Chapter D: CAMB. UNIV. Dd. viii. 19 (Bern. Cat. ii. 9653). Confessio Amantis (3)

Now forto speke of the comune,
It is to drede of that fortune 500
[Sidenote: De statu plebis, vt dicunt, secundum accidencium
mutabilia.[137]]
Which hath befalle in sondri londes:
Bot often for defalte of bondes
Al sodeinliche, er it be wist,
A Tonne, whanne his lye arist,
Tobrekth and renneth al aboute,
Which elles scholde noght gon oute;
And ek fulofte a litel Skar
Upon a Banke, er men be war,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 21=]
Let in the Strem, which with gret peine,
If evere man it schal restreigne. [138] 510
Wher lawe lacketh, errour groweth,
He is noght wys who that ne troweth,
For it hath proeved ofte er this;
And thus the comun clamour is
In every lond wher poeple dwelleth,
And eche in his compleignte telleth
How that the world is al miswent,
And ther upon his jugement[139]
Yifth every man in sondry wise.
Bot what man wolde himself avise, 520
His conscience and noght misuse,
He may wel ate ferste excuse
His god, which evere stant in on:
In him ther is defalte non,
[Sidenote: [MAN THE CAUSE OF EVIL.]]
So moste it stonde upon ousselve
Nought only upon ten ne twelve,
Bot plenerliche upon ous alle,
For man is cause of that schal falle.
And natheles yet som men wryte
[Sidenote: Nota contra hoc, quod aliqui sortem fortune, aliqui
influenciam planetarum ponunt, per quod, vt dicitur, rerum
euentus necessario contingit. Set pocius dicendum est, quod
ea que nos prospera et aduersa in hoc mundo vocamus, secundum
merita et demerita hominum digno dei iudicio proveniunt.]
And sein that fortune is to wyte, 530
And som men holde oppinion
That it is constellacion,
Which causeth al that a man doth:
God wot of bothe which is soth.
The world as of his propre kynde
Was evere untrewe, and as the blynde
Improprelich he demeth fame,
He blameth that is noght to blame
[Sidenote: =P. i. 22=]
And preiseth that is noght to preise:
Thus whan he schal the thinges peise, 540
Ther is deceipte in his balance,
And al is that the variance
Of ous, that scholde ous betre avise;[140]
For after that we falle and rise,
The world arist and falth withal,
So that the man is overal
His oghne cause of wel and wo.
That we fortune clepe so
Out of the man himself it groweth;
And who that other wise troweth, 550
Behold the poeple of Irael:[141]
For evere whil thei deden wel,
Fortune was hem debonaire,
And whan thei deden the contraire,
Fortune was contrariende.
So that it proeveth wel at ende
Why that the world is wonderfull
And may no while stonde full,
Though that it seme wel besein;
For every worldes thing is vein, 560
And evere goth the whiel aboute,
And evere stant a man in doute,
Fortune stant no while stille,
So hath ther noman al his wille.
Als fer as evere a man may knowe,[142]
Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe;
[Sidenote: Boicius. O quam dulcedo humane vite multa
amaritudine aspersa est!]
The world stant evere upon debat,
So may be seker non astat,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 23=]
Now hier now ther, now to now fro,
Now up now down, this world goth so, 570
And evere hath don and evere schal:
Wherof I finde in special
A tale writen in the Bible,
Which moste nedes be credible;
And that as in conclusioun
Seith that upon divisioun
Stant, why no worldes thing mai laste,
Til it be drive to the laste.
And fro the ferste regne of alle[143]
Into this day, hou so befalle, 580
Of that the regnes be muable
The man himself hath be coupable,
Which of his propre governance
Fortuneth al the worldes chance.

[Sidenote: [NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM.]]
v. _Prosper et aduersus obliquo tramite versus_
_Immundus mundus decipit omne genus._
_Mundus in euentu versatur vt alea casu,_[144]
_Quam celer in ludis iactat auara manus._[145]
_Sicut ymago viri variantur tempora mundi,_
_Statque nichil firmum preter amare deum._[146]

