Chapter XIII: Front Matter (13)

[Sidenote: [TARQUIN AND HIS SON ARUNS.]]
So as these olde gestes sein,
The proude tirannyssh Romein
[Sidenote: Hic loquitur de Tarquino nuper Rome[1381]
Imperatore, necnon et de eiusdem filio nomine Arrons, qui
omni viciorum varietate repleti tam in homines quam in
mulieres innumera scelera perpetrarunt: set specialiter
super hiis que contra Gabinos fraudulenter operati sunt
tractare intendit.]
Tarquinus, which was thanne king
And wroghte many a wrongful thing,
Of Sones hadde manyon,
Among the whiche Arrons was on,
Lich to his fader of maneres;
So that withinne a fewe yeres 4600
With tresoun and with tirannie
Thei wonne of lond a gret partie, (4800*)
And token hiede of no justice,
Which due was to here office
Upon the reule of governance;
Bot al that evere was plesance
Unto the fleisshes lust thei toke.
And fell so, that thei undertoke
A werre, which was noght achieved,
Bot ofte time it hadde hem grieved,[1382] 4610
Ayein a folk which thanne hihte[1383]
The Gabiens: and al be nyhte
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 247=]
This Arrons, whan he was at hom
In Rome, a prive place he nom
Withinne a chambre, and bet himselve
And made him woundes ten or tuelve
Upon the bak, as it was sene;
And so forth with hise hurtes grene
In al the haste that he may
He rod, and cam that other day 4620
Unto Gabie the Cite,
And in he wente: and whan that he
Was knowe, anon the gates schette,
The lordes alle upon him sette
With drawe swerdes upon honde.
This Arrons wolde hem noght withstonde,
Bot seide, ‘I am hier at your wille,
Als lief it is that ye me spille,[1384]
As if myn oghne fader dede.’
And forthwith in the same stede 4630
He preide hem that thei wolde se,
And schewede hem in what degre
His fader and hise brethren bothe,
Whiche, as he seide, weren wrothe,
Him hadde beten and reviled,
For evere and out of Rome exiled.
And thus he made hem to believe,
And seide, if that he myhte achieve
His pourpos, it schal wel be yolde,
Be so that thei him helpe wolde. 4640
Whan that the lordes hadde sein[1385]
Hou wofully he was besein,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 248=]
Thei token Pite of his grief;
Bot yit it was hem wonder lief
That Rome him hadde exiled so.
These Gabiens be conseil tho[1386]
Upon the goddes made him swere,
That he to hem schal trouthe bere
And strengthen hem with al his myht;
And thei also him have behiht 4650
To helpen him in his querele.
Thei schopen thanne for his hele (4850*)
That he was bathed and enoignt,
Til that he was in lusti point;
And what he wolde thanne he hadde,
That he al hol the cite ladde
Riht as he wolde himself divise.
And thanne he thoghte him in what wise
He myhte his tirannie schewe;
And to his conseil tok a schrewe, 4660
Whom to his fader forth he sente
In his message, and he tho wente,[1387]
And preide his fader forto seie
Be his avis, and finde a weie,
Hou they the cite myhten winne,
Whil that he stod so wel therinne.
And whan the messager was come
To Rome, and hath in conseil nome
The king, it fell per chance so
That thei were in a gardin tho, 4670
This messager forth with the king.
And whanne he hadde told the thing
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 249=]
In what manere that it stod,
And that Tarquinus understod
Be the message hou that it ferde,
Anon he tok in honde a yerde,
And in the gardin as thei gon,
The lilie croppes on and on,
Wher that thei weren sprongen oute,
He smot of, as thei stode aboute, 4680
And seide unto the messager:
‘Lo, this thing, which I do nou hier,
Schal ben in stede of thin ansuere;
And in this wise as I me bere,
Thou schalt unto mi Sone telle.’
And he no lengere wolde duelle,
Bot tok his leve and goth withal
Unto his lord and told him al,[1388]
Hou that his fader hadde do.
Whan Arrons herde him telle so, 4690
Anon he wiste what it mente,
And therto sette al his entente,
Til he thurgh fraude and tricherie
The Princes hefdes of Gabie
Hath smiten of, and al was wonne:
His fader cam tofore the Sonne
Into the toun with the Romeins,
And tok and slowh the citezeins
Withoute reson or pite,
That he ne spareth no degre. 4700
And for the sped of this conqueste
He let do make a riche feste (4900*)
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 250=]
With a sollempne Sacrifise
In Phebus temple; and in this wise
Whan the Romeins assembled were,
In presence of hem alle there,
Upon thalter whan al was diht
And that the fyres were alyht,
From under thalter sodeinly
An hidous Serpent openly 4710
Cam out and hath devoured al
The Sacrifice, and ek withal
The fyres queynt, and forth anon,
So as he cam, so is he gon
Into the depe ground ayein.
And every man began to sein,
‘Ha lord, what mai this signefie?’
And therupon thei preie and crie
To Phebus, that thei mihten knowe
The cause: and he the same throwe 4720
With gastly vois, that alle it herde,
The Romeins in this wise ansuerde,
And seide hou for the wikkidnesse
Of Pride and of unrihtwisnesse,
That Tarquin and his Sone hath do,
The Sacrifice is wasted so,
Which myhte noght ben acceptable
Upon such Senne abhominable.
And over that yit he hem wisseth,
And seith that which of hem ferst kisseth 4730
His moder, he schal take wrieche
Upon the wrong: and of that speche
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 251=]
Thei ben withinne here hertes glade,
Thogh thei outward no semblant made.
Ther was a knyht which Brutus hihte,
And he with al the haste he myhte
To grounde fell and therthe kiste,[1389]
Bot non of hem the cause wiste,
Bot wenden that he hadde sporned
Per chance, and so was overtorned. 4740
Bot Brutus al an other mente;
For he knew wel in his entente
Hou therthe of every mannes kinde
Is Moder: bot thei weren blinde,
And sihen noght so fer as he.
Bot whan thei leften the Cite[1390]
And comen hom to Rome ayein,
Thanne every man which was Romein
And moder hath, to hire he bende
And keste, and ech of hem thus wende 4750
To be the ferste upon the chance,
Of Tarquin forto do vengance, (4950*)
So as thei herden Phebus sein.

