Chapter XLV: Part III (2)

38. Why procurest thou men to yeve thee hir almes, and sayest
it is so meedful; and thou wilt not thy-selfe winne thee that
mede?

39. Why wilt thou not begge for poore bedred men, that ben 180
poorer than ony of youre secte, that liggen, and mow not go
aboute to helpe themselves; sith we be all brethren in god, and
that bretherhed passeth ony other that ye or ony man coude
make? And where moost nede were, there were moost perfeccion;
either els ye holde hem not youre pure brethren, or worse. But 185
than ye be imperfite in your begginge.

40. Why make ye you so many maisters among you; sith it
is agaynst the techinge of Christ and his apostels?

41. Whos ben all your riche courtes that ye han, and all your
riche jewels; sith ye sayen that ye han nought, in proper ne in 190
comune? If ye sayn they ben the popes, why +geder ye then, of
poore men and of lordes, so much out of the kinges honde to make
your pope riche? And sith ye sayen that it is greet perfeccion to
have nought, in proper ne in comune, why be ye so fast aboute to
make the pope (that is your +fader) riche, and putte on him 195
imperfeccion? Sithen ye sayn that your goodes ben all his, and he
shulde by reson be the moost perfit man, it semeth openlich that
ye ben cursed children, so to sclaunder your +fader, and make
him imperfit. And if ye sayn that tho goodes be yours, then do
ye ayenst youre rule; and if it be not ayenst your rule, than might 200
ye have both plough and cart, and labour as other good men don,
and not so begge to by losengery, and ydell, as ye don. And if ye
say that it is more perfeccion to begge than to travaill or worch
with youre hand, why preche ye not openly, and teche all men to
do so, sith it is the best and moost perfit lyf to helpe of her 205
soules, as ye make children to begge that might have been riche
heyres?

42. Why make ye not your festes to poore men, and yeveth
hem yeftes, as ye don to the riche; sith poore men han more
nede than the riche? 210

43. What betokeneth that ye go tweyne and tweyne +togeder?
If ye be out of charitè, ye accorden not in soule.

44. Why begge ye, and take salaries therto, more than other
prestes; sith he that moost taketh, most charge he hath?

45. Why holde ye not saynt Fraunces rule and his testament; 215
sith Fraunces saith, that god shewed him this living and this
rule? And certes, if it were goddes will, the pope might not
fordo it; or els Fraunces was a lyar, that sayde on this wyse.
And but this testament that he made accorde with goddes will,
els erred he as a lyar that were out of charitè; and as the law 220
sayeth, he is accursed that letteth the rightfull last will of a deed
man lacke. And this testament is the last will of Fraunces that
is a deed man; it seemeth therefore that all his freres ben
cursed.

46. Why wil ye not touche no coined money with the crosse, 225
ne with the kinges heed, as ye don other jewels both of golde and
silver? Certes, if ye despyse the crosse or the kinges heed, than
ye be worthy to be despysed of god and the kinge. And sith ye
will receyve money in your hertes and not with youre handes, it
seemeth that ye holde more holinesse in your hondes than in your 230
hertes; and than be ye false to god.

47. Why have ye exempt you fro our kinges lawes and visitinge
of our bishoppes more than other Christen men that liven in this
realme, if ye be not gilty of traitory to our realme, or trespassers
to oure bishoppes? But ye will have the kinges lawes for trespas 235
don to you; and ye wil have power of other bishops more than
other prestes; and also have leave to prison youre brethren as
lordes in youre courtes, more than other folkes han that ben the
kinges lege men.

48. Why shal some secte of you freres paye eche yere a certaine 240
to hir generall provinciall or minister, or els to hir soverains,
but-if he stele a certain number of children, as some men sayn? And
certes, if this be soth, than be ye constrayned, upon certaine
payne, to do thefte, agaynst goddes commaundement,
_non furtum facies_. 245

49. Why be ye so hardy, to graunte, by letters of fraternitè, to
men and women, that they shall have part and merit of all your
good dedes; and ye witen never whether god be apayed with
youre dedes because of youre sinne? Also ye witen never whether
that man or woman be in state to be saved or damned; than shall 250
he have no merit in heven for his owne dedes, ne for none other
mans. And all were it so, that he shuld have part of youre good
dedes; yet shulde he have no more than god would geve him,
after that he were worthy; and so much shall eche man have of
goddes yefte, withoute youre limitacion. But if ye will saye that 255
ye ben goddes felowes, and that he may not do without youre
assent, than be ye blasphemers to god.

50. What betokeneth that ye have ordeined, that when such
oon as ye have mad youre brother or sister, and hath a letter of
your sele, that letter +mot be brought in youre holy chapter and 260
there be red; or els ye will not praye for him? But and ye willen
not praye specially for all other that weren not mad youre brethren
or sistren, than were ye not in right charitè; for that ought to be
commune, and namely in goostly thinges.

51. Frere, what charitè is this--to overcharge the people by 265
mighty begginge, under colour of prechinge or praying or masses
singing? Sith holy writ biddeth not thus, but even the contrary;
for al such goostly dedes shulde be don freely, as god yeveth hem
freely.

52. Frere, what charitè is this--to begyle children or they 270
commen to discrecion, and binde hem to youre orders, that been
not grounded in goddes lawe, against hir frendes wil? Sithen by
this foly ben many apostatas, both in will and dede, and many
ben apostatas in hir will during all hir lyfe, that wolde gladly be
discharged if they wist how; and so, many ben apostatas that 275
shulden in other states have ben trewe men.

53. Frere, what charitè is this--to make so mony freres in
every countrey, to the charge of the people? Sith persounes
and vicares alone, ye, secular prestes alone, ye, monkes and
chanons alone, with bishops above hem, were y-nough to the 280
church, to do prestes office. And to adde mo than y-nough is
a foul errour, and greet charge to the people; and this is openly
against goddes will, that ordeined all thinges to be don in weight,
nomber, and mesure. And Christ himself was apayed with twelve
apostles and a few disciples, to preche and do prestes office to all 285
the hole world; than was it better don than it is now at this tyme
by a thousand deel. And right so as foure fingers with a thumbe
in a mannes hande, helpeth a man to worche, and double nomber
of fingers in one hond shuld lette him more; and the more
nomber that there were, passing the mesure of goddes ordinaunce, 290
the more were a man letted to worke: right so, as it semeth, it is
of these newe orders that ben added to the church, without grounde
of holy writ and goddes ordinaunce.

