poetical works geoffrey chaucer - forgotten books

POETICAL WORK S

GEOFFREY CHAU CER

EDITED WITH A MEMOIR

ROBERT BELL

VOLUME VIII.

LONDON

C HARLE S GR IF F IN AN D C O.

STATIONERS’

HALL COURT.

CONTENTSOFTHE EIGHTH VOLUME.

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Tm: COMPLEYNTE or MARS.

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GOODE COUNSEIL or CHAUCER

A BALLADEL ’ENV OY DE CHAUCER A ScodAN

L’ENVOY DE CHAUCER A BURTON

Paovmmns or CHAUCER

ROUNDELVmELAI

CONTENTS.

CHAUCER’

S PROPHECYCHAUCER’

S WORDS (INTO HIS OWN SCRIVENEB

INOIPIT ORATIO GELFRIDI CHAUNCER

$17n attrihw fizh InManta.

INTRODUCTION 00

THE LAMENTA‘TION or MARY MAGD‘

I

’

ILDNE‘

A PRAISE OF WOMEN‘GO FORTH K ING ’ .

EIGHT GOODLY Q UESTIONS, WITH THEIR ANSWERSTo THE K INGS MOST ‘

NOBLEI

GKACE, AND TOAND

'

K NIGHTS OF'

THD GARTEB

IT TALLETH‘ FOR A

INTRODUCTION

GLOSM Y a

POEMS

GEOFFREY OHAUOER.

COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LYE ;

OR, THE COMPLAINT OF THE BLACK K NIGHT.

[IN th e printed editions th ispoem is called Th e Comp laintof th e Black K nigh t , and Spegh t adds th e follow ing Sh ortexplanation of its purport . Th e h eavy complaint Of a

knigh t for th at h e cannot w in h is ladi es grace .

’

In The

Envoy th e poet dedicates it to one w hom h e addresses by th etitle of ‘Princesse ’

but w h eth er th is be amere hyperbolicalcompliment, expressive of th e pow er w h ich h is mistressexercises Over h is h eart, or w h eth er it denot es h er actualrank, th e context affordsno clue to determine.

Th at th e poem is righ tly attributed to Ch aucer th ere can

be little doubt. It has beenincluded inall th e editions of

h is collected w orks ; and Tyrw h itt, w h ose sound judgmententitles h is opiniononsuch questions to th e h igh est respect,pronounces infavour of its auth enticity. Th e Opening is a

palpable imitation of that ofTimRomaunt of th e Rose,

from w h ich most of th e allegorical personages w h o, for a

moment appear upon th e scene , are also borrow ed. Th e

ph raseology and versifi cationare certainly ch aracteristic of

Chaucer’

smanner.Th e text ofthis editionis founded upon th at of t h e MS.

entitled Fairfax 16, in th e BodleianLibrary, compared, incases ofdiffi culty w ith that markedArch . Seld.B. 24. Both

6 COMPLAYNTE or A LOVERES mm.

th ese have beenalready described inth e introductionto Th eHouse ofFame —See vol. vi. p.

IN May, w henFlora, t h e fressh lusty queue,Th e soyle hath clad Ingrene, rede, and w hite ,

And Phebus ganto shede h is stremes sheneAmyd t h e Bole,

lWyt h al th e h emes brygh te

And Lucifer,t o chace aw ey t h e nygh t e ,

Ayenth e morow e oure orisont hath take,‘

To hyd alle loveres out ofhire slepe aw ake,And bertys bevy for to recomforteFrom dreryh ed ofbevy nygh t is sorow e,Nature bad h em ryse, and h emdisporte,Ageynt h e goodly glad grey morow eAnd Hope also, w i th se int Johanto borow e,Bad indispit e ofdaunger and dispeyre,For to take t h e h olsome lusty eyre .

And w yth a sygh I ganfor to abreyde

Out ofmy slomh re, and sodenly up sterte,As h e, alas ! that nygh for sorow e deyde,My sekenes sat aye so nygh mynherte.But for to fynde socoure ofmy smert e ,Or atte lest summe relesse ofmy peyne,That me so sore halt inevery veyne,

I rose anon, and thoght I w olde goonInto t h e w ode

,to here t h e briddes singe,

Whenthat t h e mysty vapour w as agoon,And clere and feyre w as t h e morw enyngTh e dew e also lyke sylver m shynyngeUponth e leves, as any baume sw ete ,Till fi ry Tytanw ith hys persaunt hete

Had dried up t h e lusty lycour nyw e,

Upont h e herbesm t h e grene mede,And that t h e fionres ofmany dyvers h yw e,

1 ‘‘ Wh ent h e sunh ad ent ered t h e SignofTaurus.’A proverbial expression, meaning, properly, St . John being my

pledge , or security but oft enused.apparent ly , asamere expletive.

com m a or A mm mm 7

And for to splaysout her levee onbredeAgeynth e sunne, golde-borned inThat doune to h em cast hys h emes

And by 8.marforth I gancost ey,Of w ater clere as berel ormi stal,Til at th e last I founds alyt ilw ey,Tow arde a parke , enclosed [

w ith aw alIncompas rounde , and by a gate smal,Wh oInto

And inI w ent to here th e briddes songs;Which ont h e braunches, bothe m pleyneSo loude songe that al t h emode rouge,Lyke as byt sholde shiver inpesissmaleAnd asme th og ,

h t e that th e nygh tyngaleWith so et e mygh t h er voys out w rest e

Eyght asgher herte for love w de brest e.

smothe,and w onder sofas,

Hadmade h er selfe celured’eke alofi e

With bowys grene, t h e floures for to cure,Thatm h er beaut e theymay longe endureFro alassaute ofPhebus fervent fere ,Wh ich

'

Inhi s spere so hOte shone and clere.

Th e eyre atempre, and th e smoth e w indOfZeph erus, amonge th e blosmesWhyte,So h olsome w as, and sonourysshing beThat smale buddes, and rounde blomes lyte,Inmaner ganofh er brethe delyt e ,_Th is descfi ptionw ill remind th e reader of

—

the

Romaunt ofthe Rose—See vol. vii. p. ( 7 .3 Th e print ed edit ions read covered, but celm-cd is infi nitely bet ter.

It means canopied.and is derived , ult imately, from t h e Lat . och re, tocover ; and,”fi foximatel from t h e French ciel, a canopy, as Inth eexpression, dem. t h e canopy of a bed.

8 COMPLAYNTE , OF .A LOVERES LYFE.

To yeve us hope there fruite shall t ake‘

Ayens autumpne, redy for to sh ake .

’

I saw e t h e Daphene8 closed under rynde,

Grene laurer,and th e h olsome pyne ,

Th e myrre also that w epe th ever ofkynde ,Th e cedres high

,uprygh t as a lyne ,

Th e philbert eke , that low e dothe enclyneHer bow es grene to t h e ert h e doune,Unto h er knygh t ycalled Dem0ph oune .

'

There saw e I eke t h e fressh hauth orneInw hitemot ele , that so soote doth smelle,Assh e

,fi rre

,and oke

,

'

w ith many a yonge accrue,-Andmany a.tre mo thanI cantelle ;And me beforne I saw e a litel w elle ,That had .h is course

,as I ganb eh olde,

Under anh ille, w it h q uyke stremes oolde .

Th e gravel geld, t h e w ater pure as glas,Th e barikys

'

rounde,t h e w elle enviro

'

nyng,And softe as ve lvet t h e yonge gras

Th e sute oftrees about compassyng I

Her shadow e caste, closyng t h e w e lle rounde,And alth e h erbes grow ing onthe grounde. i

f

Th e w aterWas so holSome and vertuous,Thurgh mygh t e Ofherbes

“

grow ynge there besideNot lych e it h e w e lle w here as Narcissus“

Yslayne w as thurgh vengeaunce ofCupide,’

Wh ereyn

,so covertly h e did,abide

1 Take is h ere an intransit ive yerb'

,meaning'

to set .'

Gardeners say.t h at incold and unseasonable springs t h e blossomfalls oii

‘

before t h e

fruit sets, or takes.

.

2 Th e meaning is,t h at t h e buds gave promise th at t h e fruit w ouldse t and be ready to b e sh akenoffth e trees against autumn.

3 See Ovid , Met . i.4 Th e tree into w h ich Myrrh awas transformed, and w h ich distils th e

b it t er sap called myrrh -See Ovid.Met . x .

5 See Ovid, Her. ii. 3 See vol. vii. p . 62 .

COMPLAYNTE or A LOVERES LYFE. 9;

Th e greyne ofcruel dethe uponeche brynke,That deth mot folow e,

’

w h o that ever drynke.

N e lych e t h e pitte oft h e Pegace,l

Under Pernaso,w here poe tys slept ;

Nor lyke ,t h e w elle ofpure ch ast ite ,

Which as,Dyane w ith h er.nymphes kept,Whansh e naked into t h e w ater lept e ,That slow e ‘

Act eonw ith h is h oundes fe lle,Oonly for h e cam‘

80nygh th e w elle.a

But thi s w elle that I here ofreh erse

So h olsOme w as,that byt w olde asw age

Bollynb ertes, and t h e venym perseOfpensifh ede, w ith al t h e cruel rage,And overmOIe refresshe t h e visageOfh em that w ere inany w erynesseOfgret labour, or fallenm di stresse.’

And I that h ad, t hurgh daunger and disdeyne,So drye a thrust, t h ough t e I w ol

To taste a draughts ofthis w e lle or t w eyn'

e,

My bitter langour yfbyt mygh t e alaye,And ont h e banke anone doune I lay,And w ith mynhede unto t h e w elle I raugh te,And oft h e w ater dranke I a good draugh t e,

Wh erofme t h ough t e I w as refressh ed w eleOft h e brennyng that sate sonygh e my herte,That y erely anone I gant o feleAnhuge parte relesed ofmy smet teAnd th erew i thalle anoonup I sterte,And th ough t e I w olde w alke and se fmore,Forth int h e parke and int h e h oltys hore.

4 - 7

Th e fountainH ippocrene , w h ich sprung fromMount Helicon,fromth e place w h ere Pegasus stamped h is foot -Ovid, Met . iv.

3 Ovid,Met . iii.

IO COHPLAYNTE OF A LOVEBEB LYFE.

And t hurogh a launde as I yede space,And ganaboute faste to beholds,I founde anoona delytable place ,That w as beset w ith trees yonge and olde,Whosnames here for me shalle not be tolde,Amydde ofw h ich e stode anherber grene,That benched w as w ith turvesnyw e and clene.

This herber w as ful offi oures ofInde,‘

Into t h e w hi ch e as I beh olde gan,Betw ex anhulfere and a

'

w odebynde,As I w as w ar, I saw e ther lay amanInblake and w hite colour

, pale and w an,And w onder dedely also ofh is h iw e,Ofhurtes grene, and fressh e w oundesnyw e.

And overmore

Besyde al thisFor uponh imh e h ad anhote accesse,That day be day him shoke full pe tously,So that for constreyning ofhysmalady,And h ertely w o, thus lyinge alalone,ItWas a deth for t o here bymgrone.

Wh erofastonied my fote I ganw ithdraw s,Gretl w ondring w hat hit mygh te be,Thathe so lay and h adnoNe that I conlde no w ygh t e w ith h imse

Wh erofI h ad routh e,and eke pite ,

And gananoon, so softely as I coude,Amonge th e bussh es privelyme to shrouds;

If that I mygh te inany w ise aspye ,What w as t h e cause ofhis dedely w oo,

Or w hy that h e so pitously gancrye

1 Th e printed edit ions read gentle, w h ich is probably intended, by apoet ical licence , for gents, pre t ty ; t h e Fairi . MS. readsnude. and MS.Arch . Se ld .B. 34, q/ Inde. Th e true reading is probablyM orgrade,scarlet .

COMPLAYNTE or A LOVERES LYNN. 11

Onhys fortune, and oneure also,

With almymygh t e I leyde anere to,Every w ord to marke w hat h e sayed,Out ofh is sw ough amonge as h e abreyde.

But first, yfI shal make mencyounOfhys persone , and pleynely him discrive,He w as insoth e

,w ithout excepcioun,

To speke ofmanh od, oonth e best onlyveTher mayno manayeintrout h e stryve,For ofhys tyme, and ofh isage also,He proved w as, ther mensh uld have ado,

‘

For oonth e best , th erto ofbrede and lengths

So w e] ymade by good pr0porcioun,Yfh e h ad b e Inhis delyver strengt h eBut th ough te and sekenesse w ere occasionThat h e thus lay inlamentaciounGrufi

'

e ont h e grounde, inplace desolate,Sole by hymself, aw aped and amate.

And for me semet h that hit ys fyt tyngeH is w ordes alle to put inremembraunce,To me that herde al his compleynynge,And al th e grounde '

ofhis w oful chaunce,Yft h erw ithalle I

.

may yow do plesaunce,I w ol to yow so as I cananone,Lych e as h e seyde

,reh erse everych one .

But w h o shal helpe me now for to compleyne ?Or w ho shall now my stile guy or lede

’

l

O Nyobe,let now thy teres reyne

Into my penne , and helpe , eke Inthisnede,Thou w oful Myrre that felest my herte bledeOfpitouse w o

,and mynhonde eke quake,

Whanthat I w rite,for thismannys sake.

1 Th at is. Wh ere mensh ould b e engaged int h at business w h ich isproper to t h em,

’vi z ., t h e ex ercise ofarms.2 Myrrh a.—See ante, p .

'

8.note 4

l COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LYPE.

For unto w o accordeth compleynynge,And dolful chere unto h evynesseTo sorow also

,sighing and w epyng,

And pit ouse mournyng unto drerynesseAnd w hoso that shal w ritenofdistresse

,

Inparty needeth t o know felynglyCause and rote ofal sw ch e malady.

But I, alas ! that am ofw yt t e but dulle, ,

And have no know yng ofsuche mat ere,

For t o discryve , and w rite at t h e fulleTh e Woful. compleynt , w hich that ye shul here,But evenlike as doth a Skryvenere,That cannomore w hat that h e shal w rite,But as h ismaister beside dothe endyte

Rygh t e so fare I,that ofno sent ement

Sey rygh t naught inconclusioun,But as I herde

,WhanI w as present,

Thismancompleyne w ith a pitouse sounFor evenlych e, w yt h out addicyoun,Or disencrese, ow t h er mor or lesse

,

For to reh erse anonI w olmedresse.

And yfthat eny now be’ inthis place,

That fele in‘

love brennyng or

Or hyndered w ere t o ‘h is lady grace,With false tonges, that w ith pestilenceSle t rew e menthat never did offenceInw orde ner dede , ne inhir entent,If any such b e here now present,

Let byinOfrouth e ley to audyence,With doleful chere, and sobre count enaunce,To here thisman, b e fulhigh sentence ,Hismortal w o, and h is grete perturbaunceCompleyning, now lying ina t raunce ,With loke upcast, and w ith ful ruful chere,Th e fi

'

ect ofw h ich e w as as ye shall here.

COMPLAYNTE OF .A LOVERES LYPE. 13

OOMPLEYNT.

Th e thought oppressed w ith inw ard sighes sore,Th e peynful lyve , t h e body languyssh ing, , i

Th e w oful gost,t h e herte rent and tore

, ( J

Th e pitouse chere pale Incompleyning,Th e dedely face , lyke ashes inshynyng,Th e salt e teres t h at

‘

fromynyenfalle,Parcel declared grounde ofmy peynes-alle.

Whos herte yS bounde t o blede inh evynesseTh e thought resseyt ofw oo and ofcompleynt ,Th e brest

o'

i s chest oi dule and drerynesse i

Th e body eke so feble and so feynt ,With bot s and oolde mynaccesse ys so meynt,That now I shyver for defaute ofhete,And hote as glede now sodenly I sw ete .

Now hote as fi re , now oolde as assh es dede,

Now hote for colde, now oolde for hete ngeyu,

Now cold as yse, now as coles rede,

For hete I brenne ; and thus b e t w exe t w eyneI possed am

,and ai forecast inpeyne,

So that my hete pleynly as I fe leOfgrevons colde ys cause every dele.

This ys t h e oolde ofynw ard high dysdeyn,Colde ofdyspit e, and colde ofcruel hateThis Is t h e oolde th at doth hi s besy peyn,Ayens t routh e to fi gh t e and t o debate ,

This ys t h e oolde that w olde t h e fi re abateOft rew e menyng, alas, t h e harde While !This ys th e oolde that w ilme b egile.

For ever t h e better that int rout h e I ment,With almy mygh t e feyth fully t o serve,With herte and alle to b e diligent,Th e lesse t h anke , alas I candeserveThus for my t rout h e Daunger doth me sterve

1 Imitated fromPe trarch , Son. 88.—See vol. v. p . 32 ,note‘i .

14 COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LYFE.

For oonthat shulde my deth ofmercy lette,

Hath made dispi t e new e h is s'

w erde to w h et te

Ayenst me, and h is arw es to fi le,

To take vengeaunce ofw ilful cruelteAnd tonges fals t hurgh h er sle igh tly w ile

,

Hangonne a w erre that w elnot stynt ed beAnd fals Envye ,Wrath e, and Enemyt e,Have conspired ayens alrygh t e and law s,Ofh er mali ce , that Trouth e sh al h e slaw e.

‘And Malebouch e ganfirst th e tale telle,To sclaunder Trouth e ofindignacioun,And Fals-Reporte so loude ronge t h e belle,That MySbeleve and False-suspeciounHave Trouth e brought t o hys dampuacioun,So that, alas ! w rongfully h e dye th ,And Falsnesnow his place occupieth,‘And ent red ys into Trouth es londe,And hath therof t h e full possessyon.

O,rygh tfulGod ! that first t h e t rout h e fonde,

How may thou sufi‘

re suche oppression,That Falsh ed shulde have jurysdixion,InTrout h es rygh t , to Sle himgilt eles

’

l

Inh is fraunch ise . he maynot lyve inpes.

Falsly accused, and ofh is foonforjuged,Without answ ere, w hile h e w as absent,He damned w as, and maynot be excused,For Cruelt e satte injugement,OfHastynesse w ithout advisement,And badde Disdeyne do execute anoonHis jugement inpresence ofh ys foon.

Attourney noonne may admyt ted beenTo excuse Trout h e , ne a w orde to speke

To Feyth or Oth e t h e Juge list not seen,There ysno geynbut h e w il b e w reke .

O,Lorde oftrouth e ! to thee I calls and clepe,

COMPLAYNTE or A Lovnnns LYFE. 15!

How may thou se thus inthy presence,Without mercy, mordred Innocence ?

Now God that art oft routh e sovereyn,And seest how I lye for trouth e bounds,So sore knytta inloves fi rie cheyu,Evenat th e de th e, through girt e

’

w ith many a

That lykly are never for to sounde, [w ounde,And for my t routh am dampned to th e det he ,Andnogh t abide, but draw alonge t h e broth

'

e

Consider and se inthyneternal sight,HOW‘ that mynhe rte professed w hilom w as,

For to b e t rew e w ith allmy fulmygh te,Oonly to cont h e w h ich e now ,

alas !T

Ofvolunt e, w ith oute more t respas,Mynaccusours hath takenuntoAnd eh erissh eth h emmy deth to purchace.

What menet h this? w hat yS this w onder ureOfpurveyaunce , yfI shal hi t calle,Ofgod oflove, that fi ls

'

h em'

so assure,

And trew e, alas ! downe oft h e w h ele benfalle iAnd ye t insoth e this is t h e w orst ofalle ,

Falsh edw rongfullyofTrout h e hath t h ename ,And Trouth e ayenw arde of Falsh ed h ereth th e

blame.

This blynde chaunce, this stormyaventure,Inlove hathmost h is experience,For w h o that doth w ith trouth e most h is cure .Shal for h ismede fynde most ofi

'

ence,That serveth love w ith alh is.dilIgenceFor w h o canfeyne under low lyh ede,Ne faylet h not t o fynde grace and spede.

1 Most of th ese allegorical personages arem m mmaft/w Rose.

16 COMPLAYNTE or‘A LOVERES LYFE.

For I loved oonful longe sythe agoon,With almynherte;body and fulmygh t ,And t o be dedmy he rte cannot goonFrom h is beste

,but hold that h e hath hight

Though I be banyssh ed out ofh er sygh t ,And by h er mouthe dampned that 1 shal deye ,Unto my

'

hest yet I w il ever obeye.

Forever sithe that th e w orlde began,

Wh o so lysta loke and instory rede,He shall ay fynde th at t h e t rew e manWas put abake , w hereas t h e falsh edeq rt h ered w as : for Love taketh nonhedeTo sle t h e -trew e

,and hath ofh emno charge

,

Wh er as t h e fals goth frely at h er large .

I take recorde ofPalamides,Th e t rew e man, th e noble w orthy knygh t,That ever loved, and ofhys peyne no relese

N otW1th st ondyng h ismanh ode and h ismygh t ,Love unto h im did fulgrete unright,For ay th e bette h e did 1nchevalrye,Th e more h e w as h indred byenvye.

Andaye th e bette h e dyd 1nevery place,Th orugh h is knygh t h ode and h is besy peyne,Th e ferther w as h e fro h

‘

i’

s ladyes graceFor t o h er mercymygh t h e never at t eyne ,And t o h is deth h e coude byt not refreyneFor no daunger, but ay obey and serve ,As h e best coude, pleynly til h e sterve .

What w as t h e fyne also ofErcules,

For al h is conquest and h is w ort hynesse,That w as ofstrength e alone pereles?

1 Not t h e sonof Naup lius, one of t h e Greciancommanders at th ew ar ofTroy , but a knigh t oft h e round t able , called Palomides int h eMort d

'ArtImr, t h e unsuccessful rival of Tristanfor t h e love of la

b’

elale Isoude .

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COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LYFEJ

Had inlove h er lust and al h er w ille ,And save falsh ed, ther w asnoonother skille .

OfThebes eke t h e fals Arcite ,And Demophoneke for h is slout h e ,

They had h er lust and al that mygh t delyt e,For all h er falsh ede and grete unt routh e .

Thus ever Love, alas, and that is rout h e !H is fals legys furt h ereth w hat h e may,And sleeth t h e t rew e, ungoodly, day b e day.

For trew e Adonw as slayne w ith t h e boreAmydde th e forest int h e grene shade

,

For Venus love h e felt al t h e sore ;But Vulcanus w ith h er no mercy made ,Th e foule ch orle h ad many nigh t is glade ,WhereMars

,h erw orthyknygh t and h er t rew eman,

To fynde mercy comfort noonh e can.

Also th e yonge fresh Ipomones,So lustly fre as ofh is corage

,

That for t o serve w ith al h is herte ch esAt h alant ,

lso fe ire ofh er visage ;

But Love, alas, quyte h im so his w ageWith cruel daunger pleynly at t h e last

,

That w ith t h e dethe guerdonlesse h e past.

Lo, here t h e fyne ofloveres servise !

Lo,h ow that Love canh is servaunt is quyt e l

Lo,h ow h e canh is feyt hfulmendispise,

To sle t h e t rew e men,and fals respite !

Lo,h ow h e doth th e sw erde ofscrow s byte

Inb ert is, suche asmost his lust obey,To save t h e false and do t h e trew e dey !

For feyth e nor othe,w orde, ne assuraunce,

Trew e menyng, aw ayt e, or b esynesse .

Stil porte, ne feyt h fulat t endaunce,

1 See Ovid,Met.vi ii.

COMPLAYNTE or A LOVERES mm 19

Manh ode ne mygh t , inarmes w ort h inesse ,Pursut e ofw orsh ippe nor high prow esse,

Instraunge londe ryding ne t ravayle,Ful lyte

,or nought

,inlove dot-h e avayle .

Peril ofdethe,nother inse ne londe ,

Hungre ne thrust,serow e ne sekenesse

,

N e grete emprises for t o take onhonde,

Sh edyng ofblede,ne manful h ardynesse ,

N or ofte w oundynge at santes by distresse ,Nor inpartyng oflyfe nor dethe also,Al ys for nough t e , Love taketh noon

‘

h ede t h ert o,

But lesynges w ith h er false flat erye ,Thurogh h er falsh ede, and w ith h er doublenesse

,

With tales new ,and mony feyned lye,

By false-semblannt e, and count refe t humblesse ,Under colour depeynt w ith st edfastnesse

,

With fraude covered under a piteuse face,Accepte b ennow rathest unto grace

,

‘And canh emselve now best magnifi eWith feyned port and false presumption;They haunce h er cause w ith false surquedrie,Under menyng ofdouble ent ent ion

,

To t h enkenooninh er opinyon,And sey another, t o set h emselve alofte

,

And h vnder t routh e, as hit ys seyne ful ofte .

Th e w hichs thing I bye now al t o dere,Thanked b e Venus, and t h e god Cupide lAs hit is seene by mynoppressed chere

,

And by h is arow es that st ikeninmy syde,Th at, safe t h e dethe , I nothing abideFro day t o day, alas, t h e harde w hileWhanever h ys dart that hym list t o fyle ,

My w oful herte for t o ryve atw o,

For faute ofmercye , and lake ofpiteOf h er that causeth almy peyne and w oe .

2- 2

COMPLAYNTE'

OF "A'

LOVERES LYPE.

And list not one‘

s’

of’

grace for t o se e

Unto my t rout h e thurogh h er -cruelt e

And most ofalyifthat I me compleyne .

Thansh e hath joy’

to'

laugh enat my peyne .

‘And w ilfully hath my dethe sw orne,Al gilt elesse, and w ote no cause w hy,Safe for t h e trouth e that I' have had'

aforneTo h er allone t o serve feythfully.

O God ofLove ! untO '

t h e I crye,And t o thy blende double deyt eOf this grete w ronge I

'

com'

pleyneme ,‘And unto t hy stormy w ilful variaunce

,

Ymeynt w ith chaunge and gre t unstablenesse,

N ow up, now dow n,so r

'

ennyng is thy chance,That t h e to trust may b e no sikernesseI w ite hit nothing but thy doublenesse,And w h o that 1s anarcher

, and ys blend,Marketh nothing

,but sh e t eth as h ewend.

And for that h ehath no discretion,With out e avise h e le t h is arew e goo,For lak ofsygh t , and also ofresoun

,

Inhi s sh e tyng hit h appeth ofte se e ,

To hurt h is frende rather t hanh is foeSo doth this god w ith his sharpe h on,Th e trew s sle e th

,and let eth th e fals gon.

And ofh is w eundyng this 1s th e w orst ofalle,Whanh e hurt e t h h e de the so crue l wrech e ,And maketh t h e seke for to crye and calleUnto his fe e for t o b enh is leche,And hard hit ys for a manto seche

,

Upont h e poynt ofdethe injeupardie,Unto his foe to fynde remedye .

1 Th e Fairfax MS . for w end reads w enynge, w h ich destroys th erh yme. Wend is put for w eneth , guesse th .

COMPLAYNTE OF A Lovsnns LYPE. 21

Thus faret h h i t now evenby me ,That t o my fe e that yafmy h ert e a w ound,Mot axe grace ,mercy, and pite ,And namely ther Wh er noonmay b e foundsFor now my sore my leche w ol confounde ,And god ofkynde so hath se t myne ure ,My lyves foo . to .h

‘

avemy w ounde incure .

Alas t h e w hile now that I w as borne !Or that

,

I ever saugh t h e brigh t e sonneFor now I se that ful longe aforne

,

Or I w as borne , my destany w as sponneBy Parcas sustren

,t o sle me if they conne,

For they my dethe shopenor my sh ert e,

Oonly for t rout h e, I may hit not ast erte.

Th e mighty goddesse also ofNature,That under .God h ath t h e governaunceOf w orldly t h inges committed to h er cure

,

Disposed hath, t hurogh h er w yse purveyance ,To give my lady so mueh e su11Eh saunceOf alle vertues, and th erew it h alle purvydeTo mordre trout h e, hath takenDaw nger t o guyde .

For bount e, b eaut e, shape, and semelyh ede,Prudence , w itte , passyngly fairenesse ,Benigne port, glad

‘

ch‘

ere,w ith low lyh ede,

Ofw omanhede rygh t plenteous largesse,Nature inh er fully did empresse ,Whansh e h er w rou ht

,and alth erlast Dysdeyne ,

To hinder t rout h e, shemade h er ch ambreleyne .

WhanMystrust also, and‘False-suspecion,

With Mysb eleve sh e made for t o b eChefe ofcouns

‘

eyle , t o"

t h is conclusion,For t o exile Trout h e , and eke Pite

,

Out ofh er court t o make Mercy fi e ,

1 For anexample oft h is expressionsee vol. 1. p . 138,note 2.

22 COMPLAYNTE or A Lovsnss LYPE.

So that Dispit e now holdeth forth h er reyne ,Thurogh hasty beleve oftales that menfeyne.

‘And thus I amfor my t rout h e, alas !Mordred and slaynw ith w ordes sharp and kene,Gilt eles, God w ot

,ofal t respas,

And lye and blede uponthis colde grene .

Now mercye , sw ete ! mercye , my lyves quene !And t o youre grace ofmercye ye t I prey,Inyoure servise that your manmay dey.

