Inuidie Culpa Magis Est Attrita Dolore, Nam Sua Mens Nullo Tempore Leta Manet: Quo Gaudent Alii, Dolet Ille, Nec Vnus Amicus Est, Cui De Puro Comoda Velle Facit. Proximitatis Honor Sua Corda Veretur, Et Omnis Est Sibi Leticia Sic Aliena Dolor. Hoc Etenim Vicium Quam Sepe Repugnat Amanti, Non Sibi, Set Reliquis, Dum Fauet Ipsa Venus. Est Amor Ex Proprio Motu Fantasticus, Et Que Gaudia Fert Alius, Credit Obesse Sibi. Now After Pride The Secounde Ther Is, Which Many A Woful Stounde Towardes Othre Berth Aboute Withinne Himself And Noght Withoute; For In His Thoght He Brenneth Evere, Whan That He Wot An Other Levere Or More Vertuous Than He, Which Passeth Him In His Degre; Therof He Takth His Maladie: That Vice Is Cleped Hot Envie. 10 Forthi, My Sone, If It Be So Thou Art Or Hast Ben On Of Tho, As Forto Speke In Loves Cas, If Evere Yit Thin Herte Was Sek Of An Other Mannes Hele? So God Avance My Querele, Mi Fader, Ye, A Thousend Sithe: Whanne I Have Sen An Other Blithe Of Love, And Hadde A Goodly Chiere, Ethna, Which Brenneth Yer Be Yere, 20 Was Thanne Noght So Hot As I Of Thilke Sor Which Prively Min Hertes Thoght Withinne Brenneth. The Schip Which On The Wawes Renneth, And Is Forstormed And Forblowe, Is Noght More Peined For A Throwe Than I Am Thanne, Whanne I Se An Other Which That Passeth Me In That Fortune Of Loves Yifte. Bot, Fader, This I Telle In Schrifte, 30 That Is Nowher Bot In O Place; For Who That Lese Or Finde Grace In Other Stede, It Mai Noght Grieve: Bot This Ye Mai Riht Wel Believe, Toward Mi Ladi That I Serve, Thogh That I Wiste Forto Sterve, Min Herte Is Full Of Such Sotie, That I Myself Mai Noght Chastie. Whan I The Court Se Of Cupide Aproche Unto My Ladi Side 40 Of Hem That Lusti Ben And Freisshe,- Thogh It Availe Hem Noght A Reisshe, Bot Only That Thei Ben In Speche,- My Sorwe Is Thanne Noght To Seche: Bot Whan Thei Rounen In Hire Ere, Than Groweth Al My Moste Fere, And Namly Whan Thei Talen Longe; My Sorwes Thanne Be So Stronge Of That I Se Hem Wel At Ese, I Can Noght Telle My Desese. 50 Bot, Sire, As Of My Ladi Selve, Thogh Sche Have Wowers Ten Or Twelve, For No Mistrust I Have Of Hire Me Grieveth Noght, For Certes, Sire, I Trowe, In Al This World To Seche, Nis Womman That In Dede And Speche Woll Betre Avise Hire What Sche Doth, Ne Betre, Forto Seie A Soth, Kepe Hire Honour Ate Alle Tide, And Yit Get Hire A Thank Beside. 60 Bot Natheles I Am Beknowe, That Whanne I Se At Eny Throwe, Or Elles If I Mai It Hiere, That Sche Make Eny Man Good Chiere, Thogh I Therof Have Noght To Done, Mi Thought Wol Entermette Him Sone. For Thogh I Be Miselve Strange, Envie Makth Myn Herte Change, That I Am Sorghfully Bestad Of That I Se An Other Glad 70 With Hire; Bot Of Other Alle, Of Love What So Mai Befalle, Or That He Faile Or That He Spede, Therof Take I Bot Litel Heede. Now Have I Seid, My Fader, Al As Of This Point In Special, Als Ferforthli As I Have Wist. Now Axeth Further What You List. Mi Sone, Er I Axe Eny More, I Thenke Somdiel For Thi Lore 80 Telle An Ensample Of This Matiere Touchende Envie, As Thou Schalt Hiere. Write In Civile This I Finde: Thogh It Be Noght The Houndes Kinde To Ete Chaf, Yit Wol He Werne An Oxe Which Comth To The Berne, Therof To Taken Eny Fode. And Thus, Who That It Understode, It Stant Of Love In Many Place: Who That Is Out Of Loves Grace 90 And Mai Himselven Noght Availe, He Wolde An Other Scholde Faile; And If He May Put Eny Lette, He Doth Al That He Mai To Lette. Wherof I Finde, As Thou Schalt Wite, To This Pourpos A Tale Write. Ther Ben Of Suche Mo Than Twelve, That Ben Noght Able As Of Hemselve To Gete Love, And For Envie Upon Alle Othre Thei Aspie; 100 And For Hem Lacketh That Thei Wolde, Thei Kepte That Non Other Scholde Touchende Of Love His Cause Spede: Wherof A Gret Ensample I Rede, Which Unto This Matiere Acordeth, As Ovide In His Bok Recordeth, How Poliphemus Whilom Wroghte, Whan That He Galathee Besoghte Of Love, Which He Mai Noght Lacche. That Made Him Forto Waite And Wacche 110 Be Alle Weies How It Ferde, Til Ate Laste He Knew And Herde How That An Other Hadde Leve To Love There As He Mot Leve, As Forto Speke Of Eny Sped: So That He Knew Non Other Red, Bot Forto Wayten Upon Alle, Til He May Se The Chance Falle That He Hire Love Myhte Grieve, Which He Himself Mai Noght Achieve. 