Chapter XVI: Part I: It would be a gross libel to ascribe this poem to Chaucer, as it is (10)

EXPLICIT.

5814. Th. wyl; G. tille. 5820. _Both_ sworne. 5821. G. The (_for_ That). _Both_ nyl not. 5827. Th. leest; G. lest. 5831. G. tresoure. 5836. G. axide.

5855. _Both_ kepte; F. _qui mestrie_. 5859. G. oost. 5860. _Both_ that ilke. 5861. G. Agayns; Th. Agaynst. 5869, 70. _Both_ entent, present. 5871. _Both_ vesselage. 5879. _Supply_ at. 5883. _Both_ As my nede is. 5886. _Om._ eek? 5894. G. fortresse. 5900. _Both_ That such; _om._ That. _Both_ ben take; _om._ ben.

5906, 53. _Supply_ hast, by. 5920. G. thilk. 5935. G. myche. 5939. Th. marchauntes; G. marchauntz. 5942. _Both_ folyly. 5946. Th. vyce; G. wise. 5947. G. trust; pay. 5958. Th. surere. 5959. _Both_ beaute (!). 5960. _Both_ That I.

5976. _Both_ ful dere. 5977. _Both_ leest; _supply_ she. 5980. Th. thylke; G. thilk. 5983. Th. grype; G. grepe. 5988. _I supply_ if. 5997, 9. Th. hem; G. hym. 6002. _Read_ gnede. 6006. _Both_ good; beaute (_as in_ 5959). 6009. Th. wol; G. wole. 6025. G. shulle. _Both_ forsworne. 6026. G. lette.

6037. G. worthe. 6401. G. hym. 6048. G. heestes. 6057. This = This is. 6063. G. away. 6064. _Both_ hindreth. 6073. G. netheles; Th. nathelesse.

6143. _Both_ twey. 6144. G. sey; Th. say. 6165. _Both_ which; F. _tex_.

6169. _Both_ lette. 6172. G. subtilite. 6174. _Both_ nede; F. _besoignes_. 6183, 4. G. cast, last. 6187. G. _om._ hath. 6192. _Both_ neithir monk; _om._ neithir. 6195. Th. Na-; G. Ne-. 6197. Th. rasour; G. resoun. 6205. _I supply this line._ 6206. _Supply_ not. Th. begylen; G. bigilyng. 6214. _Both_ without.

6227. G. Yhe. 6237. Th. co_m_men; G. comyn; _read_ comun. 6240. G. Yhe; G. _om._ alle. 6243. _Both_ ful many; _om._ ful. 6245. G. dieden. 6247. _Both_ xi. 6253. G. hert; _both_ good. 6255. _Both_ good. 6256. _Both_ the religioun; _om._ the. 6259. G. took. 6263. G. Yhis; Th. Yes. 6271. G. biwailed (!). 6275, 82. _Supply_ hem. 6278. _Both_ Without. 6285. G. doutlees; Th. doutles.

6292. _Both_ planten most. 6296. _Both_ feyne; F. _dire_. 6314. _Both ins._ shal _bef._ never. 6316. G. warre; Th. ware. 6317, 8. _Words supplied by_ Kaluza. 6323. _Both_ myght. 6336. _I supply_ and. 6341. _Both_ and reyned (!) _for_ streyned; _see_ 7366. 6342. _I supply_ y-. 6346. _Both_ I a; _om._ a.

6354. G. bete; Th. beate (_for_ lete). 6355. _Both_ Ioly (_for_ blynde); _I supply_ ther. 6356. Th. habite. 6359. Th. beare; G. were. 6361. G. _om._ Thus _and_ I; _both_ in to (_for_ in). 6372. _Both omit; supplied as in_ Morris; F. _Si n'en sut mes si receus._ 6375. _Both_ I a.; _om._ a. 6377. G. shreuen. 6378. _Both_ I (_for_ me); _both_ yeuen. 6386. G. ony. 6388. G. mych. 6392. _Both_ yeuen. 6393. G. _ins._ For _bef._ Penaunce. 6399. _Both_ ought. 6407. _Both_ not; _read_ yit.

6425. G. cheueys; Th. chuse; F. _chevir_. 6426. Th. hamper. 6432. _I supply_ Ne. 6452. Th. this is ayenst. 6453. G. heerde. 6454. G. beeste. 6460. _Both_ it is; F. _Porquoi_. 6462, 7. G. fat. 6465. G. grucche; Th. grutche. 6466. _Both_ woth (!). 6469. _I supply_ the. 6470. G. Yhe.

6481. _Both_ seruest; F. _sembles_. 6482. _Both_ I am but an. 6484. G. Yhe. 6487. _Both_ good. 6491. _Both_ bettir; G. that queyntaunce. 6492. Th. tymes; G. tyme. 6493. _Both_ of a pore. 6496. G. myxnes; Th. myxins. 6500. _Both_ me a dyne. 6513. G. ony. 6515. _Both_ not. 6516. _Both_ swere. 6522. _Both_ Hath a soule.

6531. Th. of; G. to. 6532. G. thrittene; Th. thirtene; _read_ thrittethe. 6536. G. myche. 6539. _Both_ beggith (-eth). 6542. _Both_ goddis (-es). 6543. G. Salamon; Th. Salomon. 6546. G. yhe. 6550. _Both_ nolden. 6551. G. was. 6557. _Both_ myght. 6565. G. ther; Th. their. 6569. _Both_ yaf. 6570. _Both_ folkis (-es). 6572. _Both_ they; _read_ leye; F. _Ains gisoient._ 6581. _Perhaps om._ That.

6598. _Both_ tolde (_against grammar_). 6600. G. desily (!). 6601. Th. To; G. Go. 6606. _Both_ Ben somtyme in; _see_ 6610. 6616. G. old; Th. olde. 6650. _Both_ myght. 6653. _I supply_ wher; F. _la ou_. 6655. _Both_ yeue.

6667. _Both_ haue bidde; (_om._ haue). 6679. _Both_ good. 6682. Th. -of; G. -fore. 6684. _Both_ wryne. 6688. G. _omits_: Th. hondis. 6699. Th. -wayes; G. -weys. 6700. If] _Both_ Yit. 6707. _Both_ mendiciens (-ence); _see_ 6657.

