Chapter II: Part 2

¶ Mayntenours of ryghte verey penytentes.
¶ Dystroyers of errour causers of vnyte.
¶ Trew actyf lyuers that set her ententis
¶ The dedis to performe of mercy and pyte
¶ Contemplatyf people that desyre to be.
¶ Salytary seruauntis vnto god alone.
¶ Rather the{n} to habou{n}d in rychesses echone.

¶ Thyse wyth many mo than I reherce can
¶ were come thyder redy that batayl to abyde.
¶ And take such part as fyl to Vertu than
¶ Vyce to ouerco[m]e they hoped for al his pride Original has
¶ Al though he had more people on his syde uoerco[m]e
¶ For the men that Vertu had were ful sure. instead of
¶ To trust on at nede & connyng in armure ouerco[m]e

¶ Macrocosme was the name of the feld
¶ where this grete batayll was set for to be
¶ In the myddys therof stode co{n}syence & beheld
¶ whyche of hem shold be brought to captyuyte
¶ Of that noble tryu{m}ph Iuge wold he be
¶ Synderesys sate hy{m} wythin closed as a park
¶ {with} his table in his honde her dedys to marke.

¶ To come in to the feld were hygh wayes .v.
¶ Fre to both partyes large brode and wyde
¶ Vertu wold not tari but highed hy{m} thyd{er} bliue
¶ Lest he were by vyce deceyued at that tyde
¶ Long out of the feld loth was he to abyde
¶ In auenture that he out of it were kept.
For tha{n} wold he haue thou{gh}t he had{e} to long slept

¶ In this mene tyme whyle Vertu th{us} p{ro}ceded
¶ For hy{m} & his people the feld for to wynne.
¶ He charged euery man by grace to be guyded
¶ And al that euer myght {the} feld to enter ynne.
¶ In all that season went orygynal synne.
¶ To let Vyce know how Baptym {with} his hoste.
Had entred Macrocosme & serched euery cooste

¶ A sayd Vyce I se well it is tyme.
¶ Baners to dysplay & standardes to auaunce.
¶ Al most to long haddest {thou} taryed cryme.
¶ To let vs haue knolege of this purueyaunce.
¶ yet I trow I shal lerne hem a new daunce.
¶ Wherfore I commaund you al {with}out delaye
¶ Toward the felde draw in all the hast ye may

¶ Than sayd {the} god Pluto {that} al men my{gh}t here
¶ Vyce I the charge as thou wylt eschew.
¶ Our heuyous Indy{n}gnacyo{n} {thou} draw not arere
¶ But put {the} forth boldly to ouerthrowe Vertu.
¶ In fayth quod Attropos & I shal after sew /
¶ For yf he escape oure hondys this day.
¶ I tell you my seruyse haue lost for ay.

¶ Forth than rode Vyce {with} al his hole strength
¶ On his stede serpentyne as i told you byfore.
¶ The ost that hy{m} folowed was of a grete le{n}gth.
¶ Amo{n}g who{m} were penou{n}s & g[u]yt{er}s mani a scor{e} The next
¶ Of hys pety capteynes he made many a kni{gh}t line is
¶ For they shuld not fle but manly {with} him fight missing
from the
¶ He doubed Falshod with Dyssymylacyon. original
¶ Symony Vsury Wrong and Rybawdy. The missing line reads:
¶ Malyce Deceyt Lye wythout Extorcyon. But as he went thederward
¶ Periury Dyffydence and Apostasy. I shall tell you more
¶ Wyth boldnes in yl to bere hym company.
¶ Thyse .xiiii. knyghtes made vyce that daye.
¶ To wyn her spores they sayd they wold assay

¶ In lyke wyse Vertu doubed on his syde:
¶ Of pety capteyns other fourtene.
¶ Whyche made her auou wyth hym to abyde:
¶ Her spores wold they wy{n} {that} day shold it be sen{e} Original has
¶ Thyse wore her names yf it be as I wene Hor instead
¶ Feyth Hope & Mercy Trouth & also Ryght. of Her
¶ {with} Resystence of wronge a full hardy wyghte

¶ Confessyon Contrycyon wyth Satysfaction
¶ Verrey drede of God Performy{n}g of penau{n}ce
¶ Perfeccyon Connyng and Good dyspocision
¶ And all knyt to Vertu they were by alyauns
¶ Wherfore to hym they made assuraunce.
¶ That feld to kepe as long as they myght.
¶ And in his quarel agayn Vyce to fyght.

¶ The lord of Macrocosme & rewler of {the} fee
¶ Was called Frewyll chaunger of the chau{n}ce:
¶ To whome Vertu sent embassatours thre
¶ Reson dyscresyon & good reme{m}brau{n}ce.
¶ And prayed hy{m} be fauorable his honoure to e{n}ha{n}s
¶ For but he had his fauour at {the} poynt of nede·
¶ He stood in gret doute he coude not lightly spede.

¶ In lyke wyse Vyce embassatours thre.
¶ For his party vnto Frewyll sent.
¶ Temptacyon foly & sensualyte.
¶ Prayng hy{m} of fauour that he wolde assent.
¶ To hy{m} as he wolde at his co{m}maundement.
¶ Haue hy{m} eftsones whan he lyst to call.
¶ On hy{m} for ony thy{n}g {that} afterward myght fall.

¶ Answere yaue he none to neyther party.
¶ Saue oonli he sayd {the} batayll wolde he se
¶ To wete whiche of hy{m} shold haue {the} vyctory.
¶ Hit hy{n}g in his balau{n}ce {the} ambyguyte.
¶ He sayd he wolde not restrayne his lyberte.
¶ Whan he come where sorow shold awake.
¶ Than it shold be know what part he wyl take

¶ Whan Vertu & Vyce be her ambassatours.
¶ Knew of this answere they stood in gret doute.
Neuertheles they seyd they wold e{n}dure tho shours
¶ And make an ende shortly of {that} they we{n}t aboute.
¶ Soo forth came Vyce {with} all his grete route.
¶ Er he came at {the} felde he sent yet priuely.
¶ Sensualyte before in maner of a spy.

