Chapter D: CAMB. UNIV. Dd. viii. 19 (Bern. Cat. ii. 9653). Confessio Amantis (7)

To man in any maner side
He may wel nowher þan abide R
To man in eny maner side
It may to him nouȝt wel betide B₂

CL _combine the above with the reading of the text_.

[435] 2267-74 _Eight lines found thus in copies of the third
recension_, FWKH₃ &c., _and also in_ H₁. _The rest have four,
given as follows by_ S,

fforþi eschuie it I þe rede
ffor in Ouide a tale I rede
How þat a man was ouertake
Wherof þou myht ensample take.

[436] 2293 _margin_ pronus] proulis XE ... B₂

[437] 2294 to _om._ B, W

[438] 2299 The grete] A grete AM, W

[439] 2300 vpon AJ, Ad, FH₃ on þe XERC, B vpon the H₁

[440] 2302 _margin_ poterat B

[441] 2332 neuer mighte B

[442] 2335 a ferr J, SB, F aferr A

[443] 2343-58 _Sixteen lines found only in third recension
copies_, FWKH₃ &c., _and in_ H₁

[444] 2369-72 _third recension and_ H₁ _only_

[445] 2379 And X ... B₂, B

[446] 2380 and preie] I preie (prey) XGECLB₂, B I seigh R

[447] 2386 euermo JMH₁XGRLB₂, BΔ, W

[448] 2396 aplace AM

[449] 2398 al _om._ H₁, FH₃

[450] 2410 wynd] hunt(e) H₁YX ... L, B haunt B₂

[451] 2416 _margin_ verecundia M ... B₂, Ad vecundia W

[452] 2421 tok (took) J, B, F toke AC

[453] 2423 Of JX ... B₂, B, W

[454] 2457 myht (might) JC, B myhte A, S, F

[455] 2460 ferste S ferst A, B, F

[456] 2473 _margin_ testum H₁ ... B₂ (E _corr._ testam)

[457] 2488 dwelled JMEB₂, Δ, W (dwellet) duelleþ XGRCL

[458] 2489 _margin_ statim] statum G statutum XE ... B₂

[459] 2497 agrieued B

[460] 2501 ate] of þe B

[461] 2511 Embroudred F _rest_ Embrowded (Embroudid &c.)

[462] 2544 is] was H₁ ... B₂, B

[463] 2569 had C, SB, F hadde A haþ J

[464] 2611 thi] þe JH₁ ... B₂, BΛ

[465] 2622 Hath mad] Made H₁ ... B₂, B

[466] 2658 he] who AM

[467] 2669 ȝe me wole] ȝe wol (wil) me L, Δ ȝe wol(e) AM me wol
H₃

[468] 2687 þerfor AM, W þer on Ad alite A, SB, F, &c.

[469] 2705 _margin_ Salomon. Amictus--eo _in third recension
only_.

[470] 2713 f. _This text only in copies of third recension_,
F(_in ras._)WKH₃ &c. _The rest have_,

So ouerglad þat purgatoire
Ne myhte abregge his veine gloire

[471] 2751 nam] am H₁ ... B₂, W on] an AJ

[472] 2770 þou þenkeþ (þenkþ) AXRCLB₂ þou þenke M ȝe þenke
(þinke) H₁Sn, Δ ȝe thenketh (ye þinketh) Ad, W

[473] _Latin Verses_ xi. 5 immunis H₁XGECLB₂, B

[474] 2789 in the orient Δ, WH₃

[475] 2796 _margin_ subito transmutauit A ... B₂, S ... Δ

[476] 2801 good FKH₃ godd (god) A ... B₂, S ... Δ, W

[477] 2812 a foretokene K a fortoken W aforetokne S, F
afortokene R a fore tokne (token) JXEC, H₃ afore tokne (-en)
AMH₁GLB₂, BAdΔ

[478] 2835 defoule] do foule X ... B₂ doune falle H₁

[479] 2836 do] to H₁XE ... B₂

[480] 2839 his Pride] þis pride H₁ ... CB₂ þis tre L

[481] 2847 be _om._ H₁ ... B₂, H₃ þurghknowe A, F þurgh knowe
J, SB

[482] 2863 it _om._ H₁XERCB₂ that L, W

[483] 2869 his B þe MX

[484] 2874 As] And H₁ ... L

[485] 2885 wode B

[486] 2891 al] of H₁ ... B₂ (ofte R)

