Mihte Hire Most Availe Sche Fond In Crete And In Thessaile. In Daies And In Nyhtes Nyne, With Gret Travaile And With Gret Pyne, 4020 Sche Was Pourveid Of Every Piece, And Torneth Homward Into Grece. Before The Gates Of Eson Hir Char Sche Let Awai To Gon, And Tok Out Ferst That Was Therinne; For Tho Sche Thoghte To Beginne Such Thing As Semeth Impossible, And Made Hirselven Invisible, As Sche That Was With Air Enclosed And Mihte Of Noman Be Desclosed. 4030 Sche Tok Up Turves Of The Lond Withoute Helpe Of Mannes Hond, Al Heled With The Grene Gras, Of Which An Alter Mad Ther Was Unto Echates The Goddesse Of Art Magique And The Maistresse, And Eft An Other To Juvente, As Sche Which Dede Hir Hole Entente. Tho Tok Sche Fieldwode And Verveyne, Of Herbes Ben Noght Betre Tueine, 4040 Of Which Anon Withoute Let These Alters Ben Aboute Set: Tuo Sondri Puttes Faste By Sche Made, And With That Hastely A Wether Which Was Blak Sche Slouh, And Out Therof The Blod Sche Drouh And Dede Into The Pettes Tuo; Warm Melk Sche Putte Also Therto With Hony Meynd: And In Such Wise Sche Gan To Make Hir Sacrifice, 4050 And Cride And Preide Forth Withal To Pluto The God Infernal, And To The Queene Proserpine. And So Sche Soghte Out Al The Line Of Hem That Longen To That Craft, Behinde Was No Name Laft, And Preide Hem Alle, As Sche Wel Couthe, To Grante Eson His Ferste Youthe. This Olde Eson Broght Forth Was Tho, Awei Sche Bad Alle Othre Go 4060 Upon Peril That Mihte Falle; And With That Word Thei Wenten Alle, And Leften There Hem Tuo Al One. And Tho Sche Gan To Gaspe And Gone, And Made Signes Manyon, And Seide Hir Wordes Therupon; So That With Spellinge Of Hir Charmes Sche Tok Eson In Bothe Hire Armes, And Made Him Forto Slepe Faste, And Him Upon Hire Herbes Caste. 4070 The Blake Wether Tho Sche Tok, And Hiewh The Fleissh, As Doth A Cok; On Either Alter Part Sche Leide, And With The Charmes That Sche Seide A Fyr Doun Fro The Sky Alyhte And Made It Forto Brenne Lyhte. Bot Whan Medea Sawh It Brenne, Anon Sche Gan To Sterte And Renne The Fyri Aulters Al Aboute: Ther Was No Beste Which Goth Oute 4080 More Wylde Than Sche Semeth Ther: Aboute Hir Schuldres Hyng Hir Her, As Thogh Sche Were Oute Of Hir Mynde And Torned In An Other Kynde. Tho Lay Ther Certein Wode Cleft, Of Which The Pieces Nou And Eft Sche Made Hem In The Pettes Wete, And Put Hem In The Fyri Hete, And Tok The Brond With Al The Blase, And Thries Sche Began To Rase 4090 Aboute Eson, Ther As He Slepte; And Eft With Water, Which Sche Kepte, Sche Made A Cercle Aboute Him Thries, And Eft With Fyr Of Sulphre Twyes: Ful Many An Other Thing Sche Dede, Which Is Noght Writen In This Stede. Bot Tho Sche Ran So Up And Doun, Sche Made Many A Wonder Soun, Somtime Lich Unto The Cock, Somtime Unto The Laverock, 4100 Somtime Kacleth As A Hen, Somtime Spekth As Don The Men: And Riht So As Hir Jargoun Strangeth, In Sondri Wise Hir Forme Changeth, Sche Semeth Faie And No Womman; For With The Craftes That Sche Can Sche Was, As Who Seith, A Goddesse, And What Hir Liste, More Or Lesse, Sche Dede, In Bokes As We Finde, That Passeth Over Manneskinde. 4110 Bot Who That Wole Of Wondres Hiere, What Thing Sche Wroghte In This Matiere, To Make An Ende Of That Sche Gan, Such Merveile Herde Nevere Man. Apointed In The Newe Mone, Whan It Was Time Forto Done, Sche Sette A Caldron On The Fyr, In Which Was Al The Hole Atir, Wheron The Medicine Stod, Of Jus, Of Water And Of Blod, 4120 And Let It Buile In Such A Plit, Til That Sche Sawh The Spume Whyt; And Tho Sche Caste In Rynde And Rote, And Sed And Flour That Was For Bote, With Many An Herbe And Many A Ston, Wherof Sche Hath Ther Many On: And Ek Cimpheius The Serpent To Hire Hath Alle His Scales Lent, Chelidre Hire Yaf His Addres Skin, And Sche To Builen Caste Hem In; 4130 A Part Ek Of The Horned Oule, The Which Men Hiere On Nyhtes Houle; And Of A Raven, Which Was Told Of Nyne Hundred Wynter Old, Sche Tok The Hed With Al The Bile; And As The Medicine It Wile, Sche Tok Therafter The Bouele Of The Seewolf, And For The Hele Of Eson, With A Thousand Mo Of Thinges That Sche Hadde