The hyhe almyhti pourveance,
In whos eterne remembrance
Fro ferst was every thing present,
He hath his prophecie sent,[147]
In such a wise as thou schalt hiere,
To Daniel of this matiere, 590
[Sidenote: Hic in prologo tractat de Statua illa, quam
Rex Nabugodonosor viderat in sompnis, cuius caput aureum,
pectus argenteum, venter eneus, tibie ferree, pedum vero quedam
pars ferrea, quedam fictilis videbatur, sub qua membrorum
diuersitate secundum Danielis exposicionem huius mundi variacio
figurabatur.]
Hou that this world schal torne and wende,
Till it be falle to his ende;[148]
Wherof the tale telle I schal,
In which it is betokned al.
[Sidenote: =P. i. 24=]
As Nabugodonosor slepte,
A swevene him tok, the which he kepte
Til on the morwe he was arise,
For he therof was sore agrise.
To Daniel his drem he tolde,
And preide him faire that he wolde 600
Arede what it tokne may;
And seide: ‘Abedde wher I lay,
Me thoghte I syh upon a Stage
Wher stod a wonder strange ymage.
His hed with al the necke also
Thei were of fin gold bothe tuo;
His brest, his schuldres and his armes
Were al of selver, bot the tharmes,[149]
The wombe and al doun to the kne,
Of bras thei were upon to se;[150] 610
The legges were al mad of Stiel,[151]
So were his feet also somdiel,
And somdiel part to hem was take
Of Erthe which men Pottes make;
[Sidenote: Hic narrat vlterius de quodam lapide grandi,[152]
qui, vt in dicto sompnio videbatur, ab excelso monte super
statuam corruens ipsam quasi in nichilum penitus contriuit.]
The fieble meynd was with the stronge,
So myhte it wel noght stonde longe.[153]
And tho me thoghte that I sih
A gret ston from an hull on hyh[154]
Fel doun of sodein aventure
Upon the feet of this figure, 620
With which Ston al tobroke was
Gold, Selver, Erthe, Stiel and Bras,
That al was in to pouldre broght,
And so forth torned into noght.’
[Sidenote: =P. i. 25=]
[Sidenote: Hic loquitur de interpretacione sompnii, et primo
dicit[155] de significacione capitis aurei.]
This was the swevene which he hadde,
That Daniel anon aradde,
And seide him that figure strange
Betokneth how the world schal change
And waxe lasse worth and lasse,
Til it to noght al overpasse. 630
The necke and hed, that weren golde,
He seide how that betokne scholde
A worthi world, a noble, a riche,
To which non after schal be liche.
[Sidenote: De pectore argenteo.]
Of Selver that was overforth
Schal ben a world of lasse worth;
[Sidenote: De ventre eneo.]
And after that the wombe of Bras
Tokne of a werse world it was.
[Sidenote: De tibeis ferreis.]
The Stiel which he syh afterward
A world betokneth more hard: 640
[Sidenote: De significacione pedum, qui ex duabus materiis
discordantibus adinuicem diuisi extiterant.]
Bot yet the werste of everydel
Is last, whan that of Erthe and Stiel
He syh the feet departed so,
For that betokneth mochel wo.
Whan that the world divided is,
It moste algate fare amis,
For Erthe which is meynd with Stiel
Togedre may noght laste wiel,
Bot if that on that other waste;
So mot it nedes faile in haste. 650
[Sidenote: De lapidis statuam confringentis significacione.]
The Ston, which fro the hully Stage
He syh doun falle on that ymage,
And hath it into pouldre broke,
That swevene hath Daniel unloke,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 26=]
And seide how that is goddes myht,
Which whan men wene most upryht
To stonde, schal hem overcaste.
And that is of this world the laste,
And thanne a newe schal beginne,[156]
Fro which a man schal nevere twinne; 660
[Sidenote: [THE EMPIRES OF THE WORLD.]]
Or al to peine or al to pes
That world schal lasten endeles.
[Sidenote: Hic consequenter scribit qualiter huius seculi
regna variis mutacionibus, prout in dicta statua figurabatur,
secundum temporum distincciones sencibiliter hactenus
diminuuntur.[158m]]
Lo thus expondeth Daniel[157]
The kynges swevene faire and wel
In Babiloyne the Cite,
Wher that the wiseste of Caldee
Ne cowthen wite what it mente;
Bot he tolde al the hol entente,[158]
As in partie it is befalle.
[Sidenote: De seculo aureo, quod in capite statue designatum
est, a tempore ipsius Nabugodonosor Regis Caldee vsque in
regnum Ciri Regis Persarum.]
Of gold the ferste regne of alle 670
Was in that kinges time tho,
And laste manye daies so,
Therwhiles that the Monarchie
Of al the world in that partie
To Babiloyne was soubgit;
And hield him stille in such a plit,
Til that the world began diverse:
And that was whan the king of Perse,
Which Cirus hyhte, ayein the pes
Forth with his Sone Cambises 680
Of Babiloine al that Empire,[159]
Ryht as thei wolde hemself desire,
Put under in subjeccioun[160]
And tok it in possessioun,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 27=]
And slayn was Baltazar the king,
Which loste his regne and al his thing.
And thus whan thei it hadde wonne,
[Sidenote: De seculo argenteo, quod in pectore designatum
est, a tempore ipsius Regis Ciri vsque in regnum Alexandri
Regis Macedonie.]
The world of Selver was begonne
And that of gold was passed oute:
And in this wise it goth aboute 690
In to the Regne of Darius;
And thanne it fell to Perse thus,
That Alisaundre put hem under,
Which wroghte of armes many a wonder,
So that the Monarchie lefte
With Grecs, and here astat uplefte,
And Persiens gon under fote,
So soffre thei that nedes mote.[161]
[Sidenote: De seculo eneo, quod in ventre designatum est,
a tempore ipsius Alexandri vsque in regnum Iulii Romanorum
Imparatoris.]
And tho the world began of Bras,
And that of selver ended was; 700
Bot for the time thus it laste,
Til it befell that ate laste
This king, whan that his day was come,
With strengthe of deth was overcome.
And natheles yet er he dyde,[162]
He schop his Regnes to divide
To knyhtes whiche him hadde served,
And after that thei have deserved
Yaf the conquestes that he wan;
Wherof gret werre tho began 710
Among hem that the Regnes hadde,
Thurgh proud Envie which hem ladde,
Til it befell ayein hem thus:
The noble Cesar Julius,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 28=]
Which tho was king of Rome lond,
With gret bataille and with strong hond
Al Grece, Perse and ek Caldee
Wan and put under, so that he[163]
Noght al only of thorient
Bot al the Marche of thoccident[164] 720
Governeth under his empire,
As he that was hol lord and Sire,
And hield thurgh his chivalerie[165]
Of al this world the Monarchie,[166]
And was the ferste of that honour
Which tok the name of Emperour.
[Sidenote: De seculo ferreo, quod in tibeis designatum
est, a tempore Iulii vsque in[167] regnum Karoli magni Regis
Francorum.[168m]]
Wher Rome thanne wolde assaille,
Ther myhte nothing contrevaille,
Bot every contre moste obeie:
Tho goth the Regne of Bras aweie, 730
And comen is the world of Stiel,
And stod above upon the whiel.[168]
As Stiel is hardest in his kynde
Above alle othre that men finde
Of Metals, such was Rome tho
The myhtieste, and laste so
Long time amonges the Romeins
Til thei become so vileins,
