Chapter X: Front Matter (10)

Quo pluuie torrens riparum concitat ampnes.]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 126=]
The tuelfthe, which is last of alle
Of Signes, Piscis men it calle,
The which, as telleth the scripture,
Berth of tuo fisshes the figure.
So is he cold and moiste of kinde,
And ek with sterres, as I finde, 1220
Beset in sondri wise, as thus:
Tuo of his ende Aquarius
Hath lent unto his heved, and tuo[1023]
This Signe hath of his oghne also
Upon his wombe, and over this
Upon his ende also ther is
A nombre of twenty sterres bryghte,
Which is to sen a wonder sighte.
Toward this Signe into his hous[1024]
Comth Jupiter the glorious, 1230
And Venus ek with him acordeth
To duellen, as the bok recordeth.
The Monthe unto this Signe ordeined
Is Februer, which is bereined,
And with londflodes in his rage
At Fordes letteth the passage.

Nou hast thou herd the proprete
Of Signes, bot in his degre
Albumazar yit over this
Seith, so as therthe parted is 1240
In foure, riht so ben divised
The Signes tuelve and stonde assised,
That ech of hem for his partie
Hath his climat to justefie.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 127=]
Wherof the ferste regiment
Toward the part of Orient
From Antioche and that contre
Governed is of Signes thre,
That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo:
And toward Occident also 1250
From Armenie, as I am lerned,
Of Capricorn it stant governed,
Of Pisces and Aquarius:
And after hem I finde thus,
Southward from Alisandre forth
Tho Signes whiche most ben worth
In governance of that doaire,
Libra thei ben and Sagittaire
With Scorpio, which is conjoint
With hem to stonde upon that point:[1025] 1260
Constantinople the Cite,[1026]
So as the bokes tellen me,
The laste of this division
Stant untoward Septemtrion,
Wher as be weie of pourveance
Hath Aries the governance[1027]
Forth with Taurus and Gemini.
Thus ben the Signes propreli
Divided, as it is reherced,
Wherof the londes ben diversed. 1270
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Lo thus, mi Sone, as thou myht hiere,
Was Alisandre mad to liere
Of hem that weren for his lore.
But nou to loken overmore,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 128=]
Of othre sterres hou thei fare
I thenke hierafter to declare,
So as king Alisandre in youthe
Of him that suche thinges couthe
Enformed was tofore his yhe
Be nyhte upon the sterres hihe.[1028] 1280

