likened myself to that time of
year when winter has despoiled the earth. Then Reason returned to |
me and 1 was made sober and sound. (2726-2860.)

Venus beheld me, and laughing asked me what Love was. I an-
swered with confusion that I knew him not, and prayed that I might be
excused from my attendance on her Court. Astouching my Confession
too, I asked an absolution, and the Priest gave it readily. Then the
queen delivered to me a pair of beads to hang about my neck, and on
them was written Por reposer in gold. ‘Thus,’ said she, ‘have I provided
for thine ease, and my will is that thou pray for peace. Stay no more in
my Court, but go where moral virtue dwells, where are those books which
men say that thou hast written: thou and I must commune together
never again. *Adieu, for 1 must go from thee.’ And so enveloped
in a starry cloud, Venus was taken to her place above, and her Priest
departed also at the same time. I stood for a while amazed; and
then I smiled, thinking of the beads that she bad given me and of the
prayers that I should say. And thus I took my way softly homeward.
(2870-2970.) |

To God, the Creator of all things, I pray for the welfare of this land,
and that it may have peace and unity, which every estate should
desire. I pray that the clergy may work after the rule of charity, that
the order of knighthood may cause extortion to cease and defend
the right of the Church, that merchants may follow honesty, and above
all that the king may keep himself and all the other estates of the
kingdom in the right way. The king who humbly follows the law of

* Adieu, for I must go from thee. And greet Chaucer well, as my
disciple and my poet, who has filled the land with the songs which he
made for my sake. And bid him in his later age make his testament
of love, as thou hast made thy shrift.’

And so enveloped in a starry cloud, Venus was taken to her place
above, and I turned homeward with my beads in hand. (2940*-2970*.)

To God, the Creator of all things, I pray for my worthy king Richard
the Second, in whom has always been found Justice mingled with Pity.
In his person it may be shown what a king should be, especially in that
he sought no vengeance through cruelty. Though evil came upon the
land, yet his estate was kept safe by the high God, as the sun is ever
bright in himself, though the air be troubled. He sought love and
peace and accord, not only here at home, but abroad also, following

ORTHOGRAPHY xciii

from the rhyme-words of a Middle English author will probably
not be precisely applicable to his language in general. The
sphere of our investigations will be that in which the licentious
and exceptional is most likely to be found. If he has any ten-
dency to borrow from other dialects than his own or to use
irregular forms, this tendency will be most seen in his rhymes,
for it will probably be the exigencies of rhyme which suggest the
variation. Chaucer repeatedly uses ‘here,’ in the sense of the
modern ‘her,’ to rhyme with such words as ‘bere,’ ‘spere,’ but
we should certainly not be justified in concluding that this and
not ‘hire’ was the normal form of bis language. Similarly in
the case of Gower by examination of his rhymes alone we might
be led to many very doubtful results. For example, we should
gather that he almost always used the form sane rather than sene,
wile (verb) and not wole or wo/, axe and not aske, sek (adj.) and
never sik, Aond and never hand, couthe and never coude, sente
(pret.) rather than sende, the adverb ending -/y in preference to
-liche or -/ich. In these cases and in many others we might easily
be misled, the forms of these words as used in rhyme being
determined chiefly by the comparative frequency of the various
rhyme-syllables. Most of the conclusions above mentioned, and
others like them, have in fact been arrived at in a paper by
K. Fahrenberg, published in the Archiv für die neueren Sprachen,
vol. 89. The author of this paper, having only Pauli’s text
before him, very properly confines himself to an examination of
the rhymes, and within these limits most of his results are sound
enough ; but it would be very unsafe to treat them as generally
applicable to the language of Gower. In our case it must be
understood that the Fairfax manuscript is regarded (for reasons
which will afterwards be stated) as a practically accurate repro-
duction of the author’s original text, and consequently the occur-
rence of a particular form in rhyme is not held necessarily to be
of any special significance.

ORTHOGRAPHY.—This being premised, we shall proceed to note
first some points which call for attention in the orthography of
the text.

In describing the British Museum MS. Harl. 3869, Pauli
takes occasion to observe: ‘This copy is very remarkable
on account of its orthography, which has been carried through

ORTHOGRAPHY xcv

the rhyme-words is evidently brought into harmony, as meene : Almeene, ii.
2465 f., beere : weere, iv. 1323 f., brood : good, v. 4375 f., goode : foode, vii. 519 f.
[n a few cases however a phonetic distinction seems to be intended, as when
we find eef as preterite of efe, and deere (also dere) pret. plur. of beren.

Mais (the month) is regularly written with #, but rhymes with saz,
gay, &c.

The doubling of final consonants, apparently to indicate vowel
shortness, is more common, as in a//, bladd, charr, hadd, happ,
madd, bedd, fedd, fett, spedd, bitt, bridd, chidd, godd, rodd, beside al,
char, had, hap, mad, bed, fet, &c.

The doubling of s in a final tone syllable seems to have no such sig-
nificance, as in Achilles : press, iv. a161f., but Ulixes : pres, iv. 147f., so
natheles : encress, pes : encress, in all of which the vowel must be long.

One of the most noteworthy points of the orthography is the
frequent use of se in tonic syllables for close @ This appears in
French words such as achieve, appiere, chief, chiere, cher, grieve,
matiere, messagier, pier, &c. (also in many of these cases e, as chere,
cler, matere), but it is very commonly used also in words of English
origin and seems invariably to be associated with the close sound
of the vowel. Thus we have Are, spriede, lief (but Jevere),
sieke, diel, stiel, whiel, dieme, sieme, diere, fiere (= company), Aere
(adv.), Aere (verb), Here, stiere, and others, which have in most
cases the alternative spelling with e, as hede, sprede, seke, del, stel,
tb hel, deme, seme, &c., but in all of which the vowel has the close
sound.

It is impossible here to discuss the question how far this habit
of spelling may have been introduced by analogy from French
words with a similar sound of the vowel, and how far it may have
grown out the Kentish use of ze, ye for O. E. eo, e, ze. Reference
may be made to the remarks in the Introduction to the volume of
Gower’s French Works, p. xxi, where it is suggested that ze, having
lost its value as a diphthong in later Anglo-Norman, came to be
regarded as a traditional symbol in many cases for close e, and
hence such forms as clier, chef, pier, prophiete, &c., and as regards
ie in the Kentish dialect there is a useful statement in the paper
by W. Heuser, Zum Kentischen Dialekt im Mittelenglischen,
published in Azgéa, xvii, 78 ff.

In any case the fact is pretty clear that this variation was
confined by Gower to words in which he gave to the vowel a close
sound, and it is therefore useful as a distinguishing note, though
there are few words in which this is the only form of spelling.

xcvi GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

Both in stems of words and in their terminations # is on the
whole preferred to y, so that we have crie, hide, lif, like, mile, ride,
&c. more usually than crye, hyde, &c. (but perhaps y more often
after m, n, as knyht, myhte, nyhf), and also arrai, mat, dat, hardi,
ladi, worpi, mt, thi, more often on the whole than array, may,
&c., but -/y in adverbs more often than -/f.

In some few cases it seems that a distinction is pretty consis-
tently made, as between wryée (inf.) and write (past participle),
and perhaps between zeife (know) and wyé (blame).

Before gh followed by 7 we find a, o almost regularly in place
of au, ou. Thus we have aghfe, straghte, taghte, boghte, broghte,
doghter, noght, oghte, oght, soghte, wroghte, &c., but occasionally
broughte, doughter, ought, &c. Beside some of these there are
forms in which au (aw), ou (ow) are written, but followed by
simple A, as strawhte, tawhte, douhter (dowhter).

There is no difference between -ow» and -ow as terminations of such
French words as divisioun, complexioun, &c., but -own is much the more
usual form '. Where they occur in rhyme, the rhyme-words are usually
assimilated to one another in form of spelling, but sometimes -o»», -ow
rhyme together, as division : doun, ii. 1743 ., foun : condicion, v. 255t,
constellacioun : relacion, vi. 2253 f.

In the case of a» followed by a consonant in a tone-syllable the variation
to au» seems to be merely a question of spelling, and we have such rhymes
as chaunce : remembrance, ii. 893 f., demande : comaunde, iv. 2794, swp-
planted : enchaunted, ii. 2491, covenant : supplaunt, ii. 2367. In the French
terminations -ance, -ant, the simple form is decidedly preferred (but gover-
naunce : porveaunce, Prol. 187 f., graunt : amblaunt, ii. 1505 f.), and so also in
many other words, as change, strange, comande, demande, supplante (also

comaunde, supplaunte). In other cases au is either the usual or the only
form, as daunce, daunte, enchaunte, haunte, sclaundre.

With regard to the consonants, it should be observed that
Gower consistently wrote sch for sk initially, so that we have
regularly schal, schape, sche, schewe, schip, schrifte, and also lora-
schipe, worschipe, &c.*, in other places usually ssh, as disshop (also
bisschop), buissh, fissh, fleissh (also ffeiscA), freissh, reisshe, wisshe.

The almost regular use of 4 for gh in such words as Ash, nyh, sth,
kntht, ht, miht, niht, heihte, sleihte, &c. will be spoken of later.

Gower did not use 3 for # or gh. Such forms as mize, ijt,

! The difference in the MS. usually consists only in the line drawn over
the final on. So also often in the case of the words discussed below, chaunce,
daunce, enchaunte, &c.

3 Very seldom sh in F, as Prol. 938, i. 2171, i. 1458.

PHONOLOGY xcvii

eje, wrouzt, are practically unknown in the best MSS. (F has
sut once.) On the other hand initially in such words as 5e, jer,
je (forztve), jong, &c. 3 is regularly used. Only late and
inferior MSS. have y. In regard to this letter Gower's usage
is exactly the reverse of that which we find in the Ayendite of
lewyt. We have P for fk regularly except in the case of a capital
ltter being required, as at the beginning of a line, or in con-
nexion with some foreign words and names as /AaZemans, thevangile,
rthorique, Athemas, Anthenor, Thebith. Cases of th for P in
ordinary English words are very rare in F (but i. 289o, v. 2319,
vii. 4203).

In some words there is an interchange of c and s, as decerte, pourchace
powrchase, service servise, rancoun, suffice suffise, sufficant, &c., and the
French termination -esse is also spelt -esce, as largesse largesce, simplesce
simplesse ; so also encresce, redresce, &c. In such points the orthography of
Romance words is usually in accordance with that which we find in
the author's French writings, in which also are found such etymological
forms as deceipte, double,

Before quitting the general subject, we ought to note certain
words of common occurrence which are spelt not quite in the
usual way. The author regularly writes dof for dut, be for dy,
when used as a preposition and unemphatic, ows for ws (pers.
pron.), noght for not (not being used for ne wot). Some forms of
proper names, as Habraham, Irahel, are characteristic. In these
points, as in many others, the writer evidently followed a definite
system, and in spite of the variations recorded, the orthography
of the Fairfax and Stafford MSS. certainly conveys to the reader
the general impression of regularity and consistency.

PHONOLOGY. (1) O. E. SHORT VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS.

O.E. a, €, es. In the case of a (o) before a lengthening nasal
combination, ZZ, nd, mb, ng, &c., we may note that though ond,
honde, hondes are preferred, as by Chaucer, yet hand, handes
pretty frequently occur, as i. 2, 1807, 2994, ii. 574, iii. 116,
v. 1505, &c. (also lande, iii. 1956, v. 1949), and that without any
necessity of rhyme. In fact Aand seems to be rather preferred
except in rhyme. Contrary to what is apparently Chaucer's usage
we find thonk, thonke as the regular forms in Gower, and only
occasionally thank, as ii. 60, 2012. This may be due to the
Kentish tendency to lengthen before s£, which perhaps was
pronounced nearly as ag (see Morsbach, Mittelengl. Gramm.,

ss g

PHONOLOGY xcix

forming one class and rhyming together, while they are kept entirely apart
from threde, drede, dede (= dead), rede, pl. adj. ( «^ red), which have ¢ from
és or 4. On the other hand, jede the pret. plur. of didde (from bédon)
rhymes with dede (dead), e.g. i. 2047.

So also answere, bere (subst.), dere (verb inf.), forbere, dere (destroy), lere
(loss), séere (stir), bestere, swere (verb), fere (verb), were (wear), were (defend),
form one class of rhyme-words as against ere, fere (fear), there, were (from
wéron), &c. But eere (verb) from erian rhymes with there, v. 819f., and
scheres with feres, v. 5691. The case of bere rhyming with were (from tron),
L 2795f, vii. 1795 f, is not an exception to the rule, being the preterite
plural, from b&ron.

Another group is chele, fele (many), hele (cover), stele, wele, as against
hele (heal), dele, &c. : but we find hele (halo) : hele (helan), iii. 2755 f.

Again we have efe, gete (inf. and partic.), begrie, forjete, mete (meat), sete
(past partic.) kept apart from g»vfe (great), bete (beaten), strete, tete, lete
(#tan), swete (verb, - sweat), threte, whete, &c. It may be noted that bezete
(subst.) belongs to the class grete, bete, &c.

There is every reason to suppose that the same distinction would hold
with other endings, in the case of which no sufficient rhyme-test is forth-
coming, as breke, spehe (inf.), wreke (inf. and past partic.), which have no
other words with ¢ with which they could be rhymed, eke, sehe, meke, &c.,
all having £4.

On the whole we may say that this distinction is very carefully
kept in Gower's rhymes, and must certainly indicate a difference
of pronunciation.

The adverb zwei also written wie/, has a double sound, as in
Chaucer, either ? or e, rhyming with de/ (diel), stiel, whiel, &c.,
and also with sa/urce/, Daniel, and the substantive we/ for we/e.

eg forms ei, which is often interchangeable with az, as seie, Jeie,
Wete, ajein.

O.E.i There is nothing in Gower's rhymes to lend support
to the theory that 7; from ©. E. 7 in open syllables (i.e. before
a single consonant followed by a vowel), as in the past participles
write, drive, schrive, and the infinitives zzve, wife, is of doubtful
quantity. The past participle and plural preterite wife have
Zand rhyme with æzsfe (know), while the infinitive wzyée rhymes
with wyfe (blame), verb and substantive: the infinitives Ave, 3ive,
forzive and the participles drive, zive, schrive, &c. rhyme among
themselves and not with schkryve (inf), alyve, fyve: the short
vowel words wile (verb), s&ze, bile are separate from «ye (subst.),
whyle, ile, &c. This would not be worth mentioning but for
ten Brink's argument (Chaucers Sprache, 88 3 5, 32 5), based on
the very smallest positive evidence.

ga

c GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

Aire (hir) is used regularly for the personal and possessive
pronoun of the third person sing. fem. (= her), and never Aere, as
is Chaucer's usage in rhyme.

cherche is Gowers regular form from eie, but chirche is
common in the orthography of the Pratse of Peace, e. g. 197, 210,
225, &c., beside cherche, 232, 254.

O. E. 0. wolde, scholde, golde, molde rhyme with folde, holde,
colde, &c., but in open syllables a distinction is observed (as in the
case of e) between new-lengthened ? and ÿ from O. E. a, so that
fofore, before, therfore, score and the participles bore, forbore, lore,
schore, swore are kept separate in rhyme from such words as hore,
more, lore (subst.), ore, rore, sore, to which later group should be
added More (Moor) and the Romance verb restore’. This
distinction seems to be recognized by Chaucer, cp. Z*oi/us, v. 22-
26, but with a good many exceptions, as Legend of Good Women,
452f., 550f., 1516 f., Cant. Tales, A 1541 f., 3237 f., &c., chiefly,
but not exclusively, in the case of more. Gower is very much
stricter and allows very few exceptions (overmore : tofore,i. 3361 f.,
nomore : therfore, vii. 3279* f., more : therfore, vii. 3869 f., more :
fere, viii. 991 f.), which must be regarded as imperfect rhymes.
Considering the frequency with which words of these two classes
occur in rhyme, it is remarkable that the distinction should be
so well kept.

We may note that #owe (subst.) from Zoga rhymes with words
like knowe, in which ow is from aw. $

O.E. u. In some words o and » interchange, as Zegonne be-
gunne, conne cunne, coppe cuppe, dronkeschipe drunkeschipe, further
Jorther, ronne (over)runne, sonne sunne, thurgh thorgk(soght),
fonge tunge, tonne tunne, &c., but we have without variation, dole,
hunger, note (nut), some, under, wonder, &c. The regular rhyme
under : wonder is enough to show that the sound was the same.

love, above rhyme together and not with any other word. (For
the rhyme at v. 7047 f., see under 6.)

sone (from sunu), wone (custom), asfone, rhyme only with one
another: in the rhyme wones : omes, which occurs iv. 2217 f.,
viii. 611 f., we have to do of course with a different word.

! [n other cases, as with the group broke, lobe, spoke, wroke (past parti-

ciples), and joke (spbst.\, there are no rhyme-words with ¢ from d by which
a distinction can be established.

PHONOLOGY ci

dore (door) rhymes with spore and dore (subjunctive of dar),
bole with wole (verb).

O. E.y. This is usually represented by e (except before 4, g),
e.g. abegge, berie, berthe, besy, bregge, dede (did), evel, fele (also
fille), felthe, ferst, fest, hell (also hill, hull), ken (also kin), kende
(usually &inde), kesse (also kisse), knette, krepel, lere, lest (listen),
est (= pleases, also Uist), mende (also minde), meric, merthe, pet
(also pitt, put), scherte, schetten, senne (also sinne), stere (stir),
thenke (from Pyncan), werche (also worche), werse (also worse):
to these must be added Aedde, hed, pret. and past partic. of hyde,
in which original § was shortened (also Aidde, hid). On the other
hand, we have gi/t (also gu/?), gw/tif, lifte (sky), stinten (not stenten),
thinne (not thenne), thurste, wierdes. Gower does not use the forms
birthe, bisy, dide (did), mirie, mirthe, stire.

The results obtained for certain words from rhymes by Fahren-
berg’ are rather misleading. For example, he suggests the con-
clusion that #/% (subst.) and /w/f/ie are used with # only, but of
the nineteen instances which he quotes, all but two are in rhyme
with z&?//e a natural combination (at least for fu/fi//e), and one
which has determined the form in most cases. Apart from this,
both fe/iz (subst.) and fudfel/e are found (/e//e in rhyme, iii. 2609).

Again, senne is much more common than would appear from
the rhymes. Fahrenberg can quote only one instance in rhyme,
as against twenty-nine of size, but this is certainly due to the
greater frequency of the words (such as deginne, winne, &c.),
which give rhymes to szzse. The word occurs seven times in
the Prologue, once it is in rhyme, Sinne : inne, and of the other
six instances five are of senne and one only of sinne. On the
other hand, Ae// (from Ay//) alone appears in rhyme, but #7 or
Aui] are commoner forms in use.

The mistakes tell both ways, but on the whole the conclusion that
i is much commoner than e in these words is seriously incorrect.

For the use in rhyme of the words of this class with open tone
syllable, as stere, Jere (from Zyre), see under e.

(2) O. E. LoNG VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS.
O. E. & The g of kom rhymes, as in Chaucer, with the 5 of the

1 Archiv für n. Sprachen, 89, p. 392. AsIsometimes have occasion to criti-
cize statements in this paper, I take the opportunity here-of acknowledging
its merit, as the only careful study lately attempted of Gower's language-

PHONOLOGY ciii

drede (: nede, i. 1987, 2240, : spede, iv. 629, : hiede, iv. 1448, &c.), but dede
(dead) : drede, ii. 3405 f., drede : rede (from réad), iv. 185f.

leche (: seche, ii. 3220, beseche, iii. 413).

»neste, ‘dream,’ (: »meete, from méfan, iii. 51).

sese (scsmete), adj. (: sete, from métan, ii. 458, iii. 1100).

slep, slepe, subst. and verb, (Aefe : slepe, Prol. 309 f., 475 ., slep : bep, i. 155,
&c.), but slep : hep (héap), iv. 3007 f.

speche (spieche) (: seche, Prol. 174, beseche, i. 1986).

spieke (speke), from spr£con, pret. pl. (: beseke, ii. 959, sieke, ii. 1456).

thred (: sped, i. 1419).

Jer, Jere, (ere : stere, ii. 2379, 3er : &i;r, iii. 199, Jeeves : pleiefieres, iv. 481),
with no instances apparently of ¢.

If we take now the words in which 4 is from 4 corresponding to Germanic
ai, we obtain the following results.

With ¢:

er (: ner, ii. 2285).

geth (: deth, ii. 1804, 2616, &c.).

leme, ‘lend,’ (: bene, v. 4407).

leve, ‘ remain,’ (: bereve, Prol. 412).

se (see), ‘sea,’ (: síves, iii. 86, iv. 1715, sie, iv. 1664), but be : se, iv.
1625 f., wee : see, viii. 1723 f.

3e (yee), ‘yea,’ (: slee, iii. 262, 2068, stres, iii. 668).

(stre, slee, have no ¢ rhymes, so we have no reason to suppose, as in the
case of Chaucer, that final é has a close sound.)

With ¢:

areche, from drécan, (: beseche, ii. 666).

clene (: sene, ii. 3461).

del (diel), somdiel, &c. (: whiel, Prol. 137, stiel, Prol. 61a, 828).

evere, nevere, (: levere, Prol. 38, ii. 5, ii. 2417, &c.).

-hede (-hiede) as a suffix: Jede : godhiede, Prol. 497 f., cp. i. 1211 f.,
1719£., v. 595 f., viii. 95 f., »tede : twommaniuede, iii. 1607 f., wommanhiede :
fiede, vi. 695 £, maidenhede : spede, vii. 5145 f., viii. 1419 f., and so on, but once
£, Maidenhede : rede (from read), v. 5987.

hete, subst. and verb, ‘heat,’ (: stwete, ‘sweet,’ ii. 2740, vi. 249), but here :
fobete, iii. rat f., hete : bete, viii. 1195 f.-

lede (: hicde, v. 156, : fede, vii. 2336 *), but dede (dead) : lede, ii. 2779 f.

lere (lere), from léran, (: hiere, verb, i. 454, iii. 2204, v. 2029, diere, viii,
1462, hiere (adv.), viii. 1497, unliered : stiered, Prol. 233 f.).

mens (eene), verb, (: sene, ii. 3830, iv. 1645, wene, i. 1937, &c., grene,
i. 777, &c., fene, iii. 771, queene, iv. 786).

sprede (spriede) (: fede, i. 2824, spede, ii. 504, spredeth : nedeth, v. 7679 f.,
feedeth, vi. 895 f.), but sprede : hede (head), vii. 845 f.

feche (: beseche, i. 590, 2260, iii. 132).

The above are the results arrived at by examination of the
rhymes with vowels of undoubted quality ; i. e. 7 from ©. E. ea,

1 According toten Brink, sede ought to be regarded as an uncertain rhyme
because of the O. E. Ȏades beside niedes, but Gower never rhymes it with
open €.

civ GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

and e from O. E. e, eo, ze. In addition to this, an investigation
has been made of the rhyming of these words among themselves
and with words of Romance origin, in the process of which some
additional words with € from d, as dele, hele, swete, ‘sweat,’ wete,
are brought in. This cannot here be given in full, but it may
be said that in almost all points it confirms the results arrived at
above. A few words, however, to which an open vowel is assigned
above, rhyme with other words from & which almost certainly
have ¢, and therefore must be set as having unstable pronuncia-
tion. Thus, in spite of the rhyme /ene (lend) : dene mentioned
above, we have /ene : mene (both verb and subst.) and Zee : eene,
and though fere rhymes more than once with ere, we have lered :
afered and wunlered : afered, which suggest that the close sound
was possible.

On the whole we may set down the following as the result of
our examination.

With open vowel: of the & (e) class, Jede, pret. pl, dreth, her
(pl. Aeres), Jefe, lewed, strete: of the @ = af class, er, geth, leve
(remain), 3ee (yea).

With close vowel: of the former class, /eche, meete (dream),
mete (fit), sepe, speche, speke, pret. pl., thred, wete, wreche, 3er, and
with one exception only in each case dede, slep: of the latter class,
areche, clene, del, evere, lere, mene, nevere, feche, and with one
exception in each case, -hede (-hiede), Jede, sprede.

With unstable vowel: from & (€), drede, eve, fere (fear), red
(subst.), rede, there, were, where : from & = at, hete, lene, see (sea).

The conclusions to which we are led are, first that in Gower’s
usage there is less instability of vowel-sound in these words than
in Chaucer, the number of words with unstable vowel being
smaller and the variations even in their case more exceptional ;
secondly that Gower’s language has a strongly pronounced leaning
towards ¢; and finally that this tendency is quite as much visible
in the words of the & = ai class as in the others.

O.E. 6a. The substantive Je/ieve has € by influence of the
verb.

There is no use apparently of #74 from néad or of 37r from
gear, and e£, eke, seems invariably to have z.

From cage, fleah, héah, neak we have yhe, yh, hih, nyh.

There seems no reason to suppose that séve, s/e had e, as has
been concluded for Chaucers language because of such rhymes

PHONOLOGY cv

as se : he, sire : she, stree : we, see ten Brink, Chaucers Sprache,
$ 23.

It has already been shown that see (sea), which we have
supposed to have unstable vowel quality, very seldom rhymes
with words having e, notwithstanding the frequent opportunity for
such rhymes, and jee, *yea, never. It may be questioned whether
the rule laid down by ten Brink for Chaucer is a sound one, and
whether Chaucer's practice does not really depend simply upon
the larger supply of rhymes in e, such as he, she, me, thee, be, se
(verb), £re, three, &c. It is at least possible that the difference
here between Gower and Chaucer arises from the fact that the
latter was less strict in his rhymes, and certainly the later
developments of se, see, sre, jee supply no confirmation of the
idea that they had e regularly in Chaucer's language.

O. E. 60. By the side of se£ (siek) there is occasionally sz.

The form fi, fille for fell, felle, pret. sing. and pl. from fa//e, are
not used by Gower. He rhymes fe// ( féoll) : hell (hy/I) and felle,
pret. pL : fee ( fyllan).

The personal pronoun jow (zou) from eot» rhymes with shou,
now, &c.

O. E.i. Fahrenberg's instances of 7 : e, i. 177 f. and iii. 413 f.,
are both founded on mistakes.

O. E. à. The personal pronoun from ©. E. zs is always written
ous, but rhymes in some instances with -«s in Latin names, e.g.
Tricolonius : ous, Tereiis : ous.

butan is shortened to dof, not ouf. It occurs also as a dis-
syllable in the form Zofe.

O.E. y. The only example of ÿ as e is fer from /yr, which
occurs in rhyme with jez, iii. 694, (elsewhere fyr). Chaucer has
fere, dat., rhyming with ere, adv., Z*oi/us, iii. 978, and also afere
in rhyme with séere, ‘stir,’ Zrotlus, i. 229.

The cases of kedde, hed, pret. and past participle (from 2ydan),
are examples of shortened j passing naturally to e, and so also
fest from /ÿsé, felthe from fe, threste from Jrysta.

From jg in drÿge we have dreie, but also Zzye.

O. E. 6. Gower, like Chaucer, rhymes the word do (misdo,
undo, &c.), and occasionally £o in therto, with words that have f
derived from a, not only so, a/so, two, wo, but also tho, adv. (i. 2609,
iii. 683, v. 5331, &c.), go, ago (ii. 2483, 3513, iv. 1161, 3465,

PHONOLOGY cvii

Chaucer, does not occur in Gower's English, though we occasion-
ally find it in his French. At the same time the possibility of
such rhymes cannot be denied, for we have foun : YZioun, v. 7235 f.,
and Lamedon : Jasoun, v. 7197 f.

Adjectives in -ows do not rhyme with -ws, as in Chaucer
Aurelius : amorous, Thesetis : desirous.

The terminations -arie, -orie are not used at all, but instead of
them the French forms -aive, -oire, as adversaire, contraire,
necessaire, gloire, histoire, memoire, purgaloire, victoire. Latin
proper names in o rhyme with 2, as Cifhero (: also), Leo (: also), Phito
(: tho), Juno (: so, tho), &c., but also in several cases with do. There
seems no sufficient reason to suppose, as ten Brink does, that
they regularly had 5.

(4) Consonants. The termination -/icAe (-lich) in adjectives
and adverbs, which Fahrenberg judging by the rhymes sets down
as very uncommon compared with -éy, is by far the more usual of
the two. It is true that -/y occurs more frequently in rhyme, but
that is due chiefly to the greater abundance of rhyme words
corresponding to it, e. g. forthi, by, cri, merci, enemy: we have,
however, redely : properly, Prol. 947f. The general rule of usage
is this: -/y usually in rhyme (but Zesi/icAe : swiche, iv. 1235 f.),
and before a consonant in cases where the metre requires a single
syllable, as i. 2069, ‘Al prively behinde his bak’ (but frend/icA,
viii. 2173), -/iche or -4ich before a vowel, as i. 373, ‘That ronne
besiliche aboute,’ cp. ii. 1695, v. 1247, and -/izle of course where
two syllables are required, as i. 1035, * Was thanne al openliche
schewed,’ so ii. 918, iv. 57, and compare also iii. 2065 f.,

* Unkindely for thou hast wroght,
Unkindeliche it schal be boght.'

But in Prol. 719 we have on/y before a vowel,
* Noght al only of thorient,’
though on/iche occurs in a similar position, i. 1948, and onlich,
ii. 42. Again, 911,
‘And sodeinly, er sche it wiste,’
but Prol. 503,
‘Al sodeinliche, er it be wist,’
cp. iv. 921, compared with i. 1336.
The treatment of the O.E. spirant 4 (= x) deserves some
attention. This occurring before ¢ is recognized as having in
M. E. a palatal or a guttural sound, according to the nature of the

cviii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

preceding vowel, but the texts of our period usually give it as
gh in both cases. Gower, however, makes a distinction, writing
almost regularly aZ?Afe, briht, dihte, fikte, flihte, kntht, AA, miht,
mihte, nihi, riht, sthte, wiht, hethte, slethte, &c., but aghte, caghte,
straghte, boghte, broghte, noght, oght, oghte, sogkte. Occasionally
however in the first class we find g, as rarely dryghfe, ighte, more
frequently AezgAfe, sleighte, and pretty regularly eight ; and there
are several words in the second which have variants with 4, but
in these cases ws) is inserted, as cawhte, strawhte, dowhter
(douhter), owhte: otherwise # is generally absent, as we have
already seen. The form referred to is commoner with the vowel
a than with o.

It is hardly necessary to repeat here that 4/// is a word of
Romance origin, and rhymes properly with dekf, appetst, not
with 447, niki, &c., being separate in etymology from O. E. /iAt.

From the fact that there is no rhyming of -£A with -i£ either in
Gower or Chaucer, we may certainly gather that the sounds were
somewhat different; but the fact that Gower does not usually
write g& after 7 indicates, no doubt, that in this case the sound of
the spirant was less marked than when preceded by broader vowels.

Where O. E. 4 is a final aspirate, g is not usually written, as 514,
hik, nth, bowk, lowh, plowk, slowh, ynowk, except in the case of
thogk, but very occasionally we find such forms as drogh, plogh.
In the words which have w(x) & is often dropped, as in óotees,
low, slow (preterites), ynom.

v. INFLEXION.—(1) SUBSTANTIVES. In a certain number of words
there is variation in the matter of final e: thus we have drink drinke,
felawe felawh (fela), Ayht Ayhte, half halve, help helpe, hep keje,
lack lacke, lyf lrve, myn myne, queene queen, sor sore, wel wele,
will aille, wyndeu wradowe, to which must be added many words
with the suffixes -Aale, -hade, -schife, and the termination -sage, e.g.
falshedie), Enykthad\e), manhedie), felaschi~re), kunfing(e), know-
dechingie), teching(e\, wenyng(e). In these latter cases the presence
of the e ending is not wholly dependent on the accent, for we have
Aunting, i. 350, but Asiefyæer, iv. 2429, feckynug and feckinge both
equally in rhyme, i. 1592, v. 611, gs rfe, L 3128, ExifAód, v. 2057,
Jrianhif, d. 1217. Accent however has some influence, and it is
hardly conceivable that the final ¢ should count in the metre except
where the accent falls an the preceding svilable. so that where the
accent is thrown back, we find that the word is regularly followed by
a vowel la the case of the (English termination -err the final e is

INFLEXION. SUBSTANTIVES cix

usually written : such words are degpere, forthdrawere, hindrere, ledere,
lovere, makere, repere, spekere, writere. This -e, however, is either
elided or passed over in the metre (as with janglere, v. 526), unless an
accent falls on the termination, in which case it may be sounded, as
vii. 2348, ‘ The Sothseiere tho was lief.’

The forms game, gamen appear side by side both in singular and
plural, as i. 347, vi. 1849, viii. 680.

As regards the oblique cases we note the following genitive
forms: cherche, herte (also hertes), hevene, ladi, soule, sterre (pl.),
wode (also wodes), to which add dowhter (also dowhtres), fader (also
fadres), moder. 1n the expressions horse side, horse heved, &c., horse
is genitive singular.

The -¢ termination of the dative appears in a good many pre-
positional phrases: fo (in) bedde, in boke, to borwe, be (to) bote, with
(of) childe, unto the chinne (but unto the chin, i. 1682), be date, to (fro)
dethe (also fro deth), of dome, on (under) fote (but upon the fot, at
his fot), on fyre, to (upon) grounde, fro (unto) the grounde (also
fro the ground), on hede, at ( fro) home (also at hom), in (on, upon)
honde, to (into) honde, (but ‘bar on Aond, be the hond), on horse,
to horse, fo (in, of) house (but in myn hous), to (into) londe, be (in,
over) londe, of (out of) londe, fro the londe, (but of his lond, &c.),
be lyhte, to lyve, to manne, to mowthe, be mowthe, be nyhte (also be
"yÁ/, and regularly af nyht, on nyM, a nyht, to nyht), fo rede, be (to,
into, out of) schipe (also £o schip), to scorne, to slepe (also fo slep),
to fowne, to wedde, to wyve, fo 3ere, be 3ere.

In the plural we have Aors, schep unchanged, and also with numerals,
mile, monthe, pound, jer (beside 3eres), wynter. The plural of thing
is thinges, sometimes fAinge, not thing. Mutation plurals, feet, men,
teeth, wommen. Plurals in -en, brethren, children, oxen (also oxes),
ton, yhen.

The forms in -eze have plurals -ers, as janglers, kepers, lovers.
From maiden we have beside maidens also maidenes (three syllables),
iv. 255, which is perhaps the true reading in Chaucer, Leg. of G.
Women, 722. From angel we have plural angdis, iii. 2256, as well as
angles, and Nimphis, v. 6932, but there are few examples of plural in -ss.

With regard to Romance substantives Gower appears to be stricter
than Chaucer in preserving their form. He gives us regularly deste
‘ beast,’ feste, requeste, tempeste. We have however baner (also banere),
host, maner, matier (beside manere, matiere), press (beside presse),
travaile, conseile (substantives) very occasionally for fravail, consed.

Several distinctively feminine forms are used, as capiteine, cham-
berere, citezeine, cousine, enemie.

In some cases the Latin inflexion is introduced, as Zanfaly, Apollinis,
Centauri,in Cancro, Achillem, Esionam, Phebum, the two last apparently
introduced after the first recension. |

INFLEXION. ADJECTIVES cxi

3413, ‘hire /frezssh aray, vii. 5000, ‘hire Ao/ entente, viii. 1222, cp.
viii. 1710, 2968 (but ‘ 3oure Ao/e conseil ’).

Among Romance adjectives the want of inflexion is more frequent
in proportion to the whole number of instances, e. g. ‘the vei» honour,’
Prol. 221, ‘the /a/s emperour,’ Prol. 739, ‘ Hire clos Envie,’ ii. 684, &c.

In the case of adjectives of more than one syllable, whether English
or French, the definite form is exceptional. The commonest case is
that of superlatives, in which the definite form -es/e is regularly used
when the accent falls on the termination, whether in rhyme or other-
wise, as /aireste, i. 767, v. 7427, slyheste, i. 1442, wiseste : myhtteste,
i. 1097 f., wofulleste, vii. 5017. Even when the accent is thrown back,
the definite inflexion is more usually given than not, as /aireste,
i. 1804, hofeste, i. 2492, freweste, ii. 1282, povereste, iv. 2238, heyeste,
vii. 935, but sometimes dropped, as ‘the purest Eir, Prol. 921, ‘the
Jongest of hem,’ i. 3133, ‘ the /owest of hem alle,’ vii. 224: in all cases,
however, where the accent is thrown back, the adjective is followed
by a word beginning with a vowel, so that the metre is not affected.

Other adjectives of which the termination is capable of accent may
take the definite inflexion, when the accent is thrown on the termina-
tion, as ‘the covostouse flaterie,' ‘this /echerouse pride,’ this {yrannysshe
knyht,’ but on the other hand ‘his fals 5;//ows lokynge,’ ‘the f:etous
Justinian,’ ‘the proude fyrannyssk Romein,’ and cases where the
adjective is used as a substantive, ‘the covettous, ‘This Envious,’
‘thaverous, &c. We have ‘the pfarfite medicine,’ iv. 2624 (but ‘the
parfit Elixir,’ iv. 2522, with accent thrown back), and ‘O thou gentile
Venus,’ viii. 2294; but perhaps faz/fífe, gentile are to be regarded as
feminine forms, as almost certainly devo/te, i. 636.

Where the final syllable of the adjective is incapable of accent,
there is ordinarily no question of a definite inflexion, except where
there is syncope after v (x), as in evele. Such words are croked,
wicked, cruel, litel, middel, biter, dedly, lusti, sinful(I), wilful,
woful(l), wrongful, and we may note that comparatives in -ere and
adjectives in -Ziche (with accent thrown back) sometimes appear in
the truncated form of spelling even where a definite termination is
suggested by their position, e.g. ‘hire Jonger Soster, v. 5395, ' hir
goodlych yhe,’ ii. 2026, ‘Ha, thou sgood/ich ypocrite, v. 6293, ‘hire
dedlich yhe,’ vii. 5089 (-ZicA in these latter cases to avoid the hiatus of
*ungoodly ypocrite, &c.). As an exceptional instance the form nakede
should be observed, ‘his 2a£ede arm,’ iv. 421, given so both by F and S.

The formation of plurals in adjectives and participles used attribu-
tively is governed by the same principles. We have 'freciowse
Stones, iv. 1354, but ‘the most principal’ (pl), v. 1115. In the
expression ‘the chief flodes,' v. 1112, chief must be considered perhaps
as a substantive, like 4ed in ‘the hed planete” Naturally words like
wicked, woful, /usti, &c., take no plural inflexion, but we have manye

INFLEXION. PRONOUNS cxiii

*O thou divine pourveance, ii. 3243, ‘the Jarfite medicine,’ iv. 2624,
«a gentile... on, v. 2713, and ‘O thou genfile Venus,’ viii. 2294, may
be examples of the same usage.

There is one instance of the French plural adjective in -5, Prol. 738,
evidently introduced for the sake of the rhyme.

(3) PRONOUNS. The personal pronoun of the first person is regu-
larly J, not ich, It is usually written y by the copyist of the last 235
lines of the Fairfax MS. and in the Praise of Peace.

The third person sing. fem. is sche (never written she), once scheo:
the oblique case is Aire, hir (never here), and Aire, though usually
equivalent to a monosyllable, sometimes has -e fully sounded, as i. 367,
iv. 766, v. 1178.

The third person neuter is 7/, seldom Az.

In the first person plural the oblique case is ozs, not shortened to ws
in spelling.

The possessives of the first and second persons sing., min, thin,
have no plural inflexion, but the disjunctive form /Ayze pl. occurs,
i. 168. On the other hand Ais, originally an uninflected form, has
usually the plural Aise,-but sometimes As. The form Azse is never
a dissyllable. |

The feminine possessive, 3rd pers., is hive or Atv, freely interchanged
and metrically equivalent. There is no question of a plural inflexion
here, and we find ‘ Hive Nase,’ ‘ hire browes, ‘hir lockes,’ ‘ Hire Necke,’
quite indifferently used, i. 1678 ff. The disjunctive is hive, v. 6581, and
hires, v. 6857. The forms oure, 3oure are usual for the possessives of
the 1st and 2nd pers. plur., and these are commonly used as mono-
syllables, e. g. i. 2062, 2768, and interchanged with our, jour; but they
are also capable of being reckoned as dissyllables, e.g. Prol. 5, iii.
1087. Here again there is no plural inflexion (' 3o: wordes,’ iii. 627).
The disjunctive joxres occurs in i. 1852.

The possessive of the 3rd pers. plur. is here, her, which is practically
never confused in good MSS. with ire, hir of the fem. sing.! We
are fully justified in assuming that for Gower the distinction was
absolute.

The ordinary relatives are which and that: who is little used as
a relative except in the genitive case, whos. The plural whiche is
usually pronounced as a monosyllable, as ii. 604, iv. 1496, v. 1320, and
often loses -e in writing, as Prol. 1016, iv. 1367, 1872, v. 4041, but also
sometimes counts as a dissyllable, e. g. i. 404, vii. 1256.

In combination with the definite article the singular form is ‘the
which,’ not ‘the whiche,’ as Prol. 71, 975.

1 In the Praise of Peace however the MS. has Aere for hire, Il. 108, 329, cp.
254. F has Aire for here once accidentally, iii. gor.
$5

INFLEXION. VERBS CXV

pl. riden, ches, pl. chose, and among preterite-presents cam, pl conne,
maz, pl. mowe, schal, pl. schulle schull schol, wot, pl. wite.

There are some few instances in F of strong preterites with irregular
-¢ termination in the Ist or 3rd pers. singular, but in no case is this
authenticated by metre or rhyme. The following are examples in
which F and S are agreed, ‘ schofe a wile,’ v. 4278, ‘ he dare him,’ v. 5236,
‘which si#e his Soster,’ v. 5810, ‘ Jefe come,’ vi. 1186, ‘he tho /o£e hire
in his arm, viii. 1732. These are perhaps mistakes, and they have some-
times been corrected in the text on the authority of other MSS.

The 2nd pers. sing. has the -e termination, as sie (syhe), iii. 2629,
iv. $99, were, iv. 600, knewe, vi. 2313, come, viii. 2076, but fok, i. 2421.
The 2nd pers. sing. of the preterite-present mas is regularly »s44 (myAf),
never ‘mayest.’ Occasionally the best MSS. give it as »iAe, e.g.
i. 2457, vii. 2637, 3819, but there is no metrical confirmation of this
form. The preterite plural is very rarely found without -¢, as v. 3300,
7534, vii. 3574.

Among Weak Verbs those which have the short or syncopated form
keep the -e termination almost regularly. Such preterites are, for
example, asfide, cride, deide, leide, obeide, payde, preide, seide, teide,
hadde, made, brende, sende, answerde, ferde, herde, solde, spilde,
tolde, wende, betidde, dradde, fedde, fledde, hedde, gradde, ladde, radde,
spedde, sfradde, crepte, duelte, felte, hente, kepte, kiste, lefte, lepte,
loste, mente, slepte, wente, wepte, alihte, caste, dihte, grette, knette,
kutle, laste, liste, mette, plyhte, putte, schette, sette, sterte, triste,
arawhte, broghte, cawhte, oghte, roghte, schryhte, soghte, strawhte,
tawhte, thoghte, wroghte, cowthe, dorste, mihte, moste, scholde, wiste,
wolde.

At the same time it must be noted (as in the case of the infinitive)
that with some of these forms there is an occasional tendency to drop
the -e before a vowel at the beginning of the next word (that is, where
elision would take place), and the agreement of the best MSS.,
especially F and S, makes it certain this was sometimes done by the
author. It is impossible to trace any system, but the number of verbs
affected is not large, and in nearly every case the instances of this kind
of elision-apocope are largely outnumbered by the examples of normal
inflexion in the same verb!.

The following is a tolerably full list of references for these preterite forms,
which are given in alphabetical order: ‘ Beraft hire,’ v. 5647, ‘ it bettdd upon
the cas,’ vii. 4381, * Sche casf on me,’ i. 152, ‘cast up hire lok,’ v. 5436,
‘he cast his lok,’ vi. 1035, ‘ dorst he,’ ii. 1633, ‘dread him,’ viii. 1368,

1 [n a few cases, as Prol. 543, i. 183, 1280, v. 3393, vi. 2062, the gram-
matically correct form has been printed in the text from less good MSS. and
against the combined authority of F and S. On a review of the whole
subject this does not now seem to me satisfactory.

h 2

INFLEXION. VERBS exvii

substitute in narrative the present tense, or the perfect formed with
‘hath,’ for the 3rd person singular of the preterite, * Conforteth ’ for
' Confortede,' ‘Hath axed’ for ‘axede,’ ' feigneth ” for ‘ feignede,’ and
this apparently as a matter of habit and even in cases where a vowel
follows. No doubt the use of the present tense in narrative is quite
usual apart from this, but the extremely frequent combination of strong
or syncopated preterites with the present tenses of verbs of this class -
seems to me to indicate clearly how the matter stood.

The following are a few of the examples of this: ‘For sche fof thanne
chiere on honde And clepeth him,’ i. 1767 f., ‘The king comandeth ben in
pes, And .. . cast,’ 3240 f., * Comendeth, and seide overmore,’ 3361, ‘he him
bethoghte, .. . And torneth to the banke ayein,’ ii. 167 ff., ‘for hem sente And
axeth hem,’ 613 f., ‘day... clepeth oute .. . sterte,’ 848 ff., ‘Sche loketh and
hire yhen caste,’ 1066, * This child he loveth kindely... Bot wel he ssh...
axeth .. . seide, 1381 ff., ‘Sche preide him and conseileth bothe,' 1457, ‘Which
semeth outward profitable And was,’ 220r f., ‘And he himself that ilke
throwe Abod, and hovefh there stille,' iii. 1232 f., and so on.

These examples will serve to illustrate a tendency which every
reader will observe, when once his attention has been called to it.
There are indeed many narrative passages in which nearly all the strong
or syncopated verbs are used in the preterite, and all the others in the
present, and it is evident that this cannot be accidental !.

There are, however, a certain number of instances ofthe use of weak
preterites, indicative or subjunctive, and a few in which the final e
(or -en) is sounded in the metre.

The following are examples of -ede preterites (in one instance -sde): ‘I
teisshide after deth,’ i. 120, ‘he passede ate laste,’ 142, ‘he hem sfopfede alle
faste,’ 522, ‘And warnede alle his officiers,” 2506, ‘Mi ladi /ovede, and 1 it wiste,'
ii. 50a, ‘he axede hem anon,’ 1248, ‘he rounede in thin Ere,’ 1944, ‘Bot he hire
lovede, er he wente,’ 2027, ‘Thogh that he /ovede ten or tuelve,' 2063,
‘ Supplantede the worthi knyht,' 2453, ‘Sche fowrede oute,’ iii. 679, so also
iii, 1631, 2556, iv. 468, 825, 842, 934, 1340, 1345, 1444, ‘Lo, thus sche deede
a wofull Maide,’ iv. 1593, ‘it kede ek to wende,’ 2150, ‘ Controeveden be sondri
wise,’ 2454, ‘ Translateden. And otherwise,’ 2660, ‘And foundeden the grete
Rome,’ v. 904, ‘He /eignede him,’ 928, * And clepede him,’ 951, ‘He percede
the harde roche,’ 1678, ‘Thei /asleden, whan Crist was bore,’ 1697, ‘ Thei
passeden the toun,’ 2182, ‘ Alle othre passede of his hond,’ 3258, * Welcomede
him,’ 3373, ‘walkede up and doun’ (pl.), 3833, ‘ axede him,’ 5129, so also
5114, 6132, 6791, 6887, ‘oppressede al the nacion’ (pl.), vi. 568, ‘ That
loveden longe er 1 was bore,’ 882, ‘he s«sede ay,’ 1207, ‘ exilede out of londe,’
2348, ‘ Enformeden,' vii. 1495, ‘ Devoureden,’ 3346, * Ensamplede hem’ (pl.),

1 Prof. Lounsbury's criticism on the rhyme of vii. 5103 f, as given in
Pauli's edition, is quite sound, and Prof. Skeat's defence of it will not do.
Gower never rhymes a past participle in -ed with a weak preterite, though he
sometimes drops the -e of the preterite before a vowel. The rhyme was good
enough for Chaucer, however, as Prof. Lounsbury'sexamples abundantly prove.

INFLEXION. VERBS cxix

Confessor saying 448, tell, understond, and the Lover fe/fefh, axeth
(e- g. i. 1395, 1875), at other times the Lover says Jest, say, tell, lef,
&c. (i. 1942, 1972, ii. 2074, iii. 841, &c.) !

Present Participle. The form of the present participle is the
most characteristic part of Gower's verb inflexion as compared (for
example) with Chaucer's. Chaucer seems regularly to have used
the form in -/wge (often with apocope -é#g): Gower uses ordin-
arily the form -ezde, and normally with the accent thrown on the
termination, as i. 204, ‘To me sfekende thus began,’ 236, ‘Whos Prest
I am fouchende of love,’ 428, ‘ Stondende as Stones hiere and there,’ 633,
*So that semende of liht thei werke, 1379 f., ‘That for I se no sped
comende, . . . compleignende,’ 1682, * Hangende doun unto the chin.’

Sometimes the same form .is used with accent on the preceding
syllable, and in this case the -e is systematically elided, e. g. Prol. 11,
‘In tyme comende after this,’ 259, ‘ Belongende unto the presthode,’
i. 296, ‘As Zouchende of my wittes fyve? (cp. 334, 742), 3025, ‘And
wailende in his bestly stevene.’

In a relatively small number of instances the form -zage occurs either
in rhyme, as i. 524, ‘So whan thei comen forth seilinge,’ in rhyme with
‘singe,’ i. 1710, ‘And liveth, as who seith, deyisge, in rhyme with
* likynge' (subst.), or with the accent thrown back, as i. 115, * Wisshinge
and wepinge al myn one, v. 518, ‘Adidinge in hir compaignie,’
vi. 717, ‘I mai go /as£inge everemo’; rarely out of rhyme and with
accent, as i. 2721, ‘ Mi fader, as fouchinge of al.’

The final e is never lost in writing, but when the accent is thrown
back it is always elided.

Past Participle. The -id termination of weak past participles is
very rarely found in the Fairfax MS., except in the concluding passage,
which is copied in a different hand from the rest. It occurs commonly
in the Praise of Peace. Examples found elsewhere in F are weddid,
iv. 650, medlid, iv. 1475.

From se//en besides the regular past participle se¢ there appears the
form sefe twice in rhyme, vii. 2864, forzefe : sete, and viii. 244, miisgefe
(past partic.) : upsete. This seems to be formed after the analogy of
gete. On the other hand we have /erd, i. 445, &c., but also /are(x),
iii. 2692, v. 3797, &c. The past participle of se is sen, sein, sete, but
most commonly seme. In a few instances a final e is given by the
MSS. in weak past participles, e.g. Aerde for herd, v. 4231, schope
for schop, v. 4278, sette for set, vi. 10, wiste for wist, viii. 37.

The cases of weak past participles with plural inflexion (e. g. Prol.
300, i. 3246, iv. 2343, v. 6789) have already been mentioned in dealing
with adjectives.

! Except in the case of these imperative forms the and pers. plur. is quite
consistently used by the Lover in his shrift, and the and pers. sing. by the
Confessor in reply.

METRE, Etc. cxxi

iii. 931, ‘Of this hill that northward lay,’ iii. 62), nor displaces the
natural accent (as ‘Of Decembre the tenthe day,’ Hous of Fame,
i 111, ‘Jupiter considereth wel this, ii. 134, * Rounede everych
in otheres ere,’ iii. 954), nor slurs over syllables.

To say that Gower never indulges in any of these licences
would be an exaggeration. Some displacement of the natural
accent may be found occasionally, even apart from the case of
those French words whose accent was unsettled, but it is present
in a very slight degree, and the rhythm produced does not at all
resemble that of the lines cited above from Chaucer: e. g. i. 2296,
‘Wher that he wolde make his chace 2348, ‘Under the grene thet
begrave,’ 2551, ‘“ Drink with thi fader, Dame," he seide. Such
as it is, this licence is nearly confined to the first foot of the
verse, and is not so much a displacement of the natural accent
of the words as a trochaic commencement, after the fashion
which has established itself as an admitted variety in the English
iambic. We may, however, read long passages of the Confessio
Amants without finding any line in which the accent is displaced
even to this extent.

Again, as to slurring of syllables, this no doubt takes place, but
on regular principles and with certain words or combinations
only. "There are hardly more than three or four lines in the whole
of the Confessio Amantis where a superfluous syllable stands
unaccounted for in the body of the verse, as for example,

iv. 1131, ‘Som time in chambre, som time in halle,’
v. 441, * Of Jelousie, bot what it is,'

v. 2914, ‘And thus ful ofte aboute the hals,'
v. 5011, ‘It was fantosme, bot yit he herde.’

The writer seems to have no need of any licences. The narrative
flows on in natural language, and in sentences and periods which
are apparently not much affected by the exigencies of metre or
rhyme, and yet the verse is always smooth and the rhyme never
fails to be correct. If this is not evidence of the highest style
of art, it shows at least very considerable skill.

In Gower's five-accent line, as exhibited in the Supplication of
viii. 2217-2300 and in the poem Z5 Praise of Peace, Schipper finds
less smoothness of metre, *owing perhaps to the greater unfami-
liarity and difficulty of the stanza and verse’ (Englische Metrik,
i. 483ff). His examples, however, are not conclusive on this
point. Some of the lines cited owe their irregularity to corrup-

METRE, Etc. cxxiii

~

weak final e is never counted as a syllable in the verse, except
in rhyme, require some qualification even when applied to Chaucer
(for example, ‘sone’ is certainly a dissyllable in Cant. Tales, A 1963,
Hous of Fame, i. 218), and they are almost wholly inapplicable to
Gower, as we shall see if we examine them. (a) Gower has the
forms Aire, oure, zoure, all occasionally as dissyllables apart from
special emphasis or rhyme. (B) these, some, whiche are all some-
times dissyllables. (y) The strong participles with short stems as
come, drive, write as a rule have the final e sounded. (5) The
-¢ of the 2nd pers. sing. of the strong preterite may be sounded,
e. g. iii. 2629 (but ‘ Were thou,’ iv. 600). (e) The form made, both
singular and plural, regularly has -e sounded, were (pret.) usually,
and wife sometimes. (£) sone, wone, schipe (dat.), and the French
words in -£e (ye), &c., have -e regularly counted in the metre : so also
beste, entente, tempeste. (m) before, tofore, there are used in both ways.

Gower's usage with reference to this matter is as follows :

The personal and possessive pronouns Aire, ouvre, joure, here and hise (as
plural of Ass), written also Air, our, &c., are asa rule treated as monosyllables,
We have however ‘Fro Aire, which was naked al,’ i. 367, ‘And thenke
untoward Aire drawe,’ iv. 559, so v. 1178, 2757, vii. 1899, &c., ‘In oure tyme
among ous hiere,’ Prol. 5 (but ‘Ore king hath do this thing amis,’ i. 2062),
* As 3e be joure bokes knowe,’ iii. 1087, cp. v. 2951 (but ‘Bot, fader, of joure
lores wise,’ i. 2768). Add to these alle (pl.) before definite article.

In the following words also the final ¢ is sometimes suppressed for
the verse: these (also thes), Prol. goo, 1037, i. 435, ii. 237, &c. (but these,
v. 813, 1127, vii. 1005, &c.): whiche plur. (also which), ii. 604, iv. 1496, &c.
(but whiché, i. 404, v. 1269, vii. 822, 1256, &c.) : eche (also ech), v. 6883, accord-
ingto F,cp. Prol. 516: there (usually ther), viii. 2311, 2689 (but fhere, iii. 1233,
&c., and often in rhyme): were pret. ind. or subj. (also wer), iii. 1600, iv.
600, 1657, 1689 (but more usually weré, as Prol. 1072, iii. 762, v. 2569, vii.
4458): where (usually wher), v. 4355 (but wheré, v. 2720): more (also mor),
ii. 26, v. 2239, 6207, vii. 3237 (but moré, Prol. 55*, 640, iv. 2446, vii. 3287,
&c.): before, tofore (also befor, tofor), i. 2054, 2864, iii. 2052 (but before,
Prol. 848, and often in rhyme): /owre, vii. 2371 (but Jour, ii. 1037, iv.
2464): fare (wel), iii. 305, iv. 1378 (but /aréwel, v. 4218): sire, i. 2878, ii.
2995 (but siré, v. 3547, 5593) : tite, ii. 455 (but twilé, v. 3150, 8445) : wole
(also tool), v. 2891, agri, &c.: bothe, ii. 1966, 2154, iv. 2138, &c. (but bothé,
Prol. 1068, i. 851, &c.): wolde (also wold), v. 4413 (usually woldé’): come,
ii. 789, iv. 2826 (but comé, pp. iv. 1283, vi. 1493, vii. 4840, inf. viii. 1362) :
some, pl. subst., iii. 2112, v. 2252 (but somé, i. 2034 ff.) : have, Prol. 708,
i. 169, 2724, ii. 550, iv. 1600 (but have, ii. 332, iv. 1598): love, subst. iv.
930, vi. 1261 (but /oy£ much more often, e.g. i. 103, 251, 760, &c.): fwelve
(also £wel/), iv. 1983 (but fwelvé, vii. 1005) : frewe (also trew), v. 2877 (but
trewé, pl., Prol. 184, def., iii, 2228): move, inf. (also mow), iv. 38: sete, inf.
and ist s, pres. iii, 1737, iv. 672, v. 2616, 6428, &c. (but ses often): prese,

METRE, Etc. CXXV

. Elision of weak final e takes place regularly before a vowel
or an unaspirated 4. We must observe that several classical
proper names ending originally in €, as Adceone, Daphne, Progne,
Phebe, have weak e and are subject to elision, and under this head
it may be noted that Canace rhymes to p/ace, whereas Chaucer
(referring to Gower's story) gives the name as Canacee, in rhyme
with Ae. Also the combinations dyme, fome, tothe, &c., have weak
-« and are elided before a vowel.

An aspirated A prevents elision as effectively as any other
consonant. We have ‘min holé herte, *greté hornes,’ * Cadme
hyhte,’ * Mi Soné, herkne,’ ‘ propré hous,’ ‘ fasté holde' (and even
‘othré herbes,’ iv. 3008); but there are some words in which
À is aspirated only when they are emphatic in sense or position,
as have, hath, he, him, hire, how, &c. For example, elision takes
place usually before ave, ke, how, but not so as a rule in cases
where they are used in rhyme or with special emphasis, e. g.
i. 2542, ‘Of such werk as it scholde have,’ ii. 2479, cp. v. 7766,
* Wenende that it were he,’ iv. 4604, ‘And al the cause hou it
wente.’ On the other hand, the preterite Aadde seems to have an
aspirated A even in unemphatic position, as ii. 589, ‘The Sceptre
hadde forto rihte’: compare vii. 2364, ‘ Victoire hadde upon his
fo,’ with vii. 2392, ‘Thogh thou victoire have nou on honde.’
Elision also takes place before Æserafter, though not before Azere.

There is one instance of hiatus, viii. 110, ‘That he his Sone
Isaac,’ and it may be noted that the same thing occurs with the
same name in the Mirour, 12241, ‘ De Isaak auci je lis.’

The article the regularly coalesces with a succeeding word beginning with
a vowel or mute A, as thaffeccioun, thalemans, thamende, thapostel, thastat,
theffect, themperour, thenvious, therbage, therthe, thexperience, thonour, thother,
thunsemlieste, thyle, &c. The exceptions, which are very few, are cases of
special emphasis, as i. 3251, ‘ The Erthe it is.’ Similarly the negative
particle ste with a succeeding verb beginning with a vowel, as nam, naproche,
nis (but ne have), and also occasionally with some words beginning with
w, forming mere, nost, not, nyle, nyste, &c. In some few instances /o coalesces
with the gerund, as facompte, teschuie.

There is diaeresis regularly in such proper names as Zheseiis,
Peleiis, Tereiis, and also in Sail, Zsaäc. We have Moises usually,
but Moises (dissyllable), iv. 648, Thaïse usually, but ZZaisis in the
epitaph, viii. 1536. One example occurs affecting the -ee termina-
tion, viz. Caldeë, v. 781 (usually a dissyllable), so /udee, Galileë in
Mirour, 20067, 29239. This is an essentially different case from

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. TEXT cxxvii

similarly thou : ynou, vii. 2099 f. (but dowe : ynowhe, ii. 3225 f.).
We have already seen that the use of such alternative forms
as sinne senne, wile wole, lasse desse, hedde hidde, -ende -inge is
sometimes determined by the rhyme.

Alliteration is used by Gower in a manner which is especially
characteristic of the new artistic style of poetry. It is sufficiently
frequent, both in formal combinations, such as ‘cares colde,’
‘lusty lif,’ ‘park and plowh, ‘swerd or spere, ‘lief and loth,’
‘wel or wo,’ ‘dike and delve,’ ‘slepe softe,’ ‘spille . . . spede,’
and as an element of the versification :

i 886 f. ‘For so, thei seide, al stille and softe
God Anubus hire wolde awake.'

iv. 2590 ‘The lost is had, the lucre is lore.’

iv. 3384 f. * Which many a man hath mad to falle,
Wher that he mihte nevere arise.’

v. 3670 f. ‘And thanne he gan to sighe sore,
And sodeinliche abreide of slep.’

vii 3468 £ ‘Sche hath hir oghne bodi feigned,
For feere as thogh sche wolde flee.’

But it is not introduced in accordance with any fixed rules, and it
often assists the flow of the verse without in the least attracting
the attention of the reader. We do not find any examples of the
rather exaggerated popular style which Chaucer sometimes adopts
in passages of violent action, e.g. Cant. Zales, A 2604 ff. The
whole subject of alliteration in Gower has been carefully dealt with
by P. Hofer in his dissertation, A//teration bet Gower, 1890, where
a very large number of examples are cited and classified ; and to
this the reader may be referred. '

viii. TEXT AND Manuscripts. About forty manuscript copies
of the Confessio Amantis are known to exist in public or private
libraries or in the hands of booksellers, and probably there may be
a few more in private possession, the existence of which has not
yet been recorded. As the broad lines for their classification are
necessarily laid down by the fact that the book was put forth
by the author in several different forms, it is necessary, before
proceeding further, to say something about this matter.

That the poem exists in at least two distinct forms, character-
ized by obvious differences near the beginning and at the end,
has been matter of common knowledge. Even in Berthelette's
edition of 1532 the difference at the beginning was noted, and

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. TEXT cxxix

we see reason to divide the manuscripts of our first recension
into two main groups, one exhibiting an earlier and the other
a later text, this last being more in accordance generally with that
of what we call the second and third recensions than with the
earlier form of the first. For practical purposes, however, the
division which has been laid down above may fairly be adopted.
As regards the order of time, from the political tendency of the
differences between them it is clear that what we call the first
recension logically precedes the third. The intermediate positio
of the second is given chiefly by the fact that one of the seven
existing manuscripts gives the earlier form of preface, and this
may also have been the case with two others, which are defective
at the beginning’. However, as has been said, the name is used
for convenience to cover a class of copies which, as regards the
character of their text, do not all belong to the same period, and
they must be looked upon as representing rather a concurrent
variety of the first or the third recension * than as a type which
is distinctly intermediate in order of time. At the same time
the smaller variations of text exhibited by these seven MSS. in
combination, as against all others*, mark them as really a family
apart, more closely related to one another than to those that lie
outside the group.

For the sake of clearness the manuscripts are in this edition
regularly grouped according to this classification, and in the
critical notes each class is cited by itself. At the same time
‘it must not be assumed that the manuscripts of each recension
stand necessarily by themselves, and that no connexion is trace-
able between one class and another. On the contrary, we shall

! Berthelette used a manuscript (not now existing) which in this respect,
as in many others, resembled B.

2 It may be noted that the four second recension MSS. which contain the
author's Latin note about his books (‘ Quia vnusquisque,' &c.), viz. BTAPs,
agree in a form of it which is different both from that which is given by first
recension copies and that which we find in F, and is clearly intermediate
between the other two, the first form fully excusing Richard II for the
troubles of his reign and the third entirely condemning him, while this
makes no mention of his merits or demerits, but simply prays for the state
of the kingdom. It is noticeable that the second recension form definitely
substitutes Henry for Richard as the patron of the Confessio Amantis,
though in one at least of the copies to which it is attached this substitution
has not been made in the text of the poem.

* e. g. ii. 193, 365 ff., iii. 168, 1241, iv. 283, 1321, v. 1252, &c.
+ i

CXXX GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

find that many errors in the text of the first recension appear also
in some copies of the second, and even of the third. The process
by which this was brought about is made clearer to us by the
fact that we have an example of a manuscript which has passed
from one group into another partly by erasure and partly by
substitution of leaves, apparently made under the direction of
the author. This is MS. Fairfax 3, which forms the basis of our
text, and the handwriting of some of the substituted pages is one
which may be recognized as belonging to the ‘scriptorium ’ of the
poet.

The example is a suggestive one and serves to explain several
things. It makes it easy to understand, for example, how the
additional matter introduced into the second recension came
to be omitted in the third. The author in this instance had
before him a very fully revised and corrected copy of his first
edition, and this by a certain amount of rewriting over erasure
and by a substitution of leaves at the beginning and end of
the poem was converted into a copy of what we call the third
recension, which his scribes could use at once as an authoritative
exemplar. The introduction of the additional passages in the
fifth and seventh books could not have been effected without
a process of recopying the whole book, which would have called
for much additional labour of the nature of proof-reading on the
part of the author, in order to secure its correctness. This
argument would apply to a book which was intended to remain
in the hands of the author, or rather of the scribes whom he
employed, and to be used as an archetype from which copies
were to be made. If a new book had to be specially prepared
for presentation, the case would be different, and it might then
be worth while to incorporate the additional passages with the
fully revised and re-dedicated text, as we find was done in the
case of the so-called Stafford MS.

Another matter which can evidently be explained in the same
way is the reappearance in some copies of the second recension
of errors which belong to the first. In producing the originals of
such manuscripts as these, partially revised copies of the first
recension must have been used as the basis, and such errors as
had not yet received correction appear in the new edition.

The assumption that a certain number of errors are original,
that is to say, go back either to the author's own autograph or

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. TEXT cxxxi

to the transcript first made from it, is in itself probable: we
know in fact that some which appear in every copy, without
exception, of the first and second recensions at length receive
correction by erasure in Fairfax 3. So far as we can judge,
the text of the Confessio Amantis during its first years exhibited
a steady tendency to rid itself of error, and the process of corrup-
tion in the ordinary sense can hardly be said to have set in until
after the death of the author. There are a large number of various
readings in the case of which we find on the one side the great
majority of first recension MSS., and on the other a small number
of this same type together with practically the whole of the second
and third recensions, as, for example’:

i. 2836 to HiXERCLBs do AJMG, SAdBAA, FWHs
2847 be o». HiXGERCLB: its. AJM, SAdBA, FWHs
2953 wele H... B1 weie AJM, SAd BA, FWH:
3027 preieth Hi... B4 W braieth, AJM, S... AA, FH:
3374 an Erl hier Hi... B, A. mad a Pier AJM, SAdBA, FW (Hs def.)
3981 place H1... Bs, BA maide AJM, SAdA, FW (Hs defective)
ii. 833 that diere H1... Bs, B that other AJ(M), SAda4, FWHs
. lii, ra euermore H1... Bs. enemy AJM, SAdBTA, FWHs
354 I may Hi... Bs he may AJM, SAdBTA, FWHs
iv. 109 day Hi... Bs, Hs lay AJM, SBTA, FW (Ad def.)
v. 316 thanne (than) Hi... B, A hom AJM, SAdBTA, FWHs
368 And for no drede now wol I wonde Hi...Bs,A In helle
thou schalt understonde AJM, S... A, FWHs cp. 394, 424, 786, &c.
2694 Whan that sche was bot of ong age For good ERCLBsa That
only for thilke avantage Of good AJMHiXG, S... AA, FWHs
2771 nyh om. ERCLBa ins. AJMHiXG, S... A, FWHs
3110 burned as the silver ERCLBs burned was as selver AJMHiXG,
S...4A, FWHs cp. 3032, 3246, &c.

We see in these examples, selected as fairly typical, that some
of the variants have evidently the character of errors, while in
other cases the difference of reading is due to an alternative
version. The circumstances, however, of these two cases are
not distinguishable, the errors are supported by as much authority
as the rest, and it must be supposed that both have the same

! For the explanation of the use of letters to designate MSS. the reader
is referred to the list of MSS. given later. It should be noted that AJM and
FWHs represent in each case a group of about seven MSS., and H1... Bs
one of nearly twenty. We observe in the examples given that B and A are
sometimes found either separately or together on the side of the Hi... Ba
group, and that the same is true occasionally of W, while on the other hand
some MSS. of the Hi... B: group are apt to pass over to the other side in
a certain part of the text and support what we call the revised reading.

12

cxxxii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

origin. If then we assume that such variations as we find (for
example) in i. 3396, 3416, v. 30, 47, 82, 368, 2694, &c., are due to
the author, as is almost certain, there can be no doubt that the
form of text which is given by the group AJM in combination
with the second and third recensions is the later of the two:
and if the group Hi... Be represents an earlier type as regards
this class of variation, it must surely do so also as regards the
errors, which, as we have seen, stand upon the same ground in
respcet of manuscript authority. As we cannot help believing
that the author wrote originally ‘To holde hir whil my lif may
laste,’ v. 82, and ‘The more he hath the more he greedeth,’
v. 394, SO we may reasonably suppose that errors such as ‘it’
for ‘hid,’ i. 1755, ‘that diere' for ‘that other,’ ii. 833, ‘what’ for
‘war,’ iil. 1065, existed in the copy which first served as an
exemplar.

It may be observed here that in cases where revision seems
to have taken place, we can frequently see a definite reason
for the change; either the metre is made more smooth, as
i. 1770, 2622, 3374, ii. 671, 751, 1763, iii. 765, 2042, 2556,
iv. 234, V. 368, 1678, &c., or some name is altered into a more
correct form, as where ‘Element’ is changed to ‘Clemenee,’
iv. 985, with a corresponding alteration of the rhyme, or the
expression and run of the sentence is improved, as i. 368, 3416,
v. 30, 1906, 6756, &c. In particular we note the tendency towards
increased smoothness of metre which is shown in dealing with
weak e terminations. .

It is to be assumed on the principles which have been stated
that the group ERCLBs and the other manuscripts which agree
with them represent with more or less accuracy the first form
of the author's text, that H1YXG and a few more form a class
in which correction and revision has taken place to some extent,
but partially and unsystematically, and that AJM &c. give us the
first recension text in a much more fully revised and corrected
form.

It has been already said that F was originally a manuscript of
the first recension. We shall find however that it did not exactly
correspond to any existing first recension manuscript. Setting
aside the small number of individual mistakes to be found in it,
there are perhaps about eighty instances (many of a very trifling
character) in which its text apparently differed originally from

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. TEXT cxxxiii

that of any first recension copy which we have, and in about half
of these the text of F agrees with that of the second recension.
The manuscript which comes nearest to F in most respects
is J (St. John's Coll., Camb.), and there is a considerable number
of instances in which this MS. stands alone among first recension
copies in agreement with the Fairfax text. In the sixth book, for
example, if J be set aside, there are at least twenty-three passages
in which F gives an apparently genuine reading unsupported
by the first recension ; but in sixteen of these cases J is in agree-
ment with F. It must be noted, however, that this state of
things is not equally observable in the earlier part of the poem,
and indeed does not become at all marked until the fifth book.

Besides variations of reading, there are in the Fairfax MS.
a few additions to the text which are not found in any first
recension copy. These are Prol. 495-498, 579-584 and i. 1403-
1406, two passages of four lines each and one of six, as well as
some additions to the Latin notes in the margin (at Prol. 195,
i. 2705, and v. 7725), of which the first two were evidently put in
later than the accompanying text. Finally, there are three other
additions to the text which are found in a single copy of the first
recension, MS. Harl. 3490 (H1). These are i. 2267-2274, where
four lines have been expanded into eight, i. 2343-2358, an inter-
esting addition of sixteen lines to the tale of Narcissus, and
i. 2369-2372. Thus in the matter of additions to the text Hi
stands nearer to F than AJM &c., and in a few other passages
also it is found standing alone of its recension in company with
F, e.g. i. 2043, 2398, ii. 2247. This manuscript does not belong
to the ‘fully revised’ group, but it gives the revised readings more
frequently perhaps than any other outside that group.

Thus notwithstanding the differences between the first recension
copies, as we have them, and the Fairfax MS. as it originally
stood, we shall have no difficulty in regarding the latter as having
been originally a revised and corrected copy of that recension,
exhibiting a text to which tolerably near approaches are made
by A, J, and Hi, each in its own way, though no copy precisely
corresponding to it is known to exist.

Passing to the second recension, we must first repeat what has
already been said, that it did not supersede the first, but existed
and developed by its side, having its origin probably in the very
same year, or at latest in the next. Its characteristic point is the

cxxxiv GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

presence of considerable additions in the fifth and seventh books,
together with a rearrangement of part of the sixth. "There are
seven manuscripts known to me, of which three are defective
at the beginning. All these (except one, which is also defective
at the end) have the rewritten epilogue, one in combination with
the Chaucer verses and the others without them. Of the four
which are perfect at the beginning, one, namely B, has the
earlier form of preface, and the other three, APs and S, the later.
Of the others it is probable, but by no means certain, that
T agreed with B in this respect, and practically certain that
A agreed with S. A more satisfactory line of distinction, which
divides the manuscripts of this class into two groups, is given
by the general character of the text which they exhibit, and
by the insertion or omission of certain of the additional passages
of which we have spoken. While some of the passages, viz.
v. 6395*-6438*, 7086*—7210*, vii. 3207*—3360*, are common to
all the copies, as are also the transposition of vi. 665-964 and
(except in case of A) the omission of v. 7701-7746, three of
them are found in AdBTAPs only, and are omitted in SA’, viz.
v. 7015*—7036*, vii. 2329*-2340* and 3149*-3180*. Then, as
regards the text generally, the five MSS. first mentioned all have
connexions of various kinds with the unrevised form of the first
recension, while the last two represent a type which, except as
regards variants specially characteristic of the second recension,
of which there may be about sixty in all, nearly corresponds with
that of the Fairfax MS."

The relations of the group AdBTAPs with the first recension and
with one another are difficult to clear up satisfactorily. Broadly,
it may be said that of these B represents an earlier type than the
rest in regard to correction and A in regard to revision: that is to
say, B retains a large number of first recension errors which do
not appear in the rest (sharing some, however, with A), while at
the same time, in cases where a line has been rewritten B almost
regularly has the altered form, though with some exceptions in
the first two books. On the other hand, though it often happens

! S is defective in one of these places and Ad in another, but a reckoning
of the lines contained in the missing leaves proves that the facts were
as stated.

? They do not, however, contain the additions above mentioned, at Prol,
495; 519, i. 1403, 2267, &c.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. TEXT CXXIY

that A is free from original errors which appear in B, yet in
many places where B has the revised form of text A gives us the
original, in agreement with the earlier first recension type, while
in others A agrees with B in giving the revised reading. Then
again, there can be no doubt of the close connexion between
B and T, but the agreement between them is not usually on
those points in which B follows the first recension in error. It
is as if they had been derived from the same archetype, but T (or
a manuscript from which T was copied) sprang from it at a later
stage than the original of B, when many of the errors noted in the
first recension had been corrected, while the text of the book
generally was allowed to remain as it was'. Finally, the text of Ad
approaches very near to a fully revised and corrected type. It very
occasionally reproduces the earlier first recension, as if by accident,
but seems never deliberately to give an ‘unrevised’ reading. It
should be observed that from a point towards the end of the
fifth book (about v. 6280) AdBT is a group which is very fre-
quently found in special agreement, whereas before that point we
usually find BT (or BTA) with Ad on the other side.

Passing now to the third recension, which has the preface and
epilogue as in A and S, but excludes the additional passages, we
find it represented by eight manuscripts, with Fairfax 3 at their
head. "We have already seen that this manuscript was originally
one of the first recension, and was altered by the author so as
to substitute the new epilogue and the new preface. Besides
these changes, fresh lines are in several places written over
erasures, as i. 2713 f., iv. 1321 f., 1361 f., &c., the marginal date
is erased at Prol. 331, and additions have been made to the
marginal notes. All these alterations, as well as the points
previously noted, in which F originally differed from the other
copies of the first recension, are reproduced in the other MSS.
of the third recension.

! It is doubtful, however, whether the special connexion between B and
T extended over the whole book, It seems rather to begin about iii.
1500. The question about the relative position of these two MSS. would
be easier of solution if it were not that T is defective up to ii. 2687, that is
as regards the part where the connexion of B with the first recension
is most apparent. The fact is that until about the middle of the third book B
is found usually in accord with the ERCLBs group, and though it sometimes
in these first books presents the characteristic second recension reading, as
ii. 193, 365 ff., iii. 168, at other times it departs from it, as i. 1881, 2017.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS. TEXT cxxxvii

source as Hs, and it has the same lapse from the third recension
to the first, coinciding with the gap in the Keswick book. On
the other hand W, though in form of text it corresponds with
these and with F, is quite independent of the group above men-
tioned, and probably also of the Fairfax MS. It is late and full of
corruptions, but in several instances it assists in the correction of
errors which appear in F, and it is apparently based on a copy which
retained some of the variants of the earlier text still uncorrected.

As for the remaining manuscript, which was formerly in the
Phillipps collection, but is now in the hands of a bookseller,
I have had so little opportunity for examining it that I ought
not to attempt a classification.

Reviewing the whole body of authorities, we can recognize
readily that two are pre-eminent as witnesses for the author's final
text, that is to say, S and F, the Stafford and the Fairfax MSS.
These are practically identical in orthography, and, except as
regards the characteristic differences, which sufficiently guarantee
their independence, exhibit essentialy the same text, and one
which bears the strongest marks of authenticity. Both are con-
temporary with the author, and it is perhaps difficult to say which
best represents his final judgement as to the form of his work.

The Stafford MS. seems to be the earlier in time, that is to say,
it probably precedes the final conversion of the Fairfax copy. It
was evidently written for presentation to a member of the house
of Lancaster, perhaps to Henry himself before his accession to
the throne. It was doubtless for some such presentation copy
that the preface was rewritten in 1392-3, with the dedication to
Henry introduced into the English text, while most of the other
copies issued during Richard's reign probably retained their
original form. If we suppose that the new forms of preface
and epilogue were at first intended only for private circulation,
we can account for the very considerable preponderance of the
first recension in regard to the number of copies by which it is
represented, and also allow sufficient time for the gradual de-
velopment of the text, first into the type which we find in A or J,
and finally into that of F, as it originally stood, a process which
can hardly be satisfactorily understood if we suppose that from
1393 onwards the Lancastrian dedication had its place in all
copies put forth by the author. It seems on the whole probable,
for reasons to be stated afterwards, that the final conversion of

cxxxvii GOWER’S ENGLISH WORKS

F (that is as regards the preface) did not take place until after
the deposition of Richard, and it is reasonable enough to suppose
that copies were usually issued in the original form, until after
that event occurred.

Manuscripts. The following account of the MSS. is given
on my own authority in every detail. I have been able to see
them all, and I wish here to express my thanks to the possessors
of them, and to the librarians who have them in their charge, for
the readiness with which they have given me the use of them.
I am indebted especially to the Councils of Trinity College and
St. John's College, Cambridge, and to Corpus Christi, Wadham,
Magdalen, and New College, Oxford, for allowing their MSS? to
be sent to the Bodleian Library for my use, and to remain there
for considerable periods. Except in the case of one or two, to
which my access was limited, I have examined every one carefully,
so that I am able to say (for example) to what extent, if at all, they
are imperfect. "They are arranged as far as possible in accordance
with the classes and groups to which they belong, as follows :

ist Recension (a) AJMP:ChN:E, (6) HiYXGOAdsCathQ
(o ECRLB:SnDArHdAsh and Recension (a) SA (4) AdTBAPs
3rd Recension FHsNKHsMagdWPs Hn

FIRST RECENSION.

(a) Revised.

A. BODLEY 902, Bodleian Library (formerly Arch. D. 33, not in
Bernard's Catalogue, 1697). Contains Confessio Amantis followed
by ‘Explicit iste liber’ (four lines), ‘Quam cinxere freta,’ and ‘ Quia
vnusquisque.’ Parchment, ff. 184, measuring 133 x 9% in., in quires
of 8 with catchwords. Well written in double column of 46 lines in
three different hands of early fifteenth cent., of which the first extends
to the end of the second quire (ff. 2-16), the second from thence to the
end of the tenth quire (ff. 17-80), and the third from f. 81 to the end.
The columns nearly correspond with those of the Fairfax MS. up to
f.81, after which point some attempt is made to save space by writing
the Latin verses in the margin. Latin summaries in the margin,
except very occasionally, as on ff. 10 and 11v° Floreated half
border in fairly good style at the beginning of each book except the
fifth, and one miniature on f. 8, of the Confession, remarkable for the
fact that the figure of the Lover is evidently intended as a portrait of
the author, being that of an old man and with some resemblance in
features to the effigy on Gower'stomb. The Confessor has a red stoie,

MANUSCRIPTS cxxxix

which with his right hand he is laying on the penitent's head, much as
in the miniatures which we have in C and L. The note for the minia-
turist still stands in the margin, ‘ Hic fiat confessor sedens ef confessus
coram se genuflectendo.’

The first leaf of the book is lost, and has been supplied in the
sixteenth cent. from Berthelette’s second edition. It should be noted
that this is not the form of commencement which belongs properly to
the MS., being that of the third recension, taken by Berthelette from
Caxton. The first line of f. 2 is Prol. 144.

As to former possessors, we find written on the last leaf *Anniballis
Admiralis dominicalis,’ on f. 80 ‘Be me Anne Russell’ (?), and on
f. 115 ‘ Elyzebeth Gardnar my troust ys in god,’ all apparently sixteenth
cent. The first name is evidently that of Claude d'Annebaut (also
called d'Hannybal), who was Admiral of France, and died in 1552. He
was in England about the year 1547. The book came to the Bodleian
from Gilbert Dolben, Esq., of Finedon, in Northamptonshire, in the year
1697, and not being in the Catalogue of 1697, it has to some extent
escaped notice.

The text is a very good one of the revised type. It should be noted, how-
ever, that while in the earlier books AJM &c. stand very frequently together
on the side of F as against the rest of the first recension, in the later, and
especially in the seventh and cighth, AM &c. have an increasing tendency to

stand with the first recension generally, leaving J alone in support of the cor-
rected text. In the earlier books À sometimes stands alone in this manner,
as i. 1960, ii. 961, 1356.

The orthography (especially that of the second hand) is nearly that of F.
As regards final e, the tendency is rather to insert wrongly than to omit.
Punctuation agrees generally with that of F.

J. ST. JoHN’s CoLL, CAMB. B 12. Containsthe same as A. Parch-
ment, ff. 214, 12 x 9}in., in quires of 8 with catchwords : double column
of 39 lines, written in a very neat hand of the first quarter of fifteenth
century. Latin summaries usually omitted, but most of them inserted
up to f. 5 (Prol. 606), and a few here and there in the fifth and seventh
books.

The first page has a complete border, but there are no other decora-
tions except red and blue capitals. Old wooden binding.

The seventh leaf of quire 12 (v. 57-213) and the first of quire 14 (v.
1615-1770) are cut out, and a passage of 184 lines is omitted in the
first book (i. 631-814) without loss of leaf, which shows that the manu-
script from which it was copied, and which here must have lost a leaf,
had the normal number of 46 lines to the column.

Various names, as Thomas Browne, Nicolas Helifax, J. Baynorde,
are written in the book, and also * John Nicholas oweth this book,’ with
the date 1576. At the beginning we find ‘Tho. C. S.’, which stands
for ‘Thomas Comes Southampton. The book was in fact bought with

MANUSCRIPTS cxli

of special agreement, and some considerations suggest that it may be actually
derived from it, as for example the writing of the Latin verses in the margin
after f. 80, which in A seems to be connected with a change of hand,
whereas in M it begins at the same point without any such reason. On the
other hand M has a good many readings which are clearly independent,
either correcting mistakes and omissions in A, as Prol. 195 marg., 937;
i. 673 marg., 924, 1336, 3445, ii. 951, iii. 2529, vi. 620, or giving an early read-
ing where À has a later, e.g. Prol. 869, i. 1118, 1755, ii. 961, 3516, iii. 1939, v.
3914, 5524, &c. In correctness of text and of spelling M is much inferior
to A, especially as regards final e : for example, on f. 53 v°,

Came neuer 3it to mannes ere Cam A

Tiding | ne to mannes sit Tidinge . .. sihte A
Merueil whiche so sore aflihte Merueile which A
Amannes herte as it pe dede po A

To hym whoche in pe same stede him which A

Pi, formerly PHILLIPPS 2298, bought in June, 1899, by Mr. B. Quaritch,
who kindly allowed me to see it. Parchment, leaf measuring about
9 x 6} in., double column of 39 lines, in a fairly neat running hand,
with many contractions because of the small size of the leaf. Latin
summaries omitted. No decoration. Text agrees with AJM group,
so far as I have examined it.

Ch. CHETHAM'S LIBR., MANCHESTER, A. 6. 11 (Bern. Cat. ii. 7151).
Contains Conf. Amantis with ‘ Explicit’ (4 lines) and ‘Quam cinxere.’
Parchment, ff. 126, about 15} x 10$ in., quires usually of 12 or 14 leaves.
Rather irregularly written in double column of 47-61 lines, late fifteenth
century. No ornament. Marginal Latin almost entirely omitted, but
some English notes by way of summary occasionally in margin, perhaps
by later hand.

The first leaf is lost, the MS. beginning Prol. 193, and alsotwo leaves
in the second quire (i. 1092-1491) and one in the tenth (viii. 2111-2343);
but besides these imperfections there are many omissions, apparently
because the copyist got tired of his work, e. g. ii. 3155-3184, iii. 41-126,
817-842, 877-930, 1119-1196, iv. 17-72, 261-370, $69-704, 710-722,
915-968, 1117-1236, v. 72-112. There is also a good deal of omission
and confusion in v. 6101-7082. Atthe end in a scroll is written * Note-
hurste,’ which indicates probably that the book was copied for one of
the Chethams of Nuthurst, perhaps Thomas Chetham, who died 1504.
The word ' Notehurst' also occurs at the end of the Glasgow MS. of the
‘ Destruction of Troy, which has in another place the names of John
and Thomas Chetham of ‘Notehurst’ as the owners of it.

In text it belongs to the AJM group, and sometimes, as iv. 208, stands
alone with J. There are many corruptions, however, and the spelling is
late and bad.

Ns. NEW COLLEGE, OXFORD, 326. Contains Conf. Amantis only
(no ‘ Explicit’). Parchment, ff. 207 + 4 blanks, about 132 x 94 in., in
quires of 8 with catchwords ; neatly written in double column of 40 lines

cxlii GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

(or 39). No Latin summaries or verses. The handwriting changes
after f. 62 (at iii. 2164) and becomes rather larger and more ornamental.

Two leaves lost after f. 35, containing ii. 1066-1377, and some of the
Jeaves of the MS. from which it was copied had been displaced, so that
iv. 2501-2684 comes after 2864, then follows 3049-3232, then 2865-
3048, and after these 3233 ff. (two leaves displaced in the original).
Lines omitted sometimes with blanks left, as i. 1044, 2527.

From the coats of arms which it contains the book would seem to
have been written for Thomas Mompesson of Bathampton, sheriff of
Wilts in 1478 (K. Meyer, John Gowers Besiehungen, &c.). It was
given to John Mompesson by Sir Giles Mompesson in 1650, and to
New College by Thomas Mompesson, Fellow, in 1705.

The text is a combination of two types. It has the Lancaster dedication
at the beginning, but the conclusion which belongs to the first recension.
On examination it proves that the scribe who wrote the first eight quires
followed a manuscript not of the F, but of the SA class (agreeing for
example with S in i. 1881 f., 2017 ff., ii. 2387, iii, 168, 1241, and differing
from F in regard to i. 2267 ff., 2343ff., &c.), while the copyist of the
remainder followed one of the revised first recension. The spelling is poor.

Es. BIBL. EGERTON 913, Brit. Museum. A fragment, containing
Conf. Amantis from the beginning to i. 1701. Paper, ff. 47, 114 x 8 in.,
in quires of 16 with catchwords : single column, 30-37 lines on page:
Latin summaries in margin. Three hands, (1) f. 1-26, 31-36; (2)
27-30; (3) 37-47.

On f. 26 v?. there is an omission of i. 387-570 (one leaf of 184 lines
lost in the copy). This is supplied by the insertion of four leaves after
f. 26, containing i. 375-580.

The text belongs to the revised group, as shown by Prol. 6, 7, 115, 659,
869, i. 162, 278, 368, 1262, &c.

(6) Intermediate.

Hi. HARLEIAN 3490, Brit. Museum. Contains, ff. 1-6 St Edmund's
Speculum Religtosorum, ff. 8-215 Confessio Amantis, left unfinished on
f.215 v°. Parchment, 215 leaves, 144 x 10 in., in quires of 8 with
catchwords : double column of 34-51 lines, small neat hand of middle
fifteenth cent, with some corrections, perhaps in the same hand.
Latin summaries in the text, underlined with red. Blank leaf cut out
after f.6, and f.7 left blank, so that Gower begins on the first leaf
of the second quire. The text is left unfinished at viii. 3062*, part
of the last page remaining blank.

Floreated pages at the beginning of the books and also at f. 11, with
various coats of arms painted.

The text given by this MS. is of an intermediate type. Occasionally
throughout it is found in agreement with AJM &c. rather than with ERC
&c., as Prol. 6, 7, i. 162, 630, 1755, 1768 fI., 1934, &c., and in a large portion

MANUSCRIPTS cxliii

of the fifth book it passes over definitely in company with XG &c. to the
revised class, but it does not contain the distinctive readings of XG. Some-
times it stands alone of the first recension in company with F &c., as iv.
2414, vii. 1749, viii. 2098, and especially in regard to the three passages, i.
2267 ff., 2343 ff., 2369 ff. In individual correctness of text and spelling the
MS. does not rank high, and it is especially bad as regards insertion and
omission of final e, as ‘Wherof him ouht welle to drede,’ ‘Ayenste the
poyntes of the beleue,' ‘Of whome that he taketh eny hede.' It has th

regularly for p and y for 5.

Y. In the possession of the MARQUESS OF BUTE, by whose kindness
I have been allowed to examine it. Contains Confessio Amantis,
imperfect at beginning and end. Parchment, 154 x 102 in., in quires
of 8 with catchwords on scrolls. Very well written in double column of
50 lines, early fifteenth cent. Latin summaries in text (red). Floreated
page finely illuminated at the beginning of each book, with good
painting of large initials, some with figures of animals, in a style that
looks earlier than the fifteenth cent. Spaces left on f. 2, apparently
for two miniatures, before and after the Latin lines following i. 202.

Begins in the last Latin summary of the Prologue, ‘Arion nuper
citharista,’ followed by Prol. 1053, * Bot wolde god,’ &c., having lost six
leaves. Again, after iv. 819 nine leaves are lost, up to iv. 2490, and one
leaf also which contained vi. 2367- vii. 88: the book ends with viii. 2799,
two or three leaves being lost here. The book belonged to the first
Marquess of Bute, who had his library at Luton. At present it is at
St. John's Lodge, Regent's Park.

This is a good manuscript, carefully written and finely decorated. There
are very few contractions, and in particular the termination -oun is
generally written in full, as * confessioun,' i. 202, *resoun,' iii. 1111, 'de-
vocioun,’ * contemplacioun, v. 7125 f. &c., and fh is written regularly for p.
As regards individual accuracy and spelling it is very fair, but the scribe adds
-e very freely at the end of words. Tbe type of text represented is evidently
intermediate to some extent, but I have not been able to examine it suf-
ficiently to determine its exact character. It supports the revised group in
a certain number of passages, e. g. i. 264, 630, 3374, 3396, 3416, ii. 31, 1328,
1758, &c., sometimes in company with Hi: and sometimes not. In particular
we may note the passage i. 3374 ff., where in some lines it is revised as
above mentioned, and in others, as 3381, 3414, 3443, it keeps the earlier
text. Occasionally Y seems to have a tendency to group itself with B, as
i. 208, 604, and in other places we find YE or YEC forming a group in
agreement with B, as i. 161, iii. 633, v. 1946, 3879.

X. SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES, 134. Contains, ff. 1-30 Lydgate's
Life of the Virgin (imperfect at beginning), f.1 begins in cap. xiii.
‘Therefore quod pees,’ ff. 30-249 Confessio Amantis with ‘ Explicit’
(six lines), ‘Quam cinxere, and ‘Quia vnusquisque,’ ff. 250-283, Hoc-
cleve's Regement of Princes, with * Explicit Thomas Occlef,’ ff. 283 v^,
metrical version of Boethius [by John Walton of Osney] with leaves

cxliv GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

lost at the end, ends ‘Amonges hem pa? dwelles ny3e present.’
Parchment, ff. 297, about 15 x 11 in., in quires of 8 without catchwords,
in a good and regular hand. The Conf. Amantis is in double
column of 41 lines. Latin summaries in text (red). Ornamental
borders at the beginning of books and space for miniature of Nebu-
chadnezzar’s Dream on f. 34 v?. One leaf lost between ff. 134 and 135,
containing v. 1159-1318.

The book belonged formerly to the Rev. Charles Lyttelton, LL.D.,
who notes that it came originally from the Abbey of Hales Owen.

I owe thanks to the librarian of the Society of Antiquaries for
courteously giving me access to the manuscript.

The text is of the intermediate type, passing over in a part of the fifth
book with H1 &c. to the revised group, but not giving the revised readings
much support on other occasions. It forms however a distinct sub-group
with GOAd:, these manuscripts having readings apparently peculiar to
themselves in several passages, e. g. v. 3688 and after v. 6848.

The spelling is not very good, and in particular final e is thrown in very
freely without justification : there are also many -ts, -1d, -ir terminations,
as ‘servantis,’ ‘ goodis,’ ‘ nedis,' ‘ellis,’ * crokid,' ‘ clepid,’ * vsid,’ ‘ chambir,’
‘aftir,’ and 3 usually for gh (A), as ‘ hy3e,’ * ny3e,’ * oust,’ ‘lawe,’ ‘ sley3tis,’
&c. The text however is a fair one, and the use of it by Halliwell in his
Dictionary preserved him from some of the errors of the printed editions.
The scribe was apt to drop lines occasionally and insert them at the bottom
of the column, and some, as iii. 2343, are dropped without being supplied.

G. GLASGOW, HUNTERIAN MUSEUM, S. i. 7. Contains Confessio
Amantis, imperfect at the end. Parchment, ff. 181 (numbered 179 by
doubling 94 and 106) with two blanks at the beginning, 163 x 1012 in.,
in quires of 8 with catchwords: well and regularly written in double
column of 46 lines, early fifteenth century. Latin summaries in the
text (red). Floreated page at the beginning of each book, so far as they
remain, and illuminated capitals. Many catchwords lost by cutting of
the margin : it must once have been a very large book.

The manuscript has lost about sixteen leaves at the end, and eight
altogether in various other places. In every case except one, however,
the place of the lost leaf is supplied by a new leaf inserted, one of
which has the missing portion of the text copied out from an early
edition, while the rest are blank. The leaves lost are mostly such as
would probably have had miniatures or illuminations, including the
beginning of the first, second, sixth, seventh, and eighth books. The
losses are as follows: f. 4 (containing Prol. 504-657, probably with
a miniature) text supplied by later hand, f.7 (Prol 984-i. 30), f.9
(i. 199-336, probably with a miniature), f. 28 (i. 3402-ii. 108), f. 129 (131)
(v. 7718-vi. 40), f. 143 (145) (vi. 2343-vii. 60), a leaf after f. 175 (177)

(vii. 5399-viii. 126), f. 177 (179) (viii. 271-441), and all after f. 179 (181),
that is from viii. 783 to the end.

MANUSCRIPTS cxlv

A former owner (seventeenth cent.) says, ‘This Book, as I was told by
the Gent: who presented it to me, did originally belong to the Abbey
of Bury in Suffolk.’ If so, the Confessio Amantis was probably read
in this copy by Lydgate.

I am under great obligations to Dr. Young, Librarian of the
Hunterian Museum, for the trouble he has taken to give me access
to this excellent manuscript.

The Glasgow MS. is especially related to X (iv. 2773, v. 1486, 3582, 3688,
4110, 6848 ff., vi. ror, vii. 769, &c.), and belongs more generally to the
group HiX &c., which passes over to the revised class almost completely
in a considerable part of the fifth book. The text, however, is on the
whole much better than that of X, being both individually more correct
and more frequently found on the side of the corrected readings, e.g.
i, 2836, ii. 1441, 1867, v. 781, 1203, 2996, 4425, 5966, 6839, 7223, 7630,
vi. 86, 746 (corrected), 1437, vii. 510, 1361, 1574, 2337, 3902, viii. 568.
In at least one place, vii. 1574, it stands alone of the first recension,
while in others, as v. 4425, 5966, 7630, vi. 746, 1437, &c., it is accompanied
only by J. On the other hand in some passages, as v. 5802, 6019, 6257,
vii. 1172 »narg. &c., G has an earlier reading and X the later, while there is
also a whole series of passages where G, sometimes in company with X,
seems to show a special connexion of some kind with B (BT), as ii. 1925,
iii. 733, iv. 2295, 2508, v. 4, 536, 2508, 3964, 4072, 7048, vi. 1267, 1733, vii.
3748, 4123, &c.

The book is carefully written, and corrected in the same hand, e.g.
V. 3145, SOII, vi. 430, 746, vii. 4233. The spelling is pretty good, and in
particular it is a contrast to X in the matter of final e. This is seldom
wrongly inserted, and when it is omitted it is usually in places where the
metre is not affected by it. Punctuation often in the course of the line, but
not at the end.

O. STOWE 950, Brit. Museum. Confessio Amantis, imperfect at
beginning and end. Parchment, ff. 175 (177 by numbering leaves of
another book pasted to binding), 141 x 10 in., in eights with catchwords
and signatures, double column of 44-46 lines; written in a small, neat
hand. Latin summaries in text (red). No decorated pages.

Has lost seven leaves of the first quire, to i. 165 (incl.), and also
after f. 16 one leaf (i. 2641-2991), after f. 35 one (ii. 2486-2645), after
f. 44 two (iii. 673-998), after f. 97 one (v. 3714-3898), after f. 108 two
(v. 5832-6184), after f. 136 two (vii. 771-1111), and at least four leaves
at the end (after viii. 2549).

Formerly belonged to Lord Ashburnham.

In text this belongs to the XG group, agreeing with them, for example, at
v. 3688, 6848, and in general with HiXG, whcre they go together (so far as
I have examined the book), e.g. in the Latin verses after v. 2858 (' Vltra
testes falsos," ‘ penitus") and in the readings of v. 1893, 1906, 2694, 3110, &c.

The handwriting is somewhat like that of Hi: the spelling sometimes
fairly good, but unequal; bad especially at the beginning. The metre
generally good.

+* k

cxlvi GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

Ads. ADDITIONAL 22139, Brit. Museum. Confessio Amantis,
imperfect, with the author's account of his books, * Quia vnusquisque,’
at the end, followed by Chaucer's poems, ‘To you my purse,’ ‘The
firste stok,’ ‘Some time this worlde,’ ‘Fle fro the pres.” Parchment,
ff. 138, 132 x 10} in., in quires of 8 with catchwords: regularly and
closely written in double column of 53 lines by two hands, the
first (ff.1-71) somewhat pointed, the second rounder and smaller.
Date 1432 on a shield, f. 1. Latin summaries in text (red). Illu-
minated borders at beginning of books (except the eighth) and many
gilt capitals: a miniature cut out on f. 4 (before Prol. 595).

The first leaves are much damaged, f. 1 having only two lines left
(f.2 begins Prol. 177), f. 3 has lost Prol. 455-478 and 505-527, &c.,
f. 4 has a miniature cut out, with Prol. 716-726 on the other side,
f. 6 has lost Prol. 979-1061. After f. 7 there is a loss of seventeen
leaves (i. 199-ii. 56), after f. 31 (originally 48) two quires (sixteen
leaves) are lost and f. 32 is damaged (iii. 1150-iv. 1517), after f. 81 one
leaf lost (v. 7807-vi. 154).

Bought by Brit. Museum from Thos. Kerslake of Bristol, 1857.

The text is closely connected with that of X, but not copied from that
manuscript itself (see ii. 1711, vii. 92, viii. 2650). There are corrections
here and there in a somewhat later hand, e. g. ii. 671, 1045, 1457, iil. 1053,
iv. 2922, several of which are cases of lines supplied, which had been
dropped. In v. 3688 the ordinary reading has been substituted doubtless
for that of X, and in some cases the alterations are wrong, as vii. 2639, viii.
5r. The manuscript has a good many individual errors and the spelling
is rather poor.

Cath. ST. CATHARINE'S COLL, CAMB. Confessio Amantis with
‘Explicit’ (six lines), ‘Quam cinxere' and ‘Quia vnusquisque.'
Parchment, ff. 188, 172 x 121 in., in quires of 8 with catchwords :
well written in double column of 47 lines, afterwards 40, before the
middle of fifteenth cent. Latin summaries in text (red. Floreated
whole border at the beginning of each book: miniature on f. 4 v? of
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream, and f. 8 v? the Confession (Priest on stool to
left of picture, laying hand but not stole on penitent's head), fairly
well painted.

Leaves are missing which contained i. 3089-3276, ii. 3331-3518,
V. 1182-1363, 6225-6388, vi. 107-460, vii. 984-1155, and viii. 2941-
3114*, and the last leaf containing * Explicit, &c., is placed now at the
beginning of the volume. There is a confusion of the text in the third
book, iii. 236-329 being repeated after 678 and 679-766 left out, also
a considerable omission in the fourth (iv. 2033-3148) without loss of
leaves in this MS. (The statement in the MS. that seven leaves are
here lost is a mistake.) In the passage vii. 1486-2678 several leaves
have been disarranged in the quire.

Given to the College in 1740 by Wm. Bohun of Beccles (Suffolk), to

MANUSCRIPTS cxlvii

whose great-grandfather, Baxter Bohun, it was given in 1652 by his
* grandmother Lany.'

The text is of a rather irregular type, but often agrees with the XGO
group. It has many mistakes and the spelling is poor.

Q. Belonged to the late Mr. B. Quaritch, who kindly allowed me to
examine it slightly. Parchment, leaves measuring about 14 x 82 in., in
double column of 49 lines, well written, early fifteenth cent. Ends
with the account of the author's books, * Quia vnusquisque? Floreated
pages at the beginning of books and a good miniature of the Con-
fession on f. 3, of a rather unusual type—the priest seated to the left
of the picture and the penitent at a little distance. Latin summaries
in text (red). Begins with Prol. 342, having lost two leaves here, and
has lost also Prol. 529-688, Prol. 842-i. 85, and perhaps more.

The book formerly belonged to a Marquess of Hastings.

This is a good manuscript, and the spelling is fairly correct. I place

it provisionally here, because its readings seem to show a tendency towards
the XG group.

(c) Unrevised. - .

E. EGERTON 1991, Brit. Museum. Confessio Amantis with ‘ Ex-
plicit’ (six lines), ‘Quam cinxere, and ‘Quia vnusquisque,’ after
which ‘Deo Gracias. And panne ho no more.’ Parchment, ff.214,
154x10 in. in quires of 8 with catchwords: regularly written in
a very good large hand in double column of 42 lines, early fifteenth
cent. Latin summaries in text (red). Floreated pages at beginning of
books, and a finely painted miniature of the Confession on f. 7 v°.

Two leaves lost, originally ff. 1 and 3, containing Prol. 1-134 and
454-594. The book has also suffered from damp, and parts of the
first and last leaves are so discoloured as to be illegible.

A seventeenth cent. note on f. 1 v° tells us that the book was given on
April 5, 1609, ‘at Skarborough Castle’ to the lady Eliz) Dymoke by
her aunt the lady Catherine Burghe, daughter of Lord Clynton, who
was afterwards earl of Lincoln and Lord High Admiral, to whom it
came by her mother, the lady Eliz. Talboys. On f. 2 we find the
register of the birth of Master Harry Clinton, son and heir of Lord
Clinton, born at Canbery, June 6, 1542. The name Willoughby
occurs also in the book (sixteenth cent.), and on a flyleaf inserted at the
beginning we find ‘John Brograve, 1682,’ with Latin lines in the form
of an acrostic about his family, signed ‘Thomas Tragiscus, Bohemus.'

Bought by the Brit. Mus. August 6, 1865, at Lord Charlemont’s
sale.

The text of this fine MS. belongs clearly to the unrevised group. At the
same time its original must have had some corrections, and some also
appear on the face of this MS. It stands alone of the first recension in

k 2

MANUSCRIPTS cxlix

boke appertayneth vnto the Right Honorable the Ladie Margaret
Strange” (presumably the same whose name appears in M). The
binding has ‘ Lady Mary Strainge.’

A very fair MS. of its class and almost absolutely typical, but gives
distinctively revised readings in a few passages, as ii. 925, iv. 1342, V. 3145,
viii. 1621. Omits vii. 2889-2916 and some of the Latin summaries. The
words ‘pope’ and ‘papacie’ are regularly erased, see especially f. 47.
Spelling and metre fairly good: no punctuation.

L. LAUD 609, Bodleian Library (Bern. Cat. 754). Confessio
Amantis with ‘Explicit’ (four lines), ‘Quam cinxere’ and ‘Quia
vnusquisque.’ Parchment, ff. 170, 16 x 103 in., in quires of 8 with
catchwords: double column, first of 40 lines, then about 44, and
after f. 16 of 51: well written, first quarter fifteenth cent. Latin in
the text (red). Floreated border of first page and half borders at the
beginning of books, well executed. Two miniatures, on f. 5v? the
Image of the dream, and on f. 10 the Confession, both much like
those in C and Bs, but damaged.

After f. 109 one leaf is lost (v. 5550-5739), one after f. 111 (v. 6140-
6325), and eight (quire 16) after f. 118 (v. 7676-vi. 1373).

The names Symon and Thomas Elrington (sixteenth cent.) occur in
the book, ff. 89, 170, and ‘ Liber Guilielmi Laud Archiepiscopi Cantuar.
et Cancellarii Vniuersitatis Oxon. 1633’ on f. 1.

In correctness of text and spelling the text is decidedly inferior to the
foregoing MSS. We may note apparently good readings in the following
passages, Prol. 159, i. 3023, v. 1072, vii. 374, 3040, 3639, viii. 358, 483.

B». BODLEY 693, Bodleian Library (Bern. Cat. 2875). | Confessio
A mantis with ‘Explicit’ (six lines), * Quam cinxere' and * Quia vnus-
quisque. Parchment (gilt edged), ff. 196, 15 x 10 in, in eights
with catchwords. Well written, first quarter fifteenth cent., in double
column of 46 lines. Latin in text (red). Floreated border of first
page and half borders at beginning of books (also on f. 8v?),
well executed : two small miniatures, f. 4v? the Image of the dream,
f. 8v? (within an initial T) the Confession, like those in C and L, but
smaller.

At the end we have ‘ ffrauncois Halle A? MV*VI' (i. e. 1506), ‘Garde
le fine.’ In the initial on f. 1 a coat of arms is painted surrounded by
the Garter and its motto. The arms are those of Charles Brandon duke
of Suffolk (Brandon with quartering of Bruyn and Rokeley, see Doyle,
Official Baronage,11. 443), and on the same page is painted the Brandon
crest (lion's head erased, crowned per pale gules and arg., langued az.).
These must have been painted in later than the date of the MS. The
binding is deeply stamped with the arms of Great Britain and Ireland
in colours, and the letters I. R., showing that the book belonged to
James I. It was presented to the Bodleian by Dr. John King, who

MANUSCRIPTS cli

Ar. ARUNDEL 45, College of Arms (Bern. Cat. ii. 5547). Confessio
Amantis (imperfect). Paper, 168 leaves (numbered 167, but one
dropped in numbering after f. 42) -- two parchment blank at beginning,
11$x8] in. Quires of 8 (usually), with catchwords, double column
of 46-51 lines, small neat writing, middle fifteenth cent. Latin in
text (red) : no illumination, but spaces left for initials.

