, And Is Foryete And Leid Beside. Bot If It Touche On Eny Side Mi Ladi, As I Have Er Spoken, Myn Eres Ben Noght Thanne Loken; For Certes, Whanne That Betitt, My Will, Myn Herte And Al My Witt Ben Fully Set To Herkne And Spire What Eny Man Wol Speke Of Hire. 2000 Thus Have I Feigned Compaignie Fulofte, For I Wolde Aspie What Thing It Is That Eny Man Telle Of Mi Worthi Lady Can: And For Tuo Causes I Do This, The Ferste Cause Wherof Is,- If That I Myhte Ofherkne And Seke That Eny Man Of Hire Mispeke, I Wolde Excuse Hire So Fully, That Whan Sche Wist In Inderly, 2010 Min Hope Scholde Be The More To Have Hir Thank For Everemore. That Other Cause, I You Assure, Is, Why That I Be Coverture Have Feigned Semblant Ofte Time To Hem That Passen Alday Byme And Ben Lovers Als Wel As I, For This I Weene Trewely, That Ther Is Of Hem Alle Non, That Thei Ne Loven Everich On 2020 Mi Ladi: For Sothliche I Lieve And Durste Setten It In Prieve, Is Non So Wys That Scholde Asterte, Bot He Were Lustles In His Herte, Forwhy And He My Ladi Sihe, Hir Visage And Hir Goodlych Yhe, Bot He Hire Lovede, Er He Wente. And For That Such Is Myn Entente, That Is The Cause Of Myn Aspie, Why That I Feigne Compaignie 2030 And Make Felawe Overal; For Gladly Wolde I Knowen Al And Holde Me Covert Alway, That I Fulofte Ye Or Nay Ne Liste Ansuere In Eny Wise, Bot Feigne Semblant As The Wise And Herkne Tales, Til I Knowe Mi Ladi Lovers Al Arowe. And Whanne I Hiere How Thei Have Wroght, I Fare As Thogh I Herde It Noght 2040 And As I No Word Understode; Bot That Is Nothing For Here Goode: For Lieveth Wel, The Sothe Is This, That Whanne I Knowe Al How It Is, I Wol Bot Forthren Hem A Lite, Bot Al The Worste I Can Endite I Telle It To My Ladi Plat In Forthringe Of Myn Oghne Astat, And Hindre Hem Al That Evere I May. Bot For Al That Yit Dar I Say, 2050 I Finde Unto Miself No Bote, Althogh Myn Herte Nedes Mote Thurgh Strengthe Of Love Al That I Hiere Discovere Unto My Ladi Diere: For In Good Feith I Have No Miht To Hele Fro That Swete Wiht, If That It Touche Hire Eny Thing. Bot This Wot Wel The Hevene King, That Sithen Ferst This World Began, Unto Non Other Strange Man 2060 Ne Feigned I Semblant Ne Chiere, To Wite Or Axe Of His Matiere, Thogh That He Lovede Ten Or Tuelve, Whanne It Was Noght My Ladi Selve: Bot If He Wolde Axe Eny Red Al Onlich Of His Oghne Hed, How He With Other Love Ferde, His Tales With Myn Ere I Herde, Bot To Myn Herte Cam It Noght Ne Sank No Deppere In My Thoght, 2070 Bot Hield Conseil, As I Was Bede, And Tolde It Nevere In Other Stede, Bot Let It Passen As It Com. Now, Fader, Say What Is Thi Dom, And Hou Thou Wolt That I Be Peined For Such Semblant As I Have Feigned. Mi Sone, If Reson Be Wel Peised, Ther Mai No Vertu Ben Unpreised Ne Vice Non Be Set In Pris. Forthi, My Sone, If Thou Be Wys, 2080 Do No Viser Upon Thi Face, Which As Wol Noght Thin Herte Embrace: For If Thou Do, Withinne A Throwe To Othre Men It Schal Be Knowe, So Miht Thou Lihtli Falle In Blame And Lese A Gret Part Of Thi Name. And Natheles In This Degree Fulofte Time Thou Myht Se Of Suche Men That Now Aday This Vice Setten In A Say: 2090 I Speke It For No Mannes Blame, Bot Forto Warne Thee The Same. Mi Sone, As I Mai Hiere Talke In Every Place Where I Walke, I Not If It Be So Or Non, Bot It Is Manye Daies Gon That I Ferst Herde Telle This, How Falssemblant Hath Ben And Is Most Comunly Fro Yer To Yere With Hem That Duelle Among Ous Here, 2100 Of Suche As We Lombardes Calle. For Thei Ben The Slyeste Of Alle, So As Men Sein In Toune Aboute, To Feigne And Schewe Thing Withoute Which Is Revers To That Withinne: Wherof That Thei Fulofte Winne, Whan Thei Be Reson Scholden Lese; Thei Ben The Laste And Yit Thei Chese, And We The Ferste, And Yit Behinde We Gon, There As We Scholden Finde 2110 The Profit Of Oure Oghne Lond: Thus Gon Thei Fre Withoute Bond To Don Her Profit Al At Large, And Othre Men Bere Al The Charge. Of Lombardz Unto This Covine, Whiche Alle Londes Conne Engine, Mai Falssemblant In Special Be Likned, For Thei Overal, Wher As They Thenken Forto Duelle, Among Hemself, So As Thei