[Sidenote: [THE FIFTEEN STARS.]]
Upon sondri creacion
Stant sondri operacion,
[Sidenote: Hic tractat super doctrina Nectanabi, dum ipse
iuuenem Alexandrum instruxit, de illis precipue xv. stellis
vna cum earum lapidibus et herbis, que ad artis magice
naturalis operacionem specialius conueniunt.]
Som worcheth this, som worcheth that;
The fyr is hot in his astat
And brenneth what he mai atteigne,
The water mai the fyr restreigne,
The which is cold and moist also.[1029]
Of other thing it farth riht so
Upon this erthe among ous here;
And forto speke in this manere, 1290
Upon the hevene, as men mai finde,
The sterres ben of sondri kinde
And worchen manye sondri thinges
To ous, that ben here underlinges.
Among the whiche forth withal
Nectanabus in special,
Which was an Astronomien
And ek a gret Magicien,
And undertake hath thilke emprise
To Alisandre in his aprise 1300
As of Magique naturel
To knowe, enformeth him somdel
Of certein sterres what thei mene;
Of whiche, he seith, ther ben fiftene,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 129=]
And sondrily to everich on
A gras belongeth and a Ston,
Wherof men worchen many a wonder
To sette thing bothe up and under.
[Sidenote: Prima Stella vocatur Aldeboran, cuius lapis
Carbunculus et herba Anabulla est.]
To telle riht as he began,
The ferste sterre Aldeboran, 1310
The cliereste and the moste of alle,
Be rihte name men it calle;
Which lich is of condicion
To Mars, and of complexion
To Venus, and hath therupon
Carbunculum his propre Ston:
His herbe is Anabulla named,
Which is of gret vertu proclamed.
[Sidenote: Secunda stella vocatur Clota seu Pliades, cuius
lapis Cristallum et herba Feniculus est.]
The seconde is noght vertules;
Clota or elles Pliades 1320
It hatte, and of the mones kinde[1030]
He is, and also this I finde,
He takth of Mars complexion:
And lich to such condicion
His Ston appropred is Cristall,
And ek his herbe in special
The vertuous Fenele it is.
[Sidenote: Tercia Stella vocatur Algol, cuius lapis Dyamans
et herba Eleborum nigrum est.]
The thridde, which comth after this,
Is hote Algol the clere rede,
Which of Satorne, as I may rede, 1330
His kinde takth, and ek of Jove
Complexion to his behove.
His propre Ston is Dyamant,
Which is to him most acordant;
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 130=]
His herbe, which is him betake,
Is hote Eleborum the blake.
[Sidenote: Quarta Stella vocatur Alhaiot, cuius lapis
Saphirus et herba Marrubium est.]
So as it falleth upon lot,
The ferthe sterre is Alhaiot,
Which in the wise as I seide er
Of Satorne and of Jupiter 1340
Hath take his kinde; and therupon
The Saphir is his propre Ston,
Marrubium his herbe also,
The whiche acorden bothe tuo.
[Sidenote: Quinta Stella vocatur Canis maior, cuius lapis
Berillus[1031] et herba Savina est.]
And Canis maior in his like
The fifte sterre is of Magique,
The whos kinde is venerien,
As seith this Astronomien.
His propre Ston is seid Berille,
Bot forto worche and to fulfille 1350
Thing which to this science falleth,
Ther is an herbe which men calleth
Saveine, and that behoveth nede
To him that wole his pourpos spede.
[Sidenote: Sexta Stella vocatur Canis minor, cuius lapis
Achates et herba Primula est.]
The sexte suiende after this
Be name Canis minor is;
The which sterre is Mercurial
Be weie of kinde, and forth withal,
As it is writen in the carte,
Complexion he takth of Marte. 1360
His Ston and herbe, as seith the Scole,[1032]
Ben Achates and Primerole.
[Sidenote: Septima Stella vocatur Arial, cuius lapis
Gorgonza et herba Celidonia est.]
The sefnthe sterre in special
Of this science is Arial,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 131=]
Which sondri nature underfongeth.
The Ston which propre unto him longeth,
Gorgonza proprely it hihte:
His herbe also, which he schal rihte
Upon the worchinge as I mene,
Is Celidoine freissh and grene. 1370
[Sidenote: Octaua stella vocatur Ala Corui, cuius lapis
Honochinus[1033] et herba Lapacia est.]
Sterre Ala Corvi upon heihte
Hath take his place in nombre of eighte,
Which of his kinde mot parforne
The will of Marte and of Satorne:
To whom Lapacia the grete
Is herbe, hot of no beyete;
His Ston is Honochinus hote,
Thurgh which men worchen gret riote.
[Sidenote: Nona stella vocatur Alaezel, cuius lapis
Smaragdus et herba Salgea est.]
The nynthe sterre faire and wel
Be name is hote Alaezel, 1380
Which takth his propre kinde thus
Bothe of Mercurie and of Venus.
His Ston is the grene Amyraude,[1034]
To whom is yoven many a laude:
Salge is his herbe appourtenant
Aboven al the remenant.
[Sidenote: Decima stella vocatur Almareth, cuius lapis
Iaspis et herba Plantago est.]
The tenthe sterre is Almareth,
Which upon lif and upon deth
Thurgh kinde of Jupiter and Mart
He doth what longeth to his part. 1390
His Ston is Jaspe, and of Planteine
He hath his herbe sovereine.
[Sidenote: Vndecima Stella vocatur Venenas, cuius lapis
Adamans et herba Cicorea est.]
The sterre ellefthe is Venenas,[1035]
The whos nature is as it was
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 132=]
Take of Venus and of the Mone,
In thing which he hath forto done.
Of Adamant is that perrie
In which he worcheth his maistrie;
Thilke herbe also which him befalleth,
Cicorea the bok it calleth.[1036] 1400
[Sidenote: Duodecima stella vocatur Alpheta, cuius lapis
Topazion[1037] et herba Rosa marina est.]
Alpheta in the nombre sit,
And is the twelfthe sterre yit;
Of Scorpio which is governed,
And takth his kinde, as I am lerned;
And hath his vertu in the Ston
Which cleped is Topazion:[1038]
His herbe propre is Rosmarine,
Which schapen is for his covine.
[Sidenote: Terciadecima stella vocatur Cor Scorpionis,
cuius lapis Sardis et herba Aristologia[1039] est.]
Of these sterres, whiche I mene,
Cor Scorpionis is thritiene; 1410
The whos nature Mart and Jove
Have yoven unto his behove.
His herbe is Aristologie,[1040]
Which folweth his Astronomie:
The Ston which that this sterre alloweth,
Is Sardis, which unto him boweth.
[Sidenote: Quartadecima stella vocatur Botercadent, cuius
lapis Crisolitus et herba Satureia est.]
The sterre which stant next the laste,
Nature on him this name caste
And clepeth him Botercadent;
Which of his kinde obedient 1420
Is to Mercurie and to Venus.
His Ston is seid Crisolitus,
His herbe is cleped Satureie,
So as these olde bokes seie.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 133=]
[Sidenote: Quintadecima stella vocatur Cauda Scorpionis,
cuius lapis Calcedonia et herba Maiorana est.]
Bot nou the laste sterre of alle
The tail of Scorpio men calle,
Which to Mercurie and to Satorne
Be weie of kinde mot retorne
After the preparacion
Of due constellacion. 1430
The Calcedoine unto him longeth,
Which for his Ston he underfongeth;
Of Majorane his herbe is grounded.
Thus have I seid hou thei be founded,
Of every sterre in special,
Which hath his herbe and Ston withal,
As Hermes in his bokes olde
Witnesse berth of that I tolde.
[Sidenote: [AUTHORS OF THE SCIENCE OF ASTRONOMY.]]
The science of Astronomie,
Which principal is of clergie 1440
[Sidenote: Nota hic de Auctoribus illis, qui ad Astronomie
scienciam pre ceteris studiosius intendentes libros super
hoc distinctis nominibus composuerunt.]
To dieme betwen wo and wel
In thinges that be naturel,
Thei hadde a gret travail on honde[1041]
That made it ferst ben understonde;
And thei also which overmore
Here studie sette upon this lore,
Thei weren gracious and wys
And worthi forto bere a pris.
And whom it liketh forto wite
Of hem that this science write, 1450
On of the ferste which it wrot
After Noë, it was Nembrot,
To his disciple Ychonithon
And made a bok forth therupon
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 134=]
The which Megaster cleped was.
An other Auctor in this cas
Is Arachel, the which men note;
His bok is Abbategnyh hote.
Danz Tholome is noght the leste,
Which makth the bok of Almageste; 1460
And Alfraganus doth the same,
Whos bok is Chatemuz be name.
Gebuz and Alpetragus eke
Of Planisperie, which men seke,[1042]
The bokes made: and over this
Ful many a worthi clerc ther is,
That writen upon this clergie
The bokes of Altemetrie,
Planemetrie and ek also,
Whiche as belongen bothe tuo, 1470
So as thei ben naturiens,
Unto these Astronomiens.
Men sein that Habraham was on;[1043]
Bot whether that he wrot or non,
That finde I noght; and Moïses
Ek was an other: bot Hermes
Above alle othre in this science[1044]
He hadde a gret experience;
Thurgh him was many a sterre assised,
Whos bokes yit ben auctorized. 1480
I mai noght knowen alle tho
That writen in the time tho
Of this science; bot I finde,
Of jugement be weie of kinde
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 135=]
That in o point thei alle acorden:
Of sterres whiche thei recorden
That men mai sen upon the hevene,
Ther ben a thousend sterres evene
And tuo and twenty, to the syhte
Whiche aren of hemself so bryhte,[1045] 1490
That men mai dieme what thei be,
The nature and the proprete.
Nou hast thou herd, in which a wise[1046]
These noble Philosophres wise
Enformeden this yonge king,
And made him have a knowleching
Of thing which ferst to the partie
Belongeth of Philosophie,
Which Theorique cleped is,
As thou tofore hast herd er this. 1500
Bot nou to speke of the secounde,
Which Aristotle hath also founde,
And techeth hou to speke faire,
Which is a thing full necessaire
To contrepeise the balance,
Wher lacketh other sufficance.

