85ra
F or the mede of mi seruise
T ac me þi sone to loke and lore
O f mi seruise kep i nammore
A nd i þe wille þonke conne
A nd al þe clergie vnder sonne
I ich wille in to his bodi di3t
B oþe bi dai and bi ni3t
D ioclecian þe maistres herde
He strok his berd and schok his 3erde
A nd on hem made milde chere
A nd spak that hi alle mi3te ihere
Þ onke i 3ou kan gode lordingges,
O f 3oure gentil anserungges
I kan 3ou thonke of 3oure speche
Þ at 3e desire mi sone to teche
3 oure compaignie is fair and gent
N el ich hit departe verraiment
H e tok his sone bi þe hond a non
A n bitau3te him to hem euerichon
Þ ai vnderfongen him wi3 cher blithe
A nd þonged him a þousand sithe
Þ e seuen wise wi3 gret glorie
Þat child ladde to consistorie
Þat is a stede wi3 inne Rome
Þ er men make3 wise dome
Þ is seuen wise men in boke
H ere conseil þere to gider toke
Þat he scholde nowt in Rome bilaue
F or Burgeis maiden oþer knaue
M i3te him in som riot sette
Þ at al his lore he scholde lette
Þ er þai toke to gideres alle
Þ ai wolde make a riche halle
W i3outen Rome in on verger
A mile þennes bi o riue
T iber hit hatte wi3 outen dout
A mile long al about
A lle tres þer inne were
Þ at ani frut an erthe bere
A mideward þai foniden a space
A n euen and a grene place
Þ er inne þai set an halle anon
B oþe of lim and of ston
Q uaire hit was wi3 chaumbres seuene
85rb
W as non fairer in to heuen
Þ e halle was a midewerd
Þ e fairest of þis midelerd
Þ er inne was paint of donet þre pars
A nd eke alle þe seuen ars ·
Þ e firste was grammarie
M usike and astronomie
G eometrie and ars mutike
R ectorike and ek fisike
Þ e segh was in þe halle
Þ e ars to bihelden alle
W han a maister him let anoþer him tok
H e was euer vpon his bok
A nd to his lore tok gret kepe
B ut whan he ete oþer he slepe
Þ e fer3e 3er hit was no doute
W i3 his maister he gan to despout
Þ e fifte 3e he gan argument
O f þe sterre and of þe firmament
Þ ei wolde proue in þe sexte 3er
3 if he ware wis and wer
L eues þai tok sextene
O f Iuy þat were grene
V nder ech stapel of his bed
Þ at he niste four þai hid
Þ e child 3ede to bedde a ni3t
A nd ros arliche amorewen apli3t
H ise maistres him bifore stode
O pen hefd wi3 outen hode
Þ e child lokede here & tar
V p and doun and eueri whar
H ise miastres askede wat him was
P ar fai he seide a ferli cas
O þer ich am of wine dronke
O þer þe firmament is isonke
O þer were is þe grounde
Þ e þiknes of four leues rounde
S o muche to ni3t heyer ilai
C ertes þanne 3isterdai
Þ e maistres þo wel vnderstode
H e coude inow of alle gode
Þ e seuende 3er so tok he on
H e passede his maistres euerichon
T o gider þai made gret solas
85va
A c sone hem fil aferli cas
D ioclesian þat was in rome
A riche man and wis of dome
H ise barons comen to him on a dai
A nd sire par nostre fai
3 e libbe3 an a lenge lif
3 e scholde take a gentil wif
Þ at 3ou mit som solas do
A nd bie3eten children mo
I now 3e habben of werldes won
T o make hem riche euerichon
Þ emperour was wel ipaied
W i3 þat þe ?????? had seid
S one he let him puruai
A n emperice of gret noblai
H e went him self and sent his sond
W ide what in to fele lond
F ort þat þai ani founde
A dammeisele of gret mounde
Þ ai brouwte here to fore þemperour
H e segh sche was of feir colour
H e wot sche was of heg3 parage
A non þai asked þe mariage
Þ ai weren iwedded bi commoun dome
A non in þe gise of Rome
A nd louede hem þourg alle þing
H erkne3 nou a selli tiding
Þ in ihid ne þing istole
N e man nowt lenge be for hole
N e þing mai for hole be
B ut godes owen priuete
S om squier or som seriant nice
H ad itold þemperice
A l of þemperoures sone
H ou he wi3 þe maistres wone
A nd hire schildre scolde be bastards
A nd he schal haue al þe wardes
V nder hest and vnder hond
O f þempire and al þe lond
Þ ai couþe sche boþe qued an god
A nd sone sche gan to pekke mod
A nd þoughte so stepmoder doþ
I n to falsenesse torne soþ
A nd brew swich a beuerage
85vb
Þ at scholde florentin bicache
A c mani wene3 oþer to herte
A nd on hem selue falle3 al þe smerte
Þ emperour and his wif
Þat he louede als his lif
I n chaumber to gidere þai sete
G ladliche þai dronke and ete
S ire 3he saide gentil emperour
I þe loue wi3 fin amour
A nd þou nowt me sikeli
S ire ihc wil telle þe whi
S eue 3er hit is þat þou me nome
A nd made me emperice of Rome
Þ i make at bord and at bedde
A nd o þing þou hast fram hedde
Þ ou hast asone to scole itau3t
L at me him se warn me him nau3t
H it is þi sone and þin air
A wis child and afair
Þ i most time þou hast ben kyng
Þ ou drawest fast to þin eding
F ond we sire in Ioie libbe
A nd haue Ioie of oure sibbe
F or þi sone itel mine
A lse wel als tou dost þine
Par auenture hit mai falle so
Þ at neuer ese ne tit vs mo
3 if þou me louest ani wi3t
L et me of him han asi3t
C ertes dame seide þemperour
H it ne schal nowt be long soiour
T o morewe ar vndertide of dai
Þ ou schalt him sen par ma fai
A nd sche seide wi3 chere blithe
B raunt merci sire a þouusend sithe
A morewe þemperour gan rise
And cloþed him in riche gise
M essagers he clepede to
A nd quik þai com to toforn him bo
H e scharged hem wi3 his message
A nd bad hem grete þe seuen sage
A nd seie3 hem wi3 wordes bonair
M i sone þat þai atire fair
A nd brenge him hom in faire manere
86ra
F or ich wil quik of him here
Hou he had sped þis seue 3er
M e þinke3 longe þat ner er
Þ e Messagers a non forht sprong
I not bi waie 3if þai song
T il þai come to þat inne
Þ er þe maistres woned inne
A nd as we finden writen in bok
A iþer oþer be þe hond tok
A nd in þai wente ri3t euene
A nd founde þe maistres alle seuene
D isputend in hire latyn
W i3 þat child florentyn
Þ e Messagers on knew hem sette
A nd þe seuen wise þai grette
I n þemperours bilhelue
A nd þe child be him selue
A nd seide þat emperour het
H ise sone þat þai bringge him sket
T o Rome toun to his presens
3 our trauail and 3oure despens
H e wil aquite for ech a 3er
A fter þat 3he worthi wer
Þ e messagers were wel come
A nd bi þe hond quik ynome
A nd at þe mete tales hem telde
W hat þe sonne gan to helde
H out wente þe maistres seuene
A nd bihelden vp toward heuene
Þ ai seghe þe constillacioun
Þ e wisest in þat so was katoun
H e gan to loke in þe mone
A nd seide þat him þoughte sone
L ordinges he saide for godes sond
T o mi telling vnderstond
Þ emperour to ous had sent
T o brenge him his sone gent
3 if we him bring biforn our lord
H e sterue3 ate ferste word
Þ at he schal in court speke
Þ anne he wil of ous be wreke
T o drawe ous oþer to hongi sone
Þ is ise wel in þe mone
Þ e oþer saide wi3 outen oþ
86rb
Þ at catoun hem saide soht
S child florentin was lered in boke
And in after he gan to loke
W hiche þat sat next þe mone
A nd saide þat him þoughte sone
Þ at he wist þourgh alle þing
O f þat sterre þe toknyng
Þ anne saide þe maistres to florentin
W hat sex tou leue child þar in
H e saide maister i schal wel liuen
3 if imai þis daies seuen
K epe me fram answering
I mai liue to god ending
A nd sauue me to warisoun
A nd 3ou fram destruccioun
Þ e maistres han wel de vise
Þ childes tale was god and wise
Þ an seide maister baucillas
H er is now a ferli cas
C ounseil we al her vpon
H ou þat we mai best don
Þ an seide þe schild saun3 fail
I ch 3ou ri3t wil counseil
Þ is seuen daies i nel nowt speke
N owt oword of mi mowht breke
A nd 3e be3 maistres gode and wise
I n al þis werld of mest prise
L itel 3e conne par ma fai
B ut echon of 3o mai saue me a dai
Þ e ai3teden dai ich me selue
S o þe ax pelt in þe helue
Þ at schal hewe þe wai a two
Þ at had wrout me þis wo
Þ an saide maister baucillas
S o god me helpe and seint nicholas
I schal þe waranti o dai
A nd i quaþ catoun par ma fai
S chal þe warant anoþer also
A lle þe maistres speken þo
Þ ai wald wit and resoun
S aue þe child fram destruccioun
F ram schame and fram vilani
M aistres he saide graunt merci
C ertes hi bihoue3 so
86va
F or isschal þoli mochel wo
G ret despit and strong turment
B ut 3e be queinte of argument
W i3 þis word þai ben alle
D eparted and come to halle
A nd maked atese þe messagers
W i3 god semblant and glade chers
A nd whan hit come to time of ni3t
T o riche bed þai were idi3t
A nd florentin þe schild al so
T o his bed he gan to go
A nd þou3t al ni3t her and tar
h ou þat he mi3t be wis and war
T o ouercome þe emperice
Þ at he nere nowt iholden nice
Þ e ni3t passe3 þe dai comen is
Þ e seuen maistres arisen iwis
Þ e maistres and þe messagers
H abbe3 greiþed here destres
A nd þat schild wel fair idi3t
A nd went hem forht a non ri3t
Þ ai dede hem out of þat gardin
Þ at is icleped þe bois of seint Martin
A nd here way toke to Rome
Þ e maistres here wai a3en nome
T iding had þemperour
H is sone com wi3 gret honur
A non he let a stede di3t
& rod him a3en wi3 mani a kni3t
W han he him segh3 þan was he bli3e
& kest him wel mani asiþe
K ni3t and erl and mani baroun
K iste þe emperours soun
A nd ladde him wi3 gret noblais
T o þemperour palais
Þ e emperice him wil honur
D o him sende in to hire bour
S cho ladde fram bour to bour
A nd dede here mene make retour
3 e sschette þe dore and set him on benche
W il 3e nou ihere of wommannes wrenche
Þ e emperice was queinte in dede
A nd hire wrenche and in hire falshede
3 he and þe schild alone wer þan
86vb
W as wi3 hem non oþer man
B e his side 3he set hire fast
O n him sche gan her eg3en kast
A nd saide mi leue suete grom
