Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 — Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems

5814. Th. wyl; G. tille. 5820. Both sworne. 5821. G. The (for That). Both nyl not. 5827. Th. leest; G. lest. 5831. G. tresoure. 5836. G. axide.

5855. Both kepte; F. qui mestrie. 5859. G. oost. 5860. Both that ilke. 5861. G. Agayns; Th. Agaynst. 5869, 70. Both entent, present. 5871. Both vesselage. 5879. Supply at. 5883. Both As my nede is. 5886. Om. eek? 5894. G. fortresse. 5900. Both That such; om. That. Both ben take; om. ben.

5906, 53. Supply hast, by. 5920. G. thilk. 5935. G. myche. 5939. Th. marchauntes; G. marchauntz. 5942. Both folyly. 5946. Th. vyce; G. wise. 5947. G. trust; pay. 5958. Th. surere. 5959. Both beaute (!). 5960. Both That I.

5976. Both ful dere. 5977. Both leest; supply she. 5980. Th. thylke; G. thilk. 5983. Th. grype; G. grepe. 5988. I supply if. 5997, 9. Th. hem; G. hym. 6002. Read gnede. 6006. Both good; beaute (as in 5959). 6009. Th. wol; G. wole. 6025. G. shulle. Both forsworne. 6026. G. lette.

6037. G. worthe. 6401. G. hym. 6048. G. heestes. 6057. This = This is. 6063. G. away. 6064. Both hindreth. 6073. G. netheles; Th. nathelesse.

6143. Both twey. 6144. G. sey; Th. say. 6165. Both which; F. tex.

6169. Both lette. 6172. G. subtilite. 6174. Both nede; F. besoignes. 6183, 4. G. cast, last. 6187. G. om. hath. 6192. Both neithir monk; om. neithir. 6195. Th. Na-; G. Ne-. 6197. Th. rasour; G. resoun. 6205. I supply this line. 6206. Supply not. Th. begylen; G. bigilyng. 6214. Both without.

6227. G. Yhe. 6237. Th. commen; G. comyn; read comun. 6240. G. Yhe; G. om. alle. 6243. Both ful many; om. ful. 6245. G. dieden. 6247. Both xi. 6253. G. hert; both good. 6255. Both good. 6256. Both the religioun; om. the. 6259. G. took. 6263. G. Yhis; Th. Yes. 6271. G. biwailed (!). 6275, 82. Supply hem. 6278. Both Without. 6285. G. doutlees; Th. doutles.

6292. Both planten most. 6296. Both feyne; F. dire. 6314. Both ins. shal bef. never. 6316. G. warre; Th. ware. 6317, 8. Words supplied by Kaluza. 6323. Both myght. 6336. I supply and. 6341. Both and reyned (!) for streyned; see 7366. 6342. I supply y-. 6346. Both I a; om. a.

6354. G. bete; Th. beate (for lete). 6355. Both Ioly (for blynde); I supply ther. 6356. Th. habite. 6359. Th. beare; G. were. 6361. G. om. Thus and I; both in to (for in). 6372. Both omit; supplied as in Morris; F. Si n'en sut mes si receus. 6375. Both I a.; om. a. 6377. G. shreuen. 6378. Both I (for me); both yeuen. 6386. G. ony. 6388. G. mych. 6392. Both yeuen. 6393. G. ins. For bef. Penaunce. 6399. Both ought. 6407. Both not; read yit.

6425. G. cheueys; Th. chuse; F. chevir. 6426. Th. hamper. 6432. I supply Ne. 6452. Th. this is ayenst. 6453. G. heerde. 6454. G. beeste. 6460. Both it is; F. Porquoi. 6462, 7. G. fat. 6465. G. grucche; Th. grutche. 6466. Both woth (!). 6469. I supply the. 6470. G. Yhe.

6481. Both seruest; F. sembles. 6482. Both I am but an. 6484. G. Yhe. 6487. Both good. 6491. Both bettir; G. that queyntaunce. 6492. Th. tymes; G. tyme. 6493. Both of a pore. 6496. G. myxnes; Th. myxins. 6500. Both me a dyne. 6513. G. ony. 6515. Both not. 6516. Both swere. 6522. Both Hath a soule.

6531. Th. of; G. to. 6532. G. thrittene; Th. thirtene; read thrittethe. 6536. G. myche. 6539. Both beggith (-eth). 6542. Both goddis (-es). 6543. G. Salamon; Th. Salomon. 6546. G. yhe. 6550. Both nolden. 6551. G. was. 6557. Both myght. 6565. G. ther; Th. their. 6569. Both yaf. 6570. Both folkis (-es). 6572. Both they; read leye; F. Ains gisoient. 6581. Perhaps om. That.

6598. Both tolde (against grammar). 6600. G. desily (!). 6601. Th. To; G. Go. 6606. Both Ben somtyme in; see 6610. 6616. G. old; Th. olde. 6650. Both myght. 6653. I supply wher; F. la ou. 6655. Both yeue.

6667. Both haue bidde; (om. haue). 6679. Both good. 6682. Th. -of; G. -fore. 6684. Both wryne. 6688. G. omits: Th. hondis. 6699. Th. -wayes; G. -weys. 6700. If] Both Yit. 6707. Both mendiciens (-ence); see 6657.

6721. Both without. 6728. Th. noriture; G. norture. 6737. Both had. 6748. G. Ony. 6756. Both clothe; read clothes; see 6684. 6759. Both this. 6766. Both solemply. 6782. Th. This; G. The. 6784. Th. agylte; G. agilt. 6786. So Th.; G. Of thyngis that he beste myghte (in late hand).