54. Frere, what charitè is this--to lye to the people, and saye
that ye folowe Christ in povertè more than other men don? 295
And yet, in curious and costly howsinge, and fyne and precious
clothing, and delicious and lykinge fedinge, and in tresoure and
jewels and riche ornamentes, freres passen lordes and other riche
worldly men; and soonest they shuld bringe hir cause aboute,
be it never so costly, though goddes lawe be put abacke. 300

55. Frere, what charitè is this--to +gader up the bokes of holy
writ and putte hem in tresory, and so emprisoune hem from
secular prestes and curates; and by this cautel lette hem to
preche the gospell freely to the people without worldly mede; and
also to defame good prestes of heresy, and lyen on hem openly, 305
for to lette hem to shew goddes lawe, by the holy gospell, to the
Christen people?

56. Frere, what charitè is this--to fayn so much holines in
your bodily clothing, that ye clepe your habit, that many blinde
foles desyren to dye therin more than in an-other? And also, 310
that a frere that leveth his habit (late founden of men), may not
be assoiled till he take it again, but is an apostata, as ye sayn,
and cursed of god and man both? The frere beleveth treuth and
pacience, chastitè, mekenesse, and sobrietè; yet for the more
part of his lyfe he may soone be assoiled of his prior; and if he 315
bringe hoom to his house much good by yere, be it never so
falsly begged and pilled of the poore and nedy people in courtes
aboute, he shal be hold[en] a noble frere! O lord, whether this
be charitè!

57. Frere, what charitè is this--to prese upon a riche man, 320
and to entyce him to be buried among you from his parish-church,
and to suche riche men geve letters of fraternitè confirmed
by youre generall sele, and therby to bere him in honde that he
shall have part of all your masses, matins, prechinges, fastinges,
wakinges, and all other good dedes don by your brethren of youre 325
order (both whyles he liveth and after that he is deed), and yet
ye witen never whether youre dedes be acceptable to god, ne
whether that man that hath that letter be able by good living to
receive ony part of youre dedes? And yet a poore man, that ye
wite wel or supposen in certain to have no good of, ye ne geve 330
no such letters, though he be a better man to god than suche
a riche man; nevertheles, this poore man doth not recche therof.
For, as men supposen, suche letters and many other that freres
behesten to men, be full of false deceites of freres, out of reson
and god[d]es lawe and Christen mens faith. 335

58. Frere, what charitè is this--to be confessoures of lordes
and ladyes, and to other mighty men, and not amend hem in hir
living; but rather, as it semeth, to be the bolder to pille hir poore
tenauntes and to live in lechery, and there to dwelle in your office
of confessour, for winning of worldly goodes, and to be holden grete 340
by colour of suche goostly offices? This seemeth rather pryde
of freres than charitè of god.

59. Frere, what charitè is this--to sayn that who-so liveth
after youre order, liveth most parfitly, and next foloweth the
state of aposteles in povertè and penaunce; and yet the wysest 345
and gretest clerkes of you wende, or sende, or procure to the
court of Rome to be mad cardinales or bishoppes or the popes
chapelayns, and to be assoiled of the vowe of povertè and
obedience to your ministers; in the which, as ye sayn, standeth
moost perfeccion and merite of youre orders? And thus ye faren 350
as Pharisees, that sayen oon, and do another to the contrarye.

60. Why name ye more the patron of youre order in youre
_Confiteor_, whan ye beginne masse, than other saintes, as apostels,
or marters, that holy churche holde[th] more glorious than hem,
and clepe hem youre patrons and youre avowries? 355

61. Frere, whet[h]er was saint Fraunces, in making of his rule that
he sette thyne order in, a fole and lyar, or els wyse and trew? If
ye sayn that he was not a fole but wyse; ne a lyar, but trew; why
shewe ye the contrary by youre doing, whan by youre suggestion to
the pope ye said that Fraunces rule was mad so hard that ye might 360
not live to holde it without declaracion and dispensacion of the
pope? And so, by youre dede, ye lete your patron a fole, that made
a rule so hard that no man may wel kepe [it]; and eke youre
dede proveth him a lyar, where he sayeth in his rule, that he took
and lerned it of the holy gooste. For how might ye, for shame, 365
praye the pope to undo that the holy goost biddeth, as whan ye
prayed him to dispense with the hardnesse of your order?

62. Frere, which of the foure orders of freres is best, to a man
that knoweth not which is the beste, but wolde fain enter into the
beste and none other? If thou sayest that thyn is the best, than 370
sayest thou that noon of the other is as good as thyn; and in this
eche frere in the three other orders wolle say that thou lyest; for
in the selve maner eche other frere woll say that his order is
beste. And thus to eche of the foure orders ben the other three
contrary in this poynte; in the which if ony say sooth, that is oon 375
aloon; for there may but oon be the beste of foure. So foloweth
it, that if ech of these orders answered to this question as thou
doest, three were false and but oon trew; and yet no man shulde
wite who that were. And thus it semeth, that the moost part of
freres ben or shulde be lyars in this poynt, and they shulde 380
answere therto. If +ye say that an-other ordre of the freres is
better than thyn or as good; why toke ye not rather therto as to
the better, whan thou mightest have chosen at the beginning?
And eke, why shuldest thou be an apostata, to leve thyn order
and take thee to that that is better? And so, why goest thou not 385
from thyn order into that?

63. Frere, is there ony perfiter rule of religion than Christ,
goddes sone, gave in his gospell to his brethren, or than that
religion that saynt James in his epistle maketh mencion of? If
+ye saye 'yes,' than puttest thou on Christ, that is wysdom of 390
god the +fader, uncunning, unpower, or evil will. For eyther
than he coude not make his rule so good as an-other did his,
(and so he hadde be uncunning, that he might not make his rule
so good as another man might, and so were he unmighty and not
god); or he wolde not make his rule so perfit as an-other did his 395
(and so had he ben evill-willed, namely to himselfe!) For if he
might, and coude, and wold[e] have mad a rule perfit without
defaute, and did not, he was not goddes sone almighty. For if
ony other rule be perfiter than Christes, than must Christes rule
lacke of that perfeccion by as much as the other were more 400
perfiter; and so were defaute, and Christ had failed in makinge
of his rule. But to putte ony defaute or failinge in god, is
blasphemy. If thou saye that Christes rule and that religion
that saynt James maketh mencion of, is the perfitest; why holdest
thou not than thilke rule without more? And why clepest thou 405
thee rather of saynt Frances or saynt Dominiks rule or religion or
order, than of Christes rule or Christes order?