S wiþe welcome be þou hom
I haue icast to þe mi loue
O f al worhtlich þing aboue
Þ i louerd þe emperour is old
O f kinde of bodi he is cold
I swere bi sonne and bi mone
W i3 me ne hadde he neuer to done
B ut for ich herde telle of þi pris
Þ at þou were hende gentil and wis
F or to haue wi3 þe a cord
I ch am iwedded to þi lord
K es me lemman and loue me
& i þi soget wil ibe
S o god me helpe for he hit wot
T o þe ich haue ikept mi maindenhod
S che kest here armes aboute his swere
A c he made lourand chere
A nd drow3 a wai wi3 al his mi3t
H e wold his lord don non vnri3t
W han þe emperice þat vnderstod
A l achaunged was hire blod
A nd saide to him sweting fre
W hi nel tou nowt speke wi3 me
F or no þing þat sche mi3tte do
O word nolde he speken her to
Þ an þe emperice wex wroþ
sche tar hire her and ek her cloþ
H ere kirtel here pilche of ermine
H ere keuerchefs of silk here smok oline
A l to gidere wi3 bo þe fest
S che to rent bineþen here brest
W i3 boþe honden here 3aulew here
O ut of þe tresses sche hit tere
A nd ssche to cragged hire visage
A nd gradde harow wi3 gret rage
I n halle was þemperour
W ho had þe don þis desonur
B ot þis deuel þat her is
H adde me ner ihonisscht iwis
H adde ich ben a while stille
87ra
W i3 me he hadde don his wille
A nd but 3e hadde þe raþer icome
P ar force he dhadde me forht inome
L o hou he ad me to rent
M i bodi & mi face isschent
H e ne was neuer of þi blod
L at him binde for he his wod
A fend he is in kinde of Man
B inde him sire and lede han
F or wod of wit ischal be
3 if ich lengere on him see
H e sschal abigge saide þemperour
A nd cleped forht a turmentour
Q uik he het his sone take
& spoili him of cloþes nake
& beten him wi3 scourges stronge
& afterward him heg3e an honge
B leþeliche þe hoies quaþe
& tok þe schild swithe rathe
A nd ladde him forht þourgh þe halle
A mong þerles and barons alle
E uele þai gonne him bisen
G entil ronnen hem bitwen
A nd asked anon of þis cas
Þ ai saide here lordes heste hit was
A non þai ronnen in to þe bour
B iforn here lord þe emperour
A nd blamed him he dede þat dede
W i3outen counseil a rede
& bad him þat þilke sorewe
M ost be respit til amorewe
A nd þanne saue him oþer slen
B i conseil of þi gentil Men
Þ e emperice was fol wro3
Þ at þe child was spared for soht
A nd wel mochel hit here traid
S che þought wel more þanne 3he said
A neuen late þe emperour
was browt to bedde wi3 honur
Þ e emperice his worhtli fere
T o him cam wi3 lourand chere
A nd þe emperour asked why
87rb
3 he made semblant so sori
O sire 3e saide no wonder nis
F or now to londe icomen is
H e þat schal in þin eld age
B inime þe þin heritage
P ais dame who sschal þat be
Þ in howen sone i segge þe
M in owen sone dame nay
N e schalt tou neuere s þat dai
Þ at he schal haue ani mi3t
M e for to don vnri3t
P ais sire what halt hit heled
T o dai þo hast him fram deþ ispeled
A se wel mot hit like þe
A ls dede þe pinnote tre
O f his ympe þat he forhtbrowte
Þ emperour lai & more þoug3te
& bad hire wi3 semblaunt fre
T elle him of þat ilche tre
A nd of þe ympe al þe cas
W hilom a riche burgeis was
A nd woned her in Rome toun
A richeman of gret renoun
H e hadde bihinden his paleys
A fair gardin of noblays
F ul of appel tres and and (corr. from al) of pirie
F oules songe þer inne murie
A midelward þat gardyn fre
S o wax a piinnote tre
Þ at hadde fair bowes and frut
Þ er vnder was al his dedut
He made þer vnder a grene bench
A nd drank þer vnder mani asscench
C ertes þer inne was al his plaiyng
I n time of solas and his resting
S o bifel vpon a dai
þe burgeis fram home tok his wai
H e bou3te marchaundise & his chaffare
A nd bileued oute al a3are
A lso sone so he mi3te
H omward he gan him di3te
W han he was li3 at his in
Q uik he wente to his gardin
H is fair tre for to sen
87va
Þ anne seg3 he wexe a litel stren
A 3ong ympe vt of his rote
F air hit him þoug3te and swote
A c þat ympe þat so sprong
H it was sschort & no þing long
Þ e burgeis cleped his gardiner
L o he saide lo me her
S este þou þis ympe of gret mounde
K anst þou me telle gode bounde
W hi hit is so schort wering
# a sire he saide be heuene king
Þ e grete bou3 þat ouer him is
S o him bisschadewe3 iwis
Þ at hit mai haue no þedom
ST e3e vp he saide mi gode grom
& hak awai þe grete bou3
Þ at hit ne do min ympe no wou3
Þ e gardiner as his louerd het
H ew a wai þe bou3 al swet
A nd asked 3if hit was wel ido
A noþer he bad him kit þer to
Þ an mai wi3 outen letting
Min himpe iolifliche spring
N ou ben hise bowes awai isschore
A nd mochel of his beaute forlore
Þ e ympe had roum and wexe3 fast
Þe olde tre his vertu gan a cast
F or no wonder hit his
O f þe maister rote hit is
O ut i spronge & out isschet
A nd his bowes awai ikest
Þ ar fore þat olde tre les his pride
& asered bi þat o side
Þ e gode burgeis on a dai
H is ympe þriuende he sai
F air iwoxe and fair isprad
B ut þe olde tre was al abrad
H e clepid his gardener þo
A nd asked whi þe olde tre verd so
H e answerede als he wel couþe
S ikerliche ich telle þe nouþe
Þ e 3onge impe þat wide springes
H ad large roume in alle þingges
A nd for þe elde tre is so ihewed
87vb
Hit so wikked and so sschrewed
Þ e burgeis seide seþþe þe elde
B iginne3 so to vnbelde
H ewe him to þe grounde doun ri3t
L at þe 3onge tre atire apli3t
Þ ous ws þe olde tre doun iþrawe
A nd þe 3onge tre forht idrawe
G ode sire gent and fre
Þ at olde tre bitokne3 þe
Þ e 3onge bitokne3 þi sone wode
Þ at is ispronge out of þi blode
H e sschal be sone forht idrawe
A nd maister and þou his knaue
H it wil wel sone ben ido
B ut þou take kep þer to
A nd but þou do þou ne hast no mi3t
Þ at i biseke to oure dri3t
Þ at als hit more fare bi þe
A s dede bi þe pinnote tre.
C ertes dame þou seist for nowt
I ne sschal neuere so ben bicau3t
I ich þe bihote sikerliche
H e schal to morewe erliche
T o de3 be don and þat is ri3t
A nd þous passede þe fe^r^ste ni3t
A morewe aros þe emperour
A nd mani baroun of gret honur
M en vndede þe gates of þe paleis
I n com goende mani burgeis
S one was fild paleys and tour
I n com goind þemperour
G oht he sei3 to þe prisone
A nd fechche3 forht mine sone
A nd quik þat he ware anhonge
O n heghe galewes and on stronge
Þ e boies 3ede a non doun
A nd fesched þe child out of prisoun
A nd ladde him forht þour þe halle
A mong þe erles and barouns alle
F or þat schild þat naked was
M ani bede þemperice euel gras
Þ an com ridend baucillas
þe childes firste maister he was
A nd seg3e his deciple harde bistad
88ra
Þ erfore he was in herte vnglad
H e rod to þemperours halle
A nd li3te and passede þe kni3tes alle
& fint sone þemperour
A nd sire saide deu vous doint boniour
Þ emperour saide god þe defende
F ram god dai and fram god ende
¶Þ an seide maister baucillas
W hi artou wroht and for what cas
W iltou sle þin owen child
N e were þou wone be god and mild
H it nis no wonder saide þemperour
Þ ou sschalt ben an honged þou loseniour
F or to þe and þine fere
I bitok mi sone to lere
F or to han taue3t him god
A nd 3e han imad him wod
M i wif he wolde haue forleyn
H it nis no wonder þough i haue trayn
H e schal þerfore ben islawe
A nd afterward al to drawe
Þ an seide maister baucillas
S ire þat were now a sori cas
Þ ei he had iwraththed 3our wif
3 it had he nowt a gelt his lif
S auue 3oure grace wene ich hit howt
H it euere com in his þout
Þ emperour saide ifond hire to rent
hire her and hire face ischent
A nd who is founde hond habbing
H it nis non nede of witnessing
S aide baucillas hit nis hon ha le
T o leue stepmoderes ta le
3 if þou him slest bi hire purchas
O n þe falle swich a cas
A s fel vpon a gentil kni3t
A nd of his garihond þat was so wi3t
O miaster for godes mounde
H ou bifel þe kni3t of his grehonde
Þ er while sire þat i tolde þis tale
Þ i sone mi3te þolie dethes bale
Þ anne were mi tale forlore
A c of sende þi sone þerfore
A nd 3if him respit of his bale.
88rb
A nd þou sschalt here a foul fair tale
Þ emperour saide respit igraunt
F ech him hider a seriaunt
Q uik ran þe messager
W i3 god semblant and glade cher
H e louted his maister þat com him bi
A s he was lad to prisoun sti
M aister seide þemperour tel þis cas
B leþeliche saide sire baucillas
S ire whilom was in þis cite
In a dai of þe trinete
A swiþe noble strong burdis
O f men þat were of noble pris
I n a mede was þis turney
O f men þat were of gret noblai
Þ e kny3t in þe mede hadde a maner
A l bi closed wi3 a riuer
O f cahumbres and of heg3e halle
O f old werk for crased alle
Þ e kni3t hadde a fair leuedi
A wel fair child sche hadde him bi
H it hadde of þre norices keping
Þ e ferste 3af hit souke 3ing
Þ at oþ er norice him sscholde baþe
W han hit was time late and raþe
Þ e þridde norice him sscolde wassche
Þ e child was keped tendre an nessche
Þ e kni3t hadde a graihond
Þ ns no beter in lond ifound
A lle þe bestes þat ran to
H e tok boþe hert and ro ·
H e was so hende and wel itau3t
H e nolde 3iue him for non au3t
Þ e kni3t was lopen on his stede
A nd armed wel in iren wede
Þ e sscheld aboute his nekk þe spere onhishond
A nd burdised wi3 þe kni3tes of þe lond
Þ e leuedi stod in pount tournis
F or to bihelde þe burdis
Þ e norice went out of þe halle
& set þe cradel vnder þe walle
M ani stede þer ran and lep
T o hem men toke gode kep
A n Addre was norissched in þe wal (corr. from waw?)
88va
A nd herde þe riding and þe noise al (corr. from aw?)