That the fals Emperour Leo[169]
With Constantin his Sone also 740
The patrimoine and the richesse,
Which to Silvestre in pure almesse
The ferste Constantinus lefte,
Fro holy cherche thei berefte.
[Sidenote: =P. i. 29=]
Bot Adrian, which Pope was,[170]
And syh the meschief of this cas,
Goth in to France forto pleigne,
And preith the grete Charlemeine,
For Cristes sake and Soule hele
That he wol take the querele[171] 750
Of holy cherche in his defence.
And Charles for the reverence
Of god the cause hath undertake,
And with his host the weie take[172]
Over the Montz of Lombardie;
Of Rome and al the tirandie
With blodi swerd he overcom,
And the Cite with strengthe nom;
In such a wise and there he wroghte,
That holy cherche ayein he broghte 760
Into franchise, and doth restore
The Popes lost, and yaf him more:
And thus whan he his god hath served,
He tok, as he wel hath deserved,[173]
The Diademe and was coroned.
Of Rome and thus was abandoned
Thempire, which cam nevere ayein
Into the hond of no Romein;[174]
Bot a long time it stod so stille
Under the Frensche kynges wille, 770
Til that fortune hir whiel so ladde,
That afterward Lombardz it hadde,
Noght be the swerd, bot be soffrance
Of him that tho was kyng of France,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 30=]
Which Karle Calvus cleped was;
And he resigneth in this cas
Thempire of Rome unto Lowis
His Cousin, which a Lombard is.
[Sidenote: De seculo nouissimis iam temporibus ad
similitudinem pedum in discordiam lapso et diuiso, quod
post decessum ipsius Karoli, cum imperium Romanorum in
manus Longobardorum peruenerat,[175] tempore Alberti et
Berengarii incepit: nam ob eorum diuisionem contigit,
vt Almanni imperatoriam adepti sunt maiestatem. In
cuius solium quendam principem theotonicum Othonera
nomine sublimari primitus constituerunt. Et ab illo
regno incipiente diuisio per vniuersum orbem in posteros
concreuit, vnde nos ad alterutrum diuisi huius seculi
consummacionem iam vltimi expectamus.]
And so hit laste into the yeer
Of Albert and of Berenger; 780
Bot thanne upon dissencioun
Thei felle, and in divisioun
Among hemself that were grete,
So that thei loste the beyete
Of worschipe and of worldes pes.
Bot in proverbe natheles
Men sein, ful selden is that welthe
Can soffre his oghne astat in helthe;
And that was on the Lombardz sene,
Such comun strif was hem betwene 790
Thurgh coveitise and thurgh Envie,
That every man drowh his partie,
Which myhte leden eny route,
Withinne Burgh and ek withoute:
The comun ryht hath no felawe,
So that the governance of lawe
Was lost, and for necessite,
Of that thei stode in such degre
Al only thurgh divisioun,
Hem nedeth in conclusioun 800
Of strange londes help beside.
And thus for thei hemself divide
And stonden out of reule unevene,
Of Alemaine Princes sevene[176]
[Sidenote: =P. i. 31=]
Thei chose in this condicioun,
That upon here eleccioun
Thempire of Rome scholde stonde.
And thus thei lefte it out of honde
For lacke of grace, and it forsoke,
That Alemans upon hem toke: 810
And to confermen here astat,
Of that thei founden in debat[177]
Thei token the possessioun
After the composicioun
Among hemself, and therupon
Thei made an Emperour anon,
Whos name as the Cronique telleth
Was Othes; and so forth it duelleth,
Fro thilke day yit unto this
Thempire of Rome hath ben and is 820
[Sidenote: [THE LATEST TIME.]]
To thalemans. And in this wise,[178]
As ye tofore have herd divise
How Daniel the swevene expondeth[179]
Of that ymage, on whom he foundeth
The world which after scholde falle,
Come is the laste tokne of alle;
Upon the feet of Erthe and Stiel
So stant this world now everydiel
Departed; which began riht tho,
Whan Rome was divided so: 830
And that is forto rewe sore,
For alway siththe more and more
The world empeireth every day.
Wherof the sothe schewe may,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 32=]
At Rome ferst if we beginne:
The wall and al the Cit withinne[180]
Stant in ruine and in decas,[181]
The feld is wher the Paleis was,[182]
The toun is wast; and overthat,
If we beholde thilke astat 840
Which whilom was of the Romeins,
Of knyhthode and of Citezeins,
To peise now with that beforn,
The chaf is take for the corn,[183]
As forto speke of Romes myht:[184]
Unethes stant ther oght upryht
Of worschipe or of worldes good,
As it before tyme stod.
And why the worschipe is aweie,
If that a man the sothe seie,[185] 850
[Sidenote: [DIVISION THE CAUSE OF EVIL.]]
The cause hath ben divisioun,
Which moder of confusioun
Is wher sche cometh overal,
Noght only of the temporal
Bot of the spirital also.
The dede proeveth it is so,
And hath do many day er this,
Thurgh venym which that medled is
In holy cherche of erthly thing:
For Crist himself makth knowleching 860
That noman may togedre serve
God and the world, bot if he swerve
Froward that on and stonde unstable;
And Cristes word may noght be fable.
[Sidenote: =P. i. 33=]
The thing so open is at ÿe,[186]
It nedeth noght to specefie
Or speke oght more in this matiere;
Bot in this wise a man mai lere
Hou that the world is gon aboute,[187]
The which welnyh is wered oute, 870
After the forme of that figure
Which Daniel in his scripture
Expondeth, as tofore is told.[188]
Of Bras, of Selver and of Gold
The world is passed and agon,
And now upon his olde ton
It stant of brutel Erthe and Stiel,
The whiche acorden nevere a diel;
So mot it nedes swerve aside
As thing the which men sen divide. 880
[Sidenote: Hic dicit secundum apostolum, quod nos sumus in
quos fines seculi deuenerunt.]
Thapostel writ unto ous alle
And seith that upon ous is falle
Thende of the world; so may we knowe,
This ymage is nyh overthrowe,
Be which this world was signified,
That whilom was so magnefied,
And now is old and fieble and vil,
Full of meschief and of peril,
And stant divided ek also
Lich to the feet that were so, 890
As I tolde of the Statue above.
And this men sen, thurgh lacke of love[189]
Where as the lond divided is,
It mot algate fare amis:
[Sidenote: =P. i. 34=]
And now to loke on every side,
A man may se the world divide,
The werres ben so general
Among the cristene overal,
That every man now secheth wreche,
And yet these clerkes alday preche[190] 900
And sein, good dede may non be
Which stant noght upon charite:
I not hou charite may stonde,
Wher dedly werre is take on honde.
Bot al this wo is cause of man,
The which that wit and reson can,
And that in tokne and in witnesse
That ilke ymage bar liknesse
Of man and of non other beste.
For ferst unto the mannes heste 910
Was every creature ordeined,
Bot afterward it was restreigned:[191]
Whan that he fell, thei fellen eke,
Whan he wax sek, thei woxen seke;
For as the man hath passioun
Of seknesse, in comparisoun
So soffren othre creatures.
[Sidenote: Hic scribit quod ex diuisionis passione singula
creata detrimentum corruptibile paciuntur.]
Lo, ferst the hevenly figures,
The Sonne and Mone eclipsen bothe,
And ben with mannes senne wrothe; 920
