WHan I aduert in my remembraunce

The famous draughtes of poetes eloquent

Whiche theyr myndes dyd well enhaunce

Bokes to contryue that were expedyent

To be remembred without Impedyment

For the profyte of humanyte

This was the custume of antyquyte.

I now symple and moost rude

And naked in depured eloquence

For dulnes rethoryke doth exclude

Wherfore in makynge I lake intellygence

Also consyderynge my grete neglygence

It fereth me sore for to endyte

But at auenture I wyll now wryte.

As very blynde in the poetys art

For I therof can no thynge skyll

Wherfore I lay it all a part

But somwhat accordynge to my wyll

I wyll now wryte for to fulfyll

Saynt Powles wordes and true sentement

All that is wryten is to oure document

O prudent Gower in langage pure

Without corrupcyon moost facundyous

O noble Chauser euer moost sure

Of frutfull sentence ryght delycyous

O vertuous Lydgat moche sentencyous

Vnto you all I do me excuse

Though I your connynge do now vse

IN Septembre in fallynge of the lefe

Whan phebus made his declynacyon

And all the whete gadred was in the shefe

By radyaunt hete and operacyon

Whan the vyrgyn had full domynacyon

And Dyane entred was one degre

Into the sygne of Gemyne

Whan the golden sterres clere were splendent

In the firmament puryfyed clere as crystall

By imperyall course without incombrement

As Iuppyter and Mars that be celestyall

With Saturne and Mercury that wer supernall

Myxt with venus that was not retrograte

That caused me to be well fortunate

In a slombrynge slepe with slouth opprest

As I in my naked bedde was leyd

Thynkynge all nyght to take my rest

Morpleus to me than made abreyd

And in my dreme me thought he sayd

Come walke with me in a medowe amerous

Depeynted with floures that be delycyous

I walked with hym into a place

Where that there grue many a fayre floure

With Ioye replete and full of solace

And the trees dystyllynge redolent lycoure

More sweter fer than the Aprell shour

And tary I dyd there by longe space

Tyll that I saw before my face

A ryght fayre lady of myddell stature

And also enduyd with grete vertue

Her apparell was set with perlys pure

Whose beaute alway dyd renue

To me she sayd and ye wyll extue

All wyldnes I wyll be your guyde

That ye to fraylte shall not slyde.

Vnto her I answerde o lady gloryous

I pray you tell me what is your name

For ye seeme to be ryght precyous

And I am yonge and sore to blame

Of vyces full and in vertue lame

But I wyll be ruled now by your pleasure

So that your order be made by mesure

Eclepyd I am she sayd dyscrecyon

And yf ye wyll be ruled by me

Ye shall haue Ioye without reprehencyon

And neuer fall in to fragylyte

Youth lackynge me it is grete pyte

For in what place I am exyled

They be with synne ryght oft defyled

It longeth euer vnto my properte

Youth to gyue courage for to lerne

I wyll not medle with no duplycyte

But faythfulnes I wyll dyscerne

And brynge thy soule to blesse eterne

By wyse example and morall doctryne

For youth hauynge to me is a good syne

Forsake also all euyll company

And be founde true in worde and dede

Remembre that this worlde is transytory

After thy desert shall be thy mede

Loue god alway and eke hym drede

And for no mannes pleasure be thyn owne foo

Gyue theym fayre wordes and lete theym goo

Be to thy kynge euer true subgete

As thou sholdest be by ryght and reason

Lete thy herte lowely on hym be sete

Without ony spot of euyll treason

And be obedyent at euery season

Vnto his grace without rebellyon

That thou with trouth may be companyon

Loue neuer vnloued for that is payne

Whyle that thou lyuest of that beware

Loue as thou seest the loued agayne

Or elles it wyll torne the to care

Be neuer taken in that fast snare

Proue or thou loue that is moost sure

And than thou in doubte shalt not endure.

