Chapter XII: Book III: Incipit Liber Tercius (3)

This balade may ful wel y-songen be, 270
*As I have seyd erst, by my lady free;
*For certeynly, alle these mow nat suffyse
*To apperen with my lady in no wyse.
*For as the sonne wol the fyr disteyne,
*So passeth al my lady sovereyne, 275
That is so good, so fair, so debonaire;
I prey to god that ever falle hir faire!
+For, nadde comfort been of hir presence,
+I had ben deed, withouten any defence,
+For drede of Loves wordes and his chere; 280
+As, when tyme is, her-after ye shal here.
Behind this god of love, upon the grene,
+I saugh cominge of ladyës nyntene
+In real habit, a ful esy paas;
+And after hem com of women swich a traas, 285
That, sin that god Adam had mad of erthe,
The thridde part of mankynd, or the ferthe,
+Ne wende I nat by possibilitee,
Had ever in this wyde worlde y-be;
+And trewe of love thise women were echoon. 290
+Now whether was that a wonder thing or noon,
+That, right anoon as that they gonne espye
+This flour, which that I clepe the dayesye,
+Ful sodeinly they stinten alle at ones,
And kneled doun, as it were for the nones, 295
*And songen with o vois, 'Hele and honour
*To trouthe of womanhede, and to this flour
*That berth our alder prys in figuringe!
*Hir whyte coroun berth the witnessinge!'
And with that word, a-compas enviroun, 300
+They setten hem ful softely adoun.
First sat the god of love, and sith his quene
+With the whyte coroun, clad in grene;
+And sithen al the remenant by and by,
As they were of estaat, ful curteisly; 305
+Ne nat a word was spoken in the place
+The mountance of a furlong-wey of space.
I kneling by this flour, in good entente
+Abood, to knowen what this peple mente,
+As stille as any stoon; til at the laste, 310
This god of love on me his eyen caste,
And seyde, 'who kneleth ther'? and I answerde
Unto his asking, whan that I hit herde,
+And seyde, 'sir, hit am I'; and com him neer,
+And salued him. Quod he, 'what dostow heer 315
So nigh myn owne flour, so boldely?
+For it were better worthy, trewely,
A worm to neghen neer my flour than thou.'
+'And why, sir,' quod I, 'and hit lyke yow?'
+'For thou,' quod he, 'art ther-to nothing able. 320
*Hit is my relik, digne and delytable,
And thou my fo, and al my folk werreyest,
+And of myn olde servaunts thou misseyest,
+And hindrest hem, with thy translacioun,
And lettest folk from hir devocioun 325
+To serve me, and holdest hit folye
To serve Love. Thou mayst hit nat denye;
For in pleyn text, with-outen nede of glose,
+Thou hast translated the Romaunce of the Rose,
+That is an heresye ageyns my lawe, 330
+And makest wyse folk fro me withdrawe.
And of Criseyde thou hast seyd as thee liste,
That maketh men to wommen lasse triste,
That ben as trewe as ever was any steel.
*Of thyn answere avyse thee right weel; 335
For, thogh that thou reneyed hast my lay,
As other wrecches han doon many a day,
By seynt Venus, that my moder is,
If that thou live, thou shalt repenten this
So cruelly, that hit shal wel be sene!' 340
Tho spak this lady, clothed al in grene,
+And seyde, 'god, right of your curtesye,
+Ye moten herknen if he can replye
Agayns al this that ye han to him meved;
+A god ne sholde nat be thus agreved, 345
+But of his deitee he shal be stable,
And therto gracious and merciable.
*And if ye nere a god, that knowen al,
*Than mighte hit be, as I yow tellen shal;
This man to you may falsly been accused, 350
+Ther as by right him oghte been excused.
+For in your court is many a losengeour,
+And many a queynte totelere accusour,
That tabouren in your eres many a soun,
Right after hir imaginacioun, 355
To have your daliance, and for envye;
*These been the causes, and I shall nat lye.
Envye is lavender of the court alway;
+For she ne parteth, neither night ne day,
+Out of the hous of Cesar; thus seith Dante; 360
Who-so that goth, algate she wol nat wante.

_From_ B. 350, 351.
This man to yow may falsly been accused,
+Ther as by right him oghte been excused.

And eek, paraunter, for this man is nyce,
He mighte doon hit, gessing no malyce,
But for he useth thinges for to make;
Him rekketh noght of what matere he take; 365

+Or him was boden maken thilke tweye
+Of som persone, and durste hit nat with-seye;
*Or him repenteth utterly of this.
+He ne hath nat doon so grevously amis
+To translaten that olde clerkes wryten, 370
+As thogh that he of malice wolde endyten
Despyt of love, and had him-self hit wroght.
+This shulde a rightwys lord have in his thoght,
+And nat be lyk tiraunts of Lumbardye,
Than han no reward but at tirannye. 375
+For he that king or lord is naturel,
+Him oghte nat be tiraunt ne cruel,
+As is a fermour, to doon the harm he can.
+He moste thinke hit is his lige man,

*And is his tresour, and his gold in cofre. 380
+This is the sentence of the philosophre:
+A king to kepe his liges in Iustyce;
+With-outen doute, that is his offyce.
Al wol he kepe his lordes hir degree,
+As hit is right and skilful that they be 385
+Enhaunced and honoured, and most dere--
+For they ben half-goddes in this world here--
Yit mot he doon bothe right, to pore and riche,
Al be that hir estat be nat y-liche,
+And han of pore folk compassioun. 390
+For lo, the gentil kynd of the leoun!
+For whan a flye offendeth him or byteth,
+He with his tayl awey the flye smyteth
+Al esily; for, of his genterye,
+Him deyneth nat to wreke him on a flye, 395
+As doth a curre or elles another beste.
+In noble corage oghte been areste,
+And weyen every thing by equitee,
+And ever han reward to his owen degree.
+For, sir, hit is no maystrie for a lord 400
To dampne a man with-oute answere of word;
+And, for a lord, that is ful foul to use.
+And if so be he may him nat excuse,
But asketh mercy with a dredful herte,
+And profreth him, right in his bare sherte, 405
+To been right at your owne Iugement,
+Than oghte a god, by short avysement,
+Considre his owne honour and his trespas.
+For sith no cause of deeth lyth in this cas,
+Yow oghte been the lighter merciable; 410
+Leteth your yre, and beth somwhat tretable!
+The man hath served yow of his conning,
And forthred wel your lawe in his making.
'Al be hit that he can nat wel endyte,
Yet hath he maked lewed folk delyte 415
+To serve you, in preysing of your name.
+He made the book that hight the Hous of Fame,
+And eek the Deeth of Blaunche the Duchesse,
+And the Parlement of Foules, as I gesse,
+And al the love of Palamon and Arcyte 420
+Of Thebes, thogh the story is knowen lyte;
+And many an ympne for your halydayes,
+That highten Balades, Roundels, Virelayes;
And, for to speke of other holynesse,
+He hath in prose translated Boëce, 425

