Confessio Amantis
or
Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins
Incipit Liber Tercius: Part 2
Online Medieval and Classical Library Release
#4
1342 This o lord hadde in special
1343 A Sone, a lusti Bacheler,
1344 In al the toun was non his pier:
1345 That other hadde a dowhter eke,
1346 In al the lond that forto seke
1347 Men wisten non so faire as sche.
1348 And fell so, as it scholde be,
1349 This faire dowhter nyh this Sone
1350 As thei togedre thanne wone,
1351 Cupide hath so the thinges schape,
1352 That thei ne mihte his hand ascape,
1353 That he his fyr on hem ne caste:
1354 Wherof her herte he overcaste
1355 To folwe thilke lore and suie
1356 Which nevere man yit miht eschuie;
1357 And that was love, as it is happed,
1358 Which hath here hertes so betrapped,
1359 That thei be alle weies seche
1360 How that thei mihten winne a speche,
1361 Here wofull peine forto lisse.
1362 Who loveth wel, it mai noght misse,
1363 And namely whan ther be tuo
1364 Of on acord, how so it go,
1365 Bot if that thei som weie finde;
1366 For love is evere of such a kinde
1367 And hath his folk so wel affaited,
1368 That howso that it be awaited,
1369 Ther mai noman the pourpos lette:
1370 And thus betwen hem tuo thei sette
1371 And hole upon a wall to make,
1372 Thurgh which thei have her conseil take
1373 At alle times, whan thei myhte.
1374 This faire Maiden Tisbee hihte,
1375 And he whom that sche loveth hote
1376 Was Piramus be name hote.
1377 So longe here lecoun thei recorden,
1378 Til ate laste thei acorden
1379 Be nihtes time forto wende
1380 Al one out fro the tounes ende,
1381 Wher was a welle under a Tree;
1382 And who cam ferst, or sche or he,
1383 He scholde stille there abide.
1384 So it befell the nyhtes tide
1385 This maiden, which desguised was,
1386 Al prively the softe pas
1387 Goth thurgh the large toun unknowe,
1388 Til that sche cam withinne a throwe
1389 Wher that sche liketh forto duelle,
1390 At thilke unhappi freisshe welle,
1391 Which was also the Forest nyh.
1392 Wher sche comende a Leoun syh
1393 Into the feld to take his preie,
1394 In haste and sche tho fledde aweie,
1395 So as fortune scholde falle,
1396 For feere and let hire wympel falle
1397 Nyh to the welle upon therbage.
1398 This Leoun in his wilde rage
1399 A beste, which that he fond oute,
1400 Hath slain, and with his blodi snoute,
1401 Whan he hath eten what he wolde,
1402 To drynke of thilke stremes colde
1403 Cam to the welle, where he fond
1404 The wympel, which out of hire hond
1405 Was falle, and he it hath todrawe,
1406 Bebled aboute and al forgnawe;
1407 And thanne he strawhte him forto drinke
1408 Upon the freisshe welles brinke,
1409 And after that out of the plein
1410 He torneth to the wode ayein.
1411 And Tisbee dorste noght remue,
1412 Bot as a bridd which were in Mue
1413 Withinne a buissh sche kepte hire clos
1414 So stille that sche noght aros;
1415 Unto hirself and pleigneth ay.
1416 And fell, whil that sche there lay,
1417 This Piramus cam after sone
1418 Unto the welle, and be the Mone
1419 He fond hire wimpel blodi there.
1420 Cam nevere yit to mannes Ere
1421 Tidinge, ne to mannes sihte
1422 Merveile, which so sore aflihte
1423 A mannes herte, as it tho dede
1424 To him, which in the same stede
1425 With many a wofull compleignynge
1426 Began his handes forto wringe,
1427 As he which demeth sikerly
1428 That sche be ded: and sodeinly
1429 His swerd al nakid out he breide
1430 In his folhaste, and thus he seide:
1431 "I am cause of this felonie,
1432 So it is resoun that I die,
1433 As sche is ded be cause of me."
1434 And with that word upon his kne
1435 He fell, and to the goddes alle
1436 Up to the hevene he gan to calle,
1437 And preide, sithen it was so
1438 That he may noght his love as tho
1439 Have in this world, that of her grace
1440 He miht hire have in other place,
1441 For hiere wolde he noght abide,
1442 He seith: bot as it schal betide,
1443 The Pomel of his swerd to grounde
1444 He sette, and thurgh his herte a wounde
1445 He made up to the bare hilte:
1446 And in this wise himself he spilte
1447 With his folhaste and deth he nam;
1448 For sche withinne a while cam,
1449 Wher he lai ded upon his knif.
1450 So wofull yit was nevere lif
1451 As Tisbee was, whan sche him sih:
1452 Sche mihte noght o word on hih
1453 Speke oute, for hire herte schette,
1454 That of hir lif no pris sche sette,
1455 Bot ded swounende doun sche fell.
1456 Til after, whanne it so befell
1457 That sche out of hire traunce awok,
1458 With many a wofull pitous lok
1459 Hire yhe alwei among sche caste
1460 Upon hir love, and ate laste
1461 Sche cawhte breth and seide thus:
1462 "O thou which cleped art Venus,
1463 Goddesse of love, and thou, Cupide,
1464 Which loves cause hast forto guide,
1465 I wot now wel that ye be blinde,
1466 Of thilke unhapp which I now finde
1467 Only betwen my love and me.
1468 This Piramus, which hiere I se
1469 Bledende, what hath he deserved?
1470 For he youre heste hath kept and served,
1471 And was yong and I bothe also:
1472 Helas, why do ye with ous so?
1473 Ye sette oure herte bothe afyre,
1474 And maden ous such thing desire
1475 Wherof that we no skile cowthe;
1476 Bot thus oure freisshe lusti yowthe
1477 Withoute joie is al despended,
1478 Which thing mai nevere ben amended:
1479 For as of me this wol I seie,
1480 That me is levere forto deie
1481 Than live after this sorghful day."
1482 And with this word, where as he lay,
1483 Hire love in armes sche embraseth,
1484 Hire oghne deth and so pourchaseth
1485 That now sche wepte and nou sche kiste,
1486 Til ate laste, er sche it wiste,
1487 So gret a sorwe is to hire falle,
1488 Which overgoth hire wittes alle.
1489 As sche which mihte it noght asterte,
1490 The swerdes point ayein hire herte
1491 Sche sette, and fell doun therupon,
1492 Wherof that sche was ded anon:
1493 And thus bothe on o swerd bledende
1494 Thei weren founde ded liggende.
1495 Now thou, mi Sone, hast herd this tale,
1496 Bewar that of thin oghne bale
1497 Thou be noght cause in thi folhaste,
1498 And kep that thou thi witt ne waste
1499 Upon thi thoght in aventure,
1500 Wherof thi lyves forfeture
1501 Mai falle: and if thou have so thoght
1502 Er this, tell on and hyde it noght.
1503 Mi fader, upon loves side
1504 Mi conscience I woll noght hyde,
1505 How that for love of pure wo
1506 I have ben ofte moeved so,
1507 That with my wisshes if I myhte,
1508 A thousand times, I yow plyhte,
1509 I hadde storven in a day;
1510 And therof I me schryve may,
1511 Though love fully me ne slowh,
1512 Mi will to deie was ynowh,
1513 So am I of my will coupable:
1514 And yit is sche noght merciable,
