Chapter XVIII: Part I: It would be a gross libel to ascribe this poem to Chaucer, as it is (12)

TITLE: _in_ F. 1. Tn. gret; F. grete. Th. by; F. Tn. be. 5. Tn. Th. defaute; F. defaulte. 6. _All_ take no kepe. 8. Tn. Th. lefe (_read_ leef); F. leve. 9. Tn. Th. good; F. goode. 10. Tn. Ioye; F. Ioy. 11, 12. F. no thynge, thynge. 14. _All_ sorwful (_badly_); _read_ sory. 15. F. hooly. 16. F. woote; Th. B. wote; Tn. wotte; _read_ wite. 19. _For_ To _perhaps read_ Unto. F. ertherly (_miswritten_). 21. _All_ be. 22. Th. Tn. B. ne (_2nd time_); F. no.

23. _All_ this. 24. _All_ drede. 25. Th. Tn. Defaute; F. Defaulte. 26. Th. slayne; Tn. slain; F. _omits_. 27. F. loste. Tn. _omits_ ll. 31-96; F. _has them in a later hand_ (_the spelling of which I amend_). 32. F. nathles whoe 33. F. trewly. 34. F. tell. 35. Th. sothe; F. southe (!) F. trewly. 36. F. hold it; Th. holde it; _read_ hold-ë hit. F. sicknes. 38. F. boote. 39. Th. F. For ther. (phisicien = fízishén). F. one. 40. F. heale; done. 41. F. vntill efte. 42. F. mote. Th. nede; F. nedes. F. lefte. 43. F. mater. 44. Th. So whan; F. Soe when. F. sawe. 45. Th. Tyl nowe late: F. Til now late; _but probably corrupt_. 46. F. sate. 47. F. bade one. F. booke. 48. F. it; Th. he it. F. toke. 50. F. thought; beter. 51. F. play; Ten Brink _reads_ playen. 52. F. written.

53. F. had. 56. F. While. Th. of; F. in (_copied from line above_). 57. F. boke. Th. spake; F. speake (_read_ spak). 58. F. kings. 59. Th. smale: F. smalle. 60. Th. al; F. all. F. fonde. 61. F. thought. 62. F. There. 63. F. hight. Th. Seys; F. Seyes. F. had. F. wife. 64. Th. beste; F. best. F. might beare lyfe. 65. F. hight. 66. F. Soe it befill thereafter. 67. F. woll; Th. wol. 70. _Perhaps read_ gan aryse. 71. F. brake. (hir=_their_). F. maste; fal. 72. Th. her; F. ther (_see line above_). F. dreint; all. 73. Th. F. founde (_error for_ founden). 74. F. Borde. 75. Th. Seys; F. Seyes. F. life. 76. Th. F. Now for to speke of Alcyone his wyfe; _read_: Now for to speken of his wyf. F. wife. 79. Th. F. Home; it. 80. Th. Anon; F. Anone. Th. F. began (_error for_ gan). Th. F. yerne (_error for_ erme); see note.

81. F. thought. 82. F. It; wele; thought soe. _Both_ her thought so, _caught from l._ 81; _read_ he dwelte (delayed). 83. F. soe. 84. F. it. 85. F. tell. Th. hertely; F. hartely. F. life. 86. Th. F. she had; _I omit_ she, _and supply_ alas _from l._ 87. 87. Th. _and_ F. _insert_ alas _after_ him. 88. F. Anone; sent. 91. F. where. 92. Th. nyl; F. will. F. eate breede. 94. Th. lorde; F. Lord. 95. F. toke. 96. F. trewly; booke. 97. _The older hand recommences in_ F. F. had; Tn. I Had. F. suche (_twice_). F. pittee. 100. F. And aftir; _but_ Th. Tn. B. _omit_ And. 101. _All_ this lady (_for_ she; _badly_). 102. F. myght; lorde. 103. F. ofte; sayed. 104. F. woode. 105. F. rede. 106. F. doune; sate. 107. _All_ wepte (_read_ weep). F. pittee. 109. Th. to; _which_ F. Tn. _omit_. 110. F. Helpe; B. Help.

112. F. Soone. Tn. B. wite; F. Th. wete. 114. F. yowe. 116. Th. Tn. B. good wyl; F. good wille (wil _is here a monosyllable_). 117. F. wilte. 118. Tn. Send; Th. F. Sende. 119. Th. som; F. som_m_e. 120. Th. through; F. thorgh. F. knowe. 121. F. lorde; quyke; ded. 122. F. worde; henge; hed. 123. Th. Tn. fel; F. felle (_see_ l. 128). F. A swowne, Tn. a swowe (_for_ a-swowen = a-swown); Th. in a swowne. F. colde; Tn. cold. 124. F. kaught; anoon. 127. Tn. dede; F. ded. _All_ slepe. 128. F. tooke. _All_ kepe. 129. Th. Through; F. Throgh. F. herde. 130. _I supply_ for. 131. Th. Tn. prayde; F. prayede; _after which all insert_ right (_but see next line_). 134. F. come. 137, 138. _All_ slepe, kepe. F. vnderstonde; take.

141. Tn. B. all_e_; F. al. 142. Th. He; F. Tn. That he. F. kynge. 144. Tn. B. Bid; F. Bud. 145. Th. Alcyone; F. Tn. Alchione. 146. Th. alone; F. allone. 149. _After_ speke _all insert_ right (_see next line_). 150. _All_ woned. 151. Tn. on; F. a. 152. F. hye the. 153. F. toke; went. 154. Th. he (_for_ ne). F. stent. 155. Tn. com; F. come. F. valey. 156. Th. bytwene; F. betwex; Tn. betwix. F. twey. 157. F. corne. 158, 159. _All_ noght (_for_ nothing). F. oughte. 162. F. dedely; Th. deedly; Tn. dedli. 166. F. There these; lay. 167. Th. F. B. Eclympasteyre (_as in text_); Tn. Etlympasteyre (_with_ t _for_ c). 168. Tn. heir_e_; F. eyre. 169, 170. F. werke, derke.

171. Tn. pit; F. pitte. 173. F. To envye; Tn. Th. vie. 175. Tn. slepte; F. slept; _see_ 177. Th. heed; F. hed. B. Tn. I-hid; Th. yhed; F. yhedde. 176. _All_ lay. F. Tn. bedde. 177. F. slepe; Th. Tn. slepte. 178. F. com. Tn. flyyng; F. fleynge; Th. rennyng. 179. F. Tn. O how; Th. ho ho. F. awake. 180. F. there. 181. F. Awake; lythe. 182. F. horne. Tn. B. ere; F. heere. 184. Tn. oon; F. on. F. ye; Th. eye; Tn. ei[gh]e. 185. Th. Tn. Cast; F. Caste. _All ins._ and _after_ up. 191. Th. wente; F. went. F. sayede; Tn. seide. 192. F. a-brayede; Tn. abraied. 195. F. Tooke; dreynt; _see_ Cant. Ta. B. 69. 196. F. bare. Th. Alcione; F. Tn. Alchione. 197. F. wife. 199. Th. her; F. Tn. hys. F. fete; _see_ note. 200. _All_ hete.

201. F. sayede; wyfe. 202. F. Awake; lyfe. 203. F. there; rede. 204. _I put_ nam; _all have_ am. F. dede. 206. _I supply_ look, _for the sake of sense and metre_; _read_--But good swet' hert-ë, look that ye. 207. _All_ for suche; _read_ at whiche. 210. F. pray; youre. 211. F. while oure. 213. _All_ allas (_for_ A). 214. F. deyede; Tn. deid. 215. F. sayede. Tn. swow; Th. B. swowe; F. sorowe (!). 216. F. nowe. 219. Tn. told; F. tolde. F. thynge. 220. Th. Alcione; F. Tn. Alchione. F. kynge. 221. _All_ say. Tn. wel; F. welle. 222. Tn. eueridel; F. euerydelle. 223. F. thorgh. Tn. defaute; F. defaulte. _All_ slepe. 224. Th. F. ne had (_read_ nad); Tn. hade. Tn. red; F. redde. _All_ take kepe. 226. F. _omits_ I (_by mistake_). 228. F. redde. 229. F. kynge. 230. Th. goddes; F. Tn. goddis.