[487] 2898 a rodd AJ, B arodd S, FK

[488] 2903 falle H₁ ... B₂, W

[489] 2905 The A

[490] 2953 weie] wele H₁ ... B₂

[491] 2988 blew(e) M, B

[492] 2990 Such] Which H₁ ... B₂

[493] 2997 for] þe H₁ ... B₂ of KH₃ _om._ W

[494] 3000 fulwoful A, F ful woful J, B

[495] 3010 the riche _om._ B

[496] 3011 wight B, F wiht AJ, S

[497] 3023 and speche JH₁L, FWH₃ of speche AM ... CB₂, S ... Δ

[498] 3027 braieth] preieþ (prayeþ) H₁ ... B₂, W

[499] _Latin Verses_ xii. 5 eum] eni_m_ B

[500] 3078 _margin_ habitantibus H₁ ... B₂, BΛ

[501] 3080 _margin_ valencie meritum] meriti H₁ ... B₂, BΛ

[502] 3108 he _om._ KH₃

[503] 3120 his] þis X ... B₂

[504] 3126 schal AM

[505] 3155 ne my] ne to my GRB₂, AdΔΛ, W (nor to my) and my H₁

[506] 3183 helas A, S, F A las J allas B &c.

[507] 3185 a _om._ E, B

[508] 3187 told SB, F tolde AJ

[509] 3188 seid (seyd) B, F seide AJ he ne cowþe H₁XGRCLB₂

[510] 3195 pray yow of BΔ o þing B

[511] 3201 I wole XERCB₂

[512] 3209 þought þat þer was XGRCLB₂

[513] 3245 pointes (pointz) which(e) H₁ ... B₂, B, WKH₃
(pointes which as L)

[514] 3249 hath lest nede] haþ most nede R han most nede XEC
han lest nede B₂

[515] 3261 And] Of H₁ ... B₂, B

[516] 3264 of þe erþe AMB₂, Δ

[517] 3285 to] in AM

[518] 3300 into] to AM

[519] 3301 grete (gret) cost MH₁G, B

[520] 3313 costeþ H₁XLB₂, BΔ, H₃ costs W

[521] 3357 seled F

[522] 3361 euermore MX ... B₂, B, W

[523] 3363 as] and H₁ ... B₂, B

[524] 3369 it mot ben] mot (mote) nede be H₁ ... B₂, BΛ

[525] 3374 mad a Pier] an Erl(e) hier H₁ ... B₂, Λ

[526] 3379 that] which H₁ ... B₂, B

[527] 3381 maide] place H₁ ... B₂, BΛ

[528] 3396 His doughtres (doghter) name Peronelle H₁ ... B₂, Λ

[529] 3398 sene (seene) A, B scene S, F schene (_om._ was) J

[530] 3403 myht] may H₁ ... B₂

[531] 3412 be] schal be H₁ ... B₂

[532] 3414 worþy and no prise X ... CB₂ worth and no prise H₁
worþy and of no prise LSn, Λ worth and of no reprise W

[533] 3416 And it is alway debonaire H₁ ... B₂, Λ stond J, S, F
stonde A, B

[534] 3443 to misdo] of þing misdo H₁ ... CB₂ of nothing mysdo L

[535] 3445 as] as I AJL, Λ, W

[Sidenote: =P. i. 159=]
Incipit Liber Secundus.

[Sidenote: [ENVY.]]
i. _Inuidie culpa magis est attrita dolore,_
_Nam sua mens nullo tempore leta manet:_
_Quo gaudent alii, dolet ille, nec vnus amicus_
_Est, cui de puro comoda velle facit._
_Proximitatis honor sua corda veretur, et omnis_
_Est sibi leticia sic aliena dolor._
_Hoc etenim vicium quam sepe repugnat amanti,_
_Non sibi, set reliquis, dum fauet ipsa Venus._
_Est amor ex proprio motu fantasticus, et que_
_Gaudia fert alius, credit obesse sibi._[536] (10)

