CONFESSIO AMANTIS (continued 2)

*Out of his flessh a man to live505 In carne preter carnem viuere pocius vita angelica quam humana est.506 Gregoire hath this ensample yive, And seith it schal rather be told Lich to an Angel manyfold,507 P. ii. 342 Than to the lif of mannes kinde. Ther is no reson forto finde,6400* Bot only thurgh the grace above, In flessh withoute flesshly love A man to live chaste hiere: And natheles a man mai hiere Of suche that have ben er this, And yit ther ben; bot for it is A vertu which is sielde wonne, Now I this matiere have begonne, I thenke tellen overmore, Which is, mi Sone, for thi lore,6410* If that the list to taken hiede. x.508Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta, Et lilii flores cespite plura valent, Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit, Eternos fetus que sine labe parit. To trete upon the maidenhiede, Milicia est vita hominis super terram.509 The bok seith that a mannes lif Upon knyhthode in werre and strif510 Is sett among hise enemys: The frele fleissh, whos nature is Ai redy forto sporne and falle, The ferste foman is of alle; For thilke werre is redi ai, It werreth nyht, it werreth dai,6420* So that a man hath nevere reste. Forthi is thilke knyht the beste, Thurgh myht and grace of goddes sonde Which that bataille mai withstonde: Wherof yit duelleth the memoire Of hem that whilom the victoire Of thilke dedly werre hadden;511 The hih prouesse which thei ladden, P. ii. 343 Wherof the Soule stod amended,512 Upon this erthe is yit commended.5136430* Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo quod contra514 sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriam optinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus515 permansit. An Emperour be olde daies Ther was, and he at alle assaies A worthi knyht was of his hond, Ther was non such in al the lond; Bot yit for al his vasselage He stod unwedded al his age,516 And in Cronique as it is told, He was an hundred wynter old. Bot whan men wolde etc. (as 6405 ff.) Bot whan men wolde his dedes peise And his knyhthode of Armes preise, Of that he dede with his hondes, Whan he the kinges and the londes517 To his subjeccion put under,518 Of al that pris hath he no wonder, 6410 For he it sette of non acompte, And seide al that may noght amonte Ayeins o point which he hath nome, That he his fleissh hath overcome: P. ii. 344 He was a virgine, as he seide; On that bataille his pris he leide. (6450*) [Virginity.] Lo nou, my Sone, avise thee. Amans. Yee, fader, al this wel mai be,519 Bot if alle othre dede so, The world of men were sone go: 6420 And in the lawe a man mai finde, Hou god to man be weie of kinde Hath set the world to multeplie; And who that wol him justefie, It is ynouh to do the lawe. And natheles youre goode sawe Is good to kepe, who so may, I wol noght therayein seie nay. Confessor. Mi Sone, take it as I seie;520 If maidenhod be take aweie 6430 Withoute lawes ordinance, It mai noght failen of vengance. And if thou wolt the sothe wite, Behold a tale which is write, Hou that the King Agamenon, Whan he the Cite of Lesbon Hath wonne, a Maiden ther he fond, Which was the faireste of the Lond In thilke time that men wiste. He tok of hire what him liste 6440 Of thing which was most precious, Wherof that sche was dangerous. This faire Maiden cleped is Criseide, douhter of Crisis,521 P. ii. 345 Which was that time in special Of thilke temple principal, Wher Phebus hadde his sacrifice, So was it wel the more vice. Agamenon was thanne in weie To Troieward, and tok aweie 6450 This Maiden, which he with him ladde, So grete a lust in hire he hadde.522 Bot Phebus, which hath gret desdeign Of that his Maiden was forlein, Anon as he to Troie cam, Vengance upon this dede he nam And sende a comun pestilence. Thei soghten thanne here evidence And maden calculation, To knowe in what condicion 6460 This deth cam in so sodeinly;523 And ate laste redyly The cause and ek the man thei founde:524 And forth withal the same stounde Agamenon opposed was,525 Which hath beknowen al the cas(6500*) Of the folie which he wroghte. And therupon mercy thei soghte Toward the god in sondri wise With preiere and with sacrifise, 6470 The Maide and hom ayein thei sende,526 And yive hire good ynouh to spende527 For evere whil sche scholde live: And thus the Senne was foryive P. ii. 346 And al the pestilence cessed. Confessor. Lo, what it is to ben encressed Of love which is evele wonne. It were betre noght begonne Than take a thing withoute leve, Which thou most after nedes leve, 6480 And yit have malgre forth withal. Forthi to robben overal In loves cause if thou beginne, I not what ese thou schalt winne. Mi Sone, be wel war of this, For thus of Robberie it is.528 Amans. Mi fader, youre ensamplerie In loves cause of Robberie I have it riht wel understonde. Bot overthis, hou so it stonde, 6490 Yit wolde I wite of youre aprise What thing is more of Covoitise. [Stealth and Michery.] xi. Insidiando latens tempus rimatur et horam529 Fur, quibus occulto tempore furta parat.530 Sic amor insidiis vacat, vt sub tegmine ludos531 Prendere furtiuos nocte fauente queat. With Covoitise yit I finde A Servant of the same kinde, Hic tractat super illa Cupiditatis specie, que secretum latrocinium dicitur, cuius natura custode532 rerum nesciente ea que cupit tam per diem quam per noctem absque strepitu clanculo furatur. Which Stelthe is hote, and Mecherie With him is evere in compainie. Of whom if I schal telle soth, He stalketh as a Pocok doth, And takth his preie so covert, That noman wot it in apert. 6500 P. ii. 347 For whan he wot the lord from home,533 Than wol he stalke aboute and rome; And what thing he fint in his weie, Whan that he seth the men aweie, He stelth it and goth forth withal, That therof noman knowe schal. And ek fulofte he goth a nyht Withoute Mone or sterreliht, And with his craft the dore unpiketh, And takth therinne what him liketh: 6510 And if the dore be so schet, That he be of his entre let, He wole in ate wyndou crepe, And whil the lord is faste aslepe, He stelth what thing as him best list, And goth his weie er it be wist.(6550*) Fulofte also be lyhte of day Yit wole he stele and make assay;534 Under the cote his hond he put, Til he the mannes Purs have cut, 6520 And rifleth that he fint therinne. And thus he auntreth him to winne, And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth, For noman of his conseil knoweth; What he mai gete of his Michinge, It is al bile under the winge. And as an hound that goth to folde And hath ther taken what he wolde, His mouth upon the gras he wypeth, And so with feigned chiere him slypeth, 6530 P. ii. 348 That what as evere of schep he strangle, Ther is noman therof schal jangle, As forto knowen who it dede;535 Riht so doth Stelthe in every stede, Where as him list his preie take. He can so wel his cause make And so wel feigne and so wel glose, That ther ne schal noman suppose, Bot that he were an innocent, And thus a mannes yhe he blent: 6540 So that this craft I mai remene Withouten help of eny mene. [Stealth of Lovers.] Ther be lovers of that degre, Which al here lust in privete, As who seith, geten al be Stelthe, And ofte atteignen to gret welthe As for the time that it lasteth.536 For love awaiteth evere and casteth Hou he mai stele and cacche his preie, Whan he therto mai finde a weie: 6550 For be it nyht or be it day, He takth his part, whan that he may, And if he mai nomore do, Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo. Confessor. Mi Sone, what seist thou therto? Tell if thou dedest evere so. Mi fader, hou? Mi Sone, thus,— If thou hast stolen eny cuss Or other thing which therto longeth, For noman suche thieves hongeth: 6560 P. ii. 349 Tell on forthi and sei the trouthe. Confessio Amantis. Mi fader, nay, and that is routhe, For be mi will I am a thief; Bot sche that is to me most lief, Yit dorste I nevere in privete Noght ones take hire be the kne,(6600*) To stele of hire or this or that, And if I dorste, I wot wel what: And natheles, bot if I lie, Be Stelthe ne be Robberie 6570 Of love, which fell in mi thoght, To hire dede I nevere noght. Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed, Ther schal no castell ben assailed; Bot thogh I hadde hertes ten, And were als strong as alle men, If I be noght myn oghne man And dar noght usen that I can, I mai miselve noght recovere. Thogh I be nevere man so povere, 6580 I bere an herte and hire it is, So that me faileth wit in this, Hou that I scholde of myn acord The servant lede ayein the lord: For if mi fot wolde awher go,537 Or that min hand wolde elles do, Whan that myn herte is therayein, The remenant is al in vein. And thus me lacketh alle wele, And yit ne dar I nothing stele 6590 P. ii. 350 Of thing which longeth unto love: And ek it is so hyh above, I mai noght wel therto areche, Bot if so be at time of speche, Ful selde if thanne I stele may A word or tuo and go my way. Betwen hire hih astat and me538 Comparison ther mai non be, So that I fiele and wel I wot, Al is to hevy and to hot 6600 To sette on hond withoute leve: And thus I mot algate leve To stele that I mai noght take, And in this wise I mot forsake To ben a thief ayein mi wille Of thing which I mai noght fulfille. For that Serpent which nevere slepte The flees of gold so wel ne kepte In Colchos, as the tale is told, That mi ladi a thousendfold 6610 Nys betre yemed and bewaked, Wher sche be clothed or be naked. To kepe hir bodi nyht and day, Sche hath a wardein redi ay, Which is so wonderful a wyht, That him ne mai no mannes myht(6650*) With swerd ne with no wepne daunte,539 Ne with no sleihte of charme enchaunte, Wherof he mihte be mad tame, And Danger is his rihte name; 6620 P. ii. 351 Which under lock and under keie, That noman mai it stele aweie, Hath al the Tresor underfonge That unto love mai belonge. The leste lokinge of hire yhe Mai noght be stole, if he it syhe; And who so gruccheth for so lyte, He wolde sone sette a wyte On him that wolde stele more. And that me grieveth wonder sore, 6630 For this proverbe is evere newe, That stronge lokes maken trewe Of hem that wolden stele and pyke:540 For so wel can ther noman slyke541 Be him ne be non other mene, To whom Danger wol yive or lene Of that tresor he hath to kepe. So thogh I wolde stalke and crepe, And wayte on eve and ek on morwe, Of Danger schal I nothing borwe, 6640 And stele I wot wel may I noght:542 And thus I am riht wel bethoght, Whil Danger stant in his office, Of Stelthe, which ye clepe a vice, I schal be gultif neveremo. Therfore I wolde he were ago So fer that I nevere of him herde, Hou so that afterward it ferde: For thanne I mihte yit per cas Of love make som pourchas 6650 P. ii. 352 Be Stelthe or be som other weie, That nou fro me stant fer aweie. Bot, fader, as ye tolde above,543 Hou Stelthe goth a nyht for love, I mai noght wel that point forsake, That ofte times I ne wake On nyhtes, whan that othre slepe; Bot hou, I prei you taketh kepe. Whan I am loged in such wise544 That I be nyhte mai arise, 6660 At som wyndowe and loken oute And se the housinge al aboute, So that I mai the chambre knowe In which mi ladi, as I trowe, Lyth in hir bed and slepeth softe, Thanne is myn herte a thief fulofte:(6700*) For there I stonde to beholde545 The longe nyhtes that ben colde, And thenke on hire that lyth there. And thanne I wisshe that I were 6670 Als wys as was Nectanabus Or elles as was Protheüs, That couthen bothe of nigromaunce In what liknesse, in what semblaunce, Riht as hem liste, hemself transforme: For if I were of such a forme, I seie thanne I wolde fle Into the chambre forto se546 If eny grace wolde falle, So that I mihte under the palle 6680 P. ii. 353 Som thing of love pyke and stele. And thus I thenke thoghtes fele, And thogh therof nothing be soth, Yit ese as for a time it doth: Bot ate laste whanne I finde That I am falle into my mynde, And se that I have stonde longe And have no profit underfonge, Than stalke I to mi bedd withinne. And this is al that evere I winne 6690 Of love, whanne I walke on nyht: Mi will is good, bot of mi myht Me lacketh bothe and of mi grace; For what so that mi thoght embrace,547 Yit have I noght the betre ferd. Mi fader, lo, nou have ye herd What I be Stelthe of love have do,548 And hou mi will hath be therto: If I be worthi to penance I put it on your ordinance.549 6700 Confessor. Mi Sone, of Stelthe I the behiete, Thogh it be for a time swete, At ende it doth bot litel good, As be ensample hou that it stod Whilom, I mai thee telle nou. Amans. I preie you, fader, sei me hou.550 Confessor. Mi Sone, of him which goth be daie Be weie of Stelthe to assaie, In loves cause and takth his preie, Ovide seide as I schal seie, 6710 P. ii. 354 And in his Methamor he tolde A tale, which is good to holde. [Tale of Leucothoe.] The Poete upon this matiere Of Stelthe wrot in this manere. Venus, which hath this lawe in honde551 Hic in amoris causa super isto Latrocinio quod de die552 contigit ponit exemplum. Et narrat quod, cum Leuchotoe Orchami filia in cameris sub arta matris custodia virgo preseruabatur, Phebus eius pulcritudinem concupiscens, in conclave domus clara luce subintrans, virginis pudiciciam matre nescia553 deflorauit: vnde ipsa inpregnata iratus pater filiam suam ad sepeliendum viuam effodit; ex cuius tumulo florem, quem554 Solsequium vocant, dicunt tunc555 consequenter primitus accreuisse. Of thing which mai noght be withstonde,(6750*) As sche which the tresor to warde Of love hath withinne hir warde, Phebum to love hath so constreigned,556 That he withoute reste is peined 6720 With al his herte to coveite A Maiden, which was warded streyte Withinne chambre and kept so clos, That selden was whan sche desclos Goth with hir moder forto pleie. Leuchotoe, so as men seie, This Maiden hihte, and Orchamus Hir fader was; and befell thus. This doughter, that was kept so deere, And hadde be fro yer to yeere 6730 Under hir moder discipline A clene Maide and a Virgine, Upon the whos nativite Of comelihiede and of beaute Nature hath set al that sche may, That lich unto the fresshe Maii, Which othre monthes of the yeer Surmonteth, so withoute pier Was of this Maiden the feture. Wherof Phebus out of mesure 6740 P. ii. 355 Hire loveth, and on every syde Awaiteth, if so mai betyde,557 That he thurgh eny sleihte myhte Hire lusti maidenhod unrihte, The which were al his worldes welthe. And thus lurkende upon his stelthe558 In his await so longe he lai, Til it befell upon a dai, That he thurghout hir chambre wall Cam in al sodeinliche, and stall 6750 That thing which was to him so lief.559 Bot wo the while, he was a thief! For Venus, which was enemie Of thilke loves micherie, Discovereth al the pleine cas To Clymene, which thanne was560 Toward Phebus his concubine. And sche to lette the covine Of thilke love, dedli wroth To pleigne upon this Maide goth, 6760 And tolde hire fader hou it stod; Wherof for sorwe welnyh wod Unto hire moder thus he saide: ‘Lo, what it is to kepe a Maide! To Phebus dar I nothing speke, Bot upon hire I schal be wreke,561(6800*) So that these Maidens after this Mow take ensample, what it is562 To soffre her maidenhed be stole,563 Wherof that sche the deth schal thole.’ 