6792. G. wille. 6797. Both this that; om. that. 6803. Both yeuen. 6806. G. sene. 6808, 10. Supply ne, hir. 6819. Both wrine. Both hem, at. 6820. Both Without. 6823, 4. Both robbyng, gilyng. 6827. G. fast. 6828. Both high. 6834. G. gret; Th. great. 6841. Both Without. 6844. Both boldly. 6850. Both emperours. 6851. G. om. and.

6860, 6901. Supply thise, be. 6862. G. gret; Th. great. 6880. Th. Ne wol; G. Wol; read Nil. 6890. Both doutles (-lees). 6902, 7, 11. Both burdons.

6925, 6. Both him; read hem. 6936. Both good. 6939. Th. wete. 6949. G. Yhe. 6952. Th. parceners; G. perseners. 6974. Both tymes a; om. a.

6997. G. gret; Th. great. 7002. Th. al; G. om. 7012. After this line, both in Th. and G., come ll. 7109-7158. 7018. G. werrien; Th. werryen. 7019. Both al. 7022. Th. bougerons; G. begger. 7029. Both these that; F. lerres ou. 7035. G. ony. 7037. we] G. me. 7038. hem] Both them. 7041. G. cheffis; Th. cheffes; F. fromages. 7047. he] G. we. 7048. Both bake.

7056. Both his; read our. 7059. G. sleght; Th. sleight. 7060. G. hight; Th. heyght. 7063. Both vounde. 7070. Both good. 7071. G. sleghtes. I supply as. 7075. G. om. he have. 7092. Th. We had ben turmented al and 7093. I supply fals. 7104. Both brent. 7109. G. has here l. 7110, followed by a blank line; Th. has That they [read he] ne might 7110. Th. To the copye, if hem talent toke; after which, Of the Euangelystes booke (spurious).

7113. G. gret; Th. great. 7119, 21. G. ony. 7123. G. many a such. 7125. Th. booke; G. book. 7127. Perhaps omit that. 7133, 37, 42. G. om. for, it, they. 7143. Th. Awaye; G. Alwey. 7144. G. durst. 7145. Both no. 7148. Th. booke; G. book. 7151. Supply boke. 7159. Both vpon. Before this line G. and Th. wrongly insert ll. 7013-7110, 7209-7304. 7164. Th. booke; G. book. 7165. G. mych. 7166. I supply that.

7173, 4. Supplied by conjecture; F. Par Pierre voil le Pape entendre. 7175, 99. I supply eek, men. 7178. G. Ayens; Th. Ayenst. 7180. And] Both That. that] Both to. 7189. G. orribilite; Th. horriblete. 7190. Th. booke; G. book. 7196. G. Petre. 7200. G. Petres. 7205. G. thilk. 7209. See note to l. 7159. 7217. Th. Empresse; G. Emperis. 7221. Both worthy; see 7104. Both mynystres. 7234. G. iye.

7236. Th. recketh; G. rekke. 7243. Both may us (om. may). 7244. G. om. hem. 7254. Th. hem; G. hym; supply it. 7255. Th. hem; G. hym. 7257. G. steight (!). 7258. Th. graye; G. grey. 7260. G. high. 7262. Th. ryuelyng; G. reuelyng. 7263. G. dyuyse. 7272. The] G. To. 7292. Both shulde.

7303. G. forwordis. 7304. G. Yhe. Th. hence; G. hens. 7307. Th. ayenst; G. ayens. 7316. Both slayn; see note. 7317. G. alto defyle. 7325. G. Myn; Th. My. G. streyneth (!). 7331. Both Without. 7336. Th. Thankyng. 7355. G. countynaunce. 7358. G. heelde. 7362. Th. laste; G. last.

7368. G. gracche; Th. gratche. G. bygynne; Th. bygyne. 7371. Th. psaltere; G. sawter. 7380. G. ony. 7385-7576. From Th.; lost in G. 7386. Th. made. 7389. Th. shappe; denysed. 7394. tho] Th. to. 7409. Had] Th. And. 7429. Th. humbly. 7432. Th. remeued.

7435. Th. thought. 7444. I supply as. 7458. Th. Frere. 7460. Supply that. 7463. Th. al. 7464. Th. greet. 7471, 72. Th. sopheme, enueneme; F. sophime, envenime. 7473. Th. hath hadde the. 7488. Th. doughty (!); F. poudreus; read dusty. 7494. Th. herborowe.

7504. Th. sir. 7513. Th. styll. 7532. Th. styl. 7533. Th. she nat herselfe. 7546. Th. sothe. 7548, 50. I supply for, wel. 7553. Th. thought harme. 7560. Th. her.

7568. Th. Without. 7577. G. begins again. 7582. Th. herbered; G. herberd. 7585. Both herbegere. 7590. Both sothe. Th. sawe; G. saugh. 7600. Both where. G. ony. 7625. I supply he. 7626. G. saloweth.

7628. Th. comynge. 7630. Supply that. 7637. G. I nerer (!). 7653. G. wole; Th. wol: read wolde. 7662. doth] F. fait; both wot. 7663. Th. we (for ye); G. om. 7666. Both giltles. 7678. Both repent. 7686. Th. tymes; G. tyme.

7693. So Th. (but with for to for to); G. To reden in diuinite. 7694. G. And longe haue red (wrongly); here G. abruptly ends. 7694-8. From Th. 7697. Th. abode. Colophon. G. Explicit, following And longe haue red (see note to 7694); Th. Finis. Here endeth the Romaunt of the Rose.

THE MINOR POEMS.

I. AN A. B. C.

Incipit carmen secundum ordinem literarum Alphabeti.