Now after Pride the secounde
Ther is, which many a woful stounde
[Sidenote: Hic in secundo libro tractat de Inuidia et eius
speciebus, quarum dolor alterius gaudii prima nuncupatur,
cuius condicionem secundum vicium Confessor primitus
describens, Amanti, quatenus amorem concernit, super eodem
consequenter opponit.]
Towardes othre berth aboute
Withinne himself and noght withoute;
For in his thoght he brenneth evere,
Whan that he wot an other levere
Or more vertuous than he,
Which passeth him in his degre;
Therof he takth his maladie:
That vice is cleped hot Envie. 10
Forthi, my Sone, if it be so
Thou art or hast ben on of tho,
As forto speke in loves cas,
[Sidenote: [i. SORROW FOR ANOTHER MAN’S JOY.]]
If evere yit thin herte was
[Sidenote: =P. i. 160=]
Sek of an other mannes hele?
So god avance my querele,
Mi fader, ye, a thousend sithe:
Whanne I have sen an other blithe
Of love, and hadde a goodly chiere,
Ethna, which brenneth yer be yere, 20
Was thanne noght so hot as I
Of thilke Sor which prively
Min hertes thoght withinne brenneth.
The Schip which on the wawes renneth,
And is forstormed and forblowe,
Is noght more peined for a throwe
Than I am thanne, whanne I se
An other which that passeth me
In that fortune of loves yifte.
Bot, fader, this I telle in schrifte, 30
That is nowher bot in o place;[537]
For who that lese or finde grace
In other stede, it mai noght grieve:
Bot this ye mai riht wel believe,
Toward mi ladi that I serve,
Thogh that I wiste forto sterve,
Min herte is full of such sotie,
That I myself mai noght chastie.
Whan I the Court se of Cupide
Aproche unto my ladi side 40
Of hem that lusti ben and freisshe,--
Thogh it availe hem noght a reisshe,
Bot only that thei ben in speche,--
My sorwe is thanne noght to seche:
[Sidenote: =P. i. 161=]
Bot whan thei rounen in hire Ere,
Than groweth al my moste fere,
And namly whan thei talen longe;
My sorwes thanne be so stronge
Of that I se hem wel at ese,
I can noght telle my desese. 50
Bot, Sire, as of my ladi selve,
Thogh sche have wowers ten or twelve,
For no mistrust I have of hire
Me grieveth noght, for certes, Sire,
I trowe, in al this world to seche,
Nis womman that in dede and speche
Woll betre avise hire what sche doth,
Ne betre, forto seie a soth,
Kepe hire honour ate alle tide,[538]
And yit get hire a thank beside.[539] 60
Bot natheles I am beknowe,
That whanne I se at eny throwe,
Or elles if I mai it hiere,
That sche make eny man good chiere,
Thogh I therof have noght to done,
Mi thought wol entermette him sone.
For thogh I be miselve strange,
Envie makth myn herte change,
That I am sorghfully bestad
Of that I se an other glad 70
With hire; bot of other alle,[540]
Of love what so mai befalle,
Or that he faile or that he spede,
Therof take I bot litel heede.
[Sidenote: =P. i. 162=]
Now have I seid, my fader, al
As of this point in special,
Als ferforthli as I have wist.
Now axeth further what you list.[541]
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, er I axe eny more,
I thenke somdiel for thi lore 80
Telle an ensample of this matiere
Touchende Envie, as thou schalt hiere.
Write in Civile this I finde:
Thogh it be noght the houndes kinde
To ete chaf, yit wol he werne
An Oxe which comth to the berne,
Therof to taken eny fode.
And thus, who that it understode,
It stant of love in many place:
Who that is out of loves grace 90
And mai himselven noght availe,
He wolde an other scholde faile;[542]
And if he may put eny lette,
He doth al that he mai to lette.
[Sidenote: [TALE OF ACIS AND GALATEA.]]
Wherof I finde, as thou schalt wite,
To this pourpos a tale write.[543]
Ther ben of suche mo than twelve,
That ben noght able as of hemselve
To gete love, and for Envie
Upon alle othre thei aspie; 100
[Sidenote: Hic ponit Confessor exemplum saltem contra istos
qui in amoris causa aliorum gaudiis inuidentes nequaquam
per hoc sibi ipsis proficiunt. Et narrat, qualiter quidam
iuuenis miles nomine Acis, quem Galathea Nimpha pulcherrima
toto corde peramauit, cum ipsi sub quadam rupe iuxta litus
maris colloquium adinuicem habuerunt, Poliphemus Gigas
concussa rupe magnam inde partem super caput Acis ab alto
proiciens ipsum per inuidiam interfecit. Et cum ipse super
hoc dictam Galatheam rapere[544] voluisset, Neptunus Giganti
obsistens ipsam inuiolatam salua custodia preseruauit.