The purest Eir for Senne alofte
Hath ben and is corrupt fulofte,
Right now the hyhe wyndes blowe,[192]
And anon after thei ben lowe,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 35=]
Now clowdy and now clier it is:
So may it proeven wel be this,
A mannes Senne is forto hate,
Which makth the welkne to debate.
And forto se the proprete
Of every thyng in his degree, 930
Benethe forth among ous hiere
Al stant aliche in this matiere:
The See now ebbeth, now it floweth,
The lond now welketh, now it groweth,[193]
Now be the Trees with leves grene,
Now thei be bare and nothing sene,
Now be the lusti somer floures,[194]
Now be the stormy wynter shoures,
Now be the daies, now the nyhtes,[195]
So stant ther nothing al upryhtes, 940
Now it is lyht, now it is derk;
And thus stant al the worldes werk
After the disposicioun
Of man and his condicioun.
Forthi Gregoire in his Moral
Seith that a man in special[196]
The lasse world is properly:
And that he proeveth redely;
For man of Soule resonable
Is to an Angel resemblable,[197] 950
And lich to beste he hath fielinge,
And lich to Trees he hath growinge;
The Stones ben and so is he:
Thus of his propre qualite
[Sidenote: =P. i. 36=]
The man, as telleth the clergie,
Is as a world in his partie,
And whan this litel world mistorneth,[198]
The grete world al overtorneth.
The Lond, the See, the firmament,
Thei axen alle jugement 960
Ayein the man and make him werre:
Therwhile himself stant out of herre,
The remenant wol noght acorde:[199]
And in this wise, as I recorde,
The man is cause of alle wo,
Why this world is divided so.[200]
[Sidenote: Hic dicit secundum euangelium, quod omne
regnum in se diuisum desolabitur.]
Division, the gospell seith,[201]
On hous upon another leith,
Til that the Regne al overthrowe:
And thus may every man wel knowe, 970
Division aboven alle
Is thing which makth the world to falle,
And evere hath do sith it began.
[Sidenote: Quod ex sue complexionis materia diuisus homo
mortalis existat.[202]]
It may ferst proeve upon a man;
The which, for his complexioun
Is mad upon divisioun
Of cold, of hot, of moist, of drye,
He mot be verray kynde dye:
For the contraire of his astat
Stant evermore in such debat, 980
Til that o part be overcome,
Ther may no final pes be nome.[203]
Bot other wise, if a man were
Mad al togedre of o matiere
[Sidenote: =P. i. 37=]
Withouten interrupcioun,
Ther scholde no corrupcioun
Engendre upon that unite:
Bot for ther is diversite
Withinne himself, he may noght laste,
That he ne deieth ate laste. 990
[Sidenote: Quod homo ex corporis et anime condicione
diuisus, sicut saluacionis ita et dampnacionis aptitudinem
ingreditur.]
Bot in a man yit over this
Full gret divisioun ther is,
Thurgh which that he is evere in strif,
Whil that him lasteth eny lif:
The bodi and the Soule also
Among hem ben divided so,
That what thing that the body hateth
The soule loveth and debateth;
Bot natheles fulofte is sene
Of werre which is hem betwene 1000
The fieble hath wonne the victoire.
[Sidenote: Qualiter Adam a statu innocencie diuisus a
paradiso voluptatis in terram laboris peccator proiectus
est.]
And who so drawth into memoire
What hath befalle of old and newe,
He may that werre sore rewe,
Which ferst began in Paradis:
For ther was proeved what it is,
And what desese there it wroghte;
For thilke werre tho forth broghte
The vice of alle dedly Sinne,
Thurgh which division cam inne 1010
[Sidenote: Qualiter populi per vniuersum orbem a cultura
dei diuisi, Noe cum sua sequela dumtaxat exceptis, diluuio
interierunt.]
Among the men in erthe hiere,
And was the cause and the matiere
Why god the grete flodes sende,
Of al the world and made an ende
[Sidenote: =P. i. 38=]
Bot Noë with his felaschipe,
Which only weren saulf be Schipe.
And over that thurgh Senne it com
[Sidenote: Qualiter in edificacione turris Babel, quam in
dei contemptum Nembrot erexit, lingua prius hebraica in
varias linguas celica vindicta diuidebatur.]
That Nembrot such emprise nom,[204]
Whan he the Tour Babel on heihte[205]
Let make, as he that wolde feihte 1020
Ayein the hihe goddes myht,
Wherof divided anon ryht
Was the langage in such entente,
Ther wiste non what other mente,
So that thei myhten noght procede.
And thus it stant of every dede,
Wher Senne takth the cause on honde,
It may upriht noght longe stonde;
For Senne of his condicioun[206]
Is moder of divisioun 1030
[Sidenote: Qualiter mundus, qui in statu diuisionis
quasi cotidianis presenti tempore vexatur[207] flagellis, a
lapide superueniente, id est a diuina potencia vsque ad
resolucionem omnis carnis subito conteretur.]
And tokne whan the world schal faile.
For so seith Crist withoute faile,
That nyh upon the worldes ende
Pes and acord awey schol wende
And alle charite schal cesse,
Among the men and hate encresce;
And whan these toknes ben befalle,
Al sodeinly the Ston schal falle,[208]
As Daniel it hath beknowe,
Which al this world schal overthrowe, 1040
And every man schal thanne arise
To Joie or elles to Juise,
Wher that he schal for evere dwelle,
Or straght to hevene or straght to helle.
[Sidenote: =P. i. 39=]
In hevene is pes and al acord,
Bot helle is full of such descord
That ther may be no loveday:
Forthi good is, whil a man may,
Echon to sette pes with other
And loven as his oghne brother; 1050
So may he winne worldes welthe
And afterward his soule helthe.
[Sidenote: Hic narrat exemplum de concordia et vnitate
inter homines prouocanda; et dicit qualiter quidam Arion
nuper Citharista ex sui cantus cithareque consona melodia
tante virtutis extiterat, vt ipse non solum virum cum viro,
set eciam leonem cum cerua, lupum cum agna, canem cum
lepore, ipsum audientes vnanimiter absque vlla discordia
adinuicem pacificauit.]
Bot wolde god that now were on
An other such as Arion,[209]
Which hadde an harpe of such temprure,
And therto of so good mesure
He song, that he the bestes wilde
Made of his note tame and milde,
The Hinde in pes with the Leoun,
The Wolf in pes with the Moltoun, 1060
The Hare in pees stod with the Hound;
And every man upon this ground
Which Arion that time herde,
Als wel the lord as the schepherde,
He broghte hem alle in good acord;
So that the comun with the lord,
And lord with the comun also,
He sette in love bothe tuo
And putte awey malencolie.
That was a lusti melodie, 1070
Whan every man with other low;
And if ther were such on now,
Which cowthe harpe as he tho dede,
He myhte availe in many a stede
[Sidenote: =P. i. 40=]
To make pes wher now is hate;
For whan men thenken to debate,
I not what other thing is good.
Bot wher that wisdom waxeth wod,[210]
And reson torneth into rage,
So that mesure upon oultrage 1080
Hath set his world, it is to drede;
For that bringth in the comun drede,
Which stant at every mannes Dore:
Bot whan the scharpnesse of the spore
The horse side smit to sore,
It grieveth ofte. And now nomore,
As forto speke of this matiere,[211]
Which non bot only god may stiere.[212]