Almighty and al merciable quene, To whom that al this world fleeth for socour, To have relees of sinne, sorwe and tene, Glorious virgine, of alle floures flour, 5 To thee I flee, confounded in erreur! Help and releve, thou mighty debonaire, Have mercy on my perilous langour! Venquisshed me hath my cruel adversaire.	A toy du monde le refui, Vierge glorieuse, m'en fui Tout confus, ne puis miex faire; A toy me tíen, a toy m'apuy. Relieve moy, abatu suy: Vaincu m'a mon aversaire. Puis qu'en toy ont tous repaire Bien me doy vers toy retraire Avant que j'aie plus d'annuy. 10 N'est pas luite necessaire A moy, se tu, debonnayre, Ne me sequeurs comme a autrui.
Bountee so fix hath in thyn herte his tente, 10 That wel I wot thou wolt my socour be, Thou canst not warne him that, with good entente, Axeth thyn help. Thyn herte is ay so free, Thou art largesse of pleyn felicitee, Haven of refut, of quiete and of reste. 15 Lo, how that theves seven chasen me! Help, lady bright, er that my ship to-breste! Comfort is noon, but in yow, lady dere, For lo, my sinne and my confusioun, Which oughten not in thy presence appere, 20 Han take on me a grevous accioun Of verrey right and desperacioun; And, as by right, they mighten wel sustene That I were worthy my dampnacioun, Nere mercy of you, blisful hevene quene. 25 Doute is ther noon, thou queen of misericorde, That thou nart cause of grace and mercy here; God vouched sauf thurgh thee with us tacorde. For certes, Cristes blisful moder dere,	Bien voy que par toy confortés Sera mes cuers desconfortés, Quer tu es de salu porte. Se je me suis mal tresportez Par .vij. larrons, pechiés mortez, Et erre par voie torte, Esperance me conforte 20 Qui à toy hui me raporte A ce que soie deportez. Ma povre arme je t'aporte: Sauve la: ne vaut que morte; En li sont tous biens avortez. Contre moy font une accion Ma vergoigne et confusion, Que devant toy ne doy venir Pour ma très grant transgression. Rayson et desperacion 30 Contre moy veulent maintenir; Mès pour ce que veil plait fenir, Devant toy les fès convenir En faisant replicacion. C'est que je di appartenir A toy du tout et convenir Pitié et miseracion. Dame es de misericorde Par qui Diex bien se recorde A sa gent estre racordé. 40 Par toy vint pes et concorde,
Were now the bowe bent in swich manere, 30 As it was first, of Iustice and of yre, The rightful God nolde of no mercy here; But thurgh thee han we grace, as we desyre. Ever hath myn hope of refut been in thee, For heer-biforn ful ofte, in many a wyse, 35 Hast thou to misericorde receyved me. But mercy, lady, at the grete assyse, Whan we shul come bifore the hye Iustyse! So litel fruit shal thanne in me be founde, That, but thou er that day me wel chastyse, 40 Of verrey right my werk me wol confounde. Fleeing, I flee for socour to thy tente Me for to hyde from tempest ful of drede, Biseching you that ye you not absente, Though I be wikke. O help yit at this nede!	Et fu pour oster discorde L'arc de justice descordé; Et pour ce me sui acordé Toi mercier et concordé, Pour ce que ostas la corde; Quar, ainsi com j'ay recordé, S'encore fust l'arc encordé Comparé l'eust ma vie orde. En toy ay m'esperance eü 50 Quant a merci m'as receü Autre foys en mainte guise, Du bien qui ou ciel fu creü As ravivé et repeü M'ame qui estoit occise. Las! mès quant la grant assise Sera, se n'y es assise Pour moy mal y seray veü. De bien n'ay nulle reprise. Las m'en clain quant bien m'avise, 60 Souvent en doy dire heü! Fuiant m'en viens a ta tente Moy mucier pour la tormente Qui ou monde me tempeste. Pour mon pechié ne t'absente,
45 Al have I been a beste in wille and dede, Yit, lady, thou me clothe with thy grace. Thyn enemy and myn—lady, tak hede, Un-to my deth in poynt is me to chace. Glorious mayde and moder, which that never 50 Were bitter, neither in erthe nor in see, But ful of swetnesse and of mercy ever, Help that my fader be not wroth with me! Spek thou, for I ne dar not him y-see. So have I doon in erthe, allas ther-whyle! 55 That certes, but-if thou my socour be, To stink eterne he wol my gost exyle. He vouched sauf, tel him, as was his wille, Bicome a man, to have our alliaunce, And with his precious blood he wroot the bille 60 Up-on the crois, as general acquitaunce, To every penitent in ful creaunce; And therfor, lady bright, thou for us praye. Than shalt thou bothe stinte al his grevaunce, And make our foo to failen of his praye.	A moy garder met t'entente, A mon besoing soiez preste. Se lonc temps j'ay esté beste A ce, Vierge, je m'arreste Que de ta grace me sente. 70 Si te fais aussi requeste Que ta pitié nu me veste, Car je n'ay nulle autre rente. Glorieuse vierge mere Qui a nul onques amere Ne fus en terre ne en mer, Ta douceur ores m'apere Et ne sueffres que mon pere De devant li me jecte puer. Se devant li tout vuit j'apper, 80 Et par moy ne puis eschapper Que ma faute ne compere. Tu devant li pour moy te per En li moustrant que, s'a li per Ne sui, si est il mon frere. Homme voult par sa plaisance Devenir, pour aliance Avoir a humain lignage. Avec li crut dès enfance Pitié dont j'ai esperance 90 Avoir eu en mon usage. Elle fu mise a forage Quant au cuer lui vint mesage Du cruel fer de la lance. Ne puet estre, se sui sage, Que je n'en aie avantage, Se tu veus et abondance.
