Chapter XVI: Front Matter (16)

The more that the nede is hyh,
The more it nedeth to be slyh
[Sidenote: [THE CONFESSOR REPLIES.]]
To him which hath the nede on honde.
I have wel herd and understonde,
Mi Sone, al that thou hast me seid,
[Sidenote: Hic super Amoris causa finita confessione,
Confessor Genius Amanti ea que sibi salubrius expediunt,
sano consilio finaliter iniungit.]
And ek of that thou hast me preid,
Nou at this time that I schal
As for conclusioun final 2070
Conseile upon thi nede sette:[1684]
So thenke I finaly to knette
This cause, where it is tobroke,
And make an ende of that is spoke.[1685]
For I behihte thee that yifte
Ferst whan thou come under my schrifte,
That thogh I toward Venus were,
Yit spak I suche wordes there,
That for the Presthod which I have,
Min ordre and min astat to save, 2080
I seide I wolde of myn office
To vertu more than to vice
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 345=]
Encline, and teche thee mi lore.
Forthi to speken overmore
Of love, which thee mai availe,
Tak love where it mai noght faile:[1686]
For as of this which thou art inne,
Be that thou seist it is a Sinne,
And Sinne mai no pris deserve,
Withoute pris and who schal serve, 2090
I not what profit myhte availe.
Thus folweth it, if thou travaile,
Wher thou no profit hast ne pris,
Thou art toward thiself unwis:
And sett thou myhtest lust atteigne,[1687]
Of every lust thende is a peine,
And every peine is good to fle;
So it is wonder thing to se,[1688]
Why such a thing schal be desired.
The more that a Stock is fyred, 2100
The rathere into Aisshe it torneth;
The fot which in the weie sporneth
Fulofte his heved hath overthrowe;
Thus love is blind and can noght knowe[1689]
Wher that he goth, til he be falle:
Forthi, bot if it so befalle[1690]
With good conseil that he be lad,
Him oghte forto ben adrad.
For conseil passeth alle thing
To him which thenkth to ben a king; 2110
And every man for his partie
A kingdom hath to justefie,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 346=]
That is to sein his oghne dom.
If he misreule that kingdom,
He lest himself, and that is more
Than if he loste Schip and Ore
And al the worldes good withal:
For what man that in special
Hath noght himself, he hath noght elles,
Nomor the perles than the schelles; 2120
Al is to him of o value:
Thogh he hadde at his retenue
The wyde world riht as he wolde,
Whan he his herte hath noght withholde
Toward himself, al is in vein.
And thus, my Sone, I wolde sein,
As I seide er, that thou aryse,
Er that thou falle in such a wise
That thou ne myht thiself rekevere:
For love, which that blind was evere, 2130
Makth alle his servantz blinde also.
My Sone, and if thou have be so,
Yit is it time to withdrawe,
And set thin herte under that lawe,[1691]
The which of reson is governed
And noght of will. And to be lerned,
Ensamples thou hast many on
Of now and ek of time gon,[1692]
That every lust is bot a while;
And who that wole himself beguile, 2140
He may the rathere be deceived.
Mi Sone, now thou hast conceived
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 347=]
Somwhat of that I wolde mene;
Hierafterward it schal be sene
If that thou lieve upon mi lore;
For I can do to thee nomore
Bot teche thee the rihte weie:
Now ches if thou wolt live or deie.

[Sidenote: [THE CONTROVERSY.]]
Mi fader, so as I have herd
Your tale, bot it were ansuerd, 2150
[Sidenote: Hic loquitur de controuersia, que inter
Confessorem et Amantem in fine confessionis versabatur.]
I were mochel forto blame.
Mi wo to you is bot a game,
That fielen noght of that I fiele;[1693]
The fielinge of a mannes Hiele
Mai noght be likned to the Herte:
I mai noght, thogh I wolde, asterte,
And ye be fre from al the peine
Of love, wherof I me pleigne.
It is riht esi to comaunde;
The hert which fre goth on the launde 2160
Not of an Oxe what him eileth;
It falleth ofte a man merveileth
Of that he seth an other fare,
Bot if he knewe himself the fare,
And felt it as it is in soth,
He scholde don riht as he doth,
Or elles werse in his degre:
For wel I wot, and so do ye,
That love hath evere yit ben used,
So mot I nedes ben excused. 2170
Bot, fader, if ye wolde thus
Unto Cupide and to Venus
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 348=]
Be frendlich toward mi querele,
So that myn herte were in hele
Of love which is in mi briest,
I wot wel thanne a betre Prest
Was nevere mad to my behove.
Bot al the whiles that I hove[1694]
In noncertein betwen the tuo,[1695]
And not if I to wel or wo[1696] 2180
Schal torne, that is al my drede,
So that I not what is to rede.
Bot for final conclusion
I thenke a Supplicacion
With pleine wordes and expresse
Wryte unto Venus the goddesse,
The which I preie you to bere
And bringe ayein a good ansuere.
Tho was betwen mi Prest and me
Debat and gret perplexete: 2190
Mi resoun understod him wel,
And knew it was soth everydel
That he hath seid, bot noght forthi
Mi will hath nothing set therby.
For techinge of so wis a port[1697]
Is unto love of no desport;
Yit myhte nevere man beholde
Reson, wher love was withholde,
Thei be noght of o governance.
And thus we fellen in distance, 2200
Mi Prest and I, bot I spak faire,
And thurgh mi wordes debonaire
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 349=]
Thanne ate laste we acorden,[1698]
So that he seith he wol recorden
To speke and stonde upon mi syde
To Venus bothe and to Cupide;
And bad me wryte what I wolde,
And seith me trewly that he scholde
Mi lettre here unto the queene.
And I sat doun upon the grene 2210
[Sidenote: [THE SUPPLICATION.]]
Fulfilt of loves fantasie,
And with the teres of myn ÿe
In stede of enke I gan to wryte
The wordes whiche I wolde endite[1699]
Unto Cupide and to Venus,
And in mi lettre I seide thus.

The wofull peine of loves maladie,
[Sidenote: Hic tractat formam cuiusdam Supplicacionis, quam
ex parte Amantis per manus Genii Sacerdotis sui Venus sibi
porrectam acceptabat.]
Ayein the which mai no phisique availe,
Min herte hath so bewhaped with sotie,
That wher so that I reste or I travaile,[1700] 2220
I finde it evere redy to assaile
Mi resoun, which that can him noght defende:
Thus seche I help, wherof I mihte amende.