64. Frere, canst thou assigne ony defaute in Christes rule of
the gospell, with the whiche he taught al men sikerly to be saved,
if they kepte it to hir endinge? If thou saye it was to hard, 410
than sayest thou that Christ lyed; for he saide of his rule: 'My
yoke is softe, and my burthen light.' If thou saye Christes rule
was to light, that may be assigned for no defaute, for the better
may it be kept. If thou sayst that there is no defaute in Christes
rule of the gospell, sith Christ him-selfe saith it is light and esy: 415
what nede was it to patrons of freres to adde more therto, and so
to make an harder religion, to save freres, than was the religion
that Christes apostels and his disciples helden and weren saved
by; but-if they wolden that her freres saten above the apostels
in heven, for the harder religion that they kepen here? And so 420
wolde they sitten in heven above Christ himselfe for the moo and
strait observaunces; than so shulde they be better than Christ
himselfe, with misc[h]aunce!

Go now forth, and frayne youre clerkes,
And grounde you in goddes lawe, and geve Jack answere. 425
And whan ye han assoiled me that I have said, sadly in treuth,
I shall soill thee of thyn order, and save thee to heven!

If freres cunne not or mow not excuse hem of these questions
asked of hem, it semeth that they be horrible gilty against god
and hir even-Christen; for which gyltes and defautes it were 430
worthy that the order that they calle hir order were for-don. And
it is wonder that men susteyne hem or suffer hem live in suche
maner. For holy writ biddeth that thou do well to the meke,
and geve not to the wicked, but forbid to geve hem breed, lest
they be mad thereby mightier through you. Finis. 435

¶ Prynted for Jhon Gough.
Cum Priuilegio Regali.

_From_ C. (= printed copy in Caius Coll. library, Cambridge); _I give here rejected spellings; readings marked_ Sp. _are from_ Speght.

3. walkyn. deceauen. 5, 6, 7. bene (_for_ been; _very often_). 6. folke. founde. 9. kynreddes. 11. grasse, nether nething (_sic_). 12. onely. her lyfes. 13. had; Sp. han. 15. hym (_for_ hem). wreches. 16. -selfes. 18. the. 20. teacheth. don. 21. not; Sp. nought. dyspleasynge. harme. 22. because (Sp. that). 23. greatest.

25. reason. write. 26. not; Sp. nought. 28. earthe. 29. thyne. 31. perfyte. 32. the. 33. break. 34. breake. 35. one. 36. speaketh. mor; Sp. more. lef; Sp. left. 37. leaueth. 38. one. 39. Christe. 40. abytes; Sp. habits. 41. leaue. wyfe. yeare. 42. you; _read_ ye. leaue. abyte; Sp. habit. yeare. 44. abyte; Sp. habit. 45. weareth (_twice_). 46. the abbyte; Sp. your habit. 48. apostatase; Sp. apostataes. by; Sp. buy. 50. greate hoode. 51. coape. 52. one coloure. 53. bene. 57. sayde. clotynge (!). 58. maye. weare clothynge.

60. Sp. _om._ in _before_ another. 61. speake. leaue. 62. eate. 65. easy. 66. ether; Sp. either. vnperfyte. 67. harde. seker; Sp. siker. 68. her. 69. selfes. 70. ye you; Sp. _om._ ye (!). 70, 71. deade (_twice_). beggers; Sp. beggars. ye; Sp. you. 72. deade. 74. heare. 75. eare; Sp. ere. Sp. haue ben (C. _om._ haue). 78. Sp. falleth it to. 78, 79. deade (_twice_). 79. gorgeous buyldi_n_ges; Sp. courts. 80. maye; Sp. now (_error for_ mow). 81. welnygh; Sp. will (!). 83. here; Sp. heire (_read_ hyre). geuynge. 84. yeare. certayne. one. 91. Sp. of men. 92. perfyte. Sp. brether (!). 93. baptyme; Sp. baptisme.

96. Sp. _om._ the. least. 97. oute. 98, 102. south; Sp. sooth. 101. abyte; Sp. habit. 103. abytes. 105. steale. 107. wether; Sp. whether. 109. vndermyne (_for_ vndernyme); Sp. vnderneme. 111. maye. presonne; Sp. prison. 112. Sp. Augustines. dyd; Sp. doe. 114. buryenge. 115. none. 116. heare; Sp. heare to. 117. plentie. 118. folke maye. 120. heare. 122. _Both_ you. folke amonge. 123. sayne. 124. pouertye. 125. her. bene. 126. Sp. other (_for_ riche). 128. Sp. _om._ of. 130. wylte. preache.

133. payed; Sp. apaid. preache. 134. gosgel (!). Sp. bodden. hym; Sp. hem. 135. preached. 136. yeare. 139. myrtes; Sp. mirths. 142. Sp. thy; C. _om._ (_before_ prayer). 144. Sp. that certes (_error for_ than certes); C. & certes. 149. her. the. 150. thynge. 151. Sp. writest; Sp. _om._ him. 152. Sp. forgotten (!). 153. bearest. 154. meate. 156. the. 159. C. Of; Sp. For. 162. perfection (_but_ perfeccion _in l._ 163). least. meane (_often_). 165. least. 166. arte.

167. charytye. sithe. 168. leauynge. 169. Sp. them (_for_ hem). 170. doeste. 173. learned and lewd; Sp. lerid and leaud. 174. Sp. _om._ suche. 176. one. 177. the here. 178. C. medefull; Sp. needful. the. 182. themselfes. 183. coulde. 185. hym; Sp. them (_read_ hem). C. or; Sp. but. 187. amonge. 188. teachynge. 189. Whose. rych. 190. yewels; Sp. iewels. improper ne; Sp. ne in proper ne in. 191. cumune; Sp. common. sayne. gether; Sp. gather. 192. Sp. _om._ of. 193. great. 194. in p_ro_per ne comune; Sp. in proper be (!) in common. 195. father rych. put. 197. reason. perfite. 198. father. 199. imperfyte. sayne. Sp. the (_for_ tho).

201. carte. done. 202. lesyngery; Sp. losengery. done. 204. preach. teach. 205. perfyte lyfe. 206. be; Sp. bin. 208. feastes. 209. done. rych. 211. together. 212. charitie. 214. Sp. _om. 2nd_ he. 220. C. as; Sp. is (!) charytie. 221. Sp. accursed; C. cursede. C. _om._ last. dead. 222. Sp. _om._ lacke. least; Sp. last. 223. dead. C. _om._ therefore. 226. hedde. done. 227. heade. 229. receaue. 229, 231. hartes (_twice_). 231. Sp. _om._ ye. 232. exempte. 234. gyltye. traytery. trespasers. 235. Sp. your (_for_ oure). Sp. the trespasse (_for_ trespas). 236. done.