1515 Which mai me yive lif and hele.
1516 Bot that hir list noght with me dele,
1517 I wot be whos conseil it is,
1518 And him wolde I long time er this,
1519 And yit I wolde and evere schal,
1520 Slen and destruie in special.
1521 The gold of nyne kinges londes
1522 Ne scholde him save fro myn hondes,
1523 In my pouer if that he were;
1524 Bot yit him stant of me no fere
1525 For noght that evere I can manace.
1526 He is the hindrere of mi grace,
1527 Til he be ded I mai noght spede;
1528 So mot I nedes taken hiede
1529 And schape how that he were aweie,
1530 If I therto mai finde a weie.
1531 Mi Sone, tell me now forthi,
1532 Which is that mortiel enemy
1533 That thou manacest to be ded.
1534 Mi fader, it is such a qwed,
1535 That wher I come, he is tofore,
1536 And doth so, that mi cause is lore.
1537 What is his name? It is Daunger,
1538 Which is mi ladi consailer:
1539 For I was nevere yit so slyh,
1540 To come in eny place nyh
1541 Wher as sche was be nyht or day,
1542 That Danger ne was redy ay,
1543 With whom for speche ne for mede
1544 Yit mihte I nevere of love spede;
1545 For evere this I finde soth,
1546 Al that my ladi seith or doth
1547 To me, Daunger schal make an ende,
1548 And that makth al mi world miswende:
1549 And evere I axe his help, bot he
1550 Mai wel be cleped sanz pite;
1551 For ay the more I to him bowe,
1552 The lasse he wol my tale alowe.
1553 He hath mi ladi so englued,
1554 Sche wol noght that he be remued;
1555 For evere he hangeth on hire Seil,
1556 And is so prive of conseil,
1557 That evere whanne I have oght bede,
1558 I finde Danger in hire stede
1559 And myn ansuere of him I have;
1560 Bot for no merci that I crave,
1561 Of merci nevere a point I hadde.
1562 I finde his ansuere ay so badde,
1563 That werse mihte it nevere be:
1564 And thus betwen Danger and me
1565 Is evere werre til he dye.
1566 Bot mihte I ben of such maistrie,
1567 That I Danger hadde overcome,
1568 With that were al my joie come.
1569 Thus wolde I wonde for no Sinne,
1570 Ne yit for al this world to winne;
1571 If that I mihte finde a sleyhte,
1572 To leie al myn astat in weyhte,
1573 I wolde him fro the Court dissevere,
1574 So that he come ayeinward nevere.
1575 Therfore I wisshe and wolde fain
1576 That he were in som wise slain;
1577 For while he stant in thilke place,
1578 Ne gete I noght my ladi grace.
1579 Thus hate I dedly thilke vice,
1580 And wolde he stode in non office
1581 In place wher mi ladi is;
1582 For if he do, I wot wel this,
1583 That owther schal he deie or I
1584 Withinne a while; and noght forthi
1585 On my ladi fulofte I muse,
1586 How that sche mai hirself excuse,
1587 If that I deie in such a plit.
1588 Me thenkth sche mihte noght be qwyt
1589 That sche ne were an homicide:
1590 And if it scholde so betide,
1591 As god forbiede it scholde be,
1592 Be double weie it is pite.
1593 For I, which al my will and witt
1594 Have yove and served evere yit,
1595 And thanne I scholde in such a wise
1596 In rewardinge of my servise
1597 Be ded, me thenkth it were a rowthe:
1598 And furthermor, to telle trowthe,
1599 Sche, that hath evere be wel named,
1600 Were worthi thanne to be blamed
1601 And of reson to ben appeled,
1602 Whan with o word sche mihte have heled
1603 A man, and soffreth him so deie.
1604 Ha, who sawh evere such a weie?
1605 Ha, who sawh evere such destresse?
1606 Withoute pite gentilesse,
1607 Withoute mercy wommanhede,
1608 That wol so quyte a man his mede,
1609 Which evere hath be to love trewe.
1610 Mi goode fader, if ye rewe
1611 Upon mi tale, tell me now,
1612 And I wol stinte and herkne yow.
1613 Mi Sone, attempre thi corage
1614 Fro Wraththe, and let thin herte assuage:
1615 For who so wole him underfonge,
1616 He mai his grace abide longe,
1617 Er he of love be received;
1618 And ek also, bot it be weyved,
1619 Ther mihte mochel thing befalle,
1620 That scholde make a man to falle
1621 Fro love, that nevere afterward
1622 Ne durste he loke thiderward.
1623 In harde weies men gon softe,
1624 And er thei clymbe avise hem ofte:
1625 Men sen alday that rape reweth;
1626 And who so wicked Ale breweth,
1627 Fulofte he mot the werse drinke:
1628 Betre is to flete than to sincke;
1629 Betre is upon the bridel chiewe
1630 Thanne if he felle and overthrewe,
1631 The hors and stikede in the Myr:
1632 To caste water in the fyr
1633 Betre is than brenne up al the hous:
1634 The man which is malicious
1635 And folhastif, fulofte he falleth,
1636 And selden is whan love him calleth.
1637 Forthi betre is to soffre a throwe
1638 Than be to wilde and overthrowe;
1639 Suffrance hath evere be the beste
1640 To wissen him that secheth reste:
1641 And thus, if thou wolt love and spede,
1642 Mi Sone, soffre, as I the rede.
1643 What mai the Mous ayein the Cat?
1644 And for this cause I axe that,
1645 Who mai to love make a werre,
1646 That he ne hath himself the werre?
1647 Love axeth pes and evere schal,
1648 And who that fihteth most withal
1649 Schal lest conquere of his emprise:
1650 For this thei tellen that ben wise,
1651 Wicke is to stryve and have the werse;
1652 To hasten is noght worth a kerse;
1653 Thing that a man mai noght achieve,
1654 That mai noght wel be don at Eve,
1655 It mot abide til the morwe.
1656 Ne haste noght thin oghne sorwe,
1657 Mi Sone, and tak this in thi witt,
1658 He hath noght lost that wel abitt.
1659 Ensample that it falleth thus,
1660 Thou miht wel take of Piramus,
1661 Whan he in haste his swerd outdrowh
1662 And on the point himselve slowh
1663 For love of Tisbee pitously,
1664 For he hire wympel fond blody
1665 And wende a beste hire hadde slain;
1666 Wher as him oghte have be riht fain,
1667 For sche was there al sauf beside:
1668 Bot for he wolde noght abide,
1669 This meschief fell. Forthi be war,
1670 Mi Sone, as I the warne dar,
1671 Do thou nothing in such a res,
1672 For suffrance is the welle of Pes.
1673 Thogh thou to loves Court poursuie,
1674 Yit sit it wel that thou eschuie
1675 That thou the Court noght overhaste,
1676 For so miht thou thi time waste;
1677 Bot if thin happ therto be schape,
1678 It mai noght helpe forto rape.
1679 Therfore attempre thi corage;
1680 Folhaste doth non avantage,
1681 Bot ofte it set a man behinde
1682 In cause of love, and that I finde
1683 Be olde ensample, as thou schalt hiere,
1684 Touchende of love in this matiere.
1685 A Maiden whilom ther was on,
1686 Which Daphne hihte, and such was non
1687 Of beaute thanne, as it was seid.
1688 Phebus his love hath on hire leid,
1689 And therupon to hire he soghte
1690 In his folhaste, and so besoghte,
1691 That sche with him no reste hadde;
1692 For evere upon hire love he gradde,
1693 And sche seide evere unto him nay.