One leaf lost after f. 7 (i. 63-216), two after f. 116 (v. 5229-5594), and
all after viii. 1102 (about twelve leaves gone at the end).

Former possessors, * Thomas Goodenston, Gerdeler of London,’ and
(before him probably) * Jhon Barthylmewe, Gerdyllarr and Marchant.'

Hd. At CASTLE HOWARD, the property of the Earl of Carlisle, who
most kindly sent it for my use. Confessio Amantis with * Explicit’ (four
lines), ‘Quam cinxere! and * Quia vnusquisque.’ Parchment, ff. 111 (num-
bered as 110) 14 x 11 in., in quires of 8 (usually), marked iiii, v, vi, &c.
In double column of 60-74 lines, rather irregularly written in a small,
fairly clear hand, later fifteenth cent. Latin in text. Some red and
blue initials; no other decoration.

Seventeen leaves lost at the beginning, f. 1 begins at i. 3305, and f. 8
is the first leaf of quire iiii: after f. 73 four leaves lost, containing vi.
264-1306, and in the last quire one, containing viii. 2566-2833. The
leaves in the latter half of the book, from f. 66, bave been much
disarranged in the binding.

The name ‘Tho. Martin’ is written at the beginning, in the hand-
writing of the well-known Thomas Martin of Palgrave. This of course
is not the book mentioned in Bern. Cat. ij. 611 as among the books
collected by Lord William Howard at Naworth Castle. There seems
to be at present no Gower MS. at Naworth.

Some readings seem to show a connexion of Hd with L, as iii. 1885, 2763,
* Now herkne and I pe po,’ iv. 1341, 3086, 3449, 3535, but it is not derived
from it. Note also the readings of ii. 1577 ‘Ne,’ 2825 ‘by,’ iii. 1173
*[upartie,' v. 3306 ‘Oute.’ There are many corruptions in the text as well as
some deliberate alterations, as ‘cleped’ regularly to ‘called,’ and words
are often dropped or inserted to the injury of the metre.

Ash. ASHMOLE 35, Bodleian Library (Bern. Cat. 6916). Confessio
Amantis (imperfect). Paper, ff. 182, 13kx9k in. Quires of 12
(usually), with catchwords, double column of 42-48 lines, fairly well
written : no Latin verses or summaries, but summaries in English
writen in the text (red), mostly omitted in the last thirty leaves.
Some initials in red, spaces left for larger capitals.

Begins with Prol. 170, having lost two leaves (one blank) at the
beginning. After f. 2 one leaf is lost (Prol. 541-725), one after f. 4
(i. 1-169), one after f. 32 (ii. 1749-1927), one after f. 91 (v. 2199-2366),
three after f. 181 (viii. 2505-2893), one after f. 182, which ends with
viii. 3082*. Half of f. 182 is torn away, but the beginning of the

MANUSCRIPTS cliii

not adopted by Henry until 1397, this would not be the actual copy
sent on the occasion of the dedication to him in 1392-93. On the other
hand the absence of all royal emblems indicates that the book was
prepared before Henry's accession to the throne.

In the sixteenth cent. (Queen Elizabeth's reign) the book belonged
to one William Downes, whose name is written more than once on
f.170. The ornamental letters W. D. on f. 21 are probably his initials,
and on f. 76 we have Phillipp Downes in a fifteenth-cent. hand. On
f. 171 v?there isa note about the parsonages of Gwend. .. and Stythians
in the county of Cornewell, percell of the possessions of the late
monastary of Rewley,’ and also about the ‘personage of Croppreadin
in the county of Oxforde,’ granted for xxi years by Edward VI and pay-
ing lvi pounds a year. ' T. P. Goodwyn’ is another name (seventeenth
cent). When Todd saw the MS. at the beginning of this century, it
belonged to the Marquess of Stafford.

S has the Lancaster dedication and the rewritten epilogue, and with these
the three additional passages, v. 6395*-6438*, 7086*-4210*, vii. 3207*-3360*,
omitting v. 7701-7746, and transposing vi. 665-964. In correctness it is
inferior only to F, and these two stand far above all others as primary
authorities. Their independence of one another is certain, and the general
agreement of their text gives it the highest guarantee of authenticity. The
spelling is practically the same, as will be seen in those passages which are
printed from S in this edition, e. g. vii. 3207*-3360*, indeed in most places
the two texts are absolutely the same, letter for letter. As regards f. 50,
which is in a different hand, it should be noted not only that it is far less
correct than the rest, but also that it is copied from a different original, a
MS. of the unrevised first recension, distinctive readings of which are given
in iii. 1686, 1763, 1800, 1806, while no trace of such readings appears in
any other part of S.

A. SIDNEY SUSSEX COLL, CAMB. A. 4. I (Bern. Cat. i. 3. 726).
Contains Confessio Amantis, with ‘Explicit’ (six lines) and ‘Quam
cinxere,’ (ff. 2-202 v°), and then an English version of Cato's Disticha.
Paper, ff. 211 (of which four blank), 11% x 83 in., in quires of 12 with
catchwords and signatures, Written in double column of 41-48 lines in
a fairly good hand, middle fifteenth century, with a good many con-
tractions. Latin summaries usually in text, sometimes in margin. No
decoration. The first leaf is lost, containing Prol. 1-140.

The book was left to the College by Samuel Ward, Master, 1643.
One of the blank leaves has the word ‘temsdytton’ (i.e. Thames
Dytton) in an early hand.

In regard to form of text this MS. agrees throughout with S, and it must
no doubt have had the Lancaster preface. It is remarkable as containing
the additional lines pririted by Caxton at the end of the Prologue (which
may have been also in S), and it has eleven Latin hexameters substituted
for the prose summaries at Prol. 591 and 617, beginning,

* Dormitans statuam sublimem rex babilonis,'

MANUSCRIPTS clv

present with ii. 2687. Also the second col. of f. 84 r° is left blank with
omission of v. 7499-7544. A large part of f. 33 is blank, but there is
no omission.

Presented to the College by Thomas Nevile, Master.

A good MS., with form of text in v, vi, vii, like that of AdB, and obviously
having a special connexion in its readings with B. T, however, is of a more
fully corrected type than B, and it must remain doubtful whether the preface
of the poem in T was of the earlier or the later form. In any case the
original of the two, if (as it seems) they had a common original, was not
made up earlier than 1397, for the resemblance of the manuscripts extends
to the French and Latin poems Which follow the Conf. Amantis, and the
last of these is dated the 2oth year of king Richard.

The third and fourth hands are neater and better than the other two.
The first is rather less correct and less good in spelling than the others, and
also it omits the Latin marginal notes. The parts written in this hand are
ii. 2687-iii. 608, v. 1415-2874, 5805-7082, v. 7545-vi. 1040, vi. 2201-vii.
2532.

With regard to the connexions within the group AdBTA, attention may
be drawn especially to v. 659, where Ad has the usual reading, T omits the
line, leaving a blank, while B and A have bad lines made up for the occasion,
to v. 4020, where Ad again has the usual text, TA omit, and B has a made-
up line, and to v. 7303. where AdBT omit two lines necessary to the sense
which: A inserts. We may note the alteration by erasure in T of v. 5936,
apparently from the reading of the unrevised text.

B. BODLEY 294, Bodleian Library (Bern. Cat. 2449). Contents,
as in T, ff. 1-197 Conf. Amantis, &c., ff. 197-199 v? Zraifié, f. 199 v?
* Quia vnusquisque,’ ff. 199 v?-201 Carmen super multiplici, &c., ending
with the lines * Hoc ego bis deno.’ Parchment, ff. 201, 15k x 10$ in.,
quires of 8 with catchwords. Well written in double column of 42-47
lines, first quarter of fifteenth cent. Latin summaries in text (red):
* Confessor,’ ‘ Amans,’ usually omitted. Complete border of first page
and at the beginning of each book except i and ii, painted in good
style. Two miniatures, f. 4v° Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (the king in
bed crowned), f. 9 the Confession, nearly as in E. No leaves lost.

The name ‘ Edwarde Fletewoode’ appears on f. 1, and the book was
probably given by him to the University in 1601.

Form of text in v, vi, vii the same as AdT. We have in this MS. a
combination of the early preface with the rewritten conclusion, a form which
we might reasonably expect to find, and which may have been that of T,
as it certainly was of the MS. used by Berthelette. Something has already
been said of the text of this MS., and for the rest sufficient information will
be found in the critical apparatus. The spelling of B is exemplified in the
passages printed from it, Prol. 24*-92*, v. 7015*-7036", vii. 2329*-2340*,
3149*-3180*. Asin the case of E, the copyist is careful of metre, and while
omitting final e freely before a vowel, rarely does so where it affects the
metre, and seldom adds -e unduly. There is hardly any punctuation.

clvi GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

A. WOLLATON HALL, in the possession of Lord Middleton, who
kindly allowed me to examine it. Contents as B. Parchment, ff. 197,
154 x 10} in., in quires of 8 with catchwords and signatures. Well and
regularly written in double column of 46 lines, early fifteenth century.
Latin summaries in text (red) as a rule, sometimes in margin. Spaces
left for miniatures at the beginning and for initials throughout, not
painted. No leaves lost.

The text of this MS. is in many ways interesting. It has Lancaster dedi-
cation, but in text it often seems to belong to the unrevised first recension ;
for though many of the errors of this group are found to be corrected in A,
even in cases where B retains them, as Prol. 7, 219, Lat. Verses after 584,
812, 844, 937 f., i. 8, 54, 264, 278, &c., ii. 671, 833, &c., and though there are
also many of the revised readings, as i. 368, ii. 1758 ff. (in both of which B
is unrevised), iv. 517, 766, 985 f., 2954, 3153, v. 30, 47f., 82, 2694 f., 3110,
&c., yet in many other places the original readings stand in A, as i. 3374 ff.
iv. 2407, 2556, v. 274, 316, 394. 1893, 1906 f., &c., where BT are revised.
The characteristic second recension readings are almost regularly given by
A, which agrees with AdBT against SA in regard to the passages inserted ;
but there are some important differences between this MS. and all others of
its class, viz. (1) after v. 6430* it has a combination of first and second
recensions. (2) v. 7701-3746 is inserted as in the first and third re-
censions, (3) viii. 2941-2959 is inserted as in the first recension (with
the curious corruption ‘Cuther’ for ‘Chaucer’), the rewritten epilogue
being carried on from the line ‘ Enclosed in a sterred skye.’

It will be observed that BTA often form a distinct group, as (to take only
a few examples) iv. 1567, 1996, 2034, 3132, 3138, v. 654 ff., 4138, &c. We
may note, however, v. 7303 f. which are inserted by A, though omitted in
AdBT, and the reading ‘she’ in iv. 2973.

Ps. Phillipps 8192, at Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham. Same
contents as BTA. Parchment, ff. 193, large fol. Well written in
double col. of 46 lines, early fifteenth cent. Latin summaries in margin.
lllumination on the first page and at the beginning of books, except
i. and iii. On the first page a miniature of Nebuchadnezzar's Image,
with a small figure in the border, and also a figure painted in the
initial O. Two leaves missing and supplied in blank after f. 1 (Prol.
154-509), and one later (vii. 3199-3382). On f. 1 v? ‘Joh: Finch
Comitis Winchilsea filius 1700.’

A fine MS. of an early type. It has the Lancaster dedication in the Pro-
logue and the later form of epilogue, and as regards the additional passages
it agrees with AdBTA. In text Ps is closely related to A, but it does not
include v. 7701-7746 or viii. 2941-2960, nor does it agree with A in v. 6431* ff.
As instances of their agreement we may cite Prol. 14, ‘It dwelleth oft in,’
115, ‘ vneuened,' 127, ‘ben nought diuided, &c. In the marginal note of
Prol. 22 Ps has ‘sextodecimo,’ but the first three letters are over an
erasure.

MANUSCRIPTS clvii

THIRD RECENSION.

F. FAIRFAX 3, Bodleian Library (Bern. Cat. 3883). Contains,
ff. 2-186, Confessio Amantis, with ‘Explicit’ and ‘Quam cinxere,'
ff. 186 v°-190 v? 7raifi, &c., ff.190v°-194 Carmen de multiplici
viciorum festilencia, ending with the lines ‘Hoc ego bis deno; &c.,
f. 194 *Quia vnusquisque,' f. 194 v? sixteen Latin lines by *a certain
philosopher’ in praise of the author, beginning ‘ Eneidos Bucolis que
Georgica,’ f. 195 a leaf of a Latin moral treatise from the old binding.
Parchment, ff. 195 (including one blank flyleaf at the beginning and
one of another book at the end), 134 x 9]. in., in quires of 8 with
catchwords ; the first quire begins at f. 2, the twenty-fourth quire has
six leaves and the twenty-fifth (last) three. The leaves of the seventh
quire are disarranged and should be read in the following order, 50,
$2, 53 51, 56, 54, 55, 57. The Confessio Amantis is written in double
column of 46 lines, in a very good hand of the end of the fourteenth
cent. Latin summaries in the margin. Half borders, some with animal
figures, at the beginning of each book, and two miniatures, one at the
beginning, rather large, of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and the other on
f. 8 of the Confession, in which the priest is dressed in green and has
a wreath of roses on his head, while the penitent, whose features are
damaged, wears a hood and a collar of SS with a badge, probably a
swan, dependent from it. This was no doubt intended as a portrait
of the author : the collar and badge have somewhat the appearance of
having been added after the original painting was made. The size of
the illuminated capitals indicates precisely the nature of the various
divisions of the work.

On f. 2 is written ‘The Ladie Isabell Fairfax daughter and hare of
Thwats hir bouk,’ on f. 8 ‘This boke belongeth to my lady farfax off
Steton, and on f.1 *Sr Thomas fayrfax of Denton Knighte true
owner of this booke, 1588. This Lady Isabell] Fairfax was the grand-
daughter and heiress of John Thwaites of Denton, who died in 1511,
and was married to Sir William Fairfax of Steeton. Sir Thomas
Fairfax of Denton, whose name appears in the book, was her grandson.
The book no doubt came from the Thwaites family, and we are thus
able to trace it back as far as John Thwaites of Denton, who died in
old age not much more than a hundred years after the death of the
author. It was bequeathed with other MSS. to the University of
Oxford by Sir Thomas Fairfax the parliamentary general, grandson of
the above Sir Thomas Fairfax of Denton, and was placed in the
Bodleian Library in 1675.

The first leaf of the text, up to Prol. 146, is written in a second hand
which has also written ff. 186-194, including the last lines of the Conf.
Amantis from viii. 3147. A third hand (with very different orthography)
has written viii. 2938-3146, being the last 29 lines of f. 41 v? (over an

MANUSCRIPTS clix

freedom. It has seemed desirable therefore to introduce a greater degree
of consistency, while preserving the general usage of the MS. Proper
names are regularly given in this edition with capitals (usually so in the
MS., but not always), and sentences are begun with capital letters after
a full stop. On the other hand the J (or J), which is often used as an
initial, has frequently been suppressed, and occasionally this has been done
in the case of other letters. It may be observed, however, that capital
letters are on the whole used very systematically in the MS., and other
good MSS., especially S, agree with F in the main principles. Certain
substantives as ‘ Ere,’ * Erthe,’ ‘ Schip,' ' Sone,’ ‘ Ston,’ are almost invariably
used with capitals, and names of animals, as ‘Cat,’ ‘Hare,’ ‘Hound,’
‘Leoun,’ ‘ Mous,' ‘Oxe,’ ‘ Pie,’ ‘Ro,’ ‘Schep,’ ‘ Tigre, of some parts of
the body, as ‘Arm,’ ‘ Hiele,’ ‘ Lippes,’ ‘Nase,’ ‘ Pappes,’ ‘Skulle,’ and
many other concrete substantives, are apt to be written with capitals,
sometimes apparently in order to give them more importance. Capitals
are seldom thus used except in the case of substantives and some numerals,
as ‘ Nyne,' ‘Seconde,’ *Sexte,' * Tenthe,' and in many cases it is pretty
evident that a distinction is intended, e.g. between ‘Sone’ and ‘sone’
(adv.), ‘Se’ (= sea) and ‘se’ (verb), ‘Dore’ and ‘dore’ (verb), see iv.
2825 f, ‘More’ and ‘more,’ *Pype and ‘pipe’ (verb), iv. 3342f., ‘Myn’
and ‘myn’ (poss. pron.), ‘Mone’ and ‘mone’ (verb), but see v. 5804, 5808,
‘In’ and ‘in,’ vii. 492r f., viii. 1169 f., 1285 f. That some importance was
attached to the matter is shown by the cases where careful alterations of
small letters into capitals have been made in the MS., as Prol. 949, i. 1687,
V. 1435, 3206, 4019, vii. 2785, &c.

Many corrections were made by the first hand, and some of these arc
noteworthy, especially the cases where a final e seems to be deliberately
erased for the sake of the metre or before a vowel, as i. 60 ‘ get” for ‘ gete,'
iii. 2346 ‘trew’ for ‘trewe,’ vi. 1359 ‘I red’ for ‘I rede,’ vii. 1706 ‘ ffyf’ for
‘ ffyue,' or where an e has been added afterwards, as ii. 3399 ‘ depe,’ iii. 449
* bowe,' v. 1269, 3726, 5265, ‘ whiche.’

It remains only to speak of the punctuation of the MS., which is evidently
carried out carefully. The frequent stops at the ends of lines are for the
most part meaningless, but those elsewhere are of importance and usually
may be taken as a guide to the sense. They are sometimes certainly wrong
(e.g. i. 1102 Togedre. 1284 will. 2965 fro. ii. r104 wille. 1397 name.
2354 astat. iii. 2638 be. iv. 497 grace. 1751 besinesse. 1985 hardi.
2502 alle. 3354 Slep. 3635 lif- v. 4 good. 231 herte- 444 wynd- 1342
See- 1630 only: 2318 bord. &c), but the proportion of error is small, and
the punctuation of F generally must be treated with respect. There is
usually a stop wherever a marked pause comes in the line, and this punctua-
tion occurs on an average about once in ten lines. The following record of
the punctuation of iv. 1301-1600 will serve as an illustration of its nature
and extent: 1303 loue. 1307 ladis. 1316 cloped. 1369 seide- 1374 seip-
1376 loue: 1388 slow. 1409 wepe- 1412 Dame. 1415 loue. 1439 hirself.
1457is- 1459 peine: 146r haltres. 1466 told. 1470 paramours- 1471 lawe.
1474 ianglinge- 1489 take. 1490 loue. 1491 herte. 1492 mariage- 1496 chil-
dren- 1497 mai. 1499 tarie- 1501 let. 1512 god: seide- 1532 opre- 1534
ferste - 1535 dovhter- 1536 clopes- 1547 Tohewe. 1560 seip- 1561 point.
1566 maidenhod. 1567 had. 1591 come. 1592 dej.

MANUSCRIPTS clxi

sone, 1036 be shrewed, 3357 seled, ii. 318 ff. fela, felaw, felawh (varying as
F), after 382 infamen, &c., but sometimes F is corrected in small matters, as
Prol. 20r erthly, 249 which, 280 pacience, i. r1o to fare, &c.

The feature of the book is the series of miniatures, illustrating it through-
out. In this respect it is unique, so far as I know, though other copies
similarly illustrated must once have existed. The following is a complete
list of the subjects (leaves cited by original number) : f. 15 (i. 1417) Florent
and the old woman, f. 18 (i. 2021) man blowing trumpet, lord, wife, and
five children looking out of a castle, f. 23 (i. 2785) cut out, f. 24 (i. 3067)
cut out and sewn in, much damaged, f. 30 (ii. 587) cut out, f. 44 (ii. 3187)
mothers bringing babies to Constantine, f. 56 (iii. 1885) Clytemnestra torn by
horses, two crowned persons conversing in the foreground, f. 59 (iii. 2363)
Pirate brought before Alexander, f. 61 (iv. r) Dido killing herself, Eneas
riding away, f. 68 (iv. 1245) lady with halters and red bridle questioned by
Rosiphelee, f. 71 (iv. 1815) ct ouf, f. 72 (iv. 2045) fight between Hercules
and Achelous, f. 77 (iv. 2927) Alceone in bed dreaming, body of king in the
water, f. 83 (v. 141) Midas at table, f. 93 (v. 2031) Crassus having gold
poured down his throat, f. 94 (v. 2273) king opening coffers, f. 95 (v. 2391)
cut out, f. 96 (v. 2643) cut out, f. 98 (v. 2961) almost defaced, f. 100 (v. 3247)
cut out, f. 109 (v. 4937) Bardus pulling Adrian out of the pit, f. 111 (v. 5231)
Ariadne left sleeping, ship sailing away, f. 117 (v. 6225) a procession of naked
nymphs to bathe, £ 120 (v. 6807) cut out, f. 133 (vi. 1391) Telegonus sup-
porting his father's head, guards lying dead, f. 136 (vi. 1789) cuf ont, f. 150
(vii, 1783) cut out, f. 158 (vii. 3417) cut ont, f. 159 (vii. 3627) Gideon and his
men blowing trumpets, &c., enemy asleep in a tent, f. 165 (vii. 4593) cut out,
f. 17% (viii. 271 ff.) half the page cut away, with probably three miniatures,
for only 5a lines are gone, whereas there was space for 92.

K. KESWICK HALL, near Norwich, in the possession of J. H. Gurney,
Esq., who most kindly sent it to Oxford for my use. Contains the
same as F, but is slightly imperfect at the end. Parchment, ff. 189,
13x92 in. quires of 8 with catchwords. Well written in double
column of 46 lines (corresponding column for column with F through-
out), apparently in six different hands, of which the first wrote quires
1, 2, 6, 8-11, 21, the second 3 and perhaps 7, the third 4, 5, 16, 17,
the fourth 12-15, 19, the fifth 18, and the sixth 20, 22-24. Latin
summaries in the margin (sometimes omitted). Three leaves are lost
in the seventh quire (iii. 1087-1632), and one at the end, containing
the last thirteen lines of the Latin Carmen de multiplici, &c., with
probably the account of the books and the piece ‘ Eneidos, Bucolis.'
A floreated initial to each book, and space left for miniatures on
ff. 1 and 7. Old stamped leather binding.

Former possessors, Thomas Stone ‘ of Bromsberrowe in the County
of Glouc.’, Henry Harman, William Mallowes (Q. Elizabeth's reign ?),
John Feynton.

The various hands differ very much from one another in correctness. The
first and the fourth give a text so closely corresponding to that of F, that it

is almost impossible not to believe that it is copied from it. In the case of
vs l

MANUSCRIPTS clxiii

point where the third hand of K begins, the preceding portion of the text
being very fairly correct, and so to some extent elsewhere. Forexample, in
V. 917-1017 (a part written in K by the first hand) there are about eight
metrical faults in a hundred lines, while in vi. 183-283 (written in K by the
third hand), there are at least twenty-five. (3) In a certain part of the third
book Hs suddenly ceases to follow the third recension text, and almost
regularly gives the readings of the ERCLBs group. This appears first in iii.
1088 and ceases to be the case after iii. 1686, thus remarkably corresponding
with the gap caused in K by the loss of three leaves after iii, 1086. It is
difficult not to believe that this very marked change was caused by the
following of another MS. in a place where K was defective.

- The spelling of Hs is rather late: there is no use of J, and y is used for 5 in
‘ye,’ 'yiue, &c.

Magd. MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXF. 213 (Bern. Cat. i. 2.2354). Con-
fessio Amantis with‘ Explicit’ (six lines) and Table of Contents in English
(on two fly-leaves at the beginning and one at the end). Parchment,
ff. 180 + 3 (as above), 182 x 13} in., in quires of 8 with catchwords:
written in double column of 48 lines in a large hand of the middle
fifteenth cent. something like that of Hs. Table of contents and
columns 2, 3, 4 of f. 2 in a different hand. Latin summaries in text
(red). Fine coloured letters with floreated half borders at the beginning
of each book, and some neat drawing in connexion with the scrolls of
the catchwords.

The book has lost one leaf after f.22 (ii. 409-586) and eight after
f. 88 (v. 701-2163). On f. 155 v? the MS. omits vii. 2519-2695 without
loss of leaf or blank.

Presented to the College by Marchadin Hunnis in 1620. A note by
the present Librarian states that he was elected a demy of the College
in 1606, appointed second master of the College Grammar School in
1610, and dismissed from that office as *insufficiens' in Dec. 1611.
The book is reported missing in Coxe's catalogue.

This MS. is in many points like Hs in its text, and must certainly have
the same origin, both being perhaps derived from a MS. dependent on
K. It reproduces most of the corruptions which we find in Hs, adding
many others of its own, and it has the same readings in the third book
which we have already noted in Hs.

A point of interest about this MS. is its apparent connexion with Caxton's
edition. It seems evident that among the MSS. from which Caxton worked
(and he had three at least) was either this very copy or one so like it as to
be practically undistinguishable. Of this we shall say more when we speak
of Caxton's edition.

W. WADHAM COLL, OxF. 13. Confessio Amantis with‘ Explicit ’
(six lines) and ‘Quam cinxere,’ then the Zra:tié, slightly imperfect at
the end, ending ‘un amie soulain, xvii. 9. Paper, ff. 450, including
two original blanks at the beginning, 114 x 8} in., in quires of 8 with

l2

MANUSCRIPTS clxv

Hi. 1605, v. 2906, &c. In most of these last instances W merely remains in
agreement with the first recension, where F, &c. depart from it, therefore
its testimony may be of an accidental character.

The list of Mayors and Sheriffs of Chester on the first pages bas perhaps
some local interest, as it is contemporary and probably made by a responsible
person. Comparing it with that given in Ormerod's Hist. of Cheshire, we
find several differences, as ‘Ric. Sadler’ for ‘Rich. Smith’ as one of the
Sheriffs of 1475, ‘John Monkesfelde, Rob. Pleche,’ Sheriffs for 1478,
*Mathewe Hewse’ for ‘Mathew Johnson,’ 1479, 'Rychard Kir e' for
‘Rich. Barker,’ 1492. The same pages have some notes about current
historical events, as (under 1469), ‘The which yere were hedet the lorde
Wellybe and the lorde Well. his son for the grete insurreccion and rysing
of the Comyns of the Counte of Lyncolne. Also the same yere entred our
Souereyne and moste noble Prince Kynge Edward now reynynge,’ &c.
Under 1470 is a note of the battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury, and at 1476
the record of a visit to Chester of ‘our Souereigne lorde Prince,’ who stayed
there from Christmas to Easter. |

Ps. Formerly PHILLIPPS 8942, bought in March, 1895, by Messrs.
H. S. Nichols & Co., and afterwards in the possession of Messrs.
Maggs, Booksellers. Confessio Amantis, imperfect, ending viii. 3119,
* As Tullius som tyme wrot.’ Parchment, rather roughly written, middle
of fifteenth century. From the Towneley Collection.

Hn. HATTON $1, Bodleian Library (Bern. Cat. 4099). Confessio
Amantis, imperfect. Parchment, ff. 206, 12 x 9 in., in quires first of 6
and then usually of 8 (lettered) ; double column of 42-48 lines, untidy
writing. Has lost #4 (iii. 1314-1475), #2 (iv. 2118-2268), s 2 (v. 5169-
5333), £2 (v. 6774-6914), and five or six at the end (after viii. 2408).
Copied from Caxton’s edition, including the Table of Contents and
the confusion in leaf numbering.

Besides these, there are several MSS. which contain selections
from the Confessio Amantis, as

HARL. 7333, Brit. Museum, which, besides the Canterbury Tales
and other things, has seven stories from the Conf. Amantis, viz. f. 120
Tereus (v. 5551 ff.), f.122 Constance (ii. 587 ff), f. 126 The Three
Questions (i. 3067 ff.), f. 127 v? The Travellers and the Angel (ii. 291 ff.),
f. 127 v? Virgil’s Mirror, f. 128 v? The Two Coffers, f. 129 The Beggars
and the Pasties, &c. (v. 2031-2498). Parchment, large folio, column
of 66 lines, no Latin. These stories are in the same hand as the Cas.
Tales, which go before, and the Parlement of Foules, which follows
them. The text is that of the first recension unrevised : a very poor

copy.

CAMB. UNIV. Ee. ii. 15. Paper, ff. 95, end of fifteenth or beginning

SPANISH TRANSLATION clxvii

story, as that of Tereus, in which we have the king at meat presented
with the head of his son, while there are three birds in the background
and the scene of the outrage on Philomene on the left; and again in
(4), where the rich man and his wife are sitting at table and refusing
food to the beggar, while in the background on the right an angel is
receiving the soul of the dying Lazarus.

These miniatures are supposed to have belonged to Sir John Fenn,
editor of the Paston Letters. The MS. from which they were cut
seems to have been of the middle of the fifteenth cent.

Evidence is afforded of one other large and well written MS. of the
Conf. Amantis by a fragment of parchment in the Shrewsbury School
Library, of which a photograph has most kindly been sent to me by
Dr. Calvert of Shrewsbury. It contains about 70 lines of the Prologue,
viz. 189-195 (with the Latin), 224-244, 274-294, 323-343. The leaf
to which it belonged must have measured at least 158 x 114 in., and
was written in double column of 50 lines.

Three other MSS. are mentioned in the Catalogue of 1697 (vol. ii.
pt. 1), viz. 611 *John Gower's Old English Poems' with *S. Anselmi
Speculum Religiosorum, at Naworth Castle, which I strongly suspect
is identical with Harl. 3490 (Hi), 4035, *Goweri Confessio Amantis,
Fol. magn.,' belonging to Ric. Brideoake, Esq., of Ledwell, Oxon., and
6974, ‘Jo. Gower's Poems, fol.,’ belonging to Sir Henry Langley of the
County of Salop (i.e. of the Abbey, Shrewsbury).

The average excellence of the Gower MSS. stands high, and there
is a surprisingly large proportion of well written and finely decorated
copies, which attain to more than a respectable tandard of correct-
ness. Manuscripts such as L or Bs, which stand in the third rank
among copies of the Confessio A mantis, would take a very different place
among the authorities for any of Chaucer's works, second only to the
Ellesmere MS. if they were copies of the Canterbury Tales, and easily
in the first place if it were a question of the Legend of Good Women or
the Zows of Fame, It is evident not only that Gower was careful about
the text of his writings, but also that there was some organized system
of reproduction, which was wanting in the case of Chaucer.

VERSION. It remains to say something of the Spanish prose version
of the Confessio mantis, which exists in manuscript in the Library
of the Escorial (g. ii. 19). Information about this was first given me
by Mr. J. Fitzmaurice-Kelly, and since then by the learned Librarian
of the Escorial, Fr. Guillermo Antolin, O.S.A., who most obligingly sent
me an account of it. The Catalogue (1858) thus describes the book :
* Confision del amante, libro así intitulado compuesto por Juan Goer
natural del Reyno de Englaterra, e tornado en lengua Portuguesa por
Roberto Payn ó Payna canónigo de la ciudad de Lisboa, e despues
fué puesto en lenguaje castellano por Juan de Cuenca natural de Huete.

EDITIONS clxix

followed. The later form of epilogue was perhaps printed rather than
the other because it is longer. Caxton prints the lines at the end
of the Prologue, which are given only by A, and there are some other
indications that he had a MS. of this type ; but he had also one of
the AdBT group, which alone contain vii. 2329*-2340* and 3149*-
3180*.

On f. cxvi v? Caxton still agrees with Magd. almost regularly, e.g. v. 4450
And myn hap 4454 is not trouble 4465 But for that 4467
ne shall yeue and lene 4484 doo 4503 A good word, whereas on
f. cxvii he differs repeatedly, e.g. 4598, 4532, 4543, 4555, 4560, 4572, and
seems never to be in full agreement after this. That he is following a first
recension copy after about v. 6400 is clear from the unbroken series of
readings belonging to this class which he exhibits. The text generally is
very poor and the metre extremely bad.

BERTHELETTE in 1532 printed the Co#f. Amantis from a MS. very
closely resembling B. He did not venture, however, to substitute the
preface which he found in his copy for that to which Caxton had given
currency, but merely expressed surprise that the printed copies should
deviate so much from the MSS., and printed separately that which his
manuscript gave. He also takes from Caxton the lines at the end of the
Prologue, the additional third recension passages, Prol. 495-498, 579-584,
i. 1403-1406, 2267-2274, 2343-2358, 2369-2372', and also the Chaucer
greeting, viii. 2941-2960*, but he has overlooked v. 7701-7746. He
inserts of course all the additional passages in v. and vii, as he found
them in his MS., loudly protesting against Caxton for omitting ‘ lynes
and columnes, ye and sometyme holle padges.’

Berthelette’s text is better than Caxton’s, but his manuscript must
have been decidedly inferior in correctness to B.

The second edition, 1554, is a reprint of the first, column for
column, in different type. A few mistakes are corrected, and the
spelling is somewhat changed, especially by substitution in many
cases of i for y.

CHALMERS published the Conf. Amantis in vol. ii. of the collection
of British Poets, 1810, taking the text from Berthelette's edition of 1554.

PAULI professed to follow Berthelette's first edition with collation
throughout of MSS. Harl. 7184 and 3869, and occasional reference to
Harl. 3490 and the Stafford MS. It is almost impossible that this full
collation can really have been made, for by it nearly all Berthelette's
errors might have been corrected, whereas we find them as a matter

! In the case of most of these passages the text proves them to be taken
from Caxton's edition. Thus in Prol. 497 both editions omit ‘to,’ Prol. 583
both omit ‘ propre,’ i. 2248 both have ‘ Vnder graue for * Vnder the grene,’
in 2354 ‘ other’ for ‘ thilke,' and in 3372 ‘in me’ for ‘I me.’

THE PRESENT EDITION cixxi

and almost the only second recension MS. which is not imperfect,
has perhaps a special claim to attention because its text is of the
type which all the editions except that of Caxton have followed.
In all cases where variation has been found, except where it is
merely of form and spelling or of a very trifling and accidental
kind, the readings of at least fourteen other selected copies have been
ascertained, and by this procedure those variations which are merely
individual have been distinguished from those which are shared
by a class or a group. The result is given in the critical notes, all
the variations of A and B being there cited except those that are
very trifling ', while the readings of C are usually given only when
shared by some other manuscript.

It is important that it should be observed which the manuscripts
are which have thus been referred to and how their evidence is
cited. They are divided always according to their recension,
first, second or third, and they are cited in an unvarying order, as
follows : AJMH: X(G)ERCLBs, SAdBTA, FWH; (or K), so that
A... Bs means the whole series of the first class, and S... A
that of the second, while Hi... Bs stands for H1iX(G)ERCLBs,
and E... Bs for ERCLBs. These nineteen (or eighteen)
manuscripts are present as witnesses throughout, whether named
or not ; for when the manuscripts are named which give a varia-
tion, it is to be assumed that the remainder have the reading of
the text. Thus the note

* 1295 wisdom] wordes Hi... Bs», Hs’
must be taken to imply that ‘wisdom’ is the reading of AJM,
SAdBTA, FW and ‘wordes’ of HiXGERCLB,;, Hs:
* 1296 gostly B’

means that the reading of the text, ‘goodly,’ is given by every one
of the nineteen except B:

‘1318 How per(e) HiG... Ba’
means that the reading of the text is that of AJMX, SAdBTA,
FWHas and that of the note belongs to HiGERCLB::

* 1330 for to] pat fou SAdBTA'
indicates a reading of the second recension only :

1 The following will serve as examples of those omitted : iii. 367 tawh B
422 vngood lieste A 618 is (for it) A 652 softe softe B 658 sely
sely B 139 marg. litigabant B 864 artow B 923 he (for

hem) B iv. 635 f. betake ... purghsott A 650 wedde A IIOS nO
wol no B 1229 herte B 1239 po (for pou) A, &c.

OTHER ENGLISH WORKS cixxiii

should be observed that as nearly all references to Gower for the
last forty years have been made by Pauli's edition, it has been
thought advisable to place in the margin of this text indications
of the volumes and pages of that edition: thus P. 1. 153 stands
for ‘ Pauli, vol. i. p. 153.'

Setting aside matters of spelling, punctuation and grammatical
form, we may note that the material differences of reading between
the text of this edition and that of Pauli are in number about
two thousand.

OTHER ENGLISH Works. With regard to the text of the poem
In Praise of Peace all that need be said will be found in the notes
upon it. The Trentham MS, which contains it, has already
been fully described in the volume of ‘ French Works.’

A poem in five seven-line stanzas, beginning ‘ Passe forthe pou
pilgryme and bridel wele py beste,’ occurs in (Shirley’s) MS. Ash-
mole 59, f. 17 v» (Bodl. Libr.), with the title ‘Balade moral of gode
counseyle made by Gower.’ The same without the final stanza
(owing to loss of a leaf) occurs in MS. Rawlinson C. 86, but with
no title or ascription of authorship, and both texts have been
printed (not quite correctly) by Dr. Karl Meyer in his John Gower’s
Besiehungen, &c., 1889. In addition to these copies there is one
in the British Museum MS. Addit. 29729, which has been published
by Dr. Max Forster in the Archiv für das Studium der neueren
Sprachen, vol. 102, p. 5o. In this MS. the piece is ascribed to
Benedict Burgh, and it is called * A leson to kepe well the tonge.’

It is almost impossible that these verses can have been written
by Gower, but out of deference to Shirley's authority (which is
not very weighty however), and in order that the reader may
judge, it is printed here, all deviations from the Ashmole text
being noted, except in the case of 'th' for 'p, and some
readings of the Rawlinson copy (R) being added in parentheses.

BALADE MORAL OF GODE COUNSEYLE MADE BY GOWER.

Passe forth, thou pilgryme, and bridel wel thy beeste;
Loke not agein for thing that may betyde ;

Thenke what thou wilt, but speke ay with the leeste ;
Avyse thee wel who stondeth thee besyde ;

Let not thyne herte beo with thy tonge bewryde ;
Trust not to muche in fayre visayginge,

For peynted cheere shapeth efft to stynge.

I forpe wele a ageine 4 weele stondepe 7 shapepe (efft] her R)

clxxiv © GOWER'S ENGLISH WORKS

Byholde thy selff, or that thou other deme;

Ne beo not glad whane other done amyss ;

Sey never al that which wolde the sothe seme, IO
Thou maist not wite what thy fortune is:

For there is no wight on lyve iwyss

That stondeth sure, ther fore I rede beware,

And looke aboute for stumbling in the snare.

Reporte not muche on other mennes sawe;

Be ay adrad to here a wicked fame;

For man shal dye by dome of goddes lawe,

That here enpeyreth any mannes name.

Avyse thee wel ther fore or thow attame

Suche as thou mayst never revoke ageyn; 20
A good name leste is leste for ay certain.

Pley not with pecus ne ffawvel to thy feere ;
Chese thou hem never, yif thou do affter me;

The hande is hurt that bourdeth with the bere;
Fawvel fareth even right as doth a bee;

Hony mowthed, ful of swetnesse is she,

But loke behinde and ware thee from hir stonge,
Thow shalt have hurt yf thou play with hir longe.

Dispreyse no wight but if effte thou may him preyse,

Ne preyse no firre but thou may discomende : go
Weyghe thy wordes and hem by mesure peyse ;

Thenke that the gilty may by grace amende,

And eke the gode may happen to offende:

Remember eke that what man doth amiss,

Thou hast or art or may be suche as he is.

This is full of lines that Gower would not have written, with
superfluous syllables in the metre, as ll. 1, 5, 10, 17, 29, 33,
35 (omitting those that might pass with amended spelling), accent
on weak syllables, as ll. 20, 25, 26, 31, defective rhyme, as ‘besyde’ :
* bewryde' (participle), and ‘feere’ (companion) : * bere,’ or sup-
pression of syllable at the beginning, as in l. 12. The form
* mayst ' (maist) for * miht' is not found in any respectable Gower
MS. Moreover the style is not that of Gower, but evidently
imitated from Chaucer's poem ‘ Fle from the pres.’

9 gladde (glad R) amysse ro pee 11 wit (witte R) I2 ewysse
13 stondepe 15 mens (mennys R) 16 adradde I8 enpeyrepe mans
(mannes R) 19 wele powe 20 ageyne 21 gode (good R)
certaine aa (Playe not pecus R) 24 hurte bourdepe
(abrere R) 25 farebe dope 26 right ful (full R) 27 frome 28 powe
shalt kache hareme to pley w* peos beestis longe (Thow shalt haue hurt yf
pou play with her longe R) 34 Remembre dope amisse 95 haste arte

PVP UTUOUCUTCUCUCUOUOUCUCUCUCUCUCUCUCUCUCU CU UCUCUCUCUCUCUOUCUCUCUCU UCUC UC UCUCUCD UCUCO VUPD Py

CORRIGENDA ET ADDENDA

2, note on 24-92, for A, read APs, and for Of these Hs Magd. have read Of
these Magd. has

I3, note on 331, for RSnDAr read RSnDAr, A

14, l. 349, for new read newe

19, note on 543, read scholde A, B, K schold S, F

23, note on 668, for hol] hole AC read hol B, F hole AC

note on 683, for A read AM

25, l. 747, for for read forto

29, 1. 871, for form read forme

33, 1. 1024, for wist read wiste

57, 1. 782, for There read Ther

6o, 1. 914, for She read Sche so also p. 244, L 679

64, 1. 1052, for righte read rihte

qo, l. 1275, for Commandeth read Comandeth

72, note on 1338, for SA read SAdA, Hs

88, 1. 1946, for wenyinge read wenynge

96, l. 2248, for well read wel

100, 1, 2365, for myght read myht so also p. 117, 1. 2990

107, l. 2630, for discoevered read descoevered

109, 1. 2710, for all read al so also p. 156, 1. 966, p. 238, l. 447, p. 346,1. 1668

112, l. 2822, for bare read bar

113, l. 2838, for But read Bot

. 133, below 1. 96, a small space should be left

138, 1. 274, for greveth read grieveth

150, l. 750, for her read hire

170, l. 1498, for Till read Til

182, note on 1916, for RCLBs, Hs read RCLBs, A, Hs

200, note on 2592, for AdB read SAdBA

234, note on 313, for H1... Bs read Hi... Ba, A

252, note on 983, add pater A

257, note on 1164, for XRCLE» read HiXRCLBs

260, note on 1258, for AdT read AdTA

262, note on 1336 (ssargin), add om. A

265, note on 1448, for X... Bs, WHs read X ... Bs, A, WHs
266, note on 1473, for AdBT read SAdBTA

269, note on 1605, for SBA read BA and for AdTA read SAdTA
280, note on 2023, for Phoreus T read Phoreus TA

282, ]. 2077, for hounde read hound

284, note on 2166, for W read A, W

289, 1. 2357, for pouere read povere

292, note on 2444, for Hi... Bs read Hi... B3, SA

. 307, l. 225, for distruid »ead destruid

314, l. 498, for accordant read acordant

334, l. 1224 (margin), add Confessor

346, |. 1653, for accompte read acompte

351, note on 1872, for AC read AC, S

387, |. 3188, for By read Be

396, l. 3507, for thinge read thing

421, l. 716, for harme read harm

464, note on 745 ff., add The authority here followed is the 7Ȏsor of
Brunetto Latini, pp. 84-88 (ed. 1863).

468, note on 463 ff. , add The authority for this is perhaps the Zresor, p. 191.

473, l. 11, for 7101), Spertachus for Cyrus (vii. 3418), &c. read 7101).

489, note on 2459 ff, for I am unable—form of it. read The name Geta
was taken by Gower from the Geta of Vitalis Blesensis, a dramatic piece
in Latin elegiacs founded on Plautus, in which Geta takes the place of
Sosia: see Wright's Early Mysteries, &c., pp. 79-90.

. 509, note on 2606, for on the ferst, read on the ferste,

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

P.i.1
1. Zorpor, ebes sensus, scola parua labor minimusque
Causant quo minimus ipse minora canam:
Qua famen Engisti lingua canit Insula Bruti
Anglica Carmente metra iuuante loguar.
Ossibus ergo carens que contertt ossa loguelis
Absit, et interpres stet procul oro malus.

Incipit Prologus

Or hem that writen ous tofore
The bokes duelle, and we therfore
Ben tawht of that was write tho:
Forthi good is that we also
In oure tyme among ous hiere
Do wryte of newe som matiere,
Essampled of these olde wyse
So that it myhte in such a wyse,

The text is that of F (Fairfax 3). The MSS. most commonly cited
ave the following :—

Of the first recension, A (Bodley 902), J (St. John's Coll. Camb. B 12),
M (Camb. Univ. Mm. 2. 21), Es (Egerton 913), H1 (Harlaan 3490),
Y (Marquess of Bute's), X (Soc. of Antiquanes 134), G (Glasgow,
Huntenan Mus. S i. 7), E (Egerton 1991), R (Reg. 18 C xxii.),
C (Corpus Christi Coll. Oxf. 67), L (Laud 609), Bs (Bodley 693).

Of the second, S (Stafford), Ad. (Brit. Mus. Addit. 12043), B (Bodley
294), T (Trin. Coll. Camb. R 3. 2), A (Sidney Coll. Camb. A 4. 1).

Of the third, F (Fairfax 3, W (Wadham Coll. x3), K (Keswick
Hail), Hs (Harl. 7184), Magd. (Magdalen Coll. Oxf. 213).

S ff. time, write, wise, &c., S 6 Do ME:Hi, SA, FWKHs
So JXGRB:,B To CL 7 Essampled (Ensampled) JME3Hi, SA,
FWKHs Ensamples X... Ba &c., B 8 awyse F a wise S

2

[DxsicN or THE
Boox.)

Hic in principio
declarat qualiter in
anno Regis Ricardi
secundi sexto decimo
Iohannes Gower pre-
sentem libellum com-
posuitet finaliter com-
pleuit, quem strenu-
issimo domino suo
domino Henrico de
Lancastria tunc Der-
beie Comiti cum omni
reuerencia specialiter
destinauit.

J

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Whan we ben dede and elleswhere,

Beleve to the worldes eere

In tyme comende after this.

Bot for men $ein, and soth it is,

That who that al of wisdom writ

It dulleth ofte a mannes wit

To him that schal it aldai rede,

For thilke cause, if that ye rede,
lI wolde go the middel weie

And wryte a bok betwen the tweie,

Somwhat of lust, somewhat of lore,

That of the lasse or of the more

Som man mai lyke of that I wryte:

And for that fewe men endite

In oure englissh, I thenke make
L'A bok for Engelondes sake,

The yer sextenthe of kyng Richard.

What schal befalle hierafterward

God wot, for now upon this tyde

Men se the world on every syde

In sondry wyse so diversed,

That it welnyh stant al reversed,

As forto speke of tyme ago.

lo

20

P.ig

30

*A bok for king Richardes sake,

To whom belongeth my ligeance
With al myn hertes obeissance

In al that evere a liege man

Unto his king may doon or can:
So ferforth I me recomande

To him which al me may comande,
Preyende unto the hihe regne

30°

15 rede om B a3 Englisch S 24-92 These lines are found in
copies of the third recension (FHaNKHsMagd. W&c.) and also $n SA. The
rest have 24*—92*. The marginal note, ‘ Hic in principio—destinauit,’ ss
found only in A, KHsMagd. Of these, HsMagd. have in principio

libri for in principio, and A gives quarto for sexto. 28 on]in S
29,30 Two lines omitted in S
24*-92* All variations from B are noted. 24* book B

25* bilongep B. 27* euer B. a29*f. recomaunde . . . comaunde B

gi* Prayend B

PROLOGUS

The cause whi it changeth so

It needeth nought to specifie,

The thing so open is at ye

That every man it mai beholde :
And natheles be daies olde,

Whan that the bokes weren levere,
Wrytinge was beloved evere

Of hem that weren vertuous ;

For hier in erthe amonges ous,

If noman write hou that it stode,
The pris of hem that weren goode
Scholde, as who seith, a gret partie
Be lost: so for to magnifie

The worthi princes that tho were,
The bokes schewen hiere and there,
Wherof the world ensampled is;

40

Which causeth every king to regne,
That his corone longe stonde.

I thenke and have it understonde,
As it bifel upon a tyde,

As thing which scholde tho betyde,—
Under the toun of newe Troye,
Which tok of Brut his ferste joye,
In Temse whan it was flowende

As I be bote cam rowende,

So as fortune hir tyme sette,

My liege lord par chaunce I mette;
And so befel, as I cam nyh,

Out of my bot, whan he me syh,
He bad me come in to his barge.
And whan I was with him at large,
Amonges othre thinges seid

40

33 nou3t S, F 38 Writing... belouyd S 41 no man S

46 schiewe S 47 essampled S

36* bityde B 37* margin Regis Anglie Ricardi secundi
erased in B leaving blank 38* took B 39* Themese G
Themse R 40* by B 42* margin sed B 43* bifel B
43* f. neigh .. . seigh B 45* margin Cronicarum historiis XG
47* seyde B

B2

3

{DESIGN or THE
Boox. }

Hic declarat in pri-
mis qualiter ob reue-
renciam serenissimi
principis domini sui
Regis Anglie Ricardi
secundi totus suus hu-
milis IohannesGower,
licet graui infirmitate

, a diu multipliciter fati-

gatus, huius opusculi
labores suscipere non
recusauit, set tan-
quam fauum ex variis
floribus recollectum,
presentem libellum ex
variis cronicis, his-
toriis, poetarum phi-

4 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Desicn OF THE And tho that deden thanne amis
00K. | Thurgh tirannie and crualte, P.is
Right as thei stoden in degre, 50

So was the wrytinge of here werk.
Thus I, which am a burel clerk,
Purpose forto wryte a bok

After the world that whilom tok
Long tyme in olde daies passed:

Bot for men sein it is now lassed,

In worse plit than it was tho,

I thenke forto touche also

The world which neweth every dai,
So as I can, so as I mai. 60
Thogh I seknesse have upon honde
And longe have had, yit woll I fonde
To wryte and do my bisinesse,

That in som part, so as I gesse,

losophorumque dictis, He hath this charge upon me leid,

quatenus sibi infirm- And bad me doo my besynesse

itas permisit, studiosis- 20. f *
sime compilauit. That to his hihe worthinesse 50

Som newe thing I scholde boke,
That he himself it mihte loke

After the forme of my writynge.
And thus upon his comandynge
Myn herte is wel the more glad

To write so as he me bad;

And eek my fere is wel the lasse
That non envye schal compasse
Withoute a resonable wite

To feyne and blame that I write. 60°
A gentil herte his tunge stilleth,
That it malice non distilleth,

But preyseth that is to be preised ;
But he that hath his word unpeysed

49 tirantie S 51 is pe writing S 52 bural S
63 Tho write S

48* leyde B 49* busynesse B 51* booke B 52* mighte
looke B 53* f. writyng ... comaundyng B 55* hert B
59* Wipout B 62* noon B

x

PROLOGUS 5

The wyse man mai ben avised. [DESIGN or THE
For this prologe is so assised Boox.]
That it to wisdom al belongeth:

What wysman that it underfongeth,

He schal drawe into remembrance

The fortune of this worldes chance, 70

The which noman in his persone

Mai knowe, bot the god al one.

Whan the prologe is so despended,

This bok schal afterward ben ended

Of love, which doth many a wonder

And many a wys man hath put under.

And in this wyse I thenke trete

Towardes hem that now be grete,

Betwen the vertu and the vice P. i. 6

Which longeth unto this office. 80

And handleth (onwrong) every thing,

I preye un to the hevene king

Fro suche tunges he me schilde.

And natheles this world is wilde

Of such jangling, and what befalle,

My kinges heste schal nought falle, 70*
That I, in hope to deserve

His thonk, ne schal his wil observe ;

And elles were I nought excused,

For that thing may nought be refused

Which that a king himselve bit.

Forthi the symplesce of my wit

I thenke if that it myhte avayle

In his service to travaile:

Though I seknesse have upon honde,

And longe have had, yit wol I fonde, 80*

68 wise man S 71 no man S qa allone S 75 awonder F
76 awys man F a wise man S 80 officie F
65* handelep B onkrong euery Hi outkrong euery JME:XGR

outkroud euery Ba outtrong euery Ar outkrong eny B out

wronge ony Cath. 66* pray B heuene GR heuen B
69* bifalle B 75* Which JME2XGCL What H:RBa, B byt B
76* ffor py B 77* it might (it myht) JMEsCL it may GRB;, B

I may HiSn it XCath. 78* to do trauayle G 8o* long B

6

[DEpicartow.]

[THE FORMER TIME
BETTER THAN THIS. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Bot for my wittes ben to smale

To tellen every man his tale,

This bok, upon amendment

To stonde at his commandement,
With whom myn herte is of accord,
I sende unto myn oghne lord,

Which of Lancastre is Henri named:
The hyhe god him hath proclamed
Ful of knyhthode and alle grace.

So woll I now this werk embrace go
With hol trust and with hol believe ;
God grante I mot it wel achieve.

ii. Zempus preteritum presens fortuna beatum

Linguit, et antiquas vertit in orbe vias.

Progenuit veterem concors dileccio pacem,
Dum facies hominis nuncia mentis erat:

Legibus vnicolor tunc temporis aura refulsit,
Justicie plane tuncque fuere vie.

Nuncque latens odium vultum defingit amoris,
Paceque sub ficia tempus ad arma tegit;

Instar et ex variis mutabile Cameliontis
Lex gerit, ef regnis sunt noua iura nowis: (10)

So as I made my beheste,

To make a bok after his heste,

And write in such a maner wise,
Which may be wisdom to the wise
And pley to hem that lust to pleye.
But in proverbe I have herd seye
That who that wel his werk begynneth
The rather a good ende he wynneth ;
And thus the prologe of my bok
After the world that whilom tok, go*
And eek somdel after the newe,

I wol begynne for to newe.

Latin Verses ii. 2 antünas ...vrbe S 6 ff. tunc que... Nunc
que...Paceque...sic que F 8 subficta S

81* byheste B 8a* book B 87* bygyn»ep B
89* f. book... took B 92* bygynne B for to newe
JMEXHiXGR,B for the newe D Ar. for to schewe CLBs

PROLOGUS

Climata que fuerant solidissima sicque per orbem
Soluuntur, nec eo centra quietis habent.

If I schal drawe in to my mynde
The tyme passed, thanne I fynde
The world stod thanne in al his welthe:
Tho was the lif of man in helthe,
Tho was plente, tho was richesse,
Tho was the fortune of prouesse,
Tho was knyhthode in pris be name,
Wherof the wyde worldes fame 100
Write in Cronique is yit withholde ; P.i.7
Justice of lawe tho was holde,
The privilege of regalie
Was sauf, and al the baronie
Worschiped was in his astat ;
The citees knewen no debat,
The poeple stod in obeissance
Under the reule of governance,
And pes, which ryhtwisnesse keste,
With charite tho stod in reste: 110
Of mannes herte the corage
Was schewed thanne in the visage;
The word was lich to the conceite
Withoute semblant of deceite :
Tho was ther unenvied love,
Tho was the vertu sett above
And vice was put under fote.
Now stant the crop under the rote,
The world is changed overal,
And therof most in special 120
That love is falle into discord.

96 margin videlicet—sexto decimo tnserted only sn MSS. of the third
recension, FWKHs &c. S has instead of tt (after space of one line), Nota
quod tempore creacionis huius libri fuerunt guerre et opiniones guer-
rarum tam in sancta Cristi ecclesia quam per singula mundi regna
quasi vniuersaliter diuulgate. Quapropter in hoc presenti prologo
euentus tam graues"scriptor per singulos gradus specialiter deplangit.

So A without space and with dei for Cristi 109 which
JME:CL, FKHs wip HiXGRBs:, SBA, W 113 word JME3B;, A,
FWK &c. world HiXGRCL &c., SB 115 vnenuied JME;, S,

FWK &c. vneuened A noon enuyed (non enuied) Hi... Bs, B

7

(TzwxPoRAL Ru ters. ]

De statu regnorum,
vt dicunt, secundum
temporalia, videlicet
tempore regis Ricardi
secundi anno regni
sui sexto decimo.

8

(TEMPORAL RULERSs.]

Apostolus. Regem
honorificate.

Salomon. Omnia
fac cum consilio.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And that I take to record

Of every lond for his partie

The comun vois, which mai noght lie;

Noght upon on, bot upon alle

It is that men now clepe and calle,

And sein the regnes ben divided,

In stede of love is hate guided,

The werre wol no pes purchace,

And lawe hath take hire double face, 130
So that justice out of the weie P.i.8
With ryhtwisnesse is gon aweie:

And thus to loke on every halve,

Men sen the sor withoute salve,

Which al the world hath overtake.

Ther is no regne of alle outtake,

For every climat hath his diel

After the tornynge of the whiel,

Which blinde fortune overthroweth ;

Wherof the certain noman knoweth: 140
The hevene wot what is to done,

Bot we that duelle under the mone

Stonde in this world upon a weer,

And namely bot the pouer

Of hem that ben the worldes guides

With good consail on alle sides

Be kept upriht in such a wyse,

Thatthate breke noght thassise

Of love, which is al the chief

To kepe a regne out of meschief. 150
For alle resoun wolde this,

That unto him which the heved is

The membres buxom scholden bowe,

And he scholde ek her trowthe allowe,

With al his herte and make hem chiere,

For good consail is good to hiere.

Althogh a man be wys himselve,

124 comun GC, S comune B, F 127 the] pat HiRBs, B
143 a weerS a werB aweerF 144 A begins here
147 S has lost a leaf, ll. 147-320 149 which A,B whiche F
155 his o». B 157 aman F

PROLOGUS 9

Yit is the wisdom more of tuelve ; (Temporat Rurzns.]
And if thei stoden bothe in on,

To hope it were thanne anon 160

That god his grace wolde sende P.i.9

To make of thilke werre an ende,

Which every day now groweth newe:

And that is gretly forto rewe

In special for Cristes sake,

Which wolde his oghne lif forsake

Among the men to yeve pes.

But now men tellen natheles

That love is fro the world departed,

So stant the pes unevene parted 170
With hem that liven now adaies.

Bot forto loke at alle assaies,

To him that wolde resoun seche

After the comun worldes speche

It is to wondre of thilke werre,

In which non wot who hath the werre ;

For every lond himself deceyveth

And of desese his part receyveth,

And yet ne take men no kepe.

Bot thilke lord which al may kepe, 180
To whom no consail may ben hid,

Upon the world which is betid,

Amende that wherof men pleigne

With trewe hertes and with pleine,

And reconcile love ayeyn,

As he which is king sovereign

Of al the worldes governaunce,

And of his hyhe porveaunce

Afferme pes betwen the londes

And take her cause into hise hondes, 190
So that the world may stonde appesed P. i. 10
And his godhede also be plesed.

iii. Quas coluit Moises vetus aut nouus ipse Johannes,

Hesternas leges vix colit ista dies.

159 stoden AJME:L, A, FKHs stonden Hi... RBs &c., BA, W
169 loue AJMEsXL, FWKHs it E, B. om. HiRBsSn

f

IO

(Tus CHurcx.]

De statu cleri, vt
dicunt, secundum spi-
ritualia, videlicet tem-
pore Roberti Gibbon-
ensis,quinomen Clem-
entis sibi sortitus est,
tunc antipape.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Sic prius ecclesia bina virtute folita
Nunc magis inculta pallet vtrague via.

Pacificam Petri vaginam mucro resumens
Horrutt ad Cristi verba cruoris iter,

Nunc tamen assiduo gladium de sanguine tinctum

Vibrat auaricta, lege tepente sacra.

Sic lupus est pastor, pater hostis, mors miserator,

Predoque largitor, pax et in orbe timor.

To thenke upon the daies olde,
The lif of clerkes to beholde,
Men sein how that thei weren tho
Ensample and reule of alle tho

Whiche of wisdom the vertu soughten.

Unto the god ferst thei besoughten
As to the substaunce of her Scole,
That thei ne scholden noght befole
Her wit upon none erthly werkes,
Which were ayein thestat of clerkes,
And that thei myhten fle the vice
Which Simon hath in his office,
Wherof he takth the gold in honde.
For thilke tyme I understonde

The Lumbard made non escbange
The bisschopriches forto change,
Ne yet a lettre for to sende

For dignite ne for Provende,

Or cured or withoute cure.

The cherche keye in aventure

Of armes and of brygantaille

Stod nothing thanne upon bataille ;
To fyhte or for to make cheste

It thoghte hem thanne noght honeste ;

Bot of simplesce and pacience
Thei maden thanne no defence:
The Court of worldly regalie

210 prebende A, A
219 worby(-i) H1ERLB:, B worlde W

(10)

200

210

P. i. 11

Latin Verses iii. 8 tepente JE:, AA, FWKHs repenteAMH: ... B:
B, Magd. Io Predo que F

194 ff. margin De statu—antipape om. AEs
inserted in third recension only (different hand in F)
205 an hondeR, B. anhonde HiBà
om. XGLB:, WHs

videlicet—antipape
201 ertly F

215 for

PROLOGUS 11

To hem was thanne no baillie ; 320 [Tue CHurcu.]
The vein honour was noght desired,

Which hath the proude herte fyred ;

Humilite was tho withholde,

And Pride was a vice holde.

Of holy cherche the largesse

Yaf thanne and dede gret almesse

To povere men that hadden nede :

Thei were ek chaste in word and dede,
Wherof the poeple ensample tok ;

Her lust was al upon the bok, 230
Or forto preche or forto preie,

To wisse men the ryhte weie

Of suche as stode of trowthe unliered.

Lo, thus was Petres barge stiered

Of hem that thilke tyme were,

And thus cam ferst to mannes Ere

The feith of Crist and alle goode

Thurgh hem that thanne weren goode

And sobre and chaste and large and wyse.

Bot now men sein is otherwise, 240
Simon the cause hath undertake,

The worldes swerd on honde is take ;

And that is wonder natheles, P. i. 12
Whan Crist him self hath bode pes

And set it in his testament,

How now that holy cherche is went,

Of that here lawe positif

Hath set to make werre and strif

For worldes good, which may noght laste.

God wot the cause to the laste 250
Of every right and wrong also;

But whil the lawe is reuled so

That clerkes to the werre entende,

I not how that thei scholde amende

The woful world in othre thinges,

To make pes betwen the kynges

After the lawe of charite,

Which is the propre duete

234 Petrus HE... Bs, W Petris XG 249 wich F

I2 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Tue Cuurcn.] Belongende unto the presthode.
Bot as it thenkth to the manhode, 260
The hevene is ferr, the world is nyh,
And veine gloire is ek so slyh,
Which coveitise hath now withholde,
That thei non other thing beholde,
Bot only that thei myhten winne.
And thus the werres thei beginne,
Wherof the holi cherche is taxed,
That in the point as it is axed
The disme goth to the bataille,
As thogh Crist myhte noght availe 270
To don hem riht be other weie.
In to the swerd the cherche keie
Is torned, and the holy bede P. i. 13
Into cursinge, and every stede
Which scholde stonde upon the feith
And to this cause an Ere leyth,
Astoned is of the querele.
That scholde be the worldes hele
Is now, men sein, the pestilence
Which hath exiled pacience 280
Fro the clergie in special :
And that is schewed overal,
In eny thing whan thei ben grieved.
Bot if Gregoire be believed,
As it is in the bokes write,
He doth ous somdel forto wite
The cause of thilke prelacie,
Wher god is noght of compaignie :
For every werk as it is founded
Schal stonde or elles be confounded ; 290
Who that only for Cristes sake
Desireth cure forto take,
And noght for pride of thilke astat,
To bere a name of a prelat,
He schal be resoun do profit
260 to pe manhod(e) AJMEs, AA, FW tom. Hi... Bs B to make

m. KHs 267 ye FKHsMagd. pat A... Bs &c, BAA om. W
280 paciencie F

PROLOGUS

In holy cherche upon the plit
That he hath set his conscience ;
Bot in the worldes reverence
Ther ben of suche manie glade,

I3
(THe CnuncH.]
Gregorius. Terrenis

lucris inhiant, honore
prelacie gaudent, et

Whan thei to thilke astat ben made, 300 non vt prosint, set vt

Noght for the merite of the charge,

Bot for thei wolde hemself descharge

Of poverte and become grete ; P. i. 14
And thus for Pompe and for beyete

The Scribe and ek the Pharisee

Of Moises upon the See

In the chaiere on hyh ben set ;

Wherof the feith is ofte let,

Which is betaken hem to kepe.

In Cristes cause alday thei slepe, 310
Bot of the world is noght foryete ;

For wel is him that now may gete

Office in Court to ben honoured.

The stronge coffre hath al devoured

Under the keye of avarice

The tresor of the benefice,

Wherof the povere schulden clothe

And ete and drinke and house bothe ;

The charite goth al unknowe,

For thei no grein of Pite sowe: 320
And slouthe kepeth the libraire

Which longeth to the Saintuaire ;

To studie upon the worldes lore

Sufficeth now withoute more ;

Delicacie his swete toth

Hath fostred so that it fordoth

Of abstinence al that ther is.

And forto loken over this,

If Ethna brenne in the clergie,

Al openly to mannes ye 330
At Avynoun thexperience

317 povere] pore pei (pai) CL, W (pouere pey) 321 S resumes
331 Copies of first and second recensions have here in margin Anno
domini Millesimo CCC? Nonagesimo. S gives this with the addition quia
tunc erat ecclesia diuisa and so also RSnDAr F has an erasure in
the margin.

presint, episcopatum
desiderant.

14

[Tue Cuurcn.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Therof hath yove an evidence,

Of that men sen hem so divided. P. i. 15
And yit the cause is noght decided ;

Bot it is seid and evere schal,

Betwen tuo Stoles lyth the fal,

Whan that men wenen best to sitte :

In holy cherche of such a slitte

Is for to rewe un to ous alle;

God grante it mote wel befalle 340
Towardes him which hath the trowthe.

Bot ofte is sen that mochel slowthe,

Whan men ben drunken of the cuppe,

Doth mochel harm, whan fyr is uppe,

Bot if somwho the flamme stanche ;

And so to speke upon this branche,

Which proud Envie hath mad to springe,

Of Scisme, causeth forto bringe

This new Secte of Lollardie,

And also many an heresie 350
Among the clerkes in hemselve.

It were betre dike and delve

And stonde upon the ryhte feith,

Than knowe al that the bible seith

And erre as somme clerkes do.

Upon the hond to were a Schoo

And sette upon the fot a Glove

Acordeth noght to the behove

Of resonable mannes us:

If men behielden the vertus 360
That Crist in Erthe taghte here,

Thei scholden noght in such manere,

Among hem that ben holden wise, P. i. 16
The Papacie so desguise

Upon diverse eleccioun,

Which stant after thaffeccioun

Of sondry londes al aboute:

Bot whan god wole, it schal were oute,

336 lyp F (ss ras.) KHsMagd. is A... Bs &c., SBAA 9398 flitte

941 whiche F 347 proud A, SB. proude C, F

354 that] what EBs, B

PROLOGUS 15

For trowthe mot stonde ate laste. [THe Caurcu.]
"Bot yet thei argumenten faste 370
Upon the Pope and his astat,
Wherof thei falle in gret debat ;
This clerk seith yee, that other nay,
And thus thei dryve forth the day,
And ech of hem himself amendeth
Of worldes good, bot non entendeth
To that which comun profit were.
Thei sein that god is myhti there,
And schal ordeine what he wile, -
Ther make thei non other skile 380
Where is the peril of the feith,
Bot every clerk his herte leith
To kepe his world in special,
And of the cause general,
^ Which unto holy cherche longeth,
Is non of hem that underfongeth
To schapen eny resistence : |
And thus the riht hath no defence,
Bot ther I love, ther I holde.
Lo, thus tobroke is Cristes folde, 490
Wherof the flock withoute guide
Devoured is on every side,
In lacke of hem that ben unware P. i. 17
Schepherdes, whiche her wit beware
Upon the world in other halve.
The scharpe pricke in stede of salve
Thei usen now, wherof the hele
Thei hurte of that thei scholden hele ;
And what Schep that is full of wulle
Upon his back, thei toose and pulle, 400
Whil ther is eny thing to pile:
And thogh ther be non other skile
Bot only for thei wolden wynne,
Thei leve noght, whan thei begynne,
Upon her acte to procede,
Which is no good schepherdes dede.

370 argumeten F 373 This... pat AJM, SA, F &c. This...
pis ExXX ... B, B. The... this Hi 396 pricke om. A

I6

(THe Caurcx.]

Qui vocatur a deo
tanquam Aaron.

409 forcacche AMEs, SAA, FWKHs
for tacche (t) J

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And upon this also men sein,
That fro the leese which is plein
Into the breres thei forcacche

Her Orf, for that thei wolden lacche

With such duresce, and so bereve
That schal upon the thornes leve

Of wulle, which the brere hath tore ;

Wherof the Schep ben al totore

Of that the hierdes make hem lese.
Lo, how thei feignen chalk for chese,
For though thei speke and teche wel,

Thei don hemself therof no del:
For if the wolf come in the weie,
Her gostly Staf is thanne aweie,

Wherof thei scholde her flock defende ;

Bot if the povere Schep offende
In eny thing, thogh it be lyte,
They ben al redy forto smyte ;

And thus, how evere that thei tale,

The strokes falle upon the smale,
And upon othre that ben grete
Hem lacketh herte forto bete.

So that under the clerkes lawe
Men sen the Merel al mysdrawe,
I wol noght seie in general,

For ther ben somme in special
In whom that alle vertu duelleth,
And tho ben, as thapostel telleth,
That god of his eleccioun

Hath cleped to perfeccioun

In the manere as Aaron was:
Thei ben nothing in thilke cas
Of Simon, which the foldes gate
Hath lete, and goth in othergate,
Bot thei gon in the rihte weie.

Ther ben also somme, as men seie,

That folwen Simon ate hieles,

forp cacche Hi...
410 Her Orf] Herof (Here of) RCSn, A
Wheorof H1 Therof A 419 com FK 421 folk EC, W

410

420

P. i. 18

430

440

. Bs, B

PROLOGUS 17

Whos carte goth upon the whieles [Tur Cnuncu.]
Of coveitise and worldes Pride,
And holy cherche goth beside,

Which scheweth outward a visage
Of that is noght in the corage.
For if men loke in holy cherche,
Betwen the word and that thei werche 450
Ther is a full gret difference :
Thei prechen ous in audience
That noman schal his soule empeire, P. i. 19
For al is bot a chirie feire
This worldes good, so as thei telle;
Also thei sein ther is an helle,
Which unto mannes sinne is due,
And bidden ous therfore eschue
That wikkid is, and do the goode.
Who that here wordes understode, 460
It thenkth thei wolden do the same ;
Bot yet betwen ernest and game
Ful ofte it torneth other wise.
With holy tales thei devise
How meritoire is thilke dede
Of charite, to clothe and fede
The povere folk and forto parte
The worldes good, bot thei departe
Ne thenken noght fro that thei have.
Also thei sein, good is to save 470
With penance and with abstinence
Of chastite the continence ;
Bot pleinly forto speke of that,
I not how thilke body fat,
Which thei with deynte metes kepe
And leyn it softe forto slepe,
Whan it hath elles al his wille,
With chastite schal stonde stille:
And natheles I can noght seie,
In aunter if that I misseye. 480
Touchende of this, how evere it stonde,
450 thei] men B 453 apeyre AM 457 vnto mannes soule is

AME: isto mannes synne B
+ C

18 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Trz Cuurcx.] I here and wol noght understonde,
For therof have I noght to done: P. i. 20
Bot he that made ferst the Mone,
The hyhe géd, of his goodnesse,
If ther be cause, he it redresce.
Bot what as eny man accuse,
This mai reson of trowthe excuse ;
The vice of hem that ben ungoode
Is no reproef unto the goode: 490
For every man hise oghne werkes
Schal bere, and thus as of the clerkes
The goode men ben to comende,
And alle these otbre god amende:
For thei ben to the worldes ye
The Mirour of ensamplerie,
To reulen and to taken hiede
Betwen the men and the godhiede.

iv. Vulgaris populus regali lege subactus
[Tux Commons. } Dum iacet, vt mitis agna subibit onus.
Si caput extollat et lex sua frena relaxet,
V! sibi velle iubet, Tigridis instar kabet.
Jgnis, agua dominans duo sunt pietale carentes,
Jra tamen plebis est violenta magis.

Now forto speke of the comune,

It is to drede of that fortune 500
_De statu plebis, vt Which hath befalle in sondri londes :
dicunt, secundum ac-
cidencium mutabilia. Bot often for defalte of bondes
Al sodeinliche, er it be wist,
A Tonne, whanne his lye arist,
Tobrekth and renneth al aboute,
Which elles scholde noght gon oute ;
And ek fulofte a litel Skar
Upon a Banke, er men be war,
Let in the Strem, which with gret peine, P. i. a1
If evere man it schal restreigne. 510
486 he om. AM 487 as AJMEs, SA, FKHs pat H1... Bs, B
is W 495-498 Four lines found only in third recension copies
FWKHs &c. 501 margin mutabilia accidencium HiRBs, B
accidencia mutabilia X 510 euere ,euer) AMEsX, SAA, FKHs

euery JH1RB:, W eny CL, B

PROLOGUS

Wher lawe lacketh, errour groweth,

He is noght wys who that ne troweth,

For it hath proeved ofte er this;

And thus the comun clamour is

In every lond wher poeple dwelleth,

And eche in his compleignte telleth

How that the world is al miswent,

And ther upon his jugement

Yifth every man in sondry wise.

Bot what man wolde himself avise,

His conscience and noght misuse,

He may wel ate ferste excuse

His god, which evere stant in oh:

In him ther is defalte non,

So moste it stonde upon ousselve

Nought only upon ten ne twelve,

Bot plenerliche upon ous alle,

For man is cause of that schal falle.
And natheles yet som men wryte

And sein that fortune is to wyte,

And som men holde oppinion

That it is constellacion,

Which causeth al that a man doth:
God wot of bothe which is soth.
The world as of his propre kynde

Was evere untrewe, and as the blynde

Improprelich he demeth fame,
He blameth that is noght to blame

And preiseth that is noght to preise:
Thus whan he schal the thinges peise,

Ther is deceipte in his balance,

And al is that the variance

Of ous, that scholde ous betre avise ;
For after that we falle and rise,

The world arist and falth withal,

So that the man is overal

His oghne cause of wel and wo.
That we fortune clepe so

518 argument IJ

543 schold S, F

520

530

P. i. 22

540

I9

[THe Commons. }

(Max rug Causz or
Ewvir.)

Nota contra hoc,
quodaliquisortem for -
tune, aliqui influen-
ciam planetarum po-
nunt, per quod, vt
dicitur,rerum euentus
necessario contingit.
Set pocius dicendum
cst, quod ea que nos
prospera et aduersa
in hoc mundo voca-
mus, secundum merita
et demerita hominum
digno dei iudicio pro-
veniunt.

20

[MAN THE CAUSE OF
Evi. |

Boicius. O quam
dulcedo humane vite
multa amaritudine a-
spersa est!

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Out of the man himself it groweth ;

And who that other wise troweth, Rs
Behold the poeple of Irael:

For evere whil thei deden wel,

Fortune was hem debonaire,

And whan thei deden the contraire,

Fortune was contrariende.

So that it proeveth wel at ende

Why that the world is wonderfull

And may no while stonde full,

Though that it seme wel besein;

For every worldes thing is vein, 260
And evere goth the whiel aboute,

And evere stant a man in doute,

Fortune stant no while stille,

So hath ther noman al his wille.

Als fer as evere a man may knowe,

Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe;

The world stant evere upon debat,

So may be seker non astat,

Now hier now ther, now to now fro, P. i. 23
Now up now down, this world goth so, STO
And evere hath don and evere schal :

Wherof I finde in special

A tale writen in the Bible,

Which moste nedes be credible;

And that as in conclusioun

Seith that upon divisioun

Stant, why no worldes thing mai laste,

Til it be drive to the laste.

And fro the ferste regne of alle

Into this day, hou so befalle, 580
Of that the regnes be muable

The man himself hath be coupable,

Which of his propre governance

Fortuneth al the worldes chance.

O

551 Irael JM, S,.FH3N : the rest Israel 565 aman F 579-584
Six lines found only in third recension: cp. 495

PROLOGUS

v. Prosper et aduersus obliquo tramite versus
Immundus mundus decipit omne genus.
Mundus in euentu versatur vt alea casu,
Quam celer in ludis iactat auara manus.
Sicut ymago viri variantur temfora mundi,
Statgue nichil firmum preter amare deum.

The hyhe almyhti pourveance,
In whos eterne remembrance
Fro ferst was every thing present,
He hath his prophecie sent,
In such a wise as thou scbalt hiere,
To Daniel of this matiere,

2I

[ NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S
DREAM.)

590

Hou that this world schal torne and wende, Hic in prologo

Till it be falle to his ende ;
Wherof the tale telle I schal,
In which it is betokned al.

tractat de Statua illa,
quam Rex Nabugodo-
nosor viderat in somp-
nis, cuius caput aue
reum, pectus argen-

As Nabugodonosor slepte, P. i. 24 teum, venter eneus, ti-

A swevene him tok, the which he kepte
Til on the morwe he was arise,

For he therof was sore agrise.

To Daniel his drem he tolde,

And preide him faire that he wolde
Arede what it tokne may ;

And seide: ‘Abedde wher I lay,

Me thoghte I syh upon a Stage

Wher stod a wonder strange ymage.
His hed with al the necke also

Thei were of fin gold bothe tuo;

His brest, his schuldres and his armes
Were al of selver, bot the tharmes,
The wombe and al doun to the kne,
Of bras thei were upon to se;

The legges were al mad of Stiel,

So were his feet also somdiel,

And somdiel part to hem was take
Of Erthe which men Pottes make ;

Latin Verses v. 3 vesatur vt HiRBz2, B vesatur et CL
HiR, B 6 line om. Hil B2Sn, B

bie ferree, pedum vero
quedam pars ferrea,
quedam fictilis videba-
tur, sub qua membror-
um diuersitate secun-
dum Danielis exposi-
cionem huius mundi

600 variacio figurabatur.

610

4 ictat

588 send F 592 befalle F 608 the tharmes] pe armes M, A
tharmes B», HsMagd. 610 weren on AX 611 made al AMH:

22

[NzsUCHADNEZZAR'S
Dream. ]

Hic narrat viterius
de quodam lapide
grandi, qui, vt in
dicto sompnio vide-
batur, ab excelso
monte super statuam
corruens ipsam quasi
in nichilum penitus
contriuit.

Hic loquitur de
iaterpretacione som-
pnii, et primo dicit de
significacione capitis
aurei.

De pectore ar-
genteo.

De ventre eneo.

De tibeis ferreis.

De significacione
pedum, qui ex duabus
materiis discordanti-
bus adinuicem diuisi
extiterant.

De lapidis statuam
confringentis signifi-
cacione.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

The fieble meynd was with the stronge,
So myhte it wel noght stonde longe.
And tho me thoghte that I sih
A gret ston from an hull on hyh
Fel doun of sodein aventure
Upon the feet of this figure, 620
With which Ston al tobroke was
Gold, Selver, Erthe, Stiel and Bras,
That al was in to pouldre broght,
And so forth torned into noght.'
This was the swevene which he hadde, P. i. 25
That Daniel anon aradde,
And seide him that figure strange
Betokneth how the world schal change
And waxe lasse worth and lasse,
Til it to noght al overpasse. 630
The necke and hed, that weren golde,
He seide how that betokne scholde
A worthi world, a noble, a riche,
To which non after schal be liche.
Of Selver that was overforth
Schal ben a world of lasse worth ;
And after that the wombe of Bras
Tokne of a werse world it was.
The Stiel which he syh afterward
A world betokneth more hard: 640
Bot yet the werste of everydel
Is last, whan that of Erthe and Stiel
He syh the feet departed so,
For that betokneth mochel wo.
Whan that the world divided is,
It moste algate fare amis,
For Erthe which is meynd with Stiel
logedre may noght laste wiel,
Bot if that on that other waste ;
So mot it nedes faile in haste. 650
The Ston, which fro the hully Stage

616 nought wel KHs nought (om. wel) AM, W (nat) 618 on)

an B 618 margin grandi] gracia dei (gra di) RB:Sn
627 margin dicit om. B

PROLOGUS 23

He syh doun falle on that ymage, ( NEBUCHADNEZzzAR's
And hath it into pouldre broke, __ Darax. }
That swevene hath Daniel unloke,

And seide how that is goddes myht, P. i. 26

Which whan men wene most upryht

To stonde, schal hem overcaste.

And that is of this world the laste,

And thanne a newe schal beginne,

Fro which a man schal nevere twinne ; 660
Or al to peine or al to pes (Tue Empires or
That world schal lasten endeles. THE Wortp.]
Lo thus expondeth Daniel Hic consequenter
; ; scribit qualiter huius
The ky nges swevene faire and wel seculi regna variis mu-
In Babiloyne the Cite, tacionibus,proutindic-
. ta statua figurabatur
Wher that the wiseste of Caldee . secundum temporüm
Ne cowthen wite what it mente ; distincciones sencibil-
Bot he tolde al the hol entente, iter hactenus diminu-
As in partie it is befalle.
Of gold the ferste regne of alle 670 De seculo aureo,
Was in that kinges time tho, deserat ests
And laste manye daies so, tempore ipsius Nabu-
Therwhiles that the Monarchie dee vsque Mida
Of al the world in that partie Ciri Regis Persarum.

To Babiloyne was soubgit ;

And hield him stille in such a plit,

Til that the world began diverse:

And that was whan the king of Perse,

Which Cirus hyhte, ayein the pes

Forth with his Sone Cambises 680
Of Babiloine al that Empire,

Ryht as thei wolde hemself desire,

Put under in subjeccioun

And tok it in possessioun,

And slayn was Baltazar the king, P. 1, 27
Which loste his regne and al his thing.

And thus whan thei it hadde wonne,

The world of Selver was begonne De seculo argenteo,
quod in pectore desig:

659 schal a newe Hi... Ba, B 663 expondep S, FK ail.

expoundep

668 al om. HiRB:;, B hol] ho'e AC margin

diminuntur F 681 al] of AMERB3, B om. Hi 683 in om. À

24

[THE Empires OF
THE Wonrp.]

natum est, a tempore
ipsius Regis Ciri
vsque in regnum Alex-
andri Regis Mace-
donie.

De seculo enco,
quod in ventre desig-
natum est, a tempore
ipsius Alexandri vs-
que in regnum Iulii
Romanorum Impara-
toris.

698 nedes] soffre (suffre) ME, B
720 of Occident XE, B 723 chiualrie F 724 this] pe HiXGCL, W

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And that of gold was passed oute:
And in this wise it goth aboute

In to the Regne of Darius;

And thanne it fell to Perse thus,

That Alisaundre put hem under,

Which wroghte of armes many a wonder,
So that the Monarchie lefte

With Grecs, and here astat uplefte,
And Persiens gon under fote,

So soffre thei that nedes mote.

And tho the world began of Bras,
And that of selver ended was ;

Bot for the time thus it laste,

Til it befell that ate laste

This king, whan that his day was come,
With strengthe of deth was overcome.
And natheles yet er he dyde,

He schop his Regnes to divide

To knyhtes whiche him hadde served,
And after that thei have deserved

Yaf the conquestes that he wan;
Wherof gret werre tho began

Among hem that the Regnes hadde,
Thurgh proud Envie which hem ladde,
Til it befell ayein hem thus:

The noble Cesar Julius,

Which tho was king of Rome lond,
With gret bataille and with strong hond
Al Grece, Perse and ek Caldee

Wan and put under, so that he

Noght al only of thorient

Bot al the Marche of thoccident
Governeth under his empire,

As he that was hol lord and Sire,
And hield thurgh his chivalerie

Of al this world the Monarchie,

And was the ferste of that honour
Which tok the name of Emperour.

705 or B

690

"00

710

P. i. 28

718 putte A

PROLOGUS 25

Wher Rome thanne wolde assaille, (Tug Empires or
Ther myhte nothing contrevaille, THE Wonr».)
B beie : De seculo ferreo,
ot every contre moste obeie: quod in tibeis desig-
Tho goth the Regne of Bras aweie, 730 patum est, a tempore
And comen is the world of Stiel, Karoli magni Kegis
And stod above upon the whiel. Francorum.

As Stiel is hardest in his kynde

Above alle othre that men finde

Of Metals, such was Rome tho

The myhtieste, and laste so

Long time amonges the Romeins

Til thei become so vileins,

That the fals Emperour Leo

With Constantin his Sone also "40
The patrimoine and the richesse,

Which to Silvestre in pure almesse

The ferste Constantinus lefte,

Fro holy cherche thei berefte.

Bot Adrian, which Pope was, P. i. 29
And syh the meschief of this cas,
Goth in to France for pleigne,

And preith the grete Charlemeine,
For Cristes sake and Soule hele
That he wol take the querele

Of holy cherche in his defence.

And Charles for the reverence

Of god the cause hath undertake,
And with his host the weie take
Over the Montz of Lombardie ;

Of Rome and al the tirandie

With blodi swerd he overcom,

And the Cite with strengthe nom ;

In such a wise and there he wroghte,
That holy cherche ayein he broghte 60
Into franchise, and doth restore

The Popes lost, and yaf him more:

=T
eu
Q

730 margin vsque ad Hi... Bs, B 732 stant Hi... B4, B
margin Francie Hi... Bz, B 739 pe fals Emperour AJMXGCL, Sa,
FKHs pe Emp. fals HERBs peemperourB 745 Bot] Good (God)
GCLAndH: 750woldeMHiXGCL,A 754haptakeB didtakeA

26

(THe Empires or
THE WoRLD. |

De seculo nouissi-
mis iam temporibus
ad similitudinem pe-
dum in discordiam
lapso et diuiso, quod
post decessum ipsius
Karoli, cum imperium
Romanorum in manus
Longobardorum per-
uenerat, tempore Al-
berti et Berengarii
incepit: nam obeorum
diuisionem contigit,
vt Almanni impera-
toriam adepti sunt
maiestatem. In cuius
solium quendam prin-
cipem theotonicum
Othonem nomine sub-
limari primitus con-
stituerunt. Etab illo
regno incipiente di-
uisio per vniuersum
orbem in posteros
concreuit, vnde nos
ad alterutrum diuisi
huius seculi consum-
macionem iam vltimi
expectamus.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And thus whan he his god hath served,

He tok, as he wel hath deserved,

The Diademe and was coroned.

Of Rome and thus was abandoned

Thempire, which cam nevere ayein

Into the hond of no Romein ;

Bot a long time it stod so stille

Under the Frensche kynges wille, "70
Til that fortune hir whiel so ladde,

That afterward Lombardz it hadde,

Noght be the swerd, bot be soffrance

Of him that tho was kyng of France,

Which Karle Calvus cleped was; P. i. 30
And he resigneth in this cas

Thempire of Rome unto Lowis

His Cousin, which a Lombard is.

And so bit laste into the yeer

Of Albert and of Berenger ; -80
Bot thanne upon dissencioun

Thei felle, and in divisioun

Among hemself that were grete,

So that thei loste the beyete

Of worschipe and of worldes pes.

Bot in proverbe natheles

Men sein, ful selden is that welthe

Can soffre his oghne astat in helthe;

And that was on the Lombardz sene,

Such comun strif was hem betwene "JO
Thurgh coveitise and thurgh Envie,

That every man drowh his partie,

Which myhte leden eny route,

Withinne Burgh and ek withoute:

The comun ryht hath no felawe,

So that the governance of lawe

Was lost, and for necessite,

Of that thei stode in such degre

Al only thurgh divisioun,

764 as he hap wel ERBs, SBAA wel as he hath Hi 768 the

om. B

785 margin peruenerit Hi... RLB:, B. peruenit C

PROLOGUS 27

Hem nedeth in conclusioun 800 [THe Emprres oF

Of strange londes help beside. THE Wonr».|
And thus for thei hemself divide

And stonden out of reule unevene,

Of Alemaine Princes sevene

Thei chose in this condicioun, P. i. 31

That upon here eleccioun

Thempire of Rome scholde stonde.

And thus thei lefte it out of honde

For lacke of grace, and it forsoke,

That Alemans upon hem toke: 810

And to confermen here astat,

Of that thei founden in debat

Thei token the possessioun

After the composicioun

Among hemself, and therupon

Thei made an Emperour anon,

Whos name as the Cronique telleth

Was Othes; and so forth it duelleth,

Fro thilke day yit unto this

Thempire of Rome hath ben and is 820

To thalemans. And in this wise, [THE LATEST Time. }

As ye tofore have herd divise

How Daniel the swevene expondeth

Of that ymage, on whom he foundeth

The world which after scholde falle,

Come is the laste tokne of alle;

Upon the feet of Erthe and Stiel

So stant this world now everydiel

Departed ; which began riht tho,

Whan Rome was divided so: 8.0

And that is forto rewe sore,

For alway siththe more and more

The world empeireth every day.

Wherof the sothe schewe may, |

At Rome ferst if we beginne: P. i. 32

804 Almanie A 812 founden AJMEs, SAA, FWHs stonden
X ...R,B stoden HiCLBa 821 To pe almains X... Bs, BA
To Almayns Hi 823 expondep S, FKHs af. expounde}

28

[THe LATEST TixE.]

[Division THE CAUSE
oF Evir.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

The wall and al the Cit withinne

Stant in ruine and in decas,

The feld is wher the Paleis was,

The toun is wast; and overthat,

If we beholde thilke astat S40
Which whilom was of the Romeins,

Of knyhthode and of Citezeins,

To peise now with that beforn,

The chaf is take for the corn,

As forto speke of Romes myht:

Unethes stant ther oght upryht

Of worschipe or of worldes good,

As it before tyme stod.

And why the worschipe is aweie,

If that a man the sothe seie, S:0
The cause hath ben divisioun,

Which moder of confusioun

Is wher sche cometh overal,

Noght only of the temporal

Bot of the spirital also.

The dede proeveth it is so,

And hath do many day er this,

Thurgh venym which that medled is

In holy cherche of erthly thing:

For Crist himself makth knowleching S60
That noman may togedre serve

God and the world, bot if he swerve

Froward that on and stonde unstable ;

And Cristes word may noght be fable.

The thing so open is at ye, P. i. 33
It nedeth noght to specefie

Or speke oght more in this matiere ;

Bot in this wise a man mai lere

Hou that the world is gon aboute,

836 al pe Cit S, F al pecite (citee) A. ..Bs, BAA, KHs the cite W
Magd. al the toune Hi 837 f. deces... wes ECL, B deues...
was HiSn deues .. . wes RBs 838 wher] per AMEsHi
844 fro (from) HiERBs, B, WMagd. 845 Andforto A, Magd.
And so to HiEBs, B And so R As to L 850 sope XGSn,

FWKH: sop schal AJMHiERCLBs, SBAA 865 line om. B
869 bis world MHi... Ba, B

: PROLOGUS 29

The which welnyh is wered oute, 870 [Division THE Cause
After the form of that figure or Evi. |

Which Daniel in his scripture
Expondeth, as tofore is told.

Of Bras, of Selver and of Gold
The world is passed and agon,
And now upon his olde ton

It stant of brutel Erthe and Stiel,
The whiche acorden nevere a diel ;
So mot it nedes swerve aside

sumus in quos fines

As thing the which men sen divide. 880

Thapostel writ unto ous alle Hic dicit secundum
And seith that upon ous is falle apostolum, quod nos
Thende of the world; so may we knowe, scculi deuenerunt.

This ymage is nyh overthrowe,

Be which this world was signified,

That whilom was so magnefied,

And now is old and fieble and vil,

Full of meschief and of peril,

And stant divided ek also

Lich to the feet that were so, 890
As I tolde of the Statue above.

And this men sen, thurgh lacke of love

Where as the lond divided is,

It mot algate fare amis:

And now to loke on every side, P. i. 34
A man may se the world divide,

The werres ben so general

Among the cristene overal,

That every man now secheth wreche,

And yet these clerkes alday preche goo
And sein, good dede may non be

Which stant noght upon charite :

I not hou charite may stonde,

Wher dedly werre is take on honde.

Bot al this wo is cause of man,

The which that wit and reson can,

And that in tokne and in witnesse

873 Expondep S, FK 89a this] pus AMHiX, Hs goo these]
ps AM...E,B,W

30

[Division THE CAUSE
or Evir.]

Hic scribit quod ex
diuisionis passione
singula creata detri-
mentum corruptibile
paciuntur.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

That ilke ymage bar liknesse

Of man and of non other beste.

For ferst unto the mannes heste gto
Was every creature ordeined,

Bot afterward it was restreigned :

Whan that he fell, thei fellen eke,

Whan he wax sek, thei woxen seke;

For as the man hath passioun

Of seknesse, in comparisoun

So soffren othre creatures.

Lo, ferst the hevenly figures,

The Sonne and Mone eclipsen bothe,

And ben with mannes senne wrothe ; 920
The purest Eir for Senne alofte

Hath ben and is corrupt fulofte,

Right now the hyhe wyndes blowe,

And anon after thei ben lowe,

Now clowdy and now clier it is: P. i. 35
So may it proeven wel be this,

A mannes Senne is forto hate,

Which makth the welkne to debate.

And forto se the proprete

Of every thyng in his degree, 930
Benethe forth among ous hiere

Al stant aliche in this matiere :

The See now ebbeth, now it floweth,

The lond now welketh, now it groweth,

Now be the Trees with leves grene,

Now thei be bare and nothing sene,

Now be the lusti somer floures,

Now be the stormy wynter shoures,

Now be the daies, now the nyhtes,

So stant ther nothing al upryhtes, 940
Now it is lyht, now it is derk ;

And thus stant al the worldes werk

912 Bot] ffor HiERB:, B 923 hyhe] while HiERBs, B
934 welwep AJM, W (weloweth) 937 f. the... the] bei... pei
(pay... pay) AHIERBs; B per...per CL pese... pey X pe...
pey G 939 Fei (pay) daies H1... R, B now the nyhtes]

now be pe n. MCB:, A now be pey (thei) n. HiXG

PROLOGUS E

After the disposicioun [Division THE CAUSE
Of man and his condicioun. or Evi.]
Forthi Gregoire in his Moral

Seith that a man in special

The lasse world is properly:

And that he proeveth redely ;

For man of Soule resonable

Is to an Angel resemblable, 950

And lich to beste he hath fielinge,

And lich to Trees he hath growinge ;

The Stones ben and so is he:

Thus of his propre qualite

The man, as telleth the clergie, P. i. 36

Is as a world in his partie,

And whan this litel world mistorneth,

The grete world al overtorneth.

The Lond, the See, the firmament, .
Thei axen alle jugement 960

Ayein the man and make him werre:

Therwhile himself stant out of herre,

The remenant wol noght acorde:

And in this wise, as I recorde,

The man is cause of alle wo,

Why this world is divided so.

Division, the gospell seith, Hic dicit secundum
. euangelium, quod om-
On hous upon another leith, ne regnum in se diui-
Til that the Regne al overthrowe : sum desolabitur.
And thus may every man wel knowe, 970

Division aboven alle
Is thing which makth the world to falle,
And evere hath do sith it began.
It may ferst proeve upon a man; Quod ex sue com-
The which, for his complexioun piexionis materia di-
Is mad upon divisioun existat.
Of cold, of hot, of moist, of drye,
He mot be verray kynde dye:
For the contraire of his astat
946 aman F 950 Is to an] It is an HiERB;, B 957
mistormep FKHs 963 stant out of acord(e) HiERB:, B 966
Why) Wip RCLB: 967as pe g. s. AG, W 976 margin existit A

32

{Division THE CAUSE
or Eviz. }

Quod homo ex cor-
poris et anime condi-
cione diuisus, sicut
saluacionis ita et
dampnacionis aptitu-
dinem ingreditur.

Qualiter Adam a
statu innocencie diui-
sus a paradiso volup-
tatis in terram laboris
peccator — proiectus
est,

Qualiter populi per
vniuersum orbem a
cultura dei diuisi, Noe
cum sua sequela dum-
taxat exceptis, diluuio
interierunt,

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Stant evermore in such debat,
Til that o part be overcome,
Ther may no final pes be nome.
Bot other wise, if a man were
Mad al togedre of o matiere
Withouten interrupcioun,

Ther scholde no corrupcioun
Engendre upon that unite:

Bot for ther is diversite

Withinne himself, he may noght laste,

That he ne deieth ate laste.
Bot in a man yit over this
Full gret divisioun ther is,

Thurgh which that he is evere in strif,

Whil that him lasteth eny lif:
The bodi and the Soule also
Among hem ben divided so,

That what thing that the body hateth

The soule loveth and debateth ;
Bot natheles fulofte is sene

Of werre which is hem betwene
The fieble hath wonne the victoire.
And who so drawth into memoire
What hath befalle of old and newe,
He may that werre sore rewe,
Which ferst began in Paradis:

For ther was proeved what it is,
find what desese there it wroghte ;
For thilke werre tho forth broghte
The vice of alle dedly Sinne,
Thurgh which division cam inne
Among the men in erthe hiere,
And was the cause and the matiere
Why god the grete flodes sende,
Of al the world and made an ende
Bot Noé with his felaschipe,

Which only weren saulf be Schipe.
And over that thurgh Senne it com

982 be nome] benome FK H:

980

P. 1. 37

990

1000

1010

P. i. 38

PROLOGUS

That Nembrot such emprise nom,
Whan he the Tour Babel on heihte
Let make, as he that wolde feihte
Ayein the hihe goddes myht,
Wherof divided anon ryht

Was the langage in such entente,
Ther wist non what other mente,
So that thei myhten noght procede.
And thus it stant of every dede,

1020

Wher Senne takth the cause on honde,

It may upriht noght longe stonde ;
For Senne of his condicioun
Is moder of divisioun

1030

And tokne whan the world schal faile.

For so seith Crist withoute faile,
That nyh upon the worldes ende
Pes and acord awey schol wende
And alle charite schal cesse,
Among the men and hate encresce ;
And whan these toknes ben befalle,
A] sodeinly the Ston schal falle,
As Daniel it hath beknowe,
Which al this world schal overthrowe,
And every man schal thanne arise
To Joie or elles to Juise,
Wher that he schal for evere dwelle,
Or straght to hevene or straght to he
In hevene is pes and al acord,
Bot helle is full of such descord
That ther may be no loveday:
Forthi good is, whil a man may,
Echon to sette pes with other
And loven as his oghne brother ;
So may he winne worldes welthe
And afterward his soule helthe.

Bot wolde god that now were on
An other such as Arion,

1018 suche prise H1ERB3, B 1019 he om. RLBs, B,
1029 condicion F 1033 margin vexat HiERB:, B
1055 S has lost a leaf (1055 —i. 106)

++ D

1040

lle.
P. i. 39

1050

W that Hi
1038 And A

33

[Division THE Cause
or Evir.)

Qualiter in edifica-
cione turris Babel,
quam in dei contemp-
tum Nembrot erexit, :
lingua prius hebraica
in varias linguas ce-
lica vindicta diuide-
batur.

Qualiter mundus,
qui in statu diuisionis
quasi cotidianis pre-
senti tempore vexatur
flagellis,alapidesuper-
ueniente, id est a di-
uina potencia vsque ad
resolucionem omnis
carnis subito conter-
etur.

Hic narrat excm-
plum de concordia et
vnitate inter homines

34

[ Division THE CAUSE
or Evii.]

prouocanda ; et dicit
qualiter quidam Arion
nuper Citharista ex
sui cantus cithareque
consona melodia tante
virtutis extiterat, vt
ipse non solum virum
cum viro, set eciam
leonemcumcerua,lup-
um cum agna, canem
cum lepore, ipsum
audientes vnanimiter
absque vlla discordia
adinuicem pacificauit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Which hadde an harpe of such temprure,
And therto of so good mesure

He song, that he the bestes wilde
Made of his note tame and milde,
The Hinde in pes with the Leoun,
The Wolf in pes with the Moltoun,
The Hare in pees stod with the Hound;
And every man upon this ground
Which Arion that time herde,

Als wel the lord as the schepherde,

He broghte hem alle in good acord ;

So that the comun with the lord,
And lord with the comun also,
He sette in love bothe tuo

And putte awey malencolie.

That was a lusti melodie,

Whan every man with other low ;
And if ther were such on now,

Which cowthe harpe as he tho dede,

He myhte availe in many a stede
To make pes wher now is hate;
For whan men thenken to debate,
I not what other thing is good.
Bot wher that wisdom waxeth wod,
And reson torneth into rage,

So that mesure upon oultrage
Hath set his world, it is to drede;

For that bringth in the comun drede,
Which stant at every mannes Dore:
Bot whan the scharpnesse of the spore

The horse side smit to sore,

It grieveth ofte.

And now nomore,

As forto speke of this matiere,

Which non bot only god may stiere.

Explicit Prologus

1078 waxed FK

1087 As] And YERSn, B om. Bs
only may HiER, B god may only Bs

1069

P. i. 40

1080

1088 god

LIBER PRIMUS

P. i. 41
Incipit Liber Primus

i. Naturatus amor nature legibus orbem

Subdit, et unanimes concitat esse feras:

Huius enim mundi Princeps amor esse videtur,
Cuius eget diues, pauper et omnis ope.

Sunt in agone pares amor et fortuna, que cecas
Plebis ad insidias vertit vterque rotas.

Est amor egra salus, vexata quies, bius error,
Bellica pax, vulnus dulce, suaue malui.

I may noght strecche up to the hevene

Min hand, ne setten al in evene

This world, which evere is in balance:

It stant noght in my sufficance

So grete thinges to compasse,

Bot I mot lete it overpasse

And treten upon othre thinges.

Forthi the Stile of my writinges

Fro this day forth I thenke change

And speke of thing is noght so strange, 10

Which every kinde hath upon honde, P. i.42

And wherupon the world mot stonde,

And hath don sithen it began,

And schal whil ther is any man;

And that is love, of which I mene

To trete, as after schal be sene.

In which ther can noman him reule,

For loves lawe is out of reule,

That of tomoche or of tolite

Welnyh is every man to wyte, 22

1 strecchen vp to h. EC, A strecche vp to h. XB: (vt) 8 fforpi
(ffor py) AJMEsE, AA, FKHs ffor HiYXR... B3,B,W 10 thing is]
pinges E:H1Y ... B4, B noght so] more YX 13 margin
intendit] intendit eciam ERCL intendit et HiBs
D 2

[Love RULES THE
‘Wor .p. }

Postquam in Pro-
logo tractatum hac-
tenus existit, qualiter
hodierne condicionis
diuisio caritatis di-
leccionem superauit,
intendit auctor ad
presens suum libel-
lum, cuiusnomen Con-
fessio Amantis nun-
cupatur, componere de
illo amore, a quo non
solum humanum ge-
nus, sed eciam cuncta
animancia naturaliter
subiciuntur. Et quia
nonnulliamantes ultra

36

{ LOVE RULES THE
Wor vp. }

quam expedit desi-
derii passionibus cre-
bro stimulantur, ma-
teria libri per totum
super hiis specialius
diffunditur.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And natheles ther is noman
In al this world so wys, that can
Of love tempre the mesure,
Bot as it falth in aventure :
For wit ne strengthe may noght helpe,
And he which elles wolde him yelpe
Is rathest throwen under fote,
Ther can no wiht therof do bote.
For yet was nevere such covine,
That couthe ordeine a medicine 30
To thing which god in lawe of kinde
Hath set, for ther may noman finde
The rihte salve of such a Sor.
It hath and schal ben everemor
That love is maister wher he wile,
Ther can no lif make other skile ;
For wher as evere him lest to sette,
Ther is no myht which him may lette.
Bot what schal fallen ate laste,
The sothe can no wisdom caste, 40
Bot as it falleth upon chance ; P. i. 43
For if ther evere was balance
Which of fortune stant governed,
I may wel lieve as I am lerned
That love hath that balance on honde,
Which wol no reson understonde.
For love is blind and may noght se,
Forthi may no certeinete
Be set upon his jugement,
Bot as the whiel aboute went &O
He yifth his graces undeserved,
And fro that man which hath him served
Fulofte he takth aweye his fees,
As he that pleieth ate Dees,
And therupon what schal befalle
He not, til that the chance falle,
Wher he schal lese or he schal winne.
23 margin crebreHiE... B». 26 margin diffundeturB 97 evere

him lest] himselflest (list) Hi YERBs, B lust) 5o aboute is went ACL.
isaboute went A sr grace HiXGERB:,BA 54 And HiYERBs, B

LIBER PRIMUS

And thus fulofte men beginne,

That if thei wisten what it mente,

Thei wolde change al here entente.
And forto proven it is so,

I am miselven on of tho, gece picd

Which to this Scole am underfonge.

For it is siththe go noght longe,

As forto speke of this matiere,

I may you telle, if ye woll hiere,

A wonder hap which me befell,

That was to me bothe hard and fell,

Touchende of love and his fortune,

The which me liketh to comune

And pleinly forto telle it oute.

To hem that ben lovers aboute

Fro point to point I wol declare

And wryten of my woful care,

Mi wofull day, my wofull chance,

That men mowe take remembrance

Of that thei schall hierafter rede:

For in good feith this wolde I rede,

That every man ensample take

Of wisdom which him is betake,

And that he wot of good aprise

To teche it forth, for such emprise

Is forto preise; and therfore I

Woll wryte and schewe al openly

How love and I togedre mette,

Wherof the world ensample fette

Mai after this, whan I am go,

Of thilke unsely jolif wo,

Whos reule stant out of the weie,

Nou glad and nou gladnesse aweie,

And yet it may noght be withstonde

For oght that men may understonde.

Vt discant alti, docet experiencia facti,

Rebus in ambiguis que sit habenda via.

76 now B. 80 is him AG

37

(EXAMPLE OF THE
AUTHOR. ]

Hic quasi in persona

6° aliorum, quos amor

70
P. i. 44

8o

go

i. Von ego Sampsonis vires, non Herculis arma
Vinco, sum sed ut hii victus amore pari.

alligat, fingens se auc-
tor esse Amantem, va-
rias eorum passiones
variis huius libri dis-
tinccionibus per sing-
ula scribere proponit.

(His worur CASE.

38

[His WOFUL cask.]

Hic declarat mate-
riam, dicens qualiter
Cupido quodam ignito
iaculo sui cordis mem-
oriam grauivlcere per-
forauit, quod Venus
percipiens ipsum, vt
dicit, quasi in mortis
articulo spasmatum,
ad confitendum se
Genio sacerdoti super
amoris causa sic semi-
uiuum specialiter com-
mendauit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Deuius ordo ducis templata fericla sequentem
Instruit a tergo, ne simul tlle cadat.

Me quibus ergo Venus, casus, lagueauit amantem,
Orbis in exemplum scribere tendo palam.

Upon the point that is befalle
Of love, in which that I am falle,
I thenke telle my matiere:
Now herkne, who that wol it hiere,
Of my fortune how that it ferde.
This enderday, as I forthferde
To walke, as I yow telle may,—
And that was in the Monthe of Maii,
Whan every brid hath chose his make
And thenkth his merthes forto make
Of love that he hath achieved ;
Bot so was I nothing relieved,
For I was further fro my love
Than Erthe is fro the hevene above,
As forto speke of eny sped:
So wiste I me non other red,
Bot as it were a man forfare
Unto the wode I gan to fare,
Noght forto singe with the briddes,
For whanne I was the wode amiddes,
I fond a swote grene pleine,
And ther I gan my wo compleigne
Wisshinge and wepinge al myn one,
For other merthes made I none.
So hard me was that ilke throwe,
That ofte sithes overthrowe
To grounde I was withoute breth ;
And evere I wisshide after deth,
Whanne I out of my peine awok,

Latin Verses ii. 5 Deuius AJMEs, AA, FKHs

P. i. 45

roo

IIO

120

Denuus (?) H.Y

Demum XGEC,B Deinque L Deui B:Sn Veni R 7 Me) Aere
HiYf.m. ERBs, B
102 take CL, B 107 S resumes 109 forsake B 110 Vnto...

I gan tofare F And to... forth is he fare CL And to... gan I to
fate Y To...IganfareR To...I made me jare B1 Vnto...
my way gan take B Ane om. SnD 116 opere A 120 wisshide
FK wisschide S wisshid Hs aj. wissched

LIBER PRIMUS 39

And caste up many a pitous lok [His coMPLAINT TO
Unto the hevene, and seide thus: Cupip AND VrNus.]
*O thou Cupide, O thou Venus,

Thou god of love and thou goddesse, P. i. 46

Wher is pite? wher is meknesse?

Now doth me pleinly live or dye,

For certes such a maladie

As I now have and longe have hadd,

It myhte make a wisman madd, 130

If that it scholde longe endure.