Tho, 4140 In That Caldroun Togedre As Blyve Sche Putte, And Tok Thanne Of Olyve A Drie Branche Hem With To Stere, The Which Anon Gan Floure And Bere And Waxe Al Freissh And Grene Ayein. Whan Sche This Vertu Hadde Sein, Sche Let The Leste Drope Of Alle Upon The Bare Flor Doun Falle; Anon Ther Sprong Up Flour And Gras, Where As The Drope Falle Was, 4150 And Wox Anon Al Medwe Grene, So That It Mihte Wel Be Sene. Medea Thanne Knew And Wiste Hir Medicine Is Forto Triste, And Goth To Eson Ther He Lay, And Tok A Swerd Was Of Assay, With Which A Wounde Upon His Side Sche Made, That Therout Mai Slyde The Blod Withinne, Which Was Old And Sek And Trouble And Fieble And Cold. 4160 And Tho Sche Tok Unto His Us Of Herbes Al The Beste Jus, And Poured It Into His Wounde; That Made His Veynes Fulle And Sounde: And Tho Sche Made His Wounde Clos, And Tok His Hond, And Up He Ros; And Tho Sche Yaf Him Drinke A Drauhte, Of Which His Youthe Ayein He Cauhte, His Hed, His Herte And His Visage Lich Unto Twenty Wynter Age; 4170 Hise Hore Heres Were Away, And Lich Unto The Freisshe Maii, Whan Passed Ben The Colde Shoures, Riht So Recovereth He His Floures. Lo, What Mihte Eny Man Devise, A Womman Schewe In Eny Wise Mor Hertly Love In Every Stede, Than Medea To Jason Dede? Ferst Sche Made Him The Flees To Winne, And After That Fro Kiththe And Kinne 4180 With Gret Tresor With Him Sche Stal, And To His Fader Forth Withal His Elde Hath Torned Into Youthe, Which Thing Non Other Womman Couthe: Bot Hou It Was To Hire Aquit, The Remembrance Duelleth Yit. King Pele S His Em Was Ded, Jason Bar Corone On His Hed, Medea Hath Fulfild His Wille: Bot Whanne He Scholde Of Riht Fulfille 4190 The Trouthe, Which To Hire Afore He Hadde In Thyle Of Colchos Swore, Tho Was Medea Most Deceived. For He An Other Hath Received, Which Dowhter Was To King Creon, Creusa Sche Hihte, And Thus Jason, As He That Was To Love Untrewe, Medea Lefte And Tok A Newe. Bot That Was After Sone Aboght: Medea With Hire Art Hath Wroght 4200 Of Cloth Of Gold A Mantel Riche, Which Semeth Worth A Kingesriche, And That Was Unto Creusa Sent In Name Of Yifte And Of Present, For Sosterhode Hem Was Betuene; And Whan That Yonge Freisshe Queene That Mantel Lappeth Hire Aboute, Anon Therof The Fyr Sprong Oute And Brente Hir Bothe Fleissh And Bon. Tho Cam Medea To Jason 4210 With Bothe His Sones On Hire Hond, And Seide, "O Thou Of Every Lond The Moste Untrewe Creature, Lo, This Schal Be Thi Forfeture." With That Sche Bothe His Sones Slouh Before His Yhe, And He Outdrouh His Swerd And Wold Have Slayn Hir Tho, Bot Farewel, Sche Was Ago Unto Pallas The Court Above, Wher As Sche Pleigneth Upon Love, 4220 As Sche That Was With That Goddesse, And He Was Left In Gret Destresse. Thus Miht Thou Se What Sorwe It Doth To Swere An Oth Which Is Noght Soth, In Loves Cause Namely. Mi Sone, Be Wel War Forthi, And Kep That Thou Be Noght Forswore: For This, Which I Have Told Tofore, Ovide Telleth Everydel. Mi Fader, I May Lieve It Wel, 4230 For I Have Herde It Ofte Seie Hou Jason Tok The Flees Aweie Fro Colchos, Bot Yit Herde I Noght Be Whom It Was Ferst Thider Broght. And For It Were Good To Hiere, If That You Liste At Mi Preiere To Telle, I Wolde You Beseche. Mi Sone, Who That Wole It Seche, In Bokes He Mai Finde It Write; And Natheles, If Thou Wolt Wite, 4240 In The Manere As Thou Hast Preid I Schal The Telle Hou It Is Seid. The Fame Of Thilke Schepes Fell, Which In Colchos, As It Befell, Was Al Of Gold, Schal Nevere Deie; Wherof I Thenke For To Seie Hou It Cam Ferst Into That Yle. Ther Was A King In Thilke Whyle Towardes Grece, And Athemas The Cronique Of His Name Was; 4250 And Hadde A Wif, Which Philen Hihte, Be Whom, So As Fortune It Dihte, He Hadde Of Children Yonge Tuo. Frixus The Ferste Was Of Tho, A Knave Child, Riht Fair Withalle; A Dowhter Ek, The Which Men Calle Hellen, He Hadde Be This Wif. Bot For Ther Mai No Mannes Lif Endure Upon This Erthe Hiere, This Worthi Queene, As Thou Miht Hiere, 4260 Er That The Children Were Of Age, Tok Of Hire Ende The Passage, With Gret Worschipe And Was Begrave. What Thing It