Beware byleue no flaterynge tonge

For flaterers be moost disseyuable

Though that they company with the longe

Yet at the ende they wyll be varyable

For they by reason are not fauorable

But euermore fals and double

And with theyr tonges cause of grete trouble

This brytell worlde ay full of bytternes

Alway turnynge lyke to a ball

No man in it can haue no sykernes

For whan he clymmeth he hath a fall

O wauerynge shadowe bytter as gall

O fatall welth full soone at ende

Though thou ryght hy do oft assende

Whan she to me had made relacyon

Of all these prouerbes by good conclusyon

She gaue to me an Informacyon

For to depryue all yll abusyon

And to consydre the grete derysyon

Whiche is in youth that may not se

No thynge appropred to his prosperyte

Forth than we went to an hauen syde

Wher was a shyp lyenge at rode

Taryenge after the wynde and tyde

And with moche spyces ryght well lode

Vpon it lokynge we longe abode

Tyll eolus with blastes began to rore

Than we her aborded with payne ryght sore

This water eclyped was vayneglory

Euer with yeopardy and tempestyous

And the shyp called was ryght truly

The vessell of the passage daungerous

The wawys were hyghe and gretly troublous

The captayn called was good comfort

And the sterysman fayre pasport

LOnge were we dryuen with wynde & weder

Tyll we arryued in a fayre Ilonde

Wher was a boote tyed with a teeder

Of merueylous wood as I vnderstonde

Precyous stones ley vpon the sond

And poynted dyamondes grewe on the rockes

And corall also by ryght hyghe stockes

Amased I was for to beholde

The precyous stones vnder my fete

And the erth glysterynge of golde

With floures fayre of odour swete

Dame dyscrecyon I dyd than grete

Praynge her to me to make relacyon

Who of this Ilonde hath domynacyon

She sayd foure ladyes in vertue excellent

Of whiche the eldest is dame nature

That dayly fourmeth after her entent

Euery beest and lyuynge creature

Both foule and fayre and also pure

All that dependynge in her ordynaunce

Where that she fauoureth there is grete pleasaunce

The seconde is called dame fortune

Ayenst whome can be no resystence

For she doth sette the strynges in tune

Of euery persone by her magnyfycence

Whan they sound best by good experyence

She wyll theym loose and let theym slyp

Causynge theym fall by her turnynge tryp

The thyrde called is dame hardynes

That often rulyth by her cheualry

She is ryght stowt and of grete prowes

And the captayn of a lusty company

And ruleth theym euer full hardely

And to gete honour and worldely tresure

She putteth her oft in auenture

¶ The fourth is wysedome a lady bryght

Whiche is my syster as ye shall se

Whom I do loue with all my myght

For she enclyneth euer to benygnyte

And medeleth not with fraude nor subtylyte

But maketh many noble clerkes

And ruleth theym in all theyr werkes

¶ They dwell all in a fayre castell

Besyde a ryuer moche depe and clere

And be expert in feytys manuell

That vnto theym can be no peere

Of erthely persone that lyueth here

For they be so fayre and wounderous

That theym to se it is solacyous.

¶ Longe haue they trauerst gretly in the lawe

Whiche of theym sholde haue the preemynence

And none of them theyr case wyll withdrawe

Tyll of dame Iustyce they knowe the sentence

They argue often and make defence

Eche vnto other withouten remedy

I wyll no lenger of them specefy

COme on fayre youth and go with me

Vnto that place that is delectable

Bylded with towres of curyosyte

And yet though that ye be lamentable

Whan thou art there you wylt be confortable

To se the merueyles that there be wrought

No man can prynt it in his thought

A path we founde ryght gretely vsed

Where in we went tyll at the last

A castell I sawe wherof I mused

Not fully from me a stones cast

To se the towres I was agast

Set in a valey so strongely fortefyed

So gentyll compassed and well edefyed

The towres were hyghe of adamond stones

With fanes wauerynge in the wynde

Of ryght fyne golde made for the noonys

And roobuckes ran vnder the lynde

And hunters came theym fer behynde

A Ioye it was suche sawe I neuer

Abyde quod she ye shall se a better.