6770 P. ii. 356 And bad with that do make a pet,564 Wherinne he hath his douhter set, As he that wol no pite have, So that sche was al quik begrave And deide anon in his presence. Bot Phebus, for the reverence Of that sche hadde be his love, Hath wroght thurgh his pouer above, That sche sprong up out of the molde Into a flour was named golde, 6780 Which stant governed of the Sonne. And thus whan love is evele wonne, Fulofte it comth to repentaile. Amans. Mi fader, that is no mervaile, Whan that the conseil is bewreid. Bot ofte time love hath pleid And stole many a prive game, Which nevere yit cam into blame, Whan that the thinges weren hidde. Bot in youre tale, as it betidde, 6790 Venus discoverede al the cas, And ek also brod dai it was, Whan Phebus such a Stelthe wroghte, Wherof the Maide in blame he broghte, That afterward sche was so lore.565 Bot for ye seiden nou tofore Hou stelthe of love goth be nyhte, And doth hise thinges out of syhte, Therof me liste also to hiere A tale lich to the matiere, 6800 P. ii. 357 Wherof I miyhte ensample take. Confessor. Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake,566 So as it fell be daies olde,567 And so as the Poete it tolde, Upon the nyhtes micherie Nou herkne a tale of Poesie. [Tale of Hercules and Faunus.] The myhtieste of alle men Whan Hercules with Eolen, Hic ponit exemplum super eodem quod de nocte contigit. Et narrat qualiter Hercules cum Eole in quadam spelunca nobili, Thophis dicta, sub monte Thymolo, vbi silua Bachi est, hospicio pernoctarunt. Et cum ipsi variis lectis seperatim568 iacentes dormierunt, contigit lectum Herculis vestimentis Eole lectumque Eole pelle leonis, qua Hercules induebatur, operiri. Super quo Faunus a silua descendens speluncam subintrauit, temptans si forte cum Eole sue concupiscencie voluptatem569 nesciente Hercule furari posset. Et cum ad lectum Herculis muliebri palpata veste ex casu peruenisset, putans Eolen fuisse, cubiculum nudo corpore ingreditur; quem senciens Hercules manibus apprehensum ipsum ad terram ita fortiter allisit, ut impotens sui corporis effectus usque mane ibidem requieuit, vbi Saba cum Nimphis siluestribus superueniens ipsum sic illusum deridebat. Which was the love of his corage, Togedre upon a Pelrinage 6810 Towardes Rome scholden go,570 It fell hem be the weie so, That thei upon a dai a Cave Withinne a roche founden have, Which was real and glorious And of Entaile curious,(6850*) Be name and Thophis it was hote. The Sonne schon tho wonder hote, As it was in the Somer tyde; This Hercules, which be his syde 6820 Hath Eolen his love there,571 Whan thei at thilke cave were, He seide it thoghte him for the beste That sche hire for the hete reste Al thilke day and thilke nyht; And sche, that was a lusti wyht, It liketh hire al that he seide: And thus thei duelle there and pleide The longe dai. And so befell, This Cave was under the hell 6830 P. ii. 358 Of Tymolus, which was begrowe With vines, and at thilke throwe Faunus with Saba the goddesse, Be whom the large wildernesse In thilke time stod governed, Weere in a place, as I am lerned,572 Nyh by, which Bachus wode hihte. This Faunus tok a gret insihte Of Eolen, that was so nyh;573 For whan that he hire beaute syh, 6840 Out of his wit he was assoted, And in his herte it hath so noted, That he forsok the Nimphes alle, And seide he wolde, hou so it falle, Assaie an other forto winne; So that his hertes thoght withinne574 He sette and caste hou that he myhte Of love pyke awey be nyhte575 That he be daie in other wise To stele mihte noght suffise: 6850 And therupon his time he waiteth. Nou tak good hiede hou love afaiteth Him which withal is overcome. Faire Eolen, whan sche was come With Hercules into the Cave, Sche seide him that sche wolde have576 Hise clothes of and hires bothe,577 That ech of hem scholde other clothe.578 And al was do riht as sche bad, He hath hire in hise clothes clad 6860 P. ii. 359 And caste on hire his gulion, Which of the Skyn of a Leoun Was mad, as he upon the weie It slouh, and overthis to pleie Sche tok his grete Mace also And knet it at hir gerdil tho.(6900*) So was sche lich the man arraied,579 And Hercules thanne hath assaied To clothen him in hire array: And thus thei jape forth the dai, 6870 Til that her Souper redy were. And whan thei hadden souped there, Thei schopen hem to gon to reste; And as it thoghte hem for the beste, Thei bede, as for that ilke nyht, Tuo sondri beddes to be dyht, For thei togedre ligge nolde, Be cause that thei offre wolde Upon the morwe here sacrifice. The servantz deden here office 6880 And sondri beddes made anon, Wherin that thei to reste gon Ech be himself in sondri place.580 Faire Eole hath set the Mace Beside hire beddes hed above, And with the clothes of hire love Sche helede al hire bed aboute; And he, which hadde of nothing doute, Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke, Hire kertell and hire mantel eke 6890 P. ii. 360 Abrod upon his bed he spredde. And thus thei slepen bothe abedde; And what of travail, what of wyn, The servantz lich to drunke Swyn Begunne forto route faste.581 This Faunus, which his Stelthe caste, Was thanne come to the Cave, And fond thei weren alle save Withoute noise, and in he wente. The derke nyht his sihte blente, 6900 And yit it happeth him to go Where Eolen abedde tho Was leid al one for to slepe; Bot for he wolde take kepe Whos bed it was, he made assai, And of the Leoun, where it lay, The Cote he fond, and ek he fieleth The Mace, and thanne his herte kieleth, That there dorste he noght abyde, Bot stalketh upon every side 6910 And soghte aboute with his hond, That other bedd til that he fond, Wher lai bewympled a visage. Tho was he glad in his corage, For he hir kertell fond also And ek hir mantell bothe tuo(6950*) Bespred upon the bed alofte. He made him naked thanne, and softe Into the bedd unwar he crepte, Wher Hercules that time slepte, 6920 P. ii. 361 And wende wel it were sche; And thus in stede of Eole Anon he profreth him to love. But he, which felte a man above, This Hercules, him threw to grounde582 So sore, that thei have him founde Liggende there upon the morwe; And tho was noght a litel sorwe, That Faunus of himselve made, Bot elles thei were alle glade 6930 And lowhen him to scorne aboute: Saba with Nimphis al a route583 Cam doun to loke hou that he ferde,584 And whan that thei the sothe herde, He was bejaped overal. Confessor. Mi Sone, be thou war withal To seche suche mecheries, Bot if thou have the betre aspies, In aunter if the so betyde As Faunus dede thilke tyde, 6940 Wherof thou miht be schamed so. Amans. Min holi fader, certes no. Bot if I hadde riht good leve, Such mecherie I thenke leve: Mi feinte herte wol noght serve; For malgre wolde I noght deserve In thilke place wher I love. Bot for ye tolden hier above Of Covoitise and his pilage, If ther be more of that lignage, 6950 P. ii. 362 Which toucheth to mi schrifte, I preie That ye therof me wolde seie, So that I mai the vice eschuie. Confessor. Mi Sone, if I be order suie585 The vices, as thei stonde arowe,586 Of Covoitise thou schalt knowe Ther is yit on, which is the laste; In whom ther mai no vertu laste, For he with god himself debateth, Wherof that al the hevene him hateth. 