Des Longe Cles, In Stede Of Man A Bestes Lyke He Syh; And Thanne He Gan To Syke For Cloth Of Gold And For Perrie, Which Him Was Wont To Magnefie. Whan He Behield His Cote Of Heres, He Wepte And With Fulwoful Teres 3000 Up To The Hevene He Caste His Chiere Wepende, And Thoghte In This Manere; Thogh He No Wordes Myhte Winne, Thus Seide His Herte And Spak Withinne: "O Mihti Godd, That Al Hast Wroght And Al Myht Bringe Ayein To Noght, Now Knowe I Wel, Bot Al Of Thee, This World Hath No Prosperite: In Thin Aspect Ben Alle Liche, The Povere Man And Ek The Riche, 3010 Withoute Thee Ther Mai No Wight, And Thou Above Alle Othre Miht. O Mihti Lord, Toward My Vice Thi Merci Medle With Justice; And I Woll Make A Covenant, That Of My Lif The Remenant I Schal It Be Thi Grace Amende, And In Thi Lawe So Despende That Veine Gloire I Schal Eschuie, And Bowe Unto Thin Heste And Suie 3020 Humilite, And That I Vowe." And So Thenkende He Gan Doun Bowe, And Thogh Him Lacke Vois And Speche, He Gan Up With His Feet Areche, And Wailende In His Bestly Stevene He Made His Pleignte Unto The Hevene. He Kneleth In His Wise And Braieth, To Seche Merci And Assaieth His God, Which Made Him Nothing Strange, Whan That He Sih His Pride Change. 3030 Anon As He Was Humble And Tame, He Fond Toward His God The Same, And In A Twinklinge Of A Lok His Mannes Forme Ayein He Tok, And Was Reformed To The Regne In Which That He Was Wont To Regne; So That The Pride Of Veine Gloire Evere Afterward Out Of Memoire He Let It Passe. And Thus Is Schewed What Is To Ben Of Pride Unthewed 3040 Ayein The Hihe Goddes Lawe, To Whom Noman Mai Be Felawe. Forthi, My Sone, Tak Good Hiede So Forto Lede Thi Manhiede, That Thou Ne Be Noght Lich A Beste. Bot If Thi Lif Schal Ben Honeste, Thou Most Humblesce Take On Honde, For Thanne Myht Thou Siker Stonde: And Forto Speke It Otherwise, A Proud Man Can No Love Assise; 3050 For Thogh A Womman Wolde Him Plese, His Pride Can Noght Ben At Ese. Ther Mai Noman To Mochel Blame A Vice Which Is Forto Blame; Forthi Men Scholde Nothing Hide That Mihte Falle In Blame Of Pride, Which Is The Werste Vice Of Alle: Wherof, So As It Was Befalle, The Tale I Thenke Of A Cronique To Telle, If That It Mai Thee Like, 3060 So That Thou Myht Humblesce Suie And Ek The Vice Of Pride Eschuie, Wherof The Gloire Is Fals And Vein; Which God Himself Hath In Desdeign, That Thogh It Mounte For A Throwe, It Schal Doun Falle And Overthrowe. A King Whilom Was Yong And Wys, The Which Sette Of His Wit Gret Pris. Of Depe Ymaginaciouns And Strange Interpretaciouns, 3070 Problemes And Demandes Eke, His Wisdom Was To Finde And Seke; Wherof He Wolde In Sondri Wise Opposen Hem That Weren Wise. Bot Non Of Hem It Myhte Bere Upon His Word To Yeve Answere, Outaken On, Which Was A Knyht; To Him Was Every Thing So Liht, That Also Sone As He Hem Herde, The Kinges Wordes He Answerde; 3080 What Thing The King Him Axe Wolde, Therof Anon The Trowthe He Tolde. The King Somdiel Hadde An Envie, And Thoghte He Wolde His Wittes Plie To Sette Som Conclusioun, Which Scholde Be Confusioun Unto This Knyht, So That The Name And Of Wisdom The Hihe Fame Toward Himself He Wolde Winne. And Thus Of Al His Wit Withinne 3090 This King Began To Studie And Muse, What Strange Matiere He Myhte Use The Knyhtes Wittes To Confounde; And Ate Laste He Hath It Founde, And For The Knyht Anon He Sente, That He Schal Telle What He Mente. Upon Thre Pointz Stod The Matiere Of Questions, As Thou Schalt Hiere. The Ferste Point Of Alle Thre Was This: "What Thing In His Degre 3100 Of Al This World Hath Nede Lest, And Yet Men Helpe It Althermest?" The Secounde Is: "What Most Is Worth, And Of Costage Is Lest Put Forth?" The Thridde Is: "Which Is Of Most Cost, And Lest Is Worth And Goth To Lost?" The King