But and so b e that I shal deye algate,And that I shal nonother mercye have,Yet ofmy dethe le t this b e t h e date,That by youre w ille I w as brogh t t o my grave,Or h ast ely, yfthat ye list me save ,My Sharpe w oundes that ake so and blede

,

Ofmercye charme, and also ofw omanhede .

For other charme pleynly ys ther noon,But only mercye , t o he lpe inthis case

For though my w oundes blede evere inoon,

My lyve , my deth, stonde t h inyoure grace,And though my gilt b e nothing, alas !I axe mercy inalmy best entent,Redy t o dye, yfthat ye assent.

For ther ayens shal I never striveInw orde ne w erke

, pleynely I ne may,For lever I have thant o b e alyveTo dye sot h ely, and hit b e h er t o pay;Y e

,though hit b e this eche same day,

Or w hanthat ever h er liste t o devyse,S11

“

seth me t o dye inyour servise .

And God, that know est th e thought ofevery w ygh tRight as hit is, inevery thing t h enmaist se,Y e t ere I dye, w ith almy fulmygh t ,

COMPLAYNTE or‘

A LOVEBES LYPE. 23

Low ly I prey t o graunt e unto me,That ye, goodly, fe ire , fressh e, and fre ,Which sle me oonly for defant ofrouth e,Or that I die, may byknow my t routh .

For that insot h e su1h cet h unto me ,Ifsh e hit know inevery circumstaunce

,

And after I am w elapayd that sh eYfthat h er lyste ofdethe to do vengeaunccUnto me

,that amunder h er legeaunce ,

Hit sitte me not h er doom t o dysobeyBut at h er luste w ilfully to dey.

With dut e gruch ing or rebellionInw ille or w orde, holy I assent,Or any maner cont radix ion

,

Fully to b e at h er commaundementAnd yfI dye , inmy testamentMy herte I send, and my spirit also,What so ever sh e liste w ith h em t o do.

And alderlast e t o h er w omanhede,And t o h ermercy me I recommaunde ,That lye now here b e t w exe hope and dreds,Abyding pleynly w hat sh e liste commaundeFor utterly thisnysno demaundeWelcome t o me w hile that me last eth bre th e,Rygh t at h er chose, w h er hi t b e lyfor dethe.

Inthismater more w hat mygh t I seyne ,Sithe inh er honde and inh er w ille ys alle,Be th e lyfand dethe, my joy, and almy peyne 5And fynally my h est e holde I shal,Til my spirit, b e destanye fatal,Wh anth at h er liste fro my body w ende

,

Have here my t routh e, and thus I make anende .

1 Int h e marginof t h e Fairfax MS . is h ere w rit eninred ink, Nperseverant iamamasuis,mark th e constancy ofa lover.

24 COMPLAYN'DE nor”A lELOVERES LYPE.

And w ith that w ords h e ganne sike as sore,Lyke as h is herte ryve w olde at w eyne,And held h is pese, and spak a w ord no moreBut for t o se h is w oo and mortal peyne,Th e teres gonne fro myneyenreyneFulpitously, for verrey inw arde rout h e

,

That I bym saw e so langw issh ing for h is t routh .

And al this w hile my selfe _I kept e closeAmonge t h e horses;andmy selfe ganne hide

,

Til at t h e laste t h e w ofulmanarose,

And t o a logge w e’

nte ther beside ,Wh er al t h e May h is customs w as tabyde,Sole t o compleyne ofh is .peynes kene ,Fro yer t o yer, undert h e bow es grene .

And for because that hit drow e t o t h e nygh t ,And that t h e sunne

'

h is'

arke diurnalYpassed w as, so

"that h is-persaunt lygh t ,His brygh t e hemesand h isstromes alleWere int h e w aw es oft h e w ater falle

,

Under t h e b ordure of“

our;ocean,H is chare cfgolde

'

h is course so sw yftly ran;

And w hile row es rede

Of PhebusA penne I teke , and ganme faste spede ,

The'

w ofulpleynt e'

ofthisman' t o w riteWorde b e w ords

,as h e dyd endyt e

Lyke as I h erde , 3111 110 9 11113,m t h o reporte,I have here se t ,

’

your h ertss t o dysport e .

If ought b e niys, leyth t h e w ite onme,

For I amw orthyfor t o bere t h e blame,If any thing mysreported be,To make thisdityefor t o seme lameThurogh mynunconnyng, but for t o seme t h e same,Lyke as thismanne h is compleynt did expresse,I axe mercy and foryevenesse .

26 COMPLAYNTE or A LOVERES LYPE.

And er that th ennow go fro us adoune ,For that love t h enbaddest to Adoun.

’

And w hanthat sh e w as goonunto h er rest,I rose anoon, and home t o bedde w ent

,

For verrey w ery,

1 me thought hit for t h e best,Preying thus inalmy best entent,That alle t rew e, that be w ith Daunger shento,\Vith mercye may, inroles ofh er peyne,Recured b e, or May come efte ageyne .

And for that I ne may noo lenger w ake,Farew el

, ye loveres alle that b e trew e l

Preying t o God, and thusmy leve I take,That er t h e sunne t o morow e be rysennew e,And er h e have ayenh is rosenhew e

,

That eche ofyow may have suche a grace,IIis owne lady inarmes t o embrace.

I mene thus,that inal honest e,

With out e more ye may t ogedre speke\Vh at so yow liste at goode libert e ,That eche may t o other h er herte breke,OnJelousye oonely to b e w reke ,That hath so longe ofmali ce and envyeWorried trouth e w ith h is t irannye.

LENVOYE.

Princes, pleseth hit your b enignit e

This lit ildite t o have inmynde !Of w omanhede also for to se,

Your trew s manmay somme mercye fynde,And Pite eke

,that longe hath b e b eh ynd,

Le t thenne aye inb e provoked t o grace ;For by my t rout h e it is ayenes kynde ,Fals Daunger for to occupy h is place .

1 For very w eariness. Th is construct ionh as beennot ed beforeSoc vol. i . p . 188,not e a.

THE COMPLAYNT or MARS AND VENUS. 27

Go lite l Quayre, go untomy lyves queeneAnd my verrey h ert es sovereigne,And be rygh t glade for sh e shal th e sceneSuche is thy grace ; but I, alas, inpeyneAm left behinds, andnot t o w hom t o pleyneFor Moroye , Routh e , Grace, and eke PiteExiled b e

,that I maynot at eyne ,

Recure to fynde ofmynadversit e.

EXPLICIT.

THE COMPLAYNT OF MARS AND VENUS.

[IN th e Envoy to th is poem th e reader is informed th at it isa translationfrom th e French ofGraunson,Whom th e auth orcalls th e h ours of th em th at maken [w rite poetry] inFrance and that it w as w ritteninth e poet

’

s old age .

For e lde , t h at inmy sp irit e dulleth me,Hat h ofendyt ing al t h e sub t iliteWel-nygh b ereft e out ofmy remembraunce,

OfGraunson, once so famous, little isnow known. Tyrw hittsupposes that h e w as a certainOth e de Graunson; w h o, asappears fromRymer

’

s Feeds/m, Pat . 1 7 , w as retained inth emilitary service ofRich ard II., w ith an annuity of 200

marks. Inh is Life of Chaucer Spegh t says, th at Chaucer‘made a treatise of th e alliance betw ixtVenus and Mars at

th e commandment ofJ ohnofGaunt and adds inanoteSome [among w h om, if h e h ad read th e poem h e professedto edit, h e migh t have found th e author, h imself] say thath e did but translate it, and th at it w as made by Sir Otes

[Oth e] de Grantsome [Graunsomor Granson] , knight, i nFrench , ofmy Lady ofYorke , daugh ter of t h e K ing of

Spaine [Peter th e Cruel] representingVenus, and my LordofHuntingdon, some time Duke ofExcest er. Th is ladyw as younger sist er ofConstance, J ohn of Gaunt’ s second

w ife . Th is Lord ofHuntingdonw as called J ohnHolland,halfe brother to Richard II.: h e married Eliz abeth , th e

28 THE COMPLAYNT or MARS AND VENUS.

daugh ter ofJ ohnofGaunt.’ Th e poem evidently applies,primarily, to th e ph enomena presented by th e planets Marsand Venus in th e relative positions th ey assume in th e

course of th eir orbits round th e sun; and, as such , is animitationof th e song of Demodocus, in th e eigh th book of

Th e Odyssey. But it may possibly h ave a secondary appli

cation to th e disgraceful intrigue betw een th e Lord Hunt ingdonand th e Duch ess ofYork, aunt ofh is w ife Eliz abeth .

Th is traditional application, th e force of w h ich has escaped

Tyrw h itt, derives some strength from th e allusion to th e

Broch e ofTh ebes (see p ast , p . 37)w h ich w as supposed to

inspire th ose w h o. possessed it w ith incestuous and ill

omened”Fro

’

m'

th is allusion th e poem is distin

guished by Lydgate among Ch aucer’

s productions

OfAnelida and offalse ArciteHe made a compleynt e doleful and p itons ;And oft h e broch e w h ich that VulcanusAt Th ebes w rough t , fuld ivers ofnature .

Bale, taking broch e inits. primary meaning as a spit, andnever h aving read th e poem; describes it by t h e name ofDe

Vulcanj new , ofth e sp i t of1Vulcan.

'

The text of th e printed e ditions is almost incrediblycorrupt. Anexample oft h eir corruptionsmay be found inth e fi rst stanz a, w h ich , ini ts proper.form, is very pretty andingenious, hitherto -

given, is a mass ofnonsense .

Th e present text is takenfrom a MS. marked 7333, inth eHarleianCollection,-as far as th at MS., w h ich is imperfect ,goes

— See p. Th e remainderis fromth e MS.Fairfax 1 6,collated w ith Arch . Seld. B. 24. Th ese h ave beenalreadydescribed inth e Introductionto th e House ofFame, vol. vi.

p. 192.‘ In th e Fairfax volume th e illuminations to th is

poem are very elaborate . Venus is represented asAnadyo

mene, h alf covered by th e w aves, w ith dish evelled h air, ofa

yellow , or, as w e sh ould call ,it , red colour, such as w as

admired in classical and mediaeval times ; andMars, as an

old knigh t, inth e armour 'ofth e fi fteenth century, ofa prodigiously grimand ferocious demeanour.

THE COMPLAYNT or MARS AND ' VENUS. 29

Th e Comp laint ofMars amt Venus w as one of} th e poemsincluded in th e volume of selections entitled Chaucer

Moderniz ed.-See Introductionto vol'. i~.

GLADETH

, ye foules, oft h e morow e gray !Loo

,Phebus rising amongo -

yonrow is rede !

And fi oures fressh e , honoureth ye this May,For w h anne t h e sunne uprist e thanw olye spreds;But ye loveres that lye m eny dreds,Fleeth lest that w ikked tonges yow espye !

Loo,yonde th e sunne, cande l ofJalousye 1

1

With teres blew”and w ith a w ounded herteTaketh your leve

,and, w ith seint J oh an.t o borow e

,

Apeseth sumw h at ofyour sorow es smert e ,Tyme cometh efte

,that cese shal your serow e

,

Th e glad nygh t ys w ort h e anh evylmorow e .

1’

Seynt Valentyne .11 a foule thus herd I s

ynge

,

Uponthy day,‘

er sunne gan: up sprynge .

Ye t sange this foule, I rede yowalaw ake ;

And ye that hannot chosen, 1nhumble w yse, .Without repentynge ch eset h youre make ,Y e t at this fest rendvelet h your servyse :

And ye th at h anful chosenas I devise,

Confermet h by'

t perpetuelyto dure ,And paciently taketh your aventure .

And for t h e w orsh ippe ,of,th is h igh e feste ,'

Y e t w ol I,inmy briddes w ise

,synge

Th e sentence oft h e compleynt , at t h e lest e ,Th at w oful Mars made atte departyngeFro fressh e Venus ina morw enynge ,Wh anne Phebus

,w ith h is fi ry torch es rede,

Bansaked hath every lover inhys drede .

1 Compare t h e address ofTroylus to Day, vol. v. p . 1 6 6 .

2 Th ere seems no propriety in t h is ep it h et . It is probably a

corruption.

3 See vol. iv. p. not e 2.

30 ms COMPLAYNT‘

or MARS AND VENUS.

Whilom th e th ridde h evenes lorde above ,1

AS w el by h evenysh revolucioun,

’1

AS by desert hath w onne Venus h is love,And sh e hath take h im insubjecioun,And as amaistresse taugh t e h im h is lesson,Commaundynge h im that never inh er service,He ner so bolde no lover t o dispise .

For sh e forbad h imjalosye at alle,And cruelte

,and b est , and tyrannye ;

Sh e made him at h er lust so humble and thralle ,That w h anne h er deyned t o caste onbym h er ye ,He toke inpacience t o lyve or dye ;And thus sh e brydeleth h im,

inhire manere ,With nothing but w ith scorning”ofh er chere .

Wh o regneth now inblysse but Venus,That hath thys w orthy knygh t e ingovernaunce

'

!

Wh o syngeth now but Mars that serveth thusTh e faire Venus

,causer ofplesaunce ?

He byut him t o perpe tuel obeysaunce ,And sh e byut ‘ h er t o love h imfor evere,But so b e that h is t respace byt desever.

Thus b e they knyt , and regnenas inheven,Be lokyng moost til byt fi l ona tyde ,That by hire bothe assent w as set a steven,That Mars shall entre as fast as h e may glyde,Into hire next paleys

’t o abyde,

1 8011 , Mars, w h ose sph ere , if t h e earth b e omit ted, is th e t h irdfrom t h e sun.

2 Th e meaning is, t h at int h e course of t h e ir revolut ions t h roughth e h eavens, t h e t w o p lanets w ere now , w h at astronomers call , inconjunct ion.

3 Th e MS. Bar] . 7333, for seeming reads siering.

4 Bindet h .

5 Th e h eavens w ere mapped out into difi‘

erent compartments, w h ichint h e old astronomy , w ere called houses ; and t h e plane t w as said todw ell insuch a house, w h eni t w as inanyoft h ese compartments. Th e

meaning is, t h at t h e planet Mars now proceeded to t h e nex t com.

partment or h ouse inh is orbit .

THE COMPLAYNT or MARS AND VENUS; 31

Walkynge hys cours til sh e h ad h imytake,And h e preyede h er t o haste h er for h is sake .

Thanseyde h e thus,Mynbertis lady sw ete,

Y e know e w elmymysch efe inthat place ,For sikerly til that I w ith yow mete,My lyfe stant ther inaventure and grace

,

But w hanI so t h e beante ofyour face,

Ther ysno dred ofdeth may do me smerte,

For alle your luste is ese t o mynherte .

’

Sh e hath so grete compassiononh er knygh t e,That dw elleth insolitude til sh e come

,

For byt stode so, that ylke tyme no w ygh t e

Counseyled bym,ne seyde t o h vm w elcome

,

That nygh e h er w itte for sorow e w as overcome ;Wh erfore sh e sped h er as fast inh er w ey,Almost inconday as h e dyd int w ey.

1

Th e grete joye th at w as b et w ex h em t w o,

Whenthey b e mette, ther may no tunge te lleTher is no more but unto b ed they go,And thus injoy and blysse I le t h em dw elleThis w orthy Mars that is ofknygh t h ode w e lle ,Th e floure offeyrenesse lappeth inh is armes,And Venus kysseth Mars t h e god ofarmes.

Sojourned hath thisMars ofw hich I redeInchambre amydde th e paleys prively,A cert eyne tyme, til himfela drede,Th rogh Phebus, that w as comenh ast elyWithint h e paleys yates fulsturdely,With torche inhonde, ofw hich t h e stremes brygh t eOnVenus chambre gankythe ful grete lygh t e .

1

1 Because t h e sph ere , or orbit of t h e p lanet Venus, being muchsmaller t h ant h at ofMars, sh e appears t o t ravel t w ice as fast as h e.3 Thi s is evident ly anallusiont o t h e Song ofDemodocus

dtpap 8e’

oi.aw ake: iAcTIM“ , 3W.

ivérm “cyagop évovc¢M6fl rru


Th e chambre , ther as ley this fressh e queno,Depeynted w as w i th w hite boles grete,

1

And by t h e lygh t e sh e knew that shone so shene,That Phebus cam to brenh emw ith h is hete

,

This sely Venus,n

'

ygh dreynt 1nteresw ete ,Embraceth Mars,and seyd : Alas

,I dye !

Th e torche is come,that al this w orld w ol w rié.

’

Up sterte Mars, bym luste not t0'

slepe,Whenb e h is lady herde so compleyneBut

,for h isnature w asnot for t o w epe,

Inst ede ofteres, fro h is eyent w eyneTh e fi ry sparkes brost enout for peyneAnd h ent e h is hauberks that ley hym b es

‘

yde

Fle w old h e not,ne mygh t h imselvenhide s .

He t h row eth onhi s helme ofhuge wygh t e,And girt him w ith h is sw erde and m h isho’

ndeHismygh ty Spere, as h e w as w ont t o fy

‘

gh t e,H e shaketh so

,that amost it t o-w onde

,

Ful h evy w as h e t o w alkenover londeHe may not holde w ith Venus companye,But bad h er h eenlest Phebus h er espye .

O w oful Mars ! alas, w hatmaist thou seyne“,

That int h e paleys ofthy disturbaunce ,Art left byhynd inperil t o b e Sleyne ?And yet t h ert o ys double thy

ipenaunce t

For sh e that h'

ath thynh erte 1ngovernance,Is passed halfe t h e st remes ofthynyen,

That thouner sw ift,w elmaist thou w epe and crien.

Now h eeth Venus into Ciclinius toure,With voide cours,

8for fere ofPhebus lygh te.

Alas ! and ther hath sh e no se coure,

1 Th at is to say,Mars and Venusw ere now both int h e conste llationTaurus.2 Th e influence ofth e p lanet Venus w as supposed to produce rain;

t h at ofMars, h eat .3 Th e meaning is, t h at t h e beams oft h e p lane t Venus are paled by

h ernear approach to t h e 81111, w h ensh e ent ers t h e const e llat ionh ere


And Venus h e saluet h , and maketh chere ,And h er receyvet h as h is frende ful dere .

Mars dw elleth forth inhi s adversyt e,Compleyning ever inh er departynge ;And w hat h is compleynt w as remembret h me,And t h erfore

,inthis lusty morw enynge,

As I best can,I w ol it seyne and synge

,

And after that I w olmy leve take ;And God yifevery w ygh t e joy ofh ismake !

THE COMPLEYNT OF MARS.

THE ordre ofcompleynt requireth skylfully,That yfa Wight shal pleyne pit ously,Ther mot b e cause Wh erfore that menpleyne,Other menmay deme h e pleyne th folely,And causeles. Alas

,that do not I !

Wh erfor t h e grounde and cause ofalmy peyne,So asmy troubled w itte may hi t at t eyne ,I w ol reh erse not for t o have redresse

,

But t o declare my grounde ofh evynesse .

1

Th e first tyme , alas, that I w as w rogh t e,And for cert eyne fi

’

ect es hider brogh t e,Be h im that lordet h eche intelligence ,I yafmy t rew e servise and my t h ogh t e ,For evermore

,h ow dere I have it b ogh t e ,

To h er that is ofso grete excellence ,That w hat Wight that first shew e th h is presence ,Whansh e is w rothe and taketh ofhymno cure

,

He may not longe injoye oflove endure .

”

This isno foynedmater that I telleMy lady is t h e verrey sours and w elle

1. Th e reader w ill observe t h at t h e metre ch anges inth e Comp leymt

sfMars, and becomes very comp licated. Th e first , second , fourt h andfi ft h l ines fall into one rh yme ; t h e t h ird , six t h and sevent h intoanot h er ; and t h e e igh t h and ninth into a t h ird.

2 Th at is, Venus w ill not be prop it ious to h im.

’


Ofbeante,luste

,fredam

,and gent ilnesse,

Ofriche aray, h ow dere menhit selle,

Ofai disport inw hich menfrendely dw elle,

Oflove and pley, and ofbenigne humblesse,

1

Ofsow ne ofinstrumentes ofal sw etnesse,

And t h erto so w el fortuned and thew ed,

That t h orow e t h e w orlde h er goodnesse is ysh e w ed.

What w onder ys thant h ogh that I b ese t teMy serviss onsuche one that may me kne t t eTo w ele or w e

,Sith hit lythe inh er mygh t ?

Th erfore mynhert e for ever I to h er hight,

N e t rew ely for my deth e shal I not le t te,

To b enh er t rew est servaunt and h er knygh t e .

I flatter not , that may w ete every w ygh t e 3For this day inh er servise Shal I dye ,But grace b e, I se h er never w ith eye .

To w hom sh al I pleyne ofmy distresse ?Wh o may me he lpe , w h o may my harme redresse

’

!

Shal I compleyne unto my lady fre iNay, certes, for sh e hath such h evynesse ,For fore and eke for w e

,that as I gesse ,

Inlyt il tyme h it w ol h er bane b e e ;But w ere sh e safe , hit w er no fors ofme .

’

Alas,that ever loversmote endure

,

For love, so many a perilouse aventure !

For t h e so b e that lovers b e as trew e

AS any metal th at is forged new e,

Inmany a case h em tyde t h oft e sorow e .

Somtyme hire ladies w olnat onh em rew e

Somtyme , yfth at j elosie byt knew e,

Th ey mygh t enlyo h tly ley hire hede t o borow e g'

Somtyme envyous folke w ith tungos borow e

1 Here t h e Harle ianMS . 7333 leaves oii’

; t h e rest of t h e poem is

takenfromMS . Fairfax 1 6 , and Arch . Seld. B. 24.

2 Th at is, It w ould b e no consequence w h at became ofme .

’

3 Th at is,‘Th ey migh t , inall probability , leave t h e ir h ead as a

pledge .

’


Departenh em,alas ! Whommay they plese

'

l

But h e b e fals,no lover hath h is ese .

But w hat availeth suche a longe sermounOfaventures oflove up and doune ?I w ol returne and spekenofmy peyno;Th e poynt is this ofmy distruccion,My righ to lady

,my savacyoun,

IS inafi'

ray, and not t o w hom t o pleyne .

O herte sw ee t e ! O lady sovereyne !For your disese I ogh t w el sw oune and sw elts,Th ogh I none other harme ne drede felt e .

To w hat fyne made t h e God that sitte so h ye,Bene t h enlove other companye,And st reyneth folke t o love malgre h ir hede ?And thanh er joy, for ogh t I canespye ,N e last e t h not t h e t w ynkelyng ofaneye .

And somme have never joy til they b e dede .

What mene th this? w hat is thismyst ih e ed ?Wh ert o const reyne t h b e h is folke so faste,Thing t o desire but hit Shulde laste ?

And t h ogh h e made a lover love a t hing,And maketh hit seme stedfast and during

,

Y et putteth h e inhit soch mysaventure,That rest nys ther inh is yevinge .

And that is w onder that so juste a kyngeDoth such h ardnesse t o h is creature .

Thus w hether love breke or e lles dure,

Algates h e th at hath w ith love t o done,

Hath ofter w o thanchaunged ys t h e mono.

H it seme th h e hath to lovers enemyt e,And lyke a fi ssh er, asmenal day may se

,

Bait et h hys angle-hoke w ith summe plesaunce,Til many a fi ssh ys w ode to that h e b eSe sed t h erw it h and thanat erst hath h eAl h is desire , and th erw it h ai mysch aunce,And, t h ogh t h e lyne breke, h e hath penaunce


For w ith t h e hoke h e w ounded is so sore,

That b e h is w ages bathe fer evermore .

Th e broche ofThebes1 w as ofsuche kynde,Se full ofrubies and ofstones ofYnde ,That every Wight that set onhit anye,He w ende anont o w orth out ofh is myudSe sore t h e beante w e ld h is herte hynde ,Til h e hit h ad

,h im thoght h e moste dye ;

And w hanthat it w as h is thanshulde h e dryeSuch w oo fer drede ay w h ile that h e hit h adde ,That w elnygh fer t h e fere h e shulde madde .

And w hanhit w as fro h is possession,Thanh ad h e double w e and passion,That h e so fe ire a tresore had forgoBut ye t this broche , as inconclusion,Was not t h e cause ofh is confusionBut h e that w rogh t hit enfortuned hit so,That every Wight that h ad h it shulde have w e ;

And t h erfore int h e w erch er w as t h e vice,

And int h e ceveyt our that w as so nyce .

1 See ante , p . 28. Th e broch e is t hus described in t h e

ii . 265Lemnius h eec, ut prisca fi des, Mave rtia longumFurta delens, cap t e pe st quamnih il obstat amoriPosna,nee ultrices cast igavere cat enae ,Harmonies dotale decus, sub luce jugaliStrux erat : h ec , doct i quanquammajera, laborantCyclopesne t ique operum, Th ele t rines amicaCertat imjuvere manu, sed plurimus ipseSudor. ibi arcane florent es igne smaragdesCingit . e t infaustas percussumadamanta fi guras,Gorgeneosque erbes, Siculaque incude re lictosFulminis ex tremi cineres, viridumque dracenumLucent es a frent e jubas h i fleb ile germenHesperidum, e t dirumPh rynmi velleris aurum,

Tum varias pest es, raptumque int erplicat atroTisiph ones de crine ducem, e t ques p essima CestenV is probat : h aec circum spumis Lunaribus ungitCallidas, atque h ilari p erfundit cuncta venene .

’

Th is descript ionw ill remind t h e reader of t h e w itch es’ caldronMacbeth .

THE COMPLAYNT OF MARS AND VENUS.

Se fare t h byt by levers, and by me ;For t h ogh my lady have so gret beante

,

That I w asmad t il I h ad gete h er grace,

Sh e w as not cause ofmynadversit e,

But h e that w regh t h er, as me te I th e,That put suche beante inh er face,That made me cevet enand purchaseMynow h e dethe h im w ite I

,that I dye ,

And myne unw it t e that ever I clemb e so hye,

But t o yew hardy knygh t es efreneun,Synthat ye b e ofmy devisieun,

1

Al b e I not w orthy t o so grete aname ,Yet sayne these clerkes I am your pat reun,Th erfore ye ogh t have somme cempassieOfmy disese , and take hit ne t a-game

Th e proudest ofyew may b e made ful tame .

Wh erfore I prey ye w ,ofyour gentilesse

,

That ye compleyne fer mynh evynesse .

And ye , my ladyes, that b entrue and stable,

Be w ey efkynde ye egh t ent o b e ableTo have pite offolke that b eninpeyne ,N ew have ye cause t o clothe ye w insable ;Sith that youre emperise, t h e honorable,IS desolat , w el egh t e y e t o pleyne,N e w shulde your h oly teres falle and reyne.

Alas ! your honour and your emperise ,N eigh ded for drede, ne canh er not chevise .

Cempleyne th eke ye levers alle infereFor h er that, w ith unfeyned humble chere

,

Was evere redy t o de ye w se coure

Cempleyneth h er that evere hath b e yew dere

Cempleynet h beante, fredem,and manere 3

1 Ofth ose w h o are b ornundermy influence . Th e same expressionoccurs invol. i . p . 155 z

Th er w er also ofMart z divis'iounTh e barbour,’

THE COMPLAYNT OF MARS AND VENUS.“

‘

39

Cempleynet h h er that endeth your labour,Cempleyne t h t h ilke ensample ofal honour,That never did but alw ey gentilesseK yth e th t h erfor inh er summe kyndenesse .

THE COMPLEYNT OF VENUS.

THERE nys so high comfort t omy plesance,Whanthat I am inany h evynesse,As for t o have leyser ofremembraunce,Upont h e manh od and t h e w orthynesse ,Upont h e t routh e , and ont h e st edfastnesse,Ofh im w hos I am al w hiles I may dureTh er egh t e blame me no creature,For every Wight preiset h h is gentilesse .

1

Inh imys bount e , w ysdom,and governaunce,

Welmore thanany mannes w itte cangesseFor grace hath w olde so ferfert h e bym avaunce

,

That ofknygh th ode h e is parfi t e richesse 3Honour honoureth h imfor h is noblesse 5Th ert e so w elhath formed h imNature

,

That I am h is for ever I h im assure,

For every Wight preyse th h is gentilesse .

Andnot w ith st endyng al h is su i saunce,

H is gentil herte ys ofso grete humblesseTo me inw erde

,inw erke

,incount enaunce,

And me t o serve is al h is b esynesse,That I am sette inverrey sikernesse .

Th us ogh t I blesse w ell mynaventure,

Sith that h im list me servenand h enoure,For every Wight preiset h his gentilesse .

1 Here th e metre is againch anged. InTh e Compleynte of Venus,t h e fi rst and t h ird lines fal l into one rh yme ; t h e second , fourt h ,

fift h and e igh t h into anoth er ; and t h e six t h and seventh into a

t h ird.


Now certis,Love

,hit is right covenable ,

That menful dere abye t h e noble things,As w ake a-bedde, and fastenat t h e table ,Wepinge t o laugh and sing incompleynynge,And doune t o caste visage and lokynge ,Oftento chaunge visage and count enaunce

,

Pley inslepyng, and dreme at t h e daunce,Al t h e reverse ofeny glad felynge.