=Explicit Prologus=

LINENOTES:

[24a] _The text is that of_ F (_Fairfax_ 3). _The_ MSS. _most
commonly cited are the following:--_

_Of the first recension_, A (_Bodley_ 902), J (_St. John’s
Coll. Camb._ B 12), M (_Camb. Univ._ Mm. 2. 21), E₂ (_Egerton_
913), H₁ (_Harleian_ 3490), Y (_Marquess of Bute’s_), X (_Soc.
of Antiquaries_ 134), G (_Glasgow, Hunterian Mus._ S i. 7), E
(_Egerton_ 1991), R (_Reg._ 18 C xxii.), C (_Corpus Christi Coll.
Oxf._ 67), L (_Laud_ 609), B₂ (_Bodley_ 693).

_Of the second_, S (_Stafford_), Ad. (_Brit. Mus. Addit._ 12043),
B (_Bodley_ 294), T (_Trin. Coll. Camb._ R 3. 2), Δ (_Sidney
Coll. Camb._ Δ 4. 1).

_Of the third_, F (_Fairfax_ 3), W (_Wadham Coll._ 13), K
(_Keswick Hall_), H₃ (_Harl._ 7184), Magd. (_Magdalen Coll. Oxf._
213).

[24] 5 ff. time, write, wise, &c., S

[25] 6 Do ME₂H₁, SΛ, FWKH₃ So JXGRB₂, B To CL

[26] 7 Essampled (Ensampled) JME₂H₁, SΛ, FWKH₃ Ensamples X ... B₂ &c., B

[27] 8 awyse F a wise S

[28] 15 rede _om_ B

[29] 23 Englisch S

[30] 24-92 _These lines are found in copies of the third recension_ (FH₂NKH₃Magd.W &c.) _and also in_ SΛP₂. _The rest have_ 24*-92*. _The marginal note_, ‘Hic in principio--destinauit,’ _is found only in_ Λ, KH₃Magd. _Of these_, Magd. _has_ in principio libri _for_ in principio, _and_ Λ _gives_ quarto _for_ sexto.

[31] 28 on] in S

[32] 29, 30 _Two lines omitted in_ S

[33] 33 nouȝt S, F

[34] 38 Writing ... belouyd S

[35] 41 no man S

[36] 46 schiewe S

[37] 47 essampled S

[38] 49 tirantie S

[39] 51 is þe writing S

[40] 52 bural S

[41] 63 Tho write S

[42] 68 wise man S

[43] 71 no man S

[44] 72 allone S

[45] 75 awonder F

[46] 76 awys man F a wise man S

[47] 80 officie F

[48] 24*-92* _All variations from_ B _are noted_.

[49] 24* book B

[50] 25* bilongeþ B

[51] 27* euer B

[52] 29* f. recomaunde ... comaunde B

[53] 31* Prayend B

[54] 36* bityde B

[55] 37* _margin_ Regis Anglie Ricardi secundi _erased in_ B _leaving blank_

[56] 38* took B

[57] 39* Themese G Themse R

[58] 40* by B

[59] 42* _margin_ sed B

[60] 43* bifel B

[61] 43* f. neigh ... seigh B

[62] 45* _margin_ Cronicarum historiis XG

[63] 47* seyde B

[64] 48* leyde B

[65] 49* busynesse B

[66] 51* booke B

[67] 52* mighte looke B

[68] 53* f. writyng ... comaundyng B

[69] 55* hert B

[70] 59* Wiþout B

[71] 62* noon B

[72] 65* handeleþ B onkrong euery H₁ outkrong euery JME₂XGRCL outkroud euery B₂ outtrong euery Ar outkrong eny B out wronge ony Cath.

[73] 66* pray B heuene GR heuen B

[74] 69* bifalle B

[75] 75* Which JME₂XGCL What H₁RB₂, B byt B

[76] 76* ffor þy B

[77] 77* it might (it myht) JME₂CL it may GRB₂, B I may H₁ Sn it XCath.

[78] 78* to do trauayle G

[79] 80* long B

[80] 81* byheste B

[81] 82* book B

[82] 87* bygyn_n_eþ B

[83] 89* f. book ... took B

[84] 92* bygynne B

[85] 92* for to newe JME₂H₁XGR, B for the newe D Ar. for to schewe CLB₂

[86] _Latin Verses_ ii. 2 antūnas ... vrbe S

[87] 6 ff. tunc que ... Nunc que ... Pace que ... sic que F

[88] 8 subficta S

[89] 96 _margin_ videlicet--sexto decimo _inserted only in_ MSS. _of the third recension_, FWKH₃ &c. S _has instead of it_ (_after space of one line_), Nota quod tempore creacionis huius libri fuerunt guerre et opiniones guerrarum tam in sancta Cristi ecclesia quam per singula mundi regna quasi vniuersaliter diuulgate. Quapropter in hoc presenti prologo euentus tam graues scriptor per singulos gradus specialiter deplangit. _So_ Λ _without space and with_ dei _for_ Cristi

[90] 109 which JME₂CL, FKH₃ wiþ H₁XGRB₂, SBΛ, W

[91] 113 word JME₂B₂, Λ, FWK &c. world H₁XGRCL &c., SB

[92] 115 vnenuied JME₂, S, FWK &c. vneuened Λ noon enuyed (non enuied) H₁ ... B₂, B

[93] 124 comun GC, S comune B, F

[94] 127 the] þat H₁RB₂, B

[95] 143 a weer S a wer B aweer F

[96] 144 A _begins here_

[97] 147 S _has lost a leaf_, ll. 147-320

[98] 149 which A, B whiche F

[99] 155 his _om._ B

[100] 157 aman F

[101] 159 stoden AJME₂L, Δ, FKH₃ stonden H₁ ... RB₂ &c., BΛ, W

[102] 169 loue AJME₂XL, FWKH₃ it E, B _om._ H₁RB₂Sn

[103] _Latin Verses_ iii. 8 tepente JE₂, ΔΛ, FWKH₃ repente AMH₁ ... B₂ B, Magd.

[104] 10 Predo que F

[105] 194 ff. _margin_ De statu--antipape _om._ AE₂ videlicet--antipape _inserted in third recension only_ (_different hand in_ F)

[106] 201 ertly F

[107] 205 an honde R, B anhonde H₁B₂

[108] 210 prebende A, Λ

[109] 215 for _om._ XGLB₂, WH₃

[110] 219 worþy(-i) H₁ERLB₂, B worlde W

[111] 234 Petrus H₁E ... B₂, W Petris XG

[112] 249 wich F

[113] 260 to þe manhod(e) AJME₂, ΔΛ, FW to m. H₁ ... B₂, B to make m. KH₃

[114] 267 þe FKH₃Magd. þat A ... B₂ &c., BΔΛ _om._ W

[115] 280 paciencie F

[116] 317 povere] pore þei (þai) CL, W (pou_er_e þey)

[117] 321 S _resumes_

[118] 331 _Copies of first and second recensions have here in margin_ Anno domini Millesimo CCC^o Nonagesimo. S _gives this with the addition_ quia tunc erat ecclesia diuisa _and so also_ RSnDAr, Δ F _has an erasure in the margin_.

