Chapter XVII: Front Matter (17)

[1461] 79 the _om._ A

[1462] 98 Habraham J, FK _rest_ Abraham

[1463] 100 was þo AML

[1464] 136 tribus MH₁CB₂, TΔ, W Irahel (Irael) J, FK _rest_ Israel

[1465] 145 bode H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

[1466] 148 it _om._ GC, BΔ

[1467] 170 in such AdBTΔ

[1468] 177 I myhte AM

[1469] 185 The AM, W

[1470] 188 such AJ, B suche F

[1471] 210 _margin_ impune _om._ BT, W inpunitu_m_ E

[1472] 212 _margin_ priuauit] preliauit H₁ ... B₂

[1473] 205 so _om._ AdBT

[1474] 228 vnto MCL, BT

[1475] 231 and made] he made AM ... B₂, AdTB

[1476] 237 gret AC, B grete F

[1477] 239 not (nought) goode AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1478] 245 Irahel _as in_ l. 136

[1479] 257 And þat AdBT

[1480] 262 ago AM ... B₂, AdBTΔ

[1481] 280 _margin_ ipse prius FK, _om._ A ... B₂, BT (_Lat. om._ AdΔ, W)

[1482] 291 chambre (chamber) MH₁XEC, AdBTΔ, WK

[1483] 293 and] of AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1484] 298 The king H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

[1485] 310 which _om._ B

[1486] 337 S _resumes_

[1487] 354 the _om._ AdBT, W

[1488] 355 how þat H₁ ... B₂, AdB

[1489] 358 soghte (soughte) A ... CB₂, SAdTB (In al wise he him be þowt Δ)

[1490] 362 that _om._ BTΔ, W

[1491] 371 þis wise EB₂, BΔ

[1492] 403 sturne F sterne A, SB lok] word B

[1493] 416 of of F

[1494] 419 this] þat AdBT the B₂

[1495] 428 _margin_ Indignacio--Appolini _om._ SΔ (_as also the marginal notes following down to_ l. 1020)

[1496] 443 his _om._ B

[1497] 446 esmaied JEC, S, FK amaied (amayed) AMH₁XGRLB₂, AdBT dismaied Δ, W

[1498] 462 tyde AMX, W

[1499] 467 _margin_ mare _om._

[1500] F as evere he] as he H₁ ... B₂, Ad as þey BT

[1501] 469 In] Her(e) AdBTΛ be] ben wiþ AdBTΔΛ, W

[1502] 471 hale up] haleþ AM ... B₂, AdBTΛ

[1503] 483 deelful (deleful) AML, W deedful (dedful) H₁ ... CB₂, AdTΛ dedly B

[1504] 492 stonden B₂, AdBTΔ, WK

[1505] 496 _margin_ Nota _om._ A ... B₂, BT (_Lat. om._ SAdΔ)

[1506] 505 Taliart F Thaliart AJ, SB

[1507] 507 box AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1508] 510 spare he FK _rest_ spare

[1509] 513 Taliart J, F Thaliart A, SB

[1510] 535 He] His F

[1511] 539 which B

[1512] 548 him H₁, AdBT

[1513] 553 whan (when) AJC, B whanne S, F

[1514] 565 the _om._ AMH₁XRL, Ad a B

[1515] 566 him FWK it ACLB₂, B

[1516] 568 So as] So þat AM ... B₂ (So as G)

[1517] 573 _margin_ prenunciauit B preminuit M

[1518] 571 a route AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1519] 574 the which on knees] which on his knees E, B which on knees H₁XRLB₂, AdTΔ

[1520] 582 no] for no H₁E ... B₂

[1521] 590 As in telling(e) AM, AdT ffor as in telling(e) H₁ ... B₂

[1522] 598 ygon B

[1523] 620 avou (avow) A, B, F a vow (a vou) J, S, K

[1524] 624 altobroke A, S, F al tobroke C, B al to broke J

[1525] 633 Therof (Ther of) A ... B₂, AdBT Wherefore W

[1526] 635 a _om._ AMR

[1527] 636 was whilom AM ... B₂, AdBT was som tyme J

[1528] 667 Than (Thanne) AM ... B₂, AdBT afterward B

[1529] 677 As was herd AdBT

[1530] 680 game MH₁, AdBTΔ, W gamis X

[1531] 685 As] And AM ... B₂, AdBT tho] þe H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, WK _om._ Δ

[1532] 697 _margin_ aula A ... B₂, BT

[1533] 705 schulde (scholde) AdBT, W

[1534] 714 his Mareschal of h. J, S, FK his Marchal of his h. AM ... CB₂, BT his marschal of the h. Δ, W þe Marchal of his h. Ad (ll. 704-714 _om._ L)

[1535] 718 hadde B

[1536] 732 _margin_ maxime ingemiscebat A ... B₂, BT (_Latin om._ SAdΔ)

[1537] 747 of þis worldes aghte J, SΔ, FWK þer of (þerof) which I aughte AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1538] 748 I þer(e) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

[1539] 772 taakþ (takeþ) AM

[1540] 782 he] it AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1541] 786 hou that] of þat AH₁ ... B₂, AdBT þat M howe W

[1542] 787 he was] it was H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

[1543] 809 that] þe H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

[1544] 817 he scholde AdB

[1545] 827 Hire] He AdBT

[1546] 829 of Citole] citole B and citole K

[1547] 830 tun] time X, B

[1548] 839 wolde AdBT

[1549] 845 Touching(e) AM ... B₂, AdBTΛ

[1550] 852 may so AMR

[1551] 856 and in game] what in game ME, B and what in game CLB₂, AdT

[1552] 859 and drinke MCL, BT of drinkyng W

[1553] 860 that _om._ AMH₁

[1554] 872 hir(e) honour AJH₁ ... L, AdBT

[1555] 875 to make AdBT

[1556] 892 put AJ, S, F putte C, B

[1557] 928 þe worldes A ... B₂, AdT

[1558] 946 fadres (faders) AM ... B₂ (_except_ E), AdΔ

[1559] 950 _Paragraph here_ F ther] al (alle) AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1560] 958 which was] þat was W was Ad was riht AM ... B₂, BT

[1561] 961 and gret AMH₁E ... B₂, BT and of gret X

[1562] 962 many man AH₁EC, AdBT many me_n_ X

[1563] 970 lede B

[1564] 975 spousales FK

[1565] 979 adai (aday) J, F a dai (a day) AC, SB

[1566] 994 was FWK is A ... B₂, S ... Δ

[1567] 1000 forto smyte AM

[1568] 1009 liuen in AH₁ ... B₂, AdBTΔ

[1569] 1024 lengerr F

[1570] 1047 here (her) AC, SB hire J, F

[1571] 1056 deide AdBT

[1572] 1060 a swoune JC, SB, F aswoune A

[1573] 1063 and my desir AdBT, W and desir J

[1574] 1069 it myhte FWK

[1575] 1076 For evere] Was euer(e) AH₁ ... B₂, AdBT Was neu_er_e M

[1576] 1098 _Latin here and at_ 1122, 1141, 1151, 1324, 1373, 1424 _om._ SΔ (_up to_ 2029 _om._ Δ)