120 This Galathee, Seith The Poete, Above Alle Othre Was Unmete Of Beaute, That Men Thanne Knewe, And Hadde A Lusti Love And Trewe, A Bacheler In His Degree, Riht Such An Other As Was Sche, On Whom Sche Hath Hire Herte Set, So That It Myhte Noght Be Let For Yifte Ne For No Beheste, That Sche Ne Was Al At His Heste. 130 This Yonge Knyht Acis Was Hote, Which Hire Ayeinward Als So Hote Al Only Loveth And Nomo. Hierof Was Poliphemus Wo Thurgh Pure Envie, And Evere Aspide, And Waiteth Upon Every Side, Whan He Togedre Myhte Se This Yonge Acis With Galathe. So Longe He Waiteth To And Fro, Til Ate Laste He Fond Hem Tuo, 140 In Prive Place Wher Thei Stode To Speke And Have Here Wordes Goode. The Place Wher As He Hem Syh, It Was Under A Banke Nyh The Grete See, And He Above Stod And Behield The Lusti Love Which Ech Of Hem To Other Made With Goodly Chiere And Wordes Glade, That Al His Herte Hath Set Afyre Of Pure Envie: And As A Fyre 150 Which Fleth Out Of A Myhti Bowe, Aweie He Fledde For A Throwe, As He That Was For Love Wod, Whan That He Sih How That It Stod. This Polipheme A Geant Was; And Whan He Sih The Sothe Cas, How Galathee Him Hath Forsake And Acis To Hire Love Take, His Herte Mai It Noght Forbere That He Ne Roreth Lich A Bere; 160 And As It Were A Wilde Beste, The Whom No Reson Mihte Areste, He Ran Ethna The Hell Aboute, Wher Nevere Yit The Fyr Was Oute, Fulfild Of Sorghe And Gret Desese, That He Syh Acis Wel At Ese. Til Ate Laste He Him Bethoghte, As He Which Al Envie Soghte, And Torneth To The Banke Ayein, Wher He With Galathee Hath Seyn 170 Acis, Whom That He Thoghte Grieve, Thogh He Himself Mai Noght Relieve. This Geant With His Ruide Myht Part Of The Banke He Schof Doun Riht, The Which Evene Upon Acis Fell, So That With Fallinge Of This Hell This Poliphemus Acis Slowh, Wherof Sche Made Sorwe Ynowh. And As Sche Fledde Fro The Londe, Neptunus Tok Hire Into Honde 180 And Kept Hire In So Sauf A Place Fro Polipheme And His Manace, That He With Al His False Envie Ne Mihte Atteigne Hir Compaignie. This Galathee Of Whom I Speke, That Of Hirself Mai Noght Be Wreke, Withouten Eny Semblant Feigned Sche Hath Hire Loves Deth Compleigned, And With Hire Sorwe And With Hire Wo Sche Hath The Goddes Moeved So, 190 That Thei Of Pite And Of Grace Have Acis In The Same Place, Ther He Lai Ded, Into A Welle Transformed, As The Bokes Telle, With Freisshe Stremes And With Cliere, As He Whilom With Lusti Chiere Was Freissh His Love Forto Qweme. And With This Ruide Polipheme For His Envie And For His Hate Thei Were Wrothe. And Thus Algate, 200 Mi Sone, Thou Myht Understonde, That If Thou Wolt In Grace Stonde With Love, Thou Most Leve Envie: And As Thou Wolt For Thi Partie Toward Thi Love Stonde Fre, So Most Thou Soffre An Other Be, What So Befalle Upon The Chaunce: For It Is An Unwys Vengance, Which To Non Other Man Is Lief, And Is Unto Himselve Grief. 210 Mi Fader, This Ensample Is Good; Bot How So Evere That It Stod With Poliphemes Love As Tho, It Schal Noght Stonde With Me So, To Worchen Eny Felonie In Love For No Such Envie. Forthi If Ther Oght Elles Be, Now Axeth Forth, In What Degre It Is, And I Me Schal Confesse With Schrifte Unto Youre Holinesse. 220 Mi Goode Sone, Yit Ther Is A Vice Revers Unto This, Which Envious Takth His Gladnesse Of That He Seth The Hevinesse Of Othre Men: For His Welfare Is Whanne He Wot An Other Care: Of That An Other Hath A Fall, He Thenkth Himself Arist Withal. Such Is The Gladschipe Of Envie In Worldes Thing, And In Partie 230 Fulofte Times Ek Also In Loves Cause It Stant Riht So. If Thou, My Sone, Hast Joie Had, Whan Thou An Other Sihe Unglad, Schrif The Therof. Mi Fader, Yis: I Am Beknowe Unto You This. Of These Lovers That Loven Streyte, And For That Point Which Thei Coveite Ben Poursuiantz Fro Yeer To Yere In Loves Court, Whan I May Hiere 240 How That Thei Clymbe Upon The Whel, And Whan Thei Wene