240. eche yeare; Sp. ech a yere. 241. her (_twice_). 242. steale. certayne. sayne. 247. merite. 248. whyther; Sp. whether. payde; Sp. apayed. 249. weten; Sp. witten. 251. meryte. heauen. 252. man (_for_ mans, s _having dropped out_); Sp. mans. 253. ye (_for_ he); Sp. he. 256. folowes; Sp. fellowes. maye. 258. tokeneth; Sp. betokeneth. 259. one. made. 260. seale. mought (_read_ mot). 261. redde; Sp. rad. Sp. And but. 262. Sp. _om. 1st_ not. specyally; Sp. especially. made. 264. co_m_mne (!). goostely; Sp. ghostly. 266. myghtie. coloure. preachynge. prayeng. 267. write. 268. done frely. 269. frely. 271. him; Sp. hem.

272. her. 273-275. apostatase; Sp. apostataes. 278. personnes. 280. him; Sp. them. 282. foule. greate. 283. done. 284. measure. payd; Sp. apaied. 285. preache. 286. Sp. whole. Sp. _om. 2nd_ it. 287. deal; Sp. dele. 289. let. Sp. and so the (_om._ so). 290. measure. 293. wryte. 295. pouertye. done. 297. treasoure. 298. rych. 299. wordly; Sp. worldly. bring her. 300. costely. abake; Sp. abacke. 301. gather (_read_ gader). 302. wryte. put. emprysonne. 303. let. him; Sp. hem. 304. preache. frely. wordely; Sp. worldly.

306. let. 308. fayn. 309. bodely. 309, 311. abyte; Sp. habit. 311. leaueth. 311, 315. maye. 312. Sp. _om._ an. sayne. 315. parte. 316. home. by yeare; Sp. by the yeare. 317. courtes &; Sp. countries (_perhaps better_). 318. C. Sp. hold (_for_ holden). 320. _Both_ prease. 323. seale. beare. 324. parte. preachynges. 325. done. 326. dead. 329. receaue. 330. certaine. 331. no; Sp. to (!). 332. rych. reche; Sp. retch. 334. behesten; Sp. behoten. reason; Sp. all reason. 337. laydes (_for_ ladyes). her. 338. pyl her. 339. dwel. 340. greate.

341. coloure. 344. mooste perfytely. 345. wyseste. 346. greatest clarkes. 347. made. 348. chappelaynes. povertye. 351. one. 354. hol (_for_ holy); Sp. holy. holde; Sp. hold (_read_ holdeth). them. 357. set. 358. sayne. 359. shew. 360. C. that Fraunces rule was made so harde; Sp. that your rule that Francis made was so hard. C. might; Sp. mow. 363. harde. maye. _Supply_ it. 364. toke. 365. learned. 366. Sp. _om._ to. C. byddeth; Sp. bit. Sp. when; C. _om._ 369. fayne. 370. thyne. 371. none. thyne. 372, 374. thre. 373. C. selfe; Sp. self same. 375. one.

376. alone. one. 378. thre. one. 381. _Both_ you; _read_ ye. 382. thine. 384. apostate; Sp. apostata. leaue. 385. the. 388. sonne. 390. _Both_ you; _read_ ye. wysdome. 391. father vncunyng. Sp. _om._ eyther. 392, 397. coulde (_twice_). 393. Sp. had he. 395. perfyte. 397. made. perfyte. 398. defate; Sp. default. sonne. 401. weren. 402. put. 404. C. that saynt; Sp. which saint. the perfytest; Sp. perfectest. 405. Sp. _om._ than. 406. the (_read_ thee). 408. Sp. any default or (!) assigne. 409. sekerly; Sp. sikerly. 410. her. harde.

415. easye. 416. mor; Sp. more. 418. that; Sp. of (!). 420, 421. heauen (_twice_). 421. Christe. 424. fraye_n_ (_for_ frayne); Sp. fraine. 425. C. ye in; Sp. ye you in (_read_ you in). 426. sayde. _Read_--And whan ye han soiled that I saide, sadly in treuthe. 427. soyll the. thyne. order; Sp. orders. the; Sp. thee. heauen. 428. C. cunne; Sp. kun. 430. her. 431. her. fordone. 432. hem lyue; Sp. hir live. 433. wryte. 434. bread leste. 435. made. Sp. _om._ Finis.

* * * * *

IV. JOHN GOWER

UNTO THE WORTHY AND NOBLE KINGE HENRY THE FOURTH.

O noble worthy king, Henry the ferthe,
In whom the gladde fortune is befalle
The people to governe here upon erthe,
God hath thee chose, in comfort of us alle;
The worship of this land, which was doun falle, 5
Now stant upright, through grace of thy goodnesse,
Which every man is holde for to blesse.

The highe god, of his justyce alone,
The right which longeth to thy regalye
Declared hath to stande in thy persone; 10
And more than god may no man justifye.
Thy title is knowe upon thyn auncestrye;
The londes folk hath eek thy right affermed;
So stant thy regne, of god and man confermed.

Ther is no man may saye in other wyse 15
That god him-self ne hath the right declared;
Wherof the land is boun to thy servyse,
Which for defaute of helpe hath longe cared.
But now ther is no mannes herte spared
To love and serve, and worche thy plesaunce; 20
And al this is through goddes purveyaunce.

In alle thing which is of god begonne
Ther foloweth grace, if it be wel governed;
Thus tellen they whiche olde bokes conne,
Wherof, my lord, I wot wel thou art lerned. 25
Aske of thy god; so shalt thou nat be werned
Of no request [the] whiche is resonable;
For god unto the goode is favorable.

King Salomon, which hadde at his askinge
Of god, what thing him was levest to crave, 30
He chees wysdom unto the governinge
Of goddes folk, the whiche he wolde save;
And as he chees, it fil him for to have;
For through his wit, whyl that his regne laste,
He gat him pees and reste, unto the laste. 35

But Alisaundre, as telleth his historie,
Unto the god besoughte in other weye,
Of al the worlde to winne the victorie,
So that under his swerde it might[e] obeye;
In werre he hadde al that he wolde preye. 40
The mighty god behight[e] him that behest;
The world he wan, and hadde it of conquest.