231. Tn. red; F. redde. 233. F. thoght. 234. Tn. herd; F. herde. 235. F. goddis. 236. _I supply the former_ for. 237. I ne = I n'. 238. F. sayede. 239. F. pley. 240. F. dey. 241. F. Thorgh defaulte. Tn. sleping; F. slepynge. 244. Tn. sum; F. som_m_e. F. ellis. F. roght; Th. Tn. rought. 245. Tn. som; F. some. 247. F. Yifte. F. abode. 248. B. on warde; _rest_ onwarde. 251. F. yif (_see_ l. 246). Tn. fethirbed; F. feder bedde. 252. Tn. cled; F. cledde. 253. Tn. fyn; F. fyne. Th. doutremere; Tn. dout_er_mere; F. de owter mere. 254. Tn. pilow; F. pelowe. 257, 8. F. fallys, hallys.

264. _All ins._ quene _after_ goddesse. Th. Alcione; F. Tn. Alchione. 267. _All_ wanne (!). 269. F. payede. 270. Tn. woord; F. worde. F. y-sayede. 271. Th. Tn. B. as; _which_ F. _omits_. Tn. told; F. tolde. 273. Tn. lust; F. luste. F. tooke. 274. F. booke. 275. F. evene. 276. F. swevene. 277. Tn. [gh]it; F. yitte. 278. Th. trowe; F. trow; Tn. trov. 281. Th. Tn. B. he; F. ho. F. red; Th. Tn. rad (_but read_ redde _or_ radde). 282. F. metynge. 283. B. leste; F. lest. 285. Tn. wrot; F. wrote. 286. F. kynge. 288. Th. Suche meruayles fortuned than; F. Tn. B. _omit this line_.

291. F. thoght. 292. F. dawnynge. Th. there; _rest om._ 294. _All_ And (_for_ I). 295. Tn. gret; F. grete. 296. _All insert_ my _before_ slepe; _it is not wanted_. 297. F. Thorgh; swettenesse; songe. 298. Th. as; F. Tn. B. al (_badly_). F. amonge. 299. F. roofe. 300. _All_ ouer al; _but omit_ ouer. 301. _All_ songe, song. 304. F. herde. Tn. B. som; F. so_m_me. Tn. song; F. songe (_it can be singular_). 305. Tn. Som; F. Som_m_e. F. high. 306. F. att. 307. F. harde; Tn. I-herd. 308. F. thynge. 309. F. soune. Th. Th. entunes; F. entewnes. 310. F. tewnes; Th. Tewnes; Tn. twnes. 311. F. herde. 313. F. Thorgh syngynge. 315. F. nowhere herde; halfe. 316. F. halfe. 318. Tn. ich; _rest_ eche.

319. F. _wrongly inserts_ of _after_ out. F. notys. 320. F. throtys. 321. F. soothe. 323. F. y-glasyd. 324. F. hoole y-crasyd. 326. Tn. hoolly; F. holy. Tn. storie; F. story. 327. F. glasynge. 328. _All_ and of king. 329. _All repeat_ of king _before_ Lamedon; _the words were caught from_ l. 328. 330. _All insert_ And eke _before_ Of Medea. 331. _All_ and of (_for_ and). 332. Tn. colours; F. colouris. 334. _All_ And; _read_ Of. 335. Th. weren; F. were. Tn. shet; F. shette. 336. F. throgh. 337. F. bryght. 338. F. gilde; Th. B. gyldy; Tn. gilti; _read_ gilden. 339. F. eke. F. welken; Th. Tn. welkyn. _All_ faire. 340. F. ayre. 341. Th. atempre; F. Tn. attempre. 342. _All ins._ to _bef._ cold. F. colde; hoote. Th. nas; F. Tn. was. 343. F. welkene; Th. welkyn; Tn. walkyn. 345. F. thoght. 346. F. Tassay; horne.

347. Tn. B. hors; Th. F. horse. 348. _All insert_ And _at the beginning of the line_; _but read_ I herd-e. F. Th. goynge; Tn. goyng; _after which all insert_ bothe (_which is not wanted_). 350. F. Th. speke; Tn. spake; _but read_ speken. 355. F. huntynge. 357. _I supply_ I. F. Tooke; forthe; went. 358. F. stent. 359. F. come; felde. 360. F. ouertoke; grete. 361. F. eke; foresterys. 362. F. lymerys. 364. Th. I; _which_ F. Tn. _omit_. _For_ at the _perhaps read_ atte. 366. F. felowe whoo. _All_ hunte (_read_ hunten). 367. _All_ answered (-id). 369. F. here fast. 370. _Read_ goddes _as_ god's. 373. F. didde. 374. F. huntynge fille. 375. F. fote hote. 376. F. blewe; mote.

377. F. vncoupylynge; Th. vncouplynge. 378. F. Withynne; while; herte. Th. F. founde; Tn. found; _read_ y-founde. 380. _All_ and so; _om._ so. 381. F. Tn. B. rused; Th. roused. F. staale. 383. Th. ouer-shot; F. ouershette; Tn. ouershet. Tn. hem; F. hym (_wrongly_). 384. Tn. on; F. vpon. Tn. defaute; F. defaulte. 386. F. Blewe. Th. Tn. forloyn; F. forleygne. _Perhaps read_ atte _for_ at the. 388. F. went; came. 389. F. whelpe. Th. fawned; F. Favned. F. stoode. 390. F. goode. 391. F. come. _All have_ crepte (_wrongly_); _read_ creep. 392. Tn. hade; F. had. 393. B. Hild; F. Hylde; Tn. Held. Th. heed; Tn. hed; F. hede. F. erys. 394. F. herys. 395. _All_ haue; _read_ han. 396. Tn. fledde; F. fled. 397. F. forthe went. 398. F. went. 399. _All_ swete (_correctly_). 400. _All_ fete; _see_ 199. 402. Tn. bothe; F. both. 404. _All_ made; _read_ mad _or_ maad. F dwellynge.

406. F. therthe; Th. the erthe. 408. F. moo; swche (_sic_). 409. Th. welken; F. walkene. F. sterris. 411. F. thorgh. 412. _All_ suffre. 414. F. woode. 415. _All_ made. 416. _All_ nede eke. 417. F. Where there. 419. F. stoode. 420. Tn. ten; F. tene. Th. foote; F. fete; Tn. _om._ Th. or; F. Tn. fro other (_repeated_). 422. Th. Tn. B. Of; F. Or. Th. or; _rest om._ F. fedme; Th. fedome; Tn. fedim; _read_ fadme. 424. Th. brode; F. Tn. bothe (_wrongly_). F. eke. 426. Tn. B. shadwe; F. shadewe. 427. Tn. hert; F. herte. 429. Th. fawnes; F. Tn. fovnes. F. Tn. sowres; Th. sowers. 430. Tn. wode; F. woode. 429, 430. B. doys, roys. 431. Th. squyrrels; F. sqwirels; Tn. squirels; B. squyrellys (_three syllables_). 432. F. high. 433. F. festys. 434. F. bestys.

435. Th. Tn. countour; F. counter (_and so in_ l. 436). 437. F. Tn. rekene; Th. reken (_caught from above_); _read_ rekened. F. figuris. 438. F. figuris. F. mowe; B. mow; Th. Tn. newe (_reading doubtful_). _All have_ al ken; _see_ note. 440. B. tell_e_; _rest_ tel. F. thinge. 441. F. evene. 442. F. swevene. 443. _All ins._ right _bef._ wonder. 444. F. Doune; woode. 446. Th. sate; F. Tn. sete. Tn. Iturned; F. turned. 447. F. ooke. 448. Th. Tn. thought; F. thogh (!). 450. F. went. 451. Tn. fond; F. founde. 452. F. farynge. 454. _All but_ B. _insert_ ryght _before_ yong. Tn. [gh]ung; F. Th. yonge. 455. _All_ yere; _read_ yeer. 456. _All_ heere, here; _read_ heer. 457. Th. blacke; F. blake. 458. Tn. bakke; F. bake. 459. F. stoode. 460. F. sawe. 461. Tn. heng; F. henge. Th. heed; Tn. hed; F. hede. 462. Tn. dedly; F. dedely.