6721. _Both_ without. 6728. Th. noriture; G. norture. 6737. _Both_ had. 6748. G. Ony. 6756. _Both_ clothe; _read_ clothes; _see_ 6684. 6759. _Both_ this. 6766. _Both_ solemply. 6782. Th. This; G. The. 6784. Th. agylte; G. agilt. 6786. _So_ Th.; G. Of thyngis that he beste myghte (_in late hand_).

6792. G. wille. 6797. _Both_ this that; _om._ that. 6803. _Both_ yeuen. 6806. G. sene. 6808, 10. _Supply_ ne, hir. 6819. _Both_ wrine. _Both_ hem, at. 6820. _Both_ Without. 6823, 4. _Both_ robbyng, gilyng. 6827. G. fast. 6828. _Both_ high. 6834. G. gret; Th. great. 6841. _Both_ Without. 6844. _Both_ boldly. 6850. _Both_ emperours. 6851. G. _om._ and.

6860, 6901. _Supply_ thise, be. 6862. G. gret; Th. great. 6880. Th. Ne wol; G. Wol; _read_ Nil. 6890. _Both_ doutles (-lees). 6902, 7, 11. _Both_ burdons.

6925, 6. _Both_ him; _read_ hem. 6936. _Both_ good. 6939. Th. wete. 6949. G. Yhe. 6952. Th. parceners; G. perseners. 6974. _Both_ tymes a; _om._ a.

6997. G. gret; Th. great. 7002. Th. al; G. _om._ 7012. _After this line, both in_ Th. _and_ G., _come_ ll. 7109-7158. 7018. G. werrien; Th. werryen. 7019. _Both_ al. 7022. Th. bougerons; G. begger. 7029. _Both_ these that; F. _lerres ou_. 7035. G. ony. 7037. we] G. me. 7038. hem] _Both_ them. 7041. G. cheffis; Th. cheffes; F. _fromages_. 7047. he] G. we. 7048. _Both_ bake.

7056. _Both_ his; _read_ our. 7059. G. sleght; Th. sleight. 7060. G. hight; Th. heyght. 7063. _Both_ vounde. 7070. _Both_ good. 7071. G. sleghtes. _I supply_ as. 7075. G. _om._ he have. 7092. Th. We had ben turmented al and 7093. _I supply_ fals. 7104. _Both_ brent. 7109. G. _has here_ l. 7110, _followed by a blank line_; Th. _has_ That they [_read_ he] ne might 7110. Th. To the copye, if hem talent toke; _after which_, Of the Euangelystes booke (_spurious_).

7113. G. gret; Th. great. 7119, 21. G. ony. 7123. G. many a such. 7125. Th. booke; G. book. 7127. _Perhaps omit_ that. 7133, 37, 42. G. _om._ for, it, they. 7143. Th. Awaye; G. Alwey. 7144. G. durst. 7145. _Both_ no. 7148. Th. booke; G. book. 7151. _Supply_ boke. 7159. _Both_ vpon. _Before this line_ G. _and_ Th. _wrongly insert_ ll. 7013-7110, 7209-7304. 7164. Th. booke; G. book. 7165. G. mych. 7166. _I supply_ that.

7173, 4. _Supplied by conjecture_; F. _Par Pierre voil le Pape entendre._ 7175, 99. _I supply_ eek, men. 7178. G. Ayens; Th. Ayenst. 7180. And] _Both_ That. that] _Both_ to. 7189. G. orribilite; Th. horriblete. 7190. Th. booke; G. book. 7196. G. Petre. 7200. G. Petres. 7205. G. thilk. 7209. _See note to_ l. 7159. 7217. Th. Empresse; G. Emperis. 7221. _Both_ worthy; _see_ 7104. _Both_ mynystres. 7234. G. iye.

7236. Th. recketh; G. rekke. 7243. _Both_ may us (_om._ may). 7244. G. _om._ hem. 7254. Th. hem; G. hym; _supply_ it. 7255. Th. hem; G. hym. 7257. G. steight (!). 7258. Th. graye; G. grey. 7260. G. high. 7262. Th. ryuelyng; G. reuelyng. 7263. G. dyuyse. 7272. The] G. To. 7292. _Both_ shulde.

7303. G. forwordis. 7304. G. Yhe. Th. hence; G. hens. 7307. Th. ayenst; G. ayens. 7316. _Both_ slayn; _see_ note. 7317. G. alto defyle. 7325. G. Myn; Th. My. G. streyneth (!). 7331. _Both_ Without. 7336. Th. Thankyng. 7355. G. countynaunce. 7358. G. heelde. 7362. Th. laste; G. last.

7368. G. gracche; Th. gratche. G. bygynne; Th. bygyne. 7371. Th. psaltere; G. sawter. 7380. G. ony. 7385-7576. _From_ Th.; _lost in_ G. 7386. Th. made. 7389. Th. shappe; denysed. 7394. tho] Th. to. 7409. Had] Th. And. 7429. Th. humbly. 7432. Th. remeued.

7435. Th. thought. 7444. _I supply_ as. 7458. Th. Frere. 7460. _Supply_ that. 7463. Th. al. 7464. Th. greet. 7471, 72. Th. sopheme, enueneme; F. _sophime_, _envenime_. 7473. Th. hath hadde the. 7488. Th. doughty (!); F. _poudreus_; _read_ dusty. 7494. Th. herborowe.

7504. Th. sir. 7513. Th. styll. 7532. Th. styl. 7533. Th. she nat herselfe. 7546. Th. sothe. 7548, 50. _I supply_ for, wel. 7553. Th. thought harme. 7560. Th. her.

7568. Th. Without. 7577. G. _begins again_. 7582. Th. herbered; G. herberd. 7585. _Both_ herbegere. 7590. _Both_ sothe. Th. sawe; G. saugh. 7600. _Both_ where. G. ony. 7625. _I supply_ he. 7626. G. saloweth.