J elousie b e hanged be a cable !Sh e w old alknow e through h er espyinge .

Ther de the no w ygh t nothing so resonable,That alnys harme inh er ymagynynge .

Thus dere abought isLove inyevynge,Which ofte h e yifeth w ith out e ordynaunce,As se row ynough , and lit il ofplesaunce,Al t h e reverse ofany glad felynge .

A lyt t el tyme h is yift ys agreable ,But ful encomb erouse is t h e usynge 5For subtil J elosie, t h e deceyvable,Ful oftentyme causeth desturbynge .

Thus b enw e ever indrede and suffryngeInno cert eyne w e languissh eninpenaunce,And h anful oftenmany anhard mischance,Al t h e reverse ofany glad felynge .

But certys, Love , I say not insuch w ise ,That for t escape out ofyoure lace I ment,For I so longe have b e inyour servise,That for t o lete ye w shal I never assent.No fors ! ye ! t h ogh J elosye me turment,Sulfi seth me t o see bym w hanI may;And therefore certys to mynendyng day,To love bym best that shal I never repent.

And certys, Love, w hanI me w elavise ,Ofany estate that manmay represent ,Thanhave ye made me , t h urgh your fraunch ise,Chese t h e best that ever inerth e w ent.

THE LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

[Th e Prologe to th is poem affords conclusive proofof th efact, interesting onoth er grounds besides th at of th e mere

ch ronology of auth orsh ip, th at Th e Legende of Geode

I’Vomenw as one of t h e latest productions of t h e Fath er of

English Poetry. It, th erefore, appropriately terminates th eseries ofh is poetical w orks, leaving only a few sh ort pieces,w hich could not oth erw ise be so conveniently disposed of,

to be collected at th e end.

Th e proofofth e presumptive date ofth is Legende isfoundinth e enumerationit contains ofseveral ofCh aucer’

s previouscompositions. Those mentioned are Th e House of Fame,Th e Deth e ofBlaunch e

‘

th e Duch esse , Th e P arlement ofFoules, Th e Loves ofP alamonand Arci te (K nigh tes Tale),t h e translation of Boeth ius (prose), Th e Life of Saint

Cecilia (Second N onnes Tale), Origenes on th e Maude

laine, Balades, Roundels, Virelaies, and ‘many a ley and

many a thynge.

’ Itmay be inferred from th is list, w h ich isobviously incomplete, and from th e compreh ensive referenceto many oth er productions w ith w h ich it closes, that Th eLegende of Geode Womenw as nearly th e last ofChaucer

’

s

w ritings; a. suppositionw h ich is still furth er supported byth e penitential and apologetic character of th e poem itselfAs inTh e P ersane ’s Tale, also w rittenin h is old age, h e

retracts h is h eresies against religionand morality, so inth eLegende h e makes satisfactionfor h is offences against th atcourtesy and gallantry to ladies w h ich w as scrupulouslyobserved by all persons w h o laid claim to th e rank and

breeding ofgentlemen. Th e avow ed intentionof th e poem

is to atone for th e unfavourable ch aracters h e h ad drawnof

th e female sex inTroylus and Org/seyde and Th e Romaunt

of th e Rose, by placing uponrecord t h e h istories ofnineteenladies w hose constancy and purity of life redeemed th e

honour and virtue ofth eir sex. Th e w ork is clearly that of

PROLOGUE TO THE LEGENDE. 43

one w h o is desirous, as h e approach es th e terminationofh is

career, to make amends for th e errors of h is life . Th ere are

unmistakeable evidences inth e executionof th e planth at itw as really undertakenas a duty.

Th e Prologe, inw h ich h e enlarges upon th e beauty andsw eetness ofSpring, and describes h is interview s w ith t h eGod ofLove, is certainly t h e noblest part of th e poem, and

th e most characteristic ofh is taste and genius. Amongstth e scattered passages offorcible delineationand picturesquedescription, w h ich no less emph atically mark h is h and, th esea-fi gh t in th e legend ofCleopatra may be Selected as a

striking example . Th e Legende itself appears to h ave beenleft unfi nish ed, for it consists ofsh ort sketch es ofonly nineof th e nineteen ladies famous in classical story for th eirconstancy and patience, w h ose h istories are preposed at t h e

outset as th e subjects ofth e w ork. Th ese nine briefnarrat ives are takenalmost entirely fromOvid’

s Me tamorp h osesand H eroides but , as migh t be expected, th eyare treatedinth e Goth ic rath er thanth e classic spirit, a transformationfrom w h ich th e h eroic tales suffer less th an th e love stories.It ,may be observed, th at if th ere had been any doubt of

Chaucer’

s acquaintance w ith th e LatinClassics, th is poemmust completely dispel th em, for th e reader w ill fi nd w hole

passages translated w ord for w ord fromOvid’

s H eroides.

Th e title of th e poem, called indifferently Th e Legende ofGoodsWomen, and

'

Th e Saints’

Legende of Cup ide, or, to

place it inits direct o rder, Th e Legende of t h e Saints ofCup ide, is a sort of application of th e terms and ideas of

Christianh agiology to th e h eath enmyth ology, an appro

priat ion of forms of w h ich th ere are many examples inCh aucer

’

s love poems. Th e ladies w h o died for love are

h ere considered as Saints andMartyrs ofCupid, just as th osew h o died for th e Ch ristianfaith w ere called by th e ChurchSaints andMartyrs ofCh rist.Th e text of th e present editionis founded upona careful

collationofth e MS. Fairfax 1 6, inth e BodleianLibrary, andArch . Seld. B. 24, already described— See vol. Vi. p.

44 PROLOGUE TO THE

THE PROLOGE OF NINE GOODE WYMMEN.

ATHOUSANDE tymes I have herde te lleThat there ys joy inh evene, and peyne inhe lle ,

And I acorde w el that it ys so ;But

,nath eles

, yet w e t I w elalso,That ther nisnoondw ellyng inthis countree,That eyt h er hath inh evene or helle yb e ,N 9 may ofhit noonother w ey es w iten,But as h e hath herd seyd

,or founde it w riten

For by assay ther may no manit preve .

But God forb ede but menshulde leveWelmore thing thanmenh anseenw ith eye !

MenShal not w enenevery thing a lyeBut yfh imselfe yt seeth, or elles dooth ;For

, God w ot,thing isnever t h e lasse sooth,

Th ogh every Wight nomay it not ysee .

Bernarde , t h e monke , ne saugh nat al parde !1

Thanmote w e t o bokes that w e fynde ,

(Thurgh w hich that olde t h inges b eninmynde)

1 Int h e marginofFairfax MS . 1 6 is w ri t t eninred let t ers t h e follow ing gloss Bemardusmonach asnonvidit omnia.

’ Th isappearsto h ave beena proverbial expressionof equivocal import , meaninge ith er t h at h ow ever w ise St .Bernardmay h ave been, t h ere w ere ye t somet h ings w h ich h ad escaped h im; or, w ith a sly inuendo, t h at St . Bernardasserted more t h anh e ever saw , and t h at h is stat ement s are , t h erefore ,to b e takencumgmno salis. St . Bernard is considered th e last of t h eFath ers. He w as bornin109 1 , at t h e Cast le of Fontaine , w ith inh alfa league ofDijon, and died ont h e z oth of August , 1 153. His fat h er

w as of t h e family of th e Counts of Ch at illon; h ismoth er w as E lizabe th , daugh t er oft h e Count ofMontbard. At t h e age ofn h e resolvedto embrace t h e monast ic profession. and by h is ex t raordinary pow ersofpersuasioninduced h is uncle , and ot h ermembers of h is family w h ocame t o dissuade h imfrom h is purpose , to joinw ith h im infounding amore t h anusually severe order of monach ism. He and h is infantcommunit y, by t h e labour of t h e ir ownh ands, ch anged t h e rugged

valley ofAbsint hus into anagricultural paradise , and raised, int h e

midst ofth e w i lderness, t h e first few sh eds, w h ich afterw ards expandedinto t h e Abbey ofClairvaulx . Here h is fath er follow ed h im to die , in1 x1 7 . H is w orks are ch iefly sermons exp lanatory of scrip ture . But ,

th ough h e w as w e l l versed int h e Lat inclassics, h is style is ent ire lyspoiled by being interw ovenw ith t h e Hebraisms of t h e Scrip turallanguage.

LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN.

‘45

And to t h e doctrine ofthese olde w yse,Yéve credence

,inevery skylfulw ise,

That tellenofthese olde appreved stories,

Ofhe lynes,ofregnes, ofVictories,

Oflove, ofhate, and other sondry t hynges,Ofw h ich e I may not makenreh ersynges :And yfthat olde bokeS w ere aw ey,Ylorne w ere ofremembraunce t h e key.

We ll ought us,t h anne

,h onourenand beleve

These bokes, ther w e h annoonother preve .

And as for me,though that I konne but lyt e,

Onbokes for to rede I me delyt e,And to h em yeve I feyt h and ful credence

,

And inmynherte have h em inreverenceSo h ert ely, that ther is game noon,That fro my bokesmaketh me t o goon,But yt b e seldeme ont h e holy day,Save

,cert eynly, w hanthat t h e moneth e ofMay

Is comen,and that I here t h e foules synge

,

And that t h e floures gynnenfor to sprynge ,Farw elmy boke , andmy devocion!

1

Now have I t h anne suche a condicion,

That ofal t h e fi eures int h e mede,

Thanne love I most these floures w hite and rede,Suche as mencallendaysyes

2inour toune.

To h em have I so grete affeccioun,As I seyde erst, w h anne comenis t h e May,That

,inmy b ed ther daw e th me no day,

That I Damuppe and w alkyng int h e mede ,To seenthis fi eure ayeint h e sunne sprede,Wh anne it up ryse t h erly by t h e morw e

That blisfull sight soft eneth almy sorw e,

Wh at an int erest ing p icture does t h e great poe t h ere give of h istast es ! H is books occupy all h is le isure , and for t h em h e is cont entto forego t h e p leasures of socie ty ; but w h enMay re turns, and t h elandscape puts on i ts summer garb , h is devot ionto h is books is superseded by h is st i llmore ardent devot iont o Nature .

2 See vol. iv. p . 250.not e 3.

4G PROLOGUE TO THE

So glad am I,w hanthat I have presence

Ofit,t o doonit alle reverence

,

As Sh e that is ofalle floures flour,

Fulfilled ofalvertue and honour,

And evere ylike faire,and fressh ofhew e.

And I love it, and ever ylike new e ,

And ever shal,til that mynherte dye3

Al sw ere I nat,ofthis I w olnat lye,

Ther loved no Wight b e t t er inh is lyve .

And, w hanthat hit ys eve , I renne blyve,As sene as evere t h e sunne gynne th w este

,

To seenthis flour,h ow it w elgo t o reste

,

For fere ofnygh t , so hateth sh e derkenesse !H ire chere is pleynly sprad int h e brigh tneOft h e sunne

,for ther yt w olunclose .

Al as,that I ne h ad Englyssh , ryme , or prose ,

Suifi sant this flour t o preyse arygh t !But helpeth ye that h ankonnyng and mygh t ,Ye lovers, that kanmake ofsent ement 3Inthis case ogh t ye b e diligent,To forth renme somew hat inmy labour,Whether ye b enw ith t h e leef or w ith t h e flour,

‘

For w el I w ot , that ye h anh erb eforneOfmakynge repen, and lad aw ey t h e come 3And I come after, glening here and there,And amful glad yfI may fynde anereOfany goodly w ord that ye h anleft.And t h ogh it happenme reh erceneft

That ye baninyour fressh songes seyede ,Forb ere th me

,and beth not eve le apayede ,

Synthat ye see I do yt int h e honourOflove, and eke inservice oft h e flour

,

Whom that I serve as I have w itte or mygh te .

Sh e is th e clerenesse and t h e Verray lygh t e ,

Th is is anallusionto t h e allegory uponw h ich is founded th e poemofTh e Flow er and th e Leah—See vol. iv. p . 233.


‘47

That inthis derke w orld me w ynt and ledyt h ,Th e h erte inw ith my sorw ful brest yew

1dredith ,

And loveth so sore , that ye b en, verrayly,Th e maistres ofmy w itte , and nothing I.My w orde

,my w erkes, ys knyt so inyoure bonde

That as anharpe ob eiet h t o t h e honde,

That maketh it soune after h is fyngerynge ,Eyght somow e ye oute ofmyne herte bringeSw ich vois

,rygh t as yew lyst , to laugh e or pleyne 3

’

Be ye my gide, and lady sovereyne .

As t o mynerth ely God, t o ye w I calle,Be t h e inthis w erke , and inmy sorw es alle .

But Wh erfore that I spak t o yeve credenceTo olde stories

,and doonh em reverence

,

And that menmostenmore thyng beleveThenthey may seenat eigh e or e lles preve ,That sh al I seyn, w h anne that I see my tyme 3I may nat allattones speke inryme.My besy gost, that trusteth alw ey new e

,

To seenthis flour so yong,so fressh ofhew e

,

Constreyned me w ith so gredy desire ,That inmynherte I feele ye t th e fi r e,That made me t o ryse er yt w er day,And this w as ne w t h e fi rst e morw e ofMay,With dredful herte, and glad devecion,For t o b enat t h e resurreccionOfthis flour

,w hanthat yt shulde unclose

Agayne t h e sunne,that roos as rede as rose

,

That int h e brest w as oft h e beste that day,That Agenores dough t er

’ ladde aw ay.

1 Here th e poet addresses t h e lady direct ly int h e second person.

2 Th e poe t compares h is h eart t o a h arp , from w h ich h ismist ressevokes such music as sh e p leases, w h et h er joyful or sad. Th is idea h asbeenoft enimitat ed by modernpoe ts.

3 Agenores daughter w as Europa, and t h e beast w h ich led h er aw ay,t h at is, took h er cap t ive , w as t h e bull into w h ose sh ape Jup i t er t ransformed h imself. By t h is p eriph rasis is meant t h at t h e sunh ad nowentered Taurus, th at is, t h at it w as May.

48 PROLOGUE TO THE

And doune onknees anoonrygh t I me sette,And as I koude, this fressh flour I grette,K nelyng alw ey, til it unclosed w as

,

Upont h e smale , softe, sw ot e gras,That w as w ith floures sw e te emb reuded al

,

Ofsw ich sw et enesse,and sw ich odour over al,

Th at for t o speke ofgomme,or herbe

,or tree

,

Comparisonmay noonymaked b e 3For yt surmount eth pleynly alle odoures

,

And ofriche b eaut e offloures.

Forget enh ad t h e erth e h is pore estateOfw ynter, that h imnaked made andmate ,And w ith h is sw erd ofcolde so sore greved3N e w hath t h at t empre sunne al that relevedThat naked w as

,and clad yt new agayn.

Th e smale foules, oft h e sesonfayn,That oft h e panter and t h e nette b enscaped,Uponth e fow eler, that h emmade aw hapedInw inter

,and distroyed badde hi re bre ede ,

Inh is dispit e h em t h ogh t e yt did h em goodeTo synge ofhym,

and inhire songe dispiseTh e foule ch erle

,that for hi s coveyt ise,

Had h em betrayed w ith h is soph istrye .

This w as hire songe,Th e fow eler w e defl

'

ye

And al h is craft e .

’ 1 And somme songenclereLayes oflove , that joye it w as t o here ,Inw orsh ippyng and preysing ofhire make 3And, for t h e new s blisful someres sake ,Upont h e braunches ful ofble smes softe ,Inhire delyt , they turned h emful ofte,

1 Th e p icture drawnint h i s passage belongs tomedizeval t imes, andfore igncountries. It can scarce ly b e said t o h ave a count erpart inmodern English life . In t h e classical and mi ddle ages small birdsw ere a commonart icle of food, as t h ey are ont h e Cont inent at t h epresent t ime , and t h e seasonfor catch ing t h em w it h a panter , or bag

net , w as w int er, w h ent h e scarcity offood made t h em t ame . Th e poe t

h ere represent s t h e ir songs in t h e spring, as t h e expressionof t h eirexultat ion at h aving baffled t h e stratagems, quaint ly t ermed soph ist ries, by w h ich t h e fow ler h ad endeavoured to al lure th em to t h eir

destruct ion.

PROLOGUE TO THE

Hire sw oot e breth . and made h em for t o sprede,As god and goddesse oft h e floury mede .

Inw hich e me t h ough t e I mygh t e, day by day,Dw ellenalw ey, t h e joly monyt h ofMay,Withoutenslepe, Withoutenmete or drynke .

Adoune ful soft ely I gant o synk e,And lenynge onmynelbow e and my syde,Th e longe day I sh oope me for tabideFor nothing elles, and I shal nat lye,But for t o loke upont h e daysie 3That menby resenw el it calle mayTh e daisie , or elles t h e ye ofday,Th e emprise, and fi eure offloures alle.

I pray t o God that faire mote sh e falle,And alle that lovenfloures

,for hire sake

But, nat h eles, ne w ene nat that I makeInpreysing ofth e flour agaynt h e leefe,No more thanoft h e corne agaynt h e sh eefe

For as to ,me nys lever noonne lother,I nam w ithholdenyit w ith never nother.

N e I not w h o serveth leef,ne w h o t h e flour

,

1

Welbrow kenthey hire service or labour,

For this thing is al ofanother tonne,2

Ofolde storye, er Sw ich e thinge w as b egonne.Wh anthat t h e sunne out t h e south ganw este ,

And that this floure ganclose, and goont o reste,For derknes oft h e nygh t , th e w hich sh e dred,Home t o mynhouse full sw iftly I me sped

To goont o reste,and erly for t o ryse,

To seenthis flour sprede , as I devyse.

And ina lite l herber that I have ,That benched w as onturves fressh ygrave,

8

1 Here t h e allegory ofThe Floure and the Lefe is againalluded toas be ing familiar to allreaders.

—See vol. iv. p . 232 .

3 Th is expressionis used by t h e WyfofBat h e .—See vol. ii . p . 49 .

3 It appears to h ave beent h e fash ionamong t h e gardeners of t h isperiod to construct seats of turf, w h ich w ere renew ed as soonas t h eybecame w ith ered—See vol." iv. p .

-

239 ,note 1.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 5 1.

I badmenshulde me my couche make 3For deynt ee oft h e new e sommeres sake,I bad h em straw enfloures onmy b ed.

WhanI w as leyd, and h ad myneyenb ed,I fel onslepe, inw ith anhoure or t w e e

,

Me mette h ow I lay int h e medew e t h e e ,To seenthis flour that I love so and drede 3And from a fer come w alkyng int h e medeTh e God ofLove, and inhi s hande a quene,And sh e w as clad inreal habite grene 3A fret ofge lde sh e badde next h er b eer

,

And uponthat a w hite corow ne sh e beer,With flourouns smale

,and

,I shal nat lye ,

For al th e w orld rygh t as a daysye

Ycorouned ys w ith w hite leves lyt e,So w ere t h e fi ew rouns ofhire coroune w hi te 3For ofoo perle , fyne, ori ental,H ire w hite coroune w as ymaked al,For w hich t h e w hite coroune above t h e greneMade hire lyke a daysie for t o sene

,

Considered eke h ire fret ofge lde above .

l

Yclot h ed w as thismygh ty God ofLoveInsilke embrouded

,fulofgrene greves,

Inw hich a fret ofrede rose leves,

Th e fressh est synt h e w orlde w as first begonne.

Hi s gilte heere w as corouned w ith a sonneInstede ofgolde, for h evynesse and wygh t e 3

2

Th erw it h me thoght his face sh eenso brigh t e

That w elunnethesmygh t I h im b eh olde 3And inh is hande me thoght I saugh h im holdeTw oo fi ry dart es, as t h e gledes rede,And aungelyke hys w ynges saugh I sprede.

1 Th e queenis said to resemble a.daisy ; h ergreenh abit . representedt h e leaves, t h e pearl ofw h ich h er crownw as made , t h e w h ite petals,and th e fre t , or band of gold , t h e ye llow spot int h e middle of t h e

flow er.

2 Th at is, His gilt h air w as crowned w ith a sun, instead ofw ithgold, because th e lat ter w ould h ave beeninconveni ent ly h eavy.

’

4—2

52 PROLOGUE TO THE

And, alb e that menseynthat blynd ys h e,Algate me t h ogh t e that h e mygh t e se 3For st ernely onme h e ganbyh old,So that h is loking doot h mynherte colde .

And by t h e hande h e helde thi snoble quene,Corouned w ith w hite

,and clothed al ingrene,

So w omanly,so benigne

,and so meke,

That inthis w orlde , t h ogh that menw olde seke,Halfe ofh ir beaut ee sholdenmennat fynde

1

Increature that formed is by kynde .

And th erfore may I seyn, as t h ynketh me,Th is song inpreysyng ofthis lady frs.

Hyde , Absolon,’ thy gilte tresses clere 3

Ester,

3ley thou thy mekenesse aladoune 3

Hyde,Jonat h as

,

‘al thy frendlymanere 3

Penelopee, and Marcia Catoun,

’

Make ofyour w ifeh ode no comparysoun;Hyde ye youre b eautyes, Ysoude

"and Eleyne,

My lady cometh, that al thismay dist eyne.

Thy faire body lat yt nat appere ,Lavyne 3

7and thou Lucresse ofRome toune,

And Polixene,

“ that bogh t enlove so dere,And Cleopatre, w ith al thy passyoun,Hyde ye your trout h e oflove

,and youre renoun,

1 InFairfax MS . 1 6 t h ese tw o lines are contracted into one , thusTh at int h is w orlde t h ough t h at mennat fynde .

’ Th e correct ver

sion, as givenint h e tex t , is takenfromMS. Arch . Seld. B. 24 .

2 Absalomw as remarkable for th e beauty of h is h air.—See 2 Sam.

xiv. 2 6 .

3 Hester is cit ed as anexamp le ofmeekness inThe Merchant ’s Tale.-Vol. ii . p . 1 78.

4 Alludmg to Jonathan’

s friendsh ip for David—See 1 Sam. xix .

5 Th at isMarcia Catom'

s, Marcia, t h e w ife ofCato t h e Censor, w h osecomp laisance , apparent ly , inconsent ing to b e lent to Cato’

s friend,Hort ensius, is t h e ground ofh er praise int h is p lace .

5 Ieende , or Isult e , is t h e h eroine of t h e ce lebrated Romance ofSir

7 Lavinia, th e h eroine oft h e E neid .

8 Polyxena, ofw h omAch illes w as enamoured , and w h o slew h erse lffor sorrow at h is deat h by t h e h and of h er brot h er, Paris. For th erest ofth e ladies h erementioned see Ovid,Heroid.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 53

And thou, Tesb e , that hast oflove suche peyne,My lady comme t h , that al thismay di st eyne.

H ero,Dido

,Laudomia

,alle yfere

,

And Phillis, h angyng for thy Demophoun,And Canace

,espied by thy chere,

Ysiph ile b etraysed w ith Jasoun,

Maketh ofyour trouth e neyt h er boost ne soun,Nor Ypermystre , or Adriane, ye t w eyne,My lady cometh, th at all thi s may dist eyne .

’

This balade may ful w elysongenb e ,As I have seyde erst

,by”my lady fre 3

For cert eynly al thise mow e nat suifi se,To apperenw yt h my lady inno w yse .

For as t h e sunne w e le t h e fi re dist eyne,’

So passeth alle my lady sovereyne,That ys so good, so faire , so debonayre ,I prey t o God that ever falle hire faire .

’

For nadde comfort e b enofhire presence,I badde b endede, Withoutenany defence ,For drede ofLoves w ordes, and h is chere ,As

,w hantyme is, h eraft er ye shal here .

Behynde this God ofLove uponth e greneI saugh comyng ofladyesnine t ene

’

Inreal habite , a ful esy paas3And after h em come ofw ymmensw i ch a traas,

Th is poem h as beenoft en imitat ed . Compare Surrey ’s Praise ofh isLove. Poems QfSurrey and others, Ann. Ed . p . 6 6 . But t h e turnofexpressionis st ill more closely follow ed ina poem by anunknownauthor int h e same volume , p . 237 :

Give p lace you ladies and b e gone ,Boast not yourselves at all,

For h ere at h and approach et h oneWh ose face sh all stainyou all.’

2 By doesnot h ere denot e t h e instrument , it means inrelat ionto.

3 As t h e sundims t h e brigh tness oft h e fi re .

4 Int h e Fairfax M8. t h e foregoing song is introduced int h is p lace,evident ly by mistake ,5 Of t h e ninet een ladies h ere alluded to, t h e legendes of only nine

are related.

54 PROLOGUE TO THE

That synthat God Adam badde made ofert h e,Th e th ridde part ofmankynde, or t h e ferth e,N e w ende I nat by possibili te,Had ever inthis w ide w orlde ybe,And t rew e oflove, thise w omenw ere ech on.

Now w hether w as that a w onder thing or non,That rygh t anoon, as that they gonne espye

This flour,w hich that I clepe t h e daysie,

Full sodeynly they stynt enalattones,And knelede doune

,as it w ere for th e nones,

And songenw ith o vois, Heel and honourTo t rout h e ofw omanhede , and t o this flp

ur,

That b eret h our alder pris infi gurynge ,H ire w hi te corow ne b eryth t h e w itnessyngeAnd w ith that w ord

,a-compas enviroun,

They set t enh emful soft ely adoun.

First sat t h e God ofLove,and syt h hi s quene

With t h e w hite coroune,clad ingrene ;

And sithenal t h e remenaunt by and by,

As they w ere ofestaat , ful curt eysly,N e nat a w orde w as spokenint h e place,Th e mountaunce ofa furlong w ey ofspace .

I,knelyng by this floure, ingood entente

Aboode , t o know enw hat this peple mente,As stille as any stone 3 til at t h e lastThi s God ofLove onme hise eyencaste ,And seyde

,Wh o knelet h t h ere ’

l’

and I answ erdeUnto h is askynge , w hanthat I it herde,And seyde

,It am I

,

’

and come h imnere ,And salw ed him. Q uod h e, What dostow here ,So nygh mynow ne floure

,so boldely

’

l

Y t w ere better w orthy t rew elyA w orme t o negh enner my floure th anthow .

’

And w hy, sire,’ quod I

,and yt lyke ye w ?

For thow ,

’ quod h e, ‘art t h ert o nothing able.

Yt ismy relyke, digne and delytable,

1 Th at is, Th at insh ape bears t h e prize fromus all.’


And t h ew my fe e , and almy folke w erreyest ,And ofmynolde servauntes t h e w mysseyest ,And hynderest h em,

w ith thy t ranslacion,And lettest folke from hire devocionTo serve me

,and b oldest it folye

l

To servenLove . Thoumayst it nat denys,

For inpleyne text, Withoutennede ofglose,

Thou hast translated t h e Romaunce oft h e Rose,

“

That is anh eresye ayeinsmy law e,

And makest Wise folke fro me w it hdraw e 3And ofCresyde

8 thou hast seyde as t h e lyste ,That maketh mento w ommenlasse trist,That b enas t rew e as ever w as any stele .

Ofthynansw ere avise thee rygh t w ele,

For though thou reneyed hast my lay,As other w recch es h andoonmany a day,By seynt e

’ Venus,that my moder ys,

If that thou lyve, thou shalt repent enth isSo crue lly

,t h at it shal w ele b e sene .

’

Th eo spak this lady, clothed al ingreens,And seyde

, God,rygh t ofyoure curt esye,

Ye motenherkenyfh e canreplye

Ayenst al this that ye have t o h immeved3A God ne sh olde nat b e thus agreved,But ofhys de it e e h e shal b e stable

,

And th ert o gracious and merciable .

And yfye nere a God that know enalle,

Thenne mygh t yt b e as I yow tellensh alle 3

1 Th e w ords me and holdest it folie are omit t ed int h e Fairfax MS.Th ey are supp lied fromMS . Arch . Se ld . B. 24.

2 Th e fact t h at Ch aucer w as blamed for t ranslat ing Th e Romaunt ofthe Rose as be ing a h eresy against. t h e law ofLove , suggests t h e probab ility t h at h e t ranslat ed t h e w h ole ofi t , including t h e part so obnox iousto ladies. See Introd . vol. vii . p . 12 . For inCh aucer’s Version, as w e

now h ave i t , t h ere is certainly noth ing very unfavourable to t h e fairsex .

3 See vol. v. p . 8.

4 To keep up t h e analogy betw eent h e h eath enmyt h ology and t h e

Ch rist ianreligion, w h ich is imp lied int h e name of t h e poem. t h e God

sw ears by Venus as a saint .

Thismanto yew may falsly benaccused,Ther as by right h im oughts benexcused3For inyoure courts ys many a losengeour,And many a qusint e t otolsre accusour,That taboureninyoure eresmany a soun,Right after hi re ymagynacioun,To have yours daliaunce

,and for envie .