Forth she me ledde to the castell warde

Where we were let in by humylyte

And so after she lede me forwarde

Tyll that I sawe a royall tre

With buddys blossomed of grete beaute

And than we wente in to the hall

That glased was truely with crystall

And hanged was with clothes of Aras

Made of fyne golde with a noble story

How that there some tyme reynynge was

In the regyon of hyghe Italy

A valyaunt emperour and a myghty

That had to name forsothe Tyberius

Whiche dyde enquere of prudent Iosethus

¶ Why he his offycers so longe kepte

Vnto hym he answered a good cause why

Somtyme I sawe a man that slepte

That wounded was full pyteously

And on his woundes suckynge many a fly

I than for pyte moued theym away

By whiche he woke and to me dyde say

¶ Wher that thou trowed to me comfort

Thou now hast done me double greuaunce

Puttynge away the flyes that dyde resorte

To me beynge full of blody sustynaunce

By this thou mayst haue good perseueraunce

That now wyll come the flyes moost hungry

That wyll me byte .x. tymes more greuously

¶ The roof was wrought by merueylous gemetry

Colered with asure gold and gowlys

With knottes coruen full ryght craftely

And set also with wanton fowlys

As popyniays / pyes / Iays / and owlys

And as I loked on my ryght syde

A lady I sawe of meruellous pryde

¶ Syttynge in a chayer at the vpper ende

Of all the hall as a lady and prynces

Amonge many kynges that dyde entende

To be obedyent to her hyghe noblenes

Her apparell was made of moche fayre ryches

Set with rubyes moost pure and rubicound

Embrawded with perles and many a dyamound

Besydes her sate the worthyes nyne

And she amonge theym a whele turnynge

Full lowe to her they dyd than enclyne

She somtyme laughynge and somtyme lowrynge

Her condycyon was to be dyssymelynge

And many exalten vpon her whele

Gyuynge theym grete falles that they dyd fele

Than sayd dyscrecyon beholde and see

That in dame fortune is no stablenes

This worlde also is but a vanyte

A dreme a pompe nothynge in stedfastnes

For fortune is fals and full of doblenes

Whan she moost flatereth she is not sure

As thou mayst se dayly in vre

FOrth than we went vnto the habytacle

Of dame hardynes moost pure and fayre

Aboue all places a ryght fayre spectacle

Strowyd with floures that gaue good eyer

Of vertuous turkeys there was a cheyr

Wherin she sate in her cote armure

Berynge a shelde the felde of asure

Wherin was sette a rampynge lyon

Of fyne golde ryght large and grete

A swerd she had of merueylous fassyon

As though a thousand she sholde bete

No man the vyctory of her myght gete

A noble vyrgyn there dyde her serue

That fyrst made harnes called Mynerue

The chaumbre where she held her consystory

The dewe aromatyke dyde oft degoute

Of fragraunt floures full of delycasy

That all yll heyres dyde ensence oute

A carbuncle there was that all aboute

Enlumyned the chaumbre both day and nyght

My thought it was an heuenly syght

Nyne quenes I sawe that satte her by

Beynge all armed of grete fortytude

In many a stower they wanne the vyctory

And were endued with facounde pulcrytude

For to haunte armes was theyr consuetude

Many a regyon they often wanne

And also vaynquysshed many a noble man

Nexte vnto her sate the hyghe quene AziaB

That was a conqueres so puyssaunt

And besyde her the quene of Saba

Whiche in grete ryches was tryumphaunt

And also Ipolyte in armes valyaunt

Sate with her besyde quene Hecuba

And yet also the quene Europa

Present ther was the wiche quene Iuno

And quene Pantasyll wyth fayre quene Elyn

And yet I sawe by her than also

The noble vyrgyn yonge Polyxyn

That was destroyed at the last ruyn

Of Troye the grete by cruell Pyrrus

The sone of Achylles that was so cheualrus

As I dyd loke I had commaundement

Of dame dyscrecyon for to remembre

These noble ladyes so pure and excellent

Hardy in corage of age ryght tendre

Yet not withstandynge deth dyde surrendre

And all theyr strength and lusty corage

For he spareth nother youth ne age

FOrth we walked to the dwellynge place

Of dame sapyence so full of blys

Replete with Ioye vertu and grace

No thynge there lacked that possyble is

Man for to comfort withouten mys

Though he were derke in wordely foly

He sholde there b enlumyned shortely

Her towre was made of werkes curyous

I can no thynge extende the goodlynes

Of her palays so good and gloryous

Bylded in the place soth of fastnes

With owten tast of wordely bytternes

No persone can extoll the souerente

Of her worthy and royall dygnyte

She eche estate sholde haue in gouernaunce

As theym to rule or that they repent

For better it is to haue good puruyaunce

At the begynnynge as is expedyent

Than for to wyssh for thynges myspent

That myght be saued longe afore

And with a for wytte kepte in store

Her chaumbre was glased with byrall clarefyed

Depeynted with colours of delectacyon

A place of pleasure so heuenly gloryfyed

In vertue heale lyfe and saluacyon

Without ony stormy trybulacyon

That myght anoy the heuenly helth

But alway comfort to the sowlys welth

There sate dame prudence in vertue magnyfyed

Impossyble it is to shewe her goodelyhed

She was so fayre and clerely puryfyed

And so dyscrete and full of womanhede