7628. Th. comynge. 7630. _Supply_ that. 7637. G. I ner_er_ (!). 7653. G. wole; Th. wol: _read_ wolde. 7662. doth] F. _fait_; _both_ wot. 7663. Th. we (_for_ ye); G. _om._ 7666. _Both_ giltles. 7678. _Both_ repent. 7686. Th. tymes; G. tyme.

7693. _So_ Th. (_but with_ for to _for_ to); G. To reden in diuinite. 7694. G. And longe haue red (_wrongly_); _here_ G. _abruptly ends_. 7694-8. _From_ Th. 7697. Th. abode. COLOPHON. G. Explicit, _following_ And longe haue red (_see note to_ 7694); Th. Finis. Here endeth the Romaunt of the Rose.

* * * * *

THE MINOR POEMS.

I. AN A. B. C.

_Incipit carmen secundum ordinem literarum Alphabeti._

<<
Almighty and al merciable quene,
To whom that al this world fleeth for socour,
To have relees of sinne, sorwe and tene,
Glorious virgine, of alle floures flour,
To thee I flee, confounded in erreur! 5
Help and releve, thou mighty debonaire,
Have mercy on my perilous langour!
Venquisshed me hath my cruel adversaire.

>>
A toy du monde le refui,
Vierge glorieuse, m'en fui
Tout confus, ne puis miex faire;
A toy me tíen, a toy m'apuy.
Relieve moy, abatu suy:
Vaincu m'a mon aversaire.
Puis qu'en toy ont tous repaire
Bien me doy vers toy retraire
Avant que j'aie plus d'annuy.
N'est pas luite necessaire 10
A moy, se tu, debonnayre,
Ne me sequeurs comme a autrui.

<<
Bountee so fix hath in thyn herte his tente,
That wel I wot thou wolt my socour be, 10
Thou canst not warne him that, with good entente,
Axeth thyn help. Thyn herte is ay so free,
Thou art largesse of pleyn felicitee,
Haven of refut, of quiete and of reste.
Lo, how that theves seven chasen me! 15
Help, lady bright, er that my ship to-breste!

Comfort is noon, but in yow, lady dere,
For lo, my sinne and my confusioun,
Which oughten not in thy presence appere,
Han take on me a grevous accioun 20
Of verrey right and desperacioun;
And, as by right, they mighten wel sustene
That I were worthy my dampnacioun,
Nere mercy of you, blisful hevene quene.

Doute is ther noon, thou queen of misericorde, 25
That thou nart cause of grace and mercy here;
God vouched sauf thurgh thee with us tacorde.
For certes, Cristes blisful moder dere,

>>
Bien voy que par toy confortés
Sera mes cuers desconfortés,
Quer tu es de salu porte.
Se je me suis mal tresportez
Par .vij. larrons, pechiés mortez,
Et erre par voie torte,
Esperance me conforte
Qui à toy hui me raporte 20
A ce que soie deportez.
Ma povre arme je t'aporte:
Sauve la: ne vaut que morte;
En li sont tous biens avortez.

Contre moy font une accion
Ma vergoigne et confusion,
Que devant toy ne doy venir
Pour ma très grant transgression.
Rayson et desperacion
Contre moy veulent maintenir; 30
Mès pour ce que veil plait fenir,
Devant toy les fès convenir
En faisant replicacion.
C'est que je di appartenir
A toy du tout et convenir
Pitié et miseracion.

Dame es de misericorde
Par qui Diex bien se recorde
A sa gent estre racordé.
Par toy vint pes et concorde, 40

<<
Were now the bowe bent in swich manere,
As it was first, of Iustice and of yre, 30
The rightful God nolde of no mercy here;
But thurgh thee han we grace, as we desyre.

Ever hath myn hope of refut been in thee,
For heer-biforn ful ofte, in many a wyse,
Hast thou to misericorde receyved me. 35
But mercy, lady, at the grete assyse,
Whan we shul come bifore the hye Iustyse!
So litel fruit shal thanne in me be founde,
That, but thou er that day me wel chastyse,
Of verrey right my werk me wol confounde. 40

Fleeing, I flee for socour to thy tente
Me for to hyde from tempest ful of drede,
Biseching you that ye you not absente,
Though I be wikke. O help yit at this nede!

>>
Et fu pour oster discorde
L'arc de justice descordé;
Et pour ce me sui acordé
Toi mercier et concordé,
Pour ce que ostas la corde;
Quar, ainsi com j'ay recordé,
S'encore fust l'arc encordé
Comparé l'eust ma vie orde.

En toy ay m'esperance eü
Quant a merci m'as receü 50
Autre foys en mainte guise,
Du bien qui ou ciel fu creü
As ravivé et repeü
M'ame qui estoit occise.
Las! mès quant la grant assise
Sera, se n'y es assise
Pour moy mal y seray veü.
De bien n'ay nulle reprise.
Las m'en clain quant bien m'avise,
Souvent en doy dire heü! 60

Fuiant m'en viens a ta tente
Moy mucier pour la tormente
Qui ou monde me tempeste.
Pour mon pechié ne t'absente,

<<
Al have I been a beste in wille and dede, 45
Yit, lady, thou me clothe with thy grace.
Thyn enemy and myn--lady, tak hede,
Un-to my deth in poynt is me to chace.

Glorious mayde and moder, which that never
Were bitter, neither in erthe nor in see, 50
But ful of swetnesse and of mercy ever,
Help that my fader be not wroth with me!
Spek thou, for I ne dar not him y-see.
So have I doon in erthe, allas ther-whyle!
That certes, but-if thou my socour be, 55
To stink eterne he wol my gost exyle.

He vouched sauf, tel him, as was his wille,
Bicome a man, to have our alliaunce,
And with his precious blood he wroot the bille
Up-on the crois, as general acquitaunce, 60
To every penitent in ful creaunce;
And therfor, lady bright, thou for us praye.
Than shalt thou bothe stinte al his grevaunce,
And make our foo to failen of his praye.

>>
A moy garder met t'entente,
A mon besoing soiez preste.
Se lonc temps j'ay esté beste
A ce, Vierge, je m'arreste
Que de ta grace me sente.
Si te fais aussi requeste 70
Que ta pitié nu me veste,
Car je n'ay nulle autre rente.