O Venus, queene of loves cure,

Thou lif, thou lust, thou mannes hele,

Behold my cause and my querele,

And yif me som part of thi grace,

So that I may finde in this place

If thou be gracious or non.’

And with that word I sawh anon

The kyng of love and qweene bothe;

Bot he that kyng with yhen wrothe 140

His chiere aweiward fro me caste,

And forth he passede ate laste.

Bot natheles er he forth wente [THE Frery DART.]
A firy Dart me thoghte he hente

And threw it thurgh myn herte rote:

In him fond I non other bote,

For lenger list him noght to duelle.

Bot sche that is the Source and Welle [Venus QUEEN OF
Of wel or wo, that schal betide | Love.]
To hem that Joven, at that tide 150

Abod, bot forto tellen hiere

Sche cast on me no goodly chiere:

Thus natheles to me sche seide,

* What art thou, Sone?' and I abreide

Riht as a man doth out of slep, P.i.47
And therof tok sche riht good kep

And bad me nothing ben adrad:

Bot for al that I was noght glad,

For I ne sawh no cause why.

And eft scheo asketh, what was I: 160

130 wismam FK 160 scheo FK al. sche

40 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Venus QUEEN or I seide, *A Caitif that lith hiere:
Lovr.] What wolde ye, my Ladi diere?

Schal I ben hol or elles dye?'
Sche seide, * Tell thi maladie:
What is thi Sor of which thou pleignest ?
Ne hyd it noght, for if thou feignest,
I can do the no medicine.
‘Ma dame, I am a man of thyne,
That in thi Court have longe served,
And aske that I have deserved, 170
Som wele after my longe wo.’
And sche began to loure tho,
And seide, ‘Ther is manye of yow
Faitours, and so may be that thow
Art riht such on, and be feintise
Seist that thou hast me do servise.’
And natheles sche wiste wel,
Mi world stod on an other whiel
Withouten eny faiterie :
Bot algate of my maladie 180
Sche bad me telle and seie hir trowthe.
‘Ma dame, if ye wolde have rowthe,’
Quod I, ‘than wolde I telle yow.’
‘Sey forth, quod sche, ‘and tell me how;
Schew me thi seknesse everydiel.’ P. i. 48
* Ma dame, that can I do wel,
Be so my lif therto wol laste.’
With that hir lok on me sche caste,
And seide: ‘In aunter if thou live,
Mi will is ferst that thou be schrive ; 190
And natheles how that it is
I wot miself, bot for al this

(Genius, THE PRIEST Unto my prest, which comth anon,

oF Love.] I woll thou telle it on and on,

Bothe all thi thoght and al thi werk.

161 Ma dame I sayde Iohn Gowere E, B And I answerde wif drery
chiere C And I answerd wip ful myld chere L line om. RB:SnD
162 What wolde 3e wip me my I. d. ERLBs What wolde se wip
me l. d. XGC, B 163 or elles] or schal IC or L 164 tell
(telle) me Hi YE... Ba, BA, W 165 of which) which pat CL
where of W 183 pan wolde C ban woldA,B panne wold S, FK

LIBER PRIMUS 41

O Genius myn oghne Clerk, (Genius, THE Prisst
Com forth and hier this mannes schrifte,’ or Lovz.]
Quod Venus tho; and I uplifte

Min hefd with that, and gan beholde

The selve Prest, which as sche wolde aco

Was redy there and sette him doun

To hiere my confessioun.

iii. Confessus Genio st sit medióina salutis
Experiar morbis, quos tulit ipsa Venus.
Lesa quidem ferro medicantur membra saluti,
Raro tamen medicum vulnus amoris habet.

This worthi Prest, this holy man [Tue Lover's

To me spekende thus began, SHRIT.]
And seide: *' Benedicite,

Mi Sone, of the felicite

Of love and ek of all the wo

Thou schalt thee schrive of bothe tuo.

What thou er this for loves sake G Hic dicit qualiter
Hast felt, let nothing be forsake, 210 sedent — prouolutus
Tell pleinliche as it is befalle.’ P. i. 49 Amans at. confiten-
And with that word I gan doun falle incuruatur, supplicans
On knees, and with devocioun tamen, vt ad sui sen-
And with full gret contricioun confessor illein dicen.
I seide thanne: ‘ Dominus, dis opponere sibi be-

Min holi fader Genius, nignius dignaretur.

So as thou hast experience

Of love, for whos reverence

Thou schalt me schriven at this time,
I prai the let me noght mistime 220
Mi schrifte, for I am destourbed

In al myn herte, and so contourbed,
That I ne may my wittes gete,

So schal I moche thing foryete:

Bot if thou wolt my schrifte oppose
Fro point to point, thanne I suppose,
Ther schal nothing be left behinde.
Bot now my wittes ben so blinde,
That I ne can miselven teche.’

200 Prest o». B 208 thee] be Y, B, Magd. 213 and with]
wipgoodB wip XC aswipA 224 schal] pat A 227 beleft FK

42

[Tax Lover's
SHRIFT.)

Sermo Genii sacer-
dotis super confes-
sione ad Amantem.

232 tome F al. to me

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Tho he began anon to preche,
And with his wordes debonaire
He seide tome softe and faire:
*'Thi schrifte to oppose and hiere,
My Sone, I am assigned hiere
Be Venus the godesse above,

Whos Prest I am touchende of love.

Bot natheles for certein skile

I mot algate and nedes wile
Noght only make my spekynges
Of love, bot of othre thinges,
That touchen to the cause of vice.
For that belongeth to thoffice

Of Prest, whos ordre that I bere,
So that I wol nothing forbere,
That I the vices on and on

Ne schal thee schewen everychon ;
Wherof thou myht take evidence
To reule with thi conscience.

Bot of conclusion final

Conclude I wol in special

For love, whos servant I am,
And why the cause is that I cam.
So thenke I to don bothe tuo,
Ferst that myn ordre longeth to,
The vices forto telle arewe,

Bot next above alle othre schewe
Of love I wol the propretes,

How that thei stonde be degrees
After the disposicioun

Of Venus, whos condicioun

I moste folwe, as I am holde.
For I with love am al withholde,
So that the lasse I am to wyte,
Thogh I ne conne bot a lyte

Of othre thinges that ben wise:

I am noght tawht in such a wise;

234 sone sone F am om. B

230

240

P. i. 5o

260

264 I ne

conne] I now can (conne) ECLBs, B I ne now can XR ne can

nowe Hi

266 awise FK

LIBER PRIMUS 43

For it is noght my comun us [THE Lover's
To speke of vices and vertus, SHRIFT.]
Bot al of love and of his lore,

For Venus bokes of nomore 270
Me techen nowther text ne glose. P. i. 51
Bot for als moche as I suppose

It sit a prest to be wel thewed,

And schame it is if he be lewed,

Of my Presthode after the forme

I wol thi schrifte so enforme,

That ate leste thou schalt hiere

The vices, and to thi matiere

Of love I schal hem so remene,

That thou schalt knowe what thei mene. 280
For what a man schal axe or sein

Touchende of schrifte, it mot be plein,

It nedeth noght to make it queinte,

For trowthe hise wordes wol noght peinte :
That I wole axe of the forthi,

My Sone, it schal be so pleinly,

That thou schalt knowe and understonde

The pointz of schrifte how that thei stonde.'

iv. Visus et auditus fragilis sunt ostia mentis, [THE Five Sensss. ]

Que viciosa manus claudere nulla potest.

Est ibi larga via, graditur qua cordis ad antrum
Hostis, et ingrediens fossa talenta rapit.

Hec michi confessor Genius primordia profert,
Dum sit in extremis vita remorsa malts.

Nunc famen vt poterit semiviua loquela fateri,
Verba fer os timide conscia mentis agam.

Betwen the lif and deth I herde

This Prestes tale er I answerde, 290

And thanne I preide him forto seie

His will, and I it wolde obeie

After the forme of his apprise.

Tho spak he tome in such a wise, . Hic incipit confes-

And bad me that I scholde schrive P. i, 52 5° Amantis, cui de
277 laste (last) JYRCL,BAA 278 vice H1... B, B. 281 aman F

288 The] po B 293 the] ber F 294 tome FK al. to me
awise F wise AEC, B 295 scholde (schuld) me Hi... Ba, B

44

(Tue Five SENszs.)
duobus precipue quin-
que sensuum, hoc est
de visu et auditu, con-
fessor pre ceteris op-
ponit.

(Szerme. ]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

As touchende of my wittes fyve,
And schape that thei were amended
Of that I hadde hem misdispended.
For tho be proprely the gates, .
Thurgh whiche as to the herte algates
Comth alle thing unto the feire,
Which may the mannes Soule empeire.
And now this matiere is broght inne,
Mi Sone, I thenke ferst beginne
To wite how that thin yhe hath stonde,
The which is, as I understonde,
The moste principal of alle,
Thurgh whom that peril mai befalle.
And forto speke in loves kinde,

Ful manye suche a man mai finde,
Whiche evere caste aboute here yhe,
To loke if that thei myhte aspie
Fulofte thing which hem ne toucheth,
Bot only that here herte soucheth
In hindringe of an other wiht ;
And thus ful many a worthi knyht
And many a lusti lady bothe
Have be fulofte sythe wrothe.
So that an yhe is as a thief
To love, and doth ful gret meschief ;
And also for his oghne part
Fulofte thilke firy Dart
Of love, which that evere brenneth,
Thurgh him into the herte renneth:
And thus a mannes yhe ferst
Himselve grieveth alther werst,
And many a time that he knoweth
Unto his oghne harm it groweth.
Mi Sone, herkne now forthi
A tale, to be war therby
Thin yhe forto kepe and warde,
So that it passe noght his warde.

298 mispended XR, FWKHs so myspended Bi

manye suche S manye such F many suche AC
M...RLBs, B

300

310

P. i. 53

33°

310
318 Hap

LIBER PRIMUS

Ovide telleth in his bok
Ensample touchende of mislok,
And seith hou whilom ther was on,
A worthi lord, which Acteon
Was hote, and he was cousin nyh
To him that Thebes ferst on hyh
Up sette, which king Cadme hyhte.
This Acteon, as he wel myhte, 340
Above alle othre caste his chiere,
And used it fro yer to yere,
With Houndes and with grete Hornes
Among the wodes and the thornes
To make his hunting and his chace:
Where him best thoghte in every place
To finde gamen in his weie,
Ther rod he forto hunte and pleie.
So him befell upon a tide
On his hunting as he cam ride, 350
In a Forest al one he was:
He syh upon the grene gras
The faire freisshe floures springe,
He herde among the leves singe
The Throstle with the nyhtingale: P. i. 54
Thus er he wiste into a Dale
He cam, wher was a litel plein,
All round aboute wel besein
With buisshes grene and Cedres hyhe;
And ther withinne he caste his yhe. 360
Amidd the plein he syh a welle,
So fair ther myhte noman telle,
In which Diana naked stod
To bathe and pleie hire in the flod
With many a Nimphe, which hire serveth.
Bot he his yhe awey ne swerveth
Fro hire, which was naked al,

334 margin exemplum om. AM 335 whilon FK 339 Vp sette
S,F Vpsette AC, B margin spaciaret B 349 atide FK
353 floures freische H1... Bj, B. 355 Trostle FK 357 wher was]
in to (into) Hi... B4, B 365 many nimphes Sn, B many Nimphe
YEC many simphe RLBa mani a maiden A

45

[TALE or Acrzox.)

Hic narrat Confes-
sor exemplum de visu
ab illicitis preseruan-
do, dicensqualiter Ac-
teon CadmiRegis The-
barum nepos, dum in
quadam Foresta vena-
cionis causa spaciare-
tur, accidit vt ipse
quendam fontem ne-
morosa arborum pul-
critudine circumuen-
tum superueniens, vi-
dit ibi Dianam cum
suis Nimphis nudam
in flumine balnean-
tem; quam diligen-
cius intuens oculos
suos a muliebri nudi-
tate nullatenus auer-
tere volebat. Vnde in-
dignata Diana ipsum
in cerui figuram trans-
formauit; quem canes
proprii apprehenden-
tes mortiferisdentibus
penitus dilaniarunt.

46

[TALE or ACTEON.]

Confessor.

[TArE or Mepusa. ]

Hic ponit aliud ex-
emplum de eodem,
vbi dicit quod quidam
princeps nominePhor-
ceus tres progenuit
filias, Gorgones a vul-
go nuncupatas, que
uno partu exorte de-
formitatem Monstro-
rum serpentinam ob-
tinuerunt; quibus,cum
in etatem peruenerant,
talis destinata fuerat
natura, quod quicum-
que in eas aspiceret
in lapidem subito mu-
tabatur. Et sic quam
plures incaute respi-

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And sche was wonder wroth withal,
And him, as sche which was godesse,
Forschop anon, and the liknesse 370
Sche made him taken of an Hert,
Which was tofore hise houndes stert,
That ronne besiliche aboute
With many an horn and many a route,
That maden mochel noise and cry:
And ate laste unhappely
This Hert his oghne houndes slowhe
And him for vengance al todrowhe.
Lo now, my Sone, what it is
A man to caste his yhe amis, 380
Which Acteon hath dere aboght ;
Be war forthi and do it noght.
For ofte, who that hiede toke,
Betre is to winke than to loke.
And forto proven it is so, P. i. 55
Ovide the Poete also
A tale which to this matiere
Acordeth seith, as thou schalt hiere.

In Metamor it telleth thus,
How that a lord which Phorceiis 390
Was hote, hadde dowhtres thre.
Bot upon here nativite
Such was the constellacion,
That out of mannes nacion
Fro kynde thei be so miswent,
That to the liknesse of Serpent
Thei were bore, and so that on
Of hem was cleped Stellibon,
That other soster Suriale,
The thridde, as telleth in the tale, 420
Medusa hihte, and natheles
Of comun name Gorgones
368 for anger perof swal(l) HiEXG, B for anger perfor swal YR
for anger perof schall CLB: therefore for angerschall DAr 9370 and
theJin to CL in be Bs 371 taken] in fourme Lom. Bs

374 aroute F 377 hondes FK 388 andseip RCLB: and says W
391 and hadde CLBs, W 897 bore] bope FWKH:Magd.

LIBER PRIMUS 47

In every contre ther aboute, (Tate or Mepusa.]
As Monstres whiche that men doute, cientes visis illis peri-
. erunt. et rerseus
Men clepen hem ; and bot on yhe miles clipeo Palladis
Among hem thre in pourpartie gladioque — Mercurii
. . . . munitus eas extra
Thei hadde, of which thei myhte se, montem Athlantis co-
Now hath it this, now hath it sche; habitantes animo au-
: daci absque sui peri-
After that cause and nede it ladde, culo interfecit.
Be throwes ech of hem it hadde. 410

A wonder thing yet more amis
Ther was, wherof I telle al this :
What man on hem his chiere caste
And hem behield, he was als faste
Out of a man into a Ston P. i. 56
Forschape, and thus ful manyon
Deceived were, of that thei wolde
Misloke, wher that thei ne scholde.
Bot Perseüs that worthi knyht,
Whom Pallas of hir grete myht 420
Halp, and tok him a Schield therto,
And ek the god Mercurie also
Lente him a swerd, he, as it fell,
Beyende Athlans the hihe hell
These Monstres soghte, and there he fond
Diverse men of thilke lond
Thurgh sihte of hem mistorned were,
Stondende as Stones hiere and there.
Bot he, which wisdom and prouesse
Hadde of the god and the godesse, 430
The Schield of Pallas gan enbrace,
With which he covereth sauf his face,
Mercuries Swerd and out he drowh,
And so he bar him that he slowh
These dredful Monstres alle thre.
Lo now, my Sone, avise the, Confessor.
That thou thi sihte noght misuse:
Cast noght thin yhe upon Meduse,
That thou be torned into Ston :
For so wys man was nevere non, 440

423 he, as it fell] as it befel (om. he) C asitfel L, W 425 These]
pis A 430 Hap B, W

[HzAnRING.)

(Tue PRUDENCE oF
THE SERPENT. ]

Hic narrat Confes-
sor exemplum, vt non
ab auris exaudicione
fatua animus deceptus
inuoluatur. Et dicit
qualiter ille serpens,
qui aspis vocatur,
quendam preciosissi-
mum lapidem nomine
Carbunculum in sue
frontis medio gestans,
contra verba incan-
tantis aurem vnam
terre affigendo premit,
et aliam sue caude
stimulo firmissime ob-
turat.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Bot if he wel his yhe kepe
And take of fol delit no kepe,
That he with lust nys ofte nome,
Thurgh strengthe of love and overcome.
^ Of mislokynge how it hath ferd, P.i 57
As I have told, now hast thou herd,
My goode Sone, and tak good hiede.
And overthis yet I thee rede
That thou be war of thin heringe,
Which to the Herte the tidinge 450
Of many a vanite hath broght,
To tarie with a mannes thoght.
And natheles good is to hiere
Such thing wherof a man may lere
That to vertu is acordant,
And toward al the remenant
Good is to torne his Ere fro;
For elles, bot a man do so,
Him may fulofte mysbefalle.
I rede ensample amonges alle, 460
Wherof to kepe wel an Ere
It oghte pute a man in fere.

A Serpent, which that Aspidis

Is cleped, of his kynde hath this,

That he the Ston noblest of alle,

The which that men Carbuncle calle,

Berth in his hed above on heihte.

For which whan that a man be sleyhte,

The Ston to winne and him to daunte,

With his carecte him wolde enchaunte, 470
' Anon as he perceiveth that,

He leith doun his on Ere al plat

Unto the ground, and halt it faste,

And ek that other Ere als faste

He stoppeth with his tail so sore, P. i. 58

That he the wordes lasse or more

441 welAJEsC,S, FKHs wil (wille) YXGERLB:, BA, W wol/e)
MHi, Magd. 447 andom. B. 454,458 aman FK 470 margin
aspidis B 476 margin firmissimo HiGRCLBs

LIBER PRIMUS

Of his enchantement ne hiereth ;
And in this wise himself he skiereth,
So that he hath the wordes ‘weyved

And thurgh his Ere is noght deceived. 480

An othre thing. who that recordeth,
Lich unto this ensample acordeth,
Which in the tale of Troie I finde.
Sirenes of a wonder kynde
Ben Monstres, as the bokes tellen,
And in the grete Se thei duellen:
Of body bothe and of visage
Lik unto wommen of yong age
Up fro the Navele on hih thei be,
And doun benethe, as men mai se,
Thei bere of fisshes the figure.

And overthis of such nature

Thei ben, that with so swete a stevene
Lik to the melodie of hevene

In wommanysshe vois thei singe,
With notes of so gret likinge,

Of such mesure, of such musike,
Wherof the Schipes thei beswike
That passen be the costes there.

For whan the Schipmen leie an Ere
Unto the vois, in here avys

Thei wene it be a Paradys,

Which after is to hem an helle.

For reson may noght with hem duelle,
Whan thei tho grete lustes hiere ;
Thei conne noght here Schipes stiere,
So besiliche upon the note

Thei herkne, and in such wise assote,
That thei here rihte cours and weie
Foryete, and to here Ere obeie,

And seilen til it so befalle

That thei into the peril falle,

490

P. i. 59

49

[TALE OF THE
SiRENS.]

Aliud | exemplum
super eodem, qualiter
rex Vluxes cum a
bello Troiano versus
Greciam nauigio re-
mearet, et prope illa
Monstra marina, Si-
renes nuncupata, an-
gelica voce canoras,
ipsum ventorum ad-
uersitate nauigare o-
porteret,omnium nau-
tarum suorum aures
obturari coegit. Et sic
salutari prouidencia
prefultus absque peri-
culo saluus cum sua
classe Vluxes per-
transiuit.

481 opre SB, F rest oper 488 womman À a womman
MXGCLB: 491 berep XRCLB;, B 505 tho] pe JEsHi... B»,
B, W HsMagd. so AA

x2 E

50

[TALE or THE
SIRENS. ]

Confessor. -

[THE Sins oF THE
EYE AND THE Ear. |

Amans.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Where as the Schipes be todrawe,
And thei ben with the Monstres slawe.
Bot fro this peril natheles
With his wisdom king Uluxes
Ascapeth and it overpasseth ;
For he tofor the hond compasseth
That noman of his compaignie
Hath pouer unto that folie 520
His Ere for no lust to caste ;
For he hem stoppede alle faste,
That non of hem mai hiere hem singe.
So whan they comen forth seilinge,
Ther was such governance on honde,
That thei the Monstres have withstonde
And slain of hem a gret partie.
Thus was he sauf with his navie,
This wise king, thurgh governance.
Wherof, my Sone, in remembrance 530
Thou myht ensample taken hiere,
As I have told, and what thou hiere
Be wel war, and yif no credence,
Bot if thou se more evidence.
For if thou woldest take kepe P. i. 60
And wisly cowthest warde and kepe
Thin yhe and Ere, as I have spoke,
Than haddest thou the gates stoke
Fro such Sotie as comth to winne
Thin hertes wit, which is withinne, 549
Wherof that now thi love excedeth
Mesure, and many a peine bredeth.
Bot if thou cowthest sette in reule
Tho tuo, the thre were eth to reule :
Forthi as of thi wittes five
I wole as now nomore schryve,
Bot only of these ilke tuo.
Tell me therfore if it be so,
Hast thou thin yhen oght misthrowe?
Mi fader, ye, I am beknowe, 550

522 atte (at) laste XEC, B 531 myht S might AC, B

549 yhe B

LIBER PRIMUS SI

I have hem cast upon Meduse,
Therof I may me noght excuse :
Min herte is growen into Ston,

So that my lady therupon

Hath such a priente of love grave,
That I can noght miselve save.

What seist thou, Sone, as of thin Ere? Opponit Confessor.
Mi fader, I am gultyf there ; Respondet Amans.
For whanne I may my lady hiere,
Mi wit with that hath lost his Stiere: 560

I do noght as Uluxes dede,
Bot falle anon upon the stede,
Wher as I se my lady stonde ;
And there, I do yow understonde,
I am topulled in my thoght, P. i. 61
So that of reson leveth noght,
Wherof that I me mai defende.
My goode Sone, god thamende: Confessor.
For as me thenketh be thi speche
Thi wittes ben riht feer to seche. 570
As of thin Ere and of thin yhe
I woll nomore specefie,
Bot I woll axen overthis
Of othre thing how that it is.

v. Celsior est Aquila que Leone ferocior tlle, [THE SEVEN DEADLY
Quem tumor elati cordis ad alta mouet. Sins. Prive. |
Sunt species quinque, quibus esse Superbia ductrix
Clamat, et in multis mundus adheret eis.
Laruando faciem ficto pallore subornat
Fraudibus Ypocrisis mellea verba suis.
Sicque pios animos quamsepe ruit muliebres
Ex humili verbo sub latitante dolo.

Mi Sone, as I thee schal enforme,

Ther ben yet of an other forme Hic loquitur quod

Of dedly vices sevene applied, | septem sunt peccata

. : mortalia, quorum ca-
Wherof the herte is ofte plied put Superbia varias
To thing which after schal him grieve. specieshabet,etearum
r 3 prima Ypocrisis dici-
Ihe ferste of hem thou schalt believe 580 tur, cuius propricta-

Latin Versesv. 1 Aquilaque F — 8 sub latitante J, S, F sublatitante
AC, B 580 ferste C, S ferst A, F first B

E 2

52 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

tem secundum vicium Is Pride, which is principal,
simplciter Confessor And hath with him in special
Ministres five ful diverse,
Of whiche, as I the schal reherse,

[Five Ministers er The ferste is seid Ypocrisie.
PriDe. . .
i. Hypocrisy. } If thou art of his compaignie,
Tell forth, my Sone, and schrif the clene.
Amans. I wot noght, fader, what ye mene:
Bot this I wolde you beseche, P. i. 62
That ye me be som weie teche 590

What is to ben an ypocrite ;
And thanne if I be forto wyte,
I wol beknowen, as it is.

Confessor. | Mi Sone, an ypocrite is this, —
A man which feigneth conscience,
As thogh it were al innocence,
Withoute, and is noght so withinne;
And doth so for he wolde winne
Of his desir the vein astat.
And whanne he comth anon therat, 600
He scheweth thanne what he was,
The corn is torned into gras,
That was a Rose is thanne a thorn,
And he that was a Lomb beforn
Is thanne a Wolf, and thus malice
Under the colour of justice
Is hid; and as the poeple telleth,

Ipocrisis Religiosa. These ordres witen where he duelleth,
As he that of here conseil is,
And thilke world which thei er this 610
Forsoken, he drawth in ayein:
He clotheth richesse, as men sein,
Under the simplesce of poverte,
And doth to seme of gret decerte
Thing which is litel worth withinne :
He seith in open, fy! to Sinne,
And in secre ther is no vice
582 margin primitus declaratA ... Bs, S...A 584 Lo». FKH:

593 be knowen FK 604 toforn Y, B, W 608 margin
Ipocrisis Relig. om. AM, B 610 word L, B

LIBER PRIMUS 53

Of which that he nis a Norrice: [Hypocrisy. ]
And evere his chiere is sobre and softe, P. i. 63
And where he goth he blesseth ofte, 620

Wherof the blinde world he dred e eth °

Bot yet al only he ne streccheth

His reule upon religioun,

Bot next to that condicioun

In suche as clepe hem holy cherche |
It scheweth ek how he can werche Ipocrisis ccclesiastica.
Among tho wyde furred hodes,

To geten hem the worldes goodes.

And thei hemself ben thilke same

That setten most the world in blame, 630
Bot yet in contraire of her lore

Ther is nothing thei loven more ;

So that semende of liht thei werke

The dedes whiche are inward derke.

And thus this double Ypocrisie

With his devolte appdrantie

A viser set upon his face,

Wherof toward this worldes grace

He semeth to be riht wel thewed,

And yit his herte is al beschrewed. 640
Bot natheles he stant believed,

And hath his pourpos ofte achieved

Of worschipe and of worldes welthe,

And takth it, as who seith, be stelthe

Thurgh coverture of his fallas.

And riht so in semblable cas

'This vice hath ek his officers

Among these othre seculers Ipocrisis secularis.
Of grete men, for of the smale P. i. 64
As for tacompte he set no tale, 650

Bot thei that passen the comune
With suche him liketh to comune,
And where he seith he wol socoure
The poeple, there he woll devoure ;
For now aday is manyon

626 gan AM schal R margin Ipocr. eccles. om. A 627 pe
JE3Hi...B3, B, W 630 That] pay (pai) X...Bs3 B

54

[Hypocrtsy. ]

[Hypocrisy oF
Lovers. |

Hic tractat Confes-
sor cum Amante su-
per illa presertim Ipo-
crisia, que sub amoris
facie fraudulenter la-
titando mulieres ipsius
ficticiis credulas se-
pissime decipit inno-
centes.

656 and of] and AM and seynt Hi
— innocentes om. A,

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Which spekth of Peter and of John -

And thenketh Judas in his herte.
Ther schal no worldes good asterte
His hond, and yit he yifth almesse
And fasteth ofte and hiereth Messe:
With mea culpa, which he seith,
Upon his brest fullofte he leith
His hond, and cast upward his yhe,
As thogh he Cristes face syhe ;
So that it seemeth ate syhte,
As he al one alle othre myhte
Rescoue with his holy bede.
Bot yet his herte in other stede
Among hise bedes most devoute
Goth in the worldes cause aboute,
How that he myhte his warisoun
Encresce.

And in comparisoun
Ther ben lovers of such a sort,
That feignen hem an humble port,
And al is bot Ypocrisie,
Which with deceipte and flaterie
Hath many a worthi wif beguiled.
For whanne he hath his tunge, affiled,
With softe speche and with lesihges
Forth with his fals pitous lokynge,
He wolde make a womman wene
To gon upon the faire grene,
Whan that sche falleth in the Mir.
For if he may have his desir,
How so falle of the remenant,
He halt no word of covenant;
Bot er the time that he spede,
Ther is no sleihte at thilke nede,
Which eny loves faitour mai,
That he ne put it in assai,
As him belongeth forto done.
The colour of the reyni Mone

660

P. i. 65
650

699

674 margin Hic tractat

LIBER PRIMUS

With medicine upon his face

He set, and thanne he axeth grace,
As he which hath sieknesse feigned.
Whan his visage is so desteigned,
With yhe upcast on hire he siketh,
And many a contenance he piketh,
To bringen hire in to believe

Of thing which that he wolde achieve, 700
Wherof he berth the pale hewe ;
And for he wolde seme trewe,

He makth him siek, whan he is heil.
Bot whanne he berth lowest the Seil,
Thanne is he swiftest to beguile

The womman, which that ilke while
Set upon him feith or credence.

Mi S e, if thou thi conscience

UN e . .
Entamed hast in such a wise, P. i. 66
In schrifte thou thee myht avise 710

And telle it me, if it be so.
Min holy fader, certes no.
As forto feigne such sieknesse
It nedeth noght, for this witnesse
I take of god, that my corage
Hath ben mor siek than my visage.
And ek this mai I wel avowe,
So lowe cowthe I nevere bowe
To feigne humilite withoute,
That me ne leste betre loute "10
With alle the thoghtes of myn herte;
For that thing schal me nevere asterte,
I speke as to my lady diere,
To make hire eny feigned chiere.
God wot wel there I lye noght,
Mi chiere hath be such as my thoght ;
For in good feith, this lieveth wel,
Mi will was betre a thousendel
Than eny chiere that I cowthe.
Bot, Sire, if I have in my yowthe 730
Don other wise in other place,
704 berep (berp) lowest seil AH1... Bs, B, Magd. 123 tomy F

55

[Hypocrisy or
Lovers.)

Opponit Confessor.

Respondet Amans.

56 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

{Hypocrisy or I put me therof in your grace:
Lovers. | For this excusen I ne schal,
That I have elles overal
To love and to his compaignie
Be plein withoute Ypocrisie ;
Bot ther is on the which I serve,
Althogh I may no thonk deserve,
To whom yet nevere into this day P. i. 67
I seide onlyche or ye or nay, 740
Bot if it so were in my thoght.
As touchende othre seie I noght
That I nam somdel forto wyte
Of that ye clepe an ypocrite.
Confessor. Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht

To kepe his word in trowthe upryht
Towardes love in alle wise.
For who that wolde him wel avise
What hath befalle in this matiere,
He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750
Deceive Love in no degre.
To love is every herte fre,
Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest
And therupon thi lust atteignest,
That thow hast wonne with thi wyle,
Thogh it thee like for a whyle,
Thou schalt it afterward repente.
And forto prove myn entente,
I finde ensample in a Croniqe

Of hem that love so beswike. "60

[Tate or Munpus It fell be olde daies thus,

AND PAULINA.] Whil themperour Tiberius
_ Quod Ipocrisia sit The Monarchie of Rome ladde,
narrat exemplum gue. Ther was a worthi Romein hadde
iter sub regno Tiberii A wif, and sche Pauline hihte,
miles nomine Mundus, Which was to every mannes sihte
qui. Romanorum Qux Of al the Cite the faireste,

t

dominam Phuliran, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

732 put A, SB,F putte C 756 the hit like W it be like HiL
it be liking C

LIBER PRIMUS

It is and hath ben evere yit,

That so strong is no mannes wit,

Which thurgh beaute ne mai be drawe

'To love, and stonde under the lawe

Of thilke bore frele kinde,

Which makth the hertes yhen blinde,

Wher no reson mai be comuned :

And in this wise stod fortuned

This tale, of which I wolde mene;

This wif, which in hire lustes grene

Was fair and freissh and tendre of age,

Sche may noght lette the corage

Of him that wole on hire assote.
There was a Duck, and he was hote

Mundus, which hadde in his baillie

To lede the chivalerie

Of Rome, and was a worthi knyht ;

Bot yet he was noght of such myht

The strengthe of love to withstonde,

That he ne was so broght tp honde,

That malgre wher he wole or no,

This yonge wif he loveth so,

That he hath put al his assay

To wynne thing which he ne may

Gete of hire graunt in no manere,

Be yifte of gold ne be preiere.

And whanne he syh that be no mede

Toward hir love he myhte spede,

Be sleyhte feigned thanne he wroghte ;

And therupon he him bethoghte

How that ther was in the Cite

A temple of such auctorite,

To which with gret Devocioun

The noble wommen of the toun

Most comunliche a pelrinage

Gon forto preie thilke ymage

Which the godesse of childinge is,

P. i. 68

719

799

P. i. 69

800

57

(Tare or Munpus
AND PAULINA. }

pulcherrimam castita-
tisque famosissimam
mediantibus duobus
falsis presbiteris in
templo Ysis deum se
esse fingens sub ficte
sanctitatis ypocrisi
nocturno tempore vi-
ciauit. Vndeidemdux
in exilium, presbiteri
in mortem ob sui cri-
minis — enormitatem
dampnati extiterant,
ymagoque dee Ysis a
templo euulsa vniuer-
soconclamante populo
in flumen Tiberiadis
proiecta mergebatur.

domini se esse fingentcs A
stant HiGE 78a Duck

113 margin domini se esse fingens ME:
775 Ther(e) AM 416 stonde RCLBs
A, F Duk (duk)SB Duke C

58

(Tare or Munpus
AND PAULINA.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And cleped was be name Ysis :
And in hire temple thanne were,
To reule and to ministre there
After the lawe which was tho,
Above alle othre Prestes tuo. 810
This Duck, which thoghte his love gete,
Upon a day hem tuo to mete
Hath bede, and thei come at his heste ;
Wher that thei hadde a riche feste,
And after mete in prive place
This lord, which wolde his thonk pourchace,
To ech of hem yaf thanne a yifte,
And spak so that be weie of schrifte
He drowh hem unto his covine,
To helpe and schape how he Pauline S20
After his lust deceive myhte.
And thei here trowthes bothe plyhte,
That thei be nyhte hire scholden wynne
Into the temple, and he therinne
Schal have of hire al his entente:
And thus acorded forth thei wente.
Now lest thurgh which ypocrisie
Ordeigned was the tricherie,
Wherof this ladi was deceived. P. i. 70
These Prestes hadden wel conceived 830
That sche was of gret holinesse ;
And with a contrefet simplesse,
Which hid was in a fals corage,
Feignende an hevenely message
Thei come and seide unto hir thus:
‘Pauline, the god Anubus
Hath sent ous bothe Prestes hiere,
And seith he woll to thee appiere
Be nyhtes time himself alone,
For love he hath to thi persone: S40
And therupon he hath ous bede,
That we in Ysis temple a stéde ”

820 he} the B, W that Hi 834 fleigncd AMHiXLBs, W

(ffeignet)
present B

pey feigned C 837 seyt vs B p.m. Prestes!

LIBER PRIMUS 59

Honestely for thee pourveie, [Tare or Munous
Wher thou bé nyhte, as we thee seie, AND PAULINA.]
Of him schalt take avisioun.
For upon thi condicioun, .
The which is chaste and ful of feith,
Such pris, as he ous tolde, he leith,
That he wol stonde of thin acord ;
And forto bere hierof record 850
He sende ous hider bothe tuo.’
Glad was hire innocence tho
Of suche wordes as sche herde,
With humble chiere and thus answerde,
And seide that the goddes wille
Sche was al redy to fulfille,
That be hire housebondes leve
Sche wolde in Ysis temple at eve
Upon hire goddes grace abide, P. i. 71
To serven him the nyhtes tide. 860
The Prestes tho gon hom ayein,
And sche goth to hire sovereign,
Of goddes wille and as it was
Sche tolde him al the pleine cas,
Wherof he was deceived eke,
And bad that sche hire scholde meke
Al hol unto the goddes heste.
And thus sche, which was al honeste
To godward after hire entente,
At nyht unto the temple wente, STO
Wher that the false Prestes were ;
And thei receiven hire there
With such a tokne of holinesse,
As thogh thei syhen a godesse,
And al withinne in prive place
A softe bedd of large space
Thei hadde mad and encourtined,
Wher sche was afterward engined.
Bot sche, which al honour supposeth,
The false Prestes thanne opposeth, 880
And axeth be what observance
876 lofte Hi... Ba

60

| Tare or Munpus
AND PAULINA. ]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Sche myhte most to the plesance

Of godd that nyhtes reule kepe:

And thei hire bidden forto slepe
Liggende upon the bedd alofte,

For so, thei seide, al stille and softe
God Anubus hire wolde awake.

The conseil in this wise take,

The Prestes fro this lady gon;

And sche, that wiste of guile non,

In the manere as it was seid

To slepe upon the bedd is leid,

In hope that sche scholde achieve
Thing which stod thanne upon bilieve,
Fulfild of alle holinesse.

Bot sche hath failed, as I gesse,

For in a closet faste by

The Duck was hid so prively

That sche him myhte noght perceive ;
And he, that thoghte to deceive,

Hath such arrai upon him nome,
That whanne he wolde unto hir come,
It scholde semen at hire yhe

As thogh sche verrailiche syhe

God Anubus, and in such wise

This ypocrite of his queintise
Awaiteth evere til sche slepte.

And thanne out of his place he crepte
So stille that sche nothing herde,

And to the bedd stalkende he ferde,
And sodeinly, er sche it wiste,

Beclipt in armes he hire kiste:
Wherof in wommanysshe drede

She wok and nyste what to rede;

Bot he with softe wordes milde
Conforteth hire and seith, with childe
He wolde hire make in such a kynde
That al the world schal have in mynde
The worschipe of that ilke Sone;

884 biddep B 886 al om. B 893 wolde AM

pat B

903 to H1... L. vato Bs

P. i. 72
890

900

910

P. i. 73
896 hath]

LIBER PRIMUS 61

For he schal with the goddes wone, 920 [TALE or MuNpus
And ben himself a godd also. AND Pautina. ]
With suche wordes and with mo,
The whiche he feigneth in his speche,
This lady wit was al to seche,
As sche which alle trowthe weneth :
Bot he, that alle untrowthe meneth,
With blinde tales so hire ladde,
That all his wille of hire he hadde.
And whan him thoghte it was ynowh,
Ayein the day he him withdrowh 930
So prively that sche ne wiste
Wher he becom, bot as him liste
Out of the temple he goth his weie.
And sche began to bidde and preie
Upon the bare ground knelende,
And after that made hire offrende,
And to the Prestes yiftes grete
Sche yaf, and homward be the Strete.
The Duck hire mette and seide thus :
‘The myhti godd which Anubus 940
Is hote, he save the, Pauline,
For thou art of his discipline
So holy, that no mannes myht
Mai do that he hath do to nyht
Of thing which thou hast evere eschuied.
Bot I his grace have so poursuied,
That I was mad his lieutenant :
Forthi be weie of covenant
Fro this day forth I am al thin, P. i. 74
And if thee like to be myn, 950
That stant upon thin oghne wille.’

Sche herde his tale and bar it stille,
And hom sche wente, as it befell,
Into hir chambre, and ther sche fell
Upon hire bedd to wepe and crie,
And seide : * O derke ypocrisie,
Thurgh whos dissimilacion
Of fals ymaginacion

924 al to] for to À

Id

62 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Tare or Munpus I am thus wickedly deceived !
AND Pautina.] Bot that I have it aperceived 960
I thonke unto the goddes alle ;
For thogh it ones be befalle,
It schal nevere eft whil that I live,
And thilke avou to godd I yive.’
And thus wepende sche compleigneth,
Hire faire face and al desteigneth
With wofull teres of hire ye,
So that upon this agonie
Hire housebonde is inne come,
And syh how sche was overcome 970
With sorwe, and axeth what hire eileth.
And sche with that hirself beweileth
Welmore than sche dede afore,
And seide, ‘Helas, wifhode is lore
In me, which whilom was honeste,
I am non other than a beste,
Now I defouled am of tuo.’
And as sche myhte speke tho,
Aschamed with a pitous onde '' P. i. 75
Sche tolde unto hir housebonde yo
The sothe of al the hole tale,
And in hire speche ded and pale
Sche swouneth welnyh to the laste.
And he hire in hise armes faste
Uphield, and ofte swor his oth
That he with hire is nothing wroth,
For wel he wot sche may ther noght :
Bot natheles withinne his thoght
His herte stod in sori plit,
And seide he wolde of that despit 990
Be venged, how so evere it falle,
And sende unto hise frendes alle.
And whan thei weren come in fere,
He tolde hem upon this matiere,
And axeth hem what was to done:
And thei avised were sone,
And seide it thoghte hem for the beste
975 me om. B

LIBER PRIMUS 63

To sette ferst his wif in reste, [Tate or Munpus
And after pleigne to the king AND Pautina.]
Upon the matiere of this thing. 1000
Tho was this wofull wif conforted
Be alle weies and desported,
Til that sche was somdiel amended ;
And thus a day or tuo despended,
The thridde day sche goth to pleigne
With many a worthi Citezeine,
And he with many a Citezein.
Whan themperour it herde sein,
And knew the falshed of the vice, P. i. 76
He seide he wolde do justice: 1010
And ferst he let the Prestes take,
And for thei scholde it noght forsake,
He put hem into questioun ;
Bot thei of the suggestioun
Ne couthen noght a word refuse,
Bot for thei wolde hemself excuse,
The blame upon the Duck thei leide.
Bot therayein the conseil seide
That thei be noght excused so,
For he is on and thei ben tuo, 1020
And tuo han more wit then on,
So thilke excusement was non.
And over that was seid hem eke,
That whan men wolden vertu seke,
Men scholde it in the Prestes finde;
Here ordre is of sol hyh a kinde,
That thei be Duisires of the weie :
Forthi, if eny man forsueie
Thurgh hem, thei be noght excusable.
And thus be lawe resonable 1030
Among the wise jugges there
The Prestes bothe dampned were,
So that the prive tricherie
Hid under fals Ipocrisie
Was thanne al openliche schewed,

1013 put SB, F putte AC IoIS a] o C, B 1023 seid
A,S seydB seide F 1027 diustres A

64

[TaLe or Muxpus
AND PAULINA. ]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

That many a man hem hath beschrewed.
And whan the Prestes weren dede,
The temple of thilke horrible dede
Thei thoghten purge, and thilke ymage, P. i. 77
Whos cause was the pelrinage, 1040
Thei drowen out and als so faste
Fer into Tibre thei it caste,
Wher the Rivere it hath defied :
And thus the temple purified
Thei have of thilke horrible Sinne,
Which was that time do therinne, us
Of this point such was the juis/ ^
Bot of the Duck was othe wise :
For he with love was bestad,
His dom was noght so harde lad ; 1050
For Love put reson aweie
And can noght se the righte weie.
And be this cause he was respited,
So that the deth him was acquited,
Bot for al that he was exiled,
For he his love hath so beguiled,
That he schal nevere come ayein:
For who that is to trowthe unplein,
He may noght failen of vengance.
And ek to take remembrance 1060
Of that Ypocrisie hath wroght
On other half, men scholde noght
To lihtly lieve al that thei hiere,
Bot thanne scholde a wisman stiere
The Schip, whan suche wyndes blowe :
For ferst thogh thei beginne lowe,
At ende thei be noght menable,
Bot al tobreken Mast and Cable,
So that the Schip with sodein blast, P. i. 78
Whan men lest wene, is overcast ; 1070

1036 hap hem AMEsHiL, W (has hem) be schrewed FK
1059 veniance XRCLBs 1067 menable AJYXG, SAdA,F meuable
(moeuable) ELBs, B, WHs doubtfu! MHiRC, Magd. 1068 al
tobroken (al to broke &c.) AMERCBs, Ad, FHsMagd. alto
brosten EL

1079 it] hem H1... ECLB4 B heR
et virum Jinter virum ME... Bs inter viros XG

om. AM

LIBER PRIMUS

As now fulofte a man mai se:
And of old time how it hath be
I finde a gret experience,
Wherof to take an evidence
Good is, and to be war also

Of the peril, er him be wo.

Of hem that ben so derk withinne,
At Troie also if we beginne,
Ipocrisie it hath betraied :
For whan the Greks hadde al assaied,
And founde that be no bataille
Ne be no Siege it myhte availe
The toun to winne thurgh prouesse,
This vice feigned of simplesce
Thurgh sleyhte of Calcas and of Crise
It wan be such a maner wise.
An Hors of Bras thei let do forge
Of such entaile, of such a forge,
That in this world was nevere man
That such an other werk began.
The crafti werkman Epius
It made, and forto telle thus,
The Greks, that thoghten to beguile
The kyng of Troie, in thilke while
With Anthenor and with Enee,
That were bothe of the Cite
And of the conseil the wiseste,
The richeste and the myhtieste,
In prive place so thei trete
With fair beheste and yiftes grete
Of gold, that thei hem have engined ;
Togedre and whan thei be covined,
Thei feignen forto make a pes,
And under that yit natheles
Thei schopen the destruccioun
Bothe of the kyng and of the toun.

1093 margin in templo om. Hi... Ba

deuastarunt] demonstrarunt A

.

F

1080

1090

P. i. 79

ITOO

1083 margin inter virum
1090 »nargin hoc
1099 margin

65

[Tue Trojan Horse. }

Hic vlterius ponit
exemplum de illa
eciam Ypocrisia, que
inter virum et virum
decipiens periculosis-
sima consistit, Et
narrat, qualiter Greci
in obsidione ciuitatis
Troie, cum ipsam vi
comprehendere nulla-
tenus potuerunt, fal-
laci animo cum Troi-
anis pacem vt dicunt
pro perpetuo statue-
bant: et super hoc
quendam ecuum mire
grossitudinis de ere
fabricatum ad sacrifi-
candum in templo Mi-
nerue confingentes,
sub tali sanctitatis
ypocrisi dictam Ciui-
tatem intrarunt, et
ipsam cum inhabi-
tantibus gladio et
igne comminuentes
pro perpetuo penitus
deuastarunt.

66

[TH Trojan Horse. |

1115 stood in a cord B
1125 jiuen A

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And thus the false pees was take
Of hem of Grece and undertake,
And therupon thei founde a weie,
Wher strengthe myhte noght aweie,
That sleihte scholde helpe thanne;
And of an ynche a large spanne
Be colour of the pees thei made,
And tolden how thei weren glade
Of that thei stoden in acord ;
And for it schal ben of record,
Unto the kyng the Gregois seiden,
Be weie of love and this thei preiden,
As thei that wolde his thonk deserve,
A Sacrifice unto Minerve,
The pes to kepe in good entente,
Thei mosten offre er that thei wente.
The kyng conseiled in this cas
Be Anthenor and Eneas
Therto hath yoven his assent:
So was the pleine trowthe blent
Thurgh contrefet Ipocrisie
Of that thei scholden sacrifie.

The Greks under the holinesse
Anon with alle besinesse
Here Hors of Bras let faire dihte,
Which was to sen a wonder sihte ;
For it was trapped of himselve,
And hadde of smale whieles twelve,
Upon the whiche men ynowe
With craft toward the toun it drowe,
And goth glistrende ayein the Sunne.
Tho was ther joie ynowh begunne,
For Troie in gret devocioun
Cam also with processioun
Ayein this noble Sacrifise
With gret honour, and in this wise
Unto the gates thei it broghte.
Bot of here entre whan thei soghte,

1110

1120

P. i. 80

1130

1140

1118 pus M... R, BAd, WHsMagd.

LIBER PRIMUS 67

The gates weren al to smale; [THE TROJAN Horse]
And therupon was many a tale,
Bot for the worschipe of Minerve,
To whom thei comen forto serve,
Thei of the toun, whiche understode
That al this thing was do for goode, 1150
For pes, wherof that thei ben glade,
The gates that Neptunus made
A thousend wynter ther tofore,
Thei have anon tobroke and tore;
The stronge walles doun thei bete,
So that in to the large strete
This Hors with gret solempnite
Was broght withinne the Cite,
And offred with gret reverence, P. i. 81
Which was to Troie an evidence 1160
Of love and pes for everemo.
The Gregois token leve tho
With al the hole felaschipe,
And forth thei wenten into Schipe
And crossen seil and made hem yare,
Anon as thogh thei wolden fare:
Bot whan the blake wynter nyht
Withoute Mone or Sterre lyht
Bederked hath the water Stronde,
Al prively thei gon to londe 1170
Ful armed out of the navie.
Synon, which mad was here aspie
Withinne Troie, as was conspired,
Whan time was a tokne hath fired ;
And thei with that here weie holden,
And comen in riht as thei wolden,
Ther as the gate was tobroke.
The pourpos was full take and spoke:
Er eny man may take kepe,
Whil that the Cite was aslepe, 1180
Thei slowen al that was withinne,
1145 tosmale F 1162 token]toke(n)her(e) CLBs 1165 trossen

ECL trussen H1R tuossenBa 1172 Symon HiCLBs, FWH:Magd.
mad om. AM

F2

68

[Tug Trojan Honsx.]

( Hypocrisy iN Love. ]

Confessor.

1197 the wordes that] pe which B

om. A

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And token what thei myhten wynne

Of such good as was sufficant,

And brenden up the remenant.

And thus cam out the tricherie,

Which under fals Ypocrisie

Was hid, and thei that wende pees

Tho myhten finde no reles

Of thilke swerd which al devoureth.
Fulofte and thus the swete soureth,

Whan it is knowe to the tast:

He spilleth many a word in wast

That schal with such a poeple trete ;

For whan he weneth most beyete,

Thanne is he schape most to lese.

And riht so if a womman chese

Upon the wordes that sche hiereth

' P.i. 82

1190

Som man, whan he most trewe appiereth,

Thanne is he forthest fro the trowthe
Bot yit fulofte, and that is rowthe,
Thei speden that ben most untrewe
And loven every day a newe,
Wherof the lief is after loth
And love hath cause to be wroth.
Bot what man that his lust desireth
Of love, and therupon conspireth
With wordes feigned to deceive,
He schal noght faile to receive
His peine, as it is ofte sene.

Forthi, my Sone, as I thee mene,
It sit the wel to taken hiede
That thou eschuie of thi manhiede
Ipocrisie and his semblant,
That thou ne be noght deceivant,
To make a womman to believe
Thing which is noght in thi bilieve:
For in such feint Ipocrisie
Of love is al the tricherie,
Thurgh which love is deceived ofte ;

1216 thi] fe XR, B

1200

1210

P. i. 83

I210 margin Confessor

LIBER PRIMUS 69

For feigned semblant is so softe, 1220 [ Hypocrisy iN Lovz.]

Unethes love may be war.

Forthi, my Sone, as I wel dar,

I charge thee to fle that vice,

That many a womman hath mad nice;

Bot lok thou dele noght withal.
Iwiss, fader, nomor I schal. Amans.
Now, Sone, kep that thou hast swore: Confessor.

For this that thou hast herd before

Is seid the ferste point of Pride:

And next upon that other side, 1230

To schryve and speken overthis

- Touchende of Pride, yit ther is

The point seconde, I thee behote,

Which Inobedience is hote.

vi. Flectere quam frangi melius reputatur, et olle (ii. INOBBDIENCE.)

Fictilis ad cacabum pugna valere nequit.

Quem neque lex hominum, neque lex diuina valebit
Flectere, multociens corde reffectit amor.

Quem non flectit amor, non est flectendus ab vilo,
Set rigor illius plus Elephante riget.

Dedignatur amor poterit quos scire rebelles,
Et rudibus sortem prestat habere rudem;

Set qui sponte sui subicit se cordis amore,
Frangit in aduersis omnia fata fius. (10)

This vice of Inobedience
Ayein the reule of conscience
Al that is humble he desalloweth,
That he toward his god ne boweth
After the lawes of his heste.

Noght as a man bot as a beste, 1240 cunda specie Superbie,
. . . . c
Which goth upon his lustes wilde, P. i. 84 que Inobediencia dici
So goth this proude vice unmylde, tur: et primo illius

. vient naturam SIMDII-

That he desdeigneth alle lawe: citer declarat, et trac.
He not what is to be felawe, tat consequenter Su:
. per lla precipue Ino-

And serve may he noght for pride; bediencia, que in curia
So is he badde on every side, Cupidinis exosa amo-
. ris causam cx sua im-

And is that selve of whom men speke, becillitate sepissime
Which wol noght bowe er that he breke. retardat. In cuius

Latin Verses vi. 4 reflectat H1... CBs ne flectat L

79

materia Confessor A-
manti specialiusoppo-
nit,

Confessor.

Amans.

Opponit Confessor.
Respondet Amans.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

I not if love him myhte plie,
For elles forto justefie
His herte, I not what mihte availe.
Forthi, my Sone, of such entaile
If that thin herte be disposed,
Tell out and let it noght be glosed:
For if that thou unbuxom be
To love, I not in what degree
Thou schalt thi goode world achieve.
Mi fader, ye schul wel believe,
The yonge whelp which is affaited
Hath noght his Maister betre awaited,
To couche, whan he seith ‘Go lowe,’
That I, anon as I may knowe
Mi ladi will, ne bowe more.
Bot other while I grucche sore
Of some thinges that sche doth,
Wherof that I woll telle soth:
For of tuo pointz I am bethoght,
That, thogh I wolde, I myhte noght
Obeie unto my ladi heste ;
Bot I dar make this beheste,
Save only of that ilke tuo
I am unbuxom of no mo.
What ben tho tuo? tell on, quod he.
Mi fader, this is on, that sche
Commandeth me my mowth to close,
And that I scholde hir noght oppose
In love, of which I ofte preche,
Bot plenerliche of such a speche
Forbere, and soffren hire in pes.
Bot that ne myhte I natheles
For al this world obeie ywiss ;
For whanne I am ther as sche is,
Though sche my tales noght alowe,
Ayein hir will yit mot I bowe,
To seche if that I myhte have grace:

1252 margin Confessor om. S, F 1257 schat F
.. Bs, BA (l. 1263 om. Ad)
Resp. Am. om. A 1280 myhte À myht S, F

1230

1260

1270

P. i. 85

1280

1263 nc]

1273 f. margin Opp. Conf.

LIBER PRIMUS 71

Bot that thing may I noght enbrace (ii. INoBEDIENCE.])
For ought that I can speke or do;
And yit fulofte I speke so,
That sche is wroth and seith, ‘Be stille.’
If I that heste schal fulfille 1290
And therto ben obedient,
Thanne is my cause fully schent,
For specheles may noman spede.
So wot I noght what is to rede ;
Bot certes I may noght obeie,
That I ne mot algate seie
Somwhat of that I wolde mene ;
For evere it is aliche grene,
The grete love which I have,
Wherof I can noght bothe save 1300
My speche and this obedience: P. i. 86
And thus fulofte my silence
I breke, and is the ferste point
Wherof that I am out of point
In this, and yit it is no pride.
Now thanne upon that other side
To telle my desobeissance,
Ful sore it stant to my grevance
And may noght sinke into my wit ;
For ofte time sche me bit 1310
To leven hire and chese a newe,
And seith, if I the sothe knewe
How ferr I stonde from hir grace,
I scholde love in other place.
Bot therof woll I desobeie ;
For also wel sche myhte seie,
‘Go tak the Mone ther it sit,’
As bringe that into my wit:
For ther was nevere rooted tre,
That stod so faste in his degre, 1320
That I ne stonde more faste
Upon hire love, and mai noght caste
1286 pourchace A 1303 is] pis AMEs, pis is A, W 1304 point]
ioint GCLBs, W 1310 For ofte] fful ofte (ffulofte) Hi... Bz, B
1314 other] anoper (an oper) HiXRLBs, BA

7?

[ii. INoBEDIENCE.]

[MuRAaUR AND
CoMPLAINT.)

Hic loquitur de
Murmure et Planctu,
qui super omnes alios
]nobediencie secre-
ciores vt ministri illi

deseruiunt.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Min herte awey, althogh I wolde.

For god wot, thogh I nevere scholde

Sen hir with yhe after this day,

Yit stant it so that I ne may

Hir love out of my brest remue.

This is a wonder retenue,

That malgre wher sche wole or non

Min herte is everemore in on, 1330
So that I can non other chese, P. i. 87
Bot whether that I winne or lese,

I moste hire loven til I deie;

And thus I breke as be that weie

Hire hestes and hir comandinges,

Bot trewliche in non othre thinges.

Forthi, my fader, what is more

Touchende to this ilke lore

I you beseche, after the forme

That ye pleinly me wolde enforme, 1340
So that I may myn herte reule

In loves cause after the reule.

vii. Murmur in aduersis ita concifit tlle superbus,
Pena quod ex bina sorte perurget eum.
Obuia fortune cum spes in amore resistit,
Non sine mentali murmure plangit amans.

Toward this vice of which we trete
Ther ben yit tweie of thilke estrete,
Here name is Murmur and Compleignte :
Ther can noman here chiere peinte,

To sette a glad semblant therinne,

For thogh fortune make hem wynne,

Yit grucchen thei, and if thei lese,

Ther is no weie forto chese, 1350
Wherof thei myhten stonde appesed.

So ben thei comunly desesed ;

Ther may no welthe ne poverte

Attempren hem to the decerte

1336 treweliche in opre A 1338 Touchend vnto H1... Bs, B

Touchende of (Touchand of) SA

Latin Verses vii. 4 munere B

1345 compleingte F

1347 margin deseruiunt A, SB deseruiant FK

LIBER PRIMUS | 73

Of buxomnesse be no wise: [MuRMUR AxD
For ofte time thei despise CoMPLAINT.]
The goode fortune as the badde, P. i. 88
As thei no mannes reson hadde,
Thurgh pride, wherof thei be blinde.

And ryht of such a maner kinde 1 360
Ther be lovers, that thogh thei have
Of love al that thei wolde crave,
Yit wol thei grucche be som weie,
That thei wol noght to love obeie
Upon the trowthe, as thei do scholde ;
And if hem lacketh that thei wolde,
Anon thei falle in such a peine,
That evere unbuxomly thei pleigne
Upon fortune, and curse and crie,
That thei wol noght here hertes plie 1370
To soffre til it betre falle.
Forthi if thou amonges alle
Hast used this condicioun,
Mi Sone, in thi Confessioun
Now tell me pleinly what thou art.

Mi fader, I beknowe a part, Amans.
So as ye tolden hier above
Of Murmur and Compleignte of love,
That for I se no sped comende,
Ayein fortune compleignende 1380
I am, as who seith, everemo:
And ek fulofte tyme also,
Whan so is that I se and hiere
Or hevy word or hevy chiere
Of my lady, I grucche anon;
Bot wordes dar I speke non,

Wherof sche myhte be desplesed, P.i. 89

Bot in myn herte I am desesed: .
With many a Murmur, god it wot,

Thus drinke I in myn oghne swot, 1399

And thogh I make no semblant,
Min herte is al desobeissant ;

1376 margin Amans om. A 1378 Compleingte F 1384 Of
. of YXE...L, B Of...or GB: ... and (om. Or) Hi

74

[Murmur AND
ComPLainr. ]

Confessor.

[Tate or FLORENT.]|

Hic contra amori
inobedientes ad com-
mendacionem Obedi-
encie Confessor super
eodem exemplum po-
nit; vbi dicit quod,
cum quedam Regis Ci-
ziffe filia in sue iuuen-
tutis floribus pulcher-
rima ex eius Nouerce
incantacionibus in ve-
tulam turpissimam
transformata extitit,
Florencius tunc Im-
paratoris Claudi Ne-
pos, miles in armis
strenuissimus amoro-
sisque legibus inten-
dens, ipsam ex sua
obediencia in pulcri-
tudinem pristinam mi-
rabiliter reformauit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And in this wise I me confesse

Of that ye clepe unbuxomnesse.

Now telleth what youre conseil is.
Mi Sone, and I thee rede this,

What so befalle of other weie,

That thou to loves heste obeie

Als ferr as thou it myht suffise :

For ofte sithe in such a wise 1400

"Obedience in love availeth,

Wher al a mannes strengthe faileth ;

Wherof, if that the list to wite

In a Cronique as it is write,

A gret ensample thou myht fynde,

Which now is come to my mynde.

Ther was whilom be daies olde
A worthi knyht, and as men tolde
He was Nevoeu to themperour
And of his Court a Courteour: 1410
Wifles he was, Florent he hihte,
He was a man that mochel myhte,
Of armes he was desirous,
Chivalerous and amorous,
And for the fame of worldes speche,
Strange aventures forto seche,
He rod the Marches al aboute. P. i. go
And fell a time, as he was oute,
Fortune, which may every thred
Tobreke and knette of mannes sped, 1420
Schop, as this knyht rod in a pas,
That he be strengthe take was,
And to a Castell thei him ladde,
Wher that he fewe frendes hadde:
For so it fell that ilke stounde

1396 andj as B 1396 margin Confessor om. A 1403-6 These
Sour lines in third recension only: the others have two, given thus in A,
And in ensample of pis matiere
A tale I fynde, as pou schalt hiere.
Below this in A, Exemplum super eodem.
1408 knyht or. A 1416 for to] wold he B 1417 margin
amoris que A... Bs, A 1420 margin transformauit A

LIBER PRIMUS 15

That he hath with a dedly wounde [TALE or FLORENT.]
M NN his oghne hondes slain
Branchus, which to the Capitain
Was Sone and Heir, wherof ben wrothe
The fader and the moder bothe. 1430
That knyht Branchus was of his hond
The worthieste of al his lond,
And fain thei wolden do vengance
Upon Florent, bot remembrance
That thei toke of his worthinesse
Of knyhthod and of gentilesse,
And how he stod of cousinage
To themperour, made hem assuage,
And dorsten noght slen him for fere:
In gret desputeisoun thei were 1440
Among hemself, what was the beste.
Ther was a lady, the slyheste
Of alle that men knewe tho,
So old sche myhte unethes go,
And was grantdame unto the dede:
And sche with that began to rede,
And seide how sche wol bringe him inne, P. i. 91
That sche schal him to dethe winne
Al only of his oghne grant,
Thurgh strengthe of verray covenant 1450
Withoute blame of eny wiht.
Anon sche sende for this kniht,
And of hire Sone sche alleide
The deth, and thus to him sche seide:
‘Florent, how so thou be to wyte
Of Branchus deth, men schal respite
As now to take vengement,
Be so thou stonde in juggement
Upon certein condicioun,
That thou unto a questioun 1460
Which I schal axe schalt ansuere ;
And over this thou schalt ek swere,
That if thou of the sothe faile,
Ther schal non other thing availe,
1440 despitesoun A 1464 line om. B

76

[TALE or FLORENT.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

That thou ne schalt thi deth receive.
And for men schal thee noght deceive,
That thou therof myht ben avised,
Thou schalt have day and tyme assised
And leve saufly forto wende,
Be so that at thi daies ende 1470
Thou come ayein with thin avys.
This knyht, which worthi was and wys,
This lady preith that he may wite,
And have it under Seales write,
What questioun it scholde be
For which he schal in that degree
Stonde of his lif in jeupartie. P. i. 92
With that sche feigneth compaignie,
And seith: ‘Florent, on love it hongeth
Al that to myn axinge longeth: 1480
What alle wommen most desire
This wole I axe, and in thempire
Wher as thou hast most knowlechinge
Tak conseil upon this axinge.’
Florent this thing hath undertake,
The day was set, the time take,
Under his seal he wrot his oth,
In such a wise and forth he goth
Hom to his Emes court ayein ;
To whom his aventure plein 1490
He tolde, of that him is befalle.
And upon that thei weren alle
The wiseste of the lond asent,
Bot natheles of on assent
Thei myhte noght acorde plat,
On seide this, an othre that.
After the disposicioun
Of naturel complexioun
To som womman it is plesance,
That to an other is grevance; 1 500
Bot such a thing in special,
Which to hem alle in general

1479 in loue Sa, B. of loue W 1483 Wher as; jer as AME:XG
1492 thei ow. AM 1500 anoJreS, F

LIBER PRIMUS 71

Is most plesant, and most desired (Tare or FronzNr.]
Above alle othre and most conspired,

Such o thing conne thei noght finde

Be Constellacion ne kinde:

And thus Florent withoute cure P. i. 93
Mot stonde upon his aventure,

And is al schape unto the lere,

As in defalte of his answere. 1310
This knyht hath levere forto dye

Than breke his trowthe and forto lye

In place ther as he was swore,

And schapth him gon ayein therfore.

Whan time cam he tok his leve,

That lengere wolde he noght beleve,

And preith his Em he be noght wroth,

For that is a point of his oth,

He seith, that noman schal him wreke,

Thogh afterward men hiere speke 1520
That he par aventure deie.

And thus he wente forth his weie

Alone as knyht aventurous,

And in his thoght was curious

To wite what was best to do:

And as he rod al one so,

And cam nyh ther he wolde be,

In a forest under a tre |

He syh wher sat a creature,

A lothly wommannysch figure, 1530
That forto speke of fleisch and bon

So foul yit syh he nevere non.

This knyht behield hir redely,

And as he wolde have passed by,

Sche cleped him and bad abide; *^

And he his horse heved aside

Tho torneth, and to hire he rod, P. i. 94
And there he hoveth and abod,

To wite what sche wolde mene.

And sche began him to bemene, 1540

1505 Such o ping ME2, S, FHs Suiche one pisg A Such a ping

AJH:..

. B, BAd, W 1509 in to E... B, B to Hs

78

[Tare or FLORENT.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And seide: ‘Florent be thi name,
Thou hast on honde such a game,
That bot thou be the betre avised,
Thi deth is schapen and devised,
That al the world ne mai the save,
Bot if that thou my conseil have.
Florent, whan he this tale herde,
Unto this olde wyht answerde
And of hir conseil he hir preide.
And sche ayein to him thus seide : 1550
* Florent, if I for the so schape,
That thou thurgh me thi deth ascape
And take worschipe of thi dede,
What schal I have to my mede?'
‘What thing,’ quod he, ‘that thou wolt axe.’
‘I bidde nevere a betre taxe’
Quod sche, ‘bot ferst, er thou be sped,
Thou schalt me leve such a wedd,
That I wol have thi trowthe in honde
That thou schalt be myn housebonde^ — 1560
‘Nay,’ seith Florent, ‘that may noght be.’
‘Ryd thanne forth thi wey,’ quod sche,
‘And if thou go withoute red,
Thou schalt be sekerliche ded.’
Florent behihte hire good ynowh
Of lond, of rente, of park, of plowh,
Bot al that compteth sche at noght. P.i.95
Tho fell this knyht in mochel thoght,
Now goth he forth, now comth ayein,
He wot noght what is best to sein, 1570
And thoghte, as he rod to and fro,
That chese he mot on of the tuo,
Or forto take hire to his wif
Or elles forto lese his lif.
And thanne he caste his avantage,
That sche was of so gret an age,
That sche mai live bot a while,
And thoghte put hire in an Ile,

I555 That AM 1573 haue A 1578 put SB, F

LIBER PRIMUS 79

Wher that noman hire scholde knowe, [Tare or FLoRENT.]
Til sche with deth were overthrowe. 1580
And thus this yonge lusti knyht

Unto this olde lothly wiht

Tho seide: ‘If that non other chance

Mai make my deliverance,

Bot only thilke same speche

Which, as thou seist, thou schalt me teche,
Have hier myn hond, I schal thee wedde.’
And thus his trowthe he leith to wedde.

With that sche frounceth up the browe :

‘This covenant I wol allowe,’ 1590
Sche seith: ‘if eny other thing

Bot that thou hast of my techyng

Fro deth thi body mai respite,

I woll thee of thi trowthe acquite,

And elles be non other weie.

Now herkne me what I schal seie.

"Whan thou art come into the place, P.i 96
Wher now thei maken gret manace

And upon thi comynge abyde, |

Thei wole anon the same tide 1600
Oppose thee of thin answere.

I wot thou wolt nothing forbere

Of that thou wenest be thi beste,

And if thou myht so finde reste,

Wel is, for thanne is ther nomore.

And elles this schal be my lore,

That thou schalt seie, upon this Molde

That alle wommen lievest wolde

Be soverein of mannes love:

For what womman is so above, 1610
Sche hath, as who seith, al hire wille ;

And elles may sche noght fulfille

What thing hir were lievest have.

With this answere thou schalt save

Thiself, and other wise noght.

And whan thou hast thin ende wroght,

Com hier ayein, thou schalt me finde,

And let nothing out of thi minde.'

80 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

(Tare or FLORENT.] He goth him forth with hevy chiere,
As he that not in what manere 1620
He mai this worldes joie atteigne :
For if he deie, he hath a peine,
And if he live, he mot him binde
To such on which of alle kinde
Of wommen is thunsemlieste :
Thus wot he noght what is the beste:
Bot be him lief or be him loth, P. i. 97
Unto the Castell forth he goth
His full answere forto yive,
Or forto deie or forto live. 1630
Forth with his conseil cam the lord,
The thinges stoden of record,
He sende up for the lady sone,
And forth sche cam, that olde Mone.
In presence of the remenant
The strengthe of al the covenant
Tho was reherced openly,
And to Florent sche bad forthi
That he schal tellen his avis,
As he that woot what is the pris. 1640
Florent seith al that evere he couthe,
Bot such word cam ther non to mowthe,
That he for yifte or for beheste
Mihte eny wise his deth areste.
And thus he tarieth longe and late,
Til that this lady bad algate
That he schal for the dom final
Yive his answere in special
Of that sche hadde him ferst opposed :
And thanne he hath trewly supposed 1650
That he him may of nothing yelpe,
Bot if so be tho wordes helpe,
Whiche as the womman hath him tawht ;
Wherof he hath an hope cawht
That he schal ben excused so,
And tolde out plein his wille tho.

1626 punsemylieste FK . Funsemelieste B 1632 acord B
1648 3iue AC, B. 3if F 1652 pe AMHi, Ad, Hs

LIBER PRIMUS 81

And whan that this Matrone herde P. i. 98 [Tare or Fronznr.]
The manere how this knyht ansuerde,
Sche seide: ‘ Ha treson, wo thee be,
That hast thus told the privite, 1660
Which alle wommen most desire !
I wolde that thou were afire.’
Bot natheles in such a plit
Florent of his answere is quit:
And tho began his sorwe newe,
For he mot gon, or ben untrewe,
"To hire which his trowthe hadde.
Bot he, which alle schame dradde,
Goth forth in stede of his penance,
And takth the fortune of his chance, , 1670
As he that was with trowthe affaited.
This olde wyht him hath awaited
In place wher as he hire lefte :
Florent his wofull heved uplefte
And syh this vecke wher sche sat,
Which was the lothlieste what
That evere man caste on his yhe:
Hire Nase bass, hire browes hyhe,
Hire yhen smale and depe set, .
Hire chekes ben with teres wet, 1680 ad
And rivelen as an emty skyn
Hangende doun unto the chin,
Hire Lippes schrunken ben for age,
Ther was no grace in the visage,
Hir front was nargh, hir lockes hore,
Sche loketh forth as doth a More,
Hire Necke is schort, hir schuldres courbe, P. i. 99
That myhte a mannes lust destourbe,
Hire body gret and nothing smal,
And schortly to descrive hire al, 1690
Sche hath no lith withoute a lak ;
Bot lich unto the wollesak
Sche proferth hire unto this knyht,
And bad him, as he hath behyht,
So as sche hath ben his warant,
1693 proferp Hi, Ad, F profurt W rest profrep, profere}
at G

82

[TALE or FLORFNT.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

That he hire holde covenant,
And be the bridel sche him seseth.
Bot godd wot how that sche him pleseth
Of suche wordes as sche spekth :
Him thenkth welnyh his herte brekth 1700
For sorwe that he may noght fle,
Bot if he wolde untrewe be.

Loke, how sek man for his hele
Takth baldémoine with Cdnele]" ^^
And with the Mirre takth the Sucre,
Ryht upon such a maner lucre
Stant Florent, as in this diete:
He drinkth the bitre with the swete,
He medleth sorwe with likynge,
And liveth, as who seith, deyinge ; I7IO
His youthe schal be cast aweie
Upon such on which » the weie
Is old and lothly overa "m 5
Bot nede he mot that c tfe sna schal
He wolde algate his trowthe holde,
As every knyht therto is holde,
What happ so evere him is befalle: P. i. 100
Thogh sche be the fouleste of alle,
Yet to thonour of wommanhiede
Him thoghte he scholde taken hiede ; 1720
So that for pure gentilesse,
As he hire couthe best adresce,
In ragges, as sche was totore,
He set hire on his hors tofore
And forth he takth his weie softe ;
No wonder thogh he siketh ofte.
Bot as an oule fleth be nyhte
Out of alle othre briddes syhte,
Riht so this knyht on daies brode
In clos him hield, and schop his rode 1730
On nyhtes time, til the tyde
That he cam there he wolde abide ;
And prively withoute noise
He bringth this foule grete Coise

1704 Canele] pe Canele YG ... Bs, B

LIBER PRIMUS 83

To his Castell in such a wise (Tate or FLORENT.]
That noman myhte hire schappe avise,
Til sche into the chambre cam:
Wher he his prive conseil nam
Of suche men as he most troste,
And tolde hem that he nedes moste 1740
This beste wedde to his wif,
For elles hadde he lost his lif.
The prive wommen were asent,
That scholden ben of his assent:
Hire ragges thei anon of drawe,
And, as it was that time lawe,
She hadde bath, sche hadde reste, P. i. 101
And was arraied to the beste.
Bot with no craft of combes brode
Thei myhte hire hore lockes schode, 1750
And sche ne wolde noght be schore
For no conseil, and thei therfore,
With such atyr as tho was used,
Ordeinen that it was excused,
And hid so crafteliche aboute,
That noman myhte sen hem oute.
Bot when sche was fulliche arraied
And hire atyr was al assaied,
Tho was sche foulere on to se:
Bot yit it may non other be, 1760
Thei were wedded in the nyht;
So wo begon was nevere knyht
As he was thanne of mariage.
And sche began to pleie and rage,
As who seith, I am wel ynowh;
Bot he therof nothing ne lowh,
For sche tok thanne chiere on honde
And clepeth him hire housebonde,
And seith, ‘My lord, go we to bedde,
For I to that entente wedde, 1°70
That thou schalt be my worldes blisse :’

1755 hid} it MYX...CBs, B dijt L 1768 cleped X... Ba, B
cleput W 1770 entent(e) pe wedde X... CBs, BA entent was
wedde L, 4, W

G2

84

iTALE or FLORENT.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And profreth him with that to kisse,
As sche a lusti Lady were.
His body myhte wel be there,
Bot as of thoght and of memoire
His herte was in purgatoire.
Bot yit for strengthe of matrimoine — P. i. 102
He myhte make non essoine,
That he ne mot algates plie
To gon to bedde of compaignie : 1780
And whan thei were abedde naked,
Withoute slep he was awaked ;
He torneth on that other side,
For that he wolde hise yhen hyde
Fro lokynge on that foule wyht.
The chambre was al full of lyht,
The courtins were of cendal thinne,
This newe bryd which lay withinne,
Thogh it be noght with his acord,
In armes sche beclipte hire lord, 1790
And preide, as he was torned fro,
He wolde him torne ayeinward tho ;
‘For now,’ sche seith, ‘we ben bothe on.’
And he lay stille as eny ston,
Bot evere in on sche spak and preide,
And bad him thenke on that he seide,
Whan that he tok hire be the hond.
He herde and understod the bond,
How he was set to his penance,
And as it were a man in trance v^ 1800
He torneth him al sodeinly,
And syh a lady lay him by
Of eyhtetiene wynter age,
Which was the faireste of visage
That evere in al this world he syh:
And as he wolde have take hire nyh,
Sche put hire hand and be his leve P. i. 103
Besoghte him that he wolde leve,
And seith that forto wynne or lese

1785 on] of X... Bs, BA fole F 1793 ben] bep RCLBs

1809 seide (sayde) for to X ... B1, B saide pat for to W

LIBER PRIMUS 85

He mot on of tuo thinges chese, 1810 [Tare or ae

Wher he wol have hire such on nyht, l« beo u eX

Or elles upon daies lyht,
For he schal noght bave bothe tuo. AME © cien -
And he began to sorwe tho,
In many a wise and caste his thoght,
Bot for al that yit cowthe he noght
Devise himself which was the beste.
And sche, that wolde his hertes reste,
Preith that he scholde chese algate,
Til ate laste longe and late 1820
He seide: ‘O ye, my lyves hele,
Sey what you list in my querele,
I not what ansuere I schal yive:
Bot evere whil that I may live,
I wol that ye be my maistresse,
For I can noght miselve gesse
Which is the beste unto my chois.
Thus grante I yow myn hole vois,
Ches for ous bothen, I you preie ;
And what as evere that ye seie, 1830
Riht as ye wole so wol I.’
‘Mi lord,’ sche seide, ‘ grant merci,
For of this word that ye now sein,
That ye have mad me soverein,
Mi destine is overpassed,
That nevere hierafter schal be lassed
Mi beaute, which that I now have, P. i. 104
Til I be take into my grave ;
Bot nyht and day as I am now
I schal alwey be such to yow. |
The kinges dowhter of Cizile
I am, and fell bot siththe awhile,
As I was with my fader late,
That my Stepmoder for an hate,
Which toward me sche hath begonne,
Forschop me, til I hadde wonne
The love and sovereinete

1 840

1822 e lust AM thu liste Hi poulist A 3e wyl Sn, W (wille)
1839 Bot! Bop(e) Hi... Ba, BAA, W

#6

| Vase or FLosknr.]

& andeaseti

. Maux

V be Aw.

Mb crc Maa, 66 6 oer ama cc
Ne: 808 Ac: CHER TMS cic iP zr.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Of what knyht that in his degre

Alle othre passeth of good name:

And, as men sein, ye ben the same,

The dede proeveth it is so;

'l'hus am I youres evermo.'

l'ho was plesance and joye ynowh,

Echon with other pleide and lowh;

Thei live longe and wel thei ferde,

And clerkes that this chance herde

Thei writen it in evidence,

‘To teche how that obedience

Mai wel fortune a man to love

And sette him in his lust above,

Aa it befell unto this knyht .—
Forthi, my Sone, if thou do ryht,

l'hou schalt unto thi love obeie,

Aud folwe hir will be alle weie.
Min holy fader, so I wile:

For ye have told me such a skile

(f this ensample now tofore,

hat 1 schal evermo therfore

thieratterwand myn observance

Uo bre and to his obemance

Vhe detre kepe: and over ths

(C pue ap cher oxbt eves 5

Wher thas ] me scaryve xia

What ny ct is in spews,

M. fer, aueth, 1 veu crete.

New lest, sav Sore. rx D shai ee

Oe Wit Mer o3 Surcucere,

Word stant wits Prue of compunmie

W^erot Mai tou icut dere Inu,
lo &aowe d uw Juve gut 2f Jun
SPA? Ine lorte as “dou scant Lere
Now düGecNUQd wer ite mucere.

dz . jx Tides

cs.

1830

1860

Ww

1889 alle ping B, W
1895 purghsoght S burgh-soght F

LIBER PRIMUS

Qui magis astutus refutat se vincere bellum,

In laqueos Veneris forcius tpse cadit.

Sepe Cupido virum sibi qui presumit amantem

Fallit, et in vacuas sfes redit ipsa vias.

Surquiderie is thilke vice
Of Pride, which the thridde office

Hath in his Court, and wol noght knowe

The trowthe til it overthrowe.
Upon his fortune and his grace

Comth ‘ Hadde I wist' fulofte aplace ;

For he doth al his thing be gesse,
And voideth alle sikernésse. - :
Non other conseil good him siemeth
Bot such as he himselve diemeth ;
For in such wise as he compasseth,
His wit al one alle othre passeth ;
And is with pride so thurghsoght,
That he alle othre set at noght,
And weneth of himselven so,
That such as he ther be nomo,
So fair, so semly, ne so wis;
And thus he wolde bere a pris
Above alle othre, and noght forthi
He seith noght ones ‘grant mercy’
To godd, which alle grace sendeth,
So that his wittes he despendeth
Upon himself, as thogh ther were
No godd which myhte availe there:
Bot al upon his oghne witt
He stant, til he falle in the pitt
So ferr that he mai noght arise.
And riht thus in the same wise
This vice upon the cause of love
So proudly set the herte above,
And doth him pleinly forto wene
That he to loven eny qwene
Hath worthinesse and sufficance ;
And so withoute, pourveance

al pis ping M

1890

P. i. 106

1900

1910

1891 him) it AM
1906 good YXERCR:, H:

87

iii. SURQUIDRY OR
PRESUMPTION. ]

Hic loquitur de ter-
cia specie Superbie,
que Presumpcio dici-
tur, cuius naturam
primo secundum vi-
cium Confessor sim.
pliciter declarat. |

Hic tractat Confes-
sor cum Amantesuper
illa saltem presump-
cione, ex cuius super-
bia quam plures fatui
amantes, cum maioris
certitudinis in amore
spem sibi promittunt,

88

(ii. SuRQUIDRY OR
PRESUMPTION. |

inexpediti cicius desti-
tuuntur.

Amans.

Confessor.
Amans.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Fulofte he heweth up so hihe,

That chippes fallen in his yhe;

And ek ful ofte he weneth this,

Ther as he noght beloved is, 1920

To be beloved alther best.

Now, Sone, tell what so thee lest

Of this that I have told thee hier. P. i. 107
Ha, fader, be noght in a Wer:

I trowe ther be noman lesse,

Of eny maner wortbinesse,

That halt him lasse worth thanne I

To be beloved; and noght forthi

I seie in excusinge of me,

To alle men that love is fre. 1930

And certes that mai noman werne ;

For love is of himself so derne,

It luteth in a mannes herte :

Bot that ne schal me noght asterte,

To wene forto be worthi

To loven, bot in hir mercy.

Bot, Sire, of that ye wolden mene,

That I scholde otherwise wene

To be beloved thanne I was,

I am beknowe as in that cas. 1940
Mi goode Sone, tell me how.
Now lest, and I wol telle yow,

Mi goode fader, how it is.

Fulofte it hath befalle or this

Thurgh hope that was noght certein,

Mi wenyinge hath be set in vein

To triste in thing that halp me noght,

Bot onliche of myn oughne thoght.

For as it semeth that a belle

Lik to the wordes that men telle 1950

Answerth, riht so ne mor ne lesse,

To yow, my fader, I confesse,

Such will my wit hath overset, P. i. 108

That what so hope me behet,

1931 noman]} no womman YXGERB:, B 1934 me noght) not
(noust) me X... Bs, BA 1940 pis cas B

1958 a om. MGERCBa, B
JX... Bs, B

LIBER PRIMUS

Ful many a time I wene it soth,
Bot finali no spied it doth.

Thus may I tellen, as I can,
Wenyng beguileth many a man;
So hath it me, riht wel I wot:
For if a man wole in a Bot
Which is withoute botme rowe,
He moste nedes overthrowe.

Riht so wenyng hath ferd be me:
For whanne I wende next have be,
As I be my wenynge caste,
Thanne was I furthest ate laste,
And as a foll my bowe unbende,
Whan al was failed that I wende.
Forthi, my fader, as of this,

That my wenynge hath gon amis
Touchende to Surquiderie,

Yif me my penance er I die.
Bot if ye wolde in eny forme

Of this matiere a tale enforme,
Which were ayein this vice set,

I scholde fare wel the bet.

Mi Sone, in alle maner wise
Surquiderie is to despise,
Wherof I finde write thus.
The proude knyht Capaneiis
He was of such Surquiderie,
That he thurgh his chivalerie
Upon himself so mochel triste,
That to the goddes him ne liste
In no querele to beseche,
Bot seide it was an ydel speche,
Which caused was of pure drede,
For lack of herte and for no nede.
And upon such presumpcioun
He hield this proude opinioun,
Til ate laste upon a dai,

1960 For] But B
1966 Thanse F Than AC, B

1960

1970

1980

P. i. 109

1990

wold(e)

89

fi. SuRguipry on
PRESUMPTION.)

[TALE or CAPANEUS. }

Hic ponit Confes-
sor exemplum contra
illos, qui de suis viri-
bus presumentes de-
biliores efficiuntur. Et
narrat qualiter ille
Capaneus, miles in ar-
mis probatissimus, de
sua presumens auda-
cia inuocacionem ad
superos tempore ne-
cessitatis ex vecordia
tantum et non aliter
primitus prouenisse
asseruit, Vndein ob-
sidione Ciuitatis The-
barum, cum ipsc quo-
dam die coram suis
hostibus ad debellan-
dum se obtulit, ignis

9o

[TALE or CAPANEUS.]

de celo subito super-
veniens ipsum arma-
tum totaliter in cine-
res combussit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Aboute Thebes wher he lay,

Whan it of Siege was belein,

This knyht, as the Croniqes sein,

In alle mennes sihte there,

Whan he was proudest in his gere,

And thoghte how nothing myhte him dere,

Ful armed with his schield and spere

As he the Cite wolde assaile,

Godd tok himselve the bataille 2000
Ayein his Pride, and fro the sky

A firy thonder sodeinly

He sende, and him to pouldre smot.

And thus the Pride which was hot,

Whan he most in his strengthe wende,

Was brent and lost withouten ende:

So that it proeveth wel therfore,

The strengthe of man is sone lore,

Bot if that he it wel governe.

And over this a man mai lerne 2010
That ek fulofte time it grieveth,

Whan that a man himself believeth,

As thogh it scholde him wel beseme — P. i. 110
That he alle othre men can deme,

And hath foryete his oghne vice.

A tale of hem that ben so nyce,

And feigne hemself to be so wise,

I schal thee telle in such a wise,

Wherof thou schalt ensample take

'That thou no such thing undertake. 2020

I finde upon Surquiderie,
How that whilom of Hungarie
Be olde daies was a King
Wys and honeste in alle thing:
And so befell upon a dai,
And that was in the Monthe of Maii,

2005 strengthe] triste (truste) X ... Bs, B 2009 wil B
2017-20 For these four lines SAdA have two,—

Wherof pou miht piselue lere,
I penke telle, as pou schalt hiere.

2026 moone (mone) XGR, B

2041 pilgrimis (pilgrims &c.) AJMXRLB: peregrins B
2049 pur charite MX...

2043 Thei]
Bi BA, W

LIBER PRIMUS

As thilke time it was usance,

This kyng with noble pourveance
Hath for himself his Charr araied,
Wher inne he wolde ride amaied ~~
Out of the Cite forto pleie,

With lordes and with gret nobleie
Of lusti folk that were yonge:
Wher some pleide and some songe,
And some gon and some ryde,

And some prike here hors aside
And bridlen hem now in now oute.
The kyng his yhe caste aboute,

Til he was ate laste war

And syh comende ayein his char
Two pilegrins of so gret age,

That lich unto a dreie ymage

Thei weren pale and fade hewed,
And as a bussh which is besnewed,
Here berdes weren hore and whyte ;
Ther was of kinde bot a lite,

That thei ne semen fulli dede.

Thei comen to the kyng and bede
Som of his good par charite ;

And he with gret humilite

Out of his Char to grounde lepte,
And hem in bothe hise armes kepte
And keste hem bothe fot and hond
Before the lordes of his lond,

And yaf hem of his good therto :
And whanne he hath this dede do,
He goth into his char ayein.

Tho was Murmur, tho was desdeign,
Tho was compleignte on every side,
Thei seiden of here oghne Pride
Eche until othre: ‘What is this?
Oure king hath do this thing amis,
So to abesse his realte

That Hi, FWKHsMagd.
2054 his lordes XGECB;, B

2030

2040

P. i. 111

2030

2060

pilgrins Hi

9I

(THE TRUMP or
DzaTH.]

Hic loquitur Con-
fessor contra illos, qui
de sua sciencia presu-
mentes aliorum con-
diciones diiudicantes
indiscrete redarguunt.
Et narrat exemplum
de quodam principe
Regis Hungarie ger-
mano, qui cum fratrem
suum pauperibus in
publico vidit humilia-
tum, ipsum redargu-
endo in contrarium
edocere presumebat :
set Rex omni sapien-
cia prepollens ipsum
sic incaute presumen-
tem ad humilitatis me-
moriam terribili pro-
uidencia micius casti-
gauit.

92

e

[Tux Taux» or
Daarn.!

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

That every man it myhte se,
And humbled him in such a wise
To hem that were of non emprise.’
Thus was it spoken to and fro
Of hem that were with him tho
Al prively behinde his bak ;
Bot to himselven noman spak. 2070
The kinges brother in presence
Was thilke time, and gret offence
He tok therof, and was the same P. i. usa
Above alle othre which most blame
Upon his liege lord bath leid,
And bath unto the lordes seid,
Anon as he mai time finde,
Ther schal nothing be left behinde,
That he wol speke unto the king.
Now lest what fell upon this thing. 2080
The day was merie and fair ynowh,
Echon with othre pleide and lowh.
And fellen into tales newe,
How that the freisshe floures grewe.
And how the grene leves spronge,
And how that love among the vonge
Began the hertes thanne awake,
And every bridd hath chose hire make :
And thus the Maies day to thende
The: lede, and hom ayein thet wende. 2030
The king was noght so sone come,
That whanne he hadde his chambre nome.
His brother ne was redi there,
And broghte a tale unto his Ere
Of that he dede such a schame
In hindringe of his oghne name,
Whan be himself so wolde drecche,
That to so vil a povere wrecche
Him deigneth schewe such simplesce
Ayein thastat of his noblesce : :100
And seith he schal it nomor use.
And that he mot himself excuse
2078 beleft FK belete A 2088 hire his Hi... Be. B. W

LIBER PRIMUS 93

Toward hise lordes everychon. P.i. 213 [Tue Trump or
The king stod stille as eny ston, Dzara.]
And to his tale an Ere he leide,

And thoghte more than he seide:
Bot natheles to that he herde
Wel cortaisly the king answerde,
And tolde it scholde be amended.
And thus whan that her tale is ended, 2110
Al redy was the bord and cloth,
The king unto his Souper goth
Among the lordes to the halle ;
And whan thei hadden souped alle,
Thei token leve and forth thei go.
The king bethoghte himselve tho
How he his brother mai chastie,
That he thurgh his Surquiderie
Tok upon honde to despreise
Humilite, which is to preise, 2130
And therupon yaf such conseil
Toward his king that was noght heil;
Wherof to be the betre lered,
He thenkth to maken him afered.
It fell so that in thilke dawe
Ther was ordeined be the lawe
A trompe with a sterne breth,
Which cleped was the Trompe of deth :
And in the Court wher the king was
A certein man this Trompe of bras 2130
Hath in kepinge, and therof serveth,
That whan a lord his deth deserveth,
He schal this dredful trompe blowe P. i. 114
Tofore his gate, and make it knowe
How that the jugement is yove
Of deth, which schal noght be foryove.
The king, whan it was nyht, anon
This man asente and bad him gon
To trompen at his brother gate; _
And he, which mot so don algate, 2140
Goth forth and doth the kynges heste.
2105 An F 2122 which was E, B whichisG and was L

94

[Tug TruMP oF
DEATH.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

This lord, which herde of this tempeste
That he tofore his gate blew,

Tho wiste he be the lawe and knew
That he was sikerliche ded:

And as of help he wot no red,

Bot sende for hise frendes alle

And tolde hem how it is befalle.
And thei him axe cause why;

Bot he the sothe noght forthi

Ne wiste, and ther was sorwe tho:
For it stod thilke tyme so,

This trompe was of such sentence,
That therayein no resistence

Thei couthe ordeine be no weie,
That he ne mot algate deie,

Bot if so that he may pourcbace
To gete his liege lordes grace.

Here wittes therupon thei caste,
And ben apointed ate laste.

This lord a worthi ladi hadde
Unto his wif, which also dradde
Hire lordes deth, and children five
Betwen hem two thei hadde alyve,
That weren yonge and tendre of age,
And of stature and of visage
Riht faire and lusty on to se.

Tho casten thei that he and sche
Forth with here children on the morwe,
As thei that were full of sorwe,

Al naked bot of smok and scherte,
To tendre with the kynges herte,
His grace scholden go to seche
And pardoun of the deth beseche.
Thus passen thei that wofull nyht,
And erly, whan thei sihe it lyht,
Thei gon hem forth in such a wise
As thou tofore hast herd devise,
Al naked bot here schortes one.

2150

2160

P. i. 115

2170

2159 Hire FK 2171 Sherte F 2173 go biseche B

2179 schortes M, FK rest schertes (shirtes &c.)

LIBER PRIMUS 95

Thei wepte and made mochel mone, 2180 [Tue Trump or
Here Her hangende aboute here Eres; Drarn.)
With sobbinge and with sory teres
This lord goth thanne an humble pas,
That whilom proud and noble was ;
Wherof the Cite sore afflyhte,
Of hem that sihen thilke syhte:
And natheles al openly
With such wepinge and with such cri
Forth with hise children and his wif
He goth to preie for his lif. 2190
Unto the court whan thei be come,
And men therinne have hiede nome,
Ther was no wiht, if he hem syhe, P. i. 116
Fro water mihte kepe his yhe
For sorwe which thei maden tho.
The king supposeth of this wo,
And feigneth as he noght ne wiste ;
Bot natheles at his upriste
Men tolden him how that it ferde:
And whan that he this wonder herde, 2290
In haste he goth into the halle,
And alle at ones doun thei falle,
If eny pite may be founde.
The king, which seth hem go to grounde,
Hath axed hem what is the fere,
Why thei be so despuiled there.
His brother seide: ‘Ha lord, mercy!
I wot non other cause why,
Bot only that this nyht ful late
The trompe of deth was at my gate 2210
In tokne that I scholde deie;
Thus be we come forto preie
That ye mi worldes deth respite.'
‘Ha fol, how thou art forto wyte,’
The king unto his brother seith,
* That thou art of so litel feith,
That only for a trompes soun

2181 hanged(e) AMHi, 4, W (honget) 2191 become FK
2208 wot] not AM -

96

(Tug Trump or
Deatu. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Hast gon despuiled thurgh the toun,
Thou and thi wif in such manere
Forth with thi children that ben here,
In sihte of alle men aboute,

For that thou seist thou art in doute
Of deth, which stant under the lawe
Of man, and man it mai withdrawe,
So that it mai par chance faile.

Now schalt thou noght forthi mervaile
That I doun fro my Charr alihte,
Whanne I behield tofore my sihte

In hem that were of so gret age

Min oghne deth thurgh here ymage,
Which god hath set be lawe of kynde,
Wherof I mai no bote finde:

For wel I wot, such as thei be,

Riht such am I in my degree,

Of fleissh and blod, and so schal deie.

And thus, thogh I that lawe obeie
Of which the kinges ben put under,
It oghte ben wel lasse wonder

Than thou, which art withoute nede
For lawe of londe in such a drede,
Which for tacompte is bot a jape,
As thing which thou miht overscape.
Forthi, mi brother, after this

I rede, sithen that so is

That thou canst drede a man so sore,
Dred god with al thin herte more:
For al schal deie and al schal passe,
Als well a Leoun as an asse,

Als wel a beggere as a lord,
Towardes deth in on acord

2220

P. i. 117

2130

2140

2250

Thei schullen stonde.’ And in this wise

The king hath with hise wordes wise
His brother tawht and al foryive.

Forthi, mi Sone, if thou wolt live
In vertu, thou most vice eschuie,

P. i. 118

2224 mai] hap B 2234 aml]a man C,B 2951 And] as B

2260 som ensample! by som weie B
2265 f.

LIBER PRIMUS

And with low herte humblesce suie,

So that thou be noght surquidous.
Mi fader, I am amorous,

Wherof I wolde you beseche

That ye me som ensample teche,

Which mihte in loves cause stonde.
Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde,

In love and othre thinges alle

If that Surquiderie falle,

It may to him noght wel betide

Which useth thilke vice of Pride,

Which torneth wisdom to wenynge

And Sothfastnesse into lesynge

Thurgh fol ymaginacion.

And for thin enformacion,

That thou this vice as I the rede

Eschuie schalt, a tale I rede,

Which fell whilom be daies olde,

So as the clerk Ovide tolde.

Ther was whilom a lordes Sone,
Which of his Pride a nyce wone
Hath cawht, that worthi to his liche,
To sechen al the worldes riche,

Ther was no womman forto love.

So hihe he sette himselve above

Of stature and of beaute bothe,

That him thoghte alle wommen lothe:
So was ther no comparisoun

As toward his condicioun.

To man in any maner side
He may wel nowher pan abide R
To man in eny maner side
It may to him nou3t wel betide Ba

CL combine the above with the reading of the text.
2267-74 Eight lines found thus in copies of the third recension,
FWKHs &c., and also in Hi. The rest have four, given as follows by S,

**

fforpi eschuie it I pe rede

ffor in Ouide a tale I rede

How fat a man was ouertake
Wherof pou myht ensample take.

H

97

[Tug Trump or
DEATH.)

Amans.

2260

Confessor.

2270

[Tacs or Narcissus.

Hic in speciali trac-

2280 tat Confessor cum A-
mante contra illos, qui

de propria formositate
presumentes amorem
mulieris dedignantur.

P. i. 119 Et narrat exemplum,

qualitercuiusdam Prin-

2261 inom. XE... Bi

98

{Tare or Narcrssus.]

cipisfiliusnomineNar-
cizus estiuo tempore,
cum ipse venacionis
causaquendam ceruum
solus cum suis canibus
exagitaret, in grauem
sitim incurrens neces-
sitate compulsus ad
bibendum de quodam
fonte pronus se incli-
nauit ; vbi ipse faciem
suam pulcherrimam in
aqua percipiens, puta-
bat se per hoc illam
Nimpham,quam Poete
Ekko vocant, in flu-
mine coram suis ocu-
lispocius conspexisse;
de cuius amore con-
festim laqueatus, vtip-
sam ad se de fonte ex-
traheret, pluribus blan-
diciis adulabatur. Set
cumillud perficerenul-
latenus potuit.pre nim-
io languore deficiens
contra lapides ibidem
adiacentes caput ex-
uerberanscerebrum ef-
fudit. Etsicde propria
pulcritudine quifuerat
presumptuosus,de pro-
pria pulcritudine fat-
uatus interiit.

FHs on pe XERC, B vpon the Hi

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

This yonge lord Narcizus hihte:

No strengthe of love bowe mihte

His herte, which is unaffiled ;

Bot ate laste he was beguiled :

For of the goddes pourveance

It fell him on a dai par chance, 2292
That he in all his proude fare

Unto the forest gan to fare,

Amonges othre that ther were

To hunte and to desporte him there.

And whanne he cam into the place

Wher that he wolde make his chace,

The houndes weren in a throwe

Uncoupled and the hornes blowe:

The grete hert anon was founde,

Which swifte feet sette upon grounde, 2 300
And he with spore in horse side

Him hasteth faste forto ride,

Til alle men be left behinde.

And as he rod, under a linde

Beside a roche, as I thee telle,

He syh wher sprong a lusty welle:

The day was wonder hot withalle,

And such a thurst was on him falle,

That he moste owther deie or drinke ;

And doun he lihte and be the brinke 2310
He teide his Hors unto a braunche,

And leide him lowe forto staunche

His thurst: and as he caste his lok P. i. 120
Into the welle and hiede tok,

He sih the like of his visage,

And wende ther were an ymage

Of such a Nimphe as tho was faie,

Wherof that love his herte assaie

Began, as it was after sene,

Of his sotie and made him wene 2320
It were a womman that he syh.

2293 margin pronus] proulis XE . . . B: 2294 to

2299 The grete] A greteAM, W 2300 vpon AJ, Ad,
2302 margin poterat B

LIBER PRIMUS 99

The more he cam the welle nyh, [Tare or Narcissus. |

The nerr cam sche to him ayein; |

So wiste he nevere what to sein;

For whanne he wepte, he sih hire wepe,

And whanne he cride, he tok good kepe,

The same word sche cridé also:

And thus began the newe wo,

That whilom was to him so strange;

Tho made him love an hard eschange, 2330

To sette his herte and to beginne

Thing which he mihte nevere winne.

And evere among he gan to loute,

And preith that sche to him come oute ;

And otherwhile he goth a ferr,

And otherwhile he draweth nerr,

And evere he fond hire in o place.

He wepth, he crith, he axeth grace,

There as he mihte gete non;

So that ayein a Roche of Ston, 2340

As he that knew non other red,

He smot himself til he was ded.

Wherof the Nimphes of the welles, P. i. 121

And othre that ther weren elles

Unto the wodes belongende,

The body, which was ded ligende,

For pure pite that thei have

Under the grene thei begrave.

And thanne out of his sepulture

Ther sprong anon par aventure 2350

Of floures such a wonder syhte,

That men ensample take myhte

Upon the dedes whiche he dede,

As tho was sene in thilke stede;

For in the wynter freysshe and faire

The floures ben, which is contraire

To kynde, and so was the folie

Which fell of his Surquiderie.

Thus he, which love hadde in desdeign, Confessor.
2332 neuer mighte B 2335 aferrJ,SB.F aferrA 2343-58
Sixteen lines found only in third recension copies, FWKHs &c., and in Hi
H 2

IOO

[PRESUMPTION OF
Lovers. }

Amans.

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Worste of all othre was besein,
And as he sette his pris most hyhe,
He was lest worth in loves yhe
And most bejaped in his wit:
Wherof the remembrance is yit,

So that thou myght ensample take,
And ek alle othre for his sake.

Mi fader, as touchende of me,
This vice I thenke forto fle,

Which of his wenynge overtroweth ;
And nameliche of thing which groweth
In loves cause or wel or wo

Yit pryded I me nevere so.

Bot wolde god that grace sende,
That toward me my lady wende
As I towardes hire wene!

Mi love scholde so be sene,

Ther scholde go no pride a place.
Bot I am ferr fro thilke grace,

As forto speke of tyme now ;

So mot I soffre, and preie yow
That ye wole axe on other side

If ther be eny point of Pride,
Wherof it nedeth to be schrive.

Mi Sone, godd it thee foryive,
If thou have eny thing misdo
Touchende of this, bot overmo
Ther is an other yit of Pride,
Which nevere cowthe hise wordes hide,
That he ne wole himself avaunte ;
Ther mai nothing his tunge daunte,
That he ne clappeth as a Belle:
Wherof if thou wolt that I telle,

It is behovely forto hiere,

So that thou myht thi tunge stiere,
Toward the world and stonde in grace,
Which lacketh ofte in many place

2370

P. i. 122

2380

2390

2369-72 third recension and Hi only 2379 And X... Bs, B

2380 and preie]I preie (prey) XGECLBs, B I seigh R
euermo JUHiXGRLBs, Ba, W 2396 aplace AM

2386

LIBER PRIMUS

To him that can noght sitte stille,
Which elles scholde have al his wille.

ix. Magniloque propriam minuit lactancia lingue

Famam, quam stabilem firmat honore cilens.
Ipse sui laudem meriti non perctpit, unde

Se sua per verba tactat in orbe palam.

Estque viri culpa iactancia, que rubefactas

In muliere reas causat habere genas.

The vice cleped Avantance

With Pride hath take his aqueintance,
So that his oghne pris he lasseth,
When he such mesure overpasseth
That he his oghne Herald is.

That ferst was wel is thanne mis,
That was thankworth is thanne blame,
And thus the worschipe of his name
Thurgh pride of his avantarie

He torneth into vilenie.

I rede how that this proude vice
Hath thilke wynd in his office,

Which thurgh the blastes that he bloweth
The mannes fame he overthroweth
Of vertu, which scholde elles springe
Into the worldes knowlechinge ;

Bot he fordoth it alto sore.

And riht of such a maner lore

Ther ben lovers: forthi if thow

Art on of hem, tell and sei how.
Whan thou hast taken eny thing

Of loves yifte, or Nouche or ring,

Or tok upon thee for the cold

Som goodly word that thee was told,
Or frendly chiere or tokne or lettre,
Wherof thin herte was the bettre,

Or that sche sende the grietinge,
Hast thou for Pride of thi likinge
Mad thin avant wher as the liste?

2398 al om. Hi, FHs

haunt Bi

2421 tok (took) J, B, F toke AC

P. i. 123

2400

IOI

[iv. AVANTANCE OR
BoasriNc.]

Hicloquitur dequar-
taspecie Superbie,que
lactancia dicitur, ex
cuius natura causatur,
vt homo de seipso tes.
timonium perhibenssu-
arum virtutum merita
de laude in culpam

2410 transfert, et suam fa-

2420

2410 wynd] hunt(e) HiYX ...L, B

2416 margin verecundia M... Ba, Ad vecundia W

2423 Of JX... B, B, W

mam cum ipse extol-
lere vellet, illam pro-
priooresubvertit. Set
et Venusinamoriscau-
sa de isto vicio macu-
latos a sua Curia super
omnes alios abhorrens
expellit, eteorum mul-
tiloquium verecunda
detestatur. VndeCon-
fessor Amanti oppo-
nensmateriam plenius
declarat.

IOZ

Amans

Confessor.

(TALE or ALBINUS
AND RosEMUND.]

Hic ponit Confessor
exemplum contra is-
tos, qui vel de sua in
armis probitate, vel de
suo in amoris causa

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

I wolde, fader, that ye wiste,
Mi conscience lith noght hiere: P. i. 124
Yit hadde I nevere such matiere, 2430
Wherof min herte myhte amende,
Noght of so mochel that sche sende
Be mowthe and seide, ‘Griet him wel:’
And thus for that ther is no diel
Wherof to make myn avant,
It is to reson acordant
That I mai nevere, bot I lye,
Of love make avanterie.
I wot noght what I scholde have do,
If that I hadde évicheson SO, 2440
As ye have seid hier manyon ;
Bot I fond cause nevere non:
Bot daunger, which welnyh me slowh,
Therof I cowthe telle ynowh,
And of non other Avantance:
Thus nedeth me no repentance.
Now axeth furthere of my lif,
For hierof am I noght gultif.

Mi Sone, I am wel paid withal ;
For wite it wel in special 2450
That love of his verrai justice
Above alle othre ayein this vice
At alle times most debateth,
With al his herte and most it hateth.
And ek in alle maner wise
Avantarie is to despise,
As be ensample thou myht write,
Which I finde in the bokes write.

Of hem that we Lombars now calle P. i. 125
Albinus was the ferste of alle 2460
Which bar corone of Lombardie,

And was of gret chivalerie

In werre ayein diverse kinges.
So fell amonges othre thinges,
That he that time a werre hadde

2457 myht(might)JC,B myhteA,S,F 2460 ferste S ferst A, B, F

LIBER PRIMUS

With Gurmond, which the Geptes ladde,
And was a myhti kyng also:
Bot natheles it fell him so,
Albinus slowh him in the feld,
Ther halp him nowther swerd ne scheld, 470
That he ne smot his hed of thanne,

Wherof he tok awey the Panne,
Of which he seide he wolde make
A Cuppe for Gurmoundes sake,
To kepe and drawe into memoire

Of his bataille the victoire.
And thus whan he the feld hath wonne,
The lond anon was overronne
And sesed in his oghne hond,
Wher he Gurmondes dowhter fond, 2480

Which Maide Rosemounde hihte,
And was in every mannes sihte

A fair, a freissh, a lusti on.
His herte fell to hire anon,
And such a love on hire he caste,

That he hire weddeth ate laste ;
And after that long time in reste

With hire he duelte, and to the beste

Thei love ech other wonder wel.

P. i. 126

Bot sche which kepth the blinde whel, 2490

Venus, whan thei be most above,

In al the hoteste of here love,
Hire whiel sche torneth, and thei felle
In the manere as I schal telle.