Telle, 2120 Ferst Ben Enformed Forto Lere A Craft Which Cleped Is Fa Crere: For If Fa Crere Come Aboute, Thanne Afterward Hem Stant No Doute To Voide With A Soubtil Hond The Beste Goodes Of The Lond And Bringe Chaf And Take Corn. Where As Fa Crere Goth Toforn, In All His Weie He Fynt No Lette; That Dore Can Non Huissher Schette 2130 In Which Him List To Take Entre: And Thus The Conseil Most Secre Of Every Thing Fa Crere Knoweth, Which Into Strange Place He Bloweth, Where As He Wot It Mai Most Grieve. And Thus Fa Crere Makth Believe, So That Fulofte He Hath Deceived, Er That He Mai Ben Aperceived. Thus Is This Vice Forto Drede; For Who These Olde Bokes Rede 2140 Of Suche Ensamples As Were Ar, Him Oghte Be The More War Of Alle Tho That Feigne Chiere, Wherof Thou Schalt A Tale Hiere. Of Falssemblant Which Is Believed Ful Many A Worthi Wiht Is Grieved, And Was Long Time Er We Wer Bore. To Thee, My Sone, I Wol Therfore A Tale Telle Of Falssemblant, Which Falseth Many A Covenant, 2150 And Many A Fraude Of Fals Conseil Ther Ben Hangende Upon His Seil: And That Aboghten Gulteles Bothe Deianire And Hercules, The Whiche In Gret Desese Felle Thurgh Falssemblant, As I Schal Telle. Whan Hercules Withinne A Throwe Al Only Hath His Herte Throwe Upon This Faire Deianire, It Fell Him On A Dai Desire, 2160 Upon A Rivere As He Stod, That Passe He Wolde Over The Flod Withoute Bot, And With Him Lede His Love, Bot He Was In Drede For Tendresce Of That Swete Wiht, For He Knew Noght The Forde Ariht. Ther Was A Geant Thanne Nyh, Which Nessus Hihte, And Whanne He Sih This Hercules And Deianyre, Withinne His Herte He Gan Conspire, 2170 As He Which Thurgh His Tricherie Hath Hercules In Gret Envie, Which He Bar In His Herte Loke, And Thanne He Thoghte It Schal Be Wroke. Bot He Ne Dorste Natheles Ayein This Worthi Hercules Falle In Debat As Forto Feihte; Bot Feigneth Semblant Al Be Sleihte Of Frendschipe And Of Alle Goode, And Comth Where As Thei Bothe Stode, 2180 And Makth Hem Al The Chiere He Can, And Seith That As Here Oghne Man He Is Al Redy Forto Do What Thing He Mai; And It Fell So That Thei Upon His Semblant Triste, And Axen Him If That He Wiste What Thing Hem Were Best To Done, So That Thei Mihten Sauf And Sone The Water Passe, He And Sche. And Whan Nessus The Privete 2190 Knew Of Here Herte What It Mente, As He That Was Of Double Entente, He Made Hem Riht A Glad Visage; And Whanne He Herde Of The Passage Of Him And Hire, He Thoghte Guile, And Feigneth Semblant For A While To Don Hem Plesance And Servise, Bot He Thoghte Al An Other Wise. This Nessus With Hise Wordes Slyhe Yaf Such Conseil Tofore Here Yhe 2200 Which Semeth Outward Profitable And Was Withinne Deceivable. He Bad Hem Of The Stremes Depe That Thei Be War And Take Kepe, So As Thei Knowe Noght The Pas; Bot Forto Helpe In Such A Cas, He Seith Himself That For Here Ese He Wolde, If That It Mihte Hem Plese, The Passage Of The Water Take, And For This Ladi Undertake 2210 To Bere Unto That Other Stronde And Sauf To Sette Hire Up Alonde, And Hercules May Thanne Also The Weie Knowe How He Schal Go: And Herto Thei Acorden Alle. Bot What As After Schal Befalle, Wel Payd Was Hercules Of This, And This Geant Also Glad Is, And Tok This Ladi Up Alofte And Set Hire On His Schuldre Softe, 2220 And In The Flod Began To Wade, As He Which No Grucchinge Made, And Bar Hire Over Sauf And Sound. Bot Whanne He Stod On Dreie Ground And Hercules Was Fer Behinde, He Sette His Trowthe Al Out Of Mynde, Who So Therof Be Lief Or Loth, With Deianyre And Forth He Goth, As He That Thoghte To Dissevere The Compaignie Of Hem For Evere. 2230 Whan Hercules Therof Tok Hiede, Als Faste As Evere He Mihte Him Spiede He Hyeth After In A Throwe; And Hapneth That He Hadde A Bowe, The Which In Alle Haste He Bende, As He That Wolde An Arwe Sende, Which He Tofore Hadde Envenimed. He Hath So Wel His Schote Timed, That He Him Thurgh The Bodi Smette, And Thus The False Wiht He Lette. 