Glorieuse vierge mere
Qui a nul onques amere
Ne fus en terre ne en mer,
Ta douceur ores m'apere
Et ne sueffres que mon pere
De devant li me jecte puer.
Se devant li tout vuit j'apper,
Et par moy ne puis eschapper 80
Que ma faute ne compere.
Tu devant li pour moy te per
En li moustrant que, s'a li per
Ne sui, si est il mon frere.

Homme voult par sa plaisance
Devenir, pour aliance
Avoir a humain lignage.
Avec li crut dès enfance
Pitié dont j'ai esperance
Avoir eu en mon usage. 90
Elle fu mise a forage
Quant au cuer lui vint mesage
Du cruel fer de la lance.
Ne puet estre, se sui sage,
Que je n'en aie avantage,
Se tu veus et abondance.

<<
I wot it wel, thou wolt ben our socour, 65
Thou art so ful of bountee, in certeyn.
For, whan a soule falleth in errour,
Thy pitee goth and haleth him ayeyn.
Than makest thou his pees with his sovereyn,
And bringest him out of the crooked strete. 70
Who-so thee loveth he shal not love in veyn,
That shal he finde, as he the lyf shal lete.

Kalenderes enlumined ben they
That in this world ben lighted with thy name,
And who-so goth to you the righte wey, 75
Him thar not drede in soule to be lame.
Now, queen of comfort, sith thou art that same
To whom I seche for my medicyne,
Lat not my foo no more my wounde entame,
Myn hele in-to thyn hand al I resigne. 80

Lady, thy sorwe can I not portreye
Under the cros, ne his grevous penaunce.
But, for your bothes peynes, I you preye,
Lat not our alder foo make his bobaunce,

>>
Ie ne truis par nulle voie
Ou mon salut si bien voie
Com, après Dieu, en toy le voy;
Quar quant aucun se desvoie, 100
A ce que tost se ravoie,
De ta pitié li fais convoy.
Tu li fès lessier son desroy
Et li refaiz sa pais au roy,
Et remez en droite voie.
Moult est donc cil en bon arroy,
En bon atour, en bon conroy
Que ta grace si conroie.

Kalendier sont enluminé
Et autre livre enteriné 110
Quant ton non les enlumine.
A tout meschief ont resiné
Ceus qui se sont acheminé
A toy pour leur medicine.
A moy donc, virge, t'encline,
Car a toy je m'achemine
Pour estre bien mediciné;
Ne sueffre que de gaïnne
Isse justice devine
Par quoy je soye exterminé. 120

La douceur de toy pourtraire
Je ne puis, a qui retraire
Doit ton filz de ton sanc estrait;
Pour ce a toy m'ay volu traire

<<
That he hath in his listes of mischaunce 85
Convict that ye bothe have bought so dere.
As I seide erst, thou ground of our substaunce,
Continue on us thy pitous eyen clere!

Moises, that saugh the bush with flaumes rede
Brenninge, of which ther never a stikke brende, 90
Was signe of thyn unwemmed maidenhede.
Thou art the bush on which ther gan descende
The Holy Gost, the which that Moises wende
Had ben a-fyr; and this was in figure.
Now lady, from the fyr thou us defende 95
Which that in helle eternally shal dure.

Noble princesse, that never haddest pere,
Certes, if any comfort in us be,
That cometh of thee, thou Cristes moder dere,
We han non other melodye or glee 100
Us to reioyse in our adversitee,
Ne advocat noon that wol and dar so preye
For us, and that for litel hyre as ye,
That helpen for an Ave-Marie or tweye.

>>
Afin que contre moy traire
Ne le sueuffres nul cruel trait.
Je recongnois bien mon mesfait
Et qu'au colier j'ai souvent trait
Dont l'en me devroit detraire;
Mez se tu veus tu as l'entrait 130
Par quoy tantost sera retrait
Le mehain qui m'est contraire.

Moyses vit en figure
Que tu, vierge nete et pure,
Jesu le filz Dieu conceüs:
Un bysson contre nature
Vit qui ardoit sans arsure.
C'es tu, n'en suis point deceüs,
Dex est li feus qu'en toy eüs;
Et tu, buisson des recreüz 140
Es, pour tremper leur ardure.
A ce veoir, vierge, veüs
Soie par toy et receüs,
Oste chaussement d'ordure.

Noble princesse du monde
Qui n'as ne per ne seconde
En royaume n'en enpire,
De toy vient, de toy redonde
Tout le bien qui nous abonde,
N'avons autre tirelire. 150
En toy tout povre homme espire
Et de toy son salu tire,
Et en toy seule se fonde.
Ne puet nul penser ne dire,
Nul pourtraire ne escrire
Ta bonté comme est parfonde.

<<
O verrey light of eyen that ben blinde, 105
O verrey lust of labour and distresse,
O tresorere of bountee to mankinde,
Thee whom God chees to moder for humblesse!
From his ancille he made thee maistresse
Of hevene and erthe, our bille up for to bede. 110
This world awaiteth ever on thy goodnesse,
For thou ne failest never wight at nede.

Purpos I have sum tyme for tenquere,
Wherfore and why the Holy Gost thee soughte,
Whan Gabrielles vois cam to thyn ere. 115
He not to werre us swich a wonder wroughte,
But for to save us that he sithen boughte.
Than nedeth us no wepen us for to save,
But only ther we did not, as us oughte,
Do penitence, and mercy axe and have. 120

Queen of comfort, yit whan I me bithinke
That I agilt have bothe, him and thee,
And that my soule is worthy for to sinke,
Allas, I, caitif, whider may I flee?

>>
O Lumiere des non voians
Et vrai repos des recreans
Et de tout bien tresoriere,
A toy sont toutez gens beans 160
Qui en la foy sont bien creans
Et en toy ont foy entiere;
A nul onques ne fus fiere,
Ains toy deïs chamberiere
Quant en toy vint li grans geans.
Or es de Dieu chanceliere
Et de graces aumosniere
Et confort a tous recreans.