Liketh God To Have It Is Gret Reson To Ben His; Forthi This King, So As It Is, With Gret Suffrance It Underfongeth: And Afterward, As Him Belongeth, Whan It Was Time Forto Wedde, A Newe Wif He Tok To Bedde, 4270 Which Yno Hihte And Was A Mayde, And Ek The Dowhter, As Men Saide, Of Cadme, Which A King Also Was Holde In Thilke Daies Tho. Whan Yno Was The Kinges Make, Sche Caste Hou That Sche Mihte Make These Children To Here Fader Lothe, And Schope A Wyle Ayein Hem Bothe, Which To The King Was Al Unknowe. A Yeer Or Tuo Sche Let Do Sowe 4280 The Lond With Sode Whete Aboute, Wherof No Corn Mai Springen Oute; And Thus Be Sleyhte And Be Covine Aros The Derthe And The Famine Thurghout The Lond In Such A Wise, So That The King A Sacrifise Upon The Point Of This Destresse To Ceres, Which Is The Goddesse Of Corn, Hath Schape Him Forto Yive, To Loke If It Mai Be Foryive, 4290 The Meschief Which Was In His Lond. Bot Sche, Which Knew Tofor The Hond The Circumstance Of Al This Thing, Ayein The Cominge Of The King Into The Temple, Hath Schape So, Of Hire Acord That Alle Tho Whiche Of The Temple Prestes Were Have Seid And Full Declared There Unto The King, Bot If So Be That He Delivere The Contre 4300 Of Frixus And Of Hellen Bothe, With Whom The Goddes Ben So Wrothe, That Whil Tho Children Ben Therinne, Such Tilthe Schal Noman Beginne, Wherof To Gete Him Eny Corn. Thus Was It Seid, Thus Was It Sworn Of All The Prestes That Ther Are; And Sche Which Causeth Al This Fare Seid Ek Therto What That Sche Wolde, And Every Man Thanne After Tolde 4310 So As The Queene Hem Hadde Preid. The King, Which Hath His Ere Leid, And Lieveth Al That Evere He Herde, Unto Here Tale Thus Ansuerde, And Seith That Levere Him Is To Chese Hise Children Bothe Forto Lese, Than Him And Al The Remenant Of Hem Whiche Are Aportenant Unto The Lond Which He Schal Kepe: And Bad His Wif To Take Kepe 4320 In What Manere Is Best To Done, That Thei Delivered Weren Sone Out Of This World. And Sche Anon Tuo Men Ordeigneth Forto Gon; Bot Ferst Sche Made Hem Forto Swere That Thei The Children Scholden Bere Unto The See, That Non It Knowe, And Hem Therinne Bothe Throwe. The Children To The See Ben Lad, Wher In The Wise As Yno Bad 4330 These Men Be Redy Forto Do. Bot The Goddesse Which Juno Is Hote, Appiereth In The Stede, And Hath Unto The Men Forbede That Thei The Children Noght Ne Sle; Bot Bad Hem Loke Into The See And Taken Hiede Of That Thei Sihen. Ther Swam A Schep Tofore Here Yhen, Whos Flees Of Burned Gold Was Al; And This Goddesse Forth Withal 4340 Comandeth That Withoute Lette Thei Scholde Anon These Children Sette Above Upon This Schepes Bak; And Al Was Do, Riht As Sche Spak, Wherof The Men Gon Hom Ayein. And Fell So, As The Bokes Sein, Hellen The Yonge Mayden Tho, Which Of The See Was Wo Bego, For Pure Drede Hire Herte Hath Lore, That Fro The Schep, Which Hath Hire Bore, 4350 As Sche That Was Swounende Feint, Sche Fell, And Hath Hirselve Dreint; With Frixus And This Schep Forth Swam, Til He To Thyle Of Colchos Cam, Where Juno The Goddesse He Fond, Which Tok The Schep Unto The Lond, And Sette It There In Such A Wise As Thou Tofore Hast Herd Devise, Wherof Cam After Al The Wo, Why Jason Was Forswore So 4360 Unto Medee, As It Is Spoke. Mi Fader, Who That Hath Tobroke His Trouthe, As Ye Have Told Above, He Is Noght Worthi Forto Love Ne Be Beloved, As Me Semeth: Bot Every Newe Love Quemeth To Him Which Newefongel Is. And Natheles Nou After This, If That You List To Taken Hiede Upon Mi Schrifte To Procede, 4370 In Loves Cause Ayein The Vice Of Covoitise And Avarice What Ther Is More I Wolde Wite. Mi Sone, This I Finde Write, Ther Is Yit On Of Thilke Brood, Which Only For The Worldes Good, To Make A Tresor Of Moneie, Put Alle Conscience Aweie: Wherof In Thi Confession The Name And The Condicion 4380 I Schal Hierafterward Declare, Which Makth On Riche, An Other Bare. Upon The Bench Sittende On Hih With Avarice Usure I Sih, Full Clothed Of His Oghne Suite, Which After Gold Makth Chace And Suite With His Brocours, That Renne Aboute Lich Unto Racches In A Route. Such Lucre Is Non