2240 Bot Lest Now Such A Felonie: Whan Nessus Wiste He Scholde Die, He Tok To Deianyre His Scherte, Which With The Blod Was Of His Herte Thurghout Desteigned Overal, And Tolde How Sche It Kepe Schal Al Prively To This Entente, That If Hire Lord His Herte Wente To Love In Eny Other Place, The Scherte, He Seith, Hath Such A Grace, 2250 That If Sche Mai So Mochel Make That He The Scherte Upon Him Take, He Schal Alle Othre Lete In Vein And Torne Unto Hire Love Ayein. Who Was Tho Glad Bot Deianyre? Hire Thoghte Hire Herte Was Afyre Til It Was In Hire Cofre Loke, So That No Word Therof Was Spoke. The Daies Gon, The Yeres Passe, The Hertes Waxen Lasse And Lasse 2260 Of Hem That Ben To Love Untrewe: This Hercules With Herte Newe His Love Hath Set On Eolen, And Therof Spieken Alle Men. This Eolen, This Faire Maide, Was, As Men Thilke Time Saide, The Kinges Dowhter Of Eurice; And Sche Made Hercules So Nyce Upon Hir Love And So Assote, That He Him Clotheth In Hire Cote, 2270 And Sche In His Was Clothed Ofte; And Thus Fieblesce Is Set Alofte, And Strengthe Was Put Under Fote, Ther Can Noman Therof Do Bote. Whan Deianyre Hath Herd This Speche, Ther Was No Sorwe Forto Seche: Of Other Helpe Wot Sche Non, Bot Goth Unto Hire Cofre Anon; With Wepende Yhe And Woful Herte Sche Tok Out Thilke Unhappi Scherte, 2280 As Sche That Wende Wel To Do, And Broghte Hire Werk Aboute So That Hercules This Scherte On Dede, To Such Entente As She Was Bede Of Nessus, So As I Seide Er. Bot Therof Was Sche Noght The Ner, As No Fortune May Be Weyved; With Falssemblant Sche Was Deceived, That Whan Sche Wende Best Have Wonne, Sche Lost Al That Sche Hath Begonne. 2290 For Thilke Scherte Unto The Bon His Body Sette Afyre Anon, And Cleveth So, It Mai Noght Twinne, For The Venym That Was Therinne. And He Thanne As A Wilde Man Unto The Hihe Wode He Ran, And As The Clerk Ovide Telleth, The Grete Tres To Grounde He Felleth With Strengthe Al Of His Oghne Myght, And Made An Huge Fyr Upriht, 2300 And Lepte Himself Therinne At Ones And Brende Him Bothe Fleissh And Bones. Which Thing Cam Al Thurgh Falssemblant, That False Nessus The Geant Made Unto Him And To His Wif; Wherof That He Hath Lost His Lif, And Sche Sori For Everemo. Forthi, My Sone, Er Thee Be Wo, I Rede, Be Wel War Therfore; For Whan So Gret A Man Was Lore, 2310 It Oghte Yive A Gret Conceipte To Warne Alle Othre Of Such Deceipte. Grant Mercy, Fader, I Am War So Fer That I Nomore Dar Of Falssemblant Take Aqueintance; Bot Rathere I Wol Do Penance That I Have Feigned Chiere Er This. Now Axeth Forth, What So Ther Is Of That Belongeth To My Schrifte. Mi Sone, Yit Ther Is The Fifte 2320 Which Is Conceived Of Envie, And Cleped Is Supplantarie, Thurgh Whos Compassement And Guile Ful Many A Man Hath Lost His While In Love Als Wel As Otherwise, Hierafter As I Schal Devise. The Vice Of Supplantacioun With Many A Fals Collacioun, Which He Conspireth Al Unknowe, Full Ofte Time Hath Overthrowe 2330 The Worschipe Of An Other Man. So Wel No Lif Awayte Can Ayein His Sleyhte Forto Caste, That He His Pourpos Ate Laste Ne Hath, Er That It Be Withset. Bot Most Of Alle His Herte Is Set In Court Upon These Grete Offices Of Dignitees And Benefices: Thus Goth He With His Sleyhte Aboute To Hindre And Schowve An Other Oute 2340 And Stonden With His Slyh Compas In Stede There An Other Was; And So To Sette Himselven Inne, He Reccheth Noght, Be So He Winne, Of That An Other Man Schal Lese, And Thus Fulofte Chalk For Chese He Changeth With Ful Litel Cost, Wherof An Other Hath The Lost And He The Profit Schal Receive. For His Fortune Is To Deceive 2350 And Forto Change Upon The Whel His Wo With Othre Mennes Wel: Of That An Other Man Avaleth, His Oghne Astat Thus Up He Haleth, And Takth The Bridd To His Beyete, Wher Othre Men The Buisshes Bete. Mi Sone, And In The Same Wise Ther Ben Lovers Of Such Emprise, That Schapen Hem To Be Relieved Where It Is Wrong To Ben Achieved: 2360 For It Is Other Mannes Riht, Which He Hath Taken Dai And Niht To Kepe For His Oghne Stor Toward Himself For Everemor, And Is His Propre Be The Lawe, Which Thing That Axeth No Felawe, If Love Holde His Covenant. Bot Thei That Worchen Be Supplaunt, Yit Wolden Thei A Man Supplaunte, And Take A Part Of Thilke Plaunte 