Pris m'est volenté d'enquerre
Pour savoir que Diex vint querre 170
Quant en toy se vint enserrer;
En toy devint vers de terre;
Ne cuit pas que fust pour guerre
Ne pour moy jus aterrer.
Vierge, se ne me sens errer,
D'armes ne me faut point ferrer
Fors sans plus de li requerre.
Quant pour moy se vint enterrer,
Se il ne se veut desterrer
Encor puis s'amour acquerre. 180

Quant pourpensé après me sui
Qu'ay offendu et toy et lui,
Et qu'a mal est m'ame duite,
Que, fors pechié, en moi n'estui,

<<
Who shal un-to thy sone my mene be? 125
Who, but thy-self, that art of pitee welle?
Thou hast more reuthe on our adversitee
Than in this world mighte any tunge telle.

Redresse me, moder, and me chastyse,
For, certeynly, my fadres chastisinge 130
That dar I nought abyden in no wyse:
So hidous is his rightful rekeninge.
Moder, of whom our mercy gan to springe,
Beth ye my Iuge and eek my soules leche;
For ever in you is pitee haboundinge 135
To ech that wol of pitee you biseche.

Soth is, that God ne graunteth no pitee
With-oute thee; for God, of his goodnesse,
Foryiveth noon, but it lyke un-to thee.
He hath thee maked vicaire and maistresse 140

>>
Et que mal hyer et pis m'est hui,
Tost après si me ranvite,
Vierge douce, se pren fuite,
Se je fui a la poursuite,
Ou fuiray, qu'a mon refui?
S'a nul bien je ne m'affruite 190
Et mas sui avant que luite,
Plus grief encore en est l'anuy.

Reprens moy, mere, et chastie
Quar mon pere n'ose mie
Attendre a mon chastiement.
Son chastoy si fiert a hie;
Rien n'ataint que tout n'esmie
Quant il veut prendre vengement.
Mere, bien doi tel batement
Douter, quar en empirement 200
A tous jours esté ma vie.
A toy dont soit le jugement,
Car de pitié as l'oingnement,
Mès que merci l'en te prie.

Sans toy nul bien ne foysonne
Et sans toy Diex riens ne donne,
Quar de tout t'a fet maistresse.
Quant tu veus trestout pardonne;

<<
Of al the world, and eek governeresse
Of hevene, and he represseth his Iustyse
After thy wille, and therefore in witnesse
He hath thee crouned in so ryal wyse.

Temple devout, ther god hath his woninge. 145
Fro which these misbileved pryved been,
To you my soule penitent I bringe.
Receyve me! I can no ferther fleen!
With thornes venimous, O hevene queen,
For which the erthe acursed was ful yore, 150
I am so wounded, as ye may wel seen,
That I am lost almost;--it smert so sore.

Virgine, that art so noble of apparaile,
And ledest us in-to the hye tour
Of Paradys, thou me wisse and counsaile, 155
How I may have thy grace and thy socour;
Al have I been in filthe and in errour.
Lady, un-to that court thou me aiourne
That cleped is thy bench, O fresshe flour!
Ther-as that mercy ever shal soiourne. 160

>>
Et par toy est mise bonne
A justice la mairesse; 210
N'est royne ne princesse
Pour qui nul ainsi se cesse
Et de droit se dessaisonne.
Du monde es gouverneresse,
Et du ciel ordeneresse;
Sans reson n'as pas couronne.

Temple saint ou Dieu habite
Dont privé sont li herite
Et a tous jours desherité,
A toy vieng, de toy me herite, 220
Reçoif moy par ta merite
Quar de toy n'ay point hesité.
Et se je me sui herité
Des espines d'iniquité
Pour quoy terre fu maudite,
Las m'en clain en verité,
Car a ce fait m'a excité
L'ame qui n'en est pas quite.

Vierge de noble et haut atour,
Qui au chastel et a la tour 230
De paradis nous atournes,
Atourne moy ens et entour
De tel atour que au retour
De ta grace me retournes,
Se vil sui, si me raournes.
A toy vieng, ne te destournes,
Quer au besoing es mon destour.
Sequeur moy, point ne sejournes,
Ou tu a la court m'ajournes,
Ou ta pitié fait son sejour. 240

<<
Xristus, thy sone, that in this world alighte,
Up-on the cros to suffre his passioun,
And eek, that Longius his herte pighte,
And made his herte blood to renne adoun;
And al was this for my salvacioun; 165
And I to him am fals and eek unkinde,
And yit he wol not my dampnacioun--
This thanke I you, socour of al mankinde.

Ysaac was figure of his deeth, certeyn,
That so fer-forth his fader wolde obeye 170
That him ne roughte no-thing to be slayn;
Right so thy sone list, as a lamb, to deye.
Now lady, ful of mercy, I you preye,
Sith he his mercy mesured so large,
Be ye not skant; for alle we singe and seye 175
That ye ben from vengeaunce ay our targe.

Zacharie you clepeth the open welle
To wasshe sinful soule out of his gilt.
Therfore this lessoun oughte I wel to telle
That, nere thy tender herte, we weren spilt. 180

>>
Xristus, ton filz, qui descendi
En terre et en la crois pendi,
Ot pour moy le costé fendu.
Sa grant rigour il destendi
Quant pour moy l'esperit rendi,
Son corps pendant et estendu;
Pour moy son sanc fu espandu.
Se ceci j'ai bien entendu
A mon salut bien entendi,
Et pour ce, se l'ay offendu 250
Et il ne le m'a pas rendu,
Merci t'en rens, graces l'en di.

Ysaac le prefigura
Qui de sa mort rien ne cura
En obeïsant au pere.
Comme .j. aignel tout endura;
En endurant tout espura
Par crueuse mort amere.
O très douce vierge mere,
Par ce fait fai que se pere 260
Par plour l'ame qui cuer dura;
Fai que grace si m'apere;
Et n'en soiez pas avere
Quar largement la mesura.