463. Th. Tn. twelue; F. twelfe. 464. Th. Tn. selue; F. selfe. 465. Tn. pite; F. pitee. 468. _All_ suffre; _read_ suffren. 469. F. suche. Th. deed; F. Tn. ded. 470. Tn. pitous; B. pitouse; F. petuose. Tn. nothing; F. no thynge. Th. reed; F. Tn. red. 471. F. sayed; Tn. said. 471, 2. Tn. song; F. songe. 473. B. _alone supplies_ it (=hit); _all insert_ ful _before_ wel. 475. F. grete; Tn. gret. _All_ wone; _read_ woon. 476. F. Ioy; none. 477, 8. _Read_ brighte, mighte? 479. Th. deed; F. ded. _After_ l. 479 Thynne _inserts_ And thus in sorowe lefte me alone; _it is spurious_; _see_ note. [Hence there is no l. 480.] 481. Koch _supplies_ o. Tn. deth; F. dethe. 483. Tn. that; _which_ F. Tn. _omit_. 484. F. faire. F. freshe; Tn. fressh. 485. _All_ se; _but read_ y-see. 486. F. goodenesse. 487. _All_ made. Th. B. complaynte; F. complaynt. 488. F. sorwful. Th. herte; F. hert. Th. B. faynte; F. faynt. 489. F. spiritis. 490. Tn. blood; F. bloode.

491. Th. herte; F. hert. _All_ warme. 492. Th. herte; F. hert. _All_ harme. 493. B. wite; F. wete. _All_ eke. 498. _All insert_ ther _before_ no. F. noo bloode. _All_ is; _but read_ was. 499. Th. lymme; B. Tn. lyme; F. hym(!). 500. B. saw; F. saugh. 501. F. Th. there; Tn. for. _All_ sete (fete _is dat. pl._). 502. F. went; stoode. 503. _All_ spake (_wrongly_). 504. Th. Tn. owne; F. ovne. 506. F. Th. lyfe; Tn. life. 507. F. thought. 509. F. throgh. B. sorwe; Tn. sorov; F. sorwes. 511. Tn. lost; F. loste. 512. F. _inserts_ the _before_ god; Th. Tn. _omit_. 513. F. wrothe. 514. Th. laste; F. last. F. sothe. 515. F. stoode. 516. _All_ did. F. hoode. 517. _All_ had ygret; Lange _proposes_ grette (_e_ unelided). 519. F. wrothe. 520. F. sothe.

521. B. saw; F. sawgh. F. trewly. 522. Tn. goode; F. good. 523, 4. F. oughte, thoughte. 526. F. thamendys. 527. F. lyeth; Tn. lith. 528. F. There. _All_ myssayde. 529. Th. goodly; F. goodely. _All_ spake (!). Th. knyght; F. knyghte. 530. B. ben; _rest_ be. 531. F. towgh. 532. F. sawe; aqueynt. 533. F. fonde. 535. F. thoght. 537. F. oughte. 538. F. knowynge; thoughte. 541. F. These huntys konne. 543. F. there on; dele (Tn. del). 544. Tn. Bi; Th. By; F. Be. F. oure lorde; wele (Tn. wel). 545. B. thinketh; F. thenketh. 547. F. grete. 548. _Ins._ good; see 714, 721. Th. Tn. if; F. yif. 550. F. wys; Th. wyse; Tn. wisse.

554. Th. al; F. alle; Tn. _om._ 556. B. ese; F. ease. 560. Tn. frend; F. frende. 564. _All_ fal. 565. F. vnderstondynge lorne. 566. F. borne. 568. F. Th. _ins._ al (Tn. of) _before_ the. 570. _All ins._ his _after_ with. 571. _All ins._ no _after_ may. 573. Th. Tn. houres; F. oures. 574. _All_ assay. 575. B. Th. herte; F. Tn. hert. 577. F. wrechch; Tn. wrecch; Tn. wretche (_for_ wrecche). _All_ made. 578. F. al; Th. Tn. al the; B. all_e_ (_read_ al-le). 579. B. all_e_; _rest_ al. 581. _All_ lyfe. F. loothe. 582. F. wroothe (_it is plural_). 583. _All ins._ ful _after_ so. F. foo. 584. _All_ That; _read_ Thogh. F. soo.

586. _For the former_ hit, _all have_ him; _but see line above_. 587. Th. reed; F. rede. 588. F. deynge. Th. deed; F. dede. 589. F. B. Thesiphus; Tn. Tesiphus; Th. Tesyphus. (_The two latter are miswritten for_ Cesiphus = Sesiphus). Tn. lithe; F. Th. lyeth. 591. Th. Tn. al; F. alle. Th. by; F. Tn. be. 592. Tn. hade; F. had. 594. Tn. feenli (_sic_); Th. F. fendely. 596. Tn. met; Th. F. mette (!); _read_ y-met. 598. B. tell_e_; _rest_ tel. 599. _For_ song, F. Th. _have_ sorowe, _and_ Tn. _has_ sorov, _which are absurd; the reading is obviously_ song, _the_ ng _being altered to_ rowe _by influence of_ l. 597, _which the scribes glanced at_. Tn. pleyny_n_g; F. pleynynge. 600. Tn. laughter; F. lawghtre. Tn. weping; F. wepynge. 601. F. thoghtys. 603. _All_ eke. 604. Th. Tn. good; F. goode. _All_ harme. 605. Th. playeng; F. pleynge. 606. F. sorwynge. 607. Tn. sekenes; F. sekeenesse (_sic_). 609. Tn. li[gh]t; F. lyghte; Th. syght. 610. Tn. wit; F. wytte. Th. Tn. nyght; F. nyghte.

611. _All_ slepe. Tn. waking; F. wakynge. 612. Tn. fasting; F. fastynge. 614. Tn. abaved (_sic_); Th. F. abawed. _All_ where so. 617. Tn. boldnes; Th. F. boldenesse. (_Perhaps read_ y-turned.) 618. F. pleyde; Th. played; Tn. pleied. 619. F. Atte the (_wrongly_); Th. Tn. At the. Tn. ches; Th. F. chesse. 621. Tn. halt; F. Th. halte (!). 622. Tn. goth; Th. gothe; F. gethe (!). Th. halte; Tn. is halt; F. is halte. 627. Th. wrien; _rest_ varien (!). 628. Th. Tn. monstres; F. Mowstres. Th. heed; F. Tn. hed. 629. B. filth; _rest_ fylthe. Th. Tn. ystrowed. 630. F. worshippe. Th. Tn. floures; F. B. flourys; _read_ flour is. 632. Tn. feith; F. feythe. 633. F. lawghynge. 634. Tn. oon; Th. F. one. Th. eye; Tn. ei[gh]; F. yghe; B. ye. F. wepynge. 635. Th. set; F. sette. 637. F. flateyrynge; Tn. flateryng. 639. Th. Tn. amyd; F. amydde. 640. Th. he; F. hyt; Tn. it.

642. F. thenvyouse; Tn. thenvious; Th. the enuyous. 644. Th. false; F. Tn. fals. 645. F. no thynge. 647. Th. Ful; _rest_ For. F. thus she; Tn. Th. she thus. 649. Th. nat; F. Tn. not. 650. Th. false; F. Tn. fals. Th. F. thefe; Tn. knaue. 651. F. oure lorde; the sey. 652. _All_ At the; Atte _is better_. Tn. ches; Th. F. chesse. F. pley. 653. Th. Tn. false; F. fals. 654. F. staale; toke. F. Tn. fers; Th. feers. 655. F. sawgh. B. a-waye; _rest_ away. 656. B. pleye; Th. F. play; Tn. pley. 657. _All_ farewel (farewell); _and in_ l. 658. 660. _All insert_ the _after_ in (_badly_). 661. F. povne; Tn. pou_n_; Th. paune. Tn. erraunt; F. errante. 663. Tn. Athalaus. 664. Tn. ches; Th. F. chesse. 666. B. I-koude; Th. Tn. Iconde (!); F. y-konde (!); _see_ l. 667. 667. Tn. Grek; F. Greke. Th. Pithagores; F. Tn. Pictagoras. 668. Tn. pleyd; F. pleyde.