[Sidenote: [THE RAPE OF LUCRECE.]]
Bot every time hath his certein,[1391]
So moste it nedes thanne abide,
Til afterward upon a tyde
[Sidenote: Hic narrat quod, cum Tarquinus in obsidione
Ciuitatis Ardee, vt eam destrueret, intentus fuit, Arrons
filius eius Romam secreto adiens in domo Collatini
hospitatus est; vbi de nocte illam castissimam dominam
Lucreciam ymaginata fraude vi oppressit: vnde illa pre
dolore mortua, ipse cum Tarquino patre suo tota conclamante
Roma in perpetuum exilium delegati sunt.]
Tarquinus made unskilfully
A werre, which was fasteby
Ayein a toun with walles stronge
Which Ardea was cleped longe, 4760
And caste a Siege theraboute,
That ther mai noman passen oute.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 252=]
So it befell upon a nyht,
Arrons, which hadde his souper diht,
A part of the chivalerie
With him to soupe in compaignie
Hath bede: and whan thei comen were
And seten at the souper there,
Among here othre wordes glade
Arrons a gret spekinge made, 4770
Who hadde tho the beste wif
Of Rome: and ther began a strif,[1392]
For Arrons seith he hath the beste.
So jangle thei withoute reste,
Til ate laste on Collatin,
A worthi knyht, and was cousin
To Arrons, seide him in this wise:
‘It is,’ quod he, ‘of non emprise
To speke a word, bot of the dede,
Therof it is to taken hiede.[1393] 4780
Anon forthi this same tyde
Lep on thin hors and let ous ryde:
So mai we knowe bothe tuo
Unwarli what oure wyves do,
And that schal be a trewe assay.’
This Arrons seith noght ones nay:
On horse bak anon thei lepte
In such manere, and nothing slepte,
Ridende forth til that thei come
Al prively withinne Rome; 4790
In strange place and doun thei lihte,
And take a chambre, and out of sihte
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 253=]
Thei be desguised for a throwe,
So that no lif hem scholde knowe.
And to the paleis ferst thei soghte,[1394]
To se what thing this ladi wroghte[1395]
Of which Arrons made his avant:
And thei hire sihe of glad semblant,
Al full of merthes and of bordes;
Bot among alle hire othre wordes 4800
Sche spak noght of hire housebonde.
And whan thei hadde al understonde (5000*)
Of thilke place what hem liste,[1396]
Thei gon hem forth, that non it wiste,
Beside thilke gate of bras,
Collacea which cleped was,
Wher Collatin hath his duellinge.
Ther founden thei at hom sittinge
Lucrece his wif, al environed
With wommen, whiche are abandoned[1397] 4810
To werche, and sche wroghte ek withal,
And bad hem haste, and seith, ‘It schal[1398]
Be for mi housebondes were,
Which with his swerd and with his spere[1399]
Lith at the Siege in gret desese.
And if it scholde him noght displese,
Nou wolde god I hadde him hiere;
For certes til that I mai hiere
Som good tidinge of his astat,
Min herte is evere upon debat. 4820
For so as alle men witnesse,
He is of such an hardiesse,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 254=]
That he can noght himselve spare,
And that is al my moste care,
Whan thei the walles schulle assaile.[1400]
Bot if mi wisshes myhte availe,
I wolde it were a groundles pet,
Be so the Siege were unknet,
And I myn housebonde sihe.’
With that the water in hire yhe 4830
Aros, that sche ne myhte it stoppe,
And as men sen the dew bedroppe[1401]
The leves and the floures eke,
Riht so upon hire whyte cheke
The wofull salte teres felle.
Whan Collatin hath herd hire telle
The menynge of hire trewe herte,
Anon with that to hire he sterte,
And seide, ‘Lo, mi goode diere,
Nou is he come to you hiere, 4840
That ye most loven, as ye sein.’
And sche with goodly chiere ayein
Beclipte him in hire armes smale,
And the colour, which erst was pale,
To Beaute thanne was restored,
So that it myhte noght be mored.
The kinges Sone, which was nyh,
And of this lady herde and syh
The thinges as thei ben befalle,
The resoun of hise wittes alle 4850
Hath lost; for love upon his part
Cam thanne, and of his fyri dart (5050*)
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 255=]
With such a wounde him hath thurghsmite,
That he mot nedes fiele and wite
Of thilke blinde maladie,
To which no cure of Surgerie
Can helpe. Bot yit natheles
At thilke time he hield his pes,
That he no contienance made,
Bot openly with wordes glade, 4860
So as he couthe in his manere,
He spak and made frendly chiere,
Til it was time forto go.
And Collatin with him also
His leve tok, so that be nyhte
With al the haste that thei myhte
Thei riden to the Siege ayein.
Bot Arrons was so wo besein
With thoghtes whiche upon him runne,
That he al be the brode Sunne 4870
To bedde goth, noght forto reste,
Bot forto thenke upon the beste
And the faireste forth withal,
That evere he syh or evere schal,
So as him thoghte in his corage,
Where he pourtreieth hire ymage:
Ferst the fetures of hir face,
In which nature hadde alle grace
Of wommanly beaute beset,
So that it myhte noght be bet;[1402] 4880
And hou hir yelwe her was tresced[1403]
And hire atir so wel adresced,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 256=]
And hou sche spak, and hou sche wroghte,
And hou sche wepte, al this he thoghte,
That he foryeten hath no del,
Bot al it liketh him so wel,[1404]
That in the word nor in the dede[1405]
Hire lacketh noght of wommanhiede.
And thus this tirannysshe knyht
Was soupled, bot noght half ariht, 4890
For he non other hiede tok,
Bot that he myhte be som crok,
Althogh it were ayein hire wille,
The lustes of his fleissh fulfille;
Which love was noght resonable,
For where honour is remuable,
It oghte wel to ben avised.
Bot he, which hath his lust assised
With melled love and tirannie,
Hath founde upon his tricherie 4900
A weie which he thenkth to holde,
[Sidenote: Audaces fortuna iuuat.]
And seith, ‘Fortune unto the bolde (5100*)
Is favorable forto helpe.’
And thus withinne himself to yelpe,
As he which was a wylde man,
Upon his treson he began:
And up he sterte, and forth he wente
On horsebak, bot his entente
Ther knew no wiht, and thus he nam
The nexte weie, til he cam 4910
Unto Collacea the gate
Of Rome, and it was somdiel late,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 257=]
Riht evene upon the Sonne set,
As he which hadde schape his net[1406]
Hire innocence to betrappe.
And as it scholde tho mishappe,
Als priveliche as evere he myhte
He rod, and of his hors alyhte[1407]
Tofore Collatines In,
And al frendliche he goth him in,[1408] 4920
As he that was cousin of house.
And sche, which is the goode spouse,
Lucrece, whan that sche him sih,
With goodli chiere drowh him nyh,
As sche which al honour supposeth,
And him, so as sche dar, opposeth
Hou it stod of hire housebonde.
And he tho dede hire understonde
With tales feigned in his wise,[1409]
Riht as he wolde himself devise, 4930
Wherof he myhte hire herte glade,
That sche the betre chiere made,
Whan sche the glade wordes herde,
Hou that hire housebonde ferde.
And thus the trouthe was deceived
With slih tresoun, which was received
To hire which mente alle goode;
For as the festes thanne stode,
His Souper was ryht wel arraied.
Bot yit he hath no word assaied[1410] 4940
To speke of love in no degre;
Bot with covert soubtilite
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 258=]
His frendly speches he affaiteth,
And as the Tigre his time awaiteth[1411]
In hope forto cacche his preie.
Whan that the bordes were aweie
And thei have souped in the halle,
He seith that slep is on him falle,
And preith he moste go to bedde;
And sche with alle haste spedde, 4950
So as hire thoghte it was to done,
That every thing was redi sone. (5150*)
Sche broghte him to his chambre tho
And tok hire leve, and forth is go
Into hire oghne chambre by,
As sche that wende certeinly
Have had a frend, and hadde a fo,
Wherof fell after mochel wo.
This tirant, thogh he lyhe softe,
Out of his bed aros fulofte, 4960
And goth aboute, and leide his Ere
To herkne, til that alle were
To bedde gon and slepten faste.
And thanne upon himself he caste
A mantell, and his swerd al naked
He tok in honde; and sche unwaked
Abedde lay, but what sche mette,
God wot; for he the Dore unschette
So prively that non it herde,
The softe pas and forth he ferde 4970
Unto the bed wher that sche slepte,[1412]
Al sodeinliche and in he crepte,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 259=]
And hire in bothe his Armes tok.
With that this worthi wif awok,
Which thurgh tendresce of wommanhiede
Hire vois hath lost for pure drede,
That o word speke sche ne dar:
And ek he bad hir to be war,
For if sche made noise or cry,
He seide, his swerd lay faste by 4980
To slen hire and hire folk aboute.
And thus he broghte hire herte in doute,
That lich a Lomb whanne it is sesed
In wolves mouth, so was desesed
Lucrece, which he naked fond:
Wherof sche swounede in his hond,
And, as who seith, lay ded oppressed.
And he, which al him hadde adresced
To lust, tok thanne what him liste,
And goth his wey, that non it wiste, 4990
Into his oghne chambre ayein,
And clepede up his chamberlein,
And made him redi forto ryde.
And thus this lecherouse pride
To horse lepte and forth he rod;
And sche, which in hire bed abod,
Whan that sche wiste he was agon,
Sche clepede after liht anon
And up aros long er the day,
And caste awey hire freissh aray, 5000
As sche which hath the world forsake,
And tok upon the clothes blake: (5200*)
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 260=]
And evere upon continuinge,
Riht as men sen a welle springe,
With yhen fulle of wofull teres,
Hire her hangende aboute hire Eres,
Sche wepte, and noman wiste why.
Bot yit among full pitously
Sche preide that thei nolden drecche
Hire housebonde forto fecche 5010
Forth with hire fader ek also.
Thus be thei comen bothe tuo,
And Brutus cam with Collatin,
Which to Lucrece was cousin,
And in thei wenten alle thre
To chambre, wher thei myhten se
The wofulleste upon this Molde,
Which wepte as sche to water scholde.
The chambre Dore anon was stoke,
Er thei have oght unto hire spoke; 5020
Thei sihe hire clothes al desguised,
And hou sche hath hirself despised,
Hire her hangende unkemd aboute,
Bot natheles sche gan to loute
And knele unto hire housebonde;
And he, which fain wolde understonde
The cause why sche ferde so,
With softe wordes axeth tho,
‘What mai you be, mi goode swete?’
And sche, which thoghte hirself unmete 5030
And the lest worth of wommen alle,
Hire wofull chiere let doun falle
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 261=]
For schame and couthe unnethes loke.
And thei therof good hiede toke,
And preiden hire in alle weie
That sche ne spare forto seie
Unto hir frendes what hire eileth,
Why sche so sore hirself beweileth,
And what the sothe wolde mene.
And sche, which hath hire sorwes grene, 5040
Hire wo to telle thanne assaieth,
Bot tendre schame hire word delaieth,
That sondri times as sche minte[1413]
To speke, upon the point sche stinte.
And thei hire bidden evere in on
To telle forth, and therupon,
Whan that sche sih sche moste nede,
Hire tale betwen schame and drede
Sche tolde, noght withoute peine.
And he, which wolde hire wo restreigne, 5050
Hire housebonde, a sory man,
Conforteth hire al that he can, (5250*)
And swor, and ek hire fader bothe,
That thei with hire be noght wrothe
Of that is don ayein hire wille;
And preiden hire to be stille,
For thei to hire have al foryive.
But sche, which thoghte noght to live,
Of hem wol no foryivenesse,
And seide, of thilke wickednesse 5060
Which was unto hire bodi wroght,
Al were it so sche myhte it noght,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 262=]
Nevere afterward the world ne schal
Reproeven hire; and forth withal,
Er eny man therof be war,
A naked swerd, the which sche bar
Withinne hire Mantel priveli,
Betwen hire hondes sodeinly
Sche tok, and thurgh hire herte it throng,
And fell to grounde, and evere among, 5070
Whan that sche fell, so as sche myhte,
Hire clothes with hire hand sche rihte,
That noman dounward fro the kne
Scholde eny thing of hire se:
Thus lay this wif honestely,
Althogh she deide wofully.
Tho was no sorwe forto seke:
Hire housebonde, hire fader eke
Aswoune upon the bodi felle;
Ther mai no mannes tunge telle 5080
In which anguisshe that thei were.
Bot Brutus, which was with hem there,
Toward himself his herte kepte,
And to Lucrece anon he lepte,
The blodi swerd and pulleth oute,
And swor the goddes al aboute
That he therof schal do vengance.
And sche tho made a contienance,
Hire dedlich yhe and ate laste
In thonkinge as it were up caste, 5090
And so behield him in the wise,
Whil sche to loke mai suffise.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 263=]
And Brutus with a manlich herte
Hire housebonde hath mad up sterte
Forth with hire fader ek also
In alle haste, and seide hem tho
That thei anon withoute lette
A Beere for the body fette;
Lucrece and therupon bledende
He leide, and so forth out criende 5100
He goth into the Market place[1414]
Of Rome: and in a litel space (5300*)
Thurgh cry the cite was assembled,
And every mannes herte is trembled,[1415]
Whan thei the sothe herde of the cas.
And therupon the conseil was
Take of the grete and of the smale,
And Brutus tolde hem al the tale;
And thus cam into remembrance
Of Senne the continuance, 5110
Which Arrons hadde do tofore,
And ek, long time er he was bore,
Of that his fadre hadde do[1416]
The wrong cam into place tho;
So that the comun clamour tolde
The newe schame of Sennes olde.
And al the toun began to crie,
‘Awey, awey the tirannie
Of lecherie and covoitise!’
And ate laste in such a wise 5120
The fader in the same while
Forth with his Sone thei exile,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 264=]
And taken betre governance.
Bot yit an other remembrance
That rihtwisnesse and lecherie
Acorden noght in compaignie
With him that hath the lawe on honde,
That mai a man wel understonde,
As be a tale thou shalt wite,
Of olde ensample as it is write.[1417] 5130