Zacharie de mon somme
Me exite, et si me somme
D'en toy ma merci atendre;
Fontaine patent te nomme

<<
Now lady brighte, sith thou canst and wilt
Ben to the seed of Adam merciable,
So bring us to that palais that is bilt
To penitents that ben to mercy able. Amen. 184

>>
Pour laver pecheür homme:
C'est leçon bonne a aprendre. 270
Se tu donc as le cuer tendre
Et m'offense n'est pas mendre
De cil qui menga la pomme,
Moy laver veillez entendre,
Moy garder et moy deffendre,
Que justice ne m'asomme.

_Explicit carmen._

_The_ MSS. _used to form this text are_: C. = MS. Ff. 5. 30 in the Camb. Univ. Library; Jo. = MS. G. 21, in St. John's College, Cambridge; Gl. = Glasgow MS. Q. 2. 25; L. = MS. Laud 740, in the Bodleian Library; Gg. = MS. Gg. 4. 27 in the Camb. Univ. Library; F. = MS. Fairfax 16, in the Bodleian Library; B = MS. Bodley 638; Sion = Sion Coll. MS. _The text closely follows the first of these; and all variations from it are recorded_ (_except sometimes_ i _for_ y, _and_ y _for_ i).

1. C. Almihty; queene. 3. L. B. sorwe; F. Jo. sorowe; _the rest insert_ of _before_ sorwe. 4. C. Gloriowse. 6. C. releeue; mihti. 8. Jo. Venquist; Gg. Venquyst. _Read_ m'hath. C. cruelle.

10. C. bee. 11. F. B. werne. 12. C. helpe. 14. C. Hauene; refute. 15. C. Loo; theeves sevene; mee. 16. C. briht. 17. C. ladi deere. 18. C. loo. 19. C. ouhten; thi; appeere. 20. C. greevous. 21. C. riht. 22. C. riht þei mihten; susteene. 23. C. wurthi. 24. C. queene. 25. C. Dowte. 26. C. merci heere. 27. C. Gl. Gg. saf; Jo. saff; L. F. saufe; B. sauf. C. thoruh; L. F. þurgh. Gl. F. B. tacorde; C. L. to accorde. 28. C. crystes; mooder deere.

29. C. maneere. 31. C. rihtful; heere. 32. C. thoruh; Jo. L. F. B. thurgh. 33. C. Euere. C. refuit; Gl. refuyt; Gg. refut; _rest_ refute. 35. C. resceyued. 36. C. merci ladi. 37. C. shule. 39. wel _is supplied from the_ Sion MS.; _nearly all the copies give this line corruptly_; _see_ note. 40. C. riht; wole. 41. C. Fleeinge; thi. 42. C. tempeste; dreede. 43. C. Biseeching yow. 44. C. Thouh; neede.

45. C. ben. Jo. wille; C. wil. 46. C. thi. 47. C. Thin; ladi; heede. 49. C. Gloriows; mooder; neuere. 50. C. eerthe. 51. C. euere. 54. C. eerthe. 55. C. bee. 56. C. wole. 57. C. saaf; F. B. sauf; L. saufe; Jo. saffe; Gl. Gg. saf. 58. C. Bicomen; oure. 59. C. wrot. 61. C. criaunce; Gg. cryaunce; _rest_ creaunce. 62. C. ladi briht. 63. C. Thanne.

64, 65: C. oure. 66: C. bowntee. 69: C. Thanne. 73: C. Kalendeeres enlumyned. 74: C. thi. 75: C. yow; rihte. 77: C. sithe. 78: C. seeche. 79: C. vntame; Sion, vntaame (_wrongly_); _rest_ entame.] 80: C. resyne; Gl. B. resigne. 81: C. kan. 82: C. greevous. 84: C. oure.

85. C. hise lystes. 86. C. bouht. 87. C. oure. 88. C. thi; cleere. 89. C. sauh; F. B. saugh. C. flawmes. 93. C. holigost. 94. C. a fyir. 95. C. fyir; Gl. fyr. C. deufende (_sic_). 96. C. eternalli. 97. C. neuere; peere. 98. C. bee. 99. C. mooder deere. 100. C. noon ooþer. 101. C. oure. 102. C. wole. 103. C. yee.

107. C. tresoreere. 108. F. chees; C. ches. C. mooder. 109. C. the. 110. C. eerthe; oure; beede. 111. C. euere; thi. 112. C. neuere; neede. 113. Gg. F. B. tenquere; C. to enquere. 114. C. whi; holi; souhte. 115. C. Sion, vn-to; _rest_ to. 116. C. wunder wrouhte. 117. C. bouhte. 118. C. Thanne needeth; wepene. 119. C. oonly. Jo. F. B. did; C. diden. C. ouhte. 120. C. Doo; merci. 123. C. wurthi.

125. C. thi; bee. 126. C. thi-. 128. C. miht. 129. C. mooder. 130. F. Fadres; B. fadrys; C. faderes; Jo. fader. 131. C. nouht. 132. Gg. F. B. is his; _rest_ it is. C. rihful (_sic_). 133. C. Mooder; merci. 135. C. euere. 136. C. eche; wole; biseeche. 137. C. granteth; F. graunteth. 140. C. vicair; Gg. F. vicaire; Gl. B. Sion, vicayre.

141. C. gou_er_nowresse; Gl. Gg. gouerneresse. 143. C. thi wil. 144. L. crowned; Gg. crou_n_nyd; C. Jo. F. corowned. C. rial. 146. C. misbileeued. Jo. L. pryued; _rest_ depriued. 148. C. Resceyve; ferþere. 149. C. venymous. 150. C. eerthe. 151. C. (_alone_) _om._ so. 156. C. thi (_twice_). 157. Gg. Al; B. C. All. C. ben. 158. C. Ladi. 159. Sion MS. fresshe; Gg. frosche (_sic_); _the rest wrongly omit the final_ e. 160. C. merci; euere.

161. C. X[=p]c (= Gk. [Greek: chrs]). 163. _All the MSS. insert_ suffred _after_ eek, _caught from the line above_; _see_ note. 167. C. wole. 171. C. rouhte. 172. C. Riht soo thi. C. lust; _rest_ list, liste. 173. C. ladi; merci; yow. 174. C. Sithe; merci. 177. C. yow; opene. 179. C. ouht. 180. C. thi.