Ferst to Nature if that I me compleigne,
Ther finde I hou that every creature
Som time ayer hath love in his demeine,
So that the litel wrenne in his mesure
Hath yit of kinde a love under his cure;[1701]
And I bot on desire, of which I misse:
And thus, bot I, hath every kinde his blisse. 2230

[Sidenote: =P. iii. 350=]
The resoun of my wit it overpasseth,
Of that Nature techeth me the weie
To love, and yit no certein sche compasseth
Hou I schal spede, and thus betwen the tweie
I stonde, and not if I schal live or deie.
For thogh reson ayein my will debate,
I mai noght fle, that I ne love algate.

Upon miself is thilke tale come,
Hou whilom Pan, which is the god of kinde,
With love wrastlede and was overcome:[1702] 2240
For evere I wrastle and evere I am behinde,
That I no strengthe in al min herte finde,
Wherof that I mai stonden eny throwe;
So fer mi wit with love is overthrowe.

Whom nedeth help, he mot his helpe crave,
Or helpeles he schal his nede spille:
Pleinly thurghsoght my wittes alle I have,[1703]
Bot non of hem can helpe after mi wille;
And als so wel I mihte sitte stille,
As preie unto mi lady eny helpe: 2250
Thus wot I noght wherof miself to helpe.[1704]

Unto the grete Jove and if I bidde,
To do me grace of thilke swete tunne,
Which under keie in his celier amidde
Lith couched, that fortune is overrunne,
Bot of the bitter cuppe I have begunne,
I not hou ofte, and thus finde I no game;[1705]
For evere I axe and evere it is the same.

[Sidenote: =P. iii. 351=]
I se the world stonde evere upon eschange,
Nou wyndes loude, and nou the weder softe; 2260
I mai sen ek the grete mone change,
And thing which nou is lowe is eft alofte;
The dredfull werres into pes fulofte
Thei torne; and evere is Danger in o place,
Which wol noght change his will to do me grace.

Bot upon this the grete clerc Ovide,
Of love whan he makth his remembrance,
He seith ther is the blinde god Cupide,
The which hath love under his governance,
And in his hond with many a fyri lance[1706] 2270
He woundeth ofte, ther he wol noght hele;
And that somdiel is cause of mi querele.[1707]

Ovide ek seith that love to parforne
Stant in the hond of Venus the goddesse,
Bot whan sche takth hir conseil with Satorne,
Ther is no grace, and in that time, I gesse,
Began mi love, of which myn hevynesse
Is now and evere schal, bot if I spede:
So wot I noght miself what is to rede.

Forthi to you, Cupide and Venus bothe, 2280
With al myn hertes obeissance I preie,
If ye were ate ferste time wrothe,
Whan I began to love, as I you seie,
Nou stynt, and do thilke infortune aweie,[1708]
So that Danger, which stant of retenue
With my ladi, his place mai remue.

[Sidenote: =P. iii. 352=]
O thou Cupide, god of loves lawe,
That with thi Dart brennende hast set afyre
Min herte, do that wounde be withdrawe,
Or yif me Salve such as I desire: 2290
For Service in thi Court withouten hyre
To me, which evere yit have kept thin heste,
Mai nevere be to loves lawe honeste.

O thou, gentile Venus, loves queene,[1709]
Withoute gult thou dost on me thi wreche;
Thou wost my peine is evere aliche grene
For love, and yit I mai it noght areche:
This wold I for my laste word beseche,[1710]
That thou mi love aquite as I deserve,
Or elles do me pleinly forto sterve. 2300

[Sidenote: [VENUS REPLIES TO THE SUPPLICATION.]]
Whanne I this Supplicacioun
With good deliberacioun,
[Sidenote: Hic loquitur qualiter Venus, accepta Amantis
Supplicacione, indilate ad singula respondit.]
In such a wise as ye nou wite,
Hadde after min entente write
Unto Cupide and to Venus,
This Prest which hihte Genius
It tok on honde to presente,
On my message and forth he wente
To Venus, forto wite hire wille.
And I bod in the place stille, 2310
And was there bot a litel while,
Noght full the montance of a Mile,
Whan I behield and sodeinly
I sih wher Venus stod me by.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 353=]
So as I myhte, under a tre
To grounde I fell upon mi kne,
And preide hire forto do me grace:
Sche caste hire chiere upon mi face,
And as it were halvinge a game[1711]
Sche axeth me what is mi name.[1712] 2320
‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘John Gower.’
‘Now John,’ quod sche, ‘in my pouer
Thou most as of thi love stonde;
For I thi bille have understonde,
In which to Cupide and to me
Somdiel thou hast compleigned thee,
And somdiel to Nature also.
Bot that schal stonde among you tuo,
For therof have I noght to done;
For Nature is under the Mone 2330
Maistresse of every lives kinde,
Bot if so be that sche mai finde[1713]
Som holy man that wol withdrawe
His kindly lust ayein hir lawe;[1714]
Bot sielde whanne it falleth so,
For fewe men ther ben of tho,
Bot of these othre ynowe be,
Whiche of here oghne nycete
Ayein Nature and hire office
Deliten hem in sondri vice, 2340
Wherof that sche fulofte hath pleigned,
And ek my Court it hath desdeigned[1715]
And evere schal; for it receiveth
Non such that kinde so deceiveth.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 354=]
For al onliche of gentil love
Mi court stant alle courtz above
And takth noght into retenue
Bot thing which is to kinde due,
For elles it schal be refused.
Wherof I holde thee excused, 2350
For it is manye daies gon,
That thou amonges hem were on
Which of my court hast ben withholde;
So that the more I am beholde
Of thi desese to commune,
And to remue that fortune,
Which manye daies hath the grieved.
Bot if my conseil mai be lieved,
Thou schalt ben esed er thou go
Of thilke unsely jolif wo, 2360
Wherof thou seist thin herte is fyred:
Bot as of that thou hast desired
After the sentence of thi bille,
Thou most therof don at my wille,
And I therof me wole avise.
For be thou hol, it schal suffise:
Mi medicine is noght to sieke[1716]
For thee and for suche olde sieke,[1717]
Noght al per chance as ye it wolden,[1718]
Bot so as ye be reson scholden, 2370
Acordant unto loves kinde.[1719]
For in the plit which I thee finde,
So as mi court it hath awarded,
Thou schalt be duely rewarded;
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 355=]
And if thou woldest more crave,
It is no riht that thou it have.’

