Chapter D: CAMB. UNIV. Dd. viii. 19 (Bern. Cat. ii. 9653). Confessio Amantis (13)

[Sidenote: [ALEXANDER AND THE PIRATE.]]
Of him whom al this Erthe dradde,
Whan he the world so overladde
Thurgh werre, as it fortuned is,
[Sidenote: Hic declarat per exemplum contra istos Principes
seu alios quoscumque illicite guerre motores. Et narrat de
quodam pirata in partibus marinis spoliatore notissimo, qui
cum captus fuisset, et in iudicium coram Rege Alexandro
productus et de latrocinio accusatus, dixit, ‘O Alexander,
vere quia cum paucis sociis spoliorum causa naues tantum
exploro, ego latrunculus vocor; tu autem, quia cum[1055]
infinita bellatorum multitudine vniuersam terram subiugando
spoliasti, Imperator diceris. Ita quod status tuus a statu
meo differt, set eodem animo condicionem parilem habemus.’
Alexander vero eius audaciam in responsione comprobans,
ipsum penes se familiarem retinuit; et sic bellicosus
bellatori complacuit.]
King Alisandre, I rede this;
How in a Marche, where he lay,
It fell per chance upon a day
[Sidenote: =P. i. 359=]
A Rovere of the See was nome,
Which many a man hadde overcome 2370
And slain and take here good aweie:
This Pilour, as the bokes seie,
A famous man in sondri stede
Was of the werkes whiche he dede.
This Prisoner tofor the king
Was broght, and there upon this thing
In audience he was accused:
And he his dede hath noght excused,
Bot preith the king to don him riht,
And seith, ‘Sire, if I were of miht, 2380
I have an herte lich to thin;
For if the pouer were myn,[1056]
Mi will is most in special
To rifle and geten overal
The large worldes good aboute.
Bot for I lede a povere route
And am, as who seith, at meschief,
The name of Pilour and of thief
I bere; and thou, which routes grete
Miht lede and take thi beyete, 2390
And dost riht as I wolde do,
Thi name is nothing cleped so,
Bot thou art named Emperour.
Oure dedes ben of o colour
And in effect of o decerte,
Bot thi richesse and my poverte
Tho ben noght taken evene liche.
And natheles he that is riche
[Sidenote: =P. i. 360=]
This dai, tomorwe he mai be povere;
And in contraire also recovere 2400
A povere man to gret richesse
Men sen: forthi let rihtwisnesse[1057]
Be peised evene in the balance.
The king his hardi contienance
Behield, and herde hise wordes wise,
And seide unto him in this wise:[1058]
‘Thin ansuere I have understonde,
Wherof my will is, that thou stonde
In mi service and stille abide.’
And forth withal the same tide 2410
He hath him terme of lif withholde,
The mor and for he schal ben holde,[1059]
He made him kniht and yaf him lond,
Which afterward was of his hond
An orped kniht in many a stede,
And gret prouesce of armes dede,
As the Croniqes it recorden.
And in this wise thei acorden,
The whiche of o condicioun
Be set upon destruccioun: 2420
Such Capitein such retenue.
Bot forto se to what issue
The thing befalleth ate laste,
It is gret wonder that men caste
Here herte upon such wrong to winne,
Wher no beyete mai ben inne,
And doth desese on every side:
Bot whan reson is put aside
[Sidenote: =P. i. 361=]
And will governeth the corage,
The faucon which that fleth ramage 2430
And soeffreth nothing in the weie,
Wherof that he mai take his preie,
Is noght mor set upon ravine,
Than thilke man which his covine[1060]
Hath set in such a maner wise:
For al the world ne mai suffise[1061]
To will which is noght resonable.[1062]
[Sidenote: [WARS AND DEATH OF ALEXANDER.]]
Wherof ensample concordable
Lich to this point of which I meene,
Was upon Alisandre sene, 2440
[Sidenote: Hic secundum gesta Regis Alexandri de
guerris illicitis ponit Confessor exemplum, dicens quod
quamuis Alexander sua potencia tocius mundi victor sibi
subiugarat[1063] imperium, ipse tandem mortis victoria
subiugatus cunctipotentis sentenciam euadere non potuit.]
Which hadde set al his entente,
So as fortune with him wente,
That reson mihte him non governe,[1064]
Bot of his will he was so sterne,
That al the world he overran
And what him list he tok and wan.
In Ynde the superiour
Whan that he was ful conquerour,
And hadde his wilful pourpos wonne[1065]
Of al this Erthe under the Sonne, 2450
This king homward to Macedoine,
Whan that he cam to Babiloine,
And wende most in his Empire,
As he which was hol lord and Sire,
In honour forto be received,
Most sodeinliche he was deceived,
And with strong puison envenimed.
And as he hath the world mistimed
[Sidenote: =P. i. 362=]
Noght as he scholde with his wit,
Noght as he wolde it was aquit.[1066] 2460
Thus was he slain that whilom slowh,
And he which riche was ynowh
This dai, tomorwe he hadde noght:
And in such wise as he hath wroght
In destorbance of worldes pes,
His werre he fond thanne endeles,
In which for evere desconfit
He was. Lo now, for what profit
Of werre it helpeth forto ryde,
For coveitise and worldes pride 2470
To sle the worldes men aboute,
As bestes whiche gon theroute.
For every lif which reson can
Oghth wel to knowe that a man[1067]
Ne scholde thurgh no tirannie
Lich to these othre bestes die,[1068]
Til kinde wolde for him sende.
I not hou he it mihte amende,[1069]
Which takth awei for everemore
The lif that he mai noght restore. 2480
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Forthi, mi Sone, in alle weie
Be wel avised, I thee preie,
Of slawhte er that thou be coupable
Withoute cause resonable.
[Sidenote: Amans.]
Mi fader, understonde it is,
That ye have seid; bot over this
[Sidenote: [ARE CRUSADES LAWFUL?]]
I prei you tell me nay or yee,
To passe over the grete See
[Sidenote: =P. i. 363=]
To werre and sle the Sarazin,
Is that the lawe?
Sone myn, 2490
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
To preche and soffre for the feith,[1070]
That have I herd the gospell seith;[1071]
Bot forto slee, that hiere I noght.
Crist with his oghne deth hath boght
Alle othre men, and made hem fre,
In tokne of parfit charite;
And after that he tawhte himselve,
Whan he was ded, these othre tuelve
Of hise Apostles wente aboute
The holi feith to prechen oute, 2500
Wherof the deth in sondri place
Thei soffre, and so god of his grace
The feith of Crist hath mad aryse:
Bot if thei wolde in other wise
[Sidenote: Nota.[1072]]
Be werre have broght in the creance,
It hadde yit stonde in balance.
And that mai proven in the dede;
For what man the Croniqes rede,
Fro ferst that holi cherche hath weyved
To preche, and hath the swerd received, 2510
Wherof the werres ben begonne,
A gret partie of that was wonne
To Cristes feith stant now miswent:
Godd do therof amendement,
So as he wot what is the beste.
[Sidenote: [GUILT OF HOMICIDE.]]
Bot, Sone, if thou wolt live in reste
Of conscience wel assised,
Er that thou sle, be wel avised:
[Sidenote: =P. i. 364=]
For man, as tellen ous the clerkes,
Hath god above alle ertheli werkes 2520
Ordeined to be principal,
And ek of Soule in special
He is mad lich to the godhiede.
So sit it wel to taken hiede
And forto loke on every side,
Er that thou falle in homicide,
Which Senne is now so general,
That it welnyh stant overal,
In holi cherche and elles where.[1073]
Bot al the while it stant so there, 2530
The world mot nede fare amis:
For whan the welle of pite is
Thurgh coveitise of worldes good
Defouled with schedinge of blod,
The remenant of folk aboute
Unethe stonden eny doute
To werre ech other and to slee.
So is it all noght worth a Stree,
The charite wherof we prechen,
For we do nothing as we techen: 2540
And thus the blinde conscience
Of pes hath lost thilke evidence
Which Crist upon this Erthe tawhte.
Now mai men se moerdre and manslawhte[1074]
Lich as it was be daies olde,
Whan men the Sennes boghte and solde.
[Sidenote: Facilitas venie occasionem prebet delinquendi.]
In Grece afore Cristes feith,
I rede, as the Cronique seith,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 365=]
Touchende of this matiere thus,
In thilke time hou Peleüs 2550
His oghne brother Phocus slowh;
Bot for he hadde gold ynowh
To yive, his Senne was despensed
With gold, wherof it was compensed:
Achastus, which with Venus was
Hire Priest, assoilede in that cas,[1075]
Al were ther no repentance.
And as the bok makth remembrance,
It telleth of Medee also;
Of that sche slowh her Sones tuo, 2560
Egeüs in the same plit
Hath mad hire of hire Senne quit.
The Sone ek of Amphioras,
Whos rihte name Almeüs was,
His Moder slowh, Eriphile;
Bot Achilo the Priest and he,
So as the bokes it recorden,
For certein Somme of gold acorden[1076]
That thilke horrible sinfull dede
Assoiled was. And thus for mede 2570
Of worldes good it falleth ofte
That homicide is set alofte
Hiere in this lif; bot after this[1077]
Ther schal be knowe how that it is
Of hem that suche thinges werche,
And hou also that holi cherche
Let suche Sennes passe quyte,
And how thei wole hemself aquite[1078]
[Sidenote: =P. i. 366=]
Of dedly werres that thei make.
For who that wolde ensample take, 2580
The lawe which is naturel
Be weie of kinde scheweth wel
That homicide in no degree,
Which werreth ayein charite,
Among the men ne scholde duelle.
For after that the bokes telle,
To seche in al this worldesriche,[1079]
Men schal noght finde upon his liche
A beste forto take his preie:
And sithen kinde hath such a weie, 2590
Thanne is it wonder of a man,[1080]
Which kynde hath and resoun can,
That he wol owther more or lasse
His kinde and resoun overpasse,
And sle that is to him semblable.
So is the man noght resonable
Ne kinde, and that is noght honeste,
Whan he is worse than a beste.
[Sidenote: [A STRANGE BIRD.]]
[Sidenote: Nota secundum Solinum contra homicidas de natura
cuiusdam Auis faciem ad similitudinem humanam habentis, que
cum de preda sua hominem juxta fluuium occiderit videritque
in aqua similem sibi occisum, statim pre dolore moritur.]
Among the bokes whiche I finde
Solyns spekth of a wonder kinde, 2600
And seith of fowhles ther is on,
Which hath a face of blod and bon
Lich to a man in resemblance.
And if it falle him so per chance,
As he which is a fowhl of preie,
That he a man finde in his weie,
He wol him slen, if that he mai:
Bot afterward the same dai,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 367=]
Whan he hath eten al his felle,
And that schal be beside a welle, 2610
In which whan he wol drinke take,
Of his visage and seth the make
That he hath slain, anon he thenketh
Of his misdede, and it forthenketh
So gretly, that for pure sorwe
He liveth noght til on the morwe.
Be this ensample it mai well suie
That man schal homicide eschuie,
For evere is merci good to take,
Bot if the lawe it hath forsake 2620
And that justice is therayein.
For ofte time I have herd sein
Amonges hem that werres hadden,
That thei som while here cause ladden[1081]
Be merci, whan thei mihte have slain,
Wherof that thei were after fain:
[Sidenote: [MERCY.]]
And, Sone, if that thou wolt recorde
The vertu of Misericorde,
Thou sihe nevere thilke place,
Where it was used, lacke grace. 2630
For every lawe and every kinde
The mannes wit to merci binde;
And namely the worthi knihtes,
Whan that thei stonden most uprihtes
And ben most mihti forto grieve,
Thei scholden thanne most relieve
Him whom thei mihten overthrowe,
As be ensample a man mai knowe.[1082]