[Sidenote: [ii. RHETORIC.]]
v. _Compositi pulcra sermonis verba placere_[1047]
_Principio poterunt, veraque fine placent._
_Herba, lapis, sermo, tria sunt virtute repleta,_
_Vis tamen ex verbi pondere plura facit._[1048]

Above alle erthli creatures
The hihe makere of natures
[Sidenote: Hic tractat de secunda parte Philosophie, cuius
nomen Rethorica facundos efficit. Loquitur eciam de eiusdem
duabus speciebus, scilicet Grammatica et Logica, quarum
doctrina Rethor sua verba perornat.]
The word to man hath yove alone,
So that the speche of his persone, 1510
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 136=]
Or forto lese or forto winne,
The hertes thoght which is withinne
Mai schewe, what it wolde mene;
And that is noghwhere elles sene
Of kinde with non other beste.
So scholde he be the more honeste,
To whom god yaf so gret a yifte,
And loke wel that he ne schifte
Hise wordes to no wicked us;
For word the techer of vertus 1520
Is cleped in Philosophie.
Wherof touchende this partie,
Is Rethorique the science
Appropred to the reverence
Of wordes that ben resonable:
And for this art schal be vailable
With goodli wordes forto like,
It hath Gramaire, it hath Logiqe,
That serven bothe unto the speche.
Gramaire ferste hath forto teche[1049] 1530
To speke upon congruite:
Logique hath eke in his degre
Betwen the trouthe and the falshode
The pleine wordes forto schode,
So that nothing schal go beside,
That he the riht ne schal decide,
Wherof full many a gret debat
Reformed is to good astat,
And pes sustiened up alofte
With esy wordes and with softe, 1540
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 137=]
Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle.
The Philosophre amonges alle
Forthi commendeth this science,
Which hath the reule of eloquence.
In Ston and gras vertu ther is,[1050]
Bot yit the bokes tellen this,
That word above alle erthli thinges
Is vertuous in his doinges,
Wher so it be to evele or goode.
For if the wordes semen goode 1550
And ben wel spoke at mannes Ere,
Whan that ther is no trouthe there,
Thei don fulofte gret deceipte;
For whan the word to the conceipte
Descordeth in so double a wise,
Such Rethorique is to despise
In every place, and forto drede.
For of Uluxes thus I rede,
As in the bok of Troie is founde,
His eloquence and his facounde 1560
Of goodly wordes whiche he tolde,
Hath mad that Anthenor him solde
The toun, which he with tresoun wan.
Word hath beguiled many a man;
With word the wilde beste is daunted,
With word the Serpent is enchaunted,
Of word among the men of Armes
Ben woundes heeled with the charmes,
Wher lacketh other medicine;
Word hath under his discipline 1570
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 138=]
Of Sorcerie the karectes.
The wordes ben of sondri sectes,
Of evele and eke of goode also;
The wordes maken frend of fo,[1051]
And fo of frend, and pes of werre,
And werre of pes, and out of herre
The word this worldes cause entriketh,[1052]
And reconsileth whan him liketh.
The word under the coupe of hevene
Set every thing or odde or evene; 1580
With word the hihe god is plesed,
With word the wordes ben appesed,
The softe word the loude stilleth;
Wher lacketh good, the word fulfilleth,
To make amendes for the wrong;
Whan wordes medlen with the song,
It doth plesance wel the more.
Bot forto loke upon the lore[1053]
Hou Tullius his Rethorique[1054]
[Sidenote: Nota de Eloquencia Iulii in causa Cateline
contra Cillenum et alios tunc vrbis Rome Conciues.]
Componeth, ther a man mai pike 1590
Hou that he schal hise wordes sette,
Hou he schal lose, hou he schal knette,
And in what wise he schal pronounce
His tale plein withoute frounce.
Wherof ensample if thou wolt seche,
Tak hiede and red whilom the speche[1055]
Of Julius and Cithero,[1056]
Which consul was of Rome tho,
Of Catoun eke and of Cillene,
Behold the wordes hem betwene, 1600
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 139=]
Whan the tresoun of Cateline
Descoevered was, and the covine
Of hem that were of his assent
Was knowe and spoke in parlement,
And axed hou and in what wise
Men scholde don hem to juise.
Cillenus ferst his tale tolde,
To trouthe and as he was beholde,[1057]
The comun profit forto save,
He seide hou tresoun scholde have 1610
A cruel deth; and thus thei spieke,
The Consul bothe and Catoun eke,
And seiden that for such a wrong
Ther mai no peine be to strong.
Bot Julius with wordes wise
His tale tolde al otherwise,
As he which wolde her deth respite,
And fondeth hou he mihte excite
The jugges thurgh his eloquence[1058]
Fro deth to torne the sentence 1620
And sette here hertes to pite.
Nou tolden thei, nou tolde he;
Thei spieken plein after the lawe,
Bot he the wordes of his sawe
Coloureth in an other weie
Spekende, and thus betwen the tweie,
To trete upon this juggement,
Made ech of hem his Argument.
Wherof the tales forto hiere,
Ther mai a man the Scole liere 1630
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 140=]
Of Rethoriqes eloquences,
Which is the secounde of sciences
Touchende to Philosophie;
Wherof a man schal justifie
Hise wordes in disputeisoun,
And knette upon conclusioun
His Argument in such a forme,
Which mai the pleine trouthe enforme
And the soubtil cautele abate,
Which every trewman schal debate.[1059] 1640

[Sidenote: [iii. PRACTIC.]]
vi. _Practica quemque statum pars tercia Philosophie_
_Ad regimen recte ducit in orbe vie:_
_Set quanto maior Rex est, tanto magis ipsum_
_Hec scola concernit, qua sua regna regat._[1060]

The ferste, which is Theorique,
[Sidenote: Hic tractat de tercia parte Philosophie, que
Practica vocatur, cuius species sunt tres, scilicet Etica,
Ichonomia et Policia, quarum doctrina regia magestas in suo
regimine ad honoris magnificenciam per singula dirigitur.]
And the secounde Rethorique,
Sciences of Philosophie,
I have hem told as in partie,
So as the Philosophre it tolde
To Alisandre: and nou I wolde
Telle of the thridde what it is,
The which Practique cleped is.
Practique stant upon thre thinges
Toward the governance of kinges; 1650
Wherof the ferst Etique is named,[1061]
The whos science stant proclamed
To teche of vertu thilke reule,
Hou that a king himself schal reule
Of his moral condicion
With worthi disposicion
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 141=]
Of good livinge in his persone,
Which is the chief of his corone.
It makth a king also to lerne
Hou he his bodi schal governe, 1660
Hou he schal wake, hou he schal slepe,
Hou that he schal his hele kepe
In mete, in drinke, in clothinge eke:
Ther is no wisdom forto seke
As for the reule of his persone,
The which that this science al one[1062]
Ne techeth as be weie of kinde,
That ther is nothing left behinde.
That other point which to Practique
Belongeth is Iconomique,[1063] 1670
Which techeth thilke honestete[1064]
Thurgh which a king in his degre
His wif and child schal reule and guie,
So forth with al the companie
Which in his houshold schal abyde,
And his astat on every syde
In such manere forto lede,
That he his houshold ne mislede.
Practique hath yit the thridde aprise,
Which techeth hou and in what wise 1680
Thurgh hih pourveied ordinance[1065]
A king schal sette in governance
His Realme, and that is Policie,
Which longeth unto Regalie
In time of werre, in time of pes,
To worschipe and to good encress
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 142=]
Of clerk, of kniht and of Marchant,
And so forth of the remenant[1066]
Of al the comun poeple aboute,
Withinne Burgh and ek withoute,[1067] 1690
Of hem that ben Artificiers,
Whiche usen craftes and mestiers,
Whos Art is cleped Mechanique.
And though thei ben noght alle like,
Yit natheles, hou so it falle,[1068]
O lawe mot governe hem alle,
Or that thei lese or that thei winne,
After thastat that thei ben inne.[1069]
[Sidenote: [FIVE POINTS OF POLICY.]]
Lo, thus this worthi yonge king
Was fulli tauht of every thing, 1700
Which mihte yive entendement
Of good reule and good regiment
To such a worthi Prince as he.
Bot of verray necessite
The Philosophre him hath betake
Fyf pointz, whiche he hath undertake
To kepe and holde in observance,
As for the worthi governance
Which longeth to his Regalie,
After the reule of Policie. 1710