Above Grounde, Which Is Noght Of Tho Racches Founde; 4390 For Wher Thei Se Beyete Sterte, That Schal Hem In No Wise Asterte, Bot Thei It Dryve Into The Net Of Lucre, Which Usure Hath Set. Usure With The Riche Duelleth, To Al That Evere He Beith And Selleth He Hath Ordeined Of His Sleyhte Mesure Double And Double Weyhte: Outward He Selleth Be The Lasse, And With The More He Makth His Tasse, 4400 Wherof His Hous Is Full Withinne. He Reccheth Noght, Be So He Winne, Though That Ther Lese Ten Or Tuelve: His Love Is Al Toward Himselve And To Non Other, Bot He Se That He Mai Winne Suche Thre; For Wher He Schal Oght Yive Or Lene, He Wol Ayeinward Take A Bene, Ther He Hath Lent The Smale Pese. And Riht So Ther Ben Manye Of These 4410 Lovers, That Thogh Thei Love A Lyte, That Scarsly Wolde It Weie A Myte, Yit Wolde Thei Have A Pound Again, As Doth Usure In His Bargain. Bot Certes Such Usure Unliche, It Falleth More Unto The Riche, Als Wel Of Love As Of Beyete, Than Unto Hem That Be Noght Grete, And, As Who Seith, Ben Simple And Povere; For Sielden Is Whan Thei Recovere, 4420 Bot If It Be Thurgh Gret Decerte. And Natheles Men Se Poverte With Porsuite And Continuance Fulofte Make A Gret Chevance And Take Of Love His Avantage, Forth With The Help Of His Brocage, That Maken Seme Wher Is Noght. And Thus Fulofte Is Love Boght For Litel What, And Mochel Take, With False Weyhtes That Thei Make. 4430 Nou, Sone, Of That I Seide Above Thou Wost What Usure Is Of Love: Tell Me Forthi What So Thou Wilt, If Thou Therof Hast Eny Gilt. Mi Fader, Nay, For Ought I Hiere. For Of Tho Pointz Ye Tolden Hiere I Wol You Be Mi Trouthe Assure, Mi Weyhte Of Love And Mi Mesure Hath Be Mor Large And Mor Certein Than Evere I Tok Of Love Ayein: 4440 For So Yit Couthe I Nevere Of Sleyhte, To Take Ayein Be Double Weyhte Of Love Mor Than I Have Yive. For Als So Wiss Mot I Be Schrive And Have Remission Of Sinne, As So Yit Couthe I Nevere Winne, Ne Yit So Mochel, Soth To Sein, That Evere I Mihte Have Half Ayein Of So Full Love As I Have Lent: And If Myn Happ Were So Wel Went, 4450 That For The Hole I Mihte Have Half, Me Thenkth I Were A Goddeshalf. For Where Usure Wole Have Double, Mi Conscience Is Noght So Trouble, I Biede Nevere As To My Del Bot Of The Hole An Halvendel; That Is Non Excess, As Me Thenketh. Bot Natheles It Me Forthenketh; For Wel I Wot That Wol Noght Be, For Every Day The Betre I Se 4460 That Hou So Evere I Yive Or Lene Mi Love In Place Ther I Mene, For Oght That Evere I Axe Or Crave, I Can Nothing Ayeinward Have. Bot Yit For That I Wol Noght Lete, What So Befalle Of Mi Beyete, That I Ne Schal Hire Yive And Lene Mi Love And Al Mi Thoght So Clene, That Toward Me Schal Noght Beleve. And If Sche Of Hire Goode Leve 4470 Rewarde Wol Me Noght Again, I Wot The Laste Of My Bargain Schal Stonde Upon So Gret A Lost, That I Mai Neveremor The Cost Recovere In This World Til I Die. So That Touchende Of This Partie I Mai Me Wel Excuse And Schal; And Forto Speke Forth Withal, If Eny Brocour For Me Wente, That Point Cam Nevere In Myn Entente: 4480 So That The More Me Merveilleth, What Thing It Is Mi Ladi Eilleth, That Al Myn Herte And Al My Time Sche Hath, And Doth No Betre Bime. I Have Herd Seid That Thoght Is Fre, And Natheles In Privete To You, Mi Fader, That Ben Hiere Min Hole Schrifte Forto Hiere, I Dar Min Herte Wel Desclose. Touchende Usure, As I Suppose, 4490 Which As Ye Telle In Love Is Used, Mi Ladi Mai Noght Ben Excused; That For O Lokinge Of Hire Ye5 Min Hole Herte Til I Dye With Al That Evere I May And Can Sche Hath Me Wonne To Hire Man: Wherof, Me Thenkth, Good Reson Wolde That Sche Somdel Rewarde Scholde, And Yive A Part, Ther Sche Hath Al. I Not What Falle Hierafter Schal, 4500 Bot Into Nou Yit Dar I Sein, Hire Liste Nevere Yive Ayein A Goodli Word In Such A Wise, Wherof Min Hope Mihte Arise, Mi Grete Love To Compense. I Not Hou Sche Hire Conscience Excuse Wole Of This Usure; Be Large Weyhte And Gret Mesure Sche Hath Mi Love, And I Have Noght Of That Which I Have Diere Boght, 4510 And With Myn Herte I Have It Paid; Bot Al That Is Asyde Laid, And I Go Loveles Aboute. Hire Oghte Stonde If Ful Gret Doute, Til Sche Redresce Such A Sinne, That Sche Wole Al Mi Love Winne And Yifth Me Noght To Live By: Noght Als So Moche As "Grant Mercy" Hir List To Seie, Of Which I Mihte Som Of Mi Grete Peine Allyhte. 