[119] 336 lyþ F (_in ras._) KH₃Magd. is A ... B₂ &c., SBΔΛ

[120] 338 flitte AXGCL

[121] 341 whiche F

[122] 347 proud A, SB proude C, F

[123] 354 that] what EB₂, B

[124] 370 argumeten F

[125] 373 This ... þat AJM, SΛ, F &c. This ... þis E₂X ... B₂, B The ... this H₁

[126] 396 pricke _om._ A

[127] 409 forcacche AME₂, SΔΛ, FWKH₃ forþ cacche H₁ ... B₂, B for tacche (?) J

[128] 410 Her Orf] Herof (Here of) RCSn, Δ Wheorof H₁ Therof Λ

[129] 419 com FK

[130] 421 folk EC, W

[131] 450 thei] men B

[132] 453 apeyre AM

[133] 457 vnto mannes soule is AME₂ is to mannes synne B

[134] 486 he _om._ AM

[135] 487 as AJME₂, SΔ, FKH₃ þat H₁ ... B₂, B is W

[136] 495-498 _Four lines found only in third recension copies_ FWKH₃ &c.

[137] 501 _margin_ mutabilia accidencium H₁RB₂, B accidencia mutabilia X

[138] 510 euere (euer) AME₂X, SΔΛ, FKH₃ euery JH₁RB₂, W eny CL, B

[139] 518 argument B

[140] 543 scholde A, B, K schold S, F

[141] 551 Irael JM, S, FH₂N: _the rest_ Israel

[142] 565 aman F

[143] 579-584 _Six lines found only in third recension: cp._ 495

[144] _Latin Verses_ v. 3 vesatur vt H₁RB₂, B vesatur et CL

[145] 4 ictat H₁R, B

[146] 6 _line om._ H₁RB₂Sn, B

[147] 588 send F

[148] 592 befalle F

[149] 608 the tharmes] þe armes M, Δ tharmes B₂, H₃Magd.

[150] 610 weren on AX

[151] 611 made al AMH₁

[152] 618 _margin_ grandi] gracia dei (grā dī) RB₂Sn

[153] 616 nought wel KH₃ nought (_om._ wel) AM, W (nat)

[154] 618 on] an B

[155] 627 _margin_ dicit _om._ B

[156] 659 schal a newe H₁ ... B₂, B

[157] 663 expondeþ S, FK _al._ expoundeþ

[158] 668 al _om._ H₁RB₂, B hol B, F hole AC

[158m]668 _margin_ diminuntur F

[159] 681 al] of AMERB₂, B _om._ H₁

[160] 683 in _om._ AM

[161] 698 nedes] soffre (suffre) ME, B

[162] 705 or B

[163] 718 putte A

[164] 720 of Occident XE, B

[165] 723 chiualrie F

[166] 724 this] þe H₁XGCL, W

[167] 730 _margin_ vsque ad H₁ ... B₂, B

[168] 732 stant H₁ ... B₂, B

[168m] 732 _margin_ Francie H₁ ... B₂, B

[169] 739 þe fals Emperour AJMXGCL, SΔ, FKH₃ þe Emp. fals H₁ERB₂ þe emperour B

[170] 745 Bot] Good (God) GCL And H₁

[171] 750 wolde MH₁XGCL, Δ

[172] 754 haþ take B did take Δ

[173] 764 as he haþ wel ERB₂, SBΔΛ wel as he hath H₁

[174] 768 the _om._ B

[175] 785 _margin_ peruenerit H₁ ... RLB₂, B peruenit C

[176] 804 Almanie A

[177] 812 founden AJME₂, SΔΛ, FWH₃ stonden X ... R, B stoden H₁CLB₂

[178] 821 To þe almains X ... B₂, BΔ To Almayns H₁

[179] 823 expondeþ S, FKH₃ _al._ expoundeþ

[180] 836 al þe Cit S, F al þe cite (citee) A ... B₂, BΔΛ, KH₃ the cite W Magd. al the toune H₁

[181] 837 f. deces ... wes ECL, B deues ... was H₁Sn deues ... wes RB₂

[182] 838 wher] þer AME₂H₁

[183] 844 fro (from) H₁ERB₂, B, W Magd.

[184] 845 And for to Λ, Magd. And so to H₁EB₂, B And so R As to L

[185] 850 soþe XGSn, FWKH₃ soþ schal AJMH₁ERCLB₂, SBΔΛ

[186] 865 _line om._ B

[187] 869 þis world MH₁ ... B₂, B

[188] 873 Expondeþ S, FK

[189] 892 this] þus AMH₁X, H₃

[190] 900 these] þis AM ... E, B, W

[191] 912 Bot] ffor H₁ERB₂, B

[192] 923 hyhe] while H₁ERB₂, B

[193] 934 welweþ AJM, W (weloweth)

[194] 937 f. the ... the] þei ... þei (þay ... þay) AH₁ERB₂, B þer ... þer CL þese ... þey X þe ... þey G

[195] 939 þei (þay) daies H₁ ... R, B now the nyhtes] now be þe n. MCB₂, Δ now be þey (thei) n. H₁XG

[196] 946 aman F

[197] 950 Is to an] It is an H₁ERB₂, B

[198] 957 mistormeþ FKH₃

[199] 963 stant out of acord(e) H₁ERB₂, B

[200] 966 Why] Wiþ RCLB₂

[201] 967 as þe g. s. AG, W

[202] 976 _margin_ existit A

[203] 982 be nome] benome FKH₃

[204] 1018 suche prise H₁ERB₂, B

[205] 1019 he _om._ RLB₂, B, W that H₁

[206] 1029 condicion F

[207] 1033 _margin_ vexat H₁ERB₂, B

[208] 1038 And A

[209] 1055 S _has lost a leaf_ (1055--i. 106)

[210] 1078 waxed FK

[211] 1087 As] And YERSn, B _om._ B₂

[212] 1088 god only may H₁ER, B god may only B₂

Incipit Liber Primus

[Sidenote: [LOVE RULES THE WORLD.]]
[Sidenote: =P. i. 41=]
i. _Naturatus amor nature legibus orbem_
_Subdit, et vnanimes concitat esse feras:_
_Huius enim mundi Princeps amor esse videtur,_
_Cuius eget diues, pauper et omnis ope._
_Sunt in agone pares amor et fortuna, que cecas_
_Plebis ad insidias vertit vterque rotas._
_Est amor egra salus, vexata quies, pius error,_
_Bellica pax, vulnus dulce, suaue malum._