+And mad the Lyf also of seynt Cecyle;
+He made also, goon sithen a greet whyl,
+Origenes upon the Maudeleyne;
+Him oghte now to have the lesse peyne;
+He hath mad many a lay and many a thing. 430
+'Now as ye been a god, and eek a king,
+I, your Alceste, whylom quene of Trace,
+I aske yow this man, right of your grace,
+That ye him never hurte in al his lyve;
+And he shal sweren yow, and that as blyve, 435
+He shal no more agilten in this wyse;
+But he shal maken, as ye wil devyse,
+Of wommen trewe in lovinge al hir lyve,
+Wher-so ye wil, of maiden or of wyve,
+And forthren yow, as muche as he misseyde 440
+Or in the Rose or elles in Creseyde.'
+The god of love answerde hir thus anoon,
+'Madame,' quod he, 'hit is so long agoon
+That I yow knew so charitable and trewe,
+That never yit, sith that the world was newe, 445
+To me ne fond I better noon than ye.
If that I wolde save my degree,
+I may ne wol nat werne your requeste;
Al lyth in yow, doth with him as yow leste.
+I al foryeve, with-outen lenger space; 450
+For who-so yeveth a yift, or doth a grace,
+Do hit by tyme, his thank is wel the more;
+And demeth ye what he shal do therfore.
+Go thanke now my lady heer,' quod he.
+I roos, and doun I sette me on my knee, 455
+And seyde thus: 'Madame, the god above
+Foryelde yow, that ye the god of love
+Han maked me his wrathe to foryive;
+And yeve me grace so long for to live,
+That I may knowe soothly what ye be 460
That han me holpe and put in this degree.
+But trewely I wende, as in this cas,
+Naught have agilt, ne doon to love trespas.
+Forwhy a trewe man, with-outen drede,
+Hath nat to parten with a theves dede; 465
+Ne a trewe lover oghte me nat blame,
+Thogh that I speke a fals lover som shame.
+They oghte rather with me for to holde,
+For that I of Creseyde wroot or tolde,
+Or of the Rose; what-so myn auctour mente, 470
+Algate, god wot, hit was myn entente
+To forthren trouthe in love and hit cheryce;
+And to be war fro falsnesse and fro vyce
+By swich ensample; this was my meninge.'
+And she answerde, 'lat be thyn arguinge; 475
+For Love ne wol nat countrepleted be
In right ne wrong; and lerne that of me!
+Thou hast thy grace, and hold thee right ther-to.
+Now wol I seyn what penance thou shalt do
+For thy trespas, and understond hit here: 480
+Thou shalt, whyl that thou livest, yeer by yere,
The moste party of thy tyme spende
+In making of a glorious Legende
+Of Gode Wommen, maidenes and wyves,
+That weren trewe in lovinge al hir lyves; 485
+And telle of false men that hem bitrayen,
+That al hir lyf ne doon nat but assayen
+How many wommen they may doon a shame;
For in your world that is now holde a game.
And thogh thee lyke nat a lover be, 490
+Spek wel of love; this penance yive I thee.
+And to the god of love I shal so preye,
+That he shal charge his servants, by any weye,
+To forthren thee, and wel thy labour quyte;
Go now thy wey, this penance is but lyte. 495
*And whan this book is maad, yive hit the quene
*On my behalfe, at Eltham, or at Shene.'
+The god of love gan smyle, and than he seyde,
+'Wostow,' quod he, 'wher this be wyf or mayde,
+Or quene, or countesse, or of what degree, 500
+That hath so litel penance yiven thee,
+That hast deserved sorer for to smerte?
+But pitee renneth sone in gentil herte;
+That maystow seen, she kytheth what she is.'
+And I answerde, 'nay, sir, so have I blis, 505
+No more but that I see wel she is good.'
+'That is a trewe tale, by myn hood,'
+Quod Love, 'and that thou knowest wel, pardee,
+If hit be so that thou avyse thee.
+Hastow nat in a book, lyth in thy cheste, 510
+The grete goodnesse of the quene Alceste,
+That turned was into a dayesye:
+She that for hir husbonde chees to dye,
+And eek to goon to helle, rather than he,
+And Ercules rescowed hir, pardee, 515
+And broghte hir out of helle agayn to blis?'
+And I answerde ageyn, and seyde, 'yis,
+Now knowe I hir! And is this good Alceste,
+The dayesye, and myn owne hertes reste?
+Now fele I wel the goodnesse of this wyf, 520
+That bothe after hir deeth, and in hir lyf,
+Hir grete bountee doubleth hir renoun!
+Wel hath she quit me myn affeccioun
+That I have to hir flour, the dayesye!
+No wonder is thogh Iove hir stellifye, 525
+As telleth Agaton, for hir goodnesse!
+Hir whyte coroun berth of hit witnesse;
+For also many vertues hadde she,
+As smale floures in hir coroun be.
+In remembraunce of hir and in honour, 530
+Cibella made the dayesy and the flour
+Y-coroned al with whyt, as men may see;
+And Mars yaf to hir coroun reed, pardee,
+In stede of rubies, set among the whyte.'
+Therwith this quene wex reed for shame a lyte, 535
+Whan she was preysed so in hir presence.
+Than seyde Love, 'a ful gret negligence
Was hit to thee, that ilke tyme thou made
*"Hyd, Absolon, thy tresses," in balade,
*That thou forgete hir in thy song to sette, 540
*Sin that thou art so gretly in hir dette,
And wost so wel, that kalender is she
*To any woman that wol lover be.
For she taughte al the craft of fyn lovinge,
+And namely of wyfhood the livinge, 545
+And alle the boundes that she oghte kepe;
+Thy litel wit was thilke tyme a-slepe.
+But now I charge thee, upon thy lyf,
+That in thy Legend thou make of this wyf,
Whan thou hast other smale y-maad before; 550
+And fare now wel, I charge thee no more.
*'But er I go, thus muche I wol thee telle,
*Ne shal no trewe lover come in helle.
*Thise other ladies sittinge here arowe
*Ben in thy balade, if thou canst hem knowe, 555
*And in thy bokes alle thou shalt hem finde;
*Have hem now in thy Legend alle in minde,
*I mene of hem that been in thy knowinge.
*For heer ben twenty thousand mo sittinge
*Than thou knowest, that been good wommen alle 560
*And trewe of love, for aught that may befalle;
*Make the metres of hem as thee leste.
*I mot gon hoom, the sonne draweth weste,
*To Paradys, with al this companye;
*And serve alwey the fresshe dayesye. 565
+'At Cleopatre I wol that thou beginne;
+And so forth; and my love so shalt thou winne.
*For lat see now what man that lover be,
*Wol doon so strong a peyne for love as she.
*I wot wel that thou mayst nat al hit ryme, 570
*That swiche lovers diden in hir tyme;
*It were to long to reden and to here;
*Suffyceth me, thou make in this manere,
*That thou reherce of al hir lyf the grete,
*After thise olde auctours listen to trete. 575
*For who-so shal so many a storie telle,
*Sey shortly, or he shal to longe dwelle.'
And with that word my bokes gan I take,
+And right thus on my Legend gan I make.