4520 Bot Of This Point, Lo, Thus I Fare As He That Paith For His Chaffare, And Beith It Diere, And Yit Hath Non, So Mot He Nedes Povere Gon: Thus Beie I Diere And Have No Love, That I Ne Mai Noght Come Above To Winne Of Love Non Encress. Bot I Me Wole Natheles Touchende Usure Of Love Aquite; And If Mi Ladi Be To Wyte, 4530 I Preie To God Such Grace Hir Sende That Sche Be Time It Mot Amende. Mi Sone, Of That Thou Hast Ansuerd Touchende Usure I Have Al Herd, Hou Thou Of Love Hast Wonne Smale: Bot That Thou Tellest In Thi Tale And Thi Ladi Therof Accusest, Me Thenkth Tho Wordes Thou Misusest. For Be Thin Oghne Knowlechinge Thou Seist Hou Sche For O Lokinge 4540 Thin Hole Herte Fro The Tok: Sche Mai Be Such, That Hire O Lok Is Worth Thin Herte Manyfold; So Hast Thou Wel Thin Herte Sold, Whan Thou Hast That Is More Worth. And Ek Of That Thou Tellest Forth, Hou That Hire Weyhte Of Love Unevene Is Unto Thin, Under The Hevene Stod Nevere In Evene That Balance Which Stant In Loves Governance. 4550 Such Is The Statut Of His Lawe, That Thogh Thi Love More Drawe And Peise In The Balance More, Thou Miht Noght Axe Ayein Therfore Of Duete, Bot Al Of Grace. For Love Is Lord In Every Place, Ther Mai No Lawe Him Justefie Be Reddour Ne Be Compaignie, That He Ne Wole After His Wille Whom That Him Liketh Spede Or Spille. 4560 To Love A Man Mai Wel Beginne, Bot Whether He Schal Lese Or Winne, That Wot Noman Til Ate Laste: Forthi Coveite Noght To Faste, Mi Sone, Bot Abyd Thin Ende, Per Cas Al Mai To Goode Wende. Bot That Thou Hast Me Told And Said, Of O Thing I Am Riht Wel Paid, That Thou Be Sleyhte Ne Be Guile Of No Brocour Hast Otherwhile 4570 Engined Love, For Such Dede Is Sore Venged, As I Rede. Brocours Of Love That Deceiven, No Wonder Is Thogh Thei Receiven After The Wrong That Thei Decerven; For Whom As Evere That Thei Serven And Do Plesance For A Whyle, Yit Ate Laste Here Oghne Guile Upon Here Oghne Hed Descendeth, Which God Of His Vengance Sendeth, 4580 As Be Ensample Of Time Go A Man Mai Finde It Hath Be So. It Fell Somtime, As It Was Sene, The Hihe Goddesse And The Queene Juno Tho Hadde In Compainie A Maiden Full Of Tricherie; For Sche Was Evere In On Acord With Jupiter, That Was Hire Lord, To Gete Him Othre Loves Newe, Thurgh Such Brocage And Was Untrewe 4590 Al Otherwise Than Him Nedeth. Bot Sche, Which Of No Schame Dredeth, With Queinte Wordes And With Slyhe Blente In Such Wise Hir Lady Yhe, As Sche To Whom That Juno Triste, So That Therof Sche Nothing Wiste. Bot So Prive Mai Be Nothing, That It Ne Comth To Knowleching; Thing Don Upon The Derke Nyht Is After Knowe On Daies Liht: 4600 So It Befell, That Ate Laste Al That This Slyhe Maiden Caste Was Overcast And Overthrowe. For As The Sothe Mot Be Knowe, To Juno Was Don Understonde In What Manere Hir Housebonde With Fals Brocage Hath Take Usure Of Love Mor Than His Mesure, Whan He Tok Othre Than His Wif, Wherof This Mayden Was Gultif, 4610 Which Hadde Ben Of His Assent. And Thus Was Al The Game Schent; She Soffreth Him, As Sche Mot Nede, Bot The Brocour Of His Misdede, Sche Which Hir Conseil Yaf Therto, On Hire Is The Vengance Do: For Juno With Hire Wordes Hote, This Maiden, Which Eccho Was Hote, Reproveth And Seith In This Wise: "O Traiteresse, Of Which Servise 4620 Hast Thou Thin Oghne Ladi Served! Thou Hast Gret Peine Wel Deserved, That Thou Canst Maken It So Queinte, Thi Slyhe Wordes Forto Peinte Towardes Me, That Am Thi Queene, Wherof Thou Madest Me To Wene That Myn Housbonde Trewe Were, Whan That He Loveth Elleswhere, Al Be It So Him Nedeth Noght. Bot Upon Thee It Schal Be Boght, 4630 Which Art Prive To Tho Doinges, And Me Fulofte Of Thi Lesinges Deceived Hast: Nou Is The Day That I Thi While Aquite May; And For Thou Hast To Me Conceled That My Lord Hath With Othre Deled, I Schal Thee Sette In Such A Kende, That Evere Unto The Worldes Ende Al That Thou Hierest Thou Schalt Telle, And Clappe It Out As Doth A Belle." 