Thes Thre Demandes Axeth, And To The Knyht This Lawe He Taxeth, That He Schal Gon And Come Ayein The Thridde Weke, And Telle Him Plein 3110 To Every Point, What It Amonteth. And If So Be That He Misconteth, To Make In His Answere A Faile, Ther Schal Non Other Thing Availe, The King Seith, Bot He Schal Be Ded And Lese Hise Goodes And His Hed. The Knyht Was Sori Of This Thing And Wolde Excuse Him To The King, Bot He Ne Wolde Him Noght Forbere, And Thus The Knyht Of His Ansuere 3120 Goth Hom To Take Avisement: Bot After His Entendement The More He Caste His Wit Aboute, The More He Stant Therof In Doute. Tho Wiste He Wel The Kinges Herte, That He The Deth Ne Scholde Asterte, And Such A Sorwe Hath To Him Take, That Gladschipe He Hath Al Forsake. He Thoghte Ferst Upon His Lif, And After That Upon His Wif, 3130 Upon His Children Ek Also, Of Whiche He Hadde Dowhtres Tuo; The Yongest Of Hem Hadde Of Age Fourtiene Yer, And Of Visage Sche Was Riht Fair, And Of Stature Lich To An Hevenely Figure, And Of Manere And Goodli Speche, Thogh Men Wolde Alle Londes Seche, Thei Scholden Noght Have Founde Hir Like. Sche Sih Hire Fader Sorwe And Sike, 3140 And Wiste Noght The Cause Why; So Cam Sche To Him Prively, And That Was Where He Made His Mone Withinne A Gardin Al Him One; Upon Hire Knes Sche Gan Doun Falle With Humble Herte And To Him Calle, And Seide: "O Goode Fader Diere, Why Make Ye Thus Hevy Chiere, And I Wot Nothing How It Is? And Wel Ye Knowen, Fader, This, 3150 What Aventure That You Felle Ye Myhte It Saufly To Me Telle, For I Have Ofte Herd You Seid, That Ye Such Trust Have On Me Leid, That To My Soster Ne My Brother, In Al This World Ne To Non Other, Ye Dorste Telle A Privite So Wel, My Fader, As To Me. Forthi, My Fader, I You Preie, Ne Casteth Noght That Herte Aweie, 3160 For I Am Sche That Wolde Kepe Youre Honour." And With That To Wepe Hire Yhe Mai Noght Be Forbore, Sche Wissheth Forto Ben Unbore, Er That Hire Fader So Mistriste To Tellen Hire Of That He Wiste: And Evere Among Merci Sche Cride, That He Ne Scholde His Conseil Hide From Hire That So Wolde Him Good And Was So Nyh His Fleissh And Blod. 3170 So That With Wepinge Ate Laste His Chiere Upon His Child He Caste, And Sorwfulli To That Sche Preide He Tolde His Tale And Thus He Seide: "The Sorwe, Dowhter, Which I Make Is Noght Al Only For My Sake, Bot For Thee Bothe And For You Alle: For Such A Chance Is Me Befalle, That I Schal Er This Thridde Day Lese Al That Evere I Lese May, 3180 Mi Lif And Al My Good Therto: Therfore It Is I Sorwe So." "What Is The Cause, Helas!" Quod Sche, "Mi Fader, That Ye Scholden Be Ded And Destruid In Such A Wise?" And He Began The Pointz Devise, Whiche As The King Told Him Be Mowthe, And Seid Hir Pleinly That He Cowthe Ansuere Unto No Point Of This. And Sche, That Hiereth How It Is, 3190 Hire Conseil Yaf And Seide Tho: "Mi Fader, Sithen It Is So, That Ye Can Se Non Other Weie, Bot That Ye Moste Nedes Deie, I Wolde Preie Of You A Thing: Let Me Go With You To The King, And Ye Schull Make Him Understonde How Ye, My Wittes Forto Fonde, Have Leid Your Ansuere Upon Me; And Telleth Him, In Such Degre 3200 Upon My Word Ye Wole Abide To Lif Or Deth, What So Betide. For Yit Par Chaunce I May Pourchace With Som Good Word The Kinges Grace, Your Lif And Ek Your Good To Save; For Ofte Schal A Womman Have Thing Which A Man Mai Noght Areche." The Fader Herde His Dowhter Speche, And Thoghte Ther Was Resoun Inne, And Sih His Oghne Lif To Winne 3210 He Cowthe Don Himself No Cure; So Betre Him Thoghte In Aventure To Put His Lif And Al His Good, Than In The Maner As It Stod His Lif In Certein Forto Lese. And Thus Thenkende He Gan To Chese To Do The Conseil Of This Maide, And Tok The Pourpos Which Sche Saide. The Dai Was Come And Forth Thei