[1577] 1102 _margin_ obtusa q_ue_ C, B obtusaq_ue_ A, F

[1578] 1106 _marg._ in mari A ... B₂, BT

[1579] 1107 þis AdBT

[1580] 1110 sich (siche, swiche) AJMRB₂, BΔ, W such (suche) H₁XECL, SAdT, FK

[1581] 1120 of jeueals a] of Ieweles (Iewels) AM ... B₂, AdBT of the Ieweles a W

[1582] 1128 tak AJ, S, F take C, B

[1583] 1131 whan (when) AJ, SB whan_n_e F

[1584] 1142 This prince AJM, SΔ

[1585] 1156 _margin_ suum _om._ A ... B₂, BT

[1586] 1168 the] þis BΔ, W

[1587] 1178 was iwounde (I wounde &c.) AM ... L was I bounde B₂ lay ywounde AdBT

[1588] 1184 which ... is] þat ... was AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1589] 1206 Ha _om._ MXR, AdBT, W

[1590] 1222 hol (hool) C, B, F hole AB₂

[1591] 1224 _margin_ sacro] facto BT

[1592] 1240 sih] seiþ AML

[1593] 1252 _line om._ B

[1594] 1253 schal] haþ AdBT

[1595] 1258 took(e) LB₂ AdBT, W

[1596] 1260 made AH₁ ... B₂, AdBT

[1597] 1274 seiled AdBT

[1598] 1277 And FW Tho ACLB₂, B

[1599] 1293 whiche A, S, F which JC, B

[1600] 1315 And parceiuen þat it B

[1601] 1319 þe FW his ACLB₂, B

[1602] 1334 worþe J, F worþ AC, SB

[1603] 1364 wher þat AM ... B₂, AdBT, W

[1604] 1371 swer(e) E ... B₂, K sware X

[1605] 1373 _margin_ occideret A ... B₂, BT

[1606] 1374 cherlissh (cherlische &c.) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, K

[1607] 1375 wher(e) H₁ ... B₂, AdBTΔ, W

[1608] 1378 _margin_ Pirate ibidem prope] Pirate ibidem A ... B₂ ibidem BT

[1609] 1383 _margin_ reddiderunt AM

[1610] 1388 þat sche AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1611] 1389 and þis cry A

[1612] 1399 thei] sche B

[1613] 1413 fecchen (fechen) AM ... B₂, AdB sechen T

[1614] 1415 hir] he AM ... B₂, AdBT1

[1615] 1416 And þat he by (be) H₁ ... B₂ And þat by AM

[1616] 1423 _Paragraph here in_ MSS.

[1617] 1424 No wonder þough sche were wo B No wonder þogh sche be wo Ad

[1618] 1435 nomen wolde þer noght come K nomen wolden þeer (þer) come AM no man (noman) wolde þer(e) come H₁ ... B₂, AdBT mo men wolde ther none come W

[1619] 1447 kneled BTΔ

[1620] 1450 good BT

[1621] 1456 be of rel. AM ... B₂, BT

[1622] 1465 Which þat AM ... B₂, BT

[1623] 1476 fro] of AM ... B₂, BT

[1624] 1484 eny AM ... B₂, B

[1625] 1503 _margin_ configentes F

[1626] 1500 Theophile AJC, T, F Theophil B

[1627] 1505 ich haue AM

[1628] 1509 kepeþ BT

[1629] 1512 Now se her after B Now hiere after T

[1630] 1513 sorweth] crieþ BT

[1631] 1523 make BT _om._ W

[1632] 1534 the _om._ AM, Δ, W

[1633] 1544 forto clare] to declare AM ... B₂, BT

[1634] 1555 told A, B, F tolde C

[1635] 1593 _margin_ celebrari A ... B₂, BT, W

[1636] 1590 _Paragraph here_ FWK, _at_ 1595 _in most other copies_

[1637] 1621 þat cite H₁XELB₂, BT

[1638] 1633 be] were B

[1639] 1637 which a s. AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1640] 1641 so] þe AM

[1641] 1646 here LB₂, Δ, W

[1642] 1649 _Paragraph here_ ALB₂, BT _at_ 1652 J, SAd, FW Tho] Thus A ... B₂

[1643] 1661 all(e) þe weies AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1644] 1683 many F many a ALB₂, B, W

[1645] 1687 madd man S madd mad man F

[1646] 1710 hol B, F hole AB₂

[1647] 1713 was FW is ALB₂, B

[1648] 1715 that _om._ AM, W

[1649] 1732 toke J, S, F tok (took) AEC, B

[1650] 1750 þat lond AJM, SΔ

[1651] 1754 maiden] doughter B

[1652] 1756 which was þo h. AM

[1653] 1761 of yong] ȝong of E, B

[1654] 1790 þe king JC

[1655] 1792 vnto H₁ ... B₂, AdB, W

[1656] 1836 he in F in he A ... B₂, S ... Δ, WK

[1657] 1842 euidence AdBT

[1658] 1843 thanne aboute] al (alle) aboute AM ... B₂, AdT þer aboute B

[1659] 1854 aswowe AM aswowen B

[1660] 1861 That] Which AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1661] 1877 þe queene AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1662] 1890 topseil(e) cole H₁ ... B₂, AdBTΔ, W

[1663] 1892 havene] haue C, AdBT, W þe haue_n_ B₂

[1664] 1911 what he w. X ... B₂, AdBT

[1665] 1912 ff. _margin_ Qualiter--fecit _om._ BΔ

[1666] 1920 lord B

[1667] 1921 thanne] þat AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1668] 1924 Wher of (Wherof) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, W

[1669] 1927 And FW A ACLB₂, B

[1670] 1928 Up to] Vpon AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1671] 1931 on honde AM ... B₂, AdBT, W

[1672] 1939 he herde AM, W

[1673] 1940 wiste(n) how it AM ... B₂, AdBT, W

[1674] 1967 In which AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1675] 1973 wil (wol) conceyue H₁EL, W wol(e) resceyue AdBT

[1676] 1978 is befalle AdB, W was falle L

[1677] 1992 was him AM, Δ, W

[1678] 1999 his lif was write A ... B₂, S ... Δ as it is write FWK

[1679] 2006 he hadde al] he hadde J, SΔ (had) hadde (had) AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1680] 2009 _margin_ Confessor ad Amantem _om._ JEC, AdBT Confessor B₂, Δ, W

[1681] 2047 skile] sike AdBT

[1682] 2056 let S, F lete AJ, B

[1683] 2062 truffles AJC, S, F trifles (triffles) L, B travailes W

[1684] 2071 Conseile J, S, F Conseil (Counseil) AC, B

[1685] 2073 Thi (þy) cause A ... B₂, S ... Δ where] þer B

[1686] 2086 noght faile] auaile AM ... B₂, AdBT (_line om._ R)

[1687] 2095 sett] siþe (siþ, seþþe &c.) JH₁ERLB₂, AdBT, W sertein if Δ

[1688] 2098 it is H₁, FK is it AJMX ... B₂, S ... Δ, W

[1689] 2104 This BT Thi Ad And W

[1690] 2106 so be befalle F

[1691] 2134 set AJ, S, F sette CLB₂, B

[1692] 2138 agon (a goon) H₁RCB₂, AdBT, W

[1693] 2153 That feelen noght of þat (_om._ I fiele) A That feelen noght . be likned to þe herte M

[1694] 2178 while AM ... B₂, AdBT, W

[1695] 2179 no certein AdBT the] þo AM

[1696] 2180 if] wher AM ... B₂, AdBT

[1697] 2195 techinge J, SΔ, FWK touchynge (touching) AM ... B₂, AdBTΛ

[1698] 2203 þei (þey) acorden AdBT

[1699] 2214 wol(e) AdBT

[1700] 2220 or I trauaile J, S, F _the rest_ or trauaile

[1701] 2228 a love] of loue AM ... B₂, BT (Haþ love of kinde ȝit Ad)

[1702] 2240 was] is AdBT

[1703] 2247 þurghout BT

[1704] 2251 ȝelpe AdBTΛ

[1705] 2257 I fynde BTΔ

[1706] 2270 his _om._ B

[1707] 2271 wher AdBT

[1708] 2284 þis infortune AdBT þilke fortune B₂, Δ that ilke infortune W

[1709] 2294 gentile AJ, S, F gentil C, B

[1710] 2298 wold J, S, F wolde AC, B

[1711] 2319 agame AJMRL, AdT in game Δ in grame W

[1712] 2320 is] was A ... B₂, SBTΔ

[1713] 2332 if] it AMXE ... B₂, B

[1714] 2334 Hire B

[1715] 2342 disteigned AH₁XRLB₂ distreigned M restreigned E

[1716] 2367 f. _Two lines om._ S ... Δ (_ins._ Λ)

[1717] 2368 The which is holsom to þe seke H₁ ... B₂

[1718] 2369 f.