1694 So it befell upon a dai,
1695 Cupide, which hath every chance
1696 Of love under his governance,
1697 Syh Phebus hasten him so sore:
1698 And for he scholde him haste more,
1699 And yit noght speden ate laste,
1700 A dart thurghout his herte he caste,
1701 Which was of gold and al afyre,
1702 That made him manyfold desire
1703 Of love more thanne he dede.
1704 To Daphne ek in the same stede
1705 A dart of Led he caste and smot,
1706 Which was al cold and nothing hot.
1707 And thus Phebus in love brenneth,
1708 And in his haste aboute renneth,
1709 To loke if that he mihte winne;
1710 Bot he was evere to beginne,
1711 For evere awei fro him sche fledde,
1712 So that he nevere his love spedde.
1713 And forto make him full believe
1714 That no Folhaste mihte achieve
1715 To gete love in such degree,
1716 This Daphne into a lorer tre
1717 Was torned, which is evere grene,
1718 In tokne, as yit it mai be sene,
1719 That sche schal duelle a maiden stille,
1720 And Phebus failen of his wille.
1721 Be suche ensamples, as thei stonde,
1722 Mi Sone, thou miht understonde,
1723 To hasten love is thing in vein,
1724 Whan that fortune is therayein.
1725 To take where a man hath leve
1726 Good is, and elles he mot leve;
1727 For whan a mannes happes failen,
1728 Ther is non haste mai availen.
1729 Mi fader, grant merci of this:
1730 Bot while I se mi ladi is
1731 No tre, but halt hire oghne forme,
1732 Ther mai me noman so enforme,
1733 To whether part fortune wende,
1734 That I unto mi lyves ende
1735 Ne wol hire serven everemo.
1736 Mi Sone, sithen it is so,
1737 I seie nomor; bot in this cas
1738 Bewar how it with Phebus was.
1739 Noght only upon loves chance,
1740 Bot upon every governance
1741 Which falleth unto mannes dede,
1742 Folhaste is evere forto drede,
1743 And that a man good consail take,
1744 Er he his pourpos undertake,
1745 For consail put Folhaste aweie.
1746 Now goode fader, I you preie,
1747 That forto wisse me the more,
1748 Som good ensample upon this lore
1749 Ye wolden telle of that is write,
1750 That I the betre mihte wite
1751 How I Folhaste scholde eschuie,
1752 And the wisdom of conseil suie.
1753 Mi Sone, that thou miht enforme
1754 Thi pacience upon the forme
1755 Of old essamples, as thei felle,
1756 Now understond what I schal telle.
1757 Whan noble Troie was belein
1758 And overcome, and hom ayein
1759 The Gregois torned fro the siege,
1760 The kinges founde here oghne liege
1761 In manye places, as men seide,
1762 That hem forsoke and desobeide.
1763 Among the whiche fell this cas
1764 To Demephon and Athemas,
1765 That weren kinges bothe tuo,
1766 And bothe weren served so:
1767 Here lieges wolde hem noght receive,
1768 So that thei mote algates weyve
1769 To seche lond in other place,
1770 For there founde thei no grace.
1771 Wherof they token hem to rede,
1772 And soghten frendes ate nede,
1773 And ech of hem asseureth other
1774 To helpe as to his oghne brother,
1775 To vengen hem of thilke oultrage
1776 And winne ayein here heritage.
1777 And thus thei ryde aboute faste
1778 To gete hem help, and ate laste
1779 Thei hadden pouer sufficant,
1780 And maden thanne a covenant,
1781 That thei ne scholden no lif save,
1782 Ne prest, ne clerc, ne lord, ne knave,
1783 Ne wif, ne child, of that thei finde,
1784 Which berth visage of mannes kinde,
1785 So that no lif schal be socoured,
1786 Bot with the dedly swerd devoured:
1787 In such Folhaste here ordinance
1788 Thei schapen forto do vengance.
1789 Whan this pourpos was wist and knowe
1790 Among here host, tho was ther blowe
1791 Of wordes many a speche aboute:
1792 Of yonge men the lusti route
1793 Were of this tale glad ynowh,
1794 Ther was no care for the plowh;
1795 As thei that weren Folhastif,
1796 Thei ben acorded to the strif,
1797 And sein it mai noght be to gret
1798 To vengen hem of such forfet:
1799 Thus seith the wilde unwise tonge
1800 Of hem that there weren yonge.
1801 Bot Nestor, which was old and hor,
1802 The salve sih tofore the sor,
1803 As he that was of conseil wys:
1804 So that anon be his avis
1805 Ther was a prive conseil nome.
1806 The lordes ben togedre come;
1807 This Demephon and Athemas
1808 Here pourpos tolden, as it was;
1809 Thei sieten alle stille and herde,
1810 Was non bot Nestor hem ansuerde.
1811 He bad hem, if thei wolde winne,
1812 They scholden se, er thei beginne,
1813 Here ende, and sette here ferste entente,
1814 That thei hem after ne repente:
1815 And axeth hem this questioun,
1816 To what final conclusioun
1817 Thei wolde regne Kinges there,
1818 If that no poeple in londe were;
1819 And seith, it were a wonder wierde
1820 To sen a king become an hierde,
1821 Wher no lif is bot only beste
1822 Under the liegance of his heste;
1823 For who that is of man no king,
1824 The remenant is as no thing.
1825 He seith ek, if the pourpos holde
1826 To sle the poeple, as thei tuo wolde,
1827 Whan thei it mihte noght restore,
1828 Al Grece it scholde abegge sore,
1829 To se the wilde beste wone
1830 Wher whilom duelte a mannes Sone:
1831 And for that cause he bad hem trete,
1832 And stinte of the manaces grete.
1833 Betre is to winne be fair speche,
1834 He seith, than such vengance seche;
1835 For whanne a man is most above,
1836 Him nedeth most to gete him love.
1837 Whan Nestor hath his tale seid,
1838 Ayein him was no word withseid;
1839 It thoghte hem alle he seide wel:
1840 And thus fortune hire dedly whiel
1841 Fro werre torneth into pes.
1842 Bot forth thei wenten natheles;
1843 And whan the Contres herde sein
1844 How that here kinges be besein
1845 Of such a pouer as thei ladde,
1846 Was non so bold that hem ne dradde,
1847 And forto seche pes and grith
1848 Thei sende and preide anon forthwith,
1849 So that the kinges ben appesed,
1850 And every mannes herte is esed;
1851 Al was foryete and noght recorded.
1852 And thus thei ben togedre acorded;
1853 The kinges were ayein received,
1854 And pes was take and wraththe weived,
1855 And al thurgh conseil which was good
1856 Of him that reson understod.
1857 Be this ensample, Sone, attempre
1858 Thin herte and let no will distempre
1859 Thi wit, and do nothing be myht
1860 Which mai be do be love and riht.
1861 Folhaste is cause of mochel wo;
1862 Forthi, mi Sone, do noght so.
1863 And as touchende of Homicide
1864 Which toucheth unto loves side,
1865 Fulofte it falleth unavised
1866 Thurgh will, which is noght wel assised,
1867 Whan wit and reson ben aweie
1868 And that Folhaste is in the weie,
1869 Wherof hath falle gret vengance.
1870 Forthi tak into remembrance
1871 To love in such a maner wise
1872 That thou deserve no juise:
1873 For wel I wot, thou miht noght lette,