4640 And With That Word Sche Was Forschape, Ther May No Vois Hire Mouth Ascape, What Man That In The Wodes Crieth, Withoute Faile Eccho Replieth, And What Word That Him List To Sein, The Same Word Sche Seith Ayein. Thus Sche, Which Whilom Hadde Leve To Duelle In Chambre, Mot Beleve In Wodes And On Helles Bothe, For Such Brocage As Wyves Lothe, 4650 Which Doth Here Lordes Hertes Change And Love In Other Place Strange. Forthi, If Evere It So Befalle, That Thou, Mi Sone, Amonges Alle Be Wedded Man, Hold That Thou Hast, For Thanne Al Other Love Is Wast. O Wif Schal Wel To Thee Suffise, And Thanne, If Thou For Covoitise Of Love Woldest Axe More, Thou Scholdest Don Ayein The Lore 4660 Of Alle Hem That Trewe Be. Mi Fader, As In This Degre My Conscience Is Noght Accused; For I No Such Brocage Have Used, Wherof That Lust Of Love Is Wonne. Forthi Spek Forth, As Ye Begonne, Of Avarice Upon Mi Schrifte. Mi Sone, I Schal The Branches Schifte Be Ordre So As Thei Ben Set, On Whom No Good Is Wel Beset. 4670 Blinde Avarice Of His Lignage For Conseil And For Cousinage, To Be Withholde Ayein Largesse, Hath On, Whos Name Is Seid Skarsnesse, The Which Is Kepere Of His Hous, And Is So Thurghout Averous, That He No Good Let Out Of Honde; Thogh God Himself It Wolde Fonde, Of Yifte Scholde He Nothing Have; And If A Man It Wolde Crave, 4680 He Moste Thanne Faile Nede, Wher God Himselve Mai Noght Spede. And Thus Skarsnesse In Every Place Be Reson Mai No Thonk Porchace, And Natheles In His Degree Above All Othre Most Prive With Avarice Stant He This. For He Governeth That Ther Is In Ech Astat Of His Office After The Reule Of Thilke Vice; 4690 He Takth, He Kepth, He Halt, He Bint, That Lihtere Is To Fle The Flint Than Gete Of Him In Hard Or Neisshe Only The Value Of A Reysshe Of Good In Helpinge Of An Other, Noght Thogh It Were His Oghne Brother. For In The Cas Of Yifte And Lone Stant Every Man For Him Al One, Him Thenkth Of His Unkindeschipe That Him Nedeth No Felaschipe: 4700 Be So The Bagge And He Acorden, Him Reccheth Noght What Men Recorden Of Him, Or It Be Evel Or Good. For Al His Trust Is On His Good, So That Al One He Falleth Ofte, Whan He Best Weneth Stonde Alofte, Als Wel In Love As Other Wise; For Love Is Evere Of Som Reprise To Him That Wole His Love Holde. Forthi, Mi Sone, As Thou Art Holde, 4710 Touchende Of This Tell Me Thi Schrifte: Hast Thou Be Scars Or Large Of Yifte Unto Thi Love, Whom Thou Servest? For After That Thou Wel Deservest Of Yifte, Thou Miht Be The Bet; For That Good Holde I Wel Beset, For Why Thou Miht The Betre Fare; Thanne Is No Wisdom Forto Spare. For Thus Men Sein, In Every Nede He Was Wys That Ferst Made Mede; 4720 For Where As Mede Mai Noght Spede, I Not What Helpeth Other Dede: Fulofte He Faileth Of His Game That Wol With Ydel Hand Reclame His Hauk, As Many A Nyce Doth. Forthi, Mi Sone, Tell Me Soth And Sei The Trouthe, If Thou Hast Be Unto Thy Love Or Skars Or Fre. Mi Fader, It Hath Stonde Thus, That If The Tresor Of Cresus 4730 And Al The Gold Octovien, Forth With The Richesse Yndien Of Perles And Of Riche Stones, Were Al Togedre Myn At Ones, I Sette It At Nomore Acompte Than Wolde A Bare Straw Amonte, To Yive It Hire Al In A Day, Be So That To That Suete May I Myhte Like Or More Or Lesse. And Thus Be Cause Of My Scarsnesse 4740 Ye Mai Wel Understonde And Lieve That I Schal Noght The Worse Achieve The Pourpos Which Is In My Thoght. Bot Yit I Yaf Hir Nevere Noght, Ne Therto Dorste A Profre Make; For Wel I Wot Sche Wol Noght Take, And Yive Wol Sche Noght Also, Sche Is Eschu Of Bothe Tuo. And This I Trowe Be The Skile Towardes Me, For Sche Ne Wile 4750 That I Have Eny Cause Of Hope, Noght Also Mochel As A Drope. Bot Toward Othre, As I Mai Se, Sche Takth And Yifth In Such Degre, That As Be Weie Of Frendlihiede Sche Can So Kepe Hir Wommanhiede, That Every Man Spekth Of Hir Wel. Bot Sche Wole Take Of Me No Del, And Yit Sche Wot Wel That I Wolde Yive And Do Bothe What I Scholde 4760 To Plesen Hire In Al My Myht: Be Reson This Wot Every Wyht, For That Mai Be No Weie Asterte, Ther Sche Is Maister Of The Herte, Sche Mot Be Maister Of The Good. For God Wot Wel That Al My Mod And Al Min Herte And Al Mi Thoght And Al Mi Good, Whil I Have Oght, Als Freliche As God Hath It Yive, It Schal Ben Hires, While I Live, 4770 Riht As Hir List Hirself Commande. So That It Nedeth No Demande, To Axe Of Me If I Be Scars To Love, For As To Tho Pars I Wole Ansuere And Seie No. Mi Sone, That Is Riht Wel Do. For Often Times Of Scarsnesse It Hath Be Sen, That For The Lesse Is Lost The More, As Thou Schalt Hiere A Tale Lich To This Matiere. 