I may noght strecche up to the hevene[213]
Min hand, ne setten al in evene
This world, which evere is in balance:
It stant noght in my sufficance
So grete thinges to compasse,
Bot I mot lete it overpasse
And treten upon othre thinges.
Forthi the Stile of my writinges[214]
[Sidenote: Postquam in Prologo tractatum hactenus existit,
qualiter hodierne condicionis diuisio caritatis dileccionem
superauit, intendit[216] auctor ad presens suum libellum, cuius
nomen Confessio Amantis nuncupatur, componere de illo
amore, a quo non solum humanum genus, sed eciam cuncta
animancia naturaliter subiciuntur. Et quia non nulli
amantes ultra quam expedit desiderii passionibus crebro[217]
stimulantur, materia libri per totum super hiis specialius
diffunditur.[218]]
Fro this day forth I thenke change
And speke of thing is noght so strange,[215] 10
[Sidenote: =P. i. 42=]
Which every kinde hath upon honde,
And wherupon the world mot stonde,
And hath don sithen it began,
And schal whil ther is any man;
And that is love, of which I mene
To trete, as after schal be sene.
In which ther can noman him reule,
For loves lawe is out of reule,
That of tomoche or of tolite
Welnyh is every man to wyte, 20

And natheles ther is noman
In al this world so wys, that can
Of love tempre the mesure,
Bot as it falth in aventure:
For wit ne strengthe may noght helpe,
And he which elles wolde him yelpe
Is rathest throwen under fote,
Ther can no wiht therof do bote.
For yet was nevere such covine,
That couthe ordeine a medicine 30
To thing which god in lawe of kinde
Hath set, for ther may noman finde
The rihte salve of such a Sor.
It hath and schal ben everemor
That love is maister wher he wile,
Ther can no lif make other skile;
For wher as evere him lest to sette,[219]
Ther is no myht which him may lette.
Bot what schal fallen ate laste,
The sothe can no wisdom caste, 40
[Sidenote: =P. i. 43=]
Bot as it falleth upon chance;
For if ther evere was balance
Which of fortune stant governed,
I may wel lieve as I am lerned
That love hath that balance on honde,
Which wol no reson understonde.
For love is blind and may noght se,
Forthi may no certeinete
Be set upon his jugement,
Bot as the whiel aboute went[220] 50
He yifth his graces undeserved,[221]
And fro that man which hath him served
Fulofte he takth aweye his fees,
As he that pleieth ate Dees,[222]
And therupon what schal befalle
He not, til that the chance falle,
Wher he schal lese or he schal winne.
[Sidenote: [EXAMPLE OF THE AUTHOR.]]
[Sidenote: Hic quasi in persona aliorum, quos amor alligat,
fingens se auctor esse Amantem, varias eorum passiones
variis huius libri distinccionibus per singula scribere
proponit.]
And thus fulofte men beginne,
That if thei wisten what it mente,
Thei wolde change al here entente. 60
And forto proven it is so,
I am miselven on of tho,
Which to this Scole am underfonge.
For it is siththe go noght longe,
As forto speke of this matiere,
I may you telle, if ye woll hiere,
A wonder hap which me befell,
That was to me bothe hard and fell,
Touchende of love and his fortune,
The which me liketh to comune 70
[Sidenote: =P. i. 44=]
And pleinly forto telle it oute.
To hem that ben lovers aboute
Fro point to point I wol declare
And wryten of my woful care,
Mi wofull day, my wofull chance,
That men mowe take remembrance[223]
Of that thei schall hierafter rede:
For in good feith this wolde I rede,
That every man ensample take
Of wisdom which him is betake,[224] 80
And that he wot of good aprise
To teche it forth, for such emprise
Is forto preise; and therfore I
Woll wryte and schewe al openly
How love and I togedre mette,
Wherof the world ensample fette
Mai after this, whan I am go,
Of thilke unsely jolif wo,
Whos reule stant out of the weie,
Nou glad and nou gladnesse aweie, 90
And yet it may noght be withstonde
For oght that men may understonde.

[Sidenote: [HIS WOFUL CASE.]]
ii. _Non ego Sampsonis vires, non Herculis arma_
_Vinco, sum sed vt hii victus amore pari._
_Vt discant alii, docet experiencia facti,_
_Rebus in ambiguis que sit habenda via._
_Deuius ordo ducis temptata pericla sequentem_[225]
_Instruit a tergo, ne simul ille cadat._
_Me quibus ergo Venus, casus, laqueauit amantem,_[226]
_Orbis in exemplum scribere tendo palam._