670. Tn. thogh; Th. thoughe; F. thoght (_sic_). F. trewly. 671. F. holde; wysshe. 675. _All_ eke. B. las; F. lasse; Tn. lesse. 676. F. -selfe. 677. Th. had I ben; F. as I be (_wrongly_). 678. F. oght. 681. _All_ she my fers; _read_ my fers she (Koch). _All_ kaught, _read_ caughte; _and_ dranghte _in_ ll. 682, 685. 683. Tn. wis; F. wys. 684. Th. she; F. Tn. B. he. F. tooke. 685. F. throgh; draught; lorne. 686. F. borne. 689. F. doone. 690. F. Be oure lorde; soone. 691. F. -thynge. _I supply_ ne. 693. _All_ For there (ther); _but omit_ For. 694. F. ayre. 695. F. yifte. 696. F. wepynge.

699. Tn. lyth; F. lyeth. F. rekenynge. 700. Th. Tn. In; F. Inne. 701. F. levyth noe. 702. B. Tn. glade; F. glad; _read_ gladde. 703. Th. lost; F. loste. 710. Tn. telle; F. tel. 711. Th. Tn. Thus; F. This. 712. F. myght; duelle. 713. Tn. dide, herte; F. dyd, hert. 714. Th. good; F. goode. 715. Tn. som; F. so_m_me. 721. _All insert_ yis (_or_ yes) _before_ parde; _which spoils both sense and metre_. 722. Th. say; _rest om._ F. trewly. 723. Th. lost; F. loste. 726. Th. good; F. goode. 727. Tn. slowe; F. slowgh. 728. _All_ also; _read_ als. 729. F. Henge.

732. _All_ the quene; _omit_ the. _All_ eke. 733. Tn. slow; F. slough. F. selfe. 734. _I supply former_ a. F. foole. 735. _All_ Ecquo. 739. Tn. slow; F. slough. F. hym-selfe. 740. _All_ no man; _but read_ noon. 741. _Perhaps read_ maken. 743. F. woste; menyst. 744. Th, lost; F. loste. F. thow wenyst. 745. F. Tn. Loo she that may be; Th. Howe that may be; _here_ she _is an error for_ sir, _and_ Howe that may be _for_ how may that be; (_ed. 1550 has_ Howe may that be). 746. _All_ sir. F. Tn. telle; Th. tel. F. hooly. 749. F. come. Tn. sit; F. sytte. 750. F. _inserts_ hyt _after_ telle; _which_ Th. Tn. _omit_. Th. Tn. vpon a; F. vp a; _but_ vp _is right_. 751. _All ins._ shalt _after_ thou; _omit it_ (Koch). F. hooly. Tn. wit; Th. wyt; F. wytte. 752. Tn. hit; F. hitte (!). 754. F. Tn. here lo; Th. here to. _Accent_ thér- _and_ hér-. 755. _Perhaps_ right _should be omitted_. 756. F. Hooly. 758. B. half; F. halfe; (goddes = god's).

760. Tn. wit; F. wytte. 761. F. vnderstondynge. 763. Tn. wit; F. wytte. 764. Tn. yit; F. yitte. 765. Tn. youen; F. yive. 766. F. hooly. 767, 768. Th. thral, al; F. thralle, alle. Th. wyl; F. wille. 771. _All_ deuoutely. _All insert_ I _before_ prayde. Th. prayde; F. prayed. 772. Th. Tn. herte; F. hert. 773. F. plesance; _see_ l. 767. 774. F. worshippe. 775, 6. _All_ yere, owhere. 778. Tn. cam; F. came. 779. F. Perauenture; _see_ l. 788. _All insert_ moste _before_ able. 780. F. white walle. 781. F. cachche. 783. F. Tn. Whethir; Th. Whether; _read_ Wher (_contracted form_). F. portrey or peynt; Tn. purtrey or paynte. 784. Tn. queynte; F. queynt. 785. _All insert_ ryght _before_ so. 787. Th. Tn. conde (_for_ coude); F. kende (_for_ kenned). 788. _All_ arte.

789. Tn. kam; F. came. 790. _All_ forgate. 791. Th. chees; Tn. chese; F. ches. Tn. fyrste; F. first. _All_ crafte (_but it will not rime_). 792. _All_ lafte (_wrongly_); _read_ y-laft. 793. _All_ For-why; _read_ For? _All_ toke. _All_ yonge. 795. F. no thynge. 796. F. Thorgh. Tn. knowlechynge; F. knowlachynge. 799. Tn. firste; F. first. 800. F. goode; Th. good. 801. F. Tn. flyttynge. 802. _All ins._ That tyme (_see_ l. 797) _bef._ And. Tn. thoughte_n_; _rest_ thoght. F. Tn. varyinge. 804. F. knewe; stoode. 805. F. came. _Perhaps_ on (_or_ a) _should be omitted_. 806. _All_ ther that I; _om._ that. 808. F. euere. F. Tn. ye; Th. eye. 810. Tn. hap; F. happe. 811. F. broght; Tn. broghte. _All_ there. 813. Tn. false; F. fals. 816. Tn. tell_e_; F. tel. 817. F. Amonge these. 818. _I supply_ ther.

819. _All_ lyke (like). _I supply_ al. 821. Tn. bryght; F. bryghte. 822. Th. lyght; F. lyghte. 823. _All_ any other planete in; _see_ note. F. hevene. 824. F. sevene. 826. Th. Tn. Surmounted; F. Surmountede. Tn. B. all_e_; F. al. 828. _All ins._ of _after_ and. F. _ins._ so _before_ wel; _which_ Th. Tn. _omit_. Th. Tn. set; F. sette. 829. Th. goodlyhede; F. godelyhede. _All ins._ and _before_ so, _probably caught from the line above_. B. beseye; _rest_ besey. 830. Th. _supplies_ more; F. Tn. _omit_. _All_ sey. 831. Th. Tn. his; F. _omits_. 832. Tn. as; Th. F. al. 833. Th. stedfast; F. stedfaste. 835. F. Tn. had wel herd; _om._ wel. 838. F. y-kaught; Th. I cought; Tn. I caughte. 839. _All_ toke. 840. _All_ counseyl; _I propose_ reed. _All_ loke. 841. Th. And; F. Tn. But (_caught from_ l. 840). Th. Tn. herte; F. hest (_wrongly_). _All_ for why; _read_ for? 842. F. hert; Th. Tn. herte. 843. F. ovne; _read_ owne. 844. F. beter; Th. better; Tn. bettyr; _read_ bet. 846. Tn. B. soth; F. Th. sothe.

848. Tn. saw; F. sawgh. F. comelely; Th. comely; Tn. comly. 850. F. Lawghe; pley. 852. Th. goodly; F. goodely. 854. Tn. seyn; F. seyne. 855. _All_ on; _read_ upon. 856. Tn. seyn; F. seyne. (_For_ was _probably read_ nas.) 857. F. yelowe; broune. 858. F. Tn. thoght. Th. F. lyke; Tn. likely. Th. golde; _which_ F. Tn. _absurdly omit_. 861. F. goode. 862. F. looke. 863. F. ouertwert; Tn. ouyrthwerte; Th. ouertwhart (_sic_). Th. beset; Tn. biset; F. besette. 864. F. Tn. drewh. F. tooke. _All_ enerydele. 865. Tn. B. All_e_; F. Th. Al. 867. F. foolys; B. folys. 869. F. thynge. 870. F. lokynge. 873. Th. close; Tn. clos; F. cloos. 874. F. lokynge. Th. folyche. 876. Tn. thoghte; F. thoght.