But though it fil at thilke tyme so,
That Alisaundre his asking hath acheved,
This sinful world was al[le] payën tho; 45
Was noon whiche hath the highe god beleved;
No wonder was, though thilke world was greved.
Though a tyraunt his purpos mighte winne,
Al was vengeaunce, and infortune of sinne.

But now the faith of Crist is come a-place 50
Among the princes in this erthe here,
It sit hem wel to do pitè and grace,
But yet it mot be tempred in manere.
For as they fynden cause in the matere
Upon the poynt, what afterward betyde, 55
The lawe of right shal nat be layd a-syde.

So may a king of werre the viage
Ordayne and take, as he therto is holde,
To clayme and aske his rightful heritage
In alle places wher it is with-holde. 60
But other-wyse, if god him-selve wolde
Afferme love and pees bitween the kinges,
Pees is the beste, above alle erthly thinges.

Good is t'eschewe werre, and nathelees
A king may make werre upon his right; 65
For of bataile the fynal ende is pees;
Thus stant the lawe, that a worthy knight
Upon his trouthe may go to the fight.
But-if so were that he mighte chese,
Betre is the pees of which may no man lese. 70

To stere pees oughte every man on-lyve,
First, for to sette his liege lord in reste,
And eek these othre men, that they ne stryve;
For so this land may standen atte beste.
What king that wolde be the worthieste, 75
The more he mighte our deedly werre cese,
The more he shulde his worthinesse encrese.

Pees is the cheef of al the worldes welthe,
And to the heven it ledeth eek the way;
Pees is of soule and lyfe the mannes helthe 80
Of pestilence, and doth the werre away.
My liege lord, tak hede of that I say,
If werre may be left, tak pees on honde,
Which may nat be withoute goddes sonde.

With pees stant every crëature in reste, 85
Withoute pees ther may no lyf be glad;
Above al other good, pees is the beste;
Pees hath him-self, whan werre is al bestad;
The pees is sauf, the werre is ever adrad.
Pees is of al[le] charitè the keye, 90
Whiche hath the lyf and soule for to weye.

My liege lord, if that thee list to seche
The sothe ensamples, what the werre hath wrought,
Thou shalt wel here, of wyse mennes speche,
That deedly werre tourneth in-to nought. 95
For if these olde bokes be wel sought,
Ther might thou see what thing the werre hath do
Bothe of conquest and conquerour also.

For vayne honóur, or for the worldes good,
They that whylom the stronge werres made, 100
Wher be they now? Bethink wel, in thy mood,
The day is goon, the night is derke and fade;
Hir crueltè, which made hem thanne glade,
They sorowen now, and yet have naught the more;
The blood is shad, which no man may restore. 105

The werre is moder of the wronges alle;
It sleeth the preest in holy chirche at masse,
Forlyth the mayde, and doth her flour to falle.
The werre maketh the grete citee lasse,
And doth the lawe his reules overpasse. 110
Ther is nothing, wherof mescheef may growe
Whiche is not caused of the werre, I trowe.

The werre bringth in póverte at his heles,
Wherof the comun people is sore greved;
The werre hath set his cart on thilke wheles 115
Wher that fortune may not be beleved.
For whan men wene best to have acheved,
Ful ofte it is al newe to beginne;
The werre hath nothing siker, thogh he winne.

For-thy, my worthy prince, in Cristes halve, 120
As for a part whos fayth thou hast to gyde,
Ley to this olde sore a newe salve,
And do the werre away, what-so betyde.
Purchace pees, and sette it by thy syde,
And suffre nat thy people be devoured; 125
So shal thy name ever after stande honóured!

If any man be now, or ever was
Ayein the pees thy prevy counsaylour,
Let god be of thy counsayl in this cas,
And put away the cruel werreyour. 130
For god, whiche is of man the creatour,
He wolde not men slowe his crëature
Withoute cause of deedly forfayture.

Wher nedeth most, behoveth most to loke;
My lord, how so thy werres be withoute, 135
Of tyme passed who that hede toke,
Good were at home to see right wel aboute;
For evermore the worste is for to doute.
But, if thou mightest parfit pees attayne,
Ther shulde be no cause for to playne. 140

Aboute a king, good counsayl is to preyse
Above al othre thinges most vailable;
But yet a king within him-self shal peyse
And seen the thinges that be resonable.
And ther-upon he shal his wittes stable 145
Among the men to sette pees in evene,
For love of him whiche is the king of hevene.

A! wel is him that shedde never blood
But-if it were in cause of rightwysnesse!
For if a king the peril understood 150
What is to slee the people, thanne, I gesse,
The deedly werres and the hevinesse
Wher-of the pees distourbed is ful ofte,
Shulde at som tyme cesse and wexe softe.

O king! fulfilled of grace and of knighthode, 155
Remembre upon this poynt, for Cristes sake;
If pees be profred unto thy manhode,
Thyn honour sauf, let it nat be forsake!
Though thou the werres darst wel undertake,
After resoun yet temper thy corage; 160
For lyk to pees ther is non avauntage.

My worthy lord, thenk wel, how-so befalle
Of thilke lore, as holy bokes sayn;
Crist is the heed, and we be membres alle,
As wel the subject as the soverayn. 165
So sit it wel, that charitè be playn,
Whiche unto god him-selve most accordeth,
So as the lore of Cristes word recordeth.

In th'olde lawe, or Crist him-self was bore,
Among the ten comaundëments, I rede, 170
How that manslaughter shulde be forbore;
Such was the wil, that tyme, of the godhede.
But afterward, whan Crist took his manhede,
Pees was the firste thing he leet do crye
Ayenst the worldes rancour and envye. 175

And, or Crist wente out of this erthe here,
And stigh to heven, he made his testament,
Wher he bequath to his disciples there
And yaf his pees, which is the foundement
Of charitè, withouten whos assent 180
The worldes pees may never wel be tryed,
Ne lovë kept, ne lawë justifyed.

The Jewes with the payens hadden werre,
But they among hem-self stode ever in pees;
Why shulde than our pees stonde out of herre, 185
Which Crist hath chose unto his owne encrees?
For Crist is more than was Moÿses;
And Crist hath set the parfit of the lawe,
The whiche shulde in no wyse be withdrawe.

To yeve us pees was causë why Crist dyde, 190
Withoute pees may nothing stonde avayled;
But now a man may see on every syde
How Cristes fayth is every day assayled,
With the payens distroyed, and so batayled
That, for defaute of helpe and of defence, 195
Unneth hath Crist his dewe reverence.