Upon the point that is befalle
Of love, in which that I am falle,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 45=]
I thenke telle my matiere:
Now herkne, who that wol it hiere,
Of my fortune how that it ferde.
[Sidenote: Hic declarat materiam, dicens qualiter Cupido
quodam ignito iaculo sui cordis memoriam graui vlcere
perforauit, quod Venus percipiens ipsum, vt dicit, quasi
in mortis articulo spasmatum, ad confitendum se Genio
sacerdoti super amoris causa sic semiuiuum specialiter
commendauit.]
This enderday, as I forthferde
To walke, as I yow telle may,--
And that was in the Monthe of Maii, 100
Whan every brid hath chose his make
And thenkth his merthes forto make[227]
Of love that he hath achieved;
Bot so was I nothing relieved,
For I was further fro my love
Than Erthe is fro the hevene above,
As forto speke of eny sped:[228]
So wiste I me non other red,
Bot as it were a man forfare[229]
Unto the wode I gan to fare,[230] 110
Noght forto singe with the briddes,
For whanne I was the wode amiddes,
I fond a swote grene pleine,
And ther I gan my wo compleigne
Wisshinge and wepinge al myn one,
For other merthes made I none.[231]
So hard me was that ilke throwe,
That ofte sithes overthrowe
To grounde I was withoute breth;
And evere I wisshide after deth,[232] 120
Whanne I out of my peine awok,
[Sidenote: [HIS COMPLAINT TO CUPID AND VENUS.]]
And caste up many a pitous lok
Unto the hevene, and seide thus:
‘O thou Cupide, O thou Venus,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 46=]
Thou god of love and thou goddesse,
Wher is pite? wher is meknesse?
Now doth me pleinly live or dye,
For certes such a maladie
As I now have and longe have hadd,
It myhte make a wisman madd,[233] 130
If that it scholde longe endure.
O Venus, queene of loves cure,
Thou lif, thou lust, thou mannes hele,
Behold my cause and my querele,
And yif me som part of thi grace,
So that I may finde in this place
If thou be gracious or non.’
And with that word I sawh anon
The kyng of love and qweene bothe;
Bot he that kyng with yhen wrothe 140
His chiere aweiward fro me caste,
And forth he passede ate laste.
[Sidenote: [THE FIERY DART.]]
Bot natheles er he forth wente
A firy Dart me thoghte he hente
And threw it thurgh myn herte rote:
In him fond I non other bote,
For lenger list him noght to duelle.
[Sidenote: [VENUS QUEEN OF LOVE.]]
Bot sche that is the Source and Welle
Of wel or wo, that schal betide
To hem that loven, at that tide 150
Abod, bot forto tellen hiere
Sche cast on me no goodly chiere:
Thus natheles to me sche seide,
‘What art thou, Sone?’ and I abreide
[Sidenote: =P. i. 47=]
Riht as a man doth out of slep,
And therof tok sche riht good kep
And bad me nothing ben adrad:
Bot for al that I was noght glad,
For I ne sawh no cause why.
And eft scheo asketh, what was I:[234] 160
I seide, ‘A Caitif that lith hiere:[235]
What wolde ye, my Ladi diere?[236]
Schal I ben hol or elles dye?’[237]
Sche seide, ‘Tell thi maladie:[238]
What is thi Sor of which thou pleignest?[239]
Ne hyd it noght, for if thou feignest,
I can do the no medicine.’
‘Ma dame, I am a man of thyne,
That in thi Court have longe served,
And aske that I have deserved, 170
Som wele after my longe wo.’
And sche began to loure tho,
And seide, ‘Ther is manye of yow
Faitours, and so may be that thow
Art riht such on, and be feintise
Seist that thou hast me do servise.’
And natheles sche wiste wel,
Mi world stod on an other whiel
Withouten eny faiterie:
Bot algate of my maladie 180
Sche bad me telle and seie hir trowthe.
‘Ma dame, if ye wolde have rowthe,’
Quod I, ‘than wolde I telle yow.’[240]
‘Sey forth,’ quod sche, ‘and tell me how;
[Sidenote: =P. i. 48=]
Schew me thi seknesse everydiel.’
‘Ma dame, that can I do wel,
Be so my lif therto wol laste.’
With that hir lok on me sche caste,
And seide: ‘In aunter if thou live,
Mi will is ferst that thou be schrive; 190
And natheles how that it is
I wot miself, bot for al this
[Sidenote: [GENIUS, THE PRIEST OF LOVE.]]
Unto my prest, which comth anon,
I woll thou telle it on and on,
Bothe all thi thoght and al thi werk.
O Genius myn oghne Clerk,
Com forth and hier this mannes schrifte,’
Quod Venus tho; and I uplifte
Min hefd with that, and gan beholde
The selve Prest, which as sche wolde[241] 200
Was redy there and sette him doun
To hiere my confessioun.

iii. _Confessus Genio si sit medicina salutis_
_Experiar morbis, quos tulit ipsa Venus._
_Lesa quidem ferro medicantur membra saluti,_
_Raro tamen medicum vulnus amoris habet._

[Sidenote: [THE LOVER’S SHRIFT.]]
This worthi Prest, this holy man
To me spekende thus began,
And seide: ‘Benedicite,
Mi Sone, of the felicite
Of love and ek of all the wo
Thou schalt thee schrive of bothe tuo.[242]
[Sidenote: Hic dicit qualiter Genio pro Confessore
sedenti prouolutus Amans ad confitendum se flexis
genibus incuruatur, supplicans tamen, vt ad sui sensus
informacionem confessor ille in dicendis opponere sibi
benignius dignaretur.]
What thou er this for loves sake
Hast felt, let nothing be forsake, 210
[Sidenote: =P. i. 49=]
Tell pleinliche as it is befalle.’
And with that word I gan doun falle
On knees, and with devocioun[243]
And with full gret contricioun
I seide thanne: ‘Dominus,
Min holi fader Genius,
So as thou hast experience
Of love, for whos reverence
Thou schalt me schriven at this time,
I prai the let me noght mistime 220
Mi schrifte, for I am destourbed
In al myn herte, and so contourbed,
That I ne may my wittes gete,
So schal I moche thing foryete:[244]
Bot if thou wolt my schrifte oppose
Fro point to point, thanne I suppose,
Ther schal nothing be left behinde.[245]
Bot now my wittes ben so blinde,
That I ne can miselven teche.’
Tho he began anon to preche, 230
And with his wordes debonaire
He seide tome softe and faire:[246]
‘Thi schrifte to oppose and hiere,
[Sidenote: Sermo Genii sacerdotis[247] super confessione ad
Amantem.]
My Sone, I am assigned hiere
Be Venus the godesse above,
Whos Prest I am touchende of love.
Bot natheles for certein skile
I mot algate and nedes wile
Noght only make my spekynges
Of love, bot of othre thinges, 240
[Sidenote: =P. i. 50=]
That touchen to the cause of vice.
For that belongeth to thoffice
Of Prest, whos ordre that I bere,
So that I wol nothing forbere,
That I the vices on and on
Ne schal thee schewen everychon;
Wherof thou myht take evidence
To reule with thi conscience.
Bot of conclusion final
Conclude I wol in special 250
For love, whos servant I am,
And why the cause is that I cam.
So thenke I to don bothe tuo,
Ferst that myn ordre longeth to,
The vices forto telle arewe,
Bot next above alle othre schewe
Of love I wol the propretes,
How that thei stonde be degrees
After the disposicioun
Of Venus, whos condicioun 260
I moste folwe, as I am holde.
For I with love am al withholde,
So that the lasse I am to wyte,
Thogh I ne conne bot a lyte[248]
Of othre thinges that ben wise:
I am noght tawht in such a wise;[249]
For it is noght my comun us
To speke of vices and vertus,
Bot al of love and of his lore,
For Venus bokes of nomore 270
[Sidenote: =P. i. 51=]
Me techen nowther text ne glose.
Bot for als moche as I suppose
It sit a prest to be wel thewed,
And schame it is if he be lewed,
Of my Presthode after the forme
I wol thi schrifte so enforme,
That ate leste thou schalt hiere[250]
The vices, and to thi matiere[251]
Of love I schal hem so remene,
That thou schalt knowe what thei mene. 280
For what a man schal axe or sein[252]
Touchende of schrifte, it mot be plein,
It nedeth noght to make it queinte,
For trowthe hise wordes wol noght peinte:
That I wole axe of the forthi,
My Sone, it schal be so pleinly,
That thou schalt knowe and understonde
The pointz of schrifte how that thei stonde.’[253]

[Sidenote: [THE FIVE SENSES.]]
iv. _Visus et auditus fragilis sunt ostia mentis,_
_Que viciosa manus claudere nulla potest._
_Est ibi larga via, graditur qua cordis ad antrum_
_Hostis, et ingrediens fossa talenta rapit._
_Hec michi confessor Genius primordia profert,_
_Dum sit in extremis vita remorsa malis._
_Nunc tamen vt poterit semiviua loquela fateri,_
_Verba per os timide conscia mentis agam._