1. T. C. A. have I herd; _rest_ I have herd. F. B. P. _om._ men; _the rest have it_. 2. F. B. (_only_) _om._ That. 5. F. T. is; _rest_ nis. 6. F. Tn. Th. B. P. _ins. 2nd_ in _before_ helle; T. A. _om._ 8. F. seyde. 13. F. -selfe; dooth. 14. F. sooth. 16. F. monke; all. 18. F. ben. 20. C. Yeuyn (_for_ Yeve). 23. F. sondry. 25. F. awey; C. Tn. A. aweye. 26. F. Y-lorne; C. I-loryn; P. I-lore. F. key; C. Tn. A. keye. 27. F. ought; thanne. 28. F. there; noon. 29. F. though. A. Th. P. can; T. con; F. Tn. konne. 31. F. yiue; _rest_ yeue. 33. F. hertly; Tn. Th. B. hertely; T. hertyly; A. hertfully. 36. Tn. A. Th. month; B. P. moneth; F. monethe. 39. C. Th. Farwel; F. Faire wel. F. boke. 40. F. thanne. F. B. suche a; T. Th. eke thys; A. lo this; Tn. ek; P. eke a. 41. F. al. 42. F. Thanne; thise. 43. C. Swyche; F. Suche. F. her (_for_ our); _rest_ our. 44. F. grete. 45. C. wha_n_; F. whanne. 47. F. vppe. 48. F. floure ayein. 49. F. vprysith. 50. _All_ sight: _read_ sighte. 52. A. all maner; Add. hit all_e_ maner; Th. all_e_; F. Th. it al; Tn. B. it all_e_; P. it alle. 53. Tn. T. all_e_; F. al (_wrongly_). 54. F. vertue. 55. F. faire; fressh. 57. F. hert; Tn. herte. 61. F. evere. 64. F. Hire. 66. F. englyssh. 68. F. konnyng. 69. F. sentment; _rest_ sentement. 70. F. case. _All_ oght, ought (_wrongly_); _read_ oghte. 72. F. Whethir; _read_ Whe'r. 73. F. -biforne. 74. F. makynge; corne. 79. F. fressh_e_; A. fresche; Th. fresshe. F. sayede; Tn. said. 80. F. euele apayede; Tn. euyll_e_ a-paid. 82. F. eke; Tn. ek. 83. F. witte; Tn. wit. 84. F. clerenesse; Tn. clernesse. 85. F. ledyth. 86. _All_ hert. F. sorwfull; dredith. 88. F. witte; Tn. wyt. F. not thing (_over erasure_); _rest_ nothyng. 89. F. worde. F. werkes; Tn. werk_es_; T. werke; A. werk. F. youre. Tn. bonde; F. bond. 90. Tn. honde; F. hond. 92. F. oute. Th. B. herte; _rest_ hert. 93. F. pleyn; Tn. pleyne. 94. F. souereyn; Tn. souereyne. 95. F. erthely; yowe. 96. A. B. in my; _rest omit 2nd_ in. 97. F. wherfore. A. spak; F. spake. 100. Tn. Th. B. P. men; A. ma_n_; T. they; F. _om._ F. eighe. 101. Tn. whan; F. whanne. 102. F. (_only_) _om._ al. T. A. at ones; Tn. atones; F. attones. 103. F. trusteth (!); A. B. thrustith; Tn. Th. P. thursteth. 104. F. fressh. 105. F. Tn. A. B. P. gledy; T. glad; Th. gredy. 106. F. feele yet the fire. 108. F. _om._ this. 109. F. hert. 111. F. _om._ that. 112. F. Agayne. F. rede; _better_ reed, _as in_ Th. 114. F. doghtre. 115. F. dovne; knes anoon ryght. 116. F. koude. F. fressh_e_; A. fresche. 118. Tn. T. smale; F. smal. 120. F. suetnesse. 124. A. eke _rest omit_. F. beaute. F. (_only_) of (_for_ alle). 125. F. estate; C. Tn. estat. 126. F. wynter. F. B. hem; _rest_ him. C. mat; Tn. maat; _rest_ mate. 127. F. colde. 128. Th. the atempre; Tn. A. B. the attempre; F. thatempre; P. the a-tempred. F. all_e_. 131. C. T. A. from; _rest_ of. F. nette; C. Tn. net. 132. Tn. T. A. fouler; F. foweler. 133. F. hadde; broode. 134. F. dispite; C. dispit. F. goode; C. good. 135. C. song; F. songe. C. Tn. despise; F. dispise. 136. F. cherle. 138. F. hire. Tn. T. A. fouler; C. foulere; F. foweler. 139. F. crafte; T. A. craft. 141. F. Tn. B. in preysinge; _rest om._ in. 144. F. hire. 146. C. ches; T. chase; P. chose; F. chees (_rightly_); _rest_ chese. 147. C. herte; F. hert. 148. F. -alle hire. 150. F. hire othere. 151. F. Tn. on to; T. A. Th. B. vnto. 153. F. thoo. Tn. vnkyndenesse; F. vnkyndnesse. 154. F. dooth. 156. F. Tn. B. humblely (_trisyllabic_); T. Th. humbly. A. P. songen; T. sangen; _rest_ songe. 158. F. hire. 159. F. hire (_and elsewhere_). 161. F. thurgh. 162. Tn. T. Th. B. P. made; F. mad. 163. F. Thurgh. 164. F. Tn. Th. P. clepe it nat; _but_ T. A. _om._ it. T. _also om._ nat; _and_ A. _has_ that _for_ nat. 165. F. vertue. 166. Tn. A. Etic; B. Etyk; F. etike; T. Ethik. 167. Tn. foules; F. foweles. 169. A. songen; T. songyn; F. Tn. B. songe. F. Tn. acorde; T. acord; A. accord. 170. F. oure. F. Tn. lorde; T. A. lord. 171. Tn. zephirus; F. Zepherus. 173. F. Hire swoote. 175. F. whiche; thoght; myght. 176. F. Duellen. Tn. A. month; T. moneth; F. monyth. 177. Tn. sleep; F. slepe. 178. F. A-dovne. 180. F. shoope. Tn. to a-bide; F. tabide. 181. F. ellis. 182. Tn. dayesye; F. daysie. 183. F. B. (_only_) _transpose_ wel _and_ men. 184. Tn. dayesie; F. daisie. 185. F. floure; A. flour. 186. T. mot; P. may; _rest_ mote. 190. F. corne; Tn. corn. 192. F. mother (!); _rest_ nother. 194. F. browken; her. 196. T. story; F. storye; Tn. storie. F. swiche thinge. 197. _All_ west; _read_ weste (_as in_ MS. Add. 9832). 