65 I wot it wel, thou wolt ben our socour, Thou art so ful of bountee, in certeyn. For, whan a soule falleth in errour, Thy pitee goth and haleth him ayeyn. Than makest thou his pees with his sovereyn, 70 And bringest him out of the crooked strete. Who-so thee loveth he shal not love in veyn, That shal he finde, as he the lyf shal lete. Kalenderes enlumined ben they That in this world ben lighted with thy name, 75 And who-so goth to you the righte wey, Him thar not drede in soule to be lame. Now, queen of comfort, sith thou art that same To whom I seche for my medicyne, Lat not my foo no more my wounde entame, 80 Myn hele in-to thyn hand al I resigne. Lady, thy sorwe can I not portreye Under the cros, ne his grevous penaunce. But, for your bothes peynes, I you preye, Lat not our alder foo make his bobaunce,	Ie ne truis par nulle voie Ou mon salut si bien voie Com, après Dieu, en toy le voy; 100 Quar quant aucun se desvoie, A ce que tost se ravoie, De ta pitié li fais convoy. Tu li fès lessier son desroy Et li refaiz sa pais au roy, Et remez en droite voie. Moult est donc cil en bon arroy, En bon atour, en bon conroy Que ta grace si conroie. Kalendier sont enluminé 110 Et autre livre enteriné Quant ton non les enlumine. A tout meschief ont resiné Ceus qui se sont acheminé A toy pour leur medicine. A moy donc, virge, t'encline, Car a toy je m'achemine Pour estre bien mediciné; Ne sueffre que de gaïnne Isse justice devine 120 Par quoy je soye exterminé. La douceur de toy pourtraire Je ne puis, a qui retraire Doit ton filz de ton sanc estrait; Pour ce a toy m'ay volu traire
85 That he hath in his listes of mischaunce Convict that ye bothe have bought so dere. As I seide erst, thou ground of our substaunce, Continue on us thy pitous eyen clere! Moises, that saugh the bush with flaumes rede 90 Brenninge, of which ther never a stikke brende, Was signe of thyn unwemmed maidenhede. Thou art the bush on which ther gan descende The Holy Gost, the which that Moises wende Had ben a-fyr; and this was in figure. 95 Now lady, from the fyr thou us defende Which that in helle eternally shal dure. Noble princesse, that never haddest pere, Certes, if any comfort in us be, That cometh of thee, thou Cristes moder dere, 100 We han non other melodye or glee Us to reioyse in our adversitee, Ne advocat noon that wol and dar so preye For us, and that for litel hyre as ye, That helpen for an Ave-Marie or tweye.	Afin que contre moy traire Ne le sueuffres nul cruel trait. Je recongnois bien mon mesfait Et qu'au colier j'ai souvent trait Dont l'en me devroit detraire; 130 Mez se tu veus tu as l'entrait Par quoy tantost sera retrait Le mehain qui m'est contraire. Moyses vit en figure Que tu, vierge nete et pure, Jesu le filz Dieu conceüs: Un bysson contre nature Vit qui ardoit sans arsure. C'es tu, n'en suis point deceüs, Dex est li feus qu'en toy eüs; 140 Et tu, buisson des recreüz Es, pour tremper leur ardure. A ce veoir, vierge, veüs Soie par toy et receüs, Oste chaussement d'ordure. Noble princesse du monde Qui n'as ne per ne seconde En royaume n'en enpire, De toy vient, de toy redonde Tout le bien qui nous abonde, 150 N'avons autre tirelire. En toy tout povre homme espire Et de toy son salu tire, Et en toy seule se fonde. Ne puet nul penser ne dire, Nul pourtraire ne escrire Ta bonté comme est parfonde.
105 O verrey light of eyen that ben blinde, O verrey lust of labour and distresse, O tresorere of bountee to mankinde, Thee whom God chees to moder for humblesse! From his ancille he made thee maistresse 110 Of hevene and erthe, our bille up for to bede. This world awaiteth ever on thy goodnesse, For thou ne failest never wight at nede. Purpos I have sum tyme for tenquere, Wherfore and why the Holy Gost thee soughte, 115 Whan Gabrielles vois cam to thyn ere. He not to werre us swich a wonder wroughte, But for to save us that he sithen boughte. Than nedeth us no wepen us for to save, But only ther we did not, as us oughte, 120 Do penitence, and mercy axe and have. Queen of comfort, yit whan I me bithinke That I agilt have bothe, him and thee, And that my soule is worthy for to sinke, Allas, I, caitif, whider may I flee?	O Lumiere des non voians Et vrai repos des recreans Et de tout bien tresoriere, 160 A toy sont toutez gens beans Qui en la foy sont bien creans Et en toy ont foy entiere; A nul onques ne fus fiere, Ains toy deïs chamberiere Quant en toy vint li grans geans. Or es de Dieu chanceliere Et de graces aumosniere Et confort a tous recreans. Pris m'est volenté d'enquerre 170 Pour savoir que Diex vint querre Quant en toy se vint enserrer; En toy devint vers de terre; Ne cuit pas que fust pour guerre Ne pour moy jus aterrer. Vierge, se ne me sens errer, D'armes ne me faut point ferrer Fors sans plus de li requerre. Quant pour moy se vint enterrer, Se il ne se veut desterrer 180 Encor puis s'amour acquerre. Quant pourpensé après me sui Qu'ay offendu et toy et lui, Et qu'a mal est m'ame duite, Que, fors pechié, en moi n'estui,