[Sidenote: [TALE OF VIRGINIA.]]
At Rome whan that Apius,
[Sidenote: Hic ponit exemplum super eodem,[1418] qualiter
Liuius Virginius dux excercitus Romanorum vnicam filiam
pulcherimam habens cum quodam nobili viro nomine Ilicio, vt
ipsam in vxorem duceret, finaliter concordauit. Set interim
Apius Claudius tunc[1419] Imperator virginis formositatem,
vt eam violaret, concupiscens, occasiones quibus
matrimonium impedire, ipsamque ad sui vsum apprehendere
posset, subdola conspiracione fieri coniectauit. Et cum
propositum sui desiderii productis falsis testibus in
iudicio Imperator habere debuisset, pater tunc ibidem
presens extracto gladio filie sue pectus mortali vulnere
per medium transfodit, dicens: ‘Malo michi de filia mea
virginem habere mortuam, quam in sui scandalum meretricem
reseruare viuentem.’]
Whos other name is Claudius,
Was governour of the cite,
Ther fell a wonder thing to se
Touchende a gentil Maide, as thus,[1420]
Whom Livius Virginius
Begeten hadde upon his wif:
Men seiden that so fair a lif
As sche was noght in al the toun.
This fame, which goth up and doun, 5140
To Claudius cam in his Ere,
Wherof his thoght anon was there,
Which al his herte hath set afyre,
That he began the flour desire
Which longeth unto maydenhede,
And sende, if that he myhte spede
The blinde lustes of his wille.
Bot that thing mai he noght fulfille,
For sche stod upon Mariage;
A worthi kniht of gret lignage, 5150
Ilicius which thanne hihte,
Acorded in hire fader sihte (5350*)
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 265=]
Was, that he scholde his douhter wedde.
Bot er the cause fully spedde,
Hire fader, which in Romanie
The ledinge of chivalerie
In governance hath undertake,
Upon a werre which was take
Goth out with al the strengthe he hadde
Of men of Armes whiche he ladde: 5160
So was the mariage left,[1421]
And stod upon acord til eft.
The king, which herde telle of this,
Hou that this Maide ordeigned is
To Mariage, thoghte an other.
And hadde thilke time a brother,
Which Marchus Claudius was hote,
And was a man of such riote
Riht as the king himselve was:
Thei tuo togedre upon this cas 5170
In conseil founden out this weie,[1422]
That Marchus Claudius schal seie
Hou sche be weie of covenant
To his service appourtenant
Was hol, and to non other man;
And therupon he seith he can
In every point witnesse take,
So that sche schal it noght forsake.
Whan that thei hadden schape so,
After the lawe which was tho, 5180
Whil that hir fader was absent,
Sche was somouned and assent[1423]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 266=]
To come in presence of the king
And stonde in ansuere of this thing.[1424]
Hire frendes wisten alle wel
That it was falshed everydel,
And comen to the king and seiden,
Upon the comun lawe and preiden,
So as this noble worthi knyht
Hir fader for the comun riht 5190
In thilke time, as was befalle,
Lai for the profit of hem alle
Upon the wylde feldes armed,
That he ne scholde noght ben harmed
Ne schamed, whil that he were oute;
And thus thei preiden al aboute.
For al the clamour that he herde,
The king upon his lust ansuerde,
And yaf hem only daies tuo
Of respit; for he wende tho, 5200
That in so schorte a time appiere[1425]
Hire fader mihte in no manere. (5400*)
Bot as therof he was deceived;
For Livius hadde al conceived
The pourpos of the king tofore,
So that to Rome ayein therfore[1426]
In alle haste he cam ridende,
And lefte upon the field liggende
His host, til that he come ayein.
And thus this worthi capitein 5210
Appiereth redi at his day,
Wher al that evere reson may
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 267=]
Be lawe in audience he doth,
So that his dowhter upon soth
Of that Marchus hire hadde accused
He hath tofore the court excused.
The king, which sih his pourpos faile,
And that no sleihte mihte availe,
Encombred of his lustes blinde
The lawe torneth out of kinde,[1427] 5220
And half in wraththe as thogh it were,
In presence of hem alle there
Deceived of concupiscence
Yaf for his brother the sentence,
And bad him that he scholde sese
This Maide and make him wel at ese;
Bot al withinne his oghne entente
He wiste hou that the cause wente,
Of that his brother hath the wyte
He was himselven forto wyte. 5230
Bot thus this maiden hadde wrong,
Which was upon the king along,
Bot ayein him was non Appel,
And that the fader wiste wel:
Wherof upon the tirannie,
That for the lust of Lecherie
His douhter scholde be deceived,
And that Ilicius was weyved
Untrewly fro the Mariage,[1428]
Riht as a Leon in his rage, 5240
Which of no drede set acompte
And not what pite scholde amounte,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 268=]
A naked swerd he pulleth oute,
The which amonges al the route
He threste thurgh his dowhter side,
And al alowd this word he cride:
‘Lo, take hire ther, thou wrongfull king,[1429]
For me is levere upon this thing
To be the fader of a Maide,
Thogh sche be ded, than if men saide 5250
That in hir lif sche were schamed[1430]
And I therof were evele named.’ (5450*)
Tho bad the king men scholde areste
His bodi, bot of thilke heste,
Lich to the chaced wylde bor,
The houndes whan he fieleth sor,
Tothroweth and goth forth his weie,
In such a wise forto seie
This worthi kniht with swerd on honde
His weie made, and thei him wonde, 5260
That non of hem his strokes kepte;
And thus upon his hors he lepte,
And with his swerd droppende of blod,[1431]
The which withinne his douhter stod,
He cam ther as the pouer was
Of Rome, and tolde hem al the cas,
And seide hem that thei myhten liere[1432]
Upon the wrong of his matiere,[1433]
That betre it were to redresce
At hom the grete unrihtwisnesse, 5270
Than forto werre in strange place
And lese at hom here oghne grace.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 269=]
For thus stant every mannes lif
In jeupartie for his wif
Or for his dowhter, if thei be[1434]
Passende an other of beaute.
Of this merveile which thei sihe
So apparant tofore here yhe,
Of that the king him hath misbore,[1435]
Here othes thei have alle swore 5280
That thei wol stonde be the riht.
And thus of on acord upriht
To Rome at ones hom ayein
Thei torne, and schortly forto sein,
This tirannye cam to mouthe,
And every man seith what he couthe,
So that the prive tricherie,
Which set was upon lecherie,
Cam openly to mannes Ere;
And that broghte in the comun feere, 5290
That every man the peril dradde
Of him that so hem overladde.
Forthi, er that it worse falle,[1436]
Thurgh comun conseil of hem alle
Thei have here wrongfull king deposed,
And hem in whom it was supposed
The conseil stod of his ledinge[1437]
Be lawe unto the dom thei bringe,
Wher thei receiven the penance
That longeth to such governance. 5300
And thus thunchaste was chastised,
Wherof thei myhte ben avised (5500*)
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 270=]
That scholden afterward governe,
And be this evidence lerne,
Hou it is good a king eschuie
The lust of vice and vertu suie.