[Sidenote: [TALE OF TELAPHUS AND TEUCER.]]
[Sidenote: =P. i. 368=]
He mai noght failen of his mede
That hath merci: for this I rede, 2640
In a Cronique and finde thus.
[Sidenote: Hic ponit Confessor exemplum de pietate contra
homicidium in guerris habenda. Et narrat qualiter Achilles
vna cum Thelapho filio suo contra Regem Mesee, qui tunc
Theucer vocabatur, bellum inierunt; et cum Achilles dictum
Regem in bello prostratum occidere voluisset, Thelaphus
pietate motus ipsum clipeo suo cooperiens veniam pro Rege
a patre postulauit: pro quo facto ipse Rex adhuc viuens
Thephalum Regni sui heredem libera voluntate constituit.]
Whan Achilles with Telaphus[1083]
His Sone toward Troie were,
It fell hem, er thei comen there,
Ayein Theucer the king of Mese
To make werre and forto sese
His lond, as thei that wolden regne
And Theucer pute out of his regne.
And thus the Marches thei assaile,
Bot Theucer yaf to hem bataille;[1084] 2650
Thei foghte on bothe sides faste,
Bot so it hapneth ate laste,
This worthi Grek, this Achilles,
The king among alle othre ches:
As he that was cruel and fell,
With swerd in honde on him he fell,
And smot him with a dethes wounde,
That he unhorsed fell to grounde.
Achilles upon him alyhte,
And wolde anon, as he wel mihte, 2660
Have slain him fullich in the place;
Bot Thelaphus his fader grace
For him besoghte, and for pite
Preith that he wolde lete him be,
And caste his Schield betwen hem tuo.
Achilles axeth him why so,
And Thelaphus his cause tolde,
And seith that he is mochel holde,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 369=]
For whilom Theucer in a stede
Gret grace and socour to him dede, 2670
And seith that he him wolde aquite,[1085]
And preith his fader to respite.
Achilles tho withdrowh his hond;
Bot al the pouer of the lond,
Whan that thei sihe here king thus take,
Thei fledde and han the feld forsake:
The Grecs unto the chace falle,
And for the moste part of alle
Of that contre the lordes grete
Thei toke, and wonne a gret beyete. 2680
And anon after this victoire
The king, which hadde good memoire,
Upon the grete merci thoghte,
Which Telaphus toward him wroghte,[1086]
And in presence of al the lond
He tok him faire be the hond,
And in this wise he gan to seie:
‘Mi Sone, I mot be double weie
Love and desire thin encress;
Ferst for thi fader Achilles 2690
Whilom ful many dai er this,
Whan that I scholde have fare amis,
Rescousse dede in mi querele
And kepte al myn astat in hele:
How so ther falle now distance
Amonges ous, yit remembrance[1087]
I have of merci which he dede
As thanne: and thou now in this stede
[Sidenote: =P. i. 370=]
Of gentilesce and of franchise
Hast do mercy the same wise. 2700
So wol I noght that eny time
Be lost of that thou hast do byme;
For hou so this fortune falle,
Yit stant mi trust aboven alle,
For the mercy which I now finde,
That thou wolt after this be kinde:
And for that such is myn espeir,
As for my Sone and for myn Eir
I thee receive, and al my lond
I yive and sese into thin hond.’ 2710
And in this wise thei acorde,
The cause was Misericorde:
The lordes dede here obeissance
To Thelaphus, and pourveance
Was mad so that he was coroned:
And thus was merci reguerdoned,
Which he to Theucer dede afore.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Lo, this ensample is mad therfore,
That thou miht take remembrance,
Mi Sone; and whan thou sest a chaunce, 2720
Of other mennes passioun
Tak pite and compassioun,
And let nothing to thee be lief,[1088]
Which to an other man is grief.
And after this if thou desire
To stonde ayein the vice of Ire,
Consaile thee with Pacience,
And tak into thi conscience
[Sidenote: =P. i. 371=]
Merci to be thi governour.
So schalt thou fiele no rancour, 2730
Wherof thin herte schal debate
With homicide ne with hate
For Cheste or for Malencolie:
Thou schalt be soft in compaignie
Withoute Contek or Folhaste:
For elles miht thou longe waste
Thi time, er that thou have thi wille
Of love; for the weder stille
Men preise, and blame the tempestes.
[Sidenote: Amans.]
Mi fader, I wol do youre hestes, 2740
And of this point ye have me tawht,
Toward miself the betre sawht
I thenke be, whil that I live.
Bot for als moche as I am schrive
Of Wraththe and al his circumstance,
Yif what you list to my penance,
And asketh forthere of my lif,
If otherwise I be gultif
Of eny thing that toucheth Sinne.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, er we departe atwinne, 2750
I schal behinde nothing leve.
[Sidenote: Amans.]
Mi goode fader, be your leve
Thanne axeth forth what so you list,
For I have in you such a trist,
As ye that be my Soule hele,
That ye fro me wol nothing hele,
For I schal telle you the trowthe.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, art thou coupable of Slowthe
[Sidenote: =P. i. 372=]
In eny point which to him longeth?
[Sidenote: Amans.]
My fader, of tho pointz me longeth 2760
To wite pleinly what thei meene,
So that I mai me schrive cleene.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Now herkne, I schal the pointz devise;[1089]
And understond wel myn aprise:[1090]
For schrifte stant of no value
To him that wol him noght vertue
To leve of vice the folie:
For word is wynd, bot the maistrie
Is that a man himself defende
Of thing which is noght to comende, 2770
Wherof ben fewe now aday.
And natheles, so as I may
Make unto thi memoire knowe,
The pointz of Slowthe thou schalt knowe.