[Sidenote: [THE FIRST POINT OF POLICY. TRUTH.]]
vii. _Moribus ornatus regit hic qui regna moderna,_
_Cercius expectat ceptra futura poli._
_Et quia veridica virtus supereminet omnes,_
_Regis ab ore boni fabula nulla sonat._

To every man behoveth lore,[1070]
Bot to noman belongeth more
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 143=]
Than to a king, which hath to lede
[Sidenote: Hic secundum Policiam tractare intendit precipue
super quinque regularum Articulis, que ad Principis Regimen
obseruande specialius existunt,[1071] quarum prima veritas
nuncupatur. Per quam veridicus fit sermo Regis ad omnes.]
The poeple; for of his kinghede
He mai hem bothe save and spille.
And for it stant upon his wille,
It sit him wel to ben avised,
And the vertus whiche are assissed[1072]
Unto a kinges Regiment,
To take in his entendement: 1720
Wherof to tellen, as thei stonde,
Hierafterward nou woll I fonde.
Among the vertus on is chief,
And that is trouthe, which is lief
To god and ek to man also.
And for it hath ben evere so,
Tawhte Aristotle, as he wel couthe,
To Alisandre, hou in his youthe
He scholde of trouthe thilke grace
With al his hole herte embrace, 1730
So that his word be trewe and plein,
Toward the world and so certein
That in him be no double speche:
For if men scholde trouthe seche
And founde it noght withinne a king,
It were an unsittende thing.
The word is tokne of that withinne,
Ther schal a worthi king beginne
To kepe his tunge and to be trewe,
So schal his pris ben evere newe. 1740
Avise him every man tofore,
And be wel war, er he be swore,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 144=]
For afterward it is to late,
If that he wole his word debate.[1073]
For as a king in special
Above all othre is principal
Of his pouer, so scholde he be
Most vertuous in his degre;
And that mai wel be signefied[1074]
Be his corone and specified. 1750
[Sidenote: Nota super hiis que in corona Regis designantur.[1075]]
The gold betokneth excellence,
That men schull don him reverence
As to here liege soverein.
The Stones, as the bokes sein,
Commended ben in treble wise:
Ferst thei ben harde, and thilke assisse
Betokneth in a king Constance,
So that ther schal no variance
Be founde in his condicion;
And also be descripcion 1760
The vertu which is in the stones
A verrai Signe is for the nones
Of that a king schal ben honeste
And holde trewly his beheste
Of thing which longeth to kinghede:
The bryhte colour, as I rede,
Which in the stones is schynende,
Is in figure betoknende
The Cronique of this worldes fame,[1076]
Which stant upon his goode name.[1077] 1770
The cercle which is round aboute
Is tokne of al the lond withoute,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 145=]
Which stant under his Gerarchie,
That he it schal wel kepe and guye.
And for that trouthe, hou so it falle,
Is the vertu soverein of alle,
That longeth unto regiment,
A tale, which is evident
Of trouthe in comendacioun,
Toward thin enformacion, 1780
Mi Sone, hierafter thou schalt hiere
Of a Cronique in this matiere.