A nd pelt out here heued to se þat wonder
& segh þat schild ligge þer vnder
H e crep to grounde quik a non
I n þe cradel þe child to slon
Þ e graihond segh3 þe adder red
G rislich rough strong and qued
A non he gan hire to asail
A nd hente here in his mouþ saun fail
Þ e adder so þe grehound stang
& he feled þe bite so strang
A n on he let þe adder gon
Vpon þe cradel 3he flei3 a non
& was aboute þe child to sting
& þe greihond com 3erne flingging
& hente þe adder in stron^g^ ger
& flapped here al aboute his er
B itwene þe adder and þe grehound
Þ e cradel turnd vp so doun on ground
V p so doun in hire fegh3ting
Þ at þe child lai diueling
Þ e stapeles hit vp held al quert
Þ at þe child nas nowt ihert
Þ addres so þe greihoun bot
B i þe side god hit wot
H e cried and on þe cradel lep
& bledde þer on a wel gret hep
& whan þe smert was al igon
T o þat addre he sterte a non
A nd bi þe bodi he him hent
A nd al to peces here to rent
Þ e grehound wolde nowt sessed be
T il þat adder ware toren of þre
A nd al þe place þer aboute
W as wel blodi wi3 outen doute
Þ e burdis to 3ede þe folk gan hom tee
A nd þe norices alle þre
Þ e cradel and þe child þai found
V p sodoun vpon þe ground
Þ e greihoun criede for his smert
Þ e norice was sori in hert
& ech of hem vnderstode
Þ at þe greihond was wod
A nd hadde þat faire child islawe
88vb
A wai þai gonne fle and drawe
A ls hit were wode wimmen
Þ e leued com hem a3en
A nd asked hem what hem was
A non þai telde here al þe case
Þ ai lowen on þat greihound hende
H it was pite so god mamende
Þ e leuedi when sche herde þis
a swone sche fil a doun iwis
Þ e kni3t com fram þe iusting fare
A non asked hem what hem ware
S ire quad3 3he ich wille bi ded
I nelle neuer ete bred
F or þi greihond þat is so wilde
H aþ islawe oure faire childe
& but 3e willin him slen a non
R i3^t^ now ich wille mi lif forgon
Þ e kni3t for rage in to halle set
H is hende graihond þer he met
Þ at him welcomed wi3 fot and tail
Þ e kni3t drow3 his swerd saun3 fail
Þ e graihond on þe rigge he hit
I n to þe grounde he him slit
Þ e greihound is ded þe kni3t goþ forþ
I n to his halle grim an^d^ wroþ
O f þe adder he fond mani tronsoun
A nd þe cradel vp so doun
H e turne3 þe cradel and fint þe child quik
H ol and sond and haþ ferlich
H e segh3 þe adder þe graihound slow3
H e hadde slawen his greihond wi3 wou3
H e cride & made mochel sorewe
N e be þat man neuere iborewe
B ut in euel water adreint
Þ at euer leue wimmannes pleint
E ft he make3 a gret cri
A nd he clep3 þe leuedi
& and on þe kni3tes and sweines also
& pleined him of his mochel wo
& sschewede his child hol and sound
& slawen was his gode graihond
F or his prouesse and his god dede
A l for his fole wiues rede
O grehound he seide wi3t and strong
89ra
I schal mi selue abigge þat wrong
& tache oþer kni3tes saun fail
To leue here leuedis conseil
He set him doun in þat þrawe
Als quik he dede his sschon of drawe
And karf hise vaumpes fot hot
And wente him forht al barfot
Wi3 outen leue of wif and child
And wente into a fforest wild
In to desert fram alle men
Wolde he neuer come a3en
He þolede mani a biter stounde
Forþe wrong of his greihounde
So falle on þe sire emperour
Swich arm and sschame and desonur
3if þou do þi sone vnri3t
Als to þe greihound dede þe kni3t
Þourg3 þe counseil of hiis wif
He slough3 his greihond nowt geltif
O maister bi þeter þat ich haue sou3t
So schal hit bifalle nowt
Nou bi god þat ischal I serue
To dai more ne schal he sterue
Þe court wente þe maister tok leue
Hit gan sone to wexen eue
Þemperour com to chaumbre a non
Þemperice him loured vpon
Þemperour saide dame artou wro3
3e sire 3e saide for soht
Tel me now swetin^g^ fre
Þou wost wel so mot ich se
For i þe warni of þine fon
And þou ne kanst me san
Þou clepest þi sone he ispe deuel
He sschal þe do wel mochel iuel
But þou me of him wil awreke
Al folk mot hit wite and speke
He mot þe bringge to swich ending
Als hadde þe bor for his cracheing
Þe bor dame tel þat me
Whi for cracheing deied he
Sire non þou wilt wite þat cas
Ich wille þe telle hou hit was
Sire quaþ þe leuedi here biwest
89rb
Þer was a fair riche forest
A bor was norisscht þar inne
Fram a pig to a swine
Of þe bor was swich los
To gon þerinne ech man agros
Ne dorst þer come kni3t ne swein
In þe forest was a plein
And in þe pleyn a tre of hawes
Þat ripe were be þo dawes
Þe bor hem gan ful sone asmelle
Ech he het þer of his felle
In þat forest woned an herd
Þat of bestes loked an sterd
O best him was arau3t
Wide war he hit hadde isou3
Be þe hawe tre he gan come
& þou3te to haue þer of some
Ful he gaderede his barm
3et ne þou3t he of non harm
In his oþer lappe he gaderede some
Þe felle bor bicam to come
Þe herde him segh3 and was of drad
He dorst nowt fle he was so mad
Vp to þe hawe tre he stegh3
Þe bor him com swi3e negh3
And he ne finde3 hawe non
As he was iwont to don
He loked vp and seg3 þe herd
He criede and makede rewli rerd
He wette his tossches and his fet
Þe erþe wi3 his snowte he bet
Þourh þe mouht þe fom was wi3t
Þe tussches in þe tre he smit
Þe tre aresede as hit weld falle
Þe herde was sori adrad wiþ alle (line[s] missing)
And he gan sone on knes to falle
Þiseþ3 þe herd man
Þat þe bor falle bigan
He kest þe bor doun hawes anowe
And com him self doun bi abowe
Wi3 þe left hond he heng
And wi3 þe ri3t bond on þe bor he feng
He clew þe bor on þe rigge
And he bigan a doun to ligge
89va
He clewe him eft vpon þe wombe
He fil adoun als a lombe
He lek his eghen and gan to slape
Þe knif drou3 þe herde knape
Out he drou3 scharp an long
Þe bor to þe herte he stong
Þe bor þous wi3 his long knif
Biraft þe bor of his lif
He went him forþ and let him ligge
Lo sire emperour i þe sigge
Þou art þe bor þi maister þe clawes
Wi3 fals resoun and wikkede sawes
And on þe he whette3 his te3
Til þai þe bringge to þi de3
Wi3 clawing þai sculle þe desceiue
Til þai þe sle wi3 deþes glaiue
C ertes dame isigge no
hit schal neuere bifalle so
For soþe he sschal to morewe dai
Wi3 outen ani more derai
And sche saide ones oþer twiis
Gentil sire grauntmercys
God 3if þe þer to strengþe and mi3t
To de3e him do er hit be ni3t
Þe ni3^t^ passede þe dai com
Þe heghe emperour of Rom
Went a doun of his tour
Wi3 herte wroþ and gret irour
Men vnkek gate and halle dore
Barouns entrede in astore
Sone was filt paleys and tour
In com gon þemperour
Biforen hem alle in grete traye
He het mani a wikke boie
His sone lede toward þe hangging
Hit was ido wi3 outen letting
And ri3t amideward þe pres
Com ride maister ancilles
Þat þe childes oþer maister was
And ise3 þat ferli cas
Toward þe halle he gan driue
& highede þider fast and bliue
And fond sone þat emperour
& gret him sone wi3 honur
89vb
Þemperour sikerliche
On him loked litherliche
And to þe maister he saide þore
Maugre haue þou for þi lore
Þou hast iserued wikked mede
þou schalt hit haue so crist me spede
Þ an saide maister Ancilles
for godes loue sire hold þi pes
Wiltou sle þin owen sone
To ben milde hit was þi wone
Hit nis no wonder saide þemperour
Þou schalt ben an honged þou vile loseniour
Ich tok þe mi sone to lore
For to teche him wisdom more
And 3e han him bitreid
His speche is loren ich am desmaid
Mi wif he wolde haue forht itake
To de3 he seide he schal ben don wi3 wrake
Þan seide þe maister hit is non hale
To leue stepmoderes tale
For here bolt is sone ischote
More to harm þan to note
3if þou him bi hire purchase
On þe falle swich a cas
Als fil on ypocras þe gode clerk
þat slow his neueu wi3 fals werk
Maister he saide tel me þat cas
Of þe scoler and of ypocras
Ancilles said als so tit
Þi sone to dai mak þou quit
Til to morewe hit be dai li3t
And i þe scha teue a non ri3t
Wi3 gret felonie and wi3 wouh3
Hou ypocras his neueu slow3
I schal him respite saide þemperour
And het anon wi3 outen soiour
Men scholde a3en fechche his sone
And caste him into prisone
Þe child was brout in to þe toun
And in to prisoun pilt he was
Nou ginne3 þe tale of ypocras
S ire ypocras was maister here
of leche craft was non his pere
90ra
He hadde wi3 him his neueu
Þat schild lere of his vertu
He segh þe child so queinte of lore
He wolde techen him nammore
Heþou3te wel at astore
He sscholde passi him bifore
Þe child aparceiued wel þis
& held hit in his herte iwis
His emes werk he gan aspie
Til he couþe al his maistrie
Þo ypocras wel he fond
Bi craft of þe childes hond
Þat he couþe al his mastrie
And brast ne3 for onde & vie
So bifel vpon a time 3ing
Of hongrie þe riche king
Hadde swich a sone gent
To ypocras a non he sent
Þat he scholde come his sone to hale
And habbe gold ful a male
Ypocras wende ne mi3t
But cleped his neueu a non ri3t
And bad him wenden to þat lond
And þat schild take an hond
And whan he hadde so ido
He sscholde a3en comen him to
Þe schild was set on a palefrai
And forht he tok þeri3te way
And whan he com to þat lond
þe king him tok bi þe hond
And ladde him to his sike childe
Now crist of heuene be ous milde
Þe 3ongeman se3 þe childes þeyne
& tasted his senewe and his veyne
He take3 an vrinal for to sen
He ne se3 nowt of þe kyng but of þe quen ·
And of þe child god hit wite
He se3 hit was amis bi3ete
He gan þe leuedi aside drawe
Dame he saide be aknawe
What man had bi3ete þis child
What 3e saide artou wild
Who sschulde him bi3ete but þe kyng
Dame he saide þat is soht no þing
90rb
Hit nas neuere of kinges stren ·
Let 3he saide swich wordes ben
Oþer i schal do bete þe so
Þat þo schalt neuere ride ne go
Dame he saide bi swiche tale
þi sone scha neuere more ben hale
Ac tel me dame al þe cas
Hou þe child bi3eten was
Belami 3he saide so
Par fai dame he saide no
And schok his heued vpon þe quen
Dame he saide þai 3he wille me slen
I ne mai do þi sone no bot
But 3if iwite þe sothe rot
Of what man hit was bi3ete ·
Maister 3he saide þat mai noman wite
3if mi conseil were vnhele
Iich were islawe bi ri3te skele
Dame he seide so mot ich þe
I nelle neuere biwraie þe
O maister 3he seide so hit bifel
Þis enderdai in on Aueril
Þerl of nauerne com to þis þede