This king, which stod in al his welthe
Of pes, of worschipe and of helthe,

And felte him on no side grieved,

As he that hath his world achieved,
Tho thoghte he wolde a feste make ;

And that was for his wyves sake,

That sche the lordes ate feste,

That were obeissant to his heste,

2473 margin testum Hi... Bs (E corr. testam)
JMEB:;, A, W (dwellet) duellep XGRCL

statum G statutum XE... Bi

2497 agrieued B

2488 dwelled

2489 margin statim)

2501 ate] of be B

103

[Tare or ALBINUS
AND RosEMUND.)

desiderio completo se
iactant. Et narratqual-
iter Albinus primus
Rex Longobardorum,
cum ipse quendam a-
lium Regem nomine
Gurmundum in bello
morientem triumphas-
set, testam capitis de-
functi auferens ci-
phum ex ea gemmis et
auro circumligatum in
sue victorie memoriam
fabricariconstituit : in- :
super et ipsius Gur-
mundi filiam Rose-
mundam rapiens, mar-
itali thoro inconiugem
sibi copulauit, Vnde
ipso Albino posteacor-
am sui Regni nobili-
bus in suo regali con-
uiuio sedente, dicti
Gurmundi ciphum in-
fuso vino ad se inter
epulas afferri iussit;
quem sumptum vxori
sue Regine porrexit
dicens,'Bibecum patre
tuo. Quod et ipsa hu-
iusmodi operis ignara
fecit. Quo facto Rex
statim super hiis que
per prius gesta fue-
rant cunctis audienti-
bus per singula se iac-
tauit. Reginavero cum
talia audisset, celato
animo factum abhor-
rensin mortem domini
sui Regis circumspec-
ta industria conspira-
uit; ipsumque auxiliant-
ibus Glodesida et Hel-
mege breui subsecuto
tempore interfecit: cu-
ius mortem Dux Ra-
uennensis tam in cor-
pus dicte Regine quam
suorum fautorum post.
ea vindicauit. Set et
huius tocius infortunii

104 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[TALE or ALBINUS Mai knowe: and so forth therupon
AND Rosruuwp.] He let ordeine, and sende anon

sola superbiciactancia Be lettres and be messagiers,
And warnede alle hise officiers
That every thing be wel arraied :
The grete Stiedes were assaied
For joustinge and for tornement,
And many a perled garnement 2510
Embroudred was ayein the dai.
The lordes in here beste arrai
Be comen ate time set,
On jousteth wel, an other bet,
And otherwhile thei torneie,
And thus thei casten care aweie
And token lustes upon honde.
And after, thou schalt understonde,
To mete into the kinges halle P. i. 127
Thei come, as thei be beden alle: 2510
And whan thei were set and served,
Thanne after, as it was deserved,
To hem that worthi knyhtes were,
So as thei seten hiere and there,
The pris was yove and spoken oute
Among the heraldz al aboute.
And thus benethe and ek above
Al] was of armes and of love,
Wherof abouten ate bordes
Men hadde manye sondri wordes, 2530
That of the merthe which thei made
The king himself began to glade
Withinne his herte and tok a pride,
And sih the Cuppe stonde aside,
Which mad was of Gurmoundes hed,
As ye have herd, whan he was ded,
And was with gold and riche Stones
Beset and bounde for the nones,
And stod upon a fot on heihte
Of burned gold, and with gret sleihte 1540
Of werkmanschipe it was begrave

2511 Embroudred F rest Embrowded (Embroudid &c.)

LIBER PRIMUS 105

Of such HN as jit scholde have, [TALE or ALBINUS
And was policed ek so clene AND RosEMUND.]

That no signe of the PP is sene,
Bot as it were a Grip 3 Ey
The king bad bere his Cuppe awey,
Which, stod tofore him on the bord,
And fette thilke. Upon his word
This Skulle is fet and wyn therinne, P. i. 128
Wherof he_bad his wif beginne: 2550
‘Drink with thi fader, Dame,’ he seide.
And sche to his biddinge obeide,
And tok the Skulle, and what hire liste
Sche drank, as sche which nothing wiste
What Cuppe it was: and thanne al oute
The kyng in audience aboute
Hath told it was hire fader Skulle,
So that the lordes knowe schulle
Of his bataille a soth witnesse,
And made avant thurgh what prouesse 2569
He hath his wyves love wonne,
Which of the Skulle hath so begonne.
Tho was ther mochel Pride alofte,
Thei speken alle, and sche was softe,
Thenkende on thilke unkynde Pride,
Of that hire lord so nyh hire side
Avanteth him that he hath slain
And piked out hire fader brain,
And of the Skulle had mad a Cuppe.
Sche soffreth al til thei were uppe, 2570
And tho sche hath seknesse feigned,
And goth to chambre and hath compleigned
Unto a Maide which sche triste,
So that non other wyht it wiste.
This Mayde Glodeside is hote,
To whom this lady hath behote
Of ladischipe al that sche can,
To vengen hire upon this man,
Which dede hire drinke in such a plit P. i. 129
Among hem alle for despit 2580
2544 is} was Hi...B4 B 2569 had C, SB, F hadde A hapJ

106

[Tare or ArBINUS
AND ROSEMUND.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Of hire and of hire fader bothe;
Wherof hire thoghtes ben so wrothe,
Sche seith, that sche schal noght be glad,
Til that sche se him so bestad
That he nomore make avant.
And thus thei felle in covenant,
That thei acorden ate laste,
With suche wiles as thei caste
That thei wol gete of here acord
Som ‘orped knyht to sle this lord: 2590
And with this sleihte thei beginne,
How thei Helmege myhten winne,
Which was the kinges Boteler,
A proud a lusti Bacheler,
And Glodeside he loveth hote. jo!
And sche, to make him more assotey,
Hire love granteth, and be nyhte
Thei schape how thei togedre myhte
Abedde meete: and don it was
This same nyht; and in this cas 2600
The qwene hirself the nyht secounde
Wente in hire stede, and there hath founde
A chambre derk withoute liht,
And goth to bedde to this knyht.
And he, to kepe his observance,
To love doth his obeissance,
And weneth it be Glodeside ;
And sche thanne after lay aside,
And axeth him what he hath do, P. i. 130
And who sche was sche tolde him tho, 2610
And seide: ‘Helmege, I am thi qwene,
Now schal thi love wel be sene
Of that thou hast thi wille wroght :
Or it schal sore ben aboght,
Or thou schalt worche as I thee seie.
And if thou wolt be such a weie
Do my plesance and holde it stille,
For evere I schal ben at thi wille,
Bothe I and al myn heritage.’
2611 thi] pe JHi... Bs, BA

LIBER PRIMUS. 107

Anon the wylde loves rage, 2620 [TALE or ALBINUS
In which noman him can governe, AnD Rosemunn. }
Hath mad him that he can noght werne,
Bot fell al hol to hire assent:
And thus the whiel is al miswent,
The which fortune hath upon honde;
For how that evere it after stonde,
Thei schope among hem such a wyle,
The king was ded withinne a whyle.
So slihly cam it noght aboute
That thei ne ben discoevered oute, 2630
So that it thoghte hem for the beste
To fle, for there was no reste:
And thus the tresor of the king
Thei trusse and mochel other thing,
And with a certein felaschipe
Thei fledde and wente awey be schipe,
And hielde here rihte cours fro thenne,
Til that thei come to Ravenne,
Wher thei the Dukes helpe soghte. P. i. 131
And he, so as thei him besoghte, 2640
A place granteth forto duelle ;
Bot after, whan he herde telle
Of the manere how thei have do,
This Duk let schape for hem so,
That of a puison which thei drunke
Thei hadden that thei have besWuti 14
And al this made avant of Pride:
Good is therfore a man to hide
His oghne pris, for if he speke,
He mai lihtliche his thonk tobreke. 2650
In armes lith non avantance
To him which thenkth his name avance
And be renomed of his dede:
And also who that thenkth to spede
Of love, he mai him noght avaunte;
For what man thilke vice haunte,
His pourpos schal fulofte faile.
In armes he that wol travaile
2622 Hath mad] Made Hi... Bs, B 2658 he] who AM

108 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[AVANTANCE.] Or elles loves grace atteigne,
His lose tunge he mot restreigne, 2660
Which berth of his honour the keie.
Confessor. Forthi, my Sone, in alle weie
Tak riht good hiede of this matiere.
Amans. I thonke you, my fader diere,

This scole is of a gentil lore;

And if ther be oght elles more

Of Pride, which I schal eschuie,

Now axeth forth, and I wol suie

What thing that ye me wole enforme. P. i. 132
Confessor. Mi Sone, yit in other forme 2670

Ther is a vice of Prides lore,

Which lich an hauk whan he wol sore,

Fleith upon heihte in his delices

After the likynge of his vices,

And wol no mannes resoun knowe,

Till he doun falle and overthrowe.

This vice veine gloire is hote,

Wherof, my Sone, I thee behote

To trete and speke in such a wise,

That thou thee myht the betre avise. 2680

[v. VaIN-GLory.] x. Gloria ferfetuos pregnat mundana dolores,

Qui lamen est vanus gaudia vana cufit.

Eius amiciciam, quem gloria tollit inanis,
Non sine blandiciis planus habebit homo:

Verbis compositis qui scit strigilare fauellum,
Scandere sellata tura valebit eques.

Sic in amore magis qui blanda subornat in ore
Verba, fer hoc brauium quod nequit alter kabet.

Et famen ornatos cantus variosque paralus

Letaque corda suis legibus optat amor. (10)
The proude vice of veine gloire
Hic loquitur ade Remembreth noght of purgatoire,
quinta specie su le, : .
que Inanis gloria vo Hise worldes joyes ben so grete, .
catur, et eiusdem vicii Him thenkth of hevene no beÿete ;
naturam primo descri- TEE : .
bens super eodem in This lives Pompe is al his pes:
amoris causa Confes- Yit schal he deie natheles,

2669 3e me wole] 3e wol (wil) me L, A 3e wol(e) AM me wol Hs

LIBER PRIMUS 109

And therof thenkth he bot a lite, [v. Vain-Grory.]
For al his lust is to delite sorAmanticonsequen-
In newe thinges, proude and veine, ter opponit,

Als ferforth as he mai atteigne. 2690

I trowe, if that he myhte make P. i. 133

His body newe, he wolde take

A newe forme and leve his olde:

For what thing that he mai beholde, -

The which to comun us is strange,

Anon his olde guise change

He wole and falle therupon,

Lich unto the Camelion,

Which upon every sondri hewe

That he beholt he moste newe 2700
His colour, and thus unavised

Fulofte time he stant desguised.

Mor jolif than the brid in Maii

He makth him evere freissh and gay,

And doth al his array desguise, Salomon. Amictus eius
So that of him the newe guise | annunciat de eo.
Of lusti folk alle othre take ;

And ek he can carolles make,

Rondeal, balade and virelai.

And with all this, if that he may 2710
Of love gete him avantage,

Anon he wext of his corage

So overglad, that of his ende

Him thenkth ther is no deth comende:

For he hath thanne at alle tide

Of love such a maner pride,

Him thenkth his joie is endeles.

Now schrif thee, Sone, in godes pes, Confessor.
And of thi love tell me plein
If that thi gloire hath be so vein. 2720

Mi fader, as touchinge of al P. i. 134 Amans.

2687 terforAM,W peronAd aliteA, SB, F, &c. 2705 margin
Salomon. Amictus—eo in third recension only. 2713 f. This text
only in copies of third recension, F(in ras.) WKHs &c. The rest have,

So ouerglad pat purgatoire
Ne myhte abregge his veine gloire

IIO CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Tue Lover’s Con- I may noght wel ne noght ne schal
FEssION.] Of veine gloire excuse me
g ,

That I ne have for love be
The betre adresced and arraied ;
And also I have ofte assaied
Rondeal, balade and virelai
For hire on whom myn herte lai
To make, and also forto peinte
Caroles with my wordes qweinte, 2730
To sette my pourpos alofte ;
And thus I sang hem forth fulofte
In halle and ek in chambre aboute,
And made merie among the route,
Bot yit ne ferde I noght the bet.
Thus was my gloire in vein beset
Of al the joie that I made;
For whanne I wolde with hire glade,
And of hire love songes make,
Sche saide it was noght for hir sake, 2740
And liste noght my songes hiere
Ne witen what the wordes were.
So forto speke of myn arrai,
Yit couthe I nevere be so gay
Ne so wel make a songe of love,
Wherof I myhte ben above
And have encheson to be glad;
Bot rathere I am ofte adrad
For sorwe that sche seith me nay.
And natheles I wol noght say, 2750
That I nam glad on other side; P. i. 135
For fame, that can nothing hide,
Alday wol bringe unto myn Ere
Of that men speken hier and there,
How that my ladi berth the pris,
How sche is fair, how sche is wis,
How sche is wommanlich of chiere ;
Of al this thing whanne I mai hiere,
What wonder is thogh I be fain?
And ek whanne I may hiere sain 2760
2751 nam) am Hi... Bs, W on] an AJ

LIBER PRIMUS

Tidinges of my ladi hele,

Althogh I may noght with hir dele,
Yit am I wonder glad of that ;

For whanne I wot hire good astat,
As for that time I dar wel swere,
Non other sorwe mai me dere,
Thus am I gladed in this wise.
Bot, fader, of youre lores wise,

Of whiche ye be fully tawht,

Now tell me if yow thenketh awht 2770

That I therof am forto wyte. :
Of that ther is I thee acquite,

Mi sone, he seide, and for thi goode

I wolde that thou understode :

For I thenke upon this matiere

To telle a tale, as thou schalt hiere,

How that ayein this proude vice

The hihe god of his justice

Is wroth and gret vengance doth.

Now herkne a tale that is soth: 2780
Thogh it be noght of loves kinde, P. i. 136

A gret ensample thou schalt finde
This veine gloire forto fle,
Which is so full of vanite.

xi Humant generis cum sit sibi gloria maior,
Sefe subesse solet proximus ille dolor:
Mens elata graues descensus sepe subibit,
Mens humilis stabile molleque firmat iter.
Motibus innumeris volutat fortuna fer orbem ;
Cum magis alta fetis, inferiora time.
Ther was a king that mochel myhte,
Which Nabugodonosor hihte,
Of whom that I spak hier tofore.
Yit in the bible his name is bore,
For al the world in Orient
Was hol at his comandement : 2790
2770 pou penkep (penkp AXRCLB: pou penke M ;e penke
(pinke) HiSn, A 3e thenketh (ye pinketh) Ad, W

Latin Verses xi. 5 immunis HiXGECLBs, B
2789 in the orient A, WH:

III

[Tug Lover’s Con-
FESSION.)

[ NEBUCHADNEZZAR's
PUNISHMENT. ]

Hic ponit Confessor
exemplum contra vi-
cium inanis glorie,
narrans qualiter Na-
bugodonosor Rex Cal-
deorum, cum ipse in

112

[ NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S
PUNISHMENT. |

omni sue maiestatis
gloria celsior extitis-
set, deus eius super-
biam castigare volens
ipsum extra formam
hominis in bestiam
fenum comedentem
transmutauit. Et sic
per septennium peni-
tens, cum ipse po-
tenciorem se agnouit,
misertus deus ipsum in
sui regni solium resti-
tuta sanitate emenda-
tum graciosius collo-
cauit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

As thanne of kinges to his liche

Was non so myhty ne so riche;

To his Empire and to his lawes,

As who seith, alle in thilke dawes

Were obeissant and tribut bere,

As thogh he godd of Erthe were.

With strengthe he putte kinges under,

And wroghte of Pride many a wonder;

He was so full of veine gloire,

That he ne hadde no memoire 2800
That ther was eny good bot he,

For pride of his prosperite ;

Til that the hihe king of kinges,

Which seth and knoweth alle thinges,

Whos yhe mai nothing asterte,—

The privetes of mannes herte

Thei speke and sounen in his Ere P. i. 137
As thogh thei lowde wyndes were, —

He tok vengance upon this pride.

Bot for he wolde awhile abide 2810
To loke if he him wolde amende,

To him a foretokne he sende,

And that was in his slep be nyhte.

This proude kyng a wonder syhte

Hadde in his swevene, ther he lay:

Him thoghte, upon a merie day

As he behield the world aboute,

A tree fulgrowe he syh theroute,

Which stod the world amiddes evene,

Whos heihte straghte up to the hevene; 820
The leves weren faire and large,

Of fruit it bare so ripe a charge,

That alle men it myhte fede:

He sih also the bowes spriede

Above al Erthe. in whiche were

The kinde of alle briddes there;

2796 margin subito transmutauit A... B4, S...A a8or good
FKHs godd(god)A...B: S...A,W 2812 a foretokene K
a fortoken W aforetokne S, F afortokene R a fore tokne (token)
JXEC, Hs afore tokne (-en) AMH,GLBs, BAdA

LIBER PRIMUS

And eke him thoghte he syh also

The kinde of alle bestes go

Under this tre aboute round

And fedden hem upon the ground.

As he this wonder stod and syh,

Him thoghte he herde a vois on hih

Criende, and seide aboven alle:

‘Hew doun this tree and lett it falle,

The leves let defoule in haste

And do the fruit destruie and waste,

And let of schreden every braunche,

But ate Rote let it staunche.

Whan al his Pride is cast to grounde,

The rote schal be faste bounde,

And schal no mannes herte bere,

Bot every lust he schal forbere

Of man, and lich an Oxe his mete

Of gras he schal pourchace and ete,

Til that the water of the hevene

Have waisshen him be times sevene,

So that he be thurghknowe ariht

What is the heveneliche myht,

And be mad humble to the wille

Of him which al mai save and spille.’
This king out of his swefne abreide,

And he upon the morwe it seide

Unto the clerkes whiche he hadde:

Bot non of hem the sothe aradde,

Was non his swevene cowthe undo.

And it stod thilke time so,

This king hadde in subjeccioun

Judee, and of affeccioun

Above alle othre on Daniel

He loveth, for he cowthe wel

Divine that non other cowthe:

To him were alle thinges cowthe,

2835 defoule] do foule X... Bs doune falle Hi

to HiXE... Ba

pis tre L

2830

P. i. 138

2840

2850

2860

2836 do]

2839 his Pride] pis pride Hi... CB»

2847 be om. Hi... Bs, Hs purghknowe A, F purgh

knowe J, SB

ee

I

113

( NEBUCHADNEZZAR's
PUNISHMENT.]

114

[| NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S
PUNISHMENT. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

As he it hadde of goddes grace.
He was before the kinges face
Asent, and bode that he scholde
Upon the point the king of tolde
The fortune of his swevene expounde, P. i. 139
As it scholde afterward be founde.
Whan Daniel this swevene herde,
He stod long time er he ansuerde, 2870
And made a wonder hevy chiere.
The king tok hiede of his manere,
And bad him telle that he wiste,
As he to whom he mochel triste,
And seide he wolde noght be wroth.
Bot Daniel was wonder loth,
And seide: ‘Upon thi fomen alle,
Sire king, thi swevene mote falle ;
And natheles touchende of this
I wol the tellen how it is, 2880
And what desese is to thee schape :
God wot if thou it schalt ascape.
The hihe tree, which thou hast sein
With lef and fruit so wel besein,
The which stod in the world amiddes,
So that the bestes and the briddes
Governed were of him al one,
Sire king, betokneth thi persone,
Which stant above all erthli thinges.
Thus regnen under the the kinges, 2890
And al the poeple unto thee louteth,
And al the world thi pouer doubteth,
So that with vein honour deceived
Thou hast the reverence weyved
Fro him which is thi king above,
That thou for drede ne for love
Wolt nothing knowen of thi godd; P. i. 140
Which now for thee hath mad a rodd,
Thi veine gloire and thi folie

2863 it om. HiXERCBs that L, W 2869 hisB pe MX
2874 As] And Hi...L 2885 wode B 2891 al] of
Hi...Bs (ofte R) 2898 a rodd AJ, B. arodd S, FK

LIBER PRIMUS IIS

With grete peines to chastie. 2900 [NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S
And of the vois thou herdest speke, PUNISHMENT. |
Which bad the bowes forto breke
And hewe and felle doun the tree,
That word belongeth unto thee;
Thi regne schal ben overthrowe,
And thou despuiled for a throwe:
Bot that the Rote scholde stonde,
Be that thou schalt wel understonde,
Ther schal abyden of thi regne
A time ayein whan thou schalt regne. 2910
And ek of that thou herdest seie,
To take a mannes herte aweie
And sette there a bestial,
So that he lich an Oxe schal
Pasture, and that he be bereined
Be times sefne and sore peined,
Til that he knowe his goddes mihtes,
Than scholde he stonde ayein uprihtes,—
Al this betokneth thin astat,
Which now with god is in debat: 2920
Thi mannes forme schal be lassed,
Til sevene yer ben overpassed,
And in the liknesse of a beste
Of gras schal be thi real feste,
The weder schal upon thee reine.
And understond that al this peine,
Which thou schalt soffre thilke tide, P.i. 141
Is schape al only for thi pride
Of veine gloire, and of the sinne
Which thou hast longe stonden inne. 2930

So upon this condicioun
Thi swevene hath exposicioun.
Bot er this thing befalle in dede,
Amende thee, this wolde I rede:
Yif and departe thin almesse,
Do mercy forth with rihtwisnesse,
Besech and prei the hihe grace,
For so thou myht thi pes pourchace

2903 falle Hi... Bs, W 2905 The A

12

116 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S With godd, and stonde in good acord.'
PUNISHMENT. ] Bot Pride is loth to leve his lord, 2940
And wol noght soffre humilite
With him to stonde in no degree;
And whan a schip hath lost his stiere,
Is non so wys that mai him stiere
Ayein the wawes in a rage.
This proude king in his corage
Humilite hath so forlore,
That for no swevene he sih tofore,
Ne yit for al that Daniel
Him bath conseiled everydel, 2950
He let it passe out of his mynde,
Thurgh veine gloire, and as the blinde,
He seth no weie, er him be wo.
And fell withinne a time so,
As he in Babiloine wente,
The vanite of Pride him hente;
His herte aros of veine gloire, P. i. 142
So that he drowh into memoire
His lordschipe and his regalie
With wordes of Surquiderie. . 2960
And whan that he him most avaunteth,
That lord which veine gloire daunteth,
Al sodeinliche, as who seith treis,
Wher that he stod in his Paleis,
He tok him fro the mennes sihte:
Was non of hem so war that mihte
Sette yhe wher that he becom.
And thus was he from his kingdom
Into the wilde Forest drawe,
Wher that the myhti goddes lawe 2970
Thurgh his pouer dede him transforme
Fro man into a bestes forme;
And lich an Oxe under the fot
He graseth, as he nedes mot,
To geten him his lives fode.
Tho thoghte him colde grases goode,
That whilom eet the hote spices,
2953 weie] wele Hi... Ba

LIBER PRIMUS 117

Thus was he torned fro delices: [ NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S
The wyn which he was wont to drinke PUNISHMENT. |
He tok thanne of the welles brinke 2980
Or of the bet or of the slowh,
It thoghte him thanne good ynowh :
In stede of chambres wel arraied
He was thanne of a buissh wel paied,
The harde ground he lay upon,
For othre pilwes hath he non;
The stormes and the Reines falle, P. i. 143
The wyndes blowe upon him alle,
He was tormented day and nyht,
Such was the hihe goddes myght, 2990
Til sevene yer an ende toke.
Upon himself tho gan he loke;
In stede of mete gras and stres,
In stede of handes longe cles,
In stede of man a bestes lyke
He syh; and thanne he gan to syke
For cloth of gold and for perrie; Bones
Which him was wont to magnefie.
Whan he behield his Cote of heres,
He wepte and with fulwoful teres 3000
Up to the hevene he caste his chiere
Wepende, and thoghte in this manere ;
Thogh he no wordes myhte winne,
Thus seide his herte and spak withinne:
*O mihti godd, that al hast wroght
And al myht bringe ayein to noght,
Now knowe I wel, bot al of thee,
This world hath no prosperite :
In thin aspect ben alle liche,
The povere man and ek the riche, 3010
Withqute thee ther mai no wight,
And thou above alle othre miht.
O mihti lord, toward my vice
Thi merci medle with justice ;
2988 blew(e) M, B 2990 Such] Which Hi... Bs 2997 for]

te Hi... Ba of KHs om.W 3000 fulwoful A, F ful woful J, B
3010 the riche om. B go1r wight B, F wiht AJ, S

118

[ NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S
PuNISHMENT.)

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And I woll make a covenant,
That of my lif the remenant
I schal it be thi grace amende, P. i. 144
And in thi lawe so despende
That veine gloire I schal eschuie,
And bowe unto thin heste and suie 3020
Humilite, and that I vowe.’
And so thenkende he gan doun bowe,
And thogh him lacke vois and speche,
He gan up with his feet areche,
And wailende in his bestly stevene
He made his pleignte unto the hevene.
He kneleth in his wise and braieth,
To seche merci and assaieth
His god, which made him nothing strange,
Whan that he sih his pride change. 3030
Anon as he was humble and tame,
He fond toward his god the same,
And in a twinklinge of a lok
His mannes forme ayein he tok,
And was reformed to the regne
In which that he was wont to regne;
So that the Pride of veine gloire
Evere afterward out of memoire
He let it passe. And thus is schewed
What is to ben of Pride unthewed 3040
Ayein the hihe goddes lawe,
To whom noman mai be felawe.
Forthi, my Sone, tak good hiede
So forto lede thi manhiede,
That thou ne be noght lich a beste.
Bot if thi lif schal ben honeste,
Thou most humblesce take on honde, P. i. 145
For thanne myht thou siker stonde:
And forto speke it otherwise,
A proud man can no love assise ; 3050
For thogh a womman wolde him plese,
His Pride can noght ben at ese.

3023 and speche JHiL, FWHs of speche AM...CBs S...A
3027 braieth] preich (prayep) Hi... Bs, W

LIBER PRIMUS

Ther mai noman to mochel blame
A vice which is forto blame;
Forthi men scholde nothing | hide
That mihte falle in blame of Pride,
Which is the werste vice of alle:
Wherof, so as it was befalle,
The tale I thenke of a Cronique
To telle, if that it mai thee like,
So that thou myht humblesce suie
And ek the vice of Pride eschuie,
Wherof the gloire is fals and vein;
Which god himself hath in desdeign,
That thogh it mounte for a throwe,
It schal doun falle and overthrowe.

3060

xii. Est virtus humilis, per quam deus altus ad yma
Se tulit et nostre viscera carnis kabet.
Sic humilis suferest, et amor sibi subditur omnis, -
Cuius habet nulla sorte superbus opem:
Odit eum terra, celum deiecit et ipsum,
Sedibus inferni statque receptus tbi.

mm Am

A king whilom was yong and wys,
The which sette of his wit gret pris.
Of depe ymaginaciouns
And strange interpretaciouns, .
Problemes and demandes eke,

His wisdom was to finde and seke;
Wherof he wolde in sondri wise
Opposen hem that weren wise.

Bot non of hem it myhte bere
Upon his word to yeve answere,
Outaken on, which was a knyht;
To him was every thing so liht,
That also sone as he hem herde,
The kinges wordes he answerde ;
What thing the king him axe wolde,
Therof anon the trowthe he tolde.

3070
P. i. 146

3c80

Latin Verses xii. 5 eum] enim B
3078 margin habitantibus H1... Bs, BA
meritum] meriti Hi... Bs, BA

3080 margin valencie

119

[(Huuizrry.]

—

[TALE oF THE THREE
QUESTIONS. ]

Hic narrat Confes-
sor exemplum simpli-
citer contra Superbi-
am; et dicit quod nup-
erquidam Rex famose
prudencie cuidam mil-
iti suo super tribus
questionibus, vt inde
certitudinis responsio-
nem daret, sub pena
capitalissentencie ter-
minum prefixit. Pri-
mo, quid minoris in-
digencie ab inbabi-
tantibus orbem auxi-
lium maius obtinuit.
Secundo, quid maioris
valencie meritum con-
tinens minoris expen-
se reprisas exiguit.

120

[TALE or THE THREE
Quesrions.]
Tercio, quid omnia
bona diminuens ex sui
proprietate nichil pe-
nitus valuit. Quarum
vero questionum que-
dam virgo dicti mili-
tis filia sapientissima
nomine patris sui so-
lucionem aggrediens
taliter Regi respondit.
Ad primam dixit, quod
terra nullius indiget,
quam tamen adiuuare
cotidianis — laboribus
omnes intendunt. Ad
secundam dixit, quod
humilitas omnibus vir-
tutibus prevalet, que
tamen nullius prode-
galitatis expensis men-
suram excedit. Ad ter-
ciam dixit, quod su-
perbia omnia tam cor-
porisquam animebona
deuastans maiores ex:
pensarum excessus in-
ducit. Et tamen nul-
lius valoris, ymmo to-
cius perdicionis, caus-
am sua culpa minis-

trat.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

The king somdiel hadde an Envie,
And thoghte he wolde his wittes plie
To sette som conclusioun,

Which scholde be confusioun

Unto this knyht, so that the name
And of wisdom the hihe fame
Toward himself he wolde winne.
And thus of al his wit withinne 2090
This king began to studie and muse,
What strange matiere he myhte use
The knyhtes wittes to confounde ;
And ate laste he hath it founde,
And for the knyht anon he sente,
That he schal telle what he mente.
Upon thre pointz stod the matiere
Of questions, as thou schalt hiere.

The ferste point of alle thre i* questio.
Was this: *What thing in his degre 3100
Of al this world hath nede lest, P. i. 147
And yet men helpe it althermest ?’

The secounde is: ‘What most is worth, ii* questio. -
And of costage is lest put forth ?'

The thridde is: *Which is of most cost, iii* questio.
And lest is worth and goth to lost?’

The king thes thre demandes axeth,

And to the knyht this lawe he taxeth,

That he schal gon and come ayein

The thridde weke, and telle him plein 3110
To every point, what it amonteth.

And if so be that he misconteth,

To make in his answere a faile,

Ther schal non other thing availe,

The king seith, bot he schal be ded

And lese hise goodes and his hed.

The knyht was sori of this thing

And wolde excuse him to the king,

Bot he ne wolde him noght forbere,

And thus the knyht of his ansuere 3120

3108 he om. KH: 3120 his] pis X ... Ba

LIBER PRIMUS 12I

Goth hom to take avisement: [Tare or THE THREE
Bot after his entendement Questions. ]
The more he caste his wit aboute,
The more he stant therof in doute.
Tho wiste he wel the kinges herte,
That he the deth ne scholde asterte,
And such a sorwe hath to him take,
That gladschipe he hath al forsake.
He thoghte ferst upon his lif,
And after that upon his wif, 3130
Upon his children ek also, P. i. 148
Of whiche he hadde dowhtres tuo; |
The yongest of hem hadde of age
Fourtiene yer, and of visage
Sche was riht fair, and of stature
Lich to an hevenely figure,
And of manere and goodli speche,
Thogh men wolde alle Londes seche,
Thei scholden noght have founde hir like.
Sche sih hire fader sorwe and sike, 3140
And wiste noght the cause why;
So cam sche to him prively,
And that was where he made his mone
Withinne a Gardin al him one;
Upon hire knes sche gan doun falle
With humble herte and to him calle,
And seide: *O goode fader diere,
Why make ye thus hevy chiere,
And I wot nothing how it is?
And wel ye knowen, fader, this, 3150
What aventure that you felle
Ye myhte it saufly to me telle,
For I have ofte herd you seid,
That ye such trust have on me leid,
That to my soster ne my brother,
. In al this world ne to non other,
Ye dorste telle a privite
So wel, my fader, as to me.

3126 schal AM 3155 ne my] ne to my GRE;, Ad^4,
W (nor to my) and my Hi

122 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

(Tate or THE THREE Forthi, my fader, I you preie,
Questions. } Ne casteth noght that herte aweie, 3162
For I am sche that wolde kepe P. i. 149

Youre honour.’ And with that to wepe
Hire yhe mai noght be forbore,
Sche wissheth forto ben unbore,
Er that hire fader so mistriste
To tellen hire of that he wiste :
And evere among merci sche cride,
That he ne scholde his conseil hide
From hire that so wolde him good
And was so nyh his fleissh and blod. 3170
So that with wepinge ate laste
His chiere upon his child he caste,
And sorwfulli to that sche preide
He tolde his tale and thus he seide :
*'The sorwe, dowhter, which I make
Is noght al only for my sake,
Bot for thee bothe and for you alle:
For such a chance is me befalle,
That I schal er this thridde day
Lese al that evere I lese may, 3180
Mi lif and al my good therto:
Therfore it is I sorwe so.'
‘What is the cause, helas!’ quod sche,
‘Mi fader, that ye scholden be
Ded and destruid in such a wise ?’
And he began the pointz devise,
Whiche as the king told him be mowthe,
And seid hir pleinly that he cowthe
Ansuere unto no point of this.
And sche, that hiereth how it is, 3190
Hire conseil yaf and seide tho: P. i. 150
* Mi fader, sithen it is so,
That ye can se non other weie,
Bot that ye moste nedes deie,
I wolde preie of you a thing:
3183 helas A, S, F Alas] allas B &c. 3185 a om. E, B

3187 told SB, F tolde AJ 3188 seid (seyd) B, F seide AJ
he ne cowbe HiXGRCLBs 3195 pray yow of BA o ping B

LIBER PRIMUS 123

Let me go with you to the king, [TALE or THE THREE
And ye schull make him understonde Questions. ]
How ye, my wittes forto fonde,
Have leid your ansuere upon me;
And telleth him, in such degre 3200
Upon my word ye wole abide
To lif or deth, what so betide.
For yit par chaunce I may pourchace
With som good word the kinges grace,
Your lif and ek your good to save;
For ofte schal a womman have
Thing which a man mai noght areche.’
The fader herde his dowhter speche,
And thoghte ther was resoun inne,
And sih his oghne lif to winne 3210
He cowthe don himself no cure ;
So betre him thoghte in aventure
To put his lif and al his good,
Than in the maner as it stod
His lif in certein forto lese.
And thus thenkende he gan to chese
To do the conseil of this Maide,
And tok the pourpos which sche saide.
The dai was come and forth thei gon,
Unto the Court thei come anon, 3220
Wher as the king in juggement P. i. 151
Was set and hath this knyht assent.
Arraied in hire beste wise
This Maiden with hire wordes wise
Hire fader ladde be the hond
Into the place, wher he fond
The king with othre whiche he wolde,
And to the king knelende he tolde
As he enformed was tofore,
And preith the king that he therfore 3230
His dowhtres wordes wolde take,
And seith that he wol undertake
Upon hire wordes forto stonde.
Tho was ther gret merveile on honde,
3201 I wole XERCBa 3209 fought pat per was XGRCLB:

124

[TaLe or THE THREE
Questions. }

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

That he, which was so wys a knyht,
His lif upon so yong a wyht
Besette wolde in jeupartie,
And manye it hielden for folie:
Bot ate laste natheles
The king comandeth ben in pes, 3240
And to this Maide he caste his chiere,
And seide he wolde hire tale hiere,
He bad hire speke, and sche began:
' Mi liege lord, so as I can,'
Quod sche, *the pointz of whiche I herde,
Thei schul of reson ben ansuerde.
The ferste I understonde is this,
What thing of al the world it is,
Which men most helpe and hath lest nede.
Mi liege lord, this wolde I rede: 3250
The Erthe it is, which everemo P. i. 152
With mannes labour is bego;
Als wel in wynter as in Maii
The mannes hond doth what he mai
To helpe it forth and make it riche,
And forthi men it delve and dyche
And eren it with strengthe of plowh,
Wher it hath of himself ynowh,
So that his nede is ate leste.
For every man and bridd and beste, 3260
And flour and gras and rote and rinde,
And every thing be weie of kynde
Schal sterve, and Erthe it schal become ;
As it was out of Erthe nome,
It schal to therthe torne ayein :
And thus I mai be resoun sein
That Erthe is the most nedeles,
And most men helpe it natheles.
So that, my lord, touchende of this
I have ansuerd hou that it is. 3270

3245 pointes (pointz) which(e) Hi... B» B, WKHs (pointes
which as L) 3249 hath lest nede] hap most nede R han most
nede XEC han lest nede Bs 3261 And] Of Hi...Bs, B. 3264 of
pe erpe AMBs, A

LIBER PRIMUS 125

That other point I understod, (Tate or THE THREE
Which most is worth and most is good, Questions. ]
And costeth lest a man to kepe:

Mi lord, if ye woll take kepe,
I seie it is Humilite,
Thurgh which the hihe trinite
As for decerte of pure love
Unto Marie from above,
Of that he knew hire humble entente,
His oghne Sone adoun he sente, 3280
Above alle othre and hire he ches P. i. 153
For that vertu which bodeth pes:
So tbat I may be resoun calle
Humilite most worth of alle.
And lest it costeth to maintiene,
In al the world as it is sene ;
For who that hath humblesce on honde,
He bringth no werres into londe,
For he desireth for the beste
To setten every man in reste. 3290
Thus with your hihe reverence
Me thenketh that this evidence
As to this point is sufficant.
And touchende of the remenant,
Which is the thridde of youre axinges,
What leste is worth of alle thinges,
And costeth most, I telle it, Pride;
Which mai noght in the hevene abide,
For Lucifer with hem that felle
Bar Pride with him into helle. 3300
Ther was Pride of to gret a cost,
Whan he for Pride hath hevene lost ;
And after that in Paradis
Adam for Pride loste his pris:
In Midelerthe and ek also
Pride is the cause of alle wo,
That al the world ne may suffise
To stanche of Pride the reprise:
3285 to] in AM 3300 into] to AM 3301 grete (gret) cost
MHiG, B

126 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Tate or THE THREE Pride is the heved of alle Sinne,
Questioss. | Which wasteth al and mai noght winne; 3310
Pride is of every mis the pricke, P. i 154

Pride is the werste of alle wicke,
And costneth most and lest is worth
In place where he hath his forth.
Thus have I seid that I wol seie
Of myn answere, and to you preie,
Mi liege lord, of youre office
'That ye such grace and such justice
Ordeigne for mi fader hiere,
That after this, whan men it hiere, 3320
The world therof mai speke good.’
The king, which reson understod
And hath al herd how sche hath said,
Was inly glad and so wel paid
'That al his wraththe is overgo:
And he began to loke tho
Upon this Maiden in the face,
In which he fond so mochel grace,
That al his pris on hire he leide,
In audience and thus he seide: 3330
* Mi faire Maide, wel thee be!
Of thin ansuere and ek of thee
Me liketh wel, and as thou wilt,
Foryive be thi fader gilt.
And if thou were of such _lignage,
That thou to me were of “parage,
And that thi fader were a Pier,
As he is now a Bachilier,
So seker as I have a lif,
Thou scholdest thanne be my wif. 3340
Bot this I seie natheles, P. i. 155
That I wol schape thin encress ;
What worldes good that thou wolt crave,
Axe of my yifte and thou schalt have.’
And sche the king with wordes wise
Knelende thonketh in this wise:
* Mi liege lord, god mot you quite!
3313 costep HiXLBs, Ba, Hs costs W

LIBER PRIMUS 127

Mi fader hier hath bot a lite [TALE or THE THREE
Of Warison, and that he wende Questions. }
Hadde al be lost; bot now amende 3350

He mai wel thurgh your noble grace.’
With that the king mht in his place
Anon forth in that freisshe hete
An Erldom, which thanne of eschete
Was late falle into his hond,
Unto this knyht with rente and lond
Hath yove and with his chartre sesed ;
And thus was all the noise appesed.

This Maiden, which sat on hire knes
Tofore the king, hise charitees 3360
Comendeth, and seide overmore ;
* Mi liege lord, riht now tofore
Ye seide, as it is of record,
That if my fader were a lord
And Pier unto these othre grete,
Ye wolden for noght elles lete,
That I ne scholde be your wif;
And this wot every worthi lif,
A kinges word it mot ben holde.
Forthi, my lord, if that ye wolde 3370
So gret a charite fulfille, P. i. 156
God wot it were wel my wille:
For he which was a Bacheler,
Mi fader, is now mad a Pier;
So whenne as evere that I cam,
An Erles dowhter now I am.’

This yonge king, which peised al,
Hire beaute and hir wit withal,
As he that was with love hent,
Anon therto yaf his assent. 3380
He myhte noght the maide asterte,
That sche nis ladi of his herte;

3357 seled F 3361 euermore MX ... B:, B, W 3363 as]

and Hi... Ba, B 3369 it mot ben] mot (mote) nede be
Hi . . . Ba, BA 3374 mad a Pier] an Erl(e) hier Hi. .
Bz, A 3379 that] which Hi... Ba, B 3381 maide] place

Hi... Bs, BA

128

[TALE OF THE THREE
QuEstions. ]

[(Huuizrry.]
Gonfessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

So that he tok hire to his wif,
To holde whyl that he hath lif:
And thus the king toward his knyht
Acordeth him, as it is riht.

And over this good is to wite,
In the Cronique as it is write,
This noble king of whom I tolde
Of Spaine be tho daies olde 3390
The kingdom hadde in governance,
And as the bok makth remembrance,
Alphonse was his propre name:
The knyht also, if I schal name,
Danz Petro hihte, and as men telle,
His dowhter wyse Peronelle
Was cleped, which was full of grace:
And that was sene in thilke place,
Wher sche hir fader out of teene
Hath broght and mad hirself a qweene, 3400
Of that sehe hath so wel desclosed P. i. 157
The pointz wherof sche was opposed.

Lo now, my Sone, as thou myht hiere,
Of al this thing to my matiere
Bot on I take, and that is Pride,
To whom no grace mai betide:
In hevene he fell out of his stede,
And Paradis him was forbede,
The goode men in Erthe him hate,
So that to helle he mot algate, 3410
Where every vertu schal be weyved
And every vice be received.
Bot Humblesce is al otherwise,
Which most is worth, and no reprise
It takth ayein, bot softe and faire,
If eny thing stond in contraire,

3396 His doughtres (doghter) name Peronele Hi... Bs, A
3398 sene (seene) A, B. scene S, F schene (om. was) J 3403
myht) may Hi... B» 3412 be] schal be Hi... B: 3414
worpy and no prise X ... CB: worth and no prise Hi worpy
and of no prise LSn, A worth and of no reprise W 3416 And

it is alway debonaire Hi... B4, A stondJ, S; F stonde A, B

LIBER PRIMUS

With humble speche it is redresced :
Thus was this yonge Maiden blessed,
The which I spak of now tofore,
Hire fader lif sche gat therfore, 3420
And wan with al the kinges love.
Forthi, my Sone, if thou wolt love,
It sit thee wel to leve Pride
And take Humblesce upon thi side ;
The more of grace thou schalt gete.
Mi fader, I woll noght foryete
Of this that ye have told me hiere,
And if that eny such manere
Of humble port mai love appaie,
Hierafterward I thenke assaie: 3430
Bot now forth over I beseche P. i. 158
That ye more of my schrifte seche.
Mi goode Sone, it schal be do:
Now herkne and ley an Ere to;
For as touchende of Prides fare,
Als ferforth as I can declare
In cause of vice, in cause of love,
That hast thou pleinly herd above,
So that ther is nomor to seie
Touchende of that; bot other weie 3440
Touchende Envie I thenke telle,
Which hath the propre kinde of helle,
Withoute cause to misdo
Toward himself and othre also,
Hierafterward as understonde
Thou schalt the spieces, as thei stonde.

Explicit Liber Primus.

3443 to misdo] of ping misdo Hi... CB: of nothing mysdo L
3445 as] as I AJL, A, W

129

( Hosarmy.]

Amans.

Confessor.

130

[ Envy. ]

Hic in secundo li-
bro tractat de Inuidia
et eius speciebus, qua-
rum dolor alterius
gaudii prima nuncupa-
tur, cuiuscondicionem
secundum viciumCon-
fessor primitus descri-
bens, Amanti quatenus
amorem concernit, su -
pe: eodem consequen-
ter opponit.

ji. SORROW FOR AN-
OTHER MAN'S Jov.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Incipit Liber Secundus. P. i. 159

i. Inuidie culpa magis est alfrita dolore,

Nam sua mens nullo tempore leta manet :

Quo gaudent alii, dolet ille, nec vnus amicus
Est, cui de puro comoda velle facit.

Proximitatis honor sua corda veretur, el omnis
Est sibi leticia sic aliena dolor.

Hoc efenim vicium quam sepe repugnat amanti,
Non sibi, set reliquis, dum fauet ipsa Venus.

Est amor ex proprio motu fantasticus, ef que
Gaudia fert alius, credit obesse sibi. (10)

Now after Pride the secounde

Ther is, which many a woful stounde

Towardes othre berth aboute

Withinne himself and noght withoute ;

For in his thoght he brenneth evere,

Whan that he wot an other levere

Or more vertuous than he,

Which passeth him in his degre;

Therof he takth his maladie:

That vice is cleped hot Envie. 10
Forthi, my Sone, if it be so

Thou art or hast ben on of tho,

As forto speke in loves cas,

If evere yit thin herte was

Sek of an other mannes hele? P. i. 160
So god avance my querele,

Mi fader, ye, a thousend sithe:

Whanne I have sen an other blithe

Of love, and hadde a goodly chiere,

Latin Verses i. 10 aliis Hi... Bs, BA, W

LIBER SECUNDUS 131

Ethna, which brenneth yer be yere, 20 [SORROW FOR an-
Was thanne noght so hot as I OTHER MAN'S Jor.)
Of thilke Sor which prively

Min hertes thoght withinne brenneth.

The Schip which on the wawes renneth,

And is forstormed and forblowe,

Is noght more peined for a throwe

Than I am thanne, whanne I se

An other which that passeth me

In that fortune of loves yifte.

Bot, fader, this I telle in schrifte, 30
That is nowher bot in o place;

For who that lese or finde grace

In other stede, it mai noght grieve:

Bot this ye mai riht wel believe,

Toward mi ladi that I serve,

Thogh that I wiste forto sterve,

Min herte is full of such sotie,

That I myself mai noght chastie.

Whan I the Court se of Cupide

Aproche unto my ladi side 40
Of hem that lusti ben and freisshe,—

Thogh it availe hem noght a reisshe,

Bot only that thei ben in speche, —

My sorwe is thanne noght to seche:

Bot whan thei rounen in hire Ere, P. i. 161
Than groweth al my moste fere,

And namly whan thei talen longe;

My sorwes thanne be so stronge

Of that I se hem wel at ese,

I can noght telle my desese. 5o
Bot, Sire, as of my ladi selve,

Thogh sche have yowers ten or twelve,

For no mistrust I bave of hire

Me grieveth noght, for certes, Sire,

I trowe, in al this world to seche,

Nis womman that in dede and speche

Woll betre avise hire what sche doth,

31 nowher] now heer (here) MX... Bs
K 2

I32

[Sorrow FOR AN-
OTHER MAN's Joy. ]

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Ne betre, forto seie a soth,
Kepe hire honour ate alle tide,
And yit get hire a thank beside. 60
Bot natheles I am beknowe,
That whanne I se at eny throwe,
Or elles if I mai it hiere,
That sche make eny man good chiere,
Thogh I therof have noght to done,
Mi thought wol entermette him sone.
For thogh I be miselve strange,
Envie makth myn herte change,
That I am sorghfully bestad
Of that I se an other glad ro
With hire; bot of other alle,
Of love what so mai befalle,
Or that he faile or that he spede,
Therof take I bot litel heede.
Now have I seid, my fader, al P. i. 162
As of this point in special,
Als ferforthli as I have wist.
Now axeth further what you list.
Mi Sone, er I axe eny more,
I thenke somdiel for thi lore Ro
Telle an ensample of this matiere
Touchende Envie, as thou schalt hiere.
Write in Civile this I finde:
Thogh it be noght the houndes kinde
To ete chaf, yit wol he werne
An Oxe which comth to the berne,
Therof to taken eny fode.
And thus, who that it understode,
It stant of love in many place:
Who that is out of loves grace 90
And mai himselven noght availe,
He wolde an other scholde faile ;
And if he may put eny lette,
He doth al that he mai to lette.

59 ateA, S, F at J, B 60 get J,S, F gete AC, B 71 oper
(othir) MHi, Ada, Hs opre AJEC, SB, F 78 further] fader KH:
92 wolde] pought(e) XEC pough HiRLBs

LIBER SECUNDUS

Wherof I finde, as thou schalt wite,
To this pourpos a tale write.

Ther ben of suche mo than twelve,
That ben noght able as of hemselve
To gete love, and for Envie
Upon alle othre thei aspie ;

And for hem lacketh that thei wolde,
Thei kepte that non other scholde
Touchende of love his cause spede:
Wherof a gret ensample I rede,
Which unto this matiere acordeth,
As Ovide in his bok recordeth,
How Poliphemus whilom wroghte,
Whan that he Galathee besoghte

Of love, which he mai noght lacche.
That made him forto waite and wacche
Be alle weies how it ferde,

Til ate laste he knew and herde

How that an other hadde leve

To love there as he mot leve,

As forto speke of eny sped:

So that he knew non other red,

Bot forto wayten upon alle,

Til he may se the chance falle

That he hire love myhte grieve,
Which he himself mai noght achieve.
This Galathee, seith the Poete,

Above alle othre was unmete

Of beaute, that men thanne knewe,
And hadde a lusti love and trewe,

A Bacheler in his degree,

Riht such an other as was sche,

On whom sche hath hire herte set,
So that it myhte noght be let

For yifte ne for no beheste,

That sche ne was al at his heste.

P. i. 163

110

120

130

96 write] I write AM 116 margin capere Hi... B, B
117 Bot] Bo F 119 margin et om. B 123 that men thanne
knewe} pat men pat (om. knewe) A pat men pat knew M that than
men knewe Ad of men that knewe Hs 129 no om. AM

133

[TALE or AcIS AND
GALATEA.]

Hicponit Confessor
exemplum saltem con-
tra istos qui in amoris
causa aliorum gaudiis
inuidentes nequaquam
per hoc sibi ipsis pro-
ficiunt. Et narrat,
qualiter quidam iuue-
nis miles nomine Acis,
quem Galathea Nim-
pha pulcherrima toto
corde peramauit, cum
ipsi sub quadam rupe
iuxta litus maris col-
loquium adinuicem
habuerunt, Poliphe-
mus Gigas concussa
rupe magnam inde
partem super caput
Acis ab alto proiciens
ipsum per inuidiam
interfecit. Et cum ipse
super hoc dictam Gala-
theam rapere voluis-
set, Neptunus Giganti
obsistens ipsam inuio-
latam salua custodia
preseruauit. Set et
dii miserti corpus Acis
defuncti in fontem
aque dulcissime subito
transmutarunt.

134 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[TaLe or Ácis AND This yonge knyht Acis was hote,
GALATEA.] Which hire ayeinward als so hote
Al only loveth and nomo.
Hierof was Poliphemus wo
Thurgh pure Envie, and evere aspide, P. i. 164
And waiteth upon every side,
Whan he togedre myhte se
This yonge Acis with Galathe.
So longe he waiteth to and fro,
Til ate laste he fond hem tuo, 140
In prive place wher thei stode
To speke and have bere wordes goode.
The place wher as he hem syh,
It was under a banke nyh
The grete See, and he above
Stod and behield the lusti love
Which ech of bem to other made
With goodly chiere and wordes glade,
That al his herte hath set afyre
Of pure Envie: and as a fyre 150
Which fleth out of a myhti bowe,
Aweie he fledde for a throwe,
As he that was for love wod,
Whan that be sih how that it stod.
This Polipheme a Geant was ;
And whan he sih the sothe cas,
How Galathee him hath forsake
And Acis to hire love take,
His herte mai it noght forbere
That he ne roreth lich a Bere; 160
And as it were a wilde beste,
The whom no reson mihte areste,
He ran Ethna the hell aboute,
Wher nevere yit the fyr was oute,
Fulfild of sorghe and gret desese, P. i. 165
That he syh Acis wel at ese.

136 tyde B 149 set J, SB. setteA, F 150 vyre (vire) Hi... L,
B,W 160 lich] as B. KH; 162 The whom AX, SAd, F Tho
whome M To whomJHiG... B,A In whom Kinras.Hs The
which B, W Hom om. The) A areste] haue reste J

LIBER SECUNDUS 135

Til ate laste he him bethoghte, [Tare or Acis AND
As he which al Envie soghte, Gatatea.]
And torneth to the banke ayein,

Wher he with Galathee hath seyn 170

Acis, whom that he thoghte grieve,
Thogh he himself mai noght relieve.
This Geant with his ruide myht
Part of the banke he schof doun riht,
The which evene upon Acis fell,
So that with fallinge of this hell
This Poliphemus Acis slowh,
Wherof sche made sorwe ynowh.
And as sche fledde fro the londe,
Neptunus tok hire into honde 180
And kept hire in so sauf a place
Fro Polipheme and his manace,
That he with al his false Envie
Ne mihte atteigne hir compaignie.
This Galathee of whom I speke,
That of hirself mai noght be wreke,
Withouten eny semblant feigned
Sche hath hire loves deth compleigned,
And with hire sorwe and with hire wo
Sche hath the goddes moeved so, Igo
That thei of pite and of grace
Have Acis in the same place,
Ther he lai ded, into a welle
Transformed, as the bokes telle,
With freisshe stremes and with cliere, P. i. 166
^ he whilom with lusti chiere | .
Vas freissh his love forto qweine.
And with this ruide Polipheme
For his Envie and for his hate
Thei were wrothe.
And thus algate, 200 Confessor.
Mi Sone, thou myht understonde,
That if thou wolt in grace stonde
With love, thou most leve Envie:
And as thou wolt for thi partie
176 pe helle AM (hille) 181 keptJ, SB, F kepte A 193 Wher SAdBA

136

[TALE or Ácis AND
GALATEA.]

Amans.

(ii. Joy FOR ANOTHER
MAN'S GRIEF. |

Hicloquitur Confes-
sor de secunda specie
Inuidie, que gaudium
alteriusdoloris dicitur,
et primo eiusdem vicii
materiam tractans am-
antis conscienciam
super eodem vlterius
inuestigat.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Toward thi love stonde fre,

So most thou soffre an other be,
What so befalle upon the chaunce:
For it is an unwys vengance,
Which to non other man is lief,
And is unto himselve grief.

Mi fader, this ensample is good ;
Bot how so evere that it stod
With Poliphemes love as tho,

It schal noght stonde with me so,
To worchen eny felonie

In love for no such Envie.

Forthi if ther oght elles be,

Now axeth forth, in what degre

It is, and I me schal confesse
With schrifte unto youre holinesse.

il. Orta sibi solifo mentalia gaudia liuor

Dum videt alterius, damfna doloris agit.

Inuidus obridet hodie fletus aliorum,

Fletus cui proprios crastina fata farant.
Sic in amore pari stat sorte iocosus, amantes — P. i. 167

Cum videt illusos, inuidus tlle quasi.

Sit licet in vacuum, sperat tamen thse leuamen

Alterius casu, lafsus et tpse simul.

Mi goode Sone, yit ther is
A vice revers unto this,
Which envious takth his gladnesse
Of that he seth the hevinesse
Of othre men: for his welfare
Is whanne he wot an other care:
Of that an other hath a fall,
He thenkth himself arist withal.
Such is the gladschipe of Envie
In worldes thing, and in partie
Fulofte times ek also
In loves cause it stant riht so.

Latin Verses ii. y Orta) Vita Hi... Bs, B
HiXGRCLB:
228 He) Him E, KH:

5 sorte) forte

LIBER SECUNDUS 137

If thou, my Sone, hast joie had, [Joy FOR ANOTHER
Whan thou an other sihe unglad, MAN'S GRIEF.]
Schrif the therof.
Mi fader, yis: Amans.
I am beknowe unto you this.
Of these lovers that loven streyte,
And for that point which thei coveite
Ben poursuiantz fro yeer to yere
In loves Court, whan I may hiere 240
How that thei clymbe upon the whel,
And whan thei wene al schal be wel,
Thei ben doun throwen ate laste,
Thanne am I fedd of that thei faste,
And lawhe of that I se hem loure;
And thus of that thei brewe soure
I drinke swete, and am wel esed P. i. 168
Of that I wot thei ben desesed.
Bot this which I you telle hiere
Is only for my lady diere ; 250
That for non other that I knowe
Me reccheth noght who overthrowe,
Ne who that stonde in love upriht :
Bot be he squier, be he knyht,
Which to my ladiward poursuieth,
The more he lest of that he suieth,
The mor me thenketh that I winne,
And am the more glad withinne
Of that I wot him sorwe endure.

For evere upon such aventure 260

It is a confort, as men sein, Boicius. Consola-
To him the which is wo besein cio miserorum est
. . . . habere consortem in
To sen an other in his peine, pena.

So that thei bothe mai compleigne.

Wher I miself mai noght availe

To sen an other man travaile,

I am riht glad if he be let;

And thogh I fare noght the bet, .

His sorwe is to myn herte a game:

Whban that I knowe it is the same 270
Which to mi ladi stant enclined,

138

[Jor FOR ANOTHER
man's Gamr.)

Confessor.

[THE TRAVELLERS AND
THE ANGEL. |

Hic ponit Confessor
exemplum presertim
contra illum, quispon-
te sui ipsius detrimen-
tum in alterius penam
maiorem patitur. Et
narrat quod, cum Iupi-
ter angelum suum in
forma hominis, vt ho-
minum condiciones
exploraret, ab excelso
in terram misit, conti-
git quod ipse angelus
duos homines,quorum
vnus cupidus, alter in-
uidus erat, itinerando
spacio quasi vnius diei
comitabatur. Etcum
sero factum esset, an-
gelus eorum noticie
seipsum tunc manifes.
tans dixit, quod quic-
quid alter eorum ab
ipso donari sibi pecie-
rit, illud statim obtine-

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And hath his love noght termined,
I am riht joifull in my thoght.

If such Envie greveth oght,

As I beknowe me coupable,

Ye that be wys and resonable,

Mi fader, telleth youre avis.

Mi Sone, Envie into no pris
Of such a forme, I understonde,
Ne mihte be no resoun stonde.
For this Envie hath such a kinde,
That he wole sette himself behinde
To hindre with an othre wyht,
And gladly lese his oghne riht
To make an other lesen his.

And forto knowe how it so is,

A tale lich to this matiere

I thenke telle, if thou wolt hiere,
To schewe proprely the vice

Of this Envie and the malice.

Of Jupiter this finde I write,
How whilom that he wolde wite
Upon the pleigntes whiche he herde,
Among the men how that it ferde,
As of here wrong condicion
To do justificacion :
And for that cause doun he sente
An Angel which aboute wente,
That he the sothe knowe mai.
So it befell upon a dai

P. i. 169

380

290

300

This Angel, which him scholde enforme,

Was clothed in a mannes forme,
And overtok, I understonde,

Tuo men that wenten over londe,
Thurgh whiche he thoghte to aspie
His cause, and goth in compaignie.
This Angel with hise wordes wise
Opposeth hem in sondri wise,

Now lowde wordes and now softe,

298 which om. B

P. i. 170

LIBER SECUNDUS

That mad hem to desputen ofte,

And ech of hem his reson hadde.

And thus with tales he hem ladde

With good examinacioun,

Til he knew the condicioun,

What men thei were bothe tuo;

And sih wel ate laste tho,

That on of hem was coveitous,

And his fela was envious.

And thus, whan he hath knowlechinge,

Anon he feigneth departinge,

And seide he mot algate wende.

Bot herkne now what fell at ende:

For thanne he made hem understonde

That he was there of goddes sonde,

And seide hem, for the kindeschipe

That thei have don him felaschipe,

He wole hem do som grace ayein,

And bad that on of hem schal sein

What thing him is lievest to crave,

And he it schal of yifte have;

And over that ek forth withal

He seith that other have schal

The double of that his felaw axeth ;

And thus to hem his grace he taxeth.
The coveitous was wonder glad,

And to that other man he bad

And seith that he ferst axe scholde:

For he supposeth that he wolde

Make his axinge of worldes good;

For thanne he knew wel how it stod,

That he himself be double weyhte

Schal after take, and thus be sleyhte,

Be cause that he wolde winne,

He bad his fela ferst beginne.

This Envious, thogh it be late,

Whan that he syh he mot algate

310

o

32

330

P. i. r1

340

139

[THE TRAVELLERS AND
THE ANGEL. }

bit, quod et socio suo
secum comitanti affir-
matduplicandum. Su-
per quo cupidus im-
peditus auaricia, sper-
ans sibi diuicias car-
pere duplicatas, pri-
mo petere recusauit.
Quod cum inuidus an-
imaduerteret, naturam
sui vicii concernens,
ita vt socius suus vtro-
quelumine priuaretur,
seipsum monoculum
fieri constanter pri-
mus ab angelo postu-
labat. Et sic vnius
inuidia alterius auari-
ciam maculauit.

310 mad S, F made AJ, B 315 margin igitur (g^) diuicias
carpere XER,B sibi diuicias capere MHi, W igitur diuicias capere
CL 346 What Jat B What Ad

140

"HE TRAVELLERSAND
THE ANGEL.)

Com. c.

V amem c.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Make his axinge ferst, he thoghte,
If he worschipe or profit soghte,
It schal be doubled to his fiere:
That wolde he chese in no manere. E
Bot thanne he scheweth what he was
Toward Envie, and in this cas
Unto this Angel thus he seide
And for his vifte this he preide,
To make him blind of his on yhe,
So that his fela nothing syhe.
This word was noght so sone spoke,
That his on yhe anon was loke,
And his felawh forthwith also
Was blind of bothe his yhen tuo. 62
Tho was that other glad ynowh,
That on werte. and that other lowh.
He sette his on vhe at no cost,
Wherof that other two hath lost.
Of thilke ensample which fell tha
Men tellen now fuiofte so,
The world empe:reth comuni : P. i 172
And vit wot non the canse why;
For it acordeth nazht to kinde
Min oghne harm ro seche and Snide iT
Oi thar I scha! Lx Grothe: fme.
l: mybte revere ve icheve.
Wha: sess lol Some. of thos eae =
M; fader, £00 1] scoeà A.
Upee Le port: sine we bam am
Yet was mye Der mere ni
bot ot the woe is [orc cà
Bot owermere. I Vno ye waste
(Oc ees to mr ctr ieme

"
o

t
f,

Lluctende Esre d) wvaeó Tres. BN

M. Sc. fL ca wer à

New eric ai er cur Ere x.
xx Torre F Rs us hs A an wus WW MS Las
Me rm. SILLA FT re wo se us wae X icd necu

. Br. Mgt urinrnmure d

LIBER SECUNDUS

ii. Inutdie pars est detraccio fessima, festen

Que magis infamem flatibus oris agit.

Lingua venenato sermone refercutit auras,
Sic ut in alterius scandala fama volat.

Morsibus a tergo quos inficit ipsa fideles,
Vulneris ignoti sepe salute carent.

Set generosus amor linguam conseruat, vt etus
Verbum quod loquitur nulla sinistra gerat.

Touchende as of Envious brod
I wot noght on of alle good ;
Bot natheles, suche as thei be,
Yit is ther on, and that is he
Which cleped is Detraccioun.

And to conferme his accioun, pao the.
He hath withholde Malebouche, . . Lene

Whos tunge neither yf ne éfouche

I4I

(iii. DETRACTION. |

Hic tractat Confes-
sor de tercia specie
Inuidie, que Detrac-
cio dicitur, cuius mor-
sus vipereos lesa

^ quamsepe fama de-

390 plangit.

Mai hyre, so that he pronounce P. i. 173

A plein good word withoute frounce
Awher behinde a mannes bak.

For thogh he preise, he fint som lak,
Which of his tale is ay the laste,
That al the pris schal overcaste :
And thogh ther be no cause why,
Yit wole he jangle noght forthi,

As he which hath the heraldie

Of hem that usen forto lye.

For as the Netle which up renneth
The freisshe rede Roses brenneth
And makth hem fade and pale of hewe,
Riht so this fals Envious hewe,

In every place wher he duelleth,
With false wordes whiche he telleth
He torneth preisinge into blame
And worschipe into worldes schame.
Of such lesinge as he compasseth,
Is non so good that he ne passeth
Betwen his teeth and is bacbited,
And thurgh his false tunge endited :

Latin Verses iii. a infamen F
401 the om. AM 409 suche F

400

410

142 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

?
(Derraction. ] Lich to the gens settee kinde,
Of whos nature this I finde,
That in the hoteste of the dai,
Whan comen is the merie Maii,
He dprat is wynge and up he fleth:
And under al aboute he seth
* The faire lusti floures springe,
Bot therof hath he no likinge ; 420
Bot where he seth of eny beste P. i. 174
The felthe, ther he makth his feste,
And therupon he wole alyhte,
Ther liketh him non other sihte.
Riht so this janglere Envious,
Thogh he a man se vertuous
And full of good condicioun,
Therof makth he no mencioun:
Bot elles, be it noght so lyte,
Wherof that he mai sette a wyte, 430
Ther renneth he with open mouth,
Behinde a man and makth it couth.
Bot al the vertu which he can,
That wole he hide of every man,
And openly the vice telle,
As he which of the Scole of helle
Is tawht, and fostred with Envie
Of houshold and of compaignie,
Wher that he hath his propre office
To sette on every man a vice. 440
How so his mouth be comely,
His word sit evermore awry
And seith the worste that he may.
[ DETRACTION oF And in this wise now a day
Lovers. | In loves Court a man mai hiere
Fulofte pleigne of this matiere,
That many envious tale is stered,
Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered ;
Bot yit fulofte it is believed,
And many a worthi love is grieved 450
Thurgh bacbitinge of fals Envie. P. i. 175
If thou have mad such janglerie

LIBER SECUNDUS 143

In loves Court, mi Sone, er this, (DerRAcrTION OF
Schrif thee therof. , Lovzas.]
Mi fad "el Hic in amoris causa
1 fader, yis: huius vicii crimen ad
Bot wite ye how? noght openly, memoriam reducens
Bot otherwhile privel Confessor Amanti su-
priveiy, per eodem plenius op-
Whan I my diere ladi mete, ponit.

And thenke how that I am noght mete
Unto hire hihe worthinesse,
And ek I se the besinesse 460
Of al this yonge lusty route,
Whiche alday pressen hire aboute,
And ech of hem his time awaiteth,
And ech of hem his tale affaiteth,
Al to deceive an innocent,
Which woll noght ben of here assent ;
And for men sein unknowe unkest,
Hire thombe sche holt in hire fest
So clos withinne hire oghne hond,
That there winneth noman lond ; 470
Sche lieveth noght al that sche hiereth,
And thus fulofte hirself sche skiereth
And is al war of *hadde I wist’:—
Bot for al that myn herte arist,
Whanne I thes comun lovers se,
That woll noght holden hem to thre,
Bot welnyh loven overal,
Min herte is Envious withal,
And evere I am adrad of guile,
In aunter if with eny wyle 480
Thei mihte hire innocence enchaunte. P. i. 176
Forthi my wordes ofte I haunte
Behynden hem, so as I dar,
Wherof my ladi may be war:
I sai what evere comth to mowthe,
And worse I wolde, if that I cowthe ;
For whanne I come unto hir speche,
Al that I may enquere and seche
467 vnknowen vnkost R vnknowen gest AM 473 hadde

1 wist] hadde (had) wist XRC haddy wist(e) HiELB: — haddiwist
M, Hs haddy I wist Ad

144 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[DETRACTION or Of such deceipte, I telle it al,
Lovers.] And ay the werste in special. 490
So fayn I wolde that sche wiste
How litel thei ben forto triste,
And what thei wolde and what thei mente,
So as thei be of double entente :
Thus toward hem that wicke mene
My wicked word was evere grene.
And natheles, the soth to telle,
In certain if it so befelle
That althertrewest man ybore,
To chese among a thousend score, 500
Which were alfulli forto triste,
Mi ladi lovede, and I it wiste,
Yit rathere thanne he scholde spede,
I wolde swiche tales sprede
To my ladi, if that I myhte, -
That I scholde al his love unrihte,
And therto wolde I do mi peine.
For certes thogh I scholde feigne,
And telle that was nevere thoght,
For al this world I myhte noght RIO
To soffre an othre fully winne, P. i. 177
Ther as I am yit to beginne.
For be thei goode, or be thei badde,
I wolde non my ladi hadde;
And that me makth fulofte aspie
And usen wordes of Envie,
Al forto make hem bere a blame.
And that is bot of thilke same,
The whiche unto my ladi drawe,
For evere on hem I rounge and gknawe 520
And hindre hem al that evere I mai;
And that is, sothly forto say,
Bot only to my lady selve:
I telle it noght to ten ne tuelve,
Therof I wol me wel avise,
To speke or jangle in eny wise
That toucheth to my ladi name,
517 Al] And H1... B, Hs

x

LIBER SECUNDUS | 145

The which in ernest and in game [D£rRACTION or
I wolde save into my deth; Lovers. }
For me were levere lacke breth 530

Than speken of hire name amis.
Now have ye herd touchende of this,
Mi fader, in confessioun :
And therfor of Detraccioun
In love, of that I have mispoke,
Tel how ye wole it schal be wroke.
I am al redy forto bere
Mi peine, and also to forbere
What thing that ye wol noght allowe ;
For who is bounden, he mot bowe. 540
So wol I bowe unto youre heste, P. i. 178
For I dar make this beheste,
That I to yow have nothing hid,
Bot told riht as it is betid ;
And otherwise of no mispeche,
Mi conscience forto seche,
I can noght of Envie finde,
That I mispoke have oght behinde
Wherof love owhte be mispaid.
Now have ye herd and I have said; 550
What wol ye, fader, that I do?
Mi Sone, do nomore so, Confessor.

Bot evere kep thi tunge stille,
Thou miht the more have of thi wille.
For as thou saist thiselven here,
Thi ladi is of such manere,
So wys, so war in alle thinge,
It nedeth of no bakbitinge
That thou thi ladi mis enforme:
For whan sche knoweth al the forme, 560
How that thiself art envious,
Thou schalt noght be so gracious
As thou peraunter scholdest elles.
Ther wol noman drinke of tho welles
Whiche as he wot is puyson inne;
And ofte swich as men beginne

554 of om. J... B, BB, W

L

146

[DeTRACTION OF
Lovers. }

[TarzorCoNsrANCE.)

Hic loquitur Con-
fessor contra istos in
amoris causa detra-
hentes, qui suis oblo-
quiis aliena solacia
perturbant. Et narrat
exemplum de Constan-
cia Tiberii Rome Im-
paratoris filia,omnium
virtutum famosissima,
ob cuius amorem Sol-
danus tunc Persie, vt
eam in vxorem ducere
posset, Cristianum se
fieri promisit; cuius
accepta caucione con-
silio Pelagii tunc pape
dicta filia vna cum
duobus Cardinalibus
aliisque Rome proceri-
bus in Persiam mari-
tagii causa nauigio

571 BewarF Be war AJ, B

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Towardes othre, swich thei finde,

That set hem ofte fer behinde,

Whan that thei wene be before.

Mi goode Sone, and thou therfore 570
Bewar and lef thi wicke speche, P. i. 179
Wherof hath fallen ofte wreche

To many a man befor this time.

For who so wole his handes lime,

Thei mosten be the more unclene ;

For many a mote schal be sene,

That wolde noght cleve elles there ;

And that schold every wys man fere:

For who so wol an other blame,

He secheth ofte his oghne schame, 580
Which elles myhte be riht stille.

Forthi if that it be thi wille

To stonde upon amendement,

A tale of gret entendement

I thenke telle for thi sake,

Wherof thou miht ensample take.

A worthi kniht in Cristes lawe
Of grete Rome, as is the sawe,
The Sceptre hadde forto rihte ;
Tiberie Constantin he hihte, 590
Whos wif was cleped Ytalie :
Bot thei togedre of progenie
No children hadde bot a Maide;
And sche the god so wel apaide,
That al the wide worldes fame
Spak worschipe of hire goode name.
Constance, as the Cronique seith,
Sche hihte, and was so ful of feith,
That the greteste of Barbarie,
Of hem whiche usen marchandie, 600
Sche hath converted, as thei come P. i. 180
To hire upon a time in Rome,
To schewen such thing as thei broghte ;
Whiche worthili of hem sche boghte,

578 schold BS, F scholde AJ

LIBER SECUNDUS

And over that in such a wise

Sche hath hem with hire wordes wise
Of Cristes feith so full enformed,
That thei therto ben all conformed,
So that baptesme thei receiven

And alle here false goddes weyven.
Whan thei ben of the feith certein,
Thei gon to Barbarie ayein,

And ther the Souldan for hem sente
And axeth hem to what entente
Thei have here ferste feith forsake.
And thei, whiche hadden undertake
The rihte feith to kepe and holde,
The matiere of here tale tolde

With al the hole circumstance.

And whan the Souldan of Constance
Upon the point that thei ansuerde
The beaute and the grace herde,

As he which thanne was to wedde,
In alle haste his cause spedde

To sende for the mariage.

And furthermor with good corage
He seith, be so he mai hire have,

That Crist, which cam this world to save,

He woll believe: and this recorded,
Thei ben on either side acorded,
And therupon to make an ende
The Souldan hise hostages sende
To Rome, of Princes Sones tuelve:
Wherof the fader in himselve

Was glad, and with the Pope avised
Tuo Cardinals he hath assissed
With othre lordes many mo,

That with his doghter scholden go,
To se the Souldan be converted.

Bot that which nevere was wel herted,

Envie, tho began travaile

In destourbance of this spousaile

So prively that non was war.

606 margin fuit; iunt XERCL, B fuerit Bi
L 2

147

[Tare or CoNusTANCE.)

honorifice destinata
fuit : que tamen oblo-
quencium postea de-
traccionibus variis mo-
dis, prout inferius ar-
ticulatur, absque sui

610 culpa-'dólorosa fata

620

630

P. i. 181

640

multipliciter passa est.

Qualiter adueniente
Constancia in Barba-
riam Mater Soldani,
huiusmodi ^ nupcias

148

[TaLx or Constance.)

perturbare volens, fi-
lium suum vna cum
dicta Constancia Car-
dinalibusque et aliis
Romanis primo die ad
conuiuium inuitauit ;
et conuescentibus illis
in mensa ipsum Sol-
danum omnesque ibi-
dem preter Constan-
ciam Romanos ab in-
sidiis latitantibus sub-
dola detraccioneinter-
ficiprocurauit. Ipsam-
que Constanciam in
quadam naui absque
gubernaculo positam
per altum mare vento-
rum flatibus agitan-
dam in exilium dirigi
solam constituit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

The Moder which this Souldan bar

Was thanne alyve, and thoghte this

Unto hirself: ‘If it so is

Mi Sone him wedde in this manere,

Than have I lost my joies hiere,

For myn astat schal so be lassed.'

Thenkende thus sche hath compassed 650
Be sleihte how that sche may beguile

Hire Sone; and fell withinne a while,

Betwen hem two whan that thei were,

Sche feigneth wordes in his Ere,

And in this wise gan to seie:

‘Mi Sone, I am be double weie ‘!

With al myn herte glad and blithe,

For that miself have ofte sithe

Desired thou wolt, as men seith,

Receive and take a newe feith, 660
Which schal be forthringe of thi lif: P. i. 182
And ek so worschipful a wif,

The doughter of an Emperour,

To wedde it schal be gret honour.

Forthi, mi Sone, I you beseche

That I such grace mihte areche,

Whan that my doughter come schal,

That I mai thanne in special,

So as me thenkth it is honeste,

Be thilke which the ferste feste 670
Schal make unto hire welcominge.’

The Souldan granteth hire axinge,

And sche therof was glad ynowh:

For under that anon she drowh

With false wordes that sche spak

‘Covine of deth behinde his bak.

And therupon hire ordinance

She made so, that whan Constance

Was come forth with the Romeins,

Of clerkes and of Citezeins, 680

649 be so AM sone be X 658 margin in exilium] et in
exilium X, B et exilium HiERLBs 671 welcominge] comyng(e)
Hi... Bs, B

LIBER SECUNDUS 149

A riche feste sche hem made: [TALE or CoxsrANcE.]
And most whan that thei weren glade,
With fals covine which sche hadde
Hire clos Envie tho sche spradde,
And alle tho that hadden be
Or in apert or in prive
Of conseil to the mariage,
Sche slowh hem in a sodein rage
Endlong the bord as thei be set,
So that it myhte noght be let; 690
Hire oghne Sone was noght quit, P. i. 183
Bot deide upon the same plit.
Bot what the hihe god wol spare
It mai for no peril misfare:
This worthi Maiden which was there
Stod thanne, as who seith, ded for feere,
To se the feste how that it stod,
Which al was torned into blod:
The Dissh forthwith the Coppe and al
Bebled thei weren overal ; 700
Sche sih hem deie on every side ;
No wonder thogh sche wepte and cride
Makende many a wofull mone.
Whan al was slain bot sche al one,
This olde fend, this Sarazine,
Let take anon this Constantine
With al the good sche thider broghte,
And hath ordeined, as sche thoghte,
A nakid Schip withoute stiere,
In which the good, and hire in | fiere, 710
Vitailed full for yeres fyve,
Wher that the wynd it wolde dryve,
Sche putte upon the wawes wilde.
Bot he which alle thing mai schilde,

Thre yer, til that sche cam to londe, . Qualiter nauis cum
Hire Schip to stiere hath take in honde, Constancia in partes
: Anglie, que tunc pa-

And in Northumberlond aryveth ; gana fuit, prope Hum-
And happeth thanne that sche dryveth ber sub quodam cas.
| tello Regis, qui tunc

Under a Castel with the flod, Allee vocabatur, post

710 hiere F 716 margin ad partes Hi... RLB:, B

ISO

[Tare or Constance. |

triennium — applicuit,
quam quidam miles
nomine Elda, dicti
castelli tunc custos, e
naui lete suscipiens
vxori sue Hermyng-
heldein custodiam ho-
norificecommendauit.

QualiterConstancia
Eldam cum vxore sua
Hermynghelda, qui
antea Cristiani non ex-
titerant,ad fidem Cristi
miraculose conuertit.

151 and] and it Hi... Bs, B

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Which upon Humber banke stod 720
And was the kynges oghne also, P. i. 184
The which Allee was cleped tho,
A Saxon and a worthi knyht,
Bot he believeth noght ariht.
Of this Castell was Chastellein
Elda the kinges Chamberlein,
A knyhtly man after his lawe ;
And whan he sih upon the wawe
The Schip drivende al one so, ~
He bad anon men scholden go 730
To se what it betokne mai.
This was upon a Somer dai,
The Schip was loked and sche founde;
Elda withinne a litel stounde
It wiste, and with his wif anon
Toward this yonge ladi gon,
Wher that thei founden gret richesse ;
Bot sche hire wolde noght confesse,
Whan thei hire axen what sche was.
And natheles upon the cas 740
Out of the Schip with gret worschipe
Thei toke hire into felaschipe,
As thei that weren of hir glade:
Bot sche no maner joie made,
Bot sorweth sore of that sche fond
No cristendom in thilke lond ;
Bot elles sche hath al hire wille,
And thus with hem sche duelleth stille.
Dame Hermyngheld, which was the wif
Of Elda, lich her oghne lif 750
Constance loveth ; and fell so, P. i. 185
Spekende alday betwen hem two,
Thurgh grace of goddes pourveance
This maiden tawhte the creance
Unto this wif so parfitly,
Upon a dai that faste by
In presence of hire housebonde,
Wher thei go walkende on the Stronde,
margin Elda HiG... Bi, B

LIBER SECUNDUS

A blind man, which cam there lad,
Unto this wif criende he bad, 760
With bothe hise hondes up and preide
To hire, and in this wise he seide:
*O Hermyngeld, which Cristes feith,
Enformed as Constance seith,
Received hast, yif me my sihte.'

Upon his word hire herte afflihte
Thenkende what was best to done,
Bot natheles sche herde his bone
And seide, *In trust of Cristes lawe,
Which qn yas on the crois and slawe, 770
Thou bfsne man, behold and se.’
With that to god upon his kne
Thonkende he tok his sihte anon,
Wherof thei merveile everychon,
Bot Elda wondreth most of alle:
This open thing which is befalle
Concludeth him be such a weie,
That he the feith mot nede obeie.

Now lest what fell upon this thing.
This Elda forth unto the king 780
A morwe tok his weie and rod, P. i. 186
And Hermyngeld at home abod
Forth with Constance wel at ese.
Elda, which thoghte his king ta plese,
As he that thanne unwedded was,
Of Constance al the pleine cas
Als goodliche as he cowthe tolde.
The king was glad and seide he wolde
Come thider upon such a wise
That he him mihte of hire avise, “go
The time apointed forth withal.
This Elda triste in special
Upon a knyht, whom fro childhode
He hadde updrawe into manhode:
To him he tolde al that he thoghte,
Wherof that after him forthoghte ;
And natheles at thilke tide

782 margin ipsa sibiA... Bs, BA

ISI

[Tace or CONSTANCE. |

Qualiter quidam mi-
les iuuenis in amorem
Constancie exardes-
cens, pro eoquod ipsa
assentire noluit, cam
de morte Hermyng-
helde, quam ipsemet
noctanter interfecit,
verbis detractoriis ac-
cusauit. Set Angelus
domini ipsum sic de-
trahentem in maxilla
subito percuciens non
solum pro mendace
comprobauit, set ictu
mortali post ipsius
confessionem penitus
interfecit.

152

[Tae or Constance. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Unto his wif he bad him ride

To make redi alle thing

Ayein the cominge of the king, Soo
And seith that he himself tofore

Thenkth forto come, and bad therfore

That he him kepe, and told him whanne.

This knyht rod forth his weie thanne ;

And soth was that of time passed

He hadde in al his wit compassed

How he Constance myhte winne ;

Bot he sih tho no sped therinne,

Wherof his lust began tabate,

And that was love is thanne hate ; 810
Of hire honour he hadde Envie, P. i, 187
So that upon his tricherie

A lesinge in his herte he caste.

Til he cam home he hieth faste,

And doth his ladi tunderstonde

The Message of hire housebonde :

And therupon the longe dai

Thei setten thinges in arrai,

That al was as it scholde be

Of every thing in his degree; 820
And whan it cam into the nyht,

This wif hire hath to bedde dyht,

Wher that this Maiden with hire lay.

This false knyht upon delay

Hath taried til thei were aslepe,

As he that wolde his time kepe

His dedly werkes to fulfille;

And to the bed he stalketh stille,

Wher that he wiste was the wif,

And in his hond a rasour knif 830
He bar, with which hire throte he cutte,

And prively the knif he putte

Under that other beddes side,

803 told A, SB, F tolde C 815 his I. to vnderstonde AJMHiX
GRLB:, BA pis 1. tunderstonde Ad bis |. to vnderstonde C, Hs
his l. vnderstonde E, W 833 that other! pe oper M pat dier(e)
Hi... Bs, B

LIBER SECUNDUS 153

Wher that Constance lai beside. [TALE or CoNSTANCE.]
Elda cam hom the same nyht,

And stille with a prive lyht,

As he that wolde noght awake

His wif, he hath his weie take

Into the chambre, and ther liggende

He fond his dede wif bledende, 840
Wher that Constance faste by P. i, 188
Was falle aslepe; and sodeinly

He cride alowd, and sche awok,

And forth withal sche caste a lok

And sih this ladi blede there,

Wherof swounende ded for fere

Sche was, and stille as eny Ston

She lay, and Elda therupon

Into the Castell clepeth oute,

And up sterte every man aboute, 850
Into the chambre and forth thei wente.

Bot he, which alle untrouthe mente,

This false knyht, among hem alle

Upon this thing which is befalle

Seith that Constance hath don this dede;

And to the bed with that he yede

After the falshed of his speche,

And made him there forto seche,

And fond the knif, wher he it leide,

And thanne he cride and thanne he seide, 860
'Lo, seth the knif al blody hiere!

What nedeth more in this matiere

To axe?’ And thus hire innocence

He sclaundreth there in audience

With false wordes whiche he feigneth.

Bot yit for al that evere he pleigneth,

Elda no full credence tok:

And happeth that ther lay a bok,

Upon the which, whan he it sih,

This knyht hath swore and seid on hih, 870
That alle men it mihte wite, P. i. 189

844 caste AC, S. cast J, B,F 860 thanne .. . thanne] panne
... pus LB:, B, W

154

[ Tace or Constance. |

Qualiter Rex Allee
ad fidem Cristi conuer-
sus baptismum recepit
et Constanciam super
hocletoanimo despon-
sauit; que tamen qua-
lis vel vnde fuit alicui
nullo modo fatebatur.
Etcuminfrabreue pos-
tea a domino suo im-
pregnata fuisset, ipse
ad debellandum cum
Scotis iter arripuit, et
ibidem super guerras
aliquamdiu permansit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

* Now be this bok, which hier is write,
Constance is gultif, wel I wot.’
With that the hond of hevene him smot
In tokne of that he was forswore,
That he hath bothe hise yhen lore,
Out of his hed the same stounde
Thei sterte, and so thei weren founde.
A vois was herd, whan that they felle,
Which seide, *O dampned man to helle, 88o
Lo, thus hath god the sclaundre wroke
That thou ayein Constance hast spoke :
Beknow the sothe er that thou dye.’
And he told out his felonie,
And starf forth with his tale anon.
Into the ground, wher alle gon,
This dede lady was begrave:
Elda, which thoghte his honour save,
Al that he mai restreigneth sorwe.
For the seconde day a morwe 890
The king cam, as thei were acorded ;
And whan it was to him recorded
What god hath wroght upon this chaunce,
He tok it into remembrance
And thoghte more than he seide.
For al his hole herte he leide
Upon Constance, and seide he scholde
For love of hire, if that sche wolde,
Baptesme take and Cristes feith
Believe, and over that he seith goo
He wol hire wedde, and upon this P. i. 190
Asseured ech til other is.
And forto make schorte tales,
Ther cam a Bisschop out of Wales
Fro Bangor, and Lucie he hihte,
Which thurgh the grace of god almihte
The king with many an other mo
Hath cristned, and betwen hem tuo
He hath fulfild the mariage.
Bot for no lust ne for no rage 910

882 hastjhas C,A hap RLBs, AdB, W 884 told J,SB,F tolde AC

LIBER SECUNDUS

Sche tolde hem nevere what sche was;

And natheles upon the cas

The king was glad, how so it stod,

For wel he wiste and understod

Sche was a noble creature.

The hihe makere of nature

Hire hath visited in a throwe,

That it was openliche knowe

Sche was with childe be the king,

Wherof above al other thing 920

He thonketh god and was riht glad.

And fell that time he was bestad

Upon a werre and moste ride ;

And whil he scholde there abide,

He lefte at hom to kepe his wif

Suche as he knew of holi lif,

Elda forth with the Bisschop eke ;

And he with pouer goth to seke

Ayein the Scottes forto fonde

The werre which he tok on honde. 930
The time set of kinde is come, P. i. 191

This lady hath hire chambre nome,

And of a Sone bore full,

Wherof that sche was joiefull,

Sche was delivered sauf and sone.

The bisshop, as it was to done,

Yaf him baptesme and Moris calleth ;

And therupon, as it befalleth,

With lettres writen of record

Thei sende unto here liege lord, 940

That kepers weren of the qweene:

And he that scholde go betwene,

The Messager, to Knaresburgh,

Which toun he scholde passe thurgh,

Ridende cam the ferste day.

The kinges Moder there lay,

Whos rihte name was Domilde,

912 the; pis Hi... Bs, B, Hs 925 He] And HiYXGECLBas, B
938 margin quod] quia Hi... Bs, B 939 ‘margin non om. B
947 margin desolabitur YRCL, B, W

155

(Tavs or CONSTANCE.]

Qualiter ReginaCon-
stancia infantem mas-
culum, quem in bap-
tismo Mauricium vo-
cant, Rege absente
enixa est. Set inuida
Regis mater Domilda
super isto facto condo-
lens litteris mendaci-
bus Regi certificauit
quod vxor sua demo-
niaci et non humani
generisquoddam mon-
strosum fantasma loco
genituread ortum pro-
duxit; huiusmodique
detraccionibus aduer-
sus Constanciam in
tanto procurauit, quod
ipsa in nauim, qua
prius venerat, iterum
ad exilium vna cum
suo partu remissa de-
solabatur.

136

[TALE oF CONSTANCE.]

Primalittera in com-
mendacionem Con-
stancie ab Episcopo
Regi missa per Do-
mildam in contrarium
falsata.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Which after al the cause spilde:

For he, which thonk deserve wolde,
Unto this ladi goth and tolde

Of his Message al how it ferde.

And sche with feigned joie it herde
And yaf him yiftes largely,

Bot in the nyht al prively

Sche tok the lettres whiche he hadde,
Fro point to point and overradde,

— As sche that was thurghout untrewe,

And let do wryten othre newe
In stede of hem, and thus thei spieke :
‘Oure liege lord, we thee beseke
That thou with ous ne be noght wroth,
' Though we such thing as is thee loth
Upon oure trowthe certefie.
Thi wif, which is of faierie,
Of such a child delivered is
Fro kinde which stant all amis:
Bot for it scholde no;ht be seie,
We have it kept out of the weie
For drede of pure worldes schame,
A povere child and in the name
Of thilke which is so misbore
We toke, and therto we be swore,
That non bot only thou and we
Schal knowen of this privete :
Moris it hatte, and thus men wene
That it was boren of the qweene
And of thin oghne bodi gete.
Bot this thing mai noght be foryete,
That thou ne sende ous word anon
What is thi wille therupon.’
'This lettre, as thou hast herd devise,
Was contrefet in such a wise
That noman scholde it aperceive :
And sche, which thoghte to deceive,
It leith wher sche that other tok.

950

960
P. i. 192

979

y8o

949 pong F 951 his) pis ABs 95; As, And C, Hs
961 ne om. J... B, B, W 962 as) pat ERCB:

LIBER SECUNDUS 157

This Messager, whan he awok, [Tae or Constance.)
And wiste nothing how it was,
Aros and rod the grete pas
And tok this lettre to the king.
And whan he sih this wonder thing, 990
He makth the Messager no chiere, P. i. 193
Bot natheles in wys manere
He wrot ayein, and yaf hem charge
That thei ne soffre noght at large
His wif to go, bot kepe hire stille,
Til thei have herd mor of his wille.
This Messager was yifteles,
Bot with this lettre natheles,
Or be him lief or be him loth,
In alle haste ayein he goth loco
Be Knaresburgh, and as he wente,
Unto the Moder his entente
Of that he fond toward the king
He tolde; and sche upon this thing
Seith that he scholde abide al nyht
And made him feste and chiere ariht,
Feignende as thogh sche cowthe him thonk.
Bot he with strong wyn which he dronk
Forth with the travail of the day
Was drunke, aslepe and while he lay, IOIO
Sche hath hise lettres overseie
And formed in an other weie.
Ther was a newe lettre write,

Which seith: ‘I do you forto wite, Secunda littera per
That thurgh the conseil of you tuo Regem Episcopo re-

: . missa a Domilda ite-
I stonde in point to ben undo, rum falsata.

As he which is a king deposed.
For every man it hath supposed,
How that my wif Constance is faie ;
And if that I, thei sein, delaie 1025
To put hire out of compaignie, P. i. 194
The worschipe of my Regalie

993 him Hi... CB, B 1009 ffor wip RLBs 1020 I, thei

sein, delaie] I seie (se) eny delaie Hi... Bs B thei seine d.
(om. I) Hs 1021 put AJ; S; F putte C, B

158

[Tavs or CONSTANCE. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Is lore ; and over this thei telle,

Hire child schal noght among hem duelle,

To cleymen eny heritage.

So can I se non avantage,

Bot al is lost, if sche abide:

Forthi to loke on every side

Toward the meschief as it is,

I charge you and bidde this, 1030

That ye the same Schip vitaile,

In which that sche tok arivaile,

Therinne and putteth bothe tuo,

Hireself forthwith hire child also,

And so forth broght unto the depe

Betaketh hire the See to kepe.

Of foure daies time I sette,

That ye this thing no longer lette,

So that your lif be noght forsfet.'

And thus this lettre contrefet 1040

The Messager, which was unwar,

Upon the kihgeshalve Bar,

And where he scholde it hath betake.

Bot whan that thei have hiede take,

And rad that writen is withinne,

So gret a sorwe thei beginne,

As thei here oghne Moder sihen

Brent in a fyr before here yhen:

Ther was wepinge and ther was wo,

Bot finaly the thing is do. 1050
Upon the See thei have hire broght, P. i. 195

Bot sche the cause wiste noght,

And thus upon the flod thei wone,

This ladi with. hire yonge Sone:

And thanne hire handes to the hevene

Sche strawhte, and with a milde stevene

Knelende upon hire bare kne

Sche seide, *O hihe mageste,

Which sest the point of every trowthe,

Tak of thi wofull womman rowthe 1060

1045 that writen is] pe writen is AM pat writen was Bs, B, W
pat wryten (om. is) X 1048 tofore B, W

LIBER SECUNDUS 159

And of this child that I schal kepe.' [TALE or Constance. ]
And with that word sche gan to wepe,
Swounende as ded, and ther sche lay;
Bot he which alle thinges may,
Conforteth hire, and ate laste
Sche loketh and hire yhen caste
Upon hire child and seide this :
* Of me no maner charge it is
What sorwe I soffre, bot of thee
Me thenkth it is a gret pite, 1070
For if I sterve thou schalt deie:
So mot I nedes be that weie
For Moderhed and for tendresse
With al myn hole besinesse
Ordeigne me for thilke office,
As sche which schal be thi Norrice.’ .
Thus was sche strengthed forto stonde ;
And tho sche tok hire child in honde
And yaf it sowke, and evere among
Sche wepte, and otherwhile song 1080
To rocke with hire child aslepe : P. i. 196
And thus hire oghne child to kepe
Sche hath under the goddes cure.
And so fell upon aventure,
Whan thilke yer hath mad his ende, Qualiter Nauis Con-
Hire Schip, so as it moste wende eec Hispante on
Thurgh strengthe of wynd which god hath yive, perioris inter Saraze-
Estward was into Spaigne drive rum lactabatur, eus ip.
Riht faste under a Castell wall, Sam conseruans gra-
Wher that an hethen Amirall 1090 Ciosissime liberauit.
Was lord, and he a Stieward hadde,
Oon Theloüs, which al was badde,
A fals knyht and a renegat.
He goth to loke in what astat
The Schip was come, and there he fond
Forth with a child upon hire hond
This lady, wher sche was al one.
1063 Sownend(e) A,B 1066 yheA...Bs SAdB 1070 penkep

it is gret E, B, Hs Io7I schalt] most B 1085 ff. margin
Qualiter—liberauit om. AM(p.9.)

160

[TALE or CoxsrANCE.]

Qualiter nauicula
Constancie quodam
die per altum marc
vagans inter copiosam
Nauium multitudinem
dilapsa est, quarum
Arcennus Romano-

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

He tok good hiede of the persone,
And sih sche was a worthi wiht,
And thoghte he wolde upon the nyht 1100
Demene hire at his oghne wille,
And let hire be therinne stille,
That mo men sih sche noght that dai.
At goddes wille and thus sche lai,
Unknowe what hire schal betide ;
And fell so that be nyhtes tide
This knyht withoute felaschipe
Hath take a bot and cam to Schipe,
And thoghte of hire his lust to take,
And swor, if sche him daunger make, IlIO
That certeinly sche scholde deie. P. i. 197
Sche sih ther was non other weie,
And seide he scholde hire wel conforte,
That he ferst loke out ate porte,
That noman were nyh the stede,
Which myhte knowe wbat thei dede,
And thanne he mai do what he wolde.
He was riht glad that sche so tolde,
And to the porte anon he ferde :
Sche preide god, and he hire herde, II20
And sodeinliche he was out throwe
And dreynt, and tho began to blowe
A wynd menable fro the lond,
And thus the myhti goddes hond
Hire hath conveied and defended.
And whan thre yer be full despended,
Hire Schip was drive upon a dai,
Wher that a gret Navye lay
Of Schipes, al the world at ones :

And as god wolde for the nones, 1130
Hire Schip goth in among hem alle,

1101 at, as AM 1103 mo men sih sche AM \sighe’. S Ada
ysaw’, F no men seih ‘sigh’ sche G... Be B. Hs no mans she
Hit, W no men sie hire J noght ose. W 1120 preide!
preide to L preiep to C praïeth a preith Hs 1123 menable
NM, 4 F meuable GRCLE:. B duaiiful AJH.YXE. SAd, H:
meveable W 1127 fL weaver Quahter —educau:t cam. AM m,

1129 mergin vagans nauigans B

LIBER SECUNDUS 161

And stinte noght, er it be falle [Tare or Constance. ]
And hath the vessell undergete, rum Consul, Dux ct
Which Maister was of al the Flete, notam suscipiens ve.
Bot there it resteth and abod. que ad Romam secum
. . perduxit; vbi equalem
This grete Schip on Anker rod ; vxori sue Helene per-
The Lord cam forth, and whan he sih mansuram reuerenter
e t ,
That other ligge abord so nyh, eiusdem flium Mauri-
He wondreth what it myhte be, cium in omni habun-
. danciaquasi proprium
And bad men to gon in and se. 1140 educauit.
This ladi tho was crope aside, P. i. 198

As sche that wolde hireselven hide,

For sche ne wiste what thei were:

Thei soghte aboute and founde hir there
And broghten up hire child and hire;
And therupon this lord to spite ^
Began, fro whenne that sche cam,

And what sche was. Quod sche, ‘I am
A womman wofully bestad.

I hadde a lord, and thus he bad, 1150
That I forth with my litel Sone

Upon the wawes scholden wone,

Bot why the cause was, I not:

Bot he which alle thinges wot

Yit hath, I thonke him, of his miht

Mi child and me so kept upriht,

That we be save bothe tuo.’

This lord hire axeth overmo

How sche believeth, and sche seith,

‘I lieve and triste in Cristes feith, 1160
Which deide upon the Rode tree.’
‘What is thi name?’ tho quod he.

‘Mi name is Couste,’ sche him seide:
Bot forthermor for noght he preide

Of hire astat to knowe plein,

Sche wolde him nothing elles sein

Bot of hir name, which sche feigneth ;
Alle othre thinges sche restreigneth,

1132 be falleJ,S,F befalle AC, B 1133 the] pat A... Bs, SAdBA
1140togoin|}goinAM,4 togonL togodounG gone (to se) W
1151 forpwip J, SB forpwip A, F 1158 euermo Hi... CB W

++

M

162

[ Tate or CONSTANCE. ]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

That a word more sche ne tolde.
This lord thanne axeth if sche wolde 1170
With him abide in compaignie, P. i. 199
And seide he cam fro Barbarie
To Romeward, and hom he wente.
Tho sche supposeth what it mente,
And seith sche wolde with him wende
And duelle unto hire lyves ende,
Be so it be to his plesance.
And thus upon here aqueintance
He tolde hire pleinly as it stod,
Of Rome how that the gentil blod 1180
In Barbarie was betraied,
And therupon he hath assaied
Be werre, and taken such vengance,
That non of al thilke alliance,
Be whom the tresoun was compassed,
Is from the swerd alyve passed;
Bot of Constance hou it was,
That cowthe he knowe be no cas,
Wher sche becam, so as he seide.
Hire Ere unto his word sche leide, 1190
Bot forther made sche no chiere.
And natheles in this matiere
It happeth thilke time so:
This Lord, with whom sche scholde go,
Of Rome was the Senatour,
And of hir fader themperour
His brother doughter hath to wyve,
Which hath hir fader ek alyve,
And was Salustes cleped tho;
This wif Heleine hihte also, I200
To whom Constance was Cousine. P. i. 200
Thus to the sike a medicine
Hath god ordeined of his grace,
That forthwith in the same place

1169 o word HiECB;, B ne] no F 1178 hire (hir)JMX...
Bs,AdB hysW . 1184 alom.HiSn, Hs 1189 becam GEC, AdB,
W be cam (bicam &c.) A... XRLBs,F 1191 forther] for pat Hi...
B:,B 1193 happed Hi... RLB:,B 1200 This] His Hi... Bs, B, W

1217 fclaschip J, S; F felaschipe A

X, H:

LIBER SECUNDUS

This Senatour his trowthe plihte,

For evere, whil he live mihte,

To kepe in worschipe and in welthe,
Be so that god wol yive hire helthe,
This ladi, which fortune him sende.
And thus be Schipe forth sailende
Hire and hir child to Rome he broghte,
And to his wif tho he besoghte

To take hire into compaignie :

And sche, which cowthe of courtesie
Al that a good wif scholde konne,
Was inly glad that sche hath wonne
The felaschip of so good on.

Til tuelve yeres were agon,

This Emperoures dowhter Custe
Forth with the dowhter of Saluste
Was kept, bot noman redily

Knew what sche was, and noght forthi
Thei thoghten wel sche hadde be
In hire astat of hih degre,

And every lif hire loveth wel.

Now herke how thilke unstable whel,
Which evere torneth, wente aboute.
The king Allee, whil he was oute,
As thou tofore hast herd this cas,
Deceived thurgh his Moder was:
Bot whan that he cam hom ayein,
He axeth of his Chamberlein
And of the Bisschop ek also,

Wher thei the qweene hadden do.
And thei answerde, there he bad,
And have him thilke lettre rad,
Which he hem sende for warant,
And tolde him pleinli as it stant,
And sein, it thoghte hem gret pite
To se so worthi on as sche,

With such a child as ther was bore,
So sodeinly to be forlore.

M 2

1210

1220

1230

1240

1226 herkne SAdA herkene
herken B;, W 1237 he om. B

163

{Tare or Constance. }

Qualiter Rex Allee
inita pace cum Scotis
a guerris rediens et
non inuenta vxore sua
causam exilii diligen-
cius perscrutans, cum
Matrem suam Domil-
dam inde culpabilem
sciuisset, ipsam in igne

P. i. 201 proiciens comburi fe-

cit.

164 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[TALz or Constance. ] He axeth hem what child that were;
And thei him seiden, that nagheré,”
In al the world thogh men it soghte,
Was nevere womman that forth broghte
A fairer child than it was on.
And thanne he axede hem anon,
Whi thei ne hadden write so:
Thei tolden, so thei hadden do. 1250
He seide, ‘Nay.’ Thei seiden, ‘ Vis.”
The lettre schewed rad it is,
Which thei forsoken everidel.
Tho was it understonde wel
That ther is tresoun in the thing:
The Messager tofore the king
Was broght and sodeinliche opposed ;
And he, which nothing hath supposed
Bot alle wel, began to seie
That he nagher upon the weie 1260
Abod, bot only in a stede;
And cause why that he so dede
Was, as he wente to and fro, P. i. 202
At Knaresburgh be nyhtes tuo
The kinges Moder made him duelle.
And whan the king it herde telle,
Withinne his herte he wiste als faste
The treson which his Moder caste;
And thoghte he wolde noght abide,
Bot forth riht in the same tide 1270
He tok his hors and rod anon.
With him ther riden manion,
To Knaresburgh and forth thei wente,
And lich the fyr which tunder hente,
In such a rage, as seith the bok,
His Moder sodeinliche he tok
And seide unto hir in this wise:
*O beste of helle, in what juise
Hast thou deserved forto deie,

1245 it] him YX .. . B4, B. om. HiSn 1258 And he which

noping hap supposed AJM, SAdA As he wh. n. hap supposed FWKHs
And he noping hap 3it supposed H1... Bs, B

LIBER SECUNDUS 165

That hast so falsly put aweie 1280 [TALE or ConsTANCcr. |
With tresoun of thi bacbitinge

The treweste at my knowlechinge

Of wyves and the most honeste ?

Bot I wol make this beheste,

I schal be venged er I go.’

And let a fyr do make tho,

And bad men forto caste hire inne:

Bot ferst sche tolde out al the sinne,

And dede hem alle forto wite

How sche the lettres hadde write, . 1299
Fro point to point as it was wroght.

And tho sche was to dethe broght
And brent tofore hire Sones yhe: P. i. 203
Wherof these othre, whiche it sihe

And herden how the cause stod,

Sein that the juggement is good,

Of that hir Sone hire hath so served ;

For sche it hadde wel deserved

Thurgh tresoun of hire false tunge,

Which thurgh the lond was after sunge, 1300
Constance and every wiht compleigneth.

Bot he, whom alle wo distreigneth,

This sorghfull king, was so bestad,

That he schal nevermor be glad,

He seith, eftsone forto wedde,

Til that he wiste how that sche spedde,

Which hadde ben his ferste wif:

And thus his yonge unlusti lif

He dryveth forth so as he mai.

Til it befell upon a dai, 1310

Whan he hise werres hadde achieved, Qualiter post lap-
. sum x1. annorum Nex

And thoghte he wolde be relieved Allee ^ absolucionis
Of Soule hele upon the feith causa Romam profi-
. . ciscens vxorem suam
Which he hath take, thanne he seith Constanciam vna cum
That he to Rome in pelrinage filio suo diuina proui-

dencia ibidem letus
inuenit.

Wol go, wher Pope was Pelage,
To take his absolucioun.

1285 I schal FWKHs:s It schalA... Bs, SAdBA 1303 so]
po AM wo Ad

166

[Tazz or Constance. }

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And upon this condicioun
He made Edwyn his lieutenant,
Which heir to him was apparant, 1320
That he the lond in his absence
Schal reule: and thus be providence
Of alle thinges wel begon P. i. 204
He tok his leve and forth is gon.
Elda, which tho was with him there,
Er thei fulliche at Rome were,
Was sent tofore to pourveie ;
And he his guide upon the weie,
In help to ben his herbergour,
Hath axed who was Senatour, 1330
That he his name myhte kenne.
Of Capadoce, he seide, Arcenne
He hihte, and was a worthi kniht.
To him goth Elda tho forth riht
And tolde him of his lord tidinge,
And preide that for his comynge
He wolde assigne him herbergage ;
And he so dede of good corage.
Whan al is do that was to done,
The king himself cam after sone. ES 4c
This Senatour, whan that he com,
To Couste and to his wif at hom
Hath told how such a king Allee
Of gret array to the Citee
Was come, and Couste upon his tale
With herte clos and colour pale
Aswoune fell, and he merveileth
So sodeinly what thing hire eyleth,
And cawhte hire up, and whan sche wok,
Sche syketh with a pitous lok 1350
And feigneth seknesse of the See ;
Bot it was for the king Allee,
For joie which fell in hire thoght P. i. 205
That god him hath to toune broght.

1328 his guide] is guide HiXGECLBa, B 1343 how] how pat AM
1353fell) was E, B isG o». XRCLB: (that she hadde in here
thouht Hi)

LIBER SECUNDUS 167

This king hath spoke with the Pope [Tacs or Constance. ]
And told al that he cowthe agrope,
What grieveth in his conscience ;
And thanne -he thoghte in reverence
Of his astat, er that he wente,
To make a feste, and thus he sente 1360
Unto the Senatour to come
Upon the morwe and othre some,
To .sitte with him at the mete.
This tale hath Couste noght foryete,
Bot to Moris hire Sone tolde
That he upon the morwe scholde
In al that evere he cowthe and mihte
Be present in the kinges sihte,
So that the king him ofte sihe.
Moris tofore the kinges yhe 1370
Upon the morwe, wher he sat,
Fulofte stod, and upon that
The king his chiere upon him caste,
And in his face him thoghte als faste
He sih his oghne wif Constance ;
For nature as in resemblance
Of face hem liketh so to clothe,
That thei were of a suite bothe.
The king was moeved in his thoght
Of that he seth, and knoweth it noght; 1380
This child he loveth kindely,
And yit he wot no cause why.
Bot wel he sih and understod P. i. 206
That he toward Arcenne stod,
And axeth him anon riht there,
If that this child his Sone were.
He seide, * Yee, so I him calle,
And wolde it were so befalle,
Bot it is al in other wise.
And tho began he to devise 1390
How he the childes Moder fond
Upon the See from every lond
1356 agrope A, SAd, F grope J... Bsa, BA, WHs 1363 at
te J, SF atte A,B 1378 a suite] o suite AM

168

[Tare or CousrANcz.]

1412 nouther] nowher LSn neuer Hs

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Withinne a Schip was stiereles,
And how this ladi helpeles

Forth with hir child he hath forthdrawe.

The king hath understonde his sawe,
The childes name and axeth tho,
And what the Moder hihte also
That he him wolde telle he preide.
* Moris this child is hote, he seide,
* His Moder hatte Couste, and this
I not what maner name it is.’

But Allee wiste wel ynowh,

Wherof somdiel smylende he lowh ;
For Couste in Saxoun is to sein
Constance upon the word Romein.
Bot who that cowthe specefie

What tho fell in his fantasie,

And how his wit aboute renneth
Upon the love in which he brenneth,
It were a wonder forto hiere :

For he was nouther ther ne hiere,
Bot clene out of himself aweie,
That he not what to thenke or seie,
So fain he wolde it were sche.
Wherof his hertes privete

Began the werre of yee and nay,
The which in such balance lay,
That contenance for a throwe

He loste, til he mihte knowe

The sothe: bot in his memoire

The man which lith in purgatoire
Desireth noght the hevene more,
That he ne longeth al so sore

To wite what him schal betide.
And whan the bordes were aside
And every man was rise aboute,
The king hath weyved al the route,
And with the Senatour al one

He spak and preide him of a bone,
To se this Couste, wher sche duelleth

1400

1410

P. i. 207

1420

1430

(now per now here X)

LIBER SECUNDUS 169

At hom with him, so as he telleth. [Tae or CousrANcr.]
The Senatour was wel appaied,
This thing no lengere is delaied,
To se this Couste goth the king ;
And sche was warned of the thing,
. And with Heleine forth sche cam
Ayein the king, and he tho nam
Good hiede, and whan he sih his wif,
Anon with al his hertes lif 1440
He cawhte hire in his arm and kiste.
Was nevere wiht that sih ne wiste
A man that more joie made, P. i. 208
Wherof thei weren alle glade
Whiche herde tellen of this chance.
This king tho with his wif Constance,
Which hadde a gret part of his wille,
In Rome for a time stille
Abod and made him wel at ese:
Bot so yit cowthe he nevere plese 1450
His wif, that sche him wolde sein
' Of hire astat the trowthe plein,
Of what contre that sche was bore,
Ne what sche was, and yit therfore
With al his wit he hath don sieke.
Thus as they lihe abedde and spieke,
Sche preide him and conseileth bothe,
That for the worschipe of hem bothe,
So as hire thoghte it were honeste,
He wolde an honourable feste 1460
Make, er he wente, in the Cite,
Wher themperour himself schal be:
He graunteth al that sche him preide.
Bot as men in that time seide,
This Emperour fro thilke day
That ferst his dowhter wente away
He was thanne after nevere glad ;

1434 is] was G, B 1441 armes HiXRCLB:, Ada, W
kiste] keste F 1445 this] his AM the W 1447 agret F
1457 preip him AM preith (om. him) Hi 1458 worshipe F
1461 the) pat B

170

[Tats or Consrancz. |

Qualiter Constan-
cia, que antea per to-
tum tempus exilii sui
penes omnes incogni-
tam se celauit, tunc
demum patri suo Im-
peratori seipsam per
omnia manifestauit :
quod cum Rex Allee
sciuisset, vna cum vni-
uersa Romanorum
multitudine inestima-
bili gaudio admirantes
cunctipotentem lau-
darunt.