iii. _Qui cupit id quod habere nequit, sua tempora perdit,_
_Est vbi non posse, velle salute caret._
_Non estatis opus gelidis hirsuta capillis,_
_Cum calor abcessit, equiperabit hiems;_
_Sicut habet Mayus non dat natura Decembri,_
_Nec poterit compar floribus esse lutum;_
_Sic neque decrepita senium iuvenile voluptas_
_Floret in obsequium, quod Venus ipsa petit._[1720]
_Conveniens igitur foret, vt quos cana senectus_
_Attigit, vlterius corpora casta colant._ (10)

Venus, which stant withoute lawe
In noncertein, bot as men drawe
[Sidenote: Hic in exemplum contra quoscunque viros
inveteratos amoris concupiscenciam affectantes loquitur
Venus, huiusque Amantis Confessi supplicacionem quasi
deridens, ipsum pro eo quod senex et debilis est, multis
exhortacionibus insufficientem redarguit.[1721]]
Of Rageman upon the chance,
Sche leith no peis in the balance, 2380
Bot as hir lyketh forto weie;
The trewe man fulofte aweie
Sche put, which hath hir grace bede,
And set an untrewe in his stede.
Lo, thus blindly the world sche diemeth
In loves cause, as tome siemeth:[1722]
I not what othre men wol sein,[1723]
Bot I algate am so besein,
And stonde as on amonges alle
Which am out of hir grace falle: 2390
It nedeth take no witnesse,
For sche which seid is the goddesse,
To whether part of love it wende,
Hath sett me for a final ende
The point wherto that I schal holde.
For whan sche hath me wel beholde,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 356=]
Halvynge of scorn, sche seide thus:
‘Thou wost wel that I am Venus,
Which al only my lustes seche;
And wel I wot, thogh thou beseche 2400
Mi love, lustes ben ther none,
Whiche I mai take in thi persone;
For loves lust and lockes hore[1724]
In chambre acorden neveremore,
And thogh thou feigne a yong corage,
It scheweth wel be the visage
That olde grisel is no fole:
There ben fulmanye yeres stole
With thee and with suche othre mo,[1725]
That outward feignen youthe so 2410
And ben withinne of pore assay.
Min herte wolde and I ne may
Is noght beloved nou adayes;
Er thou make eny suche assaies
To love, and faile upon the fet,
Betre is to make a beau retret;
For thogh thou myhtest love atteigne,
Yit were it bot an ydel peine,
Whan that thou art noght sufficant
To holde love his covenant. 2420
Forthi tak hom thin herte ayein,
That thou travaile noght in vein,
Wherof my Court may be deceived.
I wot and have it wel conceived,
Hou that thi will is good ynowh;
Bot mor behoveth to the plowh,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 357=]
Wherof the lacketh, as I trowe:
So sitte it wel that thou beknowe[1726]
Thi fieble astat, er thou beginne
Thing wher thou miht non ende winne. 2430
What bargain scholde a man assaie,
Whan that him lacketh forto paie?
Mi Sone, if thou be wel bethoght,[1727]
This toucheth thee; foryet it noght:
The thing is torned into was;
That which was whilom grene gras,[1728]
Is welked hey at time now.[1729]
Forthi mi conseil is that thou
Remembre wel hou thou art old.’
[Sidenote: [THE COMPANIES OF LOVERS.]]
Whan Venus hath hir tale told, 2440
And I bethoght was al aboute,[1730]
[Sidenote: Qualiter super derisoria Veneris exhortacione
contristatus Amans, quasi mortuus in terram corruit, vbi,
vt sibi videbatur, Cupidinem cum innumera multitudine nuper
Amantum variis turmis assistencium conspiciebat.]
Tho wiste I wel withoute doute,[1731]
That ther was no recoverir;
And as a man the blase of fyr
With water quencheth, so ferd I;[1732]
A cold me cawhte sodeinly,[1733]
For sorwe that myn herte made
Mi dedly face pale and fade
Becam, and swoune I fell to grounde.
And as I lay the same stounde, 2450
Ne fully quik ne fully ded,
Me thoghte I sih tofor myn hed
Cupide with his bowe bent,
And lich unto a Parlement,
Which were ordeigned for the nones,
With him cam al the world at ones
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 358=]
Of gentil folk that whilom were
Lovers, I sih hem alle there
Forth with Cupide in sondri routes.
Min yhe and as I caste aboutes, 2460
To knowe among hem who was who,
I sih wher lusty Youthe tho,[1734]
As he which was a Capitein,
Tofore alle othre upon the plein
Stod with his route wel begon,
Here hevedes kempt, and therupon
Garlandes noght of o colour,
Some of the lef, some of the flour,
And some of grete Perles were;
The newe guise of Beawme there, 2470
With sondri thinges wel devised,
I sih, wherof thei ben queintised.
It was al lust that thei with ferde,
Ther was no song that I ne herde,
Which unto love was touchende;
Of Pan and al that was likende[1735]
As in Pipinge of melodie
Was herd in thilke compaignie
So lowde, that on every side
It thoghte as al the hevene cride 2480
In such acord and such a soun
Of bombard and of clarion
With Cornemuse and Schallemele,
That it was half a mannes hele
So glad a noise forto hiere.
And as me thoghte, in this manere
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 359=]
Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance,
And do to love her entendance
After the lust of youthes heste.
Ther was ynowh of joie and feste, 2490
For evere among thei laghe and pleie,
And putten care out of the weie,
That he with hem ne sat ne stod.
And overthis I understod,
So as myn Ere it myhte areche,
The moste matiere of her speche
Was al of knyhthod and of Armes,[1736]
And what it is to ligge in armes
With love, whanne it is achieved.
[Sidenote: De nominibus illorum nuper Amantum, qui tunc
Amanti spasmato, aliqui iuuenes, aliqui senes, apparuerunt.
Senes autem precipue tam erga deum quam deam amoris pro
sanitate Amantis recuperanda multiplicatis precibus
misericorditer instabant.]
Ther was Tristram, which was believed 2500
With bele Ysolde, and Lancelot
Stod with Gunnore, and Galahot
With his ladi, and as me thoghte,
I syh wher Jason with him broghte
His love, which that Creusa hihte,
And Hercules, which mochel myhte,
Was ther berende his grete Mace,
And most of alle in thilke place
He peyneth him to make chiere
With Eolen, which was him diere. 2510
Theseüs, thogh he were untrewe
To love, as alle wommen knewe,
Yit was he there natheles
With Phedra, whom to love he ches:
Of Grece ek ther was Thelamon,
Which fro the king Lamenedon
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 360=]
At Troie his doghter refte aweie,
Eseonen, as for his preie,
Which take was whan Jason cam
Fro Colchos, and the Cite nam 2520
In vengance of the ferste hate;
That made hem after to debate,
Whan Priamus the newe toun
Hath mad. And in avisioun
Me thoghte that I sih also
Ector forth with his brethren tuo;
Himself stod with Pantaselee,
And next to him I myhte se,
Wher Paris stod with faire Eleine,
Which was his joie sovereine; 2530
And Troilus stod with Criseide,
Bot evere among, althogh he pleide,
Be semblant he was hevy chiered,
For Diomede, as him was liered,
Cleymeth to ben his parconner.
And thus full many a bacheler,
A thousend mo than I can sein,
With Yowthe I sih ther wel besein
Forth with here loves glade and blithe.
And some I sih whiche ofte sithe 2540
Compleignen hem in other wise;
Among the whiche I syh Narcise