Al Schal Be Wel, Thei Ben Doun Throwen Ate Laste, Thanne Am I Fedd Of That Thei Faste, And Lawhe Of That I Se Hem Loure; And Thus Of That Thei Brewe Soure I Drinke Swete, And Am Wel Esed Of That I Wot Thei Ben Desesed. Bot This Which I You Telle Hiere Is Only For My Lady Diere; 250 That For Non Other That I Knowe Me Reccheth Noght Who Overthrowe, Ne Who That Stonde In Love Upriht: Bot Be He Squier, Be He Knyht, Which To My Ladiward Poursuieth, The More He Lest Of That He Suieth, The Mor Me Thenketh That I Winne, And Am The More Glad Withinne Of That I Wot Him Sorwe Endure. For Evere Upon Such Aventure 260 It Is A Confort, As Men Sein, To Him The Which Is Wo Besein To Sen An Other In His Peine, So That Thei Bothe Mai Compleigne. Wher I Miself Mai Noght Availe To Sen An Other Man Travaile, I Am Riht Glad If He Be Let; And Thogh I Fare Noght The Bet, His Sorwe Is To Myn Herte A Game: Whan That I Knowe It Is The Same 270 Which To Mi Ladi Stant Enclined, And Hath His Love Noght Termined, I Am Riht Joifull In My Thoght. If Such Envie Grieveth Oght, As I Beknowe Me Coupable, Ye That Be Wys And Resonable, Mi Fader, Telleth Youre Avis. Mi Sone, Envie Into No Pris Of Such A Forme, I Understonde, Ne Mihte Be No Resoun Stonde 280 For This Envie Hath Such A Kinde, That He Wole Sette Himself Behinde To Hindre With An Othre Wyht, And Gladly Lese His Oghne Riht To Make An Other Lesen His. And Forto Knowe How It So Is, A Tale Lich To This Matiere I Thenke Telle, If Thou Wolt Hiere, To Schewe Proprely The Vice Of This Envie And The Malice. 290 Of Jupiter This Finde I Write, How Whilom That He Wolde Wite Upon The Pleigntes Whiche He Herde, Among The Men How That It Ferde, As Of Here Wrong Condicion To Do Justificacion: And For That Cause Doun He Sente An Angel, Which About Wente, That He The Sothe Knowe Mai. So It Befell Upon A Dai 300 This Angel, Which Him Scholde Enforme, Was Clothed In A Mannes Forme, And Overtok, I Understonde, Tuo Men That Wenten Over Londe, Thurgh Whiche He Thoghte To Aspie His Cause, And Goth In Compaignie. This Angel With Hise Wordes Wise Opposeth Hem In Sondri Wise, Now Lowde Wordes And Now Softe, That Mad Hem To Desputen Ofte, 310 And Ech Of Hem His Reson Hadde. And Thus With Tales He Hem Ladde With Good Examinacioun, Til He Knew The Condicioun, What Men Thei Were Bothe Tuo; And Sih Wel Ate Laste Tho, That On Of Hem Was Coveitous, And His Fela Was Envious. And Thus, Whan He Hath Knowlechinge, Anon He Feigneth Departinge, 320 And Seide He Mot Algate Wende. Bot Herkne Now What Fell At Ende: For Thanne He Made Hem Understonde That He Was There Of Goddes Sonde, And Seide Hem, For The Kindeschipe That Thei Have Don Him Felaschipe, He Wole Hem Do Som Grace Ayein, And Bad That On Of Hem Schal Sein What Thing Him Is Lievest To Crave, And He It Schal Of Yifte Have; 330 And Over That Ek Forth Withal He Seith That Other Have Schal The Double Of That His Felaw Axeth; And Thus To Hem His Grace He Taxeth. The Coveitous Was Wonder Glad, And To That Other Man He Bad And Seith That He Ferst Axe Scholde: For He Supposeth That He Wolde Make His Axinge Of Worldes Good; For Thanne He Knew Wel How It Stod, 340 That He Himself Be Double Weyhte Schal After Take, And Thus Be Sleyhte, Be Cause That He Wolde Winne, He Bad His Fela Ferst Beginne. This Envious, Thogh It Be Late, Whan That He Syh He Mot Algate Make His Axinge Ferst, He Thoghte, If He Worschipe Or Profit Soghte, It Schal Be Doubled To His Fiere: That Wolde He Chese In No Manere. 350 Bot Thanne He Scheweth What He Was Toward Envie, And In This Cas Unto This Angel Thus He Seide And For His Yifte This He Preide, To Make Him Blind Of His On Yhe, So That His Fela Nothing Syhe. This Word Was Noght So Sone Spoke, That His On Yhe Anon Was Loke, And His Felawh Forthwith Also Was Blind Of Bothe His Yhen Tuo. 360 Tho Was That Other Glad Ynowh, That On Wepte, And That Other Lowh, He Sette His On Yhe At No Cost, Wherof That Other Two Hath Lost. Of Thilke Ensample Which Fell Tho, Men Tellen Now Fulofte So, The World Empeireth Comunly: And Yit Wot Non The Cause Why; For It Acordeth Noght To Kinde Min Oghne Harm To Seche And Finde 370 Of That I Schal My Brother Grieve; It Myhte Nevere Wel Achieve. What Seist Thou, Sone, Of This Folie? Mi Fader, Bot I Scholde Lie, Upon The Point Which Ye Have Seid Yit Was Myn Herte Nevere Leid, Bot In The Wise As I You Tolde. Bot Overmore, If That Ye Wolde Oght Elles To My Schrifte Seie Touchende Envie, I Wolde Preie. 