Wel atired in riche wede
Wi3 mi louerd for to plai
And so he dede mani a dai
Þat ich erl igan to loue
Al erthliche þing aboue
And so par gret druri
I let þat erl ligge me bi
And þous hit was on me bi3ete
A leue maister let no man wite
Nai dame forsothe iwis
But for he was bi3eten amis
Hit mot boþe drink and ete
Contrarius drink contrarius mete
Beues flesch · & drinke þe broþt
He 3af þe child anon þer of
Þe child warisscht fair and wel
Þe kyng 3af him mani a juel
To þe leche of silver and goold
Als mochel als he nime wold
He wente hom wi3 þat ei3te
And ypocras anon ri3t
90va
He asked 3if þe schild was sound
3e sire he saide bi seint Simond
He asked what was his Medicine
Bef and broþ gode afine
What þan was he an auetrol
þou seist soht sire be mi pol
Quaþ ypocras bi þe gode dome
Þou art bicome al to wis a grome
Þer he þou3te a3en resoun
To don him strong tresoun
S o bifel vpon adai
he and his neueu 3ede to plai
In a fair grene gardin
Þer in wex mani an herbe fin
On þei se3en in þe grounde
Þat was an herbe of gret mounde
He tok and schewid hit ypocras
And he seide a better þer was
For he wald his neueu bikeche
Þe child stoupede swich on to reche
Þer while ypocras wi3 a knif
Bi nom þat schild his swete lif
And let him birie sikerliche
Als he were storuen sodainliche
And sone þer after swiþe 3erne
He let alle hise bokes berne
Ac god almi3ti heuene kyng
He ouer se3 alle þing
He sent ypocras for his tresoun
Sone þer after þe menesoun
Wel wist ypocras for his qued
Þat he scholde sone be ded
For al þat heuer he mi3te do
His menesoun mi3t nowt staunche þo
He let of sende moche and lite
Hise neyebours him to visite
And tolde al ri3t a non
Hou his de3 wa comen him on
Wi3 gret ri3t and nowt wi3 wou3
For his neueu þat he slow3
An empti tonne he let fet
And of water of a Pet
He let hit fille to þe mouþe
For he walde hise werkes were couþe
Þe tresoun he gan hem alle reherse
90vb
In a þousand stede he let þe tonne perce
& þo he hadde mad holes so fele
In ech he pelt a dosele
And smerede þe holes al aboute
And euerich doseil he braid oute
No droþe of water vt com þan
Meruaile hadde mani a man
Lo he saide water hi can stoþ
þat hit ne mai nowt bi bores droþ
Ae i ne mai nowt stoP mi menesoun
And þat is al for mi tresoun
Wi3 gret ri3t and nowt wi3 wou3
For mi neueu þat islow
Iich him slow sikerliche
For he was wiser man þan iche
Iich ne noman vnder sonne
Me 3if helP non ne conne
But mi neueu a liue ware
Ri3t is þat ich hennes fare
Lo saide þe maister hou Ypocras
Destrued his lif and solas
Sire emperour tak hede and loke
He slow his neueu and brent his boke
Mi3t hit him ani þing profite
Nai saide þemperour moche ne lite
No saide þe maister verraiment
I biseke god omnipotent
Þat 3if þou do þi sone to ded
And hise maistres be þi wiues red
Þat on þe falle swich a cas
As dede on maister Ypocras
Þ e maister had so isped
þemperour sone was his frend
Þe maister was o wai inome
Þemperour was to chaumbre icome
Þer he fond his emperice
Wi3 lourand chere and wi3 nice
Hond wringging and loude koupe
And here visage al biwope
Dame he saide pluk vp þi cher
Oþer tel me whi þou makest swich cher
Sire 3he saide hit is wonder non
Hi se þi honur al igon
I se þe wede waxe ouer þe corn
Allas allas þat iwas boren
91ra
And þat ischal þis dai ise
Þat we sschulle departed be
What dame is hit comen þer to
We sscholle be departed so
3e sire bi Adam & bi Eue
For þou nelt nowt me ileue
Of him þat þou clepest þi sone
Certes he had þe deueles wone
He þe procures ni3t and dai
Al þe sschame þat he mai
Þine barouns and þine gentil men
Alle þai holden þe a3en
Þai sschal wel sone for nithe an hete
Þut þe out of þi kinges sete
And sette him stede inne þine
Þat ware mi de3 and mi pine
Ich hadde leuere to ben an honge
Þan þat ischolde liue so longe
A hou wimmen conne hit make
Whan þai wil ani man lake
Ac sire 3if hit falle so
Þat þempire is di3t him to
On þe falle swich a cas
As dede on him þat his heued was
Of his sone icast in a gong
Wi3 felonie and wi3 wrong
O dame who mi3t þat be
Wolde do his fader swich vilte
Tel hit me for god aboue
Lat be sire for mi loue
Þou ne louest nowt of mi telling
Hit schal þe rewe bi heuene kyng
3is dame he saide lat here þe speke
And ich wil sone þe awreke
Sei on dame & ssche bigan
To tellen als a fals wimman
A emperour was in þes toun
a riche man of gret renoun
Octouien was his name
Wide sprong his riche fame
Gold and siluer to wille he wan
And more he hadde þan ani man
He made cressent þat riche tour
Þer inne he pult his tresor
Seue wise men þer were in Rome
91rb
þe fiue out of londe 3he nome
And þe twaie left at home
To kepe Rome wi3 ri3tful dome
Þat on was boþe curteis an hende
Lef to 3iue and lef to spende
And þat oþer lef to pinche
Boþe he was starf and chinche
& als we finden writen in boke
Þemperour him tau3t his tresor to loke
& he hit kept bi al his mi3t
Boþe bi daies an bi ni3t
For þe wrecche man saun fail
Wende þe erþe sscholde him fail
Þe large wise wiste wel
Of þis tresor eche a del
He saide to his sone tak a pike
To ni3t þou schalt wi3 me strike
Whider seide his sone
Þer of haue þou no þing to done
Arise vp quik and wi3 me go
And do als tou sest me do
For þai went wi3 oute soiour
To cressent þat riche tour
An hole þai bregen al wi3 ginne
And boþe þai wenten þer inne
& token tresor i 3ou swere
Als þe moche als þai mi3t bere
And beren hit hom wel on hast
And maden hem large whiles hit last
A morewe aros þat sinatour
And sithen to bregen his louerdes tour
And beren was awai þat tresour
Þerfore he made gret dolour
He ne made no pleint to no man
But stopped þe hole anon a3en
For he þouwte we þat hit left
Wolde come a3en eft
For þef of steling wil nowt blinne
Til he honge bi þe chinne
Ni3 euene bi þe hole
þer þe catel was istole
Þe wise man dede make a dich
Ful of lim and of pich
þat 3if he a3en wald come
Þat þe traitur sscholde binome
91va
þe stolen catel ispended is
þe wise bicome3 a fol iwis
H e tok his sone a3en he went
to þat tour þat hi3t cressent
An hole þay broken al bistore
Þe fader lep in bifore
In to þe limed diche
Loude he gan to crie and skriche
And saide sone com her þou nowt
For ich ham nomen and bicau3t
Hou so fader ich wil fechche help
Nai sone mak þer of no 3elp
Her ne ge3 help ne red
For sikerliche ich am ded
·A· leue fader what sschal ido
Sone wi3 þin hond þi swerd tak to
And hastiliche gird of min heued
Nai arst mi lif scholde me bi bireued
Ar ich mi fader scholde sle
Sikerliche sone hit mot so be
Oþer ich and tou and alle mine
Be3 ischen^t^ wi3 outen fine
Bettere hit is þat ich on passe
Þan al mi ken more and lasse
Smit of min heued wi3 þi sword
Schalt tou neuer here þer of no word
Hit ginne3 to dawe highe þe henne
For 3iue i þe al þat sinne
His fader heued he smot of þare
And a wai wi3 him hit bare
Ac he ne wiste for non nede
Whar he mi3te hit best ihede
But als he com bi agong
Amidde þe pit he hit slong
And wente hom and made wo
His brethren and his sustren al so
A morewe aros þat sinatour
And segh to broken his loruedes tour
And se3 þer stonde and heuedles Man
Knowe him nowt he ne can
He loked bifore and bihinde
Knowleching ne couthe he finde
He let him drawe out of þe pit
And his fet set faste iknit
Wi3 trais an two stronge hors
91vb
And hete to Rome drawen his cors
& 3if ani weped oþer cride
He het him nime þat ilche tide
Quicliche breng him me bifore
For of þat kyn he was ibore
Þe heuedles bodi al so skete
Was idrawe þourgh eueri strete
Fort he come a3en þe paleis
Þat au3te þe ded burgeis
Þere was cri an wail a wo
Of broþer and of suster al so
Þ e sone þat wiste of al þat dede
stirt him in · in gret drede
He braid out his knif on hegh3
And smot him selue þour3 hout þe þeg3
Þe kinges seriaunt faste hide
To nime þat folk lat faste cride
þai sschewed iwonded here broþer
þai seide þai wepte for non oþer
Þai seghen alle þe wonded man
And leued hem wel and went o3an
Lo sire swich a foul wille
A3en resoun and ri3t skille
Was nowt þe boi of wit bireued
Whan he tok his fader heued
In a bil gonge slong hit inne
He mi3 han don a better ginne
Ibiried hit ower priueliche
Þou saist soþ dame sikerliche
An vnkynde boi hit was
3a on þi heued falle þat cas
Þi sone þe deuel him mote an honge
But he cast þin heued in a gonge
D ame i schal 3eme me fram care
Certes to morewe he sschal forht fare
Sire ileue þe nowt sikerliche
3is dame hardiliche
Graunt Merci 3he saide sire gent
An^d^ kist him to acordement
And let here word swithe sone
And 3ede to bedde mid i done
Dioclician þemperour
A morewe wente out of his tour
And let ofsende his gentil knaue
Noman ne most him saue
92ra
And het him lede forht sikerklik
And bidelue him al so quik
þat he neuer for no þing
Herde of him more tiding
He was forht lad wi3 boies felle
þe burgeis and þe dammeisele
Þai gunne arere swich acri
þat hit schillede in to þe ski
And saide wail awai whiwi3 wronge
Schal þemperours sone ben an honge
þan com ridende lentilioun
A wis maister and a fair fa3oun
þe childes þridde maister hadde iben
For reuþe he ne mi3t him nowt isen
And þemperour wel sone he fond
He gret him faire ich vnderstond
Þemperour saide so god me spede
Traitour þe sschal be quit þi mede
For mi sones mislerning
3he sschulle habbe euel ending
O sire emperour of pris
In dedes þou sscholdest be war and wis
3if þou wilt þi sone sschende
Wi3 outen assent of barouns hende
And dost vs qued for oure godnesse
On þe falle swich a destresse
So dede on þe riche gome
Þat wi3 his wif was ouer come
O tel me maister hou ani wimman
Mi3te bigile ani Man
Bleþeliche sire so god me amende
3if þou wilt þi sone of sende
For 3if he were þer wiles islawe
For nowt i telde þe mi tale
Þe riche emperour al so sket
His sone a3en fechche het
þe child was don þe prisoun in
þe maister his tale he gan a gin
Þ er was a burgeis in þis toun
a richeman of gret renoun
Þat wolde spouse no neþhebours schild
But wente fram hom as a moppe wild
He let his negheboures child for o vice
And wente fram hem als moppe and nice
92rb