6960 [Sacrilege.] xii. Sacrilegus tantum furto loca sacra prophanat; Vt sibi sunt agri, sic domus alma dei. Nec locus est, in quo non temptat amans quod amatur, Et que posse nequit carpere, velle capit. Hic tractat super vltima Cupiditatis specie, que Sacrilegium dicta est, cuius furtum ea que altissimo sanctificantur bona depredans ecclesie tantum spoliis insidiatur. The hihe god, which alle goode Pourveied hath for mannes fode Of clothes and of mete and drinke, Bad Adam that he scholde swinke To geten him his sustienance; And ek he sette an ordinance(7000*) Upon the lawe of Moïses,587 That though a man be haveles, Yit schal he noght be thefte stele. Bot nou adaies ther ben fele, 6970 That wol no labour undertake, Bot what thei mai be Stelthe take Thei holde it sikerliche wonne. And thus the lawe is overronne, Which god hath set, and namely With hem that so untrewely The goodes robbe of holi cherche. P. ii. 363 The thefte which thei thanne werche Be name is cleped Sacrilegge, Ayein the whom I thenke alegge.* 6980 Of his condicion to telle, Which rifleth bothe bok and belle, 588*Upon the pointz as we ben taught589 Stant sacrilege, and elles nought. The firste point is for to seye, Whan that a thief schal stele aweye The holy thing from holy place. The secounde is, if he pourchace7020* By wey of thefte unholy thing, Which he upon his knowleching Fro holy place aweie took. The thridde point, as seith the book, Is such as, wher as evere it be,590 In woode, in feld or in Cite, Schal no man stele by no wise That halwed is to the servise Of god which alle thinges wot. But ther is nouther cold ne hot,7030* Which he for god or man wol spare, So that the body may wel fare; And that he may the world aschape, The hevene him thenkth is but a jape:591 And thus, the sothe for to telle, He rifleth bothe book and belle,592 So forth with al, etc. (as 6983 ff.) So forth with al the remenant To goddes hous appourtenant, Wher that he scholde bidde his bede, He doth his thefte in holi stede, P. ii. 364 And takth what thing he fint therinne: For whan he seth that he mai winne, He wondeth for no cursednesse, That he ne brekth the holinesse 6990 And doth to god no reverence; For he hath lost his conscience, That though the Prest therfore curse, He seith he fareth noght the wurse.593 And forto speke it otherwise, What man that lasseth the franchise(7050*) And takth of holi cherche his preie, I not what bedes he schal preie. Whan he fro god, which hath yive al, The Pourpartie in special, 7000 Which unto Crist himself is due,594 Benymth, he mai noght wel eschue The peine comende afterward; For he hath mad his foreward With Sacrilegge forto duelle, Which hath his heritage in helle. And if we rede of tholde lawe,595 I finde write, in thilke dawe596 Of Princes hou ther weren thre597 Coupable sore in this degre.598 7010 That on of hem was cleped thus, The proude king Antiochus; That other Nabuzardan hihte, Which of his crualte behyhte The temple to destruie and waste, And so he dede in alle haste; P. ii. 365 The thridde, which was after schamed, Was Nabugodonosor named, And he Jerusalem putte under, Of Sacrilegge and many a wonder 7020 There in the holi temple he wroghte, Which Baltazar his heir aboghte,599 Whan Mane, Techel, Phares write Was on the wal, as thou miht wite, So as the bible it hath declared.600 Bot for al that it is noght spared Yit nou aday, that men ne pile, And maken argument and skile To Sacrilegge as it belongeth, For what man that ther after longeth, 7030 He takth non hiede what he doth.* And riht so, forto telle soth, 601*And if a man schal telle soth, Of guile and of soubtilite Is non so slyh in his degre To feigne a thing for his beyete, As is this vice of which I trete.7090* He can so priveliche pyke, He can so wel hise wordes slyke To putte awey suspecioun, That in his excusacioun, Ther schal noman defalte finde. And thus fulofte men be blinde, That stonden of his word deceived, Er his queintise be perceived. P. ii. 366 Bot natheles yit otherwhile, For al his sleyhte and al his guile,6027100* Of that he wolde his werk forsake, He is atteint and overtake; Wherof thou schalt a tale rede, In Rome as it befell in dede.603 [Tale of Lucius and the Statue.] Er Rome cam to the creance Of Cristes feith, it fell per chance, Hic loquitur de illis qui laruata consciencia Sacrilegium sibi licere fingunt. Et narrat quod, cum quidam Lucius clericus famosus et Imperatori notus deum suum Apollinem in templo Rome de anulo suo, pallio et barba aurea spoliasset, ipse tandem apprehensus et coram Imperatore accusatus taliter se excusando ait: ‘Anulum a deo recepi, quia ipse digito protenso ex sua largitate anulum hunc graciose michi optulit; pallium ex lamine aureo constructum tuli, quia aurum maxime ponderosum et frigidum naturaliter consistit, vnde nec in estate propter pondus nec in yeme propter frigus ad dei vestes vtile fuit; barbam ab eo605 deposui, quia ipsum patri suo assimilare volui,606 nam et Apollo, qui ante ipsum in templo607 stetit, absque barba iuvenis apparuit. Et sic ea que gessi non ex furto set honestate608 processisse manifeste declaraui.’ Cesar, which tho was Emperour, Him liste forto don honour Unto the temple Apollinis, And made an ymage upon this,7110* The which was cleped Apollo. Was non so riche in Rome tho; Of plate of gold a berd he hadde, The which his brest al overspradde; Of gold also withoute faile His mantell was of large entaile, Beset with perrie al aboute, Forthriht he strawhte his finger oute, Upon the which he hadde a ryng, To sen it was a riche thing,7120* A fin Carbuncle for the nones,604 Most precious of alle Stones. And fell that time in Rome thus: Ther was a clerk, on Lucius, A Courteour, a famous man, Of every witt somwhat he can, Outake that him lacketh reule His oghne astat to guide and reule; P. ii. 367 How so it stod of his spekinge, He was noght wys in his doinge.7130* Bot every riot ate laste Mot nedes falle and mai noght laste: After the meede of his decerte, So fell this clerk into poverte And wiste noght how forto ryse; Wherof in many a sondri wyse He caste his wittes hier and ther, He loketh nyh, he loketh fer, Til on a time that he com Into the temple, and hiede he nom6097140* Wher that the god Apollo stod. He sih the richesse and the good, And thoghte he wolde be som weie The tresor pyke and stele aweie; And therupon so slyhly wroghte, That his pourpos aboute he broghte, And wente awey unaparceived. Thus hath the man his god deceived,610 His ryng, his mantell and his beerd, As he which nothing was a feerd,6117150* Al prively with him he bar: And whan the wardeins weren war Of that here god despuiled was, Hem thoghte it was a wonder cas, How that a man for eny wele Durste in so holy place stele,612 And namely so gret a thing.613 This tale cam unto the king, P. ii. 368 And was thurgh spoken overal: Bot forto knowe in special7160* What maner man hath do the dede, Thei soghten help upon the nede And maden calculacioun, Wherof be demonstracioun The man was founde with the good. In juggement and whan he stood, The king hath axed of him thus: ‘Sey, thou unsely Lucius, Whi hast thou do this sacrilegge?’ ‘Mi lord, if I the cause allegge,’7170* Quod he ayein, ‘me thenketh this, That I have do nothing amis. Thre pointz ther ben whiche I have do, Wherof the ferste point stant so, That I the ryng have take aweie. As unto that this wole I seie:614 Whan I the god behield aboute, I sih how he his hond strawhte oute And profred me the ryng to yive; And I, which wolde gladly live7180* Out of poverte of his largesse,615 It underfing, so that I gesse, As therof I am noght to wyte.616 And overmore I wol me quite, Of gold that I the mantell tok: Gold in his kinde, as seith the bok, Is hevy bothe and cold also; And for that it was hevy so, P. ii. 369 Me thoghte it was no garnement Unto the god convenient,7190* To clothen him the somer tide; I thoghte upon that other side How gold is cold, and such a cloth Be resoun oghte to be loth In wynter time for the chele. And thus thenkende thoghtes fele, As I myn yhe aboute caste, His large beerd thanne ate laste I syh, and thoghte anon therfore How that his fader him before,7200* Which stod upon the same place, Was beerdles with a yongly face: And in such wise as ye have herd I tok awey the Sones berd,617 For that his fader hadde non, To make hem liche, and hier upon I axe forto ben excused.’ Lo thus, wher Sacrilegge is used, A man can feigne his conscience; And riht upon such evidence7210* In loves cause, &c. (as 7033 ff.)

In loves cause if I schal trete, [Sacrilege of Lovers.] Ther ben of suche smale and grete: If thei no leisir fynden elles, Thei wol noght wonden for the belles, Ne thogh thei sen the Prest at masse; That wol thei leten overpasse. If that thei finde here love there, Thei stonde and tellen in hire Ere, 7040 P. ii. 370 And axe of god non other grace, Whyl thei ben in that holi place; Bot er thei gon som avantage Ther wol thei have, and som pilage Of goodli word or of beheste, Or elles thei take ate leste Out of hir hand or ring or glove, So nyh the weder thei wol love,618 As who seith sche schal noght foryete, Nou I this tokne of hire have gete: 7050 Thus halwe thei the hihe feste. Such thefte mai no cherche areste, For al is leveful that hem liketh,619 To whom that elles it misliketh. And ek riht in the selve kinde In grete Cites men mai finde This lusti folk, that make it gay, And waite upon the haliday: In cherches and in Menstres eke Thei gon the wommen forto seke, 7060 And wher that such on goth aboute, Tofore the faireste of the route, Wher as thei sitten alle arewe, Ther wol he most his bodi schewe, His croket kembd and theron set A Nouche with a chapelet, Or elles on of grene leves, Which late com out of the greves, Al for he scholde seme freissh. And thus he loketh on the fleissh,620 7070 P. ii. 371 Riht as an hauk which hath a sihte Upon the foul, ther he schal lihte;(7250*) And as he were of faierie, He scheweth him tofore here yhe In holi place wher thei sitte, Al forto make here hertes flitte. His yhe nawher wole abyde, Bot loke and prie on every syde621 On hire and hire, as him best lyketh: And otherwhile among he syketh; 7080 Thenkth on of hem, ‘That was for me,’ And so ther thenken tuo or thre, And yit he loveth non of alle, Bot wher as evere his chance falle. And natheles to seie a soth, The cause why that he so doth Is forto stele an herte or tuo, Out of the cherche er that he go: And as I seide it hier above, Al is that Sacrilege of love; 7090 For wel mai be he stelth away That he nevere after yelde may. Tell me forthi, my Sone, anon, Hast thou do Sacrilege, or non,622 As I have said in this manere? Confessio Amantis. Mi fader, as of this matiere I wole you tellen redely What I have do; bot trewely I mai excuse min entente, That nevere I yit to cherche wente 7100 P. ii. 372 In such manere as ye me schryve, For no womman that is on lyve. The cause why I have it laft Mai be for I unto that craft Am nothing able so to stele, Thogh ther be wommen noght so fele.623 Bot yit wol I noght seie this, Whan I am ther mi ladi is, In whom lith holly mi querele, And sche to cherche or to chapele 7110 Wol go to matins or to messe,— That time I waite wel and gesse, To cherche I come and there I stonde, And thogh I take a bok on honde, Mi contienance is on the bok, Bot toward hire is al my lok; And if so falle that I preie Unto mi god, and somwhat seie Of Paternoster or of Crede,624 Al is for that I wolde spede, 7120 So that mi bede in holi cherche Ther mihte som miracle werche(7300*) Mi ladi herte forto chaunge, Which evere hath be to me so strange.625 So that al mi devocion And al mi contemplacion With al min herte and mi corage Is only set on hire ymage; And evere I waite upon the tyde. If sche loke eny thing asyde, 7130 P. ii. 373 That I me mai of hire avise,626 Anon I am with covoitise So smite, that me were lief To ben in holi cherche a thief; Bot noght to stele a vestement, For that is nothing mi talent, Bot I wold stele, if that I mihte,627 A glad word or a goodly syhte; And evere mi service I profre, And namly whan sche wol gon offre, 7140 For thanne I lede hire, if I may, For somwhat wolde I stele away. Whan I beclippe hire on the wast, Yit ate leste I stele a tast, And otherwhile ‘grant mercy’ Sche seith, and so winne I therby A lusti touch, a good word eke, Bot al the remenant to seke Is fro mi pourpos wonder ferr. So mai I seie, as I seide er, 7150 In holy cherche if that I wowe, My conscience it wolde allowe,628 Be so that up amendement I mihte gete assignement Wher forto spede in other place: Such Sacrilege I holde a grace. And thus, mi fader, soth to seie, In cherche riht as in the weie, If I mihte oght of love take, Such hansell have I noght forsake.629 7160 P. ii. 374 Bot finali I me confesse, Ther is in me non holinesse, whil I hire se in eny stede;630 And yit, for oght that evere I dede, No Sacrilege of hire I tok, Bot if it were of word or lok,631 Or elles if that I hir fredde, Whan I toward offringe hir ledde, Take therof what I take may, For elles bere I noght away: 7170 For thogh I wolde oght elles have, Alle othre thinges ben so save632(7350*) And kept with such a privilege, That I mai do no Sacrilege. God wot mi wille natheles, Thogh I mot nedes kepe pes And malgre myn so let it passe,633 Mi will therto is noght the lasse, If I mihte other wise aweie. Forthi, mi fader, I you preie, 7180 Tell what you thenketh therupon,634 If I therof have gult or non. Confessor. Thi will, mi Sone, is forto blame, The remenant is bot a game, That I have herd the telle as yit. Bot tak this lore into thi wit, That alle thing hath time and stede, The cherche serveth for the bede, The chambre is of an other speche. Bot if thou wistest of the wreche, 7190 P. ii. 375 Hou Sacrilege it hath aboght, Thou woldest betre ben bethoght; And for thou schalt the more amende, A tale I wole on the despende.635 [Tale of Paris and Helen.] To alle men, as who seith, knowe It is, and in the world thurgh blowe, Hic in amoris causa super istius vicii articulo ponit exemplum. Et narrat, pro eo quod Paris Priami Regis filius Helenam Menelai vxorem in quadam Grecie insula a templo Veneris Sacrilegus abduxit, illa Troie famosissima636 obsidio per vniuersi637 orbis climata divulgata precipue causabatur.638 Ita quod huiusmodi Sacrilegium non solum ad ipsius regis Priami omniumque suorum interitum, set eciam ad perpetuam vrbis