877. Th. By; F. Tn. Be. 882. Th. trowe; F. Tn. trow. 883. Th. herte; Tn. hyrte; F. hert. 884. _All_ sate. B. lyte; Tn. lite; F. litel. Th. Tn. herte; F. hert. 885. Tn. knew; F. knowe (_sic_). F. no thynge. 886. _This line is in_ Th. _only;_ Th. _has_ knewe _(twice)._ 887. Tn. roghte; Th. F. rought. 888. Tn. ner; F. nerre. F. was; Th. Tn. nas. 889. Th. than; Tn. then; F. that. 891. Tn. gode; Th. F. good. _All_ folke. 893. F. wounder. 894. F. placis. 895. _All_ But which; _omit_ But. 898. Th. bothe; F. both. 900. _All_ eke. B. spyritz; F. spiritis. 901. _All_ grete a thynge. 902. Th. wyt; Tn. F. witte. 903. Th. F. comprehende; Tn. comprehend; _read_ comprehenden. 904. Tn. seyn; F. sayn. 905. _All insert_ white _after_ Was, _which spoils metre and story_ (_see_ l. 948). F. fressh.

908. Th. Tn. certes; F. certys. 909. _All_ faire _or_ fayre. 910, 911. B. chief; _rest_ chefe. Th. Tn. patron; F. patrone. 913. F. thynkyth. 914. Tn. B. all_e_; Th. F. al (_it is plural_). 916. _I supply_ They; Th. Ne wolde haue; Tn. Ne sholde haue; F. Ne sholde ha. _The right reading is_ They ne sholde have (They ne _being read as_ They n'). 919. Th. goodly; F. goodely. 921. Th. frendly; F. frendely. 922. F. B. Vp; Th. Tn. Vpon; _see_ l. 750. 923. Tn. B. all_e_; F. al. Tn. gode; F. goode. 924. _After_ swere _all insert_ wel (_needlessly_). Tn. rode; F. roode. 929. Th. Tn. pope; F. Pape. 930. _All ins._ yet _after_ never. Th. through; F. throgh. 931. F. gretely. 932. Th. Tn. her; F. hit (_sic_). _I supply_ ther (_cf._ l. 930); _perhaps omitted, because_ her _also ended in_ her. _All_ harme. 933. F. flaterynge; word.

937. _All_ dele. 938. _All_ worlde; wele. 939. _All_ fairenesse (fayrenes). 941. Th. Tn. B. sene; F. seen. Th. F. myssatte; Tn. missate. 942. _All badly insert_ pure (_dissyllabic_) _before_ flat; _but_ smothe _has two syllables_. Tn. flat; Th. F. flatte. 943. _All_ or; _I read_ and. 944. Th. by; _rest_ be. 946. _All_ rounde. Th. tour; F. Tn. toure. 947. Th. good; E. goode. F. gretenesse; grete. 948. B. het; _rest_ hete. 949. Th. right; F. ryghte. 950. _All_ faire. Th. bright; F. bryghte. 951. _All_ had (_but it is emphatic_). _All_ wronge. 952. _All_ longe. 953. _All_ had. 954. Th. great; F. Tn. grete. 957. Tn. bak; F. bakke. 958. B. knyw; _rest_ knewe. _All_ noon other; _perhaps read_ no maner. Tn. lak; F. lakke. 959. _All insert_ pure (_dissyllabic_) _after_ nere; _but_ limmes _is dissyllabic_. 960. Tn. fer; F. ferre. F. knowynge. 961. Th. playe; F. pley. 962. Tn. liste; F. list. Th. saye; F. sey.

963. _All_ lyke. 965. F. hathe. 969. Tn. cacche; F. cachche. Th. Tn. if; F. yif (_and in_ l. 970). 971. _All_ swere wel; _read_ sweren (_omitting the expletive_ wel). 972. _All_ thousande. 973. F. lest. 974. B. chieff; _rest_ chefe. Th. Tn. myrrour; F. meroure. Th. Tn. feste; F. fest. 975. Th. F. stonde; _read_ stonden. 976. Th. that; _which_ Tn. F. _omit_. 977. Tn. B. pleyd; F. pleyed. 978. F. thoght. Th. felaushyp; Tn. feliship; F. felysshyppe. 979. Tn. saw; F. sawgh. 981. Th. F. Trewly; Tn. Truly. B. ye; Th. F. eye (_note the rime_). 982. Th. Tn. soleyn; F. soleyne. 983. Th. lyueth; F. levyth. 984. Tn. knew; _rest_ knowe. 985. Th. goodnesse; F. godenesse. 988. Th. Tn. if; F. yif. 989. Tn. F. seyn; Th. sayne. F. alle. 990. Tn. wit; F. wytte. Th. general; F. generalle. 991. F. hoole. 992. _All_ wytte.

994. _All_ And thereto; _but_ And _is needless_. F. sawgh. 995. Th. Harmful; F. Harmeful. 996. _For_ ne had _perhaps read_ nad. 997. _I transpose_; _all have_ What harme was (_but_ harm _is monosyllabic, and the line is then bad_). 998. Tn. F. coude. Th. thynketh; F. thenketh. 1000. F. had hadde hyt hadde. 1001. _All_ dele. 1002. _All_ wele. 1003. F. al and alle. 1004. Th. principal; F. principalle. 1007. F. stedefaste. 1008. Th. Tn. B. attempre; F. atempry. 1009. Tn. knew; F. knewe. Tn. yit; F. yitte. 1010. Tn. wit; F. wytte. 1011. F. vnderstoode. 1012. F. goode. 1016. _All_ wronge. 1019. Tn. luste; F. lust 1020. _All_ wolde not; _an error for_ nolde (Koch). 1022. _All_ halfe worde.

1025. Th. F. pruyse; Tn. pruse; B. sprewse. 1027. Th. bydde; F. bid. 1028. Th. hoodlesse; F. hoodeles. _All_ in-to; _read_ to. 1029. B. hom; _rest_ home. Tn. Carrynare. 1030. F. Tn. sey; Th. _omits_. 1032. F. Worshyppe. 1034. F. wherfore. Tn. telle; F. tel. 1035. _All_ seyde (sayde). 1036. F. hooly. _All_ leyde (layde). 1037. _All_ wyfe (wife). 1038. _All_ luste. _All_ lyfe (life). 1039. Tn. F. happe; Th. hope. 1040. F. worldys. _I substitute_ lisse _for_ goddesse; _see_ note. 1041. F. hooly hires and; Th. Tn. holy hers and; B. hooly hyres. 1042. F. oure. 1043. Th. beset; F. besette; Tn. yset. 1044. F. myght haue doo bette. 1045. Th. Tn. Bet; F. Bette. F. wele. 1046. F. hit wel sir; Th. Tn. _om._ hit wel. 1047. F. sire. 1048. _All_ trewly. 1049. Th. Tn. beste; F. best. 1050. Tn. fayreste; F. fayrest. 1051. _All ins_. her _after_ loked. 1052. Tn. B. all_e_; F. al.

1053. _All_ swore; _read_ sworen. 1054. _Perhaps read_ nadde. 1056. F. had hadde (_better_ hadde had). 1057. _All_ Alcipyades. 1060. Th. Tn. Alisaundre; F. Alisaunder. ? _omit_ al _or_ the. 1064. Th. therto; F. Tn. to (_see_ 1059). Th. Tn. al so; F. also as. 1066. Tn. slow; F. slough. 1067. Tn. therfor; F. ther fore. 1069. Tn. slayn; F. slayne. Th. Tn. Antilegius; F. Antylegyus. 1071. _I supply_ hir. 1074. Tn. moste; F. most. 1075. _All insert_ trewly _after_ nay; _we must omit it_. 1075, 6. F. nowe, howe. 1077. Th. good; F. goode. F. hert. 1078. _All_ eke. 1081. _All ins._ was _after_ ever. Th. Penelope; F. Penelopee; Tn. penelapie; _read_ Pénelóp'. 1082. _All_ wyfe (wife).