And brow3te hom a dammaisele
Was ful of vices swithe fele
He segh3 hire fair and auenaunt
And wi3 here fader made couenant
For to habben hire to wiue
And euere more to ri3te liue
He spoused hire and ladde hire hom
Hire forme lemman hire after com
þat hire serued mani a stounde
Whan on slepe was þe bounde
Þan was þe lawe in Rome toun
Þat wheþer lord or garsoun
þat after corfu bifounde Rominde
Faste men scholden hem nimen and binde
And kepen him til þe sonne vprising
And þan bifore þe fokk him bring
And þourgh þe toun him villiche driue
Þe burgeis a pariseiued of his wiue
Fele ni3tes was gon him fram
And in þe dawiyng a3en 3he cam
He saide nowt wel longe while
But euer he souchede him of gile
O ni3t he him ase dronke made
And 3ede to bedde blithe and glade
And lai stille als he slepe sone
Sche stal a wai mididone
And wente to here lotebi
And he hit aparseiued sikerli
And went him out and segh an herd
Al to gider hou sche misferd
And wente him in out of þe strete
And schet þe dore swiþe skete
And spak out ate windowe
And saide dame god 3iue þe howe
Þis þou ne mi3t forsake for non nede
Iich haue inome þe in þis dede
Wi3 þi lechour wi3 him þou go
Of þe ne keþ i neuere mo
·A· lat me in sire par amour
Men sschal sone ringe corfour
Nai dame ich þe forsake
Inþi foli þou worst itake
Al þi ken schal witen and sen
What mester womman þou hauest iben ·
92va
Nai godalmi3ti þat isschilde
Ich wille bicome wod and wilde
But þou me in lete ich wille telle
Ich wille me drenchen in þe welle
Drenche þi selue oþer an honge
For here þou hauest liued to longe
3e tok vp a gret ston
And wente to þe welle a non
And saide after a wommannes wrenche
Her now sire i schal me a drenche
3e let þe ston falle in þe welle
And sterte vnder þe dore wel snelle
Þe seli man bigan to grede
Allas wat sschal me to rede
Anon ri3tes he wente him owt
And soughte his wif in þe welle about
And swiþe loude he bigan to crie
And 3he stert in wel an hi3e
And sschitte þe dore swithe fast
And he gan vp his heued cast
What he saide who is þare
Ich 3e saide god 3iue kare
Is hit nou time bi þi snoute
For to ben þous longe þer oute
A dame he saide ich was asschreint
Iich wende þou haddest ben adreint
Lat me in dame par amour
Men sschal sone ringe corfour
Þe deuel honge me þanne bi þe toþ
Þe waites sscholle wel se þe soþ
Þat þou art and hold lechour
And comest hom after corfour
Þou schalt suffre kare and howe
And drinke þat þou hast ibrowe
Wi3 þat þe waites come ride
And hi herden hou þai gon schide
And corfour belle ringge gan
Inomen was þat seli man
And neuer of him no qued ne herde
Þai wist ful wel hou hit ferde
Þai beden his wif as 3e was hende
Leten him ar corfu ende
3e answere as malicious
He come3 nou fram þe hore hous
92vb
Þous he is wonet me to serue
On euele deþe mot he sterue
Ich haue ihid his schame er þis
I nel nammore nou iwis
Corfour belle no lenger rong
Þe burgeis was lad forht wi3 wrong
What helpe3 hit lenger tale
Þat ni3t he sat wel sore a kale
And his wif lai warme a bedde
And solas of hire lemman fredde
Amorewe þe burgeis was forþ ifet
And his honden biforen him knet
And þourgh þe toun he was ilad
Lohtliche driuen and bigrad
Ase a þef þis meschaunce
Gelteles he suffred þis penaunce
S ire couþe þis woman of gile
3a sche was a traitour vile
And wel werse þan an hound
Sire mo swiche þer be3 ifound
And þi self had on swich
3e wil þe traie sikerlich
3if þou dost after her red
Þat þou dost þi sone to ded
Þat chaunce falle þe iliche
Þat bifel þe burgeis riche
Par fai maister þat ware god ri3t
I nel nowt do bi here to ni3t
Þe child bileft stille in prisoun
Þe maister went out of þe toun
And hadde mani a blessing
For his disciple deliuering
Whan men leke windowe and gate
Þemperour com to chaumbre late
Þemperice bigan to loure
Lohtliche on þemperoure
Dame he saide what haileþ þe
Swich semblaunt for to make me
3it sschal hit falle ous so bitwene
Þat mani a man hit sschal hit sene
As bitwene þe leuedi and þe stiward
And þe king in o foreward
What forward was þat telle hit me
As þou wilt to me lef be
93ra
Nai sire 3e saide hit his nowt worþ
Mi tale ne mot nowt forþ
Telle ich þe ensaumple neuer so god
Þou me haldest of wit wod
Þerfore ich wille holde me stille
And suffri wel þat man þe spille
Nai dame lat here þe speke
And ich þe wille ful wel awreke
So ich hit finde profitable
& soþ iseie wi3 outen fable
N ou ben sene sire and ihere
A king was whilom of gret powere
Al poile and calabre lond
Al he held hit in his hond
Wimmen he louede he louede swiþe lite
& usede sinne so do mi3te
So long he pleiede wi3 3ongman
A swele in his membres cam þan
Þe skin mi3t hit nowt helde
Ne he ne mi3te him selue welde
He fil sik in godes wreche
He let ofsenden him a leche
In vrine he segh he mi3te libbe
He laide a plastre vnder his ribbe
Barli bred he et for gode
And barli water þat was isode
Til he hadde of his membres bote
Þan saide þe leche ar 3e mote
Haue womman to pleie a ri3t
3if 3e wil be hol a pli3t
I schal wel & cleped his stiward
And he com als a leopard
Lo me her sire what wil 3e
But a lemman fech þou me
Þat i mi3t to ni3t wi3 plai
I ne wot non sire in þis contrai
Þat be þi bodi ligge dar
For þi los is boren so far
Þat þine membres ben to swolle
Bihote hem pans an handfolle
Bi hot twenti mark som leuedi
O ni3t for to ligge þe bi
Þanne þout þat stiward coueitous
Þat siluer schal bileue wi3 ous
93rb
To his wif he went a non
And saide sche most on his arnede gon
Bletheliche sire ac whide^r^ward
To þe king saide þe stiward
Þou schalt plaie wi3 him in derk
And winne ous gode twenti mark
A sire sche saide · fi · fi ·
Hit is foul man to liggen bi
And þat wot euerich womman wel
Þou schalt bi seint Michel
Who þat seluer winne nelle
Lese he mot wi3 ri3t skille
Þou sschalt ous þe penies winne
Oþer i þe sschal driue out of min inne
O nedes he sschal þat nedes mot
Hit nis nowt mi wille god hit wot
But hit is skil ri3t and lawe
To do bi me as bi þin awe
To þe kinges chaumbre he went a3ain
And drof out boþe kni3t and swayn
Blewe out þe torches and let in his wif
To þe king sche wente bilif
Þe fals stiward to bedde went
Þe king þe leuedi in armes hent
What helpe3 hit ani more seid
Þat ni3t he was ful wel apaid
Þe wrecche stiward ne mi3t nowt slape
Ac in þe morewening he gan v rape
To þe kingges chaumbre he went saun fail
Þe king þat ni3t hadde ben in trauail
In trewe loue wit outen arm
And slep in þe leuedis arm
Þe stiward made moche sorewe
Til hit were half wai midmorewe
He held him self mochel wrechche
Þous þe king bigan to wechche
And saide sire vp · vp · hit is dai
Lat þat leuedi wende a wai
þe king saide i ne haue no rape
For me lest 3it ful wel slape
& pleie twies and ones
For to hele mine bones
Nai sire hit is mi leuedi
Þat al ni3t has laien þe bi
93va
Belamy he saide is hit þi wif
3ea sire he saide be mi lif
O traitour fi3 a puteyn
Whi had þi wif bi me lain
Sire for þe winnng of þi mone
Þerfore he saide yuel mote þou þe
þou hast bitraid þi wif and me
Dwelle þou wil ich arisen be
I schal þi vile false cors
Do to drawe wi3 wilde hors
Out of mi lond irede þou flee
Þat i þe neuer eft isee
For abide þou min vprist
Þou be honged bi ihesu crist
Sire þous þe stiward les his wif
And fley a wai wi3 mochel strif
Iwis he was al forlore
He com a3ein neuere more
Þ e king aros whan him list
And kep þe leuedi wi3 þe best
And held hire two 3er oþer þre
And siþen 3af hire wi3 riche fe
To ariche erl of þat lond
Sche was nowt bicau3t ich vnderstond
Sire and so wil hit fare bi3ou
Whan 3e han loren 3oure vertu
Out of londe þou best idriue
Schal ich þe neuere ise til i liue
No forse on me after an emperour
Mai me wedde a vauasour
I mai liue a wel god lif
Þai ibe nowt an emperours wif
Ac falle chaunce ase hard
As dede þe couaitous stiward
Þat solde his wif for mone
But þou do als irede þe
P ar fai dame þat is skil
iwil do bi þe 3if god wil
Sire 3he saide wi3 outen fail
Þou dost bi a god counseil
Morewe cam as 3he mowe here
Þemperour aros wi3 foule
In to his þalais he wente 3are
And his barouns he fond þare
93vb
Biforen hem alle in grete traye
He het mani a wikke boye
His sone toward þe deþe bringge
Hit was ido wi3 outen letting
Toward de3 he was ibrout
Mani aman hit of þout
Þourgh Rome stretes wide and side
Þe ferthe maister þer com ride
Malquidras was his name
In his herte was no game
His disciple louted him to
Þe maistres hert brast ne3 for wo
He went in to þe halle flet
Þemperour wel faire he gret
Þemperour him missaide þan
Merci sire saide þe wise man
Sire what haue we þe misgelt
Oure gode dede schal ben iuel i3elt
Sire quaþ þemperour be min hed
Worthi art to suffri ded
For to þe and þine fere
I bitok mi sone to lere
For to han itau3t him god
& 3e han i made him wod
Mi wif he wolde haue forlai
Þerfore 3e sschulle al dai
O sire emperour of pris
In dedes þou sscholdest ben war and wis
3if þou wilt þi sone slo
Wi3 outen assent of barons mo
And for oure godnesse do vs qued
Swich a cas fal on þin heued
As hadde þe olde wise of his wiue
Er þou parte out of þis liue
O maister þat was wel isaid
Hou was þat olde man itraid
He was nowt bitraid for he wis was
A leue maister tel me þe cas
Bleþeliche wi3 outen strif
So þou respite þi sones lif
Til to morewe þat hit be dai
Þan i þe schal þe tale sai
þemperour dioclician
His sone a3en hi3t fechche þan
94ra
And into prisoun he was icast
Þe maister ginne3 his tale in hast
Whilom was aman old wis
And hadde inow of worldes pris
In his 3ouþe in middel of his liue
He hadde iwedded two iolif wiues
He liuede and boþe hem ouer bod
And was longe in his wideuhod
He liuede so longe þat he hor was
And hadde of womman no solas
His seriauntz ofte to him come
And of alangenes him vndernome
And him take a wif iolif
To solace wi3 his olde lif
Bi her rede he tok a 3ong womman
Ase wone is of old man
3ong womman for to spouse
& þanne be wraw an^d^ gelouse
Litel þai mai do wi3 outen gabbe
Þat 3ong womman wolde habbe
Al so ferde þat olde wise
He dede his wif wel smal seringe (for seruise?)