That and I trowe vertue were deed

It sholde reuyue yet in her agayne

She was so gentyll and without dysdeyn

It was grete comfort vnto my hert

For to beholde that heuenly syght

Dyscrecyon sayd I sholde not depert

Tyll I had spoken with her syster bryght

Forth she me ledde with all her myght

Vnto that prynces and royall souerayn

Ergo my labour was not in vayn

Than spake dame prudence with meke contenaũce

Welcome dyscrecyon my syster dere

Where haue ye ben by longe contynuaunce

Wyth youth she sayd that ye se here

And for my sake I you requere

Hym to receyue in to your seruyse

And he shall serue you in goodely wyse

Welcome she sayd for my systers sake

And yet also now for your owne

In to my seruyce I wyll you take

Sythens that your wyldnes is ouerblowen

The sede of vertu on you shall be sowen

Vyce to depryue by his good auctoryte

As for to subdue all yll iniquyte

Of other mennes wordes be thou not bolde

And of theyr promys make no behest

And yf thou here an yll tale tolde

Gyue no iugement but say the best

So shall thou lyue euermore in rest

Who lytell medeleth is best at ease

For well were he that all myght please

Beware kepe the from grete offence

That thou condempned be not by ryghtwysnes

Whan she doth gyue her mortall sentence

Without pease or mercy cause her reles

Her iugement of mortall heuynes

That the best frende to the wyll be

The for to socour in grete necessyte

But yet in theym haue none affyaunce

As fyrst to synne thynkynge that they

At the ende to the wyll be delyueraunce

Nay ryghtwysnes wyll dryue theym away

For of all synnes without delay

Suche synne in hope it is the moost

For it is the synne of the holy ghoost

Now I amytte you into your rome

In the whiche ye shall your selfe apply

Of myn owne chaumbre ye shall be grome

Loke ye be dylygent and do not vary

From my cõmaundementes neuer specyally

For and ye wyll theym well obserue

A moche better rome ye do deserue

The fyrst cõmaundement that I gyue the

Thynke on the ende or thou begynne

For thou by ryght may knowe the certente

That deth is fyne of euery synne

Be neuer taken in dyabolycall engyne

But that repentaunce may loose the sone

Of that grete synne that thou hast done

Trust not to moche in fortunes grace

Though that she laugh on the a whyle

For she can sodenly turne her face

Whan that she lyst the to begyle

She welth and Ioye can sone defyle

And plonge the in the pyte of pouerte

Wherfore in her haue thou no suertye

Presume no ferther than the behoueth

For it wyll turne the to grete shame

For who that from his rome remoueth

He is often full gretely to blame

And medeleth with other in theym lame

As no thynge connynge nor expert

They may hym say syr malapert

Or that thou speke call to remembraunce

Vnto what mater thy worde shall sygnyfye

Loke that it torne no man to greuaunce

Though that it be spoken merely

Yet many a one wyll take it greuously

Whiche that myght cause wroth and debate

Whyle that thou lyues beware of that

For a thynge lost without recouer

Loke that thou neuer be to pensyfe

Thanke god of it thynke to haue an other

Lete wysedome than be to the comfortyfe

That to thy brayn is best preseruatyfe

For euermore ryght wyse is he

That can be pacyent in aduersyte

Proue thy frende in a mater fayned

Or thou haue nede than shalt thou se

Whyther he be iustly with the reteyned

The for to socour in thy necessyte

By profe thou mayst knowe the veryte

For profe afore that nede requere

Defeteth dowte euer in fere

Be thou neuer so blynde in wylle

Yet loke thou be refourmed by reason

Than shalt thou my mynde fulfyll

And thou therto thy selfe abandon

Stryue not with reason for none encheson

For wher she lacketh ther is grete outrage

And without her may not aswage

Eschew also the synne of pryde

The moder and the feruent rote

Of all the synnes at euery tyde

Wherfore trede thou her vnder fote

With helpe of vertue so swete and sote

Whiche is best salue to hele thy sore

And to thy helth the to restore

Wo worth synne without repentaunce

Wo worth bondage without reles

Wo worth man without good gouernaunce

Wo worth infynall payne and dystresse

Wo worth vyce put fer in presse

Wo worth soueraynte hauynge dysdeyn

And wo worth pyte that doth refrayn

Wo worth ryght that may not be herd

Wo worth frendshyp without stabylyte

Wo worth true sentence that is deferd

Wo worth the man full of duplycyte

Wo worth hym without benygnyte

Wo worth lybertye withouten pease

And wo worth crueltye that may not cease

Wo worth connynge that is abused

Wo worth promys withouten payment

Wo worth vertue that is refused

Wo worth trouble without extynguysment

Wo worth foly on message sent

Wo worth reason that is exyled

And wo worth trouth that is defyled

Wo worth the trust without assuraunce

Wo worth grace not sette by

Wo worth Iustyce kepte in dystaunce

Wo worth welth replete with enuy

Wo worth the batayll without vyctory

Wo worth begynnynge without good ende

And wo worth wronge that doth defende

These commaundementes I put in memory

Theym for to kepe doynge my dylygence

With dame Sapyence I dyd longe tary

Whiche dyd me teche with partynge influence