Set et[546] dii miserti corpus Acis defuncti in fontem aque
dulcissime subito transmutarunt.]
And for hem lacketh that thei wolde,
Thei kepte that non other scholde
Touchende of love his cause spede:
Wherof a gret ensample I rede,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 163=]
Which unto this matiere acordeth,
As Ovide in his bok recordeth,
How Poliphemus whilom wroghte,
Whan that he Galathee besoghte
Of love, which he mai noght lacche.
That made him forto waite and wacche 110
Be alle weies how it ferde,
Til ate laste he knew and herde
How that an other hadde leve
To love there as he mot leve,
As forto speke of eny sped:
So that he knew non other red,
Bot forto wayten upon alle,[545]
Til he may se the chance falle
That he hire love myhte grieve,
Which he himself mai noght achieve. 120
This Galathee, seith the Poete,
Above alle othre was unmete
Of beaute, that men thanne knewe,[547]
And hadde a lusti love and trewe,
A Bacheler in his degree,
Riht such an other as was sche,
On whom sche hath hire herte set,
So that it myhte noght be let
For yifte ne for no beheste,[548]
That sche ne was al at his heste. 130
This yonge knyht Acis was hote,
Which hire ayeinward als so hote
Al only loveth and nomo.
Hierof was Poliphemus wo
[Sidenote: =P. i. 164=]
Thurgh pure Envie, and evere aspide,
And waiteth upon every side,[549]
Whan he togedre myhte se
This yonge Acis with Galathe.
So longe he waiteth to and fro,
Til ate laste he fond hem tuo, 140
In prive place wher thei stode
To speke and have here wordes goode.
The place wher as he hem syh,
It was under a banke nyh
The grete See, and he above
Stod and behield the lusti love
Which ech of hem to other made
With goodly chiere and wordes glade,
That al his herte hath set afyre[550]
Of pure Envie: and as a fyre[551] 150
Which fleth out of a myhti bowe,
Aweie he fledde for a throwe,
As he that was for love wod,
Whan that he sih how that it stod.
This Polipheme a Geant was;
And whan he sih the sothe cas,
How Galathee him hath forsake
And Acis to hire love take,
His herte mai it noght forbere
That he ne roreth lich a Bere;[552] 160
And as it were a wilde beste,
The whom no reson mihte areste,[553]
He ran Ethna the hell aboute,
Wher nevere yit the fyr was oute,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 165=]
Fulfild of sorghe and gret desese,
That he syh Acis wel at ese.
Til ate laste he him bethoghte,
As he which al Envie soghte,
And torneth to the banke ayein,
Wher he with Galathee hath seyn 170
Acis, whom that he thoghte grieve,
Thogh he himself mai noght relieve.
This Geant with his ruide myht
Part of the banke he schof doun riht,
The which evene upon Acis fell,
So that with fallinge of this hell[554]
This Poliphemus Acis slowh,
Wherof sche made sorwe ynowh.
And as sche fledde fro the londe,
Neptunus tok hire into honde 180
And kept hire in so sauf a place[555]
Fro Polipheme and his manace,
That he with al his false Envie
Ne mihte atteigne hir compaignie.
This Galathee of whom I speke,
That of hirself mai noght be wreke,
Withouten eny semblant feigned
Sche hath hire loves deth compleigned,
And with hire sorwe and with hire wo
Sche hath the goddes moeved so, 190
That thei of pite and of grace
Have Acis in the same place,
Ther he lai ded, into a welle[556]
Transformed, as the bokes telle,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 166=]
With freisshe stremes and with cliere,
As he whilom with lusti chiere
Was freissh his love forto qweme.
And with this ruide Polipheme
For his Envie and for his hate
Thei were wrothe.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
And thus algate, 200
Mi Sone, thou myht understonde,
That if thou wolt in grace stonde
With love, thou most leve Envie:
And as thou wolt for thi partie
Toward thi love stonde fre,
So most thou soffre an other be,
What so befalle upon the chaunce:
For it is an unwys vengance,
Which to non other man is lief,
And is unto himselve grief. 210
[Sidenote: Amans.]
Mi fader, this ensample is good;
Bot how so evere that it stod
With Poliphemes love as tho,
It schal noght stonde with me so,
To worchen eny felonie
In love for no such Envie.
Forthi if ther oght elles be,
Now axeth forth, in what degre
It is, and I me schal confesse
With schrifte unto youre holinesse. 220