¶ Whiche sewe {the} felde {with} his vnkynde seede.
¶ That caused Vertu after mykyll woo to feele
¶ For therof grewe nought but all oonly weede.
¶ Whiche made the grounde as sleper as an yele.
¶ He went ayene to vice & tolde hym euery dele.
¶ How he had done and bad hym come a way.
¶ For he had so purueyde {that} vyce sholde haue {the} day

¶ Soo as it happed at {that} felde they mete.
¶ Frewyll vertu and vice as tripartite.
¶ Saaf vertu a litil before the felde had gete.
¶ And ellis his aua{n}tage forsoth had be ful lyght
¶ Not for then encombred so was neuer wyght.
¶ As vertu & his men were with the ranke wede
¶ That in {the} felde grew of sensualitees sede

¶ But as soone as vyce of vertu had a syght.
¶ He gan swage gonnes as he had be woode
¶ That heryng vertu co{m}maunded euery wyght
¶ To pauyce hym vnder the sygne of {the} rode.
¶ And bad he{m} not drede but kepe styll where thy stode.
¶ It was but a shour shold sone co{n}fou{n}de
¶ wherfore he co{m}mau{n}ded the{m} sta{n}d & kepe her grou{n}d

¶ And whan vyce cam nerer to the felde.
¶ He callyd sore for bowes & bad hem shote faste
¶ But vertu & hys meyny bare of with {the} sheld.
¶ Of the blyssyd Trynyte ay tyll shot was past.
¶ And wha{n} shot was done vyce cam forth at last.
¶ Purposyng the felde wyth assaute to wyn.
¶ But v{er}tu kept it long he myght not ent{er} theryn.

¶ All that tyme Frewyll stode & hym bethought.
¶ To which he my{gh}t leue & what p{ar}t he wold take.
¶ At last sensualite had hy{m} so fer brought.
¶ That he sayd playnly he v{er}tu wold forsake.
¶ And in vyce hys quarell all his power make.
Nota Iwis quod reason {that} is not for the beste.
¶ Noforse sayd frewyll I wyll do as my lyst.

¶ Vertu was full heuy when he see frewyll
¶ Take part with vyce but yet neuerthelesse.
¶ He dyde that he myght the felde to kepe styll.
¶ Tyll vyce with frewyll so sore gan hy{m} oppresse.
¶ That he was constrayned clerely by duresse. Original has
¶ A lytyll tyne abacke to make abew retret. constranyed
¶ All thyng consydered hit was the best feet. instead of
constrayned
¶ Fyrst to remembre how vyce parte was.
¶ Ten ayen one strenger by lyklynesse.
¶ And than how frewyll was with hym alas.
¶ Whoo coude deme vertu but in heuynesse.
¶ Moreouer to thynke how that slyper grasse.
¶ That of sensualyte hys onkynde seede grew.
¶ Vnder foot in standyng encombred vertew

¶ Yet notwitstondyng vertue his men all.
¶ Nobelly theym bare and faught myghtyly.
¶ How be it {the} sleper grasse made many of he{m} fall.
¶ And from thense in maner departe sodenly.
¶ That seyng vyce his hoost began to shout & cry.
¶ And sayd on in Pluto name on & all is oure·
¶ For this day shal Vyce be made a conquerour.

¶ Thus Vertu was by myght of vyce & Frewyll
¶ Dryuen out of the feld it was the more pyte·
¶ How by it yet Baptym kept his ground styll.
¶ And {with} hym abode feyth hope & vnyte.
¶ And konnynge also {with} a grete meyne.
¶ Confessyon contrycyon were redy at her hond.
¶ And Satysfaction Vyce to wythstond.

¶ But al the tyme whyle Vertu was away.
¶ A my{gh}ty conflycte kept they {with} Vycys rout.
¶ And yet neuertheles for al that grete afray.
¶ Hope stod vpryght & feyth wold neuer lout
¶ And euermor{e} sayd Baptym syres put no dout.
¶ Vertu shal return & haue his entent.
¶ This feld shal be ours or let me be shent.

¶ And whyl thyse pety captey{n}s sustend th{us} {the} feld
¶ Wyth Vertu his reward come good p{er}seuerauns
¶ An hugy my{gh}ty hoost & whan he beheld.
¶ How Vertu hym withdrew he toke dysplesau{n}s.
¶ And wha{n} he to hy{m} cam he sayd ye shal your cha{n}s
¶ Take as it fallyth wherfore returne ye must. Original has
¶ Yet ones for your sake {with} Vyce shal I Iust. fallyrh
instead of
¶ Alas that euer ye shold lese your honour. fallyth
¶ And therwyth also {the} hygh p{er}petuel crown.
¶ Which is for you kept in the celestyal tour.
¶ Wherfore be ye called chrystys champyon.
¶ How is it that ye haue noo compassyone.
¶ On baptyme feyth & hope konnyng & vnite.
¶ That sta{n}d so hard bestad & fyght as ye may see.

¶ All the tresour erthely vnder {the} fyrmame{n}t
¶ That euer was made of goddys creacyon.
¶ To reward theym euenly were not equyualent.
¶ For her noble labour in his affleccyon.
¶ Wherfore take vpon you your Iurisdyccyon
¶ Rescu yonder knyghtes & recontynu fyght.
¶ And els a dew your crown for al your gret my{gh}t

¶ Vith these & suche wordys as I haue you tolde
¶ By good perseueraunce vttred in this wyse.
¶ Vertu hym remembred & gan to vexe bolde.
¶ And sayd yeue trew knyghtis to rescu I auyse
¶ Let vs no lengar tary from this entrepryse.
¶ Agayn to {the} felde soo Vertu retourned.
¶ That caused he{m} be mery {that} lo{n}g afore had morned

¶ Auaunt baner q{uo}d he in {the} name of Iesu
¶ And with {that} his people set vp a gret shoute.
¶ And cryed with a loude voce a Vertu a Vertu.
¶ Then began Vyce his hoost for to loke a boute.
¶ But I trow p{er}seuerau{n}ce was not long withoute
¶ He bathed his swerd in his foos blood.
¶ The boldest of hem all not ones hy{m} withstoode.

¶ Constau{n}ce hym folowed & brought hy{m} his spere
¶ But when p{er}seuerau{n}ce saw Vyce on his stede.
¶ No man coude hym let tyll he came there.
¶ For to byd hym ryde I trow it was no nede.
¶ All Vertu his oost prayed for his good spede.
¶ Agayn Vyce he rode with his grete shaft.
¶ And hym ouerthrew for all his sotyll craft.

¶ That seyng Frewill came to conscyence.
¶ And gan hym to repente {that} he with hym had be.
¶ Prayeng hym of cou{n}sell for his grete offence.
¶ That he agayn Vertu had made his arme.
¶ What was best to doo to humylyte:
¶ Q{uo}d conscyence must {thou} go so he hym thyder sent
¶ Dysguysed {that} he were not knowen as he wente.

¶ And whan he thyder came humylyte hym toke.
¶ A token & bad hym go to conffessyon.
¶ And shew hym his mater with a peteous loke
¶ Whiche done he hym sent to contrycyon.
¶ And fro thensforthe to satysfaccyon.
¶ Thus fro poost to pyler was he made to dau{n}ce.
¶ And at the last he went forthe to penau{n}ce.