125 Who shal un-to thy sone my mene be? Who, but thy-self, that art of pitee welle? Thou hast more reuthe on our adversitee Than in this world mighte any tunge telle. Redresse me, moder, and me chastyse, 130 For, certeynly, my fadres chastisinge That dar I nought abyden in no wyse: So hidous is his rightful rekeninge. Moder, of whom our mercy gan to springe, Beth ye my Iuge and eek my soules leche; 135 For ever in you is pitee haboundinge To ech that wol of pitee you biseche. Soth is, that God ne graunteth no pitee With-oute thee; for God, of his goodnesse, Foryiveth noon, but it lyke un-to thee. 140 He hath thee maked vicaire and maistresse	Et que mal hyer et pis m'est hui, Tost après si me ranvite, Vierge douce, se pren fuite, Se je fui a la poursuite, Ou fuiray, qu'a mon refui? 190 S'a nul bien je ne m'affruite Et mas sui avant que luite, Plus grief encore en est l'anuy. Reprens moy, mere, et chastie Quar mon pere n'ose mie Attendre a mon chastiement. Son chastoy si fiert a hie; Rien n'ataint que tout n'esmie Quant il veut prendre vengement. Mere, bien doi tel batement 200 Douter, quar en empirement A tous jours esté ma vie. A toy dont soit le jugement, Car de pitié as l'oingnement, Mès que merci l'en te prie. Sans toy nul bien ne foysonne Et sans toy Diex riens ne donne, Quar de tout t'a fet maistresse. Quant tu veus trestout pardonne;
Of al the world, and eek governeresse Of hevene, and he represseth his Iustyse After thy wille, and therefore in witnesse He hath thee crouned in so ryal wyse. 145 Temple devout, ther god hath his woninge. Fro which these misbileved pryved been, To you my soule penitent I bringe. Receyve me! I can no ferther fleen! With thornes venimous, O hevene queen, 150 For which the erthe acursed was ful yore, I am so wounded, as ye may wel seen, That I am lost almost;—it smert so sore. Virgine, that art so noble of apparaile, And ledest us in-to the hye tour 155 Of Paradys, thou me wisse and counsaile, How I may have thy grace and thy socour; Al have I been in filthe and in errour. Lady, un-to that court thou me aiourne That cleped is thy bench, O fresshe flour! 160 Ther-as that mercy ever shal soiourne.	Et par toy est mise bonne 210 A justice la mairesse; N'est royne ne princesse Pour qui nul ainsi se cesse Et de droit se dessaisonne. Du monde es gouverneresse, Et du ciel ordeneresse; Sans reson n'as pas couronne. Temple saint ou Dieu habite Dont privé sont li herite Et a tous jours desherité, 220 A toy vieng, de toy me herite, Reçoif moy par ta merite Quar de toy n'ay point hesité. Et se je me sui herité Des espines d'iniquité Pour quoy terre fu maudite, Las m'en clain en verité, Car a ce fait m'a excité L'ame qui n'en est pas quite. Vierge de noble et haut atour, 230 Qui au chastel et a la tour De paradis nous atournes, Atourne moy ens et entour De tel atour que au retour De ta grace me retournes, Se vil sui, si me raournes. A toy vieng, ne te destournes, Quer au besoing es mon destour. Sequeur moy, point ne sejournes, Ou tu a la court m'ajournes, 240 Ou ta pitié fait son sejour.
Xristus, thy sone, that in this world alighte, Up-on the cros to suffre his passioun, And eek, that Longius his herte pighte, And made his herte blood to renne adoun; 165 And al was this for my salvacioun; And I to him am fals and eek unkinde, And yit he wol not my dampnacioun— This thanke I you, socour of al mankinde. Ysaac was figure of his deeth, certeyn, 170 That so fer-forth his fader wolde obeye That him ne roughte no-thing to be slayn; Right so thy sone list, as a lamb, to deye. Now lady, ful of mercy, I you preye, Sith he his mercy mesured so large, 175 Be ye not skant; for alle we singe and seye That ye ben from vengeaunce ay our targe. Zacharie you clepeth the open welle To wasshe sinful soule out of his gilt. Therfore this lessoun oughte I wel to telle 180 That, nere thy tender herte, we weren spilt.	Xristus, ton filz, qui descendi En terre et en la crois pendi, Ot pour moy le costé fendu. Sa grant rigour il destendi Quant pour moy l'esperit rendi, Son corps pendant et estendu; Pour moy son sanc fu espandu. Se ceci j'ai bien entendu A mon salut bien entendi, 250 Et pour ce, se l'ay offendu Et il ne le m'a pas rendu, Merci t'en rens, graces l'en di. Ysaac le prefigura Qui de sa mort rien ne cura En obeïsant au pere. Comme .j. aignel tout endura; En endurant tout espura Par crueuse mort amere. O très douce vierge mere, 260 Par ce fait fai que se pere Par plour l'ame qui cuer dura; Fai que grace si m'apere; Et n'en soiez pas avere Quar largement la mesura. Zacharie de mon somme Me exite, et si me somme D'en toy ma merci atendre; Fontaine patent te nomme
Now lady brighte, sith thou canst and wilt Ben to the seed of Adam merciable, So bring us to that palais that is bilt 184 To penitents that ben to mercy able. Amen.	Pour laver pecheür homme: 270 C'est leçon bonne a aprendre. Se tu donc as le cuer tendre Et m'offense n'est pas mendre De cil qui menga la pomme, Moy laver veillez entendre, Moy garder et moy deffendre, Que justice ne m'asomme.