1468 eny] euery Hi...L, B

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Bot what that eny man him bad
Of grace for his dowhter sake,
That grace wolde he noght forsake ;
And thus ful gret almesse he dede,
Wherof sche hadde many a bede.
This Emperour out of the toun
Withinne a ten mile enviroun,

Where as it thoghte him for the beste,

Hath sondry places forto reste ;
And as fortune wolde tho,

He was duellende at on of tho.
The king Allee forth with thassent
Of Couste his wif hath thider sent
Moris his Sone, as he was taght,
To themperour and he goth straght,
And in his fader half besoghte,

As he which his lordschipe soghte,
That of his hihe worthinesse

He wolde do so gret meknesse,
His oghne toun to come and se,
And yive a time in the cite,

So that his fader mihte him gete
That he wolde ones with him ete.
This lord hath granted his requeste ;
And whan the dai was of the feste,
In worschipe of here Emperour
The king and ek the Senatour
Forth with here wyves bothe tuo,
With many a lord and lady mo,
On horse riden him ayein ;

Till it befell, upon a plein

Thei sihen wher he was comende.
With that Constance anon preiende
Spak to hir lord that he abyde,

So that sche mai tofore ryde,

To ben upon his bienvenue

euer eny Ba

1470

P. i. 209

1480

1490

P. i. 210

1472 he Hi, B

1479 forp wip AJ, SB forpwip F
A. S 1484 Wip due reuerence as he oughte Hi... Bs
wip J, SB fforpwip A, F

1483 fader half J, B, F faderhalf
1495 fforp

LIBER SECUNDUS 171

The ferste which schal him salue ; [Tacs or Constance. ]
And thus after hire lordes graunt
Upon a Mule whyt amblaunt
Forth with a fewe rod this qweene.
Thei wondren what sche wolde mene,
And riden after softe pas ;
Bot whan this ladi come was 1510
To themperour, in his presence
Sche seide alowd in audience,
‘Mi lord, mi fader, wel you be!
And of this time that I se
Youre honour and your goode hele,
Which is the helpe of my querele,
I thonke unto the goddes myht.’
For joie his herte was affliht
Of that sche tolde in remembrance ;
And whanne he wiste it was Constance, 1520
Was nevere fader half so blithe.
Wepende he keste hire ofte sithe,
So was his herte al overcome ;
For thogh his Moder were come
Fro deth to lyve out of the grave,
He mihte nomor wonder have
Than he hath whan that he hire sih.
With that hire oghne lord cam nyh
And is to themperour obeied ;
Bot whan the fortune is bewreied, 1530
How that Constance is come aboute,
So hard an herte was non oute,
That he for pite tho ne wepte. P. i. 211
Arcennus, which hire fond and kepte,
Was thanne glad of that is falle,
So that with joie among hem alle
Thei riden in at Rome gate.
This Emperour thoghte al to late,
Til that the Pope were come,
And of the lordes sende some 1340
To preie him that he wolde haste :
And he cam forth in alle haste,
1539 the om. F

172

[Tare or CoNsTANCE.]

Qualiter Mauricius
cum Imperatore vt
heres Imperii reman-
sit, et Rex Allee cum
Constancia in Angli-
am regressi sunt.

Qualiter Rex Allee
post biennium in
Anglia humane carnis
resolucionem subiens
nature debitum per-
soluit, post cuius obi-
tum Constancia cum
patre suo Rome se
transtulit moraturam.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And whan that he the tale herde,

How wonderly this chance ferde,

He thonketh god of his miracle,

To whos miht mai be non obstacle :

The king a noble feste hem made,

And thus thei weren alle glade.

A parlement, er that thei wente,

Thei setten unto this entente,

To puten Rome in full espeir

That Moris was apparant heir

And scholde abide with hem stille,

For such was al the londes wille.
Whan every thing was fulli spoke,

Of sorwe and queint was al the smoke,

Tho tok his leve Allee the king,

And with full many a riche thing,

Which themperour him hadde yive,

He goth a glad lif forto live ;

For he Constance hath in his hond,

Which was the confort of his lond.

E550

1560

For whan that he cam hom ayein, P. i. 212

Ther is no tunge it mihte sein

What joie was that ilke stounde

Of that he hath his qweene founde,
Which ferst was sent of goddes sonde,
Whan sche was drive upon the Stronde,
Be whom the misbelieve of Sinne

Was left, and Cristes feith cam inne
To hem that whilom were blinde.

Bot he which hindreth every kinde
And for no gold mai be forboght,
The deth comende er he be soght,
Tok with this king such aqueintance,
That he with al his retenance
Ne mihte noght defende his lif;

And thus he parteth from his wif,
Which thanne made sorwe ynowh.
And therupon hire herte drowh

1543 the] pis Hi... Bs, B 1568 Stronde F

it B

1577 Ne] He YX :.. B4 B om. Hi

1570

1580
1574 he}

LIBER SECUNDUS 173

To leven Engelond for evere [TALE or CoNsrANCE.]
And go wher that sche hadde levere,

To Rome, whenne that sche cam:

And thus of al the lond sche nam

Hir leve, and goth to Rome ayein.

And after that the bokes sein,

She was noght there bot a throwe,

Whan deth of kinde hath overthrowe

Hir worthi fader, which men seide De morte Impera-
That he betwen hire armes deide. 1590 toris.

And afterward the yer suiende

The god hath mad of hire an ende, _ De morte Constan-
And fro this worldes faierie P. i. 213 °°

Hath take hire into compaignie.

Moris hir Sone was corouned, De coronacione
Which so ferforth was abandouned Mauricii, qui adhuc

in Cronicis Mauricius

To Cristes feith, that men him calle Imperator Cristianis-

Moris the cristeneste of alle. sumus nuncupatus est.
And thus the wel meninge of love

Was ate laste set above ; 1600

And so as thou hast herd tofore,

The false tunges weren lore,

Whiche upon love wolden lie.

Forthi touchende of this Envie

Which longeth unto bacbitinge,

Be war thou make no lesinge

In hindringe of an other wiht:

And if thou wolt be tawht ariht

What meschief bakbitinge doth

Be other weie, a tale soth 1610

Now miht thou hiere next suiende,

Which to this vice is acordende.

[DEMETRIUS AND

In a Cronique, as thou schalt wite, PERSEUS.]

À gret ensample I finde write, Hicponit Confessor
. . . ex

Which I schal telle upon this thing. detraMores, qui in

Philippe of Macedoyne kyng

1582 wher that] where (wher) Hi... Bs, BA, W 1599 wel
meninge (meuinge) AMRLB:, SAd, F welle menyng HiX whele
meneng A whel meuynge J whele mevinge W whiel (whele)
moeuyng YGEC, B, Hs

LIBER SECUNDUS 175

Be weie of kinde, as resoun wolde, (DEMETRIUS AND
That I fro yow schal nothing hide, Prnszus.]
Which mihte torne m eny side
Of youre astat into grevance:
Forthi myn hertes obeissance
Towardes you I thenke kepe;
For it is good ye take kepe 1660
Upon a thing which is me told.
Mi brother hath ous alle sold
To hem of Rome, and you also;
For thanne they behote him so,
That he with hem schal regne in pes.
Thus hath he cast for his encress
That youre astat schal go to noght ;
And this to proeve schal be broght
So ferforth, that I undertake
It schal noght wel mow be forsake.' 1670
The king upon this tale ansuerde
And seide, if this thing which he herde
Be soth and mai be broght to prove,
. ‘It schal noght be to his behove,
Which so hath schapen ous the werste,
For he himself schal be the ferste
That schal be ded, if that I mai.’
Thus afterward upon a dai,
Whan that Demetrius was come,
Anon his fader hath him nome, 1680
And bad unto his brother Perse
That he his tale schal reherse
Of thilke tresoun which he tolde. P.i.216 .
And he, which al untrowthe wolde,
Conseileth that so hih a nede
Be treted wher as it mai spede,
In comun place of juggement.
The king therto yaf his assent,
Demetrius was put in hold,
Wherof that Perseüs was bold. 1690
1669 Soferforp F 1675 Which so hab YGER, SAdAA Which

so as AJMHiXCB:, B, F WhychsohasW Which so L Which
tho as Hs 1678 adai F

176 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[DzwETRIUS AND Thus stod the trowthe under the charge,
Persrvs.] And the falshede goth at large,
Which thurgh beheste hath overcome
The greteste of the lordes some,
That privelich of his acord
Thei stonde as witnesse of record:
The jugge was mad favorable:
Thus was the lawe deceivable
So ferforth that the trowthe fond
Rescousse non, and thus the lond 1700
Forth with the king deceived were.
The gulteles was dampned there

And deide upon accusement :
Bot such a fals conspirement,
Thogh it be prive for a throwe,
Godd wolde noght it were unknowe ;
And that was afterward wel proved
In him which hath the deth controved.
Of that his brother was so slain
This Persetis was wonder fain, 1710
As he that tho was apparant,
Upon the Regne and expectant ;
Wherof he wax so proud and vein, P. i. 217
That he his fader in desdeign
Hath take and set of non acompte,
As he which thoghte him to surmonte ;
That wher he was ferst debonaire,
He was tho rebell and contraire,

. And noght as heir bot as a king
He tok upon him alle thing 1720
Of malice and of tirannie
In contempt of the Regalie,
Livende his fader, and so wroghte,
That whan the fader him bethoghte
And sih to whether side it drowh,
Anon he wiste well ynowh
How Perse after his false tunge

1706 it were noght AM 1707 that] pus H1...L,B pis Bs

1711 that tho was] which po was SAdA pat was heir HiYG...
B3,B which heyr was X

LIBER SECUNDUS 177

Hath so thenvious belle runge, (DEMETRIUS AND
That he hath slain his oghne brother. PERSEUS. |
Wherof as thanne he knew non other, 1730

Bot sodeinly the jugge he nom,
Which corrupt sat upon the dom,
In such a wise and hath him pressed,
That he the sothe him hath confessed
Of al that hath be spoke and do.
Mor sori than the king was tho
Was nevere man upon this Molde,
And thoghte in certein that he wolde
Vengance take upon this wrong.
Bot thother parti was so strong, 1740
That for the lawe of no statut
Ther mai no riht ben execut ;
And upon this division P. i. 218
The lond was torned up so doun:
Wherof his herte is so distraght,
That he for pure sorwe hath caght
The maladie of which nature
Is queint in every creature.
And whan this king was passed thus,
This false tunged Perseüs 1750
The regiment hath underfonge.
Bot ther mai nothing stonde longe
Which is noght upon trowthe grounded ;
For god, which alle thing hath bounded
And sih the falshod of his guile,
Hath set him bot a litel while,
That he schal regne upon depos;
For sodeinliche as he aros
So sodeinliche doun he fell.
In thilke time it so befell, 1760
This newe king of newe Pride
With strengthe schop him forto ride,
And seide he wolde Rome waste,
Wherof he made a besi haste,

1728 belles B. 1743 diuision J, F diuisious A, B 1758 as he
aros) right as he ros (aros) Hi... Bz, B 1763 wold(e) to Rome
faste Hi... Bs, B

** N

178

[Demetrius AND
PERSEUS. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And hath assembled him an host
In al that evere he mihte most:
What man that mihte wepne bere
Of alle he wolde non forbere ;
So that it mihte noght be nombred,
The folk which after was encombred 1770
Thurgh him, that god wolde overthrowe.
Anon it was at Rome knowe,
The pompe which that Perse ladde; P. i. 219
And the Romeins that time hadde
A Consul, which was cleped thus
Be name, Paul Emilius,
A noble, a worthi kniht withalle ;
And he, which chief was of hem alle,
This werre on honde hath undertake.
And whanne he scholde his leve take 1780
Of a yong dowhter which was his,
Sche wepte, and he what cause it is
Hire axeth, and sche him ansuerde
That Perse is ded; and he it herde,
And wondreth what sche meene wolde:
And sche upon childhode him tolde
That Perse hir lite! hound is ded.
With that he pulleth up his hed
And made riht a glad visage,
And seide how that was a presage 1790
Touchende unto that other Perse,
Of that fortune him scholde adverse,
He seith, for such a prenostik |
Most of an hound was to him lik:
For as it is an houndes kinde
To berke upon a man behinde,
Riht so behinde his brother bak
With false wordes whiche he spak
He hath do slain, and that is rowthe.
‘Bot he which hateth alle untrowthe, ^ 1800
The hihe god, it schal redresse ;
For so my dowhter prophetesse

1770 after were B wasefter Hs afterward was A 1778 As he

1780 whanne om. AM 1788 is hed F

LIBER SECUNDUS 179

Forth with hir litel houndes deth P.i.220 [Demetrius AND
Betokneth. And thus forth he geth Persrvs. ]
Conforted of this evidence, |
With the Romeins in his defence
Ayein the Greks that ben comende.

This Perseüs, as noght seende
This meschief which that him abod,
With al his multitude rod, 1810
And prided him upon the thing,
Of that he was become a king,
And how he hadde his regne gete ;
Bot he hath al the riht foryete
Which longeth unto governance.
Wherof thurgh goddes ordinance
It fell, upon the wynter tide
That with his host he scholde ride
Over Danubie thilke flod,
Which al befrose thanne stod 1820 .
So harde, that he wende wel
To passe: bot the blinde whiel,
Which torneth ofte er men be war,
Thilke ys which that the horsmen bar
Tobrak, so that a gret partie
Was dreint; of the chivalerie
The rerewarde it tok aweie,
Cam non of hem to londe dreie.

Paulus the worthi kniht Romein
Be his aspie it herde sein, 1830
And hasteth him al that he may,
So that upon that other day
He cam wher he this host beheld, P. i. 221
And that was in a large feld,
Wher the Baneres ben desplaied.
He hath anon hise men arraied,
And whan that he was embatailled,
He goth and hath the feld assailed, |
And slowh and tok al that he fond;
Wherof the Macedoyne lond, 1840

1803 fforp wip A,SB florwipF 1804 gop B 1808 sende AJ
1809 This] The A... B4, S...4 1811 the] pis X ... Bz, B, W
1829 the) pis Hi, B N

2

180 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[DEMETRIUS AND Which thurgh king Alisandre honoured
PERSEUS ] Long time stod, was tho devoured.
To Perse and al that infortune
Thei wyte, so that the comune
Of al the lond his heir exile;
And he despeired for the while
Desguised in a povere wede
To Rome goth, and ther for nede
The craft which thilke time was,
To worche in latoun and in bras, 1850
He lerneth for his sustienance.
Such was the Sones pourveance,
And of his fader it is seid,
In strong prisoun that he was leid
In Albe, wher that he was ded
For hunger and defalte of bred.
The hound was tokne and prophecie
That lich an hound he scholde die,
Which lich was of condicioun,

Whan he with his detraccioun 1860
Bark on his brother so behinde.

Confessor. Lo, what profit a man mai finde,
Which hindre wole an other wiht. P. i. 222

Forthi with al thin hole miht,
Mi Sone, eschuie thilke vice.

Amans. Mi fader, elles were I nyce:
For ye therof so wel have spoke,
That it is in myn herte loke
And evere schal: bot of Envie,
If ther be more in his baillie 1870
Towardes love, sai me what.

Confessor. Mi Sone, as guile under the hat
With sleyhtes of a tregetour
Is hidd, Envie of such colour
Hath yit the ferthe deceivant,
The which is cleped Falssemblant,
Wherof the matiere and the forme
Now herkne and I thee schal enforme.

1856 hunger G SB. hungre AJE,F 1867 perfor(e) HiXE
S. Bs, B 1869 of] if (3if) X ... Ba om. W

LIBER SECUNDUS 181

iv. Nil bilinguis aget, nisi duplo concinat ore, [iv.FALsE-SEMBLANT.]

Dumque diem loquitur, nox sua vota legit,

Vultus habet lucem, tenebras mens, sermo salutem,
Actus set morbum dat suus esse grauem.

Pax tibi quam sfondet, magis est prenostica guerre ;
Comoda si dederit, désce subesse dolum.

Quod patet esse fides in eo fraus est, que politi
Princifium facti finis habere negat.

O quam condicio falis deformat amantem,
Qui magis apparens est in amore nichil. IO

Of Falssemblant if I schal telle,
Above alle othre it is the welle 1880
Out of the which deceipte floweth.
Ther is noman so wys that knoweth
Of thilke flod which is the tyde,

Ne how he scholde himselven guide Hic tractat Confes-
To take sauf passage there. P. i. 223 sor super quarta spe-
it th d E cie Inuidie, que dis-

And yit the wynd to mannes Ere similacio dicitur, cuius
Is softe, and as it semeth oute vultus quanto maioris
. 2 amicicie apparenciam

It makth clier weder al aboute ; ostendit, tanto subtil-
Bot thogh it seme, it is noght so. ioris doli fallacias ad
For Falssemblant hath everemo . 1890 ymapinatur. mens

Of his conseil in compaignie

The derke untrewe Ypocrisie,

Whos word descordeth to his thoght :
Forthi thei ben togedre broght

Of o covine, of on houshold,

As it schal after this be told.

Of Falssemblant it nedeth noght

To telle of olde ensamples oght ;

For al dai in experience

A man mai se thilke evidence 1900
Of faire wordes whiche he hiereth ;
Bot yit the barge Envie stiereth

And halt it evere fro the londe,

Wher Falssemblant with Ore on honde
It roweth, and wol noght arive,

Bot let it on the wawes dryve

1895 a couine HiXRCLBs 1896 be told J, B betold A, S, F
1902 Envie] of Enuie LBs, Hs

182

SE-SEMBLANT.]

c in amoris causa
essor super isto
Amanti opponit.

ifessio Amantis.

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

In gret tempeste and gret debat,
Wherof that love and his astat
Empeireth. And therfore I rede,
Mi Sone, that thou fle and drede 1910
This vice, and what that othre sein,
Let thi Semblant be trewe and plein.
For Falssemblant is thilke vice,
Which nevere was withoute office :
Wher that Envie thenkth to guile, P.i 224
He schal be for that ilke while
Of prive conseil Messagier.
For whan his semblant is most clier,
Thanne is he most derk in his thoght,
Thogh men him se, thei knowe him noght ; 1920
Bot as it scheweth in the glas
Thing which therinne nevere was,
So scheweth it in his visage
That nevere was in his corage :
Thus doth he al his thing with sleyhte.
Now ley thi conscience in weyhte,
Mi goode Sone, and schrif the hier,
If thou were evere Custummer
To Falssemblant in eny wise.
For ought I can me yit avise, 1930
Mi goode fader, certes no.
If I for love have oght do so,
Now asketh, I wol praie yow:
For elles I wot nevere how
Of Falssemblant that I have gilt.
Mi Sone, and sithen that thou wilt
That I schal axe, gabbe noght,
Bot tell if evere was thi thoght
With Falssemblant and coverture
To wite of eny creature 1940
How that he was with love lad;
So were he sori, were he glad,
Whan that thou wistest how it were,
Al that he rounede in thin Ere

1907 and) and in AM in Hi 1916 be for] before RCLB:, H:
1925 with] by (be) XG, B 1944 rowneth B rownet L

LIBER SECUNDUS 183

Thou toldest forth in other place, P. i. 295 [FALSE-SEMBLANT
To setten him fro loves grace
Of what womman that thee best liste,
Ther as noman his conseil wiste
Bot thou, be whom he was deceived
Of love, and from his pourpos weyved ; 1950
And thoghtest that his destourbance
Thin oghne cause scholde avance,
As who saith, ‘I am so celee,
Ther mai no mannes privete
Be heled half so wel as myn.’
Art thou, mi Sone, of such engin?
Tell on.
Mi goode fader, nay Amans.

As for the more part I say;
Bot of somdiel I am beknowe,
That I mai stonde in thilke rowe 1960
Amonges hem that Saundres use.
I wol me noght therof excuse,
That I with such colour ne steyne,
Whan I my beste Semblant feigne
To my felawh, til that I wot
Al his conseil bothe cold and hot:
For be that cause I make him chiere,
Til I his love knowe and hiere ;
And if so be myn herte soucheth
That oght unto my ladi toucheth 1970
Of love that he wol me telle,
Anon I renne unto the welle
And caste water in the fyr,
So that his carte amidd the Myr,
Be that I have his conseil knowe, P. i. 226
Fulofte sithe I overthrowe,
Whan that he weneth best to stonde.
Bot this I do you understonde,
If that a man love elles where,
So that my ladi be noght there, 1980
And he me telle, I wole it hide,
Ther schal no word ascape aside,

1960 in] on B I971 to me telle B

184 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

FALSE-SEMBLANT.] For with deceipte of no semblant
To him breke I no covenant ;
Me liketh noght in other place
To lette noman of his grace,
Ne forto ben inquisitif
To knowe an other mannes lif:
Wher that he love or love noght,
That toucheth nothing to my thoght, 1990
Bot al it passeth thurgh myn Ere
Riht as a thing that nevere were,
And is foryete and leid beside.
Bot if it touche on eny side
Mi ladi, as I have er spoken,
Myn Eres ben noght thanne loken ;
For certes, whanne that betitt,
My will, myn herte and al my witt
Ben fully set to herkne and spire
What eny man wol speke of hire. 2000
Thus have I feigned compaignie
Fulofte, for I wolde aspie
What thing it is that eny man
Telle of mi worthi lady can:
And for tuo causes I do this, P. i. 227
The ferste cause wherof is,—
If that I myhte ofherkne and seke
That eny man of hire mispeke,
I wolde excuse hire so fully,
That whan sche wist it inderly, 2010
Min hope scholde be the more
To have hir thank for everemore.
That other cause, I you assure,
Is, why that I be coverture
Have feigned semblant ofte time
To hem that passen alday byme
And ben lovers als wel as I,
For this I weene trewely,
That ther is of hem alle non,
That thei ne loven everich on 2030

1990 to] of AM 2003 eny] euery Hi... B; 2010 wist
SB,F wiste AJ

LIBER SECUNDUS 185

Mi ladi: for sothliche I lieve [FArsE-SEXBLANT.]
And durste setten it in prieve,
Is non so wys that scholde asterte,
Bot he were lustles in his herte,
Forwhy and he my ladi sihe,
. Hir visage and hir goodlych yhe,
Bot he hire lovede, er he wente.
And for that such is myn entente,
That is the cause of myn aspie,
Why that I feigne compaignie 2030
And make felawe overal;
For gladly wolde I knowen al
And holde me covert alway,
That I fulofte ye or nay
Ne liste ansuere in eny wise, P. i. 228
Bot feigne semblant as the wise
And herkne tales, til I knowe
Mi ladi lovers al arowe.
And whanne I hiere how thei have wroght,
I fare as thogh I herde it noght 2040
And as I no word understode ;
Bot that is nothing for here goode:
For lieveth wel, the sothe 1s this,
That whanne I knowe al how it is,
I wol bot forthren hem a lite,
Bot al the worste I can endite
I telle it to my ladi plat
In forthringe of myn oghne astat,
And hindre hem al that evere I may.
Bot for al that yit dar I say, 2050
I finde unto miself no bote, |
Althogh myn herte nedes mote
Thurgh strengthe of love al that I hiere
Discovere unto my ladi diere:
For in good feith I have no miht
To hele fro that swete wiht,
If that it touche hire eny thing.
Bot this wot wel the hevene king,
That sithen ferst this world began,
2040 it om. B 2043 the sothe] and sop B 2045 alite A, B, F, &c.

186

[FALSE-SEMBLANT.]

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Unto non other strange man 2060
Ne feigned I semblant ne chiere,
To wite or axe of his matiere,
Thogh that he lovede ten or tuelve,
Whanne it was noght my ladi selve :
Bot if he wolde axe eny red P. i. 229
Al onlich of his oghne hed,
How he with other love ferde,
His tales with myn Ere I herde,
Bot to myn herte cam it noght
Ne sank no deppere in my thoght, 2070
Bot hield conseil, as I was bede,
And tolde it nevere in other stede,
Bot let it passen as it com.
Now, fader, say what is thi dom,
And hou thou wolt that I be peined
For such Semblant as I have feigned.
Mi Sone, if reson be wel peised,
Ther mai no vertu ben unpreised
Ne vice non be set in pris.
Forthi, my Sone, if thou be wys, 2080
Do no viser upon thi face,
Which as wol noght thin herte embrace :
For if thou do, withinne a throwe
To othre men it schal be knowe,
So miht thou lihtli falle in blame
And lese a gret part of thi name.
And natheles in this degree
Fulofte time thou myht se
Of suche men that now aday
This vice setten in a say: 2090
I speke it for no mannes blame,
Bot forto warne thee the same.
Mi Sone, as I mai hiere talke
In every place where I walke, .
I not if it be so or non, P. i. 230
Bot it is manye daies gon
That I ferst herde telle this,

2072 tolde AJ, S told B, F 2090 a say M, SAd, FH:
asay AJ assay(e) Hi... Bz, B, W

LIBER SECUNDUS 187

How Falssemblant hath ben and is [FALSE-SEMBLANT.]
Most comunly fro yer to yere

With hem that duelle among ous here, 2100
Of suche as we Lombardes calle.

For thei ben the slyeste of alle,

So as men sein in toune aboute,

To feigne and schewe thing withoute

Which is revers to that withinne :

Wherof that thei fulofte winne,

Whan thei be reson scholden lese;

Thei ben the laste and yit thei chese,

And we the ferste, and yit behinde

We gon, there as we scholden finde 2110
The profit of oure oghne lond:

Thus gon thei fre withoute bond

To don her profit al at large,

And othre men bere al the charge.

Of Lombardz unto this covine,

Whiche alle londes conne engine,

Mai Falssemblant in special

Be likned, for thei overal,

Wher as they thenken forto duelle,

Among hemself, so as thei telle, 2120
Ferst ben enformed forto lere

A craft which cleped is Fa crere:

For if Fa crere come aboute,

Thanne afterward hem stant no doute

To voide with a soubtil hond P. i. 231
The beste goodes of the lond

And bringe chaf and take corn.

Where as Fa crere goth toforn,

In all his weie he fynt no lette ;

That Dore can non huissher schette 2130
In which him list to take entre:

And thus the conseil most secre

Of every thing Fa crere knoweth,

Which into strange place he bloweth,

Where as he wot it mai most grieve.

2111 The profit] To profit XE... Bs 2122 ffacrere AJ, S, F
al. ffacrere 2128 biforn (be forn) Bs, B

LIBER SECUNDUS 189

Which he bar in his herte loke, [DEIANIRA AND
And thanne he thoghte it schal be wroke. Nrssus.]
Bot he ne dorste natheles

Ayein this worthi Hercules

Falle in debat as forto feihte ;

Bot feigneth Semblant al be sleihte

Of frendschipe and of alle goode,

And comth where as thei bothe stode, 2180
And makth hem al the chiere he can,

And seith that as here oghne man

He is al redy forto do

What thing he mai; and it fell so

That thei upon his Semblant triste, P. i. 233
And axen him if that he wiste

What thing hem were best to done,

So that thei mihten sauf and sone

The water passe, he and sche.

And whan Nessus the privete 2190
Knew of here herte what it mente,

‘As he that was of double entente,

He made hem riht a glad visage;

And whanne he herde of the passage

Of him and hire, he thoghte guile,

And feigneth Semblant for a while

To don hem plesance and servise,

Bot he thoghte al an other wise.

This Nessus with hise wordes slyhe

Yaf such conseil tofore here yhe 2100 -
Which semeth outward profitable

And was withinne deceivable.

He bad hem of the Stremes depe

That thei be war and take kepe,

So as thei knowe noght the pas;

Bot forto helpe in such a cas,

He seith himself that for here ese

He wolde, if that it mihte hem plese,

The passage of the water take,

And for this ladi undertake 2210

2178 al] as Hi.. Bsa 2191 hire A 2198 line om. B
on ober JCLBs, W 2207 seigh (seih) E€ sih(e) LBs

190

[DrIANIRA AND
Nrssus.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

To bere unto that other stronde
And sauf to sette hire up alonde,
And Hercules may thanne also

The weie knowe how he schal go:
And herto thei acorden alle.

Bot what as after schal befalle,

Wel payd was Hercules of this,

And this Geant also glad is,

And tok this ladi up alofte

And set hire on his schuldre softe,
And in the flod began to wade,

As he which no grucchinge made,
And bar hire over sauf and sound.
Bot whanne he stod on dreie ground
And Hercules was fer behinde,

He sette his trowthe al out of mynde,
Who so therof be lief or loth,

With Deianyre and forth he goth,
As he that thoghte to dissevere

The compaignie of hem for evere.
Whan Hercules therof tok hiede,

Als faste as evere he mihte him spiede
He hyeth after in a throwe ;

And hapneth that he hadde a bowe,
The which in alle haste he bende,
As he that wolde an Arwe sende,
Which he tofore hadde envenimed.
He hath so wel his schote timed,
That he him thurgh the bodi smette,
And thus the false wiht he lette.

Bot lest now such a felonie:
Whan Nessus wiste he scholde die,
He tok to Deianyre his scherte,
Which with the blod was of his herte
Thurghout desteigned overal,

And tolde how sche it kepe schal
A] prively to this entente,

2221 began] he gan GCL 2228 and]

P. i. 234

2220

2230

2240

P. i. 235

2214 Thei F 2218 glad also Hi... B: 2220 set A, S, F
sette JC, B
... Bs om. YG, Hs 2247 Al) And Hi, FWHs

to HiXE

LIBER SECUNDUS I9I

That if hire lord his herte wente (DEIANIRA AND
To love in eny other place, Nessus. |

The scherte, he seith, hath such a grace, 2250
That if sche mai so mochel make
That he the scherte upon him take,
He schal alle othre lete in vein
And torne unto hire love ayein.
Who was tho glad bot Deianyre?
Hire thoghte hire herte was afyre
Til it was in hire cofre loke,
So that no word therof was spoke.
The daies gon, the yeres passe,
The hertes waxen lasse and lasse 2260
Of hem that ben to love untrewe:
This Hercules with herte newe
His love hath set on Eolen,
And therof spieken alle men.
This Eolen, this faire maide,
Was, as men thilke time saide,
The kinges dowhter of Eurice ;
And sche made Hercules so nyce
Upon hir Love and so assote,
That he him clotheth in hire cote, 2270
And sche in his was clothed ofte ;
And thus fieblesce is set alofte,
And strengthe was put under fote,
Ther can noman therof do bote.
Whan Deianyre hath herd this speche, P. i. 236
Ther was no sorwe forto seche:
Of other helpe wot sche non,
Bot goth unto hire cofre anon;
With wepende yhe and woful herte
Sche tok out thilke unhappi scherte, 2380
As sche that wende wel to do,
And broghte hire werk aboute so
That Hercules this scherte on dede,
To such entente as she was bede

2248 lord his] lordes Hi... Bz, Ad 2251 mykel (mekyl &c.\
HiG... Ba, W 2270 he om. B. sche Hi 2271 clad fulofte B
2272 fieblest MX ...C pe fieblest LB: the febleste Hi feblenes A

192 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[DEIANIRA AND Of Nessus, so as I seide er.

Nrssus.] Bot therof was sche noght the ner,

| As no fortune may be weyved ;
With Falssemblant sche was deceived,
That whan sche wende best have wonne,
Sche lost al that sche hath begonne. 2390
For thilke scherte unto the bon
His body sette afyre anon,
And cleveth so, it mai noght twinne,
For the venym that was therinne.
And he thanne as a wilde man
Unto the hihe wode he ran,
And as the Clerk Ovide telleth,
The grete tres to grounde he felleth
With strengthe al of his oghne myght,
And made an huge fyr upriht, 2300
And lepte himself therinne at ones
And brende him bothe fleissh and bones.
Which thing cam al thurgh Falssemblant,
That false Nessus the Geant
Made unto him and to his wif; P. i. 237
Wherof that he hath lost his lif,
And sche sori for everemo.

Confessor. Forthi, my Sone, er thee be wo,
I rede, be wel war therfore ;
For whan so gret a man was lore, 2310
It oghte yive a gret conceipte
To warne alle othre of such deceipte.

Amans. Grant mercy, fader, I am war
So fer that I nomore dar
Of Falssemblant take aqueintance ;
Bot rathere I wol do penance
That I have feigned chiere er this.
Now axeth forth, what so ther is
Of that belongeth to my schrifte.

Confessor. Mi Sone, yit ther is the fifte 2320
Which is conceived of Envie,
And cleped is Supplantarie,
Thurgh whos compassement and guile

2299 of al FHs of R, Magd 2316 wolde X ... Bs

LIBER SECUNDUS 193

Ful many a man hath lost his while
In love als wel as otherwise,
Hierafter as I schal devise.

v. Inuidus alterius est Supplantator honoris, [v. SuPPLANTATION.]

Et tua quo vertat culmina subtus arat.

Est opus occultum, quasi que latet anguis in herba,
Quod facit, et subita sorte nociuus adest.

Sic subtilis amans alium supplantat amantem,
Et capit occulte, quod nequit ipse alam;

Sefegue supplantans in plantam plantat amoris,
Quod putat in proprits alter habere bonis.

The vice of Supplantacioun

With many a fals collacioun, Hic tractat Confes-
Which he conspireth al unknowe, P. i. 238 Touigie “ue Supplan-
Full ofte time hath overthrowe 2330 tacio dicitur, cuius
The worschipe of an other man. Spies aline digni.
So wel no lif awayte can tatis et officii multo-
Ayein his sleyhte forto caste, ciens intrusor existit,

That he his pourpos ate laste

Ne hath, er that it be withset.

Bot most of alle his herte is set

In court upon these grete Offices

Of dignitees and benefices :

Thus goth he with his sleyhte aboute

To hindre and schowve an other oute 2340
And stonden with his slyh compas

In stede there an other was;

And so to sette himselven inne,

He reccheth noght, be so he winne,

Of that an other man schal lese,

And thus fulofte chalk for chese

He changeth with ful litel cost,

Wherof an other hath the lost

And he the profit schal receive.

For his fortune is to deceive 2350
And forto change upon the whel.

His wo with othre mennes wel:

Latin Verses v. x Supplantacio AM supplantare Hs 3 linguis
AM ignis Hi 8 Qua» B
2328 manye A, S, F 2337 bis AMG..L, W the Hi, A

+ *

Oo

194

[SuPPLANTATION.]

Hic in amoris causa
ponit Confessor
manti super eodem.

-onfessio Amantis.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Of that an other man avaleth,
His oghne astat thus up he haleth,
And takth the bridd to his beyete,
Wher othre men the buisshes bete.
Mi Sone, and in the same wise
Ther ben lovers of such emprise,
That schapen hem to be relieved P. i. 239
Where it is wrong to ben achieved: 2360
For it is other mannes riht,
Which he hath taken dai and niht
To kepe for his oghne Stor
Toward himself for everemor,
And is his propre be the lawe,
Which thing that axeth no felawe,
If love holde his covenant.
Bot thei that worchen be supplaunt,
Yit wolden thei a man supplaunte,
And take a part of thilke plaunte 2370
Which he hath for himselve set:
And so fulofte is al unknet,
That som man weneth be riht fast.
For Supplant with his slyhe cast
Fulofte happneth forto mowe
Thing which an other man hath sowe,
And makth comun of proprete
With sleihte and with soubtilite,
As men mai se fro yer to yere.
Thus cleymeth he the bot to stiere, 2380
Of which an other maister is.
Forthi, my Sone, if thou er this
Hast ben of such professioun,
Discovere thi confessioun :
Hast thou supplanted eny man?
For oght that I you telle can,
Min holi fader, as of the dede
I am withouten eny drede

2354 vp he halep A, FWH:Magd he vp halep (vphalep) A... Bs,

2369 thei] such(e) A... Bs, SAdBA line om. W Magd

2373 men Hi... Bs 2382 margin Hic in amoris. . . eodem)
Confessor B 2387 as of dede SAdBA

LIBER SECUNDUS 195

Al gulteles; bot of my thoght P.i.240 [SuPPLANTATION.]
Mi conscience excuse I noght. 2390
For were it wrong or were it riht,

Me lakketh nothing bote myht,

That I ne wolde longe er this

Of other mannes love ywiss

Be weie of Supplantacioun

Have mad apropriacioun

And holde that I nevere boghte,

Thogh it an other man forthoghte.

And al this speke I bot of on,

For whom I lete alle othre gon; 2400
Bot hire I mai noght overpasse,

That I ne mot alwey compasse,

Me roghte noght be what queintise,

So that I mihte in eny wise

Fro suche that mi ladi serve

Hire herte make forto swerve

Withouten eny part of love.

For be the goddes alle above

I wolde it mihte so befalle,

That I al one scholde hem alle 2410
Supplante, and welde hire at mi wille.

And that thing mai I noght fulfille,

Bot if I scholde strengthe make ;

And that I dar noght undertake,

Thogh I were as was Alisaundre,

For therof mihte arise sklaundre ;

And certes that schal I do nevere,

For in good feith yit hadde I levere

In my simplesce forto die, P. i. 241
Than worche such Supplantarie. 2420
Of otherwise I wol noght seie

That if I founde a seker weie,

I wolde as for conclusioun

Worche after Supplantacioun,

So hihe a love forto winne.

2392 lakked(e) (Jacked) X ...L lakket W bote J. S, F
the rest bot or but 2408 the] po B 2414 1 dar A, FWH:
dar IJ... Bz, SAdBA 2425 hihe AC, S, F hih GE, B

O2

196

[SUPPLANTATION.]

Confessor.

Qualiter Agamenon
amore Brexeide
hillem,et Diomedes
amore Criseide
oilum supplantauit.

3ETA AND AMPHI-
TRION.]
Qualiter Amphitri-
socium suum Ge-
n, qui Almeenam

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Now, fader, if that this be Sinne,

I am al redy to redresce

The gilt of which I me confesse.
Mi goode Sone, as of Supplant

Thee thar noght drede tant ne quant,

As for nothing that I have herd,

Bot only that thou hast misferd

Thenkende, and that me liketh noght,

For godd beholt a mannes thoght.

And if thou understode in soth

In loves cause what it doth,

A man to ben a Supplantour,

Thou woldest for thin oghne honour

Be double weie take kepe:

Ferst for thin oghne astat to kepe,

To be thiself so wel bethoght

That thou supplanted were noght,

And ek for worschipe of thi name

Towardes othre do the same,

And soffren every man have his.

Bot natheles it was and is,

That in a wayt at alle assaies

Supplant of love in oure daies

2430

2440

The lief fulofte for the levere P. i. 242

Forsakth, and so it hath don evere.
Ensample I finde therupon,
At Troie how that Agamenon
Supplantede the worthi knyht
Achilles of that swete wiht,
Which named was Brexeida;
And also of Criseida,
Whom Troilus to love ches,
Supplanted hath Diomedes.
Of Geta and Amphitrion,
That whilom weren bothe as on
Of frendschipe and of compaignie,
I rede how that Supplantarie

24:0

2460

2427 al om. B 2434 godd om. AM 2447 a wayt
(a wait) J,S, F awayt (await) AC, B 2461 margin socrum

Hi... Bs

LIBER SECUNDUS 197

In love, as it betidde tho, [Gera AND AuPur-

Beguiled hath on of hem tuo. ] TRON. uu
. ama Sci

For this Geta that I of meene, loco alterius cautelosa

To whom the lusti faire Almeene suppiantacione sub-
Stitui

Assured was be weie of love,

Whan he best wende have ben above

And sikerest of that he hadde,

Cupido so the cause ladde, 2470
That whil he was out of the weie,

Amphitrion hire love aweie

Hath take, and in this forme he wroghte.

Be nyhte unto the chambre he soghte,

Wher that sche lay, and with a wyle

He contrefeteth for the whyle

The vois of Gete in such a wise,

That made hire of hire bedd arise,

Wenende that it were he, P. i. 243
And let him in, and whan thei be 2480
Togedre abedde in armes faste,

This Geta cam thanne ate laste

Unto the Dore and seide, * Undo.’

And sche ansuerde and bad him go,

And seide how that abedde al warm

Hir lief lay naked in hir arm;

Sche wende that it were soth.

Lo, what Supplant of love doth:

This Geta forth bejaped wente,

And yit ne wiste he what it mente; 2490
Amphitrion him hath supplanted

With sleyhte of love and hire enchaunted :
And thus put every man out other,

The Schip of love hath lost his Rother,

So that he can no reson stiere.

And forto speke of this matiere

Touchende love and his Supplant,

A tale which is acordant

Unto thin Ere I thenke enforme.

2473 in this forme he] in thys forme W pis infortune YGEC
in pis fortune H1XRLBa 2477 a wise J, SB. awise A, F
2497 pis AM

LIBER SECUNDUS 199

As thei that bothe yonge were ; (TALE or THE FALSE
So that in prive conseil there BACH&LOR. ]
Thei ben assented forto wende. P. i. 245

And therupon to make an ende, 2540

Tresor ynowh with hem thei token,

And whan the time is best thei loken,

That sodeinliche in a Galeie

Fro Romelond thei wente here weie

And londe upon that other side.
- The world fell so that ilke tide,

Which evere hise happes hath diverse,

The grete Soldan thanne of Perse

Ayein the Caliphe of Egipte

A werre, which that him beclipte, 2550

Hath in a Marche costeiant.

And he, which was a poursuiant

Worschipe of armes to atteigne,

This Romein, let anon ordeigne,

That he was redi everydel:

And whan he was arraied wel

Of every thing which him belongeth,

Straght unto Kaire his weie he fongeth,

Wher he the Soldan thanne fond,

And axeth that withinne his lond 2560
. He mihte him for the werre serve,

As he which wolde his thonk deserve.

The Soldan was riht glad with al,

And wel the more in special

Whan that he wiste he was Romein ;

Bot what was elles in certein,

That mihte he wite be no weie.

And thus the kniht of whom I seie

Toward the Soldan is beleft, P. i. 246

And in the Marches now and eft, 2570

Wher that the dedli werres were,

He wroghte such knihthode there,

That every man spak of him good.

And thilke time so it stod,

2537 As Hi, W And AJMYX ... Bs, SAdBAA, FHsMagd
2559 he om. AM 2562 pong F 2573 That] And B

200 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[TALE OF THE FALSE This mihti Soldan be his wif
BACHELOR.] A Dowhter hath, that in this lif
Men seiden ther was non so fair.
Sche scholde ben hir fader hair,
And was of yeres ripe ynowh::
Hire beaute many an herte drowh 2580
To bowe unto that ilke lawe
Fro which no lif mai be withdrawe,
And that is love, whos nature
Set lif and deth in aventure
Of hem that knyhthode undertake.
This lusti peine hath overtake
The herte of this Romein so sore,
That to knihthode more and more
Prouesce avanceth his corage:
Lich to the Leoun in his rage, 2590
Fro whom that alle bestes fle,
Such was the knyht in. his degre:
Wher he was armed in the feld,
Ther dorste non abide his scheld ;
Gret pris upon the werre he hadde.
Bot sche which al the chance ladde,
Fortune, schop the Marches so,
That be thassent of bothe tuo,
The. Soldan. and the Caliphe eke, P. i. 247
Bataille upon a dai thei seke, 2600
Which was in such a wise set
That lengere scholde it noght be let.
Thei made hem stronge on every side,
And whan it drowh toward the tide
That the bataille scholde be,
The Soldan in gret privete
A goldring of his dowhter tok,
And made hire swere upon a bok
And ek upon the goddes alle,
That if fortune so befalle 2610
In the bataille that he deie,

2576 this] his AMXR...Bs HsW hireG here Hi 2581 that
ilke] pilke AM 2586 Thus AM 2592 pe H1... Bs, FWH;
pis AJM, AdB

LIBER SECUNDUS 201

That sche schal thilke man obeie [TALE OF THE FALSE
And take him to hire housebonde, BACHELOR. ]
Which thilke same Ring to honde
Hire scholde bringe after his deth.
This hath sche swore, and forth he geth
With al the pouer of his lond
Unto the Marche, where he fond
His enemy full embatailled.
The Soldan hath the feld assailed : 2620
Thei that ben hardy sone assemblen,
Wherof the dredfull hertes tremblen :
That on sleth, and that other sterveth,
Bot above alle his pris deserveth
This knihtly Romein ; where he rod,
His dedly swerd noman abod,
Ayein the which was no defence;
Egipte fledde in his presence,
And thei of Perse upon the chace P. i. 248
Poursuien: bot I not what grace 2630
Befell, an Arwe out of a bowe
Al sodeinly that ilke throwe
The Soldan smot, and ther he lay:
The chace is left for thilke day,
And he was bore into a tente.
The Soldan sih how that it wente,
And tbat he scholde algate die ;
And to this knyht of Romanie,
As unto him whom he most triste,
His Dowhter Ring, that non it wiste, 2640
He tok, and tolde him al the eas,
Upon hire oth what tokne it was
Of that sche scholde ben his wif.
Whan this was seid, the hertes lif
Of this Soldan departeth sone;
And therupon, as was to done,
The dede body wel and faire
Thei carie til thei come at Kaire,
Wher he was worthily begrave.
The lordes, whiche as wolden save 2650
2632 that ilke) wipinne a B 2649 Wher] Ther B

202

LE OF THE FALSE
BACHELOR. ]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

The Regne which was desolat,
To bringe it into good astat
A parlement thei sette anon.
Now herkne what fell therupon :
This yonge lord, this worthi kniht
Of Rome, upon the same niht
That thei amorwe trete scholde,
Unto his Bacheler he tolde
His conseil, and the Ring with al P. i. 249
He scheweth, thurgh which that he schal, 2660
He seith, the kinges Dowhter wedde,
For so the Ring was leid to wedde,
He tolde, into hir fader hond,
That with what man that sche it fond
She scholde him take to hire lord.
And this, he seith, stant of record,
Bot noman wot who hath this Ring.
This Bacheler upon this thing
His Ere and his entente leide,
And thoghte more thanne he seide, 2670
And feigneth with a fals visage
That he was glad, bot his corage
Was al set in an other wise.
These olde Philosophres wise
Thei writen upon thilke while,
That he mai best a man beguile
In whom the man hath most credence ;
And this befell in evidence
Toward this yonge lord of Rome.
His Bacheler, which hadde tome, 2680
Whan that his lord be nihte slepte,
This Ring, the which his maister kepte,
Out of his Pours awey he dede,
And putte an other in the stede.
Amorwe, whan the Court is set,
The yonge ladi was forth fet,
To whom the lordes don homage,

2654 herknep XE... Bs 2661 kinges] soldans X . . . B:
Souldan Hi 2678 pus AM 2680 tome AJ YGECB:,
SAdBAA, FWKHs thomeL come MHiXR

LIBER SECUNDUS 203

And after that of Mariage (TALE or THE FALSE
Thei trete and axen of hir wille. P. i. 250 BacuEtor. }
Bot sche, which thoghte to fulfille 2690

Hire fader heste in this matiere,
Seide openly, that men mai hiere,
The charge which hire fader bad.
Tho was this Lord of Rome glad
And drowh toward his Pours anon,
Bot al for noght, it was agon:
His Bacheler it hath forthdrawe,
And axeth ther upon the lawe
That sche him holde covenant.
The tokne was so sufficant . — 2700
That it ne mihte be forsake,
And natheles his lord hath take
Querelle ayein his oghne man ;
Bot for nothing that evere he can
He mihte as thanne noght ben herd,
So that his cleym is unansuerd,
And he hath of his pourpos failed.
This Bacheler was tho consailed
And wedded, and of thilke Empire
He was coroned Lord and Sire, 2710
And al the lond him hath received ;
Wherof his lord, which was deceived,
A seknesse er the thridde morwe
Conceived hath of dedly sorwe:
And as he lay upon his deth,
Therwhile him lasteth speche and breth,
He sende for the worthieste
Of al the lond and ek the beste,
And tolde hem al the sothe tho, P. i. 251
That he was Sone and Heir also 2720
Of themperour of grete Rome,
And how that thei togedre come,
This kniht and he; riht as it was,
He tolde hem al the pleine cas,
And for that he his conseil tolde,
2698 per vpon J. SB pervpon A, F 2708 po was Hi... B;
was so H: hath so T

204.

TALE OF THE FALSE
BACHELOR. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

That other hath al that he wolde,
And he hath failed of his mede:
As for the good he takth non hiede,
He seith, bot only of the love,
Of which he wende have ben above.
And therupon be lettre write
He doth his fader forto wite
Of al this matiere as it stod;
And thanne with an hertly mod
Unto the lordes he besoghte
To telle his ladi how he boghte
Hire love, of which an other gladeth ;
- And with that word his hewe fadeth,

And seide, ‘A dieu, my ladi swete.’
The lif hath lost his kindly hete,
And he lay ded as eny ston;
Wherof was sory manyon,
Bot non of alle so as sche.

This false knyht in his degree
Arested was and put in hold:
For openly whan it was told
Of the tresoun which is befalle,
Thurghout the lond thei seiden alle,
If it be soth that men suppose,

And forto seche an evidence,
With honour and gret reverence,
Wherof they mihten knowe an ende,
To themperour anon thei sende
The lettre which his Sone wrot.
And whan that he the sothe wot,
To telle his sorwe is endeles,
Bot yit in haste natheles

Upon the tale whicb he herde
His Stieward into Perse ferde
With many a worthi Romein eke,
His liege tretour forto seke ;

And whan thei thider come were,

2733 this] pe A... Bs, SAdBTA 2741 ded] stille B
gret) and with gret LBs, W

2730

2740

P. i. 252
His oghne untrowthe him schal depose.

2750

2752 and

LIBER SECUNDUS

This kniht him hath confessed there
How falsly that he hath him bore,
Wherof his worthi lord was lore.
Tho seiden some he scholde deie,
Bot yit thei founden such a weie

That he schal noght be ded in Perse;

And thus the skiles ben diverse.
Be cause that he was coroned,
And that the lond was abandoned
To him, althogh it were unriht,
Ther is no peine for him diht ;
Bot to this point and to this ende
Thei granten wel that he schal wende
With the Romeins to Rome ayein.
And thus acorded ful and plein,
The qwike body with the dede
With leve take forth thei lede,
Wher that Supplant hath his.juise.

Wherof that thou thee miht avise
Upon this enformacioun
Touchende of Supplantacioun,
That thou, my Sone, do noght so:
And forto take hiede also
What Supplant doth in other halve,
Ther is noman can finde a salve
Pleinly to helen such a Sor;
It hath and schal ben everemor,
Whan Pride is with Envie joint,
He soffreth noman in good point,
Wher that he mai his honour lette.
And therupon if I schal sette
Ensample, in holy cherche I finde
How that Supplant is noght behinde ;
God wot if that it now be so:
For in Cronique of time ago
I finde a tale concordable
Of Supplant, which that is no fable,
In the manere as I schal telle,
So as whilom the thinges felle.

2775 pe point Hi... Bs

P. i. 253
2780

205

[TALE OF THE FALSE
BACHELOR.]

206

[Pore Boniracz.]

Hic ponit Confessor
exemplum contra istos
in causa dignitatis ad-
quirende supplanta-
tores, Et narrat qua-
liter Papa Bonefacius
predecessorem suum
Celestinum a papatu
coniectata circumuen-
cione . fraudulenter
supplantauit, Set qui
potentes a sede de-
ponit, huiusmodi sup-
plantacionis fraudem
non sustinens, ipsum
sic in sublime exal-
tatum postea in pro-
fundi carceris mise-
riam proici, fame que
siti cruciari, necnon
et ab huius vite gau-
diis dolorosa morte
explantari finali con.
clusione permisit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

At Rome, as it hath ofte falle,
The vicair general of alle
Of hem that lieven Cristes feith
His laste day, which non withseith,
Hath schet as to the worldes ye,
Whos name if I schal specefie,
He hihte Pope Nicolas.
And thus whan that he passed was,
The Cardinals, that wolden save
The forme of lawe, in the conclave
Gon forto chese a newe Pope,
And after that thei cowthe agrope
Hath ech of hem seid his entente :
Til ate laste thei assente
Upon an holy clerk reclus,
Which full was of gostli vertus ;
His pacience and his simplesse
Hath set him into hih noblesse.
Thus was he Pope canonized,
With gret honour and intronized,
And upon chance as it is falle,
His name Celestin men calle;
Which notefied was be bulle
To holi cherche and to the fulle
In alle londes magnified.
Bot every worschipe is envied,
And that was thilke time sene:
For whan this Pope of whom I meene
Was chose, and othre set beside,
A Cardinal was thilke tide
Which the papat longe hath desired
And therupon gretli conspired ;
Bot whan he sih fortune is failed,
For which long time he hath travailed,
That ilke fyr which Ethna brenneth
Thurghout his wofull herte renneth,

P. i. 254

2510

2820

2830

2806 margin causa] casu H1... B»

A ...B:,B
Ba, W
2822 Wit F

2814 agrope J, SAdT, FHs
2817 margin fameque F

2825 be] pe X ... B:

2810 margin coniecta
grope AM... B;

2821 he} pe ERL, BTA

LIBER SECUNDUS 207

Which is resembled to Envie, P. i. 255 (Porr BowiracE.]
Wherof Supplant and tricherie 2840
Engendred is; and natheles
He feigneth love, he feigneth pes,
Outward he doth the reverence,
Bot al withinne his conscience
Thurgh fals ymaginacioun
He thoghte Supplantacioun.
And therupon a wonder wyle
He wroghte: for at thilke whyle
It fell so that of his lignage
He hadde a clergoun of yong age, 2850
Whom he hath in his chambre affaited.
This Cardinal his time hath waited,
And with his wordes slyhe and queinte,
The whiche he cowthe wysly peinte,
He schop this clerk of which I telle
‘Toward the Pope forto duelle,
So that withinne his chambre anyht
He lai, and was a prive wyht
Toward the Pope on nyhtes tide.
Mai noman fle that schal betide. 2860
This Cardinal, which thoghte guile,
Upon a day whan he hath while
This yonge clerc unto him tok,
And made him swere upon a bok,
And told him what his wille was.
And forth withal a Trompe of bras
He hath him take, and bad him this:
‘Thou schalt,' he seide, ‘whan time is
Awaite, and take riht good kepe, P. i. 256
Whan tbat the Pope is fast aslepe 2870
And that non other man be nyh;
And thanne that thou be so slyh
Thurghout the Trompe into his Ere,
Fro hevene as thogh a vois it were,
To soune of such prolacioun
That he his meditacioun

2852 Jis tyme B 2865 told A, B, F tolde J 2870 on slepe
HiXGRCL... Ba, Ad, W 2375 The sone AM

208

[Pore Bonirace.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Therof mai take and understonde,
As thogh it were of goddes sonde.
And in this wise thou schalt seie,
That he do thilke astat aweie 2880
Of Pope, in which he stant honoured,
So schal his Soule be socoured
Of thilke worschipe ate laste
In hevene which schal evere laste.’
This clerc, whan he hath herd the forme
How he the Pope scholde enforme,
Tok of the Cardinal his leve,
And goth him hom, til it was Eve,
And prively the trompe he hedde,
Til that the Pope was abedde. 2890
And at the Midnyht, whan he knewh
The Pope slepte, thanne he blewh
Withinne his trompe thurgh the wal,
And tolde in what manere he schal
His Papacie leve, and take
His ferste astat: and thus awake
This holi Pope he made thries,
Wherof diverse fantasies
Upon his grete holinesse P. i. 257
Withinne his herte he gan impresse. 29co
The Pope ful of innocence
Conceiveth in his conscience
That it is goddes wille he cesse ;
Bot in what wise he may relesse
His hihe astat, that wot he noght.
And thus withinne himself bethoght,
He bar it stille in his memoire,
Til he cam to the Consistoire ;
And there in presence of hem alle
He axeth, if it so befalle 2910
That eny Pope cesse wolde,
How that the lawe it soffre scholde.
Thei seten alle stille and herde,
Was non which to the point ansuerde,

288: of which M, B which E (f. m.) 2903 is om. F
2906 bethoght] he pought Hi,.. Bs, B, W

$5

LIBER SECUNDUS

For to what pourpos that it mente
Ther was noman knew his entente,
Bot only he which schop the guile.

This Cardinal the same while
Al openly with wordes pleine
Seith, if the Pope wolde ordeigne 2920
That ther be such a lawe wroght,
Than mihte he cesse, and elles noght.
And as he seide, don it was;
The Pope anon upon the cas
Of his Papal Autorite
Hath mad and yove the decre:
And whan that lawe was confermed
In due forme and al affermed,
This innocent, which was deceived, P. i. 258
His Papacie anon hath weyved, 2930
Renounced and resigned eke.
That other was nothing to seke,
Bot undernethe such a jape
He hath so for himselve schape,
That how as evere it him beseme,
The Mitre with the Diademe
He hath thurgh Supplantacion :
And in his confirmacion
Upon the fortune of his grace
His name is cleped Boneface. 2940

Under the viser of Envie,
Lo, thus was hid the tricherie,
Which hath beguiled manyon.
Bot such conseil ther mai be non,
With treson whan it is conspired,
That it nys lich the Sparke fyred
Up in the Rof, which for a throwe
Lith hidd, til whan the wyndes blowe
It blaseth out on every side.
This Bonefas, which can noght hyde 2950
The tricherie of his Supplant,
Hath openly mad his avant
How he the Papacie hath wonne.
Bot thing which is with wrong begonne

P

209

[Porx Bonrracz.]

210

PE Bowniract. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Mai nevere stonde wel at ende;

Wher Pride schal the bowe bende,

He schet fulofte out of the weie:

And thus the Pope of whom I seie,

Whan that he stod on hih the whiel, P. i. 259
He can noght soffre himself be wel. 2960
Envie, which is loveles,

And Pride, which is laweles,

With such tempeste made him erre,

That charite goth out of herre:

So that upon misgovernance

' Ayein Lowyz the king of France

He tok querelle of his oultrage,
And seide he scholde don hommage
Unto the cherche bodily.
Bot he, that wiste nothing why 2970
He scholde do so gret servise
After the world in such a wise,
Withstod the wrong of that demande;
For noght the Pope mai comande
The king wol noght the Pope obeie.
This Pope tho be alle weie
That he mai worche of violence
Hath sent the bulle of his sentence
With cursinge and with enterdit.
The king upon this wrongful plyt, 2980
To kepe his regne fro servage,
Conseiled was of his Barnage
That miht with miht schal be withstonde.
Thus was the cause take on honde,
And seiden that the Papacie
Thei wolde honoure and magnefie
In al that evere is spirital ;
Bot thilke Pride temporal
Of Boneface in his persone, P. i. 260
Ayein that ilke wrong al one 2990
Thei wolde stonden in debat:
And thus the man and noght the stat

2959 on pe hih(e) whiel LBs opon the whele W 2964 out of
pe herre AM out of herte J

LIBER SECUNDUS 211i

The Frensche schopen be her miht [Pore Bowiracr.)
To grieve. And fell ther was a kniht,
Sire Guilliam de Langharet,
Which was upon this cause set;
And therupon he tok a route
Of men of Armes and rod oute,
So longe and in a wayt he lay,
That he aspide upon a day 3000
The Pope was at Avinoun,
And scholde ryde out of the toun
Unto Pontsorge, the which is
A Castell in Provence of his.
Upon the weie and as he rod,
This kniht, which hoved and abod
Embuisshed upon horse bak,
Al sodeinliche upon him brak
And hath him be the bridel sesed,
And seide: ‘O thou, which hast desesed 3010
The Court of France be thi wrong,
Now schalt thou singe an other song:
Thin enterdit and thi sentence
Ayein thin oghne conscience
Hierafter thou schalt fiele and grope.
We pleigne noght ayein the Pope,
For thilke name is honourable,
Bot thou, which hast be deceivable
And tricherous in al thi werk, P. i. 261
Thou Bonefas, thou proude clerk, 3020
Misledere of the Papacie,
Thi false bodi schal abye
And soffre that it hath deserved.’
Lo, thus the Supplantour was served ;
For thei him ladden into France
And setten him to his penance
Withinne a tour in harde bondes,
Wher he for hunger bothe hise hondes
Eet of and deide, god wot how:

2993 schapen Hi... Bz, BTA 2999 a wayt F await J awayt
AC, B 3003 Poursorge H1... Bs, B 3o12 an other] a
newe Hi, B 3021 the] pi Hi... Bs, B, Magd

P2

212

[Pore Bonrract. |

Cronica Bonefacii.
Irtrasti ut vulp's, reg-
nasti ut leo, et mor-
tuus es ut canis.

Nota de prophecia
Ioachim Abbatis.

Quanti Mercenarii
erunt in ouile dei, tuas
aures meis narracion-
ibus fedare nolo.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Of whom the wrytinge is yit now 3030
Registred, as a man mai hiere,
Which spekth and seith in this manere:
Thin entre lich the fox was slyh,
Thi regne also with pride on hih
Was lich the Leon in his rage;
Bot ate laste of thi passage
Thi deth was to the houndes like.
Such is the lettre of his Cronique
Proclamed in the Court of Rome,
Wherof the wise ensample nome. 3040
And yit, als ferforth as I dar,
I rede alle othre men be war,
And that thei loke wel algate
That non his oghne astat translate
Of holi cherche in no degree
Be fraude ne soubtilite :
For thilke honour which Aaron tok
Schal non receive, as seith the bok,
Bot he be cleped as he was. - P. i. 262
What I schal thenken in this cas 30:0
Of that I hiere now aday, '
I not: bot he which can and may,
Be reson bothe and be nature
The help of every mannes cure,
He kepe Simon fro the folde.
For Joachim thilke Abbot tolde
How suche daies scholden falle,
That comunliche in places alle
The Chapmen of such mercerie
With fraude and with Supplantarie 3060
So manye scholden beie and selle,
That he ne may for schame telle
So foul a Senne in mannes Ere.
Bot god forbiede that it were
In oure daies that he seith:
For if the Clerc beware his feith

3055 He kepe] He helpe Hi...Bs, B He kepte T To kepe
SAdA 3058 ff margin Quanti ... noloSA, FHsMagd om. A...
Bs, B (S has qui sic ait Quanti Mercenarii tunc erunt &c.)

" LIBER SECUNDUS 213

In chapmanhod at such a feire, [Pore Bonirace. ]
The remenant mot nede empeire

Of al that to the world belongeth ;

For whan that holi cherche wrongeth, 3070 ,
I not what other thing schal rihte.

And natheles at mannes sihte

Envie forto be preferred

Hath conscience so differred,

That noman loketh to the vice

Which is the Moder of malice,

And that is thilke false Envie,

Which causeth many a tricherie ;

For wher he may an other se P. i. 263

That is mor gracious than he, 3080

It schal noght stonden in his miht

Bot if he hindre such a wiht:

And that is welnyh overal,

This vice is now so general.

Envie thilke unhapp indrowh, [JoAs. AHITOPHEL.]

Whan Joab be deceipte slowh ce mualiter Loab prin.

muaicie aul

Abner, for drede he scholde be inuidie causa Abner

With king David such as was he. subdole inter feit B

. . uaiiter ito-

And thurgh Envie also it fell fel ob hoc quod Cusy

Of thilke false Achitofell, 3090 in consilio Absolon

. . . refere a -

For his conseil was noght achieved, Ps inuidia laqueo se
Bot that he sih Cusy believed suspendit.

With Absolon and him forsake,
He heng himself upon a stake.
Senec witnesseth openly {Nature or Envy.]
How that Envie proprely
Is of the Court the comun wenche,
And halt taverne forto schenche
That drink which makth the herte brenne,
And doth the wit aboute renne, 3120
Be every weie to compasse
How that he mihte alle othre passe,
As he which thurgh unkindeschipe
Envieth every felaschipe ;
So that thou miht wel knowe and se,
3085 indrowh AJ, F in drowh ‘in drough) C, SB

214

ATURE OF Exvy.]

lic describit Con-
or naturam Inui-
tam in amorequam
er secundum pro-
'fatem vicii sub
apendio.

v

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Ther is no vice such as he,

Ferst toward godd abhominable,

And to mankinde unprofitable :

And that be wordes bot a fewe P. i. 294
I schal be reson prove and schewe. 3110

. Inuidie stimulus sine causa ledit abortus,

Nam sine temptante crimine crimen kabet.

Non est huius opus temptare Cupidinis archum,
Dumque faces Veneris ethnica flamma vorat.
Absque rubore gene, pallor quas fuscus obumbrat,

Frigida nature cetera membra docent.

Envie if that I schal descrive,
He is noght schaply forto wyve
In Erthe among the wommen hiere ;
For ther is in him no matiere
Wherof he mihte do plesance.
Ferst for his hevy continance
Of tbat he semeth evere unglad,
He is noght able to ben had ;
And ek he brenneth so withinne,
That kinde mai no profit winne, 3120
Wherof he scholde his love plese:
For thilke blod which scholde have ese
To regne among the moiste veines,
Is drye of thilke unkendeli peines
Thurgh whiche Envie is fyred ay.
And thus be reson prove I may
That toward love Envie is noght ; .
And otherwise if it be soght,
Upon what side as evere it falle,
It is the werste vice of alle, 3130
Which of himself hath most malice.
For understond that every vice
Som cause hath, wherof it groweth,
Bot of Envie noman knoweth
Fro whenne he cam bot out of helle. P. i. 265
For thus the wise clerkes telle,
That no spirit bot of malice

3112 schapli noght AM 3119 An F

LIBER SECUNDUS

Be weie of kinde upon a vice

Is tempted, and be such a weie
Envie hath kinde put aweie

And of malice hath his steringe,
Wherof he makth his bakbitinge,
And is himself therof desesed.
So mai ther be no kinde plesed ;
For ay the mor that he envieth,
The more ayein himself he plieth.
Thus stant Envie in good espeir
To ben himself the develes heir,
As he which is his nexte liche
And forthest fro the heveneriche,
For there mai he nevere wone.

Forthi, my goode diere Sone,
If thou wolt finde a siker weie
To love, put Envie aweie.

Min holy fader, reson wolde
That I this vice eschuie scholde :
Bot yit to strengthe mi corage,

If that ye wolde in avantage
Therof sette a recoverir,

It were tome a gret desir,
That I this vice mihte flee.

Nou understond, my Sone, and se,
Ther is phisique for the seke,
And vertus for the vices eke.
Who that the vices wolde eschuie,
He mot be resoun thanne suie
The vertus; for be thilke weie
He mai the vices don aweie,

For thei togedre mai noght duelle:
For as the water of a welle

Of fyr abateth the malice,

Riht so vertu fordoth the vice.
Ayein Envie is Charite,

Which is the Moder of Pite,

That makth a mannes herte tendre,

215

[NATURE or Env

3140

3150

Confessor.

3160

Confessor.

P. i. 266

3170

3160 tome A, F to me JC, SB 3170 pe welle Hi...

B; B

LIBER SECUNDUS 217

As for final conclusioun, [Tare or Constan-
And tolden here opinioun TINE AND SILVESTER. |
To themperour: and he anon abs ex vnda baptis-
His conseil tok, and therupon que materie, tam cor-
With lettres and with seales oute Po quam anime, di-
Thei sende in every lond aboute cutus est salutem.
The yonge children forto seche,
Whos blod, thei seiden, schal be leche 3220
For themperoures maladie.
Ther was ynowh to wepe and crie
Among the Modres, whan thei herde
Hou wofully this cause ferde,
Bot natheles thei moten bowe ; P. i. 268
And thus wommen ther come ynowhe
With children soukende on the Tete.
Tho was ther manye teres lete,
Bot were hem lieve or were hem lothe,
The wommen and the children bothe 3230
Into the Paleis forth be broght
With many a sory hertes thoght
Of hem whiche of here bodi bore
The children hadde, and so forlore
Withinne a while scholden se.
The Modres wepe in here degre,
And manye of hem aswoune falle,
The yonge babes criden alle:
This noyse aros, the lord it herde,
And loked out, and how it ferde 3240
He sih, and as who seith abreide |
Out of his slep, and thus he seide :
* O thou divine pourveance,
Which every man in the balance
Of kinde hast formed to be liche,
The povere is bore as is the riche
And deieth in the same wise,
Upon the fol, upon the wise
Siknesse and hele entrecomune ;
Mai non eschuie that fortune 3250

3214 margin ex vnda baptismatis om. Hi... Ba, BA 3220 scholde
AM, TA, W 3231 be] he AM 3237 on swowne Hi... B4 B

218

[Tats or Constan-
TINE AND SILVESTER. |

Nota.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Which kinde hath in hire lawe set ;

Hire strengthe and beaute ben beset

To every man aliche fre,

That sche preferreth no degre

As in the disposicioun P. i. 269
Of bodili complexioun :

And ek of Soule resonable

The povere child is bore als able

To vertu as the kinges Sone;

For every man his oghne wone 3260
After the lust of his assay

The vice or vertu chese may.

Thus stonden alle men franchised,

Bot in astat thei ben divised ;

To some worschipe and richesse,

To some poverte and distresse,

On lordeth and an other serveth ;

Bot yit as every man deserveth

The world yifth noght his yiftes hiere.

Bot certes he hath gret matiere 3270
To ben of good condicioun,

Which hath in his subjeccioun

The men that ben of his semblance.’

And ek he tok a remembrance

How he that made lawe of kinde

Wolde every man to lawe binde,

And bad a man, such as he wolde

Toward himself, riht such he scholde

Toward an other don also.

And thus this worthi lord as tho 3280
Sette in balance his oghne astat

And with himself stod in debat,

And thoghte hou that it was noght good

To se so mochel mannes blod

Be spilt for cause of him alone. P. i. 270
He sih also the grete mone,

Of that the Modres were unglade,

And of the wo the children made,

3265 margin Nota AJ, F om. C, B 3283 hou that how ML.

3285 for? by (be) Hi... Bs, Hs

LIBER SECUNDUS 219

Wherof that al his herte tendreth, [Tate or CowsrAN-
And such pite withinne engendreth, 3290 TINE AND SitvasteR.]
That him was levere forto chese
His oghne bodi forto lese,
Than se so gret a moerdre wroght
Upon the blod which gulteth noght.
Thus for the pite which he tok
Alle othre leches he forsok,
And put him out of aventure
Al only into goddes cure ;
And seith, ‘Who that woll maister be,
He mot be servant to pite.’ 3300
So ferforth he was overcome
With charite, that he hath nome
His conseil and hise officers,
And bad unto hise tresorers
That thei his tresour al aboute
Departe among that povere route
Of wommen and of children bothe,
Wherof thei mihte hem fede and clothe
And saufli tornen hom ayein
Withoute lost of eny grein. 3310
Thurgh charite thus he despendeth
His good, wherof that he amendeth
The povere poeple, and contrevaileth
The harm, that he hem so travaileth :
And thus the woful nyhtes sorwe P.i. 271
To joie is torned on the morwe;
Al was thonkinge, al was blessinge,
Which erst was wepinge and cursinge ;
Thes wommen gon hom glade ynowh,
Echon for joie on other lowh, 3320
And preiden for this lordes hele,
Which hath relessed the querele,
And hath his oghne will forsake
In charite for goddes sake.
Bot now hierafter thou schalt hiere
What god hath wroght in this matiere,

3290 gendrep AM, W 3306 that] Fe M... Bs SAdBA, W
3314 so om. Hi... Ba

220 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Tare or ConsTan- As he which doth al equite.
TINE AND SILVESTER, ] To him that wroghte charite
He was ayeinward charitous,
And to pite he was pitous: 3330

For it was nevere knowe yit
That charite goth unaquit.
The nyht, whan he was leid to slepe,
The hihe god, which wolde him kepe,
Seint Peter and seint Poul him sende,
Be whom he wolde his lepre amende.
Thei tuo to him slepende appiere
Fro god, and seide in this manere:
*O Constantin, for thou hast served
Pite, thou hast pite deserved : 3340
Forthi thou schalt such pite have
That god thurgh pite woll thee save.
So schalt thou double hele finde,
Ferst for thi bodiliche kinde,
And for thi wofull Soule also, P. i. 272
Thou schalt ben hol of bothe tuo.
And for thou schalt thee noght despeire,
Thi lepre schal nomore empeire
Til thou wolt sende therupon
Unto the Mont of Celion, 3350
Wher that Silvestre and his clergie
Togedre duelle in compaignie
For drede of thee, which many day
Hast ben a fo to Cristes lay,
And hast destruid to mochel schame
l'he prechours of his holy name.
Bot now thou hast somdiel appesed
Thi god, and with good dede plesed,
That thou thi pite hast bewared
Upon the blod which thou hast spared. 3360
Forthi to thi salvacion
Thou schalt have enformacioun,
Such as Silvestre schal the teche:
The nedeth of non other leche.’
This Emperour, which al this herde,
‘Grant merci lordes, he ansuerde,

LIBER SECUNDUS 221

*[ wol do so as ye me seie. (Tate or Consran-
Bot of o thing I wolde preie: TINE AND SILVESTER. |
What schal I telle unto Silvestre

Or of youre name or of youre estre?' 3370

And thei him tolden what thei hihte,

And forth withal out of his sihte

Thei passen up into the hevene.

And he awok out of his swevene,

And clepeth, and men come anon: P.i. 273
He tolde his drem, and therupon

In such a wise as he hem telleth

The Mont wher that Silvestre duelleth

Thei have in alle haste soght,

And founde he was and with hem broght 3330
To themperour, which to him tolde

His swevene and elles what he wolde.

And whan Silvestre hath herd the king,

He was riht joiful of this thing,

And him began with al his wit

To techen upon holi writ

Ferst how mankinde was forlore,

And how the hihe god «therfore

His Sone sende from above,

Which bore was for mannes love, ~ 3390
And after of his oghne chois

He tok his deth upon the crois ;

And how in grave he was beloke,

And how that he hath helle broke,

And tok hem out that were him lieve ;

And forto make ous full believe

That he was verrai goddes Sone,

Ayein the kinde of mannes wone

Fro dethe he ros the thridde day,

And whanne he wolde, as he wel may, 3400
He styh up to his fader evene

With fleissh and blod into the hevene ;

And riht so in the same forme

In fleissh and blod he schal reforme,

Whan time comth, the qwike and dede PP. i. 274

3395 were hem B 3402 into heuene AMR, 4, W

222

LE OF CONSTAN-
AND SILVESTER. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

At thilke woful dai of drede,

Where every man schal take his dom,

Als wel the Maister as the grom.

The mihti kinges retenue

That dai may stonde of no value 3410
With worldes strengthe to defende ;

For every man mot thanne entende

To stonde upon his oghne dedes

And leve alle othre mennes nedes.

That dai mai no consail availe,

The pledour and the plee schal faile,

The sentence of that ilke day

Mai non appell sette in delay ;

Ther mai no gold the Jugge plie,

That he ne schal the sothe trie 3420
And setten every man upriht,

Als wel the plowman as the kniht :

The lewed man, the grete clerk

Schal stonde upon his oghne werk,

And such as he is founde tho,

Such schal he be for everemo.

Ther mai no peine be relessed,

Ther mai no joie ben encressed,

Bot endeles, as thei have do,

He schal receive on of the tuo. 3430
And thus Silvestre with his sawe

The ground of al the newe lawe

With gret devocion he precheth,

Fro point to point and pleinly techeth

Unto this hethen Emperour ; P. i. 275
And seith, the hihe creatour

Hath underfonge his charite,

Of that he wroghte such pite,

Whan he the children hadde on honde.

Thus whan this lord hath understonde 3440
Of al this thing how that it ferde,

Unto Silvestre he thanne ansuerde,

With al his hole herte and seith

3406 On H1... Ba And Hs (Thatilke W) 3430 He schal] Thei
schul (schal) Hi... B: 3431 And pis HERC, W And pus pis L

LIBER SECUNDUS 223

That he is redi to the feith. (Tare oF CoNsTAN-
And so the vessel which for blod TIME AND SILVESTER.]
Was mad, Silvestre, ther it stod,
With clene water of the welle
In alle haste he let do felle,
And sette Constantin therinne
Al naked up unto the chinne. 3450
And in the while it was begunne,
A liht, as thogh it were a Sunne,
Fro hevene into the place com
Wher that he tok his cristendom ;
And evere among the holi tales
Lich as thei weren fisshes skales
Ther fellen from him now and eft,
Til that ther was nothing beleft
Of al his grete maladie.
For he that wolde him purefie, 3460
The hihe god hath mad him clene,
So that ther lefte nothing sene;
He hath him clensed bothe tuo,
The bodi and the Soule also.
Tho knew this Emperour in dede P. i. 276
That Cristes feith was forto drede,
And sende anon hise lettres oute
And let do crien al aboute,
Up peine of deth that noman weyve
That he baptesme ne receive: 3470
After his Moder qweene Heleine
He sende, and so betwen hem tweine
Thei treten, that the Cite all
Was cristned, and sche forth withall.
This Emperour, which hele hath founde,
Withinne Rome anon let founde
Tuo cherches, whiche he dede make
For Peter and for Poules sake,
Of whom he hadde avisioun ;
And yaf therto possessioun 3480
Of lordschipe and of worldes good.

3458 Til that... beleft] Til... himbeleft (be lefte &c.) Hi... B:
3470 ne om. AM 3476 he let(e) founde AM 3479 Of hem B

224

[TALE or CoNsrAN-
TINE AND SILVESTER.]

Confessor.

Amans.

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Bot how so that his will was good
Toward the Pope and his Franchise,
Yit hath it proved other wise,
To se the worchinge of the dede:
For in Cronique this I rede;
Anon as he hath mad the yifte,
A vois was herd on hih the lifte,
Of which al Rome was adrad, '
And seith: *To day is venym schad
In holi cherche of temporal,
Which medleth with the spirital.'
And hou it stant of that degree
Yit mai a man the sothe se:
God mai amende it, whan he wile,
I can ther to non other skile.

Bot forto go ther I began,
How charite mai helpe a man
To bothe worldes, I have seid:
And if thou have an Ere leid,
Mi Sone, thou miht understonde,
If charite be take on honde,
Ther folweth after mochel grace.
Forthi, if that thou wolt pourchace
How that thou miht Envie flee,
Aqueinte thee with charite,
Which is the vertu sovereine.

Mi fader, I schal do my peine:
For this ensample which ye tolde
With al myn herte I have withholde,
So that I schal for everemore
Eschuie Envie wel the more:

And that I have er this misdo,

Yif me my penance er I go.

And over that to mi matiere

Of schrifte, why we sitten hiere

In privete betwen ous tweie,

Now axeth what ther is, I preie.
Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore

3490

3510

3486 For] ffro F 9487 so as AM 949a Wich F
3516 why] while) M... Bs, W

et

LIBER SECUNDUS

I woll thee telle what is more, 3520
So that thou schalt the vices knowe:

For whan thei be to thee full knowe,

Thou miht hem wel the betre eschuie.

And for this cause I thenke suie

The forme bothe and the matiere, P. i. 278
As now suiende thou schalt hiere

Whicli vice stant next after this:

And whan thou wost how that it is,

As thou schalt hiere me devise,

Thow miht thiself the betre avise. 3530

Explicit Liber Secundus.

225

{Ire on Wnaan.]

Hic in tercio libro
tractat super quinque
speciebus Ire, qua-
rum prima Malencolia
dicitur, cuius vicium
Confessor primo de-
scribens Amantisuper
codem consequenter

opponit.

7 margin primo] prima HiXERCL primum Bs om.G
. he] it...it XRC. W it... he HiGELBs I2 enemy]
euermore (euer more) H1... B1

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Incipit Liber Tercius.

i. ra suis paribus est par furiis Acherontis, P. i. 279

Quo furor ad tempus nil pietatis habet.

Ira malencolicos animos perturbat, vt eguo
Jure sui fondus nulla statera tenet.

Omnibus in causis grauat Ira, set inter amantes,
Ila magis facili sorte grauamen agit:

Est vbi vir discors leuiterque repugnat amori,
Sefe loco ludi fletus ad ora venit.

Ir thou the vices lest to knowe,
Mi Sone, it hath noght ben unknowe,
Fro ferst that men the swerdes grounde,
That ther nis on upon this grounde,
A vice forein fro the lawe,
Wherof that many a good felawe
Hath be distraght be sodein chance ;
And yit to kinde no plesance
It doth, bot wher he most achieveth
His pourpos, most to kinde he grieveth,
As he which out of conscience
Is enemy to pacience:
And is be name on of the Sevene,
Which ofte hath set this world unevene,

And cleped is the cruel Ire, P. i. 280

Whos herte is everemore on fyre
To speke amis and to do bothe,
For his servantz ben evere wrothe.
Mi goode fader, tell me this:
What thing is Ire?
Sone, it is
That in oure englissh Wrathe is hote,

9 f. he

LIBER TERCIUS 227

Which hath hise wordes ay so hote,
That all a mannes pacience
Is fyred of the violence.
For he with him hath evere fyve
Servantz that helpen him to stryve :
The ferst of hem Malencolie [ii MELANCHOLY. ]
Is cleped, which in compaignie
An hundred times in an houre
Wol as an angri beste loure, 30
And noman wot the cause why.
Mi Sone, schrif thee now forthi :
Hast thou be Malencolien ?
Ye, fader, be seint Julien, Confessio Amantis.
Bot I untrewe wordes use,
I mai me noght therof excuse:
And al makth love, wel I wot,
Of which myn herte is evere hot,
So that I brenne as doth a glede
For Wrathe that I mai noght spede. 40
And thus fulofte a day for noght
Save onlich of myn oghne thoght
I am so with miselven wroth,
That how so that the game goth
With othre men, I am noght glad; P. i. 281
Bot I am wel the more unglad,
For that is othre mennes game
It torneth me to pure grame.
Thus am I with miself oppressed
Of thoght, the which I have impressed, 50
That al wakende I dreme and meete
That I with hire al one meete
And preie hire of som good ansuere :
Bot for sche wol noght gladly swere,
Sche seith me nay withouten oth ;
And thus wexe I withinne wroth,
That outward I am al affraied,
And so distempred and esmaied.
A thousand times on a day
Ther souneth in myn Eres nay, 60
49 mi seluen A 5r walkend(e) H1... CBs, B. wawende L
Q2

228

( MELANCHOL Y.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

‘he which sche seide me tofore :

Thus be my wittes as forlore ;

And namely whan I beginne

To rekne with miself withinne

How many yeres ben agon,

Siththe I have trewly loved on

And nevere tok of other hede,

And evere aliche fer to spede

I am, the more I with hir dele,

So that myn happ and al myn hele ro
Me thenkth is ay the leng the ferre,

That bringth my gladschip out of herre,
Wherof my wittes ben empeired,

And 1, as who seith, al despeired. :

For finaly, whan that I muse P. i. 282
And thenke how sche me wol refuse,

I am with anger so bestad,

For al this world mihte I be glad :

And for the while that it lasteth

Al up so doun my joie it casteth, 80
And ay the furthere that I be,

Whan I ne may my ladi se,

The more I am redy to wraththe,

That for the touchinge of a laththe

Or for the torninge of a stree

I wode as doth the wylde Se,

And am so malencolious,

That ther nys servant in myn hous

Ne non of tho that ben aboute,

That ech of hem ne stant in doute, go
And wenen that I scholde rave

For Anger that thei se me have ;

And so thei wondre more and lasse,

Til that thei sen it overpasse.

Bot, fader, if it so betide,

That I aproche at eny tide

The place wher my ladi is,

And thanne that hire like ywiss

62 al forlore (alle for lore) Hi, B, Hs 68 fer AJ, STAA, FHs
for M... Bs, AdB, W 86 wolde AM

LIBER TERCIUS 229

To speke a goodli word untome, [Merancuozy.]
For al the gold that is in Rome 100
Ne cowthe I after that be wroth,
Bot al myn Anger overgoth ;
So glad I am of the presence
Of hire, that I all offence
Foryete, as thogh it were noght, P. i. 283
So overgladed is my thoght.
And natheles, the soth to telle,
Ayeinward if it so befelle
That I at thilke time sihe
On me that sche miscaste hire yhe, 110
Or that sche liste noght to loke,
And I therof good hiede toke,
Anon into my ferste astat
I torne, and am with al so mat,
That evere it is aliche wicke.
And thus myn hand ayein the pricke
I hurte and have do many day,
And go so forth as I go may,
Fulofte bitinge on my lippe,
And make unto miself a whippe, 120
With which in many a chele and hete
Mi wofull herte is so tobete,
That all my wittes ben unsofte
And I am wroth, I not how ofte ;
And al it is Malencolie,
Which groweth of the fantasie
Of love, that me wol noght loute :
So bere I forth an angri snoute
Ful manye times in a yer.
Bot, fader, now ye sitten hier 130
In loves stede, I yow beseche,
That som ensample ye me teche,
Wherof I mai miself appese.
Mi Sone, for thin hertes ese Confessor.
I schal fulfille thi preiere, P. i. 284
So that thou miht the betre lere
, What mischief that this vice stereth,
* 109 pat pilke AM

230

[TALE or Canace
AND MACHAIRE. ]

Hic ponit Confes-
sor exemplum contra
istos, qui cum vires
amoris non sunt reali-
ter experti, contra
alios amantes malen-
colica seueritate ad
iracundiam vindicte
prouocantur. Et nar-
rat qualiter Rex Eolus
filium nomine Macha-
rium et filiam nomine
Canacem habuit, qui
cum ab infancia vsque
ad pubertatem inui-
cem educati fuerant,
Cupido tandem ignito
iaculo amborum cordis
desideria amorose
penetrauit, ita quod
Canacis natura coope-
rante a fratre suo
inpregnata parturit :
super quo pater, intol-
lerabilem iuuentutis
concupiscenciam ig-
norans nimiaque furo-
ris malencolia preuen-
tus, dictam filiam cum
partu dolorosissimo
casu interfici adiudi-
cauit.

148 margin malencolia Hi... Bs
HiXR... Bs
Whenne... in W

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Which in his Anger noght forbereth,

Wherof that after him forthenketh, |
Whan he is sobre and that he thenketh 140
Upon the folie of his dede ;

And of this point a tale I rede.

Ther was a king which Eolus
Was hote, and it befell him thus,
That he tuo children hadde faire,
The Sone cleped was Machaire,
The dowhter ek Canace hihte.
Be daie bothe and ek be nyhte,
Whil thei. be yonge, of comun wone
In chambre thei togedre wone, 150
And as thei scholden pleide hem ofte,
Til thei be growen up alofte
Into the youthe of lusti age,
Whan kinde assaileth the corage
With love and doth him forto bowe,
‘That he no reson can allowe,
Bot halt the lawes of nature:
For whom that love hath under cure,
As he is blind himself, riht so
He makth his client blind also. 160
In such manere as I you telle
As thei al day togedre duelle,
This brother mihte it noght asterte
That he with al his hole herte
His love upon his Soster caste : P. i. 285
And so it fell hem ate laste,
That this Machaire with Canace
Whan thei were in a prive place,
Cupide bad hem ferst to kesse,
And after sche which is Maistresse 170
In kinde and techeth every lif
Withoute lawe positif,
Of which sche takth nomaner charge,

162 margin concupiscencia
168 Whan ...in a] Whan pat... in SAdBTA

. LIBER TERCIUS age

Bot kepth hire lawes al at large, [Tare or Canace
Nature, tok hem into lore AND Macuaire.]
And tawht hem so, that overmore
Sche hath hem in such wise daunted,
That thei were, as who seith, enchaunted.
And as the blinde an other ledeth
And til thei falle nothing dredeth, 180
Riht so thei hadde non insihte ;
Bot as the bridd which wole alihte
And seth the mete and noght the net,
Which in deceipte of him is set,
This yonge folk no peril sihe,
Bot that was likinge in here yhe,
So that thei felle upon the chance >
Where witt hath lore his remembrance._’
' So longe thei togedre assemble, __
The wombe aros, and sche gan tremble, 190
And hield hire in hire chambre clos
For drede it scholde be disclos
And come to hire fader Ere:
Wherof the Sone hadde also fere,
And feigneth cause forto ryde ; P. i. 386
For longe dorste he noght abyde,
In aunter if men wolde sein
That he his Soster hath forlein :
For yit sche hadde it noght beknowe
Whos was the child at thilke throwe. 200
Machaire goth, Canace abit, -
The which was noght delivered yit,
. Bot riht sone after that sche was.
= Now lest and herkne a woful cas.
The sothe, which mai noght ben hid,
Was ate laste knowe and kid
Unto the king, how that it stod.
And whan that he it understod,
Anon into Malencolie,
As thogh it were a frenesie, . 210
176 tawht (taught) AJ, B, F tawhte S overmore] euermore

AMHiXGRCLB;, TA, W 181 in sihte (in siht) AJM 186
that] al B 200 drowe AM

232 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

LE OF CANACE He fell, as he which nothing cowthe
| Macuarre. | How maistrefull love is in yowthe :
And for he was to love strange,
He wolde noght his herte change
To be benigne and favorable
To love, bot unmerciable
Betwen the wawe of wod and wroth
Into his dowhtres chambre he goth,
And sih the child was late bore,
Wherof he hath hise othes swore 220
That sche it schal ful sore abye.
And sche began merci to crie,
Upon hire bare knes and preide,
And to hire fader thus sche seide:
‘Ha mercy! fader, thenk I am P. i. 287
Thi child, and of thi blod I cam.
That I misdede yowthe it made,
And in the flodes bad me wade,
‘Wher that I sih no peril tho:
Bot now it is befalle so, | 230
Merci, my fader, do no wreche !' |
And with that word sche loste speche
And fell doun swounende at his fot,
As sche for sorwe nedes mot.
Bot his horrible crualte
Ther mihte attempre no pite:
Out of hire chambre forth he wente
A] full of wraththe in his entente,
And tok the conseil in his herte
That sche schal noght the deth asterte, 240
As he which Malencolien
Of pacience hath no lien,
Wherof his wraththe he mai restreigne.
And in this wilde wode peine,
Whanne al his resoun was untame,
A kniht he clepeth be his name,
And tok him as be weie of sonde
A naked swerd to bere on honde,
And seide him that he scholde go
And telle unto his dowhter so 350

LIBER TERCIUS 233

In the manere as he him bad, (Tare or Canac
How sche that scharpe swerdes blad AND MACHAIRE.
Receive scholde and do withal
So as sche wot wherto it schal.
Forth in message goth this kniht P. i. 288
Unto this wofull yonge wiht,
This scharpe swerd to hire he tok:
Wherof that al hire bodi qwok, —
For wel sche wiste what it mente,
And that it was to thilke entente 260
That sche hireselven scholde slee.
And to the kniht sche seide: ‘Yee,
Now that I wot my fadres wille,
That I schal in this wise spille,
I wole obeie me therto,
And as he wole it schal be do.
Bot now this thing mai be non other,
I wole a lettre unto mi brother,
So as my fieble hand may wryte,
With al my wofull herte endite.’ 270
Sche tok a Penne on honde tho,
Fro point to point and al the wo,
Als ferforth as hireself it wot,
Unto hire dedly frend sche wrot,
And tolde how that hire fader grace
Sche mihte for nothing pourchace ;
And overthat, as thou schalt hiere,
Sche wrot and seide in this manere:
* O thou my sorwe and my gladnesse,
O thou myn hele and my siknesse, 280
O my wanhope and al my trust,
O my desese and al my lust,
O thou my wele, o thou my wo,
O thou my frend, o thou my fo,
O thou my love, o thou myn hate, — P. i. 289
For thee mot I be ded algate.
Thilke ende may I noght asterte,
And yit with al myn hole herte,
Whil that me lasteth eny breth,
254 it schal] sche schal Hi... Bs, Ad 286 For thee] ffor pi B

234.

[Tace or CaNACE
AND MACHAIRE.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

I wol the love into my deth. 290
Bot of o thing I schal thee preie,

If that my litel Sone deie,

Let him be beried in my grave

Beside me, so schalt thou have

Upon ous bothe remembrance.

For thus it stant of my grevance;

Now at this time, as thou schalt wite,

With teres and with enke write

This lettre I have in cares colde:

In my riht hond my Penne I holde, 300
And in my left the swerd I kepe,

And in my barm ther lith to wepe

Thi child and myn, which sobbeth faste.

Now am I come unto my laste:

Fare wel, for I schal sone deie,

And thenk how I thi love abeie.’

The pomel of the swerd to grounde

Sche sette, and with the point a wounde
Thurghout hire herte anon sche made,

And forth with that al pale and fade 310
Sche fell doun ded fro ther sche stod.

The child lay bathende in hire blod

Out rolled fro the moder barm,

And for the blod was hot and warm,

He basketh him aboute thrinne. P. i. 290
Ther was no bote forto winne,

For he, which can no pite knowe,

'The king cam in the same throwe,

And sih how that his dowhter dieth

And how this Babe al blody crieth ; 320
Bot al that mihte him noght suffise,

That he ne bad to do juise

Upon the child, and bere him oute,

And seche in the Forest aboute

Som wilde place, what it were,

To caste him out of honde there,

So that som beste him mai devoure,

ago vnto H1... Bs 313 modres (moderis, moders) Hi... Bs
315 basklep AMHiSn, SAA basked C

LIBER TERCIUS

Where as noman him schal socoure.
Al that he bad was don in dede:
Ha, who herde evere singe or rede 330
Of such a thing as that was do?
Bot he which ladde his wraththe so
Hath knowe of love bot a lite;
Bot for al that he was to wyte,
Thurgh his sodein Malencolie
To do so gret a felonie.
Forthi, my Sone, how so it stonde,
Be this cas thou miht understonde
That if thou evere in cause of love
Schalt deme, and thou be so above 340
That thou miht lede it at thi wille,
Let nevere thurgh thi Wraththe spille
Which every kinde scholde save.
For it sit every man to have
Reward to love and to his miht, P. i. 291
Ayein whos strengthe mai no wiht:
And siththe an herte is so constreigned,
The reddour oghte be restreigned
To him that mai no bet aweie,
Whan he mot to nature obeie. 350
For it is seid thus overal,
That nedes mot that nede schal
Of that a lif doth after kinde,
Wherof he mai no bote finde.
What nature hath set in hir lawe
Ther mai no mannes miht withdrawe,
And who that worcheth therayein,
Fulofte time it hath be sein,
Ther hath befalle gret vengance,

Wherof I finde a remembrance. 360

Ovide after the time tho
Tolde an ensample and seide so,
How that whilom Tiresias,

As he walkende goth per cas,

331 that] bo AM, Ad, Magd hyt W 354 I may H:... Bz
355 What ping nature hap set in lawe A... B3, S...A

235

[Tare or CANACE
AND MACHAIRE. }

[| TiRESIAS AND THE
SNAKES. ]

236

TIRESIAS AND THE
SNAXES.]

Hic narrat qualiter
resias in quodam
onte duos serpentes
genit pariter com-
iscentes, quos cum
‘ga percussit. Irati
| ob hoc quod natu-
m impediuit, ipsum
ntra naturam a for-
a virili in muliebrem
insmutarunt.

Confessor.

Amans.

For love hath evere his lust to pleie,

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Upon an hih Montaine he sih
Tuo Serpentz in his weie nyh,
And thei, so as nature hem tawhte,
Assembled were, and he tho cawhte
A yerde which he bar on honde,
And thoghte that he wolde fonde
To letten hem, and smot hem bothe :
Wherof the goddes weren wrothe ;
And for he hath destourbed kinde
And was so to nature unkinde,
Unkindeliche he was transformed,
That he which erst a man was formed
Into a womman was forschape.
That was to him an angri jape;
Bot for that he with Angre wroghte,
Hise Angres angreliche he boghte.
Lo thus, my Sone, Ovide hath write,
Wherof thou miht be reson write,
More is a man than such a beste:
So mihte it nevere ben honeste
A man to wraththen him to sore
Of that an other doth the lore
Of kinde, in which is no malice,
Bot only that it is a vice:
And thogh a man be resonable,
Yit after kinde he is menable
To love, wher he wole or non.
Thenk thou, my Sone, therupon
And do Malencolie aweie ;

As he which wolde no lif grieve.
Mi fader, that I mai wel lieve;

Al that ye tellen it is skile:

Let every man love as he wile,

Be so it be noght my ladi,

For I schal noght be wroth therby.

Bot that I wraththe and fare amis,

390 menable HiXG, Ada, F

AMB:, ST, Hs
movable) L, W

mevable R.

menabe J
moeuable EC, B

P. i. 292

400

meuable (1!)
mouable

LIBER TERCIUS

Al one upon miself it is,
That I with bothe love and kinde
Am so bestad, that I can finde
No weie how I it mai asterte: P. i. 293
Which stant upon myn oghne herte
And toucheth to non other lif,
Save only to that swete wif
For whom, bot if it be amended,
Mi glade daies ben despended, 410
That I miself schal noght forbere
The Wraththe which that I now bere,
For therof is non other leche.
Now axeth forth, I yow beseche,
Of Wraththe if ther oght elles is,
Wherof to schryve.
Sone, yis.

li. Zra mouet litem, que lingue frena resoluens
Laxa fer infames currit vbique vias.
Rixarum nutrix guos educat ista loguaces,
Hos Venus a latere linguit habere vagos.
Set pacienter agens tactturno qui celet ore,
Vincit, ef optati carpit amoris iter.

Of Wraththe the secounde is Cheste,
Which hath the wyndes of tempeste
To kepe, and many a sodein blast
He bloweth, wherof ben agast 420
Thei that desiren pes and reste.
He is that ilke ungoodlieste
Which many a lusti love hath twinned ;
For he berth evere his mowth unpinned,
So that his lippes ben unloke
And his corage is al tobroke,
That every thing which he can telle,
It springeth up as doth a welle,
Which mai non of his stremes hyde,
Bot renneth out on every syde. 430
So buillen up the foule sawes P. i. 294

402 Al one] Along(e) H1G ... Bs Alllonge X 408 Save] Saufly B
Latin Verses ii. 6 Vincit] Viuat H1... CB: Viuit L

237

( MELANCHOLY. ]

(ii. Crust. }

Hic tractat Confes-
sor super secunda
specie Ire, que Lis
dicitur, ex cuius con-
tumeliis innumerosa
dolorum occasio tam
in amoris causa quam
aliter in quampluribus
sepissime exorta est.

238

[Cuzsrz.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

That Cheste wot of his felawes :

For as a Sive kepeth Ale,

Riht so can Cheste kepe a tale ;

Al that he wot he wol desclose,

And speke er eny man oppose.

As a Cite withoute wal,

Wher men mai gon out overal

Withouten eny resistence,

So with his croked eloquence 440
He spekth al that he wot withinne:

Wherof men lese mor than winne,

For ofte time of his chidinge

He bringth to house such tidinge,

That makth werre ate beddeshed.

He is the levein of the bred,

Which soureth all the past aboute:

Men oghte wel such on to doute,

For evere his bowe is redi bent,

And whom he hit I telle him schent, 430
If he mai perce him with his tunge.

And ek so lowde his belle is runge,

That of the noise and of the soun

Men feeren hem in al the toun

Welmore than thei don of thonder.

For that is cause of more wonder ;

For with the wyndes whiche he bloweth
Fulofte sythe he overthroweth

The Cites and the policie,

That I have herd the poeple crie, 460
And echon seide in his degre, P. i. 295
‘Ha wicke tunge, wo thee bel’

For men sein that the harde bon,

Althogh himselven have non,

A tunge brekth it al to pieces.

He hath so manye sondri spieces

Of vice, that I mai noght wel

Descrive hem be a thousendel :

Bot whan that he to Cheste falleth,

445 makep ... at Hi... Bs, BA 446 He] His FWKHs

It Magd

LIBER TERCIUS 239

Ful many a wonder thing befalleth, 470 [Cuzsrr-]
For he ne can nothing forbere.
Now tell me, Sone, thin ansuere, Opponit Confessor.

If it hath evere so betidd,
That thou at eny time hast chidd
Toward thi love.
Fader, nay ; Confessio Amantis.
Such Cheste yit unto this day
Ne made I nevere, god forbede :
For er I sunge such a crede,
I hadde levere to be lewed ;
For thanne were I al beschrewed 480
And worthi to be put abak
With al the sorwe upon my bak
That eny man ordeigne cowthe.
Bot I spak nevere yit be mowthe
That unto Cheste mihte touche,
And that I durste riht wel vouche
Upon hirself as for witnesse ;
For I wot, of hir gentilesse
That sche me wolde wel excuse,
That I no suche thinges use. 490
And if it scholde so betide P. i. 296
That I algates moste chide,
It myhte noght be to my love:
For so yit was I nevere above,
For al this wyde world to winne
That I dorste eny word beginne,
Be which sche mihte have ben amoeved
And I of Cheste also reproeved.
Bot rathere, if it mihte hir like,
The beste wordes wolde I pike 500
Whiche I cowthe in myn herte chese,
And serve hem forth in stede of chese,
For that is helplich to defie;
And so wolde I my wordes plie,
That mihten Wraththe and Cheste avale

476 yit om. AM 478 synge (sing) H:iXECB:, AdBA, Hs
480 be schrewed FK 490 no pinges suche HiXGRCBs nothynge
suche W 504 wolde I] wolde (om, I) FKHs wolle I W

(Cuxsre. }

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

With tellinge of my softe tale.

Thus dar I make a foreward,

That nevere unto my ladiward

Yit spak I word in such a wise,
Wherof that Cheste scholde arise.
This seie I noght, that I fulofte

Ne have, whanne I spak most softe,
Per cas seid more thanne ynowh ;
Bot so wel halt noman the plowh
That he ne balketh otherwhile,

Ne so wel can noman affile

His tunge, that som time in rape
Him mai som liht word overscape,
And yit ne meneth he no Cheste.
Bot that I have ayein hir heste
Fulofte spoke, I am beknowe ;

And how my will is, that ye knowe:
For whan my time comth aboute,
That I dar speke and seie al oute
Mi longe love, of which sche wot
That evere in on aliche hot

Me grieveth, thanne al my desese

I telle, and though it hir desplese,
I speke it forth and noght ne leve:
And thogh it be beside hire leve,

I hope and trowe natheles

That I do noght ayein the pes ;
For thogh I telle hire al my thoght,
Sche wot wel that I chyde noght.
Men mai the hihe god beseche,
And he wol hiere a mannes speche

And be noght wroth of that he seith ;

So yifth it me the more feith
And makth me hardi, soth to seie,
That I dar wel the betre preie

Mi ladi, which a womman is.

For thogh I telle hire that or this
Of love, which me grieveth sore,

510

P. i. 297

519 meuep() JMXELB:,W | moeuep GC 532 the] hir (hire) Hi

2... Ba

536 hire B

573 S has lost three leaves (ll. 573-1112)

+

LIBER TERCIUS

Hire oghte noght be wroth the more,
For I withoute noise or cri
Mi pleignte make al buxomly
To puten alle wraththe away.
Thus dar I seie unto this day
Of Cheste in ernest or in game
Mi ladi schal me nothing blame.

Bot ofte time it hath betidd
That with miselven I have chidd,
That noman couthe betre chide:
And that hath ben at every tide,
Whanne I cam to miself al one;
For thanne I made a prive mone,
And every tale by and by,
Which as I spak to my ladi,
I thenke and peise in my balance
And drawe into my remembrance ;
And thanne, if that I finde a lak
Of eny word that I mispak,
Which was to moche in eny wise,
Anon my wittes I despise
And make a chidinge in myn herte,
That eny word me scholde asterte
Which as I scholde have holden inne.
And so forth after I beginne
And loke if ther was elles oght
To speke, and I ne spak it noght:
And thanne, if I mai seche and finde
That eny word be left behinde,
Which as I scholde more have spoke,
I wolde upon miself be wroke,
And chyde with miselven so
That al my wit is overgo.
For noman mai his time lore
Recovere, and thus I am therfore
So overwroth in al my thoght,
That I myself chide al to noght:
Thus for to moche or for to lite
Fulofte I am miself to wyte.

R

550

P. i. 298

560

570

580
P. i. 299

581 Thus] That B

24I

[Cuzsrz.]

242

[Curzsrr.]

Confessor.

Seneca. Paciencia
est vindicta omnium
iniuriarum.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Bot al that mai me noght availe,
With cheste thogh I me travaile :
Bot Oule on Stock and Stock on Oule;
The more that a man defoule,
Men witen wel which hath the werse ;
And so to me nys worth a kerse,
Bot torneth on myn oghne hed,
Thogh I, til that I were ded, 590
Wolde evere chyde in such a wise
Of love as I to you devise.
Bot, fader, now ye have al herd
In this manere how I have ferd
Of Cheste and of dissencioun,
Yif me youre absolucioun.
Mi Sone, if that thou wistest al,
What Cheste doth in special
To love and to his welwillinge,
Thou woldest flen his knowlechinge 600
And lerne to be debonaire.
For who that most can speke faire
Is most acordende unto love:
Fair speche hath ofte brought above
Ful many a man, as it is knowe,
Which elles scholde have be riht lowe
And failed mochel of his wille.
Forthi hold thou thi tunge stille
And let thi witt thi wille areste,
So that thou falle noght in Cheste, 610
Which is the source of gret destance: P. i. goo
And tak into thi remembrance
If thou miht gete pacience,
Which is the leche of alle offence,
As tellen ous these olde wise:
For whan noght elles mai suffise
Be strengthe ne be mannes wit,
Than pacience it oversit
And overcomth it ate laste ;
Bot he mai nevere longe laste, 620

611 destrance AM 612 vnto H1... Bs 619 overcomth
t] ouercomep C

LIBER TERCIUS 243

Which wol noght bowe er that he breke. (Cuzsrz.]
Tak hiede, Sone, of that I speke.
Mi fader, of your goodli speche Amans.

And of the witt which ye me teche

I thonke you with al myn herte:

For that world schal me nevere asterte,
That I ne schal your wordes holde,
Of Pacience as ye me tolde,

Als ferforth as myn herte thenketh;
And of my wraththe it me forthenketh. 630
Bot, fader, if ye forth withal

Som good ensample in special

Me wolden telle of som Cronique,

It scholde wel myn herte like

Of pacience forto hiere,

So that I mihte in mi matiere

The more unto my love obeie

And puten mi desese aweie.

Mi Sone, a man to beie him pes [PATIENCE or
Behoveth soffre as Socrates 640 RATES. )
Ensample lefte, which is write: P. i. gor
And for thou schalt the sothe wite,

Of this ensample what I mene, Hic ponit Confessor
Althogh it be now litel sene exemplum de pacien-
. . cia in amore co

Among the men thilke evidence, lites habenda. Et nar-
Yit he was upon pacience rat qualiter vxor So-
. . cratis ipsum quodam

So sett, that he himself assaie die multis sermonibus
In thing which mihte him most mispaie litigauit ; set cum ipse
. eq . absque vlla respon-
Desireth, and a wickid wif sione omnia probra
He weddeth, which in sorwe and strif 650 Pacienter sustulit, in-
. . . dignata vxor quan-
Ayein his ese was contraire. dam ydriam plenam
Bot he spak evere softe and faire, aque, quam in manu

(oc T ene super u
Til it befell, as it 1s told, viri sui’ subito effudit,
In wynter, whan the dai is cold, dicens, * Euigila et lo-

. . : 1 respon-
This wif was fro the welle come, dens tunc ait, «O vere
Wher that a pot with water nome iam scio et expertus

624 wich F 626 world (worlde) AM, AdTA, FHs word JH;
... Bs, BA, W 633 teche YEC, B of] in AM, Hs 639
a man to] for to B 647 assaie om. A (p. m.) to assaie M, Hs
assayed X did assai A

R 2

244

"ATIENCE OF
SOCRATES. ]

uia post vento-
rabiem sequun-
nbres': etisto

litis contume-
ua paciencia de-

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Sche hath, and broghte it into house,

And sih how that hire seli spouse
Was sett and loked on a bok
Nyh to the fyr, as he which tok
His ese for a man of age.