And Piramus, that sory were.[1737]
The worthy Grek also was there,
Achilles, which for love deide:
Agamenon ek, as men seide,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 361=]
And Menelay the king also
I syh, with many an other mo,
Which hadden be fortuned sore
In loves cause.
And overmore 2550
Of wommen in the same cas,
With hem I sih wher Dido was,
Forsake which was with Enee;
And Phillis ek I myhte see,
Whom Demephon deceived hadde;
And Adriagne hir sorwe ladde,
For Theseüs hir Soster tok
And hire unkindely forsok.
I sih ther ek among the press
Compleignende upon Hercules 2560
His ferste love Deyanire,
Which sette him afterward afyre:
Medea was there ek and pleigneth
Upon Jason, for that he feigneth,
Withoute cause and tok a newe;
Sche seide, ‘Fy on alle untrewe!’
I sih there ek Deÿdamie,
Which hadde lost the compaignie
Of Achilles, whan Diomede
To Troie him fette upon the nede. 2570
Among these othre upon the grene
I syh also the wofull queene
Cleopatras, which in a Cave[1738]
With Serpentz hath hirself begrave
Alquik, and so sche was totore,[1739]
For sorwe of that sche hadde lore
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 362=]
Antonye, which hir love hath be:
And forth with hire I sih Tisbee,
Which on the scharpe swerdes point
For love deide in sory point; 2580
And as myn Ere it myhte knowe,
She seide, ‘Wo worthe alle slowe!’
The pleignte of Progne and Philomene
Ther herde I what it wolde mene,
How Tereüs of his untrouthe
Undede hem bothe, and that was routhe;
And next to hem I sih Canace,
Which for Machaire hir fader grace
Hath lost, and deide in wofull plit.
And as I sih in my spirit, 2590
Me thoghte amonges othre thus
The doghter of king Priamus,
Polixena, whom Pirrus slowh,
Was there and made sorwe ynowh,
As sche which deide gulteles
For love, and yit was loveles.
And forto take the desport,
I sih there some of other port,[1740]
And that was Circes and Calipse,
That cowthen do the Mone eclipse, 2600
Of men and change the liknesses,
Of Artmagique Sorceresses;
Thei hielde in honde manyon,
To love wher thei wolde or non.
Bot above alle that ther were
Of wommen I sih foure there,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 363=]
Whos name I herde most comended:
Be hem the Court stod al amended;
For wher thei comen in presence,
Men deden hem the reverence, 2610
As thogh they hadden be goddesses,
Of al this world or Emperesses.
And as me thoghte, an Ere I leide,
And herde hou that these othre seide,
‘Lo, these ben the foure wyves,
Whos feith was proeved in her lyves:
For in essample of alle goode
With Mariage so thei stode,
That fame, which no gret thing hydeth,
Yit in Cronique of hem abydeth.’ 2620
Penolope that on was hote,
Whom many a knyht hath loved hote,
Whil that hire lord Ulixes lay[1741]
Full many a yer and many a day
Upon the grete Siege of Troie:
Bot sche, which hath no worldes joie
Bot only of hire housebonde,
Whil that hir lord was out of londe,
So wel hath kept hir wommanhiede,
That al the world therof tok hiede, 2630
And nameliche of hem in Grece.
That other womman was Lucrece,
Wif to the Romain Collatin;
And sche constreigned of Tarquin
To thing which was ayein hir wille,
Sche wolde noght hirselven stille,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 364=]
Bot deide only for drede of schame
In keping of hire goode name,
As sche which was on of the beste.
The thridde wif was hote Alceste, 2640
Which whanne Ametus scholde dye
Upon his grete maladye,
Sche preide unto the goddes so,
That sche receyveth al the wo
And deide hirself to yive him lif:
Lo, if this were a noble wif.[1742]
The ferthe wif which I ther sih,
I herde of hem that were nyh
Hou sche was cleped Alcione,
Which to Seyix hir lord al one[1743] 2650
And to nomo hir body kepte;
And whan sche sih him dreynt, sche lepte
Into the wawes where he swam,[1744]
And there a Sefoul sche becam,
And with hire wenges him bespradde
For love which to him sche hadde.[1745]
Lo, these foure were tho
Whiche I sih, as me thoghte tho,
Among the grete compaignie
Which Love hadde forto guye: 2660
Bot Youthe, which in special
Of Loves Court was Mareschal,
So besy was upon his lay,
That he non hiede where I lay[1746]
Hath take. And thanne, as I behield,
Me thoghte I sih upon the field,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 365=]
Where Elde cam a softe pas
Toward Venus, ther as sche was.
With him gret compaignie he ladde,
Bot noght so manye as Youthe hadde:[1747] 2670
The moste part were of gret Age,
And that was sene in the visage,[1748]
And noght forthi, so as thei myhte,
Thei made hem yongly to the sihte:
Bot yit herde I no pipe there[1749]
To make noise in mannes Ere,[1750]
Bot the Musette I myhte knowe,
For olde men which souneth lowe,[1751]
With Harpe and Lute and with Citole.
The hovedance and the Carole, 2680
In such a wise as love hath bede,
A softe pas thei dance and trede;
And with the wommen otherwhile
With sobre chier among thei smyle,
For laghtre was ther non on hyh.
And natheles full wel I syh
That thei the more queinte it made
For love, in whom thei weren glade.
And there me thoghte I myhte se
The king David with Bersabee, 2690
And Salomon was noght withoute;
Passende an hundred on a route
Of wyves and of Concubines,
Juesses bothe and Sarazines,[1752]
To him I sih alle entendant:
I not if he was sufficant,[1753]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 366=]
Bot natheles for al his wit
He was attached with that writ
Which love with his hond enseleth,
Fro whom non erthly man appeleth. 2700
And overthis, as for a wonder,[1754]
With his leon which he put under,[1755]
With Dalida Sampson I knew,
Whos love his strengthe al overthrew.
I syh there Aristotle also,
Whom that the queene of Grece so[1756]
Hath bridled, that in thilke time
Sche made him such a Silogime,
That he foryat al his logique;
Ther was non art of his Practique, 2710
Thurgh which it mihte ben excluded
That he ne was fully concluded
To love, and dede his obeissance.
And ek Virgile of aqueintance
I sih, wher he the Maiden preide,
Which was the doghter, as men seide,
Of themperour whilom of Rome;
Sortes and Plato with him come,
So dede Ovide the Poete.
I thoghte thanne how love is swete, 2720
Which hath so wise men reclamed,
And was miself the lasse aschamed,
Or forto lese or forto winne
In the meschief that I was inne:
And thus I lay in hope of grace.
And whan thei comen to the place
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 367=]
Wher Venus stod and I was falle,
These olde men, with o vois alle
To Venus preiden for my sake.
And sche, that myhte noght forsake 2730
So gret a clamour as was there,
Let Pite come into hire Ere;
And forth withal unto Cupide
Sche preith that he upon his side
Me wolde thurgh his grace sende
Som confort, that I myhte amende,
Upon the cas which is befalle.
And thus for me thei preiden alle
Of hem that weren olde aboute,
And ek some of the yonge route, 2740
Of gentilesse and pure trouthe
I herde hem telle it was gret routhe,
That I withouten help so ferde.
And thus me thoghte I lay and herde.