Of her delycate and doulcete complacence

Than spake dyscrecyon anone to me

In the presens of her systers mageste

Thou art beholdynge to my syster reuerent

That the reteyned hath vnto her seruaunt

Wherfore be thou to her obedyent

And at euery houre to her attendaunt

And ryotous company do thou not haunt

For that wyll payre and yll thy name

Wherfore of vertuous myrth let be thy game

DIscrecyon ferther forth me lede

Vnto the solempne and royall mancyon

Of dame nature in humayne stede

Ryght pleasaunt was her habytacyon

Of merueylous werke and sytuacyon

And she her selfe helde her estate

In a gloryous chaumbre without chekmate

Her towre was gylted full of sonne bemys

And within hanged with cloth of aras

The roof was paynted with golden stremys

And lyke crystall depured was

Euery wyndowe aboute of glas

Where that she sat as a fayre goddes

All thynges creatynge by her besynes

Me thought she was of merueylous beaute

Tyll that Dyscrecyon lede me behynde

Where that I sawe all the pryuyte

Of her werke and humayne kynde

And at her backe I dyd than fynde

Of cruell deth a dolfull ymage

That all her beaute dyd perswage

Full wonderous was her operacyon

In euery kynde eke and ryght degre

Withouten rest or recreacyon

I wyll not medle with her secrete

For it no thynge longeth to my faculte

But somwhat after I wyll expres

Of her grete power and worthynes

But in my boke well for to procede

Dame dyscrecyon ferther me brought

Into a fayre chambre as ye may rede

Of fyne gemetry ryght well wrought

To comfort man there lacked nought

But that me thought there was no company

Saue onely dame dyscrecyon and I

We had ben but a lytell whyle there

But that we sawe a lady clere

Ryght well appareled in sad gere

Mylde in her hauour dyscrete of chere

That came vs by and very nere

Ascendynge vp in to her hyghe sete

Garnysshed with perle and with gold bete

Than sayd dyscrecyon this is dame Iustyce

Clene of conscyence without corrupcyon

And neuer be spotted with the synne of couetyse

But true as stele in the entencyon

Of ryght euermore without destruccyon

Geuynge alway a ryghtfull iugement

Obey thou youth this lady reuerent

A iuge fulfylled with the synne of auaryce

Or with fauour of kynne made blynd

Must nedys do wronge by grete p^reiudyce

For fauour shold not conscyence bynd

Ryght to dyssymyll as I now fynd

In problemys wryten of antiquyte

Made by phylosophers of auctoryte

As we stode talkynge thus to gydere

Vp came dame fortune so gayly gloryfyed

Impossyble it is for me to dyscouere

How gorges she was & gretly magnyfyed

Full lyke a goddes that had ben deyfyd

Clothed with gold sette full of rubyes

And tynst w^t emeraudys & many a turkes

And next to her there dyd ensue

Dame Hardynes that noble lady

After whome anone dyd pursue

Dame Sapyence whiche dyd not tary

Than came dame nature appareled royally

And all the other cladde in gold

Set with dyamondes many a fold

They lowted all vnto the ground

Afore dame Iustyce for obeysaunce

That sate there both hole and sound

Withouten ony dyscontynuaunce

Gyuynge god ere vnto the vteraunce

Of these foure ladyes pledynge at barre

With all theyr cases dyd well avarre

FYrst dame hardynes began to plede

Saynge she was to man moost profytable

For she the hertes hath often fede

Of conquerous as it was couenable

And by my corage haue made theym able

Regyons to wynne theyr ennemyes to subdue

And yf I were not they had it rue

And yf a man be neuer so wyse

Withouten me he getyth none vteraunce

Wherfore his wysedome may not suffyse

All onely without myn allegeaunce

For I by ryght must nedys enhaunce

A lowe born man to an hyghe degre

Yf that he wyll be ruled by me

Haue I not caused many a noble warreour

To wynne the batell by my grete myght

Without me was made neuer conquerour

Nor yet man coragious whan he dyd fyght

No man without me may defende his ryght

I may be worst from hym forborne

For and I were not he were forlorne

Dyd I not cause the noble hercules

By my power to wynne the vyctory

Of the sturdy and stronge Philotes

As is recorded in bokes of memory

For without me can be no cheualry

And vnder the wynge of my proteccyon

All rebels brought be to subieccyon

A realme is vpholden by thynges thre

The fyrst and the chyef it is the swerd

Whiche causeth it to be in good suerte

And other realmes of it to be aferd

By whiche the vsurpers be dyfferd

From theyr wyll with treason knyte

And by me slayn for theyr fals fyte

The seconde is lawe that euer serueth

But within the realme onely

For other nacyons our lawe ne dredeth

But our swerd they do in specyally

For and they roose ayenst vs proudly

As they haue done often in tymes past

Yet w^t our swerd they shold be ouercast

The thyrde be marchauntes that do multyply

In this realme welth and prosperyte

For of euery thynge they often occupy

Euery man lyke vnto his faculte

For without marchauntes can not be

No realme vpholden in welth & pleasure

For it to vs is a specyall tresure

Also yet hercules the puyssaunt geaunt

Dyd slee the monstre afore Troy the grete

And with his strokes he dyd hym daunt

They were so peysantly on hym sette

That he the vyctory on hym dyd gette