[Sidenote: [ii. JOY FOR ANOTHER MAN’S GRIEF.]]
ii. _Orta sibi solito mentalia gaudia liuor_[557]
_Dum videt alterius, dampna doloris agit._
_Inuidus obridet hodie fletus aliorum,_
_Fletus cui proprios crastina fata parant._
[Sidenote: =P. i. 167=]
_Sic in amore pari stat sorte iocosus, amantes_[558]
_Cum videt illusos, inuidus ille quasi._
_Sit licet in vacuum, sperat tamen ipse leuamen_
_Alterius casu, lapsus et ipse simul._

Mi goode Sone, yit ther is
A vice revers unto this,
Which envious takth his gladnesse
[Sidenote: Hic loquitur Confessor de secunda specie
Inuidie, que gaudium alterius doloris dicitur, et primo
eiusdem vicii materiam tractans amantis conscienciam super
eodem vlterius inuestigat.]
Of that he seth the hevinesse
Of othre men: for his welfare
Is whanne he wot an other care:
Of that an other hath a fall,
He thenkth himself arist withal.[559]
Such is the gladschipe of Envie
In worldes thing, and in partie 230
Fulofte times ek also
In loves cause it stant riht so.
If thou, my Sone, hast joie had,
Whan thou an other sihe unglad,
Schrif the therof.
[Sidenote: Amans.]
Mi fader, yis:
I am beknowe unto you this.
Of these lovers that loven streyte,
And for that point which thei coveite
Ben poursuiantz fro yeer to yere
In loves Court, whan I may hiere 240
How that thei clymbe upon the whel,
And whan thei wene al schal be wel,
Thei ben doun throwen ate laste,
Thanne am I fedd of that thei faste,
And lawhe of that I se hem loure;
And thus of that thei brewe soure
[Sidenote: =P. i. 168=]
I drinke swete, and am wel esed
Of that I wot thei ben desesed.
Bot this which I you telle hiere
Is only for my lady diere; 250
That for non other that I knowe
Me reccheth noght who overthrowe,
Ne who that stonde in love upriht:
Bot be he squier, be he knyht,
Which to my ladiward poursuieth,
The more he lest of that he suieth,
The mor me thenketh that I winne,
And am the more glad withinne
Of that I wot him sorwe endure.
For evere upon such aventure 260
It is a confort, as men sein,
[Sidenote: Boicius. Consolacio miserorum est habere
consortem in pena.]
To him the which is wo besein
To sen an other in his peine,
So that thei bothe mai compleigne.
Wher I miself mai noght availe
To sen an other man travaile,
I am riht glad if he be let;
And thogh I fare noght the bet,
His sorwe is to myn herte a game:
Whan that I knowe it is the same 270
Which to mi ladi stant enclined,
And hath his love noght termined,
I am riht joifull in my thoght.
If such Envie grieveth oght,
As I beknowe me coupable,
Ye that be wys and resonable,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 169=]
Mi fader, telleth youre avis.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, Envie into no pris
Of such a forme, I understonde,
Ne mihte be no resoun stonde 280
For this Envie hath such a kinde,
That he wole sette himself behinde
To hindre with an othre wyht,
And gladly lese his oghne riht
To make an other lesen his.
And forto knowe how it so is,
A tale lich to this matiere
I thenke telle, if thou wolt hiere,
To schewe proprely the vice
Of this Envie and the malice. 290