Cupido, which may hurte and hele
In loves cause, as for myn hele
[Sidenote: [CUPID AND THE LOVER.]]
Upon the point which him was preid
Cam with Venus, wher I was leid
[Sidenote: Hic tractat qualiter Cupido Amantis senectute
confracti viscera perscrutans, ignita sue concupiscencie
tela ab eo penitus extraxit, quem Venus postea absque
calore percipiens, vacuum reliquit: et sic tandem prouisa
Senectus, racionem inuocans, hominem interiorem per prius
amore infatuatum mentis sanitati plenius restaurauit.]
Swounende upon the grene gras.
And, as me thoghte, anon ther was 2750
On every side so gret presse,
That every lif began to presse,
I wot noght wel hou many score,
Suche as I spak of now tofore,
Lovers, that comen to beholde,
Bot most of hem that weren olde:
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 368=]
Thei stoden there at thilke tyde,
To se what ende schal betyde
Upon the cure of my sotie.
Tho myhte I hiere gret partie 2760
Spekende, and ech his oghne avis
Hath told, on that, an other this:
Bot among alle this I herde,
Thei weren wo that I so ferde,
And seiden that for no riote
An old man scholde noght assote;
For as thei tolden redely,
Ther is in him no cause why,
Bot if he wolde himself benyce;[1757]
So were he wel the more nyce. 2770
And thus desputen some of tho,
And some seiden nothing so,
Bot that the wylde loves rage
In mannes lif forberth non Age;
[Sidenote: Nota.[1758]]
Whil ther is oyle forto fyre,
The lampe is lyhtly set afyre,
And is fulhard er it be queynt,
Bot only if it be som seint,
Which god preserveth of his grace.
And thus me thoghte, in sondri place 2780
Of hem that walken up and doun
Ther was diverse opinioun:
And for a while so it laste,
Til that Cupide to the laste,
[Sidenote: [THE FIERY DART WITHDRAWN.]]
Forth with his moder full avised,
Hath determined and devised
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 369=]
Unto what point he wol descende.
And al this time I was liggende
Upon the ground tofore his yhen,
And thei that my desese syhen 2790
Supposen noght I scholde live;
Bot he, which wolde thanne yive
His grace, so as it mai be,
This blinde god which mai noght se,
Hath groped til that he me fond;
And as he pitte forth his hond[1759]
Upon my body, wher I lay,
Me thoghte a fyri Lancegay,
Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste,
He pulleth oute, and also faste 2800
As this was do, Cupide nam
His weie, I not where he becam,
And so dede al the remenant
Which unto him was entendant,
Of hem that in Avision
I hadde a revelacion,
So as I tolde now tofore.
[Sidenote: [THE HEALING OF LOVE.]]
Bot Venus wente noght therfore,
Ne Genius, whiche thilke time[1760]
Abiden bothe faste byme. 2810
And sche which mai the hertes bynde
In loves cause and ek unbinde,
Er I out of mi trance aros,
Venus, which hield a boiste clos,
And wolde noght I scholde deie,
Tok out mor cold than eny keie
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 370=]
An oignement, and in such point
Sche hath my wounded herte enoignt,
My temples and my Reins also.[1761]
And forth withal sche tok me tho 2820
A wonder Mirour forto holde,
In which sche bad me to beholde
And taken hiede of that I syhe;
Wherinne anon myn hertes yhe
I caste, and sih my colour fade,
Myn yhen dymme and al unglade,
Mi chiekes thinne, and al my face
With Elde I myhte se deface,
So riveled and so wo besein,
That ther was nothing full ne plein, 2830
I syh also myn heres hore.
Mi will was tho to se nomore
Outwith, for ther was no plesance;[1762]
And thanne into my remembrance
I drowh myn olde daies passed,
And as reson it hath compassed,
[Sidenote: Quod status hominis Mensibus anni
equiperatur.[1763]]
I made a liknesse of miselve
Unto the sondri Monthes twelve,
Wherof the yeer in his astat
Is mad, and stant upon debat, 2840
That lich til other non acordeth.
For who the times wel recordeth,
And thanne at Marche if he beginne,
Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne,
Til Augst be passed and Septembre,
The myhty youthe he may remembre
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 371=]
In which the yeer hath his deduit
Of gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit,[1764]
Of corn and of the wyny grape.
And afterward the time is schape[1765] 2850
To frost, to Snow, to Wind, to Rein,
Til eft that Mars be come ayein:
The Wynter wol no Somer knowe,
The grene lef is overthrowe,
The clothed erthe is thanne bare,
Despuiled is the Somerfare,[1766]
That erst was hete is thanne chele.
And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,
I was out of mi swoune affraied,
Wherof I sih my wittes straied,[1767] 2860
And gan to clepe hem hom ayein.
And whan Resoun it herde sein
That loves rage was aweie,
He cam to me the rihte weie,
And hath remued the sotie
Of thilke unwise fantasie,
Wherof that I was wont to pleigne,
So that of thilke fyri peine
I was mad sobre and hol ynowh.
Venus behield me than and lowh, 2870
And axeth, as it were in game,
What love was. And I for schame
Ne wiste what I scholde ansuere;
And natheles I gan to swere
That be my trouthe I knew him noght;
So ferr it was out of mi thoght,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 372=]
Riht as it hadde nevere be.
‘Mi goode Sone,’ tho quod sche,
‘Now at this time I lieve it wel,
So goth the fortune of my whiel; 2880
Forthi mi conseil is thou leve.’
‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘be your leve,
Ye witen wel, and so wot I,
That I am unbehovely
Your Court fro this day forth to serve:[1768]
And for I may no thonk deserve,
And also for I am refused,
I preie you to ben excused.
And natheles as for the laste,[1769]
Whil that my wittes with me laste, 2890
Touchende mi confession
I axe an absolucion
Of Genius, er that I go.’
[Sidenote: [THE ABSOLUTION.]]
The Prest anon was redy tho,
And seide, ‘Sone, as of thi schrifte
Thou hast ful pardoun and foryifte;
Foryet it thou, and so wol I.’
[Sidenote: Amans.]
‘Min holi fader, grant mercy,’
Quod I to him, and to the queene[1770]
I fell on knes upon the grene, 2900
And tok my leve forto wende.
[Sidenote: [LEAVE-TAKING OF VENUS.]]
Bot sche, that wolde make an ende,
As therto which I was most able,
A Peire of Bedes blak as Sable
Sche tok and heng my necke aboute;
Upon the gaudes al withoute
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 373=]
Was write of gold, _Por reposer_.[1771]
‘Lo,’ thus sche seide, ‘John Gower,
Now thou art ate laste cast,
This have I for thin ese cast, 2910
That thou nomore of love sieche.
Bot my will is that thou besieche
And preie hierafter for the pes,
And that thou make a plein reles
To love, which takth litel hiede
Of olde men upon the nede,
Whan that the lustes ben aweie:
Forthi to thee nys bot o weie,
In which let reson be thi guide;
For he may sone himself misguide, 2920
That seth noght the peril tofore.
Mi Sone, be wel war therfore,
And kep the sentence of my lore
And tarie thou mi Court nomore,
Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth,[1772]
Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth,[1773]
Whiche of long time thou hast write.
For this I do thee wel to wite,
If thou thin hele wolt pourchace,
Thou miht noght make suite and chace, 2930
Wher that the game is nought pernable;[1774]
It were a thing unresonable,
A man to be so overseie.
Forthi tak hiede of that I seie;
For in the lawe of my comune
We be noght schape to comune,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 374=]
Thiself and I, nevere after this.
Now have y seid al that ther is[1775]
Of love as for thi final ende:
*Adieu, for y mot fro the wende.’ 2940
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 375=]
And with that word al sodeinly,
Enclosid in a sterred sky,[1776]
Venus, which is the qweene of love,
Was take in to hire place above,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 376=]
More wiste y nought wher sche becam.[1777]
And thus my leve of hire y nam,[1778]
And forth with al the same tide
Hire prest, which wolde nought abide,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 377=]
Or be me lief or be me loth,
Out of my sighte forth he goth, 2950
And y was left with outen helpe.
So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe,
Bot only that y hadde lore
My time, and was sori ther fore.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 378=]
And thus bewhapid in my thought,
Whan al was turnyd in to nought,
I stod amasid for a while,
And in my self y gan to smyle
Thenkende uppon the bedis blake,
And how they weren me betake, 2960
For that y schulde bidde and preie.
And whanne y sigh non othre weie
Bot only that y was refusid,
Unto the lif which y hadde usid
I thoughte nevere torne ayein:
And in this wise, soth to seyn,
Homward a softe pas y wente,
Wher that with al myn hol entente[1779]
Uppon the point that y am schryve
I thenke bidde whil y live.[1780] 2970