[Sidenote: [TOBIAS AND SARA.]]
To make an ende in this partie,
Which toucheth to the Policie
[Sidenote: Hic inter alia castitatis regimen concernencia
loquitur quomodo Matrimonium, cuius status Sacramentum,
quasi continenciam equiperans, eciam honeste delectacionis
regimine moderari debet. Et narrat in exemplum, qualiter
pro eo quod illi vii.^{tem} viri, qui Sarre Raguelis filie
magis propter concupiscenciam quam propter matrimonium
voluptuose nupserunt, vnus post alium omnes prima nocte a
demone Asmodeo singillatim iugulati interierunt.]
Of Chastite in special,
As for conclusion final 5310
That every lust is to eschue
Be gret ensample I mai argue:
Hou in Rages a toun of Mede
Ther was a Mayde, and as I rede,
Sarra sche hihte, and Raguel
Hir fader was; and so befell,
Of bodi bothe and of visage
Was non so fair of the lignage,
To seche among hem alle, as sche;
Wherof the riche of the cite, 5320
Of lusti folk that couden love,
Assoted were upon hire love,
And asken hire forto wedde.
On was which ate laste spedde,
Bot that was more for likinge,
To have his lust, than for weddinge,
As he withinne his herte caste,
Which him repenteth ate laste.
For so it fell the ferste nyht,
That whanne he was to bedde dyht, 5330
As he which nothing god besecheth
Bot al only hise lustes secheth,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 271=]
Abedde er he was fully warm
And wolde have take hire in his Arm,
Asmod, which was a fend of helle,
And serveth, as the bokes telle,[1438]
To tempte a man of such a wise,[1439]
Was redy there, and thilke emprise,
Which he hath set upon delit,
He vengeth thanne in such a plit, 5340
That he his necke hath writhe atuo.[1440]
This yonge wif was sory tho,
Which wiste nothing what it mente;
And natheles yit thus it wente
Noght only of this ferste man,[1441]
Bot after, riht as he began,
Sexe othre of hire housebondes
Asmod hath take into hise bondes,[1442]
So that thei alle abedde deiden,
Whan thei her hand toward hir leiden, 5350
Noght for the lawe of Mariage,
Bot for that ilke fyri rage (5550*)
In which that thei the lawe excede:
For who that wolde taken hiede
What after fell in this matiere,
Ther mihte he wel the sothe hiere.
Whan sche was wedded to Thobie,
And Raphael in compainie
Hath tawht him hou to ben honeste,
Asmod wan noght at thilke feste, 5360
And yit Thobie his wille hadde;
For he his lust so goodly ladde,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 272=]
That bothe lawe and kinde is served,
Wherof he hath himself preserved,
That he fell noght in the sentence.
O which an open evidence[1443]
Of this ensample a man mai se,
That whan likinge in the degre
[Sidenote: [CHASTITY.]]
Of Mariage mai forsueie,
Wel oghte him thanne in other weie 5370
Of lust to be the betre avised.
For god the lawes hath assissed
Als wel to reson as to kinde,
Bot he the bestes wolde binde
Only to lawes of nature,
Bot to the mannes creature
God yaf him reson forth withal,
Wherof that he nature schal
Upon the causes modefie,[1444]
[Sidenote: Nota.[1445]]
That he schal do no lecherie, 5380
And yit he schal hise lustes have.
So ben the lawes bothe save
And every thing put out of sclandre;[1446]
As whilom to king Alisandre
The wise Philosophre tawhte,
Whan he his ferste lore cawhte,
Noght only upon chastete,
Bot upon alle honestete;[1447]
Wherof a king himself mai taste,
Hou trewe, hou large, hou joust, hou chaste 5390
Him oghte of reson forto be,
Forth with the vertu of Pite,[1448]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 273=]
Thurgh which he mai gret thonk deserve
Toward his godd, that he preserve
Him and his poeple in alle welthe
Of pes, richesse, honour and helthe
Hier in this world and elles eke.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, as we tofore spieke
In schrifte, so as thou me seidest,
And for thin ese, as thou me preidest, 5400
Thi love throghes forto lisse,
That I thee wolde telle and wisse (5600*)
The forme of Aristotles lore,
I have it seid, and somdiel more
Of othre ensamples, to assaie
If I thi peines myhte allaie
Thurgh eny thing that I can seie.[1449]
[Sidenote: Amans.]
Do wey, mi fader, I you preie:
Of that ye have unto me told
I thonke you a thousendfold. 5410
The tales sounen in myn Ere,[1450]
Bot yit myn herte is elleswhere,
I mai miselve noght restreigne,
That I nam evere in loves peine:
Such lore couthe I nevere gete,
Which myhte make me foryete
O point, bot if so were I slepte,[1451]
That I my tydes ay ne kepte
To thenke of love and of his lawe;
That herte can I noght withdrawe. 5420
Forthi, my goode fader diere,
Lef al and speke of my matiere[1452]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 274=]
Touchende of love, as we begonne:
If that ther be oght overronne
Or oght foryete or left behinde
Which falleth unto loves kinde,[1453]
Wherof it nedeth to be schrive,
Nou axeth, so that whil I live
I myhte amende that is mys.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi goode diere Sone, yis. 5430
Thi schrifte forto make plein,
Ther is yit more forto sein
Of love which is unavised.
Bot for thou schalt be wel avised
Unto thi schrifte as it belongeth,
A point which upon love hongeth
And is the laste of alle tho,
I wol thee telle, and thanne ho.