1874 That thou ne schalt thin herte sette
1875 To love, wher thou wolt or non;
1876 Bot if thi wit be overgon,
1877 So that it torne into malice,
1878 Ther wot noman of thilke vice,
1879 What peril that ther mai befalle:
1880 Wherof a tale amonges alle,
1881 Which is gret pite forto hiere,
1882 I thenke forto tellen hiere,
1883 That thou such moerdre miht withstonde,
1884 Whan thou the tale hast understonde.
1885 Of Troie at thilke noble toun,
1886 Whos fame stant yit of renoun
1887 And evere schal to mannes Ere,
1888 The Siege laste longe there,
1889 Er that the Greks it mihten winne,
1890 Whil Priamus was king therinne;
1891 Bot of the Greks that lyhe aboute
1892 Agamenon ladde al the route.
1893 This thing is knowen overal,
1894 Bot yit I thenke in special
1895 To my matiere therupon
1896 Telle in what wise Agamenon,
1897 Thurgh chance which mai noght be weived,
1898 Of love untrewe was deceived.
1899 An old sawe is, "Who that is slyh
1900 In place where he mai be nyh,
1901 He makth the ferre Lieve loth":
1902 Of love and thus fulofte it goth.
1903 Ther while Agamenon batailleth
1904 To winne Troie, and it assailleth,
1905 Fro home and was long time ferr,
1906 Egistus drowh his qweene nerr,
1907 And with the leiser which he hadde
1908 This ladi at his wille he ladde:
1909 Climestre was hire rihte name,
1910 Sche was therof gretli to blame,
1911 To love there it mai noght laste.
1912 Bot fell to meschief ate laste;
1913 For whan this noble worthi kniht
1914 Fro Troie cam, the ferste nyht
1915 That he at home abedde lay,
1916 Egistus, longe er it was day,
1917 As this Climestre him hadde asent,
1918 And weren bothe of on assent,
1919 Be treson slowh him in his bedd.
1920 Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd,
1921 Sprong out to every mannes Ere,
1922 Wherof the lond was full of fere.
1923 Agamenon hath be this qweene
1924 A Sone, and that was after sene;
1925 Bot yit as thanne he was of yowthe,
1926 A babe, which no reson cowthe,
1927 And as godd wolde, it fell him thus.
1928 A worthi kniht Taltabius
1929 This yonge child hath in kepinge,
1930 And whan he herde of this tidinge,
1931 Of this treson, of this misdede,
1932 He gan withinne himself to drede,
1933 In aunter if this false Egiste
1934 Upon him come, er he it wiste,
1935 To take and moerdre of his malice
1936 This child, which he hath to norrice:
1937 And for that cause in alle haste
1938 Out of the lond he gan him haste
1939 And to the king of Crete he strawhte
1940 And him this yonge lord betawhte,
1941 And preide him for his fader sake
1942 That he this child wolde undertake
1943 And kepe him til he be of Age,
1944 So as he was of his lignage;
1945 And tolde him over al the cas,
1946 How that his fadre moerdred was,
1947 And hou Egistus, as men seide,
1948 Was king, to whom the lond obeide.
1949 And whanne Ydomeneux the king
1950 Hath understondinge of this thing,
1951 Which that this kniht him hadde told,
1952 He made sorwe manyfold,
1953 And tok this child into his warde,
1954 And seide he wolde him kepe and warde,
1955 Til that he were of such a myht
1956 To handle a swerd and ben a knyht,
1957 To venge him at his oghne wille.
1958 And thus Horestes duelleth stille,
1959 Such was the childes rihte name,
1960 Which after wroghte mochel schame
1961 In vengance of his fader deth.
1962 The time of yeres overgeth,
1963 That he was man of brede and lengthe,
1964 Of wit, of manhod and of strengthe,
1965 A fair persone amonges alle.
1966 And he began to clepe and calle,
1967 As he which come was to manne,
1968 Unto the King of Crete thanne,
1969 Preiende that he wolde him make
1970 A kniht and pouer with him take,
1971 For lengere wolde he noght beleve,
1972 He seith, bot preith the king of leve
1973 To gon and cleyme his heritage
1974 And vengen him of thilke oultrage
1975 Which was unto his fader do.
1976 The king assenteth wel therto,
1977 With gret honour and knyht him makth,
1978 And gret pouer to him betakth,
1979 And gan his journe forto caste:
1980 So that Horestes ate laste
1981 His leve tok and forth he goth.
1982 As he that was in herte wroth,
1983 His ferste pleinte to bemene,
1984 Unto the Cite of Athene
1985 He goth him forth and was received,
1986 So there was he noght deceived.
1987 The Duc and tho that weren wise
1988 Thei profren hem to his servise;
1989 And he hem thonketh of here profre
1990 And seith himself he wol gon offre
1991 Unto the goddes for his sped,
1992 As alle men him yeven red.
1993 So goth he to the temple forth:
1994 Of yiftes that be mochel worth
1995 His sacrifice and his offringe
1996 He made; and after his axinge
1997 He was ansuerd, if that he wolde
1998 His stat recovere, thanne he scholde
1999 Upon his Moder do vengance
2000 So cruel, that the remembrance
2001 Therof mihte everemore abide,
2002 As sche that was an homicide
2003 And of hire oghne lord Moerdrice.
2004 Horestes, which of thilke office
2005 Was nothing glad, as thanne he preide
2006 Unto the goddes there and seide
2007 That thei the juggement devise,
2008 How sche schal take the juise.
2009 And therupon he hadde ansuere,
2010 That he hire Pappes scholde of tere
2011 Out of hire brest his oghne hondes,
2012 And for ensample of alle londes
2013 With hors sche scholde be todrawe,
2014 Til houndes hadde hire bones gnawe
2015 Withouten eny sepulture:
2016 This was a wofull aventure.
2017 And whan Horestes hath al herd,
2018 How that the goddes have ansuerd,
2019 Forth with the strengthe which he ladde
2020 The Duc and his pouer he hadde,
2021 And to a Cite forth thei gon,
2022 The which was cleped Cropheon,
2023 Where as Phoieus was lord and Sire,
2024 Which profreth him withouten hyre
2025 His help and al that he mai do,
2026 As he that was riht glad therto,
2027 To grieve his mortiel enemy:
2028 And tolde hem certein cause why,
2029 How that Egiste in Mariage
2030 His dowhter whilom of full Age
2031 Forlai, and afterward forsok,
2032 Whan he Horestes Moder tok.
2033 Men sein, "Old Senne newe schame":
2034 Thus more and more aros the blame
2035 Ayein Egiste on every side.
2036 Horestes with his host to ride
2037 Began, and Phoieus with hem wente;
2038 I trowe Egiste him schal repente.
2039 Thei riden forth unto Micene,
2040 Wher lay Climestre thilke qweene,
2041 The which Horestes moder is:
2042 And whan sche herde telle of this,
2043 The gates weren faste schet,
2044 And thei were of here entre let.
2045 Anon this Cite was withoute
2046 Belein and sieged al aboute,
2047 And evere among thei it assaile,
2048 Fro day to nyht and so travaile,
2049 Til ate laste thei it wonne;
2050 Tho was ther sorwe ynowh begonne.
2051 Horestes dede his moder calle
2052 Anon tofore the lordes alle