[Sidenote: [THE AUTHOR PRAYS FOR THE STATE OF ENGLAND.]]
iv. _Parce precor, Criste, populus quo gaudeat iste;_
_Anglia ne triste subeat, rex summe, resiste._
_Corrige quosque status, fragiles absolue reatus;_
_Vnde deo gratus vigeat locus iste beatus._

He which withinne daies sevene[1781]
This large world forth with the hevene
[Sidenote: Hic in anno quartodecimo Regis Ricardi orat
pro statu regni, quod a diu diuisum nimia aduersitate
periclitabatur.[1782]]
Of his eternal providence
Hath mad, and thilke intelligence
In mannys soule resonable
Hath schape to be perdurable,
Wherof the man of his feture
Above alle erthli creature
Aftir the soule is immortal,
To thilke lord in special, 2980
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 379=]
As he which is of alle thinges
The creatour, and of the kynges
Hath the fortunes uppon honde,
His grace and mercy forto fonde
Uppon my bare knes y preie,
That he this loud in siker weie
Wol sette uppon good governance.[1783]
For if men takyn remembrance
What is to live in unite,[1784]
Ther ys no staat in his degree 2990
That noughte to desire pes,
With outen which, it is no les,
To seche and loke in to the laste,
Ther may no worldes joye laste.[1785]
[Sidenote: [EVIL OF DIVISION IN THE LAND.]]
Ferst forto loke the Clergie,
Hem oughte wel to justefie
Thing which belongith to here cure,
As forto praie and to procure
Oure pes toward the hevene above,
And ek to sette reste and love 3000
Among ous on this erthe hiere.
For if they wroughte in this manere
Aftir the reule of charite,
I hope that men schuldyn se
This loud amende.
And ovyr this,[1786]
To seche and loke how that it is[1787]
Touchende of the chevalerie,
Which forto loke, in som partie
Is worthi forto be comendid,
And in som part to ben amendid, 3010
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 380=]
That of here large retenue
The lond is ful of maintenue,
Which causith that the comune right[1788]
In fewe contrees stant upright.
Extorcioun, contekt, ravine[1789]
Withholde ben of that covyne,
Aldai men hierin gret compleignte
Of the desease, of the constreignte,
Wher of the poeple is sore oppressid:
God graunte it mote be redressid. 3020
For of knyghthode thordre wolde
That thei defende and kepe scholde
The comun right and the fraunchise[1790]
Of holy cherche in alle wise,
So that no wikke man it dere,
And ther fore servith scheld and spere:[1791]
Bot for it goth now other weie,
Oure grace goth the more aweie.
And forto lokyn ovyrmore,
Wher of the poeple pleigneth sore, 3030
Toward the lawis of oure lond,
Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bond
And with brocage is goon aweie,
So that no man can se the weie
Wher forto fynde rightwisnesse.
And if men sechin sikernesse
Uppon the lucre of marchandie,[1792]
Compassement and tricherie
Of singuler profit to wynne,
Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne, 3040
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 381=]
And namely of divisioun,
Which many a noble worthi toun
Fro welthe and fro prosperite
Hath brought to gret adversite.
So were it good to ben al on,
For mechil grace ther uppon[1793]
Unto the Citees schulde falle,
Which myghte availle to ous alle,
If these astatz amendid were,
So that the vertus stodyn there 3050
And that the vices were aweie:
Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie,
This londis grace schulde arise.
[Sidenote: [THE DUTY OF A KING.]]
Bot yit to loke in othre wise,[1794]
Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere,
Above alle othre on erthe hiere,
Which hath the loud in his balance:
To him belongith the leiance
Of Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe;
Undir his hond al is forth drawe[1795] 3060
The marchant and the laborer;
So stant it al in his power
Or forto spille or forto save.[1796]
Bot though that he such power have,
And that his myghtes ben so large,
He hath hem nought withouten charge,[1797]
To which that every kyng ys swore:
So were it good that he ther fore
First un to rightwisnesse entende,
Wherof that he hym self amende 3070
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 382=]
Toward his god and leve vice,
Which is the chief of his office;
And aftir al the remenant
He schal uppon his covenant
Governe and lede in such a wise,
So that ther be no tirandise,
Wherof that he his poeple grieve,
Or ellis may he nought achieve
That longith to his regalie.
For if a kyng wol justifie 3080
His lond and hem that beth withynne,[1798]
First at hym self he mot begynne,
To kepe and reule his owne astat,
That in hym self be no debat
Toward his god: for othre wise[1799]
Ther may non erthly kyng suffise
Of his kyngdom the folk to lede,