=Explicit Liber Septimus.=

FOOTNOTES:

[927] 13 þi time AdBTΔ, K (þe tymes lasse C)

[928] 15 drowe AM

[929] 25 matier AdBT

[930] 28 Declared AdBT

[931] 29 thre] þe H₁, AdBT, W

[932] 56 And þat AM ... B₂

[933] _Latin Verses_ ii. 2 capit AdBT, W

[934] 87 is thilke] þis ilke H₁ ... B₂

[935] 89 S _resumes_

[936] 92 thre] þe AMH₁XRLB₂

[937] 108 The god] And he B The T He Ad

[938] 109 That] And AdBT

[939] 119 By chief AM ... C, W þe cheef L

[940] 161 experience M ... B₂, Δ

[941] 177 _margin_ vocat A ... B₂ (_except_ E)

[942] 190 The F

[943] 207 _margin_ interim _om._ BΔ

[944] 236 ther ne] þerþe (the erthe &c.) ne AMH₁XGEL þerþe (_om._ ne) C erþe ne R _line om._ W

[945] 257 lyfliche AM liueliche W lif iche H₁ fissche Δ

[946] 262 Noman S, F

[947] 269 the _om._ AM

[948] 275 And B

[949] 298 is vpdrawe (vp drawe) C, AdBT, W

[950] 300 vpon alofte AM vp alofte T, Δ

[951] 303 befalle H₁EC, SAdB, W

[952] 319 _margin_ hic _om._ A ... B₂, B, W (Nota hic _om._ Δ)

[953] 323 fyry drake E, BT

[954] 330 exaltaciouns AM

[955] 336 falle doun to gr.] doun (downe) to þe gr. (_om._ falle) AM ... B₂ falle doun to þe grounde J, T, W (thre grounde T)

[956] 339 exaltacioun AMH₁

[957] 361 Daily H₁ Baaly CL

[958] 365 forme AdBT

[959] 368 hou it _om._ Ad T it B

[960] 374 sond(ė) AMXGERCB₂

[961] 393 The CL Be AdT

[962] 429 fyr] ferst B firþ Ad

[963] 438 be hote AJMH₁XL, AdTΔ, K

[964] 445 chele] cold(e) AM ... B₂

[965] 449 _margin_ est _om._ B

[966] 451 þe cold AdBT

[966m] 451 _margin_ domus J, SB, F domus est ACB₂ &c.

[967] 456 his AdBT hyȝe X

[968] 464 _margin_ cordi _om._ AM ... B₂

[969] 469 chief _om._ H₁ ... B₂ (is chief _om._ R)

[970] 478 increacioun AM ... B₂, W

[971] 480 Ordeineþ AH₁ ... B₂ Ordeyne M

[972] 483 forto] to AM

[973] 492 hath] þat AM ... B₂

[974] 508 haþ AMH₁, AdBTΔ, WK

[975] 510 fleissh(e) may H₁XRCLB₂ fleissh may him E

[976] 521 be told JGC, B betold (bitold) A, S, F

[977] 525 priuely AJM pleinly B₂

[978] 528 bookes B

[979] 541 Middelerþe (middelerþe) J, S, F myddel erþe AC, B

[980] 546 Cam AJ, F Cham C, SB

[981] 552 himselue AJM

[982] 575 _margin_ Aufrica AJC, F Affrica SB

[983] 578 Vnto S ... Δ

[984] 584 Which AJC, F Whiche SB

[985] 597 haleth] lakkeþ AdBTΛ

[986] 620 Which AJ, S, F Whiche B

[987] 621 good JC, SB goode A, F

[988] 628 Alle oþre AJ, S, F Alle (Al) oþer EC, B

[989] _Latin Verses_ iv. 4 quod H₁ ... B₂, B quis T

[990] 672 knowechi_n_ge F

[991] 684 tho] þe JXGL, AdBTΔ, K (þo S)