198. F. floure. _All_ rest; _read_ reste (_as in_ MS. Add. 9832 _and in_ l. 201). 199. Th. dredde (_rightly_); _rest_ dred. 200. Tn. hom; F. Home. Th. spedde (_rightly_); _rest_ sped. 202. F. B. (_only_) _omit_ to. 208. F. leyde; A. laid. 209. F. twoo. 210. Tn. medew; F. medewe; T. A. medow. 211, 212. F. (_only_) _transposes these lines_. 211. T. A. Add. so love; _rest_ love so. 212. Tn. com; Th. cam; _rest_ come. 214. Tn. habit; F. habite. 215. C. hadde; _rest_ had (_badly_). 216. C. whit; P. whyt; F. Tn. B. white. T. coroun; C. corone; F. corwne; Tn. Th. crowne (_but_ corowne _in ll._ 220, 223). 217 (_and_ 220). Th. florouns; Tn. floruns; F. flourouns; B. flowrouns; _rest_ floures. 218. C. world; F. worlde. Tn. dayesie; F. daysye. 220. P. corown; F. corovne; T. coroune; Tn. Th. B. corowne; A. croun. 222. F. Hire. F. corovne; C. coroun (_and in l._ 223). 224. F. hire lyke. 225. F. eke; golde. 229. F. worlde; Tn. world. 230. F. Tn. gilte; T. A. gilt. Tn. heer; F. here; A. hair. 231. F. I stede; _rest_ In stede. F. golde; Tn. gold. 232. F. thoght. _In_ 231, 232, _most_ MSS. _have_ wight, bright; _but_ C. _has_ bryhte, _riming with_ syhte. 233. F. myght. 234. F. thoght. 235. F. Twoo. 238. F. thoght; myght. 240. F. dooth; C. both (!). C. herte; F. hert. 241. F. helde; C. held. C. the (_for_ this). 242. F. Corowned. 244. F. _om._ wolde seke. 245. F. _imperfect; has only_ nat fynde. C. Half hire beute schulde men; A. (_only_) _inserts_ of _after_ Half. [282. C. this; _for_ the.] [286. C. _om._ had.] [287. C. thredde. C. Wemen ne; _for_ mankynd or.] 247. F. therfore. 248. F. songe. 249. F. Tn. _omit_. C. Hyd absalon thynne gilte tressis clere. T. A. Th. absolon thy. 250. C. meknesse; F. mekenesse. C. adoun; F. adowne. 252. C. T. P. Penolope. 253. C. Mak; _rest_ Make. F. youre; Tn. yo_ur_. C. wyfhod; F. wifhode. 254. F. youre. 255. F. comith (_and in l._ 262). 257. F. tovne; C. toun. 261. F. Tesbe; C. Tysbe; Tn. A. Th. Tisbe; T. Tisbee. F. Tn. Th. B. P. of; C. T. A. for. C. swich; F. suche. 263. Th. Hero; MSS. Herro. C. Th. Laodomya; _rest_ laudomia. 266. C. T. Th. bytrayed. 267. C. soun; F. sovne. 271. F. seyde; Tn. seid. 272. Tn. mow; F. Th. mowe; T. A. may. 274. F. wole; fire. 276. F. faire; Tn. fair. 279. F. Tn. hadde; T. A. had. F. dede; Tn. deed. 282. F. Behynde; A. Behynd. 283. F. comyng; Tn. comynge. F. Nientene; Tn. nyentene; T. A. nyntene. 284. F. habite. 285. F. coome. F. wymen; T. wemen; Th. B. P. women; A. wom_m_en. 286. F. hadde made. 290. F. echon. 291. F. wheither (_pronounced_ whe'r). F. non. 293. F. daysie; Tn. dayesie. 294. F. styten (_miswritten for_ stynten). T. at ones; F. attones. 295. F. knelede dovne. 296. T. A. hele; Tn. heele; F. heel. 297. F. The (_for_ To); _rest_ To. 298. F. bereth. 299. F. Hire; corowne. F. beryth; Tn. berth. 301. F. softly; Tn. softely. 303. F. corowne; C. corone. 304. F. remenan_n_t; C. remenant. 306. F. worde. 308. F. floure. 309. F. Aboode; Tn. Abood. 310. F. ston. F. last; C. laste. 311. F. hyse eighen. 312. F. there. 314. F. B. (_only_) _om._ sir. C. cam; F. come. C. ner; F. nere (_see l._ 318). 315. A. salued; F. salwed; C. salewede. C. her; F. here. 316. F. ovne floure. 317. C. A. For; _rest om._ 318. F. worme; Tn. worm; C. werm. Tn. neer; F. ner. 319. F. sire. 321. Tn. relik; F. relyke. 322. F. foo; folke. 323. F. servauntes; Tn. seruauntz. 324. Tn. hindrest; F. hynderest. 325. F. folke. 326, 327. F. _om. from_ me _to_ serve. 328. F. pleyne. 329. F. Tn. B. _om._ translated (!); _perhaps read_ translat; _but see_ l. 425. 330. F. ayeins. 331. F. folke. 332. F. Creseyde; A. Criseide. F. seyde; the. 335. F. the. 336. T. A. that; _rest om._ 340. Tn. wel; F. wele. 341. F. Thoo spake. 342. F. youre. 343. A. herknen; C. herkenyn; _rest_ herken. 348. F. alle. 349. F. Thanne myght; shalle. 350. F. mane (!). 351. C. There; _rest_ That. F. oughte ben. 352. F. youre courte. 353. C. Tn. queynte; F. queynt. 354. F. youre; swon (!), _for_ sown. 356. F. youre. 357. F. Thise. 358. F. B. lauendere. 360. C. hous; F. house. 362. F. eke parauntere. 363. F. myght. 364. F. B. (_only_) _om._ But. 367. Tn. som; F. somme. 368. T. vttyrly; A. vtirly; F. Tn. outrely. 371. F. Tn. B. P. And; _rest_ As. 372. F. Despite. 373. F. shoolde. 374. F. lyke tirauntez. 376. F. kynge. F. lord ys in; _rest om._ in. 377. F. oght; C. oughte. F. crewel; B. cruel. 378. F. harme. 379. F. leege; C. Tn. lige; Th. T. A. B. liege. 382. F. leeges; Tn. liges; C. lygis. 384. F. hise. Th. P. in her; _rest om._ in. 387. F. -goddys. 