2053 And ek tofor the poeple also,
2054 To hire and tolde his tale tho,
2055 And seide, "O cruel beste unkinde,
2056 How mihtest thou thin herte finde,
2057 For eny lust of loves drawhte,
2058 That thou acordest to the slawhte
2059 Of him which was thin oghne lord?
2060 Thi treson stant of such record,
2061 Thou miht thi werkes noght forsake;
2062 So mot I for mi fader sake
2063 Vengance upon thi bodi do,
2064 As I comanded am therto.
2065 Unkindely for thou hast wroght,
2066 Unkindeliche it schal be boght,
2067 The Sone schal the Moder sle,
2068 For that whilom thou seidest yee
2069 To that thou scholdest nay have seid."
2070 And he with that his hond hath leid
2071 Upon his Moder brest anon,
2072 And rente out fro the bare bon
2073 Hire Pappes bothe and caste aweie
2074 Amiddes in the carte weie,
2075 And after tok the dede cors
2076 And let it drawe awey with hors
2077 Unto the hound and to the raven;
2078 Sche was non other wise graven.
2079 Egistus, which was elles where,
2080 Tidinges comen to his Ere
2081 How that Micenes was belein,
2082 Bot what was more herd he noght sein;
2083 With gret manace and mochel bost
2084 He drowh pouer and made an host
2085 And cam in rescousse of the toun.
2086 Bot al the sleyhte of his tresoun
2087 Horestes wiste it be aspie,
2088 And of his men a gret partie
2089 He made in buisshement abide,
2090 To waite on him in such a tide
2091 That he ne mihte here hond ascape:
2092 And in this wise as he hath schape
2093 The thing befell, so that Egiste
2094 Was take, er he himself it wiste,
2095 And was forth broght hise hondes bounde,
2096 As whan men han a tretour founde.
2097 And tho that weren with him take,
2098 Whiche of tresoun were overtake,
2099 Togedre in o sentence falle;
2100 Bot false Egiste above hem alle
2101 Was demed to diverse peine,
2102 The worste that men cowthe ordeigne,
2103 And so forth after be the lawe
2104 He was unto the gibet drawe,
2105 Where he above alle othre hongeth,
2106 As to a tretour it belongeth.
2107 Tho fame with hire swifte wynges
2108 Aboute flyh and bar tidinges,
2109 And made it cowth in alle londes
2110 How that Horestes with hise hondes
2111 Climestre his oghne Moder slowh.
2112 Some sein he dede wel ynowh,
2113 And som men sein he dede amis,
2114 Diverse opinion ther is:
2115 That sche is ded thei speken alle,
2116 Bot pleinli hou it is befalle,
2117 The matiere in so litel throwe
2118 In soth ther mihte noman knowe
2119 Bot thei that weren ate dede:
2120 And comunliche in every nede
2121 The worste speche is rathest herd
2122 And lieved, til it be ansuerd.
2123 The kinges and the lordes grete
2124 Begonne Horestes forto threte
2125 To puten him out of his regne:
2126 "He is noght worthi forto regne,
2127 The child which slowh his moder so,"
2128 Thei saide; and therupon also
2129 The lordes of comun assent
2130 A time sette of parlement,
2131 And to Athenes king and lord
2132 Togedre come of on accord,
2133 To knowe hou that the sothe was:
2134 So that Horestes in this cas
2135 Thei senden after, and he com.
2136 King Menelay the wordes nom
2137 And axeth him of this matiere:
2138 And he, that alle it mihten hiere,
2139 Ansuerde and tolde his tale alarge,
2140 And hou the goddes in his charge
2141 Comanded him in such a wise
2142 His oghne hond to do juise.
2143 And with this tale a Duc aros,
2144 Which was a worthi kniht of los,
2145 His name was Menestes,
2146 And seide unto the lordes thus:
2147 "The wreeche which Horeste dede,
2148 It was thing of the goddes bede,
2149 And nothing of his crualte;
2150 And if ther were of mi degree
2151 In al this place such a kniht
2152 That wolde sein it was no riht,
2153 I wole it with my bodi prove."
2154 And therupon he caste his glove,
2155 And ek this noble Duc alleide
2156 Ful many an other skile, and seide
2157 Sche hadde wel deserved wreche,
2158 Ferst for the cause of Spousebreche,
2159 And after wroghte in such a wise
2160 That al the world it oghte agrise,
2161 Whan that sche for so foul a vice
2162 Was of hire oghne lord moerdrice.
2163 Thei seten alle stille and herde,
2164 Bot therto was noman ansuerde,
2165 It thoghte hem alle he seide skile,
2166 Ther is noman withseie it wile;
2167 Whan thei upon the reson musen,
2168 Horestes alle thei excusen:
2169 So that with gret solempnete
2170 He was unto his dignete
2171 Received, and coroned king.
2172 And tho befell a wonder thing:
2173 Egiona, whan sche this wiste,
2174 Which was the dowhter of Egiste
2175 And Soster on the moder side
2176 To this Horeste, at thilke tide,
2177 Whan sche herde how hir brother spedde,
2178 For pure sorwe, which hire ledde,
2179 That he ne hadde ben exiled,
2180 Sche hath hire oghne lif beguiled
2181 Anon and hyng hireselve tho.
2182 It hath and schal ben everemo,
2183 To moerdre who that wole assente,
2184 He mai noght faille to repente:
2185 This false Egiona was on,
2186 Which forto moerdre Agamenon
2187 Yaf hire acord and hire assent,
2188 So that be goddes juggement,
2189 Thogh that non other man it wolde,
2190 Sche tok hire juise as sche scholde;
2191 And as sche to an other wroghte,
2192 Vengance upon hireself sche soghte,
2193 And hath of hire unhappi wit
2194 A moerdre with a moerdre quit.
2195 Such is of moerdre the vengance.
2196 Forthi, mi Sone, in remembrance
2197 Of this ensample tak good hiede:
2198 For who that thenkth his love spiede
2199 With moerdre, he schal with worldes schame
2200 Himself and ek his love schame.
2201 Mi fader, of this aventure
2202 Which ye have told, I you assure
2203 Min herte is sory forto hiere,
2204 Bot only for I wolde lere
2205 What is to done, and what to leve.
2206 And over this now be your leve,
2207 That ye me wolden telle I preie,
2208 If ther be lieffull eny weie
2209 Withoute Senne a man to sle.
2210 Mi Sone, in sondri wise ye.
2211 What man that is of traiterie,
2212 Of moerdre or elles robberie
2213 Atteint, the jugge schal noght lette,
2214 Bot he schal slen of pure dette,
2215 And doth gret Senne, if that he wonde.
2216 For who that lawe hath upon honde,
2217 And spareth forto do justice
2218 For merci, doth noght his office,
2219 That he his mercy so bewareth,
2220 Whan for o schrewe which he spareth
2221 A thousand goode men he grieveth:
2222 With such merci who that believeth
2223 To plese god, he is deceived,
2224 Or elles resoun mot be weyved.
2225 The lawe stod er we were bore,
2226 How that a kinges swerd is bore
2227 In signe that he schal defende
2228 His trewe poeple and make an ende
2229 Of suche as wolden hem devoure.
2230 Lo thus, my Sone, to socoure
2231 The lawe and comun riht to winne,
2232 A man mai sle withoute Sinne,
2233 And do therof a gret almesse,
2234 So forto kepe rihtwisnesse.