Bot he the kyng of hevene drede.
For what kyng sett hym uppon pride
And takth his lust on every side 3090
And wil nought go the righte weie,
Though god his grace caste aweie
No wondir is, for ate laste
He schal wel wite it mai nought laste,[1800]
The pompe which he secheth here.
Bot what kyng that with humble chere
Aftir the lawe of god eschuieth
The vices, and the vertus suieth,[1801]
His grace schal be suffisant
To governe al the remenant 3100
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 383=]
Which longith to his duite;
So that in his prosperite
The poeple schal nought ben oppressid,
Wherof his name schal be blessid,
For evere and be memorial.
[Sidenote: [THE BOOK COMPLETED.]]
And now to speke as in final,
Touchende that y undirtok
[Sidenote: Hic in fine recapitulat super hoc quod in
principio libri primi promisit se in amoris causa
specialius tractaturum. Concludit enim quod omnis amoris
delectacio extra caritatem nichil est. Qui autem manet in
caritate, in deo manet.]
In englesch forto make a book
Which stant betwene ernest and game,
I have it maad as thilke same 3110
Which axe forto ben excusid,
And that my bok be nought refusid
Of lered men, whan thei it se,[1802]
For lak of curiosite:
For thilke scole of eloquence
Belongith nought to my science,
Uppon the forme of rethoriqe
My wordis forto peinte and pike,
As Tullius som tyme wrot.
Bot this y knowe and this y wot, 3120
That y have do my trewe peyne
With rude wordis and with pleyne,
In al that evere y couthe and myghte,
This bok to write as y behighte,
So as siknesse it soffre wolde;
And also for my daies olde,
That y am feble and impotent,
I wot nought how the world ys went.
So preye y to my lordis alle
Now in myn age, how so befalle, 3130
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 384=]
That y mot stonden in here grace:[1803]
For though me lacke to purchace
Here worthi thonk as by decerte,
Yit the symplesse of my poverte
Desireth forto do plesance
To hem undir whos governance
I hope siker to abide.
[Sidenote: [FAREWELL TO EARTHLY LOVE.]]
But now uppon my laste tide
That y this book have maad and write,
My muse doth me forto wite, 3140
And seith it schal be for my beste
Fro this day forth to take reste,
That y nomore of love make,
Which many an herte hath overtake,
And ovyrturnyd as the blynde
Fro reson in to lawe of kynde;
Wher as the wisdom goth aweie[1804]
And can nought se the ryhte weie
How to governe his oghne estat,
Bot everydai stant in debat[1805] 3150
Withinne him self, and can nought leve.
And thus forthy my final leve
I take now for evere more,
Withoute makynge any more,
Of love and of his dedly hele,
Which no phisicien can hele.
For his nature is so divers,
That it hath evere som travers
Or of to moche or of to lite,
That pleinly mai noman delite,[1806] 3160
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 385=]
Bot if him faile or that or this.
Bot thilke love which that is
Withinne a mannes herte affermed,
And stant of charite confermed,
[Sidenote: [HEAVENLY LOVE.]]
Such love is goodly forto have,
Such love mai the bodi save,
Such love mai the soule amende,
The hyhe god such love ous sende
Forthwith the remenant of grace;[1807]
So that above in thilke place 3170
Wher resteth love and alle pes,
Oure joie mai ben endeles.

_Explicit iste liber, qui transeat, obsecro liber_
_Vt sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore._
_Qui sedet in scannis celi det vt ista Iohannis_
_Perpetuis annis stet pagina grata Britannis._
_Derbeie Comiti, recolunt quem laude periti,_[1808]
_Vade liber purus, sub eo requiesce futurus._[1809]

* * * * *

*Adieu, for I mot fro the wende.
And gret wel Chaucer whan ye mete,[1810] 2941*
As mi disciple and mi poete:
For in the floures of his youthe
In sondri wise, as he wel couthe,
Of Ditees and of songes glade,
The whiche he for mi sake made,
The loud fulfild is overal:
Wherof to him in special
Above alle othre I am most holde.[1811]
For thi now in hise daies olde 2950*
Thow schalt him telle this message,
That he upon his latere age,
To sette an ende of alle his werk,[1812]
As he which is myn owne clerk,
Do make his testament of love,
As thou hast do thi schrifte above,
So that mi Court it mai recorde.’
‘Madame, I can me wel acorde,’
Quod I, ‘to telle as ye me bidde.’
And with that word it so betidde,[1813] 2960*
Out of my sihte al sodeynly,[1814]
Enclosed in a sterred sky,
Up to the hevene Venus straghte,[1815]
And I my rihte weie cawhte,[1816]
Hom fro the wode and forth I wente,[1817]
Wher as with al myn hole entente,[1818]
Thus with mi bedes upon honde,[1819]
For hem that trewe love fonde
I thenke bidde whil I lyve
Upon the poynt which I am schryve. 2970*