[Sidenote: [THE TRAVELLERS AND THE ANGEL.]]
[Sidenote: Hic ponit Confessor exemplum presertim contra
illum, qui sponte sui ipsius detrimentum in alterius penam
maiorem patitur. Et narrat quod, cum Iupiter angelum suum
in forma hominis, vt hominum condiciones exploraret,
ab excelso in terram misit, contigit quod ipse angelus
duos homines, quorum vnus cupidus, alter inuidus erat,
itinerando spacio quasi vnius diei comitabatur. Et cum
sero factum esset, angelus eorum noticie seipsum tunc
manifestans dixit, quod quicquid alter eorum ab ipso
donari sibi pecierit, illud statim obtinebit, quod et
socio suo secum comitanti affirmat duplicandum. Super quo
cupidus impeditus auaricia, sperans sibi diuicias carpere[562]
duplicatas, primo petere recusauit. Quod cum inuidus
animaduerteret, naturam sui vicii concernens, ita vt
socius suus vtroque lumine priuaretur, seipsum monoculum
fieri constanter primus ab angelo postulabat. Et sic vnius
inuidia alterius auariciam maculauit.]
Of Jupiter this finde I write,
How whilom that he wolde wite
Upon the pleigntes whiche he herde,
Among the men how that it ferde,
As of here wrong condicion
To do justificacion:
And for that cause doun he sente
An Angel, which aboute wente,[560]
That he the sothe knowe mai.
So it befell upon a dai 300
This Angel, which him scholde enforme,
Was clothed in a mannes forme,
And overtok, I understonde,
Tuo men that wenten over londe,
Thurgh whiche he thoghte to aspie
His cause, and goth in compaignie.
[Sidenote: =P. i. 170=]
This Angel with hise wordes wise
Opposeth hem in sondri wise,
Now lowde wordes and now softe,
That mad hem to desputen ofte,[561] 310
And ech of hem his reson hadde.
And thus with tales he hem ladde
With good examinacioun,
Til he knew the condicioun,
What men thei were bothe tuo;
And sih wel ate laste tho,
That on of hem was coveitous,
And his fela was envious.
And thus, whan he hath knowlechinge,
Anon he feigneth departinge, 320
And seide he mot algate wende.
Bot herkne now what fell at ende:
For thanne he made hem understonde
That he was there of goddes sonde,
And seide hem, for the kindeschipe
That thei have don him felaschipe,
He wole hem do som grace ayein,
And bad that on of hem schal sein
What thing him is lievest to crave,
And he it schal of yifte have; 330
And over that ek forth withal
He seith that other have schal
The double of that his felaw axeth;
And thus to hem his grace he taxeth.
The coveitous was wonder glad,
And to that other man he bad
[Sidenote: =P. i. 171=]
And seith that he ferst axe scholde:
For he supposeth that he wolde
Make his axinge of worldes good;
For thanne he knew wel how it stod, 340
That he himself be double weyhte
Schal after take, and thus be sleyhte,
Be cause that he wolde winne,
He bad his fela ferst beginne.
This Envious, thogh it be late,
Whan that he syh he mot algate.[563]
Make his axinge ferst, he thoghte,
If he worschipe or profit soghte,
It schal be doubled to his fiere:
That wolde he chese in no manere. 350
Bot thanne he scheweth what he was
Toward Envie, and in this cas[564]
Unto this Angel thus he seide
And for his yifte this he preide,[565]
To make him blind of his on yhe,
So that his fela nothing syhe.
This word was noght so sone spoke,
That his on yhe anon was loke,
And his felawh forthwith also
Was blind of bothe his yhen tuo. 360
Tho was that other glad ynowh,
That on wepte, and that other lowh,
He sette his on yhe at no cost,
Wherof that other two hath lost.
Of thilke ensample which fell tho,[566]
Men tellen now fulofte so,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 172=]
The world empeireth comunly:
And yit wot non the cause why;
For it acordeth noght to kinde
Min oghne harm to seche and finde 370
Of that I schal my brother grieve;
It myhte nevere wel achieve.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
What seist thou, Sone, of this folie?
[Sidenote: Amans.]
Mi fader, bot I scholde lie,
Upon the point which ye have seid
Yit was myn herte nevere leid,
Bot in the wise as I you tolde.[567]
Bot overmore, if that ye wolde[568]
Oght elles to my schrifte seie
Touchende Envie, I wolde preie. 380
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, that schal wel be do:
Now herkne and ley thin Ere to.