¶ But now for to tel you whe{n} Vyce was ou{er}throw
¶ A gret part of his oost about hym gan resorte.
¶ But he was so febyll {that} he coude noman know.
¶ And whan they se {that} they knew no comforte.
¶ But caryed hym away be a preuy porte.
¶ And as they caryed dyspeyre with hy{m} met.
¶ With Vyce his rewarde he cam theym for to fet

¶ Then came there downe goodly ladyes tweyn.
¶ From the hyghe heuen aboue the fyrmamente.
¶ And sayd the gret Alpha & Oo moost souereyn.
¶ For that nobell tryumphe had hem thyder sent.
¶ One of hem to dryue Vyce to grete tormente.
¶ With a fyry strong {that} she bare in her hande.
¶ And so he dede dyspere & all his hole bande.

¶ The name of this lady was called Prestyence.
¶ She neuer left Vyce ne none {that} wolde hy{m} folow.
¶ Tyll they were co{m}mytted by {the} dyuyne sentence.
¶ All to payne perpetuell & Infynyte sorow.
¶ Right wysnes went to se {that} noma{n} shold he{m} borow.
¶ Th{us} al entreted sharpely were they tyll Cerber{us}
¶ Had hem beshut within his gates tenebr{us}.

¶ And all {the} whyle {that} Prestye{n}ce {with} her scorge smert
¶ To rewarde Vyce gan her thus occupy.
¶ With all his hole bende after her desert.
¶ That other gloryo{us} lady {that} came fro heue{n} on hy.
¶ Hauyng in her honde the palme of vyctory.
¶ Came downe to Vertu & toke hym to {that} p{re}sent.
¶ Sayeng thus that Alpha & Oo hath hym sent.

¶ And as ferre as I ryght coude vnderstonde
¶ That ladyes name was Predestynacyon.
¶ Vertu & his oost she blessyd with her honde.
¶ And in heuyn graunted hem habytacyon.
¶ Whereto eche of hem reseruyd was a crowne.
¶ She sayd in token that they enherytours.
¶ Of the glory were & gracious conquerours.

¶ Wych done the ladyes ayen to gyder met
¶ And towarde heuen vp they gan to fly
¶ Embraced in armes as they had ben knyt.
¶ Togyd{er} {with} a gyrdyl but so sodenly.
¶ As {the}y wer{e} vanysshyd saw I neu{er} thy{n}g {with} ey.
¶ And anone Vertu wyth al his company.
¶ Kneled dou{n}n & tha{n}ked god of {that} vyctory.

¶ Yet had I forget whan Vyce was ouerthrow.
¶ To haue told you hou many of Vycys hoost.
¶ Gan to seke pease & darked dou{n}n ful low.
¶ And besought mercy what so euer it coste.
¶ To be her mene to Vertu els {the}y we{re} but lost.
¶ And some in lyke wyse to feyth & hope sought.
¶ What to do for pease they sayd they ne rou{gh}te.

¶ Some also Baptym sewed to be her mene.
¶ Som to one som to other as thei he{m} gete my{gh}te.
¶ But al to Confessyon we{n}t to make he{m} clene
¶ And as {the}y came to co{n}sye{n}ce he they{m} bad go ly{gh}te.
¶ Er tha{n} old attropes of he{m} had a sy{gh}t.
¶ For yf he so theym toke lost they we{re} for euer
¶ He sayd Vyce to forsake better late thy{n} neuer.

¶ Som eke for socour drew to circu{m}cision.
¶ But by hy{m} coud they gete but smal fauoure.
¶ For he in that company was had but in derysyo{n}
¶ Neuer{the}lesse to feyth he bad he{m} go laboure.
¶ Prayng they{m} for olde acqueynta{n}ce they{m} socoure
¶ Wel q{uo}d feth for his sake I shal do {that} I may doo
¶ But fyrste for the best way baptym go ye to.

¶ For by hym sonest shal ye recouer grace.
¶ Which shal to Vertu bryng you by processe.
¶ Wherfore in ony wyse loke ye make good face.
¶ And let noman know of your heuynes.
¶ So they were by baptym brou{gh}t out of destres
¶ Turned al to Vertu & whan this was done.
¶ Vertu cu{m}mau{n}ded Frewyl before hym come.

¶ To whom thus he sayd I haue grete merueyl
¶ Ye durst be so bold Vyces party to take.
¶ Who bad you do so & yaue you that counseyl.
¶ Iustly vnto that ye shal me preuy make.
¶ Then sayd Frewyll & swemfully spake.
¶ Knelyng on his kne wyth a chere benygn. Original has
¶ I pray you syr let pyte your eres to me enclyne. benyng
instead of
¶ And I shall yow tel the verrey soth of all. benygn
¶ How it was & who made me that way drawe.
¶ For soth sensualyte his p{ro}pre name they call.
¶ A sayd reason then I know wel that felowe.
¶ Wyld he is & wanton of me stant hy{m} none awe.
¶ Is he so q{uo}d Vertu wel he shall be taught.
¶ As a player shuld to draw another draught.

¶ And {with} that came sadnesse wyt his sober chere.
¶ Bryngyng Sensualite beyng ful of thought.
¶ And sayd that he had take hym prysonere.
¶ A welcome sayd Vertu now haue I {that} I sou{gh}t.
¶ Blessed be the good lord as {thou} wold it is nought
¶ Why arte {thou} so wanton he sayd for shame.
¶ Or {thou} go at large {thou} shalt be more tame.

But sto{n}d a part a whyle tyl I haue spoke a word
¶ Wyth Frewyl a lytyl & then shalte {thou} knowe.
¶ What shalbe thy fynau{n}ce & then he sayd in bord
¶ Vnto Frewyl the bend of your bowe.
¶ Begynnyth to slake but suche as ye haue sowe
¶ Must nedes repe there is none waye.
¶ Notwythstondy{n}g that lette what ye can saye.

¶ What is your habilite me to recompense.
¶ For the grete harme that ye to me haue do.
¶ Forsoth sayd Frewyll in open audyence.
¶ But oonly Macrocosme more haue I not loo.
¶ Take {that} yf it pleyse you I wyl that it be soo.
¶ Yf I may vnderstond ye be my good lorde.
¶ In dede sayd Vertu to that wyll I accorde.

¶ Then made Vertu Reason his leyftenaunte.
¶ And yaue hi{m} a grete charge macrocosme to kepe
¶ That done Sensualite yeld hym recreaunte.
¶ And began for anger bytterly to wepe.
¶ For he demed surely hys sorowe shold not slepe
¶ Then made Vertu Frewyll bayl vnd{er} Reason.
¶ The feld for to ocupy to his behoue that season.

¶ And then sayd Vertu to Sensualyte.
¶ Thou shalt be rewarded for thy besynesse.
¶ Vnder this furme al fragylyte
¶ Shalt {thou} forsake both more and lesse.
¶ And vnd{er} the guydy{n}g {thou} shalt be of sadnesse.
¶ All though it somwhat be agayn thy herte.
¶ Thy Iugements gyuen {thou} shalt it not asterte.