The righte fayth to kepe of holy chirche
The firste poynt is named of knighthode;
And every man is holde for to wirche
Upon the poynt that stant to his manhode. 200
But now, alas! the fame is spred so brode
That every man this thing [alday] complayneth;
And yet is ther no man that help ordayneth.

The worldes cause is wayted over-al;
Ther be the werres redy, to the fulle; 205
But Cristes owne cause in special,
Ther ben the swerdes and the speres dulle.
And with the sentence of the popes bulle
As for to doon the folk payën obeye,
The chirche is tourned al another weye. 210

It is wonder, above any mannes wit,
Withoute werre how Cristes fayth was wonne;
And we that been upon this erthë yit
Ne kepe it nat as it was first begonne.
To every crëature under the sonne 215
Crist bad him-self, how that we shulde preche,
And to the folke his evangely teche.

More light it is to kepe than to make;
But that we founden mad to-fore the hond
We kepe nat, but lete it lightly slake; 220
The pees of Crist hath al to-broke his bond.
We reste our-self, and suffren every lond
To slee eche other as thing undefended;
So stant the werre, and pees is nat amended.

But though the heed of holy chirche above 225
Ne do nat al his hole businesse
Among the men to sette pees and love,
These kinges oughten, of hir rightwysnesse,
Hir owne cause among hem-self redresse.
Thogh Peters ship, as now, hath lost his stere, 230
It lyth in hem that barge for to stere.

If holy chirche after the dewetè
Of Cristes word ne be nat al avysed
To make pees, accord, and unitè
Among the kinges that be now devysed, 235
Yet, natheles, the lawë stant assysed
Of mannes wit, to be so resonable
Withoute that to stande hem-selve stable.

Of holy chirche we ben children alle,
And every child is holde for to bowe 240
Unto the moder, how that ever it falle,
Or elles he mot reson disalowe.
And, for that cause, a knight shal first avowe
The right of holy chirche to defende,
That no man shal the privilege offende. 245

Thus were it good to setten al in evene
The worldes princes and the prelats bothe,
For love of him whiche is the king of hevene;
And if men shulde algate wexen wrothe,
The Sarazins, whiche unto Crist ben lothe, 250
Let men be armed ayenst hem to fighte,
So may the knight his dede of armes righte.

Upon three poynts stant Cristes pees oppressed;
First, holy chirche is in her-self devyded;
Which oughte, of reson, first to be redressed; 255
But yet so high a cause is nat decyded.
And thus, whan humble pacience is pryded,
The remenaunt, which that they shulde reule,
No wonder is, though it stande out of reule.

Of that the heed is syk, the limmes aken; 260
These regnes, that to Cristes pees belongen,
For worldes good, these deedly werres maken,
Which helpelees, as in balaunce, hongen.
The heed above hem hath nat underfongen
To sette pees, but every man sleeth other; 265
And in this wyse hath charitè no brother.

The two defautes bringen in the thridde
Of miscreants, that seen how we debate;
Between the two, they fallen in a-midde
Wher now al-day they fynde an open gate. 270
Lo! thus the deedly werre stant al-gate.
But ever I hopë of king Henries grace,
That he it is which shal the pees embrace.

My worthy noble prince, and king anoynt,
Whom god hath, of his grace, so preserved, 275
Behold and see the world upon this poynt,
As for thy part, that Cristes pees be served.
So shal thy highe mede be reserved
To him, whiche al shal quyten atte laste;
For this lyf herë may no whyle laste. 280

See Alisandre, Hector, and Julius,
See Machabeus, David, and Josuë,
See Charlemayne, Godfray, and Arthus
Fulfild of werre and of mortalitee!
Hir fame abit, but al is vanitee; 285
For deth, whiche hath the werres under fote,
Hath mad an ende, of which ther is no bote.

So may a man the sothe wite and knowe,
That pees is good for every king to have;
The fortune of the werre is ever unknowe, 290
But wher pees is, ther ben the marches save.
That now is up, to-morwe is under grave.
The mighty god hath alle grace in honde;
Withouten him, men may nat longe stonde.

Of the tenetz to winne or lese a chace 295
May no lyf wite, or that the bal be ronne;
Al stant in god, what thing men shal purchace:
Th'ende is in him, or that it be begonne;
Men sayn, the wolle, whan it is wel sponne,
Doth that the cloth is strong and profitable, 300
And elles it may never be durable.

The worldes chaunces upon aventure
Ben ever set; but thilke chaunce of pees
Is so behovely to the crëature
That it above al other is peerlees. 305
But it may nat +be gete, nathelees,
Among the men to lasten any whyle,
But wher the herte is playn, withoute gyle.

The pees is as it were a sacrament
To-fore the god, and shal with wordes playne 310
Withouten any double entendëment
Be treted; for the trouthe can nat feyne.
But if the men within hem-self be vayne,
The substaunce of the pees may nat be trewe,
But every day it chaungeth upon newe. 315

But who that is of charitè parfyte,
He voydeth alle sleightes fer aweye,
And set his word upon the same plyte
Wher that his herte hath founde a siker weye;
And thus, whan conscience is trewly weye, 320
And that the pees be handled with the wyse,
It shal abyde and stande, in alle wyse.

Th'apostel sayth, ther may no lyf be good
Whiche is nat grounded upon charitè;
For charitè ne shedde never blood. 325
So hath the werre, as ther, no propertè;
For thilke vertue which is sayd 'pitè'
With charitè so ferforth is acquaynted
That in her may no fals sembla[u]nt be paynted.

Cassodore, whos wryting is authorysed 330
Sayth: 'wher that pitè regneth, ther is grace';
Through which the pees hath al his welthe assysed,
So that of werre he dredeth no manace.
Wher pitè dwelleth, in the same place
Ther may no deedly crueltè sojourne 335
Wherof that mercy shulde his wey[e] tourne.

To see what pitè, forth with mercy, doth,
The cronique is at Rome, in thilke empyre
Of Constantyn, which is a tale soth,
Whan him was lever his owne deth desyre 340
Than do the yonge children to martyre.
Of crueltee he lefte the quarele;
Pitè he wroughte, and pitè was his hele.

For thilke mannes pitè which he dede
God was pitous, and made him hool at al; 345
Silvester cam, and in the same stede
Yaf him baptyme first in special,
Which dide away the sinne original,
And al his lepre it hath so purifyed,
That his pitè for ever is magnifyed. 350

Pitè was cause why this emperour
Was hool in body and in soule bothe;
And Rome also was set in thilke honour
Of Cristes fayth, so that the leve, of lothe
Whiche hadden be with Crist tofore wrothe, 355
Receyved werë unto Cristes lore.
Thus shal pitè be praysed evermore.