2370 Which He Hath For Himselve Set: And So Fulofte Is Al Unknet, That Som Man Weneth Be Riht Fast. For Supplant With His Slyhe Cast Fulofte Happneth Forto Mowe Thing Which An Other Man Hath Sowe, And Makth Comun Of Proprete With Sleihte And With Soubtilite, As Men Mai Se Fro Yer To Yere. Thus Cleymeth He The Bot To Stiere, 2380 Of Which An Other Maister Is. Forthi, My Sone, If Thou Er This Hast Ben Of Such Professioun, Discovere Thi Confessioun: Hast Thou Supplanted Eny Man? For Oght That I You Telle Can, Min Holi Fader, As Of The Dede I Am Withouten Eny Drede Al Gulteles; Bot Of My Thoght Mi Conscience Excuse I Noght. 2390 For Were It Wrong Or Were It Riht, Me Lakketh Nothing Bote Myht, That I Ne Wolde Longe Er This Of Other Mannes Love Ywiss Be Weie Of Supplantacioun Have Mad Apropriacioun And Holde That I Nevere Boghte, Thogh It An Other Man Forthoghte. And Al This Speke I Bot Of On, For Whom I Lete Alle Othre Gon; 2400 Bot Hire I Mai Noght Overpasse, That I Ne Mot Alwey Compasse, Me Roghte Noght Be What Queintise, So That I Mihte In Eny Wise Fro Suche That Mi Ladi Serve Hire Herte Make Forto Swerve Withouten Eny Part Of Love. For Be The Goddes Alle Above I Wolde It Mihte So Befalle, That I Al One Scholde Hem Alle 2410 Supplante, And Welde Hire At Mi Wille. And That Thing Mai I Noght Fulfille, Bot If I Scholde Strengthe Make; And That I Dar Noght Undertake, Thogh I Were As Was Alisaundre, For Therof Mihte Arise Sklaundre; And Certes That Schal I Do Nevere, For In Good Feith Yit Hadde I Levere In My Simplesce Forto Die, Than Worche Such Supplantarie. 2420 Of Otherwise I Wol Noght Seie That If I Founde A Seker Weie, I Wolde As For Conclusioun Worche After Supplantacioun, So Hihe A Love Forto Winne. Now, Fader, If That This Be Sinne, I Am Al Redy To Redresce The Gilt Of Which I Me Confesse. Mi Goode Sone, As Of Supplant Thee Thar Noght Drede Tant Ne Quant, 2430 As For Nothing That I Have Herd, Bot Only That Thou Hast Misferd Thenkende, And That Me Liketh Noght, For Godd Beholt A Mannes Thoght. And If Thou Understode In Soth In Loves Cause What It Doth, A Man To Ben A Supplantour, Thou Woldest For Thin Oghne Honour Be Double Weie Take Kepe: Ferst For Thin Oghne Astat To Kepe, 2440 To Be Thiself So Wel Bethoght That Thou Supplanted Were Noght, And Ek For Worschipe Of Thi Name Towardes Othre Do The Same, And Soffren Every Man Have His. Bot Natheles It Was And Is, That In A Wayt At Alle Assaies Supplant Of Love In Oure Daies The Lief Fulofte For The Levere Forsakth, And So It Hath Don Evere. 2450 Ensample I Finde Therupon, At Troie How That Agamenon Supplantede The Worthi Knyht Achilles Of That Swete Wiht, Which Named Was Brexei5Da; And Also Of Crisei5Da, Whom Troilus To Love Ches, Supplanted Hath Diomedes. Of Geta And Amphitrion, That Whilom Weren Bothe As On 2460 Of Frendschipe And Of Compaignie, I Rede How That Supplantarie In Love, As It Betidde Tho, Beguiled Hath On Of Hem Tuo. For This Geta That I Of Meene, To Whom The Lusti Faire Almeene Assured Was Be Weie Of Love, Whan He Best Wende Have Ben Above And Sikerest Of That He Hadde, Cupido So The Cause Ladde, 2470 That Whil He Was Out Of The Weie, Amphitrion Hire Love Aweie Hath Take, And In This Forme He Wroghte. Be Nyhte Unto The Chambre He Soghte, Wher That Sche Lay, And With A Wyle He Contrefeteth For The Whyle The Vois Of Gete In Such A Wise, That Made Hire Of Hire Bedd Arise, Wenende That It Were He, And Let Him In, And Whan Thei Be 2480 Togedre Abedde In Armes Faste, This Geta Cam Thanne Ate Laste Unto The Dore And Seide, "Undo." And Sche Ansuerde And Bad Him Go, And Seide How That Abedde Al Warm Hir Lief Lay Naked In Hir Arm; Sche Wende That It Were Soth. Lo, What Supplant Of Love Doth: This Geta Forth Bejaped Wente, And Yit Ne Wiste He What It Mente; 2490 Amphitrion Him Hath Supplanted With Sleyhte Of Love And Hire Enchaunted: And Thus Put Every Man Out Other, The Schip Of Love Hath Lost His Rother, So That He Can No Reson Stiere. And Forto Speke Of This Matiere Touchende Love And His Supplant, A Tale Which Is Acordant Unto Thin Ere I Thenke Enforme. Now Herkne, For This Is The Forme. 