[Sidenote: [KING, WINE, WOMAN AND TRUTH.]]
As the Cronique it doth reherce,
A Soldan whilom was of Perce,
[Sidenote: Hic narrat, qualiter Darius filius Ytaspis
Soldanus Percie a tribus suis Cubiculariis, quorum nomina
Arpaghes, Manachaz et Zorobabel dicta sunt, nomine
questionis singillatim interrogauit, vtrum Rex aut mulier
aut vinum maioris fortitudinis vim obtineret: ipsis vero
varia opinione respondentibus, Zorobabel vltimus asseruit[1082]
quod mulier sui amoris complacencia tam Regis quam vini
potenciam excellit. Addidit insuper pro finali conclusione
dicens, quod veritas super omnia vincit. Cuius responsio
ceteris laudabilior acceptabatur.]
Which Daires hihte, and Ytaspis
His fader was; and soth it is
That thurgh wisdom and hih prudence
Mor than for eny reverence
Of his lignage as be descente[1078]
The regne of thilke empire he hente: 1790
And as he was himselve wys,[1079]
The wisemen he hield in pris[1080]
And soghte hem oute on every side,[1081]
That toward him thei scholde abide.
Among the whiche thre ther were
That most service unto him bere
As thei which in his chambre lyhen[1083]
And al his conseil herde and syhen.
Here names ben of strange note,
Arpaghes was the ferste hote,[1084] 1800
And Manachaz was the secounde,
Zorobabel, as it is founde
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 146=]
In the Cronique, was the thridde.
This Soldan, what so him betidde,
To hem he triste most of alle,[1085]
Wherof the cas is so befalle:
This lord, which hath conceiptes depe,
Upon a nyht whan he hath slepe,
As he which hath his wit desposed,
Touchende a point hem hath opposed. 1810
The kinges question was this;
Of thinges thre which strengest is,
The wyn, the womman or the king:
And that thei scholde upon this thing
Of here ansuere avised be,[1086]
He yaf hem fulli daies thre,
And hath behote hem be his feith
That who the beste reson seith,
He schal resceive a worthi mede.
Upon this thing thei token hiede 1820
And stoden in desputeison,
That be diverse opinion
Of Argumentz that thei have holde
Arpaghes ferst his tale tolde,
And seide hou that the strengthe of kinges
Is myhtiest of alle thinges.
For king hath pouer over man,
And man is he which reson can,
As he which is of his nature
The moste noble creature 1830
Of alle tho that god hath wroght:
And be that skile it semeth noght,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 147=]
He seith, that eny erthly thing
Mai be so myhty as a king.
A king mai spille, a king mai save,
A king mai make of lord a knave[1087]
And of a knave a lord also:
The pouer of a king stant so,
That he the lawes overpasseth;
What he wol make lasse, he lasseth, 1840
What he wol make more, he moreth;
And as the gentil faucon soreth,[1088]
He fleth, that noman him reclameth;
Bot he al one alle othre tameth,
And stant himself of lawe fre.
Lo, thus a kinges myht, seith he,
So as his reson can argue,
Is strengest and of most value.
Bot Manachaz seide otherwise,
That wyn is of the more emprise; 1850
And that he scheweth be this weie.
The wyn fulofte takth aweie
The reson fro the mannes herte;
The wyn can make a krepel sterte,
And a delivere man unwelde;
It makth a blind man to behelde,
And a bryht yhed seme derk;
It makth a lewed man a clerk,
And fro the clerkes the clergie
It takth aweie, and couardie 1860
It torneth into hardiesse;
Of Avarice it makth largesse.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 148=]
The wyn makth ek the goode blod,
In which the Soule which is good
Hath chosen hire a resting place,
Whil that the lif hir wole embrace.
And be this skile Manachas
Ansuered hath upon this cas,
And seith that wyn be weie of kinde
Is thing which mai the hertes binde 1870
Wel more than the regalie.
Zorobabel for his partie
Seide, as him thoghte for the beste,
That wommen ben the myhtieste.
The king and the vinour also
Of wommen comen bothe tuo;
And ek he seide hou that manhede
Thurgh strengthe unto the wommanhede
Of love, wher he wole or non,
Obeie schal; and therupon, 1880
To schewe of wommen the maistrie,
A tale which he syh with yhe[1089]
As for ensample he tolde this,--[1090]
[Sidenote: Nota hic de vigore amoris, qui inter Cirum Regem
Persarum et Apemen Besazis filiam ipsius Regis Concubinam
spectante tota Curia experiebatur.]
Hou Apemen, of Besazis[1091]
Which dowhter was, in the paleis
Sittende upon his hihe deis,
Whan he was hotest in his ire
Toward the grete of his empire,
Cirus the king tirant sche tok,
And only with hire goodly lok 1890
Sche made him debonaire and meke,
And be the chyn and be the cheke
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 149=]
Sche luggeth him riht as hir liste,
That nou sche japeth, nou sche kiste,
And doth with him what evere hir liketh;
Whan that sche loureth, thanne he siketh,
And whan sche gladeth, he is glad:
And thus this king was overlad
With hire which his lemman was.
Among the men is no solas, 1900
If that ther be no womman there;
For bot if that the wommen were,[1092]
This worldes joie were aweie:
Thurgh hem men finden out the weie
To knihthode and to worldes fame;
Thei make a man to drede schame,
And honour forto be desired:
Thurgh the beaute of hem is fyred
The Dart of which Cupide throweth,
Wherof the jolif peine groweth, 1910
Which al the world hath under fote.
A womman is the mannes bote,
His lif, his deth, his wo, his wel;
And this thing mai be schewed wel,
Hou that wommen ben goode and kihde,
For in ensample this I finde.
[Sidenote: [TALE OF ALCESTIS.]]
Whan that the duk Ametus lay
[Sidenote: Nota de fidelitate Coniugis, qualiter Alcesta
vxor Ameti, vt maritum suum viuificaret, seipsam morti
spontanee subegit.]
Sek in his bedd, that every day
Men waiten whan he scholde deie,
Alceste his wif goth forto preie, 1920
As sche which wolde thonk deserve,
With Sacrifice unto Minerve,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 150=]
To wite ansuere of the goddesse
Hou that hir lord of his seknesse,
Wherof he was so wo besein,
Recovere myhte his hele ayein.
Lo, thus sche cride and thus sche preide,
Til ate laste a vois hir seide,
That if sche wolde for his sake
The maladie soffre and take, 1930
And deie hirself, he scholde live.
Of this ansuere Alceste hath yive[1093]
Unto Minerve gret thonkinge,
So that hir deth and his livinge
Sche ches with al hire hole entente,
And thus acorded hom sche wente.
Into the chambre and whan sche cam,
Hire housebonde anon sche nam
In bothe hire Armes and him kiste,
And spak unto him what hire liste; 1940
And therupon withinne a throwe
This goode wif was overthrowe[1094]
And deide, and he was hool in haste.
So mai a man be reson taste,
Hou next after the god above
The trouthe of wommen and the love,
In whom that alle grace is founde,
Is myhtiest upon this grounde
And most behovely manyfold.
Lo, thus Zorobabel hath told 1950
The tale of his opinion:
Bot for final conclusion
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 151=]
What strengest is of erthli thinges,
The wyn, the wommen or the kinges,
He seith that trouthe above hem alle
Is myhtiest, hou evere it falle.
The trouthe, hou so it evere come,
Mai for nothing ben overcome;
It mai wel soffre for a throwe,
Bot ate laste it schal be knowe. 1960
The proverbe is, who that is trewe,
Him schal his while nevere rewe:
For hou so that the cause wende,
The trouthe is schameles ate ende,
Bot what thing that is troutheles,
It mai noght wel be schameles,
And schame hindreth every wyht:
So proveth it, ther is no myht
Withoute trouthe in no degre.
And thus for trouthe of his decre 1970
Zorobabel was most commended,
Wherof the question was ended,
And he resceived hath his mede
For trouthe, which to mannes nede
Is most behoveliche overal.
Forthi was trouthe in special
The ferste point in observance
Betake unto the governance[1095]
Of Alisandre, as it is seid:
For therupon the ground is leid[1096] 1980
Of every kinges regiment,
As thing which most convenient
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 152=]
Is forto sette a king in evene
Bothe in this world and ek in hevene.

[Sidenote: [THE SECOND POINT OF POLICY. LIBERALITY.]]
viii. _Absit Auaricia, ne tangat regia corda,_
_Eius enim spoliis excoriatur humus._[1097]
_Fama colit largum volitans per secula Regem,_
_Dona tamen licitis sunt moderanda modis._