Explicit carmen.

The MSS. used to form this text are: C. = MS. Ff. 5. 30 in the Camb. Univ. Library; Jo. = MS. G. 21, in St. John's College, Cambridge; Gl. = Glasgow MS. Q. 2. 25; L. = MS. Laud 740, in the Bodleian Library; Gg. = MS. Gg. 4. 27 in the Camb. Univ. Library; F. = MS. Fairfax 16, in the Bodleian Library; B = MS. Bodley 638; Sion = Sion Coll. MS. The text closely follows the first of these; and all variations from it are recorded (except sometimes i for y, and y for i).

1. C. Almihty; queene. 3. L. B. sorwe; F. Jo. sorowe; the rest insert of before sorwe. 4. C. Gloriowse. 6. C. releeue; mihti. 8. Jo. Venquist; Gg. Venquyst. Read m'hath. C. cruelle.

10. C. bee. 11. F. B. werne. 12. C. helpe. 14. C. Hauene; refute. 15. C. Loo; theeves sevene; mee. 16. C. briht. 17. C. ladi deere. 18. C. loo. 19. C. ouhten; thi; appeere. 20. C. greevous. 21. C. riht. 22. C. riht þei mihten; susteene. 23. C. wurthi. 24. C. queene. 25. C. Dowte. 26. C. merci heere. 27. C. Gl. Gg. saf; Jo. saff; L. F. saufe; B. sauf. C. thoruh; L. F. þurgh. Gl. F. B. tacorde; C. L. to accorde. 28. C. crystes; mooder deere.

29. C. maneere. 31. C. rihtful; heere. 32. C. thoruh; Jo. L. F. B. thurgh. 33. C. Euere. C. refuit; Gl. refuyt; Gg. refut; rest refute. 35. C. resceyued. 36. C. merci ladi. 37. C. shule. 39. wel is supplied from the Sion MS.; nearly all the copies give this line corruptly; see note. 40. C. riht; wole. 41. C. Fleeinge; thi. 42. C. tempeste; dreede. 43. C. Biseeching yow. 44. C. Thouh; neede.

45. C. ben. Jo. wille; C. wil. 46. C. thi. 47. C. Thin; ladi; heede. 49. C. Gloriows; mooder; neuere. 50. C. eerthe. 51. C. euere. 54. C. eerthe. 55. C. bee. 56. C. wole. 57. C. saaf; F. B. sauf; L. saufe; Jo. saffe; Gl. Gg. saf. 58. C. Bicomen; oure. 59. C. wrot. 61. C. criaunce; Gg. cryaunce; rest creaunce. 62. C. ladi briht. 63. C. Thanne.

64, 65: C. oure. 66: C. bowntee. 69: C. Thanne. 73: C. Kalendeeres enlumyned. 74: C. thi. 75: C. yow; rihte. 77: C. sithe. 78: C. seeche. 79: C. vntame; Sion, vntaame (wrongly); rest entame.] 80: C. resyne; Gl. B. resigne. 81: C. kan. 82: C. greevous. 84: C. oure.

85. C. hise lystes. 86. C. bouht. 87. C. oure. 88. C. thi; cleere. 89. C. sauh; F. B. saugh. C. flawmes. 93. C. holigost. 94. C. a fyir. 95. C. fyir; Gl. fyr. C. deufende (sic). 96. C. eternalli. 97. C. neuere; peere. 98. C. bee. 99. C. mooder deere. 100. C. noon ooþer. 101. C. oure. 102. C. wole. 103. C. yee.

107. C. tresoreere. 108. F. chees; C. ches. C. mooder. 109. C. the. 110. C. eerthe; oure; beede. 111. C. euere; thi. 112. C. neuere; neede. 113. Gg. F. B. tenquere; C. to enquere. 114. C. whi; holi; souhte. 115. C. Sion, vn-to; rest to. 116. C. wunder wrouhte. 117. C. bouhte. 118. C. Thanne needeth; wepene. 119. C. oonly. Jo. F. B. did; C. diden. C. ouhte. 120. C. Doo; merci. 123. C. wurthi.

125. C. thi; bee. 126. C. thi-. 128. C. miht. 129. C. mooder. 130. F. Fadres; B. fadrys; C. faderes; Jo. fader. 131. C. nouht. 132. Gg. F. B. is his; rest it is. C. rihful (sic). 133. C. Mooder; merci. 135. C. euere. 136. C. eche; wole; biseeche. 137. C. granteth; F. graunteth. 140. C. vicair; Gg. F. vicaire; Gl. B. Sion, vicayre.

141. C. gouernowresse; Gl. Gg. gouerneresse. 143. C. thi wil. 144. L. crowned; Gg. crounnyd; C. Jo. F. corowned. C. rial. 146. C. misbileeued. Jo. L. pryued; rest depriued. 148. C. Resceyve; ferþere. 149. C. venymous. 150. C. eerthe. 151. C. (alone) om. so. 156. C. thi (twice). 157. Gg. Al; B. C. All. C. ben. 158. C. Ladi. 159. Sion MS. fresshe; Gg. frosche (sic); the rest wrongly omit the final e. 160. C. merci; euere.

161. C. Xpc (= Gk. χρς). 163. All the MSS. insert suffred after eek, caught from the line above; see note. 167. C. wole. 171. C. rouhte. 172. C. Riht soo thi. C. lust; rest list, liste. 173. C. ladi; merci; yow. 174. C. Sithe; merci. 177. C. yow; opene. 179. C. ouht. 180. C. thi.