[Sidenote: [THE AUTHOR PRAYS FOR THE KING.]]
iv.* _Ad laudem Cristi, quem tu, virgo, peperisti,_
_Sit laus Ricardi, quem sceptra colunt leopardi._
_Ad sua precepta compleui carmina cepta,_
_Que Bruti nata legat Anglia perpetuata._[1820]

He which withinne dayes sevene
This large world forth with the hevene
[Sidenote: Hic in fine libri honorificos que virtuosos
illustrissimi Principis domini sui Regis Anglie Ricardi
secundi mores, sicut dignum est, laude commendabili
describens, pro eiusdem status salubri conseruacione
cunctipotentem deuocius exorat.]
Of his eternal providence
Hath mad, and thilke intelligence[1821]
In mannes soule resonable
Enspired to himself semblable,
Wherof the man of his feture
Above alle erthly creature[1822]
After the soule is immortal,
To thilke lord in special, 2980*
As he which is of alle thinges
The creatour, and of the kinges
Hath the fortunes upon honde,[1823]
His grace and mercy forto fonde
Upon mi bare knees I preye,
That he my worthi king conveye,
Richard by name the Secounde,[1824]
In whom hath evere yit be founde[1825]
Justice medled with pite,
Largesce forth with charite. 2990*
In his persone it mai be schewed
What is a king to be wel thewed,
Touchinge of pite namely:
[Sidenote: [THE KING COMMENDED.]]
For he yit nevere unpitously
Ayein the liges of his lond,[1826]
For no defaute which he fond,
Thurgh cruelte vengaunce soghte;
And thogh the worldes chaunce in broghte[1827]
Of infortune gret debat,
Yit was he not infortunat: 3000*
For he which the fortune ladde,
The hihe god, him overspradde
Of his Justice, and kepte him so,[1828]
That his astat stood evere mo
Sauf, as it oghte wel to be;[1829]
Lich to the Sonne in his degree,
Which with the clowdes up alofte
Is derked and bischadewed ofte,[1830]
But hou so that it trowble in their,[1831]
The Sonne is evere briht and feir, 3010*
Withinne himself and noght empeired:[1832]
Althogh the weder be despeired,
The hed planete is not to wite.[1833]
Mi worthi prince, of whom I write,
Thus slant he with himselve clier,[1834]
And doth what lith in his power[1835]
Not only hier at hom to seke[1836]
Love and acord, but outward eke,[1837]
As he that save his poeple wolde.
So ben we alle wel beholde[1838] 3020*
To do service and obeyssaunce
To him, which of his heyh suffraunce[1839]
Hath many a gret debat appesed,[1840]
To make his lige men ben esed;[1841]
Wherfore that his Croniqe schal
For evere be memorial
To the loenge of that he doth.[1842]
For this wot every man in soth,
What king that so desireth pes,[1843]
He takth the weie which Crist ches: 3030*
And who that Cristes weies sueth,
It proveth wel that he eschueth
The vices and is vertuous,[1844]
Wherof he mot be gracious
Toward his god and acceptable.
And so to make his regne stable,[1845]
With al the wil that I mai yive
I preie and schal whil that I live,
As I which in subjeccioun
Stonde under the proteccioun,[1846] 3040*
And mai miselven not bewelde,[1847]
What for seknesse and what for elde,[1848]
Which I receyve of goddes grace.
But thogh me lacke to purchace
[Sidenote: [THE AUTHOR PRESENTS HIS BOOK TO THE KING.]]
Mi kinges thonk as by decerte,[1849]
Yit the Simplesce of mi poverte
Unto the love of my ligance
Desireth forto do plesance:
And for this cause in myn entente
This povere bok heer I presente[1850] 3050*
Unto his hihe worthinesse,
Write of my simple besinesse,[1851]
So as seknesse it suffre wolde.[1852]
And in such wise as I ferst tolde,
Whan I this bok began to make,[1853]
In som partie it mai be take[1854]
As for to lawhe and forto pleye;
And forto loke in other weye,[1855]
It mai be wisdom to the wise:
So that somdel for good aprise[1856] 3060*
And eek somdel for lust and game[1857]
I have it mad, as thilke same[1858]
Which axe forto ben excused,[1859]
That I no Rethoriqe have used
Upon the forme of eloquence,
For that is not of mi science;
But I have do my trewe peyne
With rude wordes and with pleyne
To speke of thing which I have told.[1860]
[Sidenote: [FAREWELL TO EARTHLY LOVE.]]
But now that I am feble and old,[1861] 3070*
And to the worschipe of mi king
In love above alle other thing[1862]
That I this bok have mad and write,[1863]
Mi Muse doth me forto wite[1864]
That it is to me for the beste
Fro this day forth to take reste,[1865]
That I nomore of love make.[1866]
But he which hath of love his make[1867]
It sit him wel to singe and daunce,[1868]
And do to love his entendance 3080*
In songes bothe and in seyinges
After the lust of his pleyinges,
For he hath that he wolde have:
But where a man schal love crave[1869]
And faile, it stant al otherwise.[1870]
In his proverbe seith the wise,
Whan game is best, is best to leve:[1871]
And thus forthi my fynal leve,
With oute makyng eny more,[1872]
I take now for evere more 3090*
Of love and of his dedly hele,[1873]
Which no phisicien can hele.
For his nature is so divers,
That it hath evere som travers
Or of to moche or of to lite,
That fully mai noman delyte,
But if him lacke or that or this.[1874]
But thilke love which that is
Withinne a mannes herte affermed,
[Sidenote: [HEAVENLY LOVE.]]
And stant of charite confermed, 3100*
That love is of no repentaile;
For it ne berth no contretaile,
Which mai the conscience charge,
But it is rather of descharge,[1875]
And meedful heer and overal.
Forthi this love in special[1876]
Is good for every man to holde,[1877]
And who that resoun wol beholde,[1878]
Al other lust is good to daunte:
Which thing the hihe god us graunte[1879] 3110*
Forth with the remenant of grace
So that of hevene in thilke place
Wher resteth love and alle pes,[1880]
Oure joye mai ben endeles.[1881]

FOOTNOTES:

[1454] 13 the _om._ AM ... B₂, AdBTΔΛ, W

[1455] 37 wiste AJ, F wist C, B

[1456] 48 his A

[1457] 60 Cham AJ Chaym (Caym) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, W

[1458] 71 Cham AJM Chaym (Caym) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, W

[1459] 72 Delbora H₁ ... B₂ (Debora E), Δ, W

[1460] 77 into A, FW vnto CLB₂, B