Noght al as þou desire woldest
Bot so as þou be resoun scholdest

S ... Δ

[1719] 2371-2376 _Six lines om._ S ... Δ

[1720] _Latin Verses_ iii. 8 obsequium] obsessum X ... L obessum B₂

[1721] 2379 ff. _margin_ Hic in exemplum--redarguit] Hic narrat qualiter indignata Venus, amantis languidi infirmitatem inspiciens, ne quid amplius in curia sua attemptare presumat, ipsum insufficientem tanquam pro medicina pluribus exemplis exhortabatur S ... ΔΛ

[1722] 2386 tome S, F to me AJC, B

[1723] 2387 wolde H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

[1724] 2403 Mi loues AM, Λ My loue AdBT (Ad _ends with this line_)

[1725] 2409 with _om._ AM ... B₂, BT

[1726] 2428 sitte AJC, F sit B

[1727] 2433 if þat þou wel beþought (be þought) X ... B₂, BTΛ if that thou wel the be thouht H₁

[1728] 2436 The which AM ... B₂, BTΛ (þ_at_ whilom was þe grene gras Δ)

[1729] 2437 as time now AM ... B₂, BTΛ

[1730] 2441 Than I AM, BΛ Whan I H₁ ... B₂, T

[1731] 2442 And wist(e) wel AM ... B₂, BTΛ

[1732] 2445 ferd AJ, S, F ferde C, B

[1733] 2446 And cold AM

[1734] 2462 _line om._ B

[1735] 2476 _margin_ Pan id est deus nature A ... B₂

[1736] 2497 It was AM ... B₂, BT

[1737] 2543 Priamus AM, B, W

[1738] 2573 graue BT

[1739] 2575 Alquik F Al quik AJ, SB, K

[1740] 2598 þ_er_e F þer (þ_er_) AJC, B

[1741] 2623 Vluxes BT

[1742] 2646 Lo, if] See wher AM ... B₂, BT

[1743] 2650 Which Ceix (_om._ to) B Which to seke X Which for to se W

[1744] 2653 wawe A ... B₂, S ... Δ

[1745] 2656 which] þat AM ... B₂, BT

[1746] 2664 he lay X, BT (_line om._ Δ _p. m._)

[1747] 2670 manye] fele AM ... B₂, BT

[1748] 2672 here visage AM ... B₂, BT

[1749] 2675 pipes AM ... B₂, BT piper Δ

[1750] 2676 noise] merþe AM ... B₂, BT

[1751] 2678 sowned AM ... B₂, BT

[1752] 2694 Iuesses eek AM Iues boþe (Iewes both) KW Iewes (Iues &c.) eek H₁ ... B₂, BT

[1753] 2696 wher he was AM wher(e) he were X ... B₂, BT if he were H₁, W

[1754] 2701 no wonder B

[1755] 2702 put AJ, F putte C, B

[1756] 2706 so] also E, BT þo Δ

[1757] 2769 benyce J, S, FK be nyce (by nice &c.) AM ... B₂, BTΔ, W

[1758] 2775 _margin_ No_ta_ LB₂, F No_ta_ b_e_n_e_ C _om._ A ... R, SBTΔ, WK

[1759] 2796 pitte F putte AJC, SB

[1760] 2809 whiche S, F which AJC, B

[1761] 2819 _margin_ Nota contra senes voluptuosos, quorum calor refrigescente natura extinctus est SBTΔ (_om._ Λ)

[1762] 2833 Outwiþ SΔ, FWK Out wiþ AJM, TΛ Therwiþ (Ther wiþ) H₁ ... B₂ On which B

[1763] 2837 _margin_ equiperatur A equipatur C, BT, F

[1764] 2848 of flour of lef AM ... CB₂ and floure of leef L

[1765] 2850 þis time H₁ ... B₂

[1766] 2856 Somerfare S, F somer fare AJC, B

[1767] 2860 straied] frayed AM ... B₂

[1768] 2885 forth] for EC, BTΛ

[1769] 2889 for to laste BT

[1770] 2899 the _om._ AM

[1771] 2907 pur AM ... B₂, B, W pour H₁, T

[1772] 2925 moral vertu AM ... B₂, W vertu morar S

[1773] 2926 Wher ben þe M, TΛ Ther ben þe B

[1774] 2931 p_er_nable J, SΔ, FK parnable W p_ro_uable (prouable) AM ... B₂, BTΛ

[1775] 2938 _Here begins a new hand in_ F _and_ ll. 2938-2966 _are over an erasure_.

[1776] 2942 serred S

[1777] 2945 wiste ST wist B, F

[1778] 2946 hire (hir) BTΔ, WK here S, F

[1779] 2968 hol B, F hole S

[1780] 2970 lieue F

[1781] 2971 The J, B

[1782] 2973 ff. _margin_ Hic in anno--periclitabatur SΔ, FK _om._ BTΛ, W

[1783] 2987 Wol] Wel S

[1784] 2989 liue BTΔ, W lieue S, FK

[1785] 2994 wordles F

[1786] 3005 f. _Paragraph begins_ And ouer þis S To seche FWK _No Paragraph_ BT

[1787] 3006 how þ_at_ is B howe it is W

[1788] 3013 comune (com_m_une) SBT, F comyn W

[1789] 3015 contekt FK contect SBT Contek W contek and Magd contel and Δ

[1790] 3023 comun B, F comune ST

[1791] 3026 þer fore (þerfore) FK þerof (þer of) SBTΔ, W

[1792] 3037 machandie F merchandie S

[1793] 3046 mechil F mekull W mochil SBT

[1794] 3054 oþre wise S, F oþer w. BTΔ, WK

[1795] 3060 is al B

[1796] 3063 forto ... forto S for to ... forto F for to ... for to BT

[1797] 3066 wiþouten F wiþoute SBT

[1798] 3081 beþ F ben (be) SBTΔ, WK

[1799] 3085 oþre wise F oþrewise S oþerwise BT othir wyse W

[1800] 3094 nouȝt F noght S nought B not T, W

[1801] 3098 vertu B

[1802] 3113 whan_n_e F

[1803] 3131 mot ST, W mote B, F

[1804] 3147 _Hand in_ F _changes again_

[1805] 3150 euerydai F euery day SBT

[1806] 3160 noman F no man SBT

[1807] 3169 fforþwiþ F fforþ wiþ SBT

[1808] EXPLICIT 5 f. _Last two lines om._ AJCL

[1809] 6 sub eo q_ue_ recumbe S

[1810] 2941* ff. _This conclusion is in first recension copies only_, A ... B₂ &c. _But_ ll. 2941*-2961* _also in_ Λ. _All variations from_ A _are noted_.