Next after trouthe the secounde,
In Policie as it is founde,
[Sidenote: Hic tractat de regie maiestatis secunda Policia,
quam Aristotiles largitatem vocat: cuius virtute non solum
propulsata Auaricia Regis nomen magnificum extollitur,
set et sui subditi omni[1098] diuiciarum habundancia
iocundiores efficiuntur.]
Which serveth to the worldes fame
In worschipe of a kinges name,
Largesse it is, whos privilegge
Ther mai non Avarice abregge. 1990
The worldes good was ferst comune,
Bot afterward upon fortune
Was thilke comun profit cessed:
For whan the poeple stod encresced
And the lignages woxen grete,
Anon for singulier beyete
Drouh every man to his partie;
Wherof cam in the ferste envie
With gret debat and werres stronge,
And laste among the men so longe, 2000
Til noman wiste who was who,
Ne which was frend ne which was fo.
Til ate laste in every lond
Withinne hemself the poeple fond
That it was good to make a king,
Which mihte appesen al this thing
And yive riht to the lignages
In partinge of here heritages
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 153=]
And ek of al here other good;
And thus above hem alle stod 2010
The king upon his Regalie,
As he which hath to justifie
The worldes good fro covoitise.
So sit it wel in alle wise
A king betwen the more and lesse[1099]
To sette his herte upon largesse
Toward himself and ek also
Toward his poeple; and if noght so,
That is to sein, if that he be
Toward himselven large and fre 2020
And of his poeple take and pile,[1100]
Largesse be no weie of skile
It mai be seid, bot Avarice,
Which in a king is a gret vice.
A king behoveth ek to fle
The vice of Prodegalite,
That he mesure in his expence
So kepe, that of indigence
He mai be sauf: for who that nedeth,
In al his werk the worse he spedeth. 2030
[Sidenote: Nota super hoc quod Aristotiles Alexandrum
exemplificauit de exaccionibus Regis Chaldeorum.]
As Aristotle upon Chaldee
Ensample of gret Auctorite
Unto king Alisandre tauhte
Of thilke folk that were unsauhte
Toward here king for his pilage:
Wherof he bad, in his corage
That he unto thre pointz entende,
Wher that he wolde his good despende.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 154=]
Ferst scholde he loke, hou that it stod,
That al were of his oghne good 2040
The yiftes whiche he wolde yive;
So myhte he wel the betre live:
And ek he moste taken hiede[1101]
If ther be cause of eny nede,
Which oghte forto be defended,
Er that his goodes be despended:
He mot ek, as it is befalle,
Amonges othre thinges alle
Se the decertes of his men;
And after that thei ben of ken 2050
And of astat and of merite,
He schal hem largeliche aquite,
Or for the werre, or for the pes,
That non honour falle in descres,
Which mihte torne into defame,
Bot that he kepe his goode name,
So that he be noght holde unkinde.
For in Cronique a tale I finde,
Which spekth somdiel of this matiere,
Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere. 2060

[Sidenote: [TALE OF JULIUS AND THE POOR KNIGHT.]]
In Rome, to poursuie his riht,
Ther was a worthi povere kniht,
[Sidenote: Hic secundum gesta Iulii exemplum ponit,
qualiter Rex suorum militum, quos probos agnouerit,
indigenciam largitatis sue beneficiis releuare[1102]
tenetur.]
Which cam al one forto sein
His cause, when the court was plein,
Wher Julius was in presence.
And for him lacketh of despence,
Ther was with him non advocat
To make ple for his astat.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 155=]
Bot thogh him lacke forto plede,
Him lacketh nothing of manhede; 2070
He wiste wel his pours was povere,
Bot yit he thoghte his riht recovere,
And openly poverte alleide,
To themperour and thus he seide:
‘O Julius, lord of the lawe,
Behold, mi conseil is withdrawe
For lacke of gold: do thin office[1103]
After the lawes of justice:[1104]
Help that I hadde conseil hiere
Upon the trouthe of mi matiere.’ 2080
And Julius with that anon
Assigned him a worthi on,
Bot he himself no word ne spak.
This kniht was wroth and fond a lak
In themperour, and seide thus:
‘O thou unkinde Julius,
Whan thou in thi bataille were
Up in Aufrique, and I was there,
Mi myht for thi rescousse I dede
And putte noman in my stede, 2090
Thou wost what woundes ther I hadde:
Bot hier I finde thee so badde,
That thee ne liste speke o word[1105]
Thin oghne mouth, nor of thin hord
To yive a florin me to helpe.
Hou scholde I thanne me beyelpe
Fro this dai forth of thi largesse,
Whan such a gret unkindenesse
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 156=]
Is founde in such a lord as thou?’
This Julius knew wel ynou 2100
That al was soth which he him tolde;
And for he wolde noght ben holde
Unkinde, he tok his cause on honde,
And as it were of goddes sonde,
He yaf him good ynouh to spende
For evere into his lives ende.[1106]
And thus scholde every worthi king
Take of his knihtes knowleching,
Whan that he syh thei hadden nede,
For every service axeth mede: 2110
Bot othre, whiche have noght deserved
Thurgh vertu, bot of japes served,
A king schal noght deserve grace,
Thogh he be large in such a place.