2235 And over this for his contre
2236 In time of werre a man is fre
2237 Himself, his hous and ek his lond
2238 Defende with his oghne hond,
2239 And slen, if that he mai no bet,
2240 After the lawe which is set.
2241 Now, fader, thanne I you beseche
2242 Of hem that dedly werres seche
2243 In worldes cause and scheden blod,
2244 If such an homicide is good.
2245 Mi Sone, upon thi question
2246 The trowthe of myn opinion,
2247 Als ferforth as my wit arecheth
2248 And as the pleine lawe techeth,
2249 I woll thee telle in evidence,
2250 To rewle with thi conscience.
2251 The hihe god of his justice
2252 That ilke foule horrible vice
2253 Of homicide he hath forbede,
2254 Be Moi5ses as it was bede.
2255 Whan goddes Sone also was bore,
2256 He sende hise anglis doun therfore,
2257 Whom the Schepherdes herden singe,
2258 Pes to the men of welwillinge
2259 In erthe be among ous here.
2260 So forto speke in this matiere
2261 After the lawe of charite,
2262 Ther schal no dedly werre be:
2263 And ek nature it hath defended
2264 And in hir lawe pes comended,
2265 Which is the chief of mannes welthe,
2266 Of mannes lif, of mannes helthe.
2267 Bot dedly werre hath his covine
2268 Of pestilence and of famine,
2269 Of poverte and of alle wo,
2270 Wherof this world we blamen so,
2271 Which now the werre hath under fote,
2272 Til god himself therof do bote.
2273 For alle thing which god hath wroght
2274 In Erthe, werre it bringth to noght:
2275 The cherche is brent, the priest is slain,
2276 The wif, the maide is ek forlain,
2277 The lawe is lore and god unserved:
2278 I not what mede he hath deserved
2279 That suche werres ledeth inne.
2280 If that he do it forto winne,
2281 Ferst to acompte his grete cost
2282 Forth with the folk that he hath lost,
2283 As to the wordes rekeninge
2284 Ther schal he finde no winnynge;
2285 And if he do it to pourchace
2286 The hevene mede, of such a grace
2287 I can noght speke, and natheles
2288 Crist hath comanded love and pes,
2289 And who that worcheth the revers,
2290 I trowe his mede is ful divers.
2291 And sithen thanne that we finde
2292 That werres in here oghne kinde
2293 Ben toward god of no decerte,
2294 And ek thei bringen in poverte
2295 Of worldes good, it is merveile
2296 Among the men what it mai eyle,
2297 That thei a pes ne conne sette.
2298 I trowe Senne be the lette,
2299 And every mede of Senne is deth;
2300 So wot I nevere hou that it geth:
2301 Bot we that ben of o believe
2302 Among ousself, this wolde I lieve,
2303 That betre it were pes to chese,
2304 Than so be double weie lese.
2305 I not if that it now so stonde,
2306 Bot this a man mai understonde,
2307 Who that these olde bokes redeth,
2308 That coveitise is on which ledeth,
2309 And broghte ferst the werres inne.
2310 At Grece if that I schal beginne,
2311 Ther was it proved hou it stod:
2312 To Perce, which was ful of good,
2313 Thei maden werre in special,
2314 And so thei deden overal,
2315 Wher gret richesse was in londe,
2316 So that thei leften nothing stonde
2317 Unwerred, bot onliche Archade.
2318 For there thei no werres made,
2319 Be cause it was bareigne and povere,
2320 Wherof thei mihten noght recovere;
2321 And thus poverte was forbore,
2322 He that noght hadde noght hath lore.
2323 Bot yit it is a wonder thing,
2324 Whan that a riche worthi king,
2325 Or other lord, what so he be,
2326 Wol axe and cleyme proprete
2327 In thing to which he hath no riht,
2328 Bot onliche of his grete miht:
2329 For this mai every man wel wite,
2330 That bothe kinde and lawe write
2331 Expressly stonden therayein.
2332 Bot he mot nedes somwhat sein,
2333 Althogh ther be no reson inne,
2334 Which secheth cause forto winne:
2335 For wit that is with will oppressed,
2336 Whan coveitise him hath adressed,
2337 And alle resoun put aweie,
2338 He can wel finde such a weie
2339 To werre, where as evere him liketh,
2340 Wherof that he the world entriketh,
2341 That many a man of him compleigneth:
2342 Bot yit alwei som cause he feigneth,
2343 And of his wrongful herte he demeth
2344 That al is wel, what evere him semeth,
2345 Be so that he mai winne ynowh.
2346 For as the trew man to the plowh
2347 Only to the gaignage entendeth,
2348 Riht so the werreiour despendeth
2349 His time and hath no conscience.
2350 And in this point for evidence
2351 Of hem that suche werres make,
2352 Thou miht a gret ensample take,
2353 How thei her tirannie excusen
2354 Of that thei wrongfull werres usen,
2355 And how thei stonde of on acord,
2356 The Souldeour forth with the lord,
2357 The povere man forth with the riche,
2358 As of corage thei ben liche,
2359 To make werres and to pile
2360 For lucre and for non other skyle:
2361 Wherof a propre tale I rede,
2362 As it whilom befell in dede.
2363 Of him whom al this Erthe dradde,
2364 Whan he the world so overladde
2365 Thurgh werre, as it fortuned is,
2366 King Alisandre, I rede this;
2367 How in a Marche, where he lay,
2368 It fell per chance upon a day
2369 A Rovere of the See was nome,
2370 Which many a man hadde overcome
2371 And slain and take here good aweie:
2372 This Pilour, as the bokes seie,
2373 A famous man in sondri stede
2374 Was of the werkes whiche he dede.
2375 This Prisoner tofor the king
2376 Was broght, and there upon this thing
2377 In audience he was accused:
2378 And he his dede hath noght excused,
2379 Bot preith the king to don him riht,
2380 And seith, "Sire, if I were of miht,
2381 I have an herte lich to thin;
2382 For if the pouer were myn,
2383 Mi will is most in special
2384 To rifle and geten overal
2385 The large worldes good aboute.
2386 Bot for I lede a povere route
2387 And am, as who seith, at meschief,
2388 The name of Pilour and of thief
2389 I bere; and thou, which routes grete
2390 Miht lede and take thi beyete,
2391 And dost riht as I wolde do,
2392 Thi name is nothing cleped so,
2393 Bot thou art named Emperour.
2394 Oure dedes ben of o colour
2395 And in effect of o decerte,
2396 Bot thi richesse and my poverte
2397 Tho ben noght taken evene liche.
2398 And natheles he that is riche
2399 This dai, tomorwe he mai be povere;
2400 And in contraire also recovere
2401 A povere man to gret richesse
2402 Men sen: forthi let rihtwisnesse
2403 Be peised evene in the balance.
2404 The king his hardi contienance
2405 Behield, and herde hise wordes wise,
2406 And seide unto him in this wise:
2407 "Thin ansuere I have understonde,
2408 Wherof my will is, that thou stonde
2409 In mi service and stille abide."
2410 And forth withal the same tide
2411 He hath him terme of lif withholde,
2412 The mor and for he schal ben holde,
2413 He made him kniht and yaf him lond,
2414 Which afterward was of his hond