4780 Skarsnesse And Love Acorden Nevere, For Every Thing Is Wel The Levere, Whan That A Man Hath Boght It Diere: And Forto Speke In This Matiere, For Sparinge Of A Litel Cost Fulofte Time A Man Hath Lost The Large Cote For The Hod. What Man That Scars Is Of His Good And Wol Noght Yive, He Schal Noght Take: With Yifte A Man Mai Undertake 4790 The Hihe God To Plese And Queme, With Yifte A Man The World Mai Deme; For Every Creature Bore, If Thou Him Yive, Is Glad Therfore, And Every Gladschipe, As I Finde, Is Confort Unto Loves Kinde And Causeth Ofte A Man To Spede. So Was He Wys That Ferst Yaf Mede, For Mede Kepeth Love In House; Bot Wher The Men Ben Coveitouse 4800 And Sparen Forto Yive A Part, Thei Knowe Noght Cupides Art: For His Fortune And His Aprise Desdeigneth Alle Coveitise And Hateth Alle Nygardie. And Forto Loke Of This Partie, A Soth Ensample, Hou It Is So, I Finde Write Of Babio; Which Hadde A Love At His Menage, Ther Was Non Fairere Of Hire Age, 4810 And Hihte Viola Be Name; Which Full Of Youthe And Ful Of Game Was Of Hirself, And Large And Fre, Bot Such An Other Chinche As He Men Wisten Noght In Al The Lond, And Hadde Affaited To His Hond His Servant, The Which Spodius Was Hote. And In This Wise Thus The Worldes Good Of Sufficance Was Had, Bot Likinge And Plesance, 4820 Of That Belongeth To Richesse Of Love, Stod In Gret Destresse; So That This Yonge Lusty Wyht Of Thing Which Fell To Loves Riht Was Evele Served Overal, That Sche Was Wo Bego Withal, Til That Cupide And Venus Eke A Medicine For The Seke Ordeigne Wolden In This Cas. So As Fortune Thanne Was, 4830 Of Love Upon The Destine It Fell, Riht As It Scholde Be, A Freissh, A Fre, A Frendly Man That Noght Of Avarice Can, Which Croceus Be Name Hihte, Toward This Swete Caste His Sihte, And Ther Sche Was Cam In Presence. Sche Sih Him Large Of His Despence, And Amorous And Glad Of Chiere, So That Hir Liketh Wel To Hiere 4840 The Goodly Wordes Whiche He Seide; And Therupon Of Love He Preide, Of Love Was Al That He Mente, To Love And For Sche Scholde Assente, He Yaf Hire Yiftes Evere Among. Bot For Men Sein That Mede Is Strong, It Was Wel Seene At Thilke Tyde; For As It Scholde Of Ryht Betyde, This Viola Largesce Hath Take And The Nygard Sche Hath Forsake: 4850 Of Babio Sche Wol No More, For He Was Grucchende Everemore, Ther Was With Him Non Other Fare Bot Forto Prinche And Forto Spare, Of Worldes Muk To Gete Encress. So Goth The Wrecche Loveles, Bejaped For His Skarcete, And He That Large Was And Fre And Sette His Herte To Despende, This Croceus, The Bowe Bende, 4860 Which Venus Tok Him Forto Holde, And Schotte Als Ofte As Evere He Wolde. Lo, Thus Departeth Love His Lawe, That What Man Wol Noght Be Felawe To Yive And Spende, As I Thee Telle, He Is Noght Worthi Forto Duelle In Loves Court To Be Relieved. Forthi, My Sone, If I Be Lieved, Thou Schalt Be Large Of Thi Despence. Mi Fader, In Mi Conscience 4870 If Ther Be Eny Thing Amis, I Wol Amende It After This, Toward Mi Love Namely. Mi Sone, Wel And Redely Thou Seist, So That Wel Paid Withal I Am, And Forthere If I Schal Unto Thi Schrifte Specefie Of Avarices Progenie What Vice Suieth After This, Thou Schalt Have Wonder Hou It Is, 4880 Among The Folk In Eny Regne That Such A Vice Myhte Regne, Which Is Comun At Alle Assaies, As Men Mai Finde Nou Adaies. The Vice Lik Unto The Fend, Which Nevere Yit Was Mannes Frend, And Cleped Is Unkindeschipe, Of Covine And Of Felaschipe With Avarice He Is Withholde. Him Thenkth He Scholde Noght