380 Mi Sone, That Schal Wel Be Do: Now Herkne And Ley Thin Ere To. Touchende As Of Envious Brod I Wot Noght On Of Alle Good; Bot Natheles, Suche As Thei Be, Yit Is Ther On, And That Is He Which Cleped In Detraccioun. And To Conferme His Accioun, He Hath Withholde Malebouche, Whos Tunge Neither Pyl Ne Crouche 390 Mai Hyre, So That He Pronounce A Plein Good Word Withoute Frounce Awher Behinde A Mannes Bak. For Thogh He Preise, He Fint Som Lak, Which Of His Tale Is Ay The Laste, That Al The Pris Schal Overcaste: And Thogh Ther Be No Cause Why, Yit Wole He Jangle Noght Forthi, As He Which Hath The Heraldie Of Hem That Usen Forto Lye. 400 For As The Netle Which Up Renneth The Freisshe Rede Roses Brenneth And Makth Hem Fade And Pale Of Hewe, Riht So This Fals Envious Hewe, In Every Place Wher He Duelleth, With False Wordes Whiche He Telleth He Torneth Preisinge Into Blame And Worschipe Into Worldes Schame. Of Such Lesinge As He Compasseth, Is Non So Good That He Ne Passeth 410 Betwen His Teeth And Is Bacbited, And Thurgh His False Tunge Endited: Lich To The Scharnebudes Kinde, Of Whos Nature This I Finde, That In The Hoteste Of The Dai, Whan Comen Is The Merie Maii, He Sprat His Wynge And Up He Fleth: And Under Al Aboute He Seth The Faire Lusti Floures Springe, Bot Therof Hath He No Likinge; 420 Bot Where He Seth Of Eny Beste The Felthe, Ther He Makth His Feste, And Therupon He Wole Alyhte, Ther Liketh Him Non Other Sihte. Riht So This Janglere Envious, Thogh He A Man Se Vertuous And Full Of Good Condicioun, Therof Makth He No Mencioun: Bot Elles, Be It Noght So Lyte, Wherof That He Mai Sette A Wyte, 430 Ther Renneth He With Open Mouth, Behinde A Man And Makth It Couth. Bot Al The Vertu Which He Can, That Wole He Hide Of Every Man, And Openly The Vice Telle, As He Which Of The Scole Of Helle Is Tawht, And Fostred With Envie Of Houshold And Of Compaignie, Wher That He Hath His Propre Office To Sette On Every Man A Vice. 440 How So His Mouth Be Comely, His Word Sit Evermore Awry And Seith The Worste That He May. And In This Wise Now A Day In Loves Court A Man Mai Hiere Fulofte Pleigne Of This Matiere, That Many Envious Tale Is Stered, Wher That It Mai Noght Ben Ansuered; Bot Yit Fulofte It Is Believed, And Many A Worthi Love Is Grieved 450 Thurgh Bacbitinge Of Fals Envie. If Thou Have Mad Such Janglerie In Loves Court, Mi Sone, Er This, Schrif Thee Therof. Mi Fader, Yis: Bot Wite Ye How? Noght Openly, Bot Otherwhile Prively, Whan I My Diere Ladi Mete, And Thenke How That I Am Noght Mete Unto Hire Hihe Worthinesse, And Ek I Se The Besinesse 460 Of Al This Yonge Lusty Route, Whiche Alday Pressen Hire Aboute, And Ech Of Hem His Time Awaiteth, And Ech Of Hem His Tale Affaiteth, Al To Deceive An Innocent, Which Woll Noght Ben Of Here Assent; And For Men Sein Unknowe Unkest, Hire Thombe Sche Holt In Hire Fest So Clos Withinne Hire Oghne Hond, That There Winneth Noman Lond; 470 Sche Lieveth Noght Al That Sche Hiereth, And Thus Fulofte Hirself Sche Skiereth And Is Al War Of "Hadde I Wist":- Bot For Al That Myn Herte Arist, Whanne I Thes Comun Lovers Se, That Woll Noght Holden Hem To Thre, Bot Welnyh Loven Overal, Min Herte Is Envious Withal, And Evere I Am Adrad Of Guile, In Aunter If With Eny Wyle 480 Thei Mihte Hire Innocence Enchaunte. Forthi My Wordes Ofte I Haunte Behynden Hem, So As I Dar, Wherof My Ladi May Be War: I Sai What Evere Comth To Mowthe, And Worse I Wolde, If That I Cowthe; For Whanne I Come Unto Hir Speche, Al That I May Enquere And Seche Of Such Deceipte, I Telle It Al, And Ay The Werste In Special. 