And sche began the wode rage,

And axeth him what devel he thoghte,
And bar on hond that him ne roghte
What labour that sche toke on honde,

And seith that such an Housebonde
Was to a wif noght worth a Stre.
He seide nowther nay ne ye,

Bot hield him stille and let hire chyde;

And sche, which mai hirself noght hyde, 6
Began withinne forto swelle,
And that sche broghte in fro the welle,
The waterpot sche hente alofte

And bad him speke, and he al softe

Sat stille and noght a word ansuerde ;
And sche was wroth that he so ferde,

And axeth him if he be ded;

And al the water on his hed

She pourede oute and bad awake.
Bot he, which wolde noght forsake
His Pacience, thanne spak,

And seide how that he fond no lak
In nothing which sche hadde do:
For it was wynter time tho,

And wynter, as be weie of kinde
Which stormy is, as men it finde,
Ferst makth the wyndes forto blowe,
And after that withinne a throwe
He reyneth and the watergates
Undoth; ‘and thus my wif algates,
Which is with reson wel besein,
Hath mad me bothe wynd and rein
After the Sesoun of the yer.’

And thanne he sette him nerr the fer,

663 axex F

679 bad] bad him AM, Hs

P. i. 302

690

LIBER TERCIUS 245

And as he mihte hise clothes dreide, [PATIENCE or
That he nomore o word ne seide ; SOCRATES. ]
Wherof he gat him somdel reste,
For that him thoghte was the beste.
I not if thilke ensample yit Confessor.
Acordeth with a mannes wit, 700
To soffre as Socrates tho dede: P. i. 303
And if it falle in eny stede
A man to lese so his galle,
Him oghte among the wommen alle
In loves Court be juggement
The name bere of Pacient,
To yive ensample to the goode
Of pacience how that it stode,
That othre men it mihte knowe.
And, Sone, if thou at eny throwe 710
Be tempted ayein Pacience,
Tak hiede upon this evidence ;
It schal per cas the lasse grieve.
Mi fader, so as I believe, Amans.
Of that schal be no maner nede,
For I wol take so good hiede,
That er I falle in such assai,
I thenke eschuie it, if I mai.
Bot if ther be oght elles more
Wherof I mihte take lore, 720
I preie you, so as I dar,
Now telleth, that I mai be war,
Som other tale in this matiere.
Sone, it is evere good to lere, Confessor.
Wherof thou miht thi word restreigne,
Er that thou falle in eny peine.
For who that can no conseil hyde,
He mai noght faile of wo beside,
Which schal befalle er he it wite,
As I finde in the bokes write. 730

Yit cam ther nevere good of strif, P. i. 304
To seche in all a mannes lif:

704 Him] He Hi... B 732 teche XERCB:

246

[JUPrrER, Juxo AND
TinES1AS.]

Hic ponit Confessor
exemplum, quod de
alterius lite intromit-
tere cauendum est.
Et narrat qualiter
Iupiter cum Iunone
super quadam que-
stione litigabat, vide-
licet vtrum vir an
mulier in amoris con-
cupiscencia feruen-
cius ardebat; super
quo Tiresiam eorum
iudicemconstituebant.
Et quia ille contra Iu-
nonem in dicte litis
causa sentenciam dif-
finiuit, irata dea ipsum
amborum oculorum
lumine claritatis abs-
que remissione priua-
uit.

Confessor.

133 on] in HiXE ... Bj, AdA, W of G, B
743 margin constituebat Hi... Bs
756 hise] her B
765 Bot] Lo Hi... B

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Thogh it beginne on pure game,
Fulofte it torneth into grame
And doth grevance upon som side.
Wherof the grete Clerk Ovide
After the lawe which was tho
Of Jupiter and of Juno
Makth in his bokes mencioun
How thei felle at dissencioun
In manere as it were a borde,
As thei begunne forto worde
Among hemself in privete :
And that was upon this degree,
Which of the tuo more amorous is,
Or man or wif. And upon this
Thei mihten noght acorde in on,
And toke a jugge therupon,
Which cleped is Tiresias,
And bede him demen in the cas;
And he withoute avisement
Ayein Juno yaf juggement.
This goddesse upon his ansuere
Was wroth and wolde noght forbere,
Bot tok awey for everemo
The liht fro bothe hise yhen tuo.
Whan Jupiter this harm hath sein,
An other bienfait therayein
He yaf, and such a grace him doth,
That for he wiste he seide soth,
A Sothseiere he was for evere :
Bot yit that other were levere,
Have had the lokinge of his yhe,
Than of his word the prophecie ;
Bot how so that the sothe wente,
Strif was the cause of that he hente
So gret a peine bodily.

Mi Sone, be thou war ther by,

740

(50

760
P. i. 305

741 aborde A, FK
750 the cas] pis cas BA, W
162 were him leuere H1 ...Bs hadde leuer W

LIBER TERCIUS 247

And hold thi tunge stille clos: [Cuzsrz. |
For who that hath his word desclos 770
Er that he wite what he mene,

He is fulofte nyh his tene

And lest ful many time grace,

Wher that he wolde his thonk pourchace.

And over this, my Sone diere,

Of othre men, if thou miht hiere

In privete what thei have wroght,

Hold conseil and descoevere it noght,

For Cheste can no conseil hele,

Or be it wo or be it wele: 780
And tak a tale into thi mynde,

The which of olde ensample I finde.

Phebus, which makth the daies lihte, [PHEBUS AND
A love he hadde, which tho hihte conn]

Cornide, whom aboven alle sus sohibereneachuat
He pleseth: bot what schal befalle hic ponit Confessor
Of love ther is noman knoweth, qui in um contra illos
Bot as fortune hire happes throweth. alterius consilium e
. uelare presumunt, Et
So it befell upon a chaunce, narrat | qualiter que-
A yong kniht tok hire aqueintance 790 dam auis tunc albis-
. . sima nomine coruus
And hadde of hire al that he wolde: P. i. 306 | iium domine sue
Bot a fals bridd, which sche hath holde Cornide Phebo denu-
. dauit; vnde contigitnon
And kept in chambre of pure yowthe, solum ipsam Cornidem
Discoevereth all that evere he cowthe. interfici, set et coruum,
. . qui antea tanquam nix
This briddes name was as tho albus fuit, in piceum
Corvus, the which was thanne also colorem pro perpetuo

Welmore whyt than eny Swan, transmutari.

And he that schrewe al that he can

Of his ladi to Phebus seide ;

And he for wraththe his swerd outbreide, 800
With which Cornide anon he slowh.

Bot after him was wo ynowh,

And tok a full gret repentance,

Wherof in tokne and remembrance

773 many a time CL, B, W 778 it om. AJM, KHs hem A
184 margin Quia) Qualiter Hi... Bs 788 happe (hap) Hi...
CBs, W happep L 195 margin fuerit HiXRCLBs fuerat GE
798 that] pe Hi... Bs, B

248

[Puzsus AND
ConNipr.)

(JuPrrER AND LAan.]
Hic loquitur super
codem: Et narrat qua-
liter Laar Nimpha de
eo quod Iupiter Iutur-
nam adulterauit,Iuno-
ni Iouis vxori secret-
umreuelauit.Quaprop-
ter Iupiter ira commo-
tus lingua Laaris prius
abscisa ipsam postea
in profundum Ache-
rontis exulem pro
perpetuo mancipauit.

Amans.

807 snow whyt J, B, F snowwhyt A

blak J, B

822 god] and B

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Of hem whiche usen wicke speche,
Upon this bridd he tok this wreche,
That ther he was snow whyt tofore,
Evere afterward colblak therfore

He was transformed, as it scheweth,

And many a man yit him beschreweth,

And clepen him into this day
A Raven, be whom yit men mai
Take evidence, whan he crieth,
That som mishapp it signefieth.
Be war therfore and sei the beste,
If thou wolt be thiself in reste,
Mi goode Sone, as I the rede.
For in an other place I rede

Of thilke Nimphe which Laar hihte:

For sche the privete be nyhte,
How Jupiter lay be Jutorne,

Hath told, god made hire overtorne :

Hire tunge he kutte, and into helle
For evere he sende hir forto duelle,
As sche that was noght worthi hiere
To ben of love a Chamberere,
For sche no conseil cowthe hele.
And suche adaies be now fele
In loves Court, as it is seid,
That lete here tunges gon unteid.
Mi Sone, be thou non of tho,
To jangle and telle tales so,
And namely that thou ne chyde,
For Cheste can no conseil hide,
For Wraththe seide nevere wel.
Mi fader, soth is everydel
That ye me teche, and I wol holde
The reule to which I am holde,
To fle the Cheste, as ye me bidde,
For wel is him that nevere chidde.

817 the om. B

margin Amans A

808 colblak A, F
818 For] Lo H1... B, B. More W
margin secretam AMHiXRCLBa, Hs

820

P. i. 307

830

840
col

831

LIBER TERCIUS

Now tell me forth if ther be more
As touchende unto Wraththes lore.

iii. Demonis est odium quasi Scriba, cui dabit Ira
Materiam scripti cordis ad antra sui.
Non laxabit amor odii quem frena restringunt,
Nec secreta sui iuris adire sinit.
Of Wraththe yit ther is an other,
Which is to Cheste his oghne brother,
And is be name cleped Hate,
That soffreth noght withinne his gate
That ther come owther love or pes, . P. i. 308
For he wol make no reles
Of no debat which is befalle.
Now spek, if thou art on of alle, 850
That with this vice hast ben withholde.
As yit for oght that ye me tolde,
Mi fader, I not what it is.
In good feith, Sone, I trowe yis.
Mi fader, nay, bot ye me lere.
Now lest, my Sone, and thou schalt here.
Hate is a wraththe noght schewende,
Bot of long time gaderende,
And duelleth in the herte loken,
Til he se time to be wroken ; 860
And thanne he scheweth his tempeste
Mor sodein than the wilde beste,
Which wot nothing what merci is.
Mi Sone, art thou knowende of this?
My goode fader, as I wene,
Now wot I somdel what ye mene ;
Bot I dar saufly make an oth,
Mi ladi was me nevere loth.
I wol noght swere natheles
That I of hate am gulteles ; 870
For whanne I to my ladi plie
Fro dai to dai and merci crie,
And sche no merci on me leith
Bot schorte wordes to me seith,
Thogh I my ladi love algate,
848 margin velud B, F 858 gadarende F 868 me] mo AM

^

249

(iif, Hare.]

Hic tractat Confes-
sor de tercia specie
Ire, que Odium dicitur,
cuius naturaomnes Ire

inimicicias ad mentem
reducens, illas vsque
ad tempus vindicte ve-
lut Scriba demonis in
cordis papiro com-

memorandas inserit.

Confessio Amantis.

250 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

(Harr. ] Tho wordes moste I nedes hate ;
And wolde thei were al despent, P. i. 309
Or so ferr oute of londe went
That I nevere after scholde hem hiere ;
And yit love I my ladi diere. 880
Thus is ther Hate, as ye mai se,
Betwen my ladi word and me;
The word I hate and hire I love,
What so me schal betide of love.
Bot forthere mor I wol me schryve,
That I have hated al my lyve
These janglers, whiche of here Envie
Ben evere redi forto lie ;
For with here fals compassement
Fuloften thei have mad me schent 890
And hindred me fulofte time,
Whan thei no cause wisten bime,
Bot onliche of here oghne thoght :
And thus fuloften have I boght
The lie, and drank noght of the wyn.
I wolde here happ were such as myn:
For how so that I be now schrive,
To hem ne mai I noght foryive,
Til that I se hem at debat
With love, and thanne myn astat goo
Thei mihten be here oghne deme,
And loke how wel it scholde hem qweme
To hindre a man that loveth sore.
And thus I hate hem everemore,
Til love on hem wol don his wreche:
For that schal I alway beseche
Unto the mihti Cupido, P. i. 310
That he so mochel wolde do,
So as he is of love a godd,
To smyte hem with the same rodd gro
With which I am of love smite ;
So that thei mihten knowe and wite
How hindringe is a wofull peine

goo thanne] pan wip HiXGECLBs, B pan in R gor hire F
906 I schal AM, KHsMagd

LIBER TERCIUS 251

To him that love wolde atteigne. [Harz.]

Thus evere on hem I wayte and hope,

Til I mai sen hem lepe a lope,

And halten on the same Sor

Which I do now: for overmor

I wolde thanne do my myht

So forto stonden in here lyht, 920

That thei ne scholden finde a weie

To that thei wolde, bot aweie

I wolde hem putte out of the stede

Fro love, riht as thei me dede

With that thei speke of me be mowthe.

So wolde I do, if that I cowthe,

Of hem, and this, so god me save,

Is al the hate that I have,

Toward these janglers everydiel ;

I wolde alle othre ferde wel. 930

Thus have I, fader, said mi wille ;

Say ye now forth, for I am stille.

: Mi Sone, of that thou hast me said Confessor.

I holde me noght fulli paid:

That thou wolt haten eny man,

To that acorden I ne can,

Thogh he have hindred thee tofore. P. i. 31r

Bot this I telle thee therfore,

Thou miht upon my beneicoun

Wel haten the condicioun 940

Of tho janglers, as thou me toldest,

Bot furthermor, of that thou woldest

Hem hindre in eny other wise,

Such Hate is evere to despise.

Forthi, mi Sone, I wol thee rede,

That thou drawe in be frendlihede

That thou ne miht noght do be hate;

So miht thou gete love algate

And sette thee, my Sone, in reste,

For thou schalt finde it for the beste. 950
918 ouermor F eueremore (euer mor etc.) A... Bs, AdBTA,

WKHs 921 finde] haue AM, KHsMagd be putL 941 tho] pe
Hi... Bs, AdB, W

252
[Harz.)

Schal noman tornen him therfro, 960
That Hate nyle his felonie
Fulfille and feigne compaignie
Yit natheles, for fals Semblant
Is toward him of covenant
Withholde, so that under bothe
The prive wraththe can him clothe,
That he schal seme of gret believe. — P. i. 312
Bot war thee wel that thou ne lieve
Al that thou sest tofore thin yhe,
So as the Gregois whilom syhe: 970
The bok of Troie who so rede,
Ther mai he finde ensample in dede.

[Kinc NamPLUS AND Sone after the destruccioun,

THE Greexs.] Whan Troie was al bete doun
Hic ponit Confessor And slain was Priamus the king,

sul ee re sue odium The Gregois, whiche of al this thing

aperte vindicare non Ben cause, tornen hom ayein.

possint, ficta dissimi- Ther mai noman his happ withsein;

dole assequuntur. Et It hath be sen and felt fulofte,

mades princeps Fala- The harde time after the softe: 980

corum in obsidione
Troieaquibusdam suis
emulis proditorie in-
terfectus fuisset, pa-
terque suus Rex Nam-
plus in patria sua tunc
existegs — huiusmodi
euentus certitudinem

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And over this, so as I dar,

I rede that thou be riht war

Of othre mennes hate aboute,

Which every wysman scholde doute :
For Hate is evere upon await,

And as the fisshere on his bait
Sleth, whan he seth the fisshes faste,
So, whan he seth time ate laste,
That he mai worche an other wo,

Be See as thei forth homward wente,
A rage of gret tempeste hem hente ;
Juno let bende hire parti bowe,

The Sky wax derk, the wynd gan blowe,

The firy welkne gan to thondre,

As thogh the world scholde al to sondre ;

970 pe whilom HiXGCL 973 destruccioux AJ, B destruccion
F 979 margin assequentur A 982a margin proditorum
HiXRCLBs 983 margin patroque X .. . Bs

rooo wolde hem AM, A, WHs
1007 margin latitantem B

LIBER TERCIUS

Fro hevene out of the watergates

The reyni Storm fell doun algates

And al here takel made unwelde,

That noman mihte himself bewelde.

Ther mai men hiere Schipmen crie,

That stode in aunter forto die:

He that behinde sat to stiere

Mai noght the forestempne hiere ;

The Schip aros ayein the wawes,

The lodesman hath lost his lawes,

The See bet in on every side:

Thei nysten what fortune abide,

Bot sette hem al in goddes wille,

Wher he hem wolde save or spille.
And it fell thilke time thus:

Ther was a king, the which Namplus

Was hote, and he a Sone hadde,

At Troie which the Gregois ladde,

As he that was mad Prince of alle,

Til that fortune let him falle:

His name was Palamadés.

Bot thurgh an hate natheles

Of some of hem his deth was cast

And he be tresoun overcast.

His fader, whan he herde it telle,

He swor, if evere his time felle,

He wolde him venge, if that he mihte,

And therto his avou behihte:

And thus this king thurgh prive hate

Abod upon await algate,

For he was noght of such emprise

To vengen him in open "wise.

The fame, which goth wyde where,

Makth knowe how that the Gregois were

Homward with al the felaschipe

Fro Troie upon the See be Schipe.

Namplus, whan he this understod,

And knew the tydes of the flod,

990

P. i. 313

1000

1010

1020

1005 margin Et sic quoque Hi... Bs
1014 behihte) he hight(e) GCL, W

253

[Kinc NAMPLUS AND
THE GREEKS. ]

sciuisset,Grecos in sui
cordis odium superom-
nia recollegit. Vnde
contigit quod, cum
Greci deuicta Troia
per altum mare versus
Greciam nauigio re-
meantes obscurissimo
noctis tempore nimia
ventorum tempestate
iactabantur, Rex Nam-
plus in terra sua con-
tra litus maris, vbi ma-
iora saxorum emine-
bant pericula, super
cacumina montium
grandissimos noctan-
ter fecit ignes: quos
Greci aspicientes sal-
uum portum ibidem
inuenire certissime
putabant, etterram ap-
proximantes diruptis
nauibus magna pars
Grecorum periclitaba-
tur. Etsic,quod Nam-
plus viribus nequiit,
odio latitante per dis-
similacionis fraudem
vindicauit.

254

(ING NAMPLUS AND
THE GREEKS. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And sih the wynd blew to the lond,

A gret deceipte anon he fond

Of prive hate, as thou schalt hiere, P. i. 34
Wherof I telle al this matiere.

This king the weder gan beholde,

And wiste wel thei moten holde 1030
Here cours endlong his marche riht,

And made upon the derke nyht

Of grete Schydes and of blockes

Gret fyr ayein the grete rockes,

To schewe upon the helles hihe,

So that the Flete of Grece it sihe.

And so it fell riht as he thoghte:

This Flete, which an havene soghte,

The bryghte fyres sih a ferr,

And thei hem drowen nerr and ner, 1040
And wende wel and understode

How al that fyr was mad for goode,

To schewe wher men scholde aryve,

And thiderward thei hasten blyve.

In Semblant, as men sein, is guile,

And that was proved thilke while ;

The Schip, which wende his helpe acroche,
Drof al to pieces on the roche,

And so ther deden ten or twelve ;

Ther mihte noman helpe himselve, 1050
For ther thei wenden deth ascape,

Withouten help here deth was schape.

Thus thei that comen ferst tofore

Upon the Rockes be forlore,

Bot thurgh the noise and thurgh the cri

These othre were al war therby ;

And whan the dai began to rowe, P. i. 315
Tho mihten thei the sothe knowe,

That wher they wenden frendes finde,

Thei founden frenschipe al behinde. 1060
The lond was thanne sone weyved,

1028 this] my B 1029 The king B 1031 Here] His

Hir(e) J,T 1044 afterward B 1047 This schip

Hi... Bs, B 1060 frenschipe A, F frenschip J frendschip B

LIBER TERCIUS 255

Wher that thei hadden be deceived, [Kinc NAMPLUS AND
And toke hem to the hihe See; THE GRxzxs.]
Therto thei seiden alle yee,
Fro that dai forth and war thei were
Of that thei hadde assaied there.
Mi Sone, hierof thou miht avise Confessor.
How fraude stant in many wise
Amonges hem that guile thenke ;
Ther is no Scrivein with his enke 1070
Which half the fraude wryte can
That stant in such a maner man:
Forthi the wise men ne demen
The thinges after that thei semen,
Bot after that thei knowe and finde.
The Mirour scheweth in his kinde
As he hadde al the world withinne,
And is in soth nothing therinne ;
And so farth Hate for a throwe:
Til he a man hath overthrowe, 1080
Schal noman knowe be his chere
Which is avant, ne which arere.
Forthi, mi Sone, thenke on this.
Mi fader, so I wole ywiss ; Amans,
And if ther more of Wraththe be,
Now axeth forth per charite,
As ye be youre bokes knowe, P. i, 316
And I the sothe schal beknowe.

iv. Qui cohibere manum nequit, et sit spiritus eius [iv. v. CoNTEK AND
Naribus, hie populo sepe timendus erit. Homicine. }
Sepius in luctum Venus et sua gaudia transfert,
Cumque suis thalamis talis amicus adest.
Est amor amplexu non ictibus alliciendus,
Frangit amicicias impetuosa manus.

Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde
That yit towardes Wraththe stonde 1090
Of dedly vices othre tuo:
1065 dai] tyme Hi... Bs, B war] what X...Bz,B what

that Hi
Latin Verses iv. 1 sit] sic Hi... Bs, B, WHs

256

[Cowrzk AND Houi-
CIDE.)

Hic tractat Confes-
sor super quarta et
quinta specie Ire, que
impetuositas et homi-
cidium dicuntur. Set
primo de impetuosi-
tate specialiustractare
intendit, cuius natura
spiritum in naribus
gestando ad omnesIre
mociones in vindictam
parata pacienciam nul-
latenus obseruat.

Opponit Confessor,

Confessio Amantis.

1094 to drede] togidre B to geder Hi
1112 Bot that] But (Bot) at HiXCLBs 1113 S resumes 1118
ne o»t, MHiL, A, WHs
1122 as of] as for M, Ad of L 1123 was neuer(e) Hi, Ad, WHs

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And forto telle here names so,
It is Contek and Homicide,
That ben to drede on every side.
Contek, so as the bokes sein,
Folhast hatb to his Chamberlein,
Be whos conseil al unavised
Is Pacience most despised,
Til Homicide with hem meete.
Fro merci thei ben al unmeete, 1100
And thus ben thei the worste of alle
Of hem whiche unto wraththe falle,
In dede bothe and ek in thoght :
For thei acompte here wraththe at noght,
Bot if ther be schedinge of blod;
And thus lich to a beste wod
Thei knowe noght the god of lif.
Be so thei have or swerd or knif
Here dedly wraththe forto wreke,
Of Pite list hem noght to speke; 11IO
Non other reson thei ne fonge, -
Bot that thei ben of mihtes stronge.
Bot war hem wel in other place, P. i. 317
Where every man behoveth grace,
Bot ther I trowe it schal hem faile,
To whom no merci mihte availe,
Bot wroghten upon tiraundie,
That no pite ne mihte hem plie.
Now tell, my Sone.
Fader, what?
If thou hast be coupable of that. I120
Mi fader, nay, Crist me forbiede:
I speke onliche as of the dede,
Of which I nevere was coupable
Withoute cause resonable.
Bot this is noght to mi matiere
Of schrifte, why we sitten hiere ;

1108 thei] pe F

1119 my] me EL, W me my Hi

LIBER TERCIUS 257

For. we ben sett to schryve of love, [CoNTEK WITHIN THI
As we begunne ferst above: Heart]
And natheles I am beknowe
That as touchende of loves throwe, 1130
Whan I my wittes overwende,
Min hertes contek hath non ende,
Bot evere it stant upon debat
To gret desese of myn astat
As for the time that it lasteth.
For whan mi fortune overcasteth
Hire whiel and is to me so strange,
And that I se sche wol noght change,
Than caste I al the world aboute,
And thenke hou I at home and oute 1140
Have al my time in vein despended,
And se noght how to ben amended,
Bot rathere forto be empeired, P. i. 318
As he that is welnyh despeired :
For I ne mai no thonk deserve,
And evere I love and evere I serve,
And evere I am aliche nerr.
Thus, for I stonde in such a wer,
I am, as who seith, out of herre;
And thus upon miself the werre 1150
I bringe, and putte out alle pes,
That I fulofte in such a res
Am wery of myn oghne lif.
So that of Contek and of strif
I am beknowe and have ansuerd,
As ye, my fader, now have herd.
Min herte is wonderly begon
With conseil, wherof witt is on,
Which hath resoun in compaignie ;
Ayein the whiche stant partie 1160
Will, which hath hope of his acord,
And thus thei bringen up descord.
Witt and resoun conseilen ofte
That I myn herte scholde softe,
And that I scholde will remue
1145 pong J, F ping BA, W 1164 I om. XRCLBs, Hs
** S

258

[Cowrek WITHIN THE
Heart. ]

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And put him out of retenue,
Or elles holde him under fote:
For as thei sein, if that he mote
His oghne rewle have upon honde,
Ther schal no witt ben understonde. II70
Of hope also thei tellen this,
That overal, wher that he is,
He set the herte in jeupartie P. i. 819
With wihssinge and with fantasie,
And is noght trewe of that he seith,
So that in him ther is no feith:
Thus with reson and wit avised
Is will and hope aldai despised. .
Reson seith that I scholde leve
To love, wher ther is no leve 1180
To spede, and will seith therayein
That such an herte is to vilein,
Which dar noght love; and til he spede;
Let hope serve at such a nede:
He seith ek, where an herte sit
Al hol governed upon wit,
He hath this lyves lust forlore.
And thus myn herte is al totore
Of such a Contek as thei make:
Bot yit I mai noght will forsake, I190
That he nys Maister of my thoght,
Or that I spede, or spede noght.
Thou dost, my Sone, ayein the mht;
Bot love is of so gret a miht,
His lawe mai noman refuse,
So miht thou thee the betre excuse.
And natheles thou schalt be lerned
That will scholde evere be governed
Of reson more than of kinde,
Wherof a tale write I finde. 1200

A Philosophre of which men tolde

1166 put AJ, F putte C, B. 1171 thei tellen] to telle B 1133
jeupartie] champartie Hi... Bs 1174 wihssinge AJ, F wissching
(wisshing) C, B 1179 I] it AM 1187 this] his Hi... BE», WHs
1190 will] wel Hi... Bj, WHs 1198 evere om. Hi... Bs, Hs

LIBER TERCIUS

Ther was whilom be daies olde,
And Diogenes thanne he hihte.

So old he was that he ne mihte
The world travaile, and for the beste
He schop him forto take his reste,
And duelte at hom in such a wise,
That nyh his hous he let devise
Endlong upon an Axeltre

To sette a tonne in such degre,
That he it mihte torne aboute ;
Wherof on hed was taken oute,

For he therinne sitte scholde

And torne himself so as he wolde,
To take their and se the hevene
And deme of the planetes sevene,
As he which cowthe mochel what.
And thus fulofte there he sat

To muse in his philosophie

Solein withoute compaignie :

So that upon a morwetyde,

As thing which scholde so betyde,
Whan he was set ther as him liste
To loke upon the Sonne ariste,
Wherof the propretes he sih,

It fell ther cam ridende nyh

King Alisandre with a route ;

And as he caste his yhe aboute, Pe.
He sih this Tonne, and what it mente

He wolde wite, and thider sente 1230
A knyht, be whom he mihte it knowe,
And he himself that ilke throwe
Abod, and hoveth there stille.

This kniht after the kinges wille

With spore made his hors to gon

And to the tonne he cam anon,

Wher that he fond a man of Age,
And he him tolde the message,

Such as the king him hadde bede,

P. i. 320

1210

P. i 321

259

(TALE or DioGzNEs
AND ALEXANDER.]

Hic ponit Confessor
exemplum, quod ho-
minis impetuosa vo-
luntas sit discrecionis
moderamine guber-
nanda, Etnarrat qua-
liter Diogenes, qui
motus animi sui ra-
cioni subiugarat, Re-
gem Alexandrum su.
per isto facto sibi op-
ponentem plenius in-
formauit.

1220 . .

1208 That] But B 1211 margin opponente Hi... Bs, Hs
1213 Wherof} Wher(e) HiXRCB:, Hs 1222 so] po L, B

S2

260

Tare oF DIOGENES
IND ALEXANDER. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And axeth why in thilke stede 1240
The Tonne stod, and what it was.

And he, which understod the cas,

Sat stille and spak no word ayein.

The kniht bad speke and seith, ‘ Vilein,

Thou schalt me telle, er that I go;

It is thi king which axeth so.’

* Mi king,’ quod he, ‘that were unriht.'

‘What is he thanne ?’ seith the kniht,

‘Is he thi man?’ ‘ That seie I noght,’

Quod he, ‘bot this I am bethoght, 1250
Mi mannes man hou that he is.’

‘Thou lyest, false cherl, ywiss,’

The kniht him seith, and was riht wroth,

And to the king ayein he goth

And tolde him how this man ansuerde.

The king, whan he this tale herde,

Bad that thei scholden alle abyde,

For he himself wol thider ryde.

And whan he cam tofore the tonne,

He hath his tale thus begonne : 1 260
* Alheil he seith, ‘what man art thou ? ?

Quod he, ‘Such on as thou sest now.’

The king, which hadde wordes wise, P. i. 322
His age wolde noght despise,

Bot seith, * Mi fader, I thee preie

That thou me wolt the cause seie,

How that I am thi mannes man.’

‘Sire king, quod he, ‘and that I can,

If that thou wolt.’ ‘Yis,’ seith the king.

Quod he, * This is the sothe thing: 1270
Sith I ferst resoun understod,

And knew what thing was evel and good,

The will which of my bodi moeveth,

Whos werkes that the god reproeveth,

I have restreigned everemore,

As him which stant under the lore

Of reson, whos soubgit he is,

1241 he was SAdBTA 1253 king B 1258 wold(e)
M...CBs, AdT, WHs 1276 As]OfB And W

LIBER TERCIUS 261

So that he mai noght don amis: [Tare or Dioc:
And thus be weie of covenant
Will is my man and my servant, 1280
And evere hath ben and evere schal.
And thi will is thi principal,
And hath the lordschipe of thi witt,
So that thou cowthest nevere yit
Take o dai reste of thi labour ;
Bot forto ben a conquerour
Of worldes good, which mai noght laste,
Thou hiest evere aliche faste,
Wher thou no reson hast to winne :
And thus thi will is cause of Sinne, 1290
And is thi lord, to whom thou servest,
Wherof thou litel thonk deservest.'
The king of that he thus answerde P. i. 323
Was nothing wroth, bot whanne he herde
The hihe wisdom which he seide,
With goodly wordes this he preide,
That he him wolde telle his name.
*I am, quod he, 'that ilke same,
The which men Diogenes calle.'
Tho was the king riht glad withalle, 1300
For he hadde often herd tofore
What man he was, so that therfore
He seide, *O wise Diogene,
Now schal thi grete witt be sene;
For thou schalt of my yifte have
What worldes thing that thou wolt crave.'
Quod he, ‘Thanne hove out of mi Sonne,
And let it schyne into mi Tonne;
For thou benymst me thilke yifte,
Which lith noght in thi miht to schifte: 1310
Non other good of thee me nedeth.'
This king, whom every contre dredeth,
Lo, thus he was enformed there:
Wherof, my Sone, thou miht lere
How that thi will schal noght be lieved,

1295 wisdom] wordes Hi... B» Hs 1296 gostly B 1307 mi]
Je A 1312 This] The B

[Conrex.]

| [Pyramus AND
THISBE. ]

Hic in amoris causa
ponit Confessor exem-
plum contra illos qui
in sua dampna nimis
accelerantes ex impe-
tuositate seipsos mul-
tociens offendunt. Et
narrat qualiter Pira-
mus, cum ipse Tisbee
amicam suam in loco
inter eosdem deputato
tempore aduentus sui
promptam non inue-
nit, animo impetuoso
seipsum pre dolore
extracto gladio mor-
taliter transfodit : que
postea infra breue ve-
niens cum ipsum sic
mortuum inuenisset,
eciam et illa in sui
ipsius mortem impe-
tuose festinans eius-
dem gladii cuspide
sui cordis intima per
medium penetrauit.

1318 How per(e) HiG... Bs, Hs
1331 this] pus HE. .. Bsa, Hs
margin ipsos Hi... Bs, Hs

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Where it is noght of wit relieved.
And thou hast seid thiself er this
How that thi will thi maister is;

Thurgh which thin hertes thoght withinne

Is evere of Contek to beginne,
So that it is gretli to drede
That it non homicide brede.
For love is of a wonder kinde,
And hath hise wittes ofte blinde,
That thei fro mannes reson falle;
Bot whan that it is so befalle
That will schal the corage lede,
In loves cause it is to drede:
Wherof I finde ensample write,
Which is behovely forto wite.

I rede a tale, and telleth this:
The Cite which Semiramis
Enclosed hath with wall aboute,
Of worthi folk with many a route
Was enhabited here and there ;
Among the whiche tuo ther were
Above alle othre noble and grete,
Dwellende tho withinne a Strete
So nyh togedre, as it was sene,
That ther was nothing hem betwene,
Bot wow to wow and wall to wall.
This o lord hadde in special
A Sone, a lusti Bacheler,

In al the toun was non his pier:
That other hadde a dowhter eke,

In al the lond that forto seke

Men wisten non so faire as sche.
And fell so, as it scholde be,

This faire dowhter nyh this Sone
As thei togedre thanne wone,
Cupide hath so the thinges schape,
That thei ne mihte his hand ascape,

1320

I330

I340

1350

1330 forto] pat pou SAdBTA
1332 Semiranus E ... Bs, Hs 1336

LIBER TERCIUS 263

That he his fyr on hem ne caste: P. i. 325 [Pyrauus AND
Wherof her herte he overcaste Tursnz.]
To folwe thilke lore and suie
Which nevere man yit miht eschuie;
And that was love, as it is happed,
Which hath here hertes so betrapped,
That thei be alle weies seche
How that thei mihten winne a speche, 1360
Here wofull peine forto lisse.
Who loveth wel, it mai noght misse,
And namely whan ther be tuo
Of on acord, how so it go,
Bot if that thei som weie finde;
For love is evere of such a kinde
And hath his folk so wel affaited,
That howso that it be awaited,
Ther mai noman the pourpos lette:
And thus betwen hem tuo thei sette 1370
An hole upon a wall to make,
Thurgh which thei have her conseil take
At alle times, whan thei myhte.
This faire Maiden Tisbee hihte,
And he whom that sche loveth hote
Was Piramus be name hote.
So longe here lecoun thei recorden,
Til ate laste thei acorden
Be nihtes time forto wende
Al one out fro the tounes ende, 1380
Wher was a welle under a Tree;
And who cam ferst, or sche or he,
He scholde stille there abide. P. i. 326
So it befell the nyhtes tide
This maiden, which desguised was,
Al prively the softe pas
Goth thurgh the large toun unknowe,
Til that sche cam withinne a throwe
Wher that sche liketh forto duelle,
At thilke unhappi freisshe welle, 1390
Which was also the Forest nyh.
1358 so om, AM 1384 the] by (be) Hi... Bs, Hs aW

264 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[PvRAMUS AND Wher sche comende a Leoun syh
Trissz.] Into the feld to take his preie,
In haste and sche tho fledde aweie,
So as fortune scholde falle,
For feere and let hire wympel falle
Nyh to the welle upon therbage.
This Leoun in his wilde rage
A beste, which that he fond oute,
Hath slain, and with his blodi snoute, 1400
Whan he hath eten what he wolde,
To drynke of thilke stremes colde
Cam to the welle, where he fond
The wympel, which out of hire hond
Was falle, and he it hath todrawe,
Bebled aboute and al forgnawe ;
And thanne he strawhte him forto drinke
Upon the freisshe welles brinke,
And after that out of the plein
He torneth to the wode ayein. 1410
And Tisbee dorste noght remue,
Bot as a bridd which were in Mue
Withinne a buissh sche kepte hire clos P. i. 327
So stille that sche noght aros;
Unto hirself and pleigneth ay.
And fell, whil that sche there lay,

This Piramus cam after sone
Unto the welle, and be the Mone
He fond hire wimpel blodi there.
Cam nevere yit to mannes Ere 1410
Tidinge, ne to mannes sihte
Merveile, which so sore aflihte
A mannes herte, as it tho dede
To him, which in the same stede
With many a wofull compleignynge
Began his handes forto wringe,
As he which demeth sikerly
That sche be ded: and sodeinly

1394 fleigh (fleih &c.) HG... Ba, Hs flew X — 1406 al fordrawe
(al for drawe) HiXRCBs, Hs alto gnawe L 1422 afrighte
(afriht &c.) HiG... Bs, Hs

LIBER TERCIUS 265

His swerd al nakid out he breide [PyRAMUS AND
In his folhaste, and thus he seide: 1430 Trisue.]
‘I am cause of this felonie,

So it is resoun that I die,

As sche is ded be cause of me.’

And with that word upon his kne

He fell, and to the goddes alle

Up to the hevene he gan to calle,

And preide, sithen it was so

That he may noght his love as tho

Have in this world, that of her grace

He miht hire have in other place, 1440
For hiere wolde he noght abide,

He seith: bot as it schal betide,

The Pomel of his swerd to grounde — P. i. 328
He sette, and thurgh his herte a wounde

He made up to the bare hilte:

And in this wise himself he spilte

With his folhaste and deth he nam;

For sche withinne a while cam,

Wher he lai ded upon his knif.

So wofull yit was nevere lif 1450
As Tisbee was, whan sche him sih:

Sche mihte noght o word on hih

Speke oute, for hire herte schette,

That of hir lif no pris sche sette,

Bot ded swounende doun sche fell.

Til after, whanne it so befell

That sche out of hire traunce awok,

With many a wofull pitous lok

Hire yhe alwei among sche caste

Upon hir love, and ate laste | 1460
Sche cawhte breth and seide thus :

*O thou which cleped art Venus,

Goddesse of love, and thou, Cupide,

Which loves cause hast forto guide,

I wot now wel that ye be blinde,

1430 fulhast (fulle haste &c.) AMHiXCLBs, Ad, W foule haste A
433 As] And Hi... B, Hs 1440 miht (might) J, B, F mihte A 1448
forp sche X... B3, WHs AndscheT 1462 art cleped L, AABTA

266

[PYRAMUS AND
Tus. |

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Of thilke unhapp which I now finde
Only betwen my love and me.
This Piramus, which hiere I se
Bledende, what hath he deserved ?
For he youre heste hath kept and served, 1470
And was yong and I bothe also:
Helas, why do ye with ous so?
Ye sette oure herte bothe afyre, P. i. 339
And maden ous such thing desire
Wherof that we no skile cowthe ;
Bot thus oure freisshe lusti yowthe
Withoute joie is al despended,
Which thing mai nevere ben amended :
For as of me this wol I seie,
That me is levere. forto deie 1480
Than live after this sorghful day.’
And with this word, where as he lay,
Hire love in armes sche embraseth,
Hire oghne deth and so pourchaseth
That now sche wepte and nou sche kiste,
Til ate laste, er sche it wiste,
So gret a sorwe is to hire falle,
Which overgoth hire wittes alle.
As sche which mihte it noght asterte,
The swerdes point ayein hire herte 1490
Sche sette, and fell doun therupon,
Wherof that sche was ded anon:
And thus bothe on o swerd bledende
Thei weren founde ded liggende.
Now thou, mi Sone, hast herd this tale,
Bewar that of thin oghne bale
Thou be noght cause in thi folhaste,
And kep that thou thi witt ne waste
Upon thi thoght in aventure,
Wherof thi lyves forfeture I 500
Mai falle: and if thou have so thoght
Er this, tell on and hyde it noght.

1473 hertes Hi... Bs, AdBT, WHs 1479 as for me Hi.. . Bs,
1487 gret EC, SB. greteAJ, F 1489 And sche Hi... Bs, Hs
1496 that of] of pat H1XE ... Bs

LIBER TERCIUS 267

Mi fader, upon loves side P. i. 330 (THe Lover’s Con-
Mi conscience I woll noght hyde, FEssion. DANGER. ]
How that for love of pure wo Confessio Amantis.
I have ben ofte moeved so,

That with my wisshes if I myhte,

A thousand times, I yow plyhte,

I hadde storven in a day ;

And therof I me schryve may, 1510
Though love fully me ne slowh,

Mi will to deie was ynowh,

So am I of my will coupable:

And yit is sche noght merciable,
Which mai me yive lif and hele.

Bot that hir list noght with me dele,
I wot be whos conseil it is,

And him wolde I long time er this,
And yit I wolde and evere schal,
Slen and destruie in special. 1520
The gold of nyne kinges londes

Ne scholde him save fro myn hondes,
In my pouer if that he were ;

Bot yit him stant of me no fere

For noght that evere I can manace.
He is the hindrere of mi grace,

Til he be ded I mai noght spede;
So mot I nedes taken hiede

And schape how that he were aweie,

If I therto mai finde a weie. 1530

Mi Sone, tell me now forthi, Confessor.
Which is that mortiel enemy
That thou manacest to be ded. P. i. 331

Mi fader, it is such a qwed, Confessio Amantis.

o

That wher I come, he is tofore,
And doth so, that mi cause is lore.
What is his name?
It is Daunger,
Which is mi ladi consailer :
For I was nevere yit so slyh,
To come in eny place nyh 1540
1503 loue F 1512 was] is BT

268

[DANGER.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Wher as sche was be nyht or day,

That Danger ne was redy ay,

With whom for speche ne for mede

Yit mihte I nevere of love spede ;

For evere this I finde soth,

Al that my ladi seith or doth

To me, Daunger schal make an ende,

And that makth al mi world miswende :

And evere I axe his help, bot he

Mai wel be cleped sanz pite ; 1350
For ay the more I to him bowe,

The lasse he wol my tale alowe.

He hath mi ladi so englued,

Sche wol noght that he be remued ;

For evere he hangeth on hire Seil,

And is so prive of conseil,

That evere whanne I have oght bede,

I finde Danger in hire stede

And myn ansuere of him I have;

Bot for no merci that I crave, 1560
Of merci nevere a point I hadde.

I finde his ansuere ay so badde,

That werse mihte it nevere be: P. i. 332
And thus betwen Danger and me

Is evere werre til he dye.

Bot mihte I ben of such maistrie,

That I Danger hadde overcome,

With that were al my joie come.

Thus wolde I wonde for no Sinne,

Ne yit for al this world to winne; 1570
If that I mihte finde a sleyhte,

To leie al myn astat in weyhte,

I wolde him fro the Court dissevere,

So that he come ayeinward nevere.

Therfore I wisshe and wolde fain

That he were in som wise slain ;

For while he stant in thilke place,

Ne gete I noght my ladi grace.

1562 And pus daunger my fortune ladde Hi... Bs, Hs (chaunce
Jor fortune E)

LIBER TERCIUS 269

Thus hate I dedly thilke vice, (DANGER.]
And wolde he stode in non office 1580
In place wher mi ladi is ;
For if he do, I wot wel this,
That owther schal he deie or I
Withinne a while; and noght forthi
On my ladi fulofte I muse,
How that sche mai hirself excuse,
If that I deie in such a plit.
Me thenkth sche mihte noght be qwyt
That sche ne were an homicide:
And if it scholde so betide, 1590
As god forbiede it scholde be,
Be double weie it is pite.
For I, which al my will and witt P. i. 333
Have yove and served evere yit,
And thanne I scholde in such a wise
In rewardinge of my servise
Be ded, me thenkth it were a rowthe :
And furthermor, to telle trowthe,
Sche, that hath evere be wel named,
Were worthi thanne to be blamed 1600
And of reson to ben appeled,
Whan with o word sche mihte have heled
A man, and soffreth him so deie.
Ha, who sawh evere such a weie?
Ha, who sawh evere such destresse ?
Withoute pite gentilesse,
Withoute mercy wommanhede,
That wol so quyte a man his mede,
Which evere hath be to love trewe.
Mi goode fader, if ye rewe 1610
Upon mi tale, tell me now,
And I wol stinte and herkne yow.
Mi Sone, attempre thi corage Confessor.
Fro Wraththe, and let thin herte assuage:
For who so wole him underfonge,
1597 a0». H1... B, BA, Hs 1603 sodeie]to deie JH1GE, BT,

VHs forto deie L 1605 such(suche) YXGECLBs, SBA, W insuch
JM, AdTA, F such a HiR, H»Magd 1611 tell me]telle 3e AM

270

HORE HASTE WORSE
SPEED. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

He mai his grace abide longe,

Er he of love be received ;

And ek also, bot it be weyved,

Ther mihte mochel thing befalle,

That scholde make a man to falle 1620

Fro love, that nevere afterward

Ne durste he loke thiderward.

In harde weies men gon softe, P. i. 33

And er thei clymbe avise hem ofte :

Men sen alday that rape reweth ;

And who so wicked Ale breweth,

Fulofte he mot the werse drinke :

Betre is to flete than to sincke ;

Betre is upon the bridel chiewe

Thanne if he felle and overthrewe, 1630
The hors and stikede in the Myr:

To caste water in the fyr

Betre is than brenne up al the hous:

The man which is malicious

And folhastif, fulofte he falleth,

And selden is whan love him calleth.

Forthi betre is to soffre a throwe

Than be to wilde and overthrowe ;

Suffrance hath evere be the beste

To wissen him that secheth reste : 1640
And thus, if thou wolt love and spede,

Mi Sone, soffre, as I the rede.

What mai the Mous ayein the Cat?

And for this cause I axe that,

Who mai to love make a werre,

That he ne hath himself the werre ?

Love axeth pes and evere schal,

And who that fihteth most withal

Schal lest conquere of his emprise :

For this thei tellen that ben wise, 1650
Wicke is to stryve and have the werse ;

To hasten is noght worth a kerse ;

Thing that a man mai noght achieve, P. i 335

1641 and om. Hi, B 1649 Schal best B Lest schal
Hi... Bs, Hs

LIBER TERCIUS | 271

That mai noght wel be don at Eve, [MoRE HASTE woRSE
It mot abide til the morwe. SPEED. ]

Ne haste noght thin oghne sorwe,

Mi Sone, and tak this in thi witt,

He hath noght lost that wel abitt.

Ensample that it falleth thus,
Thou miht wel take of Piramus, 1660
Whan he in haste his swerd outdrowh
And on the point himselve slowh
For love of Tisbee pitously,

For he hire wympel fond blody

And wende a beste hire hadde slain;

Wher as him oghte have be riht fain,

For sche was there al sauf beside:

Bot for he wolde noght abide,

This meschief fell. Forthi be war,

Mi Sone, as I the warne dar, 1670
Do thou nothing in such a res,

For suffrance is the welle of Pes.

Thogh thou to loves Court poursuie,

Yit sit it wel that thou eschuie

That thou the Court noght overhaste,

For so miht thou thi time waste;

Bot if thin happ therto be schape,

It mai noght helpe forto rape.

Therfore attempre thi corage;

Folhaste doth non avantage, 1680
Bot ofte it set a man behinde

In cause of love, and that I finde

Be olde ensample, as thou schalt hiere, P. i. 336
Touchende of love in this matiere.

A Maiden whilom ther was on, [TALE or PHEBUS AND
Which Daphne hihte, and such was non Dapur. ]
Of beaute thanne, as it was seid.
Phebus his love hath on hire leid, Hic ponit Confessor
And therupon to hire he soghte exemplum contra il-

. los qui in amoris causa
In his folhaste, and so besoghte, 1690 nimia festinacione con-

1661 outdrowh F out drowh (drough) AJ, B 1671 a res
EC, B aresAJ, S,F 1686 such was] per was Hi... Bs, Hs

LIBER TERCIUS 273

Bot while I se mi ladi is 1730 [Foor-HasrE.]
No tre, but halt hire oghne forme,
Ther mai me noman so enforme,
To whether part fortune wende,
That I unto mi lyves ende
Ne wol hire serven everemo.
Mi Sone, sithen it is so4— Confessor.
I seie nomor; bot in this cas
Bewar how it with Phebus was.
Noght only upon loves chance,
Bot upon every governance 1740
Which falleth unto mannes dede,
Folhaste is evere forto drede,
And that a man good consail take, P. i. 338
Er he- his pourpos undertake,
For consail put Folhaste aweie.
Now goode fader, I you preie, Amans.
That forto wisse me the more,
Som good ensample upon this lore
Ye wolden telle of that is write,
That I the betre mihte wite 1750
How I Folhaste scholde eschuie,
And the wisdom of conseil suie.
Mi Sone, that thou miht enforme Confessor.
Thi pacience upon the forme
Of olde essamples, as thei felle,
Now understond what I schal telle. —

Whan noble Troie was belein [ATHEMAS AND
And overcome, and hom ayein DEMEPHON. }
The Gregois torned fro the siege,
The kinges founde here oghne liege 1760 HicponitConfessor
: exemplum contra il-
In manye places, as men seide, los qui nimio furore
That hem forsoke and desobeide. accensi vindictam Ire
. . sue vitra quam decet
Among the whiche fell this cas consequi affectant. Et
To Demephon and Athemas, narrat qualiter Athe-
. mas et Demephon Re-
That weren kinges bothe tuo, ges, cum ipsi de bello
And bothe weren served so: Troiano ad propria
1732 me om. AML, KH:Magd (no man so me W) 1763 pe
cas Hi... Ba

** T

LIBER TERCIUS 275

Ther was a prive conseil nome. [ATHEMAS AND
The lordes ben togedre come ; Drwrruox.]
This Demephon and Athemas
Here pourpos tolden, as it was ;
Thei sieten alle stille and herde,
Was non bot Nestor hem ansuerde. 1810
He bad hem, if thei wolde winne,
They scholden se, er thei beginne,
Here ende, and sette here ferste entente,
That thei hem after ne repente:
And axeth hem this questioun,
To what final conclusioun
Thei wolde regne Kinges there,
If that no poeple in londe were;
And seith, it were a wonder wierde
To sen a king become an hierde, 1820
Wher no lif is bot only beste
Under the liegance of his heste ;
For who that is of man no king,
The remenant is as no thing.
He seith ek, if the pourpos holde
To sle the poeple, as thei tuo wolde,
Whan thei it mihte noght restore,
Al Grece it scholde abegge sore,
To se the wilde beste wone
Wher whilom duelte a mannes Sone: 1830
And for that cause he bad hem trete,
And stinte of the manaces grete.
Betre is to winne be fair speche, P. i. 341
He seith, than such vengance seche ;
For whanne a man is most above, Nota.
Him nedeth most to gete him love.
Whan Nestor hath his tale seid,
Ayein him was no word withseid ;
It thoghte hem alle he seide wel:
And thus fortune hire dedly whiel 1840
Fro werre torneth into pes.
Bot forth thei wenten natheles ;
1806 come] nome XCLB: 1830 a om. HiGECL, B 1832 the]
yo AJM, SBTA, K om.R 1835 margin Nota F om. A, B
T2

276 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

LATHEMAS. «y And whan the Contres herde sein

How that here kinges be besein
Of such a pouer as thei ladde,
Was non so bold that hem ne dradde,
And forto seche pes and grith
Thei sende and preide anon forthwith,
So that the kinges ben appesed,
And every mannes herte is esed ; 1850
Al was foryete and noght recorded.
And thus thei ben togedre acorded ;
The kinges were ayein received,
And pes was take and wraththe weived,
And al thurgh conseil which was good
Of him that reson understod.

Confessor. Be this ensample, Sone, attempre
Thin herte and let no will distempre
Nota. Thi wit, and do nothing be myht
Which mai be do be love and riht. 1860

Folhaste is cause of mochel wo;
Forthi, mi Sone, do noght so.
[Hoxrcrpr. . And as touchende of Homicide P. i. 342
Which toucheth unto loves side,
Fulofte it falleth unavised
Thurgh will, which is noght wel assised,
Whan wit and reson ben aweie
And that Folhaste is in the weie,
Wherof hath falle gret vengance.
Forthi tak into remembrance 1870
To love in such a maner wise
That thou deserve no juise:
For wel I wot, thou miht noght lette,
That thou ne schalt thin herte sette
To love, wher thou wolt or non;
Bot if thi wit be overgon,
So that it torne into malice,
Ther wot noman of thilke vice,
What peril that ther mai befalle:
Wherof a tale amonges alle, 1880
Which is gret pite forto hiere,
1859 margin Nota F om. A, B 1866 Thourgh F

I thenke forto tellen hiere,

LIBER TERCIUS

That thou such moerdre miht withstonde,
Whan thou the tale hast understonde.

Of Troie at thilke noble toun,
Whos fame stant yit of renoun
And evere schal to mannes Ere,
The Siege laste longe there,

Er that the Greks it mihten winne,

Whil Priamus was king therinne ;

1890

Bot of the Greks that lyhe aboute
Agamenon ladde al the route.

This thing is knowen overal,
Bot yit I thenke in special
To my matiere therupon

P. i. 343

Telle in what wise Agamenon,

Thurgh chance which mai noght be weived,
Of love untrewe was deceived.

An old sawe is, ‘Who that is slyh

In place where he mai be nyh,

1900

He makth the ferre Lieve loth’:
Of love and thus fulofte it goth.
Ther while Agamenon batailleth

To winne Troie, and it assailleth,
Fro home and was long time ferr,
Egistus drowh his qweene nerr,
And with the leiser which he hadde
This ladi at his wille he ladde:
Climestre was hire rihte name,

Sche was therof gretli to blame,

1910

To love there it mai noght laste.
Bot fell to meschief ate laste ;
For whan this noble worthi kniht
Fro Troie cam, the ferste nyht
That he at home abedde lay,
Egistus, longe er it was day,

1885 at thilke] pilke B, Hs pat ilke W of pilke L

ing ERL, BT
908 hadde B
erst F

1893 thing]

1899 margin crudelissima seueritate A... Bs, BT &c.

I913 worpi noble AM

1914 ferste (firste) AJ, B

27]

(Tare or Onzsrzs.]

Hicponit Confessor
exemplum contra il-
los qui ob sue concu-
piscencie desiderium
homicide efficiuntur.
Et narrat qualiter
Climestra vxor Regis
Agamenontis, cum
ipse a bello Troiano
domi redisset, consilio
Egisti, quem adultera
peramauit, sponsum
suum in cubili dormi-
entem sub noctis si-
lencio trucidabat ; cu-
ius mortem filius eius
Horestes tunc minoris
etatis postea diis ad-
monitus seueritate cru-
delissima — vindicauit.

LIBER TERCIUS 279

Til that he were of such a myht [Tate or Onzsrzs.]
To handle a swerd and ben a knyht,
To venge him at his oghne wille.
And thus Horestes duelleth stille,
Such was the childes rihte name,
Which after wroghte mochel schame 1960
In vengance of his fader deth.
The time of yeres overgeth,
That he was man of brede and lengthe,
Of wit, of manhod and of strengthe,
A fair persone amonges alle.
And he began to clepe and calle,
As he which come was to manne,
Unto the King of Crete thanne,
Preiende that he wolde him make
A kniht and pouer with him take, 1970
For lengere wolde he noght beleve,
He seith, bot preith the king of leve
To gon and cleyme his heritage
And vengen him of thilke oultrage
Which was unto his fader do.
The king assenteth wel therto,
With gret honour and knyht him makth,
And gret pouer to him betakth,
And gan his journe forto caste :
So that Horestes ate laste 1980
His leve tok and forth he goth.
As he that was in herte wroth,
His ferste pleinte to bemene, P. i. 346
Unto the Cite of Athene
He goth him forth and was received,
So there was he noght deceived.
The Duc and tho that weren wise
Thei profren hem to his servise ;
And he hem thonketh of here profre
And seith himself he wol gon offre 1990
Unto the goddes for his sped,
1968 Unto] Vnto to F Grece M... Ba (except EC) 1979 gan

his journe] gan his money XGE gaue his money HiRCLBs 1989
he om. B

280

[Tare or Orestes. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

As alle men him yeven red.

So goth he to the temple forth:

Of yiftes that be mochel worth

His sacrifice and his offringe

He made; and after his axinge

He was ansuerd, if that he wolde

His stat recovere, thanne he scholde

Upon his Moder do vengance

So cruel, that the remembrance 2000
Therof mihte everemore abide,

As sche that was an homicide

And of hire oghne lord Moerdrice.

Horestes, which of thilke office

Was nothing glad, as thanne he preide

Unto the goddes there and seide

That thei the juggement devise,

How sche schal take the juise.

And therupon he hadde ansuere,

That he hire Pappes scholde of tere 2010
Out of hire brest his oghne hondes,

And for ensample of alle londes

With hors sche scholde be todrawe, P. i. 347
Til houndes hadde hire bones gnawe
Withouten eny sepulture:

This was a wofull aventure.

And whan Horestes hath al herd,

How that the goddes have ansuerd,

Forth with the strengthe which he ladde

The Duc and his pouer he hadde, 2020
And to a Cite forth thei gon,

The which was cleped Cropheon,

Where as Phoieus was lord and Sire,

Which profreth him withouten hyre

His help and al that he mai do,

As he that was riht glad therto,

To grieve his mortiel enemy :

And tolde hem certein cause why,

How that Egiste in Mariage

2003 of] pus B 2005 and pan (panne) GL, BT — 2023 Phogeus

Phoreus T Plorence W

LIBER TERCIUS 281

His dowhter whilom of full Age 2030 [Tare or Onzrsrzs.]
Forlai, and afterward forsok,
Whan he Horestes Moder tok.
Men sein, ‘Old Senne newe schame ' :
Thus more and more aros the blame
Ayein Egiste on every side.
Horestes with his host to ride
Began, and Phoieus with hem wente;
I trowe Egiste him schal repente.
Thei riden forth unto Micene,
Wher lay Climestre thilke qweene, 2040
The which Horestes moder is:
And whan sche herde telle of this,
The gates weren faste schet, |» P. i. 348
And thei were of here entre let.
Anon this Cite was withoute
Belein and sieged al aboute,
And evere among thei it assaile,
Fro day to nyht and so travaile,
Til ate laste thei it wonne;
Tho was ther sorwe ynowh begonne. 2050
Horestes dede his moder calle
Anon tofore the lordes alle
And ek tofor the poeple also,
To hire and tolde his tale tho,
And seide, *O cruel beste unkinde,
How mihtest thou thin herte finde,
For eny lust of loves drawhte,
That thou acordest to the slawhte
Of him which was thin oghne lord?
Thi treson stant of such record, 2069
Thou miht thi werkes noght forsake ;
So mot I for mi fader sake
Vengance upon thi bodi do,
As I comanded am therto.
Unkindely for thou hast wroght,
Unkindeliche it schal be boght,
2041 is] was Hi ... Bi 2042 herd telle of pis cas Hi... Bs

2044 entre] purpos Hi... Bs 2046 lieged AM 2056 pou pin
(pi) AJM, SAdA,F pou in pin (pi) Hi... Bs, BA, W in thyn T

282

[Tare or OnzsrEs.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

The Sone schal the Moder sle,
For that whilom thou seidest yee
To that thou scholdest nay have seid.'
And he with that his hond hath leid 2070
Upon his Moder brest anon,
And rente out fro the bare bon
Hire Pappes bothe and caste aweie P. i. 349
Amiddes in the carte weie,
And after tok the dede cors
And let it drawe awey with hors
Unto the hounde and to the raven ;
Sche was non other wise graven.
Egistus, which was elles where,
Tidinges comen to his Ere 2080
How that Micenes was belein,
Bot what was more herd he noght sein ;
With gret manace and mochel bost
He drowh pouer and made an host
And cam in rescousse of the toun.
Bot al the sleyhte of his tresoun
Horestes wiste it be aspie,
And of his men a gret partie
He made in buisshement abide,
To waite on him in such a tide 2090
That he ne mihte here hond ascape:
And in this wise as he hath schape
The thing befell, so that Egiste
Was take, er he himself it wiste,
And was forth broght hise hondes bounde,
As whan men han a tretour founde.
And tho that weren with him take,
Whiche of tresoun were overtake,
Togedre in o sentence falle;
Bot false Egiste above hem alle 2100
Was demed to diverse peine,
The worste that men cowthe ordeigne,
And so forth after be the lawe P. i. 350
He was unto the gibet drawe,

2077 and to] vnto BAA 208aherd J, SB, F herdeA 2100 false
AJ,S,F falsC, B

LIBER TERCIUS 283

Where he above alle othre hongeth, [Tare or ORESTES.]
As to a tretour it belongeth.
Tho fame with hire swifte wynges
Aboute flyh and bar tidinges,
And made it cowth in alle londes
How that Horestes with hise hondes 2110
Climestre his oghne Moder slowh.
Some sein he dede wel ynowh,
And som men sein he dede amis,
Diverse opinion ther is:
That sche is ded thei speken alle,
Bot pleinli hou it is befalle,
The matiere in so litel throwe
In soth ther mihte noman knowe
Bot thei that weren ate dede:
And comunliche in every nede 2120
The worste speche is rathest herd
And lieved, til it be ansuerd.
The kinges and the lordes grete
Begonne Horestes forto threte
To puten him out of his regne:
‘He is noght worthi forto regne,
The child which slowh his moder so,'
Thei saide; and therupon also
The lordes of comun assent
A time sette of parlement, 2130
And to Athenes king and lord
Togedre come of on acord,
To knowe hou that the sothe was: P. i. 351
So that Horestes in this cas
Thei senden after, and he com.
King Menelay the wordes nom
And axeth him of this matiere:
And he, that alle it mihten hiere,
Ansuerde and tolde his tale alarge,
And hou the goddes in his charge 2140
Comanded him in such a wise
His oghne hond to do juise.

2107 Tho AJM, ST, F The Hi... Bj, AdBAA, WHs hire]
his C. the Hi om. AM 2139 at large HiXGECL, B, W

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Ami wert chs tale a Duc aros,

Soer was 2 worth kniht of los,
Se same was Menesteüs,
Ao semÀe unto the lordes thus:

Tye wreeche which Horestes dede,
> was dung of the goddes bede,
ki mxhing of his crualte ;
Ani cf ther were of mi degree 2150
“x a this place such a kniht

"war wolde sein it was no riht,
> wuie it with my bodi prove.’

uni therupon he caste his glove,

wri ek this noble Duc alleide
Xa; many an other skile, and seide
Ste badde wel deserved wreche,
emt for the cause of Spousebreche,

und after wroghte in such a wise
"^ar al the world it oghte agrise, 2160
Whan that sche for so foul a vice
Was of hire oghne lord moerdrice.
aa seten alle stille and herde, P. i. 352
Mot therto was noman ansuerde,
tt thoghte hem alle he seide skile,

“her ts noman withseie it wile ;
Whar thet upon the reson musen,
Hutates alle thei excusen :
Ÿ chat with gret solempnete
Me was unto his dignete 2170
Keaved, and coroned king.

uw tho befell a wonder thing :

Samus whan sche this wiste,

W heh was the dowhter of Egiste

uw Nveter on the moder side

'( ams Ploreste, at thilke tide,

"wai whe herde how hir brother spedde,

sa “ue wrwe, which hire ledde,

"M Wow hadde ben exiled,

ew mens a alle X... Bs withsit hit wille Hi with seith
Q0. sah ow alle X ... Bo 2177 herde AJ, B

LIBER TERCIUS 285

Sche hath hire oghne lif beguiled 2180 [TALE or Onrsrzs.]
Anon and hyng hireselve tho.

It hath and schal ben everemo,

To moerdre who that wole assente,

He mai noght faille to repente:

This false Egiona was on,

Which forto moerdre Agamenon

Yaf hire acord and hire assent,

So that be goddes juggement,

Thogh that non other man it wolde,

Sche tok hire juise as sche scholde; 2190
And as sche to an other wroghte,

Vengance upon hireself sche soghte,

And hath of hire unhappi wit P. i. 353
A moerdre with a moerdre quit.

Such is of moerdre the vengance.

Forthi, mi Sone, in remembrance Confessor.

Of this ensample tak good hiede:

For who that thenkth his love spiede

With moerdre, he schal with worldes schame
Himself and ek his love schame. 2200

Mi fader, of this aventure Amans.
Which ye have told, I you assure
Min herte is sory forto hiere,

Bot only for I wolde lere
What is to done, and what to leve.

And over this now be your leve, Hic queritur qui-
That ye me wolden telle I preie, pus de causis licet
If ther be lieffull eny weie
Withoute Senne a man to sle.

Mi Sone, in sondri wise ye. 2210 Confessor.
What man that is of traiterie,

Of moerdre or elles robberie

Atteint, the jugge schal noght lette,
Bot he schal slen of pure dette,

And doth gret Senne, if that he wonde.
For who that lawe hath upon honde,

2206f. margin Hic queritur—occidere om. B 2207 margin
hominem FWHs homini hominem A... Bs, STAA 2209 to]
may B orm. AM

LIBER TERCIUS 287

v. Quod creat ipse deus, necat hoc homicida creatum, [Evi or Wan.]
Vitor et humano sanguine spargit humus.
V? pecoris sic est hominis cruor, heu, modo fusus, P.i. 355
Victa iacet pietas, et furor vrget opus.
Angelus ‘In terra fax? dixit, et vltima Cristi
Verba sonant facem, quam modo guerra fugat.

The hihe god of his justice

That ilke foule horrible vice Hic loquitur con-

miel . tra motores guerre,
Of homicide he hath forbede, que non solum ho-
Be Moises as it was bede. micidii set vniversi

mundi desolacionis

Whan goddes Sone also was bore, mater existit.

He sende hise anglis doun therfore,

Whom the Schepherdes herden singe,

Pes to the men of welwillinge

In erthe be among ous here.

So forto speke in this matiere 2260
After the lawe of charite,

Ther schal no dedly werre be:

And ek nature it hath defended

And in hir lawe pes comended,

Which is the chief of mannes welthe,

Of mannes lif, of mannes helthe.

Bot dedly werre hath his covine

Of pestilence and of famine,

Of poverte and of alle wo,

Wherof this world we blamen so, 22470
Which now the werre hath under fote,

Til god himself therof do bote.

For alle thing which god hath wroght

In Erthe, werre it bringth to noght :

The cherche is brent, the priest is slain,

The wif, the maide is ek forlain,

The lawe is lore and god unserved :

I not what mede he hath deserved

That suche werres ledeth inne. P. i. 356
If that he do it forto winne, 2280
Ferst to acompte his grete cost

Forth with the folk that he hath lost,

As to the worldes rekeninge

2256 anglis C, F angelis AJ aungels B 2259 be om. AM

. 2B8

[Evit or WaR.]

Apostolus. Stipen-
dium peccati mors est.

Nota, quod Greci
omnem terram fer-
tilem debellabant, set
tantum Archadiam,
pro co quod pauper et

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Ther schal he finde no winnynge ;
And if he do it to pourchace
The hevene mede, of such a grace
I can noght speke, and natheles
Crist hath comanded love and pes,
And who that worcheth the revers,
I trowe his mede is ful divers. 2290
And sithen thanne that we finde
That werres in here oghne kinde
Ben toward god of no decerte,
And ek thei bringen in poverte
Of worldes good, it is merveile
Among the men what it mai eyle,
That thei a pes ne conne sette.
I trowe Senne be the lette,
And every mede of Senne is deth ;
So wot I nevere hou that it geth: 2300
Bot we that ben of o believe
Among ousself, this wolde I lieve,
That betre it were pes to chese,
Than so be double weie lese.
I not if that it now so stonde,
Bot this a man mai understonde,
Who that these olde bokes redeth,
That coveitise is on which ledeth,
And broghte ferst the werres inne. P. i. 357
At Grece if that I schal beginne, 2310
Ther was it proved hou it stod:
To Perce, which was ful of good,
Thei maden werre in special,
And so thei deden overal,
Wher gret richesse was in londe,
So that thei leften nothing stonde
Unwerred, bot onliche Archade.
For there thei no werres made,
Be cause it was bareigne and povere,
Wherof thei mihten noght recovere ; 2320
And thus poverte was forbore,

2287 and om, B 2293 of] in AM 2299 margin Apostolus
—mors est om. B 2318 werre H1... Bs, T

LIBER TERCIUS 289

He that noght hadde noght hath lore. [Evir or Wan.]
Bot yit it is a wonder thing, sterilis fuit, pacifice
dimiserunt.

Whan that a riche worthi king,
Or other lord, what so he be,
Wol axe and cleyme proprete
In thing to which he hath no riht,
Bot onliche of his grete miht :
For this mai every man wel wite,
That bothe kinde and lawe write 2339
Expressly stonden therayein.
Bot he mot nedes somwhat sein,
Althogh ther be no reson inne,
Which secheth cause forto winne:
For wit that is with will oppressed,
Whan coveitise him hath adressed,
And alle resoun put aweie,
He can wel finde such a weie
To werre, where as evere him liketh, P. i. 358
Wherof that he the world entriketh, 2340
That many a man of him compleigneth :
Bot yit alwei som cause he feigneth,
And of his wrongful herte he demeth
That al is wel, what evere him semeth,
Be so that he mai winne ynowh.
For as the trew man to the plowh
Only to the gaignage entendeth,
Riht so the werreiour despendeth
His time and hath no conscience.
And in this point for evidence 2350
Of hem that suche werres make,
Thou miht a gret ensample take,
How thei her tirannie excusen
Of that thei wrongfull werres usen,
And how thei stonde of on acord,
The Souldeour forth with the lord,
The pouere man forth with the riche,
As of corage thei ben liche,
To make werres and to pile

2343 herte] cause Hi... Bs (line om. X) 2346 trew S, F

rewe AJ, B

++ U

(ALEXANDER AND
THE PIRATE.)

Hic declarat per ex-
emplum contra istos
Principes seu alios
quoscumque illicite
guerre motores. Et
narrat de quodam pi-
rata in partibus mari-
nis spoliatore notissi-
mo, qui cum captus
fuisset, et in iudicium
coram Rege Alexan-
dro productus et de
latrocinio accusatus,
dixit, *O Alexander,
vere quia cum paucis
sociis spoliorum causa
naues tantum exploro,
ego latrunculus vo-
cor; tu autem, quia
cum infinita bellato-
rum multitudine vni-
uersam terram subiu-
gandospoliasti, Impe-
rato'trdiceris. Itaquod
status tuus a statu meo
differt, set eodem
animo condicionem
parilem . habemus. '
Alexander vero eius
audaciam in respon-
sione comprobans, ip-
sum penes se familia-
rem retinuit; et sic
bellicosus bellatori
complacuit.

2379 margin cum om. Hi... Bs, B

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

For lucre and for non other skyle : 236
Wherof a propre tale I rede,
As it whilom befell in dede.

Of him whom al this Erthe dradde,
Whan he the world so overladde
Thurgh werre, as it fortuned is,
King Alisandre, I rede this ;
How in a Marche, where he lay,
It fell per chance upon a day
A Rovere of the See was nome, P. i. 35!
Which many a man hadde overcome 337
And slain and take here good aweie:
This Pilour, as the bokes seie,
A famous man in sondri stede
Was of the werkes whiche he dede.
This Prisoner tofor the king
Was broght, and there upon this thing
In audience he was accused:
And he his dede hath noght excused,
Bot preith the king to don him riht,
And seith, ‘Sire, if I were of miht, 238
I have an herte lich to thin ;
For if the pouer were myn,
Mi will is most in special
To rifle and geten overal
The large worldes good aboute.
Bot for I lede a povere route
And am, as who seith, at meschief,
The name of Pilour and of thief
I bere; and thou, which routes grete
Miht lede and take thi beyete, 239
And dost riht as I wolde do,
Thi name is nothing cleped so,
Bot thou art named Emperour.
Oure dedes ben of o colour
And in effect of o decerte,
Bot thi richesse and my poverte
Tho ben noght taken evene liche.

238a the] py (thi) XL

LIBER TERCIUS 291

And natheles he that is riche [ALEXANDER ANI
This dai, tomorwe he mai be povere; P.i. 360 7"* Pier)
And in contraire also recovere 2409
A povere man to gret richesse I
Men sen: forthi let rihtwisnesse
Be peised evene in the balance.
The king his hardi contienance
Behield, and herde hise wordes wise,
And seide unto him in this wise:
‘Thin ansuere I have understonde,
Wherof my will is, that thou stonde
In mi service and stille abide.’
And forth withal the same tide 2410
He hath him terme of lif withholde, -
The mor and for he schal ben holde,
He made him kniht and yaf him lond,
Which afterward was of his hond
An orped kniht in many a stede,
And gret prouesce of armes dede,
As the Croniqes it recorden.
And in this wise thei acorden,
The whiche of o condicioun
Be set upon destruccioun: 2420
Such Capitein such retenue.
Bot forto se to what issue
The thing befalleth ate laste,
It is gret wonder that men caste
Here herte upon such wrong to winne,
Wher no beyete mai ben inne,
And doth desese on every side:
Bot whan reson is put aside
And will governeth the corage, P. i. 361
The faucon which that fleth ramage 2430
And soeffreth nothing in the weie,
Wherof that he mai take his preie,
Is noght mor set upon ravine,
Than thilke man which his covine
Hath set in such a maner wise:
2402 rihtwisne F 2406 to him JH... B1 2412 schulde
(sholde) BT 2434 is couine JACLBs, Ad
U 2

[Wars AND DrarH
OF ALEXANDER. |

Hic secundum ges-
ta Regis Alexandri de
guerris illicitis ponit
Confessor exemplum,
dicens quod quamuis
Alexander sua poten-
cia tocius mundi victor
sibi subiugarat im-
perium, ipse tandem
mortis victoria subiu-
gatus cunctipotentis
sentenciam euadere
non potuit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

For al the world ne mai suffise
To will which is noght resonable.
Wherof ensample concordable
Lich to this point of which I meene,
Was upon Alisandre sene, 2440
Which hadde set al his entente,
So as fortune with him wente,
That reson mihte him non governe,
Bot of his will he was so sterne,
That al the world he overran
And what him list he tok and wan.
In Ynde the superiour
Whan that he was ful conquerour,
And hadde his wilful pourpos wonne
Of al this Erthe under the Sonne, 2450
This king homward to Macedoine,
Whan that he cam to Babiloine,
And wende most in his Empire,
As he which was hol lord and Sire,
In honour forto be received,
Most sodeinliche he was deceived,
And with strong puison envenimed.
And as he hath the world mistimed
Noght as he scholde with his wit, P. i. 362
Noght as he wolde it was aquit. 2460
Thus was he slain that whilom slowh,
And he which riche was ynowh
This dai, tomorwe he hadde noght:
And in such wise as he hath wroght
In destorbance of worldes pes,
His werre he fond thanne endeles,
In which for evere desconfit
He was. Lo now, for what profit
Of werre it helpeth forto ryde,
For coveitise and worldes pride 2470
To sle the worldes men aboute,

2436 ne mai] may nought (not &c) A... B4, S...A 2431 To
will] To him H1... B: 2443 non] nought (not) JMCBa, B, W
2444 margin subiugauerat Hi... Ba 2449 wilsful F 2460 it was
quit (quite &c) H1... Bs, TA washyt quyt W he was aquit M

LIBER TERCIUS

As bestes whiche gon theroute.
For every lif which reson can
Oghth wel to knowe that a man
Ne scholde thurgh no tirannie
Lich to these othre bestes die,
Til kinde wolde for him sende.
I not hou he it mihte amende,
Which takth awei for everemore

The lif that he mai noght restore. 2480

Forthi, mi Sone, in alle weie
Be wel avised, I thee preie,
Of slawhte er that thou be coupable
Withoute cause resonable.

Mi fader, understonde it is,
That ye have seid; bot over this
I prei you tell me nay or yee,
To passe over the grete See
To werre and sle the Sarazin, P. i. 363
Is that the lawe?

Sone myn, 2490

To preche and soffre for the feith,
That have I herd the gospell seith ;
Bot forto slee, that hiere I noght.
Crist with his oghne deth hath boght
Alle othre men, and made hem fre,
In tokne of parfit charite ;
And after that he tawhte himselve,
Whan he was ded, these othre tuelve
Of hise Apostles wente aboute
The holi feith to prechen oute, 2500
Wherof the deth in sondri place
Thei soffre, and so god of his grace
The feith of Crist hath mad aryse:
Bot if thei wolde in other wise
Be werre have broght in the creance,

2474 Oghp SAdT, F Oght (Ought &c.) AMGC, A, W
)wep JHiXERLB;, B, Hs 2476 othre] olde B 2478 mihte
myght FWHs mai (may) A...B3, S...A 2491 fei SA
sie Ada492 sei SA seie Ad 2505 margin Nota AJ, F
m. B

293

[Wars AND Dram

OF ALEXANDER.)

Confessor.

Amans.

[ARE CRUSADES
LAWFUL !]

Confessor.

Nota.

294.

[ARE Crusapes
LAWFUL !]

[(Guitr or Hoxi-

CIDE. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

It hadde yit stonde in balance.

And that mai proven in the dede ;

For what man the Croniqes rede,

Fro ferst that holi cherche hath weyved

To preche, and hath the swerd received, 2510

Wherof the werres ben begonne,

A gret partie of that was wonne

To Cristes feith stant now miswent :

Godd do therof amendement,

So as he wot what is the beste.

Bot, Sone, if thou wolt live in reste

Of conscience wel assised,

Er that thou sle, be wel avised :

For man, as tellen ous the clerkes, — P. i. 364
Hath god above alle ertheli werkes 2520
Ordeined to be principal,

And ek of Soule in special

He is mad lich to the godhiede.

So sit it wel to taken hiede

And forto loke on every side,

Er that thou falle in homicide,

Which Senne is now so general,

That it welnyh stant overal,

In holi cherche and elles where.

Bot al the while it stant so there, 2530
The world mot nede fare amis :

For whan the welle of pite is

Thurgh coveitise of worldes good

Defouled with schedinge of blod,

The remenant of folk aboute

Unethe stonden eny doute

To werre ech other and to slee.

So is it all noght worth a Stree,

The charite wherof we prechen,

For we do nothing as we techen: 2540
And .thus the blinde conscience

Of pes hath lost thilke evidence

Which Crist upon this Erthe tawhte.

Now mai men se moerdre and manslawhte

2529 and] as AJX .. . Bs, BT 2544 manslawte F

LIBER TERCIUS 295

Lich as it was be daies olde, [Guitt or Homi-
Whan men the Sennes boghte and solde. cipr.]
In Grece afore Cristes feith, Facilitas venie oc
. . casionem prebet delin
I rede, as the Cronique seith, quendi.
Touchende of this matiere thus, P. i. 365
In thilke time hou Peleüs 2550

His oghne brother Phocus slowh;

Bot for he hadde gold ynowh

To yive, his Senne was despensed

With gold, wherof it was compensed :

Achastus, which with Venus was

Hire Priest, assoilede in that cas,

Al were ther no repentance.

And as the bok makth remembrance,

It telleth of Medee also ;

Of that sche slowh her Sones tuo, 2560
Egeüs in the same plit

Hath mad hire of hire Senne quit.

The Sone ek of Amphioras,

Whos rihte name Almeüs was,

His Moder slowh, Eriphile ;

Bot Achilo the Priest and he,

So as the bokes it recorden,

For certein Somme of gold acorden

That thilke horrible sinfull dede

Assoiled was. And thus for mede 2570
Of worldes good it falleth ofte

That homicide is set alofte

Hiere in this lif; bot after this

Ther schal be knowe how that it is

Of hem that suche thinges werche,

And hou also that holi cherche

Let suche Sennes passe quyte,

And how thei wole hemself aquite

Of dedly werres that thei make. P. i. 366
For who that wolde ensample take, 2580
The lawe which is naturel

Be weie of kinde scheweth wel

2556 assoiled him HiXE... Bs assoilep him G 2568 For]
fA... Ba 2573 lif] world B 2578 wold M, B

LIBER TERCIUS

For ofte time I have herd sein
Amonges hem that werres hadden,
That thei som while here cause ladden
Be merci, whan thei mihte have slain,
Wherof that thei were after fain:
And, Sone, if that thou wolt recorde
The vertu of Misericorde,

Thou sihe nevere thilke place,

Where it was used, lacke grace.

For every lawe and every kinde

The mannes wit to merci binde;

And namely the worthi knihtes,
Whan that thei stonden most uprihtes
And ben most mihti forto grieve,
Thei scholden thanne most relieve
Him whom thei mihten overthrowe,
As be ensample a man mai knowe.

2630

P. i. 368
2640

He mai noght failen of his mede
That hath merci: for this I rede,
In a Cronique and finde thus.
Whan Achilles with Telaphus
His Sone toward Troie were,
It fell hem, er thei comen there,
Ayein Theucer the king of Mese
To make werre and forto sese
His lond, as thei that wolden regne
And Theucer pute out of his regne.
And thus the Marches thei assaile,
Bot Theucer yaf to hem bataille ;
Thei foghte on bothe sides faste,
Bot so it hapneth ate laste,
This worthi Grek, this Achilles,
The king among alle othre ches:
As he that was cruel and fell,
With swerd in honde on him he fell,
And smot him with a dethes wounde,
That he unhorsed fell to grounde.

2650

2638 And BT 2642 Telaphus J, F
2650 Bot] That Hi... Ba

2624 That] But BT
Thelaphus A, SB

[ Mercy. }

(Tate or TELAPHUS
AND TEUCER.]

Hic ponit Confessor
exemplum de pietate
contra homicidium in
guerris habenda. Et
narrat qualiter Achil-
les vna cum Thelapho
filiosuocontra Regem
Mesee,qui tunc Theu-
cer vocabatur, bel-
lum inierunt ; et cum
Achilles dictum Re-
gem in bello prostra-
tum occidere voluis-
set, Thelaphus pietate
motus ipsum clipeo
suocooperiens veniam
pro Rege a patre pos-
tulauit : pro quo facto
ipse Rex adhuc viuens
Thephalum Regni sui
heredem libera volun-
tate constituit.

298

LE OF TELAPHUS
AND TEUCER. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Achilles upon him alyhte,

And wolde anon, as he wel mihte, 2660
Have slain him fullich in the place ;

Bot Thelaphus his fader grace

For him besoghte, and for pite

Preith that he wolde lete him be,

And caste his Schield betwen hem tuo.
Achilles axeth him why so,

And Thelaphus his cause tolde,

And seith that he is mochel holde,

For whilom Theucer in a stede P. i. 369
Gret grace and socour to him dede, 2670
And seith that he him wolde aquite,

And preith his fader to respite.

Achilles tho withdrowh his hond ;

Bot al the pouer of the lond,

Whan that thei sihe here king thus take,

Thei fledde and han the feld forsake :

The Grecs unto the chace falle,

And for the moste part of alle

Of that contre the lordes grete

Thei toke, and wonne a gret beyete. 2680
And anon after this victoire

The king, which hadde good memoire,

Upon the grete merci thoghte,

Which Telaphus toward him wroghte,

And in presence of al the lond

He tok him faire be the hond,

And in this wise he gan to seie:

* Mi Sone, I mot be double weie

Love and desire thin encress;

Ferst for thi fader Achilles 2690
Whilom ful many dai er this,

Whan that I scholde have fare amis,
Rescousse dede in mi querele

And kepte al myn astat in hele:

How so ther falle now distance

Amonges ous, yit remembrance

2671 wol B 2684 Telaphus F Thelaphus AJ, SB
2696 remembrance] in renembrance AM

LIBER TERCIUS | 299

I have of merci which he dede [Tare or TELAPHUS
As thanne: and thou now in this stede ^ND TEUCER.]
Of gentilesce and of franchise P. i. 370

Hast do mercy the same wise. 2700

So wol I noght that eny time
Be lost of that thou hast do byme;
For hou so this fortune falle,
Yit stant mi trust aboven alle,
For the mercy which I now finde,
That thou wolt after this be kinde:
And for that such is myn espeir,
As for my Sone and for myn Fir
I thee receive, and al my lond
I yive and sese into thin hond.' 2710
And in this wise thei acorde,
The cause was Misericorde :
The lordes dede here obeissance
To Thelaphus, and pourveance
Was mad so that he was coroned :
And thus was merci reguerdoned,
Which he to Theucer dede afore.

Lo, this ensample is mad therfore, Confessor.
That thou miht take remembrance,
Mi Sone; and whan thou sest a chaunce, 2720
Of other mennes passioun
Tak pite and compassioun,
And let nothing to thee be lief,
Which to an other man is grief.
And after this if thou desire
To stonde ayein the vice of Ire,
Consaile thee with Pacience,
And tak into thi conscience
Merci to be thi governour. P. i. 371
So schalt thou fiele no rancour, 2730
Wherof thin herte scbal debate
With homicide ne with hate
For Cheste or for Malencolie:
Thou schalt be soft in compaignie
Withoute Contek or Folhaste :
For elles miht thou longe waste

2723 belief FK

300

Amans.

Confessor.

Amans.

Confessor.

Amans.

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Thi time, er that thou have thi wille
Of love; for the weder stille
Men preise, and blame the tempestes.
Mi fader, I wol do youre hestes, 2740
And of this point ye have me tawht,
Toward miself the betre sawht
I thenke be, whil that I live.
Bot for als moche as I am schrive
Of Wraththe and al his circumstance,
Yif what you list to my penance,
And asketh forthere of my lif,
If otherwise I be gultif
Of eny thing that toucheth Sinne.
Mi Sone, er we departe atwinne, 1750
I schal behinde nothing leve.
Mi goode fader, be your leve
Thanne axeth forth what so you list,
For I bave in you such a trist,
As ye that be my Soule hele,
That ye fro me wol nothing hele,
For I schal telle you the trowthe.
Mi Sone, art thou coupable of Slowthe
In eny point which to him longeth? P. i. 373
My fader, of tho pointz me longeth 2760
To wite pleinly what thei meene,
So that I mai me schrive cleene.
Now herkne, I schal the pointz devise ;
And understond wel myn aprise :
For schrifte stant of no value
To him that wol him noght vertue
To leve of vice the folie:
For word is wynd, bot the maistrie
Is that a man himself defende
Of thing which is noght to comende, 2770
Wherof ben fewe now aday.
And natheles, so as I may
Make unto thi memoire knowe,
The pointz of Slowthe thou schalt knowe.

Explicit Liber Tercius.

2763 the] po AJG ... Bs, SBTA 2764 myn} pis B

Dicunt accidiam fore nutricem victorum,

LIBER QUARTUS

Incipit Liber Quartus.

Torfet et in cunctis tarda que lenta bonis:

Que feri possent hodie transfert piger in cras,
Furatogue prius ostia claudit equo.
Poscenti tardo negat emolumenta Cupido,
Set Venus in celeri ludit amore viri.

Upon the vices to procede

After the cause of mannes dede,
The ferste point of Slowthe I calle
Lachesce, and is the chief of alle,
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:
Som time 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.

Latin Verses i. 6 ludet Hi... Ba
12 to haue HiXGRCLBs

P. ii. 1

10

P. ii. 2

20

301

[SrorH.)

(i. Lacnesse. ]

Hic in quarto libro
loquitur Confessor de
speciebus Accidie, qua-
rum primam Tardacio-
nem vocat, cuius con-
dicionem pertractans
Amanti super hoc con-
sequenter opponit.

Confessio Amantis.

302

| LAcHESSz.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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, p»
Lachesce bad abide yit,

And bar on hond it was no wit

Ne time forto speke as tho.

Thus with his tales to and fro

Mi time in tariinge he drowh:

Whan ther was time good ynowh,

He seide, *An other time is bettre ;

Thou schalt mowe senden hire a lettre,

And per cas wryte more plein

Than thou be Mowthe durstest sein.’ 40
Thus have I lete time slyde P. ii. 3
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 50
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 malgre myn;

For this I wot riht wel a fin, 60
Mi grace comth so selde aboute,

That is the Slowthe of which I doute

30 the] pat A... B S... AA 45 bought to speke BA, W
46 hield me] hielde (held) AM 59 As AM

LIBER QUARTUS

Mor than of al the remenant

Which is to love appourtenant.

And thus as touchende of lachesce,

As I have told, I me confesse

To you, mi fader, and beseche

That furthermor ye wol me teche ;

And jf ther be to this matiere

Som goodly tale forto liere

How I mai do lachesce aweie,

That ye it wolden telle I preie. i
To wisse thee, my Sone, and rede,

Among the tales whiche I rede,

An old ensample therupon

Now herkne, and I wol tellen on.

Ayein Lachesce in loves cas
I finde how whilom Eneas,
Whom Anchises to Sone badde,
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 Cite 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 forto 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 forto wite,

69 to this] to my B of this Hs qo liere] hiere (here &c.)
Hi... Bs, BTA 84 qweene] a queene BTA

80

90

100

40
P. ii. 4

303

[LAcHzssz.]

Confessor.

[Engas AND Dipo.]

Hic ponit Confessor
exemplum contra istos
qui in amoris causa
tardantes delinquunt.
Et narrat qualiter Di-
do Regina Cartaginis
Eneam ab incendiis
Troie fugitiuum in
amorem suum gauisa
suscepit: quicum post-
ea in partes Ytalie a
Cartagine bellaturum
se transtulit, nimiam-
que ibidem moram fa-
ciens tempus reditus
sui ad Didonem vltra
modum tardauit, ipsa
intollerabili dolore con-
cussa sui cordis intima
mortali gladio trans-
fodit.

304

[ENEAS AND Dipo.]

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

If he made eny tariinge, P. ii.5
To drecche of his ayeincomynge,
That sche ne mihte him fiele and se,
Sche scholde stonde in such degre
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 110
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 an other word of pleinte :
Bot he, which hadde hise thoghtes feinte
Towardes love and full of Slowthe,
His time lette, and that was rowthe: 120
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 130
Thurgh him which scholde have be mi lif.’ P. ii. 6
Bot forto 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 miht knowe

109 day Hi... Ba, Hs III Spraulende (Sprawland) M, WKHs
138 miht (myht) J, S mihte A, F

LIBER QUARTUS

How tariinge upon the nede
In loves cause is forto drede; 140
And that hath Dido sore aboght,

Whos deth schal evere be bethoght.

And overmore if I schal seche
In this matiere an other spieche,
In a Cronique I finde write

A tale which is good to wite.

At Troie whan king Ulixes
Upon the Siege among the pres
Of hem that worthi knihtes were
Abod long time stille there, 150
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 al one,
It makth a man in his persone 160
The more hardi forto wowe, P. ii. 7
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, 170
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,

143 euermore AM, A, WHs

‘yo Had AMJXGERLBs, BA, FHs

$ +

X

168 is went(e) ML, AA, WH:

305

[ENEAS AND Drpo.]

[Urvssrs AND
PENELOPE. ]

Hic loquitur super
eodem qualiter Peno-
lope Vlixem maritum
suum, in obsidione
Troie diucius moran-
tem, ob ipsius ibidem
tardacionem Epistola
sua redarguit.

306

[(Urvsszs AND
PrNELOPE.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 noman do my chekes rede:
Bot natheles it is to drede,

That Lachesse in continuance
Fortune mihte such a chance,

Which noman 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 tha#Mhe wolde his love aquite,
To hire ayeinward 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,

190
P. ii 8

200

210

184 foroght A, F 189 after noman AM 205 resoun to

208 In part he was inly glad AM In partie (party)

he was inly glad Hi... B: In parti he was riht inly glad J In parti
was inli riht glad A

LIBER QUARTUS

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 220
A thousand yer, til he mai se P. ii. 9
The visage of Penolope,
Which he desireth most of alle.
And whan tbe time is so befalle
That Troie was distruid 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 230
Of love, and Slowthe was excweed,
Which doth gret harm, where it is used,
And hindreth many a cause honeste.
For of the grete Clerc Grossteste
I rede how besy that he was
Upon clergie an Hed of bras
To forge, and make it forto telle
Of suche thinges as befelle.
And sevene yeres besinesse
He leyde, bot for the lachesse 240
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
214 flitt AJ, SF flitteB 215 Fro] ffor L, BA, WH: hadde

him Hi... Ba 226 no Hi... CBs, BTA, W 234 Lo of
Hi... Bs (of om. R) 242 ffor ferst B

X 2

307

[Urvssks AND
PENELOPE.]

[GRosTESTE. }

Nota adhuc super
eodem de quodam
Astrologo, qui quod-
dam opus ingeniosum
quasi ad complemen-
tum septennio perdu-
cens, vnius momenti
tardacione omnem sui
operis diligenciam
penitus frustrauit.

308

[THe FoorisH
VIRGINS. |

Nota adhuc contra
tardacionem de v. vir-
ginibus fatuis, que
nimiam moram facien-
tes intrante sponso ad
nupcias cum ipso non
introierunt.

Confessor.

Confessio Amantis

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

His time kept, have be withinne.
Bot Slowthe mai no profit winne, -

Bot he mai singe in his karole

How Latewar cam to the Dole,

Wher he no good receive mihte.

And that was proved wel be nyhte

Whilom of the Maidenes fyve,

Whan thilke lord cam forto 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, forto telle trowthe,

Thou miht noght of thiself ben able

To winne love or make it stable,

All thogh 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

P. ii. 10

260

270

280

P. ii. u

254 that] it Hi... Bs 255 the] po Hi... L, SBTA no

AM
If] And B
SAdBTA

261 Ther of B, WHs 263 love] sloupe B
277 houre] honour MHiGEC, W

276
283 if] in

LIBER QUARTUS

Upon no lure which I caste;
For ay the more I crie faste,
The lasse hire liketh forto hiere.
So forto 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:
Hou so it stonde of time go,
Do forth thi besinesse so,
That no Lachesce in the 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 misbappe,
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,

190

310

And stant of alle vertu bare, P. ii. 12

Hierafter as I schal declare.

—

l. 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.

Touchende of Slowthe in his degre,
Ther is yit Pusillamite,
Which is to seie in this langage,
He that hath litel of corage
And dar no mannes werk beginne:

296 this om. AM 297 go AJ, SjF ago B 310 To) Of B

Latin Verses ii. 3 parcat Hi... Ba. parat Hs 4 refert Hi...

Ba

309

[LACHESSE. |

Confessor.

(ii. PusiLLANDuTY.]

Hic loquitur Con-
fessor de quadam
specie Accidie, que

310

[PusirrAniTY.]
pusillanimitas dicta
est, cuius ymaginatiua
formido neque virtutes
aggredi neque vicia
fugere audet; sicque
vtriusque vite, tam ac-
tiue quam contempla-
tiue, premium non at-
tingit.

Confessor.

Amans.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

So mai he noght be resoun winne ;
For who that noght dar undertake,

Be riht he schal no profit take. 320
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 330
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 noman heleth,
The which is cleped lack of herte;
Thogh every grace aboute him sterte,
.He wol noght ones stere his fot; P. ii. 13
So that be resoun lese he mot,
That wol noght auntre forto winne.
And so forth, Sone, if we beginne 340
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 forto chyme ;
And riht so thei as for the tyme
Ben herteles withoute speche
Of love, and dar nothing beseche; 350
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

328 the] his Hi.

YCB:, B

. « Bs, Ad

342 tyrauntz (tirauntis &c.)

356 po J,T,F pe AM... Ba, SAdBA, WHs

>, B

\J, S,F Pigmalcon EC, B, Hs

LIBER QUARTUS

That I have ben on of tho slowe,
As forto 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 nomore so:
For after that a man poursuieth
To love, so fortune suieth,
Fulofte and yifth hire happi chance
To him which makth continuance
To preie love and to beseche ;
As be ensample I schal thee teche.

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 bothe 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

lete (lette) C, B
384 hire] it B

363 let AJ, SF

360

380

399

359 Al pough

372 Pymaleon

3II

[PusiLLANIAITY.]

Confessor.

[ PYGMALEON AND TH.
STATUE. ]

Hic in amoris caus

loquitur contra pusil

lanimes, et dicit quo
Amans pre timor
verbis obmutescer:
non debet, set contin
uando preces su
amoris cxpedicionen
tucius prosequatur
Et ponit Confesso
exemplum, qualite
Pigmaleon, pro ec
quod preces continu
auit, quandam ymagi
nem eburneam, cuiu:
pulcritudinis concu
piscencia illaqueatu:
extitit, in carnem e!
sanguinem ad latu:
suum transformatarr
senciit.

312 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

( PYGMALEON AND THE His love upon this faire ymage
STATUE.} -— He sette, and hire of love preide ;
Bot sche no word ayeinward seide.
The longe day, what thing he dede,
This ymage in the same stede
Was evere bi, that ate mete P. ii. 15
He wolde hire serve and preide hire ete,
And putte unto hire mowth the cuppe ;
And whan the bord was taken uppe, 400
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, 410
As thogh sche wiste what he mente:
And thus himself he gan tormente
With such desese of loves peine,
That noman 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 ;
Be nyhte and whan that he worst ferde, 420
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: P. ii. 16
Bot for he hath his word travailed
And dorste speke, his love he spedde,

401 into his chambre Hi... Bs (except E) 403 He] And AM
411 he] it Hi, B

LIBER QUARTUS 313

And hadde al that he wolde abedde. 430 [PYGMALEON AND THE
For er thei wente thanne atwo, STATUE.)

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 Confessor.
That word mai worche above kinde.
Forthi, my Sone, if that thou spare
To speke, lost is al thi fare, 440
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. 450

The king Ligdus upon a strif [Tare or Ipis.]
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, Hic ponit exem-
That it ne scholde be forlore plum super eodem,
And slain, wherof sche sory was. P. ij, r7 Qualiter. Rex Ligdus
So it befell upon this cas, pregnanti minabatur,
Whan sche delivered scholde be, | quod sl filiam pareret,
Isis be nyhte in privete, 460 que tamen postea cum
Which of childinge is the goddesse, dea Date tuer pe
Cam forto helpe in that destresse, sens filiam nomine
Til that this lady was al smal, ame em appellari
And hadde a dowhter forth withal ; culi educari admonuit :
Which the goddesse in alle weie dens, ipsam in mari.
Bad kepe, and tbat thei scholden seie tagium filie cuiusdam

453f. grete: lete AJ, S, F gret: let B 458 margin Isus HiG

RCLB;, T

314

[Tare or Iprnuis.]

principis etate solita
copulauit. Set cum
Yphis debitum suc
coniugi vnde soluere
non habuit, deos in
sui adiutorium inter-
pellabat ;quisuperhoc
miserti femininum ge-
nus in masculinum ob
affectum nature in Y-
phe per omnia trans-
mutarunt.

470 line om. B
481 atyme B 497 Hir B
his AdB om. L

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 410
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 forto wedde,

Which Iante hihte, and ofte abedde

These children leien, sche and sche,

Whiche of on age bothe be. 489
So that withinne time of yeeres,

Togedre as thei ben pleiefieres,

Liggende abedde upon a nyht,

Nature, which doth every wiht

Upon hire lawe forto muse,

Constreigneth hem, so that thei use

Thing which to hem was al unknowe; P. ii. 18
Wherof Cupide thilke throwe

Tok pite for the grete love,

And let do sette kinde above, 490
So that hir lawe mai ben used,

And thei upon here lust excused.

For love hateth nothing more

Than thing which stant ayein the lore
Of that nature in kinde hath sett :
Forthi Cupide hath so besett

His grace upon this aventure,

That he accordant 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;

479 he and sche Hi... Bs sche and he B
498 he] be BT 499 the]

LIBER QUARTUS 315

And tho thei ladde a merie lif, (Tate or Ipuis.]
Which was to kinde non offence.
And thus to take an evidence, Confessor.

It semeth love is welwillende
To hem that ben continuende
With besy herte to poursuie
Thing which that is to love due. 510
Wherof, my Sone, in this matiere
Thou miht ensample taken hiere,
That with thi grete besinesse
Thou miht atteigne the richesse
Of love, if that ther be no Slowthe.

I dar wel seie be mi trowthe, Amans.
Als fer as I my witt can seche, P. ii. 19
Mi fader, as for lacke of speche,
Bot so as I me schrof tofore,
Ther is non other time lore, 520
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 530 Confessor.’
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.

514 myht (might) J,B mihte A, S, F the] pi Hi... Bi
oT 515 that on. B 517 Also fer as my E... Bz As (Als)
er as my HiXG 521 mihte ben] might(e) be non Hi... B:

535 himself fulofte A... Ba (fulle of M), W

316

iii. FoRGETFULNESS.] iii.

Hic tractat Confes-
or de vicio Obliuio-
iS, quam mater eius
\ccidia ad omnes vir-
utum memorias nec-
ion et in amoris causa
mmemorem constit-
it.

Confessio Amantis.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Mentibus oblitus alienis labitur tlle,

Quem probat accidia non meminisse sui.

Sic amor incautus, qui non memoratur. ad horas,

Perdit et offendit, quod cuperare neguit.

To serve Accidie in his office,
Ther is of Slowthe an other vice, 540
Which cleped is Foryetelnesse ;
That noght mai in his herte impresse
Of vertu which reson hath sett, P. ii. 20
So clene his wittes he foryet.
For in the tellinge of his tale
Nomore 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 550
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 560
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 foryete ywiss ;
Of that I thoghte forto telle
I can noght thanne unethes spelle 570
That I wende altherbest have rad,

Latin Verses iii. 3 morabatur AM
546 margin se constituit B 548 wit] herte A... Bs 555
therfore] forper(e) BT 560 cast J, SB, F caste A

LIBER QUARTUS 317

So sore I am of hire adrad. [ FORGETFULNESS. ]
For as a man that sodeinli P. ii. 21
A gost behelde, so fare I;

So that for feere I can noght gete

Mi witt, bot I miself foryete,

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 580
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 all 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 590
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 al one,

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? 600
For of hire hand ther is no drede:

So wel I knowe hir wommanhede,

That in hire is nomore oultrage P. ii. 22
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?

574 be holdeR beholdep BT, W 584 ouht fro F out of
Hi... Bs B 588 abreid (abreide) A, F a breid JEC, B

318

[FoncETFULNESS.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Ha, nyce herte, fy for schame! 610

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 foryete anon P’

And thus despute I loves lore,

Bot help ne finde I noght the more, 610
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 foryetelnesse and drede

That man scholde any cause spede.’ 630
And thus, myn holi fader diere,

Toward miself, as ye mai hiere,

I pleigne of my foryetelnesse ; P. ii. 23
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 foryete I neveremo, 640
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,

618 AndB 624 is] pis XCL 627 Thow(pou) AM 638 schal]
it schal AJHi... CBs 641 or wher (wheper) I HiG... Bs
or wheresol X orellesT orA 642 amynut(minute) X, BA, W

LIBER QUARTUS 319

Althogh I hadde on such a Ring, ([FORGETFULNESS.]
As Moises thurgh his enchanting
Som time in Ethiope made,
Whan that he Tharbis weddid hade. 650
Which Ring bar of Oblivion
The name, and that was be resoun
That where it on a finger sat,
Anon his love he so foryat,
As thogh he badde 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 ; 660
And thus he wente quit away,
That nevere after that ilke day
Sche thoghte that ther was such on; P. ii. 24
Al was foryete 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 foryete hire, lief ne loth ;
For overal, where as sche goth, 670
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,
Som time of hire is sore adrad,
And som time it is overglad,
Al out of reule and out of space.
For whan I se hir goodli face 680
And thenke upon hire hihe pris,
As thogh I were in Paradis,
I am so ravisht of the syhte,
That speke unto hire I ne myhte
672 seie A, S, F_ sey (say) J, B 676 erbis F 684 That]
To FWKHs

320

[FoRcETFULNESS.]

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 foryete clene ;

And thogh I stonde there a myle,
Al is foryete for the while,

A tunge I have and wordes none.
And thus I stonde and thenke al one
Of thing that helpeth ofte noght ;
Bot what I hadde afore thoght

To speke, whanne I come there,

It is foryete, 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 foryeten 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 foryetelnesse
And ek my pusillamite.
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 foryet himselve,
Among a thousand be noght tuelve,
That wol him take in remembraunce,

Bot lete him falle and take his chaunce.

690

P. ii. 25

710

720

698-700 om. B 708 whatt F 713 which] bat M, B, W

om. T

LIBER QUARTUS

Forthi pull up a besi herte, P. ii. 26
Mi Sone, and let nothing asterte

Of love fro thi besinesse :

For touchinge of foryetelnesse,
Which many a love hath set behinde,
A tale of gret ensample I finde,
Wherof it is pite to wite

In the manere as it is write.

ant

730

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 contre,
Was sojournende in that Cite
Withinne a Castell nyh the stronde,
Wher Demephon cam up to londe.
Phillis sche hibte, 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, how evere that it go,
He wolde assaie the fortune,
And gan his herte to commune
With goodly wordes in hire Ere;
And forto put hire out of fere,
He swor and hath his trowthe pliht
To be for evere hire oghne knyht.
And thus with hire he stille abod,
Ther while his Schip on Anker rod, 760

740

750

P. ii. 27

ga

[ FoRGETFULNESS. ]

[DEMEPHON AND
PHILLIS. }

Hic in amoris causa
contra obliuiosos po-
nit Confessor exem-
plum, qualiter Deme-
phon versus bellum
Troianum itinerando
a Phillide Rodopeie
Regina non tantum in
hospicium, set eciam
in amorem, gaudio
magno susceptus est :
qui postea ab ipsa
Troie discedens redi-
turum infra certum
tempus fidelissime se
compromisit. Set quia
huiusmodi promissi-
onis diem statutum
postmodum oblitus
est, Phillis obliuionem
Demephontis lacrimis
primo deplangens,tan-
dem cordula collo suo
circumligata in qua-
dam corulo pre dolore
semortuam suspendit.

740 margin ob ipsa HiXE... Ba
BT,W pat while M Theke while J

st Y

760 Ther while] The while

322

[Demernon AND
PuirLis.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 feitb,

Sche lieveth al that evere he seith,

And as hire infortune scholde,

Sche granteth him al that he wolde. 770

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,

Ayein 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. 780
The daies gon, the Monthe passeth,

Hire love encresceth and his lasseth,

For him sche lefte slep and mete, P. ii. 28

And he his time hath al foryete ;

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 790

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,

766 al Innocent Hi... Bs an Innocent M 790 longe may not
(nought) X... Ba longe nouht may Hi 191 wold(e) AM
wolde hym W

LIBER QUARTUS 323

Which were a schame unto his trowthe. (DEMEPHON AND
This lettre is forth upon hire sonde, Purus.)
Wherof somdiel confort on honde 800

Sche tok, as sche that wolde abide
And waite upon that ilke tyde
Which sche hath in hire lettre write.
Bot now is pite forto wite,
As he dede erst, so he foryat
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, 810
Somtime he cam, somtime noght,
Thus sche desputeth in hire thoght '
And wot noght what sche thenke mai; P. ii. 29
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, 820
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 830
Ne Schip, als ferr as sche may kenne,
Doun fro the Tour sche gan to renne
Into an Herber all hire one,
Wher many a wonder woful mone
Sche made, that no lif it wiste,
As sche which all hire joie miste,
That now sche swouneth, now sche pleigneth,
Y2

-

324 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

(DEMEPHON AND And al hire face sche desteigneth
PHILLS. ] With teres, whiche, as of a welle
The stremes, from hire yhen felle ; $40

So as sche mihte and evere in on

Sche clepede upon Demephon,

And seide, *Helas, thou slowe wiht, P. ii 30
Wher was ther evere such a knyht,

That so thurgh his ungentilesce

Of Slowthe and of foryetelnesse

Ayein 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, 950
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. 860
Wherof the goddes were amoeved,

And Demephon was so reproeved,

That of the goddes providence

Was schape such an evidence

Evere afterward ayein 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, 870
And yit for Demephon to schame

Into this dai it berth the name.

This wofull chance how that it ferde P. ii. 31
Anon as Demephon it herde,

And every man it hadde in speche,

His sorwe was noght tho to seche;

He gan his Slowthe forto banne,

iv.

LIBER QUARTUS

Bot it was al to late thanne.

Lo thus, my Sone, miht thou wite
Ayein this vice how it is write;
For noman mai the harmes gesse,
That fallen thurgh foryetelnesse,
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 tsta dies bona, nec valet illa secunda,
Hoc caret exemplo lentus amore suo.

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,

880

890

‘Ha, wolde god I hadde knowe!’ P. ii. 32

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.

Latin verses iv. 2 ipse] esse AM, W

goo

910

325

Confessor.