=Explicit Liber Tercius.=

LINENOTES:

[837] 7 _margin_ primo] prima H₁XERCL primum B₂ _om._ G

[838] 9 f. he ... he] it ... it XRC. W it ... he H₁GELB₂

[839] 12 enemy] euermore (euer more) H₁ ... B₂

[840] 49 mi seluen A

[841] 51 walkend(e) H₁ ... CB₂, B wawende L

[842] 62 al forlore (alle for lore) H₁, B, H₃

[843] 68 fer AJ, STΔΛ, FH₃ for M ... B₂, AdB, W

[844] 86 wolde AM

[845] 109 þat þilke AM

[846] 148 _margin_ malencolia H₁ ... B₂

[847] 162 _margin_ concupiscencia H₁XR ... B₂

[848] 168 Whan ... in a] Whan þat ... in SAdBTΔ Whenne ... in W

[849] 176 tawht (taught) AJ, B, F tawhte S overmore] euermore
AMH₁XGRCLB₂, TΔ, W

[850] 181 in sihte (in siht) AJM

[851] 186 that] al B

[852] 200 drowe AM

[853] 254 it schal] sche schal H₁ ... B₂, Ad

[854] 286 For thee] ffor þi B

[855] 290 vnto H₁ ... B₂

[856] 313 modres (moderis, moders) H₁ ... B₂, Δ

[857] 315 baskleþ AMH₁Sn, SΔΛ basked C

[858] 331 that] þo AM, Ad, Magd hyt W

[859] 354 I may H₁ ... B₂

[860] 355 What þing nature haþ set in lawe A ... B₂, S ... Δ

[861] 390 menable H₁XG, AdΔ, F menabe J meuable (?) AMB₂, ST,
H₃ mevable R moeuable EC, B mouable (movable) L, W

[862] 402 Al one] Along(e) H₁G ... B₂ All longe X

[863] 408 Save] Saufly B

[864] _Latin Verses_ ii. 6 Vincit] Viuat H₁ ... CB₂ Viuit L

[865] 445 makeþ ... at H₁ ... B₂, BΔ

[866] 446 He] His FWKH₃ It Magd

[867] 476 yit _om._ AM

[868] 478 synge (sing) H₁XECB₂, AdBΛ, H₃

[869] 480 be schrewed FK

[870] 490 no þinges suche H₁XGRCB₂ no thynge suche W

[871] 504 wolde I] wolde (_om._ I) FKH₃ wolle I W

[872] 519 meueþ(?) JMXELB₂, W moeueþ GC

[873] 532 the] hir (hire) H₁ ... B₂

[874] 536 hire B

[875] 573 S _has lost three leaves_ (ll. 573-1112)