Had I not be comfort vnto his harte

Suche vyctory had ben leyd aparte

Dyd he not vaynquysshe in y^e forest of Nemee

The thre mortall lyons by his grete hardynes

And ryued theyr Iawes as was to se

By twene his handes by chyualrus prowes

And yet by armes and knyghtly exces

In egypt he slewe the tyraunt Busyre

And brent hym after in a grete fyre

Also he slewe the tyraunt Cacus

For his tyranny and grete myschefe

By cause his dedys were so odyous

For he dyd murdre and was a thefe

Wherfore his deth to many was leef

Who more of his actes wyll haue report

To the Troyans story lette hym resort

Also the worthy and the noble hectour

That eclyped was the troyans champyon

And of all cheualry called the flour

In his tyme reynynge and of renowne

Of whose noble dedes the brute and sowne

Was spred by euery straunge habytacyon

That they of his faytys dyde make relacyon

By his power and hardy corage

He put the grekes full often to flyght

And bete theym downe by a grete outrage

That well was he that hym saue myght

Full often he brought theym to the plyght

His dedes were pure without magycyon

And without nygromancy or suche corrupcyon

Dyd I not cause also kynge dauith

A lyon Iawbones to rent and tere

That dyd deuour his shepe in the fryth

As he sat kepynge of theym there

The lyons crueltye myght not hym fere

And he in his youth so hardy was

That he dyd sle the gyaunt Golias

Dyd I not cause the noble Iulius

Emperour of rome for to be electe

By cause he was so stronge and cheualrus

Whan in armes he knewe the affecte

He all his ennemyes dyd abiecte

And by the support of my chyef socour

He gouerned hymselfe lyke a noble emperour

And also Arthur kynge of Bretayne

With all the knyghtes of the rounde table

Neuer auentures had sought certayne

And I therto had not ben greable

They for to fyght had not ben able

Who that me lacketh is but a coward

And shame is euer his rewarde

Also kynge Charlemayne kynge of Fraunce

With his dyssypers Rowland and Olyuer

With all the resydue of his alyaunce

That in all armes so noble were

On goddys ennemyes brake many a spere

Causynge them to flee to theyr grete vylony

Hardynes was cause that they had vyctory

O worthy hardynes the shynynge sterre

Alway to mannys herte the comfort

Whan that it is the tyme of werre

Vnto what partye that thou resort

They wynne the batall by thy support

And wher that thou lettest thy bemys dyssende

They often hye to honoure assende

Than sayd dame hardynes vnto the Iuge

I pray you that ryght I may haue

Sythens I to man am chyef refuge

Whan that he lysteth of me to craue

I make hym coragyous and his worshyp saue

Wherfore I owte to haue the preemynence

By ryght reason and good experyence

That I deny you sayd dame Sapyence

Of whom haue you your ordre of pledynge

For ye neuer can haue none intellygence

But by the meane of myn informynge

For I am alway your mynde techynge

And without me your tale were but a fable

For ye without wytte sholde alway bable

This wyll I proue by myn opynyon

That I am grounde of the artes seuen

And of all good werkes in cõmunyon

For no man without me can go to heuen

My dedys be merueylous for man to neuen

Whan they beu wrought in to theyr degre

Who that wyll lerne theym he hath the lyberte

Of my dedes bokes do make recorde

The whiche clerkes put into remembraunce

For an example without dyscorde

Of heuenly way by vertuous gouernaunce

Without me man can haue no pleasaunce

Nor yet hym rule in no maner wyse

A man without wytte is to dyspyse

Hardynes without prudence may not auayle

Though that a man be neuer so sturdy

For a wyseman feble may wynne the batayle

Of hym that is ryght stronge and myghty

For better it is for to be ryght wytty

In the defence of his good saue garde

Than often to stryke and to renne forwarde

That thynge that hardynes may not wynne

May be goten by my hyghe souerente

And with the helpe of subtyle engynne

It may be brought to the extremyte

Wher that it myght not by possybylyte

Of hardynes longe afore be wonne

Yet by grete wysedome it may be donne

Vnto dyuers cases I take excepcyon

Of dame Hardynes whiche are no lawe

Vnto the fyrst vndre your correccyon

She sayd and she her power dyd wythdrawe

No rebell than shold stand in awe

And she is the chyef as I knowe well

That causeth hym for to be rebell

By her foly and folysshe hardynes

She causeth men to ryse ayenst theyr lorde

She is the cause of mortall heuynes

Whan she doth breke the good concorde

Wherfore me thynke by one accorde

For to exyle her it is now the best

Than man sholde lyue in peas and rest

And where she sayd that she exalted

Iulius cesar by her grete exylence

In that case she ryght clerely varyed

For it was I by my grete dylygence

That neuer was out of his presence

But ruled hym and made hym worthy

To be chosen emperour of all Italy

Chosen he was by the comyn assent

For the grete wysedome that in hym shone

With a grete voyce and a hole entente

For lyke vnto hym was there none

That was so abell as he alone

For to occupye an Emperours dygnyte

Of his promocyon he myght thanke me

I Sapyence am endewed with grace

And the lode sterre of heuenly doctryne

The sprynge of comfort Ioye and solace