490 So Fayn I Wolde That Sche Wiste How Litel Thei Ben Forto Triste, And What Thei Wolde And What Thei Mente, So As Thei Be Of Double Entente: Thus Toward Hem That Wicke Mene My Wicked Word Was Evere Grene. And Natheles, The Soth To Telle, In Certain If It So Befelle That Althertrewest Man Ybore, To Chese Among A Thousend Score, 500 Which Were Alfulli Forto Triste, Mi Ladi Lovede, And I It Wiste, Yit Rathere Thanne He Scholde Spede, I Wolde Swiche Tales Sprede To My Ladi, If That I Myhte, That I Scholde Al His Love Unrihte, And Therto Wolde I Do Mi Peine. For Certes Thogh I Scholde Feigne, And Telle That Was Nevere Thoght, For Al This World I Myhte Noght 510 To Soffre An Othre Fully Winne, Ther As I Am Yit To Beginne. For Be Thei Goode, Or Be Thei Badde, I Wolde Non My Ladi Hadde; And That Me Makth Fulofte Aspie And Usen Wordes Of Envie, Al Forto Make Hem Bere A Blame. And That Is Bot Of Thilke Same, The Whiche Unto My Ladi Drawe, For Evere On Hem I Rounge And Gknawe 520 And Hindre Hem Al That Evere I Mai; And That Is, Sothly Forto Say, Bot Only To My Lady Selve: I Telle It Noght To Ten Ne Tuelve, Therof I Wol Me Wel Avise, To Speke Or Jangle In Eny Wise That Toucheth To My Ladi Name, The Which In Ernest And In Game I Wolde Save Into My Deth; For Me Were Levere Lacke Breth 530 Than Speken Of Hire Name Amis. Now Have Ye Herd Touchende Of This, Mi Fader, In Confessioun: And Therfor Of Detraccioun In Love, Of That I Have Mispoke, Tel How Ye Wole It Schal Be Wroke. I Am Al Redy Forto Bere Mi Peine, And Also To Forbere What Thing That Ye Wol Noght Allowe; For Who Is Bounden, He Mot Bowe. 540 So Wol I Bowe Unto Youre Heste, For I Dar Make This Beheste, That I To Yow Have Nothing Hid, Bot Told Riht As It Is Betid; And Otherwise Of No Mispeche, Mi Conscience Forto Seche, I Can Noght Of Envie Finde, That I Mispoke Have Oght Behinde Wherof Love Owhte Be Mispaid. Now Have Ye Herd And I Have Said; 550 What Wol Ye, Fader, That I Do? Mi Sone, Do Nomore So, Bot Evere Kep Thi Tunge Stille, Thou Miht The More Have Of Thi Wille. For As Thou Saist Thiselven Here, Thi Ladi Is Of Such Manere, So Wys, So War In Alle Thinge, It Nedeth Of No Bakbitinge That Thou Thi Ladi Mis Enforme: For Whan Sche Knoweth Al The Forme, 560 How That Thiself Art Envious, Thou Schalt Noght Be So Gracious As Thou Peraunter Scholdest Elles. Ther Wol Noman Drinke Of Tho Welles Whiche As He Wot Is Puyson Inne; And Ofte Swich As Men Beginne Towardes Othre, Swich Thei Finde, That Set Hem Ofte Fer Behinde, Whan That Thei Wene Be Before. Mi Goode Sone, And Thou Therfore 570 Bewar And Lef Thi Wicke Speche, Wherof Hath Fallen Ofte Wreche To Many A Man Befor This Time. For Who So Wole His Handes Lime, Thei Mosten Be The More Unclene; For Many A Mote Schal Be Sene, That Wolde Noght Cleve Elles There; And That Schold Every Wys Man Fere: For Who So Wol An Other Blame, He Secheth Ofte His Oghne Schame, 580 Which Elles Myhte Be Riht Stille. Forthi If That It Be Thi Wille To Stonde Upon Amendement, A Tale Of Gret Entendement I Thenke Telle For Thi Sake, Wherof Thou Miht Ensample Take. A Worthi Kniht In Cristes Lawe Of Grete Rome, As Is The Sawe, The Sceptre Hadde Forto Rihte; Tiberie Constantin He Hihte, 590 Whos Wif Was Cleped Ytalie: Bot Thei Togedre Of Progenie No Children Hadde Bot A Maide; And Sche The God So Wel Apaide, That Al The Wide Worldes Fame Spak Worschipe Of Hire Goode Name. Constance, As The Cronique Seith, Sche Hihte, And Was So Ful Of Feith, That The Greteste Of Barbarie, Of Hem Whiche Usen Marchandie, 600 Sche Hath Converted, As Thei Come To Hire Upon A Time In Rome, To Schewen Such Thing As Thei Broghte; Whiche Worthili Of Hem Sche Boghte, And Over That In Such A Wise Sche Hath Hem With Hire Wordes Wise Of Cristes Feith So Full Enformed, That Thei Therto Ben All Conformed, So That Baptesme Thei Receiven And Alle Here False Goddes Weyven. 