My worthy liege lord, Henry by name,
Which Engëlond hast to governe and righte,
Men oughten wel thy pitè to proclame, 360
Which openliche, in al the worldes sighte,
Is shewed, with the helpe of god almighte,
To yeve us pees, which long hath be debated,
Wherof thy prys shal never be abated.

My lord, in whom hath ever yet be founde 365
Pitè, withoute spotte of violence,
Keep thilke pees alway, withinne bounde,
Which god hath planted in thy conscience.
So shal the cronique of thy pacience
Among the saynts be take in-to memórie 370
To the loënge of perdurable glorie.

And to thyn erthely prys, so as I can,
Whiche every man is holde to commende,
I Gower, which am al thy liege man,
This lettre unto thyn excellence I sende, 375
As I, whiche ever unto my lyves ende
Wol praye for the stat of thy persone,
In worshipe of thy sceptre and of thy trone.

Nat only to my king of pees I wryte,
But to these othre princes Cristen alle, 380
That eche of hem his owne herte endyte
And cese the werre, or more mescheef falle.
Set eek the rightful pope upon his stalle;
Keep charitè, and draw pitè to honde,
Maynteyne lawe; and so the pees shal stonde. 385

EXPLICIT CARMEN DE PACIS COMMENDACIONE, QUOD AD LAUDEM
ET MEMORIAM SERENISSIMI PRINCIPIS DOMINI REGIS HENRICI
QUARTI, SUUS HUMILIS ORATOR JOHANNES GOWER COMPOSUIT.

Electus Christi, pie rex Henrice, fuisti,
Qui bene venisti, cum propria regna petisti;
Tu mala vicisti -que bonis bona restituisti,
Et populo tristi nova gaudia contribuisti.

Est mihi spes lata, quod adhuc per te renovata 390
Succedent fata veteri probitate beata;
Est tibi nam grata gratia sponte data.

Henrici quarti primus regni fuit annus
Quo mihi defecit visus ad acta mea.
Omnia tempus habent, finem natura ministrat, 395
Quem virtute sua frangere nemo potest.
Ultra posse nihil, quamvis mihi velle remansit,
Amplius ut scribam non mihi posse manet.
Dum potui, scripsi, sed nunc quia curua senectus
Turbauit sensus, scripta relinquo scolis. 400
Scribat qui veniet post me discretior alter,
Ammodo namque manus et mea penna silent.
Hoc tamen in fine verborum queso meorum,
Prospera quod statuat regna futura deus.

¶ _Explicit._

_From_ Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532.); _corrected by_ T. (Trentham MS.) _I give the rejected spellings of_ Th. (Thynne), _except where they are corrected by the_ MS.

1. T. worthi noble. 3. T. _om._ here. 4. _Both_ the. T. chose; Th. chosen. 9. T. regalie; Th. regaly. 11. T. iustifie; Th. iustify. 12. T. ancestrie; Th. auncestry. 17. T. boun; Th. bounde. 20. T. wirche.

26. T. Axe; Th. Aske. 27. T. reqwest; Th. request. (_Perhaps read_--Of no request the whiche is resonable.) 29. T. axinge; Th. askyng. 30. Th. _om._ to. 31. T. ches; Th. chase. Th. _om._ the. 33. T. ches; Th. chase. 35. T. gat; Th. gate. T. pes; Th. peace. _So_ T.; Th. in-to his last. 36. T. histoire; Th. storie. 39. T. might; Th. myght. 41. _Both_ behight. T. beheste. 42. Th. _om._ he. _Both_ had. T. conqweste. 44. T. axinge. T. achieued; Th. atcheued. 45. _Both_ al. T. paiene; Th. paynem. 46. T. belieued. 47. T. grieued. 48. T. mihte; Th. might. 50. T. feith; Th. faithe. 53. T. mot; Th. must. 54. Th. _om._ as.

56. T. leid; Th. layde. 57. T. viage: Th. voyage. 59. T. axe. 61. T. silve; Th. selfe. 62, 63. T. pes; Th. peace. 70. T. Betre; Th. Better. 71. _Both_ peace. T. euery man; Th. eueriche. T. alyue. 74. Th. lande; T. world. 76. T. cesse; Th. cease. 77. T. encresse; Th. encrease. 78. T. chief; Th. chefe. 79, 81, 82. T. weie, aweie, seie. 83. _Both_ lefte.

90. _Both_ al. 92. _Both_ the. 93. T. that; Th. what. 96. T. soght; Th. ysought. 97. _Both_ se. 98. T. conqueste. 101. T. bethenk. 102. _Both_ gone. 103. _Both_ Her. 108. T. _om._ doth; Th. dothe. 110. _Both_ dothe. T. reules; Th. rules. 111. T. meschef; Th. myschefe. 113. T. bringth; Th. bringeth. 114. T. comon; Th. co_m_men. 121. T. to; Th. be.

129. T. Lete; Th. Lette. 130. Th. crewel warryour. 132. Th. slough. 136. T. than; Th. that. 137. _Both_ se. 146. T. euene; Th. euyn. 147. T. heuene; Th. heuyn. 148. T. Ha. 153. Th. _om._ the. 155. Th. _om. 2nd_ of.

160. T. reson; Th. reason. 162. T. thenke; Th. thynke. 165. T. the subiit; Th. be subiecte. 169. T. er. 173. T. aftirwards; Th. afterwarde. 174. T. let; Th. lette. 176. T. er. 177. Th. styghed. 183. T. paiens; Th. paynyms. 185. Th. erre (!). 192. T. sen; Th. se. 194. Th. paynems. T. destruied.

200. Th. that; T. which. 201. T. helas; T. sprad. 202. _I supply_ alday. 203. Th. that; T. which. 209. T. do; Th. done. T. paien; Th. payne (_for_ payen). 211. T. to wonder; Th. wonder. _For_ any _read_ a? 216. Th. _om._ how. 217. T. euangile. 219. _Both_ made. Th. _om._ the. 222. Th. selfe; T. selue. 227. T. men; Th. people.

231. Th. the (_for_ that). 232. Th. dewte; T. duete. 238. T. hem-selue; Th. him-selfe. 242. Th. must. 246. T. _om._ good. T. euene; Th. euyn. 248. T. heuene; Th. heuyn. 253. _Both_ thre. 254. Th. _om._ is. 256. _Both_ highe. 260. T. sick; Th. sicke. 263. Th. helplesse; T. heliples.