[Sidenote: [ANTIGONUS AND CINICHUS.]]
It sit wel every king to have
Discrecion, whan men him crave,
[Sidenote: Hic ponit exemplum de Rege Antigono, qualiter
dona regia secundum maius et minus equa discrecione
moderanda sunt.]
So that he mai his yifte wite:
Wherof I finde a tale write,
Hou Cinichus a povere kniht
A Somme which was over myht 2120
Preide of his king Antigonus.
The king ansuerde to him thus,[1107]
And seide hou such a yifte passeth
His povere astat: and thanne he lasseth,
And axeth bot a litel peny,
If that the king wol yive him eny.
The king ansuerde, it was to smal
For him, which was a lord real;[1108]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 157=]
To yive a man so litel thing
It were unworschipe in a king. 2130
Be this ensample a king mai lere
[Sidenote: [DISCRETION IN GIVING.]]
That forto yive is in manere:
For if a king his tresor lasseth
Withoute honour and thonkles passeth,
Whan he himself wol so beguile,
I not who schal compleigne his while,
Ne who be rihte him schal relieve.
Bot natheles this I believe,
To helpe with his oghne lond
Behoveth every man his hond[1109] 2140
To sette upon necessite;
[Sidenote: Nota hic quod Regius status a suis fidelibus
omni fauore supportandus est.]
And ek his kinges realte
Mot every liege man conforte,
With good and bodi to supporte,
Whan thei se cause resonable:
For who that is noght entendable
To holde upriht his kinges name,
Him oghte forto be to blame.
[Sidenote: [PRODIGALITY OF KINGS.]]
Of Policie and overmore
To speke in this matiere more, 2150
[Sidenote: Nota hic secundum Aristotilem,[1110] qualiter
Principum Prodegalitas paupertatem inducit communem.]
So as the Philosophre tolde,
A king after the reule is holde
To modifie and to adresce
Hise yiftes upon such largesce
[Sidenote: Seneca.[1111] Sic aliis benefacito, vt tibi non
noceas.]
That he mesure noght excede:
For if a king falle into nede,
It causeth ofte sondri thinges
Whiche are ungoodly to the kinges.[1112]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 158=]
What man wol noght himself mesure,
Men sen fulofte that mesure 2160
Him hath forsake: and so doth he
That useth Prodegalite,
Which is the moder of poverte,
Wherof the londes ben deserte;
And namely whan thilke vice
Aboute a king stant in office
And hath withholde of his partie
The covoitouse flaterie,
Which many a worthi king deceiveth,
Er he the fallas aperceiveth 2170
Of hem that serven to the glose.
For thei that cunnen plese and glose,
Ben, as men tellen, the norrices
Unto the fostringe of the vices,
Wherof fulofte natheles
A king is blamed gulteles.
[Sidenote: [FLATTERERS.]]
A Philosophre, as thou schalt hiere,
[Sidenote: Nota qualiter in principum curiis adulatores
triplici grauitate offendunt.]
Spak to a king of this matiere,
And seide him wel hou that flatours
Coupable were of thre errours. 2180
[Sidenote: Primo contra deum.]
On was toward the goddes hihe,
That weren wrothe of that thei sihe
The meschief which befalle scholde
Of that the false flatour tolde.
[Sidenote: Secundo contra Principem.]
Toward the king an other was,
Whan thei be sleihte and be fallas
Of feigned wordes make him wene
That blak is whyt and blew is grene
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 159=]
Touchende of his condicion:
For whanne he doth extorcion 2190
With manye an other vice mo,
Men schal noght finden on of tho
To groucche or speke therayein,
Bot holden up his oil and sein
That al is wel, what evere he doth;
And thus of fals thei maken soth,
So that here kinges yhe is blent
And wot not hou the world is went.[1113]
[Sidenote: Tercio contra populum.[1114]]
The thridde errour is harm comune,
With which the poeple mot commune 2200
Of wronges that thei bringen inne:
And thus thei worchen treble sinne,
That ben flatours aboute a king.
Ther myhte be no worse thing
Aboute a kinges regalie,
Thanne is the vice of flaterie.
And natheles it hath ben used,
That it was nevere yit refused
As forto speke in court real;
For there it is most special, 2210
And mai noght longe be forbore.
Bot whan this vice of hem is bore,
That scholden the vertus forthbringe,
And trouthe is torned to lesinge,
It is, as who seith, ayein kinde,
Wherof an old ensample I finde.
[Sidenote: [TALE OF DIOGENES AND ARISTIPPUS]]
Among these othre tales wise
Of Philosophres, in this wise
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 160=]
[Sidenote: [1115]Hic contra vanitates adulantum loquitur,
et narrat quod cum Arisippus de Cartagine Philosophus
scole studium relinquens sui Principis obsequio in magnis
adulacionibus pre ceteris carior assistebat, accidit vt
ipse quodam die Diogenem Philosophum nuper socium suum,
virum tam moribus quam sciencia probatissimum, herbas ad
olera sua collectas lauantem ex casu ad ripam inuenit: cui
ait, ‘O Diogenes, vere si tu sicut et ego Principi tuo
placere scires, huiusmodi herbas aut colligere aut lauare
tibi minime indigeret.’ Cui alter respondit, ‘O Arisippe,
certe et si tu sicut et ego olera tua colligere et lauare
scires, principem tuum ob inanis glorie cupiditatem
blandiri nullatenus deberes.’]
I rede, how whilom tuo ther were,
And to the Scole forto lere 2220
Unto Athenes fro Cartage
Here frendes, whan thei were of Age,
Hem sende; and ther thei stoden longe,
Til thei such lore have underfonge,
That in here time thei surmonte
Alle othre men, that to acompte
Of hem was tho the grete fame.
The ferste of hem his rihte name
Was Diogenes thanne hote,
In whom was founde no riote: 2230
His felaw Arisippus hyhte,
Which mochel couthe and mochel myhte.
Bot ate laste, soth to sein,
Thei bothe tornen hom ayein
Unto Cartage and scole lete.
This Diogenes no beyete
Of worldes good or lasse or more
Ne soghte for his longe lore,
Bot tok him only forto duelle
At hom; and as the bokes telle, 2240
His hous was nyh to the rivere
Besyde a bregge, as thou schalt hiere.
Ther duelleth he to take his reste,[1116]
So as it thoghte him for the beste,
To studie in his Philosophie,
As he which wolde so defie
The worldes pompe on every syde.
Bot Arisippe his bok aside
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 161=]
Hath leid, and to the court he wente,
Wher many a wyle and many a wente 2250
With flaterie and wordes softe[1117]
He caste, and hath compassed ofte
Hou he his Prince myhte plese;
And in this wise he gat him ese
Of vein honour and worldes good.
The londes reule upon him stod,
The king of him was wonder glad,
And all was do, what thing he bad,
Bothe in the court and ek withoute.
With flaterie he broghte aboute 2260
His pourpos of the worldes werk,
Which was ayein the stat of clerk,[1118]
So that Philosophie he lefte
And to richesse himself uplefte:
Lo, thus hadde Arisippe his wille.
Bot Diogenes duelte stille
At home and loked on his bok:
He soghte noght the worldes crok
For vein honour ne for richesse,
Bot all his hertes besinesse 2270
He sette to be vertuous;
And thus withinne his oghne hous
He liveth to the sufficance
Of his havinge. And fell per chance,
This Diogene upon a day,
And that was in the Monthe of May,
Whan that these herbes ben holsome,
He walketh forto gadre some
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 162=]
In his gardin, of whiche his joutes
He thoghte have, and thus aboutes 2280
Whanne he hath gadred what him liketh,
He satte him thanne doun and pyketh,[1119]
And wyssh his herbes in the flod
Upon the which his gardin stod,
Nyh to the bregge, as I tolde er.
And hapneth, whil he sitteth ther,
Cam Arisippes be the strete
With manye hors and routes grete,
And straght unto the bregge he rod,
Wher that he hoved and abod; 2290
For as he caste his yhe nyh,
His felaw Diogene he syh,
And what he dede he syh also,
Wherof he seide to him so:[1120]
‘O Diogene, god thee spede.
It were certes litel nede
To sitte there and wortes pyke,
If thou thi Prince couthest lyke,
So as I can in my degre.’
‘O Arisippe,’ ayein quod he, 2300
‘If that thou couthist, so as I,
Thi wortes pyke, trewely
It were als litel nede or lasse,
That thou so worldly wolt compasse
With flaterie forto serve,
Wherof thou thenkest to deserve
Thi princes thonk, and to pourchace
Hou thou myht stonden in his grace,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 163=]
For getinge of a litel good.
If thou wolt take into thi mod 2310
Reson, thou myht be reson deeme
That so thi prince forto queeme
Is noght to reson acordant,
Bot it is gretly descordant
Unto the Scoles of Athene.’
Lo, thus ansuerde Diogene
Ayein the clerkes flaterie.
[Sidenote: [FLATTERY.]]
Bot yit men sen thessamplerie[1121]
Of Arisippe is wel received,
And thilke of Diogene is weyved. 2320
Office in court and gold in cofre
Is nou, men sein, the philosophre
Which hath the worschipe in the halle;
Bot flaterie passeth alle
In chambre, whom the court avanceth;
For upon thilke lot it chanceth
To be beloved nou aday.
*I not if it be ye or nay,
Bot as the comun vois it telleth;[1122]
Bot wher that flaterie duelleth[1123] 2330