[1811] 2949* moost A

[1812] 2953* eende A al J

[1813] 2960* world AMX betidde (bitidde) JH₁ECB₂ by tydde (be tidde) AMRL

[1814] 2961* sihte (sighte) JR syht (sight) AMH₁ECLB₂

[1815] 2963* f. straghte: cawhte AM strauhte: cauhte J straght(e): caght(e) RL straughte: caughte EC

[1816] 2964* righte (rihte) JEC riht (right) AMH₁R

[1817] 2965* Hoom AM and _om._ C

[1818] 2966* hole J hoole AM

[1819] 2967* f. hoonde: foonde AM

[1820] _Latin Verses_ iv.* 3 ceptra AM

[1821] 2974* mad J maad A

[1822] 2978* erþly C eerþli AM erþely JH₁ERLB₂

[1823] 2983* f. hoonde: foonde AM

[1824] 2987* be J

[1825] 2988* byfounde A by founde M

[1826] 2995* f. loond: foond A

[1827] 2998* inbroughte JH₁

[1828] 3003* kepte ECB₂ kept AJMH₁RL

[1829] 3005* bee A

[1830] 3008* bischadewed (byshadewed) AMH₁E by schadewed (by schadowed) RCLB₂ beschaded J

[1831] 3009* Bot JH₁

[1832] 3011* Wiþin AM

[1833] 3013* hed (hede) JM heed A heued H₁E ... B₂

[1834] 3015* f. clier: power J cleer: poweer A

[1835] 3016* dooþ AM

[1836] 3017* only hier at hom to seke J oonly heer athoom to seeke A

[1837] 3018* acord JER acorde AC eeke AEC

[1838] 3020* been AMC by holde AM

[1839] 3022* hihe H₁RLB₂ hie J

[1840] 3023* a gret (agret) JCL a grete (agrete) AMH₁ &c.

[1841] 3024* been A

[1842] 3037* f. dooþ: sooþ AMR

[1843] 3029* f. pees: chees AMR

[1844] 3033* f. vertuows: graciows AM

[1845] 3036* And for to CB₂ maake A

[1846] 3040* Stoonde AM the] his J

[1847] 3041* by welde AMH₁

[1848] 3042* sekenesse AMH₁R

[1849] 3045* be J

[1850] 3050* bok J book AC

[1851] 3052* besinesse (besynesse) JH₁RL bisinesse A busynesse C

[1852] 3053* seeknesse (seknesse) JC seekenesse (sekenesse &c.) AMH₁R

[1853] 3055* book by gan to maake A

[1854] 3056* by taake A

[1855] 3058* looke A ooþer AM

[1856] 3060* f. somdeel A

[1857] 3061* of game J

[1858] 3062* as AJM for H₁XRCLB₂

[1859] 3063* been A

[1860] 3069* f. toold: oold A

[1861] 3070* Bot J

[1862] 3072* ooþer A

[1863] 3073* book A &c.

[1864] 3074* dooþ AM

[1865] 3076* taake A

[1866] 3077* nomoore of loue maake A

[1867] 3078* Bot J maake A

[1868] 3079* sit J sitte AMRCLB₂

[1869] 3084* Bot J

[1870] 3085* alooþerwise A

[1871] 3087* Whan game is beste A

[1872] 3089* f. moore: moore A

[1873] 3091* f. heele: heele AM

[1874] 3097* f. Bot J

[1875] 3104* Bot J

[1876] 3106* love _om._ AM

[1877] 3107* hoolde A

[1878] 3108* wol byholde (biholde) ARCL wil biholde B₂ wel be holde J wel byholde M

[1879] 3110* ous J

[1880] 3113* pees AMC

[1881] 3114* been endelees AM _At the end_ Amen MXERCLB₂

[1882]=Epistola super huius opusculi sui complementum=
=Iohanni Gower a quodam philosopho transmissa.=

Quam cinxere freta, Gower, tua carmina leta
Per loca discreta canit Anglia laude repleta.
Carminis Athleta, satirus, tibi, siue Poeta,
Sit laus completa quo gloria stat sine meta.

* * * * *

[1883]=Quia[1884] vnusquisque, prout a deo accepit, aliis
impartiri tenetur, Iohannes Gower super hiis que deus sibi
sensualiter[1885] donauit villicacionis sue racionem,
dum tempus instat,[1886] secundum aliquid alleuiare
cupiens,[1887] inter labores et ocia ad aliorum noticiam
tres libros doctrine causa forma subsequenti propterea
composuit.=

=Primus liber Gallico sermone editus in decem diuiditur
partes, et tractans de viciis et virtutibus,[1888] necnon
et de variis huius seculi gradibus,[1889] viam qua peccator
transgressus ad sui creatoris agnicionem redire debet,
recto tramite docere conatur. Titulusque[1890] libelli
istius Speculum Meditantis[1891] nuncupatus est.=

[1892]=Secundus enim liber sermone latino metrice
compositus tractat de variis infortuniis tempore Regis
Ricardi Secundi in Anglia contingentibus. Vnde non solum
regni proceres et communes tormenta passi sunt, set et
ipse crudelissimus rex suis ex demeritis ab alto corruens
in foueam quam fecit finaliter proiectus est. Nomenque
voluminis huius Vox Clamantis intitulatur.=

[1893]=Tercius iste liber qui ob reuerenciam strenuissimi
domini sui domini Henrici de Lancastria, tunc Derbeie
Comitis, Anglico sermone conficitur, secundum Danielis
propheciam super huius mundi regnorum mutacione a
tempore regis Nabugodonosor vsque[1894] nunc tempora
distinguit.[1895] Tractat eciam secundum Aristotilem[1896]
super hiis quibus rex Alexander tam in sui regimen[1897]
quam aliter[1898] eius disciplina edoctus fuit. Principalis
tamen huius operis[1899] materia[1900] super amorem et
infatuatas amantum passiones fundamentum habet. Nomenque
sibi appropriatum Confessio Amantis specialiter[1901]
sortitus est.=

FOOTNOTES:

[1882] EPISTOLA huius operis sui AJECL huius operis vel opusculi sui XRB₂ huius opusculi Δ

[1883] QUIA VNUSQUISQUE _ins._ AJXERCLB₂, BTΛ, F _om._ SΔ, Magd (MH₁G, Ad, WKH₃ _defective at the end_)

[1884] 1 Qvuia F

[1885] 2 sensualiter] intellectualiter A ... B₂

[1886] 3 dum tempus instat _om._ BTΛ

[1887] 4 ff. inter labores--composuit] tres precipue libros per ipsum dum vixit doctrine causa compositos ad aliorum noticiam in lucem seriose produxit. BTΛ

[1888] 8 f. necnon--gradibus _om._ BTΛ

[1889] 9 ff. viam--conatur] viam precipue qua peccator in penitendo Cristi misericordiam assequi poterit, tota mentis deuocione finaliter contemplatur BTΛ

[1890] 11 Titulusque] titulus AX ... B₂

[1891] Speculum hominis A ... B₂ Speculum mediantis B

[1892] 13 ff. Secundus enim liber, sermone latino versibus exametri et pentametri compositus, tractat super illo mirabili euentu qui in Anglia (anglica J) tempore domini Regis Ricardi secundi anno regni sui quarto contigit, quando seruiles rustici impetuose contra nobiles et ingenuos regni insurrexerunt. Innocenciam tamen dicti domini Regis tunc minoris etatis causa inde excusabilem pronuncians, culpas aliunde, ex quibus et non a fortuna talia inter homines contingunt enormia, euidencius declarat. Titulusque voluminis huius, cuius ordo Septem continet paginas, Vox clamantis nominatur A ... B₂