[992] 685 _Paragr. in_ MSS _at_ 686

[993] 694 Bot þorizonte FWK Be (By) þorizonte SAdBTΔΛ But (Bot) zorizonte AMYXGERCB₂ Bot þorughout (þurgh out &c.) JH₁L

[994] 717 it tawhte (taughte) A ... B₂

[995] 724 schal beknowe SΔ, FK

[996] 736 fulwonne FK _rest_ ful wonne

[997] 769 and _om._ AMH₁XGR

[998] 798 wantounesse JC, B, F wantonnesse S wantonesse T

[999] 911 that] þe AMH₁G, AdBT, W

[1000] 933 vpon] whan AM

[1001] 935 f. _margin_ De septima--dictus est _om._ B

[1002] 936 þe AM ... B₂, AdΔ

[1003] 956 bryht (bright) S ... Δ

[1004] 962 _margin_ assequitur H₁E ... B₂ asseruntur X

[1005] 978 as it] and it E, AdBT it XL

[1006] 983 _margin_ adesse H₁XGECR, SBΔ, W (_Lat. om._ JM, AdT)

[1007] 979-982 _Four lines om._ B

[1008] 984 þe beste AM ... B₂ his brest W

[1009] 1007 out of AdBT and of W

[1010] 1017 is _om._ AdBT

[1011] 1019 hous of AM

[1012] 1027 tuo] moo (mo) AM ... B₂

[1013] 1033 of o kynde H₁ERCB₂ of kynde XL

[1014] 1044 Hise F

[1015] 1058 be bore] bifore (before) AdBT

[1016] 1079 Monthe _om._ B

[1017] 1095 cold _om._ AdBT

[1018] 1100 Augst applied T, F August applied A ... B₂ (_except_ E). SAdΔ, WK August plyed E, B

[1019] 1116 this] þe AMH₁XGRLB₂

[1020] 1148 To ... bore AMX ... L To ... lore B₂

[1021] 1163 he] it A ... B₂

[1022] 1181 f. formes ... enformes AdBT

[1023] 1223 unto] and to B

[1024] 1229 his signe AdBT

[1025] 1260 þe point AM ... B₂

[1026] 1261 Constantyn noble þe cite H₁XERCL Constantyne þe noble cite B₂

[1027] 1266 Aries haþ H₁ ... B₂

[1028] 1280 hihe] sihe (seye) BT

[1029] 1287 moist AJ, S, F moiste B

[1030] 1321 Is hette AM it hatteth Δ monþes BT mannes W

[1031] 1346 _margin_ Berillis A ... B₂, W

[1032] 1361 as þe scole (_om._ seith) AMH₁XRLB₂ after þis scole E (as seiþ þe scole JGC)

[1033] 1372 _margin_ Honochinus _om._ AM

[1034] 1383 grene] grete B, W

[1035] 1393 ellefþe JC, S, F elleþe A elleueþe B

[1036] 1400 him calleþ R, AdBT

[1037] 1404 _margin_ Topaxion H₁ ... B₂

[1038] 1406 Topaxion (topaxione) H₁ ... CB₂ to paxione L

[1039] 1412 _margin_ Astrologia (astrologia) A ... B₂, BΔ, H₃

[1040] 1413 Astrologie (astrologie) MH₁E, BΔ, H₃

[1041] 1445 which AJ, S, F whiche B

[1042] 1464 palmestrie H₁ ... B₂

[1043] 1473 Habraham JX, F _rest_ Abraham

[1044] 1477 this] his AdBT

[1045] 1490 aren] been (ben) A ... B₂, W

[1046] 1493 such a wise MH₁CL, T, H₃

[1047] _Latin Verses_ v. 1 sermones H₁ ... B₂, B

[1048] 4 pulcra AdBT

[1049] 1530 ferste A, S, F ferst (first) JC, B

[1050] 1545 in gras H₁CLB₂, W

[1051] 1574 and fo A ... B₂, AdT

[1052] 1577 þe worldes A ... B₂, BΔ

[1053] 1588 þis lore A ... B₂

[1054] 1589 his] þe AdBT

[1055] 1596 Tak (Taak) AC, SB Take J, F

[1056] 1597 and of AMR

[1057] 1618 he] me_n_ A me M

[1058] 1619 iugge AdBT

[1059] 1640 trewman AC, S, F trewe man B

[1060] _Latin Verses_ vi. 4 Hec FKH₃Magd Ex A ... B₂, S ... ΔΛ, W regit BTΛ gerit Ad

[1061] 1651 ferst AJ, S, F ferste (firste) C, B

[1062] 1666 that _om._ AM ... B₂

[1063] 1670 Belongeþ to Icon. AM ... B₂

[1064] 1671 honeste M ... B₂ (_except_ C), SΔ, WH₃

[1065] 1681 hih] his B

[1066] 1688 of] al AdBT

[1067] 1690 eek C, B eke (eeke) A, F

[1068] 1695 hou _om._ AM

[1069] 1698 þe staat (state) AMB₂, W þe estate R

[1070] 1711 behoveth] bilongeþ X, AdBT

[1071] 1718 _margin_ existat AM ... B₂

[1072] 1718 are] been (ben) A ... B₂

[1073] 1744 wolde B

[1074] 1749 be wel A ... B₂ (_except_ H₁ welbe)

[1075] 1751 _margin_ Nota--designantur _om._ R, B, H₃

[1076] 1769 his worldes H₁ ... B₂

[1077] 1770 goode _om._ AM

[1078] 1789 as] and A ... B₂

[1079] 1791 And for he AM ... B₂

[1080] 1792 wisemen S, F wise men AJC, B

[1081] 1793 on] in AM ... C of L

[1082] 1795 _margin_ asserit B

[1083] 1797 which A, F whiche B

[1084] 1800 Arpaphes AMH₁XCLB₂ Araphes R

[1085] 1805 he triste] þat trist(e) AM he trusteth Δ

[1086] 1815 anssuere F

[1087] 1836 of lord] a lord E, AdBT, W

[1088] 1842 þe S, FW a AC, B

[1089] 1882 I sih AdBT

[1090] 1883 And for AM

[1091] 1884 of Besaxis H₁XRCB₂ and Besaxis L

[1092] 1902 þe womman J, BT

[1093] 1932 Of] And M, AdBT

[1094] 1942 The A ... B₂

[1095] 1978 the _om._ J, AdBT

[1096] 1980 therupon] vpon AM

[1097] _Latin Verses_ viii. 2 Eius FKH₃Magd _rest_ Cuius

[1098] 1992 _margin_ subditi omni] sub dicionu_m_ (subdicionu_m_) A ... B₂, B

[1099] 2015 bitwene (betwen) more AM ... B₂, Δ, WH₃

[1100] 2021 and pile] no pile AM

[1101] 2043 _Paragr. here_ J, SB, F &c.