* * * * *

*I not if it be ye or nay.
[Sidenote: [EXAMPLE OF DANTE.]]
How Dante the poete answerde[1124]
[Sidenote: Nota exemplum cuiusdam poete de Ytalia, qui
Dante vocabatur.]
To a flatour, the tale I herde. 2330*
Upon a strif bitwen hem tuo
He seide him, ‘Ther ben many mo[1125]
Of thy servantes than of myne.
For the poete of his covyne
Hath non that wol him clothe and fede,
But a flatour may reule and lede
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 164=]
A king with al his loun aboute.’
So stant the wise man in doute
Of hem that to folie drawe:
For such is now the newe lawe, 2340*
And as the comune vois it telleth,
Wher now that flaterie duelleth
In every lond etc. (_as_ 2331 ff.)

* * * * *

In eny lond under the Sonne,[1126]
Ther is ful many a thing begonne
Which were betre to be left;
That hath be schewed nou and eft.
Bot if a Prince wolde him reule[1127]
Of the Romeins after the reule,
In thilke time as it was used,[1128]
This vice scholde be refused,
Wherof the Princes ben assoted.
Bot wher the pleine trouthe is noted, 2340
Ther may a Prince wel conceive,
That he schal noght himself deceive,
Of that he hiereth wordes pleine;
For him thar noght be reson pleigne,
That warned is er him be wo.
And that was fully proeved tho,
Whan Rome was the worldes chief,
The Sothseiere tho was lief,
Which wolde noght the trouthe spare,
Bot with hise wordes pleine and bare 2350
To Themperour hise sothes tolde,
As in Cronique is yit withholde,[1129]
Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere
Acordende unto this matiere.

[Sidenote: [THE ROMAN TRIUMPH.]]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 165=]
To se this olde ensamplerie,
That whilom was no flaterie
[Sidenote: [1130]Hic narrat super eodem, qualiter nuper Romanorum
Imperator, cum ipse triumphator in hostes a bello Rome
rediret, tres sibi laudes in signum sui triumphi precipue
debebantur: primo quatuor equi albissimi currum in quo
sedebat veherent, secundo tunica Iovis pro tunc indueretur,
tercio sui captiui prope currum ad vtrumque latus cathenati
deambularent. Set ne tanti honoris adulacio eius animum
in superbiam extolleret, quidam scurra linguosus iuxta
ipsum in curru sedebat, qui quasi continuatis vocibus
improperando ei dixit, ‘Notheos,’ hoc est nosce teipsum,
‘quia si hodie fortuna[1133] tibi prospera fuerit,[1134]
cras forte[1135] versa rota mutabilis aduersabitur.’]
Toward the Princes wel I finde;
Wherof so as it comth to mynde,
Mi Sone, a tale unto thin Ere,
Whil that the worthi princes were 2360
At Rome, I thenke forto tellen.
For whan the chances so befellen
That eny Emperour as tho[1131]
Victoire hadde upon his fo,
And so forth cam to Rome ayein,
Of treble honour he was certein,
Wherof that he was magnefied.
The ferste, as it is specefied,
Was, whan he cam at thilke tyde,
The Charr in which he scholde ryde 2370
Foure whyte Stiedes scholden drawe;
Of Jupiter be thilke lawe
The Cote he scholde were also;
Hise prisoners ek scholden go
Endlong the Charr on eyther hond,
And alle the nobles of the lond[1132]
Tofore and after with him come
Ridende and broghten him to Rome,
In thonk of his chivalerie
And for non other flaterie. 2380
And that was schewed forth withal;
Wher he sat in his Charr real,
Beside him was a Ribald set,
Which hadde hise wordes so beset,[1136]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 166=]
To themperour in al his gloire
He seide, ‘Tak into memoire,
For al this pompe and al this pride
Let no justice gon aside, (2400*)
Bot know thiself, what so befalle.
For men sen ofte time falle 2390
Thing which men wende siker stonde:
Thogh thou victoire have nou on honde,
Fortune mai noght stonde alway;
The whiel per chance an other day
Mai torne, and thou myht overthrowe;
Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe.’
With these wordes and with mo
This Ribald, which sat with him tho,
To Themperour his tale tolde:
And overmor what evere he wolde, 2400
Or were it evel or were it good,
So pleinly as the trouthe stod,
He spareth noght, bot spekth it oute;
And so myhte every man aboute
The day of that solempnete
His tale telle als wel as he
To Themperour al openly.
And al was this the cause why;
That whil he stod in that noblesse,[1137]
He scholde his vanite represse 2410
With suche wordes as he herde.
[Sidenote: [THE EMPEROR AND HIS MASONS.]]
Lo nou, hou thilke time it ferde[1138]
Toward so hih a worthi lord:
[Sidenote: Hic eciam contra adulacionem scribit quod
primo die quo nuper Imperator intronizatus extitit,
latomi sui ab ipso constanter peterent, de quali lapide
sue sepulture tumulum fabricarent; vt sic futuram mortem
commemorans vanitates huius seculi transitorias facilius
reprimeret.[1139]]
For this I finde ek of record,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 167=]
Which the Cronique hath auctorized.
What Emperour was entronized,
The ferste day of his corone,
Wher he was in his real Throne
And hield his feste in the paleis
Sittende upon his hihe deis 2420
With al the lust that mai be gete,
Whan he was gladdest at his mete,
And every menstral hadde pleid,
And every Disour hadde seid[1140]
What most was plesant to his Ere,
Than ate laste comen there
Hise Macons, for thei scholden crave
Wher that he wolde be begrave,[1141]
And of what Ston his sepulture
Thei scholden make, and what sculpture 2430
He wolde ordeine therupon.
Tho was ther flaterie non
The worthi princes to bejape;
The thing was other wise schape[1142]
With good conseil; and otherwise
Thei were hemselven thanne wise,
And understoden wel and knewen.
Whan suche softe wyndes blewen
Of flaterie into here Ere,
Thei setten noght here hertes there; 2440
Bot whan thei herden wordes feigned,
The pleine trouthe it hath desdeigned
Of hem that weren so discrete.
So tok the flatour no beyete[1143]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 168=]
Of him that was his prince tho:
And forto proven it is so,
A tale which befell in dede
In a Cronique of Rome I rede.