181. C. ladi. Gg. bry[gh]t; _which the rest omit_. C. Gg. sithe; F. B. sith. Harl. 2251 _supplies_ bothe _after_ thou. 183. Sion MS. _alone supplies_ So; Jo. _supplies_ And. MS. Harl. 2251 _has_ un-to; _rest_ to. 184. Gl. penytentz; C. penitentes; Jo. Penitence (_for_ penitents). C. merci.

* * * * *

II. THE COMPLEYNTE UNTO PITE.

Pite, that I have sought so yore ago,
With herte sore, and ful of besy peyne,
That in this world was never wight so wo
With-oute dethe; and, if I shal not feyne,
My purpos was, to Pite to compleyne 5
Upon the crueltee and tirannye
Of Love, that for my trouthe doth me dye.

And when that I, by lengthe of certeyn yeres,
Had ever in oon a tyme sought to speke,
To Pite ran I, al bespreynt with teres, 10
To preyen hir on Crueltee me awreke.
But, er I might with any worde out-breke,
Or tellen any of my peynes smerte,
I fond hir deed, and buried in an herte.

Adoun I fel, when that I saugh the herse, 15
Deed as a stoon, whyl that the swogh me laste;
But up I roos, with colour ful diverse,
And pitously on hir myn yën caste,
And ner the corps I gan to presen faste,
And for the soule I shoop me for to preye; 20
I nas but lorn; ther nas no more to seye.

Thus am I slayn, sith that Pite is deed;
Allas! that day! that ever hit shulde falle!
What maner man dar now holde up his heed?
To whom shal any sorwful herte calle? 25
Now Crueltee hath cast to sleen us alle,
In ydel hope, folk redelees of peyne--
Sith she is deed--to whom shul we compleyne?

But yet encreseth me this wonder newe,
That no wight woot that she is deed, but I; 30
So many men as in hir tyme hir knewe,
And yet she dyed not so sodeynly;
For I have sought hir ever ful besily
Sith first I hadde wit or mannes mynde;
But she was deed, er that I coude hir fynde. 35

Aboute hir herse ther stoden lustily,
Withouten any wo, as thoughte me,
Bountee parfit, wel armed and richely,
And fresshe Beautee, Lust, and Iolitee,
Assured Maner, Youthe, and Honestee, 40
Wisdom, Estaat, [and] Dreed, and Governaunce,
Confedred bothe by bonde and alliaunce.

A compleynt hadde I, writen, in myn hond,
For to have put to Pite as a bille,
But whan I al this companye ther fond, 45
That rather wolden al my cause spille
Than do me help, I held my pleynte stille;
For to that folk, withouten any faile,
Withoute Pite may no bille availe.

Then leve I al thise virtues, sauf Pite, 50
Keping the corps, as ye have herd me seyn,
Confedred alle by bonde of Crueltee,
And been assented that I shal be sleyn.
And I have put my compleynt up ageyn;
For to my foos my bille I dar not shewe, 55
Theffect of which seith thus, in wordes fewe:--

_The Bille._

¶ 'Humblest of herte, hyest of reverence,
Benigne flour, coroune of vertues alle,
Sheweth unto your rial excellence
Your servaunt, if I durste me so calle, 60
His mortal harm, in which he is y-falle,
And noght al only for his evel fare,
But for your renoun, as he shal declare.

Hit stondeth thus: your contraire, Crueltee,
Allyed is ageynst your regalye 65
Under colour of womanly Beautee,
For men [ne] shuld not knowe hir tirannye,
With Bountee, Gentilesse, and Curtesye,
And hath depryved you now of your place
That hight "Beautee, apertenant to Grace." 70

For kyndly, by your heritage right,
Ye been annexed ever unto Bountee;
And verrayly ye oughte do your might
To helpe Trouthe in his adversitee.
Ye been also the coroune of Beautee; 75
And certes, if ye wanten in thise tweyne,
The world is lore; ther nis no more to seyne.

¶ 'Eek what availeth Maner and Gentilesse
Withoute you, benigne creature?
Shal Crueltee be your governeresse? 80
Allas! what herte may hit longe endure?
Wherfor, but ye the rather take cure
To breke that perilous alliaunce,
Ye sleen hem that ben in your obeisaunce.

'And further over, if ye suffre this, 85
Your renoun is fordo than in a throwe;
Ther shal no man wite wel what Pite is.
Allas! that your renoun shuld be so lowe!
Ye be than fro your heritage y-throwe
By Crueltee, that occupieth your place; 90
And we despeired, that seken to your grace.

Have mercy on me, thou Herenus quene,
That you have sought so tenderly and yore;
Let som streem of your light on me be sene
That love and drede you, ay lenger the more. 95
For, sothly for to seyne, I bere the sore,
And, though I be not cunning for to pleyne,
For goddes love, have mercy on my peyne!

¶ 'My peyne is this, that what so I desire
That have I not, ne no-thing lyk therto; 100
And ever set Desire myn herte on fire;
Eek on that other syde, wher-so I go,
What maner thing that may encrese wo
That have I redy, unsoght, everywhere;
Me [ne] lakketh but my deth, and than my bere. 105

What nedeth to shewe parcel of my peyne?
Sith every wo that herte may bethinke
I suffre, and yet I dar not to you pleyne;
For wel I woot, al-though I wake or winke,
Ye rekke not whether I flete or sinke. 110
But natheles, my trouthe I shal sustene
Unto my deth, and that shal wel be sene.