Thise bent h e causes,and I shal nat lye ,

Envie ys lavenders1oft h e court alw ay3

For sh e ne parteth neither nygh t ns day,Out oft h e house ofCesar, thus saith DauntsWh o so that goe th

,algate sh e w olnat w ants.

And eke, paraunt ers, for thismanysnyce,He mygh t doonyt gessyngno malice 3For h e useth t hynges for to make,

“

Him rekkst h nogh t ofw hat maters h e take 3Or h im w as bodenmakent h ilks t w sys

4

Ofsomme persons, and durste yt nat w ithseys;Or h im repenteth outrely ofthis.He ne hath nat doonso grevously amys

,

To t ranslat enthat olde clerkes w riten,As t h ogh that h e ofmalice w olde endit en

,

Despite ofLove,and h ad himselfs yt w rogh t e.

This sh oolde a rygh t w is lord have inh is thoughts,

1 Lavenders, or laundere, means, primarily , a gut ter, or ch annel forconveying w at er. Here it is t h e t ranslat ionofmeretrice. Th e passage

alluded to is inth e Inferno, canto x iii.Lamere trice , ch smai dall ’ osp iz ioDi Cesare nont erse gli occh i put t i ,Mort e commune e de lle corto vi zio

Infi ammb contrams gli animi tut t i ,E gl

' infi ammat i infi ammar si Augusto,Ch e i lie t i onor tornaro int rist i lut t i.

Ch aucer seems to h ave be enno less conversant w ith t h e w orks ofDante t h anw ith th ose of Petrarch and Boccaccio. He quot es fromDant e infour separat e instances— See vol. vi . p . 207 , not e 3.

3 Th at is, Wh osoever goes [falls] , sh e w ill not b e inw ant .’3 Th at is, Because h e is accustomed to w rit e poe try .

’

4 Th at is,‘ Eit h er h e w as h idden to w ri t e t h ese t w o poems,

’sed ,

The Romaunt rfthe Rose, and The Troylus and Org/seyde.

58 PROLOGUE TO THE

But asketh mercy w ith a dredefulherte ,And profere t h h im,

rygh t inh is bare sh ert e,

To b enrygh t at your ow enjugement,

Thanogh t a God, by short avyssment ,Consydrs h is ow enhonour

,and hys t respas3

For syt h no cause ofdethe lyet h inthis caas,Ye w egh t e t o b ent h e lygh t er merciable 3Le t eth youre ire

,and beth sumw h at t rstable !

Th e manhath served you ofh is konnynge,And fort h red w elyoure law inh ismakynge.

Al b e hi t that h e kannat w el endite ,Y e t hath h e made lsw de folke delyt eTo serve you, inpreysinge ofyour name .

He made t h e boke that hight t h e Hous ofFame,1

And eke t h e Deeth ofBlaunch e t h e Duchesse,

2

And t h e Parlement ofFoulss,3as I gesse

,

And al t h e Love ofPalamonand ArciteOfThebes,

‘t h ogh t h e storys ysknow enlyt e 3

And many anympne for your haly dayes,That h igh t enBalades, Roundels, V irslayes.

’

And for t o speke ofother h olynesse ,He hath inprose translated Boece,

’

And made th e Lyfe also ofSeynt e Cscils.

’

He made also,goonys a grete w h ile,

1 See vol.vi . p . 1 92 .2 See vol. vi . p . 135.

3 Th is poem is also called The Assembly of Foules.— See vol.

iv. 184.

4 Th e poem h ere alluded to is probably The Knigh tes Tale, or oneversionofi t .— See vol. i . p . 1 1 1 .

5 Among t h e Balades h ere ment ioned w ould probably h ave beenincluded The Comp leynte ofth e Blake Knight , and ot h er sh ort poems oft h is descrip t ion. Of t h e Roundel and Virelays w e h ave sp ecimensamongst t h e minor poems.6 Th e w ork ofBoe’ t h ius, De Consolatione Ph ilosop h ies, w as one oft h emost popular w orks onph ilosoph y in t h e middle ages. It w as t ranslat ed into Anglo-Saxon by King Alfred , into French by John of

Meung, and into English by Ch aucer.

7 The Second Nonnes Tale, in The Canterbury Tales, is on t h is

subject , and is probably t h e poem h ere alluded t e .—See vol. i ii .

p. 65.


Origenss uponth e Maudeleyne .

l

Bym oughts new t o have t h e lesse peyne,He hath made many a ley, and many a t hynge.

‘Now as ye b e a God, and eke a kyngs,I your Alceste

,w hilom quene ofTrace ,

2

I asks ye w thisman, rygh t ofyour grace,That ye h imnever hurt s inal h is lyve

,

And h e shal sw erent o ye w ,and that blyve,

He shal never more agiltsninthis w yse,But shal maken

,as ye w oldevyse,

Ofw ommentrew s inlovyng alhire lyf,Wh er so ye w ol

,ofmaydenor ofw yf,

And fort h renye w as muche as h e mysseyde,Or int h e Rose , or e lles inCreseyde .

’

Th e God ofLove answ ereds hire anoon,Madame,

’ quod h e,

‘ it is so long agoonThat I yew knew s so charitable and trew s,That never yit, synthat t h e w orlds w as new s,To me ne founds I better noonthanyes3If that ye w olde save my degre e,I may ne w olnat w erns your requests3Allyeth inyew ,

doot h w yt h bym as ye w leste.I alforyeve Withoutenlenger space 3For w h o so ysvet h a ysft e or doot h a grace,Do i t be tyme , h is thanks ys w el t h e more,

And deme t h ys w hat h e shal do t h erfore .

Goo thanks now my lady here,’ quod h e .

I roos,and doune I setts me onmy knee,

And seyde thus Madame, t h e God above

Foryelde ye w that t h e God ofLoveHanmaksdme h is w raths t o foryivs,And grace so longs for t o lyve

,

1 Tyrw h itt t h inks it almost certain, from int ernal evidence , th at t h epoem w h ich bears t h is t it le , and w h ich h as been included in all

editions of Ch aucer’s w orks, is t h e product ionof some lat er poet , andt h at it h as be enat tribut ed to h im only because h e h ere ment ions a.

poemofh is onth e same subject .2 See vol. iv. p . 133,note 2 .

60 PROLOGUE TO THE

That I may know s soothly w hat ys bee,That h anme he lps, and put inthis degree.

But t rew ely I w ende,as inthis caas

Nought have agilts, ne doont o love t respasFor w hy ? a trew s man, Withoutendreds,Hath nat t o partenw ith a th sves dede .

1

Ne a trew s lover ought ms nat to blame,

Th ogh that I spake a fals lovers som Shams.

They oughts rather w ith me for t o he lde,For that I ofCressyde w root or told,Or oft h e Ross

,w hat so mynauctour mente

,

Algate, God w oot, yt w as mynententeTo fort h rent rout h e inlove, and yt ch srycs,And t o b enw ar fro falsnssse and fro vice

,

By sw ich s ensample 3 thi s w asmy menynge .

’

And sh e answ erde,Lat b e thynarguynge,

For love ne w olnot count erplet sd b ez

Inrygh t e no w rong,and Isms that ofms3

Thow hast thy grace , and h olds t h e rygh t e t h ert o.

N ew w ol I seyne w hat penance thou sh alt doFor thy trespas, understonde yt hereThow shalt w hile that thou lyvsst , yere by yere,Th e most partys ofthy tyms spendsInmakyng ofa glorious legends

,

Ofgood w ymmen, maydsnes, and w yvss,That w erentrew s inlovyng al hire lyves3And t ells offalsmenthat h em byt raien,That alhi r lyfe no do nat but assayenHow many w omenthey may doona shame,For inyour w orlds that isnow h olds a game.And th ogh t h e lyke nat a lovers b ee ,Speke w el oflove ; this penance yeve I thee.And t o th e God ofLove I shal so preys,

1 Th is appears to be a proverb ,meaning, A true [h onest ] manh asno part int h e act ions ofa t h ief.

’

2 Th is ax iomforms one of t h e statutes ofThe Cow s ofLove—Seevol. iv. p . 146 .

LEGENDE Or GOODE WOMEN. (31

That h e shal charge h is servauntes, by any w eys,To fort h renthee, and w el thy labour quyte :Goo new thy w eys, thi s penauncs ys but lyte .

And w hanthis boke ysmade, yeve it t h e queneOnmy byh alfs, at Eltham, or at Sh eene .

’ l

Th e god oflove gansmyls, and thanh e seydeWestow ,

’ quod h e , Wh er this b e w yfe ormayde ,Or queens, or countssse, or ofw hat degre,That hath so lyt elpenauncs yeventhee,That hast deserved sore for to smert e ?But pits renneth scene ingentil herteThat maist ow seen, sh e kyt h et h w hat sh e ys.

’

And I answ erde , Nay, sire , so have I blys,No more , but that I see w el sh e is good.

’

That is a trew s tale, by mynhood !’

Q uod Love , and thou know est w el, pardee,If yt b e so that thou avise t h e .

Hast ow nat ina books lyth inthy chests,

Th e gret goodnesss ofth e quene Alceste ,That turned w as into a dayesye

’l

Sh e that for hire h eusbonde chees t o dye,And eke to goonto h ells, rather thanh e,And Brenles rescow ed hire , parde,And brought hire out ofhells agayne t o blys

'

l’

And I answ erde ageyn, and sayde , Yis,

N ew know I hire . And is this good Alceste,

Th e dayesie, and mynow sne h ert es rest s ?Now fele I w ele t h e goodnesss ofthis w yf,That both after hire deth, and inh ir lyf,Hir gre te bount e doublst h hi re renoun.

Welhath sh e quyt ms mynaffsccioun,

That I have t o hire flour th e daysye .

No w onder ys t h ogh Jove hire st ellyfys,

1 Th is allusiondet ermines t h e dat e of t h e poem to b e subsequent to1382 , t h e year oft h e marriage ofAnne ofBoh emia, Ri ch ard II .

’

s fi rstqueen.

3 For th is proverb see vol. i. p . 145.

62 PROLOGUE TO THE

As telleth Agat on,’lfor hire goodenesss,

H ire w hite corow ne b eret h ofbyt w itnesssFor al so many vertues badde sh e

,

As smale fi orounes inhire corow ne b ee .

Inremembraunce ofhire and inhonoursCib ella

2 maade t h e daysye and t h e floursYcrow ned al w ith w hite

,asmenmay se,

And Mars yaft o hire a corow ne reeds, parde,

Instede ofrubyes setts among t h e w hite .

’

Th erw ith this queens w ex reed for shame alyte ,Wh anne sh e w as preysed so inhire presence .

Th anne seyde Love,A. ful grete negligence

Was yt t o t h e , that ilke tyms thou made,HydeAbsolonthy tresses’ 3 inbalade

,

That thou forgat s hire inthy songs to setts,Synthat thou art so grstly inhire dette,And w ost w el that kalender ‘ ys sh eTo any w omanthat w ol lover b e :For sh e taught al t h e craft s offyns lovyng,And namely ofw yfh ods t h e lyvyng,And alle t h e boundss that sh e oughts kepsThy litel w itte w as t h ilks tyms asleps.

But now I charge thee uponthy lyf,Th at inthy legends thoumake ofthys w yf,Whanthou hast other smale ymade before ;And fare now w el

,I charge thee namore .

But er I goo, thusmuchs I w ol t h e telle,Ne shal no trew s lover come inhells.

1 Uponth isw ord Tyrw h it t h as t h e follow ingnot e I h ave noth ingto say concerning t h is w rit er, ex cep t t h at one of t h e same name isquoted in t h e Prologue to t h e Tragedies of Cambyses, by Th omasPreston. Th ere isno ground for supposing, w ith Gloss. Ur. [ th e comp iler ofUrry’

s Glossary] t h at ap h ilosopher of Samos is meant , or anyofth e Agath oes ofAnt iquity.’ Th e compiler ofUrry’

s Gloss. obtainedh is informat ion from a not e in Spegh t , w h o says, equivocal ly ,Agat h on, a ph ilosoph er ofSamos, did w ri t e Histories.

’

2 Cybe le .3 See ante, p . 52 .

4 A kalendar, or calendar, is analmanac by w h ich pe rsons are

guided int h eir comput at ionof t ime ; h ence it isused, as h ere , for aguide , or example generally.


Thise other ladi es sit tynge here arow s,Beninmy balade , yfthou kanst h em know e,And inthy bookss alle thou shalt h em fyndeHave h em inthy legends now alle inmyndeI mens ofh em that b eninthy know yng.

For here b entw enty thousands moo sit tyngThanne thou know est, good w ommenalle ,And trew s oflove for ought that may byfalleMake t h e metres ofh em as t h e lest ;I mot goonhome

,t h e sonne draw eth w est,

To Paradys, w ith al this companys ;And serve alw ey t h e fressh e daysye.

At Cleopatres I w ols that thou b egynne,And so forthe

,and my love so shal thou w ynns

For lat see now w hat manthat lover b e,Wol doonso stronge a peyne for love as sh e .

I w ot w el that thoumaist nat alyt ryme,That sw ich s loveres dide inhire tymsIt w ere t oo long t o redenand t o hereSuflissth me thoumake inthismanere

,

That thou reh erse ofalhi re lyft h e grete,After thise olde auct ours lystemfor t o trets.

For w h o so shal so many a storys telle,Sey sh ort ely or h e shal t o longe dw elle .

’

And w ith that w ords my bokes ganI take,And right thus onmy legends ganI make.

INCIPIT LEGENDA CLEOPATRIE MARTIRIS,

EGIPTI REGINE .

’

FTER t h e deth ofTholome t h e kyng,That alEgypts badde inhi s governyng,

Regned hys queens Cleopataras;Til ona tyms befel ther sw ich a caas,

Th is is th e form inw h ich royal saints are described int h e kalendar.Thus, th e i 9t h ofJanuary is designated Canut i Regis ct Martyris.

64 LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN.

That out OfRome w as sent a senatour,For to conquerenregues and honourUnto th e toune ofRome

,as w as usaunce,

To have t h e w orlds at h ir ob eysaunce ,And sooth to seye, Antonius w as h isname.So fi l yt , as Fortune bym ogh t

la shame ,

Wh anne h e w as falleninprosperit ee ,Rebel unto t h e toune ofRome ys h es.And over al this, t h e sust sr ofCesar

2

He laft s h ir falsly, er that sh e w as w ar,

And w old algates h ananother w yf,For w hi ch h e took w ith Rome and CesarNath eles, forsooth this ilke senatour,Was a ful w orthy gentil w erreyour,And ofh is deeth it w as ful gret damage .

But Love h ad brought thismaninsw i ch a rage,And him sonarw s boundeninh is laas

,

Alle for t h e love OfCleopataras,That al th e w orlds h e setts at noo value ;Rym t h ogh ts ther w asnothing to him so due

As Cleopataras for t o love and serveRymrogh t e nat inarmes for to sterveInth e defence ofh ir and ofh ir rygh te .

Thisnoble queens sk loved so this knygh te,Thurgh h is desert and for h is chivalrys,As cert eynly, but yfthat bookss lye ,He w as ofpersons, and ofgentilesse

,

And Ofdiscrecion, and ofhardynesse,Worthy t o any Wight that livenmay;And sh e w as faire, as is t h e rose inMay.

And t omakenshortly is t h e bests,Sh e w ax h is w if, and badde himas hir leste.Th e w eddyng and t h e feste t o devyse,

Tome that have yt ake sw ich emprise,Ofsomany a storys for to make ,Yt w ere t o longe, lest that I sh olde slake1 Th at is. As Fortune ow ed h ima sh ameful reverse .

’

9 Octavia, sister OfAugustus, Wh om Antony repudiated to marryCleopatra.

66 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN .

And thus t h e longe day infight they spendsTil at t h e last, as every thing hath ends

,

Antony is shent,and put ys t o th e fi ygh t ,

And al hys folke t o-goo, that best goo mygh t .Fleeth ek t h e quene w ith al hi r purpre sayle,For strokes w hich that w ent as thik as hayleNo w onder w as

,sh e mygh t it nat endure .

And w hanth at Antony saugh that aventure,

‘Alas,

’ quod h e , t h e day that I w as borne !My w orsh ippe inthis day thus have I lorneAnd for dispeyre out . Ofhys w yt t e h e sterte

,

And roof hymselfe anoont hurgh out t h e herte,Er that h e ferther w ent out oft h e place.

1

Hys w yf, that koude ofCesar have no. grace ,To Egipt e is fled, for dreds and for distresse.But h erkenet h ye that spekenofkyndenesse .

Y e menthat falsly sw erenmany anooth e,

That ye w ol dye yfthat your love b e w rooth e,

Here may ye seene ofw omenw hi ch a t rout h e.This w oful Cleopatra h admade sw ich rouths

,

That ther nys t ongs noonthatmay yt te lle.But ont h e morw e sh e w olno lenger dw elle

,

But made h ir subtil w erkmenmak e a shryneOfalle t h e rabe cs and th e stones fyneInalEgipte that sh e koude espys ,And put ful th e sh ryne ofspicerys,And le t t h e corps enbawme and forth sh e fetteThi s dede corps, and int h e sh ryne yt sh e t t e .

And next t h e sh ryne a pitte thandooth sh e grave,And all t h e serpentes that sh e mygh t e have ,Sh e put h em inthat grave, and thus sh e seydeNow

,love

, t o w hommy sorw eful herte Ob eyde ,SO fe rfort h ely, that fro that blysfulh oursThat I yow sw or to benalfrely youre

1 Th is is h istorically incorrect . Wh ent h e queen’sgalleys fled at th ebat t le of Act ium, Antony follow ed h er to Egyp t ; and i t w as notunti l h is alli es h ad alldesert ed h imth at h e stabbed h imse lf.

LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN. 67

(I mens yow ,Antonius, my knygh t ,)

That never w akyng int h e day or nygh t ,Y e nere out ofmynh ert es remembraunce ,For w ele or w oo

,for carols

,or for daunes

And inmy se lf this covenaunt made I thoo,That rygh t sw ich as ye feltenw ele or w oo,

As ferforth as yt inmy pow ers lays,Unreprovable unto my w ifh ood aye ,Th e same w olde I felen

,life or dethe

And t h ilks covenaunt w hile me last eth breth eI w oll fulfills and that shal w elbe ssene

,

Was never unto h ir love a t rew er queene .

’

And w yt h th at w ords,naked, w ith ful good hert e,

Amonge t h e serpents int h e pit sh e sterte .

And th er sh e ch ees to h anh ir buryinge .

Anoont h e neddres gonne h ir for t o stynge’

,

And sh e h ir de eth receve th w ith good chere,For love ofAntony that w as hir so dere .

And this is storial,sooth it ysno fable .

Now er I fynd amanthus trew s and stable,And w olde for love h is de eth so frely take ,I preys God lat ou

’

re h edssnevers ake !

EXPLICIT LEGENDA CLEOPATRE MARTYRIS

INCIPIT LEGENDA TESBE BABILON’

,

AT Bab iloy'

ne w hyloms fi l it thus,Th e w hich s toune t h e que ens Simy

'

ram'

u'

s

Lest dichenal about,and w allesmake

Ful hye , ofharde tiles w el'

ybake‘

Th er w ere dw ellynge inthisnoble toune ,Tw o lordes

,w hich t hat w ere Ofgrete rsnoune,

And w onedenso neigh upona grene ,That ther nas but a stoonw al h em b et w ene,

Ovid, Met . iv. 55.


As ofte ingrette tounes ys t h e w one .

And sooth t o seyne,that 0 manh ad a sons,

Ofal that londe oont h e lust iest e ;That other h ad a dogh t re , t h e fairest e

That est ew ard int h e w orlds w as t h o dw ellynge .

Th e name Ofeverych e ganto other sprynge ,By w ommenthat w ere neygh ebores about sFor inthat countre yit

,w yt h out endoute,

Maydenes b enykept for jelousyeF111 streyt e, lests they di densomme folye .

This yonge manw as cleped Piramus,Tsebe hight th e maids

, (Nasolseith thus).

And thus by report s w as h ir name ysh ove,That as t hey w oxe inage , w ax h ir love .

And cert eyne , as by resonof h ir age,Ther mygh t e have b enb et w ex h emmariage

,

But that h ir fadresnolde yt not assente ,And booth inlove ylike soore they brente

,

That noonofal h ir frendesmygh t e yt lette .

But prevely sommstyme yit they metteBe sleight

,and spokensomme ofh ir desire,

As w rie t h e glede and hotter is t h e fi re 3”

Forb eede a love , and it is t entimes so w oods.

Th is w al,w hich that b itw ixe h em bothe st oode ,

Was clovenat w oo,right fro t h e toppe adoune,

Ofolde tyms,ofh is foundacioun.

But yit this clyft w as so narw s and liteY t w as nat ssene , desre ynough a myt eBut w hat is that that love kannot espye ?Y e lovers tw oo, yfthat I shal nat lye ,Y e foundenfirst this lite l narw s clift s

,

And w ith a soune as softe as any sh ryft e,’

1 PubliusOvidiusNaso.

1 Th at is,‘ Since , if you cover up t h e firebrand, [soil. w ith ash es,]

t h e fi re t h row s out all t h e more h eat .’

3 Th at is, A voice as low as t h at w ith w h ich one ut ters h is confession.

’

LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN . 69

They leete h ir w ordes t h urgh t h e clift s pace ,And tolden, w hile that they st odenint h e place,AIh ir compleynt Oflove , and al hire w oo.

At every tyms w hanthey durste soo,

Upont h e o syde Oft h e w alls stood h e,And onthat other syde stood Te sb e,Th e sw oot e soune ofother t o recsyve .

And thus hire w ardeyns w olde they disceyve,And every day this w alls they w olde thre ets,And w isshe t o God that it w ere doune yb et e .

Thus w olde they seyu Allas,thou w ikked w alls !

Thurgh thyne envys thow us lettest alle !Why nyltow cleve

,or fallenal atw o ?

Or at t h e le est,but thow w ouldest so

,

Yit w oldest ow but ones let usmeets,

Or oonss that w e mygh t e kyssensw e ets,Th anw ere w e covered ’ ofours cares colde .

But nat h eles,yit b e w e t o t h e holde

,

Inasmuchs as thou sufi'

rest for t o goonOurs w ordes thurgh thy lyme and eke thy stoon,Y et ogh t e w e w ith thee b enw elapayde .

’

And w h anne thise idel w ordes w erensayde ,Th e colde w alls they w oldenkyssenofstoon

,

And take h ir leve , and foort h they w oldengoon.

Alle this w as gladly2 int h e evetyds,Or w onder erly

,lest menit espyede .

And longe tyms they w rogh t e inthismanere,Til ona day, w hanne Phebus gant o clere

,

Aurora w ith t h e st remes ofhi re hete ,Had dried uppe t h e dew e ofherbes w ete ,Unto this clyft e, as it w as w ont t o b e

,

Come Piramus,and aft er come Tesb e .

And pligh tent rout h e fully inh ir faye ,That ilke same nygh t to st eels aw ays,And t o b egile h ire w ardeyns everych one ,And forth out oft h e cit es for t o gone .

1 Covered is h ere put for recovered.

9 Th at is, All t h is w as done by preference at event ide .

’


And, for t h e feeldes b enso broods and w ide,

For t o meets in0 place at o tyde,They sett s markes hire metynge sh olde b ee

Ther kyng Nynus w as graven,under a tree ;

(For olde payens, that ydoles h eriede ,U sedenthoo infeelds to b enb eriede)And faste by h is grave w as a w elle .

And shortly ofthis tale for t o telle ,This covenaunt w as afi

'

srmed w onder faste,

And longe h em t h ogh t s that t h e sonne lasts,

That it nere gone under t h e see adoune .

This Tesb e hath so grete afi'

eccioun,And so gre te lykynge Piramus t o see ,

That w h anne sh e seigh hire tyms mygh te bee ,At nygh t sh e stale aw ey fulprevely,With hire face yw ympled subtilly.For alhire frendes, for to save hire t routh e,Sh e hath forsake ; allas, and that is rouths,That ever w omanw olde be so trew s

,

To trustenman,but sh e t h e b e t bymknew e !

And t o t h e tre e sh e goot h a ful goode paas,For love made h ir so hardy inthis caas ;And by t h e w ells adoune sh e ganh ir dresseAllas, thancomme th a w ilds leonesseOut oft h e w oods, w ithoutenmore arrests

,

With blody mouth ofst rangelynge ofa b est s,To drynkenoft h e w ells ther as sh e sat .

And w h anne that Tesb e h ad espyed that,Sh e ryst hire up, w ith a fuldrery herte ,And ina cave

,w ith dredful foot sh e stert e ,

For by t h e moons sh e saugh yt w el w it h alle .

And as sh e ranne , hi r w ympellest sh e falls,And tooke noonh ede , so soore sh e w as aw haped,And eke so glad that sh e w as e scaped;And ther sh e syt t e , and darke th

1w onder stille.

Whanthat this lyonesse hath drouks h ir fi lls,

1 Th e print ed edi tions read lurketk, but as t h e reading of th e Fair

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 7 1'

Aboute th e w ells gansh e for to w ynds,

And rygh t anoont h e w ympelgansh e fynde,And w ith h ir bloody mouth it al to-rente.

Whanthis w as done,no lenger sh e ne stent,

But t o t h e w oods hire w ey thanhath sh e nome.And at t h e last s this Piramus ys come,

But al t o long,allas

,at home w as h es !

Th e moons sh oone,menmygh t e w elysee ,

And inhys w ey, as that h e come ful fasts,H iss e igh ento. t h e grounds adoune h e casteAnd int h e sonde as h e b eh elde adoune,H e seigh t h e steppes broods ofa lyouneAnd inh is herte h e sodeynly agroos,And pale h e w ex, t h erw it h h is b e er aroos,And nere h e come

,and founds t h e w impel t orns.

Allas,’ quod h e, ‘ t h e day that I w as borne !

This 00 nygh t e w olus lovers booths slee !How sh ulde I axenmercy ofTssb ee ,Wh anne I am h e that have yow slayns, allas

'

i

My byddyng hath yow slayns inthis caas !Allas, to bidde a w omangoonby nygh t eInplace thereas a peril fallenmygh t e !And I so slow s ! allas, I ne badde b e eH ere inthis place ,a furlong w ey or yes !

N ow w hat lyonthat b e inthis forests,

My body mote rent s, or w hat bestsThat w i ld is, gnaw enmote h e now mynherteAnd w ith that w ords h e t o t h e w ympel sterte,And kist it oft , and w ept onit ful soreAnd seyde

,Wympsl, allas i ther nysno more,

But thou shalt fe e ls as w el t h e h lode ofme,As thou hast felt t h e blsdynge ofTesb e .

’

fax MS. , w h i ch is given int h e t ex t , is support ed by MS . Arch . Seld.

B. 24, i t is ret ained . To darke. or dirke , appears, from t h is p lace , tob e a verb , meaning, to remain in t h e dark, w h ence , probably, t h epoet ical w ord darkling, used by Milton.

1 Th is line is omit t ed int h e Fairfax MS i t is supplied fromArch .

Seld. B. 34.

72 LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN:

And w ith that w ords h e smot bym t o th e herteTh e blood out oft h e w ounds as broods sterte

,

As w ater, w h anne t h e conduyt e brokenys.Now Tesb e

,w hich that w yst e nat this,

But syt tyng inhire dreds, sh e t h ogh t s thusYfit so falle that my PiramusBe comenhider, and may me nat fynde,He mayms holdenfals, and eke unkynde .

’

And oute sh e comth,and after bym ganespysn,

Booth w ith hire herte,and w ith hire e igh en

And t h ogh t s, I w ol h im tellenOfmy dreds,Booth Oft h e lyonesse and almy dede .

’

And at t h e lasts hire love thanhath sh e founds,Betynge w ith hi s helis ont h e grounds,Al blody and therew ithal abak sh e sterte

,

And lyke th e w aw es quappe ganh ir hert e ,And pale as boxe

1sh e w ax

,and ina t h row s

Avised h ir,and ganbym w el t o know e

,

That it w as Piramus, hire herte dere .

Wh o koude w rit e w hichs a dedely chereHath Tesb e now ? and h ow hire heere sh e rents ?And h ow sh e ganh ir se lve t o turment e iAnd h ow sh e lyth and sw ownet h ont h e grounds ?And h ow sh e w epe Ofteres ful h is w ounde ?How medelet h sh e h is blood w ith h ir compleynt e ?How w ith h is blood h ir selvengansh e peynt e ?How clippet h sh e t h e dede corps ? allas !How doot h this w oful Tesb e inthis cas ?How kysset h sh e h is frosty mouthe so colds ?‘Wh o hath doonthi s2 and w h o hath b enso boldsTo sleenmy leefe

'

l O speke Piramus !I am thy Tesb e , that thee calleth thus !’

And t h erw ith al sh e lyft et h up h is heed.

This w oful manthat w asnat fully deed,

1 Takenliterally fromOvidOraque buxo

Pallidiora gerens, exh orruit sequoris instarQuod fremit , ex iguacumsummumstringitur aura.

’

Met . iv. 1 34.


Here may ye seen,w hat lover so h e b e ,

A w omandar and kanas w elas h e .