388. F. mote; T. A. Add. _om._ bothe; poore. 389. F. hire estaat. 390. F. poore. 391. F. loo; kynde. T. A. leoun; F. lyoun. 392. F. offendith. 393. F. tayle. F. fle; C. Tn. A. B. P. flye. 394. F. esely; A. esily. C. A. genterye; F. gentrye. 396. F. dooth; best. 397. C. oghte; F. ought. F. ben arest. 399. F. Tn. Th. B. vnto; _rest_ to. 401. C. P. or; _rest_ of. 402. C. wol; T. ryght; _rest_ ful. F. foule. 403. C. T. A. if; _rest_ it. 404. C. _om._ But. 405. F. profereth; P. profreth. 406. F. owen; C. Tn. owene; T. oune. 407. F. oght. 409. F. dethe lyeth; caas. 410. _All but_ T. _wrongly insert_ to _before_ been. 412. F. kunnyng. 413. F. furthred; Tn. forthred. F. youre. 415. C. makid; _rest_ made (_line too short_). 425. F. proce; _rest_ prose. 426. F. maade; lyfe. 427. A. sithen; _rest_ is. F. grete. 429. F. oughte. 430. F. maade; thinge. 431. F. be; C. A. ben. 435. A. sueren; _rest_ swere to (_less happily_). C. T. A. as; _which the rest omit_. 436. C. T. A. no; _rest_ neuer. 437. C. T. A. he; _rest om._ F. wol. 438. F. lyfe (_but see l._ 434). 439. F. wol; wyfe. 442. C. F. answerede; Th. answerde (_better_). F. (_only_) _om._ thus. 444. C. knew; F. knewe. 445. C. sith; F. syn. F. worlde. 446. C. T. A. fond; F. founde. 447. F. ye; _rest_ I. F. wolde; P. Add. wold_e_; _rest_ wol, wole, woll_e_. 449. C. Th. lyth; Tn. lith; F. lyeth. F. liste. 451. F. yifte; dooth. 454. P. her; _rest_ here. 455. F. dovne. 457. C. Tn. T. A. Add. ye; _rest om._ 459. F. Tn. Th. B. P. _all om._ yeve me (_wrongly_); C. T. A. _retain it_. 461. C. holpyn; Th. holpen; _rest_ holpe. C. F. Tn. _needlessly insert_ me _after_ put. C. swich (_for_ this). 462. C. trewely; F. trewly. 466. F. oght. _All wrongly omit final_ e _in_ oght; _and all but_ C. _wrongly insert_ to _before_ blame. 467. F. spake; Tn. spede; _rest_ speke. 473. F. ben; C. be. 477. C. this at (_for_ that of). 478. F. holde; _all_ the. 480. C. A. and; _rest om._ T. to put the out of were (_for_ and--here). 481. F. while; yere by yere. 482. F. most partye. C. lyf (_for_ tyme). 484. C. goode; F. good. F. wymmen; Tn. A. wommen; C. T. wemen. 485. F. trew. C. leuynge (_error for_ lonynge). 486. C. false; F. fals. 487. _From_ C.; F. Tn. _omit this line_. 488. F. women; Tn. wommen. C. Tn. A. B. P. they; F. that. 489. F. youre worlde. 490. F. the; lovere bee. 491. C. Spek; F. Speke. 493. F. servantez; Tn. seruauntz. 495. F. Goo. C. thyn (_for_ this). 496. F. maade. 497. F. Sheene; Tn. T. Th. Shene. 502, 503. F. _omits from_ sorer _to_ renneth. C. sorere; T. A. sorer; _rest_ sore. C. Tn. Th. smerte. C. pete rennyth; Tn. A. pitee renneth. F. soone. 505. C. answerde; F. answered. C. sere; F. sire; Tn. sir. 506. F. Tn. B. Na; _rest_ No. F. moore. 508. C. T. A. that; _rest om._ 511. C. Tn. grete; F. gret. 512. C. Tn. dayesye; F. daysye. 514. F. eke. 516. F. agayne. 518. F. hire. 519. C. dayes eye; F. daysie. F. owene. 520. F. weel. 521. C. bothe; F. both. F. aftir hir deth. C. ek (_for_ in). 524. C. dayesye; F. daysye. 526. F. hire goodenesse. 527, 529. C. coroun; F. corowne. 527. F. berith. 528. C. hath (_badly_). 529. F. Th. florouns; _rest_ floures. 530. F. honoure. 531. _In margin of_ F.--Cibella mater deorum. F. maade; daysye; floure. 532. C. I-coroned; F. Y-crowned. F. white. 533. C. corone; F. corowne. F. reede. 534. C. set; F. sette. 537. F. Thanne. C. gret; F. grete. F. necligence. 538. F. ys (_wrongly_); _rest_ hit, it. 540. Th. forgete; F. Tn. forgate; T. A. forgat. F. songe. 542. T. A. Add. so; _rest om._ F. shee. 543. F. bee. 544. C. taughte; F. taught. F. crafte; Tn. T. A. craft. 545. F. wyfhode; lyvyng. 546. F. al; oght. 547. F. witte. 548. F. the. C. lyf; F. lyfe. 549. F. legende. C. wif; F. wyfe. 550. F. y-maade. 551. C. no more; F. namore. 552. F. goo; the. 555. F. Th. my; _rest_ thy. 556. F. bookes. 557. F. _misplaces_ now _after_ legende; Tn. Th. _place_ now _after_ hem. 558. F. ben; knowyng. 559. F. here; thousande moo sittyng. 560. F. Thanne. A. that ben; T. Add. and; _rest om._ 561. Tn. aught; F. oght. 562. F. lest; Tn. leste. 563. F. home. F. west; Tn. weste. 564. F. thise; _rest_ this. 565. F. fressh; Th. fresshe; A. fresche. 566. F. wole. 567. F. forthe. C. Tn. shalt; F. shal. 569. F. stronge. 571. F. Tn. A. swich; T. Th. P. suche. F. Tn. dide; T. dedyn; P. deden; Add. diden. 573. B. Suffyceth; F. Suffich (!). 574. A. lyf; F. lyfe. 575. A. listen trete; Tn. the lasse to trete (!); Add. the lesse to trete (!); _rest_ listen for to trete (_badly; omit_ for). 576. F. storye. 578. A. word; F. worde. 579. F. legende.