[876] 581 Thus] That B

[877] 611 destrance AM

[878] 612 vnto H₁ ... B₂

[879] 619 overcomth t] ouercomeþ C

[880] 624 wich F

[881] 626 world (worlde) AM, AdTΔ, FH₃ word JH₁ ... B₂, BΛ, W

[882] 633 teche YEC, B of] in AM, H₃

[883] 639 a man to] for to B

[884] 647 assaie _om._ A (_p.m._) to assaie M, H₃ assayed X did
assai Δ

[885] 663 axex F

[886] 679 bad] bad him AM, H₃

[887] 704 Him] He H₁ ... B₂

[888] 732 teche XERCB₂

[889] 733 on] in H₁XE ... B₂, AdΔ, W of G, B

[890] 741 aborde A, FK

[891] 743 _margin_ constituebat H₁ ... B₂

[892] 750 the cas] þis cas BΛ, W

[893] 756 hise] her B

[894] 762 were him leuere H₁ ... B₂ hadde leu_er_ W

[895] 765 Bot] Lo H₁ ... B₂

[896] 773 many a time CL, B, W

[897] 778 it _om._ AJM, KH₃ hem Δ

[898] 784 _margin_ Quia] Qualiter H₁ ... B₂

[899] 788 happe (hap) H₁ ... CB₂, W happeþ L

[900] 795 _margin_ fuerit H₁XRCLB₂ fuerat GE

[901] 798 that] þe H₁ ... B₂, B

[902] 807 snow whyt J, B, F snowwhyt A

[903] 808 colblak A, F col blak J, B

[904] 817 the _om._ B

[905] 818 For] Lo H₁ ... B₂, B More W

[906] 822 god] and B

[906m] 822 _margin_ secretam AMH₁XRCLB₂, H₃

[907] 831 _margin_ Amans A

[908] 848 _margin_ velud B, F

[909] 858 gadarende F

[910] 868 me] mo AM

[911] 900 thanne] þan wiþ H₁XGECLB₂, B þan in R

[912] 901 hire F

[913] 906 I schal AM, KH₃Magd

[914] 918 ouermor F eueremore (euer mor etc.) A ... B₂, AdBTΔ,
WKH₃

[915] 921 finde] haue AM, KH₃Magd be put L

[916] 941 tho] þe H₁ ... B₂, AdB, W

[917] 970 þe whilom H₁XGCL

[918] 973 destrucciou_n_ AJ, B destruction F

[919] 979 _margin_ assequentur A

[920] 982 _margin_ proditorum H₁XRCLB₂

[921] 983 _margin_ patroque X ... B₂ pater Δ

[922] 1005 _margin_ Et sic quoq_ue_ H₁ ... B₂

[923] 1007 _margin_ latitantem B

[924] 1000 wolde hem AM, Δ, WH₃

[925] 1014 behihte] he hight(e) GCL, W

[926] 1028 this] my B

[927] 1029 The king B

[928] 1031 Here] His AM, H₃ Hir(e) J, T

[929] 1044 afterward B

[930] 1047 This schip H₁ ... B₂, B

[931] 1060 frenschipe A, F frenschip J frendschip B

[932] 1065 dai] tyme H₁ ... B₂, B war] what X ... B₂, B what
that H₁

[933] _Latin Verses_ iv. 1 sit] sic H₁ ... B₂, B, WH₃

[934] 1094 to drede] togidre B to geder H₁

[935] 1108 thei] þe F

[936] 1112 Bot that] But (Bot) at H₁XCLB₂

[937] 1113 S _resumes_

[938] 1118 ne _om._ MH₁L, Δ, WH₃

[939] 1119 my] me EL, W me my H₁

[940] 1122 as of] as for M, Ad of L

[941] 1123 was neuer(e) H₁, Ad, WH₃

[942] 1145 þong J, F þing BΛ, W

[943] 1164 I _om._ H₁XRCLB₂, H₃

[944] 1166 put AJ, F putte C, B

[945] 1171 thei tellen] to telle B

[946] 1173 jeupartie] champartie H₁ ... B₂

[947] 1174 wihssinge AJ, F wissching (wisshing) C, B

[948] 1179 I] it AM

[949] 1187 this] his H₁ ... B₂, WH₃

[950] 1190 will] wel H₁ ... B₂, WH₃

[951] 1198 evere _om._ H₁ ... B₂, H₃

[952] 1208 That] But B

[953] 1211 _margin_ opponente H₁ ... B₂, H₃

[954] 1212 Wherof] Wher(e) H₁XRCB₂, H₃

[955] 1222 so] þo L, B

[956] 1241 he was SAdBTΔ

[957] 1253 king B

[958] 1258 wold(e) M ... CB₂, AdTΔ, WH₃

[959] 1276 As] Of B And W

[960] 1295 wisdom] wordes H₁ ... B₂, H₃

[961] 1296 gostly B

[962] 1307 mi] þe A

[963] 1312 This] The B

[964] 1318 How þer(e) H₁G ... B₂, H₃

[965] 1330 forto] þat þou SAdBTΔ

[966] 1331 this] þus H₁E ... B₂, H₃

[967] 1332 Semiranus E ... B₂, H₃

[968] 1336 _margin_ ipsos H₁ ... B₂, H₃ _om._ Δ

[969] 1358 so _om._ AM

[970] 1384 the] by (be) H₁ ... B₂, H₃ a W

[971] 1394 fleigh (fleih &c.) H₁G ... B₂, H₃ flew X

[972] 1406 al fordrawe (al for drawe) H₁XRCB₂, H₃ alto gnawe L

[973] 1422 afrighte (afriht &c.) H₁G ... B₂, H₃

[974] 1430 fulhast (fulle haste &c.) AMH₁XCLB₂, Ad, W foule
haste Δ

[975] 1433 As] And H₁ ... B₂, H₃

[976] 1440 miht (might) J, B, F mihte A

[977] 1448 fforþ sche X ... B₂, Δ, WH₃ And sche T

[978] 1462 art cleped L, AdBTΔ

[979] 1473 hertes H₁ ... B₂, SAdBTΔ, WH₃

[980] 1479 as for me H₁ ... B₂, H₃

[981] 1487 gret EC, SB grete AJ, F

[982] 1489 And sche H₁ ... B₂, H₃

[983] 1496 that of] of þat H₁XE ... B₂

[984] 1503 loue F

[985] 1512 was] is BT

[986] 1562 And þus daunger my fortune ladde H₁ ... B₂, H₃
(chaunce _for_ fortune E)

[987] 1597 a _om._ H₁ ... B₂, BΔ, H₃

[988] 1603 so deie] to deie JH₁GE, BT, WH₃ forto deie L

[989] 1605 such (suche) YXGECLB₂, BΛ, W in such AJM, SAdTΔ, F
such a H₁R, H₃Magd

[990] 1611 tell me] telle ȝe AM

[991] 1641 and _om._ H₁, B

[992] 1649 Schal best B Lest schal H₁ ... B₂, H₃

[993] 1661 outdrowh F out drowh (drough) AJ, B

[994] 1671 a res GEC, B ares AJ, S, F

[995] 1686 such was] þer was H₁ ... B₂, H₃

[996] 1704 _margin_ p_ro_secutus T, F p_er_secutus AC, B, W

[997] 1732 me _om._ AML, KH₃Magd (no man so me W)

[998] 1777 _margin_ feroure_m_ AM

[999] 1783 _margin_ micius] inicius H₁GECL

[1000] 1763 þe cas H₁ ... B₂

[1001] 1767 liege B

[1002] 1800 weren þer(e) H₁XE ... B₂ weren þanne G

[1003] 1806 come] nome XCLB₂

[1004] 1830 a _om._ H₁GECL, B

[1005] 1832 the] þo AJM, SBTΔ, K _om._ R

[1006] 1835 _margin_ No_ta_ F _om._ A, B

[1007] 1859 _margin_ Not_a_ F _om._ A, B

[1008] 1866 Thourgh F

[1009] 1885 at thilke] þilke B, H₃ þat ilke W of þilke L

[1010] 1893 thing] king ERL, BT

[1011] 1899 _margin_ crudelissima seueritate A ... B₂, BT &c.