EXPLICIT LEGENDA TESBE.

INCIPIT LEGENDA DIDONIS, CARTHAGINIS

REGINE .

’

GLORIE and honour

,Virgile Mantuan

,

Be t o thy name ! and I shal as I kanFolow e thy lanterns as thou goste byforne ,How Eneas to Dido w as forsw orne ,Inthyne Eneyde . And OfNaso w ol I takeTh e tenour and t h e grete effect esmake .

Wh anne Troy brogh t w as t o dest ruccionBy Grekes sle ight

,and namely by Symon,

Feynyng t h e hors ofi'

red unto Minerve,

Thurgh w hich that many a Trojanmoste sterve,

And Ector h ad after h is deeth apperedAnd fi re so w oods

,it mygh t e nat b enst ered,

Inal t h e noble tour OfYlion,That oft h e cites w as t h e ch eefdungeon;And al t h e countre e w as so low e ybrogh t e ,And Priamus t h e kyng fordoonandnogh teAnd Eneas w as charged by VenusTo fi eenaw ay3 h e tooke AscaniusThat w as h is sons

,inh is rygh t hands and fledde ,

And onh is bakke h e baar, and w ith h im leddeHis olde fader, cleped AnchisesAnd by th e w ey h is w yfe Creusa h e lees,And mochel sorw e h adde h e inh is mynde,Er that h e koude h is felaw sh ippe fynde .

But at t h e last, w h anne h e badde h em founds,H e made h im redy ina certeynstounds

,

And t o t h e see ful faste h e ganh im hye ,And sayleth forth w ith al h is companys

1 Th islegende is takenfromt h e E neid, and Ovid’

sRemidas, ep ist .vii.


Tow ards Y tayle, as w olde destanee .

But ofh is aventures int h e see ,

Nysnat t o purpos for to speke ofhere,For it acorde th nat to mymaters.

But as I seyde , Ofbym and ofDydoShal b e my tale, til that I have do.

So long h e saylled int h e salt s see ,Til inLybye unneth arryved h e,So w as h e w ith t h e tempest al t o-shake .

And w h anne that h e th e havens h ad ytake,He h ad a knygh t e w as called Achates

,

And h im ofal h is felaw sh ippe h e chesTo goonw ith h im, t h e contrse for t espye.He tooke w ith h imnamore companys,But forth they goon

, and lafte hise sh ippes ride,His fere and h e , Withoutenany guyde .

So longe h e w alketh inthis w ildernesss,Til at t h e last h e mette anhunt eresse ,A bow s inh ands, and arw es badde sh e ;H ire clothes knyt t e w ere unto t h e knee.

But sh e w as yit t h e fairest creatureThat ever w as yformed by nature ;And Eneas and Achates sh e grette,And thus sh e t o h em spak w h anne sh e h emmette.

Saw s ye,’ quod sh e , as ye h anw alked Wide,

Any ofmy sust renw alks yow b esyde,With any w ilds boor or other b est s,That they h anhunted t o inthis forests,Y tukked up, w ith arw es inh er casi ’

Nay soothly, lady !’ quod this Eneas

But by thy beauts, as yt t hynketh me ,Thoumygh t est never ert h ely w omanb e,But Phebus suster art ow ,

as I gesse.

And yfso b e that th ou b e a. goddesss,‘Have mercy onoure labour and ours w oo.

’

I namno goddesss soot h ely,’ quod sh e thoo

For maydens w alkeninth is cont rse here ,With arw es and w ith bow s

,inthismanere.

7 6 LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN.

This is th e regne OfLibie ther ye beenOfw hich that Dido lady is and queens.

And shortly tolde al t h e occasionWhy Dido come into that region

,

Ofw hich as now me lusteth nat t o rymeIt nedet h nat , it nere but los oftyms.

For this is al and somme it w as VenusH is ow ens moder, that spak w ith h im thus;And to Cartage sh e bad h e sh olde h im dights,And w anyssh ed anoonout ofhi s sights.

I koude folw e w ords for w ords Virgile,

But it w olde lastenal t o longe w hile .

Thisnoble queens, that cleped w as Dido,That w h ylom w as t h e w ife ofSich eo,That fairer w as thant h e brygh t e sonne

,

Thisnoble toune ofCartage hath begonneInw hich sh e regne th inso grete honours

,

That sh e w as holde ofalle quenes flours,Ofgentillesse, offredome, ofb eaut e e ,That w el w as him that mygh t h er oonss see.

Ofkynges and Oflordes so desired,

That al t h e w orlds hire b eaut e h adde yfi red,Sh e stoode so w el inevery w ygh t ss grace .

Wh anne Eneas w as come unto that place,Unto t h e maistre temple

1ofal t h e toune

,

Ther Dido w as inh ir devocioun,Fulprively hi s w ey thanhath h e nome .

Wh anne h e w as inth e large temple come ,I kannat ssye if that hit b e possible ,But Venus badde h immaked invisible ;Thus seyt h t h e books, Withoutenany les.And w h anne thi s Eneas and Achates

Haddenint h e temple b enover alle,

Th anne founds they depeynt ed ona w alls,How Troy and al t h e londe destruied w as.

Allas,that I w as borne !’ quod Eneas.

1 Maistre means principal : it isapplied int h is sense to strete , asth e expressiont h e maist er-strete.

LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN. 7 7

Thurgh out t h e w orlds our shame is kid so w ideNow it is peynt ed uponevery side.We that w ereninprosperit ee,Be now disclaundred

,and insw ich s degre,

No lenger for to lyvenI ne kepe .

’

And w ith that w ords h e brasts out for t o w epe

So t endirly that rouths yt w as t o sesns.

This fressh e lady, Oft h e citee queens,Stoode int h e temple , inhire sstat royalle,SO rich ely, and eke so faire w it h alls,So yonge

,so lusty, w ith hire e igh englade ,

That yfthat God that h evene and ert h e made ,Wolds bana love , for beauts and goodenesse ,And w omanhede, and t rout h e , and semelynesse,Whom sh olde h e lovenbut this lady sw e te

’

i

There nysno w omant o h im halfe so met e .

Fortune,that hath t h e w orlds ingovernaunce,

Hath sodeynly brought inso new s a chaunce ,That never w as there yit so fremed a cas.

For al t h e companys ofEneas,

Whi ch that h e w end h anlorenint h e see,

Aryved ysnogh t fer fro that cit es.

For w hich t h e gre t t ist ofh is lordes, someBy aventure bent o t h e cit es comeUnto that same temple for t o sekeTh e queens, and ofhire socour hire besekeSw ich e renow ns w as ther spronge ofh ir goodnesss.And w h anne they b adde tolde al hire distresse,

And al hi r tempeste and hire harde cas,

Unto t h e queens appered Eneas,And Openly b eknew that it w as h e .

Wh o h ad j oye t h anne,but h is meines

,

That haddenfounds hire lord, hire governour ?Th e queens saw gh they dide h im sw ich honour,

And h ad herde ofte ofEneas er thoo,And inhire herte badde routh s and w oo,

That ever sw ich s a noble manas h es

Shal b endisherited insw ich s degree.

78 LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN .

And saw gh t h e man, that h e w as lyke a knygh t e,And suifi saunt ofpersons and Ofmygh t e,And lyke to b ena verray gent ilman.

And w el hys w ordes h e b ese t t e kan,And h adde a noble visage for t h e noones,And formed w elofbraw nes and OfboonesAnd after Venus badde sw ich s fairenesse,That no manmygh t e b e halfe so faire I gesse ,And w el a lord himsemed for t o b ee .

And for h e w as a straunger, somew hat sh esLyked h im t h e bette

,as God do boot s,

To somme folke oftennew e things is sw oote .

Anoonhire herte h ath pit ee Ofh is w oo,

And w ith pitee , love come alsooAnd thus for pit ee and for gentillesse,Refressh ed mote h e b enOfh is distresse .

Sh e seyde , certes, that sh e sory w as,

That h e hath h ad sw ich s peril and sw ich s cas

And inhi re frendely speche, inthis manereSh e t o him spak, and seyde as ye may here .

Be ye nat Venus sonne and Anchises?Ingood fayth, al t h e w orsh ippe and encresThat I may goodly doonyow , ye shal have ;Yours sh ippes and your meyne shal I save .’

And many a gentil w ords sh e spak h im too,

And commaunded hire messageres gooTh e same day, Withoutenany faylle ,Hys sh ippes for t o seke and' h em vitaylle .

Fulmany a b eest e '

sh e t o‘

t h e shippee sente,And w ith t h e w yne sh e ganh em t o present s,And t o hi re royalle palsys sh e hire spedde ,And Eneas alw ey w ith hire sh e ledde .What nedeth yow th e feste t o discryve

'

l

He never better at ese w as h is lyve .Ful w as t h e feste ofdeynt ees and richesse,Ofinstrumentes, Of

'

songe , and ofgladnesss,Andmany anamorouse lokyng and devys.This Eneas is coment o Paradys

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN . 7 9

Out oft h e sw olw e ofh ells ;1and thus injoye

Remembret h h im ofh is estaat inTroye .

To dauncyng chambres ful ofparements,2

Ofriche beddes, and ofpavements,This Eneas is ladde afte r t h e me ets.

And w ith t h e queens w hanne th at sh e b adde seet e ,And spices parted, and t h e w yne agoon,

s

Unto hyse ch ambres w as h e lad anoonTo take h is ese

,and for t o have h is rest s

With al h is folks,to doonw hat so h em lest e .

Ther nas coursers w elybridled noon,N e stede for th e justyng w el t o goon,N e large palfrey, esye for t h e noones,N e juw el frette ful ofriche stoones

,

N e sakkes ful ofgold, oflarge w ygh t ,N e rubes noonthat shynet h by nygh te ,N e gentil h aw t eynfaukone h eroneer,

4

N e hound for hert, or w ilds boor,or deer

,

N e coup ofgolde,w ith floryns new s yb e t te ,

That int h e londe ofLybye may bengst t e ,That Dido ne hath hit Eneas ysent eAnd all is payed, w hat that h e hath spente .

Thus kanthi s h onorable queens hire gestss calls,As sh e that kanin, fredome passenalle .

Eneas soothly eke,Withoutenles

,

Hath sent t o his shipps by AchatesAft er h is sons

,and aft er rych e thynges,

Booth cepter, clothes, broch es, and eke rynges

1 Inmediaval p ictures of t h e last judgment h el l is represent ed as a

h ideousmonst er, breat h ing flames, w h o sw al‘low s up t h e condemned .

—Se e ALBERT DURER’

S. Der K leine Passion. It w ill. generally befound t h at t h e popular notions onre ligion, in t h e middle ages, tool:t h e ir rise from a li teral int erpre tat ionof t h e Bible , w it h w h ich t h eydisplay an int imat e acquaintance . Thus, Jona'

h exclaims z—" Out ofth e belly ofh ell cried; I.

’ —J on!. i i . 2.9 See vol. ii . p . 1 ,not e i .

3 For t h e custom of distribut ing w ine to th e guests th e last th ingbefore going to bed , se e vol. v. p . r39 ,note 1 .

4 See vol. iv. p . 1 03,note a.


Somme for t o w ere,and somme for t o presents

To hire,that all thise noble t h inges h im sente

And bad h ys sons h ow that h e sh olde makeTh e presentynge , and t o t h e queens it take .

Repeyred is this Achates agayne,And Eneas fulblysful is and fayne,To seene h is yonge sons Ascanius.

For to himyt w as reported thus,That Cupido, that is t h e god oflove

,

At prayers Ofh ismoder hys above,Hadde t h e likenesss ofth e childe yt ake,Thisnoble que ens enamoured to makeOnEneas. But ofthat scriptureBe as b e may, I make ofyt no cure .

But sooth is this,t h e queens h ath made sw ich chere

Unto this child that w onder is t o hereAnd oft h e present that h is fader sente

,

Sh e thanked h imful ofte ingoods entente.

Thus is this queens inpleasaunce and joys,With al thise new s lusty folks ofTroy.And oft h e dedes hath sh e moors enqueredOfEneas

,and all t h e story lered

OfTroye and al t h e longe day they t w eyEnt endedsnfor t o speke and for t o pley.

Ofw hich ther gant o bredensw ich a fi re,That sely Dido hath now sw ich desireWith Eneas hire new s geste t o deele,That sh e loste hire hew e and eke hire heels.

Now t o t h e fi'

ect,now t o t h e fruyt ofal,

Why I have tolde this storys, and tellenshal.Thus I b egynne —It fi lupona nygh t e,Whanne that t h e moonupreysed h ad hire lygh te,This noble queens unto hire rest s w ente.

Sh e siketh soore, and ganne hire selfe turmenteSh e w aketh, w alw it h e, maketh many a b rayds,As doone t hyse loveres, as I have herde saydeAnd at t h e last s, unto hire suster AnneSh emade hiremone,and rygh t thusspak sh e thanne.


Th e fomy bridel, w ith t h e bitte ofgolde,Governe th h e rygh t as himselfs h at h e w olde .

And foorth thi snoble queens, this lady rideOnhuntyng, w ith this Trojanby hire syde.Th e heerde ofh ert es foundenys anoon,With Hay ! goo be t ! prike thou ! lat goon, lat goon!Why nyl t h e lyouncomen

,or t h e bere ,

That I might bym onesmetenw ith this spereThus seyne thise yonge folks

,and up they kylle

Th e w ilds h ert es, and banh em at hire w ille .

Amonges al this, t o romblengant h e b evensTh e thonder rored w ith a grisly stevensDoune come t h e rayne

,w i th hails and sleet so faste,

With h evenes fi re,that ys so sore agast e

Thisnoble que ens,and also hire meynee ,

That ych e ofh em w as glad aw ey to flee

And shortly,fro t h e tempest hire t o save ,

Sh e fled hire selfe into a lyt el cave,And w ith hire w ent this Eneas alsoo.

I not w ith h em if ther w ent anymoo ;Th e auctour maketh of hit no mencioun.

And here beganne t h e depe afi'

ecciounBetw ix h em t w o ; thi s w as t h e first morw eOfhire gladnesss, and gynnynge ofhire sorw e .

For there hath Eneas yknyled soo,

And tolde hire al hi s herte and al h is w oo;And sw orne so depe t o hire t o be trew sFor w ele or w oo

,and chaunge for no new s,

And as a fals lover so w elkanpleyne,That sely Dido rew ed onh is peyne,And toke bymfor h ousbonde, and became h is w i feFor evermor, w h ile that h em lasts lyfe .

And after this, w h anne that t h e tempest stente,With myrt h , out as they come , home t hey w ent e .

Th e w ikked fame up roos, and that anoon,How Eneas hath w ith t h e queens ygoonInto t h e cave, and demed as h em liste .

Andw hanne t h e kynge that Yarbas hight, h it w ists,


As h e that h ad hire loved ever h is lyf,And w ow ed hire to have t o hys w if

,

Sw ich e sorow e as h e hath maked, and suche chere,Y t is a rew ths and pit ee for to here .

But as inlove alday it h appet h soo,

That oonshal law gh enat anot h eres w oo;Now law gh ed Eneas, and is injoye ,And more riches thanever w as inTroye.

O sely w oman, ful Ofinnocence ,

Ful Ofpit ee , oft routh e, and conscience,

What maked yow to ment o trustensoo‘

?

Have ye suche rew ths uponhire feyned w oo,

And h ansuch e olde ensaumples yow b eforne lSe ye nat al h ow they benforsw orne ?Where se ye oonthat h e ne hath laft e h is leefe ?Or b enunkynde, or done hi re some mysch eefe ?Or pilled hire, or bost ed ofhys dede ?

Ye may as w elhit seenas ye may rede.

Take hede now ofthis grete gent ilman,This Trojan, that so w ell hire plese kan,That feyne th h im so trew s and ob eysinge,SO gentil

,and so privys ofh is doynge

And kanso w el doonal h is ob eysaunceTo hire, at festes and at dauncsAnd w h anne sh e gooth t o temple , and home agayne;And fastentil h e hath h is lady seyneAnd bereninh is devyses for hire sakeWot I nat w hat ; and songes w olde h e make

,

Justem and doonofarmesmany t hynges,Send hire letters

,tokens

,brooches

,and rynges.

Now h erknet h h ow h e shal hi s lady serve .

Th er as h e w as inperil for t o sterveFor hunger and for mysch eefint h e see

,

And desolate,and fi edde fro h is countree ,

And al h is folks w ith tempeste al t o-driven,Sh e hath h ire body and eke hire reams yivenInto h is honde, theras sh e mygh t e have bscneOfother lands thanofCartage a queens,

6—2


And lyved injoy ynogh w hat w olde ye more ?‘

This Eneas,that hath thus depe ysw ore ,

Ys w ery ofh is crafts w it h inne a throw ;Th e h oot e ernests is all overblow s.

And prively h e dooth h is sh ippes dygh t e ,And sh apet h h im t o steels aw ey by nygh t e .

This Dido hath suspecionofthis,

And thoughts w el that hit w as alamys ;For inhis b eds h e lyt he anygh t e and sike th

,

Sh e asketh h im anoonw hat h immyslike th ;My dere herte w hich that I love mooste ? ’

Certes,

’ quod h e,thysnygh t e my fadres goost e

Hath inmy slepe me so sore turment ede,

And eke Mercure h ismessage hath presentede,That nedes t o th e conquests ofY tayle

My destany is soone for to sayle,

For w hichs me thynke th , brost enysmynherte .

’

Th erw it h h is fals t eeres oute they sterte,

And taketh hire w it h inne hi s armes tw oo.

Ys that inernest quod sh e ; w olye soo?

Have ye nat sw orne to w ifme t o take ?Allas

,w hat w omanw olye ofme make ?

I am a gentil w oman,and a queens

Y e w olnat fro your w yfthus foule fi eene !That I w as borne, allas ! w hat shal I dooTo telle inshort

,thisnoble queens Dido

Sh e seket h h alw es,

’and doot h e sacri fi se

Sh e kneleth , crieth, that rouths is t o devyse ;Conjure th h im,

and profere th h im to b ee

Hys t h ral, hys servaunt , inth e lest degree .

Sh e falleth him t o foote,and sw ownet h there,

Dissh evely w ith hire brygh t ge lte here,And seyt h , Have mercy ! let me w ith yow rydeThese lordes, w hich that w onnenme b esyde,Wolme dest royenoonly for yours sake .

And ye w olnow me t o w ife take ,1 Th at is, Makes p ilgrimages to t h e Temples of th e Gods.’—Com

pare vol. i . p. 75.note a, and vol. ii . p . 65.


As ye h answ orne,thanw ol I yive yow leve

To sle enme w ith your sw erd now soone at eve,

For thanshall I yet dienas yours w if.

I am w ith childe,and yive my childe h is lyf

Mercy lorde,have pit ee inyoure thoughts

But al this thing avayle t h hire rygh t e noughts,And as a trayt our fort he h e gant o sayleTow ards t h e large countree ofY t ayle .

For onanygh t e sleping h e let hire lye,And staal aw ey uponh is companye .

1

And thus hath h e lsfte Dido inw oo and pyne,And w edded there a lady h igh t e Lavyne .

A cloot h h e lefte,and eke h is sw erde stondynge

Whanne h e fro Dido staals inslepynge ,Rights at h ir b eddes

‘

h ed : so ganh e h ye,Wh anne that h e staals aw ey t o h isnavys.

Which cloot h,w h anne sely Dido ganaw ake,

Sh e hath kyste ful ofte for hys sake ;And seyde

,O sw ete clooth , w hile Jupiter h it leste,

Take my souls, unbynd me ofthis unrests,I have fulfilled offortune al t h e course.

’

And thus,allas

,Withoutenhys socourse,

Tw enty tyms ysw ow ned hath sh e t h anne .

And w h anne that sh e unto hire suster AnneCompleyned h ad, ofw hich I may not w rit e ,SO grete rouths I have hit for t o endite ,And bad hi re noryce and hire sust rengoonTo feche fi re

,and other t h inges anoon

And seyde that sh e w olde sacrifi e

And w h anne sh e mygh t hire tyms w el espys,Upont h e fi re ofsacrifice sh e sterte

,

And w ith h is sw erde sh e roof hire t o t h e herte .

But, asmynauctour seyt h e , yit thus sh e seyde ,

Or sh e w as hurt s,b eforne or sh e deids,

Sh e w root a letter anoon,that thus beganne.

Rygh t e so,

’ quod sh e,as t h e w hit e sw anns

1 Th is coup le t is omitt ed inth e print ed edit ions.


Ayenst h is deeth b egynneth for t o syngeRygh t e so t o yow I make my compleynynge,Nat that I trow e t o getenyow agayne ,For w el I w oot hit is al invayne,Synthat t h e goddys b encontrariouse t o me .

But synmy name ys loste t hurgh yow ,

’ quod sh e,

‘ I may w ell lesse a w ords onyow , or letter,Albe it I shal b e never t h e better.

For t h ilks w ynds that blew your shipps aw ay,Th e same w ynds hath blow s aw ey your fay.

’

But w h o so w ool al thi s letter have inmynde ,Reds Ovyde, and inhim h e shal hit fynde .

1

E! PLICIT LEGENDA DIDONIS, MARTIRIS, CARTAGENIS

REGINE.

INCIPIT LEGENDA YPSIPHILE ET MEDEE,

2

MARTIRIS.

HOU roots offals loveres,duke Jason!

Thou slye devourer,and confusyon

Ofgentil w ommen,gentil creatures !

Thoumadest thy reclaymynge and thy luresTo ladi es ofthy staat ely aparaunce,And Ofthy w ordes farsed w ith plesaunce ,And Ofthy feyned t rout h e, and thy manere,With thyne ob eysaunce and humble che re ,And w ith thy count refe t ed peyne and w oo !

Ther other falsenoon,thou falsest e tw oo !

O,ofte sw ore thou that thou w oldest deye

For love, w h anne thou ne felt est s maladeye,Save foule delyt e, w hich thou callest love !Ifthat I lyve, thy name shal b e shove

1 Ovid, Heroides, Ep ist . vii.2 Ovid , Met . vn., and Heroid. vi.

3 A me taph or t akenfrom falconry. To reclaim a h aw k was to

t rue and t rainit for h aw king.


InEnglyssh , that thy sleights shal be know eHave at t h e, Jason! now thynhornis blow s !But certes, it is both rouths and w oo

,

That love w ith fals loveres w erke th soo

For they sh alle have w elbetter and gretter chereTh anne h e that hath bought love ful dere,Or h ad inarmesmany a blody box.

For ever as tender a caponsteth t h e fox ,

Though h e be fals,and hath t h e foule betrayed,

As shal t h e goodmanthat t h erfor payed ;Allet h ofh e have t o t h e caponskills and rygh t e,Th e fals fox w il have h is part at nygh t e.OnJasonthis ensample is w elyseene,By Isiph ile and Medea t h e queens.InTessalye, as Ovyde

1 telleth us,Ther w as a knygh te that h igh t e Pellsus,That h ad a brother w hi chs that hights Eson.And w hanne for age h e mygh t e unnethes gon,H e yaft oPelleus t h e governyngeOfal h is regne

,and made h im lords and kyn

Ofw hi chs Esonthis Jasongetenw as;That inhi s tyms inal that land ther nasNat suche a famouse knygh t e ofgentilesse,Offredome , ofstrengths, and oflustynesse.Aft er hi s fader deeth h e bar h im soo,

That there nasnoonthat lyste b enh is foo,But dide him al honour and companys.

Ofw hi ch thi s Pelleus hath grete envys,

Imagynyngs that Jasonmygh t e b eeEnh aunced so

,and put insuch e degree,

With love oflordes Ofh is regioun,That from h ys regne h e may b e put adoun.And inhi s w itte a nygh te compassed h eHow J asonmygh t e bests destroyed b e ,Withouts sclaunder ofh is compassement e .And at t h e lasts h e tooke avyssment e,

1 See ante, p . 86 ,not e 2 .


To sends h im into some fer countre,There as thi s Jasonmay destroyed b e .

This w as hys w itte, almade h e t o JasonGrete chere oflove and ofafl

'

eccion,

For dreds leste hys lordes byt espyede .

SO fe lle byt so as fame renneth w ide,Ther w as suche t idynge over alle , and suche los,Th at inanile that called w as Colcos

,

Beyonds Troye est ew arde int h e see,

That ther w as a ram that menmygh t e see,

That h ad a flees ofgolde,that shoonso brygh t e,

That no Wh er w as ther suche anoth er sygh t s,But hit w as kept alw ay w ith

1a dragoun,

Andmany other merveles up and dounAnd w ith tw oo boolesmaked al ofbras

,

That spittenfi re andmuchs things ther w as.

But this w as eke th e tale nathe less,

That w h o so w olde w ynne t h ilks flees,

He moste booth, or h e hit w ynne mygh t e,With t h e booles and t h e dragonfygh t eAnd king Otes lorde w as ofthat ile .

This Pelleus b et h ough t e uponthis w ile ,That h e h is nevyw e Jasonw olde enh ort e

,

To saylent o that londe, him t o disports.

And seyde, Neviw e, yfbyt mygh t e b e,

That suche w orshi ppe mygh te falls t h e,That thou this famouse tresor mygh t e w ynne,And brynge hi t my regiounw ithinne,It w ere t o me grette plesaunce and honoursThanne w ere I h olds t o quyte thy labours,And al t h e costes I w olmy se lfe make ,And ch ess w hat folks thou Wilts w yt h t h e take .

Le t see now e,darstow takenthis viage

Jasonw as yonge,and lust ie ofcorage

,

And undert ooke t o doonthis ilke emprise .

AnoonArgus his sh ippes gandevyse .

1 With , inCh aucer’s idiom, governs t h e ablat ive of th e instrument ,like by inmodernEnglish —See vol. vii . p . 42 ,note 3.


And inhys w ey thismessagers h emmetteFulkunnyngely these lordes tw oo h e grette

,

And did h is message,askyng h em anoon

If they w ere broken,or aught w oo begon

,

Or badde nede oflodesmenor vitayle

For socoure they shulde nothings fayle,For it w as outerly t h e queenes w ille .

Jasonansw erde mekely and stille ;1

My lady,’ quod h e

,thanks I h ert ely

Ofhi re goodnesss us nede t h t rew elyN othing asnow ,

but that w e w ery b ee,

And come for t o pley out oft h e see,

Til that t h e w ynds b e better inours w ey.

’

This lady romet h by t h e clyfl'

e t o pleyWith hire meynes

,endelonge th e stronds,

And fynde th this Jasonand thise other stondsInspekynge ofthi s things, as I yow tolde.This Ercules and Jasonganbeholds

How that t h e queens it w as, and fairs hire grette,Anoonrygh t e as they w ith this lady metteAnd sh e tooke hede, and knyw e by hire manere ,By hire array

,by w ordes

,and by chere

,

That hi t w ere gentil menofgrete degree .

And t o t h e cast e l w ith h ir ledeth sh e

These straunge folks, and doot h h em grete honour ;And axeth h em oft ravaylle and labourThat they h ansu

mred int h e salt s see ;

So that w ith ynne a day t w o or threeSh e knyw e by t h e folks that inhis shi ppes b e,That byt w as Jason, full ofrenomee,And Ercules, that b adde t h e grete los,That sough t ent h e aventures OfColcos.And di d h em honour more thanbefore ,And w ith h em de led ever t h e lenger t h e more ;

1 Th is line is omitt ed inth e Fairfax MS., but giveninMS . Aw k.

Seld. B 24 .


For they b enw orthy folke Withoutenles.And

,namely

,sh e spak moste w ith Ercules,

To h im h ir herte bare, h e shulde b eSad, w ise , and trew s, ofw ordes avises,Withoutenany other afl

'

ecciounOflove

,or any other ymaginacioun.

This Ercules h at h e thi s Jasonpreysed,That t o t h e sonne h e hath byt up reysed,That halfe so trew s amanther nas ofloveUnder t h e cops ofh evene , that is above ;And h e w as w yse

,hardy

,secre

,and rych e

Ofthese thre poynt es there nasnoonbymliche.Offredome passed h e, and lustyh edeAlle thoo that lyven, or b endede .

Th ert o so grete a gentil manw as h e,And ofTessalye likely kynge t o b e.Ther nasno lakk

’

e , but that h e w as agasteTo love, and for t o speke sh amefasteH imh ad lever himselfs t o mordre and dye,Th anne that menshulde a lover h im espys.As w olde God that I badde iyiveMy bloods and flessh , so that I mygh t e lyveWith t h e bones, that h e badde ought w here a w if

For h is estaat ! for suche a lusty lyfSh e sh olde lsde w ith this lusty knygh t e !And al this w as compassed ont h e nygh t eBetw ix h im Jason, and this Ercules.Oft h ese :t w oo here w as a sh rew ede lees,To come t o house uponaninnocent,For t o bedote this queens w as hire entent.Thi s Jasonis as coy as ys amaydeH e loket h pitousely, but nogh t e h e sayde

But fre ely yafh e to hire counselleresY iftes grete , and t o hire ofliceres

,

As w olde God that I leyser h ad and tyms,By processe al h is w ow yng for t o ryme !But inthis house yfany fals lover b e,Rygh t e as himselfs now dothe

,rygh t e so did h e,


With feynynge , and w ith every sob t ildede .