181. C. ladi. Gg. bryȝt; which the rest omit. C. Gg. sithe; F. B. sith. Harl. 2251 supplies bothe after thou. 183. Sion MS. alone supplies So; Jo. supplies And. MS. Harl. 2251 has un-to; rest to. 184. Gl. penytentz; C. penitentes; Jo. Penitence (for penitents). C. merci.

II. THE COMPLEYNTE UNTO PITE.

Pite, that I have sought so yore ago,

With herte sore, and ful of besy peyne,

That in this world was never wight so wo

With-oute dethe; and, if I shal not feyne,

My purpos was, to Pite to compleyne

Upon the crueltee and tirannye

Of Love, that for my trouthe doth me dye.

And when that I, by lengthe of certeyn yeres,

Had ever in oon a tyme sought to speke,

To Pite ran I, al bespreynt with teres,

To preyen hir on Crueltee me awreke.

But, er I might with any worde out-breke,

Or tellen any of my peynes smerte,

I fond hir deed, and buried in an herte.

Adoun I fel, when that I saugh the herse,

Deed as a stoon, whyl that the swogh me laste;

But up I roos, with colour ful diverse,

And pitously on hir myn yën caste,

And ner the corps I gan to presen faste,

And for the soule I shoop me for to preye;

I nas but lorn; ther nas no more to seye.

Thus am I slayn, sith that Pite is deed;

Allas! that day! that ever hit shulde falle!

What maner man dar now holde up his heed?

To whom shal any sorwful herte calle?

Now Crueltee hath cast to sleen us alle,

In ydel hope, folk redelees of peyne—

Sith she is deed—to whom shul we compleyne?

But yet encreseth me this wonder newe,

That no wight woot that she is deed, but I;

So many men as in hir tyme hir knewe,

And yet she dyed not so sodeynly;

For I have sought hir ever ful besily

Sith first I hadde wit or mannes mynde;

But she was deed, er that I coude hir fynde.

Aboute hir herse ther stoden lustily,

Withouten any wo, as thoughte me,

Bountee parfit, wel armed and richely,

And fresshe Beautee, Lust, and Iolitee,

Assured Maner, Youthe, and Honestee,

Wisdom, Estaat, [and] Dreed, and Governaunce,

Confedred bothe by bonde and alliaunce.

A compleynt hadde I, writen, in myn hond,

For to have put to Pite as a bille,

But whan I al this companye ther fond,

That rather wolden al my cause spille

Than do me help, I held my pleynte stille;

For to that folk, withouten any faile,

Withoute Pite may no bille availe.

Then leve I al thise virtues, sauf Pite,

Keping the corps, as ye have herd me seyn,

Confedred alle by bonde of Crueltee,

And been assented that I shal be sleyn.

And I have put my compleynt up ageyn;

For to my foos my bille I dar not shewe,

Theffect of which seith thus, in wordes fewe:—

The Bille.

¶ 'Humblest of herte, hyest of reverence,

Benigne flour, coroune of vertues alle,

Sheweth unto your rial excellence

Your servaunt, if I durste me so calle,

His mortal harm, in which he is y-falle,

And noght al only for his evel fare,

But for your renoun, as he shal declare.

Hit stondeth thus: your contraire, Crueltee,

Allyed is ageynst your regalye

Under colour of womanly Beautee,

For men [ne] shuld not knowe hir tirannye,

With Bountee, Gentilesse, and Curtesye,

And hath depryved you now of your place

That hight "Beautee, apertenant to Grace."

For kyndly, by your heritage right,

Ye been annexed ever unto Bountee;

And verrayly ye oughte do your might

To helpe Trouthe in his adversitee.

Ye been also the coroune of Beautee;

And certes, if ye wanten in thise tweyne,

The world is lore; ther nis no more to seyne.

¶ 'Eek what availeth Maner and Gentilesse

Withoute you, benigne creature?

Shal Crueltee be your governeresse?

Allas! what herte may hit longe endure?

Wherfor, but ye the rather take cure

To breke that perilous alliaunce,

Ye sleen hem that ben in your obeisaunce.

'And further over, if ye suffre this,

Your renoun is fordo than in a throwe;

Ther shal no man wite wel what Pite is.

Allas! that your renoun shuld be so lowe!

Ye be than fro your heritage y-throwe

By Crueltee, that occupieth your place;

And we despeired, that seken to your grace.

Have mercy on me, thou Herenus quene,

That you have sought so tenderly and yore;

Let som streem of your light on me be sene

That love and drede you, ay lenger the more.

For, sothly for to seyne, I bere the sore,

And, though I be not cunning for to pleyne,

For goddes love, have mercy on my peyne!

¶ 'My peyne is this, that what so I desire

100

That have I not, ne no-thing lyk therto;

And ever set Desire myn herte on fire;

Eek on that other syde, wher-so I go,

What maner thing that may encrese wo

That have I redy, unsoght, everywhere;

105

Me [ne] lakketh but my deth, and than my bere.

What nedeth to shewe parcel of my peyne?

Sith every wo that herte may bethinke

I suffre, and yet I dar not to you pleyne;

For wel I woot, al-though I wake or winke,

110

Ye rekke not whether I flete or sinke.

But natheles, my trouthe I shal sustene

Unto my deth, and that shal wel be sene.

This is to seyne, I wol be youres ever;

Though ye me slee by Crueltee, your fo,

115

Algate my spirit shal never dissever

Fro your servyse, for any peyne or wo.

Sith ye be deed—allas! that hit is so!—

Thus for your deth I may wel wepe and pleyne

119

With herte sore and ful of besy peyne.'

Here endeth the exclamacion of the Deth of Pyte.