1083: Th. beste; F. best. 1084: Tn. romayn; F. Romayne. 1088: _All_ wherfore. 1089: F. firste. Th. sey; F. say. 1090: _All_ yonge. _I supply_ the. 1091: F. grete nede. 1093: F. grete. 1094: _All_ wytte. Tn. best; F. beste. 1095: _All_ yonge. F. childely wytte. 1097: B. beste; _rest_ best. 1098: F. worshippe. Th. F. _insert_ the _before_ servyse; _but_ Tn. _omits_. 1099: _All_ coude tho; _read_ tho coude. Tn. by; F. be. 1100: F. Feynynge. 1101: Tn. fayn; F. feyne. 1103: Tn. saw; F. sawgh. 1104: Th. warysshed; F. Tn. warshed. 1106: F. thoght. 1108: Tn. sit; Th. syt; F. sytte. Th. Tn. in; F. _om._ 1110: Th. out; Tn. F. oute. 1111: _All_ trewly.

1114. _All_ shrifte (shryfte). 1117. Tn. certes; F. certis. 1118. Tn. Achitofell; F. Achetofel. 1120. Tn. traytour; F. traytore. Tn. F. B. betraysed; Th. betrayed. 1121. Th. false; F. fals. _All_ Genellon. 1123. Tn. rowland; F. Rowlande. 1124. _All_ while (whyle). 1126. F. good; Tn. gode. _I supply_ right. 1127. _All_ tolde. B. her-; F. here-. 1128. _All_ nede. F. Th. Tn. _insert_ to _after_ need; B. _omits it_. Tn. hit; Th. it; F. _om._ 1129. Tn. sawe; F. sawgh. Th. first; F. firste. 1130. Tn. telle; F. tel. 1131. Tn. her; F. hire. B. firste; _rest_ first. 1133. _All_ knewe (_subjunctive_). 1135. _All_ eke. 1136. Tn. her-; F. here-. 1137. Tn. seyde he; F. he seyde. F. menyst. 1138. F. wenyst. 1139. Tn. los; F. losse. _I supply_ sir. 1141. F. doon; Tn. Th. done (_read_ y-doon). 1142. F. bathe lefte.

1143. Th. tel; F. telle. Th. al; F. alle. 1144. Th. shal; F. shalle. 1145. _All_ say. Tn. seyd; F. seyde. 1146. Tn. leyd; F. leyde. 1147. _All needlessly insert_ not (_or_ nat) _after_ hit. 1150. F. tel. 1153. Tn. herte; F. hert. 1154. Th. asterte; F. astert. 1155. _Omit_ But for? F. _ins._ so _before_ fro; Tn. Th. _omit_. 1158. _All_ songe. 1159. F. Th. Tn. _ins._ this (B. thus) _before_ a. F. grete dele. 1160. _All_ wele. 1161. Th. Tn. ne; B. to; F. the (!). F. knowe (_infin._); Tn. know; Th. knewe (_wrongly_). _All_ the arte; _perhaps read_ that art. 1162. Th. Lamekes; F. lamekys. Th. Tubal; F. Tuballe; Tn. B. Tuballe. 1163. B. fonde; _rest_ founde. Th. first; F. firste. _All_ songe. 1164. Tn. brothers; F. brothres. 1165. Th. anuelt; Tn. anuelte; F. Anuelet. Tn. doun; F. doon. 1166. F. tooke. B. fyrste; _rest_ first. Tn. soune; F. soon. 1167. Th. of Pithagoras. 1168. Tn. fyrste; F. first. 1169. _All_ arte.

1171. F. Algatis. 1172. F. felynge; hert 1173. Th. this; F. Tn. thus. _I supply_ the. Tn. firste; F. first. 1174. Th. werst; Tn. F. _repeat_ first. _I supply_ that. 1175. _All_ Lorde. Tn. herte; F. hert. 1178. _All_ myght (might). 1180. _All_ faire (fayre). 1181. _All_ tolde. Tn. soth; F. sothe. _All_ say. 1182. Tn. firste; F. first. _All_ songe; _all_ day. 1183. Tn. bethoghte; F. bethoght. 1185. F. wyst. 1186. Tn. tell_e_; F. tel. _All_ durst. 1187. Tn. thoghte; F. thoght. F. rede. 1188. _All_ am; _grammar requires_ nam. F. dede. 1189. Tn. if; F. yif. _All_ sey (say), _after which ryght is needlessly inserted; I omit it_. Tn. soth; F. sothe. 1190. Tn. wroth; F. wrothe. 1192. _All_ debate. 1193. Tn. thoghte; F. thoght. F. brast; Th. Tn. braste (_subj._). Tn. a tweyn; F. a tweyne. 1194. _All_ at the; _read_ atte. Tn. seyn; F. sayne. 1195. _All_ bethoght (bethought) me. 1197. _All_ trewly _or_ truly. 1198. F. wyth oute; _read_ withouten.

1201. F. nedys; Mawgree. Th. heed; F. hede. 1202. Tn. moste; F. most. _All_ tolde. Th. deed; F. dede. 1203. Th. began; F. beganne (!). 1204. _All_ reherse _or_ reherce; _but read_ rehersen. 1205, 6. _All_ eke. Th. -al, dismal; F. Tn. -alle, dismalle. 1208. _All_ worde. 1210. F. wordys. Tn. mysset; F. mys sette. 1212. F. quakynge. 1213. F. styntynge. 1215. Tn. wex; F. wexe. Th. reed; F. rede. 1216. F. Bowynge. Th. heed; F. hede. 1218. Tn. wit; F. witte. _All_ maner. 1220. _All_ sate (!). 1221. _All_ at the; _read_ atte. Tn. soth; F. sothe. Tn. seyn; F. seyne. 1222. Tn. herte; F. hert. Tn. agayn; F. ageyne. 1223. Th. shortly; F. shortely. Th. al; Tn. B. all_e_; F. at (!). 1226. _All_ swore (!). 1228. F. fresshly.

1230. F. worshippe. 1231. _All_ swore _or_ swere(!). 1232. Th. al; F. alle. 1234. _All ins._ to _before_ false. 1235. Tn. wisse; F. wysse; B. wys. 1237. _All_ wote (!). 1238. Tn. thoghte; F. thoght. 1239. _All ins._ ryght _before_ as. 1242. F. wordys. 1244. Th. Al; F. Alle. 1248. Th. Troye; F. Troy. 1250. Tn. durste; F. durst. 1251. F. stale. 1253. _All_ trewly. _All_ nede. 1254. _All_ hede. 1256. _All_ fonde _or_ founde.

1261. F. vnderstode. 1262. Th. thyng; F. Tn. B. no thynge; _but_ no _is not required by idiom or metre_. _All_ goode, gode. 1263. F. worshippe. 1264. _All_ al (_or_ alle) thynges; _but_ al thing _is the right idiom_. Th. drede; Tn. to drede; F. dred. 1266. _For_ And _read_ That (Lange). 1267. _All_ harme. 1268. Tn. knew; F. knewe. 1269. F. hooly. 1270. F. yifte. 1271. F. Savynge hir worshippe. 1273. _All_ rynge (!). 1274. Tn. firste; F. first. Th. thyng; F. thynge. 1275. Tn. if; F. yif. Tn. herte; F. hert. 1276. Tn. Glad; F. Gladde. _All_ nede. 1279. Tn. all_e_; F. al. 1281. _All_ trewly (treuly). 1282. Th. Tn. B. the; _which_ F. _omits_. 1284. Th. debonairly; F. debonairely. 1285. Tn. B. all_e_ (_first time_); _the rest_ al. B. all_e_ (_second time_); _rest_ al. 1286. F. tooke. 1289. F. Oure. Th. F. werne; Tn. weren. Th. euen; F. evene. 1290. Th. Tn. contrayre; F. contrarye.