[1012] 1908 hadde B

[1013] 1913 worþi noble AM

[1014] 1914 ferste (firste) AJ, B ferst F

[1015] 1924 and _om._ BT

[1016] 1930 herde AJ, B herd F

[1017] 1935 and] a AM _om._ WMagd

[1018] 1939 Grece MH₁XGRCLB₂ Crece E

[1019] 1968 Unto] Vnto to F Grece M ... B₂ (_except_ EC)

[1020] 1979 gan his journe] gan his money XGE gaue his money
H₁RCLB₂

[1021] 1989 he _om._ B

[1022] 2003 of] þus B

[1023] 2005 and þan (þanne) GL, BT

[1024] 2023 Phogeus H₁ ... B₂ Phoreus TΔ Plorence W

[1025] 2041 is] was H₁ ... B₂

[1026] 2042 herd telle of þis cas H₁ ... B₂

[1027] 2044 entre] purpos H₁ ... B₂

[1028] 2046 lieged AM

[1029] 2056 þou þin (þi) AJM, SAdΛ, F þou in þin (þi) H₁ ...
B₂, BΔ, W in thyn T

[1030] 2077 and to] vnto BΔΛ

[1031] 2082 herd J, SB, F herde A

[1032] 2100 false AJ, S, F fals C, B

[1033] 2107 Tho AJM, ST, F The H₁ ... B₂, AdBΔΛ, WH₃ hire] his
C the H₁ _om._ AM

[1034] 2139 at large H₁XGECL, B, W

[1035] 2166 wiþsatt his wille X ... B₂ withsit hit wille H₁
with seith hys wille Δ, W

[1036] 2168 þei alle X ... B₂

[1037] 2177 herde AJ, B herd F

[1038] 2206f. _margin_ Hic queritur--occidere _om._ B

[1039] 2207 _margin_ hominem FWH₃ homini hominem A ... B₂, STΔΛ

[1040] 2209 to] may B _om._ AM

[1041] 2220 _margin_ Seneca _om._ B

[1042] 2221 _margin_ parcit] parat H₁G ... B₂

[1043] 2225 _margin_ Apostolus--portat _om._ H₁ ... B₂

[1044] 2235 _margin_ Pugna pro patria] Pugna pro patria ·
licitum est vim vi repellere SBT Pro patria pugna &c. Λ _om._ H₁

[1045] 2244 Is such an homicide good H₁ ... B₂ (In _for_ Is R)

[1046] 2248 techeþ FWH₃Magd it techeþ A ... B₂, S ... ΔΛ

[1047] 2256 anglis C, F angelis AJ aungels B

[1048] 2259 be _om._ AM

[1049] 2287 and _om._ B

[1050] 2293 of] in AM

[1051] 2299 _margin_ Apostolus--mors est _om._ B

[1052] 2318 werre H₁ ... B₂, T

[1053] 2343 herte] cause H₁ ... B₂ (_line om._ X)

[1054] 2346 trew S, F trewe AJ, B

[1055] 2379 _margin_ cum _om._ H₁ ... B₂, B

[1056] 2382 the] þy (thi) XL

[1057] 2402 rihtwisne F

[1058] 2406 to him JH₁ ... B₂

[1059] 2412 schulde (sholde) BT

[1060] 2434 is couine JMCLB₂, Ad

[1061] 2436 ne mai] may nought (not &c.) A ... B₂, S ... Δ

[1062] 2437 To will] To him H₁ ... B₂

[1063] 2444 _margin_ subiugauerat H₁ ... B₂, SΔ

[1064] 2443 non] nought (not) JMCB₂, B, W

[1065] 2449 wilsful F

[1066] 2460 it was quit (quite &c.) H₁ ... B₂, TΔ was hyt quyt W
he was aquit M

[1067] 2474 Oghþ SAdT, F Oght (Ought &c.) AMGC, Δ, W Oweþ
JH₁XERLB₂, B, H₃

[1068] 2476 othre] olde B

[1069] 2478 mihte (myght) FWH₃ mai (may) A ... B₂, S ... Δ

[1070] 2491 fei SΔ feie Ad

[1071] 2492 sei SΔ seie Ad

[1072] 2505 _margin_ No_ta_ AJ, F _om._ B

[1073] 2529 and] as AJX ... B₂, BT

[1074] 2544 manslawte F

[1075] 2556 assoiled him H₁XE ... B₂ assoileþ him G

[1076] 2568 For] Of A ... B₂

[1077] 2573 lif] world B

[1078] 2578 wold M, B

[1079] 2587 _Paragraph here_ AJ, F

[1080] 2591 it is G ... B₂, Δ

[1081] 2624 That] But BT

[1082] 2638 And BT

[1083] 2642 Telaphus J, F Thelaphus A, SB

[1084] 2650 Bot] That H₁ ... B₂

[1085] 2671 wol B

[1086] 2684 Telaphus F Thelaphus AJ, SB

[1087] 2696 remembrance] in remembrance AM

[1088] 2723 belief FK

[1089] 2763 the] þo AJG ... B₂, SBTΔ

[1090] 2764 myn] þis B

Incipit Liber Quartus.

[Sidenote: [SLOTH.]]
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 1=]
i. _Dicunt accidiam fore nutricem viciorum,_
_Torpet et in cunctis tarda que lenta bonis:_
_Que fieri possent hodie transfert piger in cras,_
_Furatoque prius ostia claudit equo._
_Poscenti tardo negat emolumenta Cupido,_
_Set Venus in celeri ludit amore viri._[1091]

[Sidenote: [i. LACHESSE.]]
Upon the vices to procede
After the cause of mannes dede,
The ferste point of Slowthe I calle
[Sidenote: Hic in quarto libro loquitur Confessor de
speciebus Accidie, quarum primam Tardacionem vocat, cuius
condicionem pertractans Amanti super hoc consequenter
opponit.]
Lachesce, and is the chief of alle,
And hath this propreliche of kinde,
To leven alle thing behinde.
Of that he mihte do now hier
He tarieth al the longe yer,
And everemore he seith, ‘Tomorwe’;
And so he wol his time borwe, 10
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 2=]
And wissheth after ‘God me sende,’
That whan he weneth have an ende,[1092]
Thanne is he ferthest to beginne.
Thus bringth he many a meschief inne
Unwar, til that he be meschieved,
And may noght thanne be relieved.
And riht so nowther mor ne lesse
It stant of love and of lachesce:
Som time he slowtheth in a day
That he nevere after gete mai. 20
Now, Sone, as of this ilke thing,
If thou have eny knowleching,
That thou to love hast don er this,
Tell on.
[Sidenote: Confessio Amantis.]
Mi goode fader, yis.
As of lachesce I am beknowe
That I mai stonde upon his rowe,
As I that am clad of his suite:
For whanne I thoghte mi poursuite
To make, and therto sette a day
To speke unto the swete May,[1093] 30
Lachesce bad abide yit,
And bar on hond it was no wit
Ne time forto speke as tho.
Thus with his tales to and fro
Mi time in tariinge he drowh:
Whan ther was time good ynowh,
He seide, ‘An other time is bettre;
Thou schalt mowe senden hire a lettre,
And per cas wryte more plein
Than thou be Mowthe durstest sein.’ 40
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 3=]
Thus have I lete time slyde
For Slowthe, and kepte noght my tide,
So that lachesce with his vice
Fulofte hath mad my wit so nyce,
That what I thoghte speke or do[1094]
With tariinge he hield me so,[1095]
Til whanne I wolde and mihte noght.
I not what thing was in my thoght,
Or it was drede, or it was schame;
Bot evere in ernest and in game 50
I wot ther is long time passed.
Bot yit is noght the love lassed,
Which I unto mi ladi have;
For thogh my tunge is slowh to crave
At alle time, as I have bede,
Min herte stant evere in o stede
And axeth besiliche grace,
The which I mai noght yit embrace.
And god wot that is malgre myn;[1096]
For this I wot riht wel a fin, 60
Mi grace comth so selde aboute,
That is the Slowthe of which I doute
Mor than of al the remenant
Which is to love appourtenant.
And thus as touchende of lachesce,
As I have told, I me confesse
To you, mi fader, and beseche
That furthermor ye wol me teche;
And if ther be to this matiere[1097]
Som goodly tale forto liere[1098] 70
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 4=]
How I mai do lachesce aweie,
That ye it wolden telle I preie.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
To wisse thee, my Sone, and rede,
Among the tales whiche I rede,
An old ensample therupon
Now herkne, and I wol tellen on.