¶ And evyn {with} that came in dame Nature.
¶ Sayeng th{us} to Vertu syr ye do me wronge.
¶ By duresse & constreynt to put this creature.
¶ Gentyll Sensualyte {that} hath me s{er}ued longe.
¶ Clerely from his lyberte & set hym amonge.
¶ They{m} that loue hy{m} not to be her vnd{er}loute.
¶ As it were a cast away or a sho cloute.

¶ And perde ye know well a rewle haue I must
¶ Wythin Macrocosme forsoth I say not nay.
Q{uo}d Vertu but se{n}sualyte shal not p{er}form your lust
¶ Lyke as he hath do befor this yf I may.
¶ Therfro hy{m} restreyn sadnesse shal assay.
¶ How be it ye shal haue your hole lyberte.
¶ Wythin Macrocosme as ye haue had fre.

¶ And whan Vertu had to Nature sayd thus
¶ A lytyll tyne his ey castyng hym besyde.
¶ He se in a corner stondyng Morpleus
¶ That hy{m} before warned of {that} berely tyde.
¶ A syrs sayd Vertu yet we must abyde.
¶ Here is a frend of ours may not be forgete.
¶ After his deserte we shall hy{m} entreate

¶ Morple{us} sayd Vertu I tha{n}ke you hertely
¶ For your trew herte & your grete laboure.
¶ That ye lyst to come to me soo redely.
¶ Whan ye vnderstood {the} comy{n}g of that shoure.
¶ I thanke god & you of sauy{n}g of my{n} honour.
¶ Wherfore this preuylege now to you I gra{n}t
¶ That {with}in Macrocosme ye shall haue your hau{n}t

¶ And of fyue posternes {the} keys shall ye kepe.
¶ Lettyng in & out at hy{m} whome ye lyst.
¶ As long as in Macrocosme your fad{er} wyll crepe.
¶ Blere whos ey ye wyll hardely {with} your myst
¶ And kepe your werkes close there as in a chyst
¶ Saaf I wold desyre you spare Pollucyon.
For no thy{n}g may me plese {the} sou{n}eth to corrupcyon.

¶ And wha{n} he had th{us} sayd {the} keyes he hy{m} toke.
¶ And toward his castell {with} his people went
¶ Byddy{n}g reason take good hede & about loke
¶ That se{n}sualite by Nature were not she{n}t.
¶ Kepe hy{m} short he sayd tyll his lust be spe{n}t
¶ For better were a chylde to by vnbore
¶ Than let hy{m} haue {the} wyll & foreuer be lore.

¶ And wha{n} olde Attropos had seen & herd all this
¶ How Vertu had opteyned astonyed as he stood.
¶ He sayd to hy{m}selfe somwhat there is amys.
¶ I trow well my patent be not all good. Next line is missing
¶ Sayeng to the goddys I see ye do but iape. from the original.
¶ After a worthy whew haue ye made me gape. The line reads:
And ran to the palyse
¶ How a deuyll way sholde I Vertue ouerthrow. as he had be wood
¶ When he dredeth not all your hole route.
¶ How ca{m} ye make good your pate{n}t wold I know
¶ Hit is to Impossable to bryng that aboute.
¶ For stryke hym may I not {that} is out of doute.
¶ A good Attropos sayd god Apollo.
¶ An answere conuenyent shall thou haue herto.

¶ The wordes of thy patent dare I well say
¶ Stretche to no forther but were dame Nature
¶ Hath Iurysdyccyon the{re} to haue the way Nota.
¶ And largesse to stryke as longet to thy cure.
¶ And as for Vertu he his no cryature.
¶ Vnder the predycament conteyned of quantyte
¶ Wherefore his dystruccyon longeth not to the.

¶ A ha sayd Attropos then I see well.
¶ That all ye goddys be but cou{n}terfete. Original has
¶ For oo God there is that can euerydell. goodys and
¶ Tourne as hym lest bothe drye & whete. coue{n}terfete
¶ In to whoos seruyce I shal assay to gete. instead of
¶ And yf I may ones to his seruyce come. goddys and
¶ Your names shal be put to oblyuyone. cou{n}terfete

¶ Thus went Attropos fro the paleys wrooth.
¶ But in the mene tyme whyle {that} he there was.
¶ Glydyng by the paleys resydyuacyon gooth.
¶ Towarde Macrocosme with a peynted fase.
¶ Clad lyke a pylgryme walkyng a grete pase.
¶ In the forme as he had ben a man of ynde.
¶ He wede haue made reson & sadnesse both bly{n}de

¶ With sensualyte was he soone aqueynted.
¶ To whome he declared his mater pryuely.
¶ Yet he was espyed for all his face peynted.
¶ Then reson hy{m} co{m}mauded pyke hy{m} the{n}s lightly.
¶ For his ease q{uo}d sadnesse so cou{n}seyll hym wyll I.
¶ Soo was sensualyte ay kepte vnder foote.
¶ That to resydyuacyon myght he doo no boote.

¶ Then went he to Nature & asked her auyse.
¶ His entent to opteynde what was best to doo.
¶ She sayd euer syth Vertu of vyce wan {the} pryse.
¶ Reson with sadnesse hath rewled the felde soo.
¶ That I & sensualyte may lytyll for the doo.
¶ For I may noo more but oonly kepe my cours.
¶ And yet is sensualyte strenger kept & wours.

¶ Th{us} hery{n}g resydiuacon fro the{n}s he went ageyn
¶ Full of thought & sorow {that} he myght not spede.
¶ Than reson & sadnesse toke wedehokes tweyn.
¶ And all wylde wa{n}tonesse out {the} felde gan wede.
¶ With all the slyper grasse {that} grewe of the sede. Original has
¶ That sensualyte before therin sew. thr instead
¶ And fro thens forth kept it clene for vertew of the

¶ Than began new grase in the felde to spryng.
¶ All vnlyke {that} other of colour fayr & bryght.
¶ But then I aspyed a meruelous thyng.
¶ For the grou{n}de of {the} felde gan wex hore & whyt.
¶ I coude not conceyue how {that} be myght.
¶ Tyll I was enformed & taught it to know.
¶ But wher vertu occupyet must nedes wel grow

Yet in the mene tyme while the felde thus grow.
¶ And reson with sadnesse therof had gouerau{n}ce.
¶ Many a preuy messenger thyder sent Vertew.
¶ To know yf it were guyded to his plesau{n}ce.
¶ Now prayer eft fastyng & often tyme penau{n}ce.
¶ And whan he myght goo preuely almesdede.
¶ And bad hy{m} to his power helpe where he se nede

While {that} felde thus rewled reson with sadnesse.
¶ Maugre dame Nature for all her carnall might
¶ Came thyder Attropos voyd of all gladnesse.
¶ Wrapped in his shete & axed of ony wyght.
¶ Coude wysse hym the vay to the lorde of light.
¶ Or ellis where myght fynde ryghtwysnesse. Original has
¶ Forsothe sayd reyson I trow as I gesse. ryghwysnesse
instead of
¶ At Vertu his castell ye may soone hym fynde. ryghtwysnesse
¶ If ye lyst the laboure thyder to take.
¶ And there shall ye know yf ye be not blynde.
¶ The next wey to the lord of lyght I vndertake.
¶ So thyder went Attropos petycyon to make.
¶ To ryghtwysnesse preyeng that he myght.
¶ Be take in to the seruyse of the lorde of lyght.