(iv. NEGLIGENCE. ]

Hic tractat Confes-
sor devicio Necgligen-
cie, cuius condicioAc-
cidiam amplectens om-
nes artessciencie, tam
in amoris causa quam
aliter, — ignominiosa
pretermittens, cum
nullum poterit emin-
ere remedium, sui mi-
nisterii diligenciam
expostfacto in vacuum
attemptare presumit,

326

NrcriGENCE.]

fessio Amantis.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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, 910
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 P. ii. 33
To winne love withoute faile. 930
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 forto spede:
For lieveth wel withoute drede, 940
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, 950
927 }e blad (blade) M, BTA, WHs

LIBER QUARTUS

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. P. ii. 34
Bot I dar take god to borwe, 960
As after min entendement,
Non other wise necgligent
Thanne I yow seie have I noght be:
Forthi per seinte charite
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 970
The longe yer, so that men sein,
What evere 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. —

Phebus, which is the Sonne hote,
That schyneth upon Erthe hote 980
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

955 mihte] may hir B may T 968 vice om. BT 974 neuere

jit AM

984 margin cum om, BT 985 Clemenee] Element

ERC Olement HiXG Clement LB: Clemencee T Clemente M
986 so that he] pat he sent Hi... Ba

327

[NzcLiGENCE.]

Confessor.

[TALE or PuAETON.

Hic contra viciur
necgligencie pon
Confessor exemplum
et narrat quod cur
Pheton filius Soli
currum patris sui pe
aera regere debuera

328

[Tae or PHAETON.)

admonitus a patre
vt equos ne deuiarent
equa manu diligen-
cius refrenaret, ipse
consilium patris sua
negligencia preteri-
ens, equos cum curru
nimisbasse errare per-
misit ; vndenon solum
incendio orbem in-
flammauit, set et seip-
sum de curru caden-
tem in quoddam flu-
uium demergi ad in-
teritum causauit.

988 brihte] nyhte (nist) AM

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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

P. ii. 35
990

1010

P. ii. 36

1020

1002 up] vpon BT vp an Ad

1014 wel noght longe] nought longe wel C not

LIBER QUARTUS

Of suche unhappes as betyden.
Phebus, which syh the necgligence,
How Pheton ayein 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 1030
With him that was so necgligent,
That fro the hyhe firmament,
For that he wolde go to lowe,
He was anon doun overthrowe.
In hih astat it is a vice
To go to lowe, and in service
It grieveth forto go to hye,
Wherof a tale in poesie
I finde, how whilom Dedalus,
Which hadde a Sone, and Icharus 1040
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 forto 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 P. ii. 37
Hath mad to fle diverse wynges 1050
For him and for his Sone also;
To whom he yaf 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 bave her flyht begonne
Out of the prison faire and softe ;
And whan thei weren bothe alofte, 1060
This Icharus began to monte,
1029 pe flod (flgod) E, B 1035 Paragr. in MSS. begins at
1039

329
(Tare or PMAETON. |

(Tazz or Icarus.]

Exemplum super
eodem de Icharo De-
dali filio in carcerc
Minotauri existente,
cui Dedalus, vt inde
euolaret, alas com-
ponens, firmiter in-
iunxit ne nimis alte
propter Solis ardorem
ascenderet : quod Ich-
arus sua negligencia
postponens, cum alc.
ius sublimatus fuisset,
subito ad terram cor-
ruens expirauit.

330

[Tare or IcARUS.]

Amans.

Confessor.

[v. IDLENESS. ]

Hic loquitur Con-
fessor super illa spe-
cie Accidie, que Oci-
um dicitur, cuius

: condicio in virtutum

cultura nullius occu-
pacionis diligenciam
admittens, cuiuscum-
queexpedicionem cau-
se non attingit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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, 1070
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 P. ii. 38
In whom no vertu mai befalle, 1080
Which yifth unto the vices reste
And is of slowe the sloweste.

v. Aósque labore vagus vir inutilis ocia plectens,
Nescio quid presens vita valebit et.
Non amor in lali misero viget, immo valoris
Qui faciunt ofera clamat habere suos.

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, 1090
In Somer mai he noght for hete ;
So whether that he frese or swete,

1073 pis matiere Bs, BA 1074 it o». Hi, B 1075 and]

1082 slowe AJM, F sloupe Hi... Bs S... AA, WHs

1086 yit on, which] on 3it which A, W on sit pas M on which pat

LIBER QUARTUS 331

Or he be inne, or he be oute, [Ipcensss. ]
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 forto duelle in his servise,

Bot if it were in such a wise, 1100
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 P. ii. 39
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 11IO
He faileth ofte of that he wolde. &.

Mi Sone, if thou of such a molde Confessor.
Art mad, now tell me plein thi schrifte.

Nay, fader, god I yive a yifte, Amans.

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, Confessor.
What hast thou don of besischipe
To love and to the ladischipe 1120
Of hire which thi ladi is?

Mi fader, evere yit er this Confessio Amantis.

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, 1130
Somtime in chambre, somtime in halle,
1093 be he... be he C, BA, Hs be...beheHi 1095 oght orm. B

332

[IprzNzss.]

1133 to hire (hir) masse AMHi;, Ad
hir masse KX... B:

biddep A

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Ribt 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 ayein.

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

] 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 an other 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,

P. ii. 40

1140

1150

1160

P. ii. 41

to huyre masse B toward
1162 bidt F (c. 1. 2802) bit J, SB

LIBER QUARTUS 333

I serve, I bowe, I loke, I loute, [Inr.zwzss.]
Min yhe folweth hire aboute, 1170
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. 1180
And if it falle, as for a time

Hir liketh noght abide bime,

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 forto feigne som desport

I pleie with hire litel hound

Now on the bedd, now on the ground, 1190
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: P. ii. 42
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, 12C0
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,

1174 And B 1183 oper JGC, S, F opre AE, AdB, Hs
here T

[IpLzNxss.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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, 1310
Which Ovide in his bokes made,
And seide, *O whiche sorwes glade,
O which wofull prosperite
Belongeth to the proprete
Of love, who so wole him serve!
And yit therfro mai noman 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, 1220
As I have said you hier tofore.
My goode fader, tell therfore,
Of Ydelnesse if I have gilt.
Mi Sone, bot thou telle wilt
Oght elles than I mai now hiere, P. ii. 43
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 1230
What thing love is, til ate laste,
That he with strengthe hem overcaste,
That malgre hem thei mote obeie
And don al ydelschipe aweie,
To serve wel and besiliche.
Bot, Sone, thou art non of swiche,
For love schal the wel excuse:
Bot otherwise, if thou refuse
To love, thou miht so per cas
Ben ydel, as somtime was 1240
A kinges dowhter unavised,
Til that Cupide hire hath chastised :
Wherof thou schalt a tale hiere
Acordant unto this matiere.

1207 for to ride Hi... Bs I212 seide] say B 1224 bot]
but if Hi... Bs, Ad, W

LIBER QUARTUS

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 noman seie, P. ii. 44

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 forto 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:

1249 margin amoris] in amoris AC, Hs in Amoris cassa W
sargin expectaret Hi... Bs 1257 margin diligencior om. B

335

[Tare or Rosipne-
LEE. |

Hic ponit Confessor
exemplum contra is-
tos qui amoris occu-

1250 pacionem omittentes,
grauioris infortunii
casus expectant. Et
narrat de quadam
Armenie Regis filia,
que huiusmodi condi-
cionis in principio
iuuentutis ociosa per-
sistens, mirabili postea
visione castigata in
amoris obsequium
pre ceteris diligencior
efficitur.

1260

1270

1280

1251
1266

ow]ofB 1272 schrewed À 1275 Cupide AJ, F Cupido SBT

336

[Tats or Rosipns-
Lee. |

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 al one 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,
I310 faire GEC, BA, Hs

P. ii. 45

1290

1300

1310

P. ii. 46

1320

LIBER QUARTUS 337

The beaute faye upon her face [TALr or Rosipue-

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 1330
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 they come or what thei were:
Bot levere than this worldes good
Sche wolde have wist hou that it stod,
And putte hire hed alitel oute ;
And as sche lokede hire aboute, 1340
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, P. ii. 47
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, 1350
In which the wofull womman sat,
I321Í1. Text thus in third recension (but faire WKHsMagd for faye F
and hir Hs the W for her): faye—desface sn ras. F
A has The beaute of hire face schon
Wel bryhtere pan pe Cristall ston
so the others of first recension, but most have here (her) for hire and
many (as HiGRCLB:) read faces
S has The beaute of here faye face
Ther mai non erply ping deface
so AdBTAA with faire (fair) for faye and some (AdT) hir for here
1341 a lynde L, BA 1342 vpon hors XC, BA vpon an (a)
hors HiGLBs, AdTA, W, Hs on anh. M 1348 And B

LE Z

LEE. |

338

Tare or RosiPHE-
LEE.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 1360
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, 1370
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 P. ii. 48
Servantz to love, and trowthe beere,
Ther as thei hadde here herte set.
Fare wel, for I mai noght be let:
Ma Dame, I go to mi servise,
So moste I haste in alle wise ; 1380
Forthi, ma Dame, yif 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

1361 f. Thus in third recension (and o». W) F has the ines written
over erasure, except womman

The womman was riht fair of face
Al pogh hire lackede oper grace

so S and the other copies of first and second recensions
1367 Which J,S, F Whiche A, B

LIBER QUARTUS 339

That to mi fader hadde a king ; [Tare or RosrPHz-
Bot I was slow, and for no thing LeE.]
Me liste noght to love obeie,
And that I now ful sore abeie. 1390
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, 1400
Hem thenkth I am worthi nomore,
For I was slow in loves lore,
Whan I was able forto lere,
And wolde noght the tales hiere
Of hem that couthen love teche.’ P. ii. 49
* 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 1410
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. 1420
Bot now, allas, to late war
That I ne hadde him loved ar:
For deth cam so in haste bime,
Er I therto hadde eny time,
1393 And om. AM 1397 now] mow (mowe) J, AdB, W
«19 non AJ
za

340 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

(Tace or Rosipue- That it ne mihte ben achieved.
Ler.] 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: 1430
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 P. ii. 50
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. 1440
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.
Confessor. 77" Lo, Sone, hier miht thou taken hiede,
How ydelnesse is forto drede,
Namliche of love, as I have write.
For thou miht understonde and write, 1450
; Among the gentil nacion
' Love is an occupacion,
Which forto kepe hise lustes save
Non quia sic se Scholde every gentil herte have:
Opinio A set 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 1460
The horse haltres ; and forthi
Good is to be wel war therbi.
Bot forto loke aboven alle,

1454 f. margin Non quia—Amantum om. G, BA

LIBER QUARTUS 341

These Maidens, hou so that it falle, [IpDLENEss IN Love.]
Thei scholden take ensample of this P. ii. 51
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 1470
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, 1480
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 1:490
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 P. ii. 52
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 an other dai 1500
Be let, whan that hire lievest were.
Wherof a tale unto hire Ere,

1501 that hire] pat sche H1... B1 hir AA it M

[Tare or JEPHTHAH'S
DAUGHTER. ]

Hic ponit exem-
plum super eodem:
Etnarrat de filia Iepte,
que cum ex sui patris
voto in. holocaustum
deo occidi et offerri
deberet, ipsa pro eo
quod virgo fuit et pro-
lem ad augmentacio-
nem populi dei non-
dum genuisset, xl.
dierum spacium vt
cum suis sodalibus
virginibus suam de-
fleret — virginitatem,
priusquam moreretur,
in exemplum aliarum
a patre postulauit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS
Which is coupable upon this dede,

I thenke telle of that I rede.

Among the Jewes, as men tolde,
Ther was whilom be daies olde
A noble Duck, which Jepte hihte.
And fell he scholde go to fyhte

Ayein Amon the cruel king :
And forto speke upon this thi

ng, — T

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 ayein,

To thee, which art god sovereign,
Slen in thi name and sacrifie.’

And thus with his chivalerie
He goth him forth, wher that

Is:

he scholde,

And wan al that he winne wolde

And overcam his fomen alle.
Mai noman lette that schal

falle.

This Duc a lusti dowhter hadde, P. ii.:
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, I

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

1507 duck A, F duk J, SB ISII auou

B, F a vou (a vowe) MMi, S

... AA, H3
duk J, SB

1521 wher that] so as B
1532 AlAJ,S, F Alle C, BT

(auov, avow) A,

1519 margin aliorum A... B

1525 Duc F dud

LIBER QUARTUS | 343

This worldes joie mai be plein. [Taxes or JzeuTHAH'S
I hadde al that I coude sein 1540 PAUGHTER.]
Ayein 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, 1550
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. P. ii. 54
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 1560
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 her lusti youthe is let,
That sche no children hath forthdrawe
In Mariage after the lawe, 1570
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
1541 pi... my B 1543 non AJC, F no SB 1555 as]
and B 1558 ground] world BA 1567 had) kept BTA om. A

344

TALE OF JEPHTHAH’S
DAUGHTER. }

Amans.

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Of deth sche wolde come ayein.
The fader herde his douhter sein,
And therupon of on assent
The Maidens were anon asent, 1580
That scholden with this Maiden wende.
So forto speke unto this ende,
Thei gon the dounes and the dales
With wepinge and with wofull tales,
And every wyht hire maidenhiede P. ii. 55
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 1590
Was come, in which sche scholde take
Hir deth, which sche may 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 forto telle trowthe,
Ye have thilke vice of Slowthe,
Me thenkth, riht wonder wel declared,
That ye the wommen have noght spared 1600
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 1610
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.

LIBER QUARTUS 345
vi. Quem probat armorum probitas Venus approbat, et quem P. ii. 56

Torpor habet reprobum reprobat illa virum. [Lovers MUST AP-
Vecors segnicies insignia nescit amoris, PROVE THEMSELVES IN
Nam piger ad brauium tardius ipse venit. ARMS.]
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. Hic loquitur quod
Forthi who secheth loves grace, 1620 m Mobi tan ad mi
Wher that these worthi wommen are, morum laboris ex-

cercicium nullatenus

He mai noght thanne himselve spare torpescat.

Upon his travail forto 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, 1630
And somtime into Tartarie ;
So that these heraldz on him crie,
‘Vailant, vailant, lo, wher he goth!’
And thanne he yifth 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 1640
And danger pute out of hire mod,
Whanne alle men recorden good,
And that sche wot wel, for hir sake P. ii. 57
That he no travail wol forsake.
Mi Sone, of this travail I meene: Confessor.
Nou schrif thee, for it schal be sene
If thou art ydel in this cas.
My fader ye, and evere was: Confessio Amantis.

1622 margin nultenus F 1625 Wher B 1637 Som tidinge]
Somtime (Som tyme) HiXE ... Bs Sometydinges A I640 bet B

346

[ARGUMENTS TO THE
Contrary. ]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

For as me thenketh trewely
That every man doth mor than I 1650
As of this point, and if so is
That I have oght so don er this,
It is so litel of accompte,
As who seith, it mai noght amonte
To winne of love his lusti yifte.
For this I telle you in schrifte,
That me were levere hir love winne
Than Kaire and al that is ther inne:
And forto slen the hethen alle,
I not what good ther mihte falle, 1660
So mochel blod thogh ther be schad.
This finde I writen, hou Crist bad
That noman 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 all the world and his feith teche :
Bot now thei rucken in here nest
And resten as hem liketh best 1670
In all the swetnesse of delices.
Thus thei defenden ous the vices,
And sitte hemselven al amidde ; P. ii. 58
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, 1680
And that was nevere Cristes lore.
Bot nou ho ther, I seie nomore.
Bot I wol speke upon mi schrifte ;
And to Cupide I make a yifte,
That who as evere pris deserve
Of armes, I wol love serve ;
And thogh I scholde hem bothe kepe,
1670 hem liken HiXRCLB:, W hym likep M

LIBER QUARTUS

Als wel yit wolde I take kepe
Whan it were time to abide,
As forto 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 ayein 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 beyete
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,

Wher as me faileth ate laste

That thing which I travaile fore?

1690 As} And B for to (forto) ride Hi... Bs
it] it herd A, A herd M 1701 the o». AM

werre B

1706 go pan (pen) AM go panne W

HiXE...B, W mywhileG pat while M, A

1690

1700

P. ii. 59

1710

1720

1693 herd
1705 weie]
1708 pe while

347

(ARGUMENTS TO THE
CowTRARY.]

Hic allegat Amans
in sui excusacionem,
qualiter Achilles apud
Troiam propter amo-
rem Polixenen arma
sua per aliquod tem-
pus dimisit.

348

[ARGUMENTS TO THE
CoNTRARY.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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, thanne I gesse,

Ther scholde me non ydelschipe

Departen fro hir ladischipe. 1730
Bot this I se, on daies nou

The blinde god, I wot noght hou,

Cupido, which of love is lord, P. ii. 60
He set the thinges in discord,

That thei that lest to love entende

Fulofte he wole hem yive 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, 1740
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:

For everemore 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, 1750
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 theffect is ydelnesse,

I not what thing is besinesse. 1760
Sei, what availeth al the dede,
1738 that] which AJHi... Bs 1740 So pat I not Hi... Bs

1752 that] it B

LIBER QUARTUS 349

Which nothing helpeth ate nede?

For the fortune of every fame P. ii. 61
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, (Tux CowrzssoR mr-
Mi reson and my cause demeth. 1770 PLIES.]
Mi Sone, I have herd thi matiere, Confessor.

Of that thou hast thee schriven hiere:

And forto 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 1780

Than rowe ayein 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, 1790

Thou miht hierof thi conscience

Excuse, and of gret diligence,

Which thou to love hast so despended, P. ii. 62

Thou oghtest wel to be comended.

Bot if so be that ther oght faile,

Of that thou slowthest to travaile

In armes forto ben absent,

And for thou makst an argument

Of that thou seidest hiere above,

Hou Achilles thurgh strengthe of love 1800
1769 you] 3e A... Bs (except G) 1780 Bet B

350

(Tue Conressor nr-
PLIES. |

[Tare or Naurius

AND ULyssEs. }

Hic dicit quod amo-
ris delectamento post-
posito miles arma sua
preferre debet: Et
ponit exemplum de
Vlixe, cum ipse a
bello Troiano propter
amorem Penolope
remanere domi volu-
isset, Nauplus pater
Palamades eum tantis
sermonibus allocutus
est, quod Vlixes thoro
sue coniugis relicto
labores armorum vna
cum aliis Troie mag-
nanunus subiba

1805 knythode F
which] pat M... Bs

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Hise armes lefte for a throwe,

Thou schalt an other 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.

Upon knyhthode I rede thus,
How whilom whan the king Nauplus,
The fader of Palamades,
Cam forto 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

1810

1820

P. ii. 63

_ 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.
But Nauplus, which the cause kniew,

1816 Namplus T (and so afterwards)
feigned Bs, B

1830

1833
1838 Namplus J, BT

LIBER QUARTUS 351

Ayein the sleihte which he feigneth [Tare or NauPLus
An other sleihte anon ordeigneth. 1840 AND Urvssss.]
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; 1850
Thelamacus anon was fett,
Tofore the plowh and evene sett,
Wher that his fader scholde dryve. P. ii. 64
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 1860
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
Y Than love, which likinge is inne.
Forthi tak worschipe upon honde,
And elles thou schalt understonde 1870
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 tothe double schame

1850 The] This AJH:...Bs These M forpgon A, F forp
mn JC, SB 1872 which J, B, F whiche AC 1875 toe A, F
i Fe JC, B &c.

352 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 1880
And oghte ferst to be desired.’

Bot he, which hadde his herte fyred

Upon his wif, whan he this herde, P. ii. 65
Noght o word therayein 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, 1890
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 with al.

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 sete, 1900

[Tanz or NauPLUS
AND ULysses.]

[ExAMPLES or Prow-
ESS. PROTESILAUS.]

Hic narrat super
eodem qualiter Lao-
domia Regis Prothe-
selai vxor, volens
ipsum a bello Troiano
secum retinere, fata-
tam sibi mortem in
portu Troie prenun-
ciauit : set ipse mili-
ciam pocius quam
ocia affectans, Troiam
adiit, vbi sue mortis
precio perpetue laudis
Cronicam ademit.

^ 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, forto make him duelle

Fro Troie, sende him, thus to telle,

Hou sche hath axed of the wyse
Touchende of him in such a wise,

1910

That thei have don hire understonde, P. ii. 66

1892 king C, B 1893 lust AJ, SB luste F 1901 Prothefelay
HiG... Ba, B

LIBER QUARTUS 353

Towardes othre hou so it stonde, [ExaAuPLEs or Prow-
The destine it hath so schape cas, PROTESILAUS |
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 an other cause alleide, 1920
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 forto lyve in al his myht I930
And be reproeved of his name.

Lo, thus upon the worldes fame

Knyhthode hath evere yit be set,

Which with no couardie is let.

Of king Saül also I finde, [Sauz.]
Whan Samuel out of his kinde, Adhuc super eo-
Thurgh that the Phitonesse hath lered, dem; qualiter Rex
In Samarie was arered quod per Samuelem a
Long time after that he was ded, Phitonissa suscitatum

| oe, et coniuratum respon-
The king Saül him axeth red, 1940 sum, quodipse in bello
If that he schal go fyhte or non. moreretur, accepisset,
And Samuel him seide anon, aggrediens — milicie
‘ ; famam cunctis: huius
The ferste day of the bataille P. ii. 67 vite blandimentis pre-
Thou schalt be, slain withoute faile posuit.

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 ; 1950

1916 the deth] pe day X... Bs 1922 hir] his Hi... CBs

this L 1928 the o». HiXGE, B 1940 axep him Hi... Bs W
I944 beslain F

** Aa

[Savr.]

[EpvcaTION or
ACHILLES, |

Hic loquitur quod
miles in suis pnimor-
diis ad audaciam pro-
uocari debet. Et nar-
rat qualiter Chiro
Centaurus Achillem,
quem secum ab in-
fanciain monte Pileon
educauit, vt audax
efficeretur, primitus
edocuit,quod cum ipse
venacionibus ibidem
insisteret, leones et
tigrides huiusmodique
animalia sibi resisten-
cia etnullaalia fugitiua
agitaret. Et sic A-
chilles in iuuentute
animatus famosissime
milicie ^ probitatem
postmodum adoptauit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Wherof that bothe his Sone and he
Upon the Montz of Gelboé
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; 19
The whos knyhthode is yit in mende,
And schal be to the worldes ende.
And forto 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 T
With Chiro, which Centaurus hihte,
Of many a wondre hiere he mihte.
For it stod thilke time thus, P. ii.
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, 1
Wherof was thanne mochel speche.
Ther hath Chiro this Chyld to teche,
What time he was of tuelve yer age ;
Wher forto maken his corage
The more hardi be other weie,
In the forest to hunte and pleie
Whan that Achilles walke wolde,

1966 hardiesse AHiXGECB: hardiest L 1975 may,
exagitaret SBAA (Latin om. AdT)
margin optauit A

1978 and om, MXGL, B,

LIBER QUARTUS 355

Centaurus bad that he ne scholde [EDUCATION or
After no beste make his chace, AcHILLES.]
Which wolde flen out of his place, 1990

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 2000

He scholde such a cruel beste

Or slen or wounden ate leste,

So that he mihte a tokne bringe P. ii. 69

Of blod upon his hom cominge.

And thus of that Chiro him tawhte

Achilles such an herte cawhte,

That he nomore a Leon dradde,

Whan he his Dart on honde hadde,

Thanne if a Leon were an asse:

And that hath mad him forto passe 2010

Alle othre knihtes of his dede,

Whan it cam to the grete nede,

As it was afterward wel knowe. [Prowess. }
Lo, thus, my Sone, thou miht knowe Confessor.

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, 2020

Upon knihthode and noght travaile,

I not what love him scholde availe ;

Bot every labour axeth why

Of som reward, wherof that I

1996 make BTA 2008 in honde MX... Bs, W 2010 mad
maad) AJC, T made B, F 2012 to om. B 2015 hardi-
sce AC, F hardinesse J, SB 2020 Bot] That Hi... B1

Aa2

356

[ Prowess. ]

Amans.
Confessor.

[Tare or HrncurEs
AND ÂCHELONS.]

Hicdicit,quod Miles
priusquam amoris am-
plexu dignus efficia-
tur, euentus bellicos
victoriosus amplect-
ere debet, Et narrat
qualiter Hercules et
Achelons propter Dei-
aniram Calidonie Reg-
is filiam singulare du-
ellum adinuicem ini-
erunt, cuius victor
Hercules existens ar-
morum meritis amo-
rem virginis laudabi-
liter conquestauit,

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 2030
If that a man his herte sette,
That thanne he for no Slowthe lette
To do what longeth to manhede. P. ii 70
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 2040
An old Cronique in special,
The which into memorial
Is write, for his loves sake
Hou that a kniht schal undertake.

Ther was a king, which Oénes
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; 2050
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 2060
2034 the] py (thi) Hi, BTA om Ad 2039 begete FH:
2045 Cenes L, BA seues M 2052 propter om. Hi... B:

2055 margin armorum] amorum RCLBs

LIBER QUARTUS 357

Of Deianire, and of this thing [Tate or HrncuLEs
Unto hir fader, which was king, AND ACHELONS. }
He spak touchende of Mariage. P. ii. 71
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: 2070
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 2080
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. 2090
Thei setten day, thei chosen field,

The knihtes coevered under Schield

Togedre come at time set, P. ii. 72
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.

2072 dantep F dauntep C, B. dantep AJ, S 2088 hardiesse
F hardinesse J, SB

358

TALE or HERCULES
AND AÁCHELONS.]

[PENTHESILEA.]
Nota de Pantasilea

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Thei smyten strokes bot a fewe,
For Hercules, which wolde schewe 3100
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 ; 2110
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 2120
And al at ones he him caste
Unto the ground, and hield him faste,
That he ne mihte with no sleighte P. ii. 73
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. 2130
And thus with gret decerte of Armes
He wan him forto ligge in armes,
As he which hath it dere aboght,
For otherwise scholde he noght.
And overthis if thou wolt hiere
Upon knihthode of this matiere,

2118 hem SBT 2135 ouerpis A, F ouer pis J, SB 2136 of)

9153 margin Amozonie Hi... Bs (except G), B

h...HB

LIBER QUARTUS

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 forto sieke

And for thonour 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 forth withal

He wan of love in special

A fair tribut for everemo.

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,

359

[PENTHESILEA. |

Amazonie Regina, qu:
Hectoris amore colli
gata contra Pirrun

2140 Achillis filium apuc
Troiam arma ferr:
eciam personalite
non recusauit.

[PHILEMENIS. ]

Nota qualiter Phi.
lemenis propter mi.
licie famam a finibu:
terre in defensionem
Troie veniens tre:
puellas a Regno Am.

2150

P. ii. 74 azonie quolibet annc

percipiendas sibi et
heredibus suis imper-
tuum ea de causa
habere promeruit.

2160

2170

2165 pe king

2166 of Amozoine H1...RLBs and Amozoine C

360

[Piirzwzwis.]

[Eneas. ]

Nota pro eo quod
Eneas Regem Turnum
in bello deuicit, non
solum amorem La-
vine, set et regnum
Ytalie sibi subiugatum
obtinuit.

[GENTILESSE. |

Hic dicit, quod ge-
nerosi in amoris causa
sepius — preferuntur.
Super quo querit
Amans, Quid sit gene-
rositas : cuius verita-
tem questionis Con-
fessor per singula
dissoluit.

2175 as for] for his BT

uine M

Hi And gat M, W

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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
Ayein king Turne his enemy,
He hadde noght Lavine wonne ;
Bot for he hath him overronne
And gete his pris, he gat hire love.
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 forto seie,
Wherof to telle I you beseche.
The ground, Mi Sone, forto 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,

2190

2310

2186 margin Lavine] set vine À se

2189 And gete] He gette igete, get) X ... Bs He gate

2199 ff. margin Hic dicit—dissoluit om. B

LIBER QUARTUS 361

Bot nothing after the matiere. [GrNriLEssz.]
For who that resoun understonde, P. ii. 76
Upon richesse it mai noght stonde,

For that is thing which faileth ofte :

For he that stant to day 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, 2220
Which gentilesce makth abide. '
And forto 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, 2230
Of mannes berthe the mesure, |

It is so comun to nature,

That it yifth every man aliche,

Als wel to povere as to the riche ;

For naked thei ben bore bothe,

The lord nomore hath forto 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 2240
Of worldes good, bot as of charge

The lord is more forto charge,

Whan god schal his accompte hiere, P. ii. 77
For he hath had hise lustes hiere.

Bot of the bodi, which schal deie, Omnes quidem ad
Althogh ther be diverse weie ynum finem tendimus,
To deth, yit is ther bot on ende,

2218 failep HiGRCLB:, A 2224 pe which al was X ... Bs
he wiche was alle Hi 2227 gouernacioun AM 2294 the
om. HiXECLBs, Ad, WHs (to om.R) sa41 as of] 3it of Hi...
B; of W

362

[Gxnriresse.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 forto 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 yifth 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,

2251 Eldemoder (elde moder) AJHi &c., SAd, FH:
(eldermoder) L, A oldmoder M olde moder BT alder moder W

1150

2160

2170

P. ii. 78

2280

eldirmodir

4259 wene best to H1... Bs, W wene best for to M

2278 aday J, F a day (a dai) AC, SB

LIBER QUARTUS 363

Thogh his condicion be good. [GrNTILESSE.]
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 2290
Mai helpen hem whiche ydel be. ue

Bot who that wole in his degre CErrecrs or Lovz.]
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, 2300
And to the couard hardiesce
It yifth, so that verrai prouesse
Is caused upon loves reule P. ii. 79
To him that can manhode reule;
And ek toward the wommanhiede,
Who that therof wol taken hiede,
For thei the betre affaited be
In every thing, as men may se.
For love hath evere hise lustes grene
In gentil folk, as it is sene, 2310
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 2320
After the vertu moral eke Nota de amore cari-

2295 ese] eek (ek) XG, BTA 2300 the om. ME, BTA 2307
‘hei] pough BT 2311 areste] haue reste AM

364

atis, vbi dicit, Qui
on diligit, manet in
orte.

LovE CONTRARY TO
SLoTH. ]

Apostolus. Que-
umque scripta sunt,
d nostram doctrinam
cripta sunt.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 forto lede,
Of al that unto mannes dede
Belongeth : for of ydelschipe
He hateth all the felaschipe. 2330
For Slowthe is evere to despise,
Which in desdeign hath al apprise,
And that acordeth noght to man: P. ii. 80
For he that wit and reson kan,
It sit him wel that he travaile
Upon som thing which mihte availe,
For ydelschipe is noght comended,
Bot every lawe it hath defended.
And in ensample therupon
The noble wise Salomon, 2340
Which hadde of every thing 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 forto 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 2350
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.

2324 awise F 2325 as hier is ded BT 2330 all the] alle
(al) A... CBa 2348 ff. margin Apostolus—scripta sunt oss, S... A
2351 S has lost a leaf (1l. 2351-2530)

LIBER QUARTUS

And forto drawe into memoire

Here names bothe and here histoire,
Upon the vertu of her dede

In sondri bokes thou miht rede.

vii. 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.

Of every wisdom the parfit
The hyhe god of his spirit
Yaf 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 yive,
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 write,
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,

Latin Verses vii. 1 in] de B
2373 margin et laboribus AM
so] to BTA

2377 al F af J alle A,B

2360

365

P. ii. 81 [Uses or Lasour.]

Hic loquitur contra
ociosos quoscumque,
et maxime contra is-
tos, qui excellentis
prudencie ingenium
habentes absque fruc-
tu operum torpescunt.

2370 Et ponit exemplum de

2380

2390

P. ii. 82

2391

diligencia predeces-
sorum, qui ad tocius
humani generis doc-
trinam etauxilium suis
continuis laboribus et
studiis, gracia medi-
ante diuina, artes et
sciencias primitus in-
uenerunt.

366 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

That it stant evere alyche greene ;
Al be it so the bodi deie,
The name of hem schal nevere aweie.
[DiscovERERs AND In the Croniqes as I finde,
INVENTORS. ] Cham, whos labour is yit in minde,
Was he which ferst the lettres fond
And wrot in Hebreu with his hond:
Of naturel Philosophie
He fond ferst also the clergie. 1400
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 2410
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. 2410
Zenzis fond ferst the pourtreture, P. ii. 83
And Promotheüs 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,

2397 lettre BT 2407 Eldras Hi... B4 A 2414 and rime
AJMX...B:

LIBER QUARTUS 367

Which now is knowe in many place: 2430 [DiscovzRERs AND
A tente of cloth with corde and stake INVENTORS. ]
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 yifth ous mete and drinke
And doth the labourer to swinke 2440
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. 2450
Bot hou that metall cam a place P. ii. 84
Thurgh mannes wit and goddes grace
The route of Philosophres wise
Controeveden be sondri wise,
Ferst forto gete it out of Myne,
And after forto trie and fyne.

And also with gret diligence [ALCHENY.]
Thei founden thilke experience, Nota de Alconomia.
Which cleped is Alconomie,

Wherof the Selver multeplie 2460

Thei made and ek the gold also.
And forto 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,

2433 Herconius HiXGECLB:, BA Hercenius R Berconius T, Hs

368

[ArcuEuv.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

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 forto 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

2477 Is] The B 2501 as it is set Hi... Ba

2480
P. ii. 85

1490

2500

LIBER QUARTUS 369

This craft is wroght be weie of kinde, [Arcuxx.]
So that ther is no fallas inne.

Bot what man that this werk beginne, 2510

He mot awaite at every tyde, P. ii. 86

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 2520
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. 2530

These olde Philosophres wyse (Tur Turer Stones
Be weie of kinde in sondri wise or THE PHILOSo-

| PHERS.]

Thre Stones maden thurgh clergie.
The ferste, if I schal specefie, Nota de tribus lapi-
. aye dibus, quos philosophi
Was lapis vegetabilis, | composuerunt, quo-
Of which the propre vertu is rum primus dicitur
lapis vegetabilis, qui
To mannes hele forto serve, sanitatem conseruat,
As forto kepe and to preserve secundus dicitur lapis
The bodi fro siknesses alle, animalis, qui membra
. . D et virtutes sencibiles
Til deth of kinde upon him falle. 2540 fortificat, tercius dici-
The Ston seconde I thee behote P. ii. 87 turlapis mineralis, qui
. . ; | omnia metalla purificat
Is lapis animalis hote, et in suum perfectum
The whos vertu is propre and cowth ri potencia de-

2512 lefte F 2524 many on F 2531 S resumes The BT
2534 ferste S ferst AJ, F 2535 lapis] cleped BT 2538 As] And
Hi... By A 2539 margin qui membra] que membra F
sencibiles) sanabiles Hi... Bs, A

** Bb

370

THE THREE STONES
OF THE PHiLoso-
PHERS.]

2555 aweie F 2556 vice goth] filpe be Hi..

om. W)

It S...A

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

For Ere and yhe and nase and mouth,

Wherof a man mai hiere and se

And smelle and taste in his degre,

And forto fiele and forto 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 thextremetes,

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,

2520

2860

Which to the Sonne and Mone is leid; 2:50

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.

P. ii. 88

. Ba, A (line

2562 to om. BT 2565 thextremetes] extremites
X... Ba, B 2569 ffor AM pe ston Hi... Ba

2578 as] which A... Ba

2576 He]

LIBER QUARTUS 371

Bot now it stant al otherwise ; 2580 [THE THREE STONES
. ; OF THE PHILOSO-
Thei speken faste of thilke Ston, PHERS.]

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, 2590
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 forto 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 2600
Of hem that ferste it founden oute; P. ii. 89
And thus the fame goth aboute

To suche as soghten besinesse

Of vertu and of worthinesse.

Of whom if I the names calle,

Hermes was on the ferste of alle, (THE First Ar-
To whom this art is most applied ; CHEMISTS.
Geber therof was magnefied, |
And Ortolan and Morien,

Among the whiche is Avicen, 2610
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.
2587 all weies (alweies) XGRCLBs 2609 Orcalan Hi... B:
2615 put AJ, SF putte C, B
Bba

LIBER QUARTUS 373

And after that out of Hebreu [LETTERS AND
Jerom, which the langage kneu, LANGUAGE. |
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 2660
The Latins of hemself also P. ii. 91
Here studie at thilke time so
With gret travaile of Scole toke
In sondri forme forto 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, 2670
In what manere it scholde akiele.
Forthi, mi Sone, if that thou fiele Confessor
That love wringe thee to sore,
Behold Ovide and take his lore.
My fader, if thei mihte spede Amans.
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, 2680
If that men toke his rote aweie,
Riht so myn herte scholde deie,
If that mi love be withdrawe.
Wherof touthende unto this sawe
There is bot only to poursuie
Mi love, and ydelschipe eschuie.
Mi goode Sone, soth to seie, Confessor.
If ther be siker eny weie
To love, thou hast seid the beste:

2662 and pilke time so H1... RLBs and pilke time also C at
hilke t. also W at pilketyme po M 2674 take AJ, S,F tak C, BT
676 hise A 2681 take B

LIBER QUARTUS 375

And of his Slouthe he dremeth ofte [SoxNorzNcz.]

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 who so toke kepe,

Whanne he is falle in such a drem,

Riht as a Schip ayein the Strem, 2730

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 2740

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. u
Ha, goode fader, certes no. Confessio Amantis

I hadde levere be mi trowthe, P. ii. 94

Er I were set on such a slouthe

And beere such a slepi snoute,

Bothe yhen of myn hed were oute. 2750 .

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, 2760

2743 shal F 2744 wolde A 2760 Iam now Hi... Bsa, A

LIBER QUARTUS 377

Somtime among a good leisir, (Tue Lover’s Waxx-
So as I dar of mi desir 2800 : FULNESS.]
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 P. ii. 96
And of my wachche make an ende:
And if sche thanne hiede toke,
Hou pitousliche on hire I loke, 2810
Whan that I schal my leve take,
Hire oghte of mercy forto slake
Hire daunger, which seith evere nay.
Bot he seith often, ‘Have good day,’
That loth is forto take his leve:
Therfore, while 1 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; 2820
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 forth withal.
And otherwhile, if that I dore,
Er I come fulli to the Dore,
I torne ayein and feigne a thing,
As thogh I hadde lost a Ring
Or somwhat elles, for I wolde
Kisse hire eftsones, if I scholde, 2830
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

2802 bidt A, F bit] bid C, B 2822 doun om. AM 2826
the] atte M, B 2833 Departen] Depart(e) and Hi... Bs, BA

LIBER QUARTUS 379

Thus ate laste I go to bedde, (Tue Lover's WAKE-
And yit min herte lith to wedde FULNESS. }
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, 2880
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 : 2890
Bot thanne be a thousand score [DREAXxSs.]
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, P. ii. 99
That nou I lawhe and nou I wepe,

And nou I lese and nou I winne,

And nou I ende and nou beginne. 2900
And otherwhile I dreme and mete

That I al one 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, 2910
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,

LIBER QUARTUS 381

With al hire herte and him besoghte, [Tare or Ceix AND

That he the time hire wolde sein, ALCEONE.]

Whan that he thoghte come ayein : sunt, subito coner

‘Withinne,’ he seith, ‘tuo Monthe day.’

And thus in al the haste he may

He tok his leve, and forth he seileth P. ii. 1o1

Wepende, and sche hirself beweileth,

And torneth hom, ther sche cam fro.

Bot whan the Monthes were ago, 2960

The whiche he sette of his comynge,

And that sche herde no tydinge,

Ther was no care forto 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, 2970

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. — Ÿ
This Yris, fro the hihe stage

Which undertake hath the Message,

Hire reyny Cope dede upon, c

The which was wonderli begon : ^ (^ — ag8o -

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 : P. ii. 102

For ther, as seith the Poesie,

/ n -
Ss eee NS I
2954 thoghte] wolde Hi... Ba wot thought to W 2955
onpes Hi... Bs, Hs 2973 she A, Magd. heA... Bs, AdBT4,
WKH:; 2984 so m. AM

LIBER QUARTUS

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 ; 3030
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 Morpheüs, the whos nature

Is forto take the figure 3040
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: P. ii. 104
The thridde suiende after this

Is Panthasas, which may transforme

Of every thing the rihte forme, 3050
And change it in an other kinde.

Upon hem thre, so as I finde,

Of swevenes stant al thapparence,

Which otherwhile is evidence

And otherwhile bot a jape.

Bot natheles it is so schape,

That Morpheüs be nyht al one

Appiereth until Alceone

In liknesse of hir housebonde

Al naked ded upon the stronde, 3060
And hou he dreynte in special

These othre tuo it schewen al.

The tempeste of the blake cloude,

3027 pe wise pat M ...CB: pis wise as BT, Hs 3033 schulde

3T, W

3056 was AdBTA 3058 vnto JH:... B, A, WH:

383

[Tare or Crix AND
ALCEONE. |

LIBER QUARTUS 385

Hire wynges bothe abrod sche spradde, [Tare or Crrx AND
And him, so as sche mai suffise, ALCEONE. ]
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 P. ii. 106
Hire harde bile, and so fulofte
Sche fondeth in hire briddes forme,
If that sche mihte hirself conforme 3110
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 3120
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 ~ Confessor.
Of swevenes forto 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 3130
Which is to love appourtenant.
Mi fader, upon covenant Confessio Amantis.

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 forto wake; P. ii. 107
For thogh myn yhe it wolde take,
Min herte is evere therayein.

3129 Aman F 3132 pe couenant BTA 3138 For]

And BTA
** cc

386

(SLEEPING AND
WAKING. ]

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Bot natheles to speke it plein, 3140
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 forto wake, 3150
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, 3160
And that 1s for I se hire noght,
Which 1s 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; P. ii. 108
And I go forth as noght ne were
Unto mi bedd, so that al one
I mai ther ligge and sighe and grone 3170
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.
My Sone, I am wel paid with thee,

3140 it} in Hi... Bs 3141 that o». AM 3142 walkyng
HiRCBs ne om. T 3153 ne om. H1... Bs 3154 Ha om.

3159 mi F mynAJ, B 3165 allS, F alle AJ, B

LIBER QUARTUS

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.

3180

For love who that list to wake
By 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 privete
To love and to his duete,
Which asketh noght to ben apert,
Bot in cilence and in covert
Desireth forto 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,

3190 pe AM 3199 margin sua om. BT 9202 margin ita
quod AM 3204 margin ila om. SBTA (Latin om. Ad)
3206 cilence S, F silence AJ, B margin dignaretur A... Bs, A

Cca

3190

P. ii. 109

3200

3210

387

[SLEEPING AND
WAKING. |

[THe PRAYER OF
CEPHALUS. }

Hic dicit quod vigi-
lia in Amantibus et
non Sompnolencia
laudanda est. Et po-
nit exemplum de Ce-
phalo filio Phebi, qui
nocturno cilencio Au-
roram amicam suam
diligencius amplec-
tens, Solem et lunam
interpellabat, videli-
cet quod Sol in circulo
ab oriente distanciori
currum cum luce sua
retardaret, et quod
luna spera sua lon-
gissima orbem circu-
iens noctem continu-
aret; ita vt ipsum Ce-
phalum — amplexibus
Aurore volutum, pri-
usquam dies illa illuc-
esceret, suis deliciis
adquiescere — diucius
permittere dignaren-
tur.

388

[THE PRAYER or
CEPHALUS.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

As thou which art the daies yhe,
Of love and myht no conseil hyde,
Upon this derke nyhtes tyde
With al myn hcrte I thee beseche
That I plesance myhte seche
With hire which lith in min armes.
Withdrawgh the Banere of thin Armes, 3220
And let thi lyhtes ben unbom,
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, P. ii. uo
As sche which wolde ben awaked,
And me lest nothing forto slepe.
So were it good to take kepe 3230
Nou at this nede of mi preiere,
And that the like forto 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, 3240
That thou to me be gracious:
And in Cancro thin oghne hous
Ayein 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, 3250

3221 ben unborn] be vp (vppe) AM 3233 Thi (Thy) A... Bs,
..A This FWKHs 3244 all] at S... A 3250 if that I]
. . Ba

LIBER QUARTUS 389

With al myn herte I wolde serve [THE Prayer or
Be nyhte, and thi vigile observe.’ CEPHALUS.]
Lo, thus this lusti Cephalus Confessor.

Preide unto Phebe and to Phebus
The nyht in lengthe forto drawe,
So that he mihte do the lawe
In thilke point of loves heste, P. ii. mn
Which cleped is the nyhtes feste,
Withoute Slep of sluggardie ;
Which Venus out of compaignie 3260
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.
But 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 3270
Ne hou the day is come aboute,
Bot onli forto 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 Amans.
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, 3280
That fell me nevere yit er this.
Bot otherwhile, whan so is
That I mai cacche Slep on honde
Liggende al one, thanne I fonde
To dreme a merie swevene er day ;
And if so falle that I may
Mi thought with such a swevene plese, P. ii. 112

3252 vigilie B 3255 nyht (night) AC, B nyhte (nihte) J, S, F
259 of] or X ... B, W 3263 S has lost a leaf (11. 3263-
442)

399

[Tug PRAYER oF
CzPHALUS.]

Confessor.

(ARcus AND Mer-
CURY. |

Hic loquiturinamo-
ris causa contra istos
qui Sompnolencie de-
liti ea que seruare
lenentur amittunt. Et
narrat quod, cum Yo
puella pulcherima a
[Iunone in vaccam
ransformata et in

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Me thenkth I am somdiel in ese,
For I non other confort have.
So nedeth noght that I schal crave 3290
The Sonnes Carte forto 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 3300
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, 3310
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 forto specefie.

Ovide telleth in his sawes, P. ii. 113
How Jupiter be olde dawes
Lay be a Mayde, which Yo
Was cleped, wherof that Juno 3320
His wif was wroth, and the goddesse
Of Yo torneth the liknesse
Into a cow, to gon theroute
The large fieldes al aboute

3288 in] at XGEC, BT 3308hejitHi...Bs 3322 Of po turne)
(tornep) M, Ad Of hem pat turne} X Of hem pat turnen HiG... Be

LIBER QUARTUS 39I

And gete hire mete upon the griene. [Ancus AND Mzn-
And therupon this hyhe queene | cx] —
. f k Argi custodiam sic
For he was selden wont to slepe, perueniens Mercurius
And yit he hadde an hundred yhen, occidit. et ipsam vac-
And alle alyche wel thei syhen. 3330 cama pastura rapiens,
Now herkne hou that he was beguiled. perduxit. MES secum

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 3340
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 forto hiere;
And in his pipinge evere among
He tolde him such a lusti song,
That he the fol hath broght aslepe. P. ii. 114
Ther was non yhe mihte kepe
His hed, the which Mercurie of smot,
And forth withal anon fot hot 3350
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 forto 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 3360
Is schape, as thogh he were ded.
3337 hap AdBTA 3341 Wip fo which(e) E... Bs, AdT

Wip po pe whiche B 3349 the om. Hi... Bs, AdTA, WHs 3355
Whan] ffor whan HiE... Bs 3361 as] and BT he] it AM

LIBER QUARTUS 393

And is so wo begon therfore, (Tristzssz on Dr-
That he withinne his thoght conceiveth | pu

: . . fA con-
Tristesce, and so himself deceiveth, dicio tocius consola.
That he wanhope bringeth inne, cionis spem deponens,
Wher is no confort to beginne, liberari poterit, , for-
Bot every joie him is deslaied : tunam sibi euenire

So that withinne his herte affraied 3400 impossibile credit,

A thousend time with o breth
Wepende he wissheth after deth,
Whan he fortune fint adverse. P. ii. 116
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, 3410
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, 3410
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 gret a Sinne to foryive ;
And thus he leeveth to be schrive.
And if a man in thilke throwe
Wolde him consaile, he wol noght knowe 3430
The sothe, thogh a man it finde:
3397 margin poterit om. BT 3401 tymes E, BT 3427 gret
JC,B greteA, F

394

[Tristesse or Dr-
SPONDENCY. |

Obstinacio est con-
tradiccio veritatis ag-
nite.

Confessor.

Confessio Amantis.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

For Tristesce is of such a kinde,
That forto meintiene his folie,
He hath with him Obstinacie,

Which is withinne of such a Slouthe,

That he forsaketh alle trouthe,

And wole unto no reson 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,

Till Slouthe make of him an ende.

Bot god wot whider he scbal 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 forto 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 forto 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

P. ii m

3449

3450

3460

P. ii. 018

3437 no om. AM 3443 S resumes folweth] fallep SAdBA

faileth TA
point BT,

3449 more pan is B, Hs more pan hit L
W

3459 9

LIBER QUARTUS 395

To winne love of thilke swete, [TRISTESSE or DE-
Withoute whom, I you behiete, 3470 SPONDENCY.]
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 forto speke of eny grace,
Mi ladi merci to pourchace. 3480
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 3490
To god of his foryivenesse
With half so gret a besinesse
As I have do to my ladi, P. ii. 119
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 yif me mi penance, 3500
Min holi fader, as you liketh.
Mi Sone, of that thin herte siketh Confessor.
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.

3479 eny] my AM 3484 my] me HiRCLBs, W (me bidde)
3489 I dar AM 3502 if pat Hi... Bs, W

[TaLe or Ipnis
AND ARAXARATHEN. |

Hic narrat qualiter
Iphis, Regis Theucri
filius, ob amorem cui-
usdam puelle nomine
Araxarathen, quam
neque donis aut pre-
cibus vincere potuit,
desperans ante patris
ipsius puelle ianuas
noctanter se suspen-
dit. Vnde dii com-
moti dictam puellam
in lapidem durissi-
mum transmutarunt,
quam Rex Theucer
vna cum filio suo
apud Ciuitatem Sala-
mynam in templo
Veneris pro perpetua
memoria sepeliri et
locari fecit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

I not what other thinge 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 who so rede,

Of thing which hath befalle er this:
Now hier of what ensample it is.

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 P. ii. r«

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 Iove 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 yaf, 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

3529 margin Ciuitatem om. BT 3531 hert sche BA
(om, herte) T 3535 king (kyng) JL, BT

353

354

sch

LIBER QUARTUS 397

Of lust, of Slep, of Appetit, (Tate or IPuis AND
That he thurgh strengthe of love lasseth ARAXARATHEN.]
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; 3550
The nyht was derk, ther schon no Mone,
Tofore the gates he cam sone,
Wher that this yonge Maiden was, P. ii. 121
And with this wofull word, * Helas !'
Hise dedli pleintes he began
So stille that ther was noman
It herde, and thanne he seide thus:
*O thou Cupide, o thou Venus,
Fortuned be whos ordinaunce
Of love is every mannes chaunce, 3560
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 3570
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 the deserve,
Hier schal I for thi love sterve,
Hier schal a kinges Sone dye
For love and for no felonie ; 3580
Wher thou therof have joie or sorwe,
Hier schalt thou se me ded tomorwe.
3560 manes F 3576 sleplest F

398

(TALE oF IpHis AND
ARAXARATHEN.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

O herte hard aboven alle, P. ii. 123
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, 3590
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 pite.
The morwe cam, the nyht is gon,
Men comen out and syhe anon
Wher that this yonge lord was ded:
Ther was an hous withoute red,
For noman knew the cause why;
Ther was wepinge and ther was cry. 3600
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 chaunce,
Why that this kinges Sone is spilt.
Sche takth upon hirself the gilt, 3610
And is al redi to the peine
Which eny man hir wole ordeigne:
And bot if eny other wolde, P. ii. 123
Sche seith that sche hirselve scholde
Do wreche with hire oghne hond,
Thurghout the world in every lond
That every lif therof schal speke,

3586 3it schal... many a place J, S, FHs 3it schalt... many a place
AM 3it schal... many place Ad, W 3it schal it... mani place TA
It (Hit) schal... many a place HiXGRCLBs It schal . .. many
place E, B 3587 and) of Hi... Ba, B 3596 syhe ,sihe)
AJ,SB syhF 3612 wold(e) BT, W

LIBER QUARTUS 399

Hou sche hirself it scholde wreke. (Tare or IpHis AND

Sche wepth, sche crith, sche swouneth ofte,
Sche caste hire yhen up alofte 3620
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 pite
To him, which for mi love is lore,
Do no pite to me therfore.' 3630
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 3640
And ek the queene and manye mo;
And whan thei wisten it was so,
As I have told it hier above, P. ii. 124
Hou that Iphis was ded for love,
Of that he hadde be refused,
Thei hielden alle men excused
And wondren upon the vengance.
And forto kepe in remembrance,
This faire ymage mayden liche
With compaignie noble and riche 3650
With torche and gret sollempnite
To Salamyne the Cite
Thei lede, and carie forth withal

The dede corps, and sein it schal

3622 O god pou wost pat it B O god pou wost it TA (wotest)

3627 S has lost two leaves (ll. 3627—v. 274) 3632 astounde
AMR, T, W 3638 and of) and eke of AM

ARAXARATHEN.]

ee

LIBER QUARTUS
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 proprete,
Wherof touchende in my degre
For evere I thenke to be war.
Bot overthis, 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.

pd

ee

3700

P. ii. 126

3710

401

[TALR or IPHIS ANE
ARAXARATHEN. )

Amans.

Confessor.

402

[Avarice. }

Hic in quinto libro
intendit | Confessor
tractare de Auaricia,
que omnium malorum
radix dicitur, necnon
et de eiusdem vicii
speciebus: set primo
ipsius Auaricie na-
turam describens Am-
anti quatenus amorem
concernit super hoc
specialius opponit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Incipit Liber Quintus.

i. Obstat auaricia nature legibus, et que P. ii. 127

Largus amor poscit, striccius illa vetat.

Omne quod est nimium viciosum dicitur aurum,

Vellera sicut oues, seruat auarus opes.

Non decet vt soli seruabitur es, set amori

Debet homo solam solus habere suam.

FERST whan the hyhe god began
This world, and that the kinde of man
Was falle into no gret encress,
For worldes good tho was no press,
Bot al was set to the comune.
Thei spieken thanne of no fortune
Or forto lese or forto winne,
Til Avarice broghte it inne;
And that was whan the world was woxe
Of man, of hors, of Schep, of Oxe, IO
And that men knewen the moneie.
Tho wente pes out of the weie
And werre cam on every side,
Which alle love leide aside
And of comun his propre made, P. ii. 128
So that in stede of schovele and spade
The scharpe swerd was take on honde;
And in this wise it cam to londe,
Wherof men maden dyches depe
And hyhe walles forto kepe 20
The gold which Avarice encloseth.
Bot al to lytel him supposeth,
Thogh he mihte al the world pourchace ;

Latin Verses i. 5 dicet AM... Bs
4 per was G, AdB

LIBER QUINTUS 403

For what thing that he may embrace [AvARIcz.]
Of gold, of catel or of lond,
He let it nevere out of his hond,
Bot get him more and halt it faste,
As thogh the world scholde evere laste.
So is he lych unto the helle;
For as these olde bokes telle, 30
What comth therinne, lasse or more,
It schal departe neveremore:
Thus whanne he hath his cofre loken,
It schal noght after ben unstoken,
Bot whanne him list to have a syhte
Of gold, hou that it schyneth brihte,
That he ther on mai loke and muse;
For otherwise he dar noght use
To take his part, or lasse or more.
So is he povere, and everemore 40
Him lacketh that he hath ynowh:
An Oxe draweth in the plowh,
Of that himself hath no profit ;
A Schep riht in the same plit
His wolle berth, bot on a day P. ii. 129
An other takth the flees away:
Thus hath he, that he noght ne hath,
For he therof his part ne tath.
To seie hou such a man hath good,
Who so that reson understod, 50
It is impropreliche seid,
For good hath him and halt him teid,
That he ne gladeth noght withal,
Bot is unto his good a thral,
And as soubgit thus serveth he,
Wher that he scholde maister be:
Such is the kinde of thaverous. -
Mi Sone, as thou art amerous, Confessor.

30 Wher in it moste nedes dwelle Hi... Bs 35 asyhte F
tfo ouermore B 47 that he] pat. pat A
41f. ffor he per of his part ne tap
Bot kepep to anoper pat he hap
So Hi... Ba with some variations (yat for Bot C it hath for he hap Hi)

Dda

404

[AVARICE. ]
Confessio Amantis.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Tell if thou farst of love so.

Mi fader, as it semeth, no; 6o
That averous yit nevere I was,
So as ye setten me the cas:

For as ye tolden here above,

In full possession of love

Yit was I nevere hier tofore,

So that me thenketh wel therfore,
I mai excuse wel my dede.

Bot of mi will withoute drede,

If I that tresor mihte gete,

It scholde nevere be foryete,
That I ne wolde it faste holde,
Til god of love himselve wolde
That deth ous scholde parte atuo.
For lieveth wel, I love hire so,
That evene with min oghne lif, P. ii. 130
If I that swete lusti wif

Mihte ones welden at my wille,

For evere I wolde hire holde stille :

And in this wise, taketh kepe,

If I hire hadde, I wolde hire kepe, 8o
And yit no friday wolde I faste,

Thogh I hire kepte and hielde faste.

Fy on the bagges in the kiste!

I hadde ynogh, if I hire kiste.

For certes, if sche were myn,

I hadde hir levere than a Myn

Of Gold ; for al this worldesriche

Ne mihte make me so riche

As sche, that is so inly good.

I sette noght of other good ; 9o
For mihte I gete such a thing,

I hadde a tresor for a king ;

And thogh I wolde it faste holde,

I were thanne wel beholde.

Bot I mot pipe nou with lasse,

3

59 farst F fare A... Bsa, Ad... A 73 departe AMH:

82 To holde hir whil my lif may laste Hi . . . Be

LIBER QUINTUS
And suffre that it overpasse,

Noght with mi will, for thus I wolde

Ben averous, if that I scholde.
Bot, fader, I you herde seie

Hou thaverous hath yit som weie, 100

Wherof he mai be glad; for he

Mai whanne him list his tresor se,
And grope and fiele it al aboute,

Bot I fulofte am schet theroute,
Ther as my worthi tresor is.

So is mi lif lich unto this,
That ye me tolden hier tofore,
Hou that an Oxe his yock hath

For thing that scholde him noght availe:

And in this wise I me travaile ;

For who that evere hath the welfare,

I wot wel that I have the care,

For I am hadd and noght ne have,
And am, as who seith, loves knave.
Nou demeth in youre oghne thoght,

If this be Avarice or noght.

Mi Sone, I have of thee no wonder,

Thogh thou to serve be put under
With love, which to kinde acordeth :

Bot, so as every bok recordeth,
It is to kinde no plesance
That man above his sustienance

Unto the gold schal serve and bowe,

For that mai no reson avowe.
Bot Avarice natheles,

If he mai geten his encress

Of gold, that wole he serve and

For he takth of noght elles kepe,

Bot forto fille hise bagges large ;
And al is to him bot a charge,
For he ne parteth noght withal,

Bot kepth it, as a servant schal:

103 fiele] seche A... Bs Io4 fulofte IA.

Io wise] ping A... Ba I20 acordep XE
ulle AM

405
(AvARicz.]
P. ii. 131
bore
IIO
Confessor.
I20
kepe,
I 30

..Bs» ofte I Hi
... Ba 129

LIBER QUINTUS 407

How Mide hath don his courtesie, [Tare or Mipas.]
Him thenkth it were a vilenie, 170
Bot he rewarde him for his dede,

So as he mihte of his godhiede.

Unto this king this god appiereth

And clepeth, and that other hiereth :

This god to Mide thonketh faire

Of that he was so debonaire

Toward his Prest, and bad him seie: :

What thing it were he wolde preie,

He scholde it have, of worldes good.

This king was glad, and stille stod, 180
And was of his axinge in doute,

And al the world he caste aboute,

What thing was best for his astat,

And with himself stod in debat

Upon thre pointz, the whiche I finde

Ben lievest unto mannes kinde.

The ferste of hem it is delit,

The tuo ben worschipe and profit.

And thanne he thoghte, *If that I crave

Delit, thogh I delit mai have, 190
Delit schal passen in myn age:

That is no siker avantage,

For every joie bodily

Schal ende in wo: delit forthi

Wol I noght chese. And if worschipe P. ii. 134
I axe and of the world lordschipe,

That is an occupacion

Of proud ymaginacion,

Which makth an herte vein withinne ;

Ther is no certein forto winne, 200
For lord and knave al is o weie,

Whan thei be bore and whan thei deie.

And if I profit axe wolde,

I not in what manere I scholde

Of worldes good have sikernesse ;

173 pe king A... Bi 185 pe poyntes whiche Hi, BT, W

88 Tho XGERCB4, B They Hi 196 the world] worldes
A... Bs, A 201 is a] AM

408 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

TALE or Mipas.] For every thief upon richesse
Awaiteth forto robbe and stele :
Such good is cause of harmes fele.
And also, thogh a man at ones
Of al the world withinne his wones 210
The tresor myhte have everydel,
Yit hadde he bot o mannes del
Toward himself, so as I thinke,
Of clothinge and of mete and drinke,
For more, outake vanite,
Ther bath no lord in his degre.’
And thus upon the pointz diverse
Diverseliche he gan reherce
What point him thoghte for the beste ;
Bot pleinly forto gete him reste 210
He can no siker weie caste.
And natheles yit ate laste
He fell upon the coveitise
Of gold; and thanne in sondri wise
He thoghte, as I have seid tofore, P. ii. 135
Hou tresor mai be sone lore,
And hadde an inly gret desir
Touchende of such recoverir,
Hou that he mihte his cause availe
To gete him gold withoute faile. 230
Withinne his herte and thus he preiseth
The gold, and seith hou that it peiseth
Above al other metall most :
‘The gold,’ he seith, ‘may lede an host
To make werre ayein a King ;
Salomon. Pecunie The gold put under alle thing,
ediunt omnia, And set it whan him list above ;
The gold can make of hate love
And werre of pes and ryht of wrong,
And long to schort and schort to long ; 240
Withoute gold mai be no feste,
Gold is the lord of man and beste,
210 pis world Hi... Bs 211 myhte om. Hi... Ba (hadde

for have Hi) 212 a mannes Hi... Bj, Ad, W 217 the) ro GEC
pese (peis) AdBTA 235 be king BT 242 the o». AMHiXRLB«

LIBER QUINTUS | 409

And mai hem bothe beie and selle ; [TArE or Mrpas.)
So that a man mai sothly telle

That al the world to gold obeieth.'

Forthi this king to Bachus preieth

To grante him gold, bot he excedeth

Mesure more than him nedeth.

Men tellen that the maladie

Which cleped is ydropesie 250
Resembled is unto this vice

Be weie of kinde of Avarice~

The more ydropesie drinketh,

The more him thursteth, for him thinketh
That he mai nevere drinke his fille; P. ii. 136
So that ther mai nothing fulfille

The lustes of his appetit :

And riht in such a maner plit

Stant Avarice and evere stod ;

The more he hath of worldes good, 260
The more he wolde it kepe streyte,

And evere mor and mor coveite.

And riht in such condicioun

Withoute good discrecioun

This king with avarice is smite,

That al the world it myhte wite:

For he to Bachus thanne preide,

That wherupon his hond he leide,

It scholde thurgh his touche anon

Become gold, and therupon 270
This god him granteth as he bad.

Tho was this king of Frige glad,

And forto put it in assai

With al the haste that he mai,

He toucheth that, he toucheth this,

And in his hond al gold it is,

The Ston, the Tree, the Lef, the gras,

The flour, the fruit, al gold it was.

249 tellep AM 253 dropesie (dropseie) AM 268 per vpon B
273 put AJ, F putte C, BT 274 He touched (touchep) al fat
by him lay H1... Bs A (touchep HiGC touchit Bs touche X)
278 al! as AM |

410

(TALE or Mipas.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Thus toucheth he, whil he mai laste

To go, bot hunger ate laste 280
Him tok, so that he moste nede

Be weie of kinde his hunger fede.

The cloth was leid, the bord was set,

And al was forth tofore him fet,

His disch, his coppe, his drinke, his mete; P. ii 137
Bot whanne he wolde or drinke or ete,

Anon as it his mouth cam nyh,

It was al gold, and thanne he syh

Of Avarice the folie.

And he with that began to crie, 290
And preide Bachus to foryive

His gilt, and soffre him forto live

And be such as he was tofore,

So that he were noght forlore.

This god, which herde of his grevance,

Tok rowthe upon his repentance,

And bad him go forth redily

Unto a flod was faste by,

Which Paceole thanne hyhte,

In which as clene as evere he myhte 300
He scholde him waisshen overal,

And seide him thanne that he schal

Recovere his ferste astat ayein.

This king, riht as he herde sein,

Into the flod goth fro the lond,

And wissh him bothe fot and hond,

And so forth al the remenant,

As him was set in covenant:

And thanne he syh merveilles strange,

The flod his colour gan to change, 310
The gravel with the smale Stones

To gold thei torne bothe at ones,

And he was quit of that he hadde,

And thus fortune his chance ladde.

And whan he sih his touche aweie, P. ii. 138

281 him most) AJMG . .. Bs 288 al] as AMXERLB:
295 bis SBT 301 waisshen F waisschen B wasshen (waschen:

306 wyssh (wissh) SB wisshe AJ, F 9314 change AM

LIBER QUINTUS 411

He goth him hom the rihte weie [Tare or Minas]
And liveth forth as he dede er,

And putte al Avarice afer,

And the richesse of gold despiseth,

And seith that mete and cloth sufficeth. 320
Thus hath this king experience

Hou foles don the reverence

To gold, which of his oghne kinde

Is lasse worth than is the rinde

To sustienance of mannes fode ;

And thanne he made lawes goode

And al his thing sette upon skile :

He bad his poeple forto tile

Here lond, and live under the lawe,

And that thei scholde also forthdrawe 330
Bestaile, and seche non encress

Of gold, which is the breche of pes.

For this a man mai finde write,

Tofor the time, er gold was smite

In Coign, that men the florin knewe,

Ther was welnyh noman untrewe ;

Tho was ther nouther schield ne spere

Ne dedly wepne forto bere ;

Tho was the toun withoute wal,

Which nou is closed overal; 340
Tho was ther no brocage in londe,

Which nou takth every cause’ on honde:

So mai men knowe, hou the florin

Was moder ferst of malengin

And bringere inne of alle werre, P. ii. 139
Wherof this world stant out of herre

Thurgh the conseil of Avarice,

Which of his oghne propre vice

Is as the helle wonderfull ;

For it mai neveremor be full, 350
That what as evere comth therinne,

Awey ne may it nevere winne.

Bot Sone myn, do tbou noght so,

316 hom] Janne (pan) Hi... Bs, A 332 bruche AM
350 befull F

412

[Iur PUNISHMENT OF
TANTALUS. ]

Nota de pena Tan-
tali, cuius amara sitis
dampnatos torquet
auaros,

-

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Let al such Avarice go,

And tak thi part of that thou hast:

I bidde noght that thou do wast,

Bot hold largesce in his mesure ;

And if thou se a creature,

Which thurgh poverte is falle in nede,

Yif him som good, for this I rede 360
To him that wol noght yiven here,

What peine he schal have elleswhere.

- Ther is a peine amonges alle

Benethe in helle, which men calle

The wofull peine of Tantaly,

Of which I schal thee redely _

Devise hou men therinne stonde.

In helle, thou schalt understonde,

Ther. is a flod of thilke office,

Which serveth al for Avarice : 370
What man that stonde schal therinne,

He stant up evene unto the chinne;

Above his hed also ther hongeth

A fruyt, which to that peine longeth,

And that fruit toucheth evere in on P. ii. 140
His overlippe: and therupon

Swich thurst and hunger him assaileth,

That nevere his appetit ne faileth.

Bot whanne he wolde his hunger fede,

The fruit withdrawth him ate nede, 380
And thogh he heve his hed on hyh,

The fruit is evere aliche nyh,

So is the hunger wel the more:

And also, thegh him thurste sore

And to the water bowe a doun,

The flod in such condicioun

Avaleth, that his drinke areche

He mai noght. Lo nou, which a wreche,
That mete and drinke is him so couth,

364 Benethe] Grieuep C &c. 368 And for no drede now wol
I wonde Hi... Bs, A 371 ffor what man stonde B ffor what
man pat stonde T 372 unto] to Hi ... Ba, BTA, W vptoA
385 a doun J, F adoun A, B

LIBER QUINTUS 413

And yit ther comth non in his mouth! 390 [THE PUNISHMENT or
Lich to the peines of this flod TANTALUS.]
Stant Avarice in worldes good :
He hath ynowh and yit him nedeth,
For his skarsnesse it him forbiedeth,
And evere his hunger after more
Travaileth him aliche sore,
So is he peined overal.
Forthi thi goodes forth withal,
Mi Sone, loke thou despende, [Avanice.]
Wherof thou myht thiself amende 400
Bothe hier and ek in other place.
And also if thou wolt pourchace
To be beloved, thou most use
Largesce, for if thou refuse
To yive for thi loves sake, P. ii. 141
It is no reson that thou take
Of love that thou woldest crave.
Forthi, if thou wolt grace have,
Be gracious and do largesse,
Of Avarice and the seknesse 410
Eschuie above alle other thing,
And tak ensample of Mide king
And of the flod of helle also,
Where is ynowh of alle wo.
And thogh ther were no matiere
Bot only that we finden hiere,
Men oghten Avarice eschuie ;
For what man thilke vice suie,
He get himself bot litel reste.
For hou so that the body reste, 420
The herte upon the gold travaileth,
Whom many a nyhtes drede assaileth ;
For thogh he ligge abedde naked,
His herte is everemore awaked,
And dremeth, as he lith to slepe,
How besi that he is to kepe
394 forbiedep J,S, F forbedep A, B The more he hap pe

nore he greedep Hi... Bz, A (dredep for greedep R) 412 tak
iB take AJ, F 424 everemore) ouercome AM... Bs, A

414

[JEALOUSY or
Lovzns.]

Amans.

Confessor.

Nota de Ialousia,
cuius fantastica sus-
picio amorem quam-
uis fidelissimum mul.
tociens sine causa
corruptum ymagina-
tur,

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

His tresor, that no thief it stele.
Thus hath he bot a woful wele.
And riht so in the same wise,
If thou thiself wolt wel avise, 4»
Ther be lovers of suche ynowe,
That wole unto no reson bowe.
If so be that thei come above,
Whan thei ben maistres of here love,
And that thei scholden be most glad, P. ii. 142
With love thei ben most bestad,
So fain thei wolde it holden al.
Here herte, here yhe is overal,
And wenen every man be thief,
To stele awey that hem is lief ; 44
Thus thurgh here oghne fantasie
Thei fallen into Jelousie.
Thanne hath the Schip tobroke his cable,
With every wynd and is muable.
Mi fader, for that ye nou telle,
I have herd ofte time telle
Of Jelousie, bot what it is
Yit understod I nevere er this :
Wherfore I wolde you beseche,
That ye me wolde enforme and teche 450
What maner thing it mihte be.
Mi Sone, that is hard to me:
Bot natheles, as I have herd,
Now herkne and thou schalt ben ansuerd.

Among the men lacke of manhode
In Mariage upon wifhode
Makth that a man himself deceiveth,
Wherof it is that he conceiveth
That ilke unsely maladie,
The which is cleped Jelousie : 460
Of which if I the proprete
Schal telle after the nycete,

448 vnderstod (vnderstood) AJ, B vnderstode S, F er this!
JisAM...L Iwis Bs 454 Now om. A... Bs 458 margin
de om. AMXRCLBz, A 459 ilke] pilke AM

LIBER QUINTUS | 415

So as it worcheth on a man, [JEALousy or

A Fievere it is cotidian,
Which every day wol come aboute, P. ii. 143
Wher so a man be inne or oute.
At hom if that a man wol wone,
This Fievere is thanne of comun wone
Most grevous in a mannes yhe:
For thanne he makth him tote and pryhe, 470
Wher so as evere his love go;
Sche schal noght with hir litel too
Misteppe, bot he se it al.
His yhe is walkende overal ;
Wher that sche singe or that sche dance,
He seth the leste contienance,
If sche loke on a man aside
Or with him roune at eny tyde,
Or that sche lawghe, or that sche loure,
His yhe is ther at every houre. 480
And whanne it draweth to the nyht,

. If sche thanne is withoute lyht,
Anon is al the game schent ;
For thanne he set his parlement
To speke it whan he comth to bedde,
And seith, ‘If I were now to wedde,
I wolde neveremore have wif.’
And so he torneth into strif
The lust of loves duete,
And al upon diversete. 490
If sche be freissh and wel araied,
He seith hir baner is displaied
To clepe in gestes fro the weie:
And if sche be noght wel beseie,
And that hir list noght to be gladd, P. ii. 144
He berth an hond that sche is madd
And loveth noght hire housebonde ;
He seith he mai wel understonde,

. That if sche wolde his compaignie,

463 onjin Hi... B1. 471 as om. Hi... B, A 486 IJ it AM

| neveremore! neuer B neuermore more T 493: fro] by (be)
1... Bs, B Le

Lovers.]

416

[JgALovsv or
Lovers.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Sche scholde thanne afore his ye 200
Schewe al the plesir that sche mihte.
So that be daie ne be nyhte
Sche not what thing is for the beste,
Bot liveth out of alle reste ;
For what as evere him liste sein,
Sche dar noght speke a word ayein,
Bot wepth and holt hire lippes clos.
Sche mai wel wryte, ‘Sanz repos,’
The wif which is to such on maried.
Of alle wommen be he waried, 310
For with this Fievere of Jalousie
His echedaies fantasie
Of sorghe is evere aliche grene,
So that ther is no love sene,
Whil that him list at hom abyde.
And whan so is he wol out ryde,
Thanne hath he redi his aspie
Abidinge in hir compaignie,
A janglere, an evel mouthed oon,
That sche ne mai nowhider gon, £20
Ne speke a word, ne ones loke,
That he ne wol it wende and croke
And torne after his oghne entente,
Thogh sche nothing bot honour mente.
Whan that the lord comth hom ayein, P. ii. 145
The janglere moste somwhat sein ;
So what withoute and what withinne,
This Fievere is evere to beginne,
For where he comth he can noght ende,
Til deth of him have mad an ende. 530
For thogh so be that he ne hiere
Ne se ne wite in no manere
Bot al honour and wommanhiede,
Therof the Jelous takth non hiede,
Bot as a man to love unkinde,
He cast his staf, as doth the blinde,
And fint defaulte where is non ;

505 liste] lust to B 511 his Hi... B, W 534 Wher of
HiG... Ba Where pat X 536 as doth) and as G, B

LIBER QUINTUS 417

As who so dremeth on a Ston [JEALousv or
Hou he is leid, and groneth ofte, Lovers. }
Whan he lith on his pilwes softe. 540

So is ther noght bot strif and cheste ;
Whan love scholde make his feste,
It is gret thing if he hir kisse:
Thus hath sche lost the nyhtes blisse,
For at such time he gruccheth evere
And berth on hond ther is a levere,
And that sche wolde an other were
In stede of him abedde there ;
And with tho wordes and with mo
Of Jelousie, he torneth fro 550
And lith upon his other side,
And sche with that drawth hire aside,
And ther sche wepeth al the nyht.
Ha, to what peine sche is dyht,
That in hire youthe hath so beset P. ii. 146
The bond which mai noght ben unknet !
I wot the time is ofte cursed,
That evere was the gold unpursed,
The which was leid upon the bok,
Whan that alle othre sche forsok 560
For love of him; bot al to late
Sche pleigneth, for as thanne algate
Sche mot forbere and to him bowe,
Thogh he ne wole it noght allowe.
For man is lord of thilke feire,
So mai the womman bot empeire,
If sche speke oght ayein his wille ;
And thus sche berth hir peine stille.

Bot if this Fievere a womman take,
Sche schal be wel mor harde schake ; 570
For thogh sche bothe se and hiere,
And finde that ther is matiere,
Sche dar bot to hirselve pleine,
And thus sche suffreth double peine.

Lo thus, mi Sone, as I have write, Confessor.
Thou miht of Jelousie wite

545 at om. AM 551 his] pat B
Ee

418

[JaArovusv or
Lovers.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

His fievere and his condicion,
Which is full of suspecion.
Bot wherof that this fievere groweth,
Who so these olde bokes troweth, 530
Ther mai he finden hou it is:
For thei ous teche and telle this,
Hou that this fievere of Jelousie
Somdel it groweth of sotie
Of love, and somdiel of untrust. P. ii. 147
For as a sek man lest his lust,
And whan he may no savour gete,
He hateth thanne his oughne mete,
Riht so this fieverous maladie,
Which caused is of fantasie, 590
Makth the Jelous in fieble plit
To lese of love his appetit
Thurgh feigned enformacion
Of his ymaginacion.
Bot finali to taken hiede,
Men mai wel make a liklihiede
Betwen him which is averous
Of gold and him that is jelous
Of love, for in on degre
Thei stonde bothe, as semeth me. 600
That oon wolde have his bagges stille,
And noght departen with his wille,
And dar noght for the thieves slepe,
So fain he wolde his tresor kepe ;
That other mai noght wel be glad,
For he is evere more adrad
Of these lovers that gon aboute,
In aunter if thei putte him oute.
So have thei bothe litel joye
As wel of love as of monoie. 610
Now hast thou, Sone, at my techinge
Of Jelousie a knowlechinge,
That thou myht understonde this,
Fro whenne he comth and what he is,

6or bagge BT 606 euere more AJ, F eueremore SB
611 at] of B

LIBER QUINTUS

And ek to whom that he is lik.
Be war forthi thou be noght sik
Of thilke fievere as I have spoke,
For it wol in himself be wroke.
For love hateth nothing more,
As men mai finde be the lore
Of hem that whilom were wise,

Hou that thei spieke in many wise.

Mi fader, soth is that ye sein.
Bot forto loke therayein,
Befor this time hou it is falle,
Wherof ther mihte ensample falle
To suche men as be jelous
In what manere it is grevous,
Riht fain I wolde ensample hiere.
My goode Sone, at thi preiere
Of suche ensamples as I finde,
So as thei comen nou to mynde
Upon this point, of time gon
I thenke forto tellen on.

Ovide wrot of manye thinges,
Among the whiche in his wrytinges
He tolde a tale in Poesie,

Which toucheth unto Jelousie,
Upon a certein cas of love.
Among the goddes alle above

It fell at thilke time thus:

The god of fyr, which Vulcanus
Is hote, and hath a craft forthwith
Assigned, forto be the Smith

Of Jupiter, and his figure

Bothe of visage and of stature

Is lothly and malgracious,

Bot yit he hath withinne his hous
As for the likynge of his lif

The faire Venus to his wif.

Bot Mars, which of batailles is
The god, an yhe hadde unto this:

649 AL AM... Bs
Ee2

419
P. ii. 148
mo ovens).

620

Amans.

(Tare or Vutcan
AND VENUS. |

640 Hic ponit exem-
plum contra istos mar-
itos quos Ialousia mac-
ulauit. Et narrat qua-
liter Vulcanus, cuius
vxor Venus extitit,
MM hn inter ip-
sam et Martem con-

P. il. 149 cipiens, eorum gestus
diligencius — explor-
abat: vnde contigit
quod ipse quadam
vice ambos inter se
pariter amplexantes in
lecto nudos inuenit,

650 et exclamans omnem
cetum deorum et de
rum ad tantum sf
taculum conuocai

420

[TALE or VULCAN
AND VENUS.)

super quo tamen de-
risum pocius quam
remedium a tota co-
horte consecutus est.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

As he which was chivalerous,

It fell him to ben amerous,

And thoghte it was a gret pite

To se so lusti on as sche

Be coupled with so lourde a wiht :

So that his peine day and nyht

He dede, if he hire winne myhte ;
And sche, which hadde a good insihte 660
Toward so noble a knyhtli lord,

In love fell of his acord.

Ther lacketh noght bot time and place,
That he nys siker of hire grace :

Bot whan tuo hertes falle in on,

So wys await was nevere non,

That at som time thei ne mete ;

And thus this faire lusti swete

With Mars hath ofte compaignie.

Bot thilke unkynde Jelousie, 670
Which everemor the herte opposeth,
Makth Vulcanus that he supposeth
That it is noght wel overal,

And to himself he seide, he schal

- Aspie betre, if that he may; P. ii. 150

And so it fell upon a day,

That he this thing so slyhli ledde,
He fond hem bothe tuo abedde

Al warm, echon with other naked.
And he with craft al redy maked 680
Of stronge chenes hath hem bounde,
As he togedre hem hadde founde,
And lefte hem bothe ligge so,

And gan to clepe and crie tho

Unto the goddes al aboute;

And thei assembled in a route
Come alle at ones forto se.

Bot none amendes hadde he,

Bot was rebuked hiere and there

654 auerous BTA 659 And sche pan poughte how sche
mighte B Grete it was and sore he sight A line om. T 660 As

671 apposep AM, W 681 him AMECLB:;

LIBER QUINTUS 421

Of hem that loves frendes were ; 690 [Tare or VULCAN
And seiden that he was to blame, AnD VENUS.]
For if ther fell him eny schame,
It was thurgh his misgovernance :
And thus he loste contienance,
This god, and let his cause falle ;
And thei to skorne him lowhen alle,
And losen Mars out of hise bondes.
Wherof these erthli housebondes
For evere myhte ensample take,
If such a chaunce hem overtake: 700
For Vulcanus his wif bewreide,
The blame upon himself he leide,
Wherof his schame was the more ;
Which oghte forto ben a lore
For every man that liveth hiere, P. ii. 151
To reulen him in this matiere.
Thogh such an happ of love asterte, _
Yit scholde he noght apointe his herte
With Jelousie of that is wroght,
Bot feigne, as thogh he wiste it noght: 710
For if he lete it overpasse,
The sclaundre schal be wel the lasse,
And he the more in ese stonde.
For this thou myht wel understonde,
That where a man schal nedes lese,
The leste harme is forto chese.
Bot Jelousie of his untrist
Makth that full many an harm arist,
Which elles scholde noght arise ;
And if a man him wolde avise 720
Of that befell to Vulcanus, |
Him oghte of reson thenke thus,
That sithe a god therof was schamed,
Wel scholde an erthli man be blamed
To take upon him such a vice.
Forthi, my Sone, in thin office Confessor.
Be war that thou be noght jelous,

691 that] how pat HiXRCLB: how GE . 698 je BT
ya he leide] is leid(e) H1... Bs. wasleyed W

422

(TALE or VULCAN
AND VENUS.]

Amans.

Confessor.

[THE Gops OF THE
Nations. ]

(i. BELIEF OF THE
CHALDEANS. |

Quia secundum
-oetarum fabulas in
uius libelli locis
juampluribus | nomi-
ia et gestus deorum
alsorum intitulantur,
juorum infidelitas vt
cristianis clarius in-
iotescat, intendit de
psorum origine se-
undum varias Paga-
iorum Sectas scribere
onsequenter,

Et primo de Secta
-haldeorum tractare
'roponit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Which ofte time hath schent the hous.

— 7 Mi fader, this ensample is hard,
Hou such thing to the heveneward
Among the goddes myhte falle:
For ther is bot o god of alle,

i»

Which is the lord of hevene and helle.

Bot if it like you to telle
Hou suche goddes come aplace,

P. ii. 152

Ye mihten mochel thonk pourchace,

For I schal be wel tawht withal.
Mi Sone, it is thus overal

With hem that stonden misbelieved,

That suche goddes ben believed :
In sondri place sondri wise
Amonges hem whiche are unwise
Ther is betaken of credence;
Wherof that I the difference

In the manere as it is write
Schal do the pleinly forto wite.

749

li. Gentibus illusts signantur templa deorum,

Vnde deos cecos nacio ceca colit.
Nulla creatori racio facit esse creatum

Equiperans, quod adhuc iura pagana fouent.

Er Crist was bore among ous hiere,

Of the believes that tho were

In foure formes thus it was.

Thei of Caldee as in this cas
Hadde a believe be hemselve,
Which stod upon the signes tuelve,
Forth ek with the Planetes sevene,

Whiche as thei sihe upon the hevene.

Of sondri constellacion

In here ymaginacion

With sondri kerf and pourtreture

Thei made of goddes the figure.
In thelementz and ek also

Thei hadden a believe tho ;

Latin Verses ii. 1 Mentibus H:... Bs, BTA, W

A Equipans J, B, F

760

4 Equiperans

LIBER QUINTUS 423

And al was that unresonable : P.ii.153 [Beier or THE.
For thelementz ben servicable CHALDEANS.]
To man, and ofte of Accidence,

As men mai se thexperience,

Thei ben corrupt be sondri weie ;

So mai no mannes reson seie

That thei ben god in eny wise.

And ek, if men hem wel avise,

The Sonne and Mone eclipse bothe,

That be hem lieve or be hem lothe, 770

Thei soffre; and what thing is passible

To ben a god is impossible.

These elementz ben creatures, Et nota quod Nem-
So ben these hevenly figures, broth quartus a Noe
. . ignem tanquam deum
Wherof mai wel be justefied in Chaldea primus
That thei mai noght be deified : adorari decreuit.

And who that takth awey thonour

Which due is to the creatour,

And yifth it to the creature,

He doth to gret a forsfaiture. 780
Bot of Caldee natheles

Upon this feith, thogh it be les,

Thei holde affermed the creance ;

So that of helle the penance,

As folk which stant out of believe, li, Beuter OF THE
They schull receive, as we believe. GYPTIANS.]
Of the Caldeus lo in this wise De Secta Egipcio-

Stant the believe out of assisse : rum.

Bot in Egipte worst of alle

The feith is fals, hou so it falle ; 790
For thei diverse bestes there P. ii. 154
Honoure, as thogh thei goddes were :

And natheles yit forth withal

Thre goddes most in special

Thei have, forth with a goddesse,

764 experience Hi... Bs, A 773 ff. margin Et nota—decreuit
»t. BT 781 ofJas E... B: osX 786 And wol (woln) non
‘per maner leue Hi ... Bs (whi for wol R) 787 lo]so B om. ME
nargin De Secta Egipciorum om. B 792 thogh om, AMHi Bz, A
'95 forth]feip L sep C seintis Bs

424

ELIEF OF THE
"GYPTIANS. ]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

In whom is al here sikernesse.

Tho goddes be yit cleped thus,

Orus, Typhon and Isirus :

Thei were brethren alle thre,

And the goddesse in hir degre 800
Here Soster was and Ysis hyhte,

Whom Isirus forlai be nyhte

And hield hire after as his wif.

So it befell that upon strif

Typhon hath Isre his brother slain,

Which hadde a child to Sone Orayn,

And he his fader deth to herte

So tok, that it mai noght asterte

That he Typhon after ne slowh,

Whan he was ripe of age ynowb. 810
Bot yit thegipcienes trowe

For al this errour, which thei knowe,

That these brethren ben of myht

To sette and kepe Egipte upriht,

And overthrowe, if that hem like.

Bot Ysis, as seith the Cronique,

Fro Grece into Egipte cam,

And sche thanne upon honde nam

To teche hem forto sowe and eere,

Which noman knew tofore there. 810
And whan thegipcienes syhe P. ii. 155
The fieldes fulle afore here yhe,

And that the lond began to greine,

Which whilom hadde be bareigne,—

For therthe bar after the kinde

His due charge,—this I finde,

That sche of berthe the goddesse

Is cleped, so that in destresse

The wommen there upon childinge

To hire clepe, and here offringe 830
Thei beren, whan that thei ben lyhte.

Lo, hou Egipte al out of syhte

811 pegipcienes (pe Egipcienes) YGEC, BA fe Egipcianis X
thegipciens (pe Egipciens) AJMHiRBs, SAdT, FWHs egipcens L
Sar as in 811 but Egipcienes Y pegipciens L

LIBER QUINTUS 425

Fro resoun stant in misbelieve (iii. BELrEF oF THE
For lacke of lore, as I believe. GREERS. ]
Among the Greks, out of the weie De Secta Grecorum.

As thei that reson putte aweie,

Ther was, as the Cronique seith,

Of misbelieve an other feith,

That thei here goddes and goddesses,

As who seith, token al to gesses 840
Of suche as weren full of vice,

To whom thei made here sacrifice.

The hihe god, so as thei seide,

To whom thei most worschipe leide,

Saturnus hihte, and king of Crete Nota Qualiter Sa-
. ° turnus deorum sum-
He hadde be; bot of his sete mus appellatur.

He was put doun, as he which stod

In frenesie, and was so wod,

'That fro his wif, which Rea hihte,

Hise oghne children he to plihte, | 850
And eet hem of his comun wone. P. ii. 156
Bot Jupiter, which was his Sone

And of full age, his fader bond

And kutte of with his oghne hond

Hise genitals, whiche als so faste

Into the depe See he caste ;

Wherof the Greks afferme and seie,

Thus whan thei were caste aweie,

Cam Venus forth be weie of kinde.

And of Saturne also I finde 860
How afterward into an yle

This Jupiter him dede exile,

Wher that he stod in gret meschief.

Lo, which a god thei maden chief !

And sithen that such on was he,

Which stod most hihe in his degre

Among the goddes, thou miht knowe,

833 Fro] Of A... Bs 835 margin De Secta Grecorum] De
ecta egipciorum B om. E 836 that om. XRCLBs 850 he to
lihte (toplighte &c.) J, SAdBTA, FWHs al to plyhte (alto plight
rc.) AM... Ba 862 dede him Hi ... Bs, A, W 866 hihe
QS, F hih BT

426

BELIEF OF THE
GREEKS.)

upiter deus deli-
"um.

Mars deus belli.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

These othre, that ben more lowe,
Ben litel worth, as it is founde.
For Jupiter was the secounde, So
Which Juno hadde unto his wif;
And yit a lechour al his lif
He was, and in avouterie
He wroghte many a tricherie ;

And for he was so full of vices,
-Thei cleped him god of delices :

Of whom, if thou wolt more write,
Ovide the Poete hath write. "
Bot yit here Sterres bothe tuo,
Saturne and Jupiter also, 880
Thei have, althogh thei be to blame, P. ii. 157
Attitled to here oghne name.
Mars was an other in that lawe,
The which in Dace was forthdrawe,
Of whom the clerk Vegecius
Wrot in his bok, and tolde thus,
Hou he into Ytaile cam,
And such fortune ther he nam,
That he a Maiden hath oppressed, :
Which in hire ordre was professed, S90
As sche which was the Prioresse
In Vestes temple the goddesse,
So was sche wel the mor to blame.
Dame Ylia this ladi name
Men clepe, and ek sche was also
The kinges dowhter that was tho,
Which Mynitor be name hihte.
So that ayein the lawes ryhte
Mars thilke time upon hire that
Remus and Romulus begat, goo
Whiche after, whan thei come in Age,
Of knihthode and of vassellage
Ytaile al hol thei overcome
And foundeden the grete Rome;
In Armes and of such emprise
Thei weren, that in thilke wise

893 he BT gor Whiche A,S Which J, B, F

LIBER QUINTUS 427

Here fader Mars for the mervaile [BELIEF oF THE
The god was cleped of bataille. Greexs]
Thei were his children bothe tuo,
Thurgh hem he tok his name so, gro
Ther was non other cause why: P. ii. 158
And yit a Sterre upon the Sky
He hath unto his name applied,
In which that he is signified.
An other god thei hadden eke, _ Appollo deus Sap-
To whom for conseil thei beseke, jencee,
The which was brother to Venus,
Appollo men him clepe thus.
He was an Hunte upon the helles,
Ther was with him no vertu elles, 920
Wherof that enye bokes karpe,
Bot only that he couthe harpe ;
Which whanne he walked over londe,
Fulofte time he tok on honde,
To gete him with his sustienance,
For lacke of other pourveance.
And otherwhile of his falshede
He feignede him to conne arede
Of thing which after scholde falle ;
Wherof among hise sleyhtes alle 930
He hath the lewed folk deceived,
So that the betre he was received.
Lo now, thurgh what creacion
He hath deificacion,
And cleped is the god of wit
To suche as be the foles yit.

An other god, to whom thei soghte, Mercurius — deus
Mercurie hihte, and him ne roghte Mercatorum et. fur-
What thing he stal, ne whom he slowh.

Of Sorcerie he couthe ynowh, . 940

That whanne he wolde himself transforme, P. ii. 159

915 margin Sciencie A 923 whane F 928 feignep B l
36 be the) bep be AMXE...Bs ther beth Hi ben (om. the) J,
,W 937 f. margin Mercurius—furtorum om. X ... CBs, Hs
ercurius deus latronum L Mercurie deus Hi 939 stal] dide

lede) Hi... Bs

428 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Bevier or THE Fulofte time he tok the forme
Grrexs.] Of womman and his oghne lefte ;

So dede he wel the more thefte.
A gret spekere in alle thinges
He was also, and of lesinges
An Auctour, that men wiste non
An other such as he was on.
And yit thei maden of this thief
A god, which was unto hem lief, 955
And clepede him in tho believes
The god of Marchantz and of thieves.
Bot yit a sterre upon the hevene
He hath of the planetes sevene.

'ulcanus deus Ignis. But Vulcanus, of whom I spak,
He hadde a courbe upon the bak,
And therto he was hepehalt :
Of whom thou understonde schalt,
He was a schrewe in al his youthe,
And he non other vertu couthe 960
Of craft to helpe himselve with,
Bot only that he was a Smith
With Jupiter, which in his forge
Diverse thinges made him forge ;
So wot I noght for what desir
Thei clepen him the god of fyr.

Eolus deus vento- King of Cizile Ypolitus

m. A Sone hadde, and Eolus
He hihte, and of his fader grant
He hield be weie of covenant 970
The governance of every yle - P. ii. 160

Which was longende unto Cizile,

Of hem that fro the lond forein
Leie open to the wynd al plein.
And fro thilke iles to the londe
Fulofte cam the wynd to honde:
After the name of him forthi

The wyndes cleped Eoli

Tho were, and he the god of wynd.

948 on F 951 tho] pe X... Bs, Ad 967 margin Eolus
deus ventorum om. B 979 Tho] They (pai &c.) Hi... Bs, B

: LIBER QUINTUS 429

Lo nou, hou this believe is blynd! | 980 [Bzrizr or THE
The king of Crete Jupiter, N Gnzzxs.]
The same which I spak of er, mars dens

Unto his brother, which Neptune

Was hote, it list him to comune

Part of his good, so that be Schipe

He mad him strong of the lordschipe

Of al the See in tho parties ;

Wher that he wroghte his tyrannyes,

And the strange yles al aboute

He wan, that every man hath doute 990

Upon his marche forto saile ;

For he anon hem wolde assaile

And robbe what thing that thei ladden,

His sauf conduit bot if thei hadden.

Wherof the comun vois aros

In every lond, that such a los

He cawhte, al nere it worth a stre,

That he was cleped of the See

The ‘god be name, and yit he is

With hem that so believe amis. 1000

This Neptune ek was thilke also, P. ii 61

Which was the ferste foundour tho

Of noble Troie, and he forthi

Was wel the more lete by.

The loresman of the Schepherdes, Pan deus nature.

And ek of hem that ben netherdes,

Was of Archade and hihte Pan:

Of whom hath spoke many a man;

For in the wode of Nonarcigne,

Enclosed with the tres of Pigne, 1010

And on the Mont of Parasie

He hadde of bestes the baillie,

And ek benethe in the valleie,
981 margin Neptunus deus maris om. X... . Bs Iubiter deus
sliciarum Hi 986 mad J,S,F made AC, B 987 tho] pe
1... Ba 989 al om. BT 992 wold(e) hem Hi... Bs, A
» wolde hem M 1006 ben om. AM 1009 Nonarigne (Noua-
gne, Nonareigne &c) Hi...Bs, B X Nonartigne (Nonartyne) M,

7Hs 1013 benethe in] benepe (by nepe, benethen &c.)
[...Bs, BT benepin A

430 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

(Bevier or THE Wher thilke rivere, as men seie,
Gnaxxs.] Which Ladon hihte, made his cours,
He was the chief of governours
Of hem that kepten tame bestes,
Wherof thei maken yit the festes
In the Cite Stinfalides.
And forth withal yit natheles 1020
He tawhte men the forthdrawinge
Of bestaile, and ek the makinge
Of Oxen, and of hors the same,
Hou men hem scholde ryde and tame:
Of foules ek, so as we finde,
Ful many a soubtiel craft of kinde
He fond, which noman knew tofore.
Men dede him worschipe ek therfore,
That he the ferste in thilke lond
Was which the melodie fond 1030
Of Riedes, whan thei weren ripe, P. ii. 162
With double pipes forto pipe;
Therof he yaf the ferste lore,
Til afterward men couthe more.
To every craft for mannes helpe
He hadde a redi wit to helpe
Thurgh naturel experience :
And thus the nyce reverence
Of foles, whan that he was ded,
The fot hath torned to the hed, 1040
And clepen him god of nature,
For so thei maden his figure.
Bachus deus vini. An other god, so as thei fiele,
D Which Jupiter upon Samele
Begat in his avouterie,
Whom, forto hide his lecherie,
That non therof schal take kepe,
In a Montaigne forto kepe,
Which Dyon hihte and was in Ynde,
He sende, in bokes as I finde: 1050
And he be name Bachus hihte,
Which afterward, whan that he mihte,
1050 sende]sayde B kine om. T

LIBER QUINTUS 431

A wastour was, and al his rente [Bevier or THE
In wyn and bordel he despente. GREEKS. ]
Bot yit, al were he wonder badde,
Among the Greks a name he hadde ;
Thei cleped him the god of wyn,
And thus a glotoun was dyvyn.
Ther was yit Esculapius Esculapius — deus
A godd in thilke time as thus. 1060 Medicine.
His craft stod upon Surgerie, P. ii. 163
Bot for the lust of lecherie,
That he to Daires dowhter drowh,
It fell that Jupiter him slowh :
And yit thei made him noght forthi
A god, and was no cause why.
In Rome he was long time also
A god among the Romeins tho;
For, as he seide, of his presence
Ther was destruid a pestilence, 1070
Whan thei to thyle of Delphos wente,
And that Appollo with hem sente
This Esculapius his Sone,
Among the Romeins forto wone.
And there he duelte for a while,
Til afterward into that yle,
Fro whenne he cam, ayein he torneth,
Where al his lyf that he sojorneth
Among the Greks, til that he deide.
And thei upon him thanne leide 1080
His name, and god of medicine
He hatte after that ilke line.
An other god of Hercules , Hercules deus for-
. . titudinis.
Thei made, which was natheles
A man, bot that he was so strong,
In al this world that brod and long
So myhti was noman as he.
Merveiles tuelve in his degre,
As it was couth in sondri londes,

1058 a glotoun] pe glotoun B 1059 margin Esculapius deus
iedicine om. B ' 1065 thei om. AMXRCLBs 1072 him
M ...CBa, BT, WHs 1083 margin Hercules &c. oss. B.

432

[BELIEF or THE
GREEKS. |

Pluto deus Inferni.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

He dede with hise oghne hondes 1096
Ayein geantz and Monstres bothe, P. ii. 164
The whiche horrible were and lothe,
Bot he with strengthe hem overcam :
Wherof so gret a pris he nam,
That thei him clepe amonges alle
The god of strengthe, and to him calle.
And yit ther is no reson inne,
For he a man was full of sinne,
Which proved was upon his ende,
For in a rage himself he brende ; 100
And such a cruel mannes dede
Acordeth nothing with godhede.
Thei hadde of goddes yit an other,
Which Pluto hihte, and was the brother
Of Jupiter, and he fro youthe
With every word which cam to mouthe,
Of eny thing whan he was wroth,
He wolde swere his commun oth,
Be Lethen and be Flegeton,
Be Cochitum and Acheron, 1110
The whiche, after the bokes telle,
Ben the chief flodes of the helle :
Be Segne and Stige he swor also,
That ben the depe Pettes tuo
Of helle the most principal.
Pluto these othes overal
Swor of his commun custummance,
Til it befell upon a chance,
That he for Jupiteres sake
Unto the goddes let do make 1120
A sacrifice, and for that dede P. ii. 165
On of the pettes for his mede
In helle, of which I spak of er,
Was granted him ; and thus he ther

1103 margin Pluto &c. om. AHiXE... Bs (ins. later M), B

1105 fro] for Hi, BT of W 1107 euery Hi... Bs 1109
füagetoun AMH:;, W fflogetoun GECLBs, B 1112 of the helle)
of helle AM... Bs, AdBAA, W 1119 Iupiteres (Iubiteres &c.)

MYXGERC, SB lupiters (Iubiters) AJLBs, FH» Iupiter (Iubiter)
Hi, AdTA, W

LIBER QUINTUS

Upon the fortune of this thing
The name tok of helle king.

Lo, these goddes and wel mo
Among the Greks thei hadden tho,
And of goddesses manyon,

Whos names thou schalt hiere anon,
And in what wise thei deceiven
The foles whiche here feith receiven.

So as Saturne is soverein
Of false goddes, as thei sein,
So is Sibeles of goddesses
The Moder, whom withoute gesses
The folk Payene honoure and serve,

As thei the whiche hire lawe observe.

Bot forto knowen upon this

Fro when sche cam and what sche is,

Bethincia the contre hihte,

Wher sche cam ferst to mannes sihte ;

And after was Saturnes wif,
Be whom thre children in hire lif
Sche bar, and thei were cleped tho
Juno, Neptunus and Pluto,
The whiche of nyce fantasie
The poeple wolde deifie.
And for hire children were so,
Sibeles thanne was also
Mad a goddesse, and thei hire calle
The moder of the goddes alle.
So was that name bore forth,
And yit the cause is litel worth.

A vois unto Saturne tolde

Hou that his oghne Sone him scholde

Out of his regne putte aweie ;
And he be cause of thilke weie,
That him was schape such a fate,
Sibele his wif began to hate

1130

1140

1150

P. ii. 166

1160

1134 margin dearum JY, S... A, FHs deorum AM... Bs, W
138 the om. Hi... B, A, W lawes Hi... Ba 1149 here (her)

,W hisC

iuiciarum om. BT 1156 him om. B

xt

rf

1155 f. margin Iuno &c. om. AM... Bs

et

433

(Bzrrzr or THE
Gnzzxs.]

Nota, qualiter Si-
beles Dearum Mater
et origo nuncupatur.

Iuno Dea Regno-

rum et diuiciarum.

434 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Breuer or THE And ek hire progenie bothe.
Grexxs. } And thus, whil that thei were wrothe,

Be Philerem upon a dai
In his avouterie he lai,
On whom he Jupiter begat ;
And thilke child was after that
Which wroghte al that was prophecied,
As it tofore is specefied :
So that whan Jupiter of Crete
Was king, a wif unto him mete 1170
The Dowhter of Sibele he tok,
And that was Juno, seith the bok.
Of his deificacion
After the false oppinion,
That have I told, so as thet meene ;
And for this Juno was the queene
Of Jupiter and Soster eke,
The foles unto hire sieke,
And sein that sche is the goddesse
Of Regnes bothe and of richesse : 1180
And ek sche, as thei understonde, P. ii. 167
The water Nimphes hath in honde
To leden at hire oghne heste ;
And whan hir list the Sky tempeste,
The reinbowe is hir Messager.
Lo, which a misbelieve is hier!
That sche goddesse is of the Sky
I wot non other cause why.

Minerua Dea sapi- An other goddesse is Minerve,

iciarum. To whom the Greks obeie and serve : 1190
And sche was nyh the grete lay
Of Triton founde, wher sche lay
A child forcast, bot what sche was
Ther knew noman the sothe cas.
Bot in Aufrique sche was leid
In the manere as I have seid,
And caried fro that ilke place
Into an Yle fer in Trace,

1165 Iupiter he SAdA 11723 Was om. Hi... Bs. asseipHi ... Be
1176 And om. BT

LIBER QUINTUS 435

The which Palene thanne hihte, [BELIEF or THE
Wher a Norrice hir kepte and dihte. 1200 Greeks. }
And after, for sche was so wys
That sche fond ferst in hire avis
The cloth makinge of wolle and lyn,
Men seiden that sche was divin,
And the goddesse of Sapience
Thei clepen hire in that credence.
Of the goddesse which Pallas Pallas Dea bello-
Is cleped sondri speche was. rum.
On seith hire fader was Pallant,
Which in his time was geant, I210
A cruel man, a bataillous : P. ii. 168
An other seith hou in his hous
Sche was the cause why he deide.
And of this Pallas some ek seide
That sche was Martes wif; and so
Among the men that weren tho
Of misbelieve in the riote
The goddesse of batailles hote
She was, and yit sche berth the name.
Now loke, hou they be forto blame. 1220
Saturnus after his exil Ceres dea frugum.
Fro Crete cam in gret peril
Into the londes of Ytaile,
And ther he dede gret mervaile,
Wherof his name duelleth yit.
For he fond of his oghne wit
The ferste craft of plowh tilinge,
Of Eringe and of corn sowinge,
And how men scholden sette vines
And of the grapes make wynes; 1230
Al this he tawhte, and it fell so,
His wif, the which cam with him tho,
Was cleped Cereres be name,
And for sche tawhte also the same,

1199 Palon(e) H1...Bs 120t after pat for sche was w. AM... Be
1203 The] To H:E. .. Bs 1207 margin Pallas &c. om. C, BT
1221 margin Ceres dea frugum om. JH: ... Bs Saturnus dea
frugum B 1230 grape AM... Ba, A 1232 the om. AM, W

rfa

436 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[BELIEF OF THE And was his wif that ilke throwe,
Greece. ] As it was to the poeple knowe,
Thei made of Ceres a goddesse,
In whom here tilthe yit thei blesse,
And sein that Tricolonius
Hire Sone goth amonges ous 119
And makth the corn good chep or dere, P. ii 169
Riht as hire list fro yer to yeere ;
So that this wif be cause of this
Goddesse of Cornes cleped is.
Diana Dea Moncium King Jupiter, which his likinge
Siluarum. Whilom fulfelde in alle thinge,
So priveliche aboute he ladde
His lust, that he his wille hadde
Of Latona, and on hire that
Diane his dowhter he begat 1250
Unknowen of his wif Juno.
And afterward sche knew it so,
That Latona for drede fledde
Into an Ile, wher sche hedde
Hire wombe, which of childe aros.
Thilke yle cleped was Delos;
In which Diana was forthbroght,
And kept so that hire lacketh noght.
And after, whan sche was of Age,
Sche tok non hiede of mariage, 1260
Bot out of mannes compaignie
Sche tok hire al to venerie
In forest and in wildernesse ;
For ther was al hire besinesse
Be daie and ek be nyhtes tyde
With arwes brode under the' side
And bowe in honde, of which sche slowh
And tok al that hir liste ynowh
Of bestes whiche ben chacable:
Wherof the Cronique of this fable 1270
Seith that the gentils most of alle P. ii. 170
1238hertilbes B 1245 margin et Siluarum om. AM 1252 And]

Bot (But) SAdBTAA 1253 ledde BT I256 was cleped BTA
1262 al to] vnto B

LIBER QUINTUS 437

Worschipen hire and to hire calle, CBELIEF or THE
And the goddesse of hihe helles, Gnrrxs.]
Of grene trees, of freisshe welles,

They clepen hire in that believe,

Which that no reson mai achieve.

Proserpina, which dowhter was . Proserpina Dea In
Of Cereres, befell this cas : _ fernorum.
Whil sche was duellinge in Cizile,

Hire moder in that ilke while 1280
Upon hire blessinge and hire heste

Bad that sche scholde ben honeste,

And lerne forto weve and spinne,

And duelle at hom and kepe hire inne.

Bot sche caste al that lore aweie,

And as sche wente hir out to pleie,

To gadre floures in a pleine,

And that was under the monteine

Of Ethna, fell the same tyde

That Pluto cam that weie ryde, 1290
And sodeinly, er sche was war,

He tok hire up into his char.

And as thei riden in the field,

Hire grete beaute he behield,

Which was so plesant in his ye,

That forto holde in compainie

He weddeth hire and hield hire so

To ben his wif for everemo.

And as thou hast tofore herd telle

Hou he was cleped god of helle, 1300
So is sche cleped the goddesse P. ii. z71
Be cause of him, ne mor ne lesse.
Lo, thus, mi Sone, as I thee tolde, Confessor.

The Greks whilom be daies olde

Here goddes hadde in sondri wise,
And thurgh the lore of here aprise
The Romeins hielden ek the same.

1279 Whil sche was] Which was H1... Bs 1286 hir
om. Hi... Bs 1287 To gedre ARCLB: To gedres M
1290 Than BTA pe weie ME... Bs 1297 hield] tok(e)

Hi... Ba

438

[(BeLt&F or THE
GREEKS. |

Nota, quod dii Mon-

tium Satiri vocantur.

Oreades Nimphe

Montium.

Driades Siluarum.

Naiades fontium.