269. _Both_ Betwene. 274. T. enoignt. 276. _Both_ Beholde; se. 278. Th. deserved (!). 280. _Both_ lyfe. 281. T. Ector. 282. T. Machabeu. 283. T. Godefroi Arthus. 287. _Both_ made. 288. T. mai; Th. many (!). 289. T. man (_for_ king). 291. Th. is (_for_ ben). 292. T. _om._ up. 295. T. tenetz; Th. tennes. 296, 298. T. er (_for_ or).

305. Th. is (_for_ it). Th. _om._ is. T. piereles; Th. peerles. 306. _Both_ begete; _read_ be gete. 316. T. perfit. 318. T. plit. 321. Th. these (_for_ the pees). Th. ben. 326. T. proprite. 329. _Both_ semblant. 330. T. Cassodre. _Both_ writinge. T. auctorized. 331. Th. _om._ ther.

336. T. wei; Th. way. 337. _Both_ se. 342. T. crualte; Th. creweltie. 347. T. baptisme. 359. Th. England. 370. T. seintz; Th. sayntes. T. memoire; Th. memory. 371. T. loenge; Th. legende (!). T. gloire; Th. glory.

378. Th. _om. 2nd_ of. _Both_ throne. 382. T. sese (_for_ cese); Th. se (!). T. er (_for_ or). T. meschiefe; Th. myschefe. 383. _Both_ Sette. 384. T. draugh. 385. T. Maintene; Th. Maynteyn. 399. Th. curua; T. torua.

* * * * *

V. THOMAS HOCCLEVE.

THE LETTER OF CUPID.

LITERA CUPIDINIS, DEI AMORIS, DIRECTA SUBDITIS SUIS AMATORIBUS.

Cupido, unto whos comaundëment
The gentil kinrede of goddes on hy
And people infernal been obedient,
And mortel folk al serven besily,
The goddesse sonë Cithera soothly, 5
To alle tho that to our deitee
Ben sugets, hertly greting sende we!

In general, we wolë that ye knowe
That ladies of honour and reverence,
And other gentil women, haven sowe 10
Such seed of compleynt in our audience
Of men that doon hem outrage and offence,
That it our eres greveth for to here;
So pitous is th'effect of this matere.

Passing al londes, on the litel yle 15
That cleped is Albion they most compleyne;
They seyn, that there is croppe and rote of gyle.
So conne tho men dissimulen and feyne
With stonding dropes in hir eyen tweyne,
When that hir hertes feleth no distresse, 20
To blinden women with hir doublenesse.

Hir wordes spoken ben so syghingly,
With so pitousë chere and contenaunce,
That every wight that meneth trewely
Demeth that they in herte have such grevaunce; 25
They seyn so importáble is hir penaunce
That, but hir lady lust to shewe hem grace,
They right anoon +mot sterven in the place.

'A, lady myn!' they seyn, 'I yow ensure,
As doth me grace, and I shal ever be, 30
Whyl that my lyf may lasten and endure,
To yow as humble and lowe in ech degree
As possible is, and kepe al thing secree
Right as your-selven liste that I do;
And elles moot myn herte breste a-two.' 35

Ful hard it is to knowe a mannes herte;
For outward may no man the trouthe deme;
When word out of his mouthe may noon asterte
But it by reson any wight shuld queme,
So is it seyd of herte, as hit wolde seme. 40
O feythful woman, ful of innocence,
Thou art deceyved by fals apparence!

By proces women, meved of pitee,
Wening that al thing were as thise men sey,
They graunte hem grace of hir benignitee 45
For that men shulde nat for hir sake dey;
And with good herte sette hem in the wey
Of blisful lovë--kepe it if they conne;
Thus other-whylë women beth y-wonne.

And whan this man the pot hath by the stele, 50
And fully is in his possessioun,
With that woman he kepeth not to dele,
After if he may fynden in the toun
Any woman, his blinde affeccioun
On to bestowë; evel mote he preve! 55
A man, for al his othes, is hard to leve!

And, for that every fals man hath a make,
(As un-to every wight is light to knowe),
Whan this traitour this woman hath forsake,
He faste him spedeth un-to his felowe; 60
Til he be there, his herte is on a lowe;
His fals deceyt ne may him not suffyse,
But of his treson telleth al the wyse.

Is this a fair avaunt? is this honour,
A man him-self accuse thus, and diffame? 65
Now is it good, confesse him a traitour,
And bringe a woman to a sclandrous name,
And telle how he her body hath do shame?
No worship may he thus to him conquere,
But greet esclaundre un-to him and here! 70

To herë? Nay, yet was it no repreef;
For al for vertu was it that she wroughte;
But he that brewed hath al this mischeef,
That spak so faire, and falsly inward thoughte,
His be the sclaundre, as it by reson oughte, 75
And un-to her a thank perpetuel,
That in a nede helpe can so wel!

Althogh of men, through sleyght and sotiltee,
A sely, simple, and innocent woman
Betrayed is, no wonder, sith the citee 80
Of Troye--as that the storie telle can--
Betrayed was, through the disceyt of man,
And set on fyre, and al doun over-throwe,
And finally destroyed, as men knowe.

Betrayen men not citees grete, and kinges? 85
What wight is that can shape remedye
Ageynes thise falsly purpósed thinges?
Who can the craft such craftes to espye
But man, whos wit ay redy is t'aplye
To thing that souneth in-to hy falshede? 90
Women, beth ware of mennes sleight, I rede!

And furthermore han thise men in usage
That, where as they not lykly been to spede,
Suche as they been with a double visage
They prócuren, for to pursewe hir nede; 95
He prayeth him in his causë to procede,
And largely guerdoneth he his travayle;
Smal witen wommen how men hem assayle!

Another wrecche un-to his felowe seyth:
'Thou fisshest faire! She that thee hath fyred 100
Is fals and inconstaunt, and hath no feyth.
She for the rode of folke is so desyred
And, as an hors, fro day to day is hyred
That, when thou twinnest fro hir companye,
Another comth, and blered is thyn eyë! 105

'Now prikke on fastë, and ryd thy journey
Whyl thou art there; for she, behind thy bak,
So liberal is, she wol no wight with-sey,
But smertly of another take a snak;
For thus thise wommen faren, al the pak! 110
Who-so hem trusteth, hanged mote he be!
Ay they desyren chaunge and noveltee!'