610 Whan Thei Ben Of The Feith Certein, Thei Gon To Barbarie Ayein, And Ther The Souldan For Hem Sente And Axeth Hem To What Entente Thei Have Here Ferste Feith Forsake. And Thei, Whiche Hadden Undertake The Rihte Feith To Kepe And Holde, The Matiere Of Here Tale Tolde With Al The Hole Circumstance. And Whan The Souldan Of Constance 620 Upon The Point That Thei Ansuerde The Beaute And The Grace Herde, As He Which Thanne Was To Wedde, In Alle Haste His Cause Spedde To Sende For The Mariage. And Furthermor With Good Corage He Seith, Be So He Mai Hire Have, That Crist, Which Cam This World To Save, He Woll Believe: And This Recorded, Thei Ben On Either Side Acorded, 630 And Therupon To Make An Ende The Souldan Hise Hostages Sende To Rome, Of Princes Sones Tuelve: Wherof The Fader In Himselve Was Glad, And With The Pope Avised Tuo Cardinals He Hath Assissed With Othre Lordes Many Mo, That With His Doghter Scholden Go, To Se The Souldan Be Converted. Bot That Which Nevere Was Wel Herted, 640 Envie, Tho Began Travaile In Destourbance Of This Spousaile So Prively That Non Was War. The Moder Which This Souldan Bar Was Thanne Alyve, And Thoghte This Unto Hirself: "If It So Is Mi Sone Him Wedde In This Manere, Than Have I Lost My Joies Hiere, For Myn Astat Schal So Be Lassed." Thenkende Thus Sche Hath Compassed 650 Be Sleihte How That Sche May Beguile Hire Sone; And Fell Withinne A While, Betwen Hem Two Whan That Thei Were, Sche Feigneth Wordes In His Ere, And In This Wise Gan To Seie: "Mi Sone, I Am Be Double Weie With Al Myn Herte Glad And Blithe, For That Miself Have Ofte Sithe Desired Thou Wolt, As Men Seith, Receive And Take A Newe Feith, 660 Which Schal Be Forthringe Of Thi Lif: And Ek So Worschipful A Wif, The Doughter Of An Emperour, To Wedde It Schal Be Gret Honour. Forthi, Mi Sone, I You Beseche That I Such Grace Mihte Areche, Whan That My Doughter Come Schal, That I Mai Thanne In Special, So As Me Thenkth It Is Honeste, Be Thilke Which The Ferste Feste 670 Schal Make Unto Hire Welcominge." The Souldan Granteth Hire Axinge, And Sche Therof Was Glad Ynowh: For Under That Anon Sche Drowh With False Wordes That Sche Spak Covine Of Deth Behinde His Bak. And Therupon Hire Ordinance She Made So, That Whan Constance Was Come Forth With The Romeins, Of Clerkes And Of Citezeins, 680 A Riche Feste Sche Hem Made: And Most Whan That Thei Weren Glade, With Fals Covine Which Sche Hadde Hire Clos Envie Tho Sche Spradde, And Alle Tho That Hadden Be Or In Apert Or In Prive Of Conseil To The Mariage, Sche Slowh Hem In A Sodein Rage Endlong The Bord As Thei Be Set, So That It Myhte Noght Be Let; 690 Hire Oghne Sone Was Noght Quit, Bot Deide Upon The Same Plit. Bot What The Hihe God Wol Spare It Mai For No Peril Misfare: This Worthi Maiden Which Was There Stod Thanne, As Who Seith, Ded For Feere, To Se The Feste How That It Stod, Which Al Was Torned Into Blod: The Dissh Forthwith The Coppe And Al Bebled Thei Weren Overal; 700 Sche Sih Hem Deie On Every Side; No Wonder Thogh Sche Wepte And Cride Makende Many A Wofull Mone. Whan Al Was Slain Bot Sche Al One, This Olde Fend, This Sarazine, Let Take Anon This Constantine With Al The Good Sche Thider Broghte, And Hath Ordeined, As Sche Thoghte, A Nakid Schip Withoute Stiere, In Which The Good And Hire In Fiere, 710 Vitailed Full For Yeres Fyve, Wher That The Wynd It Wolde Dryve, Sche Putte Upon The Wawes Wilde. Bot He Which Alle Thing Mai Schilde, Thre Yer, Til That Sche Cam To Londe, Hire Schip To Stiere Hath Take In Honde, And In Northumberlond Aryveth; And Happeth Thanne That Sche Dryveth Under A Castel With The Flod, Which Upon Humber Banke Stod 720 And Was The Kynges Oghne Also, The Which Allee Was Cleped Tho, A Saxon And A Worthi Knyht, Bot He Believed Noght Ariht. Of This Castell Was Chastellein Elda The Kinges Chamberlein, A Knyhtly Man After His Lawe; And Whan He Sih Upon The Wawe The Schip Drivende Al One So, He Bad Anon Men Scholden Go 730 To Se What It Betokne Mai. This Was Upon A Somer Dai, The Schip Was Loked And Sche Founde; Elda Withinne A Litel Stounde It Wiste, And With His Wif Anon Toward This Yonge Ladi Gon, Wher That Thei Founden Gret Richesse; Bot Sche Hire Wolde Noght Confesse, Whan Thei Hire Axen What Sche Was. And Natheles Upon The Cas 740 Out Of The Schip With Gret Worschipe Thei Toke Hire Into Felaschipe, As Thei That Weren Of Hir Glade: Bot Sche No Maner Joie Made, Bot Sorweth Sore Of That Sche Fond No Cristendom In Thilke Lond; Bot Elles Sche