[Sidenote: [iii. DETRACTION.]]
iii. _Inuidie pars est detraccio pessima, pestem_
_Que magis infamem flatibus oris agit._[569]
_Lingua venenato sermone repercutit auras,_
_Sic ut in alterius scandala fama volat._
_Morsibus a tergo quos inficit ipsa fideles,_
_Vulneris ignoti sepe salute carent._
_Set generosus amor linguam conseruat, vt eius_
_Verbum quod loquitur nulla sinistra gerat._

Touchende as of Envious brod
I wot noght on of alle good;
Bot natheles, suche as thei be,
[Sidenote: Hic tractat Confessor de tercia specie Inuidie,
que Detraccio dicitur, cuius morsus vipereos lesa quamsepe
fama deplangit.]
Yit is ther on, and that is he
Which cleped is Detraccioun.
And to conferme his accioun,
He hath withholde Malebouche,
Whos tunge neither pyl ne crouche 390
[Sidenote: =P. i. 173=]
Mai hyre, so that he pronounce
A plein good word withoute frounce
Awher behinde a mannes bak.
For thogh he preise, he fint som lak,
Which of his tale is ay the laste,
That al the pris schal overcaste:
And thogh ther be no cause why,
Yit wole he jangle noght forthi,
As he which hath the heraldie
Of hem that usen forto lye. 400
For as the Netle which up renneth[570]
The freisshe rede Roses brenneth
And makth hem fade and pale of hewe,
Riht so this fals Envious hewe,
In every place wher he duelleth,
With false wordes whiche he telleth
He torneth preisinge into blame
And worschipe into worldes schame.
Of such lesinge as he compasseth,[571]
Is non so good that he ne passeth 410
Betwen his teeth and is bacbited,
And thurgh his false tunge endited:
Lich to the Scharnebudes kinde,
Of whos nature this I finde,
That in the hoteste of the dai,
Whan comen is the merie Maii,
He sprat his wynge and up he fleth:
And under al aboute he seth
The faire lusti floures springe,
Bot therof hath he no likinge; 420
[Sidenote: =P. i. 174=]
Bot where he seth of eny beste
The felthe, ther he makth his feste,
And therupon he wole alyhte,
Ther liketh him non other sihte.
Riht so this janglere Envious,
Thogh he a man se vertuous
And full of good condicioun,
Therof makth he no mencioun:
Bot elles, be it noght so lyte,
Wherof that he mai sette a wyte, 430
Ther renneth he with open mouth,
Behinde a man and makth it couth.
Bot al the vertu which he can,
That wole he hide of every man,
And openly the vice telle,
As he which of the Scole of helle
Is tawht, and fostred with Envie
Of houshold and of compaignie,
Wher that he hath his propre office
To sette on every man a vice. 440
How so his mouth be comely,
His word sit evermore awry
And seith the worste that he may.
[Sidenote: [DETRACTION OF LOVERS.]]
And in this wise now a day
In loves Court a man mai hiere
Fulofte pleigne of this matiere,
That many envious tale is stered,
Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered;
Bot yit fulofte it is believed,
And many a worthi love is grieved 450
[Sidenote: =P. i. 175=]
Thurgh bacbitinge of fals Envie.
If thou have mad such janglerie
In loves Court, mi Sone, er this,
Schrif thee therof.
[Sidenote: Hic in amoris causa huius vicii crimen ad
memoriam reducens Confessor Amanti super eodem plenius
opponit.]
Mi fader, yis:
Bot wite ye how? noght openly,
Bot otherwhile prively,
Whan I my diere ladi mete,
And thenke how that I am noght mete
Unto hire hihe worthinesse,
And ek I se the besinesse 460
Of al this yonge lusty route,
Whiche alday pressen hire aboute,
And ech of hem his time awaiteth,
And ech of hem his tale affaiteth,
Al to deceive an innocent,
Which woll noght ben of here assent;
And for men sein unknowe unkest,[572]
Hire thombe sche holt in hire fest
So clos withinne hire oghne hond,
That there winneth noman lond; 470
Sche lieveth noght al that sche hiereth,
And thus fulofte hirself sche skiereth
And is al war of ‘hadde I wist’:--[573]