¶ What sad ryghtwysnesse {thou} olde dotyng foole. Original has
¶ Whome hast thou seruyd syth the worlde bega{n} ryghwysnesse,
¶ But oonly hym where hast {thou} go to scole. yast and oonhl
¶ Whethery art {thou} double or elles the sam man. instead of
¶ That thou were fyrst a syr sayd he than. ryghtwysnesse,
¶ I praye you hertely holde me excused. hast and oonly
¶ I am olde & febell my wyttys are dysused.

¶ Well sayd ryghtwysnes for as moche as thow.
¶ Knowest not thy mayst{er} thy name shal I chau{n}ge
¶ Dethe shalt {thou} be caled from he{n}s forward now
¶ Among all the peple that shal be had strau{n}ge.
¶ But whan {thou} begynnest to make thy chalau{n}ge.
¶ Dredde shalt thou be where so thou become.
¶ And to noo creature shalt thou be welcome.

¶ And as for theym whome thou dedest serue.
¶ For as moche as they presume on hem to take.
¶ That hygh name of god they shal as they des{er}ue
¶ Therfore be rewarded I dare vnd{er}take.
¶ Wyth payn p{er}petual among fendes blake.
¶ And her names shall be put to oblyuyon.
¶ Among men but it be in dyrysyon.

¶ Aha sayd Attropos now begy{n}ne I wex glad.
¶ That I shal thus auenged of hem be.
¶ Syth they so long tyme haue made me so mad.
¶ Yee q{uo}d ryghtwysnesse here what I say to the.
¶ The lorde of lyght sent the worde by me.
¶ That in Macrocosme sesyne shalt thou take
¶ wherfore thy darte redy loke thou make

¶ And as soone as Vertue that vnderstood
¶ He sayd he was pleased that it sholde soo be
¶ And euen forth with he co{m}maunded presthood
¶ To make hym redy the felde for to se
¶ So thyder went presthode with benygnyte
¶ Conueyeni{n}g thyder the blessyd sacrament
¶ Of Eukaryst but fyrst were thyder sent

¶ Confessyo{n} contrycyon and satysfaccyo{n} (nota
¶ Sorow for synne and grete repentaunce
¶ Holy deuocyon with good dysposycyon
¶ All these thyder came and also penaunce
¶ As her dewte was to make purueaunce
¶ Agayn the comyng of that blessyd lorde
¶ Feyth hope & charyte therto were acorde

¶ Reason with sadnesse dyde his dylygence
¶ To clense the felde within and without
¶ And whan they se the bodely presence
¶ Of that holy Eukaryst lowly gan they lout
¶ So was that lorde receyued out of dout
¶ With all humble chere debonayre & benygne
¶ Lykly to pleasure it was a grete sygne

¶ Then came to the felde the mynyster fynall
¶ Called holy vnccyon with a crysmatory
¶ The fyue hye wayes in especyall
¶ Therof he anoy{n}ted & made hit sanctuary
¶ Whome folowed deth whiche wolde not tary
¶ His feruent power there to put in vre
¶ As he was co{m}mau{n}ded grau{n}tyng dame Nature

¶ Nota.

¶ He toke his darte called his mortall launce
¶ And bent his stroke towarde the feldes herte
¶ That seyng preesthode bad good remembrau{n}ce
¶ Towarde the felde tourne hym & aduerte
¶ For except hym all vertues thense must sterte
¶ And euen with that dethe there sesyne toke
¶ And then all the company clerely hit forsoke

¶ And as soone as dethe thus had sesyne take
¶ The colour of the felde was chau{n}ged sodeynly
¶ The grasse therin seere as though it had be bak
¶ And the fyue hygh wayes were mured vpon hy
¶ That fro the{n}sforwarde none entre shold therbi
¶ The posternes were also without lette
¶ Bothe inwarde & outwarde fyne fast shette

¶ Whiche done sodeynly dethe vanysshed a way
¶ And Vertu exalted was aboue the fyrmament
¶ Where he toke crowne of glory {that} is ay
¶ Preparate by Alpha & oo omnypotent
¶ The swete frute of macrocosme thyd{er} {with} hy{m} we{n}t
¶ And on all this mater as I stood musyng thus
¶ Agayn fro the felde to me came Morpleus

¶ Saye{n}g thus what chere how lyketh {the} this fyght
¶ Haste thou seen ynough or wyll thou see more
¶ Nay syr I sayd my trouthe I you plyght
¶ This is suffycyente yf I knew wherfore
¶ This was to me shewed for therof he lore
¶ Coueyte I to haue yf I gete myght
¶ Folow me quod he and haue thy delyght

¶ Soo I hym folowed tyll he had me brought
¶ To a foresquare herber walled round aboute
¶ Loo q{uo}d Morple{us} here maist thou {that} thou sought
¶ Fynde yf thou wyll I put the out of doute
¶ A lytyll whyle we stood styll there withoute
¶ Tyll wytte chyef porter of that herber gate
¶ Requyred by stodye lete vs in there ate

¶ But whan I came in meruayled gretly
¶ Of that I behelde & herde reporte
¶ For fyrst in a chayre apparaylled royally
¶ There sate dam doctryne her childern to exorte
¶ And about her was many a sondry sorte
¶ Some wyllyng to lerne dyuerse scyence
¶ And some for to haue perfyte intellygence

¶ Crowned she was lyke an Emperesse
¶ With .iii. crownes standyng on her hede on by
¶ All thyng about her an Infynyte processe Original has
¶ Were to declare I tell you certaynly teyng
¶ Neuerthelesse some in mynde therof haue I instead of
¶ Whiche I shall to you as god wyll yeue me grace thyng
¶ As I sawe & herde tell in short space

¶ Fast by Doctryne on that one syde
¶ As I remembre sate holy Texte
¶ That opened his mouthe to {the} people wyde
¶ But not in comparyson to Glose {that} sate nexte.
¶ Moralyzacyon with a cloke contexte
¶ Sate & Scrypture was scrybe to theym all
¶ He sate ay wrytyng of that that sholde fall

¶ These were tho that I there knewe
¶ By no maner waye of olde acqueyntau{n}ce
¶ But as I before saw theym with Vertewe
¶ Company in felde & hauyng dalyau{n}ce
¶ And as I thus stood halfe in a traunce
¶ Whyle they were occupyed in her besynesse
¶ Aboute the walles myn ey gan I dresse

¶ Where I beheld the meruaylous story
¶ That euer I yet sawe in ony pycture
¶ For on tho walles was made memory
¶ Syngulerly of euery creature
¶ That there had byn bothe forme & stature
¶ Whoos names reherse I wyll as I can
¶ Bryng theym to mynde in ordre euery man

¶ Fyrst to begynne there was in portrature
¶ Adam & Eue holdyng an apell rounde
¶ Noe in a shyp & Abraham hauyng sure
¶ A flyntstone in his honde & Isaac lay bounde
¶ On an hyghe mou{n}te Iacob slepyng sounde
¶ And a long ladder stood besyde
¶ Ioseph in a Cysterne was also there that tyde.