Hath Al Hire Wille, And Thus With Hem Sche Duelleth Stille. Dame Hermyngheld, Which Was The Wif Of Elda, Lich Hire Oghne Lif 750 Constance Loveth; And Fell So, Spekende Alday Betwen Hem Two, Thurgh Grace Of Goddes Pourveance This Maiden Tawhte The Creance Unto This Wif So Parfitly, Upon A Dai That Faste By In Presence Of Hire Housebonde, Wher Thei Go Walkende On The Stronde, A Blind Man, Which Cam There Lad, Unto This Wif Criende He Bad, 760 With Bothe Hise Hondes Up And Preide To Hire, And In This Wise He Seide: "O Hermyngeld, Which Cristes Feith, Enformed As Constance Seith, Received Hast, Yif Me My Sihte." Upon His Word Hire Herte Afflihte Thenkende What Was Best To Done, Bot Natheles Sche Herde His Bone And Seide, "In Trust Of Cristes Lawe, Which Don Was On The Crois And Slawe, 770 Thou Bysne Man, Behold And Se." With That To God Upon His Kne Thonkende He Tok His Sihte Anon, Wherof Thei Merveile Everychon, Bot Elda Wondreth Most Of Alle: This Open Thing Which Is Befalle Concludeth Him Be Such A Weie, That He The Feith Mot Nede Obeie. Now Lest What Fell Upon This Thing. This Elda Forth Unto The King 780 A Morwe Tok His Weie And Rod, And Hermyngeld At Home Abod Forth With Constance Wel At Ese. Elda, Which Thoghte His King To Plese, As He That Thanne Unwedded Was, Of Constance Al The Pleine Cas Als Goodliche As He Cowthe Tolde. The King Was Glad And Seide He Wolde Come Thider Upon Such A Wise That He Him Mihte Of Hire Avise, 790 The Time Apointed Forth Withal. This Elda Triste In Special Upon A Knyht, Whom Fro Childhode He Hadde Updrawe Into Manhode: To Him He Tolde Al That He Thoghte, Wherof That After Him Forthoghte; And Natheles At Thilke Tide Unto His Wif He Bad Him Ride To Make Redi Alle Thing Ayein The Cominge Of The King, 800 And Seith That He Himself Tofore Thenkth Forto Come, And Bad Therfore That He Him Kepe, And Told Him Whanne. This Knyht Rod Forth His Weie Thanne; And Soth Was That Of Time Passed He Hadde In Al His Wit Compassed How He Constance Myhte Winne; Bot He Sih Tho No Sped Therinne, Wherof His Lust Began Tabate, And That Was Love Is Thanne Hate; 810 Of Hire Honour He Hadde Envie, So That Upon His Tricherie A Lesinge In His Herte He Caste. Til He Cam Home He Hieth Faste, And Doth His Ladi Tunderstonde The Message Of Hire Housebonde: And Therupon The Longe Dai Thei Setten Thinges In Arrai, That Al Was As It Scholde Be Of Every Thing In His Degree; 820 And Whan It Cam Into The Nyht, This Wif Hire Hath To Bedde Dyht, Wher That This Maiden With Hire Lay. This False Knyht Upon Delay Hath Taried Til Thei Were Aslepe, As He That Wolde His Time Kepe His Dedly Werkes To Fulfille; And To The Bed He Stalketh Stille, Wher That He Wiste Was The Wif, And In His Hond A Rasour Knif 830 He Bar, With Which Hire Throte He Cutte, And Prively The Knif He Putte Under That Other Beddes Side, Wher That Constance Lai Beside. Elda Cam Hom The Same Nyht, And Stille With A Prive Lyht, As He That Wolde Noght Awake His Wif, He Hath His Weie Take Into The Chambre, And Ther Liggende He Fond His Dede Wif Bledende, 840 Wher That Constance Faste By Was Falle Aslepe; And Sodeinly He Cride Alowd, And Sche Awok, And Forth Withal Sche Caste A Lok And Sih This Ladi Blede There, Wherof Swoundende Ded For Fere Sche Was, And Stille As Eny Ston She Lay, And Elda Therupon Into The Castell Clepeth Oute, And Up Sterte Every Man Aboute, 850 Into The Chambre And Forth Thei Wente. Bot He, Which Alle Untrouthe Mente, This False Knyht, Among Hem Alle Upon This Thing Which Is Befalle Seith That Constance Hath Don This Dede; And To The Bed With That He Yede After The Falshed Of His Speche, And Made Him There Forto Seche, And Fond The Knif, Wher He It Leide, And Thanne He Cride And Thanne He Seide, 860 "Lo, Seth The Knif Al Blody Hiere! What Nedeth More In This Matiere To Axe?" And Thus Hire Innocence He Sclaundreth There In Audience With False Wordes Whiche He Feigneth. Bot Yit For Al That Evere He Pleigneth, Elda No Full Credence Tok: And Happeth That Ther Lay A Bok, Upon The Which, Whan He It Sih, This Knyht Hath Swore And Seid On Hih, 870 That Alle