Þe 3onge wif vp on a dai
Com to chirche par ma fai
& fond hire moder þare
& tolde hire al of here kare
& saide Moder i þolie a cas
Mi louerd doþ me no solas
Ich moste haue som oþer loue
Nai dowter for god aboue
Old men ben felle and queinte
And wikkede wrenches conne ateinte
Misdo nowt doughter but do bi rede
Lat ben moder for hit is nede
Doughter þe louerd had o gardin
A wel fair ympe is þar in
A fair herber hit ouer sprede3
Al his solas þer inne he lede3
Non ne bereþ hit lef non
And whan þi louerd is out igon
Doughter tak þi gardiner
And lat it hewe to þe fer
And 3if he sai3 to þe ani resoun
Answere him wi3 þis enchesoun
94rb
Þat þou dest hit is for þe nones
To warme bi his colde bones
Dame 3he saide hit sschal ben don
Hom sche wente swiþe a non
& al maugre þe gardiner
Þe ympe was hewe to þe fer
Þe gode burgeis was hom icome
And goþ to his gardin as was his wone
And fond his ympe vp ihewe
O þou3te he her was a sscherewe
3he saide sche dede hit for non arm
But for he sscholde his bones warm
He hit tok on iuel strong
But he ne monede hit nowt long
He wentte to bedde and tok solas
Þat ni3t neuer þe better hir nas
Þe 3onge wif anoþer dai
To chirche tok þe ri3te wai
And fond eft hire moder þare
And of blisse sche was al bare
For neiþer be ni3t no be dai
Hire louerd nolde wi3 hire plai
Ich mot louie 3he saide dame
O doughter hit were gret sschame
3if þou sscholdest þi gode ki(e)nde
Þourgh dede of vilainie sschende
For 3if þou dost a folie
Þi louerd hit wile sone aspie
And he him wolde fellich awreke
Herkne doughter what ischal speke
A grai bichche þi louer ginne3 louie
Ouer alle oþer bestes aboue
And whan 3e sit bi þe glede
And þe bichche liþ in þi grede
Mak þe wroþ and draw þi knif
And binim þe bichche here lif
And loke þou be þer after queynt
And were þe wi3 a wiues pleint
Þe 3onge saide hit sscholde be so
Hom ssche gan hire wai to go
Was hit nowt longe afterwar
Þe 3onge leuedi and hire lord
Sete an euen bi þe fer
Biforen hem stod here squier
94va
3e hadde on a pilche of pris
And a chaisel þer on iwis
Þe bichche lai in hire barm
Sche plaide and hit dede here harm
Sche drow a knif and here smot
Þe bichche daide god hit wot
& pilche and cheisel al bibled
Þe lord ros and 3ede to bed
For al hire wrenche and al her ginne
Þe more loue sche ne mi3t a winne
Þe þridde time to scherche sche went
And hire moder þer sche fint
And saide dame for al þi lore
I finde loue neuer þe more
Moder ich mot louie al gat
Doughter ich rede þat þou lat
Ac tel me doughter for god aboue
What man hastou ment to loue
Dame 3he saide þe prest biskil
Nai doughter 3if god wil
While þou mi3t haue squier or kni3t
Nai moder mi trewþe ipli3t
I nelle come in no kni3tes bedde
He hit wile make wide ikedde
And i þe saie sikerliche
Þe prest imaie loue priueliche
Nai doughter her a queinte ginne
Þi louerdes loue hou schalt winne
Þi louerd schal sone make a fest
Of riche men and honest
Þou schalt be bisaie þat ilke dai
Honge at þi gerdel mani a kai
And sette þe haiest ate bord
In achaier a3en þi lord
Þi kai in þe cloþ make þou fast
After stirt vp an hast
Þai þou felle coppe oþer cloþ
Go forþ and strif nowt þer of
And þan þou schalt sone ise
What þer of wil be
Þe 3onge wif to hire moder said
Hit sschal be don bi marie maid
And wite isschal moder bi þan
3if he wil palie þat olde man
94vb
Wel sone þer after sikerli
Þe olde kni3t and te leuedi
A wel fair feste þai made þare
O frendes þat hem leue ware
Sire what helpe3 hit longe tale
Þe wif seruede of bred and ale
And after set hire a doun sone
Þe kai made moche to done
ffor sche feld boþe cloþ and cop
Naþeles þai ware gadered vp
Swithe sore sche him atraid
Certes he was wel iuel ipaid
Whanne þe gestes weren atais
Þai wenten hom fram his paleis
Morewe come ac now ihere
Þe louerd let make a gret fere
And let of sende a neyghebour
Ich vnde^r^stonde a god barbour
And fet his wif forþ fot hot
And hire misddedes hire atwot
And saide he moste chasti hire ginne
For iuel blod was hire wi3 inne
Hit moste be quik ilaten out
Þat ssche ne helde hire nowt so stout
Wer here lef were hire loþ
Of hire he spoiled euerich cloþ
Þo hire kertel was of idrawe
Þo wende ssche wel to ben islawe
An saide 3he sscholde die al so swiþe
For 3he neuer lat blod in hire liue
Þer of ne stod him non owe
He rent hire smok to þe elbowe
And sithen set hire on a stol
For he ne wolde nowt ssche were a fol
And gan to smiten hire on þe breyn
And sche bledde wi3 gret meyn
Grete disschfolles two
Als swithe here arm was staunched þo
He dede þat oþer arm forht drawe
Þan wende sscho wel to ben islawe
And loude ssche gan to wepe and crie
Hit helpe3 þe nowt be seinte marie
Þe barbour in þe veyne hire smot
Sche bledde wel til ssche was hot
95ra
Þe þridde disscful vpri3t
Anon 3he les colour and mi3t
Þe louerd hit segh3 and dede hire staunche
And in a bed he dede here launche
And saide þries þou breddest wod
Þerfore þou bleddest þre disschfoul of blod
And 3if þou bredest wod ani more
3it isschal dubble þi sore
Sche wende to degh3e sche was a gast
And sent after here moder on hast
Hire moder com and sche saide
A mercy moder for mari maide
I schal degh3e nou red me red me red
Doughter what schal þat ised
Þou most me telle what is þis
Mi louerd me haþ ne3 slawen iwis
For mine þre vnwrast dede
Þre disschful of blod he let me bled
Þat ine mai liue bi godes ore
Doughter lest þe loue more
Nai moder bi god almi3t
I nelle neiþer louie clerk ne kni3t
No doughter iseide ful wel
Þat olde men be3 queynte and fel
Þai conne more qued biþenche
Þan þou kanst do wi3 ani wrenche
Hold þe to þine hosebounde
And þou sschalt haue al þe mounde
Lo sire quad malquidras
Ne was þis a wonder cas
Þries misdede þis womman bald
And þre vengaunces he hire 3ald
Þerfore sche hadde elles idon
Þat had ben werst of euerichon
Þe prest hi kaste hire loue to
Þat noman mi3t haue vndo
So fare3 þe quen wi3 hire resoun
Wi3 hire lesinges and fals tresoun
Þi sone to deþ for to bring
Ac 3if þou leuest hire lesing
Þan þe falle a werse aprise
As dede to þat elde wise
P ar fai maister þat ware lawe
to dai ne schal he nowt be slawe
95rb
Þe maister out of toune rit
Þe child bileft in prisoun pit
Þe dai is gon and come þe ni3t
Þemperour wente to chaumbre apli3t
His emperice þer he fond
Sore wepe and wrong hire hond
Ma dame saide þemperour
Whi makest þou swich scher 7 foul lour
Sire no wonder þou3 ich am wro3t
Þou dest þing þat me is loht
Þou leuest tales of losengrie
Of falsnesse and of trecherie
So dede cressus þe riche man
God and siluer to wille he wan
Bi losengerie an bi engin
Ac hit turned him to euel fin
Ma dame he saide tel þat me
Of sire Cressus hou ended he
Bleþeliche sire so mot ich þe
So þat 3e wil þe better be
V irgil was whilom a clerk
þat coude of nigramancie werk
He made a fair coniuring ·
Amideward Rome cheping
Þat no man quenche ne mi3t
Wi3 no water i3ou pli3t
Alle þe poure men of þe lond
Warmed hem þer bi fot and hond
And made here mete bi þat fir
Þat was a þing of gret matir
And þer biside on o donioun
He kest a man of cler latoun
And in his hond an arblast heldand
And þer inne a quarel taisand
And in his foreheued was writen wi3 blac
Lettres þat þis word spak
3if me smite3 ani man
I sschete him anon o3an
So hit bifel on a dai
A lumbard com wi3 gre noblai
And se3 þe merueile saun3 dout
And saide to þe folk about
Wil 3e þat I smite þis man
To loke what he do can
95va
And þai saide 3a· and he him smette
Þe ymage in þe fir sschette
Þ fir aqueinte for euere mo
Sire was þis wel ido
Nai dame he saide bi heuene king
Þat was no ri3t wisdoing
Ac virgil dede 3it more meruail
Vpon þe est 3ate of þe toun
He made a man of fin latoun
And in his hond of gold a bal
Vpon þe 3ate on þe west wal
Virgil kest an ymage oþer
Ri3t als hit were his owen broþer
Þat al þe folk of rome said
Wi3 þat bal to gider þai plaid
Þat on hit hente þai oþer hit þrew
Mani aman þe soþe iknew
Amideward þe cite on a stage
Virgil made anoþer ymage
Þat held a mirour in his hond
And ouer seg3 al þat lond
Who wolde pes who wolde bataille
Quik he warned þe toun saun3 faile
Aboute Rome seuen Iurneys
Þous he warned ni3t and dais
And þo þat were rebel ifounde
Þe Romains gadered hem in astounde
Þai wente þider quik a non
And destrued here fon
Þe kyng of Poile hadde gret enuie
Þat þe Romayns made swich maistrie
For he ne mi3te for non nede
A3en Rome in batail spede
Þat he ne was euer more bi wraid
Ouercomen venkud and bitraid
U pon a dai he send his sond
after alle þe wise men of his lond
And tolde hem alle his greuaunce
And saide he wolde heglich auaunce
Who mi3t þat ymage fel a doun
He wolde him 3if his warisoun
Twei clerkes breþer þat were in rome
Þat maistri on honde þai nome
95vb
And the king hem made seur
Of warisoun and gred honeur
Þai dede þe king fille twei forcers
Of Riche gold 7 of clers
And dede hit lade wi3 priuete
In to Rome þat riche Cite
Þat o forcer þai doluen nowt late
In Rome ate est 3ate
Vnder þe ymage þat þe bal held
Þis was a dede queinte and beld
Þat oþer forcer ful of gold
Þai bidoluen in þe mold
Vnder þe west gate þat noman wist
Þis was a dede of queint list
A morewen þai sschewed hem in Rome
7 biforn Sire cressus come
An said al hail sir emperour
It falle3 to þe tol of tresour
We conne to do þe vnderstonde
Of hid tresor in þi londe
3if þou wilt half parte wi3 ous
Þou sschalt hit haue Sire cressus
Þemperour saide þat I not
Ich haue forlorn þat eueri grot
7 þerfore frendes igraunt 3ou
Þat 3e mai finde wi3 3oure vertu
Þe haluendel in alle þingge
Gowe aboute þe findinge
Nai certes saide þe elderer broþer
Arst we mote don anoþer
Ich mot mete a sweuen to ni3t
7 to morewen whan hit is li3t
Sire þou sschalt haue þine wille
Þous þai were þat ni3t stille
S one amorewe wi3 god entent
sire cressus to þe est 3ate went
Þe clerkes doluen in þe mold
And fond a forcer ful of gold
And 3af hit vp to þemperour
And he hit feng wi3 gret honur
Amorewe þe 3onger saide wel euen
Sire to ni3t me mette a sweuen
A richcher forcer þan þat
We sschulle finde ate west 3ate
96ra
Quik wente þider þemperour
And hise barouns of gret honur
And þer þai doluen in þe gronde
A riche forcer þer þai founde
Ful of red gold igraue
And vp to þemperour þai hit haue
Þemperour held hem so wise
In al þe werld was hire pris
Þan swor þe eldere bi blod an^d^ bones
Haue ich to ni3t imet ones
I schal þe finde tresor itelle
Is non richer fram hennes to helle