¶ Next whom stode Moyses with his tables two
¶ Aaron and Vrre his armes supportynge
¶ Ely in a brennyng chare was there also.
¶ And Elyze stode clad in hermytes clothynge.
¶ Dauyd wyth an harpe and a stone slynge.
¶ Isaye Ieremy and Ezechyell.
¶ And closed wyth Lyons holy Danyell.

¶ Abacuc Mychee with Malachy.
¶ And Ionas out of a whales body comynge.
¶ Samuel in a Temple & holy zachary.
¶ Besyde an aulter all blody stondynge.
¶ Osee wyth Iudyth stood there conspyryng.
¶ The deth of Dioferne & Salamon.
¶ A chylde wyth hys swerde dyuydynge in two.

¶ Many mo p{ro}phetes certeynly there were.
¶ Whoos names now come not to my mynde:
¶ Melchysedech also I espyed there.
¶ Brede & wyne offryng as fell to his kynde.
¶ Ioachym & Anna stode al behynde.
¶ Embraced in armes to the golden gate.
¶ And holy Iohan Baptyst in desert sat.

¶ And now comyth to my remembrunce.
¶ I am auysed I saw Sodechy:
¶ And Amos also with sober countenaunce.
¶ Stondyng wyth her faces towarde Sophony.
¶ Neemy & Esdras bare hem companye.
¶ The holy man Iob as an Impotente.
¶ Then folowed in pycture wyth Thoby pacyent

¶ Thyse wyth many mo on that one syde.
¶ Of that grene herber portrayed were.
¶ A sayd Morpleus a lytyll tyme abyde.
¶ Turn thy face where thy backe was ere.
¶ And beholde well what thou seeste there.
¶ Than I me turned as he me badde.
¶ With herte stedfaste & countenaunce sadde.

¶ Where I sawe Peter wyth his keyes stonde.
¶ Poule wyth a swerde and Iames also.
¶ Wyth a scalop & Thomas holdyng in his honde
¶ A spere and Phylyp aproched hym to:
¶ Iames the lesse nexte hem in pycture too.
¶ Stode wyth Bartylmew whych was all flayn
¶ Symon & Thadee shewed how they were slayn

¶ Mathy and Barnabe drawy{n}g lottys stode
¶ Nexte whome was Marke a Lyon hym by.
¶ Hys boke holdyng & Mathew in his mode.
¶ Resembled an aungell wyth wyngys gl{or}yously. Original has
¶ Luke had a calfe to holde his boke on hye. gl{or}youly
¶ And Iohan wyth a cuppe & palme in his honde. instead of
¶ An Egle bare his book thus saw I hem stonde gl{or}yously

¶ Gregory and Ierome Austyn and Ambrose.
¶ Wyth pyllyo{n}s on ther hedes stode lyke doctors
¶ Bernard wyth Amselme and as I suppose. Original has
¶ Thomas of alquyne and Domynyk co{n}fessours. suppese
¶ Benet and Hew relygyous gouernours. instead of
¶ Martyn & Iohan with bysshops tweyne. suppose
¶ Were there also and Crysostom certayne.

¶ Behynd all thyse was worshypfull Bede.
¶ All behynde and next hym stood Orygene.
¶ Hydynge his face as he of his dede.
¶ Had hem ashamed ye wote what I mene. Original has
¶ For of errour he was not al clene. bem instead
¶ And on that syde stode laste of alle. of hem
¶ The noble p{ro}phetyssa Sybell men her call.

¶ Let me remembre now I you pray
¶ My barayn is so thynne I deme in my herte
¶ Some of the felyshyp that I there say.
¶ In all this whyle to haue ouersterte.
¶ A benedicite none coude I aduerte.
¶ To thy{n}ke on Andrew the apostle {with} his crosse.
¶ Whome to forgete were a grete losse.

¶ Many one were peynted on that wall.
¶ Whoos names come not to my remembrau{n}ce.
¶ But thyse I marked in especyall.
¶ And moo coude I tell in countenaunce.
¶ Of tyme but forth to shewe you the substaunce.
¶ Of this mater in the myndys of that arbere.
¶ Sat Doctryne coloured as ony crystall clere.

¶ Crowned as I tolde you late here before.
¶ Whoos apparayl wos worth tresour Infynyte
¶ All erthly rychesse count I no more.
¶ To that in co{m}paryson valewy{n}g the{n} a myte.
¶ Ouer her hede houed a culuer fayr & whyte.
¶ Out of her byll p{ro}ceded a grete leme.
¶ Downward to Doctryne lyke a sonne beme

¶ The wordes of Doctryne yaue grete redole{n}s
¶ In swetnesse of sauour to her dyscyples al.
¶ It fer exceded myr & frankencense.
¶ Or ony other tre spyce or els galle.
¶ And whan she me espyed anone she gan me cal.
¶ A{n}d co{m}mau{n}ded morple{us} {that} he shold bry{n}g me nere
¶ For she wold me hew the effect of my desyre. Original has
Ad{n}, bry{n}
¶ She sayd I know the cause of thy comyng. and theffect
¶ Is to vnderstond be myn enformal yon. instead of
¶ Sensyble the mater of morpleus his shewynge A{n}d, bry{n}g
¶ As he hath the led about in vesyon. and the effect
¶ Wherfore now I apply thy natural reason.
¶ Vnto my wordes & or thou hens wend.
¶ Thou shalt it know begynnyng and ende.

¶ For whan Colus to pluto was broughte:
¶ By hys owne neclygence taken prysonere.
¶ Wythin the erth for he so fer foughte.
¶ Sygnyfed is no more be that matere.
¶ But only to shew the how it doth appere:
¶ That welth vnbrydeled at thyn eye.
¶ Enbraseth mysrewle and oft causyth foly.