Gon, Unto The Court Thei Come Anon, 3220 Wher As The King In Juggement Was Set And Hath This Knyht Assent. Arraied In Hire Beste Wise This Maiden With Hire Wordes Wise Hire Fader Ladde Be The Hond Into The Place, Wher He Fond The King With Othre Whiche He Wolde, And To The King Knelende He Tolde As He Enformed Was Tofore, And Preith The King That He Therfore 3230 His Dowhtres Wordes Wolde Take, And Seith That He Wol Undertake Upon Hire Wordes Forto Stonde. Tho Was Ther Gret Merveile On Honde, That He, Which Was So Wys A Knyht, His Lif Upon So Yong A Wyht Besette Wolde In Jeupartie, And Manye It Hielden For Folie: Bot Ate Laste Natheles The King Comandeth Ben In Pes, 3240 And To This Maide He Caste His Chiere, And Seide He Wolde Hire Tale Hiere, He Bad Hire Speke, And Sche Began: "Mi Liege Lord, So As I Can," Quod Sche, "The Pointz Of Whiche I Herde, Thei Schul Of Reson Ben Ansuerde. The Ferste I Understonde Is This, What Thing Of Al The World It Is, Which Men Most Helpe And Hath Lest Nede. Mi Liege Lord, This Wolde I Rede: 3250 The Erthe It Is, Which Everemo With Mannes Labour Is Bego; Als Wel In Wynter As In Maii The Mannes Hond Doth What He Mai To Helpe It Forth And Make It Riche, And Forthi Men It Delve And Dyche And Eren It With Strengthe Of Plowh, Wher It Hath Of Himself Ynowh, So That His Nede Is Ate Leste. For Every Man And Bridd And Beste, 3260 And Flour And Gras And Rote And Rinde, And Every Thing Be Weie Of Kynde Schal Sterve, And Erthe It Schal Become; As It Was Out Of Erthe Nome, It Schal To Therthe Torne Ayein: And Thus I Mai Be Resoun Sein That Erthe Is The Most Nedeles, And Most Men Helpe It Natheles. So That, My Lord, Touchende Of This I Have Ansuerd Hou That It Is. 3270 That Other Point I Understod, Which Most Is Worth And Most Is Good, And Costeth Lest A Man To Kepe: Mi Lord, If Ye Woll Take Kepe, I Seie It Is Humilite, Thurgh Which The Hihe Trinite As For Decerte Of Pure Love Unto Marie From Above, Of That He Knew Hire Humble Entente, His Oghne Sone Adoun He Sente, 3280 Above Alle Othre And Hire He Ches For That Vertu Which Bodeth Pes: So That I May Be Resoun Calle Humilite Most Worth Of Alle. And Lest It Costeth To Maintiene, In Al The World As It Is Sene; For Who That Hath Humblesce On Honde, He Bringth No Werres Into Londe, For He Desireth For The Beste To Setten Every Man In Reste. 3290 Thus With Your Hihe Reverence Me Thenketh That This Evidence As To This Point Is Sufficant. And Touchende Of The Remenant, Which Is The Thridde Of Youre Axinges, What Leste Is Worth Of Alle Thinges, And Costeth Most, I Telle It, Pride; Which Mai Noght In The Hevene Abide, For Lucifer With Hem That Felle Bar Pride With Him Into Helle. 3300 Ther Was Pride Of To Gret A Cost, Whan He For Pride Hath Hevene Lost; And After That In Paradis Adam For Pride Loste His Pris: In Midelerthe And Ek Also Pride Is The Cause Of Alle Wo, That Al The World Ne May Suffise To Stanche Of Pride The Reprise: Pride Is The Heved Of Alle Sinne, Which Wasteth Al And Mai Noght Winne; 3310 Pride Is Of Every Mis The Pricke, Pride Is The Werste Of Alle Wicke, And Costneth Most And Lest Is Worth In Place Where He Hath His Forth. Thus Have I Seid That I Wol Seie Of Myn Answere, And To You Preie, Mi Liege Lord, Of Youre Office That Ye Such Grace And Such Justice Ordeigne For Mi Fader Hiere, That After This, Whan Men It Hiere, 3320 The World Therof Mai Speke Good." The King, Which Reson Understod And Hath Al Herd How Sche Hath Said, Was Inly Glad And So Wel Paid That Al His Wraththe Is Overgo: And He Began To Loke Tho Upon This Maiden In The Face, In Which He Fond So Mochel Grace, That Al His Pris On Hire He Leide, In Audience And Thus He Seide: 3330 "Mi Faire Maide, Wel Thee Be! Of Thin Ansuere And Ek Of Thee Me Liketh Wel, And