2415 And orped kniht in many a stede,
2416 And gret prouesce of armes dede,
2417 As the Croniqes it recorden.
2418 And in this wise thei acorden,
2419 The whiche of o condicioun
2420 Be set upon destruccioun:
2421 Such Capitein such retenue.
2422 Bot forto se to what issue
2423 The thing befalleth ate laste,
2424 It is gret wonder that men caste
2425 Here herte upon such wrong to winne,
2426 Wher no beyete mai ben inne,
2427 And doth desese on every side:
2428 Bot whan reson is put aside
2429 And will governeth the corage,
2430 The faucon which that fleth ramage
2431 And soeffreth nothing in the weie,
2432 Wherof that he mai take his preie,
2433 Is noght mor set upon ravine,
2434 Than thilke man which his covine
2435 Hath set in such a maner wise:
2436 For al the world ne mai suffise
2437 To will which is noght resonable.
2438 Wherof ensample concordable
2439 Lich to this point of which I meene,
2440 Was upon Alisandre sene,
2441 Which hadde set al his entente,
2442 So as fortune with him wente,
2443 That reson mihte him non governe,
2444 Bot of his will he was so sterne,
2445 That al the world he overran
2446 And what him list he tok and wan.
2447 In Ynde the superiour
2448 Whan that he was ful conquerour,
2449 And hadde his wilful pourpos wonne
2450 Of al this Erthe under the Sonne,
2451 This king homward to Macedoine,
2452 Whan that he cam to Babiloine,
2453 And wende most in his Empire,
2454 As he which was hol lord and Sire,
2455 In honour forto be received,
2456 Most sodeinliche he was deceived,
2457 And with strong puison envenimed.
2458 And as he hath the world mistimed
2459 Noght as he scholde with his wit,
2460 Noght as he wolde it was aquit.
2461 Thus was he slain that whilom slowh,
2462 And he which riche was ynowh
2463 This dai, tomorwe he hadde noght:
2464 And in such wise as he hath wroght
2465 In destorbance of worldes pes,
2466 His werre he fond thanne endeles,
2467 In which for evere desconfit
2468 He was. Lo now, for what profit
2469 Of werre it helpeth forto ryde,
2470 For coveitise and worldes pride
2471 To sle the worldes men aboute,
2472 As bestes whiche gon theroute.
2473 For every lif which reson can
2474 Oghth wel to knowe that a man
2475 Ne scholde thurgh no tirannie
2476 Lich to these othre bestes die,
2477 Til kinde wolde for him sende.
2478 I not hou he it mihte amende,
2479 Which takth awei for everemore
2480 The lif that he mai noght restore.
2481 Forthi, mi Sone, in alle weie
2482 Be wel avised, I thee preie,
2483 Of slawhte er that thou be coupable
2484 Withoute cause resonable.
2485 Mi fader, understonde it is,
2486 That ye have seid; bot over this
2487 I prei you tell me nay or yee,
2488 To passe over the grete See
2489 To werre and sle the Sarazin,
2490 Is that the lawe? Sone myn,
2491 To preche and soffre for the feith,
2492 That have I herd the gospell seith;
2493 Bot forto slee, that hiere I noght.
2494 Crist with his oghne deth hath boght
2495 Alle othre men, and made hem fre,
2496 In tokne of parfit charite;
2497 And after that he tawhte himselve,
2498 Whan he was ded, these othre tuelve
2499 Of hise Apostles wente aboute
2500 The holi feith to prechen oute,
2501 Wherof the deth in sondri place
2502 Thei soffre, and so god of his grace
2503 The feith of Crist hath mad aryse:
2504 Bot if thei wolde in other wise
2505 Be werre have broght in the creance,
2506 It hadde yit stonde in balance.
2507 And that mai proven in the dede;
2508 For what man the Croniqes rede,
2509 Fro ferst that holi cherche hath weyved
2510 To preche, and hath the swerd received,
2511 Wherof the werres ben begonne,
2512 A gret partie of that was wonne
2513 To Cristes feith stant now miswent:
2514 Godd do therof amendement,
2515 So as he wot what is the beste.
2516 Bot, Sone, if thou wolt live in reste
2517 Of conscience wel assised,
2518 Er that thou sle, be wel avised:
2519 For man, as tellen ous the clerkes,
2520 Hath god above alle ertheli werkes
2521 Ordeined to be principal,
2522 And ek of Soule in special
2523 He is mad lich to the godhiede.
2524 So sit it wel to taken hiede
2525 And forto loke on every side,
2526 Er that thou falle in homicide,
2527 Which Senne is now so general,
2528 That it welnyh stant overal,
2529 In holi cherche and elles where.
2530 Bot al the while it stant so there,
2531 The world mot nede fare amis:
2532 For whan the welle of pite is
2533 Thurgh coveitise of worldes good
2534 Defouled with schedinge of blod,
2535 The remenant of folk aboute
2536 Unethe stonden eny doute
2537 To werre ech other and to slee.
2538 So is it all noght worth a Stree,
2539 The charite wherof we prechen,
2540 For we do nothing as we techen:
2541 And thus the blinde conscience
2542 Of pes hath lost thilke evidence
2543 Which Crist upon this Erthe tawhte.
2544 Now mai men se moerdre and manslawhte
2545 Lich as it was be daies olde,
2546 Whan men the Sennes boghte and solde.
2547 In Grece afore Cristes feith,
2548 I rede, as the Cronique seith,
2549 Touchende of this matiere thus,
2550 In thilke time hou Peles
2551 His oghne brother Phocus slowh;
2552 Bot for he hadde gold ynowh
2553 To yive, his Senne was despensed
2554 With gold, wherof it was compensed:
2555 Achastus, which with Venus was
2556 Hire Priest, assoilede in that cas,
2557 Al were ther no repentance.
2558 And as the bok makth remembrance,
2559 It telleth of Medee also;
2560 Of that sche slowh her Sones tuo,
2561 Eges in the same plit
2562 Hath mad hire of hire Senne quit.
2563 The Sone ek of Amphioras,
2564 Whos rihte name Almes was,
2565 His Moder slowh, Eriphile;
2566 Bot Achilo the Priest and he,
2567 So as the bokes it recorden,
2568 For certein Somme of gold acorden
2569 That thilke horrible sinfull dede
2570 Assoiled was. And thus for mede
2571 Of worldes good it falleth ofte
2572 That homicide is set alofte
2573 Hiere in this lif; bot after this
2574 Ther schal be knowe how that it is
2575 Of hem that suche thinges werche,
2576 And hou also that holi cherche
2577 Let suche Sennes passe quyte,
2578 And how thei wole hemself aquite
2579 Of dedly werres that thei make.
2580 For who that wolde ensample take,
2581 The lawe which is naturel
2582 Be weie of kinde scheweth wel
2583 That homicide in no degree,
2584 Which werreth ayein charite,
2585 Among the men ne scholde duelle.
2586 For after that the bokes telle,
2587 To seche in al this worldesriche,
2588 Men schal noght finde upon his liche
2589 A beste forto take his preie:
2590 And sithen kinde hath such a weie,
2591 Thanne is it wonder of a man,
2592 Which kynde hath and resoun can,
2593 That he wol owther more or lasse
2594 His kinde and resoun overpasse,
2595 And sle that is to him semblable.
2596 So is the man noght resonable