¶ For lyke as Colus beyng at his large
¶ Streyted hymself thrugh his own lewdenesse
¶ For he wolde deele where he had no charge
¶ Ryght soo wantons by her wyldenesse
¶ Oftesythe bryng hymselfe in dystresse
¶ Because they sometyme to largely deele
¶ What may wors be suffred tha{n} ouermykell weele

¶ By Mynos the Iuge of hell desparate
¶ May be vnderstonde goddys ryghtwysnes
¶ That to euery wyght his payne deputate
¶ Assygneth acordyng to his wyckednes
¶ Wherfore he is called Iuge of cruelnes
¶ And as for Dyana & Neptunus compleynte
¶ Fygured may be fooles reason feynt.

¶ For lyke as they made her suggestyon
¶ To haue me Colus from cours of hys kynde
¶ Which was Impossyble to bryng to correccyon
¶ For euermore hys lyberte haue wyll the wynde
¶ In lyke wyse fooles other whyle be blynde
¶ Wenyng to subdew with her one honde
¶ That is ouermykell for all an hole londe

¶ But what foloweth therof that shall thou here
¶ When they were come to the bankete
¶ The grete Apollo with his sad chere
¶ Soo fayre & curtously gan theym entret
¶ That he made her beerdys on the new gete
¶ Loo what wysdome dooth to a foole
¶ Wherefore are children put to scoole

¶ Ofte is it seen with sobre contenaunce
¶ That wyse men fooles ouercome ay
¶ Tornyng as hem lyst & all her varyaunce
¶ Chaunge from ernest in to mery play
¶ What were they bothe amendeth that day
¶ When they were dreuen to her wyttes ende
¶ Were they not fayne to graunt to be his frende

¶ Ryght soo fooles when they haue done
¶ All that they can than be they fayne
¶ Gyue vp hed mater to oblyuyone
¶ Without rewarde they haue no more brayne
¶ And yet ful ofte hath hit be sayne
¶ When they it haue foryete & set at nought
¶ That they full dere haue afterwarde it bought

¶ And as for all tho that represent
¶ To be called goddys at that banket
¶ Resemble false ydollys but to his entent
¶ Was Morpleus co{m}maunded thyder the to fet
¶ That thou sholdest know the maner & the get
¶ Of the paynym law and of her byleue
¶ How false ydolatry ledeth hem by the sleue

¶ For soone vppon the worldys creacyon
¶ When Adam and Eve had broke the precept
¶ Whiche clerkes call the tyme of deuyacyon
¶ The worldly people in paynym law slept
¶ Tyll moyses vnd{er} god the tables of stone kept
¶ In whiche tyme Poetes feyned many a fable
¶ To dyscrete Reason ryght acceptable

¶ And to the entent that they sholde sounde
¶ To the eeres of hem the more pleasantly
¶ That they{m} sholde rede or here the yaue they{m} a grou{n}d{e}
¶ And addid names vnto they{m} naturally
¶ Of whom they spake & callid he{m} goddis hy
¶ Some for the strength & myght of her nature
¶ And some for her sotyll wytty coniecture

¶ By nature thus as the seuen planettes
¶ Haue her propre names by Astronomeres
¶ But goddys were they called by old Poetes
¶ For her gret feruency of werkyng in her speres
¶ Experyence preueth this at all yeres
¶ And for as other that goddys called be
¶ For sotyll wytte that shall I teche the

¶ How they by that hyghe name of god cam
¶ In this sayd tyme the people was so rude
¶ That what maner creature man or woman
¶ Coude ony newelte contryue and conclude
¶ For the comon wele all the multytude
¶ Of the comon people a god sholde hym call
¶ Or a goddesse after hit was fall

¶ Of the same thyng that was so newefounde
¶ As Ceres for she the crafte of tylthe fonde
¶ Wherby more plentouously corne dyd habou{n}de
¶ The people her called thrugh out euery londe
¶ Goddesse of corne wendyng in her honde
¶ Had layn all power of cornes habundaunce
¶ Thus were {the} Paynems deceyued by ignorau{n}ce

¶ In lyke maner Isys was called the goddesse
¶ Of frute for she fyrst made it multuply
¶ By the name of graffyng & soo by processe
¶ The name of Pan gan to deyfy
¶ For he fyrst founde the mene shepe to guy
¶ Some toke it also by her condycyon
¶ As Pluto Fortune and suche other doon

¶ Thus all that Poetes put vnder couerture
¶ Of fable the rurall people hit toke
¶ Properly as acte refusyng the fygure Original has
¶ Which errour some of hem neuer forsoke arte
¶ Ofte a false myrour deceyueth a mannes loke instead of
¶ As thou mayst dayly pryue at thyne ey acte
¶ Thus were the paynyms deceyued generally

¶ That seyng the dedely enemy of mankynde
¶ By his pouer premyssyue entred the ymagys
¶ Within the Temples to make the people blynde
¶ In her ydolatry standyng on hyghe stagys
¶ Insomoche whoo vsed dau{n}gerous passagys
¶ Ony maner way by water or be londe
¶ When hyd his sacryfyce his answere redy fonde

¶ Thus duryng the tyme of deuyacion
¶ From Adam to Moyses was ydolatry
¶ Through the worlde vsed in comon opynyon
¶ These were the goddys that thou there sy
¶ And as for the awayters that stood hem by
¶ They polytyke Phylosophers & Poetes were
¶ Whiche feyned the fables {that} I speke of here

¶ Then seased the tyme of deuyacyon
¶ When Moyses receyued that tables of stone
¶ Entryng the tyme of reuocacyon
¶ On the mounte of Synay stondyng allone
¶ God yaue hym myght ayene all his fone
¶ And then began the olde testament
¶ Whiche to the people by Moyses was sent

¶ And that tyme dured the Incarnacyon
¶ Of Cryste and then began it to sese
¶ For then came the tyme of reconcylyacyon
¶ Of man to god I tell the doutlese
¶ When the sone of man put hym in prese
¶ Wylfully to suffre dethe for mankynde
¶ In holy scrypture this mayst thou fynde

¶ This Reconcylyacyon was the tyme of grace
¶ When fou{n}ded was the chirche vpon {that} fayre sto{n}e
¶ And to holy Peter the keye delyuered was
¶ Of heuen hell dyspoyled was anone
¶ Thys was mankynde delyuered from his fone Original has Wnd
¶ And then began the newe testament instead of And
The last line of stanza
¶ Whiche .iii. tymes a sondry dyuyded is missing. The line reads:
¶ Mayst thou here see yf thou lyst beholde That the Crystyn pepyll
¶ The fyrst behynde the in pycture is prouyded beleve in present.
¶ The seconde of the lyft honde shew p{ro}phet olde Original has
¶ The .iii. on the ryght honde here it is to {the} tolde in instead
¶ Thus hast thou in vysyon the verey fygure of is
¶ Of these .iii. tymes here shewed in portrayture