Secundus liber versibus exametri et pentametri sermone latino componitur, tractat de variis infortuniis tempore regis Ricardi secundi in Anglia multipliciter contingentibus, vbi pro statu regni compositor deuocius exorat. Nomenque voluminis huius, quod in septem diuiditur partes, Vox clamantis intitulatur BTΛ

[1893] 20 ff. Tercius iste liber (liber iste J) Anglico sermone in octo partes diuisus, qui ad instanciam serenissimi Principis dicti domini Regis Anglie Ricardi secundi conficitur A ... B₂ Tercius iste liber qui in octo partes diuisus ob reuerenciam stren. dom. sui dom. Henrici de Lanc. &c. BT

[1894] 24 vsque in nunc T

[1895] 24 distingui B

[1896] 25 Nectanabum et Aristotilem A ... B₂

[1897] 26 regimine X ... B₂

[1898] 26 f. eius disciplina--materia _om._ AX ... B₂ eorum disciplina &c. J

[1899] 27 operis] libri J

[1900] 28 ff. super amorem et amantum condiciones fundamentum habet: vbi variarum Cronicarum historiarumque sentencie, necnon Poetarum Philosophorumque scripture ad exemplum distinccius inseruntur. Nomenque presentis opusculi Confessio Amantis specialiter intitulatur. A ... B₂ (_but all except_ J _have_ finem _for_ sentencie).

[1901] 30 specialiter _om._ Λ

TO KING HENRY THE FOURTH[1902]

IN PRAISE OF PEACE[1903]

[1904]_Electus Cristi, pie Rex Henrice, fuisti,_
_Qui bene venisti cum propria regna petisti;_
_Tu mala vicisti que bonis bona restituisti,_
_Et populo tristi noua gaudia contribuisti._
_Est michi spes lata quod adhuc per te renouata_
_Succedent fata veteri probitate beata,_
_Est tibi nam grata gracia sponte data._

O worthi noble kyng, Henry the ferthe,[1905]
In whom the glade fortune is befalle
The poeple to governe uppon this erthe,[1906]
God hath the chose in comfort of ous alle:[1907]
The worschipe of this lond, which was doun falle,[1908]
Now stant upriht thurgh grace of thi goodnesse,
Which every man is holde forto blesse.

The highe god of his justice allone
The right which longeth to thi regalie
Declared hath to stonde in thi persone, 10
And more than god may no man justefie.
Thi title is knowe uppon thin ancestrie,
The londes folk hath ek thy riht affermed;
So stant thi regne of god and man confermed.

Ther is no man mai seie in other wise,
That god himself ne hath thi riht declared,[1909]
Whereof the lond is boun to thi servise,[1910]
Which for defalte of help hath longe cared:
Bot now ther is no mannes herte spared
To love and serve and wirche thi plesance, 20
And al is this thurgh godes pourveiance.[1911]

In alle thing which is of god begonne
Ther folwith grace, if it be wel governed:
Thus tellen thei whiche olde bookes conne,
Whereof, my lord, y wot wel thow art lerned.
Axe of thi god, so schalt thou noght be werned
Of no reqweste which is resonable;
For god unto the goode is favorable.

Kyng Salomon, which hadde at his axinge
Of god what thing him was levest to crave,[1912] 30
He ches wisdom unto the governynge[1913]
Of goddis folk, the whiche he wolde save:
And as he ches it fel him forto have;
For thurgh his wit, whil that his regne laste,
He gat him pees and reste unto the laste.[1914]

Bot Alisaundre, as telleth his histoire,[1915]
Unto the god besoghte in other weie,
Of all the world to winne the victoire,
So that undir his swerd it myht obeie.
In werre he hadde al that he wolde preie, 40
The myghti god behight him that beheste,
The world he wan, and had it of conqweste.[1916]

Bot thogh it fel at thilke time so,
That Alisandre his axinge hath achieved,
This sinful world was al paiene tho,[1917]
Was non which hath the hihe god believed:
No wondir was thogh thilke world was grieved,
Thogh a tiraunt his pourpos myhte winne;
Al was vengance and infortune of sinne.

Bot now the feith of Crist is come a place 50
Among the princes in this erthe hiere,
It sit hem wel to do pite and grace;
Bot yit it mot be tempred in manere:
For as thei finden cause in the matiere[1918]
Uppon the point, what aftirward betide,
The lawe of riht schal noght be leid aside.

So mai a kyng of werre the viage
Ordeigne and take, as he therto is holde,
To cleime and axe his rightful heritage
In alle places wher it is withholde: 60
Bot other wise if god himsilve wolde
Afferme love and pes betwen the kynges,
Pes is the beste above alle erthely thinges.[1919]

Good is teschue werre, and natheles
A kyng may make werre uppon his right,
For of bataile the final ende is pees.
Thus stant the lawe, that a worthi knyght
Uppon his trouthe may go to the fight;
Bot if so were that he myghte chese,
Betre is the pees, of which may no man lese. 70

<Sustene> pes oghte every man alyve,[1920]
First for to sette his liege lord in reste,
And ek these othre men that thei ne stryve;
For so this world mai stonden ate beste.[1921]
What kyng that wolde be the worthieste,
The more he myghte oure dedly werre cesse,
The more he schulde his worthinesse encresse.

Pes is the chief of al the worldes welthe,
And to the heven it ledeth ek the weie;
Pes is of soule and lif the mannes helthe, 80
Of pestilence and doth the werre aweie.
Mi liege lord, tak hiede of that y seie,
If werre may be left, tak pes on honde,
Which may noght be withoute goddis sonde.

With pes stant every creature in reste;
Withoute pes ther may no lif be glad:
Above alle othre good pes is the beste,
Pes hath himself whan werre is al bestad,
The pes is sauf, the werre is evere adrad:[1922]
Pes is of alle charite the keie,[1923] 90
Which hath the lif and soule forto weie.

My liege lord, if that the list to seche
The sothe essamples that the werre hath wroght,[1924]
Thow schalt wiel hiere of wisemennes speche
That dedly werre turneth into noght.
For if these olde bokes be wel soght,[1925]
Ther myght thou se what thing the werre hath do,
Bothe of conqueste and conquerour also.

For vein honour or for the worldes good
Thei that whilom the stronge werres made, 100
Wher be thei now? Bethenk wel in thi mod.
The day is goon, the nyght is derk and fade,
Her crualte, which mad hem thanne glade,
Thei sorwen now, and yit have noght the more;
The blod is schad, which no man mai restore.

=T=he werre is modir of the wronges alle;
It sleth the prest in holi chirche at masse,
Forlith the maide and doth hire flour to falle.[1926]
The werre makth the grete Citee lasse,
And doth the lawe his reules overpasse. 110
There is no thing wherof meschef mai growe
Which is noght caused of the werre, y trowe.

The werre bringth in poverte at hise hieles,
Wherof the comon poeple is sore grieved;
The werre hath set his cart on thilke whieles
Wher that fortune mai noght be believed.
For whan men wene best to have achieved,
Ful ofte it is al newe to beginne:
The werre hath no thing siker, thogh he winne.