I. THE LEGEND OF CLEOPATRA.

INCIPIT LEGENDA CLEOPATRIE, MARTIRIS, EGIPTI REGINE.

After the deeth of Tholomee the king, 580
That al Egipte hadde in his governing,
Regned his quene Cleopataras;
Til on a tyme befel ther swiche a cas,
That out of Rome was sent a senatour,
For to conqueren regnes and honour 585
Unto the toun of Rome, as was usaunce,
To have the world unto her obeisaunce;
And, sooth to seye, Antonius was his name.
So fil hit, as Fortune him oghte a shame (10)
Whan he was fallen in prosperitee, 590
Rebel unto the toun of Rome is he.
And over al this, the suster of Cesar,
He lafte hir falsly, er that she was war,
And wolde algates han another wyf;
For whiche he took with Rome and Cesar stryf. 595
Natheles, for-sooth, this ilke senatour
Was a ful worthy gentil werreyour,
And of his deeth hit was ful greet damage.
But love had broght this man in swiche a rage, (20)
And him so narwe bounden in his las, 600
Al for the love of Cleopataras,
That al the world he sette at no value.
Him thoughte, nas to him no thing so due
As Cleopatras for to love and serve;
Him roghte nat in armes for to sterve 605
In the defence of hir, and of hir right.
This noble quene eek lovede so this knight,
Through his desert, and for his chivalrye;
As certeinly, but-if that bokes lye, (30)
He was, of persone and of gentilesse, 610
And of discrecioun and hardinesse,
Worthy to any wight that liven may.
And she was fair as is the rose in May.
And, for to maken shortly is the beste,
She wex his wyf, and hadde him as hir leste. 615
The wedding and the feste to devyse,
To me, that have y-take swiche empryse
Of so many a storie for to make,
Hit were to long, lest that I sholde slake (40)
Of thing that bereth more effect and charge; 620
For men may overlade a ship or barge;
And forthy to theffect than wol I skippe,
And al the remenant, I wol lete hit slippe.
Octovian, that wood was of this dede,
Shoop him an ost on Antony to lede 625
Al-outerly for his destruccioun,
With stoute Romains, cruel as leoun;
To ship they wente, and thus I let hem saile.
Antonius was war, and wol nat faile (50)
To meten with thise Romains, if he may; 630
Took eek his reed, and bothe, upon a day,
His wyf and he, and al his ost, forth wente
To shippe anoon, no lenger they ne stente;
And in the see hit happed hem to mete--
Up goth the trompe--and for to shoute and shete, 635
And peynen hem to sette on with the sonne.
With grisly soun out goth the grete gonne,
And heterly they hurtlen al at ones,
And fro the top doun cometh the grete stones. (60)
In goth the grapenel so ful of crokes 640
Among the ropes, and the shering-hokes.
In with the polax presseth he and he;
Behind the mast beginneth he to flee,
And out agayn, and dryveth him over-borde;
He stingeth him upon his speres orde; 645
He rent the sail with hokes lyke a sythe;
He bringeth the cuppe, and biddeth hem be blythe;
He poureth pesen upon the hacches slider;
With pottes ful of lym they goon to-gider; (70)
And thus the longe day in fight they spende 650
Til, at the laste, as every thing hath ende,
Antony is shent, and put him to the flighte,
And al his folk to-go, that best go mighte.
Fleeth eek the queen, with al her purpre sail,
For strokes, which that wente as thikke as hail; 655
No wonder was, she mighte hit nat endure.
And whan that Antony saw that aventure,
'Allas!' quod he, 'the day that I was born!
My worshipe in this day thus have I lorn!' (80)
And for dispeyr out of his witte he sterte, 660
And roof him-self anoon through-out the herte
Er that he ferther wente out of the place.
His wyf, that coude of Cesar have no grace,
To Egipte is fled, for drede and for distresse;
But herkneth, ye that speke of kindenesse. 665
Ye men, that falsly sweren many an ooth
That ye wol dye, if that your love be wrooth,
Heer may ye seen of women whiche a trouthe!
This woful Cleopatre hath mad swich routhe (90)
That ther nis tonge noon that may hit telle. 670
But on the morwe she wol no lenger dwelle,
But made hir subtil werkmen make a shryne
Of alle the rubies and the stones fyne
In al Egipte that she coude espye;
And putte ful the shryne of spycerye, 675
And leet the cors embaume; and forth she fette
This dede cors, and in the shryne hit shette.
And next the shryne a pit than doth she grave;
And alle the serpents that she mighte have, (100)
She putte hem in that grave, and thus she seyde: 680
'Now love, to whom my sorweful herte obeyde
So ferforthly that, fro that blisful houre
That I yow swor to been al frely youre,
I mene yow, Antonius my knight!
That never waking, in the day or night, 685
Ye nere out of myn hertes remembraunce
For wele or wo, for carole or for daunce;
And in my-self this covenant made I tho,
That, right swich as ye felten, wele or wo, (110)
As ferforth as hit in my power lay, 690
Unreprovable unto my wyfhood ay,
The same wolde I felen, lyf or deeth.
And thilke covenant, whyl me lasteth breeth,
I wol fulfille, and that shal wel be sene;
Was never unto hir love a trewer quene.' 695
And with that word, naked, with ful good herte,
Among the serpents in the pit she sterte,
And ther she chees to han hir buryinge.
Anoon the neddres gonne hir for to stinge, (120)
And she hir deeth receyveth, with good chere, 700
For love of Antony, that was hir so dere:--
And this is storial sooth, hit is no fable.
Now, er I finde a man thus trewe and stable,
And wol for love his deeth so freely take,
I pray god lat our hedes never ake! 705

EXPLICIT LEGENDA CLEOPATRIE, MARTIRIS.