Y e ge ts no more Ofme,but ye w ol rede

Th e original that te lleth al t h e cas.

Th e soth s is this,that Jasonw eddid w as

Unto this queens, and toke Ofhire substauncsWhat so him lyst e unto hys purveyaunceAnd uponhire begate childrentw oo

,

And drough h is saylle , and saugh hire never moo.

A letter sente sh e to bym csrt eyne ,Which w ere t o longs t o w ritenand t o seyne 5And h im repreve t h ofh is grete unt routh e,And preye t h h im onhi re t o have some rouths.

And ofh is childrent w o,sh e seyde h im thi s5

That they b e lyke ofalle things,yw is

,

To Jason, save they couthe nat b egile .

And prayede God, or hi t w ere longe w hile,

That sh e that h ad hi s herte yreft e hire fro,Most fyndenh im t o hire unt rew e alsoo 5And t h at sh e moste booth hire childrenspills,And al t h o that sufi

'

re t h bym h is w illeAnd trew s t o Jasonw as sh e al hire lyve ,And ever kept hire chaste

,as for his w yve 5

And never h ad sh e joye at hire herte,But dyed for h is love ofsorw es smert e .

To Colcos comenis this duke Jason,That is Oflove devourer and dragon,Asnature appe te t h forms alw ey,

1

And from forms t o forms it passenmay5Or as a w ells that w ere bot tomelss,Rygh t e so kanJasonhave no pees,For t o desiren, t hurgh h is appetite ,TO doonw ith gentil w ymmenhys delyt e 5

1 Th e printed edit ions read mat ire, w h ich is, perh aps, bett er t h annature. It w ould meant h at evenas th e accident ofform is inseparablefrommat t er. and as inall i ts ch anges i t canonly pass from form to

form, so Jason, w h at ever migh t b e t h e circumstances inw h ich h e w asp laced. w as sti ll th e same , one w h o lovedmere ly to sat isfy h is appe

ti ts.


This is h is luste , and h is felicite .

Jasonis romed forthe t o th e cite ,That w hylome cleped w as Jasonicos,That w as t h e maiste r toune Ofal Colcos,And hath yt olde t h e cause ofh is comyngeUnto ZEe tes, Ofthat countree kynge 5Praynge h im that h e most doonh is assayTo gets t h e flese ofgolde

, yfthat h e may.

Ofw hi ch t h e kynge assent e t h to hys boone,And dothe h im honour as byt is doone,SO ferfort h e

,that h is dogh t re and h is eyre,

Medea,w hich that w as so w ise and feyre ,

That feyrer saugh ther never manw ith ye ,He made hire done t o JasoncompanysAtte mete, and sitte by him int h e halls.

Now w as Jasona seemely manw it h alle,

And like a lords, and had a grete renoun,

And ofhi s loke as rial as lyoun,And goodly ofh is speche , and famulere,And koude oflove al crafts and art s plenereWithouts boke

,w ith everych e observaunce.

And as fortune hire oughts a foule meschaunce ,Sh e w ex enamoured uponthisman.

‘Jason,’ quod sh e

,for ough t I se or kan

,

As ofthis things t h e w hichs ye b enabouts,Ye

,and your selfe ye put inmoche doute 5

For w h o so w ol this aventure acheve,H e maynat w ele ast ert en

,as I leve,

Withoutendethe,but I h is helpe b e .

But nathelesse,hit ysmy w ille

,

’ quod sh e,To fort h renyow , so that ye shal not dye,But turns sounds home t o yours Tessalye .

’

‘My rygh t e lady,’ quod thys Jason

,thoo,

That ye h anofmy dethe or my w oo

Any rew ards,and doonme this honour

,

I w ote w el, that my mygh t e , ne my labour,

Maynat deserve hit inmy lyves day ;God thanks yow , ther I ne kanne may.


Yours man1 am I,and low ly yow b esech e

To b enmy helpe, w ithouts more speche ;But certes for my dethe shal I not spare .

’

Thoo ganthi sMedea t o him declareTh e peril ofthis case , fro poynt t o poyntOfhys batayle , and inw hat disjoynt eH e mote stonds ofw hichsno creatureSave oonly sh e ne mygh t e h ys lyfassure .

And sh ort ely, rygh t e t o t h e poynt t o goo,They b enaccorded ful b etw ix h em t w o

,

That Jasonshal hire w edde,as trew s knygh t e,

And t erms yset ts t o come soone at nygh t eUnto hire chambre

,and make there h ys ooth e

Uponth e goddys, that h e for leve ne loot h eN e sh ulde hire never falsen

,nygh t e ne day,

To b enhire husbonde w hile h e lyve may,As sh e that from hys dethe hym saved here.And here uponat nygh t e they mete yfere ,

z

And doth h is ooth e, and goot h e w ith hire t o bedde .

And ont h e morw e upw ards h e him spedde ,For sh e hath taugh t e h im h ow h e shal nat failsTh e flese t o w ynne

,and stynt enh is batayle

And saved h im h is lyfand h is honour,And get s aname as a conquerour,Rygh t e t hurgh th e sleygh te ofh er ench aunt ement e .

Now hath Jasont h e flese, and home ys w entWith Medea, and t resoures ful grete w oons 5But unw ist e ofhi re fader sh e is goonsTo Tessalye , w i th duke Jasonhire le efe ,That afterw ards hath brogh t e hire t omysch efe.For as a t raytour h e ys from hire goo,And w i th hire lefte yonge childrentw oo,And falsly hath betrayed hire , allas !And ever inlove a cheve traytour h e w as5

1 Th at is, Your vassal .’— See vol. iv. p . 130,note 5.

1 Th is line is omit ted inth e Fairfax MS giveninth e Selden.


And w edded yet t h e t h ridde w ife anoon,That w as t h e dough tre ofkynge Creoon.

This ys th e mede oflovynge and guerdoun,That Medea receyved OfJasounRygh te for hire t rout h e , and for hire kyndenesse,That loved bym better t h anne hire selfe

,I

~

gesse 5And lefte hire fadi r and hire heritage .

And OfJasonthis is t h e vassalage,

That inhys dayesnas never noonyfoundeSO fals a lover goynge ont h e grounds.

And th erfore inhire letter thus sh e seyde ,First w hanne sh e Ofh ys falsnsSse bym umbraydeWh y lykedme thy yelow heere t o see ,

More thant h e boundss ofmynh onest e’

i

Why lyked me thy youths and thy fairenesss,And Ofthy tong t h e infynyt e graciousnesse

’

l

O, haddest thou inthy conquest ded yb s,Fulmykel unt rout h e h ad ther dyed w ith th e !”1

We ll kanOvyde hire letter inverse endyte.Which w ere as now t o longs for t o w rite .

EXPLICIT LEGENDA YSIPHILE ET MEDEE MARTIRUM.

INCIPIT LEGENDA LUCRECIE ROME, MARTIRIS

NOWmote I sayne th ex ilynge ofkyngesOfRome, for t h e horrible doynges

Oft h e last kynge Tarquynyus,As sayt h e Ovyd, and Titus Lyvyus.

’

But for that cause telle I nat thys story,But for t o”preysen, and draw ent o memory

1 Curmih i plus aequo flavi placuere capilli ,Et decor, et lingua grat ia fi ct a tuze

Q uantumperfi dize t ecum, sce lerat e , perisset .

’

Ovm, Her. xii.2 Ovid, Fast . i i . 741 , Livy, i . 57 .

96 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

Th e verray w if,t h e verray Lucresse

,

That for hire w ifh ode,and hire st edfastnesse

,

Nat oonly that these payens hire commends,

But that cleped ys inours legendsTh e grete Austyne,

1 hath grete compassyounOfthis Lucresse that starfinRome toun.

And inw hat w ise I w olbut shortly trete,

And ofthi s t hynge I t ouche but t h e grete .

Wh anne Ardea2 b eseged w as abouts

With Romaynes, that ful sterne w ere and stoute,Ful longe lay th e sege , and,

lyt el w rogh ten,So that they w ere halfe ydel, as h em th ogh t sn.And inh is pley Tarquynyus t h e yongeGanfor to jape, for h e w as lygh t e oft ongs5And seyde

,that hit w as anidel lyf5

NO mandide ther more thanhys w if.And lat us speke ofw ives that is best5Preise every manhys owns as h im lest,And w ith ours speche let us ese oure herte .

’

A knygh t e , that h igh t e Colatyns, up sterte,

And sayde thus Nay, for hi t ysno nedeTo t row enont h e w ords

,but ont h e dede .

I have a w if,

’ quod h e,

‘ that as I trow e

Ys holdengood ofalle that ever hire know e.GO w e t o Rome t o nygh t e , and w e shul se .

’

Tarquynyus answ erde,That lyketh me .

’

To Rome they b e come, and faste h em dightsTo Colatynes house, and doune they lygh t e,Tarquynyus, and eke this Colatyns.

Th e h ousbonde knyw e t h e eft ers w eland fyns,And fulprevely into th e house they goon,For at t h e gate porter w as there noon:

1 St . Augustin, comment ing on t h is story int h e mi lder and morerat ional Sp irit of Ch rist ianmorality , w h ile h e admires t h e purity OfLucrece , blames h er folly incommit t ing t h e crime ofse lf-murder as a

punishment on h erself for th at of w h ich sh e w as really innocent .S i adultera,’ h e asks, cur laudata? Si pudica, cur occisa ? ’ AUG.

De C‘im'

tat . Dei , c. xix .

3 Ardea, a ci ty ofth e Butuli , w h ich t h e Romanarmy w as besieging.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN .

Hys blynde lust w as al hys covetynge .

Onmorw e, w h anne t h e brid begant o synge,Unto t h e sege h e cometh fulpryvely,And by himselfs h e w alketh sobrely,Th e ymage ofhire recordyng alw ey new s5Thus lay hire heer, and thus fressh w as hire hew e

,

Thus sate, thus spak, thus spanne , this w as hirechere,

Th us faire sh e w as,and thys w as hire manere .

Al this conceyt e hys herte hath new s ytake ,And as t h e see

,w ith tempeste al t o-shake

,

That after w h anne t h e storms ys al agoo,Y e t w ol t h e w ater quappe a day or tw oo ;Rygh t e so

,th ogh that hire forms w ere absente,

Th e plesaunce ofhire forms w as presents.But nath eles, nat plesaunce, but delyt e ,Or anunrygh tful talent w ith dispit e,For maw gree hire , sh e shal my lemmanb eHappe helpeth hardy manalw ay,

’ quod h e ,‘What ends that I make , hit shal b e soo !

’

And gyrt bym w ith h is sw erde,and gant o goo,

And h e fort h erygOh t e til h e t o Rome ys come ,And al allonhys w ay t h anne hath h e nome,Unto t h e house OfColatyne ful rygor

°h t e

Doune w as th e sonne, and day hath lost hys lygh te .

And inns h e come unto a prevy halke ,And int h e nygh t e ful t h efely ganh e stalks

,

ll

Wh anne every w ygh t e w as t o hys rest s brogh t e,N e no w ygh t e h ad oftresounsuche a t h ogh t s,Whether by w yndow ,

or by other gynne .

With sw erde ydraw ,shortly b e commet h ynne

There as sh e lay, thysnoble w yfe Lucresse,And as sh e w oke , hire bedde sh e felts presseWhat b est s ys that,

’ quod sh e,that w eyet h thus?

’

I am th e kynges sons Tarquynyus,’

1 Into t h e ch amber w ickedly h e stalks.And gaz eth onh er yet unst ained b ed.

’

SHAK SPBABE—Rape ofLuorece. Annot . Ed., p. 96

. LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN.f

,99

Q uod h e 5‘but and

'

th ow crye, or noyse make,Or yfthou any creature aw ake,Be t h ilksGod that formed manonlyve

,

This sw erde th urgh thynherte shall I ryve .

’

And t h erw it h alle unto hire t h rot e h e sterte,And setts t h e sw erde al sh arps unto hire herte .

N0 w ords sh e spak, sh e hath no mygh t e t h erto,What shal sh e sayne ? hire w itte ys al agoo !Rygh t e as a w olfe that fynt a lamb allone ,

1

To w hom shal sh e compleyne or make mons ?What ? shal sh e fygh t e w ith anhardy knygh t e ?We ] w ote mena w omanhath no mygh t e .

What ? shal sh e crye , or h ow shal sh e astert s ,That hath hire by t h e t h rot e

,w ith sw erde at

herte ?Sh e ax et h grace, and seyde al that sh e kan.

N e w olt th ounat ? ’ quod this crue lle man5As w isly Jupiter my souls save

,

I shal int h e stable slee thy knave ,And lay h im inthy b ed, and low de crye,That I th e fynde insuche avow tryeAnd thus th ou shalt b e ded

,and also less

Thy name,for thou shalt nat chese .

’

Th ise'

Romaynes w yfes lovedenso hire nameAt t h ilks tyms

,and drsddenso t h e shame

That w hat for fere of sklaundre,and dreds ofdethe ,

Sh e loste both attones w yt t e and bre th eAnd ina sw ow gh sh e lay, and w ax so ded

,

Menmygh t ensmyt e ofhire arms or h ed,

Sh e fele t h nothings,ne ither foule ne feyre.

Tarquynyus, that art a kynges eyre ,And sh oldest as by lynage and by rygh t e

Doonas a lords and a verray knygh t e,

1 Like a w h it e h ind under t h e grype ’

s sh arp claw es.’

SIIAK SPEARE—Rap e ofI/ucrece. Annot . Ed ., p . 102 .

Th e Fairfax MS . readsRigh t as a w olfe t h at fayne th a love allone.’

Th is is evident ly amere clerical_err0r.


Why bastow doondispit e t o ch evalrye ?1

Why h astow doonthis lady vylanye ?Allas

,oft h e thys w as a vilenouse dede !

But now to t h e purpose 5 int h e story I rede ,Whanh e w as goonal thismysch aunce ys falle .

Thys lady sent after hire frendes alle,Fader, moder, h ousbond, alle yfere,And dissh evelee w ith hire heere clere

,

Inh abyt e suche as w ymmenused thooUnt o t h e buryinge ofhire frendes goo,Sh e syt t e inh alls w ith a sorow fullsygh t e .

H ire frendes axenw hat hire aylenmygh t e,And w h o w as dede

,and sh e syt t e aye w epynge.

A w ords for shame us may sh e forthe oute brynge,N e uponh em sh e durste nat beholds,But atte last s ofTarquyny sh e h em toldeThis rew ful case

,and al thys thing h orryble .

Th e w oo t o te lle hyt w ere impossybleTh at sh e and alle hire frendes made attones.AI h ad folkes hertss b enofstones

,

Byt mygh t e have maked h emuponh er rew e,H ire herte w as so w yfely and so trew s.

Sh e sayde that for hire gilte ne for hire blameHire h ousbonde shulde nat have t h e foule name ;That nolde sh e nat sufi

’

renby no w ey.

And they answ erde alle unto hire fey,That they forgave byt hire, for byt w as rygh t e.Hit w asno gilt 5 h it lay nat inhire mygh t e .

And seydenhire ensamples many oon.

But alfor nogh t e , for thus sh e seyde anoonBe as h e may,

’ quod sh e,

offorgyfynge 5I w olnot have noo forgyft for nothings.

’

1 Sh akspeare outdoes h is great predecessor int h e anach ronism, repre

senting hereditary coats-of-armsasbeing inuse at t h is early periodYea, t h ough I die t h e scandal w ill survive ,And b e aneyesore inmy goldencoat ;Some loath some dash t h e h erald w ill contrive ,To ciph erme , h ow fondly I did dot e .’SHAK SPEABE—Rap e ofLucrece. Annot . Edi t ., p.90.


INCIPIT LEGENDA ADRIANE DE ATHENES.’

JUGE infernal Mynos, ofCrete

2 king,Now comme t h thy lotte 5 now commestow ont h e rynge .

Nat OOnly for thy sake w ritenis this story,But for t o clepe ageynunto memoryOfTheseus t h e grete unt rew e oflove

,

ForWhich t h e goddys ofh evene aboveBenw rothe

,and w recch e h antake for t hy synne.

Be rede for shame ! now I thy lyfb egynne .

Mynos, that w as t h e mygh ty kynge ofCrete,That w ananhundred citess strong and grete

,

To scole hath sent h ys sons AndrogeusTo Athenes

,oft h e w hich byt h appe t h thus,

That h e w as slayns, lernynge philosophi e,Rygh t e inthat cit es, nat but for envys.

Th e grete Mynos Oft h e w hichs I speke,H is sones dethe ys come for t o w reke .

Alcat h oe’h e b esege t h bards and longe 5

But nat h eles, t h e w alles b e so stronge ,And Nysus, that w as kynge ofthat cit es,SO ch evalrouse

,that lyt eldredeth h e 5

OfMynos or hys oste toke h e no cure .

Till, ona day, b efelanaventure ,

That N isus dogh tre stode upont h e w alls,And oft h e segs saw e t h e maner alle .

SO byt happed, that at a skarmysshynge,Sh e cast hire herte uponMynos th e kynge,For hys b eaut e , and h ys ch evalerye,

SO sore, that sh e w ende for to dye .

And,short ly ofthis processe for t o pace,

Sh e made Mynos w ynnent h ilks place,

1 Ovid , Met . viii.2 Th e Fairfax MS . reads Grece.

3 Th e Fairfax MS readsAnd the cites, but Alan/w e, w h ich is anoth ername for Megara, aci ty ofAt t ica, Ofw h ich Nisus w as king, is probablyrigh t .

LEGENDE“

or GOODE WOMEN.

’

103

So that t h e cit es w as alat h is w ille,To savenw hom bym lyst , or e lles spills.

But Wikkidly h e quyt t e h er kyndenesse ,And le t hire drenchs lnsorow e and distresse,N er that t h e goddys h adde ofhire pite 5But that tale w ere t o longe asnow for me .

Athenes w anne this kynge Mynos also,As Alcath oe 1 and other tounesmo5And this t h efl

'

ect,that Mynos hath so dryven

H em ofAthenes,that they mote bym yiven.

Fro yere t o yere hire owns childrendsreFor t o b e slayns, as ye shal after here .

This Mynos hath a monstre, a w ikk ed bests,That w as so cruelle that w ithouts arest e

,

Wh anne that a manw as brogh t e into hys presence ,H e w olde h im e t e 5 ther helpeth no defence.And every t h ridde yere , Withoutendoute,They castenlotte

,as byt came about,

Onrych e onpore, h e most h is sons take ,And ofhys childe h e most e present makeTo Mynos, t o save bym or t o spills,Or lat h is b est s devours h im at h is w ille .

And t h is‘

h ath Mynos doonright indyspit e,TO w reke hys sone

'

w as setts al h is delyt e 5And make h em ofAthenes hys thrallsFro yere t o yere , w hile h e lyvensh alle 5And home h e saile t h w h anne this toune ys w onne .

Th is w ikked customs is so longe yronne,Til ofAthenes kynge Egeus,Moste sendenh is ow ns sons Theseus,Sith that t h e lotte IS fallenbym upon,TO b endevoured

,for grace is ther non.

And forth ls lad th is w oful yonge knygh t eUnto t h e countree ofkynge Mynos ful ofmygh te,And ina prisonfe t tred faste ys h e,Til th e tyms h e shulde yfre t enb e .

1 ForAlcath oe h ere t h e Fairfax MS . readsAlcaes


Welmaystow w epe, O w oful Theseus,That art a kynges sons, and dampned thus !Me t h ynketh this, that thow depe w ere yh olde

To w hom that saved t h e fro cares colde .

And now yfany w omanhelps t h e,Wel ough t est ow hi re servaunt for to b e

,

And b enhire trew s lover yere by yere !But now t o come agaynt o mymaters.

Th e t ours, ther this Theseus ys yth row e.Doune int h e both ome derke

,and w onder low e

,

Was joynynge t o t h e w alls ofa forsyne,And hyt w as longynge t o t h e dogh t rent w eyneOfMynos, that inhire chambres greteDw elt ene above t h e maystre streteOfAt h enesl injoys and insolace .

Wot I not h ow byt h appede percase,As Theseus compleyned bym by nygh t e,Th e kynges dogh tre that Adriane hygh t e,And eke hire suster Phedra, herdenalleHys compleynt , as they stode onth e w alls

,

And loked upont h e brygh t e moons;Hem list nat t o goo t o b ed so soone .

And ofhys w oo they h ad compassyoun5A kynges sons t o b e insw ich s prisoun,And b e devoured, thoughts h em grete pit ee.

Th anne Adriane spak t o hire suster free,And seyde

,Phedra

,leve suster ders,

Thi s w oful lordes sons may ye not here,How pit ousely compleynet h h e hys kynne,And eke h is pore estate that h e ys ynne ?And gilt eles5 certes now hit ys rouths !And yfye w ol assente

,by my t routh e ,

He shal b e holpen, h ow soo that w e doo.

’

Phedra answ erde, Yw is, me is as w ooFor h im,

as ever I w as for anyman5And t o h is h elps t h e b ests rede that I kan

,

1 Th is is a mistake . Minos w as King ofCre te. and , th erefore,daugh ters couldnot h ave beenl iving at Ath ens.

106"

LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN .

“

Thys ys my rede yfthat h e dar hyt take 5What shulde I lenger sermounofbyt make ?

’

Th e gayler cometh,and w ith bym Th eseus,

Wh anne these t hynges b enacorded thus.Dow ns syt t e Theseus uponhys kne e ,Th e rygh t e lady ofmy lyf,

’ quod h e,

I sorw fulman, ydampned t o t h e dethe,

Fro yow ,w hiles that me last e th b re th e,

I w olnot t w ynne after this aventure,

But inyoure serviss thus I w ol endure 5That as a w recch e unknow e I w olyow serveFor evermore

,til that mynhert e sterve .

Forsake I w olat home mynh eryt age ,And

, as I sayde, b enofyour court s a page ,Yfthat ye vouch esafe that inthis place,Y e graunt e ms t o have suche a grace,That I may have not but mymete and drinks5And for my sust enaunce ye t w ol I sw ynke ,Rygh t e as yow lyst e 5 that Mynos ne no w ygh t e ,Synthat h e saw e me never w ith e igh ensygh ts,N e no mane lles shal me konne espie,SO slyly and so w ele I shal me gye ,And me so w eldisfi gure , and so low e

,

That inthis w orlds ther shal no manme know s,To h anmy lyf, and t o have presenceOfyow ,

that doont o me this excellence .

And t o my fader shal I sends he reThis w orthy manthat is your gaylers,And h im so guerdons th at h e shal w elb e

Oonoft h e gre t est menofmy countre e .

And yifI durst sayne, my lady brygh t e,I am a kynges sons and eke a knygh t e ,As w olde God, yifthat hyt mygh t e bee,Y e w ereninmy countre e alle three

,

And I w ith yow ,t o bere yow companys.

Th anne shulde ye seenyfthat I thereof lye.

And-

yfthat I profre yow inlow s manere,

To b enyoure page and servenyow rygh t e here,


’ 107

But I yow serve as low ly inthat place,I prey t o Marce t o yeve me suche grace

,

That shames dede onme ther mote falle ,And de the and povert e t o my frendes alle,And that my spirite be nygh t e mote goo,After my dethe , and w alks t o and froo,That I mot e Oftraytoure have a name,For w hich my spirite mote goo t o do me shame !And yifever I clayme other degre,But ye vouch esafe t o yeve byt me

,

As I have seyde,ofshames dethe I deye !

And mercy, lady ! I kanno more seye .

’

A semely knygh t e w as this Th eseus to see,

And yonge,but oftw enty yere and three .

But w hoso h adde yse enh ys count enaunce ,H e w olde have w ept e for rouths ofh is penauncsFor w hich this Adriane inthis manere

,

Answ erde t o hys profre and t o hys chere .

‘A kynges sons, and eke a knygh t e ,’ quod sh e,

To b en-my servaunt inso low e degre ,God sh elde hit, for th e shame ofw ymmenalle,And lensme never suche a case befalls !And send yow grace and slygh t e ofherte alsoYow t o defends

,and knygh t ely sleenyour fo l

And lens hereafter I may yow fyndeTo me and t o my suster here so kynde

,

That I ne repente not to yeve yow lyf!

Y e t w er byt better I w ere your w if,

Synye b enas gentil borne as I,And have a realms not but faste by

,

Thanthat I suffred your gentillesse t o sterve,Or that I le ts yow as a page serve 5Hyt isnot profe t , as unto your kynrede .

But w hat is that, that manw olnot do for dreds ?And t o my suster synthat hyt is so,That sh e mote goonw ith me yfthat I goo.

Or elles;

sufl'

re deth as w el as I,

That ye unto your sons as t rew ely,


‘

Doonhire b e w edded at your home comynge .

This ys t h e fynal ends ofal this t h ynge ;Y e

,sw ere hit here

, uponal that may b e sw orneYes, lady myn,

’ quod h e,

‘or elles t o-torne

Mote I b e w ith t h e Minotaurs or t o morow e !

And have here ofmyne herte bloods t o borow e,Y ifthat ye w ol! YfI h ad knyfor spere ,I w olde hit lettenout

,and thereonsw ere

,

For thanat erste,I w ote ye w olme leve.

By Mars, that ys ch efs Ofmy beleve ,So that I mygh t e lyven, and nat fayleTo morow e for t o takenmy batayle,I nolde never fro this place flee,Til that ye shulde t h e verray prefe se .

For now, yfthat t h e soths I shal yow say,

I have loved yow fulmany a day,Th ogh ye ne Wi sts nat , inmy countree,And aldermost e desired yow to se e,

Ofany ert h ely lyvynge creature .

Uponmy t rout h e I sw ere and yow assure,

These sevenyere I have your servaunt b ee.Now have I yow ,

and also have ye mes,My dere herte, ofAthenes duchesse .

1’

This lady smylet h at h is stedfastnesse,And at hys h ert ely w ordys, and at h is chere,And t o hire suster sayde inthismanereAnd softely now ,

suster myne,’ quod sh e,

Now b e w e duchesses both I and ye,And sikered to t h e regals ofAthenes,And both hereaft er lykly t o b e queenes,And saved fro hys dethe a kynges sons

As ever ofgentil w ymmenis t h e w one,To save a gent ilman, enforth hire mygh t e,Inhonest cause, and namely inh is rygh t e.Me th inketh no w ygh te ought us hereofblame,N e berenus t h erfore anyve l name .

’

And shOrt ely ofthismaters for to make,This Theseus Ofhire hath leve ytake,


To shipps, and as a t raytour stale hys w ay,While that thys Adriane aslepe lay,And t o hys countre e w ards h e sayle t h blyve ,

(A tw enty deve l w ay t h e w ynds h im dryve !)And fonds hys fader drenched int h e see .

Me lyst e no more t o speke ofhym, pardee !

These fals loveres, poysonb e hire bane !

But I w ol turns ageyne t o Adryane ,That ys w ith slepe for w erynesse yt akeFul sorw fully hire herte may aw ake .

Allas,for t h e mynherte h ath pit ee !

Rygh t int h e daw enynge aw ak eth sh es,And gropeth int h e b ed, and fonds rygh t e nogh t e.

Allas,

’ quod sh e,that ever I w as w rogh t e !

I am betrayed,

’

and hire heer t o-rent,

And t o t h e stronds barefot e faste sh e w ent,

And cryed, Theseus, mynherte sw ete !Where h e ye, th at I may not w yt h yow mete ?And mygh t e thus w ith bestes b enyslayne .

’

Th e h olow e roches answ erde h er agayne .

1

No mansh e saw e,and yet shone t h e moons,

And hys upona rokke sh e w ent soone,

And saw e hys barge saylynge int h e see .

Colds w axs hire herte, and rygh t e thus sayde sh eMeker thenye fynde I t h e bestes w ilds

(Hath h e not synne,that h e hi re thus b egylde

Sh e cried,O turns agayne for rouths and synne,

Thy barge hath not al t hy meyny ynne .

’

H ire kerch efe ona pole styked sh es,

Ascaunce that h e sh ulde byt w elysee ,

And bym remembre that sh e w as b eh ynde ,And turns agayne, and ont h e stronds hire fynde .

But alfor nogh t e ; hys w ey h e ys goon,And dow ne sh e felle a-sw ow ne ona stoon;And up sh e ryst e , and kyssed inalhire care

Th e steppes ofhys fete, there h e hath fare,

1 Th is line is omit ted int h e Fairfax MS.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. :111

And t o h ire bedde rygh t e thus sh e speket h th ooThow bedde

,

’ quoth sh e,

‘that haste receyvedtw oo,

Thow shalt answ ers oftw oo and not ofoon,

Where ys t h e gretter parte aw ay goon?Allas

,w here shal I w rech ed w ygh t become ?

For though so b e that bots noonh ere come,Home t o my countree dar I not for dreds5I kanmy se lfe inthis case not rede .