This is to seyne, I wol be youres ever;
Though ye me slee by Crueltee, your fo,
Algate my spirit shal never dissever 115
Fro your servyse, for any peyne or wo.
Sith ye be deed--allas! that hit is so!--
Thus for your deth I may wel wepe and pleyne
With herte sore and ful of besy peyne.' 119

_Here endeth the exclamacion of the Deth of Pyte._

_The_ MSS. _are_: Tn. (Tanner 346); F. (Fairfax 16); B. (Bodley 638); Sh. (Shirley's MS., Harl. 78); Ff. (Ff. 1. 6, in Camb. Univ. Library); T., _here used for_ Trin. (Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 19); _also_ Ha. (Harl. 7578). _I follow_ F. _mainly, noting all variations of importance._

TITLE; _in_ B. 1. F. agoo. 2. F. hert. 3. F. worlde; woo. 5. F. purpose. 8. F. be; B. Sh. T. by. F. certeyne. 9. Sh. Ha. a tyme sought; _rest_ sought a tyme (_badly_). 10. F. bespreynte. 11. F. prayen. Sh. Ha. wreke; _rest_ awreke. 14. F. fonde; dede. 15. F. Adovne. Ha. _alone supplies_ that. 16. F. Dede; stone; while. T. (_and_ Longleat) a; _rest om._ 17. F. roose; coloure. 18. F. petously; B. pitously. B. yen; F. eyen; _after which all but_ Sh. _and_ Ha. _insert_ I. 19. Sh. Ha. to; _which the rest omit_. 20. Sh. shoope; _rest_ shope. F. prey; Sh. preye. 21. _For_ nas, _the_ MSS. _wrongly have_ was; _in both places_. F. lorne; sey.

22. F. slayne; dede. 23. Tn. shulde; F. shuld. 24. F. hold; hede. 25. _All but_ Sh. _and_ Ha. _ins._ now _bef._ any. F. eny. 26. F. caste. Sh. Ha. sleen; F. slee. 27. F. folke redelesse. 30. F. dede. 31. F. mony. 32. F. B. _omit_ she; _the rest have it_. _Only_ Sh. _and_ T. _retain_ so. 33. F. besely. _For_ ever, Ten Brink _reads_ ay. 34. _Only_ Sh. _gives this line correctly; so_ Ha. (_but with_ any _for_ mannes). F. Sith I hadde firste witte or mynde. 35. F. dede. Sh. Ha. that; _rest omit_. 36. F. there; lustely. 38. F. Bounte. 39. F. beaute; iolyte. 40. F. honeste. 41. F. Wisdome. F. B. estaat; _rest_ estate; Ten Brink _rightly supplies_ and _after_ Estat (_sic_). F. drede. 43. Ha. hadde; Sh. hade; _rest_ had. F. honde. 44. Sh. Ha. For; _rest omit_. F. pittee. 45. F. when. F. fonde. 46. Sh. wolden; F. wolde. 47. F. helpe; helde. Sh. Ha. compleynt; T. cause; _rest_ pleynte _or_ pleynt.

48. F. folke. F. withoute; B. without; Ha. withouten. 49. F. pitee. Ha. may; Sh. ne may; _rest_ ther may. 50. Sh. Ha. þanne leve I alle þees vertues sauf pitee; F.B. Then leve we al vertues save oonly pite; Tn. Ff. T. Then leueall vertues save onely pite. 51. F. Kepynge; herde. 52. F. Cofedered (_sic_). Sh. alle by bonde of (Ha. _om._ alle); F. Tn. B. Ff. by bonde and by; T. by bound and. 53. Sh. that; _rest_ when. 54. F. complaynt. 55. F. Foes; Tn. foos. 57. F. highest. 59. F. youre rialle. 60. F. Youre; durst. 61. Sh. whiche he is Inne falle; _rest_ in which he is falle: Thynne _has_ yfal; _read_ y-falle. 62. F. oonly. 64. _The_ MSS. _insert_ that _after_ thus, _except_ Sh. _and_ Ha. Sh. contraire; _rest_ contrary. 65. Sh. ageynst; F. ayenst. 66. F. beaute. 67. _The_ MSS. _omit_ ne. F. shulde. 68. F. bounte. 69. Sh. nowe; _which the rest omit_. 70. Sh. heghte (_for_ highte); Ha. hight; Tn. is hye; F. B. T. is hygh. F. beaute apertenent. _The_ MSS. (_except_ Sh. _and_ Ha.) _insert_ your _after_ to.

71. F. kyndely; youre. 72. _Most_ MSS. be; Ha. been; _read_ been (_and in_ l. 75). 73. F. verrely; youre. 75. F. beaute. 76. Tn. Ff. Ha. wante; _rest_ want; _read_ wanten. F. these tweyn. 77. F. worlde. _For_ nis, _all have_ is. F. seyn. 78. F. Eke. 79. F. yow. 82. F. Wherfore. 86. F. fordoo. Sh. than; _rest omit_. 87. F. wete well; _rest omit_ well; Tn. wyte. 88. F. Tn. B. Ff. T. _insert_ euer _after_ that, _which_ Sh. _rightly omits_. Sh. Ha. shoulde be; _rest_ is falle. 89. Sh. thanne; _rest_ also. F. youre. 90. F. youre. 91. Sh. sechen to; B. sekyn to; Tn. Ff. T. seken; F. speken to (_for_ seken to). 92. Tn. F. B. Ff. herenus; T. herem_us_; Sh. vertuouse (!). 93. F. yow; tendirly. 94. B. som; F. som_m_e. F. streme. Sh. Ha. youre; _which the rest omit_. 95. Sh. ay; _rest_ euer. Sh. Ha. _om._ the. 96. F. sothely. Sh. the hevy sore; Ha. the sore; _rest_ so sore (_which gives no sense_).

97. F. kunnynge. 98. F. goddis. 100. F. lyke. 101. F. Sh. setteth; Ha. set; _rest_ settith; _see_ note. F. hert. 102. F. Eke. F. sydes; _rest_ side, syde. F. where so; goo. 103. Sh. Ha. we; _rest insert_ my _before_ wo. 104. F. vnsoghte. 105. _All omit_ ne; _see_ note. 107. F. woo. 109. F. wote. Sh. al-þaughe; _rest_ though, thogh. 110. F. B. where; _rest_ whether. 111. _All but_ Sh. _and_ Ha. _needlessly insert_ yet _before_ my. 114. F. soo; _rest_ foo, fo. 115. F. spirite. 116. F. youre; eny. 117. B. yet (_sic_) be ded; F. Tn. Ff. T. ye be yet ded (_which will not scan_); Sh. Ha. _have a diferent line_--Now pitee þat I haue sought so yoore agoo.

* * * * *

III. THE BOOK OF THE DUCHESSE.

_The Proem._