1293. _All_ eke. 1294. _All_ glad. 1300. Tn. B. wex; F. waxe; Th. woxe. Th. deed; F. dede. 1302. Tn. los; F. losse. 1303. F. hadde; _rest_ had. _All_ lorne (!). 1304. F. Bethenke. F. herebeforne. 1305. F. menyst. 1306. F. wenyst. 1307. F. wote. 1309. Th. deed; F. ded. Tn. bi; F. be. 1310. F. youre. Tn. los; F. losse. Th. by; F. be. 1312. _Read rather_ They gonne forth straken (_or_ striken). 1313. Th. hart; F. Tn. herte (!). 1314. F. thoght; kynge. 1315. _I supply_ quikly; _the line is too short_. 1316. _All insert_ was _after_ place. 1318. _All_ longe. F. wallys. 1319. Th. Tn. By; F. Be. Th. hyl; F. Tn. hille. 1320. Th. fyl; F. Tn. fille (!).

1322. F. castell. _All ins._ ther _before_ was. 1323. Th. smytte; F. Tn. smyte; _read_ smiten (_pp._). Th. houres; F. oures. 1324. F. awooke. 1325. _All_ fonde _or_ founde. F. lyinge. Tn. bed; F. bedde. 1326. F. booke. Tn. had red; F. hadde redde. 1327. Th. Alcyone; F. Alchione. F. kynge. 1328. F. goddys of slepynge. 1329. Tn. euyn; F. evene. 1330. Tn. Thoghte; F. Thoght. Tn. sweuyn; F. sweuene. 1331. Th. by; F. be. 1332. _All_ put. Tn. sweuyn; F. sweuene. 1334. Tn. sweuyn; F. sweuene. COLOPHON; _so in_ F. B.

* * * * *

IV. THE COMPLEYNT OF MARS.

_The Proem._

Gladeth, ye foules, of the morow gray,
Lo! Venus risen among yon rowes rede!
And floures fresshe, honoureth ye this day;
For when the sonne uprist, then wol ye sprede.
But ye lovers, that lye in any drede, 5
Fleëth, lest wikked tonges yow espye;
Lo! yond the sonne, the candel of Ielosye!

With teres blewe, and with a wounded herte
Taketh your leve; and, with seynt Iohn to borow,
Apeseth somwhat of your sorowes smerte, 10
Tyme cometh eft, that cese shal your sorow;
The glade night is worth an hevy morow!'--
(Seynte Valentyne! a foul thus herde I singe
Upon thy day, er sonne gan up-springe).--

Yet sang this foul--'I rede yow al a-wake, 15
And ye, that han not chosen in humble wyse,
Without repenting cheseth yow your make.
And ye, that han ful chosen as I devyse,
Yet at the leste renoveleth your servyse;
Confermeth it perpetuely to dure, 20
And paciently taketh your aventure.

And for the worship of this hye feste,
Yet wol I, in my briddes wyse, singe
The sentence of the compleynt, at the leste,
That woful Mars made atte departinge 35
Fro fresshe Venus in a morweninge,
Whan Phebus, with his fyry torches rede,
Ransaked every lover in his drede.

_The Story._

¶ Whylom the thridde hevenes lord above,
As wel by hevenish revolucioun 30
As by desert, hath wonne Venus his love,
And she hath take him in subieccioun,
And as a maistresse taught him his lessoun,
Comaunding him that never, in hir servyse,
He nere so bold no lover to despyse. 35

For she forbad him Ielosye at alle,
And cruelte, and bost, and tirannye;
She made him at hir lust so humble and talle,
That when hir deyned caste on him her yë,
He took in pacience to live or dye; 40
And thus she brydeleth him in hir manere,
With no-thing but with scourging of hir chere.

Who regneth now in blisse but Venus,
That hath this worthy knight in governaunce?
Who singeth now but Mars, that serveth thus 45
The faire Venus, causer of plesaunce?
He bynt him to perpetual obeisaunce,
And she bynt hir to loven him for ever,
But so be that his trespas hit dissever.

Thus be they knit, and regnen as in heven 50
By loking most; til hit fil, on a tyde,
That by hir bothe assent was set a steven,
That Mars shal entre, as faste as he may glyde,
Into hir nexte paleys, to abyde,
Walking his cours til she had him a-take, 55
And he preyde hir to haste hir for his sake.

Then seyde he thus--"myn hertes lady swete,
Ye knowe wel my mischef in that place;
For sikerly, til that I with yow mete,
My lyf stant ther in aventure and grace; 60
But when I see the beaute of your face,
Ther is no dreed of deth may do me smerte,
For al your lust is ese to myn herte."

She hath so gret compassion of hir knight,
That dwelleth in solitude til she come; 65
For hit stood so, that ilke tyme, no wight
Counseyled him, ne seyde to him welcome,
That nigh hir wit for wo was overcome;
Wherfore she spedde hir as faste in hir weye,
Almost in oon day, as he dide in tweye. 70

The grete Ioye that was betwix hem two,
Whan they be met, ther may no tunge telle,
Ther is no more, but unto bed they go,
And thus in Ioye and blisse I let hem dwelle;
This worthy Mars, that is of knighthod welle, 75
The flour of fairnes lappeth in his armes,
And Venus kisseth Mars, the god of armes.

Soiourned hath this Mars, of which I rede,
In chambre amid the paleys prively
A certeyn tyme, til him fel a drede, 80
Through Phebus, that was comen hastely
Within the paleys-yates sturdely,
With torche in honde, of which the stremes brighte
On Venus chambre knokkeden ful lighte.

The chambre, ther as lay this fresshe quene, 85
Depeynted was with whyte boles grete,
And by the light she knew, that shoon so shene,
That Phebus cam to brenne hem with his hete;
This sely Venus, dreynt in teres wete,
Enbraceth Mars, and seyde, "alas! I dye! 90
The torch is come, that al this world wol wrye."

Up sterte Mars, him liste not to slepe,
Whan he his lady herde so compleyne;
But, for his nature was not for to wepe,
In stede of teres, fro his eyen tweyne 95
The fyry sparkes brosten out for peyne;
And hente his hauberk, that lay him besyde;
Flee wolde he not, ne mighte him-selven hyde.

He throweth on his helm of huge wighte,
And girt him with his swerde; and in his honde 100
His mighty spere, as he was wont to fighte,
He shaketh so that almost it to-wonde;
Ful hevy he was to walken over londe;
He may not holde with Venus companye,
But bad hir fleen, lest Phebus hir espye. 105

O woful Mars! alas! what mayst thou seyn,
That in the paleys of thy disturbaunce
Art left behinde, in peril to be sleyn?
And yet ther-to is double thy penaunce,
For she, that hath thyn herte in governaunce, 110
Is passed halfe the stremes of thyn yën;
That thou nere swift, wel mayst thou wepe and cryen.

Now fleeth Venus un-to Cylenius tour,
With voide cours, for fere of Phebus light.
Alas! and ther ne hath she no socour, 115
For she ne fond ne saw no maner wight;
And eek as ther she had but litil might;
Wher-for, hir-selven for to hyde and save,
Within the gate she fledde into a cave.

Derk was this cave, and smoking as the helle, 120
Not but two pas within the gate hit stood;
A naturel day in derk I lete hir dwelle.
Now wol I speke of Mars, furious and wood;
For sorow he wolde have seen his herte blood;
Sith that he mighte hir don no companye, 125
He ne roghte not a myte for to dye.

So feble he wex, for hete and for his wo,
That nigh he swelt, he mighte unnethe endure;
He passeth but oo steyre in dayes two,
But ner the les, for al his hevy armure, 130
He foloweth hir that is his lyves cure;
For whos departing he took gretter yre
Thanne for al his brenning in the fyre.

After he walketh softely a pas,
Compleyning, that hit pite was to here. 135
He seyde, "O lady bright, Venus! alas!
That ever so wyde a compas is my spere!
Alas! whan shal I mete yow, herte dere,
This twelfte day of April I endure,
Through Ielous Phebus, this misaventure." 140

Now god helpe sely Venus allone!
But, as god wolde, hit happed for to be,
That, whyl that Venus weping made hir mone,
Cylenius, ryding in his chevauchè,
Fro Venus valance mighte his paleys see, 145
And Venus he salueth, and maketh chere,
And hir receyveth as his frend ful dere.