Forthi, my worthi prince, in Cristes halve, 120
As for a part whos feith thou hast to guide,[1927]
Ley to this olde sor a newe salve,[1928]
And do the werre awei, what so betide:
Pourchace pes, and set it be thi side,[1929]
And suffre noght thi poeple be devoured,
So schal thi name evere after stonde honoured.[1930]

If eny man be now or evere was[1931]
Ayein the pes thi preve counseillour,
Let god ben of thi counseil in this cas,[1932]
And put awei the cruel werreiour.[1933] 130
For god, which is of man the creatour,
He wolde noght men slowe his creature
Withoute cause of dedly forfeture.

Wher nedeth most, behoveth most to loke.
Mi lord, how so thi werres ben withoute,
Of time passed who that hiede toke,
Good were at hom to se riht wel aboute;
For everemor the werste is forto doute:
Bot if thou myghtest parfit pes atteigne,
Ther schulde be no cause forto pleigne. 140

Aboute a kyng good counseil is to preise
Above alle othre thinges most vailable;
Bot yit a kyng withinne himself schal peise,
And se the thinges that ben resonable,
And ther uppon he schal his wittes stable
Among the men to sette pes in evene,
For love of him which is the kyng of hevene.

=H=a, wel is him that schedde nevere blod,[1934]
Bot if it were in cause of rihtwisnesse:
For if a kyng the peril undirstod, 150
What is to sle the poeple, thanne y gesse,
The dedly werres and the hevynesse,
Wherof the pes distourbid is ful ofte
Schulde at som time cesse and wexe softe.

O kyng fulfild of grace and of knyghthode,[1935]
Remembre uppon this point for Cristes sake,
If pes be profred unto thi manhode,
Thin honour sauf, let it noght be forsake.
Though thou the werres darst wel undirtake,
Aftir reson yit tempre thi corage, 160
For lich to pes ther is non avantage.

My worthi lord, thenk wel, how so befalle,[1936]
Of thilke lore, as holi bokes sein,
Crist is the heved and we ben membres alle,
Als wel the subgit as the sovereign:[1937]
So sit it wel that charite be plein,
Which unto god himselve most acordeth,
So as the lore of Cristes word recordeth.

In tholde lawe, er Crist himself was bore,
Among the ten comandementz y rede 170
How that manslaghtre schulde be forbore;
Such was the will that time of the godhede:
And aftirward, whanne Crist tok his manhede,[1938]
Pes was the ferste thing he let do crie
Ayein the worldes rancour and envie.[1939]

And er Crist wente out of this erthe hiere,
And stigh to hevene, he made his testament,[1940]
Wher he beqwath to his disciples there
And yaf his pes, which is the foundement
Of charite, withouten whos assent 180
The worldes pes mai nevere wel be tried,[1941]
Ne love kept, ne lawe justefied.

The Jewes with the paiens hadden werre,[1942]
Bot thei among hemself stode evere in pes:
Whi schulde thanne oure pes stonde out of herre,[1943]
Which Crist hath chose unto his oghne encres?
For Crist is more than was Moïses,
And Crist hath set the parfit of the lawe,
The which scholde in no wise be withdrawe.

To yive ous pes was cause whi Crist dide; 190
Withoute pes may no thing stonde availed:
Bot now a man mai sen on everi side
How Cristes feith is every dai assailed,[1944]
With the Paiens destruid, and so batailed
That for defalte of help and of defence
Unethe hath Crist his dewe reverence.

=T=he righte feith to kepe of holy chirche
The firste point is named of knyghthode,
And everi man is holde forto wirche
Uppon the point which stant to his manhode.[1945] 200
Bot now, helas, the fame is sprad so broode,
That everi worthi man this thing compleigneth,[1946]
And yit ther is no man which help ordeigneth.[1947]

The worldes cause is waited overal,
Ther ben the werres redi to the fulle;
Bot Cristes oghne cause in special,
Ther ben the swerdes and the speres dulle;
And with the sentence of the popes bulle,
As forto do the folk paien obeie,[1948]
The chirche is turned al an other weie. 210

It is to wondre above a mannys wit[1949]
Withoute werre how Cristes feith was wonne,
And we that ben uppon this erthe yit
Ne kepe it noght, as it was first begonne.
To every creature undir the sonne
Crist bad himself how that we schulden preche,[1950]
And to the folk his evangile teche.

More light it is to kepe than to make;
Bot that we founden mad tofore the hond[1951]
We kepe noght, bot lete it lightly slake. 220
The pes of Crist hath altobroke his bond,
We reste ourselve and soeffrin every lond
To slen ech other as thing undefendid:
So stant the werre, and pes is noght amendid.

Bot thogh the heved of holy chirche above
Ne do noght al his hole businesse
Among the men to sette pes and love,[1952]
These kynges oughten of here rightwisnesse
Here oghne cause among hemself redresse:
Thogh Petres schip as now hath lost his stiere, 230
It lith in hem that barge forto stiere.

If holy cherche after the duete
Of Cristes word ne be noght al avysed
To make pes, acord and unite
Among the kinges that ben now devised,
Yit natheles the lawe stant assised
Of mannys wit to be so resonable,
Withoute that to stonde hemselve stable.[1953]

Of holy chirche we ben children alle,
And every child is holden forto bowe 240
Unto the modir, how that evere it falle,[1954]
Or elles he mot reson desalowe:
And for that cause a knyght schal ferst avowe
The right of holi chirche to defende,
That no man schal the previlege offende.

Thus were it good to setten al in evene
The worldes princes and the prelatz bothe,
For love of him which is the king of hevene:
And if men scholde algate wexe wrothe,
The Sarazins, whiche unto Crist be lothe, 250
Let men ben armed ayein hem to fighte;[1955]
So mai the knyht his dede of armes righte.

=U=ppon thre pointz stant Cristes pes oppressed:
Ferst holy cherche is in hirsilf divided,[1956]
Which oughte of reson first to be redresced;
Bot yit so highe a cause is noght decided.
And thus, whan humble pacience is prided,
The remenant, which that thei schulden reule,
No wondir is though it stonde out of reule.

Of that the heved is siek, the limes aken: 260
These regnes that to Cristes pes belongen
For worldes good these dedly werres maken,
Whiche helpeles as in balance hongen.[1957]
The heved above hem hath noght undirfongen
To sette pes, bot every man sleeth other,
And in this wise hath charite no brother.

The two defaltes bringen in the thridde,
Of mescreantz, that sen how we debate,
Betwen the two thei fallen in amidde,[1958]
Wher now aldai thei finde an open gate. 270
Lo, thus the dedly werre stant algate;
Bot evere y hope of King Henries grace
That he it is which schal the pes embrace.

My worthi noble prince and kyng enoignt,
Whom god hath of his grace so preserved,
Behold and se the world uppon this point,[1959]
As for thi part that Cristes pes be served:
So schal thin highe mede be deserved
To him which al schal qwiten ate laste,
For this lif hiere mai no while laste. 280

See Alisandre, Ector and Julius,
See Machabeu, David and Josue,
See Charlemeine, Godefroi, Arthus,[1960]
Fulfild of werre and of mortalite.
Here fame abit, bot al is vanite;
For deth, which hath the werres under fote,
Hath mad an ende of which ther is no bote.