Who that lyst to me for to enclyne

He shall knowe thynges that be dyuyne

And at his ende beholde the deyte

That is one god and persones thre

It pleased the fader that is omnipotent

His sone to send to be incarnat

Of the vyrgyn Mary the sterre moost excellent

Mayden and moder yet not vyolate

Lyke a vessell chosen and made ornat

All onely for to be goddys moder

And he hym selfe vnto man broder

But a stryfe there was bytwene god and man

Whan man consented to synne dedely

By that the dyscorde fyrst began

Whan he the sone of god on hy

That is his brother agayn wyll crucefy

Yf he had power by whiche is offended

The fader of heuen as is entended

Therfore lete vs to our brother go

Named Ihesu Cryst and axe hym mercy

With a good entent and hert also

There is for vs none other remedy

That ony tonge truely can specyfy

And he wyll take it for a correccyon

And of all vengeaunce sease the affeccyon

That we may of hym haue forgyuenes

Of our grete synne with reformacyon

Of peas bytwene the faders hyghenes

Of heuen and vs in suspyracyon

Therfore yf thou drede the amocyon

Of his ryghtwysnes loke that thou flee

Ryght fast vnto his mercyfull pyte

For his mercy is more than all our mysery

And eke aboue his werkes all

As Dauyd sheweth in his prophecy

Saynge his mercy is ouer all

To whom I pray euer in especyall

To gyue me grace well my penne to lede

That quaketh aye for drede

Dame Sapyence sayd I do procede

Of the strength of the holy ghoost

That is and shall be mater in dede

God and lorde of myghtys moost

Whose infynall power was neuer lost

And yet neuer had no begynnynge

But alway lyke stronge without endynge

Where that dame hardynes in her pledynge

Made her selfe to knyghtes moost necessary

By the meanes of her power shewynge

That I by ryght do now well deny

For in that case she dyd moche vary

For syxe there are that more profyte be

Of whiche the lest is better than she

The fyrst is prudence that is the chefe

That hym doth rule and is his gyde

And kepeth hym from grete reprefe

And causeth his worshyp for to abyde

So euery crysten man shold prouyde

By his wit to withstand the deuyll

That he consent not to do euyll

The seconde is that he sholde be true

To his souerayn lorde that on hym reyneth

And all treason for euer to eschewe

In whiche grete shame often remayneth

And by whiche he hizB kỹge dysteyneth

So a crysten man sholde be true euer

To Ihesu Cryst that was his redemer

The thyrde is that he sholde be lyberall

Amonge his cõmons withouten lette

That is the cause euer in generall

That he the loue of theym doth gette

For it causeth theyr hertes on hym be sette

So euery true crysten man sholde be

To god intended with lyberalyte

The fourth is that he sholde be stronge

His ryght euer for to defende

And neuer to no man for to do wronge

But wronges for to dyrecte and amende

As ferre as his power wyll extende

So a true crysten man sholde exclude

All maner of vyces by his fortytude

The fyfth is y^t he sholde be mercyable

In all his dedes withouten furoure

For that to hym is gretly conuenable

And eke to kepe hym out of erroure

For he of mercy sholde be a myrroure

So vnto them it is ryght necessary

Who that wyll be saued for to haue mercy

The syxte is a knyght ought for to kepe

The poore folke in theyr grete nede

That often for hungre and thyrst do wepe

He ought with almes theym for to fede

And the better he shall than spede

So euery true crysten man sholde do

As ferre as his power cometh vnto

I Sapyence am of the kynges counsayll

Whiche is clothed with purple that sygnyfyeth

The grace and the pulcrytude without fayll

Of grete vertues that in hym shyneth

For to no vyces he neuer enclyneth

Hauynge in his hede a fayre crowne royall

That sheweth his dygnyte to be regall

Whiche to his people is the chefe glory

Thrugh whome his subgectes be dyrecte

And made obedyent to hym certaynly

At euery houre by ryght true effecte

But forthermore by good aspecte

He bereth a ball in his lefte hande

The whiche betokeneth as I vnderstande

A kynge to be a good admynystratour

Vnto his subgectes in euery place

And to be for theym a good prouysour

As reason requyreth in euery case

I Sapyence do rule his noble grace

In his ryght hand he hath a septure

That doth sygnyfye by ryght his rygoure

Yll men to punysshe for theyr offence

By his ryghtwysnes whome the loue

Of vertue shynynge in experyence

Doth not extoll nor yet now remoue

A lampe doth hange his heed aboue

Alway lyght and clerely brennynge

Whiche sygnyfyeth the mercy of a kynge

The olde philosophers by theyr prudence

Fonde the seuen scyences lyberall

And by theyr exercyse & grete dylygence

They made theyr dedes to be memoryall

And also poetes that were fatall

Craftely colored with clowdy fygures

The true sentence of all theyr scryptures

O Iustyce lady and souerayne goddesse

Gyue you true sentence now vpon me

As ye be surmountynge in vertue & noblesse

Lete me dame Sapyence haue the soueraynte

As is accordynge to my royall dygnyte

For I am moost profytable vnto man

And euer had ben syns the world began

Than sayd dame Fortune ye are imperfyte

Without that I therto be accordaunt