[Sidenote: [ENEAS AND DIDO.]]
Ayein Lachesce in loves cas
I finde how whilom Eneas,
Whom Anchises to Sone hadde,
[Sidenote: Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos qui
in amoris causa tardantes delinquunt. Et narrat qualiter
Dido Regina Cartaginis Eneam ab incendiis Troie fugitiuum
in amorem suum gauisa suscepit: qui cum postea in partes
Ytalie a Cartagine bellaturum se transtulit, nimiamque
ibidem moram faciens tempus reditus sui ad Didonem vltra
modum tardauit, ipsa intollerabili dolore concussa sui
cordis intima mortali gladio transfodit.]
With gret navie, which he ladde 80
Fro Troie, aryveth at Cartage,
Wher for a while his herbergage
He tok: and it betidde so,
With hire which was qweene tho[1099]
Of the Cite his aqueintance
He wan, whos name in remembrance
Is yit, and Dido sche was hote;
Which loveth Eneas so hote
Upon the wordes whiche he seide,
That al hire herte on him sche leide 90
And dede al holi what he wolde.
Bot after that, as it be scholde,
Fro thenne he goth toward Ytaile
Be Schipe, and there his arivaile
Hath take, and schop him forto ryde.
Bot sche, which mai noght longe abide
The hote peine of loves throwe,
Anon withinne a litel throwe
A lettre unto hir kniht hath write,
And dede him pleinly forto wite, 100
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 5=]
If he made eny tariinge,
To drecche of his ayeincomynge,
That sche ne mihte him fiele and se,
Sche scholde stonde in such degre
As whilom stod a Swan tofore,
Of that sche hadde hire make lore;
For sorwe a fethere into hire brain
She schof and hath hireselve slain;
As king Menander in a lay[1100]
The sothe hath founde, wher sche lay 110
Sprantlende with hire wynges tweie,[1101]
As sche which scholde thanne deie
For love of him which was hire make.
‘And so schal I do for thi sake,’
This qweene seide, ‘wel I wot.’
Lo, to Enee thus sche wrot
With many an other word of pleinte:
Bot he, which hadde hise thoghtes feinte
Towardes love and full of Slowthe,
His time lette, and that was rowthe: 120
For sche, which loveth him tofore,
Desireth evere more and more,
And whan sche sih him tarie so,
Hire herte was so full of wo,
That compleignende manyfold
Sche hath hire oghne tale told,
Unto hirself and thus sche spak:
‘Ha, who fond evere such a lak
Of Slowthe in eny worthi kniht?
Now wot I wel my deth is diht 130
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 6=]
Thurgh him which scholde have be mi lif.’
Bot forto stinten al this strif,
Thus whan sche sih non other bote,
Riht evene unto hire herte rote
A naked swerd anon sche threste,
And thus sche gat hireselve reste
In remembrance of alle slowe.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Wherof, my Sone, thou miht knowe[1102]
How tariinge upon the nede
In loves cause is forto drede; 140
And that hath Dido sore aboght,
Whos deth schal evere be bethoght.
And overmore if I schal seche[1103]
In this matiere an other spieche,
In a Cronique I finde write
A tale which is good to wite.