’

What sh ulde I telle more hire compleynynge ?Hyt ys so longe byt w ere anh evy t hynge .

Inhire episte l Naso1 telleth alle ,

But shortly t o t h e ends t el I sh alle .

Th e goddys have hire holpenfor pit e e ,And int h e sygne ofTaur usmenmayTh e stones ofhire corow ne shyne clere 5I w olno more speke ofthysmaters.

But thus these false loveres kanb egyleH ire trew s love 5 t h e devel quyte hym hys w hile !

EXPLICIT LEGENDA ADRIANE DE ATHENES.

INCIPIT LEGENDA PHILOMENE.

’

THOW yiver oft h e formes

,that haste w rogh t e

Th e fayre w orlds,and bare hit 1nthy t h ogh ts

Eternally or

yr

t h ow thy w erke began,Why madest thow unto t h e sklaunder ofman

,

Or al be that hyt w as not thy doynge ,As for that fyne to make suche a t h ynge,Why sufl

’

rest thou that Tereus w as bore,

That ys inlove so fals and so forsw ore,

1 Incumbo lach rymisque toro manants prOfusis,Pressimus, exclamo, t e duo : redde duos.

Venimus h uc ambo curnondiscedimus amboPerfi de , parsnost ri , lectule , major ub i est

Heroi'

d. Ep. x .

Ovid , Met .vi.3 Int h emarginofFairfax MS. 16 is w rit ten Deus dator Formatov.1


That fro thys w orlds up t o t h e firsts bevensCorrumpet h , w h anne that folks hysname nevene ?And as to me , so grisly w as hys dede ,That w h anne that I this foule story rede,Myneyenw exenfoule and sore also ;Ye t lasts t h e venyme ofso longe ago,That enfect et h bym that w olde beh oldsTh e story ofTereus

,Ofw hich I tolde.

OfTrace w as h e lords, and kyune to Marts,

Th e crue lle god that stante w ith blody dart s,And w edded h ad h e , w ith blisful chere,K ing Pandyones faire dogh t er clere

,

That hygh t e Proygne , flours ofhire countree 5Though Juno liste not at t h e feste b ee

,

N e Ymeneus, that god ofw eddyng is.But at t h e feste redy b en, yw ys,Th e furies thre

,w ith alhire mortal bronde.

Th e ow ls alnygh t e about t h e balkes w onde,

That prOph e t e ys Ofw oo and Ofmyschaunce .This reve l, ful ofsongs, and fulOfdauncs,Last s a fourt enygh t e or lyt tel lasse.But shortly ofthis story for to passe,(For I am w ery ofhymfor t o tells)Fyve yere hys w yfand h e t ogeder dw elleTil ona day sh e ganso sore longeTo seenhire suster

,that sh e saw gh not longe,

That for desire sh e nyst e w hat t o seye ,But t o hire h ousbonde gansh e for t o preysFor Goddys love, that sh e moste ones goonH ire suster for t o seen, and come anoon.Or elles but sh e moste t o hire w ende

,

Sh e preyde hym that h e w olde after hire sende.And thys w as day b e day al hire prayers,With alhumblesse ofw yfh ode , w ords and chere.This Tereus le t make h ys sh ippes yare ,

And into Grece h ymselfe ys forthe yfare,Unto hys fader inlaw s, and ganhym preys,To vouchs sauf that for amoneth or tw ays,


And inthis derke cave, yifhire leste,Or leste nogh t e, h e bad hire for to rests5Ofw hich hire herte agrose, and seyde thusWhere ysmy suster

,brother Tereus

And t h erew it h alle sh e w ept e tenderly,And quok for fere, pale and pitously,Rygh t e as th e lamb s that ofth e w olfe ys byten,Or as t h e solver that oft h egle ys smyt en,And ys out ofhis claw es forthe escaped,Y e t hyt ys aferde and aw hapedLest hi t b e b ent eft esones : so sate sh e.

But utterly byt maynone other b e,By force hath this t rayt our done a dede,That h e h at h e reft e hire hire maydenh edeMaugres hi re hede

,b e strengths and by h ismygh t e .

Loo,here a dede ofmen

,and that arygh te !

Sh e crieth Suster l’ w ith ful longe steven,And Fader dere ! helps me God inh evene !’

Al hel'

peth not . And ye t this fals t h efe,Hath doonthys lady ye t amore mysch efe,For ferde lest sh e sh olde hys shame crye,And done bym openly a vilanye,And w ith h is sw erde hire t ongs ofkerf h e,And ina castel made hi re for t o b e

,

Ful prively inprisonevermore,

And kept hire t o h is usage and t o hys store,SO that sh e ne mygh t never more asterts.

O sely Ph ilomene,w oo ys inthynherte !

Huge b enthy sorw es, and w onder smert e !God w reke t h e

,and sends t h e thy boone !

N ow ys byt tyms I make anends soone .

This Tereus ys t o hys w yfycome,And inhise armes hath hys w yfynome ,And pitously h e w epe, and shoke h ys hede ,And sw ore hire that h e fonds hire suster dede 5For w hich t h e sely Proigne hath suche w oo

,

That nygh e hire sorw ful herte brak at w oo.

And thus interes lat I Proigne dw e lle,

And ofhire suster forthe I w olyow telle .


This w oful lady ylerned h ad inyow t h e,So that sh e w erkenand embrow denkouth eAnd w eveninstole t h e radevore ,

1

As byt ofw ymmenhath b e w oved yore .

And,shortly for t o seyne

,sh e hath hire fills

Ofmete and drynke , ofclothyng at hire w ille .

And kout h e eke rede w elynough and endyt e,But w ith a penne sh e kouth e nat w rite 5But let t eres kansh e w eve t o and froo,SO that by t h e yere w as agoo

,

Sh e h ad w ovenina stames2 large

,

How sh e w as brogh t e fromAth enes ina barge,And ina cave h ow that sh e w as brogh t e ,And al t h e things that Tereus hath w rogh t e,Sh e w ave byt w el

,and w rote t h e story above

,

How sh e w as served for hire suster love .

And t o a knave a rynge sh e yafanoon,And prayed hym by signes for t o goonUnto t h e queens, and berenhire that clothe 5And by sygne sw ore many anothe

,

Sh e sh ulde bym yeve w hat sh e getenmygh t e .

Thys knave anoonunto t h e queens bym dygh t e,And toke hi t hi re, and al t h e maner tolde .

And w h anne that Proigne hath this th ing beholds,No w ords sh e spak for sorw e and eke for rage

,

But feyned hire t o goononpilgrymageTo Bachus temple . And ina lyt el stoundsH ire dombe suster syt tynge hath sh e foundsWepynge int h e castel hire se lfe allone .

Allas,t h e w oo

, constreynt e , and t h e mone

1 Th is w ord is usually int erpret ed tapestry , and it is derived, inUrry ’s glossary fromms, clot h , and Vaur orVore , a townoft h at name ,w h ich Tyrw h it t says is in Languedoc. Stole w ould seem h ere to

mean some kind of stool , or frame , onw h ich t h e canvas w ould b e

st retch ed.

2 Th e print ed copies read flames, w h ich is nonsense . Stames, orstamys, as MS . Arch . Seld . reads, means a kind of clot h , t h e same as

stamel, or stamin, w h ich Halliw e ll explains, A kind Of fi ne w orst ed.

’

-See Dict ., &c. , invoc.

1 16 LEGENDE or GOODE WOMEN.

That Proigns uponhi re dombe suster maketh !Inarmes everyoh ofh em other taketh ;And thus I lat h em inhire sorw e dw e lle .

Th e remnaunt ys no charge for to telle,For this is al and somme

,thus w as sh e served,

That never harme agilt e ne deservedUnto thys cruelle man, that sh e ofw yst e.

Y e may bew ar ofmenyit that yow lyst e.

For al b e that h e w olnot for th e shameDoonas Tereus

,t o less h ysname ,

N e serve yow as a morderere or a knave,Fullyt el w hile shul ye trew s bym have .

That w ol I seyne, al w ere h e now e my brother,But hi t so b e that h e may have anoth er.

E! PLICIT LEGENDA PHILOMENE.

INCIPIT LEGENDA PHILLIS.

‘

Y preve , as w el as by auct orit e,’

Th at w ikked fruit s cometh ofw ikked tree,

That may ye fynde yfthat byt liketh yow .

But for thys ends I speke thys asnow ,

To telle yow offals Demophoon.Inlove a falser herde I never noon,But hi t w ere hys fader Theseus;God for hys grace fro suche oonkeps us !Thus these w ymmenprayenthat hit here ;N ow to t h e fi

'

ect turne I ofmy maters.

Dist royed is ofTroye t h e citeeThis Demophooncome saylyng int h e see

Tow ards Athenes t o hys palsys large.With bym come many a shipps, and many a bargeFul offolks, ofw hichs full many oonYs w ounded sore

, and seke,and w oo begoon,

1 Ovid,Hamid. ii. 9 Matt .vii . 16


That inhys tyms w as grete ofrenoun,

N o manso grete inal hys regioun5And lyke hys fader offace and ofstature

,

And fals oflove ; byt come bym ofnature ,As dothe t h e fox Renarde

,t h e foxes sone 5

Ofkynde h e koude hys olde fadres w oneWithouts lore

,as kana drake sw ymme

Wh anne hit ys kaugh t and caried t o t h e b rymme.Thys honourable queens doth him chere

,

And lyke t h w el hys port s and h ysmanere .

But I am agrot ed here b eforne,To w rite ofh em that inlove b enforsw orne

,

And eke t o haste me inmy legends,Which t o performs

,God me grace sende l

Th erfore I passe shortly inthys w yse .

Y e have w el h erds ofTheseus t h e gyse,Int h e b et raysyng offaire Adriane,That ofhi re pit ee kept e bym fro hys bane 5At shorts w ordes

,rygh t e so Demophoon,

Th e same w ay, t h e same path hath goon,That did h is fals fader Theseus.For unto Phillis hath h e sw orne thus

,

TO w eddenhire, and hire h is t rout h e plygh t e,And piked ofhire al t h e good h e mygh t e ,Wh anne h e w as hole and sounds, and h ad hys rests,And doth w ith Phillis w hat so that h im leste,As w elkout h e I, yfthat me leste soo

,

Tellenal h ys doynge, t o and fro.

H e sayede t o hys countre e moste bym sayle,For ther h e w olde hire w eddyng apparaylle

As fills t o h ire honour and h ys also,And openly h e toke h is leve t h o,And t o hire sw ore h e w olde not sojourns,But ina moneth ageynh e w olde retourne .

And inthat londe le t make hys ordynauncs,As verray lords

“

,and toke t h e ob e isaunce

,

Wel and humbly, and h is sh ippes dygh t e ,And home h e gooth th e next w ey h e mygh t e .


For unto Phi lli s yet come h e nogh t e,And that hath sh e so harde and sore ybogh t e,Allas

,as t h e story doth us records,

Sh e w as hire owns dethe w ith a cords,Wh anne that sh e segh that Demophoon h er

t rayed.

But firsts w rote sh e to bym, and faste bym prayedH e w olde come and delyver hire ofpeyne,As I reh erse shal 00 w ords or t w eyne .

Ms lyst e nat vouchs sauf onbym t o swynks,DispendenOnbym a penne ful ofynke,For fals inlove w as h e rygh t e as h ys syre 5Th e Devel set hire soules both ona fi re !

But oft h e letter OfPhi l w ol I w ryt e ,A w ords or t w eyne alt h ogh hit b e but lyte .

Thynhostesss,

’ quod sh e,O Demophoon,

Thy Ph illis,w hich that is so w oo begon,

OfRh odopey, uponyow mote compleyne,Over t h e t erms setts b etw ix us t w eyne ,That ye ne holdenforw ards, as ye seyde .

Your anker,w hich ye inours havenleyde ,

Hygh t e us that ye w olde comenout ofdoute,Or that t h e moons ones w ent about s ;But tymes fours,t h e moons hath hi d hire faceSynt h ilks day ye w ent fro this place ;And fours tymes lygh t e t h e w orlds ageyne.

But for al that, yet I shal soothly sey’

ne,

Y e t hath t h e streme ofScyt h on1 nat brogh t

FromAthenes t h e shipps5 yet come hi t nogh t .And yfthat ye t h e t erms rekne w olde

,

As I or other trew s loveres sh olde,

I pleyne not , God w ot ! b eforne my day.

But al hire letter w ritenI ne mayBy ordre, for hit w ere t o me a charge 5Hire letter w as rygh t e longe, and t h ert o large .

1 Nec veh i t Actaeas Sith onisunda rat es.

’ -Her01kl. ii . 6 .9 Nonvenit ants suumnostra quere la diemJ—Ibid .8.


But here and there, inryme I have hyt laydaThere asme thoght that sh e hath w el sayde .

Sh e seyde, Th e saylles cometh nat ageyn,N e t o t h e w ords t h ers.nysno fey certeyn,But I w ote w hy ye come not ,

’ quod sh e 5For I w as Ofmy love t o yow so frs.

And oft h e goddys that ye h anforsw ore,That hire vengeaunce fal onyow t h erfore

,

Y e be nat suffi saunt to bere t h e peyne.To moche trusted I

,w elmay I seyne,

Uponyoure lynage and youre faire t ongs,And onyours teres falsly oute w rongs.

How couthe ye w epe so b e quod sh e 5‘May ther suche teres feynede b e ?Now certes yfye w olde have inmemorys

,

Hyt oughts b e to yow but lyt t el glorys,To have a sely mayde thus betrayed !To God,

’ quod sh e, prey I, and ofte have prayed,

That byt b e now e th e gret est prise ofalle,

Andmoste honour that ever yow shal befalls.And w h anne thynolde aunce tres peynt ed b e,Inw hi ch menmay hire w orthinesss se

,

Thanne prey I God, thow peynt ed b e also,That folke may reden

,forth by as they go

LO this is h e, that w ith h is fi at eryeBetrayed hath, and doonhire vilanye,That w as h is trew s love int h ogh t s and dede .

’

But sot h ely ofOO poynt yet may they rede,That ye b enlyke youre fader, as inthis5For h e b egiled Adriane, yw is,With suche anart s

,and suche sob t elt ee,

As thou thy selvenhaste b egiled me .

As inthat poynt, alth ogh hi t b e nat fe ire ,Thou folw est bym cert eyn, and art h is eyre.But synthus synfully ye me b egile ,My body mote ye seen, w ithina w hi leRygh t e int h e havens ofAthenes fi e tyngs,Withoutensepulture and buryinge,


Pit ouse,sad

,w ise

,trew s as stele .

And to this w omanhyt aoordet h w ele 5For though that Venus yafhire grete beauts,With Jubit er compouned so w as sh e

,

That conscience , t routh e, and dreds ofshame,And ofhire w yfh ode for t o keps hire name,Thi s t h ogh t s hire w as felicite as here .

And rede Mars,w as that tyms oft h e yere

SO feble , that h ismalice ys h im rafts5Repressed hath Venus hys cruelle crafts.

And w hat w ith Venus,and other oppressyoun

Ofhouses,

1 Mars hys venyme ys adoun,Th at Ypermystre dar not handel a knyfInmalyos

, t h ogh sh e sh ulde less hire lyf.But nath eles, as hevenganthoo turns,To badde aspectes hath sh e OfSaturne,

3

That made hire t o dye inprisoun.

And I shal after make mencioun,

OfDanoo and Egist is also.

And t h ogh so b e that they w ere brethrentw oo,For t hilks tyms nas sparedno lynage,Byt lyket h h em t o makenmariageBet w ix Ypermestra and bym Lyno,And castensuche a day byt shal b e so,And fulle acorded w as hit w itterly.

Th e aray ys w rogh t e, t h e tyms ys faste by,And thus Lyno hath ofhi s fadres brotherTh e dough t er w edded

,and eche ofh em hath other.

Th e torches brennen, and th e lampes brygh t e,Th e sacrifices b enful redy dygh t e,Th encence out oft h e fi re reke t h sote,Th e fi oure, t h e lefe, ys rent up by th e rote,To makengarlandes and corounes hys5Fulys th e place ofsounds ofmynst ralcye,

For th e meaning oft h is astrological t erm, see vol. v. p . 79 .note 1 .2 Saturndescribes t h e effect ofh is influences invol. 1. p . 16 8.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN . 123

Ofsonges amourOuse ofmariage,

As t h ilks tyms w as t h e pleyne usage .

l

And this w as inth e palsys OfEgiste ,That inh is house w as lorde , as bym lyst e .

And thus that day they drivent o anends;Th e frendes takenleve, and home they w ende ;Th e nygh t e ys comen, t h e bride shal go t o b ed.

Egiste t o h ys chambre fast bym sped,And prively h e le t his dogh t er calle

,

Wh anne that t h e house voyded w as ofalle .

H e loked onh ys dogh t er w ith glad chere,

And t o hire spak as ye shal after h ere .

My rygh t e dogh t er, t resoure Ofmynherte,Synfirsts day that shapenw as my sh ert e

,

3

Or by t h e fatale sust renbadde my dome ,SOnye mynherte never things me comeAs th ou

,Ypermyst ra, dough t er dere !

Take hede w hat t hy fader seyt h e t h e here ,And w erke after thy w iser ever moo.

For alderfi rst e,dogh t er, I love t h e soo,

That al t h e w orlds t o me nys halfe so lefe,N e nolde rede t h e t o thy mysch efe,For al t h e good under t h e colde moons,And w hat I meene, byt shal b e seyde rygh t e soone,With prot estacioun, as seyne these w yse,That but thou do as I shal t h e devyse ,Thou shalt b e ded

,by bym that al hath w rough t e !

At shorts w ordes thou ne sch apest noughtsOut Ofmy paleyse or that thou b e dede

,

But thou consent s and w erke after my rede 5Take this t o t h e for ful conclusioun.

’

This Ypermyst ra caste hire eyendoun,And quok as doot h t h e leefe ofaspe grene 5Ded w ex hire hew e

,and lyke as ashe t o sene 5

1 Th e allusionis to t h e ep it h alamia ofth e Greeks.2 For th is expressionsee vol. i . p . 138,note a.


And seyde, Lords and fader, al youre w ille,After mymygh t e , God w ote I shal fulfi lls,SO hit b e t o me no confusioun.

’

I nil,’ quod h e, have noonexcepcioun.

’

And out h e kaugh tc a knyfas rasour kene .

Hyde this,

’ quod h e, that byt b e not ysene 5And w h anne thynh ousbonde ys to bedde goo,While that h e slepe th kut hys t h rot e at w oo5For inmy dremes byt is w arnedme,How that mynevyw e shal my bane b e ,But w hi ch I not 5 Wh erfore I w ol b e siker.

Yfthou saynay, w e t w o shal make a byker,

As I have seyde,by h im that I have sw orne

ThisYpermyst ra hath nygh hire w yt t e forlorns,And

,for to passenh armelesse ofthat place,

‘

Sh e graunt ed bym5 ther w asnoonother grace.And t h erw ith alle a costrel taketh h eAnd seyde, H ereof a draught

,or t w o

,or three

Y ife bym t o drynke w h anne h e goot h .t o reste,And h e shal slepe as longe as ever t h e leste,Th e narcot ikes and Opies b enso strongs.

And goo thy w ay, lest that bym t hynke to longe .

’

Oute cometh t h e bride , and w ith ful sobre chere,As ys Ofmaidenes ofte t h e manere,To chambre brogh t e w ith reve l and w ith songs.And shortly, leste thi s tale b e t o longe,This Lyno and sh e beth brogh t e t o bedde,And every Wight out at t h e doors hym spedde.

Th e nygh t e ys w asted and h e felaslepe 5Ful tenderly b egynnet h sh e t o w epe 5Sh e riste hire up, and dredefully sh e quaketh ,As dothe t h e braunch e that Zeph erus shaketh,And husht w ere alle inArgons that sites.As colde as eny frosts now w exet h sh es

,

For pite by t h e herte st reynet h hire soo,

And dreds Ofdethe doth hire so moche w oo,

That t h ries doune sh e fi l insw ich s a w ere ,

Sh e riste hire up and stakereth here and there,

MINOR POEMS.

INTRODUCTION.

THE follow ing short pieces include all th e remaining poemsw h ich canhs traced w ith any certainty to Ch aucer ; and, considered as th e trifles w h ich a great genius th row s Off in th eintervals ofmore sustained labour, th ey areneith er unw orthyofth eir auth or, nor destitute ofintrinsic interest.

Tile Comp leynte of the Detke ofP ita is inth e style ofth eallegories, fash ionable among th eFrench inChaucer

’

s time, ofw h ich TileRomaunt ofth e Rose is th e example best know n.

Th is style h as been imitated by Ch aucer in many ofh is

minor poems, but especially 1nTfi e Cour t ofLove , m w h ichth e De tlze ofP ile forms an episode .

— See vol. iv. p.-156.

MSS. of Th e Comp leynte are preserved in th e UniversityLibrary at Cambridge , inth e volume marked Fairfax 1 6 in

th e Bodleian, and inth e Earl. Collection 78 inth e BritishMuseum. Th e present text is takenfrom th e last.

Th e Ballade ale Vilage sauna p eg/Mare is, apparently, atranslation from th e French . Th e title bears no relationw h atever to th e subj ect, w h ich , under th e form of a dialoguebetw eenFortune and a Plaintiff,seems to be a petitionfromChaucer to th e Council, to promote h im to some h igh er 0 cs

thanh e th enh eld at Court. It 18 foundmMS. int h e volumemarked Fairfax 1 6, and inMS. Bodl. 638. Th e present textis takenfrom th e former.

Th e Goodly Ballade of Cfi aucer is addressed to a lady,w h ose name, from th e allusion to th e daisy, may be inferredto h ave beenMargaret ; and from th e tone ofmingled gal

INTRODUCTION. 127

lantry and deference w h ich pervades it, this lady may possibly h ave been Margaret, Countess of Pembroke , th efoundress of th e Margaret Professorsh ip ofDivinity in th eUniversity ofOxford— See vol. iv. p. 250, note 2 . Th e textOf th e printed editions seems very corrupt, andno MS. copyhas beendiscovered inth e research es made for th e presentedition; w h ich is th e more to be regretted, as this little

poem ismarked by great elegance and sw eetness.

Th e Ballade sent to K ing Richard, Th e Comp leynte ofChaucer to h is Pur se, and th e lines entitled Good Counseil

of Chaucer, are taken from a volume ofMSS. numbered

7333 in th e Harleian collection, collated w ith copies inthatmarked Fairfax 16 in th e Bodleian library. From th e

latter volume are also derived th e texts of th e Ensayes to

SooganandBulcton.

Th e ballad beginning, Th e firsts fadir andfynder,’

&c., th e

present text Ofw hich , varying sligh tly from th at ofSpegh t ,h as beentakenfrom th e Earl. MS. 7333, is attributed toCh aucer by Henry Soogan, ina poem publish ed by Spegh tinh is editionof Ch aucer

’

s collected w orks— 1 604. It isentitled, A moral balade to th e P rince , th e Duke ofClao

rence, th e Duke of Bedford, the Duke of Glocester , th e

! inges sonnes, by H enry Soogan, at a supp er among th eMarchants, inth e Vintry at London, inth e h ouse ofLouis

J ohn. Soogan, after bew ailing th e follies of h is youth ,w arns th ese noblementhat virtue is th e truest nobility, and

quotes Chaucer’

s sentiments onth e subject from Th e WyfofBath esTale . He th enproceeds as follow s And ofth isth ings, h erke h ow my maister [scil., Chaucer, w h om h e hadjust before called, mymaister Ch aucer

’

] sside

Th e fi rst stock-fath er, &c.

’

SOOganappears to have beenattach ed to th e Court s bothOfEdw ard III. and Richard II. His name occurs amongth ose to Wh om th e latter granted letters Ofprotectionbeforeh is expeditionto Ireland inI399 . We h ere fi nd himdescribed

128 INTRODUCTION.

asHenricus Soogan,Armiger. It is evident that h e enjoyeda traditional ch aracterfor w it long after h is death ; for inth ereignofHenryVIII. a collectionOfstories w as publish ed byDr. Andrew Borde, under th e title of Scogan

’

s J ests, inw h ich h e is said to h ave beena graduate ofOxford, and th eK ing

’

s jester. Shakspeare introduces h im inno very dignifi ed capacity in2 H enry IV: act iii.

Shall. Th e same Sir John, t h e very same . I saw h imbreak Skogan’sh ead at t h e Court-gate w h enh e w as a crack not t h us h igh .

He appears again inBenJ onson’

sMasque of the Fortu

Mere-fool. Skogan Wh at w as h eSop h ist. O. a fi ne gent leman, and Master ofArts

OfHenry t h e Fourt h ’

s time. t h at made disguisesFor t h e King’

s sons, and w rit inbal lad-royal ,Daint i ly w e ll.Mere-fool. But w rote h e l ike a gent lemanPSop h ist. Inrh yme , fi ne t inkling rh yme , and flow and verse .

Th e high moral tone of th e poem publish ed as his bySpegh t is entirely inconsistent w ith th e notionthat h e w as amere Court-fool or jester.

A volume ofMSS. numbered 7578 inth e Harleiancollect ion, h as supplied th e text of th e P roverbes of Ch aucer,collated w ith copies inMS. Fairfax 1 6. Both MSS. containtw o additional stanz as, in somew h at th e same strain,w ith out any indicationth at th ey are by anoth er hand. Th ese

stanz as are now printed for th e fi rst time in th e present

Th e song entitled a Rounds! is givenas publish ed byPercy inh is Religues of Ancient English Poe try. Inh is

prefatory notice Percy informs h is readers that th is littlesonnet, w h ich h ath escaped all th e editors ofChaucer’s w orks,isnow printed for th e fi rst time from anancient MS. inth ePepysianLibrary, th at contains many oth er poems of its

valuable auth or. Th e versifi cat ion is Of th at species w hichth e French call Rondeau, very naturally English ed by our

INTRODUCTION.

Th e internal evidence is, upon th e w hole, favourable to th isconclusion, alth ough not very strong in itself. Th e sentiments, and eventh e ph raseology, w h endivestedOfits Scottishorth ography, w ill remind th e reader ofChaucer

’

sA. B . C.,

w h ich it more nearly resembles inmanner th anany ofh is

poems. Th e present text is takenfrom th at printed inN otes

and Q ueries, w h ich w as collated w ith th e original MS.

Some sligh t, but necessary, ch anges, h ow ever, h ave beenventured upon inmatters of form: th e contractions of th e

MS , adopted inNotes and Q ueries, are h ere g1vsu Infull ;v is substituted for u, w h ere th e latter w as used as a con

sonant ; and w ords and syllables w h ich , as usual inMSSw ere improperly joined or separated, are placed in th eirtrue connexion.

As noth ing illustrative of Chaucer’

s habits and dispositionsh ould be lost, itmaybe w ell to reproduce aj eu d

’

esp ri t

givenby Spegh t inh is Glossary, to illustrate th e expression,Yee humus w h at I mene . He Observes, ‘Th is is anaposiopesis oftenused by Chaucer ; as th at w h ich h e is saidto h ave w ritten w ith h is diamond sometime on glasseWindow es, expounded by h isman, Wat ; w h ich w as thus

A marriedman, and yet—quod Ch aucer.A merry man, quod Wat .

He is a knave t h at w rote me t h at , quod Ch aucer. ’

In searching in th e BodleianLibrary for MSS. for th iseditiona curious fact w as discovered, w h ich , th ough possiblyknownto Tyrw h itt, h as not beenmentioned by h im or anysubsequent editor. In th e volume marked Fairfax 16 are

contained, in addition to Th e Comp leynte of Mars and

Venus, and oth er poems, by Geoffrey Chaucer, some sh ort

pieces by one Th omas Ch aucer. Th is personw as probablyth e poet

’

s eldest son(see Life, vol. i. p. or akinsman, w h o,according to a tradition prevalent in Spegh t

’

s time , w as

educated by h is more celebrated relative . To th is Th omasCh aucer, th erefore, migh t very probably be traced many Of

th ose sh ort pieces publish ed by Spegh t , but properly re

coted fromlater editions ofth e w orks ofGeoffrey Chaucer.

MINOR POEMS. 131

THE COMPLEYNTE OE THE DETHE OF PITE.

’

HOW PITE IS DEDE AND BURIED IN A GENTLE HERTE .

PITYE

,w hichs that I have sought so yore

With herte sore, ful ofbesy peyne,That inthis w orlds nas ther no Wight w oer

Without t h e dethe 5 and if I shal not feyne,My pourpose w as ofPitee for t o pleyne,And eke upont h e crew lty and t irannyeOfLove

,that for my t routh e doet h e me t o dye .

And w h anne that I by lengths ofcertainyeresHad

,ever inoon

,tyms sought t o speke,

To Pit ee I ran,al b espreynt w ith teres,

TO prayenh ir onCrew elt e me w reke 5But or I might w ith any w ords oute breke ,Or tellenany Ofalle my peynes smert e

,

I fonds Pi te e dede and buryed inanherte .