So mai a man the sothe wite and knowe,[1961]
That pes is good for every king to have:
The fortune of the werre is evere unknowe, 290
Bot wher pes is, ther ben the marches save.[1962]
That now is up, to morwe is under grave;
The mighti god hath alle grace in honde,
With outen him pes mai nought longe stonde.[1963]

=O=f the Tenetz to winne or lese a chace,[1964]
Mai no lif wite er that the bal be ronne:
Al stant in god, what thing men schal pourchace,
Thende is in him er that it be begonne.
Men sein the wolle, whanne it is wel sponne,
Doth that the cloth is strong and profitable, 300
And elles it mai nevere be durable.[1965]

The worldes chaunces uppon aventure
Ben evere sett, bot thilke chaunce of pes
Is so behoveli to the creature,
That it above alle othre is piereles:[1966]
Bot it mai noght be gete natheles[1967]
Among the men to lasten eny while,
Bot wher the herte is plein withoute guyle.

The pes is as it were a sacrement
Tofore the god, and schal with wordes pleine 310
Withouten eny double entendement
Be treted, for the trouthe can noght feine:
Bot if the men withinne hemself be veine,
The substance of the pes may noght be trewe,
Bot every dai it chaungeth uppon newe.

Bot who that is of charite parfit,
He voideth alle sleightes ferr aweie,
And sett his word uppon the same plit,
Wher that his herte hath founde a siker weie:
And thus whan conscience is trewly weie, 320
And that the pes be handlid with the wise,[1968]
It schal abide and stonde in alle wise.

Thapostle seith, ther mai no lif be good
Which is noght grounded uppon charite,
For charite ne schedde nevere blod,
So hath the werre as ther no proprite:
For thilke vertu which is seid pite
With charite so ferforth is aqweinted,
That in hire may no fals semblant be peinted.[1969]

=C=assodre, whos writinge is auctorized, 330
Seith, wher that pite reigneth, ther is grace,[1970]
Thurgh which the pes hath al his welthe assised,
So that of werre he dredeth no manace.
Wher pite dwelleth, in the same place
Ther mai no dedly cruelte sojorne,
Wherof that merci schulde his weie torne.[1971]

To se what pite forth with mercy doth,
The croniqe is at Rome in thilke empire
Of Constantin, which is a tale soth;
Whan him was levere his oghne deth desire 340
Than do the yonge children to martire,
Of crualte he lafte the querele,
Pite he wroghte and pite was his hele.

For thilke mannes pite which he dede
God was pitous and mad him hol at al;[1972]
Silvestre cam, and in the same stede
Yaf him baptisme first in special,
Which dide awai the sinne original,
And al his lepre it hath so purified,
That his pite for evere is magnified.[1973] 350

Pite was cause whi this emperour
Was hol in bodi and in soule bothe,
And Rome also was set in thilke honour
Of Cristes feith, so that the lieve of lothe,
Whiche hadden be with Crist tofore wrothe,
Resceived weren unto Cristes lore:[1974]
Thus schal pite be preised evermore.

=M=y worthi liege lord, Henri be name,
Which Engelond hast to governe and righte,
Men oghten wel thi pite to proclame, 360
Which openliche in al the worldes sighte
Is schewed with the help of god almighte,
To yive ous pes, which longe hath be debated,
Wherof thi pris shal nevere ben abated.

My lord, in whom hath evere yit be founde[1975]
Pite withoute spot of violence,
Kep thilke pes alwei withinne bounde,
Which god hath planted in thi conscience:
So schal the cronique of thi pacience
Among the seintz be take into memoire 370
To the loenge of perdurable gloire.[1976]

And to thin erthli pris, so as y can,
Which everi man is holde to commende,
I, Gower, which am al thi liege man,
This lettre unto thin excellence y sende,
As y which evere unto my lives ende
Wol praie for the stat of thi persone
In worschipe of thi sceptre and of thi throne.[1977]

=N=oght only to my king of pes y write,
Bot to these othre princes cristene alle, 380
That ech of hem his oghne herte endite,
And see the werre er more meschief falle:[1978]
Sette ek the rightful Pope uppon his stalle,
Kep charite and draugh pite to honde,
Maintene lawe, and so the pes schal stonde.

=Explicit carmen de pacis commendacione, quod ad laudem et memoriam serenissimi principis domini Regis Henrici quarti suus[1979] humilis orator Iohannes Gower composuit.[1980] Et nunc sequitur epistola in qua idem Ioannes pro statu et salute dicti domini sui apud altissitmum deuocius exorat.=

[1981]Rex celi deus et dominus, qui tempora solus
Condidit, et solus condita cuncta regit;
Qui rerum causas ex se produxit et vnum
In se principium rebus inesse dedit;
Qui dedit vt stabili motu consisteret orbis
Fixus ineternum mobilitate sua;
Quique potens verbi produxit ad esse creata,
Quique sue mentis lege ligauit ea;
Ipse caput regum, reges quo rectificantur,
Te que tuum regnum, rex pie, queso, regat.[1982] 10
Grata superueniens te misit gracia nobis,
Quo sine labe salus nulla perante fuit.
Sic tuus aduentus noua gaudia sponte reduxit,
Quo prius in luctu lacrima maior erat:
Nos tua milicies pauidos releuauit ab ymo,
Quos prius oppressit ponderis omne malum:
Ex probitate tua, quo mors latitabat in vmbra,
Vita resurexit clara que regna regit:
Sic tua sors sortem mediante deo renouatam
Sanat et emendat, que prius egra fuit. 20
O pie rex, Cristum per te laudamus, et ipsum
Qui tibi nos tribuit terra reuiua colit.
Sancta sit illa dies qua tu tibi regna petisti,
Sanctus et ille deus qui tibi regna dedit.
Qui tibi prima tulit, confirmet regna futura,
Quo poteris magno magnus honore frui.
Sit tibi progenies ita multiplicata per euum,
Quod genus inde pium repleat omne solum.
Quicquid in orbe boni fuerit, tibi summus ab alto
Donet, vt in terris rex in honore regas: 30
Omne quod est turpe vacuum discedat, et omne
Est quod honorificum det deus esse tuum.
Consilium nullum, pie rex, te tangat iniquum,
In quibus occultum scit deus esse dolum.
Absit auaricia, ne tangat regia corda,
Nec queat in terra proditor esse tua.
Sic tua processus habeat fortuna perhennes,
Quo recolant laudes secula cuncta tuas:
Nuper vt Augusti fuerant preconia Rome,[1983]
Concinat in gestis Anglia leta tuis. 40
O tibi, rex, euo detur, fortissime, nostro
Semper honorata sceptra tenere manu:
Stes ita magnanimus quod, vbi tua regna gubernas,
Terreat has partes hostica nulla manus:
Augeat imperium tibi Cristus et augeat annos,
Protegat et nostras aucta corona fores:
Sit tibi pax finis, domito domineris in orbe,
Cunctaque sint humeris inferiora tuis.[1984]
Sic honor et virtus, laus, gloria, pax que potestas[1985]
Te que tuum regnum magnificare queant.[1986] 50
Cordis amore boni, pie rex, mea vota paraui;
Corpore cum nequii, seruio mente tibi:
Ergo tue laudi que tuo genuflexus honori[1987]
Verba loco doni pauper habenda tuli.
Est tamen ista mei, pie rex, sentencia verbi,
Fine tui regni sint tibi regna poli.

FOOTNOTES:

[1902] _The text is that of the MS. at Trentham Hall_ (T). _Variations marked_ Th _are those of the copy in Chaucer’s Works, ed._ 1532, ff. 375 v^o-377.