Bot for al that myn herte arist,
Whanne I thes comun lovers se,
That woll noght holden hem to thre,
Bot welnyh loven overal,
Min herte is Envious withal,
And evere I am adrad of guile,
In aunter if with eny wyle 480
[Sidenote: =P. i. 176=]
Thei mihte hire innocence enchaunte.
Forthi my wordes ofte I haunte
Behynden hem, so as I dar,
Wherof my ladi may be war:
I sai what evere comth to mowthe,
And worse I wolde, if that I cowthe;
For whanne I come unto hir speche,
Al that I may enquere and seche
Of such deceipte, I telle it al,
And ay the werste in special. 490
So fayn I wolde that sche wiste
How litel thei ben forto triste,
And what thei wolde and what thei mente,
So as thei be of double entente:
Thus toward hem that wicke mene
My wicked word was evere grene.
And natheles, the soth to telle,
In certain if it so befelle
That althertrewest man ybore,
To chese among a thousend score, 500
Which were alfulli forto triste,
Mi ladi lovede, and I it wiste,
Yit rathere thanne he scholde spede,
I wolde swiche tales sprede
To my ladi, if that I myhte,
That I scholde al his love unrihte,
And therto wolde I do mi peine.
For certes thogh I scholde feigne,
And telle that was nevere thoght,
For al this world I myhte noght 510
[Sidenote: =P. i. 177=]
To soffre an othre fully winne,
Ther as I am yit to beginne.
For be thei goode, or be thei badde,
I wolde non my ladi hadde;
And that me makth fulofte aspie
And usen wordes of Envie,
Al forto make hem bere a blame.[574]
And that is bot of thilke same,
The whiche unto my ladi drawe,
For evere on hem I rounge and gknawe 520
And hindre hem al that evere I mai;
And that is, sothly forto say,
Bot only to my lady selve:
I telle it noght to ten ne tuelve,
Therof I wol me wel avise,
To speke or jangle in eny wise
That toucheth to my ladi name,
The which in ernest and in game
I wolde save into my deth;
For me were levere lacke breth 530
Than speken of hire name amis.
Now have ye herd touchende of this,
Mi fader, in confessioun:
And therfor of Detraccioun
In love, of that I have mispoke,
Tel how ye wole it schal be wroke.
I am al redy forto bere
Mi peine, and also to forbere
What thing that ye wol noght allowe;
For who is bounden, he mot bowe. 540
[Sidenote: =P. i. 178=]
So wol I bowe unto youre heste,
For I dar make this beheste,
That I to yow have nothing hid,
Bot told riht as it is betid;
And otherwise of no mispeche,
Mi conscience forto seche,
I can noght of Envie finde,
That I mispoke have oght behinde
Wherof love owhte be mispaid.
Now have ye herd and I have said; 550
What wol ye, fader, that I do?
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, do nomore so,
Bot evere kep thi tunge stille,
Thou miht the more have of thi wille.[575]
For as thou saist thiselven here,
Thi ladi is of such manere,
So wys, so war in alle thinge,
It nedeth of no bakbitinge
That thou thi ladi mis enforme:
For whan sche knoweth al the forme, 560
How that thiself art envious,
Thou schalt noght be so gracious
As thou peraunter scholdest elles.
Ther wol noman drinke of tho welles
Whiche as he wot is puyson inne;
And ofte swich as men beginne
Towardes othre, swich thei finde,
That set hem ofte fer behinde,
Whan that thei wene be before.
Mi goode Sone, and thou therfore 570
[Sidenote: =P. i. 179=]
Bewar and lef thi wicke speche,[576]
Wherof hath fallen ofte wreche
To many a man befor this time.
For who so wole his handes lime,
Thei mosten be the more unclene;
For many a mote schal be sene,
That wolde noght cleve elles there;
And that schold every wys man fere:[577]
For who so wol an other blame,
He secheth ofte his oghne schame, 580
Which elles myhte be riht stille.
Forthi if that it be thi wille
To stonde upon amendement,
A tale of gret entendement
I thenke telle for thi sake,
Wherof thou miht ensample take.