2500 Of Thilke Cite Chief Of Alle Which Men The Noble Rome Calle, Er It Was Set To Cristes Feith, Ther Was, As The Cronique Seith, An Emperour, The Which It Ladde In Pes, That He No Werres Hadde: Ther Was Nothing Desobeissant Which Was To Rome Appourtenant, Bot Al Was Torned Into Reste. To Some It Thoghte For The Beste, 2510 To Some It Thoghte Nothing So, And That Was Only Unto Tho Whos Herte Stod Upon Knyhthode: Bot Most Of Alle Of His Manhode The Worthi Sone Of Themperour, Which Wolde Ben A Werreiour, As He That Was Chivalerous Of Worldes Fame And Desirous, Began His Fadre To Beseche That He The Werres Mihte Seche, 2520 In Strange Marches Forto Ride. His Fader Seide He Scholde Abide, And Wolde Granten Him No Leve: Bot He, Which Wolde Noght Beleve, A Kniht Of His To Whom He Triste, So That His Fader Nothing Wiste, He Tok And Tolde Him His Corage, That He Pourposeth A Viage. If That Fortune With Him Stonde, He Seide How That He Wolde Fonde 2530 The Grete See To Passe Unknowe, And There Abyde For A Throwe Upon The Werres To Travaile. And To This Point Withoute Faile This Kniht, Whan He Hath Herd His Lord, Is Swore, And Stant Of His Acord, As Thei That Bothe Yonge Were; So That In Prive Conseil There Thei Ben Assented Forto Wende. And Therupon To Make An Ende, 2540 Tresor Ynowh With Hem Thei Token, And Whan The Time Is Best Thei Loken, That Sodeinliche In A Galeie Fro Romelond Thei Wente Here Weie And Londe Upon That Other Side. The World Fell So That Ilke Tide, Which Evere Hise Happes Hath Diverse, The Grete Soldan Thanne Of Perse Ayein The Caliphe Of Egipte A Werre, Which That Him Beclipte, 2550 Hath In A Marche Costeiant. And He, Which Was A Poursuiant Worschipe Of Armes To Atteigne, This Romein, Let Anon Ordeigne, That He Was Redi Everydel: And Whan He Was Arraied Wel Of Every Thing Which Him Belongeth, Straght Unto Kaire His Weie He Fongeth, Wher He The Soldan Thanne Fond, And Axeth That Withinne His Lond 2560 He Mihte Him For The Werre Serve, As He Which Wolde His Thonk Deserve. The Soldan Was Riht Glad With Al, And Wel The More In Special Whan That He Wiste He Was Romein; Bot What Was Elles In Certein, That Mihte He Wite Be No Weie. And Thus The Kniht Of Whom I Seie Toward The Soldan Is Beleft, And In The Marches Now And Eft, 2570 Wher That The Dedli Werres Were, He Wroghte Such Knihthode There, That Every Man Spak Of Him Good. And Thilke Time So It Stod, This Mihti Soldan Be His Wif A Dowhter Hath, That In This Lif Men Seiden Ther Was Non So Fair. Sche Scholde Ben Hir Fader Hair, And Was Of Yeres Ripe Ynowh: Hire Beaute Many An Herte Drowh 2580 To Bowe Unto That Ilke Lawe Fro Which No Lif Mai Be Withdrawe, And That Is Love, Whos Nature Set Lif And Deth In Aventure Of Hem That Knyhthode Undertake. This Lusti Peine Hath Overtake The Herte Of This Romein So Sore, That To Knihthode More And More Prouesce Avanceth His Corage. Lich To The Leoun In His Rage, 2590 Fro Whom That Alle Bestes Fle, Such Was The Knyht In His Degre: Wher He Was Armed In The Feld, Ther Dorste Non Abide His Scheld; Gret Pris Upon The Werre He Hadde. Bot Sche Which Al The Chance Ladde, Fortune, Schop The Marches So, That Be Thassent Of Bothe Tuo, The Soldan And The Caliphe Eke, Bataille Upon A Dai Thei Seke, 2600 Which Was In Such A Wise Set That Lengere Scholde It Noght Be Let. Thei Made Hem Stronge On Every Side, And Whan It Drowh Toward The Tide That The Bataille Scholde Be, The Soldan In Gret Privete A Goldring Of His Dowhter Tok, And Made Hire Swere Upon A Bok And Ek Upon The Goddes Alle, That If Fortune So Befalle 2610 In The Bataille That He Deie, That Sche Schal Thilke Man Obeie And Take Him To Hire Housebonde, Which Thilke Same Ring To Honde Hire Scholde Bringe After His Deth. This Hath Sche Swore, And Forth He Geth With Al The Pouer Of His Lond Unto The Marche, Where He Fond His Enemy Full Embatailled. The Soldan Hath The Feld Assailed: 2620 Thei That Ben Hardy Sone Assemblen, Wherof The Dredfull Hertes Tremblen: That On Sleth, And That Other Sterveth, Bot Above All His Pris Deserveth This Knihtly Romein; Where