desolacionem vindicte fomitem ministrabat. Hou that of Troie Lamedon To Hercules and to Jasoun, Whan toward Colchos out of Grece Be See sailende upon a piece 7200 Of lond of Troie reste preide,— Bot he hem wrathfulli congeide: And for thei founde him so vilein, Whan thei come into Grece ayein, With pouer that thei gete myhte Towardes Troie thei hem dyhte, And ther thei token such vengance, Wherof stant yit the remembrance;639 For thei destruide king and al, And leften bot the brente wal. 7210 The Grecs of Troiens many slowe And prisoners thei toke ynowe, Among the whiche ther was on, The kinges doughter Lamedon, Esiona, that faire thing,640 Which unto Thelamon the king Be Hercules and be thassent Of al the hole parlement Was at his wille yove and granted. And thus hath Grece Troie danted, 7220 P. ii. 376 And hom thei torne in such manere: Bot after this nou schalt thou hiere(7400*) The cause why this tale I telle,641 Upon the chances that befelle. King Lamedon, which deide thus, He hadde a Sone, on Priamus, Which was noght thilke time at hom: Bot whan he herde of this, he com, And fond hou the Cite was falle, Which he began anon to walle 7230 And made ther a cite newe, That thei whiche othre londes knewe Tho seiden, that of lym and Ston In al the world so fair was non. And on that o side of the toun The king let maken Ylioun,642 That hihe Tour, that stronge place, Which was adrad of no manace Of quarel nor of non engin; And thogh men wolde make a Myn, 7240 No mannes craft it mihte aproche, For it was sett upon a roche. The walles of the toun aboute, Hem stod of al the world no doute, And after the proporcion Sex gates weren of the toun Of such a forme, of such entaile, That hem to se was gret mervaile: The diches weren brode and depe, A fewe men it mihte kepe 7250 P. ii. 377 From al the world, as semeth tho, Bot if the goddes weren fo. Gret presse unto that cite drouh, So that ther was of poeple ynouh, Of Burgeis that therinne duellen; Ther mai no mannes tunge tellen Hou that cite was riche of good.643 Whan al was mad and al wel stod, King Priamus tho him bethoghte What thei of Grece whilom wroghte, 7260 And what was of her swerd devoured, And hou his Soster deshonoured With Thelamon awey was lad: And so thenkende he wax unglad,644 And sette anon a parlement, To which the lordes were assent. In many a wise ther was spoke, Hou that thei mihten ben awroke, Bot ate laste natheles Thei seiden alle, ‘Acord and pes.’ 7270 To setten either part in reste645 It thoghte hem thanne for the beste(7450*) With resonable amendement; And thus was Anthenor forth sent646 To axe Esionam ayein647 And witen what thei wolden sein. So passeth he the See be barge648 To Grece forto seie his charge, The which he seide redely Unto the lordes by and by: 7280 P. ii. 378 Bot where he spak in Grece aboute, He herde noght bot wordes stoute, And nameliche of Thelamon; The maiden wolde he noght forgon, He seide, for no maner thing, And bad him gon hom to his king, For there gat he non amende For oght he couthe do or sende. This Anthenor ayein goth hom Unto his king, and whan he com, 7290 He tolde in Grece of that he herde, And hou that Thelamon ansuerde, And hou thei were at here above, That thei wol nouther pes ne love, Bot every man schal don his beste. Bot for men sein that nyht hath reste, The king bethoghte him al that nyht,649 And erli, whan the dai was lyht, He tok conseil of this matiere; And thei acorde in this manere, 7300 That he withouten eny lette A certein time scholde sette Of Parlement to ben avised:650 And in the wise it was devised, Of parlement he sette a day, And that was in the Monthe of Maii. This Priamus hadde in his yhte A wif, and Hecuba sche hyhte, Be whom that time ek hadde he Of Sones fyve, and douhtres thre 7310 P. ii. 379 Besiden hem, and thritty mo,651 And weren knyhtes alle tho, Bot noght upon his wif begete, Bot elles where he myhte hem gete Of wommen whiche he hadde knowe; Such was the world at thilke throwe: So that he was of children riche, As therof was noman his liche.652 Of Parlement the dai was come, Ther ben the lordes alle and some; 7320 Tho was pronounced and pourposed, And al the cause hem was desclosed,(7500*) Hou Anthenor in Grece ferde. Thei seten alle stille and herde, And tho spak every man aboute: Ther was alegged many a doute, And many a proud word spoke also;653 Bot for the moste part as tho654 Thei wisten noght what was the beste, Or forto werre or forto reste. 7330 Bot he that was withoute fere, Hector, among the lordes there His tale tolde in such a wise, And seide, ‘Lordes, ye ben wise, Ye knowen this als wel as I, Above all othre most worthi655 Stant nou in Grece the manhode Of worthinesse and of knihthode; For who so wole it wel agrope, To hem belongeth al Europe, 7340 P. ii. 380 Which is the thridde parti evene Of al the world under the hevene; And we be bot of folk a fewe. So were it reson forto schewe656 The peril, er we falle thrinne: Betre is to leve, than beginne Thing which as mai noght ben achieved; He is noght wys that fint him grieved, And doth so that his grief be more; For who that loketh al tofore 7350 And wol noght se what is behinde, He mai fulofte hise harmes finde: Wicke is to stryve and have the worse. We have encheson forto corse, This wot I wel, and forto hate The Greks; bot er that we debate With hem that ben of such a myht, It is ful good that every wiht Be of himself riht wel bethoght. Bot as for me this seie I noght; 7360 For while that mi lif wol stonde, If that ye taken werre on honde, Falle it to beste or to the werste,657 I schal miselven be the ferste To grieven hem, what evere I may. I wol noght ones seie nay To thing which that youre conseil demeth, For unto me wel more it quemeth The werre certes than the pes; Bot this I seie natheles, 7370 P. ii. 381 As me belongeth forto seie. Nou schape ye the beste weie.’(7550*) Whan Hector hath seid his avis, Next after him tho spak Paris, Which was his brother, and alleide What him best thoghte, and thus he seide: ‘Strong thing it is to soffre wrong, And suffre schame is more strong, Bot we have suffred bothe tuo; And for al that yit have we do 7380 What so we mihte to reforme The pes, whan we in such a forme658 Sente Anthenor, as ye wel knowe. And thei here grete wordes blowe Upon her wrongful dedes eke; And who that wole himself noght meke To pes, and list no reson take, Men sein reson him wol forsake:659 For in the multitude of men Is noght the strengthe, for with ten 7390 It hath be sen in trew querele660 Ayein an hundred false dele, And had the betre of goddes grace. This hath befalle in many place; And if it like unto you alle, I wole assaie, hou so it falle, Oure enemis if I mai grieve; For I have cawht a gret believe Upon a point I wol declare. This ender day, as I gan fare661 7400 P. ii. 382 To hunte unto the grete hert, Which was tofore myn houndes stert, And every man went on his syde662 Him to poursuie, and I to ryde Began the chace, and soth to seie,663 Withinne a while out of mi weie I rod, and nyste where I was. And slep me cauhte, and on the gras Beside a welle I lay me doun To slepe, and in a visioun664 7410 To me the god Mercurie cam; Goddesses thre with him he nam, Minerve, Venus and Juno, And in his hond an Appel tho He hield of gold with lettres write: And this he dede me to wite, Hou that thei putt hem upon me,665 That to the faireste of hem thre Of gold that Appel scholde I yive.666 With ech of hem tho was I schrive, 7420 And echon faire me behihte; Bot Venus seide, if that sche mihte(7600*) That Appel of mi yifte gete, Sche wolde it neveremor foryete, And seide hou that in Grece lond Sche wolde bringe unto myn hond Of al this Erthe the faireste; So that me thoghte it for the beste, To hire and yaf that Appel tho. Thus hope I wel, if that I go, 7430 P. ii. 383 That sche for me wol so ordeine, That thei matiere forto pleigne Schul have, er that I come ayein. Nou have ye herd that I wol sein: Sey ye what stant in youre avis.’ And every man tho seide his, And sundri causes thei recorde, Bot ate laste thei acorde That Paris schal to Grece wende, And thus the parlement tok ende. 7440 Cassandra, whan sche herde of this,667 The which to Paris Soster is, Anon sche gan to wepe and weile, And seide, ‘Allas, what mai ous eile? Fortune with hire blinde whiel Ne wol noght lete ous stonde wel: For this I dar wel undertake, That if Paris his weie take, As it is seid that he schal do, We ben for evere thanne undo.’ 7450 This, which Cassandre thanne hihte, In al the world as it berth sihte, In bokes as men finde write, Is that Sibille of whom ye wite, That alle men yit clepen sage. Whan that sche wiste of this viage, Hou Paris schal to Grece fare, No womman mihte worse fare Ne sorwe more than sche dede; And riht so in the same stede 7460 P. ii. 384 Ferde Helenus, which was hir brother, Of prophecie and such an other: And al was holde bot a jape, So that the pourpos which was schape, Or were hem lief or were hem loth,668 Was holde, and into Grece goth This Paris with his retenance. And as it fell upon his chance, Of Grece he londeth in an yle, And him was told the same whyle669 7470 Of folk which he began to freyne, Tho was in thyle queene Heleyne,(7650*) And ek of contres there aboute Of ladis many a lusti route, With mochel worthi poeple also. And why thei comen theder tho, The cause stod in such a wise,— For worschipe and for sacrifise That thei to Venus wolden make, As thei tofore hadde undertake, 7480 Some of good will, some of beheste, For thanne was hire hihe feste Withinne a temple which was there. Whan Paris wiste what thei were, Anon he schop his ordinance To gon and don his obeissance To Venus on hire holi day, And dede upon his beste aray. With gret richesse he him behongeth, As it to such a lord belongeth, 7490 P. ii. 385 He was noght armed natheles, Bot as it were in lond of pes, And thus he goth forth out of Schipe And takth with him his felaschipe: In such manere as I you seie Unto the temple he hield his weie. Tydinge, which goth overal To grete and smale, forth withal Com to the queenes Ere and tolde Hou Paris com, and that he wolde 7500 Do sacrifise to Venus: And whan sche herde telle thus, She thoghte, hou that it evere be, That sche wole him abyde and se.670 Forth comth Paris with glad visage Into the temple on pelrinage, Wher unto Venus the goddesse He yifth and offreth gret richesse, And preith hir that he preie wolde. And thanne aside he gan beholde,671 7510 And sih wher that this ladi stod; And he forth in his freisshe mod Goth ther sche was and made hir chiere, As he wel couthe in his manere, That of his wordes such plesance Sche tok, that al hire aqueintance, Als ferforth as the herte lay, He stal er that he wente away. So goth he forth and tok his leve, And thoghte, anon as it was eve, 7520 P. ii. 386 He wolde don his Sacrilegge, That many a man it scholde abegge.(7700*) Whan he to Schipe ayein was come, To him he hath his conseil nome, And al devised the matiere In such a wise as thou schalt hiere. Withinne nyht al prively His men he warneth by and by, That thei be redy armed sone For certein thing which was to done: 7530 And thei anon ben redi alle, And ech on other gan to calle, And went hem out upon the stronde672 And tok a pourpos ther alonde Of what thing that thei wolden do,673 Toward the temple and forth thei go. So fell it, of devocion Heleine in contemplacion With many an other worthi wiht Was in the temple and wok al nyht, 7540 To bidde and preie unto thymage674 Of Venus, as was thanne usage; So that Paris riht as him liste Into the temple, er thei it wiste,675 Com with his men al sodeinly, And alle at ones sette ascry In hem whiche in the temple were, For tho was mochel poeple there; Bot of defense was no bote, So soffren thei that soffre mote. 7550 P. ii. 387 Paris unto the queene wente, And hire in bothe hise armes hente With him and with his felaschipe, And forth thei bere hire unto Schipe.676 Up goth the Seil and forth thei wente, And such a wynd fortune hem sente, Til thei the havene of Troie cauhte; Where out of Schipe anon thei strauhte And gon hem forth toward the toun, The which cam with processioun 7560 Ayein Paris to sen his preie. And every man began to seie To Paris and his felaschipe Al that thei couthen of worschipe; Was non so litel man in Troie, That he ne made merthe and joie Of that Paris hath wonne Heleine. Bot al that merthe is sorwe and peine To Helenus and to Cassaundre; For thei it token schame and sklaundre677 7570 And lost of al the comun grace, That Paris out of holi place(7750*) Be Stelthe hath take a mannes wif, Wherof that he schal lese his lif And many a worthi man therto, And al the Cite be fordo, Which nevere schal be mad ayein. And so it fell, riht as thei sein, The Sacrilege which he wroghte Was cause why the Gregois soughte 7580 P. ii. 388 Unto the toun and it beleie, And wolden nevere parte aweie, Til what be sleihte and what be strengthe Thei hadde it wonne in brede and lengthe, And brent and slayn that was withinne. Now se, mi Sone, which a sinne Is Sacrilege in holy stede: Be war therfore and bidd thi bede, And do nothing in holy cherche, Bot that thou miht be reson werche. 7590 And ek tak hiede of Achilles, Whan he unto his love ches Polixena, that was also In holi temple of Appollo, Which was the cause why he dyde And al his lust was leyd asyde. And Troilus upon Criseide Also his ferste love leide In holi place, and hou it ferde, As who seith, al the world it herde;678 7600 Forsake he was for Diomede, Such was of love his laste mede. Confessor. Forthi, mi Sone, I wolde rede, Be this ensample as thou myht rede,679 Sech elles, wher thou wolt, thi grace, And war the wel in holi place What thou to love do or speke, In aunter if it so be wreke As thou hast herd me told before. [Divisions of Avarice.] And tak good hiede also therfore 7610 P. ii. 389 Upon what forme, of Avarice680 Mor than of eny other vice, I have divided in parties The branches, whiche of compainies Thurghout the world in general Ben nou the leders overal, Of Covoitise and of Perjure, Of fals brocage and of Usure, Of Skarsnesse and Unkindeschipe,681 Which nevere drouh to felaschipe, 7620 Of Robberie and privi Stelthe,682 Which don is for the worldes welthe,(7800*) Of Ravine and of Sacrilegge, Which makth the conscience agregge; Althogh it mai richesse atteigne, It floureth, bot it schal noght greine Unto the fruit of rihtwisnesse. Bot who that wolde do largesse Upon the reule as it is yive, So myhte a man in trouthe live683 7630 Toward his god, and ek also Toward the world, for bothe tuo Largesse awaiteth as belongeth, To neither part that he ne wrongeth;684 He kepth himself, he kepth his frendes, So stant he sauf to bothe hise endes, That he excedeth no mesure, So wel he can himself mesure: Wherof, mi Sone, thou schalt wite, So as the Philosophre hath write. 