N.B.--_Readings not marked with any letter are from_ F. (Fairfax MS.)

580. deth. 582. queene. 583. swich. 586. tovne. 587. worlde. C. vn-to; T. vnder; _rest_ at. 589. oght. 591. tovne. 594. wold. 595. which. 597. full_e_. 598. F. (_only_) this; _rest_ his. gret. 599. swich. 600. laas. 601. F. Alle; C. Tn. Al. 602. worlde; noo. 603. C. there nas to hym no thyng so dewe; _rest_ there was no thing to him so due (_all too long_). 604. F. Tn. B. Cleopataras; _rest_ Cleopatras. 607. ek. C. lovede; F. loved. 608. Thurgh; decert. 609. bookes. 611. _All but_ T. A. Add. _insert_ of _after_ and; _I omit it_. 612. C. lyuyn; F. leven. 613. faire. 614. F. (_only_) _om._ for. 615. MSS. wax, wox; _read_ wex. 616. C. Tn. feste; F. fest. 617. swich. 619. T. A. P. Add. long; _rest_ longe. C. T. A. lest; F. lyst. 621. shippe. 622. A. Add. theffect; C. thefeect (_sic_); F. effect. 623. remenaunt. 624. woode. 625. oost. 627. Romaynes crewel. T. leou_n_; F. lyou_n_. 628. shippe. 630. Romaynes. 631. eke; rede; booth. 632. oost forthe went (C. wentyn). 633. stent; C. stente. 635. gooth. 637. sovne; gooth. 638. C. Tn. heterly; A. hatirly; F. hertely. hurtelen; attones. 639. dovne. 640. gooth. 641. C. Among; F. Amonge. 642. preseth. 643. By-hynde; maste begyneth. 646. sayle. 647. F. A. Add. him; _rest_ hem. 648. slidre. 649. to-gedre. 651. C. Tn. laste; F. last. 652. flyght. 653. folke to-goo; goo myght. 654. ek; queene; sayle. 655. went; thik; hayle. 656. myght. 657. C. saw; F. saugh. 658. borne. 659. worshippe; lorne. 660. dispeyre. 661. thurgh-. 662. went. 665. herkeneth. T. speke; _rest_ speken. 666. C. Tn. oth; F. oothe. 667. C. Tn. wroth; F. wroothe. 668. which. 669. C. Tn. Cleopatre; F. Cleopatrie. made. 671. C. morwe; F. morowe. 672. werknen (!). 673. Tn. rubies; F. rubees. 675. C. Tn. putte; F. put. 676. Tn. leet; C. F. let. C. cors; F. corps (_and in l._ 677). 678. C. pet; Tn. pyt; F. pitte. dooth. 679. C. alle; F. al. C. myghte; F. myght. 680. C. Tn. putte; F. put. sayde. 682. ferforthely. 683. ben. 687. woo. 688. couenaunt; thoo. 689. T. A. Th. wele; C. F. Tn. wel. 690. C. power; F. powere. 692. life; deethe. 693. couenaunt while. 694. seene. 696. C. word; F. worde. 700. C. receyuyth; F. receveth. 704. F. (_only_) wolde. 705. oure; neuere. F. take (!); _rest_ ake.

II. THE LEGEND OF THISBE OF BABYLON.

INCIPIT LEGENDA TESBE BABILONIE, MARTIRIS.