Men It Mihte Wite, "Now Be This Bok, Which Hier Is Write, Constance Is Gultif, Wel I Wot." With That The Hond Of Hevene Him Smot In Tokne Of That He Was Forswore, That He Hath Bothe Hise Yhen Lore, Out Of His Hed The Same Stounde Thei Sterte, And So Thei Weren Founde. A Vois Was Herd, Whan That They Felle, Which Seide, "O Dampned Man To Helle, 880 Lo, Thus Hath God The Sclaundre Wroke That Thou Ayein Constance Hast Spoke: Beknow The Sothe Er That Thou Dye." And He Told Out His Felonie, And Starf Forth With His Tale Anon. Into The Ground, Wher Alle Gon, This Dede Lady Was Begrave: Elda, Which Thoghte His Honour Save, Al That He Mai Restreigneth Sorwe. For The Seconde Day A Morwe 890 The King Cam, As Thei Were Acorded; And Whan It Was To Him Recorded What God Hath Wroght Upon This Chaunce, He Tok It Into Remembrance And Thoghte More Than He Seide. For Al His Hole Herte He Leide Upon Constance, And Seide He Scholde For Love Of Hire, If That Sche Wolde, Baptesme Take And Cristes Feith Believe, And Over That He Seith 900 He Wol Hire Wedde, And Upon This Asseured Ech Til Other Is. And Forto Make Schorte Tales, Ther Cam A Bisschop Out Of Wales Fro Bangor, And Lucie He Hihte, Which Thurgh The Grace Of God Almihte The King With Many An Other Mo Hath Cristned, And Betwen Hem Tuo He Hath Fulfild The Mariage. Bot For No Lust Ne For No Rage 910 Sche Tolde Hem Nevere What Sche Was; And Natheles Upon The Cas The King Was Glad, How So It Stod, For Wel He Wiste And Understod Sche Was A Noble Creature. The Hihe Makere Of Nature Hire Hath Visited In A Throwe, That It Was Openliche Knowe Sche Was With Childe Be The King, Wherof Above Al Other Thing 920 He Thonketh God And Was Riht Glad. And Fell That Time He Was Bestad Upon A Werre And Moste Ride; And Whil He Scholde There Abide, He Lefte At Hom To Kepe His Wif Suche As He Knew Of Holi Lif, Elda Forth With The Bisschop Eke; And He With Pouer Goth To Seke Ayein The Scottes Forto Fonde The Werre Which He Tok On Honde. 930 The Time Set Of Kinde Is Come, This Lady Hath Hire Chambre Nome, And Of A Sone Bore Full, Wherof That Sche Was Joiefull, Sche Was Delivered Sauf And Sone. The Bisshop, As It Was To Done, Yaf Him Baptesme And Moris Calleth; And Therupon, As It Befalleth, With Lettres Writen Of Record Thei Sende Unto Here Liege Lord, 940 That Kepers Weren Of The Qweene: And He That Scholde Go Betwene, The Messager, To Knaresburgh, Which Toun He Scholde Passe Thurgh, Ridende Cam The Ferste Day. The Kinges Moder There Lay, Whos Rihte Name Was Domilde, Which After Al The Cause Spilde: For He, Which Thonk Deserve Wolde, Unto This Ladi Goth And Tolde 950 Of His Message Al How It Ferde. And Sche With Feigned Joie It Herde And Yaf Him Yiftes Largely, Bot In The Nyht Al Prively Sche Tok The Lettres Whiche He Hadde, Fro Point To Point And Overradde, As Sche That Was Thurghout Untrewe, And Let Do Wryten Othre Newe In Stede Of Hem, And Thus Thei Spieke: "Oure Liege Lord, We Thee Beseke 960 That Thou With Ous Ne Be Noght Wroth, Though We Such Thing As Is Thee Loth Upon Oure Trowthe Certefie. Thi Wif, Which Is Of Faierie, Of Such A Child Delivered Is Fro Kinde Which Stant Al Amis: Bot For It Scholde Noght Be Seie, We Have It Kept Out Of The Weie For Drede Of Pure Worldes Schame, A Povere Child And In The Name 970 Of Thilke Which Is So Misbore We Toke, And Therto We Be Swore, That Non Bot Only Thou And We Schal Knowen Of This Privete: Moris It Hatte, And Thus Men Wene That It Was Boren Of The Qweene And Of Thin Oghne Bodi Gete. Bot This Thing Mai Noght Be Foryete, That Thou Ne Sende Ous Word Anon What Is Thi Wille Therupon." 980 This Lettre, As Thou Hast Herd Devise, Was Contrefet In Such A Wise That Noman Scholde It Aperceive: And Sche, Which Thoghte To Deceive, It Leith Wher Sche That Other Tok. This Messager, Whan He Awok, And Wiste Nothing How It Was, Aros And Rod The Grete Pas And Tok This Lettre To The King. And Whan He Sih This Wonder Thing, 990 He Makth The Messager No Chiere, Bot Natheles In Wys Manere He Wrote Ayein, And Yaf Hem Charge That Thei Ne Soffre Noght At Large His Wif To Go, Bot Kepe H