[Sidenote: [ULYSSES AND PENELOPE.]]
At Troie whan king Ulixes
Upon the Siege among the pres
Of hem that worthi knihtes were
Abod long time stille there, 150
[Sidenote: Hic loquitur super eodem qualiter Penolope
Vlixem maritum suum, in obsidione Troie diucius morantem,
ob ipsius ibidem tardacionem Epistola sua redarguit.]
In thilke time a man mai se
How goodli that Penolope,
Which was to him his trewe wif,
Of his lachesce was pleintif;
Wherof to Troie sche him sende
Hire will be lettre, thus spekende:
‘Mi worthi love and lord also,
It is and hath ben evere so,
That wher a womman is al one,
It makth a man in his persone 160
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 7=]
The more hardi forto wowe,
In hope that sche wolde bowe
To such thing as his wille were,
Whil that hire lord were elleswhere.
And of miself I telle this;
For it so longe passed is,
Sithe ferst than ye fro home wente,
That welnyh every man his wente[1104]
To there I am, whil ye ben oute,
Hath mad, and ech of hem aboute,[1105] 170
Which love can, my love secheth,
With gret preiere and me besecheth:
And some maken gret manace,
That if thei mihten come in place,
Wher that thei mihte here wille have,
Ther is nothing me scholde save,
That thei ne wolde werche thinges;
And some tellen me tidynges
That ye ben ded, and some sein
That certeinly ye ben besein 180
To love a newe and leve me.
Bot hou as evere that it be,
I thonke unto the goddes alle,
As yit for oght that is befalle[1106]
Mai noman do my chekes rede:
Bot natheles it is to drede,
That Lachesse in continuance
Fortune mihte such a chance,
Which noman after scholde amende.’[1107]
Lo, thus this ladi compleignende 190
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 8=]
A lettre unto hire lord hath write,
And preyde him that he wolde wite
And thenke hou that sche was al his,
And that he tarie noght in this,
Bot that he wolde his love aquite,
To hire ayeinward and noght wryte,
Bot come himself in alle haste,
That he non other paper waste;
So that he kepe and holde his trowthe
Withoute lette of eny Slowthe. 200
Unto hire lord and love liege
To Troie, wher the grete Siege
Was leid, this lettre was conveied.
And he, which wisdom hath pourveied
Of al that to reson belongeth,[1108]
With gentil herte it underfongeth:
And whan he hath it overrad,
In part he was riht inly glad,[1109]
And ek in part he was desesed:
Bot love his herte hath so thorghsesed 210
With pure ymaginacioun,
That for non occupacioun
Which he can take on other side,
He mai noght flitt his herte aside[1110]
Fro that his wif him hadde enformed;[1111]
Wherof he hath himself conformed
With al the wille of his corage
To schape and take the viage
Homward, what time that he mai:
So that him thenketh of a day 220
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 9=]
A thousand yer, til he mai se
The visage of Penolope,
Which he desireth most of alle.
And whan the time is so befalle
That Troie was destruid and brent,
He made non delaiement,[1112]
Bot goth him home in alle hihe,
Wher that he fond tofore his yhe
His worthi wif in good astat:
And thus was cessed the debat 230
Of love, and Slowthe was excused,
Which doth gret harm, where it is used,
And hindreth many a cause honeste.
[Sidenote: [GROSTESTE.]]
For of the grete Clerc Grossteste[1113]
[Sidenote: Nota adhuc super eodem de quodam Astrologo, qui
quoddam opus ingeniosum quasi ad complementum septennio
perducens, vnius momenti tardacione omnem sui operis
diligenciam penitus frustrauit.]
I rede how besy that he was
Upon clergie an Hed of bras
To forge, and make it forto telle
Of suche thinges as befelle.
And sevene yeres besinesse
He leyde, bot for the lachesse 240
Of half a Minut of an houre,
Fro ferst that he began laboure[1114]
He loste all that he hadde do.
And otherwhile it fareth so,
In loves cause who is slow,
That he withoute under the wow
Be nyhte stant fulofte acold,
Which mihte, if that he hadde wold
His time kept, have be withinne.
[Sidenote: [THE FOOLISH VIRGINS.]]
Bot Slowthe mai no profit winne, 250
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 10=]
Bot he mai singe in his karole
[Sidenote: Nota adhuc contra tardacionem de v. virginibus
fatuis, que nimiam moram facientes intrante sponso ad
nupcias cum ipso non introierunt.]
How Latewar cam to the Dole,
Wher he no good receive mihte.
And that was proved wel be nyhte[1115]
Whilom of the Maidenes fyve,[1116]
Whan thilke lord cam forto wyve:
For that here oyle was aweie
To lihte here lampes in his weie,
Here Slowthe broghte it so aboute,
Fro him that thei ben schet withoute. 260
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Wherof, my Sone, be thou war,[1117]
Als ferforth as I telle dar.
For love moste ben awaited:[1118]
And if thou be noght wel affaited
In love to eschuie Slowthe,
Mi Sone, forto telle trowthe,
Thou miht noght of thiself ben able
To winne love or make it stable,
All thogh thou mihtest love achieve.
[Sidenote: Confessio Amantis]
Mi fader, that I mai wel lieve. 270
Bot me was nevere assigned place,
Wher yit to geten eny grace,
Ne me was non such time apointed;
For thanne I wolde I were unjoynted
Of every lime that I have,
If I ne scholde kepe and save[1119]
Min houre bothe and ek my stede,[1120]
If my ladi it hadde bede.
Bot sche is otherwise avised
Than grante such a time assised; 280
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 11=]
And natheles of mi lachesse
Ther hath be no defalte I gesse
Of time lost, if that I mihte:[1121]
Bot yit hire liketh noght alyhte
[Sidenote: [LACHESSE.]]
Upon no lure which I caste;
For ay the more I crie faste,
The lasse hire liketh forto hiere.
So forto speke of this matiere,
I seche that I mai noght finde,
I haste and evere I am behinde, 290
And wot noght what it mai amounte.
Bot, fader, upon myn acompte,
Which ye be sett to examine
Of Schrifte after the discipline,
Sey what your beste conseil is.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, my conseil is this:[1122]
Hou so it stonde of time go,[1123]
Do forth thi besinesse so,
That no Lachesce in the be founde:
For Slowthe is mihti to confounde 300
The spied of every mannes werk.
For many a vice, as seith the clerk,
Ther hongen upon Slowthes lappe
Of suche as make a man mishappe,
To pleigne and telle of hadde I wist.
And therupon if that thee list
To knowe of Slowthes cause more,
In special yit overmore
Ther is a vice full grevable
To him which is therof coupable,[1124] 310
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 12=]
And stant of alle vertu bare,
Hierafter as I schal declare.

[Sidenote: [ii. PUSILLANIMITY.]]
ii. _Qui nichil attemptat, nichil expedit, oreque muto_
_Munus Amicicie vir sibi raro capit._
_Est modus in verbis, set ei qui parcit amori_[1125]
_Verba referre sua, non fauet vllus amor._[1126]

Touchende of Slowthe in his degre,
Ther is yit Pusillamite,
Which is to seie in this langage,
[Sidenote: Hic loquitur Confessor de quadam specie Accidie,
que pusillanimitas dicta est, cuius ymaginatiua formido
neque virtutes aggredi neque vicia fugere audet; sicque
vtriusque vite, tam actiue quam contemplatiue, premium non
attingit.]
He that hath litel of corage
And dar no mannes werk beginne:
So mai he noght be resoun winne;
For who that noght dar undertake,
Be riht he schal no profit take. 320
Bot of this vice the nature
Dar nothing sette in aventure,
Him lacketh bothe word and dede,
Wherof he scholde his cause spede:
He woll no manhed understonde,
For evere he hath drede upon honde:
Al is peril that he schal seie,
Him thenkth the wolf is in the weie,[1127]
And of ymaginacioun
He makth his excusacioun 330
And feigneth cause of pure drede,
And evere he faileth ate nede,
Til al be spilt that he with deleth.
He hath the sor which noman heleth,
The which is cleped lack of herte;
Thogh every grace aboute him sterte,
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 13=]
He wol noght ones stere his fot;
So that be resoun lese he mot,
That wol noght auntre forto winne.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
And so forth, Sone, if we beginne 340
To speke of love and his servise,
Ther ben truantz in such a wise,[1128]
That lacken herte, whan best were
To speke of love, and riht for fere
Thei wexen doumb and dar noght telle,
Withoute soun as doth the belle,
Which hath no claper forto chyme;
And riht so thei as for the tyme
Ben herteles withoute speche
Of love, and dar nothing beseche; 350
And thus thei lese and winne noght.
Forthi, my Sone, if thou art oght
Coupable as touchende of this Slowthe,
Schrif thee therof and tell me trowthe.
[Sidenote: Amans.]
Mi fader, I am al beknowe
That I have ben on of tho slowe,[1129]
As forto telle in loves cas.
Min herte is yit and evere was,
As thogh the world scholde al tobreke,[1130]
So ferful, that I dar noght speke 360
Of what pourpos that I have nome,
Whan I toward mi ladi come,
Bot let it passe and overgo.[1131]
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, do nomore so:
For after that a man poursuieth
To love, so fortune suieth,
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 14=]
Fulofte and yifth hire happi chance
To him which makth continuance
To preie love and to beseche;
As be ensample I schal thee teche. 370