Mars dwelleth forth in his adversite,
Compleyning ever on hir departinge;
And what his compleynt was, remembreth me; 150
And therfore, in this lusty morweninge,
As I best can, I wol hit seyn and singe,
And after that I wol my leve take;
And God yeve every wight Ioye of his make!

The compleynt of Mars.

_The Proem of the Compleynt._

¶ The ordre of compleynt requireth skilfully, 155
That if a wight shal pleyne pitously,
There mot be cause wherfor that men pleyne;
Or men may deme he pleyneth folily
And causeles; alas! that am not I!
Wherfor the ground and cause of al my peyne, 160
So as my troubled wit may hit ateyne,
I wol reherse; not for to have redresse,
But to declare my ground of hevinesse.

_Devotion._

¶ The firste tyme, alas! that I was wroght,
And for certeyn effectes hider broght 165
By him that lordeth ech intelligence,
I yaf my trewe servise and my thoght,
For evermore--how dere I have hit boght!--
To hir, that is of so gret excellence,
That what wight that first sheweth his presence, 170
When she is wroth and taketh of him no cure,
He may not longe in Ioye of love endure.

This is no feyned mater that I telle;
My lady is the verrey sours and welle
Of beaute, lust, fredom, and gentilnesse, 175
Of riche aray--how dere men hit selle!--
Of al disport in which men frendly dwelle,
Of love and pley, and of benigne humblesse,
Of soune of instruments of al swetnesse;
And therto so wel fortuned and thewed, 180
That through the world hir goodnesse is y-shewed.

What wonder is then, thogh that I besette
My servise on suche oon, that may me knette
To wele or wo, sith hit lyth in hir might?
Therfor my herte for ever I to hir hette; 185
Ne trewly, for my dethe, I shal not lette
To ben hir trewest servaunt and hir knight.
I flater noght, that may wite every wight;
For this day in hir servise shal I dye;
But grace be, I see hir never with yë. 190

_A Lady in fear and woe._

¶ To whom shal I than pleyne of my distresse?
Who may me helpe, who may my harm redresse?
Shal I compleyne unto my lady free?
Nay, certes! for she hath such hevinesse,
For fere and eek for wo, that, as I gesse, 195
In litil tyme hit wol hir bane be.
But were she sauf, hit wer no fors of me.
Alas! that ever lovers mote endure,
For love, so many a perilous aventure!

For thogh so be that lovers be as trewe 200
As any metal that is forged newe,
In many a cas hem tydeth ofte sorowe.
Somtyme hir ladies will not on hem rewe,
Somtyme, yif that Ielosye hit knewe,
They mighten lightly leye hir heed to borowe; 205
Somtyme envyous folke with tunges horowe
Depraven hem; alas! whom may they plese?
But he be fals, no lover hath his ese.

But what availeth suche a long sermoun
Of aventures of love, up and doun? 210
I wol returne and speken of my peyne;
The point is this of my destruccioun,
My righte lady, my salvacioun,
Is in affray, and not to whom to pleyne.
O herte swete, O lady sovereyne! 215
For your disese, wel oghte I swoune and swelte,
Thogh I non other harm ne drede felte.

_Instability of Happiness._

¶ To what fyn made the god that sit so hye,
Benethen him, love other companye,
And streyneth folk to love, malgre hir hede? 220
And then hir Ioye, for oght I can espye,
Ne lasteth not the twinkeling of an yë,
And somme han never Ioye til they be dede.
What meneth this? what is this mistihede?
Wherto constreyneth he his folk so faste 225
Thing to desyre, but hit shulde laste?

And thogh he made a lover love a thing,
And maketh hit seme stedfast and during,
Yet putteth he in hit such misaventure,
That reste nis ther noon in his yeving. 230
And that is wonder, that so Iust a king
Doth such hardnesse to his creature.
Thus, whether love breke or elles dure,
Algates he that hath with love to done
Hath ofter wo then changed is the mone. 235

Hit semeth he hath to lovers enmite,
And lyk a fissher, as men alday may see,
Baiteth his angle-hook with som plesaunce,
Til mony a fish is wood til that he be
Sesed ther-with; and then at erst hath he 240
Al his desyr, and ther-with al mischaunce;
And thogh the lyne breke, he hath penaunce;
For with the hoke he wounded is so sore,
That he his wages hath for ever-more.

_The Brooch of Thebes._

¶ The broche of Thebes was of suche a kinde, 245
So ful of rubies and of stones Inde,
That every wight, that sette on hit an yë,
He wende anon to worthe out of his minde;
So sore the beaute wolde his herte binde,
Til he hit hadde, him thoghte he moste dye; 250
And whan that hit was his, than shulde he drye
Such wo for drede, ay whyl that he hit hadde,
That welnigh for the fere he shulde madde.

And whan hit was fro his possessioun,
Than had he double wo and passioun 255
For he so fair a tresor had forgo;
But yet this broche, as in conclusioun,
Was not the cause of this confusioun;
But he that wroghte hit enfortuned hit so,
That every wight that had hit shuld have wo; 260
And therfor in the worcher was the vyce,
And in the covetour that was so nyce.

So fareth hit by lovers and by me;
For thogh my lady have so gret beaute,
That I was mad til I had gete hir grace, 265
She was not cause of myn adversite,
But he that wroghte hir, also mot I thee,
That putte suche a beaute in hir face,
That made me to covete and purchace
Myn owne deth; him wyte I that I dye, 270
And myn unwit, that ever I clomb so hye.

_An Appeal for Sympathy._

¶ But to yow, hardy knightes of renoun,
Sin that ye be of my divisioun,
Al be I not worthy to so grete a name,
Yet, seyn these clerkes, I am your patroun; 275
Ther-for ye oghte have som compassioun
Of my disese, and take it noght a-game.
The proudest of yow may be mad ful tame;
Wherfor I prey yow, of your gentilesse,
That ye compleyne for myn hevinesse. 280

And ye, my ladies, that ben trewe and stable,
By way of kinde, ye oghten to be able
To have pite of folk that be in peyne:
Now have ye cause to clothe yow in sable;
Sith that your emperice, the honorable, 285
Is desolat, wel oghte ye to pleyne;
Now shuld your holy teres falle and reyne.
Alas! your honour and your emperice,
Nigh deed for drede, ne can hir not chevise.

Compleyneth eek, ye lovers, al in-fere, 290
For hir that, with unfeyned humble chere,
Was ever redy to do yow socour;
Compleyneth hir that ever hath had yow dere;
Compleyneth beaute, fredom, and manere;
Compleyneth hir that endeth your labour; 295
Compleyneth thilke ensample of al honour,
That never dide but al gentilesse;
Kytheth therfor on hir som kindenesse.' 298

1. Ar. foules; Ju. fowles; T. fooles (!); Harl. floures (_see_ l. 3); F. Tn. lovers (_wrongly_). F. Harl. on; Tn. in; _rest_ of. 2. Ar. the; F. Harl. yow; Tn. Ju. you; T. your (_wrongly_; Thynne (1532) _has_ yon, _which, after all, is clearly right_). 3. T. Ar. honoureth: F. Tn. honouren. F. the (!); _rest_ ye. F. Tn. T. day; Ju. Harl. Ar. may (!) 4. F. Harl. sunne; _rest_ sonne. Ar. vp risith. Ju. T. Ar. ye; F. they (!); Tn. the (!); Harl. he (!!). 5. Ar. any; F. eny. 7. F. Loo yonde; sunne; Ialosye. 8. F. blew; hert. 9. F. sent; Ar. seynt. 10. F. sum-; smert. 11. Ar. eft; Th. efte; T. efft; F. ofte. 12. Tn. Th. glade; F. glad. 13. F. foule; herd. 14. F. your; Ar. the; _rest_ thy. F. sunne.