Ben Holde 4890 Unto The Moder Which Him Bar; Of Him Mai Nevere Man Be War, He Wol Noght Knowe The Merite, For That He Wolde It Noght Aquite; Which In This World Is Mochel Used, And Fewe Ben Therof Excused. To Telle Of Him Is Endeles, Bot This I Seie Natheles, Wher As This Vice Comth To Londe, Ther Takth Noman His Thonk On Honde; 4900 Thogh He With Alle His Myhtes Serve, He Schal Of Him No Thonk Deserve. He Takth What Eny Man Wol Yive, Bot Whil He Hath O Day To Live, He Wol Nothing Rewarde Ayein; He Gruccheth Forto Yive O Grein, Wher He Hath Take A Berne Full. That Makth A Kinde Herte Dull, To Sette His Trust In Such Frendschipe, Ther As He Fint No Kindeschipe; 4910 And Forto Speke Wordes Pleine, Thus Hiere I Many A Man Compleigne, That Nou On Daies Thou Schalt Finde At Nede Fewe Frendes Kinde; What Thou Hast Don For Hem Tofore, It Is Foryete, As It Were Lore. The Bokes Speken Of This Vice, And Telle Hou God Of His Justice, Be Weie Of Kinde And Ek Nature And Every Lifissh Creature, 4920 The Lawe Also, Who That It Kan, Thei Dampnen An Unkinde Man. It Is Al On To Seie Unkinde As Thing Which Don Is Ayein Kinde, For It With Kinde Nevere Stod A Man To Yelden Evel For Good. For Who That Wolde Taken Hede, A Beste Is Glad Of A Good Dede, And Loveth Thilke Creature After The Lawe Of His Nature 4930 Which Doth Him Ese. And Forto Se Of This Matiere Auctorite, Fulofte Time It Hath Befalle; Wherof A Tale Amonges Alle, Which Is Of Olde Ensamplerie, I Thenke Forto Specefie. To Speke Of An Unkinde Man, I Finde Hou Whilom Adrian, Of Rome Which A Gret Lord Was, Upon A Day As He Per Cas 4940 To Wode In His Huntinge Wente, It Hapneth At A Soudein Wente, After His Chace As He Poursuieth, Thurgh Happ, The Which Noman Eschuieth, He Fell Unwar Into A Pet, Wher That It Mihte Noght Be Let. The Pet Was Dep And He Fell Lowe, That Of His Men Non Myhte Knowe Wher He Becam, For Non Was Nyh, Which Of His Fall The Meschief Syh. 4950 And Thus Al One Ther He Lay Clepende And Criende Al The Day For Socour And Deliverance, Til Ayein Eve It Fell Per Chance, A While Er It Began To Nyhte, A Povere Man, Which Bardus Hihte, Cam Forth Walkende With His Asse, And Hadde Gadred Him A Tasse Of Grene Stickes And Of Dreie To Selle, Who That Wolde Hem Beie, 4960 As He Which Hadde No Liflode, Bot Whanne He Myhte Such A Lode To Toune With His Asse Carie. And As It Fell Him Forto Tarie That Ilke Time Nyh The Pet, And Hath The Trusse Faste Knet, He Herde A Vois, Which Cride Dimme, And He His Ere To The Brimme Hath Leid, And Herde It Was A Man, Which Seide, "Ha, Help Hier Adrian, 4970 And I Wol Yiven Half Mi Good." The Povere Man This Understod, As He That Wolde Gladly Winne, And To This Lord Which Was Withinne He Spak And Seide, "If I Thee Save, What Sikernesse Schal I Have Of Covenant, That Afterward Thou Wolt Me Yive Such Reward As Thou Behihtest Nou Tofore?" That Other Hath His Othes Swore 4980 Be Hevene And Be The Goddes Alle, If That It Myhte So Befalle That He Out Of The Pet Him Broghte, Of All The Goodes Whiche He Oghte He Schal Have Evene Halvendel. This Bardus Seide He Wolde Wel; And With This Word His Asse Anon He Let Untrusse, And Therupon Doun Goth The Corde Into The Pet, To Which He Hath At Ende Knet 4990 A Staf, Wherby, He Seide, He Wolde That Adrian Him Scholde Holde. Bot It Was Tho Per Chance Falle, Into That Pet Was Also Falle An Ape, Which At Thilke Throwe, Whan That The Corde Cam Doun Lowe, Al Sodeinli Therto He Skipte And It In Bothe Hise Armes Clipte. And Bardus With His Asse Anon Him Hath Updrawe, And He Is Gon. 5000 But Whan He Sih It Was An Ape, He Wende Al Hadde Ben A Jape Of Faierie, And Sore Him Dradde: And Adrian Eftsone Gradde For Help, And Cride And Preide Faste, And He Eftsone His Corde Caste; Bot Whan It Cam Unto The Grounde, A Gret Serpent It Hath Bewounde, The Which Bardus Anon Up Drouh. And Thanne Him Thoghte Wel Ynouh, 5010 It Was Fantosme, Bot Yit He Herde The Vois, And He Therto Ansuerde, "What Wiht Art Thou In Goddes Name?" "I Am," Quod Adrian, "The Same, Whos Good Thou Schalt Have Evene Half." Quod Bardus, "Thanne A Goddes Half The