He Rod, His Dedly Swerd Noman Abod, Ayein The Which Was No Defence; Egipte Fledde In His Presence, And Thei Of Perse Upon The Chace Poursuien: Bot I Not What Grace 2630 Befell, An Arwe Out Of A Bowe Al Sodeinly That Ilke Throwe The Soldan Smot, And Ther He Lay: The Chace Is Left For Thilke Day, And He Was Bore Into A Tente. The Soldan Sih How That It Wente, And That He Scholde Algate Die; And To This Knyht Of Romanie, As Unto Him Whom He Most Triste, His Dowhter Ring, That Non It Wiste, 2640 He Tok, And Tolde Him Al The Cas, Upon Hire Oth What Tokne It Was Of That Sche Scholde Ben His Wif. Whan This Was Seid, The Hertes Lif Of This Soldan Departeth Sone; And Therupon, As Was To Done, The Dede Body Wel And Faire Thei Carie Til Thei Come At Kaire, Wher He Was Worthily Begrave. The Lordes, Whiche As Wolden Save 2650 The Regne Which Was Desolat, To Bringe It Into Good Astat A Parlement Thei Sette Anon. Now Herkne What Fell Therupon: This Yonge Lord, This Worthi Kniht Of Rome, Upon The Same Niht That Thei Amorwe Trete Scholde, Unto His Bacheler He Tolde His Conseil, And The Ring With Al He Scheweth, Thurgh Which That He Schal, 2660 He Seith, The Kinges Dowhter Wedde, For So The Ring Was Leid To Wedde, He Tolde, Into Hir Fader Hond, That With What Man That Sche It Fond Sche Scholde Him Take To Hire Lord. And This, He Seith, Stant Of Record, Bot Noman Wot Who Hath This Ring. This Bacheler Upon This Thing His Ere And His Entente Leide, And Thoghte More Thanne He Seide, 2670 And Feigneth With A Fals Visage That He Was Glad, Bot His Corage Was Al Set In An Other Wise. These Olde Philosophres Wise Thei Writen Upon Thilke While, That He Mai Best A Man Beguile In Whom The Man Hath Most Credence; And This Befell In Evidence Toward This Yonge Lord Of Rome. His Bacheler, Which Hadde Tome, 2680 Whan That His Lord Be Nihte Slepte, This Ring, The Which His Maister Kepte, Out Of His Pours Awey He Dede, And Putte An Other In The Stede. Amorwe, Whan The Court Is Set, The Yonge Ladi Was Forth Fet, To Whom The Lordes Don Homage, And After That Of Mariage Thei Trete And Axen Of Hir Wille. Bot Sche, Which Thoghte To Fulfille 2690 Hire Fader Heste In This Matiere, Seide Openly, That Men Mai Hiere, The Charge Which Hire Fader Bad. Tho Was This Lord Of Rome Glad And Drowh Toward His Pours Anon, Bot Al For Noght, It Was Agon: His Bacheler It Hath Forthdrawe, And Axeth Ther Upon The Lawe That Sche Him Holde Covenant. The Tokne Was So Sufficant 2700 That It Ne Mihte Be Forsake, And Natheles His Lord Hath Take Querelle Ayein His Oghne Man; Bot For Nothing That Evere He Can He Mihte As Thanne Noght Ben Herd, So That His Cleym Is Unansuerd, And He Hath Of His Pourpos Failed. This Bacheler Was Tho Consailed And Wedded, And Of Thilke Empire He Was Coroned Lord And Sire, 2710 And Al The Lond Him Hath Received; Wherof His Lord, Which Was Deceived, A Seknesse Er The Thridde Morwe Conceived Hath Of Dedly Sorwe: And As He Lay Upon His Deth, Therwhile Him Lasteth Speche And Breth, He Sende For The Worthieste Of Al The Lond And Ek The Beste, And Tolde Hem Al The Sothe Tho, That He Was Sone And Heir Also 2720 Of Themperour Of Grete Rome, And How That Thei Togedre Come, This Kniht And He; Riht As It Was, He Tolde Hem Al The Pleine Cas, And For That He His Conseil Tolde, That Other Hath Al That He Wolde, And He Hath Failed Of His Mede: As For The Good He Takth Non Hiede, He Seith, Bot Only Of The Love, Of Which He Wende Have Ben Above. 2730 And Therupon Be Lettre Write He Doth His Fader Forto Wite Of Al This Matiere As It Stod; And Thanne With An Hertly Mod Unto The Lordes He Besoghte To Telle His Ladi How He Boghte Hire Love, Of Which An Other Gladeth; And With That Word His Hewe Fadeth, And Seide, "A Dieu, My Ladi Swete." The Lif Hath Lost His Kindly Hete, 2740 And He Lay Ded As Eny Ston; Wherof Was Sory Manyon, Bot Non Of Alle So As Sche. This False Knyht In His Degree Arested Was And Put In Hold: For Openly Whan It Was Told Of The Tresoun Which Is Befalle, Thurghout The Lond Thei Seiden Alle, If It Be Soth That Men Suppose, His Oghne Untrowthe Him Schal Depose. 