[1903] _No title in_ T Iohan Gower vnto the worthy and noble kynge Henry the fourth Th

[1904] _Latin Verses placed at the end of the poem_ Th

[1905] 1 O Noble worthy kyng Th

[1906] 3 uppon this] here vpon Th

[1907] 4 chosen Th

[1908] 8 highe Th high T

[1909] 16 thi] the Th

[1910] 17 bounde Th

[1911] 21 this is Th goddes purueyaunce Th godespourveiance T

[1912] 30 to _om._ Th

[1913] 31 the _om._ Th

[1914] 35 unto the] in to his Th

[1915] 36 his storie Th

[1916] 42 he _om._ Th

[1917] 45 paynem Th

[1918] 54 as _om._ Th

[1919] 63 erthly Th

[1920] 71 S.... pes (_erasure after_ S) T To stere peace Th eueriche on lyue Th

[1921] 74 lande may stande Th

[1922] 89 euer TTh

[1923] 90 al TTh

[1924] 93 that] what Th

[1925] 96 ysought Th

[1926] 108 here T her Th

[1927] 121 hast be gyde Th

[1928] 122 Ley Th Leie T

[1929] 124 sette TTh

[1930] 126 euer TTh

[1931] 127 euer TTh

[1932] 129 Lete T Lette Th

[1933] 130 put Th putte T

[1934] 148 neuer TTh

[1935] 155 and knighthode Th

[1936] 162 þenke T thynke Th

[1937] 165 the subgit] be subiecte Th

[1938] 173 But afterwarde Th

[1939] 175 Ayenst Th

[1940] 177 stighed Th

[1941] 181 neuer TTh

[1942] 183 paynyms Th

[1943] 185 erre Th

[1944] 194 paynems Th

[1945] 200 which] þ_at_ Th

[1946] 202 worthi _om._ Th

[1947] 203 is there Th which] that Th

[1948] 209 payne Th

[1949] 211 a] any Th

[1950] 216 how _om._ Th

[1951] 219 the _om._ Th

[1952] 227 men] people Th

[1953] 238 him selfe Th

[1954] 241 euer TTh

[1955] 251 ayenst Th

[1956] 254 is _om._ Th hersilf T her selfe Th

[1957] 263 helpples T helplesse Th

[1958] 269 Betwene TTh

[1959] 276 Beholde TTh

[1960] 283 Godfray and Arthus Th

[1961] 288 mai] many Th

[1962] 291 ben] is Th

[1963] 294 pes] men Th

[1964] 295 Off (_for_ OF) T

[1965] 301 neuer TTh

[1966] 305 That is aboue al other peerles Th

[1967] 306 begete Th

[1968] 321 the pes] these Th

[1969] 329 here T her Th

[1970] 331 ther _om._ Th

[1971] 336 wei T way Th

[1972] 345 made Th

[1973] 350 euer TTh

[1974] 356 were TTh

[1975] 365 euer TTh

[1976] 371 loenge] legende Th

[1977] 378 and thy throne Th

[1978] 382 mor T

[1979] EXPLICIT 3 suis Th

[1980] 4 Et nunc--exorat _om._ Th

[1981] _Instead of the Latin lines that follow_ Th _has here the lines_ ‘Electus Cristi--sponte data,’ _which in_ T _stand at the beginning, and after these without a break_, ‘Henrici quarti--futura deus,’ _twelve lines which are written at the end of the Trentham MS._

[1982] 10 Teque T

[1983] 39 augusti T

[1984] 48 Cuncta que T

[1985] 49 paxque T

[1986] 50 Teque T

[1987] 53 laudique T

NOTES

LIB. V. (_continued_)

1980. F has a stop after ‘Avarice,’ but see note on l. 3966.

1982 ff. The meaning seems to be that they make no distinction of day or night when there is work of this kind to be done.

2004. _overhippeth_, i. e. leaps over or omits something, so that he has not all that he desires. The word is used in _Piers Plowman_, xv. 379, of omitting passages in the services of the Church.

2015 ff. Cp. _Mirour de l’Omme_, 6253 ff.,

‘Sicomme le Luce en l’eaue gloute
Du piscon la menuse toute,
Qu’il presde luy verra noer,
Ensi ly riches,’ &c.

2031 ff. The tale of Virgil’s Mirror is from the French prose _Roman des Sept Sages_, as published by Le Roux de Lincy. It might easily be shown that Gower did not follow either the French metrical version or the Latin _Historia Septem Sapientum_. The English metrical version published by Weber is from a source similar to that of Gower’s story, but it differs in some points. Gower seems to be responsible for the introduction of Carthage and Hannibal.

2099. _slepende a nyht_, i. e. while they slept.

2101. Cp. Prol. 182.

2115. _he his oghne body_, i. e. ‘he himself.’

2150 f. This point is omitted in the English metrical version.

2157 f. The English metrical version is very similar, ‘We schulle the ymage so undersette, That we ne schal hit nothing lette.’

2168. That is, the timber having been set up.

2198 ff. This about Hannibal is introduced here as if taken from a different source, ‘For this I finde,’ &c.

2238f. Cp. _Mirour_, 10651, ‘Plus que gaigners son augst attent.’

2273 ff. The tale of the Two Coffers is essentially the same story as that which we have in Boccaccio _Decam._ x. i, and essentially different from that which is told in _Vit. Barlaam et Josaphat_, cap. vi, as a sequel to the story of the Trump of Death. The story which we have here and in Boccaccio is not at all connected with the idea of choosing by the outward appearance. The coffers are exactly alike, and the very point of the situation lies in the fact that the choice is a purely fortuitous one. The object was to show that they who complained were persons who had fortune against them, and that this was the cause of their having failed of reward, and not any neglect on the part of the king. I cannot say what the source was for Gower; certainly not Boccaccio, whose story is altogether different in its details.

2391 ff. With this story may be compared that in the _Gesta Romanorum_, 109, where by a choice between three pasties, one containing money, a decision is come to as to whether it is God’s will that a certain sum shall be restored to its owner, who is a miser.

2476. _tall_, i. e. comely, elegant.

2481. Cp. Chaucer, _Cant. Tales_, D 259.

2507. _His thonkes_, ‘of his own good will’: cp. Chaucer, _Cant. Tales_, A 1626, &c.

2543 ff. See _Hist. Alexandri Magni de Preliis_, f 1, ed. Argent. 1489.

2547 ff. _Rom. de Troie_, 23283 ff.

2563. Cp. ii. 2025.

2587. ‘If men shall estimate her value.’ The reading of the text is also that of S.

2643 ff. This story is to be found in the _Roman des Sept Sages_. Gower follows the same French prose version as before, 2031 ff.

2677. _it stod._ In this kind of expression the verb is usually subjunctive, as Prol. 481, i. 991, iv. 182, &c.

2752. _a weie._ This is also the reading of S.

2815 f. A rather more violent displacement than usual of the conjunction, ‘And fled away with all the haste,’ &c. Cp. l. 3947.

2835. _hele_ seems here to mean ‘profit,’ in a worldly sense.

2872. According to the _New Engl. Dict._ this is the same as the Dutch ‘heepe,’ ‘heep,’ meaning a pruning-hook. ‘As there is no cognate word in O. E., its appearance in Gower, and this apparently in a proverbial phrase, is not easy to account for.’ In any case the phrase here seems equivalent to ‘by hook or by crook.’

2937. F has punctuation after ‘dai,’ but this is clearly a case of the inverted order of the conjunction: cp. note on Prol. 155, and below on l. 3966.

2961 ff. The story is probably taken from Statius, _Achill._ i. 197 ff., where however it is told at much greater length. For Gower’s acquaintance with the _Achilleis_, cp. iv. 1968 ff.

3002 ff. Cp. _Achill._ i. 338 ff.

3004 f. That is, howsoever his behaviour might be watched.