7640 [Prodigality and Largess.] P. ii. 390 xiii. Prodegus et parcus duo sunt extrema, que largus685 Est horum medius, plebis in ore bonus. Nota hic de virtute Largitatis, que ad oppositum Auaricie inter duo extrema, videlicet Parcimoniam et Prodegalitatem, specialiter consistit. Betwen the tuo extremites Of vice stant the propretes Of vertu, and to prove it so Tak Avarice and tak also The vice of Prodegalite; Betwen hem Liberalite, Which is the vertu of Largesse, Stant and governeth his noblesse. For tho tuo vices in discord Stonde evere, as I finde of record; 7650 So that betwen here tuo debat Largesse reuleth his astat. For in such wise as Avarice, As I tofore have told the vice, Thurgh streit holdinge and thurgh skarsnesse Stant in contraire to Largesse, Riht so stant Prodegalite Revers, bot noght in such degre. For so as Avarice spareth, And forto kepe his tresor careth, 7660 That other al his oghne and more Ayein the wise mannes lore Yifth and despendeth hiere and there, So that him reccheth nevere where. While he mai borwe, he wol despende, Til ate laste he seith, ‘I wende’; Bot that is spoken al to late, For thanne is poverte ate gate P. ii. 391 And takth him evene be the slieve, For erst wol he no wisdom lieve. 7670 And riht as Avarice is Sinne, That wolde his tresor kepe and winne,(7850*) Riht so is Prodegalite: Bot of Largesse in his degre, Which evene stant betwen the tuo, The hihe god and man also The vertu ech of hem commendeth. For he himselven ferst amendeth, That overal his name spredeth, And to alle othre, where it nedeth, 7680 He yifth his good in such a wise, That he makth many a man arise, Which elles scholde falle lowe. Largesce mai noght ben unknowe; For what lond that he regneth inne, It mai noght faile forto winne Thurgh his decerte love and grace, Wher it schal faile in other place. And thus betwen tomoche and lyte686 Largesce, which is noght to wyte, 7690 Halt evere forth the middel weie: Bot who that torne wole aweie Fro that to Prodegalite, Anon he lest the proprete687 Of vertu and goth to the vice; For in such wise as Avarice Lest for scarsnesse his goode name, Riht so that other is to blame, P. ii. 392 Which thurgh his wast mesure excedeth, For noman wot what harm that bredeth.688 7700 Bot mochel joie ther betydeth,689 Wher that largesse an herte guydeth: For his mesure is so governed, That he to bothe partz is lerned, To god and to the world also, He doth reson to bothe tuo. The povere folk of his almesse Relieved ben in the destresse Of thurst, of hunger and of cold; The yifte of him was nevere sold, 7710 Bot frely yive, and natheles The myhti god of his encress Rewardeth him of double grace; The hevene he doth him to pourchace And yifth him ek the worldes good: And thus the Cote for the hod Largesse takth, and yit no Sinne He doth, hou so that evere he winne. Lucas. Omni habenti dabitur. What man hath hors men yive him hors, And who non hath of him no fors, 7720 For he mai thanne on fote go; The world hath evere stonde so. Bot forto loken of the tweie, A man to go the siker weie, Beacius est dare quam accipere.690 Betre is to yive than to take: With yifte a man mai frendes make, P. ii. 393 Bot who that takth or gret or smal, He takth a charge forth withal, And stant noght fre til it be quit. So forto deme in mannes wit, 7730 It helpeth more a man to have His oghne good, than forto crave Of othre men and make him bounde, Wher elles he mai stonde unbounde. Seneca. Si res tue tibi non sufficiant, fac vt rebus tuis sufficias. Senec conseileth in this wise, And seith, ‘Bot if thi good suffise Unto the liking of thi wille, Withdrawh thi lust and hold the stille, And be to thi good sufficant.’ Apostolus.691 Ordinata caritas incipit a seipsa. For that thing is appourtenant 7740 To trouthe and causeth to be fre After the reule of charite, Which ferst beginneth of himselve. For if thou richest othre tuelve, Wherof thou schalt thiself be povere, I not what thonk thou miht recovere. Whil that a man hath good to yive, With grete routes he mai live And hath his frendes overal, And everich of him telle schal. 7750 Therwhile he hath his fulle packe,692 Thei seie, ‘A good felawe is Jacke’; Bot whanne it faileth ate laste, Anon his pris thei overcaste, For thanne is ther non other lawe Bot, ‘Jacke was a good felawe.’ P. ii. 394 Whan thei him povere and nedy se, Thei lete him passe and farwel he; Al that he wende of compainie Is thanne torned to folie. 7760 [Prodigality of Lovers.] Bot nou to speke in other kinde Of love, a man mai suche finde, That wher thei come in every route Thei caste and waste her love aboute, Til al here time is overgon, And thanne have thei love non:693 For who that loveth overal, It is no reson that he schal(7900*) Of love have eny proprete. Forthi, mi Sone, avise thee 7770 If thou of love hast be to large, For such a man is noght to charge: And if it so be that thou hast Despended al thi time in wast And set thi love in sondri place, Though thou the substance of thi grace Lese ate laste, it is no wonder; For he that put himselven under, As who seith, comun overal, He lest the love special 7780 Of eny on, if sche be wys; For love schal noght bere his pris Be reson, whanne it passeth on. So have I sen ful many on,694 That were of love wel at ese, Whiche after felle in gret desese P. ii. 395 Thurgh wast of love, that thei spente In sondri places wher thei wente. Confessor. Riht so, mi Sone, I axe of thee If thou with Prodegalite 7790 Hast hier and ther thi love wasted. Amans. Mi fader, nay; bot I have tasted In many a place as I have go, And yit love I nevere on of tho, Bot forto drive forth the dai. For lieveth wel, myn herte is ay Withoute mo for everemore Al upon on, for I nomore Desire bot hire love al one: So make I many a prive mone, 7800 For wel I fiele I have despended Mi longe love and noght amended Mi sped, for oght I finde yit. If this be wast to youre wit695 Of love, and Prodegalite, Nou, goode fader, demeth ye: Bot of o thing I wol me schryve, That I schal for no love thryve, Bot if hirself me wol relieve.696 Confessor. Mi Sone, that I mai wel lieve: 7810 And natheles me semeth so, For oght that thou hast yit misdo Of time which thou hast despended, It mai with grace ben amended. For thing which mai be worth the cost Per chaunce is nouther wast ne lost; P. ii. 396 For what thing stant on aventure,697 That can no worldes creature(7950*) Telle in certein hou it schal wende,698 Til he therof mai sen an ende. 7820 So that I not as yit therfore If thou, mi Sone, hast wonne or lore: For ofte time, as it is sene,699 Whan Somer hath lost al his grene And is with Wynter wast and bare, That him is left nothing to spare, Al is recovered in a throwe; The colde wyndes overblowe, And stille be the scharpe schoures,700 And soudeinliche ayein his floures 7830 The Somer hapneth and is riche: And so per cas thi graces liche, Mi Sone, thogh thou be nou povere Of love, yit thou miht recovere. Amans. Mi fader, certes grant merci: Ye have me tawht so redeli, That evere whil I live schal The betre I mai be war withal Of thing which ye have seid er this. Bot overmore hou that it is,701 7840 Toward mi schrifte as it belongeth, To wite of othre pointz me longeth; Wherof that ye me wolden teche With al myn herte I you beseche.