At Babiloine whylom fil it thus,
The whiche toun the queen Semiramus
Leet dichen al about, and walles make
Ful hye, of harde tyles wel y-bake.
Ther weren dwellinge in this noble toun 710
Two lordes, which that were of greet renoun,
And woneden so nigh, upon a grene,
That ther nas but a stoon-wal hem bitwene,
As ofte in grete tounes is the wone.
And sooth to seyn, that o man hadde a sone, 715
Of al that londe oon of the lustieste. (11)
That other hadde a doghter, the faireste,
That estward in the world was tho dwellinge.
The name of everich gan to other springe
By wommen, that were neighebores aboute. 720
For in that contree yit, withouten doute,
Maidens been y-kept, for Ielosye,
Ful streite, lest they diden som folye.
This yonge man was cleped Piramus,
And Tisbe hight the maid, Naso seith thus; 725
And thus by report was hir name y-shove (21)
That, as they wexe in age, wex hir love;
And certein, as by reson of hir age,
Ther mighte have been bitwix hem mariage,
But that hir fadres nolde hit nat assente; 730
And bothe in love y-lyke sore they brente,
That noon of alle hir frendes mighte hit lette
But prively somtyme yit they mette
By sleighte, and speken som of hir desyr;
As, wry the gleed, and hotter is the fyr; 735
Forbede a love, and it is ten so wood. (31)
This wal, which that bitwix hem bothe stood,
Was cloven a-two, right fro the toppe adoun,
Of olde tyme of his fundacioun;
But yit this clifte was so narwe and lyte, 740
It as nat sene, dere y-nogh a myte.
But what is that, that love can nat espye?
Ye lovers two, if that I shal nat lye,
Ye founden first this litel narwe clifte;
And, with a soun as softe as any shrifte, 745
They lete hir wordes through the clifte pace, (41)
And tolden, whyl that they stode in the place,
Al hir compleynt of love, and al hir wo,
At every tyme whan they dorste so.
Upon that o syde of the wal stood he, 750
And on that other syde stood Tisbe,
The swote soun of other to receyve,
And thus hir wardeins wolde they deceyve.
And every day this wal they wolde threte,
And wisshe to god, that it were doun y-bete. 755
Thus wolde they seyn--'allas! thou wikked wal, (51)
Through thyn envye thou us lettest al!
Why nilt thou cleve, or fallen al a-two?
Or, at the leste, but thou woldest so,
Yit woldestow but ones lete us mete, 760
Or ones that we mighte kissen swete,
Than were we covered of our cares colde.
But natheles, yit be we to thee holde
In as muche as thou suffrest for to goon
Our wordes through thy lyme and eek thy stoon. 765
Yit oghte we with thee ben wel apayd.' (61)
And whan thise ydel wordes weren sayd,
The colde wal they wolden kisse of stoon,
And take hir leve, and forth they wolden goon.
And this was gladly in the even-tyde 770
Or wonder erly, lest men hit espyde;
And longe tyme they wroghte in this manere
Til on a day, whan Phebus gan to clere,
Aurora with the stremes of hir hete
Had dryed up the dew of herbes wete; 775
Unto this clifte, as it was wont to be, (71)
Com Pyramus, and after com Tisbe,
And plighten trouthe fully in hir fey
That ilke same night to stele awey,
And to begyle hir wardeins everichoon, 780
And forth out of the citee for to goon;
And, for the feldes been so brode and wyde,
For to mete in o place at o tyde,
They sette mark hir meting sholde be
Ther king Ninus was graven, under a tree; 785
For olde payens that ydoles heried (81)
Useden tho in feldes to ben beried
And faste by this grave was a welle.
And, shortly of this tale for to telle,
This covenant was affermed wonder faste; 790
And longe hem thoughte that the sonne laste,
That hit nere goon under the see adoun.
This Tisbe hath so greet affeccioun
And so greet lyking Piramus to see,
That, whan she seigh her tyme mighte be, 795
At night she stal awey ful prively (91)
With her face y-wimpled subtilly;
For alle her frendes--for to save her trouthe--
She hath for-sake; allas! and that is routhe
That ever woman wolde be so trewe 800
To trusten man, but she the bet him knewe!
And to the tree she goth a ful good pas,
For love made her so hardy in this cas;
And by the welle adoun she gan her dresse.
Allas! than comth a wilde leonesse 805
Out of the wode, withouten more areste, (101)
With blody mouthe, of strangling of a beste,
To drinken of the welle, ther as she sat;
And, whan that Tisbe had espyed that,
She rist her up, with a ful drery herte, 810
And in a cave with dredful foot she sterte,
For by the mone she seigh hit wel with-alle.
And, as she ran, her wimpel leet she falle,
And took noon heed, so sore she was a-whaped.
And eek so glad of that she was escaped; 815
And thus she sit, and darketh wonder stille. (111)
Whan that this leonesse hath dronke her fille,
Aboute the welle gan she for to winde,
And right anoon the wimpel gan she finde,
And with her blody mouth hit al to-rente. 820
Whan this was doon, no lenger she ne stente,
But to the wode her wey than hath she nome.
And, at the laste, this Piramus is come,
But al to longe, allas! at hoom was he.
The mone shoon, men mighte wel y-see, 825
And in his weye, as that he com ful faste, (121)
His eyen to the grounde adoun he caste,
And in the sonde, as he beheld adoun,
He seigh the steppes brode of a leoun,
And in his herte he sodeinly agroos, 830
And pale he wex, therwith his heer aroos,
And neer he com, and fond the wimpel torn.
'Allas!' quod he, 'the day that I was born!
This o night wol us lovers bothe slee!
How sholde I axen mercy of Tisbe 835
Whan I am he that have yow slain, allas! (131)
My bidding hath yow slain, as in this cas.
Allas! to bidde a woman goon by nighte
In place ther as peril fallen mighte,
And I so slow! allas, I ne hadde be 840
Here in this place a furlong-wey or ye!
Now what leoun that be in this foreste,
My body mote he renden, or what beste
That wilde is, gnawen mote he now myn herte!'
And with that worde he to the wimpel sterte, 845
And kiste hit ofte, and weep on hit ful sore, (141)
And seide, 'wimpel, allas! ther nis no more
But thou shalt fele as wel the blood of me
As thou hast felt the bleding of Tisbe!'
And with that worde he smoot him to the herte. 850
The blood out of the wounde as brode sterte
As water, whan the conduit broken is.
Now Tisbe, which that wiste nat of this,
But sitting in her drede, she thoghte thus,
'If hit so falle that my Piramus 855
Be comen hider, and may me nat y-finde, (151)
He may me holden fals and eek unkinde.'
And out she comth, and after him gan espyen
Bothe with her herte and with her yën,
And thoghte, 'I wol him tellen of my drede 860
Bothe of the leonesse and al my dede.'
And at the laste her love than hath she founde
Beting with his heles on the grounde,
Al blody, and therwith-al a-bak she sterte,
And lyke the wawes quappe gan her herte, 865
And pale as box she wex, and in a throwe (161)
Avysed her, and gan him wel to knowe,
That hit was Piramus, her herte dere.
Who coude wryte whiche a deedly chere
Hath Tisbe now, and how her heer she rente, 870
And how she gan her-selve to turmente,
And how she lyth and swowneth on the grounde,
And how she weep of teres ful his wounde,
How medeleth she his blood with her compleynte,
And with his blood her-selven gan she peynte; 875
How clippeth she the dede cors, allas? (171)
How doth this woful Tisbe in this cas!
How kisseth she his frosty mouth so cold!
'Who hath doon this, and who hath been so bold
To sleen my leef? O spek, my Piramus! 880
I am thy Tisbe, that thee calleth thus!'
And therwith-al she lifteth up his heed.
This woful man, that was nat fully deed,
Whan that he herde the name of Tisbe cryen,
On her he caste his hevy deedly yën 885
And doun again, and yeldeth up the gost. (181)
Tisbe rist up, withouten noise or bost,
And seigh her wimpel and his empty shethe,
And eek his swerd, that him hath doon to dethe;
Than spak she thus: 'My woful hand,' quod she, 890
'Is strong y-nogh in swiche a werk to me;
For love shal yive me strengthe and hardinesse
To make my wounde large y-nogh, I gesse.
I wol thee folwen deed, and I wol be
Felawe and cause eek of thy deeth,' quod she. 895
'And thogh that nothing save the deeth only (191)
Mighte thee fro me departe trewely,
Thou shalt no more departe now fro me
Than fro the deeth, for I wol go with thee!
'And now, ye wrecched Ielous fadres oure, 900
We, that weren whylom children youre,
We prayen yow, withouten more envye,
That in o grave y-fere we moten lye,
Sin love hath brought us to this pitous ende!
And rightwis god to every lover sende, 905
That loveth trewely, more prosperitee (201)
Than ever hadde Piramus and Tisbe!
And lat no gentil woman her assure
To putten her in swiche an aventure.
But god forbede but a woman can 910
Been as trewe and loving as a man!
And, for my part, I shal anoon it kythe!'
And, with that worde, his swerd she took as swythe,
That warm was of her loves blood and hoot,
And to the herte she her-selven smoot. 915
And thus ar Tisbe and Piramus ago. (211)
Of trewe men I finde but fewe mo
In alle my bokes, save this Piramus,
And therfor have I spoken of him thus.
For hit is deyntee to us men to finde 920
A man that can in love be trewe and kinde.
Heer may ye seen, what lover so he be,
A woman dar and can as wel as he.

EXPLICIT LEGENDA TESBE.