¶ That is to say fyrst of deuyacyon
¶ From Adam to Moyses recordyng scripture
¶ Seconde fro Moyses to the Incarnacyon
¶ Of Cryst kepeth reuocacyon cure
¶ And as for the thyrd thou mayst be verrey sure
¶ Wylt dure from thens to the worldes ende
¶ But now the .iiii. must thou haue in mynde

¶ Whiche is callid p{ro}perly {the} tyme of pylgremage
¶ After some & some named it otherwyse
¶ And call hit the tyme of daungerous passage
¶ And some of werre that fully hit dyspyse
¶ But what so it be named I wyll the auyse
¶ Remembre it well and prynte it in thy mynde
¶ Wherof the fygure mayst thou me behynde

¶ And elles remembre thyselfe in thyne herte
¶ How Vyce & Vertue dayly theym occupy
¶ In maner one of hem hym to peruerte
¶ Another to bryng hym to endeles glory
¶ Thus they contynue fyght for the vyctory
¶ Hit is no nede herof to tell the more
¶ For in this short vysyon {thou} hast seen it before

¶ And as for Attropos greuous compleynt
¶ Vnto the goddys betokeneth noo more
¶ But oonly to shew the how frendely constrey{n}t
¶ On a stedfast herte weyeth full sore
¶ Good wyll requyreth good wyll ayene therfore
¶ Dyscorde to deth hathe ay byn a frende
¶ For Dyscorde bryngeth many to her ende

¶ Wherfore Dethe thought he wolde auenged be
¶ On his frendes quarell yf that he myghte
¶ For her gret vnkyndnesse is somoche as she
¶ Was among hem all had so in despyte
¶ And at that ba[n]ket made of soo lyte
¶ Which caused hym among he{m} to cast in a bone
¶ That fou{n}de they{m} gnawyng ynough euerichone

¶ Thus ofte is seen on frende for a nother
¶ Wyll say & doo and some tyme maters feyne
¶ And also kynnysmen a cosyne or a brother
¶ Wyll for his alyer he haue cause compleyne
¶ And where that he loueth doo his besy peyne
¶ His frendes mater as his owne to take
¶ Whiche oft sythe causeth mychyll sorow awake

¶ Be hit ryght or wrong he chargeth not a myte
Ap towarde that poynt he taketh lytyll hede
¶ So that he may haue his frowarde appetyte
Performed he careth not how his soule spede (not{e}
¶ Of God or Deuyll haue suche lytyll drede
¶ How be it one there is that lord is of all
¶ Whiche to euery wyght at last rewarde shall

¶ And as for {the} batayl betwene Vertu holde
¶ Soo playnly appereth to the inwardly
¶ To make exposycyon therof new or olde
¶ Were but superfluyte therefore refuse hit I
¶ In man shall thou fynde {that} were kept dayly
¶ Lyke as {thou} hast seen it fowty[u]e before thy face
¶ The pycture me behynd{e} sheweth it i{n} lytyll space

¶ And as for Macrocosme it is nomore to say
¶ But the lesse worlde to the comon entent
¶ Whiche applyed is to man both nyght & day
¶ Soo is man the felde to which all were sent
¶ On bothe partyes & they that thyder went
¶ Sygnyfye nomore but after the condycyon
¶ Of euery manes opynyon

¶ And as for the noble knygt Perseueraunce
¶ Which gate the felde when it was almost gone
¶ Betokeneth nomore but the contynuaunce
¶ Of vertuous lyvyng tyll dethe hath auergone
¶ Who soo wyll doo rewarded is anone
¶ As Vertue was with the crowne on hy
whiche is noo more but euerlastyng glory

¶ And as for Prestynacyon The line is cut short.
¶ That eche of hem rewarded after his deserte The line must be:
¶ Is to vnderstonde nomore but dampnacyon And as for Prescience
¶ To vycyous people is the verey scourge smert and Predestinacion
¶ Rewarde for they fro Vertue wolde peruert
¶ And endelesse Ioye is to hem that be electe
¶ Rewarded & to all that folow the same secte

¶ And as for the keyes of the posternes fyue
Whiche were to Morple{us} rewarded for his laboure
¶ Sygnyfye not elles but whyle man is on lyue
¶ His fyue inwarde wyttes shall be euery hour
¶ In his slepe occupyed in hele & in langour
¶ With fantasyes tryfels Illusyons & dremes
¶ Whiche Poetes call Morpleus stremes

¶ And as for Residiuacyon is nomore to say
¶ But after Confessyon tornyng ayene to synne
¶ Whiche to euery man retornyth sauns delay
¶ To vycyous lyuyng agayn hym to wynne
¶ Whyle ony man lyueth wyll it neuer blynne
¶ That cursed conclusyon for to bryng aboute
¶ But Reason with Sadnes kepe it styll oute

¶ Here hast thou properly the verrey sentence
¶ Perde now declared of this vysyon
¶ The pycture also yeueth clere intellygence
¶ Therof beholden with good dyscresyon
¶ Loke well aboute and take consyderasyon
¶ As I haue declared whether hit soo be
¶ A syr quoth Morpleus what tolde I the

¶ Hast thou properly the verey sentence
¶ Loke on yon wall yonder before
¶ And all that tyme stood I in a wyre
¶ Whiche way first myn hert wolde yeue more
¶ To loke in a stody stood I therfore
¶ Neuerthelesse at last as Morpleus me badde
¶ I loked forwarde with contenaunce sadde

¶ Where I beheld in portrayture
¶ The maner of the felde euen as it was
Shewed me before & euery creature
¶ On bothe sydes beyng drawyng in small space
¶ Soo caryously in soo lytyll a compace
¶ In all this worlde was neuer thyng wrought
¶ Hit were Impossyble in erthe to be thought

¶ And when I had long beholde that pycture
¶ What q{uo}d Morpleus how longe shalte thou loke
¶ Daryng as a dastard on yon portrayture:
¶ Come of for shame thy wytte stante a croke
¶ I heryng that myn herte to me toke
¶ Towarde the fourthe wall tornyng my vysage
¶ Where I sawe Poetes & Phylosophers sage

¶ Many one moo that at the banket
¶ Serued the goddes as I sayde before
¶ Som were made standyng & som in chayris set
¶ Som lokyng on bokys as they had stodyed sore
¶ Som drawyng almenakis & in her hondis bore
¶ Astyrlabes takyng the altytude of the sonne
¶ Among whome Dyogenes sate in a tonne

¶ And as I was lokyng on that fourthe wall
¶ Of Dyogenes beholdyng the ymage
¶ Sodeynly Doctryne began me to call
¶ And bad me tourne towarde hyr my vysage
¶ And soo then I dyde with humble corage
¶ Whan thynkest {thou} she sayd hast {thou} not thentent
¶ Yet of these foure walles what they represent