As Thou Wilt, Foryive Be Thi Fader Gilt. And If Thou Were Of Such Lignage, That Thou To Me Were Of Parage, And That Thi Fader Were A Pier, As He Is Now A Bachilier, So Seker As I Have A Lif, Thou Scholdest Thanne Be My Wif. 3340 Bot This I Seie Natheles, That I Wol Schape Thin Encress; What Worldes Good That Thou Wolt Crave, Axe Of My Yifte And Thou Schalt Have." And Sche The King With Wordes Wise Knelende Thonketh In This Wise: "Mi Liege Lord, God Mot You Quite! Mi Fader Hier Hath Bot A Lite Of Warison, And That He Wende Hadde Al Be Lost; Bot Now Amende 3350 He Mai Wel Thurgh Your Noble Grace." With That The King Riht In His Place Anon Forth In That Freisshe Hete An Erldom, Which Thanne Of Eschete Was Late Falle Into His Hond, Unto This Knyht With Rente And Lond Hath Yove And With His Chartre Sesed; And Thus Was All The Noise Appesed. This Maiden, Which Sat On Hire Knes Tofore The King, Hise Charitees 3360 Comendeth, And Seide Overmore: "Mi Liege Lord, Riht Now Tofore Ye Seide, As It Is Of Record, That If My Fader Were A Lord And Pier Unto These Othre Grete, Ye Wolden For Noght Elles Lete, That I Ne Scholde Be Your Wif; And This Wot Every Worthi Lif, A Kinges Word It Mot Ben Holde. Forthi, My Lord, If That Ye Wolde 3370 So Gret A Charite Fulfille, God Wot It Were Wel My Wille: For He Which Was A Bacheler, Mi Fader, Is Now Mad A Pier; So Whenne As Evere That I Cam, An Erles Dowhter Now I Am." This Yonge King, Which Peised Al, Hire Beaute And Hir Wit Withal, As He That Was With Love Hent, Anon Therto Yaf His Assent. 3380 He Myhte Noght The Maide Asterte, That Sche Nis Ladi Of His Herte; So That He Tok Hire To His Wif, To Holde Whyl That He Hath Lif: And Thus The King Toward His Knyht Acordeth Him, As It Is Riht. And Over This Good Is To Wite, In The Cronique As It Is Write, This Noble King Of Whom I Tolde Of Spaine Be Tho Daies Olde 3390 The Kingdom Hadde In Governance, And As The Bok Makth Remembrance, Alphonse Was His Propre Name: The Knyht Also, If I Schal Name, Danz Petro Hihte, And As Men Telle, His Dowhter Wyse Peronelle Was Cleped, Which Was Full Of Grace: And That Was Sene In Thilke Place, Wher Sche Hir Fader Out Of Teene Hath Broght And Mad Hirself A Qweene, 3400 Of That Sche Hath So Wel Desclosed The Pointz Wherof Sche Was Opposed. Lo Now, My Sone, As Thou Myht Hiere, Of Al This Thing To My Matiere Bot On I Take, And That Is Pride, To Whom No Grace Mai Betide: In Hevene He Fell Out Of His Stede, And Paradis Him Was Forbede, The Goode Men In Erthe Him Hate, So That To Helle He Mot Algate, 3410 Where Every Vertu Schal Be Weyved And Every Vice Be Received. Bot Humblesce Is Al Otherwise, Which Most Is Worth, And No Reprise It Takth Ayein, Bot Softe And Faire, If Eny Thing Stond In Contraire, With Humble Speche It Is Redresced: Thus Was This Yonge Maiden Blessed, The Which I Spak Of Now Tofore, Hire Fader Lif Sche Gat Therfore, 3420 And Wan With Al The Kinges Love. Forthi, My Sone, If Thou Wolt Love, It Sit Thee Wel To Leve Pride And Take Humblesce Upon Thi Side; The More Of Grace Thou Schalt Gete. Mi Fader, I Woll Noght Foryete Of This That Ye Have Told Me Hiere, And If That Eny Such Manere Of Humble Port Mai Love Appaie, Hierafterward I Thenke Assaie: 3430 Bot Now Forth Over I Beseche That Ye More Of My Schrifte Seche. Mi Goode Sone, It Schal Be Do: Now Herkne And Ley An Ere To; For As Touchende Of Prides Fare, Als Ferforth As I Can Declare In Cause Of Vice, In Cause Of Love, That Hast Thou Pleinly Herd Above, So That Ther Is Nomor To Seie Touchende Of That; Bot Other Weie 3440 Touchende Envie I Thenke Telle, Which Hath The Propre Kinde Of Helle, Withoute Cause To Misdo Toward Himself And Othre Also, Hierafterward As Understonde Thou Schalt The Spieces, As Thei Stonde. Explicit Liber Primus