Þai 3ede to bedde and risen a morewe
Þemperour to mochel sorewe
Þan saide þe elder to þemperour
Vnder þe ymage þat halt þe mirour
In al poile ne Romanye
Ne is so mochel tresorie
Moste we delue þer vnder
Þou sscholdest habbe gold a wonder
Na quaþ þemperour for e3te non
Þat ymage wolde ich misdon
Þan seide þe 3onger to þemperour
Þer is al virgiles tresour
We sschulle þe ymage so vndersete
Þat we ne sschal hit no þing lette
7 whan we han þe gold in þe grounde
We sscholle hit make ase we hit founde
For we beþ Ma3ouns queinte of cast
Þan saide cressus goht an hast
Þai bigonne hire werk saun3 dout
And sette postes al about
And bigan to mini vnder
Herkne3 nouw aselkou3 wonder
Þai to rent ston fram ston
Þe fondement to brast anon
Al dai þai mined doun ri3t
Til hit come to þe ni3t
On þe morewe þai saide to cressus stille
Of gold þou sschalt haue þi wille
Þemperour wente to his palais
Clerkes al so and mani burgeis
Ech man wente to his inne
Þe clerkes þoughte anoþer ginne
96rb
Whanne ech man slepen grete and smale
Þe clerkes to þe stage stale
And bet a fir strong and sterk
Þe fir flegh3 vp in to þe werk
7 falsed þe siment and þe ston
Þe ymage ouer þrew anon
And þo þe clerkes segh3en þis
Away þai flowen for sothe iwis
A morewe þemperour aros
Of his dede him sore agros
In his herte was kare and howe
Awai he wolde han iflowe
Þe smale and þe poeple of Rome
To sire cressus þai nome sone
7 tolde him for coueitise
He hadde iloren Romes prise
Þai ladde forþ in þat stounde
7 to a table fast him bounde
7 red gold quik þai melte
7 nose and mouht ful þai helte
7 eren and e3en al so
Þer whiles a drope wolde in go
7 seide sire for godesloue
Þou hast made þral þat was aboue
Nou artou ful nou make þe heit
Nou wiltou nammore coueit
Nou is he ded wi3 mochel schame
O þou seist soþ he seide dame
3a sire for his lesingges
Þat he leued twaie false gadelinges
He turned to wel iuel fin
Sire swich sschal be ending þin
Nai dame he saide 3if god wile
3is sire sche saide bi ri3t skile
For þou leuest wel flaterie
Þat þe maistres conne to þe lie
7 desire to make þin air
He þat sschal þe schende vair
For he is þe fendes chike
Þer whiles he liue3 þou mai sike
Dame isschal kepe me fram kare
Ri3t to morewe he sschal forþ fare
Sire sche saide bi seint Michel
Þanne dost þou wisliche and wel
96va
M orewe com as 3e mowe here
þemperour aros wi3 wroþ chere
And to his paleys he gan wende
Ri3t biforen his barouns hende
He let brenge forht his owen sone
And whan he com out of prisoun
Amideward Rome toun
Þan come riden maister Catoun
Þe folk of Rome on him gan crie
And saide Catoun kiþe þi maistrie
Help þi disciple in þis nede
Catoun li3t a doun of his stede
And grette þemperour on his kne
And vn eþe he wold him se
He seide to him maister Catoun
Þou hast me don wel gret traisoun
For to þe and þine fere
I bitok mi sone to lere
3e tau3te him to nimen forþ min emperice
Sire quaþ Catoun swich wordes be3 nice
7 his speche is forlore
Nai sire and he finde 3oure grace bifore
Þi wif wolde he forlain haue nowt
3if þou hit leuest þou art bicou3t
Ac 3if þou do þi sone duresse
On þe falle swich a destresse
And swich a maner vileynie
As hadde þe burgeis for his pie
O maister he saide what what ;
I þe praie tel me þat
Sire he saide what helpe3 hit mi sawe
3if þi sone þer whiles beþ islawe
Ac let him fechche quik a3ain
And i þe sschal mi tale sain
Þ e emperour of rome dioclician
his sone he het fechche anon
Nou euerich man þat loue3 his hale
Lestne wel catones tale
A burgeis was in Rome toun
A richeman of gret renoun
Marchaunt he was of gret auoir
7 had a wif was queint and fair
But sche was fikel vnder hir lok
And hadde a parti of eue smok
96vb
And manie ben 3it of hire kinne
Þat ben al bilapped þer inne
Þe burgeis hadde a pie in his halle
Þat couþe telle tales alle
Apertlich in freinch langage
And heng in a fair cage
And seþ lemmans comen and gon
And teld hire louerd sone anon
And for þat þe pie hadde isaid
Þe wif was ofte iuel ipaid
And þe burgeis loued his pie
For he wiste he couþe nowt lie
So hit bifil vpon a dai
Þ burgeis fram home tok his wai
And wente about his marchaundise
Þe wif waited anon hire prise
And sente here copiner fore
7 whanne he com to þe halle dore
He ne dorste nowt in hie
For þe wreiing of þe pie
Þe wif him biþe hond hent
And in to chaumbre anon þai went
Þe pie bigan to grede anon
3a now mi louerd is out igon
Þou comest hider for no gode
I schal 3ou wraie bi þe rode
Þe wif þou3t schent 3e was
A wrenche 3he þou3te naþelas
And clepede a maide to make here bed
And after bi hir boþer red
A laddre þai sette þe halle to
And vndede a tile or two
Ouer þe pie þai gan handel
A cler bacyn and a candel
A pot ful of water cler
Þai sschadde vpon þe pies swer
Wi3 bacyn beting and kandel li3t
Þa bobbed þe pie bi ni3t
And water on him gan schenche
Þis was on of wommannes wrenche
Þo þe dai dwaen gan
Awai stal þe 3ongeman
Men vnlek dore and windowe
Þe pie him sschok wi3 mochel howe
97ra
For ssche was fain þat hit was dai
Þe copiner was went his wai
Þe gode burgeis was home icome
In to þe halle þe wai he nome
Þe pie saide bigod almi3t
Þe copiner was her to ni3t
And haþ idon þe mochel sschame
Imad an hore of oure dame
And 3it hit had ben to ni3t
Gret rain 7 þonder bri3t
Sehthen ich was brid in mi nest
I ne hadde neuer so iuel rest
Þe wif haþ þe tale iherd
And þou3te wel to ben amered
And saide sire þou hast outrage
To leue a pie in a kage
To ni3t was þe weder fair and cler
And þe firmament wel fair
And sche saiþ hit haþ ben þonder
Sche haþ ilowe mani awonder
But ich be awreke of here swiþe
Ne schal ineuer ben womman bliþe
Þ e godeman askede his ne3ebours
of þat ni3t and of þe ours
And þai saide þat al þat ni3t
Was þe weder cler and bri3t
Þe burgeis saide þe pie
Ne scholde him nammore lie
Nammo wordes he þar spak
But also swiþe his nekke to brak
And whanne he se3 his pie ded
For sorewe coude he no Red
He se3gh hir and his cage
He þou3te of gile and of outrage
He wente him out þe ladder he seg3
And vp to þe halle Rof he steg3
Þe pot wi3 þe water he fond
Þat he brak wi3 his hond
7 mani oþer trecherie
Þat was idon to his pie
He went him doun wi3 outen oþ
In his herte grim and wroþ
And wi3 a god staf ful sket
His wif ate dore he bet
97rb
And bad hire go þat ilche dai
On alder twenti deuel wai
Lo sire he seide for a foles red
Þe pie þat saide soht was ded
Hadde he taken god conseil
His pie hadde ben hol and hail
And also fare3 þin emperice
Þour3 here Resoun sscherewed and nice
Sche goþ about dai and ni3t
Þi sone to deþe for to di3t
And he be ded verrament
Ne worþ þer non amendement
Bi here rede ne do þou nout
3if þou do þou art bicou3t
Al þe werld þe spise
3if þou do bi here and lete þe wise
Anon þemperour saide þan
Catoun bi him þat made man
Don ich wille after þi sawe
To dai ne sschal he nowt be slawe
Þe schild bileft in prisoun
Vpon his palefrai lep catoun
And hadde mani ablessing
For his desciples deliuering
Þ e ni3t is comen þe dai is gon
þemperour wente to chaumbre anon
his quen þanne a3en him nam
Wi3 semblant ase awroþ wimman
Dame he saide pluk vp þi cher
Oþer tel me whi þou makest swich cher
Hit nis no wonder sire biheuene
Þe sschulle sschende þi maistres seuene
Þat make3 þe to loue þi fo
For þi ich wille nou fram þe go
Ac 3if þou dost more bi hire leuing
Falle on þe ase dede on herowde þe king
Þat les his si3t in wonder wise
Þerfore þou mi3t sore agrise
Dame he saide on ech manere
Þat ilche tale ich moste here
Bleþeliche sire so mot ich þe
So þat 3he wolde þe better be
A n Emperour was in Rome
þe richest man of cristendome
97va
Herowdes was his ri3te name
Wide isprongge his riche fame
He hadde wi3 him seuen wise
Als 3e han of grete prise
Al þat þemperour dede or þout
Bi here conseil al he hit wrout
So her was arered in þis toun
Bi here rede and bi hire costom
Þat who þat mette a sweuen ani3t
He scholde come amorewe apli3t
And brenge a besaund to offring
And of his sweuen haue vndoing
So longe þai vsed þis errour
Þai were richcher þan þemperour
So hit bifel vpon a dai
Als he went vpon his plai
7 whan he come to Rome 3ate
7 wolde wenden out þer ate
He bicam blind so ston
His maistres he ofsent anon
And asked whi he mi3t nowt se
Whan he sscholde out of Rome te
Þai asked respit a fourten ni3t
Biþan þai trowede þat þai mi3t
In hire bokes finde resoun
And answeren him wi3 ri3t enchesoun
Respit þai hadde of þemperour
He wente him hom to his tour
And þe maistres hom went
And hire bokes went and trent
Ac þai ne couþe nowt ifinde
Whi þemperour was blinde
Þai sou3te conseil fer 7 ne3
Ase man þat is queinte
So on a dai after þan
Þai mette wi3 an hold man
And tolde him al hire conseil
And he answered saun3 fail
In al þe werld nis man limind
Þat couþe 3ou þat sothe find
But 3if hit ware child on
Þat neuer hadde fader non
For he can telle soþes alle
Þat ben don in bour and halle
97vb
3if 3he þat schild finde mowe
He schal 3ou telle ich wille auowe
Þe maistres wolde no leng abide
To seche þe schild þai gonne ride
On a dai þai com þer merlin pleid
And on of his felawes him traid
And he was wroþ and maked ares
And cleped him sschrewe faderles
And saide he was of þe fendes kinde
His felawes euer misdoinde
Daþeit haue þou quaþ child merlin
Al to loude þou spak þi latin
Seue maistres ise her come
Þat han me sou3t al fram Rome
Þai han wi3 me mochel to done
Ich wil hem helpe swiþe sone
Wi3 þat com aman of þat lond
And brou3t a besaund in his hond
To whom þat merlin saide þous
Man þou art ful merueilous
Þou woldest haue undoing
Of þi toni3tes meting
For þi þou woldest þat o besaund offer
Bere hit home in to þi coffer
And isschal telle and nowt ne lie
What þi meting signefie
Þou metest to ni3t in þi donghel
Sprong a water out of a wel
Þat was of swiþe god sauour
And seruede þe and þi ney3bour
I wil þe saie þe sothe word
Þe welle bitokne3 a gold hord
To delue anon in þi donghel
Þou sschalt hit finde swiþe snel
Þanne he dalf þer inne a non
And fond of gold ful god won
He 3af þe maistres of þe gold
Ase moche ase þai nime wold
And also his ne3hebour
He made him riche of þat tresour
But Merlin saide biheuene king
He wolde þer of no þing
Þ e maistres out of toune nome
and ladden merlyn toward Rome
98ra
And asked him wi3 milde mouþe
3if he þe sothe telle couþe
Whi þemperour mi3t nowt se
Whanne he sscholde out of Rome te
3a saide merlin sikerli
Ich kan telle him ful wel whi