2750 And Forto Seche An Evidence, With Honour And Gret Reverence, Wherof They Mihten Knowe An Ende, To Themperour Anon Thei Sende The Lettre Which His Sone Wrot. And Whan That He The Sothe Wot, To Telle His Sorwe Is Endeles, Bot Yit In Haste Natheles Upon The Tale Which He Herde His Stieward Into Perse Ferde 2760 With Many A Worthi Romein Eke, His Liege Tretour Forto Seke; And Whan Thei Thider Come Were, This Kniht Him Hath Confessed There How Falsly That He Hath Him Bore, Wherof His Worthi Lord Was Lore. Tho Seiden Some He Scholde Deie, Bot Yit Thei Founden Such A Weie That He Schal Noght Be Ded In Perse; And Thus The Skiles Ben Diverse. 2770 Be Cause That He Was Coroned, And That The Lond Was Abandoned To Him, Althogh It Were Unriht, Ther Is No Peine For Him Diht; Bot To This Point And To This Ende Thei Granten Wel That He Schal Wende With The Romeins To Rome Ayein. And Thus Acorded Ful And Plein, The Qwike Body With The Dede With Leve Take Forth Thei Lede, 2780 Wher That Supplant Hath His Juise. Wherof That Thou Thee Miht Avise Upon This Enformacioun Touchende Of Supplantacioun, That Thou, My Sone, Do Noght So: And Forto Take Hiede Also What Supplant Doth In Other Halve, Ther Is Noman Can Finde A Salve Pleinly To Helen Such A Sor; It Hath And Schal Ben Everemor, 2790 Whan Pride Is With Envie Joint, He Soffreth Noman In Good Point, Wher That He Mai His Honour Lette. And Therupon If I Schal Sette Ensample, In Holy Cherche I Finde How That Supplant Is Noght Behinde; God Wot If That It Now Be So: For In Cronique Of Time Ago I Finde A Tale Concordable Of Supplant, Which That Is No Fable, 2800 In The Manere As I Schal Telle, So As Whilom The Thinges Felle. At Rome, As It Hath Ofte Falle, The Vicair General Of Alle Of Hem That Lieven Cristes Feith His Laste Day, Which Non Withseith, Hath Schet As To The Worldes Ije, Whos Name If I Schal Specefie, He Hihte Pope Nicolas. And Thus Whan That He Passed Was, 2810 The Cardinals, That Wolden Save The Forme Of Lawe, In The Conclave Gon Forto Chese A Newe Pope, And After That Thei Cowthe Agrope Hath Ech Of Hem Seid His Entente: Til Ate Laste Thei Assente Upon An Holy Clerk Reclus, Which Full Was Of Gostli Vertus; His Pacience And His Simplesse Hath Set Him Into Hih Noblesse. 2820 Thus Was He Pope Canonized, With Gret Honour And Intronized, And Upon Chance As It Is Falle, His Name Celestin Men Calle; Which Notefied Was Be Bulle To Holi Cherche And To The Fulle In Alle Londes Magnified. Bot Every Worschipe Is Envied, And That Was Thilke Time Sene: For Whan This Pope Of Whom I Meene 2830 Was Chose, And Othre Set Beside, A Cardinal Was Thilke Tide Which The Papat Longe Hath Desired And Therupon Gretli Conspired; Bot Whan He Sih Fortune Is Failed, For Which Long Time He Hath Travailed, That Ilke Fyr Which Ethna Brenneth Thurghout His Wofull Herte Renneth, Which Is Resembled To Envie, Wherof Supplant And Tricherie 2840 Engendred Is; And Natheles He Feigneth Love, He Feigneth Pes, Outward He Doth The Reverence, Bot Al Withinne His Conscience Thurgh Fals Ymaginacioun He Thoghte Supplantacioun. And Therupon A Wonder Wyle He Wroghte: For At Thilke Whyle It Fell So That Of His Lignage He Hadde A Clergoun Of Yong Age, 2850 Whom He Hath In His Chambre Affaited. This Cardinal His Time Hath Waited, And With His Wordes Slyhe And Queinte, The Whiche He Cowthe Wysly Peinte, He Schop This Clerk Of Which I Telle Toward The Pope Forto Duelle, So That Withinne His Chambre Anyht He Lai, And Was A Prive Wyht Toward The Pope On Nyhtes Tide. Mai Noman Fle That Schal Betide. 2860 This Cardinal, Which Thoghte Guile, Upon A Day Whan He Hath While This Yonge Clerc Unto Him Tok, And Made Him Swere Upon A Bok, And Told Him What His Wille Was. And Forth Withal A Trompe Of Bras He Hath Him Take, And Bad Him This: "Thou Schalt," He Seide, "Whan Time Is Awaite, And Take Riht Good Kepe, Whan That The Pope Is Fast Aslepe 2870 And That Non Other Man By Nyh; And Thanne That Thou Be So Slyh Thurghout The Trompe Into His Ere, Fro Hevene As Thogh A Vois It Were, To Soune Of Such Prolacioun That He His Meditacioun Therof Mai Take And Understonde, As Thogh It Were Of Goddes Sonde. And In This Wise Thou Schalt Seie, That He Do Thilke Astat Aweie 2880 Of Pope, In Which He Stant Honoured, So Schal His Soule Be Socoured Of Thilke Worschipe Ate Laste In Hevene Which Schal Evere Laste." This Clerc, Whan He Hath Herd The Forme How He The Pope Scholde Enforme, Tok Of The Cardinal His Leve, And Goth Him Hom, Til It Was Eve, And Prively The Trompe He Hedde, Til That The Pope Was Abedde. 