[1102] 2067 _margin_ reuelare AM _om._ C

[1103] 2077 do] to H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

[1104] 2078 lawe AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1105] 2093 list (luste) to H₁EB₂, AdBT

[1106] 2106 vnto H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

[1107] 2122 king _om._ AM

[1108] 2128 which] þat AM ... B₂

[1109] 2140 Bilongeþ AdBT

[1110] 2150 _margin_ Nota--Aristotilem _om._ BΔ secundum Aristotilem _om._ S

[1111] 2155 _margin_ Seneca] Salomon B

[1112] 2158 been (ben) A ... B₂

[1113] 2198 not A, F noght S nought J, B

[1114] 2199 _margin_ Tercio contra populum _om._ B, W

[1115] 2219 ff. _margin_ Hic contra--deberes] Hic loquitur super eodem, et narrat quod, cum Diogenes et Arisippus philosophi a scolis Athenarum ad Cartaginem, vnde orti fuerant, reuertissent, Arisippus curie principis sui familiaris adhesit, Diogenes vero in quodam mansiunculo suo studio vacans permansit. Et contigit quod, cum ipse quodam die ad finem orti (ortus S) sui super ripam herbas quas elegerat (eligerat S) ad olera lauasset, superuenit ex casu Arisippus, dixitque ei, ‘O Diogenes, certe si Principi tuo placere scires, tu ad olera tua lauanda non indigeres.’ Cui ille respondit, ‘O Arisippe, certe si tu olera tua lauare scires, te in blandiciis et adulacionibus principi tuo seruire non oporteret.’ SBΔΛ (_Lat. om._ AdT)

[1116] 2243 and takþ B

[1117] 2251 and] and wiþ AM, Δ

[1118] 2262 þastat B

[1119] 2282 satte S, F sate W sat J, AdBT sitte (sit) AMH₁XGC sette (set) ERLB₂, Δ, H₃

[1120] 2294 so] þo GLB₂, AdBT, W

[1121] 2318 sein B sayne W

[1122] 2329 Bot] And AdBTΛ

[1123] 2330 Bot wher] And wher AM ... B₂ Wher now AdBTΛ

[1124] 2329*-2340* _only in_ AdBTΛ (_not_ SΔ)

[1125] 2332* seid T sayd B

[1126] 2331 euery AdBT

[1127] 2335 him wolde S ... Δ, W

[1128] 2337 as _om._ AM ... B₂ (_except_ C)

[1129] 2352 is yit] it is C, AdBT

[1130] 2357 ff. _margin_ Hic narrat--aduersabitur] Hic eciam contra vicium adulacionis ponit exemplum: et narrat quod, cum nuper Romanorum imperator contra suos hostes victoriam optinuisset, et cum palma triumphi (triumphe S) in vrbem redire debuisset, ne ipsum inanis glorie altitudo superextolleret, licitum fuit pro illo die quod vnusquisque peiora que sue condicionis agnosceret in aures suas apercius exclamaret, vt sic gaudium cum dolore compesceret, et adulantum voces, sique fuerant, pro minimo computaret. SBΔΛ (_Lat. om._ AdT)

[1131] 2363 eny _om._ AM

[1132] 2376 of loond A

[1133] 2377 _margin_ fortunata A ... B₂

[1134] 2378 _margin_ fuerit] fuit B₂ sint H₁ ... L

[1135] 2379 _margin_ forte _om._ AM tokne S ... Δ

[1136] 2384 word(e) AMXLB₂

[1137] 2409 that] his B

[1138] 2412 it _om._ J, AdBT

[1139] 2414 ff. _margin_ Hic eciam--reprimeret] Hic ponit exemplum super eodem; et narrat quod eodem die quo imperator intronizatus in palacio suo regio ad conuiuium in maiori leticia sedisset, ministri sui sculptores coram ipso procederent alta voce dicentes, ‘O imperator, die nobis cuius forme et vbi tumbam sculpture tue faciemus,’ vt sic morte remorsus huius vite blandicias obtemperaret, SBΔΛ _but_ procederant SBΛ (_Lat. om._ AdT)

[1140] 2424 Disour] Gestour AM ... B₂

[1141] 2428 be _om._ AM

[1142] 2434 thing] king B₂, AdBT

[1143] 2444 Tho took AdB Sto cok T

[1144] 2460 be _om._ AM

[1145] 2461 as] and A

[1146] 2464 do worschipe] worschiped AdBT

[1147] 2469 boþe (both) AM ... B₂, AdBΔ, W

[1148] 2486 if _om._ AM, Δ

[1149] 2530 Irahel (Irael) J, S, FK _rest_ Israel

[1150] 2536 _margin_ adulatis A ... B₂

[1151] 2540 Irahel (Irael) AJ, S, FK _rest_ Israel

[1152] 2546 fro BT

[1153] 2560 trew S, F trewe AC, B

[1154] 2562 I schal AM

[1155] 2594 Ther is on] is þer non B is þer on T

[1156] 2598 liked S ... Δ, W

[1157] 2609 þer S ... Δ

[1158] 2619 him AMX ... B₂, K

[1159] 2622 his] þe H₁, S ... Δ

[1160] 2633 this] þi S ... Δ

[1161] 2637 miht (might) JC, B mihte A, S, F

[1162] 2641 S _has lost two leaves_ (ll. 2641-3004)

[1163] 2657 Irahel (Irael) J, FK _rest_ Israel

[1164] 2689 flatering AdBT

[1165] 2691 euermore JM, B forthermore W

[1166] 2698 _margin_ regiminis] Regis AM, BT, FW legis H₁ ... B₂ siue regis Δ (_Lat. om._ J, Ad, K)

[1167] 2710 lorde AH₁ lordeþ M

[1168] 2747 do] to AM

[1169] 2750 disputacioun AM ... B₂

[1170] 2762 menable AXG, FW moeuable (moueable &c.) H₁E, AdBT, K meuable (?) JMRCLB₂, Δ

[1171] 2775 Enclynd (Enclined) H₁ ... B₂, W

[1172] 2792 in to his AM ... B₂

[1173] 2794 putte AC, B put F

[1174] 2806 whiche AJ, B which C, F

[1175] 2814 non] anon MCB₂ (_p. m._) gon E

[1176] 2840 good AdBT

[1177] 2850 f.

That euery man be wepenles
That come in to &c. H₁ ... B₂

[1178] 2857 lest] heer (here) AM ... B₂

[1179] 2858 Thus AM

[1180] 2863 igerd (I gerde &c.) AM ... B₂

[1181] 2887 he _om._ B

[1182] (2889-2916 _om._ R)

[1183] 2900 vpon H₁ ... B₂

[1184] 2920 _margin_ qui _om._ BT

[1185] 2926 _margin_ subditos suos _om._ A ... B₂

[1186] 2938 _margin_ delegatur BT

[1187] 2951 and _om._ A (_p. m._)

[1188] 2967 no man JC, B noman A, F

[1189] 2977 as] and AdBT

[1190] 2989 ȝe wol AdBT I wold Δ

[1191] 2993 swere H₁ ... B₂, Ad, WK

[1192] 3000 lest] heer (here) AM ... B₂

[1193] 3003 schop (schoop) AJC, B schope F

[1194] 3005 S _resumes_

[1195] 3020 which AC, S, F whiche B

[1196] 3040 to _om._ A ... CB₂

[1197] 3060 hadde AdBT

[1198] 3063 such JC, SB suche A, F

[1199] 3086 he lad AM, Δ he bad B₂

[1200] 3088 To do H₁ ... B₂

[1201] _Latin Verses_ x. 2 vbi H₁ ... B₂

[1202] 3110 _margin_ graciosius H₁ ... B₂, W

[1203] 3122 _margin_ No_ta_ F _om._ AC, B

[1204] 3135 Philosophre] holy book BTΛ

[1205] 3149*-3180* _Only in_ BTΛ (Ad _defective_). _Text follows_ B

[1206] 3150* scholde] þ_at_ scholde T

[1207] 3163* þis tale T

[1208] 3137-3162 _Placed after 3360* in_ SΔ

[1209] 3142 ff. _margin_ Troianus--proponebat _om._ BT

[1210] 3143 This A, F Thus B

[1211] 3148 conseilleir F

[1212] 3159 pitous (petous) JH₁LB₂, Δ, W piteous R piteuous X

[1213] 3207*-3360* _Only in_ SAdBTΔΛ (Ad _defective to_ l. 3269*). _Text follows_ S