2597 Ne kinde, and that is noght honeste,
2598 Whan he is worse than a beste.
2599 Among the bokes whiche I finde
2600 Solyns spekth of a wonder kinde,
2601 And seith of fowhles ther is on,
2602 Which hath a face of blod and bon
2603 Lich to a man in resemblance.
2604 And if it falle him so per chance,
2605 As he which is a fowhl of preie,
2606 That he a man finde in his weie,
2607 He wol him slen, if that he mai:
2608 Bot afterward the same dai,
2609 Whan he hath eten al his felle,
2610 And that schal be beside a welle,
2611 In which whan he wol drinke take,
2612 Of his visage and seth the make
2613 That he hath slain, anon he thenketh
2614 Of his misdede, and it forthenketh
2615 So gretly, that for pure sorwe
2616 He liveth noght til on the morwe.
2617 Be this ensample it mai well suie
2618 That man schal homicide eschuie,
2619 For evere is merci good to take,
2620 Bot if the lawe it hath forsake
2621 And that justice is therayein.
2622 For ofte time I have herd sein
2623 Amonges hem that werres hadden,
2624 That thei som while here cause ladden
2625 Be merci, whan thei mihte have slain,
2626 Wherof that thei were after fain:
2627 And, Sone, if that thou wolt recorde
2628 The vertu of Misericorde,
2629 Thou sihe nevere thilke place,
2630 Where it was used, lacke grace.
2631 For every lawe and every kinde
2632 The mannes wit to merci binde;
2633 And namely the worthi knihtes,
2634 Whan that thei stonden most uprihtes
2635 And ben most mihti forto grieve,
2636 Thei scholden thanne most relieve
2637 Him whom thei mihten overthrowe,
2638 As be ensample a man mai knowe.
2639 He mai noght failen of his mede
2640 That hath merci: for this I rede,
2641 In a Cronique and finde thus.
2642 Whan Achilles with Telaphus
2643 His Sone toward Troie were,
2644 It fell hem, er thei comen there,
2645 Ayein Theucer the king of Mese
2646 To make werre and forto sese
2647 His lond, as thei that wolden regne
2648 And Theucer pute out of his regne.
2649 And thus the Marches thei assaile,
2650 Bot Theucer yaf to hem bataille;
2651 Thei foghte on bothe sides faste,
2652 Bot so it hapneth ate laste,
2653 This worthi Grek, this Achilles,
2654 The king among alle othre ches:
2655 As he that was cruel and fell,
2656 With swerd in honde on him he fell,
2657 And smot him with a dethes wounde,
2658 That he unhorsed fell to grounde.
2659 Achilles upon him alyhte,
2660 And wolde anon, as he wel mihte,
2661 Have slain him fullich in the place;
2662 Bot Thelaphus his fader grace
2663 For him besoghte, and for pite
2664 Preith that he wolde lete him be,
2665 And caste his Schield betwen hem tuo.
2666 Achilles axeth him why so,
2667 And Thelaphus his cause tolde,
2668 And seith that he is mochel holde,
2669 For whilom Theucer in a stede
2670 Gret grace and socour to him dede,
2671 And seith that he him wolde aquite,
2672 And preith his fader to respite.
2673 Achilles tho withdrowh his hond;
2674 Bot al the pouer of the lond,
2675 Whan that thei sihe here king thus take,
2676 Thei fledde and han the feld forsake:
2677 The Grecs unto the chace falle,
2678 And for the moste part of alle
2679 Of that contre the lordes grete
2680 Thei toke, and wonne a gret beyete.
2681 And anon after this victoire
2682 The king, which hadde good memoire,
2683 Upon the grete merci thoghte,
2684 Which Telaphus toward him wroghte,
2685 And in presence of al the lond
2686 He tok him faire be the hond,
2687 And in this wise he gan to seie:
2688 "Mi Sone, I mot be double weie
2689 Love and desire thin encress;
2690 Ferst for thi fader Achilles
2691 Whilom ful many dai er this,
2692 Whan that I scholde have fare amis,
2693 Rescousse dede in mi querele
2694 And kepte al myn astat in hele:
2695 How so ther falle now distance
2696 Amonges ous, yit remembrance
2697 I have of merci which he dede
2698 As thanne: and thou now in this stede
2699 Of gentilesce and of franchise
2700 Hast do mercy the same wise.
2701 So wol I noght that eny time
2702 Be lost of that thou hast do byme;
2703 For hou so this fortune falle,
2704 Yit stant mi trust aboven alle,
2705 For the mercy which I now finde,
2706 That thou wolt after this be kinde:
2707 And for that such is myn espeir,
2708 As for my Sone and for myn Eir
2709 I thee receive, and al my lond
2710 I yive and sese into thin hond."
2711 And in this wise thei acorde,
2712 The cause was Misericorde:
2713 The lordes dede here obeissance
2714 To Thelaphus, and pourveance
2715 Was mad so that he was coroned:
2716 And thus was merci reguerdoned,
2717 Which he to Theucer dede afore.
2718 Lo, this ensample is mad therfore,
2719 That thou miht take remembrance,
2720 Mi Sone; and whan thou sest a chaunce,
2721 Of other mennes passioun
2722 Tak pite and compassioun,
2723 And let nothing to thee be lief,
2724 Which to an other man is grief.
2725 And after this if thou desire
2726 To stonde ayein the vice of Ire,
2727 Consaile thee with Pacience,
2728 And tak into thi conscience
2729 Merci to be thi governour.
2730 So schalt thou fiele no rancour,
2731 Wherof thin herte schal debate
2732 With homicide ne with hate
2733 For Cheste or for Malencolie:
2734 Thou schalt be soft in compaignie
2735 Withoute Contek or Folhaste:
2736 For elles miht thou longe waste
2737 Thi time, er that thou have thi wille
2738 Of love; for the weder stille
2739 Men preise, and blame the tempestes.
2740 Mi fader, I wol do youre hestes,
2741 And of this point ye have me tawht,
2742 Toward miself the betre sawht
2743 I thenke be, whil that I live.
2744 Bot for als moche as I am schrive
2745 Of Wraththe and al his circumstance,
2746 Yif what you list to my penance,
2747 And asketh forthere of my lif,
2748 If otherwise I be gultif
2749 Of eny thing that toucheth Sinne.
2750 Mi Sone, er we departe atwinne,
2751 I schal behinde nothing leve.
2752 Mi goode fader, be your leve
2753 Thanne axeth forth what so you list,
2754 For I have in you such a trist,
2755 As ye that be my Soule hele,
2756 That ye fro me wol nothing hele,
2757 For I schal telle you the trowthe.
2758 Mi Sone, art thou coupable of Slowthe
2759 In eny point which to him longeth?
2760 My fader, of tho pointz me longeth
2761 To wite pleinly what thei meene,
2762 So that I mai me schrive cleene.
2763 Now herkne, I schal the pointz devise;
2764 And understond wel myn aprise:
2765 For schrifte stant of no value
2766 To him that wol him noght vertue
2767 To leve of vice the folie:
2768 For word is wynd, bot the maistrie
2769 Is that a man himself defende
2770 Of thing which is noght to comende,
2771 Wherof ben fewe now aday.
2772 And natheles, so as I may
2773 Make unto thi memoire knowe,
2774 The pointz of Slowthe thou schalt knowe.
Explicit Liber Tercius