[Sidenote: [PYGMALEON AND THE STATUE.]]
I finde hou whilom ther was on,
Whos name was Pymaleon,[1132]
Which was a lusti man of yowthe:
[Sidenote: Hic in amoris causa loquitur contra
pusillanimes, et dicit quod Amans pre timore verbis
obmutescere non debet, set continuando preces sui amoris
expedicionem tucius prosequatur. Et ponit Confessor
exemplum, qualiter Pigmaleon, pro eo quod preces
continuauit, quandam ymaginem eburneam, cuius pulcritudinis
concupiscencia illaqueatus extitit, in carnem et sanguinem
ad latus suum transformatam senciit.]
The werkes of entaile he cowthe
Above alle othre men as tho;
And thurgh fortune it fell him so,
As he whom love schal travaile,
He made an ymage of entaile
Lich to a womman in semblance
Of feture and of contienance, 380
So fair yit nevere was figure.
Riht as a lyves creature
Sche semeth, for of yvor whyt
He hath hire wroght of such delit,[1133]
That sche was rody on the cheke
And red on bothe hire lippes eke;
Wherof that he himself beguileth.
For with a goodly lok sche smyleth,
So that thurgh pure impression
Of his ymaginacion 390
With al the herte of his corage
His love upon this faire ymage
He sette, and hire of love preide;
Bot sche no word ayeinward seide.
The longe day, what thing he dede,
This ymage in the same stede
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 15=]
Was evere bi, that ate mete
He wolde hire serve and preide hire ete,
And putte unto hire mowth the cuppe;
And whan the bord was taken uppe, 400
He hath hire into chambre nome,[1134]
And after, whan the nyht was come,
He leide hire in his bed al nakid.[1135]
He was forwept, he was forwakid,
He keste hire colde lippes ofte,
And wissheth that thei weren softe,
And ofte he rouneth in hire Ere,
And ofte his arm now hier now there
He leide, as he hir wolde embrace,
And evere among he axeth grace, 410
As thogh sche wiste what he mente:[1136]
And thus himself he gan tormente
With such desese of loves peine,
That noman mihte him more peine.
Bot how it were, of his penance
He made such continuance
Fro dai to nyht, and preith so longe,
That his preiere is underfonge,
Which Venus of hire grace herde;
Be nyhte and whan that he worst ferde, 420
And it lay in his nakede arm,
The colde ymage he fieleth warm
Of fleissh and bon and full of lif.
Lo, thus he wan a lusti wif,
Which obeissant was at his wille;
And if he wolde have holde him stille
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 16=]
And nothing spoke, he scholde have failed:
Bot for he hath his word travailed
And dorste speke, his love he spedde,
And hadde al that he wolde abedde. 430
For er thei wente thanne atwo,
A knave child betwen hem two
Thei gete, which was after hote
Paphus, of whom yit hath the note
A certein yle, which Paphos
Men clepe, and of his name it ros.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Be this ensample thou miht finde
That word mai worche above kinde.
Forthi, my Sone, if that thou spare
To speke, lost is al thi fare, 440
For Slowthe bringth in alle wo.
And over this to loke also,
The god of love is favorable
To hem that ben of love stable,
And many a wonder hath befalle:
Wherof to speke amonges alle,
If that thee list to taken hede,
Therof a solein tale I rede,
Which I schal telle in remembraunce
Upon the sort of loves chaunce. 450

[Sidenote: [TALE OF IPHIS.]]
The king Ligdus upon a strif
Spak unto Thelacuse his wif,
Which thanne was with childe grete;[1137]
He swor it scholde noght be lete,
[Sidenote: Hic ponit exemplum super eodem, qualiter Rex
Ligdus vxori sue Thelacuse pregnanti minabatur, quod si
filiam pareret, infans occideretur: que tamen postea cum
filiam ediderat, Isis[1138] dea partus tunc presens filiam
nomine filii Yphim appellari ipsamque more masculi educari
admonuit: quam pater filium credens, ipsam in maritagium
filie cuiusdam principis etate solita copulauit. Set cum
Yphis debitum sue coniugi vnde soluere non habuit, deos
in sui adiutorium interpellabat; qui super hoc miserti
femininum genus in masculinum ob affectum nature in Yphe
per omnia transmutarunt.]
That if sche have a dowhter bore,
That it ne scholde be forlore
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 17=]
And slain, wherof sche sory was.
So it befell upon this cas,
Whan sche delivered scholde be,
Isis be nyhte in privete, 460
Which of childinge is the goddesse,
Cam forto helpe in that destresse,
Til that this lady was al smal,
And hadde a dowhter forth withal;
Which the goddesse in alle weie
Bad kepe, and that thei scholden seie
It were a Sone: and thus Iphis
Thei namede him, and upon this
The fader was mad so to wene.
And thus in chambre with the qweene[1139] 470
This Iphis was forthdrawe tho,
And clothed and arraied so
Riht as a kinges Sone scholde.
Til after, as fortune it wolde,
Whan it was of a ten yer age,
Him was betake in mariage
A Duckes dowhter forto wedde,
Which Iante hihte, and ofte abedde
These children leien, sche and sche,[1140]
Whiche of on age bothe be. 480
So that withinne time of yeeres,[1141]
Togedre as thei ben pleiefieres,
Liggende abedde upon a nyht,
Nature, which doth every wiht
Upon hire lawe forto muse,
Constreigneth hem, so that thei use
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 18=]
Thing which to hem was al unknowe;
Wherof Cupide thilke throwe
Tok pite for the grete love,
And let do sette kinde above, 490
So that hir lawe mai ben used,
And thei upon here lust excused.
For love hateth nothing more
Than thing which stant ayein the lore
Of that nature in kinde hath sett:
Forthi Cupide hath so besett
His grace upon this aventure,[1142]
That he acordant to nature,[1143]
Whan that he syh the time best,[1144]
That ech of hem hath other kest, 500
Transformeth Iphe into a man,
Wherof the kinde love he wan
Of lusti yonge Iante his wif;
And tho thei ladde a merie lif,
Which was to kinde non offence.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
And thus to take an evidence,
It semeth love is welwillende
To hem that ben continuende
With besy herte to poursuie
Thing which that is to love due. 510
Wherof, my Sone, in this matiere
Thou miht ensample taken hiere,
That with thi grete besinesse
Thou miht atteigne the richesse[1145]
Of love, if that ther be no Slowthe.[1146]
[Sidenote: Amans.]
I dar wel seie be mi trowthe,
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 19=]
Als fer as I my witt can seche,[1147]
Mi fader, as for lacke of speche,
Bot so as I me schrof tofore,
Ther is non other time lore, 520
Wherof ther mihte ben obstacle[1148]
To lette love of his miracle,
Which I beseche day and nyht.
Bot, fader, so as it is riht
In forme of schrifte to beknowe
What thing belongeth to the slowe,
Your faderhode I wolde preie,
If ther be forthere eny weie
Touchende unto this ilke vice.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, ye, of this office 530
Ther serveth on in special,
Which lost hath his memorial,
So that he can no wit withholde
In thing which he to kepe is holde,
Wherof fulofte himself he grieveth:[1149]
And who that most upon him lieveth,
Whan that hise wittes ben so weyved,
He mai full lihtly be deceived.

[Sidenote: [iii. FORGETFULNESS.]]
iii. _Mentibus oblitus alienis labitur ille,_
_Quem probat accidia non meminisse sui._
_Sic amor incautus, qui non memoratur ad horas,_[1150]
_Perdit et offendit, quod cuperare nequit._