2890 And At The Midnyht, Whan He Knewh The Pope Slepte, Thanne He Blewh Withinne His Trompe Thurgh The Wal, And Tolde In What Manere He Schal His Papacie Leve, And Take His Ferste Astat: And Thus Awake This Holi Pope He Made Thries, Wherof Diverse Fantasies Upon His Grete Holinesse Withinne His Herte He Gan Impresse. 2900 The Pope Ful Of Innocence Conceiveth In His Conscience That It Is Goddes Wille He Cesse; Bot In What Wise He May Relesse His Hihe Astat, That Wot He Noght. And Thus Withinne Himself Bethoght, He Bar It Stille In His Memoire, Til He Cam To The Consistoire; And There In Presence Of Hem Alle He Axeth, If It So Befalle 2910 That Eny Pope Cesse Wolde, How That The Lawe It Soffre Scholde. Thei Seten Alle Stille And Herde, Was Non Which To The Point Ansuerde, For To What Pourpos That It Mente Ther Was Noman Knew His Entente, Bot Only He Which Schop The Guile. This Cardinal The Same While Al Openly With Wordes Pleine Seith, If The Pope Wolde Ordeigne 2920 That Ther Be Such A Lawe Wroght, Than Mihte He Cesse, And Elles Noght. And As He Seide, Don It Was; The Pope Anon Upon The Cas Of His Papal Autorite Hath Mad And Yove The Decre: And Whan That Lawe Was Confermed In Due Forme And Al Affermed, This Innocent, Which Was Deceived, His Papacie Anon Hath Weyved, 2930 Renounced And Resigned Eke. That Other Was Nothing To Seke, Bot Undernethe Such A Jape He Hath So For Himselve Schape, That How As Evere It Him Beseme, The Mitre With The Diademe He Hath Thurgh Supplantacion: And In His Confirmacion Upon The Fortune Of His Grace His Name Is Cleped Boneface. 2940 Under The Viser Of Envie, Lo, Thus Was Hid The Tricherie, Which Hath Beguiled Manyon. Bot Such Conseil Ther Mai Be Non, With Treson Whan It Is Conspired, That It Nys Lich The Sparke Fyred Up In The Rof, Which For A Throwe Lith Hidd, Til Whan The Wyndes Blowe It Blaseth Out On Every Side. This Bonefas, Which Can Noght Hyde 2950 The Tricherie Of His Supplant, Hath Openly Mad His Avant How He The Papacie Hath Wonne. Bot Thing Which Is With Wrong Begonne Mai Nevere Stonde Wel At Ende; Wher Pride Schal The Bowe Bende, He Schet Fulofte Out Of The Weie: And Thus The Pope Of Whom I Seie, Whan That He Stod On Hih The Whiel, He Can Noght Soffre Himself Be Wel. 2960 Envie, Which Is Loveles, And Pride, Which Is Laweles, With Such Tempeste Made Him Erre, That Charite Goth Out Of Herre: So That Upon Misgovernance Ayein Lowyz The King Of France He Tok Querelle Of His Oultrage, And Seide He Scholde Don Hommage Unto The Cherche Bodily. Bot He, That Wiste Nothing Why 2970 He Scholde Do So Gret Servise After The World In Such A Wise, Withstod The Wrong Of That Demande; For Noght The Pope Mai Comande The King Wol Noght The Pope Obeie. This Pope Tho Be Alle Weie That He Mai Worche Of Violence Hath Sent The Bulle Of His Sentence With Cursinge And With Enterdit. The King Upon This Wrongful Plyt, 2980 To Kepe His Regne Fro Servage, Conseiled Was Of His Barnage That Miht With Miht Schal Be Withstonde. Thus Was The Cause Take On Honde, And Seiden That The Papacie Thei Wolde Honoure And Magnefie In Al That Evere Is Spirital; Bot Thilke Pride Temporal Of Boneface In His Persone, Ayein That Ilke Wrong Al One 2990 Thei Wolde Stonden In Debat: And Thus The Man And Noght The Stat The Frensche Schopen Be Her Miht To Grieve. And Fell Ther Was A Kniht, Sire Guilliam De Langharet, Which Was Upon This Cause Set; And Therupon He Tok A Route Of Men Of Armes And Rod Oute, So Longe And In A Wayt He Lay, That He Aspide Upon A Day 3000 The Pope Was At Avinoun, And Scholde Ryde Out Of The Toun Unto Pontsorge, The Which Is A Castell In Provence Of His. Upon