[1214] 3222* _margin_ pietatem _om._ B

[1215] 3223* _marg._ excerciam S

[1216] 3228* _marg._ pro tempore _om._ BT

[1217] 3231* _marg._ asinum sibi restitui BTΛ

[1218] 3234* _marg._ nocumentum S nocumenta B

[1219] 3244* _marg._ quadam valle BT

[1220] 3251* _margin after_ decreuit B _adds_ et cum o_mn_i sui cordis i_n_timo deo gr_aci_as egit

[1221] 3212* betwene S

[1222] 3220* art] arþ S

[1223] 3232* I _om._ BT

[1224] 3242* And T

[1225] 3256* Boþoghte S

[1226] 3265* vnneþes T

[1227] 3278* On þis on þat AdBTΛ

[1228] 3283* rod] goþ T

[1229] 3292* Iuerie AdT Iewerie B Iurie S

[1230] 3305* dom (doom) AdBT dome S

[1231] 3311* made SAdBΔΛ mad T

[1232] 3312* whan B

[1233] 3327* hol BT hole SAd

[1234] 3339* lond AdBT londe S

[1235] 3342* discretely S

[1236] 3348* many wise AdB

[1237] _After_ 3360* _ins._ 3137-3162 SΔ _rest proceed with_ 3163 ff.

[1238] 3176 _margin_ se] seipsum BT, H₃ eligere _om._ BT

[1239] 3174 if it so AM

[1240] 3186 his _om._ AM an W

[1241] 3198 thoghte to relieve] of his byleeue AM

[1242] 3218 in Ermonie AM

[1243] 3225 on his heed B

[1244] 3233 _margin_ restuit F

[1245] 3235 and ful AM ... B₂

[1246] 3244 was] is ȝit S ... Δ

[1247] 3271 _margin_ in _om._ H₁ ... B₂, BTΔ

[1248] 3274 _margin_ in exemplum S ... Δ

[1249] 3279 _margin_ in _om._ BT

[1250] 3270 with] þe XGERL by H₁ no B₂

[1251] 3271 pitous (petows) MH₁XLB₂, Δ, WH₃ piteuous AdT

[1252] 3276 al is SAdBT is Δ

[1253] 3279 of his ire Δ in his A in hie M

[1254] 3298 _margin_ tiranni _om._ A ... B₂

[1255] 3298 To whom AM ... B₂, Ad Inne whom W hom Δ

[1256] 3326 this caste] it cast B is cast Ad, H₃ þis made A ... B₂

[1257] 3330 vnto AdBT to Δ

[1258] 3332 which] þat AM ... B₂

[1259] 3338 couenable AM ... R coueable L couable B₂ (C _defect._)

[1260] 3340 ago (a go) H₁E, BΔ, WH₃

[1261] 3342 of] at A ... B₂ _om._ W

[1262] 3362 _margin_ Iupiter _om._ BT

[1263] 3387 nature þis AdBT natures þus AM ... B₂

[1264] 3397 i tamed AM ... B₂

[1265] 3412 areste] haue reste AM

[1266] 3420 _margin_ precipue _om._ A ... B₂

[1267] 3436 _margin_ offerre A ... B₂ (offerri G, W)

[1268] 3423 hapned XERCB₂ papned L

[1269] 3429 to mannes b. AM ... B₂

[1270] 3432 as he by sente A as by sente M alle by dissent W

[1271] 3440 Til god S ... Δ

[1272] 3448 His AM

[1273] 3454 dydinge AM

[1274] 3464 hir(e) power H₁, BTΔ, W ouerpasse AM

[1275] 3465 With] By AM ... B₂

[1276] 3476 tobrieken S, F tobreken (to breken) AJC, B

[1277] 3483 of _om._ AM

[1278] 3484 no] not (noght) AM ... B₂ (_except_ E)

[1279] 3505 f. him ... him AdBT, W

[1280] 3510 him _om._ AM ... B₂, Δ

[1281] 3523 Why] Wiþ AdBT

[1282] 3530 Knighthode R, B, W

[1283] 3551 þogh it be lich to a fable A þoght it be lich a fable M

[1284] 3556 And wonder dredful noise it made AdBT

[1285] 3574 hield (heeld) A, S, F heelde (helde) C, B helden J

[1286] 3575 causa F

[1287] 3589 and reste AM ... B₂

[1288] 3592 wher of þat his knighthede H₁ ... B₂ wher of his knyhthede AM, AdΔ, H₃ (knythlihiede F)

[1289] 3607 hardinesse R, AdBTΔ, W

[1290] 3615 forþere (forþre, forþer) AM ... B₂ (forþe X)

[1291] 3628 Irahel (Irael) J, S, F _rest_ Israel

[1292] 3639 hem L, S ... Δ he A ... CB₂, Λ, FWKMagd

[1293] 3641 thre] these W

[1294] 3652 delit(e) H₁ ... B₂, W

[1295] 3672 out _om._ AdBT

[1296] 3677 my lust AM

[1297] 3683 nomo JC, S, F no mo(o) A, B

[1298] 3688 which] þat AM ... B₂

[1299] 3689 scholde AdBT

[1300] 3692 his] þis AM ... B₂, AdBTΔ, Magd

[1301] 3701 he ferde] aferde AM

[1302] 3704 slep] sweuen(e) AM ... L (slep G)

[1303] 3716 his host E, B, Magd

[1304] 3727 despeir AJMH₁RLB₂, AdBTΔ, W

[1305] 3728 schullen B

[1306] 3748 his] þis H₁G, BΔ

[1307] 3752 per] þe AdBT þair L

[1308] 3763 forto] þo to AM B₂ to W

[1309] 3773 hole J, S, F holly AC, B

[1310] 3797 what þat AM ... B₂

[1311] 3800 in] and AM ... RLB₂

[1312] 3819 myht (might) AC, B myhte (mihte) J, S, F

[1313] 3854 flen (fle) SΔ

[1314] 3861 non F

[1315] 3902 I my regne] I may regne C, W I regne AdT in my regne H₁E in me regne XRLB₂

[1316] 3903 thi] þe AMC

[1317] 3984 wel þanne AMH₁, AdΔ wel than al W

[1318] 3989 al of þis BT of al þis Ad al this W

[1319] 3990 What tyme B

[1320] 4004 that] þe AdBT

[1321] 4020 thanne] þat A ... B₂

[1322] 4031 þe parlement AM

[1323] 4037 which þat H₁ ... B₂, BT, W þat Ad

[1324] 4044 to fore (tofore) AM ... B₂, W

[1325] 4081 þi (þy) right MH₁L, BΔ

[1326] 4091 him AM

[1327] 4092 a lyte S alyte (alite) AJC, B, F

[1328] 4093 þenkest take B

[1329] 4115 is _om._ FWK

[1330] 4123 Al Irahel (Irael) J, S, FK Al Israhel (Israel &c.) AM ... B₂, W Of Israel G, AdBT