Nereides Marium.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And in the worschipe of here name
To every godd in special
Thei made a temple forth withal, 1310
And ech of hem his yeeres dai
Attitled hadde ; and of arai
The temples weren thanne ordeigned,
And ek the poeple was constreigned
To come and don here sacrifice ;
The Prestes ek in here office
Solempne maden thilke festes.
And thus the Greks lich to the bestes
The men in stede of god honoure,
Whiche mihten noght hemself socoure, 1320
Whil that thei were alyve hiere.
And over this, as thou schalt hiere,
The Greks fulfild of fantasie T
Sein ek that of the helles hihe
The goddes ben in special,
Bot of here name in general
Thei hoten alle Satiri.
Ther ben of Nimphes proprely
In the believe of hem also:
Oreades thei seiden tho 1330
Attitled ben to the monteines ; P. ii 173
And for the wodes in demeynes
To kepe, tho ben Driades ;
Of freisshe welles Naiades ;
And of the Nimphes of the See
I finde a tale in proprete,
Hou Dorus whilom king of Grece,
Which hadde of infortune a piece, —
His wif forth with hire dowhtres alle,
So as the happes scholden falle, 1340
With many a gentil womman there
Dreint in the salte See thei were :
Wherof the Greks that time seiden,
And such a name upon hem leiden,

1308 in o», AM for Hi... Bs 1318 to bestes ER, BTA, W
1331 Attitred AMXRB: 1333 tho] per Hi... B: 1336 margin
Nereides Marium om. B 1339 forth om. AM... Ba

LIBER QUINTUS 439

Nereides that thei ben hote, [Brzrigr or THE
The Nimphes whiche that thei note Grezxs.]
To regne upon the stremes salte.

Lo now, if this believe halte !

Bot of the Nimphes as thei telle,

In every place wher thei duelle 1350

Thei ben al redi obeissant

As damoiselles entendant

To the goddesses, whos servise

Thei mote obeie in alle wise;

Wherof the Greks to -hem beseke

With tho that ben goddesses eke,

And have in hem a gret credence.

And yit withoute experience Manes dii mortuo-
Salve only of illusion, rum.
Which was to hem dampnacion, 1360
For men also that were dede P. il 173

Thei hadden goddes, as I rede,
And tho be name Manes hihten,
To whom ful gret honour thei dihten,
So as the Grekes lawe seith,
Which was ayein the rihte feith.

Thus have I told a gret partie ;
Bot al the hole progenie
Of goddes in that ilke time
To long it were forto rime. 1370
Bot yit of that which thou hast herd,
Of misbelieve hou it hath ferd,
Ther is a gret diversite.

Mi fader, riht so thenketh me. Amans.
Bot yit o thing I you beseche,
Which stant in alle mennes speche,
The godd and the goddesse of love,
Of whom ye nothing hier above
Have told, ne spoken of her fare,
That ye me wolden now declare 1380
Hou thei ferst comen to that name.

1349 the om. AM... B: 1353 goddes BA, W goddesse
AM...Bs 1358 »argin Manes &c. om. B 138r comen
ferst AM came first W |

440

[Bezsær or THE
Gnzzxs.)
Qualiter Cupido et
enus deus et dea
noris nuncupantur.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Mi Sone, I have it left for schame,
Be cause I am here oghne Prest ;
Bot for thei stonden nyh thi brest
Upon the schrifte of thi matiere,
Thou schalt of hem the sothe hiere :
And understond nou wel the cas,
Venus Saturnes dowhter was,
Which alle danger putte aweie
Of love, and fond to lust a weie ; 1390
So that of hire in sondri place P. ii. 174
Diverse men felle into grace,
And such a lusti lif sche ladde,
That sche diverse children hadde,
Nou on be this, nou on be that.
Of hire it was that Mars beyat
A child, which cleped was Armene ;
Of hire also cam Andragene,
To whom Mercurie fader was :
Anchises begat Eneas 1400
Of hire also, and Ericon
Biten begat, and therupon,
Whan that sche sih ther was non other,
Be Jupiter hire oghne brother
Sche lay, and he begat Cupide.
And thilke Sone upon a tyde,
Whan he was come unto his Age,
He hadde a wonder fair visage,
And fond his Moder amourous,
And he was also lecherous : 1410
So whan thei weren bothe al one,
As he which yhen hadde none
To se reson, his Moder kiste ;
And sche also, that nothing wiste
Bot that which unto lust belongeth,
To ben hire love him underfongeth.
Thus was he blind, and sche unwys :
Bot natheles this cause it is,

1383 fL. »marpi Qualiter &c. om. Hi... Be 1383 here” hire . bir
JL, Ad, W youre? X... CBs 1384 je brest A... Bs, Ad,
1405 lav? hap AM

LIBER QUINTUS 441

Why Cupide is the god of love, [Brrrzr or THE
For he his moder dorste love. 1420 Grerxs. |
And sche, which thoghte hire lustes fonde, P. ii. 175
Diverse loves tok in honde,
Wel mo thanne I the tolde hiere:
And for sche wolde hirselve skiere,
Sche made comun that desport,
And sette a lawe of such a port,
That every womman mihte take
What man hire liste, and noght forsake.
To ben als comun as sche wolde.
Sche was the ferste also which tolde 1430
That wommen scholde here bodi selle ;
Semiramis, so as men telle,
Of Venus kepte thilke aprise,
And so dede in the same wise
Of Rome faire Neabole,
Which liste hire bodi to rigole;
sche was to every man felawe,
And hild the lust of thilke lawe,
Which Venus of hirself began ;
Wherof that sche the name wan, 1440
Why. men hire clepen the goddesse
Of love and ek of gentilesse,
Of worldes lust and of plesance.
Se nou the foule mescreance
Of Greks in thilke time tho,
Whan Venus tok hire name so.
Ther was no cause under the Mone
Of which thei hadden tho to done,
Of wel or wo wher so it was,

That thei ne token in that cas 1450
A god to helpe or a goddesse. P. ii. 176
Wherof, to take mi witnesse,
The king of Bragmans Dindimus Nota de Epistola
. Dindimi Regis Brag-
Wrot unto Alisandre thus: mannorum Alexandro
In blaminge of the Grekes feith magno directa, vbi di-
1423 telle X, B, W 1429 a comun AM all comyn X
1438 hild J, F hield SB huld A 1447 no] pe AM... B:

1453 Bragmas AM... Bs, Hs

442

[(BzrizF oF THE
GREEKS. |

it quod Greci tunc
id corporis conserua-
ionem pro singulis
nembris singulos de-
S specialiter appro-
riari credunt.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

And of the misbelieve, he seith
How thei for every membre hadden
A sondri god, to whom thei spradden
Here armes, and of help besoghten.
Minerve for the hed thei soghten, 1460
For sche was wys, and of a man
The wit and reson which he can
Is in the celles of the brayn,
Wherof thei made hire soverain.
Mercurie, which was in his dawes
A gret spekere of false lawes,
On him the kepinge of the tunge
Thei leide, whan thei spieke or sunge.
For Bachus was a glotoun eke,
Him for the throte thei beseke, 1470
That he it wolde waisshen ofte
With swote drinkes and with softe.
The god of schuldres and of armes
Was Hercules; for he in armes
The myhtieste was to fihte,
To him tho Limes they behihte.
The god whom that thei clepen Mart
The brest to kepe hath for his part,
Forth with the herte, in his ymage
That he adresce the corage. 1480
And of the galle the goddesse, P. ii. 177
For sche was full of hastifesse
Of wraththe and liht to grieve also,
Thei made and seide it was Juno.
Cupide, which the brond afyre
Bar in his hond, he was the Sire
Of the Stomak, which builleth evere,
Wherof the lustes ben the levere.
To the goddesse Cereres,
Which of the corn yaf hire encress 1490
Upon the feith that tho was take,

1476 tho] pe HiXGCLBs, AdB, W 1477 whom that] pe whom B
whom HiBs, TA, W 1482 hastifesse J, S, F hastifnesse A
hastiuesse B 1485 of fire HiE... Bs, A, WHs 1486 Bar]
Berep (Ber XG But AME... Bs 1489 To] Lo AMH;XG

LIBER QUINTUS 443

The wombes cure was betake ;

And Venus thurgh the Lecherie,
For which that thei hire deifie,
Sche kept al doun the remenant
To thilke office appourtenant.

Thus was dispers in sondri wise [OriGIN or Ipor-
The misbelieve, as I devise, worsHiP. ]
With many an ymage of entaile, Nota de prima ydol-

y ymag »

1. orum cultura, que ex
Of suche as myhte hem noght availe ; 1500 tibus precipue Sta-
For thei withoute lyves chiere tuis exorta est; qua-
: : rum prima fuit illa
Unmyhti ben to se or hiere quam in filii sui me.
Or speke or do or elles fiele; moriam quidam prin-
; ceps nomine Ciropha-
And yit the foles to hem knele, nes a sculptore Pro-
Which is here oghne handes werk. motheo fabricari con-

Ha lord, hou this believe is derk, stituit.

And fer fro resonable wit !
And natheles thei don it yit:
That was to day a ragged tre,
To morwe upon his majeste 1510
Stant in the temple wel besein. P. ii. 178
How myhte a mannes resoun sein
That such a Stock mai helpe or grieve?
Bot thei that ben of such believe
And unto suche goddes calle,
It schal to hem riht so befalle,
And failen ate moste nede.
Bot if thee list to taken hiede
And of the ferste ymage wite,
Petornius therof hath write I520
And ek Nigargorus also;
And thei afferme and write so,
That Promotheüs was tofore
And fond the ferste craft therfore,
And Cirophanes, as thei telle,
Thurgh conseil which was take in helle,
In remembrance of his lignage
Let setten up the ferste ymage.
I495 kept J, B, F kepteA 1517 ate] at here (atte her) AM... Bi

athor W 1i520 Petornius A, S, F Petronius J, B 1526 which om.
E...B: patW tohellee E... Bs 1527 hir(e) E... Ba (her R)

444

[ORIGIN or IDoL-
WORSHIP. |

Secunda Statua fuit
lla, quam ad sui patris
Beli culturam Rex
Ninus fieri et adorari
lecreuit. Et sic de
iomine Beli postea
Bel et Belzebub y ydo-
um accreuit.

Tercia Statua fuit
lla, que ad honorem
ipis Regis Grecorum
culpta fuit, cui postea
iomen Serapis impo-
lentes, ipsum quasi
leum Pagani colue-
unt.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Of Cirophanes seith the bok,
That he for sorwe, which he tok
Of that he sih his Sone ded,

Of confort knew non other red,
Bot let do make in remembrance
A faire ymage of his semblance
And sette it in the market place,
Which openly tofore his face

Stod every dai to don him ese.
And thei that thanne wolden plese
The fader, scholden it obeie,
Whan that they comen thilke weie.

And of Ninus king of Assire
I rede hou that in his empire
He was next after the secounde
Of hem that ferst ymages founde.
For he riht in semblable cas
Of Belus, which his fader was
Fro Nembroth in the rihte line,
Let make of gold and Stones fine
A precious ymage riche
After his fader evene liche ;

And therupon a lawe he sette,
That every man of pure dette
With sacrifice and with truage
Honoure scholde thilke ymage :
So that withinne time it fell,
Of Belus cam the name of Bel,
Of Bel cam Belzebub, and so
The misbelieve wente tho.

The thridde ymage next to this
Was, whan the king of Grece Apis
Was ded, thei maden a figure
In resemblance of his stature.

Of this king Apis seith the bok

That Serapis his name tok,

In whom thurgh long continuance

Of misbelieve a gret creance

Thei hadden, and the reverence
1535 sette SB set AJ, F

1540
P. ii. 179

1580

LIBER QUINTUS 445

Of Sacrifice and of encence [OniciN or Ipor-
To him thei made: and as thei telle, wonsHiP. |
Among the wondres that befelle, 1£7O

Whan Alisandre fro Candace P. ii. 180

Cam ridende, in a wilde place

Undur an hull a Cave he fond;

And Candalus, which in that lond

Was bore, and was Candaces Sone,

Him tolde hou that of commun wone

The goddes were in thilke cave.

And he, that wolde assaie and have

A knowlechinge if it be soth,

Liht of his hors and in he goth, 1580

And fond therinne that he soghte:

For thurgh the fendes sleihte him thoghte,

Amonges othre goddes mo

That Serapis spak to him tho,

Whom he sih there in gret arrai.

And thus the fend fro dai to dai

The worschipe of ydolatrie

Drowh forth upon the fantasie

Of hem that weren thanne blinde

And couthen noght the trouthe finde. 1590
Thus hast thou herd in what degre

Of Grece, Egipte and of Caldee

The misbelieves whilom stode ;

And hou so that thei be noght goode

Ne trewe, yit thei sprungen oute,

Wherof the wyde world aboute

His part of misbelieve tok.

Til so befell as seith the bok,

That god a poeple for himselve

Hath chose of the lignages tuelve, 1600

Wherof the sothe redely, P. ii. 181

As it is write in Genesi, |

I thenke telle in such a wise

That it schal be to thin apprise.

1573 Vndur A, F Vnder J, S, B 1578 And he] He AM... Bs
593 mysbelieue ME... Bs

446

(iv. BELIEF or THE
Jxws.])

De Hebreorum seu
Iudeorum Secta, quo-
rum Sinagoga, eccle-
sia Cristi superueni-
ente, defecit.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

After the flod, fro which Noe
Was sauf, the world in his degre
Was mad, as who seith, newe ayein,
Of flour, of fruit, of gras, of grein,
Of beste, of bridd and of mankinde,
Which evere hath be to god unkinde: 1610
For noght withstondende al the fare,
Of that this world was mad so bare
And afterward it was restored,
Among the men was nothing mored
Towardes god of good lyvynge,
Bot al was torned to likinge
After the fleissh, so that foryete
Was he which yaf hem lif and mete,
Of hevene and Erthe creatour.
And thus cam forth the grete errour, 1620
That thei the hihe god ne knewe,
Bot maden othre goddes newe,
As thou hast herd me seid tofore:
Ther was noman that time bore,
That he ne hadde after his chois
A god, to whom he yaf his vois.
Wherof the misbelieve cam
Into the time of Habraham :
Bot he fond out the rihte weie,
Hou only that men scholde obeie 1630
The hihe god, which weldeth al, P. ii. 188
And evere hath don and evere schal,
In hevene, in Erthe and ek in helle;
Ther is no tunge his miht mai telle.
This Patriarch to his lignage
Forbad, that thei to non ymage
Encline scholde in none wise,
Bot here offrende and sacrifise
With al the hole hertes love
Unto the mihti god above 1640
Thei scholden yive and to no mo:
And thus in thilke time tho

1624 bore] bifore BT
(J defective here) so also I. 1650

1628 habraham F »est Abraham
1633 and erpe E. .. Bs, Ad

LIBER QUINTUS

Began the Secte upon this Erthe,

Which of believes was the ferthe.

Of rihtwisnesse it was conceived,

So moste it nedes be received

Of him that alle riht is inne,

The hihe god, which wolde winne

A poeple unto his oghne feith.

On Habraham the ground he leith, 1650
And made him forto multeplie

Into so gret a progenie,

That thei Egipte al overspradde.

Bot Pharao with wrong hem ladde

In servitute ayein the pes,

Til god let sende Moises

To make the deliverance ;

And for his poeple gret vengance

He tok, which is to hiere a wonder.

The king was slain, the lond put under, 166o
God bad the rede See divide, P. ii. 183
Which stod upriht on either side

And yaf unto his poeple a weie,

That thei on fote it passe dreie

And gon so forth into desert :

Wher forto kepe hem in covert,

The daies, whan the Sonne brente,

A large cloude hem overwente,

And forto wissen hem be nyhte,

A firy Piler hem alyhte. 1670
And whan that thei for hunger pleigne,

The myhti god began to reyne

Manna fro hevene doun to grounde,

Wherof that ech of hem hath founde

His fode, such riht as him liste ;

And for thei scholde upon him triste,

Riht as who sette a tonne abroche,

1643 the Secte] pat secte S...A this secte W tosette AMHiX
this] pe AM... Bs 1646 And alle mysbelieue weyued E .. . Ba,
A (misbelieues RLB:) 1647 is] wasE...B: 1653 al om.
XE... Bs 1662 on] in BT 1664 on fote (foote) passen

ECLBs B on fete p. R on fote myght p. W in fote it p. X
1667 The daies] Be (By) daies S...A A dayes W

447

[ BevizF OF THE
Jews. ]

44B

[Bevier or THE
Jrws.]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

He percede the harde roche,

And sprong out water al at wille,

That man and beste hath drunke his fille: 16&
And afterward he yaf the lawe

To Moises, that hem withdrawe

Thei scholden noght fro that he bad.

And in this wise thei be lad,

Til thei toke in possession

The londes of promission,

Wher that Caleph and Josué

The Marches upon such degre

Departen, after the lignage

That ech of hem as Heritage 1690
His porpartie hath underfonge. P. ii. 184
And thus stod this believe longe,

Which of prophetes was governed ;

And thei hadde ek the poeple lerned

Of gret honour that scholde hem falle ;

Bot ate moste nede of alle

Thei faileden, whan Crist was bore.

Bot hou that thei here feith have bore,

It nedeth noght to tellen al,

The matiere is so general: 1700
Whan Lucifer was best in hevene

And oghte moste have stonde in evene,
Towardes god he tok debat ;

And for that he was obstinat,

And wolde noght to trouthe encline,

He fell for evere into ruine:

And Adam ek in Paradis,

Whan he stod most in al his pris

After thastat of Innocence,

Ayein the god brak his defence 1710
And fell out of his place aweie:

And riht be such a maner weie

The Jwes in here beste plit,

Whan that thei scholden most parfit

1678 perced(e) bo pe RCLBs, A. W 1685 toke (tooke) C, SB
tok (took) A, F 1698 lore MHiXGLBs, AdBT, W (hath lore

1713 Iwes F Iewes A, SB

LIBER QUINTUS

Have stonde upon the prophecie,
Tho fellen thei to most folie,
And him which was fro hevene come,
And of a Maide his fleissh hath nome,
And was among hem bore and fedd,
As men that wolden noght be spedd 1720
Of goddes Sone, with o vois . P.ii. 185
Thei hinge and slowhe upon the crois.
Wherof the parfit of here lawe
Fro thanne forth hem was withdrawe,
So that thei stonde of no merit,
Bot in truage as folk soubgit
Withoute proprete of place
Thei liven out of goddes grace,
Dispers in alle londes oute.
And thus the feith is come aboute, 1730
That whilom in the Jewes stod,
Which is noght parfihtliche good.
To speke as it is nou befalle,
Ther is a feith aboven alle,
In which the trouthe is comprehended,
Wherof that we ben alle amended.

The hihe almyhti majeste,
Of rihtwisnesse and of pite,
The Sinne which that Adam wroghte,
Whan he sih time, ayein he boghte, 1740
And sende his Sone fro the hevene
To sette mannes Soule in evene,
Which thanne was so sore falle
Upon the point which was befalle,
That he ne mihte himself arise.
Gregoire seith in his aprise,

1715 stonde AC, B stond F 1742 Which mannes soule
hap set in eueneS...A
1743 And hap his grace reconciled

ffro which pe man was ferst exiled
And in himself so sore falle
SoS... A (inserting a couplet between 1742 and 1743). 1743 margin
ineffabiliter . .. creditur B 1745 auise E ... Ba 1746 margin
Gregorius, Nichil nobis nasci profuit, nisi redimi profuisset SBA
(proficit for profuit B)
+

Gg

449

[BzrigF OF THE
Jews. ]

[THE CHRISTIAN
FAITRH.]

De fide Cristiana,
in qua perfecte legis
complementum, sum-
mi misterii sacramen-
tum, nostreque salua-
cionis fundamentum
infallibiliter consist-
ere credimus.

450

[THe CHRISTIAN
FAITH. }

Gregorius. O ne-

essarium Ade pecca-
um! O felix culpa,
ue talem ac tantum

jeruit habere re-

emptorem !

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

It helpeth noght a man be bore,

If goddes Sone were unbore ;

For thanne thurgh the ferste Sinne,

Which Adam whilom broghte ous inne, 17:0

Ther scholden alle men be lost ; P. ii. 186

Bot Crist restoreth thilke lost,

And boghte it with his fleissh and blod.

And if we thenken hou it stod

Of thilke rancoun which he payde,

As seint Gregoire it wrot and sayde,

Al was behovely to the man:

For that wherof his wo began

Was after cause of al his welthe,

Whan he which is the welle of helthe, 1760

The hihe creatour of lif,

Upon the nede of such a strif

So wolde for his creature

Take on himself the forsfaiture

And soffre for the mannes sake.

Thus mai no reson wel forsake

That thilke Senne original

Ne was the cause in special

Of mannes worschipe ate laste,

Which schal withouten ende laste. 1770

For be that cause the godhede

Assembled was to the manhede

In the virgine, where he nom

Oure fleissh and verai man becom

Of bodely fraternite ;

Wherof the man in his degre

Stant more worth, as I have told,

Than he stod erst be manyfold,

Thurgh baptesme of the newe lawe,

Of which Crist lord is and felawe. 1780
And thus the hihe goddes myht, P. ii. 187

Which was in the virgine alyht,

1756 ff. margin O certe necessarium Ade peccatum etcefera B. O
felix—redemptorem om. SBA(AdT) The note stands at 1. 1746 in Hs
1763 wolde he AdB 177a to] wip BT

1781-1793 Thurgh vertu of his hihe myht

Which in Marie was alyht

LIBER QUINTUS

The mannes Soule hath reconsiled,

Which hadde longe ben exiled.

So stant the feith upon believe,

Withoute which mai non achieve

To gete him Paradis ayein:

Bot this believe is so certein,

So full of grace and of vertu,

That what man clepeth to Jhesu

In clene lif forthwith good dede,

He mai noght faile of hevene mede,

Which taken hath the rihte feith ;

For elles, as the gospel seith,

Salvacion ther mai be non.

And forto preche therupon

Crist bad to hise Apostles alle,

The whos pouer as nou is falle

On ous that ben of holi cherche,

If we the goode dedes werche;

For feith only sufficeth noght,

Bot if good dede also be wroght.
Now were it good that thou forthi,

Which thurgh baptesme proprely

Art unto Cristes feith professed,

Be war that thou be noght oppressed

With Anticristes lollardie.

For as the Jwes prophecie

To begge mannes soule asein

And pis belieue is so certein

So full of grace and of vertu

That what man clepep to Jhesu

In clene kf forpwip good dede

He mai noght faile of heuene mede
So pat it stant vpon belieue

That euery man mai wel achieue
Which taken hap &c. SAdBTA

451

[THE CHRISTIAN
Faitu.]

1790

1800 Iacobus. Fides sine
operibus mortua est.

Confessor.

Nota hic contra is-

tos qui iam lollardi
dicuntur,

1790*

1791 forpwip F forp wip AJ, B 1800 pe goode dede JE... Ba
(po C) the goodenesse (pe goodnesse) HiX goode dedes G

1800 f. margin lacobus &c. om. S... A
1801 f. ffor feip . bot if per be good dede

Thapostel seip is worp no mede SAdBTA

1807 f. margin Nota hic—dicuntur om. BA(AdT), W Nota contra

istos qui lollardi dicuntur S Nota contra lollardos C
lewes AJ, SB

Gg2

1808 Iwes F

452

Tug CHRISTIAN
FarrH.)

incepit Jhesus fa-
e et docere.

Nota quod, cum
thenor Palladium
ie a templo Mi-
ue abstulit, Thoas
Jem summus sacer-
| auro corruptus
Jos auertit, et sic
lum quasi non vi-
is Scienter fieri
misit.

1826 his dede pe BT his dede his A, W
AJ, SB Antenor F

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Was set of god for avantage,

Riht so this newe tapinage 1810

Of lollardie goth aboute P. ii, 188

To sette Cristes feith in doute.

The seintz that weren ous tofore,

Be whom the feith was ferst upbore,

That holi cherche stod relieved,

Thei oghten betre be believed

Than these, whiche that men knowe

Noght holy, thogh thei feigne and blowe

Here lollardie in mennes Ere.

Bot if thou wolt live out of fere, 1820

Such newe lore, I rede, eschuie,

And hold forth riht the weie and suie,

As thine Ancestres dede er this:

So schalt thou noght believe amis.
Crist wroghte ferst and after tawhte,

So that the dede his word arawhte ;

He yaf ensample in his persone,

And we the wordes have al one,

Lich to the Tree with leves grene,

Upon the which no fruit is sene. 1830
The Priest Thoas, which of Minerve

The temple hadde forto serve,

And the Palladion of Troie

Kepte under keie, for monoie,

Of Anthenor which he hath nome,

Hath soffred Anthenor to come

And the Palladion to stele,

Wherof the worschipe and the wele

Of the Troiens was overthrowe.

Bot Thoas at the same throwe, 1840

Whan Anthenor this Juel tok, P. ii. 189

Wynkende caste awei his lok

For a deceipte and for a wyle:

As he that scholde himself beguile,

He hidde his yhen fro the sihte,

And wende wel that he so mihte

1835 Anthenor

LIBER QUINTUS 453

Excuse his false conscience. [THE CHRISTIAN
I wot noght if thilke evidence Farrn.]
Nou at this time in here estatz

Excuse mihte the Prelatz, 1850
Knowende hou that the feith discresceth

And alle moral vertu cesseth,

Wherof that thei the keies bere,

Bot yit hem liketh noght to stere

Here gostliche yhe forto se

The world in his adversite ;

Thei wol no labour undertake

To kepe that hem is betake.

Crist deide himselve for the feith,

Bot nou our feerfull prelat seith, 1860
‘The lif is suete, and that he kepeth,

So that the feith unholpe slepeth,

And thei unto here ese entenden

And in here lust her lif despenden,

And every man do what him list.

Thus stant this world fulfild of Mist,

That noman seth the rihte weie:

The wardes of the cherche keie

Thurgh mishandlinge ben myswreynt,

The worldes wawe hath welnyh dreynt 1870
The Schip which Peter hath to stiere, P. ii. 190
The forme is kept, bot the matiere
Transformed is in other wise.

Bot if thei weren gostli wise,

And that the Prelatz weren goode,

As thei be olde daies stode,

It were thanne litel nede

Among the men to taken hiede

Of that thei hieren Pseudo telle,

Which nou is come forto duelle, 1880
To sowe cokkel with the corn,

So that the tilthe is nyh forlorn,

Which Crist sew ferst his oghne hond.

1849 estatz F estates J astatz (astates) A, SB 1855 goodly
goodlich) BT 1879 Pseudo telle] Pheudo telle E Pfeudo t. C
hem telle A om. T 1883 sew A, S, F siew B

454

HE CHRISTIAN
FaiTH.]

'egorius. Quan-
etrus cum Judea,
reas cum Achaia,
nas cum Yndea,
aulus cum gente
nt, quid dicemus
moderni, quorum
im talentum pro
lo computabitur ?

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Nou stant the cockel in the lond,
Wher stod whilom the goode grein,
For the Prelatz nou, as men sein,

. Forslowthen that thei scholden tile.
And that I trowe be the skile,

Whan ther is lacke in hem above,
The poeple is stranged to the love 1899
Of trouthe, in cause of ignorance ;
For wher ther is no pourveance

Of liht, men erren in the derke.

Bot if the Prelatz wolden werke
Upon the feith which thei ous teche,
Men scholden noght here weie seche
Withoute liht, as now is used:

Men se the charge aldai refused,
Which holi cherche hath undertake.

Bot who that wolde ensample take, 1909
Gregoire upon his Omelie P. ii. 191
Ayein the Slouthe of Prelacie
Compleigneth him, and thus he seith:

‘Whan Peter, fader of the feith,

At domesdai schal with him bringe
Judeam, which thurgh his prechinge
He wan, and Andrew with Achaie
Schal come his dette forto paie,

And Thomas ek with his beyete

Of Ynde, and Poul the routes grete 1910
Of sondri londes schal presente,

And we fulfild of lond and rente,
Which of this world we holden hiere,
With voide handes schul appiere,
Touchende oure cure spirital,

Which is our charge in special,

I not what thing it mai amonte
Upon thilke ende of oure accompte,
Wher Crist himself is Auditour,

1893 erren] crepen E... B, A
1906 f. Which hap conuert wip his prechinge
And whan pat Andrew E...Bs,A
(conuerted ...teching L conuer E) 1911 schal] to B

LIBER QUINTUS 455

Which takth non hiede of vein honour.’ 1920 [Tue Curistian
Thoffice of the Chancellerie FaitH.]
Or of the kinges Tresorie

Ne for the writ ne for the taille

To warant mai noght thanne availe;

The world, which nou so wel we trowe,

Schal make ous thanne bot a mowe:

So passe we withoute mede,

That we non otherwise spede,

Bot as we rede that he spedde,

The which his lordes besant hedde 1930
And therupon gat non encress. P. ii. 192
Bot at this time natheles,

What other man his thonk deserve,

The world so lusti is to serve,

That we with him ben all acorded,

And that is wist and wel recorded

Thurghout this Erthe in alle londes

Let knyhtes winne with here hondes,

For oure tunge schal be stille

And stonde upon the fleisshes wille. 1940
It were a travail forto preche

The feith of Crist, as forto teche

The folk Paiene, it wol noght be;

Bot every Prelat holde his See

With al such ese as he mai gete

Of lusti drinke and lusti mete,

Wherof the bodi fat and full

Is unto gostli labour dull

And slowh to handle thilke plowh.

Bot elles we ben swifte ynowh 1950
Toward the worldes Avarice ;

And that is as a sacrifice,

Which, after that thapostel seith,

Is openly ayein the feith

Unto thidoles yove and granted :

1923 no writ... petaileA no writ...not. YE... Ba to write
...to taile B 1925 which now we see and trowe E... Bz, A
1946 and] of YEC, BT 1952 as a sacrifice] a good s. E... Ba
1953 Jat after E... Bs

456

[Te CHRISTIAN
FAITH. |

Amans.

Confessor.

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Bot natheles it is nou haunted,
And vertu changed into vice,
So that largesce is Avarice,

In whos chapitre now we trete.

Mi fader, this matiere is bete 1960
So fer, that evere whil I live P. ii. 193
I schal the betre hede yive
Unto miself be many weie:

Bot over this nou wolde I preie
To wite what the branches are
Of Avarice, and hou thei fare
Als wel in love as otherwise.

Mi Sone, and I thee schal devise
In such a manere as thei stonde,

So that thou schalt hem understonde. 1970

1965 the] bo E...L 1969 a om. BT, W 1970 hem om. BT

(LiBRI QUINTI $$ iiji—xiii i” sequenti volumine continentur)

NOTES

PROLOGUS

Latin Verses. i.lf. The author acknowledges his incapacity for
higher themes, as at the beginning of the first book. The subject of the
present work is a less exalted one than that of those which preceded it.

8f. Qua famen &c. The couplet may be translated, ‘Yet in that
tongue of Hengist in which the island of Brut sings, I will utter English
measures by the aid of Carmentis.’

9 f. Ossibus ergo carens &c. That is, ‘ Let the evil tongue be far
away. The reference is to Prov. xxv. 15, ‘A soft tongue breaketh
the bone, taken here in a bad sense : cp. iii. 463 ff.

7. * Moved by the example of these wise men of old.' For this use
of *ensampled cp. Z*az/zZ, xv. l. 4,

‘Pour essampler les autres du present.’

13. Who that al &c. ‘If one writes of wisdom only’: a common form
of expression in Gower’s French and English both ; see note on Mirour,
1244. In English we have ‘ who that,’ ‘who so (that) ' or ‘what man
(that), sometimes with indic. and sometimes with subjunctive: cp. Prol.
460, 550, i. 383, 481, ii. 88, iii. 971, 2508, &c. See also note on 1. 460.

writ, present tense, syncopated form.

16. if that ye rede, ‘if ye so counsel me,’ i.e. if you approve, equiva-
lent to the ‘si bon vous sembleroit ! of the Afirour, |. 33.

24. The marginal note is wanting in F and S, and may perhaps have
been added after the year 1397, when Henry became Duke of Here-
ford, cp. ' tunc Derbie comiti,’ or even later, for in the Cron. Trifertsta
Gower calls him Earl of Derby at the time of his exile, using the
same expression as here, ‘tunc Derbie comiti? Caxton, followed by

24*— 99*. For this variation see the Introduction. The text of B,
which is here followed, is as good as any other, but none of the copies
which give the passage are thoroughly good in spelling, and the text
has in this respect been slightly normalized. A and E are here defective,

458 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Berthelet, gives the following: *Hic in primis declarat Ioannes Gower
quam ob causam presentem libellum composuit et finaliter compleuit,
An. regni regis Ric. secundi 16.’
81. That is, compared with what it was in former time: cp. L 133.
41. write... sfode: subjunctive. For the subjunctive in indirect
question cp. ii. 1243, 1943, iii. 708, 771, &c.
43. as who seith, i.e. ‘as one may say,’ a qualification of what follows,
a gret partie': the phrase is a common one, e.g. i. 1381, *as who
seith, everemo,' 2794, ii. 696, * as who seith, ded for feere,' &c.
46. schewen, used absolutely, ‘ set forth their histories.’
52. a burel clerk, ‘a man of simple learning,’ esp. ‘a layman’; cp.
Chaucer, Cant. Tales, B 3145, D 1872: ‘burel’ was a coarse cloth.
94. £o£, ‘took place,’ ‘existed’: cp. Chaucer, Z7oi/us, iv. 1562,
* And if so be that pees herafter take.’
So ‘ prendre’ in French, e.g. Mir. 831,
* Le mariage devoit prendre.

and J, which is the best available MS., has eccentricities of spelling
(‘ Richardus, *wyche, ‘hyt,’ 'hys, 'aftur, 'resonabul, ‘3ef,’ ‘be
heste,’ ‘be ginne,' &c.), which make it rather unsuitable as a basis for the
text. It will be found however that J and B mutually correct each other
to a great extent, and we have also MGRCL as additional witnesses of
a respectable character. Thus in regard to some of the variations in
spelling from B we have as follows : —

24* bok J 25 belongep MC 27* euere JML = 31* Preiende
G Preiend MCL 536" betyde (betide) GCL 40* beJML 43* f.nyh:
Syh (sih) JL 47* f. seid: leyd J 49* besinesse J 51* boke
JM 52* myhte loke J 53* f. wrytinge : comandinge J 55*
herte JMGCL 59* wipoute GC 62* non JGC 65* handlep JMGL
66" preye (preie) JMGCL heueneJMG 69* befalleJ 75° bit
JMCL 80longeJML 82* bokJ 87* begynnep (beginnep) ML
89* f. bok : tok J 92* begynne MCL.

94* ff. A very loosely constructed sentence. It means apparently,
*] consider how it befell, as a thing destined then to come to pass,
namely that as on Thames I came rowing by boat &c., I chanced to
meet my liege lord.’ The disorder in which the clauses are thrown
together is a feature which we shall notice elsewhere in our author's
style. ‘The toun of newe Troye' is of course London, supposed to
have been founded by Brut of Troy, whence was derived ‘ Britain,’
the *insula Bruti ' of the opening lines.

92*. Joke, ‘examine’: cp. ii. 733, vi. 1959.

65*. There is here a corruption which affects all the existing copies.
The various readings are given in the critical notes, and evidently
‘outkrong’ is that which has most support. I conjecture that the
author wrote ‘ onwrong,’ i.e. 'awrong, which being an unusual word
suffered corruption at the hand of the first transcriber, the ‘w’ being

NOTES. Prot. 31-92* 459

72. the god, so 198, ii. 594; cp. ‘the vertu,’ 116, ‘the manhode,
260, ‘the man,’ 546, 582, * The charite,’ 319, &c.

74. ended, ‘continued to the end.’

71 ff. Apparently a reference to the treatise on the duties of a ruler
contained in the seventh book: ‘I shall make a discourse also with
regard to those who are in power, marking the distinction between the
virtues and the vices which belong to their office.’

81 ff. ‘But as my wit is too small to correct the faults of every one,
I send this book unto my own lord Henry of Lancaster...to be
amended at his command.’ For ‘upon amendement to stonde’ cp.
ii. 583. The suggestion of amendment at the hands of the author's
patron is of course a mere compliment, like that paid by Chaucer to
Gower at the conclusion of 7voz/us, but it gives a modest appearance
to the general censure.

It is not likely that the expression ‘ upon amendement’ refers to the
change made in this part of the text, to which the author would hardly
have called attention thus. Also, unless we explain as above, the
meaning would seem to be ‘as my wit is too small to admonish
every one, I send my work as now revised to my own lord Henry of
Lancaster,’ a much too pointed application of the coming admonitions.

It is hardly needful to add that ‘to tellen every man his tale’ is not
a reference to the Canterbury Tales, as some have supposed.

Latin Verses, ii. 2. vertit in orbe, ‘turns round,’ as upon her wheel.
4. Cp. 111 f.
11. * And thus those regions which were once the strongest fall into

mistaken, as it easily might be, for ‘tk’: cp. Chaucer, 77. of Fame,
li. 403, where ‘tokne’ is apparently a corruption of ‘ towne.’

66*. the hevene king, ‘ the king of hevene.’ Gower regularly writes
the final ‘e’ in ‘ hevene,' ‘evene,’ *evere,' *nevere, &c. The preceding
syllable is of course syncopated in pronunciation.

69*. what befalle, ‘whatsoever may befall’: cp. iii. 325, ‘what it
were.’

75*, bit, i.e. biddeth.’

85*. The true reading is probably ‘listen pleie,’ which is preferable
both as regards form and construction: cp. iv. 3147, ‘whan the wommen
listen pleie The readings are as follows: ‘listen pleye’ J, ‘lusten pleie’
M, ‘luste pley’ Bs; the rest mostly ‘lust to pleye.” The verbseems usually
to be followed by a preposition when used impersonally, as i. 147,
1403, and otherwise more generally not, as i. 2741, iv. 3147, but there
are exceptions both ways, e. g. iv. 907 and iii. 111, iv. 3187.

90*. Cp. 54 ff.

92*. for to newe. This is the reading of the better MSS., and
' schewe' is probably the correction of a copyist who did not under-
stand it. The word ‘newe’ means here ‘produce,’ but in l 59
* neweth'' is intransitive and means ‘comes into being.’

460 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

decay throughout the world, and have no centre of rest there? (The
first ‘que’ is the relative, for ‘quae.’) It is possible however that ‘ per
orbem may refer again to Fortune's wheel, cp. 138 ff, where the
sense of this couplet seems to be expressed, and in that case tbe
meaning is, ‘ fall into decay as they turn upon the wheel.’

116. the vertu : for this French use ofthe article, which is often found
in Gower, see note on l. 72.

122ff. *And in witness of that I take the common voice of every
land, which may not lie, This appeal to the common voice, the
‘commune dictum,’ is characteristic of our author, who repeats the
proverb ‘-Vox populi vox dei’ several times in various forms, e.g.
Mirour, 12725. For the use of ‘that’ in such expressions cp. 1. 907,
and iv. 2040.

133. fo loke &c., ‘when we look on all sides’: cp. 31, i. 1060, 2278, &c.

189. dlinde fortune. ‘Fortune’ must here be taken as a proper name,
and hence the definite form of adjective : cp. i. 3396, ‘wyse Peronelle,’
ii. 588, 2721, ‘of grete Rome,’ ii. 2304, ‘false Nessus,’ iii. 2100, ‘ false
Egiste,’ &c.

143. upon a weer, i. e. in doubt or distress : cp. iii. 1148, and Chaucer,
House of Fame, 979,

‘Tho gan I wexen in a wer.’

144 ff. ‘ And especially if the power of the rulers of the world be not
kept upright by good counsel in such wise that’ &c.

152. heved, always a monosyllable in the metre: the word also
appears as ‘hefd’ i. 199, and frequently as ‘hed.’

154. her trowthe allowe, ‘ approve of their loyalty,’ i.e. accept it.

155. ‘And welcome them with all his heart.’ For the position of
the conjunction cp. 521, 756, 759, 1014, i. 854, 863, &c., and note on
Mirour, 415. Mr. Liddell points out to me that the same usage occurs
frequently in the ME. Palladius.

156 (margin). The quotation is from Ecclus. xxxii. 24, *Fili, sine
consilio nihilfacias.' This book is often cited as Solomon in the #firour.

162. A truce with both France and Scotland was made for three
years in 1389, but peace was not finally concluded till 1396.

166 f. Cp. Praise of Peace, 190.

172. at alle assates, ‘in every way’: cp. ii. 2447.

Latin Verses. ii. 1. Johannes: St. John the Evangelist, who is
mentioned either as the teacher of brotherly love or because
his Gospel contains the exhortations to St. Peter, ‘Feed my sheep,
‘Feed my lambs.’

2. sta, ‘this.

8. dina virtute, perhaps charity and chastity, cp. 464 ff.

4. inculta, nominative in spite of metre, so avaricia in 1. 8.

8. {epente, ‘being lukewarm,’ that is, held in a lukewarm manner.

196 (margin). Roberti Gibbonensis, Robert of Geneva, elected pope
in opposition to Urban VI, under the title of Clement VII.

NOTES. Prot. 116-268 461

198. /4e god, see note on |. 72.

204. Simon, i.e. Simon Magus, whence simony has its name: cp.
442 ff., Mirour, 18451 ff, and Vox Clamantis, iii. 249, 1217, &c.

207 ff. The reference is to Lombard bankers employed as inter-
mediaries in obtaining Church preferment. The ‘letter’ referred to is
the papal provision, or perhaps the letter of request addressed to the
pope in favour of a particular person : cp. Vox Clam. iii. 1375 f.,

* Littera dum Regis papales supplicat aures,
Simon et est medius, vngat vt ipse manus.’ :

210. $rovende, equivalent to prebend, and in fact ‘prebende’ is
avar.reading here. Littré quotes from Wace,

* Cil me dona et Diez li rende
Baiex une provende,’

and from Rutebeuf,
* Qui argent porte a Rome, assés tot provende a.’

212. ‘ The authority of the Church’ (symbolized by the key) ‘ did not
then lie at the mercy of armed bands or depend upon the issue of
battle For *brigantaiLe, meaning bands of irregular troops, cp.
Mir. 18675.

218. defence, * prohibition’: cp. iv. 1026, v. 1710, and Chaucer, 77oi/.
iii. 138, *if that I breke your defence.'

220. ‘was then no charge of theirs,’ i. e. did not come under their
authority: *baillie' means the charge or government of a thing, as
Trait, xi. 19, ‘Le duc q'ot lors Ravenne en sa baillie, hence a thing
placed in a person's charge.

221. The vein honour: the definite form is rather less regularly
used by Gower in adjectives taken from French than in others, e.g. iii.
889, ‘For with here fals compassement’; but on the other hand,
i. 864, ‘ the pleine cas,’ ii. 412, ‘ And thurgh his false tunge endited,’ and
824, ‘ This false knyht upon delay.

246. is went: cp. iii. 878 and Chaucer, Cant. Tales, E 1013, F 567.

247. here lawe positif: the ‘lex positiva! is that which is not
morally binding in itself, but only so because imposed by (eccle-
siastical) authority: cp. Vox Clam. iii. 227 ff. This is naturally the
sphere within which Church dispensations of all kinds take effect.

248. Hath set. Apparently ‘set’ is intransitive, ‘ Since their positive
law hath set itself to make,’ &c. There is no good authority for read-
ing ‘ hire.’

252. There is hardly another instance of ‘ but’ for ‘bot’ in F, and the
form ‘right’ for ‘riht’ in the preceding line is very unusual.

260. ‘he manhode, i.e. human nature: see note on 1.72. For ‘thenkth’
see note on 461.

263. withholde, * retained as her servant.’

268. in the point &c., i.e. so soon as it is collected. The allusion is
to the circumstances of the campaign of the Bishop of Norwich in

NOTES. Prot. 278—585 463

ill-treatment take away the wool which shall remain upon the thorns,
torn out by the briars, &c. The archdeacon's court is chiefly referred to.

416. chalk for chese, cp. ii. 2346: it is a proverbial expression still
current.

430. ‘ We see the lot drawn amiss’: for ‘merel’ cp. Mir. 23496.

484. Hebr. v. 4.

452. in audience, ‘in public assembly’ : cp. ii. 2556.

454. a chirie feire, taken as an emblem of delights which are tran-
sitory : cp. vi. 890f.,

* And that endureth bot a throwe,
Riht as it were a cherie feste.'

460. understode, past subj. with indefinite sense: cp. i. 383, ii. 88,
iii. 971, iv. 2597, 2728, vi. 1474. *Whoso understood their words, to him
it seems likely,’ &c., instead of ‘to him it would seem likely”? ; cp. 1. 520.

461. The distinction between ‘thinke’ and ‘thenke’ is completely
lost in Gowers usage: 'thenke' is the regular form for both, but
‘thinke’ is admitted equally for both in rhyme, as v. 213, 254.

480. ‘For fear that (On the chance that) I may say wrong.’ The
subject is a delicate one and the author shows similar caution when
dealing with it in the #srour.

492. as of, ‘as regards’: cp. i. 557, iii. 1479, &c.

Latin Verses. iv. 4. velle, used as a noun, ‘will’: so ‘de puro velle’
in the lines at the beginning of the second book.

909 f. ‘Which with great difficulty man shall restrain, if he shall
restrain it ever.'

521. For the position of ‘and’ see note on 155.

525. stonde upon: cp. 214.

529. som men: ‘som’ is uninflected in this expression: on the other
hand we have ‘somme clerkes,’ l. 355.

546. {ke man, so 582: see note on 72.

950 f. ‘If any one thinks otherwise, look at the people of Israel’:
‘Behold’ is 2nd sing. imperative. The unusual form ‘ Irael' is given
by the best MSS. here and elsewhere, and we must suppose that it
proceeds from the author.

558. sonde full: perhaps a reference to 503 ff., or a metaphor from
the tides.

567 (margin). The quotation is from Cons. Phil. ii. Pr. 4: ‘Quam
multis amaritudinibus humanae felicitatis dulcedo respersa est.” The
constant references to Fortune and her wheel may probably be sug-
gested by Boethius, e. g. ii. Pr. 1.

578. i.e. till the end of all things.

585ff. This vision of Nebuchadnezzar, which our author takes as
his guide to universal history, is made the subject of illustration in
those MSS. which have miniatures at or near the beginning of the
Confessio Amantts.

464 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

618. Fel doun: cp. iii. 2492, ‘That have I herd the gospell seith.’

668. ko! : see note on 683.

676. * And he kept himself in this condition undisturbed,’ the subject
being supplied from 1. 671, ‘Was in that kinges time tho.’ For
omission of pronoun cp. Prol. 348, i. 1895, 2083, 2462, &c. However,
the fall of the Empire took place not in the reign of Nebucbadnezzar
but of Belshazzar (see I. 685).

683. Here and in 693 the best MSS. have ‘ put’ for ‘ putte,’ and this
entire suppression of the inflexional syllable in cases where it is lost to
the metre by elision is sufficiently well-attested to justify us in accepting
it as an occasional practice of the author, both in the case of verbs
and adjectives ; cp. 668, 739, &c. It is especially common with this
particular verb, e.g. i. 1578, 1807, 3213, ii. 93, 1021, &c., where ‘put’ is
used for infinitive as well as for the preterite. Much more rarely in
cases where there is no elision, as i. 732. On the other hand, we have
‘putte’ pret. before an elision, l. 1069, i. 2797, ‘pute’ inf. i. 462,
iv. 1641.

702. In the marginal summary here F gives 'Imparatoris, and
sometimes in other places where the word is fully written, as i. 1417,
ii. $93, 2506, 3201. However, ‘Imperator’ is also found in various
places of the same MS., as vii. 2416, and the contracted form * Impator '
has in this edition been written out so.

725. Of that honour which tok, i. e. ‘of such honour that he took.’

788. so vileins: a clear case of French plural of the adjective,
used here for the sake of the rhyme.

739. fais : see notes on 221, 683.

745 ff. It is hardly necessary to point out that our author's history is
here incorrect. Charlemagne was not called in against the Emperor
Leo, who died in the year before he was born, but against the Lombards
by Adrian I, and then against the rebellious citizens of Rome by
Leo III, on which latter occasion he received the imperial crown.

756. Of Rome and: cp. ll. 759, 766, and note on 155.

761. doth restore, i.e. * causeth to be restored.’

712 ff. Here again the story is historically inaccurate, but it is not
worth while to set it straight.

786 ff. The meaning seems to be, ‘ But this after all is what we might
expect, for prosperity (they say) seldom endures.'

795. hath no felawe, ‘hath no supporter or champion’: cp. Praise
of Peace, 266, ‘ And in this wise hath charite no brother.’

809. The punctuation follows F.

828. expondeth. This form occurs also in ll. 663, 873, as a reading
of F. The French terminations ‘-on,’ ‘-oun,’ had the same sound and
rhymed together, and the same is true of ‘-ance,’ ‘-aunce.’ Probably on
the same principle therefore ‘expondeth’ may stand for ‘expoundeth,’
and rhyme with ' foundeth': cp. viii. 235 f. On the other hand, in i. 2867
we have expounde, founde. It may be noted that *exponde' is the form
used in the French works, e.g. Mir. 22192, Zrait. xi. 20, where it

NOTES. Prot. 618-985 465

rhymes with Rosemonde, responde, immonde. Asa rule in the Mirour
this class of words is given without ‘u,’ but in one stanza we have
* responde,’ ‘monde,’ ‘ blonde’ in rhyme together, 8681 ff.

886. Cz#: this is the true reading; the word occurs also Mz». 7197.

848. now with that beforn, ‘ the present with the past,’ ‘now’ being
used as a substantive.

850. the sothe sere: this is the reading of the third recension ; the
others have ‘the soth schal seie.’ Either text is admissible, for ‘ soth’
is used as a substantive, but ‘the sothe’ is usually preferred, as in
1. 834, and i. 981, iii. 765.

858. Cp. ii. 3490.

881. writ: syncopated present, ‘writeth.’ The reference is to
I Cor. x. IL

891. Statue: a dissyllable in Gower and Chaucer (equivalent to
‘statwe”), and here reduced to one syllable by elision : cp. Cant. Zales,
À. 975. The longer form ‘ stature’ occurs vi. 1524.

900. these clerkes : demonstrative for definite article, as in French;
cp. i. 608, and see note on Mir. 301.

905. See I. 965. Perhaps here ‘cause of’ means ‘because of, as
‘whos cause’ for ‘because of which’ 1040; but I suspect rather an
inversion of order, for * Man is cause of al this wo.’

907. that in tokne, cp. 122.

910 ff. This matter of the corruption of all creation through man’s fall
is discussed at length both in the Mirour, 26605 ff., and in the Vox
Clamantis, vii. 509€.

945 ff. This is one of Gower's favourite citations : it occurs also Ai».
26869, Vox Clam. vii. 639. It is quoted here from AMora/fa, vi. 16
(Migne, Pa£r. vol. 75, p. 740): ‘Homo itaque, quia habet commune
esse cum lapidibus, vivere cum arboribus, sentire cum animalibus,
discernere cum angelis, recte nomine universitatis exprimitur) In the
Mirour it is given as from the Homilies; see Hom. in Ev. xxix. 2.
The passage is also quoted in the Roman dela Rose, 19246 ff. (ed. Méon),

‘Il a son.estre avec les pierres,
Et vit avec les herbes drues,
Et sent avec les bestes mues,’ &c,

947. the lasse world, i.e. a microcosm: cp. Vox Clam. vii. 645,
‘Sic minor est mundus homo, qui fert singula solus."

The saying is attributed to Aristotle in Mivour, 26929.

958. That is, the stones have existence and so hath he, this being
the only point in common.

955. as fel/eth the clergie, ‘as learning informs us.’

975. The which, resumed by ‘ He’ in 978: for, i.e. ‘ since.”

979. That is, the opposite elements in his constitution (‘complexioun’)
are so much at variance with one another,

985. ‘Without separation of parts.’

+ H h

NOTES. Lis. I. 422-718 469

595. feigneth conscience, that is, makes pretence as to his feeling, or
state of mind, (‘ As thogh it were al innocence’): cp. iii. 1504, * Mi
conscience I woll noght hyde.’ The explanation suggested in the Mew
Engl. Dict. that ‘conscience’ stands for ' conscientiousness ' or ‘rightful
dealing,' will hardly do, and the word does not seem to be used early in
this sense.

999. the vein astat: see note on Prol. 221.

608. these ordres, i.e. * the orders’ (of religion) : so ‘these clerkes,’
Prol. 900.

where he duelleth, that is, the hypocrite, standing for Hypocrisy in
general.

623. religioun, the members of the religious orders, as distinguished
from the rest of the clergy.

626. Jt scheweth, ‘it appears’: cp. Prol. 834.

636. devolte apparantie : the words are pure French, and the French
feminine form is as naturally used for the adjective, as in the ‘ seinte
apparantie' of Air. 1124. We cannot apply the English rule of
the definite adjective to such combinations as this: cp: note on Prol.
221. However, ‘devoute’ in L 669 seems to be the plural form.

637. se/, present tense : so ll. 650, 707, &c.

648. these othre seculers, ‘the men of the world also.”

650. * He makes no reckoning in his account.’

695. As he which &c.; that is simply, ‘feigning to be sick,’ so iv. 1833,
‘As he who feigneth to be wod’ ; cp. vii. 3955. The expression ‘ as he
which,’ ‘as sche which,’ is very commonly used by Gower in this sense ;
cp. i. 925, 1640, &c., and Mir. 27942, ‘ Comme cil q'est tout puissant,’
* being all-powerful.’

698. Cp. iv. 1180, ‘And thus mi contienance I pike.’ It means ‘he
makes many a pretence.’

709. Entamed, ‘wounded’: used in a similar moral sense in Air.
25161, ‘Car Covoitise les entame.'

718. As forto feigne, i.e. ‘as regards feigning’: so 1. 723, * as to my
ladi diere.’

718 ff. For the form of sentence, which is a favourite one with our
author in all his three languages, but especially perhaps in Latin, cp.
Mirour, 18589 ff.,

* Unques le corps du sainte Heleine
Serchant la croix tant ne se peine,

Qe nous ovesque nostre Court,

Assetz n'y mettons plus du peine,” &c.

Vox Clam. i. 263 ft.,
‘In Colchos tauri, quos vicit dextra Iasonis,
Non ita sulphureis ignibus ora fremunt,

Quin magis igne boues isti,’ &c.

So also Bal. vii. 23, xviii. 8, xxx. 10; Vox Clam. i. 355, 449, 499, &c.;
Conf. Am. i. 1259, 1319, &c.

NOTES. Lis. I. 1225-1886 473

Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain accepts the proposal from loyalty to his lord,
and the rest is much as in Gower's version. It should be noted that
the alternative of day or night appears in the ballad and was a feature of
the original story, which Chaucer altered.

The Percy fragment of 74e Marriage of Sir Gawain, also printed
in Sir F. Madden's volume, is the same story as we have in the other
ballad. The name Florent and that of the Emperor Claudius are
probably due to Gower, who is apt to attach to his stories names of his
own choosing: cp. Lucius and Dionys (Conf. Am. v. 7124*, Mir.
7101), Spertachus for Cyrus (vii. 3418), &c.

Shakespeare refers to Gower’s story in the line,

* Be she as foul as was Florentius! love.'
Tam. of the Skr. i. 2. 69.

1427. Ais oghne hondes: cp. iii. 2011, 2142 ; v. 1884, 5455 (‘seide his
oghne mouth’).

1509. schape unto the lere, ‘ prepared for the loss’ (OE. lyre).

1521. far aventure, or ‘ per aventure” as given by J. The former
of the two words is as usual contracted in F.

1536. his horse heved, ‘his horse’s head’: cp. Prol. 1085, iv. 1357, &c.
The word ‘heved,’ also written ‘hefd,’ ‘hed,’ is a monosyllable as
regards the metre. ,

1541. Florent be thi name: cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, B 3982, ‘dan
Piers be youre name.’

1556. ‘I ask for nothing better (to be imposed) as a task.’

1587. Have hier myn hond: so in Chaucer, ‘ Have heer my trouthe,’
D 1013.

1662. This is one of the closest parallels with the ballad,

‘And she that told the nowe, sir Arthoure,
I pray to god 1 maye se her bren on a fyre.’
Weddynge of Syr Gawene, 475.

1676. what: cp. the use of ‘quoy’ in French, e.g. Mir. 1781.

1677. caste on his yhe, ‘ cast his eye upon.’

1714. ‘ He must, whom fate compels.’ The words ‘schal,’ ‘scholde’
are regularly used by Gower to express the idea of destiny, e.g. iii.
1348, iv. 92, 377.

1722. ‘ Placing her as he best could.’

1727. Bot as an oule &c. So in Chaucer,

‘And al day after hidde him as an owle,
. So wo was hym, his wyf looked so foule.’
D 1081 f.

1767. tok thanne chiere on honde, ‘ began to be merry.’

1771. And profreth him ... fo kisse,i.e. offers to kiss him: cp. v.
6923, * Anon he profreth him to love.’

1886. #7 it overthrowe, i.e. till it fall into calamity, *overthrowe'
being intransitive, as 1962.

NOTES. Lis. II. 83-404 481

265 f. ‘When I see another man labour where I cannot achieve
success.’ For this use of ‘to’ cp. Prol. 133, &c.

283. fo hindre with, ‘whereby to hinder’: cp. i. 452, 2172.

291 ff. This story, as Prof. Morley points out, is to be found among
the fables of Avian, which were widely known. Gower has amplified
it considerably. The fable is as follows:

xxii ‘ Iuppiter, ambiguas hominum praediscere mentes,
Ad terram Phoebum misit ab arce poli.
Tunc duo diversis poscebant numina votis,
Namque alter cupidus, invidus alter erat ;
His sese medium Titan scrutatus utrumque
Obtulit et, * Precibus Iuppiter aecus," ait,
* Praestandi facilis; nam quae speraverit unus,
Protinus haec alter congeminata feret."
Sed cui longa iecur nequiit satiare cupido,
Distulit admotas in sua dona preces, IO
Spem sibi confidens alieno crescere voto,
Seque ratus solum munera ferre duo.
]lle ubi captantem socium sua praemia vidit,
Supplicium proprii corporis optat ovans ;
Nam petit extincto iam lumine degat ut uno,
Alter ut hoc duplicans vivat utroque carens.
Tum sortem sapiens humanam risit Apollo,
Invidiaeque malum rettulit ipse Iovi,
Quae dum proventis aliorum gaudet iniquis,
Laetior infelix et sua damna cupit. 20

]. 6. Iuppiter aecus Lachmann vt peteretur cdd.

309. Now lowde wordes &c., i.e. Now with loud words, &c.; cp. vii.
170.

317. That on, ‘The one.’

323 (margin). macwlaust. Du Cange has, ‘ Waculare, Vulnerare,
vel vulnerando deformare.'

389. Malebouche, cp. Roman de la Rose, 2847 ff., Mirour de l'omme,
2677 ff.

390. £y] ne crouche, ‘pile nor cross, cross and pile being the too
sides of a coin, head and tail.

899 f. The meaning of ‘heraldie’ is rather uncertain here. Probably
it stands for * office of herald,’ and the passage means, * Holding the
place of herald in the court of liars’; but the Mew Engl. Dict.
apparently takes it in the sense of ‘livery,’ comparing the French
‘heraudie,’ a cassock, and an eighteenth-century example in English. In
this case we must understand the lines to mean ‘ wearing the livery of
those who lie,’ that is, being in their service.

401 ff. Cp. Mirour, 3721 ff.

404. fals, see note on Prol, 221. Just below (l. 412) we have ‘his

false tunge.’

ss 11

NOTES. Lis. II. 590-964 485

709 ff. Note the free transposition of clauses for the sake of the
rhymes. The logical order would be 709, 711, 710, 713, 712.

711. for yeres fyve. Trivet says ‘pur treis aunz,' but he keeps her
at sea nevertheless for nearly five.

736. gon, plural, ‘he and his wife go’: cp. 1152.

749 ff. In the MSS. the paragraph begins at ‘Constance loveth,’
l. 751.

792. ‘They speaking every day together alone, an absolute use:
cp. 1723. For ‘betwen hem two’ cp. 653.

762. Punctuated after ‘hire’ in F.

771. Thou bysne man. The word ‘ bysne' is taken from the original
story. Trivet says she spoke in the Saxon language and said, * Bisne
man, en lhesu name in rode yslawe haue pi siht' (MS. Rawl. f. 34).

785. As he that. The reference is to the king, so that we should.
rather expect ‘As him that,’ but the phrase is a stereotyped one and
does not always vary in accordance with grammatical construction :
cp. 1623. We find however also ‘ As him which,’ iii. 1276.

791. ‘The time being appointed moreover’: an absolute use of the
participle.

831. *trencha la gowle Hermigild': therefore the fact that Gower
and Chaucer agree in saying that he cut her throat has no special
significance.

833. The reading ‘ that dier,’ or ‘that diere, was apparently a mis-
take of the original copyist. It appears in all the unrevised copies of
the first recension and also in B. A however has the corrected reading.

857. After, ‘In accordance with.’ .

880 ff. Here Chaucer follows the original more closely than Gower,
as also just above, ‘him smoot upon the nekke boon. The words of
the miraculous voice are given in Latin by Trivet, ‘ Aduersus filiam
matris ecclesie ponebas scandalum: hoc fecisti et tacui ' (‘et non tacui’
Rawl. Stockh.). Chaucer has (B 674 ff.),

‘And seyde, **Thou hast desclaundred gilteles
The doughter of holy chirche in heigh presence:
Thus hastou doon and yet holde I my pees.’’’

895. This line occurs several times, e.g. i. 2106, ii. 2670.

905. Zucie, apparently to be pronounced ‘Lucfe.’ Such names
usually appear either in the Latin forms * Lucius,’ ‘ Tiberius,’ * Clau-
dius, ‘Virginius,’ or with accent on the antepenultimate syllable
* Tibérie, ‘ Mercürie the ‘i’ not being counted as a syllable.

947. What the right name really is we can hardly say for certain.
The printed text of the French gives * Domulde' or ‘ Domilde,' the
Rawlinson MS. has ‘ Downilde,’ and Chaucer makes it * Donegild.’

964. which is of faterie. In the French book the letter states
that the queen has been transformed since the king’s departure
into the likeness of another creature and is an evil spirit in woman's
form.

NOTES. Lis. III. 300-818 495

944. Hire oghte noght be. For this impersonal use with the simple
infinitive cp. 704.

545. For J, i.e. ‘For that I": cp. 820, &c.

985. This expression, which Pauli for some reason calls an ‘ obscene
proverb,’ seems to be nearly equivalent to the saying about the bird
that fouls his own nest (cp. A/irour, 23413), and refers apparently to
recriminations between the owl and the stock upon which he sits, on
the matter of cleanliness. The application is to the case of the man
who quarrels with his own performances, and naturally has the worst
of it himself.

626. ‘World’ seems to be the true reading here, though ‘ word’
stood in the earlier form of text. The meaning is ‘that state of things
shall never be permitted by me. The use of ‘world’ is like that
which we have in i. 178, where ‘mi world’ means ‘my condition’:
cp. Prol. 383, 1081. The verb ‘asterte’ is used in the sense of escaping
notice and so being allowed to pass or to happen: cp. i. 1934,

* Bot that ne schal me noght asterte,
"To wene forto be worthi,’ &c.
Cp. i. 722.

The expression ‘that word schal me nevere asterte’ is a more
ordinary one (and therefore more likely to have been introduced by
a copyist), but it gives no satisfactory sense here.

641 ff. The story was a hackneyed one, and occurs in many places.
It is shortly told by Jerome, Adv. Jovin. i. 48.

665. what labour that sche toke. The verb is subjunctive, either
because the form of speech is indirect, cp. 708, or because the ex-
pression is indefinite.

699. Cp. Mirour, 4185 ff., where after telling the same story the
author roundly declares that he shall not follow the example.

704. Him oghte.... bere: cp. 544, 1666.

708. how that if stode: subjunctive of indirect speech, under rhyme
influence: cp. ii. 1243 and L 771 below, and see note on Prol. 41.

736. Met. iii. 316ff. We have here the rest of the story which was
referred to above, 361 ff. The point of the incident as told by Ovid is
(perhaps purposely) missed by Gower, who does not mention the reason
why Tiresias was selected as judge.

737. That is, according to the religious belief which then prevailed.

762. * And yet the other state would have pleased him better, to have
had’ &c.

771. what he mene: for the subjunctive cp. 708.

782. of olde ensample : for ‘olde’ in this expression cp. 1683; but
‘of old time,’ i. 1072, ‘an old ensample,’ iv. 75.

788. This is from Ovid, Ae. ii. 542 ff. The Cornide of Gower's
story is Coronis. The story is told at greater length by Chaucer as
the Manciples Tale.

818 ff. From Ovid, Fas, ii. 585 ff.

NOTES. Lis. III. 1348-1911 499 .

me together. For the use of ‘betwen’ see note on ii. 653. The posi-
tion of *Only' is affected by metrical requirements : see note on ii. 709.

1478. oure herte bothe, ‘the hearts of us both. The singular ‘herte’
is given by the best copies of each recension.

1496. Bewar : thus written several times in F, e.g. 1738. Here A
also has ‘ Bewar.’

1524. Aim stant of meno fere : cp. ii. 2124.

1537. Daunger: see note on i. 2443.

1593 ff. The construction of the sentence is interrupted, but the
sense is clear: ‘For if I, who have given all my will and wit to her
service, should in reward thereof be suffered to die, it would be pity.’
For this kind of irregularity cp. i. 98, 2948, &c.

1605. The reading ‘in such,’ though given by both S and F, must be
wrong.

1630. overthrewe. The verb no doubt is intransitive, as often, e. g.
1. 1886, 1962, and below, 1. 1638.

1666. Aim oghte have be: cp. 704.

1685 ff. Ovid, Me/. i. 453-567. Gower cuts the story short.

1701. Ovid, Met. i. 470,

* Quod facit auratum est et cuspide fulget acuta.'

(Merkel alters ‘auratum’ to ‘hamatum,’ but this is certainly-wrong.)

1704. Note that the final syllable of ‘Daphne’ is subject to elision
here and in 1716: so * Progne' v. 5574, &c.

1718 ff. The suggestion is Gower's own, as in other:similar cases,
e. g. i. 2355.

1748. ‘And it is to be desired that a man,’ &c.

1757 ff. This story is chiefly from Benoit, Roman de Trote, 28025 ff.
Guido omits many details which are given by Gower. Note that in
]. 28025, where Joly’s edition has ‘Samas,’ Guido and Gower both have
* Athemas.' Our author has treated his materials freely and tells the
story at greater length. The speech which he assigns to Nestor is for
the most part original.

1885 ff. The tale of Orestes is from Benoit de Sainte- More, Rom. de
Troie, 27925-27990, 28155-28283, and 28339-28402. Guido omits the
visit of Orestes to Athens to obtain help for his expedition, the portion
of the oracle which bad him tear away his mother’s breasts, and the
name of Menetius (or Menesteus), who defended Orestes, and Gower’s
details are in general more in accordance with those of Benoft. A few
exceptions may be found, however. For example, Gower says that
Agamemnon was murdered as he lay in bed (1915), Guido, ‘dum suo
soporatus dormiret in lecto,’ but Benoit only, ‘ L'ont la première nuit
ocis.’ Again, Guido calls Idomeneus ‘ consanguineum eius,’ and Gower
says, ‘So as he was of his lignage,’ of which Benoit says nothing.
No doubt Gower was acquainted with both, and preferred the French
because he perceived it to be better.

1911. ‘To set her love in place where it cannot be secure.’

Kk2

NOTES. Lis. III. 2022—IV. 92 501

rather more correctly as ‘Theutran.’ Also Il. 2674-2680, Roman de
Trote, 6545-6553, have nothing corresponding to them in Guido.
Guido here certainly referred to a copy of the so-called Dares, where
the name occurs in its classical form ‘Teuthras.’ He is particularly
interested in the story on local grounds, being concerned to show that
the ‘ Messe’ which he found in Benoft might be connected with the
name of his place of residence, Messina, and that the events related
occurred actually in Sicily. Accordingly he speaks of certain columns
popularly called ‘columns of Hercules,’ which existed in his own time
in Sicily, ‘ex parte Barbarorum,’ i.e. on the south coast, and takes
them as evidence of the connexion of Hercules with the island, and
hence of the probability that this story (which in the original has to
do with Hercules, though Gower has excluded him from it) had its
scene in Sicily. Dares, he admits, says nothing of this, and his
reference to Dares is here in more precise form than usual, ‘in suo
codice’ according to the Bodleian MS., though the printed editions
give ‘in suo opere ' (MS. Add. A. 365, f. 50 v^).

He says of the place where these columns are, ‘qui locus dicitur
adhuc columpnarum,’ and adds that the emperor Frederic II has
established a town there, and that the place is now called ‘terra
nova.” This is obviously identical with the modern Terranova, founded
by Frederic II near the site of the ancient Gela. It seems probable
that Guido may have been himself a native of this place or of its im-
mediate neighbourhood, and that he chose to call himself after its former
designation, * Columpna ! or * Columpnae,’ instead of by the new name
which had come into use during his own lifetime’.

2643. His Sone. This is a mistake on the part of Gower. Both
Benoit and Guido state quite clearly that Telephus was the son of
Hercules, and that it was to Hercules that the obligation was due
which is referred to in 2690ff. Perhaps the copy of the Roman de
Troie which Gower used bad ‘ Thelefus fu filz Achilles’ for * Thelefus
fu filz Hercules,’ in l. 6506.

2756. Weshouldrather haveexpected ‘That I fro you wol nothing hele.’

LIB. IV.
9. Cp. Mirour, 5606,
‘Lachesce dist, Demein, Demein.’
88. Thou schalt mowe: cp. ii. 1670, where we have ‘mow’ for ‘mowe.’
60. a fin. This is a French expression, which appears repeatedly in

the Mirour as ‘au fin.’
77 ff. The only definite indication of sources here is the reference

(such as it is) to Ovid, Her. Ef. vii., contained in ll. 104-115.

92. as if be scholde, cp. iii. 1348.

! On inquiry in the locality I find that Terranova, which has always had
a column for its emblem, claims Guido as a native: see Memorie Gelest by
Sign. S. D. Navarra, Terranova 1896, pp. 72 f.

NOTES. Lis. IV. 104-733 503

371 ff. The story of Pygmalion is from Ovid, AMe/am. x. 243-297.

377. ‘ Being destined to the labours of love’: cp. note on iii. 143
(end).

415. how if were, i.e. ‘how so ever it were’: cp. 1. 1848.

448. a solein tale, ‘a strange tale This word ‘solein’ (or ‘soulein’),
which English etymologists in search for the origin of ‘ sullen’ report as
hardly to be found in French, occurs repeatedly in the Mirour de
l’omme in the sense of ‘alone,’ ‘lonely.’ For the meaning here
assigned to it we may compare the modern use of the word ‘ singular,’
which in Gower’s French meant ‘lonely.’ There is no authority for
Pauli’s reading ‘solempne,’ and it gives neither sense nor metre.

451 ff. The tale of Iphis is from Ovid, Metam. ix. 666-797, abbreviated
and altered with advantage.

453 ff. The authority of the MSS. is strongly in favour of ‘grete:
lete’ in these lines, and this reading is certainly right. We must take
‘lete’ as the past participle of the strong verb ‘leten’ (from ‘létan’),
meaning ‘leave,’ ‘omit,’ and ‘grete’ as accommodated to the rhyme.
The negative construction following rather suggests ‘let,’ meaning
‘hindered ' as ii. 128 ff., but the rhyme ‘let : gret’ would be an im-
possible one. See note on i. 3365 and cp. I. 1153.

985. And stonde, i.e.‘ And I stonde’: cp. i. 1895, &c., and below,
l. 697.

624. on miself along, so below l. 952, * It is noght on mi will along,’
and Chaucer, Zroi/us, ii. 1001,

* On me is nought along thyn yvel fare.

The use of ‘on’ for ‘of’ in this phrase is still known in some dialects.

647 ff. For the Ring of Forgetfulness here spoken of see Petrus
Comestor, Exodus vi., where it is related that Moses in command of
the Egyptians captured the chief city of the Ethiopians by the help of
Tarbis, daughter of their king, and married her in recompense of her
services. "Then, wishing to return to Egypt and being detained by his
wife, 'tanquam vir peritus astrorum duas imagines sculpsit in gemmis
huius efficaciae, ut altera memoriam, altera oblivionem conferret.
Cumque paribus anulis eas inseruisset, alterum, scilicet oblivionis
anulum, uxori praebuit, alterum ipse tulit; ut sic pari amore sic
paribus anulis insignirentur. Coepit ergo mulier amoris viri oblivisci,
et tandem libere in Aegyptum regressus est’ (Migne, Pafrol. vol. 198,
p. 1144). Cp. Godfr. Viterb., Pantheon, v. (p. 115).

731 ff. Partly from Ovid, Her. Ef. ii. and Rem. Am. 591-604; but
there was probably some other source, for our author would not find
anything in Ovid about the transformation into a tree. Many of the
details seem to be of his own invention, and he is probably respon-
sible for the variation which makes the visit of Demophon to Thrace
take place on the way to Troy instead of on the return. Chaucer’s
form of the story in the Legend of Good Women is quite different.

133. F is here followed in punctuation.

504 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

716. a Monthe day: Ovid, Her. Ef. ii. 3f.,

* Cornua cum lunae pleno semel orbe coissent,
Litoribus nostris ancora pacta tua est.'

782. Cp. Ovid, Ars Am. ii. 354,
‘Exarsit velis acrius illa datis.'

787 ff. Except the idea of a letter being sent, Gower takes little here
from Ovid.

816 ff. This passage seems mostly of Gower's invention, partly
perhaps on the suggestion of the story of Hero and Leander in Ovid,
Her. Ef. xix. 33 ff. See Bech in Anglia, v. 347.

do set up. Apparently ‘set’ is the participle, cp. ii. 1799.

833. al Aire one. This idea is emphasized by Ovid, Rem. Am. 591 f.

869. This piece of etymology is perhaps due to our author, who
usually adds something of his own to the stories of transformation
which he relates; see note on i. 2355. Lydgate says that Phyllis
hanged herself upon a filbert-tree, but he perhaps took the notion
from Gower :

‘Upon the walles depeint men myght se
Hou she was honged upon a filbert tre.’
Temple of Glas, 88.
See the note in Dr. Schick's edition, E. E. T. S. 1891.
893. Cp. Mirour, 5436,

‘Lors est il sage apres la mein,’

of which this line is an exact reproduction.

904. pleith an aftercast. This looks like a metaphor from casting
dice, but it is difficult to see the exact application. It means of course
here that he is always too late in what he says and does.

914. come at thin above, i.e. attain to success: cp. Mirour, 25350,

‘Car lors est Triche a son dessus.’

964. See note on 1. 2677.

979 ff. The story may probably enough be taken from Ovid, Aetas. ii.
1-324, but if so it is much abbreviated.

which is the Sonne hote,‘ which is called the Sun’; cp. ii. 131 f.
Possibly, however, *hote' may be the adjective, with definite termina-
tion for the sake of the rhyme. There would be no objection to
rhyming with it the adverb of the same form.

1030 ff. The moral drawn by Gower from the story of Phaeton is
against going too low, that is abandoning the higher concerns of love
owing to slothful negligence. The next story is against aiming too high
and neglecting the due claims of service.

1085 ff. Ovid, Metam. viii. 183-235.

1090 f. Cp. Mirour, 5389 ff.

1096. who as evere take: so ‘what man’ is very commonly used
with subjunctive, iii. 2508 &c., but the uncertainty of the construction is
shown by ‘And thinkth’ in the next line. See notes on Prol. 13, 460.

NOTES. Lis. IV. 776-1330 505

1108 ff. Cp. Mirour, 5395 ff.

1131. A superfluous syllable, such as we have at the pause in this
line, is very unusual in Gower's verse; but cp. v. 447.

1158. dete J ne mai, * I may not neglect’: see note on i. 3365.

1180. Cp. i. 698, ‘And many a contenance he piketh.’ It means
here perhaps ‘thus I keep up a pretence (for staying).

1245 ff. A somewhat similar story to this is to be found in Andreas
Capellanus, De Amore, to which my attention was first called by Mr.
Archer. This book (written about 1220) gives imaginary colloquies
between different kinds of persons, to illustrate the ways of courtship,
‘Plebeius loquitur plebeiae, ‘ Plebeius nobili, ‘ Nobilis plebeiae,’
‘Nobilis nobili.’ In this last occurs the story of a squire who saw the
god of love leading a great company of ladies in three bands, the
first well mounted and well attended, the second well mounted but
attended by so many that it was a hindrance rather than a help, and
the third in wretched array with lame horses and no attendance. The
meaning of the sight is explained to the squire by one of these last,
and he is taken to see the appropriate rewards and punishments of
each band. Herelates what he has seen to his mistress in order to make
her more ready to accept his suit (pp. 91-108, ed. Trojel, 1892).

There are some expressions which resemble those which Gower uses,
as quarum quaelibet in equo pinguissimo et formoso et suavissime
ambulante sedebat! (p. 92), cp. 1309 f.,

‘On faire amblende hors thei sete
That were al whyte, fatte and grete.’

And again, *domina quaedam . . . habens equum macerrimum et
turpem et tribus pedibus claudicantem,’ cp. 1343 ff. The story, however,
is different in many ways from that of Gower. For other similar stories
see the article in Romania for January 1900 on the ‘ Purgatory of
Cruel Beauties? by W. A. Neilson.

The tale of Rosiphelee is well told by Gower, and in more than one
passage it bears marks of having been carefully revised by the author.
The alteration of 1321f. is peculiarly happy, and gives us one of the
best couplets in the Confessio Amantis.

1285. the Sonne Ariste: cp. iii. 1224. The capital letter was per-
haps intended to mark ' Ariste’ as a substantive.

1307. comen ryde : cp. i. 350.

1309. ‘hors’ is evidently plural here: so i. 2036 and often.

1320. Jong and smal, i.e. tall and slender. Adjectives used predi-
catively with a plural subject take the plural inflection or not according
to convenience. Thus in Prol. 81 we have ' Bot for my wittes ben
to smale' in rhyme with ‘tale.’

1823. deere. This is pret. plur., as 1376: the same form for pret.
subj. 2749.

1330. For pure abaissht: cp. Chaucer, 7roilus, ii. 656, ‘And with
that thought for pure ashamed she Gan in hir hed to pulle” The

506 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

parallel, to which my attention was called by Prof. McCormick, suggests
the idea that ‘abaissht’ is a participle rather than a noun, and the
use of the past participle with ‘for’ in this manner occurs several times
in Lydgate, e.g. ‘for unknowe,’ ‘meaning from ignorance,’ Zemfe of
Glas, 632, ‘for astonied,’ 934, 1366, and so with an adjective, ‘for pure
wood’ in the English Rom. of the Rose,276. See Dr. Schick’s note on
Lydgate, Zemple of Glas, 632.
1422. That I ne hadde, *1 would that I had’: cp. v. 3747,

‘Ha lord, that he ne were alonde!’

‘to late war’ is in a kind of loose apposition to the subject.

1429. sche. Rather perhaps ‘swich,’ as ii. 566 f, v. 377. Most
MSS. have ‘such.’

1432 ff. warneth ... bidd. The singular of the imperative seems to
be freely interchanged with the plural in this form of address.

1454 (margin). The author dissociates himself personally from the
extreme doctrines enunciated in the text, as at first he took care to
remind his readers that the character of a lover was for him only an
assumed one (i. 63 ff. margin).

1490. and longe er that sche changeth &c. This is a puzzling sen-
tence, and we are not helped by the punctuation of the MSS., which
for the most part have a stop after ‘herte.’ I can only suppose that it
means ‘and is long before she changes her heart in her youth to mar-
riage.’ We can hardly make ‘longe? a verb, ‘and may be eager until
she changes,' because of the lines which follow.

1505 ff. Judges xi. Our author has expanded the story so far as
regards the mourning for the virginity of Jephthah's daughter, that
being the point with which he was particularly concerned here.

1516. * Whether it be of man or woman.

1537 ff. In the original this is different, * Heu me, filia mea, decepisti
me et ipsa decepta es: aperui enim os meum ad Dominum, et aliud
facere non potero. Gower deals freely here as elsewhere with the
narrative, especially in the matter of speeches.

1563. fourty daies : in the original ‘ duobus mensibus."

1632 ff. Cp. Mirour, 11694.

1649. as me thenketh ... That, equivalent to ‘me thinketh ... That,’
either ‘as’ or ‘ That’ being redundant.

1659. The best MSS. give ‘ hepen’ here, not ‘ hepene.’

1693 ff. Roman de Troie, 18385 ff. In the medieval Tale of Troy it
is the love of Polyxena which serves as motive for the withdrawal of
Achilles from the war.

1723. which J travaile fore. We have here rather a remarkable in-
stance of emphasis thrown on the preposition, with a modification of
form for the sake of the rhyme: cp. ii. 565.

1741. On whether bord, i. e. on which tack : technical terms of the sea
occur several times in the Confessio Amantis,e.g.v. 3119, 7048, viii. 1983.

1810. made: cp. Prol. 300.

NOTES. Lis. IV. 1422-2054 507

1815 ff. Gower seems to have dealt rather freely with this story. The
usual form of it gives Palamedes, not Nauplius, as the person who
came to fetch Ulysses, and makes Ulysses yoke a horse and an ox to-
gether in a plough as a sign of madness: see Hyginus, Faë. xcv. As
to the name of Nauplus, see notes on iii. 973, 1002.

1833. That is, ‘feigning to be mad,’ not ‘like one who feigns to be
mad’: see note on i. 695.

1847 ff. ‘ He thought to try if he were mad or no, however it might
please Ulysses,’ that is, whether it pleased him or not. ‘Hou’ seems
to be for ‘ How so evere’: cp. 1. 415.

1875. £ofhe, written so when the emphasis falls on the preposition,
see note on i. 232.

1901 ff. Ovid, Her. £5. xiii.

1927. F has a stop after *londeth,' thus throwing the clause, ‘and
was the ferste there Which londeth,’ into a parenthesis.

1935 ff. 1 Sam. xxviii, where the witch is called * mulier pythonem
habens.'

1968 ff. The story of the education of Achilles by Chiron, as we have
it here, is apparently taken, directly or indirectly, from Statius, Aches//.
ii. 121 (407) ff,

* Nunquam ille imbelles Ossaea per avia damas
Sectari, aut timidas passus me cuspide lyncas
Sternere, sed tristes turbare cubilibus ursos
Fulmineosque sues, et sicubi maxima tigris
Aut seducta iugis fetae spelunca leaenae.

Ipse sedens vasto facta exspectabat in antro,
Si sparsus magno remearem sanguine ; nec me
Ante nisi inspectis admisit ad oscula telis.'

2014 ff. The argument is to the effect that Prowess, which is ac-
knowledged to be the virtue opposed to Sloth, see Airour, 10136 &c.,
must show itself partly in the spirit of warlike boldness, ‘the corage of
hardiesce,’ leading to such undertakings as those of which the Lover
had disputed the necessity.

2040. And that, i.e. ‘And as to that’: cp. Prol. 122.

2045 ff. The fight between Hercules and Achelous is related in
detail by Ovid, Metam. ix. 31-88. Some parts of this seem to be
reproduced by Gower, but the details are not very exactly copied.
For the story generally he had some other authority, whence he got
for example the names ‘ Oénes’ and ‘ Calidoyne.’

It is to be noted that Gower gives * Achelons' instead of Achelous,
as he does also in the 7raïfié, vii. 5, where the story is shortly told in the
same way as here, and there we find *Achelontis' in the margin as
the genitive case. He ought to have been preserved from the mistake
by the occurrence of the name in Ovid's verse.

2054. For these two pillars cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, B 3307 f, but
Gower supposes them to have been both set up in the ' desert of India,'

508 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

* El grant desert d’Ynde superiour’ as he has it in 7raitié, vii. 1, whereas
according to Chaucer one was set up in the East and the other in the
West, to mark the extreme bounds of the world.

2128 f. Such forms of spelling as ‘sleighte,’ *heighte' are unusual
with our author, but cp. vii. 1121, 1227 f.

2185. For the stories of ‘ Pantasilee' and Philemenis we may refer
to the Roman de Troie, 23283 ff. and 25663-25704.

2200 ff. From this question arises the inevitable discussion of the
nature of ‘gentilesse’ and how far it depends upon birth, riches or
personal merit. Gower accepts only the last qualification, and argues
for it after the fashion of John Ball, though he was neither a Lollard
nor a social revolutionist: cp. Mirour, 23389 ff. For the general subject
cp. Dante, Convito, iv. 10, Roman de la Rose, 18807 ff. (ed. Méon),
Chaucer, Cant. Tales, D 1109 ff.

To Gower we must grant the merit of clearness and conciseness in
handling the well-worn theme.

2208 f. Cp. Dante, Convito, iv. 3.

2305 ff. ‘ And love is of profit also as regards women, so that they
may be the better ‘‘affaited.” ’

2314. make it queinte, ‘behave gently’: cp. ‘make it tough,’
Chaucer, Zroïilus, v. 101. For the meaning of * queinte' see the quota-
tions in Godefroy’s Dictionary under ‘ cointe.’

2325. 1 John iii. 14.

2342. This is from Job v. 7.

2396 ff. Many of these names are unknown to me, and Warton’s con-
jectures on the subject are very wild, but some points may be illustrated
from Godfrey of Viterbo. For example, as regards the first we find,

‘Septem quas legimus Cham primus scripserat artes.’
Pantheon, iii. (p. 88).

2401. Godf. Vit, Pantheon, vi. (p. 133), ‘Tunc Cadmus Graecas
literas sedecim fecit.'

2410. Zermegis. The word is a dissyllable for the metre. Probably
this name stands for Termegistus (i. e. Trismegistus), and in that case
we must throw the accent upon the final syllable and pass lightly over
the preceding one.

2418 ff. I suspect that ‘ Poulins' means Apollo or Apollinis: cp.
Pantheon, vi. (p. 133), *Apollo etiam citharam condidit et artem
medicinalem invenit.'

2421. Zenzts, i.e. Zeuxis, who is referred to in the Rom. de /a Rose
(for example) as the chief of painters, 16387 ff. (ed. Méon).

2422. Cp. Godf. Vit., Panth. v. (p. 121),

* Tunc et Prometheus, qui filius est Atlantis
Dat statuas hominis humano more meantes.'
2427. ‘Jadahel’ is the Jabal (or Jebal) of the Bible (Gen. iv. 20).

Godfrey of Viterbo calls him by the same name and makes the same
statement about his hunting and fishing :

NOTES. Lis. IV. 2123-2606 509

* In mundo Iadahel posuit tentoria primus,
Venator prior ipse fuit feritate ferinus,
Primus et invalidis retia mersit aquis.'
Pant. ii. (p. 77).
2439 ff. Godf. Vit., Panth. iv. (p. 98),

' Saturnus statuit super aequora vela moueri,
Denarios posuit commercia rite mereri.
Aedificans Sutrium dum vivit ibi dominatur,

. Triticeum semen primus in urbe serens.’

2462 ff. Fer the seven bodies and four spirits of Alchemy cp. Chaucer,
Cant. Tales, G 818 ff. Mercury, it will be noticed, is reckoned both as
a body and as a spirit, but some authorities called this a spirit only
and reckoned six metallic bodies.

2476. after the bok it calleth, ‘according as the book calls it.’

2488 ff. Cp. 2565 ff.

2501. The seven forms are those enumerated in 2513 ff., viz. dis-
tillation, congelation, solution, descension, sublimation, calcination,
fixation.

2522. Cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, G 862 f.

2098. Zhre Stones. According to some authors, as Hortulanus (MS.
Ashmole 1478, iv.), there was but one stone, the Elixir, which had
vegetable, animal and mineral qualities or functions; but in Lydgate,
Secrees of the Philosophres, 1. 530 (E. E. T. S.), we have,

* And of stones, specially of three,
Oon mineral, another vegetatyff,’ &c. ;

and the editor quotes from Rosarium Philosophorum, ‘Tres sunt lapides
et tres sales sunt, ex quibus totum magisterium consistit, scilicet
mineralis, plantalis et animalis) In the Secreta Secretorum, however,
the stone seems to be one only, see the chapter ‘ De lapide animali
vegetabili.’

2597. who that it knewe: cp. ii. 88, and see note on Prol. 460.

2606. Hermes, i.e. Hermes Trismegistus, to whom the invention of
the science was attributed.

on the ferst, ‘the very first,’ cp. vi. 1481. It may be questioned,

however, whether the theory put forward by C. Stoffel in Englische
Studien, xxvii. 253 ff, is the correct explanation of this expression,
which survived to Elizabethan times (Shaksp., Cyd. i. 6. 165, ‘he ig
one the truest mannered’). He takes ‘on’ in the sense of the Latin
‘unus’ in *iustissimus unus, to mean ‘alone,’ ‘above all.’ It is
perhaps more likely that the usual explanation, which regards it as an
elliptical expression for ‘one who was the first,’ is correct, especially
in view of such expressions as ‘two the first,’ ‘ three the noblest,’ &c.,
which also occur in the fourteenth century. The use of ‘on’ (‘oon’)
for ‘a person’ is common enough, as in the expressions ‘so good on,”

NOTES. Lis. IV. 2608-2996 511

called The Chaunces of the Dyse in the Bodleian MSS. Fairfax 16 and
Bodl. 638. For example, the throw of six, four and ace is there ex-
plained by the following stanza:

* O mekenesse of vertu principal,

That may be founde in eny creature!
In this persone of kunnynge ordinal
Is ful assembled, I yow dar assure,
The lorde of vertu and al vices cure,
Perfit beaute grounded without envye,
Assured trust withoute gelousye.'

And similarly there is a stanza, complimentary or otherwise, for each
possible throw.

2818. Hire daunger: sce note on i. 2443.

2855. whi ne were it, ‘would it were’: cp. the expression ‘that he
ne were,’ Vii. 3747, &c.

2895 f. Apparently he means that his dreams were of no such harm-
less things as sheep and their wool, or perhaps not of business matters,
alluding to wool as the staple of English commerce.

2901 ff. Cp. Roman de la Rose, 2449-2479.

2905. J ne bede nevere awake: cp. Romaunt of the Rose,791, ‘Ne
bode I never thennes go.’ It means apparently ‘I should desire never
to awake’ (‘I should not pray ever to awake ').

2024. in my wrytinges. The author forgets here that he is speaking
in the person of the Confessor.

2927 ff. This is from Ovid, Mefam. xi. 266-748, where the story is
told at great length. Gower follows some parts of it, as the description
of the House of Sleep and its surroundings, very closely.

Chaucer tells the story in the Book of the Duchess, but he has not
been so successful in reproducing it as Gower. It is here introduced
only as an illustration of the truth of dreams, but with its description
of the House of Sleep it is very appropriate also in other respects to
the subject of Somnolence, which is under discussion.

2028. Trocinie, from the adjective ‘Trachinia,’ in such expressions
as ‘ Trachinia tellus,’ A/efam. xi. 269.

2973. The reading of all the best MSS. in this line is ‘he’: (S how-
ever is defective). We cannot doubt that the author meant to write
‘sche,’ for in what follows he regularly refers to Iris as female; but the
mistake apparently escaped his notice, and we must regard the reading
‘she’ in the two copies in which I have found it as an unauthorized cor-
rection. Chaucer makes the messenger male, but does not name him.

2977-3055. This passage very happily follows Ovid, Mef. xi. 589-
645. Our author gives all the essential features, but rearranges them
freely and adds details of his own.

2996. AMetam. xi. 608,

‘Ianua, ne verso stridores cardine reddat,
Nulla domo tota.’

512 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

3009 ff. Meta. xi. 602 ff.,
‘saxo tamen exit ab imo
Rivus aquae Lethes, per quem cum mutmure labens
Invitat somnos crepitantibus unda lapillis.'

3015 ff. Metam. xi. 610 ff.,

* At medio torus est ebeno sublimis in antro,
Plumeus, unicolor, pullo velamine tectus,
Quo cubat ipse deus membris languore solutis.
Hunc circa passim varias imitantia formas
Somnia vana iacent,' &c.

3044. * Ithecus' is a misreading of * Icelos,' as ‘ Panthasas' in L 3049
of ‘ Phantasos.’

3061 ff. Here Gower has made a real improvement in the story by
employing the two other ministers of Sleep, whose functions have
been described, to represent the scene of the tempest and the wreck,
while Morpheus plays the part of Ceyx in the same scene. Ovid in-
troduces the characters of Icelos and Phantasos, but makes no use of
them, sending Morpheus alone to relate what has taken place, instead
of representing it in action, as it would more naturally appear in
a dream.

3159. 15 herte: more usually ‘min herte’ as 3139, and so generally
before ‘h,’ whether aspirated or not, e. g. 3561; but ‘for mi housebondes
were,’ vii. 4813, (with ‘myn housebonde’ below, 4829).

3187 ff. This seems to be for the most part original. A hint may
have been given by the lines of Ovid in which it is suggested that
Aurora might have used a somewhat similar prayer :

* At si quem manibus Cephalum complexa teneres,
Clamares, Lente currite, noctis equi.’
Amor. i. 13, 39.

3222. The sun enters Capricorn on Dec. 21.

3273. that he arise: so 3374, ‘ Til it be dai that I arise,’ and v. 3422,
* Til dai cam that sche moste arise

The verb seems here to be attracted into the subjunctive by the in-
definite meaning of ‘Til.’ In the other passages the mood is
uncertain.

8317 ff. Ovid, Metam. i. 588-723, much abbreviated. It was, how-
ever, Jupiter who turned Io into a cow.

3386. for thou thee schalt avise, ‘in order that thou mayest consider.’

3414. that I nere of this lif, ‘would that I were out of this life.’
For ‘that I nere’ cp. note on 1422. For ‘of this lif’ cp. vii. 2883,
‘ whan he were of dawe.’

3438 f. ‘And yet he (Obstinacy) cannot support his own cause by
any argument but by headstrong wilfulness.’

For the expression ‘of hed’ we may compare the Latin expression

514. CONFESSIO AMANTIS

LIB. V.

18. ¢¢ cam to londe, wherof, ‘the occasion arose, whence,’ &c.

22. kim supposeth: the verb is used impersonally, like ‘him thenketh.'
Probably the confusion between ‘thinke’ and ‘thenke’ gave rise to
this expression.

29 ff. So below, 348 ff.: cp. Mérour, 7585 ff.

47 f. This seems, as it stands at present, to be an application of the
instances to the case of the avaricious man, ‘ Thus he so
his wealth that he in truth possesses nothing,’ (‘that’ for ‘so that").
The original couplet however, as read by all the unrevised class of
manuscripts, applies to the case of the sheep, and we may take it so
also in its revised form (* Thus! being answered by ‘ that’).

49 ff. Cp. Mirour, 7645 ft.,

‘L’en dist, mais c'est inproprement,
Qe l'averous ad grant argent ;
Mais voir est que l'argent luy a:
En servitude ensi le prent,’ &c.

65. nevere hier. Note that there is no elision before ‘ hier.’

81 f. * And yet, though I held her fast (as a miser his hoard), my life
would be a perpetual feast, even on Fridays.’ If he possessed the
treasure, his avarice would not allow him to let it go, and yet he would
not keep it unused, as a miser does his gold. So later, 93, * Though
I should hold it fast, I should so be doing that which I were bound
to do.' .

95. pipe, ‘be content’: perhaps from the idea of a bird-catcher
piping or whistling for birds, but failing to snare them.

127-186. Notethe repetitionof the word ‘gold’ in an emphatic position.

141 ff. Ovid, Metam. xi. 85-147, freely treated as usual. The debate
of Midas as to which of three things he should prefer (Il. 180-245) is
all due to our author. In Ovid he chooses without hesitation.

148. Cillenus, i.e. Silenus.

154 f. Gower attributes the action of the king to pure courtesy, Ovid
to the fact that Midas recognized in Silenus a fellow-mystic.

249 ff. Cp. Mirour, 7603 ff.

272 ff. Ovid, Metam. xi. 106,

* Laetus abit gaudetque malo Berecyntius heros:
Pollicitique fidem tangendo singula temptat.

Ilice detraxit virgam, virga aurea facta est:

Tollit humo saxum, saxum quoque palluit auro*: &c.

298. See note on i. Io.

315-332. This is an expansion of Mefam. xi. 146 f.,

‘Ille perosus opes silvas et rura colebat,
Panaque montanis habitantem semper in antris.'
863 ff. The punishment referred to is certainly more appropriate for

NOTES. Lis. V. 18-763 515

avarice than for the offence committed by Tantalus: cp. Hor. Sav. i. 1.
68. Thestory of Tantalus is alluded to several times in Ovid, as Me£a»i.
iv. 458, and told by Hyginus, Fa. lxxxii. Perhaps our author rather
followed Fulgentius, 4M yZAo/. ii. 18, who quotes from Petronius,

' Divitis haec magni facies erit, omnia late
Qui tenet, et sicco concoquit ore famem.'
Cp. Mirour, 7621 ff.,

‘Dame Avarice est dite auci
Semblable au paine Tantali, &c.

970. This seems to mean that it serves for the punishment of the
avaricious ; but from what follows in 391 ff. we gather that the pains of
avarice in this life also are to be compared with this particular pain
of hell, and so the application is made in the Mirour, 7621-7632.

888. which a wreche, ‘what a punishment.

418. suie: cp. Prol. 460.

447. For the superfluous syllable at the pause in the middle of this
line cp. iv. 1131.

496. berth an hond: equivalent to ‘berth on hond,’ L 546.

519. Count ‘evel’ as a monosyllable for the verse ; so regularly, e. g.
iii. 1272, vii. 2773.

926. Janglere. The final * -e? is not pronounced here.

958f. the gold... The which was leid upon the bok. The gold
in question is that which is laid upon the service-book in payment of
the marriage fees: ‘and the Man shall give unto the Woman a Ring,
laying the same upon the book with the accustomed duty to the Priest
and Clerk.’ Marriage Service.

564. ‘though he will not praise it,’ ie. he gives her no credit for
it: cp. Prol. 154.

635 ff. Ovid, Ars Am. ii. 561-592, but the original is not very closely
followed.

665. Cp. iii. 1362 ff.

729 ff. From this arises the very ill-advised digression of ll. 747-1970
about the various forms of Religion. There is no more reason why
this should come in here than anywhere else, indeed if the question of
false gods was to be raised at all, it ought to have come in as an
explanation of tlie appearance of Venus and Cupid in the first book.
Many stories have been told, for example those of Acteon, of the
Gorgons, of Tiresias, of Phoebus and Daphne, of Phaeton, of Ceix, of
Argus, and of Midas, which required the explanation quite as much as
this one, and the awkwardness of putting it all into the mouth of the
priest of Venus is inexcusable.

The main authority followed in this account of the religions of
Chaldea, Egypt, and Greece is the Vita Barlaam et Josaphat, cap. xxvii.
(Migne, Patrol. vol. 73, p. 548 ff.), but Gower adds much to it, especially
as regards the gods and goddesses of Greece.

763. of Accidence : cp. ii. 3210.

Lla

516 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

774. hevenly: so Prol. 918, but ‘hevenely’ i. 834, 3136, the second
syllable in that case being syncopated, as regularly in ‘hevene.’ So also
in the case of ‘evermore’ and *everemore ’ as compared with ‘evere.’

782. Les, that is, ‘ falsehood.’

798. Istrus, i. e. Osiris.

811. thegipctenes. This must be the true reading for the sake of the
metre, both here and in l. 821, though the best copies fail to give it.
A similar case occurs in L 1119, but there the authority for ‘ Jupiteres’
is made much stronger by the accession of S.

897. Mynitor, i.e. Numitor.

899 f. that Remus and Romulus. For the position of ‘that’ cp.
1166, 1249.

925. To gete him with: cp. i. 452.

1004. wel the more lete by, much the more esteemed’: cp. Pier;
Plowman, A vi. 105, ‘ to lete wel by thyselve,’ and xi. 29: also with ‘of,’
v. 5840 ; cp. Piers Plowm. iv. 160,* Love let of hire lighte and lewte yit
lasse,” Orm. 7523, * uss birrth. . . laetenn wel off othre menn.'

1009. Nonarcigne. The name is taken no doubt from the adjective
* Nonacrinus ' (from Nonacris), used as in Ovid, 2e. i. 690, where it
occurs in the story of Pan and Syrinx, told by Mercury to lull Argus
to sleep: cp. Conf. Am. iv. 3345 ff.

1040. Cp. Prol. 118.

1043 ff. The sentence is interrupted and then begun again at l. 1051:
see note on i. 98.

1063. That he, i.e. ‘In that he” Gower has here mistaken his
authority, which says ‘ post autem eum propter Tyndarei Lacedaemonii
filium a Jove fulmine percussum interiisse narrant.’ Vita Bar. et
Jos. xxvii.

1071. Delphi and Delos are very naturally confused in the medieval
Tale of Troy and elsewhere ; but Delos is mentioned correctly enough
below, 1256.

1097. #0 reason inne: cp. i. 3209.

1168. PAslerem, presumably Philyra, but there is no authority for
making her the mother of Jupiter.

1249. fat: cp. 899. Apparently it means, ‘that Diane of whom
I am to speak. The necessities of rhyme are responsible for these
forms of speech.

1276. ‘Which may not attain to reason.’

1828. The paragraph is made to begin here in the MSS. with what is,
strictly speaking, its second line, because it is marked by a proper
name which indicates its subject, the first line being a mere formal
introduction. So also below, 1453: cp. ii. 2451.

1337. The name * Dorus’ seems to have been suggested by that of
Doris, mother of the Nereids.

1889. a/le danger, that is, all reluctance or coyness.

1397. Armene, i. e. Harmonia.

1398. Andragene Androgynus or Hermaphroditus.

NOTES. Lis. V. 774-1571 517

1428. noght forsake To ben, i.e. ‘not refuse to be.’

1449. ‘ whether it was of weal or wo’: ‘wher’ for ‘ whether.’

1458. See note on 1323.

As for the letters said to have been exchanged between Alexander
and the king of the Bragmans (or Brahmins), we find them at length
in the Historia Alexandri Magni de Preliis, which was the source of
most of the current stories about Alexander. The passage referred to
is as follows: ‘ Tot deos colis quot in tuo corpore membra portas.
Nam hominem dicis paruum mundum, et sicut corpus hominis habet -
multa membra, ita et in celo dicis multos deos existere. Iunonem credis
esse deum cordis, eo quod iracundia nimia mouebatur. Martem vero
deum pectoris esse dicis, eó quod princeps extitit preliorum. Mercurium
deum lingue vocas, ex eo quod plurimum loquebatur. Herculem deum
credis brachiorum, eo quod duodecim virtutes exercuit preliando.
Bachum deum gutturis esse putas, eo quod ebrietatem primus inuenit.
Cupidinem esse deam dicis, eo quod fornicatrix extitit; tenere dicis
facem ardentem, cum qua libidinem excitat et accendit, et ipsam
deam iecoris etiam existimas. Cererem deam ventris esse dicis, et
Venerem, eo quod fuit mater luxurie, deam genitalium membrorum
esse profers? (e 2, ed. Argent. 1489).

Cp. the English alliterative Wars of Alexander, E. E. T. S., 1886,
IL 4494 ff. There is no mention of Minerva in either of these.

1520ff. The usual account is to the effect that Ninus set up the
first idol: see below, 1541. , What we have here seems to be taken
from Fulgentius, MyfAol. iS, where the authorities here cited, Nica-
goras and Petronius, are quoted. The passage is apparently corrupt,
and our author obviously did not quite understand it: ‘Et quamvis
Nicagoras in Disthemithea libro quem scripsit, primum illum formasse
idolum referat, et quod vulturi iecur praebeat livoris quasi pingat
imaginem : unde et Petronius Arbiter ait,

“Qui vultur iecor intimum pererrat”’ &c.

From the same author, J/yfhol. i. 1, he got the story about Syrophanes,
who set up an image of his dead son, to which offerings were made by
those who wished to gain his favour.

1541. Cp. Godfr. Vit., Panth. iv. (p. 102), whose account agrees very
nearly with what we have here, though he represents this image as the
first example of an idol, under the heading, ‘ Quare primum idolum in
mundo et quo tempore fuit. Cp. Guido, Ast. Troiana, lib. x (e 5, ed.
Argent. 1494).

1559. Godf. Vit., Pantk. iv. (p. 112) : * His temporibus apud Egyptios
constructum est idolum magnum in honorem Apis, Regis Argivorum ;
quidam tamen dicunt in honorem Ioseph, qui liberavit eos a fame;
quod idolum Serapis vocabatur, quasi idolum Apis.'

1571 ff. Hist. Alexandri, f 1v°, ed. Argent. 1489: ‘Exiens inde
Alexander cum Candeolo profecti sunt iter diei vnius, et venerunt ad
quandam speluncam magnam et hospitati suntibi. Dixitque Candeolus,

518 CONFESSIO AMANTIS

* Omnes dii concilium in ista spelunca concelebrant.” Cum hoc audisset
Alexander, statim fecit victimas diis suis, et ingressus in speluncam
solus vidit ibi caligines maximasque nubes stellasque lucentes, et inter
ipsas stellas quendam deum maximum,’ &c.

Cp. the English alliterative Wars of Alexander, l. $387 ff.

1624. herd me seid: see note on i. 3153.

1686. There is a stop after ‘Forbad’ in F. The meaning is that
he gave a prohibition commanding them not to bow to an image.

1677. Rikt as who sette: the verb apparently is subjunctive.

1746 ff. What purports to be the original passage is quoted in the
margin of the second recension.

1747. For the form of expression cp. vi. 56f.,

*O which a sorwe
It is a man be drinkeles!°

1756 ff. The substance of this is to be found in Gregory, Zn i. Reg.
viii. 7 f. (Migne, Parrot. vol. 79. p. 222): *Et quidem, nisi Adam peccaret,
Redemptorem nostrum carnem suscipere nostram non oporteret . . Si
ergo pro peccatoribus venit, si peccata deessent, eum venire non opor-
teret... Magna quippe sunt mala quae per primae culpae meritum
patimur, sed quis electus nollet peiora perpeti, quam tantum Redempto-
rem non habere ?'

1781 ff. Note that here twelve lines are replaced in the second
recension by ten, one of the couplets (or the substance of it) having
been inserted earlier, after 1. 1742.

1826. ‘So that his word explained his deed’: ‘arawhte’ from
‘arechen’ (areccan).

1831 ff. Roman de Trote, 25504-25559.

1848-1959. With this compare Prol. 193-498.

1865. ‘ And they do every man what he pleases,’ the verb being plural.

1879. Pseudo: cp. Mirour, 21625 ff.,

']l estoit dit grant temps y a
Q'un fals prophete a nous vendra,
Q'ad noun Pseudo le decevant ;

' Sicomme aignel se vestira,

Et cuer du loup il portera.
O comme les freres maintenant
A Pseudo sont bien resemblant ! '

So also Vox Clam. iv. 787 f.,

* Nomine sunt plures, pauci tamen ordine fratres ;
Vt dicunt aliqui, Pseudo prophetat ibi.'

It seems that the word *pseudopropheta, used Rev. xix. 20 and
elsewhere, was read ‘ Pseudo propheta,' and ‘ Pseudo’ was taken as a
proper name. This was combined with the idea of the wolf in sheep's
clothing suggested by Matt. vii. 15, * Attendite a falsis prophetis,’ &c.,
and the application was made especially to the friars.

NOTES. Lis. V. 1624-1952 519

1888. * And this I am brought to believe by the argument that where
those above neglect their duty, the people are ignorant of the truth,
(as they now are).'

1900 ff. Cp. Mirour, 20065 f, and Vox Clamantis, iii. 903. The
reference is to Gregory, Hom. in Evang. xvii. (Migne, Patrol. vol. 76,
P. 1148): ‘Ibi Petrus cum Iudaea conversa, quam post se traxit, appa-
rebit: ibi Paulus conversum, ut ita dixerim, mundum ducens. Ibi
Andreas post se Achaiam, ibi Iohannes Asiam, Thomas Indiam in
conspectum sui regis conversam ducet . . . . Cum igitur tot pastores
cum gregibus suis ante aeterni pastoris oculos venerint, nos miseri
quid dicturi sumus, qui ad Dominum nostrum post negotium vacui
redimus ?'

1919. Cp. Mérour, 16662, ‘U q’il ert mesmes auditour.’ The
metaphor from rendering accounts in the Exchequer is especially
appropriate here for the prelates.

1980. Ais Jordes besant hedde : Matt. xxv. 18.

1944. every Prelat holde, *let every Prelate hold.’

1952 ff. Coloss. iii. 5, ‘ avaritiam, quae est simulacrorum servitus.’

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