For all your hardynes & prudence perfyte

I vnto you must be well exuberaunt

And with your werkes euer concordaunt

Where that I fauer they haue good cõfort

In all theyr dedes by my swete resort

I Fortune am the rule and steere

Of euery persone lyke to my wyll

That in this worlde now lyueth here

Whan that I lyst for to fulfyll

My mynde ryght sone I can dystyll

The dewe of comfort welth and rychesse

To man exaltynge hym to noblenesse

Though that a man were neuer so hardy

Without me he myght not attayne

And though that a man were neuer so wytty

And I dyd my power from hym refrayne

All his labour were lost in vayne

So hardynesse and prudence in no wyse

Without good fortune may well suffyse

Though that a man were but a fole

Yf I consent that he be fortunate

He nedyth not to make no grete dole

For I shall mayntene so his estate

That he in rychesse shall be so eleuate

Fulfylled with welth & worldely tresure

That he shall lacke no maner of pleasure

Where that dame hardynes wold afferme

By her cases that are so vnsure

That she by her power doth conferme

The knyghtes of vyctory for to be sure

Whan she doth take theyr hertes in cure

Yf fortune be awaye she may not auayle

For they by reason must lose the batayle

Yet forthermore as I do well consyder

How dame hardynes dyd expresse

Sythens the tyme that I came hyder

That she promoted had to worthynes

Hector dauid and the noble hercules

With many other wherof she fayleth

For it was fortune as she well knoweth

For in olde tyme the noble warryours

For to eschewe euer my grete daungere

In whiche tyme they were ydolestours

Than they to put hym oute of fere

To ydols went that theyr goddes were

For to haue answer yf they sholde wynne

The batayll or they dyd begynne

What nede I pleed by longe contynuaunce

As dame Sapyence dyd in maters hy

It were of tyme but dyscontynuaunce

But o dame Iustyce the gentyll lady

Loke that ye Iuge my mater ryght wysely

That I of hardynes may be the pryncypall

And of dame prudence & nature with all

Than sayd dame nature that may not be

As I can proue by ryght and reason

For I am moost confort to humanyte

As man well knoweth at euery encheason

And can not be forborne for none season

For where I lacke without ony delay

Man is but dede and turned to clay

That nature gyueth by her power

Wysedome nor hardynes may not defete

For I to man am the chefe doer

Durynge his lyfe without retrete

Also dame fortune may not well lete

Me of my course though she it thought

In sondery wyse my dedes are so wrought

Though that a man were infortunable

And though that he were neuer so folysshe

And a grete coward to fyght not able

Yet shulde he lyue and neuer perysshe

Tyll that my power of hym doth fynysshe

Whiche fayle must ones it is my proprete

And that was gyuen me by the deyte

I am the orygynall of mannes creacyon

And by me alway the world doth multyply

In welth pleasure and delectacyon

As I wyll shewe now in this party

My dedes be subtyll & wrought craftely

What were the worlde yf I were note

It were sone done as I well wote

The lawe of nature doth man bynde

Both beste foule and fysshe also

In theyr degre to do theyr kynde

Blame theym not yf they do so

For harde it is euer to ouer go

The kynde of nature in her degre

For euery thynge must shewe his proprete

Who of theyr propretes lyst to rede

Lete hym loke in the boke of barthelmewe

And to his scripture take good hede

That ryght nobly of theym do shewe

With all theyr actes beynge not a fewe

But wounderous many by alteracyon

For lyke hath lyke his operacyon

I nature norysshe by myn afflyccyon

Mannes humayne partyes superfyxcyall

And am the sprynge of his complexion

The fonteyne of his vaynes inferyall

To hym conserue moost dere and specyall

Though he were hardy & wyse he myȝtB not me forbere

Nor fortune without me auayleth not hym a pere

Wherfore dame Iustyce be you now indyfferent

Consydre that I am moost dere and lefe

Vnto euery man that is eliquylent

And aboue all medycyns to hym moost chefe

And by my strongh vnto hym relefe

In his dysease wherfore as thynke me

I ought of reason to haue the soueraynte

Than spake dame Iustyce with meke contenaũce

I wyll all your contrauersy now redresse

For I of your reasons haue good perseueraunce

And after your cases both more and lesse

Wherfore I Iustyce by good ryghtwysnesse

Gyue now vpon you a fynall Iugement

That ye foure agree by a hole assent

Man for to please at euery houre

Without dysgrement or contradiccyon

And in his nede to do hym socoure

With louynge herte and true affeccyon

He shall be in your good iurysdyccyon

And you of hym shall be copertyners

Both of his lyfe and of his maners

Than sayd dame hardynes I agre therto

And so do I than sayd dame Sapyence

Than sayd dame Fortune I also do

Agre vnto dame Iustyce sentence

And I dame Nature wyll do my dylygence

Lyke as ye do man for to please

And hym to strength in his dysease

With that dame Iustyce vp arose

Vnto the ladyes byddynge fare well

And went into her chaumbre close

I cleped conscyence wher she dyd dwell

As dame Dyscrecyon dyd me tell

Than hardynes & fortune went downe the stayre

And after theym Nature so clere and fayre