Þe maistres were glad of þis
And to Rome þai went iwis
Þe dai was comen þat hem was set
Anon wi3 þemperour þai met
7 saide þe dai is come of answering
Quaþ herowdes þat is soþ king
Tel me hastilich and sket
Þing þat 3he me bihet
Lo sire we han a schild ibrowt
Þat schal þe telle al þi þowt
Lo her sire a litel page
Þat schal sai þe þi corage
Quaþ þemperour of lime and lond
Wil 3e his tale take an hond
3a on al þat we haue or haue mowe
Þe childes tale we wil auowe
Tel me he saide child merlin
SIR lad me arst to chaumbre þin
Þemperour him ladde a non
In to his chaumbre of lim and ston
And whanne þai were þer inne ischet
Merlin his tonge wi3 wit whet
And spak to þemperour
Þou hast he saiþ her in þi bour
Þer vnder þi bed a doun
A gret boiland cauderoun
Wi3 seuen walmes boiland
Þe walmes han þe abland
And þer whiles þai boilland be
Sire þou ne schalt neuer ise
And 3if þai mai ben queint ari3t
Þou mi3t wel wel haue þi si3t
Þemperour had wonder of þis
And let remue his bed iwis
And tok ten men oþer twelue
And het hem in þe grounde delue
Þai deden ase here louerd hem het
And doluen alle þer fulsket
98rb
Þai ne hadde dolue but astounde
Þat þe cauudroun was ifounde
Þat hadde ri3t walmes seuen
Þo was ileued þe schildes steuen
Q uad þemperour for sothe iwis
bi þe iwil don afer þis
ac telle me child some resouns
What bitokne3 þis boilouns
Sire do out þi folk ichon
7 ich wil þe telle swiþe anon
Þemperour anon ri3t
Drof out boþe clerk and kni3t
Þanne biginne3 þe child merlin
to telle þemperour swich latin
Sire he said bi god in heuen
Þise boilouns þat boilen seuen
Bitoknen þine seuen wise
Þat han iwrowt a3en þe assise
Þai han arrered custumes newe
Þat þe mai wel sore rewe
Be hit oþer clerk or kni3t
And him mete a sweuene ani3t
He come3 amorewe ich vnderstonde
An brenge3 a besaund in his honde
And to þe maistres hire sweuene telle
Þai hit vndo after her wille
Þai respounde ase hem like3
Þous þai mani man biswike3
And for þat ilche senne ifinde
Þat þou art bicome blinde
Nou tel me child þin entent
What mai me to amendement
Leue sire for mi loue
Bi on of hem mi tale proue
Leue sire take3 þemprise
And take3 þe eldest of þe wise
Lat smite atwo his nekke bon
Þe grettest walm schal quenche a non
Þemperour dede be þe schildes lore
Þe eldest maister was slein þerfore
His heued was in to þe cauudroun cast
Þe greste walm que(n>)ynte on hast
Þo þemperour wiste þis
He let sle alle seuene iwis
98va
Þe water bicome faire and liþe
Þemperour þerof was bliþe
Anon he wichss þerof his hond
And ouer se3 al þe lond
And sire so fare maistres þine
Þai schul þe bringe to mochele pine
Þai han so iblent þe
Þat þou mi3t nowt þat soþe ise
Ac 3if þou dost more bi here rede
To swiche blendnesse mote þai þe lede
As hadde herowdes þe king
Þat was ne3 browt to iuel ending
N ai dame he saide þou art wilde
fram swiche schame god me schilde
for hem ischal me ful wel kepe
Of hem ne 3iue i nowt an hepe
Sire sche saide þou hast god ri3t
Þai ben about dai and ni3t
Þe to bigile an bitraie
Cokkes crewe and hit was daie
Þemperour aros anon
And wente to his halle of ston
And ase þemperour verraiment
Hadde 3iuen his sone Iuggement
Þe sexte maister com in to þe halle
7 hendeliche he grette hem alle
And saide sire þou art wel nice
To leue so mochel þin emperice
Whanne þou leuest hire so
Þat þou wilt þi sone slo
Þanne mot hit so fare bi þe
As bi a sschereue of þis countre
Þa hirt his wif wi3 a knif
In þe wombe 3e les hire lif
Quaþ þemperour in alle maner
Þat ilche tale ich moste her
Leue sire what helpe3 mi tale
3if þi sone þolie3 deþes bale
3if him to dai longes rest
Iich schal þe telle a newe gest
Swich a tale i þe telle can
Ne schal tou neuer leue wimman
Þemperour hete him let
And his sone a3en fet
98vb
Þe child was pult in prisoun
Þe maister ginne3 his resoun
S ire he saide þou mi3t me leue
hit was a kni3t ariche sscherreue
And 3ong Iolif wif
Þat he loued has his lif
And ssche him bi vnderstonding
Louede him wel in alle þing
So on a dai him and his wif
Was i3ouen a newe knif
Fair hit was and of egge scharp
And þai on gamen gonne carp
Þe kni3t his wif in þe wombe carf
For doel þer of a morewe starf
He dede gret foli cert
Or to tendre was hir hert
Sone amorewe erliche
3he was biwaked richeliche
7 wel faire browt on erthe
After þat sche was werthe
Þe leuedi saide for no wenne
Sche ne wolde neuer wende þenne
But as hir louerd for him daide
Sche wolde be ded an bi him laide
Here frendes seg3en al þat cas
7 comen to hire to make Solas
7 saiden dame gent and fre
Of þi selue haue pite
For þou art fair and 3ong saun3 fail
And maist þe werld mochel auail
Some kni3t þe wedde of noblai
And haue wi3 him moche to plai
Gode children bi3eten and faire
Gentil dame debonaire
Lete a wai þi mourning
7 tak þe to some conforting
Þat wil ido for no wele
Ac die ich wille on his beriele
3he saide allas and wailawo
Nel ich hennes neuere go
Ne confor take neuer mor
Here frendes were sori þo
A logge þai made vpon his graue
For sche wolde þer bilaue
99ra
And maked him a ful fair fer
And fond hire þat ni3t stouer
And left here al one
And sche made reuli mone
Þat ich dai þai were inome
Þe þre þeues bi commun dome
Þe þre þeues were kni3tes
Þat were ihonged a non ri3tes
For þai hadde þe countre anuwed
7 wi3 Robberie destrwed
An honged þai were alle þre
A kni3t of þe countre held his fe
For to loke þe þre kni3ttes
Vpon þe galewes þre ni3tes
He com to þe galewes armed wel
Boþe in iren and in stel
For to make þe first ni3t ward
Þe weder was cold and froward
He was forcold and lokede aboute
And was war wi3 outen doute
Of þe fir in þe chirche hawe
And þider ward he gan to drawe
For to haue som warmyng
And fond þe leuedi doel makyng
And bad 3he sscholde late him in
3he saide 3he nolde bi seint Iohain
A 3is he seide leue dame
I nelle þe do harm ne sschame
He swor as he was gentil kni3t
S[l >]che let him in anon ri3t
He sat and warmed him bi þe fer
He biheld þe leuedis cher
And se3 swich semblant 3e made
And saide dame þou art a gade
Þat þou mournest for þe ded
Þat mai þe do noþer god ne qued
Confort þi self pluk vp þin herte
Swich mourning þan wil þe smerte
Of þis mourning þou has vnri3t
Þou scholdest louye som gentil kni3t
Þat þat þe mi3t do sum solas
And sche saide allas · allas·
He was so smal and so gent
I ne mai loue non oþer verraiment
99rb
Ne hadde he seten þer but awhile
He þou3te men mi3te don him gile
He priked to þe galewes wi3 his fole
7 fond þat a þef was istole
Þo was him wo veraiment
He scholde lese his auauncement
But he mi3te finde þe þridde
Þe þef þat heng þe twaie amidde
He þat wimmen couþe red
To help men at her ned
3he ne was nowt fer but somdel ne3
He telde hire þe sorewe þat he dre3
And bisoughte hire of god conseiling
For þat he was in gret mourning
3he saide sire ich wille helpe þe
So þat þou wille spousi me
3is dame he saide preciouse
3if þou me helpe ich wille þe spouse
3e let here sorewe awai gon
And saide help lemman a non
Help delf vp mi lord þat was
He schal vs helpen in þis cas
And honge we him in his entaile
Here red was don saun3 faille
Hit ne mai nowt ben forhole
Þai baren him forþ for him was stole
Þanne saide þe kni3t to þe leuedi
Who mai þis kni3t hongi
I þe segge bi heuene king
I nolde him honge for no þing
For 3if ich hadde ihonged a kni3t
I schol be coward icleped wi3 ri3t
[I >] Sire 3he saide ich wil fol fawe
Heghe him honge and vpdrawe
Þe leuedi dede in wode gere
A Rop aboute hire lordes swere
And drow him vp and heng him fast
Þe kni3t of hire dedes was agast
And saide dame be gode mounde
Þe stolen kni3t hadde a wonde
In his heued þat was biknawe
Whar bi him knewe heghe and lowe
And but þi louerd swich on haue
I þe sai so god me saue
99va
Sone wi3 inne litel while
Worht iparceiued oure gile
Sire sche saide tak þi swerd
7 in þe heued smit mi louerd
Þanne schal hit ben non vnderstonding
But hit was he þat er þar hing
Nai dame for moche ne lite
Þe dede kni3t wolde i nowt smite
No sire sche saide þi swerd me reche
And ich him schal wi3 min hond teche
Hou godes grame come to toune
Ri3t amideward his croune
Þe leuedi tok and smot wi3 mayn
Al amideward þe brayn
Þanne þe kni3t wel vnderstod
Þat fals and fikel was hire blod
And saide 3it vnliche 3he be3
Broken were his fore te3
Sire sche saide smit hem out
Nai dame he saide wi3 outen dout
Þan wil ich 3he saide and tok a ston
And smot hem out euerich on
Whan þis dede was ido
Þe leuedi saide þe kni3t to
Sire now ich haue iwonne þi loue
Nai dame he saide bi god aboue
For gold no siluer lond ne house
Þi false bodi ne wold ispouse
For also woldestou serue me
Hase þou hast don þi louerd so fre
Þan hast itawt me a newe ran
Þat ischal neuer leue wimman
For þere þai make semblant fairest
Þai wil bigile þe alþerformest
Sire and on þe falle swich astrif
Als dede þe sscherreue of his wif
3if þou for þin emperice wild
Wolle sle þin owen child
Ac sire abid til anoþer morewe
On hire sschal falle alle þe sorewe
And whanne þou herest þi sone speke
Ri3t fulliche þou him awreke
Þemperour saide so ich schal
And þanne departed þe curt al
99vb
Some to castel and some to tour
Þemperour wente to his bour
Þemperice made semblant ille
For sche ne hadde nowt hire wille
His owen men naþelas
Made wel god solas
Þemperour was Browt abedde
Wi3 riche baudekines ispredde
Þemperice him com to
Als sche was ar iwont to
Sire hastou owt herd þe geste
Whi men made folen feste
Nai dame he saide gent and fre
I þe praie þanne telle hit me
S ire 3he saide wi3 outen dout
whilom was Rome bilayn about
wi3 seuen soudans biset
Wal and gate and castelet
Þe honur of Rome for to abate
And for to strwe seinte petres sate
Þat is to seie cristendom to felle
And cristenmen to aquelle
Þe folk hem ful wel held
Wise of speche of dede beld
To ·vij· wise men toke we þis toun
To kepe hit fram destructioun
Bi his rede hit was itake
To ·vij· wise men to biwake
A moneþ þai kept hit
Ase we finde3 in þe writ
Whan hit com to þe mone3 ende
Þai ne mi3t hit no lenger defende
But ase þai dede afair queintise
Herkne3 now in what wise
A man þer was so sei3 þe Rime
Þat hit geines In þat time
He was on of þe seuen wise
Þer he dede afair queintise
He let him make a garnement
Ase blak ase ani arnement
And heng þer on squirel tail
A þousand and mo wi3 outen fail
A viser 3it he made more
Two faces bihinde 7 two bifore
7 tway nases
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