The MSS. are: Tn. (Tanner 346); F. (Fairfax 16); B. (Bodley 638); Sh. (Shirley's MS., Harl. 78); Ff. (Ff. 1. 6, in Camb. Univ. Library); T., here used for Trin. (Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 19); also Ha. (Harl. 7578). I follow F. mainly, noting all variations of importance.

Title; in B. 1. F. agoo. 2. F. hert. 3. F. worlde; woo. 5. F. purpose. 8. F. be; B. Sh. T. by. F. certeyne. 9. Sh. Ha. a tyme sought; rest sought a tyme (badly). 10. F. bespreynte. 11. F. prayen. Sh. Ha. wreke; rest awreke. 14. F. fonde; dede. 15. F. Adovne. Ha. alone supplies that. 16. F. Dede; stone; while. T. (and Longleat) a; rest om. 17. F. roose; coloure. 18. F. petously; B. pitously. B. yen; F. eyen; after which all but Sh. and Ha. insert I. 19. Sh. Ha. to; which the rest omit. 20. Sh. shoope; rest shope. F. prey; Sh. preye. 21. For nas, the MSS. wrongly have was; in both places. F. lorne; sey.

22. F. slayne; dede. 23. Tn. shulde; F. shuld. 24. F. hold; hede. 25. All but Sh. and Ha. ins. now bef. any. F. eny. 26. F. caste. Sh. Ha. sleen; F. slee. 27. F. folke redelesse. 30. F. dede. 31. F. mony. 32. F. B. omit she; the rest have it. Only Sh. and T. retain so. 33. F. besely. For ever, Ten Brink reads ay. 34. Only Sh. gives this line correctly; so Ha. (but with any for mannes). F. Sith I hadde firste witte or mynde. 35. F. dede. Sh. Ha. that; rest omit. 36. F. there; lustely. 38. F. Bounte. 39. F. beaute; iolyte. 40. F. honeste. 41. F. Wisdome. F. B. estaat; rest estate; Ten Brink rightly supplies and after Estat (sic). F. drede. 43. Ha. hadde; Sh. hade; rest had. F. honde. 44. Sh. Ha. For; rest omit. F. pittee. 45. F. when. F. fonde. 46. Sh. wolden; F. wolde. 47. F. helpe; helde. Sh. Ha. compleynt; T. cause; rest pleynte or pleynt.

48. F. folke. F. withoute; B. without; Ha. withouten. 49. F. pitee. Ha. may; Sh. ne may; rest ther may. 50. Sh. Ha. þanne leve I alle þees vertues sauf pitee; F.B. Then leve we al vertues save oonly pite; Tn. Ff. T. Then leueall vertues save onely pite. 51. F. Kepynge; herde. 52. F. Cofedered (sic). Sh. alle by bonde of (Ha. om. alle); F. Tn. B. Ff. by bonde and by; T. by bound and. 53. Sh. that; rest when. 54. F. complaynt. 55. F. Foes; Tn. foos. 57. F. highest. 59. F. youre rialle. 60. F. Youre; durst. 61. Sh. whiche he is Inne falle; rest in which he is falle: Thynne has yfal; read y-falle. 62. F. oonly. 64. The MSS. insert that after thus, except Sh. and Ha. Sh. contraire; rest contrary. 65. Sh. ageynst; F. ayenst. 66. F. beaute. 67. The MSS. omit ne. F. shulde. 68. F. bounte. 69. Sh. nowe; which the rest omit. 70. Sh. heghte (for highte); Ha. hight; Tn. is hye; F. B. T. is hygh. F. beaute apertenent. The MSS. (except Sh. and Ha.) insert your after to.

71. F. kyndely; youre. 72. Most MSS. be; Ha. been; read been (and in l. 75). 73. F. verrely; youre. 75. F. beaute. 76. Tn. Ff. Ha. wante; rest want; read wanten. F. these tweyn. 77. F. worlde. For nis, all have is. F. seyn. 78. F. Eke. 79. F. yow. 82. F. Wherfore. 86. F. fordoo. Sh. than; rest omit. 87. F. wete well; rest omit well; Tn. wyte. 88. F. Tn. B. Ff. T. insert euer after that, which Sh. rightly omits. Sh. Ha. shoulde be; rest is falle. 89. Sh. thanne; rest also. F. youre. 90. F. youre. 91. Sh. sechen to; B. sekyn to; Tn. Ff. T. seken; F. speken to (for seken to). 92. Tn. F. B. Ff. herenus; T. heremus; Sh. vertuouse (!). 93. F. yow; tendirly. 94. B. som; F. somme. F. streme. Sh. Ha. youre; which the rest omit. 95. Sh. ay; rest euer. Sh. Ha. om. the. 96. F. sothely. Sh. the hevy sore; Ha. the sore; rest so sore (which gives no sense).

97. F. kunnynge. 98. F. goddis. 100. F. lyke. 101. F. Sh. setteth; Ha. set; rest settith; see note. F. hert. 102. F. Eke. F. sydes; rest side, syde. F. where so; goo. 103. Sh. Ha. we; rest insert my before wo. 104. F. vnsoghte. 105. All omit ne; see note. 107. F. woo. 109. F. wote. Sh. al-þaughe; rest though, thogh. 110. F. B. where; rest whether. 111. All but Sh. and Ha. needlessly insert yet before my. 114. F. soo; rest foo, fo. 115. F. spirite. 116. F. youre; eny. 117. B. yet (sic) be ded; F. Tn. Ff. T. ye be yet ded (which will not scan); Sh. Ha. have a diferent line—Now pitee þat I haue sought so yoore agoo.

III. THE BOOK OF THE DUCHESSE.

Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 — Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems

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