2

And downe I felle w hanI sogh t h e herseDede as stoone w h iles that t h e sw ough e last 5But up I roos w ith colours w el dyverse,And pytously onh ir myneygh enI cast,And nerre t h e corse I came t o pressenfast,And for t h e souls I sh oope me for t o preys 5Me thought me lorne , ther w asnoonother w eys.

Thus am I slayns sith that Pit ee is dede 5Ellas

,t h e day that ever hit sh olde falle !

What maner mandar now e heve up h is hede ?To w h ame sh alle any sorow fulherte calle ?Now e Cruw elt e h at h e cast t o sleenus alle

1 Int h e MS. Harl . 78, t h is poem is t h us h eaded And now h ere

folow ing b egynnet h e a complaint of p it ee made by Gefl‘

rey Ch aucer,t h e aureate posts, th at ever w as fonds inours vulgare tofore h es dayes.’

2 See vol. iv. p . 156 .

132 MINOR POEMS.

Inydelle h Ope w e lyve redelesss ofpeyne 5Sith sh e is dede

,to w hame sh oulds w e us pleyne ?

But yit encresit h me this w onder new s,

That no Wight w ot h er dede oonly but I,

SO many amanthat inh ir tyms h er knew e ;And yit sh e dyede nought so sodaynly5For I have sough t e h ir fulbesely,Sith first I hadde w itte or mannesmynde 5But sh e w as dede er that I couthe h ir tynde .

Aboute h ir heerse there stoodenloust ilyWithoutenmaking dool

,as thoughts me

,

Bount e e, parfyt e w ee l arrayed and rych ely,

And fressh e Beaut e , Loust and J olyt e ,Assured-Maner

,Thoughts, and Honeste e,

Wisdam,Estate

,Drede

,and Gouvernance

Confedred boot h s by h ands and assurance .

A compleynt hade I w ryt eninmynhonde ,For t o have put t s to Pit ee, as a b ills,But w h ane I al this companys ther fonds,That rather w oldenalmy cause spillsThane do me h elps, I h eeld my compleynt stille 5For t o thoo folke, Wi thoutenany faille,WithoutenPit ee ne mayno b ills avaylle.

Thanh s leve I alle thees vertues,safPit ee ,

K eping t h e heerse as ye have herde me seyne,Confedred alle by bonds OfCruw elt ie

,

And beenassented that I shal b e sleyne .

SO I thanh s put t s my compleynt up ageyne,For t o my foomenmy b ills I durst not shew s5Th e fi

'

ect oft h e maters w as th is w ordes few s.

THE COMPLEYNTE IN THE BILLE

Humblest e ofhert, hygh est e Ofreverence,Benigne flours, corone ofvertues alle !Sh ew eth e unto your souvereyne exce llence

134 MINOR POEMS.

Have mercy onme, yes vertuouse

1

qw eene ,That you have sought so t rw ely and so yore,Let t h e st reme ofyours light onme b e ssene ,That love th e and dreds t h e ay lenger more 5Th e soothe t o seye

,I bere t h e h evy sore

,

2

And though I b ee not konning for t o pleyne,For Goddes love have mercy onmy peyne .

My peyne is this, that w h at so I desyre ,That have I nought

,ne nought that lythe th ert o5

And ever setteth Desyre mynhert onfyreEke onthat other syde

,w here so I go.

What maner thing that may encresse WOO,

That have I redy,unsought

,every w here ;

Me lacket h e but my deth, and t h anne my b eers.

What needeth e it shew s parcelles ofmy peyne,Sith every w oo

,that hert e may b et h enke ,

I soufi ’re ; and yit I dar nought t o you pleyne,For w ee l I w ot

,although I w ake or w ynke ,

Y e recch ennought w hether I flet e or synke .

Yit nevert h elesse my t routh I shal sust eeneUnto my dethe, and that shal w ele b e seene .

This is t o seye,I w olb e youres ever 5

Th ough e yee me slee by Cruw elt e e , your foo,Algatesmy spiryt shal never disseverFrome youre servyse, for any peyne or w oo.

Now e Pit ee that I have sought so yoore agoo !Thus for yours dethe I may w e e l w eeps and pleyneWith herte sore , alful ofbesy peyne .

EXPLICIT.

1 Inst ead ofyes veriuouse, t h e print ed cop ies read thouHereuus.2 Int h e MS . sore is scratch ed out , and p eyas w rit t enint h e margin

but t h e rh yme demands t h e restorat ionof sore . Th e meaning is, Isufi

‘

er a sore afi liction.

’

MINOR POEMS. 135

BALLADE DE VILAGE SAUNS PEYNTURE .

HIS w rech ed w orldes t ransmutacion,

As w ele and w oo,now povert e, and now honour

NVi th out enordre or w ise discrecion,Governed ys by Fortunes erroure 5But nat h eles t h e lakke Ofh ir favoursN e maynot doo me synge

,though that I dye ,

J’

ay tout p erdue, montemp s et monlabours,l

For fynally Fortune I diffye.

Y et ysme lefte t h e sights ofmy resoun,

To know enfrend fro foo inthy meroiIre,

z

So moche hath ye t thy turning up and dounY taugh t e me to know eninanh ours ;But t rew elyno force ofthy reddoure 3

To him that over himselfs hath t h e maist rye ,My su i saunce shal b e my socoure

,

For fynally Fortune I dyffye .

O Socrates, thou stedfast champion,Sh e mights never b e thy turment oure

,

Thow never dreddest h ir oppression,N e inh ir chere fonds thounoo savoure 5Thow knew s w el t h e deceyt Ofh ir colours,And that h ir mooste w orsh ippe is t o lye 5I know e h ir eke a fals dissimuloure,For fynally Fortune I diffye .

LA RESPONS DU FORTUNE AU PLEINTIF.

N0manis w rech ch ed but himselfs yt w ene,And h e that hath himselfs hath suffi saunce .

Why seyst thow thanI am t o t h e so kene,That havest thy selfe out ofmy governaunce ?

1 Th is line is quoted by t h e Persons inh is tale as anew s Frenscli esong.

’— See vol. iv. p . 25.

2 Se e alsoTh eRomaunt oftheRose, vol. vii . p . 185 note 3.

3 Th at is, Th y violence (redeur) is not to b e account ed of by onew h o has th emastery over h imse lf.’

136 MINOR POEMS.

Sey thus Graunt mercy ofthynh abundaunceThat thow h avest lent or thi s5

’ thou shalt not strive .

What w ooste thou yet h ow I thee w ol avaunce ?And eke thou havest thy best frend alyve .

I have th e taught divisiounb etw eneFrend ofeffect

, and frend Ofcount enaunce .

1

Th e nedet h not th e galls ofnoonh iene,

2

That curet h evenderke fro h er penauncs ;Now seest thow clere that w ere inignoraunce.Yet halt thine ankre

,

’and yet thow maist arrive

There bounty b ereth t h e keys ofmy substaunce,And eke thow h avest thy best frend alyve .

How many have I refused to sustens,Sith I have t h e fost red inthy plesaunce !Wolt thow thanmakena statute onthy quene,That I shal b enaye at thinordinaunce ?Thou borne art inmy regne Ofvariaunce

,

Aboute t h e w hsle w ith other maist thow drive 5My loor ys b et , thanw ikke is thy grevaunce,

’

And eke thow h avest thy b est s frend alyve .

LE PLEINTIF ENCOUNTRE FORTUNE.

Thy loor I dampne ! hit is adversit e !My frendmaist thow nat revs, blynde goddesse !That I thy frende 5 know s

,I thanks yt thee ;

Take h em ageyn! le t h emgoo lie a-

presse !

1 Th at is, ‘ Friend inreal ity and friend inapp earance only.’ Th isidea is takenfromBoe th ius, and occurs before int h e Rom. qf th e Rose.—See vol. vii . p . 185, note 3.2 It appears th at t h e gall ofa h yena w as a cure for sore eyes.3 Your anch or st ill h oldeth .

’ Th e post h ere compares t h e ‘ bestfriend, ’ to w h omfrequent allusionismade , to ananch or.4 Th at is, Th e w h olesome lessonw h ich I t each is suflicient to

count erbalance t h e afflict ionyou sufi‘

er.’

5 Th at is, Th e friends w h ose friendsh ip depends ont h e favours ofFortune to its Obj ect .’

138 MINOR POEMS.

A GOODLY BALLADE OF CHAUCER.

OTHER ofnorture,best beloved ofalle,

And freshs flours,t o w hom good thrift God

Your child, if it'

lust e youme so to calls, [sende l

Al b e I unable my selfe so t o pret ends,To your discrecionI recommendsMine herte and al

,w ith every circumstance

,

Al holly t o b e under your governaunce .

Most desire I, and have and ever shal,

Thing w hich might your hertss ese amends 5Have me excused, my pow er is but smal 5Nath elesse ofright

, ye oughts t o commendsMy goode w ille

,w hich faine w olde entende

To do you service ; for almy su saunceIs holy t o b e under your governaunce .

Mieulx aninherte w hich never shal appalls,Aye freshs and new ,

and right glad t o dispendsMy time inyour service, w hat so befalls,Besech ing your excellence to defendsMy simplenesss, if ignoraunce offendsInany w ise 5 Sith that mine a launce,IS holy t o beenunder your governaunce .

Daisys Oflight,very ground ofcomfort ,

“

Th e Sunnes dough t er ye h igh t e, as I rede 5For w hanh e w estre th , farw el your disport !By your nature anone , right for pure dreds

i t may h ave been John of Gaunt , Edw ard Rich ard IL , orHenry IV. Th e poem is evident ly a de licat e form of pe t it ionto h im,

w h oever h e may b e , and t o t h e Council , for promot ion or pecuniaryassistance.

1 Th at is, Bet ter one w h ose love w illneverpall ,’ orbecome ch angedby fruit ion.

2 Th e lady ’sname w as evident ly Margaret , w h ich means inFrencha daisy, perh aps t h e Lady Margare t , Count ess Of Pembroke , t h e greatpatroness oflearning—See vol. iv. p . 250,not e 2 .

MINOR POEMS. 139

Oft h e rude night that w ith his boistous w eds

Ofdarkenesse sh adow et h our emispers,Thanclosenye, my lives ladie dere !

Daw ening t h e Day t o h is kinds resort,And Phebus your father w ith h is stremes redeAdorneth t h e morrow

,consuming t h e sort

Ofmistie cloudss that w oldenoverledeTrew s humble hertss w ith h ir mistyh ede,Nere comfort a-dayes

,w han’ eyenclere

Disclose and spreds my lives ladys dere,

J e vouldray— but grete God disposeth

Andmaketh casue l, by h is providence,Suchething asmannes frele w itte purposeth,AIfor t h e best

,if that your conscience

N ot grucche it, but inhumble pacienceIt receive : for God seyt h , Wi thouts fable,A feythful

’ herte ever is acceptable.

Caute ls w h o so useth gladly, glose th ;To eschew s soch i t is right high prudence;What ye sayd onesmine herte opposeth,That my w riting japes inyour absencePlesed youmoche better t h anne my presenceYe t canI more 5 ye b e not excusable,A faithfull herte ever is acceptable .

Q uaketh my penne ; my spirit supposethThat inmy w riting ye fynde w olSome offence 5Minherte w elkenet h thus5 anonit riseth ;

1 If w e read of the days, inst ead of a dayes, and w hos inst ead of

w han, t h is stanza w i ll become int elligible . It w il l t h enmean,

‘AS

soon as Day rises ‘ into h is natural p lace , and your fat h er Ph oebusadorns t h e morning w ith h is rosy beams, consuming t h e t h rong of

clouds w h ich , w ere it not for t h e comfort of Day, w h ose clear eyesdi sclose my lady dear to my sigh t , w ould overlade t rue h earts w itht h eir mist iness, I w ould Th e post h ere breaksoffby anexpressiveaposiopesis.2 Th e allusionis to t h e promisesmade inth e New Testament to th eChrist iangrace Offai th .

140 MINOR POEMS.

Now hotte,now colds

,and efte infervence

That misse is, is caused ofnegligence,

Andnot ofmalice 5 therefore beth merciable ;A faithfull herte ever is acceptable.

LENVOYE.

Forth compleynt ! forth lacking eloquence !Forth little letter, Ofendi ting lame !I h ave besought my ladies sapienceOfthy behalfs, t o accept ingameThine inabilit ie 5 doe thou t h e sameAbide ! have more yet —J e serve J oyesss.

‘

Now forth I close thee inholy Venusname !Thee shall unclose my h ertes governeresse .

BALLADE SENT TO K ING RICHARD .

OMETYME this w orlds w as so stedfast and stable,That mannis w ords w as holde Obligacioun5

’

Andnow e it is so fals and deseyvable,That w ords and w erke, as inconclusioun,Beennoot hyng oon5 for turnid up so downeIs all this w orlds

,t h orow e mede and w ylfulnssse ,

’

That al is loste for lacks ofstedfastnesse.

What make this w orlds t o b e so variableBut luste, that folks have indissension?For now e adayes amanis holde unable,

1 Compare vol. 1. p . 137 ,note 4.

2 It appears t h at eveninth e fourteent h century th ere w ere personsw h o lamented t h e degeneracy Ofmoderndays, and sigh ed for a returnoft h e good Old t imes.’3 Th at is, Th rough th e prevalence ofbribery and w ilfulness.’

142 MINOR POEMS.

For, certes yfye make me h evy chere ,

Me w ere as leef b e layde uponmy bere .

For w hichs unto your mercy thus I crye,

Beeth b evy ageyne, or e llesmote I di e !

Now vouch eth sauf this day, or hyt b e nygh t e ,That I Ofyow t h e blissful soune may here,Or see your colour lyke t h e sunne brygh t e,That ofyelow nesse h adde never pere .

Y e b e my lyf! ye b e mynh ertys stere !Q ueue Ofcomfort and good companys !Beth h evy ayeyne, or e llesmoote I dye !

Now, purse ! that b ent o me my lyves lygh t e,

And saveour as doune inthis w orlds here,

Oute ofthis toune h elpsme t hurgh your mygh te,Synthat you w ole not bene my t resorcre 5For I am Shave as nye as is a frere .

’

But I pray unto your curtesys,

Bethe b evy ayeyne, or ellesmoote I dye !

L’ENVOY DE CHAUCER.

O conquerour OfBrutesAlbyon,’

Whi chs that by lygne and free election,Beenverray K ynge ,

’ this song t o yow I sends,And ye that mow enalle mynharme amends,Have mynde uponmy supplicacion.

1 Th at is,‘ I am as bars ofmoney as t h e t onsure of a friar is of

h air,’— a very ludicrous simile .

2 InGeoffrey ofMonmout h ’

s History , w h ich professes to b e t ranslated from anancient Brit ish original, t h e Brit ish are said to b e descended from t h e fugit ive Trojans, w h o, under a ch ief of t h e name OfBrutus, t ook refuge in t h is island . From t h is Brutus t h e line of

Brit ish kings is t raced t o Cadw allader, w h o flourish ed in t h e sevent hcentury after Ch rist . Th e Post h ere calls England Brut es Albyon, orBrutus’ Albion, as being itsmost ancient and h onourable t it le .

3 InHenry IV.

’s proclamat iont o t h e peop le of England h e founds

h is t it le on conquest , h ereditary righ t , and e lect ion; and from t h isinconsistent and absurd document Ch aucerno doubt took h is cue.

MINOR POEMS.“

1 (3

GOOD COUNSEIL OF CHAUCER.

l

FLEE fro t h e pres, and duelle w ith sothfastnesseu

"

1ce t h e“t hy g

Good though hit b e smaleFor horde 3 hath hate, and clymbyng t ikelnesse,Pres h ath envys

,and w ele i s blent over alle .

Savoure no more thent h e behove sh alle”

Reds w el thy self that other folks canst rede ,And t rout h e t h e shal delyver, hit ysno dreds.

Peyne t h e not eche croked t o redresse

Intrust ofhire that turneth as a balls,6

Grete rest stant inlyt il b esynesse ;7

Bew ar also t o spurns aye ine annalle ,8

St ryve not as doth a croke w ith a w alls 5’

Daunt thy selfe that daunt est oth eres dede,And t routh e t h e shal delyver, hit isno dreds.

1 Th is int erest ing lit t le poem is found int h e Cot tonian collect ion,marked 0t h o, A . xviii ., w h ere it is said t o h ave beenmade by Ch aucer,uponh is death -b ed , lying inh is anguish .

’

2 Th e print ed edit ions read, Suffice unto t h y good ,

’w h ich isnon

sense . Sufi ice t h e t h y good’ means Let t h y fortune b e sufficient for

t h ee ,’ i .s. ‘Be cont ent .’

3 Horde means treasure ; but it is cert amnot true t h at rich esmakemenh at ed.

4 Wealt h or prosperity is liable above all t h ings to blind p eop le tot h e ir real situat ion.

’ Th is sent iment h as occurred before inTheRomaunt ofth e Rose and t h e Ballade dc Vilage saans P eynture.5 Savoure, like t h e old French savourer ,means to t ast e . Th e pas

sage t h enw ill signify, Be not greedy to tast e more p leasure t h anbeh oves t h ee .

’

5 Soil. Fortune.7 Th is is one formoft h e proverb , Of l it t le meddling cometh great

ease .

’

3 Take care not to kick against anail .’ Th is w as anold proverbat t h e t ime ofSt . Paul ’s conversion; for it is app lied inActs ix . to h is

at t emp t to oppose h imse lfto t h e Ch urch Of Ch rist . H ere w e h ave anexamp le of t h e manner in w h ich t h e nof t h e indefinit e art icle issomet imes t ransferred to th e succeeding w ord , as an init ial 71 is alsooft entransferred to t h e indefinit e art icle . Analle (anaw l)becomes analle or anail , or vice versa.

9 Th is is one form OfE sop’s fable oft h e brazenand eart h enpots.

10 Th e print ed edit ions read deme and domest ,meaning judge andjudgest ; but daunt , meaning control (French domp ter) is perh aps

be t t er.

i t MINOR POEMS.

That th e ys sent receyve inbuxomnesss,Th e w rast eling ofthis w orld asketh a falle 5Her isno home , h er is but w yldyrnesse.

Forth pilgrime ! forth best out ofthy stalle !Loke up onhye , and t h onke God ofalle 5Weyve thy lust, and let thy goste t h e lede,

’

And t routh e shal thee delyver, hit isno dreds.

A BALLADE.

THE fi rst e fadir and fyndr ofgent ilnesse ,

8

What mandesirit h gentil for t o b e,Most follow s h is trace

,and alle h is w ittes dresse,

Vertue t o shew ,and vices for t o flee 5

For unto vertu longeth dignit ee,And nought th e revers

,savely dar I deme

,

Al w ere h e miter, corone or diademe .

This first stoke w as ful ofrigh tw isnesse ,Trew e ofhi s w orde

,sober, pitons and free,

Olene ofh is goost e and lovid b esynesse,Ageynst e t h e vice ofslow th e inh oneste 5And but h is h e ire love vertu as di d h e,He nisnot gentil though h im riche seme

,

A1 w ere h e mi ter, corone or diademe .

Vice may w elle b e heyre t o olde richesse,But there may no man, as ye may w el see

,

Byquet h e h is sone h is vertuousnoblesse 5

1 Th e poet says t h at inasmuch as t h is life is confessedly a contest orw rest ling-match , youmust expect to rece ive a fall.or reverse .

3 Th at is, Le t t h y sp irit (gost e),not t h y appe t ite , lead t h ee .

’

3 By t h e fi rst e fadir and fyndr of gent ilnesse ’ t h e poe t seems tomeanCh rist . Compare WyfofBathes Tale , vol. ii. p . 82 , Crist w olw eclayme ofh imoure gent ilesse .

’ Instead ofThe fi rstefada'

r and fynder ,Spegh t , in t h e poem by Soogan, inw h ich th is p iece is introduced ,reads, The fi rst stock-fath en—See ante, p. 11 7 .

146 MINOR POEMS.

But now so w epet h Venus inh ir spere ,That w ith h ir teres sh e w ol drench e us here.Allas ! Sooganthis is for th ynOffence !Thou causest this deluge ofpestilence .

Havest thow not seyd inblaspheme ofthis goddis,Thurgh pride , or t hurgh t h y grete rekelnesse

,

Sw ich thing as int h e law e oflove forbode is,

That for t hy lady saw gh nat thy distresse,Th erfore thow yave hi r up at Migh elmesse ?Allas

,Scogan! ofolde folke ne yonge,

Wasnever erst Sooganblamed for hi s tonge .

l

Thandrow e inskorne Cupide eke t o recorde

Oft h ilke rebe l w orde that t how hast spoken,For w hich h e w olno lenger b e thy lorde 5And

,Soogan, though h is bow e b e nat broken,

H e w olnat w ith h is arw es be enyw rokenOnthee ne me , ne noonofyoure figure 5We Shul ofh im have neyt h er hurt e nor cure,

Now certes, frend, I drede ofthynunh appe,Lest for thy gilte t h e w rech e oflove procedeOnalle h em that b enhoor and rounde ofsh appe ,That b enso lykely folke to spede ,Thanshal w e for oure laboure have noo mede 5But w el I w ot thow w olt answ ere and saye ,LOO

,olde Grise l lyste t o rynne and pley

Nay, Soogan, saynot soo, for I mexcuse ,God he lpe me so

,inno ryme dout eles5

N e thynke I never ofslepe t o w ake my muse,

1 Anallusion, probably, t o Scogan’s w it .2 Th e poet , in t h is stanza, seems to say t h at h e is afraid lest th e

vengeance of t h e God of Love for Scogan’

s blasph emy may fall onh imse lfand all, w h o, like Soogan, are corpulent and h oary. Th e h ost

inThe Canterbury Tales tw its t h e poet w i t h h is stoutness; but , ift h edat e of t h is poem b e 1348, Ch aucer could h ave beenonly 2 1 w h eni t w as w rit ten.

MINOR POEMS. 147

That rust eth inmy sh eth e stille inpees5While I w as yonge I put h er forth inprees5But alle shal passe that menprose or rime

,

Take every manhys turne as for h is time .

Scogan, thou knelest at t h e st remes hede l

Ofgrace,ofalle honour

,and ofw orth ynesse .

Int h’

ende ’ ofw hi ch streme I am dul as dede ,

Forge t e insolyt ary w ildernesse ;Y e t

,Soogan

,t h enke onTullius’ kyndenesse 5

'

Mynde t hy frende th ere it may fructyfye ,Farew el

,and loke thow never eft love dyffi e .

EXPLICIT.

L’ENVOY DE CHAUCER A RUETON.

‘

MY maister, Bukt on, w h anne ofChri st oureWas asked

,w hat is troth or sothfastnesse ? 5

H e not a w orde answ erde t o that asking,

AS w h o seyth , no manis al true , I gesse 5And t h erfor

,though I h igh t e t o expresse

Th e sorrow and wto that is inmariage,

I dar not w ritenofit no w ikk ednesse,Lest I my selfe falle efte insw ich e dotage.

1 Opposit e to t h ie, int h emarginoft h e Fairfax MS., is w rit ten‘ i . aWyndesor.

’

2 Opposit e t o t h is w ord isw rit t en‘ i . a Greenw ich .

’ Th e meaning oft h e passage , t h erefore , is t h at Soogan lived at t h e Court OfWindsor,w h ile Ch aucer w as residing at Greenw ich , fart h er from t h e source of

favour, just as Greenw ich is fart h er t h anWindsor from t h e source of

t h e Th ames.

3 Th e friendsh ip inculcat ed by Cicero inh is De amic'it ié .

4 Ont h ese stanzas Tyrw h i t t observes From t h e reference to t h eWyfof Bat h e , I sh ould suppose i t t o b e one Of our aut h or

’s lat t er

composit ions ; and I fi nd t h at t h ere w as a Pe t er de Bukton, t h eKing’

s esch eator for t h e county ofYork, in —Pat . 20B. II. p . 2 ,

m. 3apud Rymer.Johnxvui . 38.

10- 2

148 MINOR POEMS.

I w olnot seye h ow th at it is th e cheyneOfSat h anas

,onw hich h e gnaw e th ever5

But I dar seyn, w ere h e oute ofh is peyne ,As by hi s w ille h e w olde b e bounde nevere .

But t h ilke doted foole that ofte hath levereYch eyned b e thanout ofprisoncrepe

God lete h imnever fro h is w oo dissevere ,N e no manhim b ew ayle though h e w epe !

But yet lest thow do w orse, take a w yfe 5Be t ys t o w edde thanburne inw orse w ise ,

1

But thow shalt have sorw e onthy flessh thyAnd b enthy w yfes t h ral, as seynth ese Wise .

And yfthat hooly w ritte may not sufi yse,Esperi ence shal t h e teche

,so may happe,

That t h e w ere lever t o b e take inFrise ,Thaneft falle ofw eddynge int h e trappe .

This lyt el w rittenproverbes or fi gureI sende yow ,

take kepe ofbyt I rede !Unw ise is h e that kannoo w ele endure .

If thow b e siker, put t h e not indrede .

Th e w yfe ofBathe I pray yow that ye rede

Ofthismatere that w e have onhonde .

God graunt e yow your lyfe frely t o ledeInfredom,

for ful harde is t o b e bonde .

EXPLICIT.

PROVERBES OF OHAUOER.

’

WHAT Sulde these clothes thusmanyfolde,LOO

,this h oot e somers day ?

After gre et hete cometh oolde 5N0 mankaste h is pilche

saw ay.

I Cor. vu. 9 .

2 Only t h e first t w o stanzas are givenint h e print ed edit ions ; butint h e MSS . w h ich h ave been consul ted for t h e present t ex t , t h e restfollow w it h out any dist inct ion.

3 A p ileha is a pe lisse .or cloak ,made or t rimmed w ith fur. It is

150 MINOR POEMS.

And but your w ords w ill he lenhast elyMy h ert is w ound

,w hile that it is grene,

Youre t w o eynw ill sle me sodenly.

3

Uponmy t routh I sey yow fe ithfully,That ye b enofmy liffe and deth t h e queue;For w ith my deth t h e t rout h Shal b e sene .

Youre t w o,&c.

SO hath youre beante fro your herte chasedFitee, that me n

’

availet h not t o pleyn5For daunger halt your mercy inhis cheyne.

Giltlessmy deth thus have ye purchased5I sey yow soth

,me needeth not t o fayn5

SO hath your beante fro your herte chased, &c.

3

Alas,that nature hath inyow compassed

SO grete b eaut e , that no manmay at t eynTo mercy, though h e st ew e for t h e

’

peyn.SO hath youre beante, &c.

SYN I fro love escaped am so fat,

I nere thinks t o b eninh is prisontene 5SynI am fre, I count e h imnot a bene .

MINOR POEMS. 151

I do no fors, I speak rygh t as I mene 5SynI fro love escaped am so fat .

1

3

Love hath my name i -strike out of h is sclat,

And h e is strike out ofmy bokes cleneFor ever mo, th er

2isnonother mene .

Sa ifro love escaped, cit e.

VIRELAI. 3

LONE w alking,

Inthought plaining,And sore sighing

,

All desolate,

Me rememb ringOfmy living,My death w ish ing

InfortunateIs so my fateThat, w ote ye w hat

My life I hateThus desperate,Insuch poor estate

,

Do I endure .

1 Th e poet oftenalludes to h is corpulence .— See ante , p . 146 ,note It ,

and vol. iii . p . 1 15 , not e 2 . Th is embonpoint w as quite contrary tomediaeval rules ofgallantry.— See vol. iv. p . 148, not e 1 .

2 Th is, MS.3 Th is species of lyric w as fash ionable in Ch aucer’s t ime . We

h ave among Froissart’

s poet ical w orksvirelaies and rondeaus.

152 MINOR POEMS.

Ofother cure

Am I not sure 5Thus to endure

Is hard certain5Such ismy ure,I you ensure 5What creature

May have more pain?

My truth so plainIs takeninvain,And great disdain

Inremembraunce 5

Y e t I full fainWould me complain,Me t o abstain

From thi s

But insub st aunce,

None allegeaunceOfmy grevaunce

CanI not

Right so my chaunce,

With displesaunce,Doth me avaunce 5

And thus

CHAUCER’

S PROPHECY.

’

WAN prest is faylininh er saw es,

And Lordi s turninGoddis law esAgeynis ryt 5

1 InSir Harris N icolas’s edit ionof Ch aucer’s w orks t h enot ice is prefix ed t o t h ese lines Th e Lines ent it led Chaucer

’s Pro

phecy w ere found , w it h t h e follow ing Variat ions, on t h e fi y-leaf of amiscellaneous old MS . cont aining Th e Meditations of St . Anselm, andot h er devot ional Pieces inLat in. Th e dat e at t h e end ofth e Volume ,

MINOR POEMS.

CHAUCER’S WORDS UNTO '

HIS OWN SCRIVENER.

DAM Scrivener, if ever it the e b efalle,Boece or Troilus for t o w rite new

,

Under t hy long locks1 thou maist have t h e scalle ,

But after my making thou w rite more trew !So oft a day I mote thy w erke rene w

,

It t o correct and eke t o rub b e and scrape 5And all is thorow thy negligence and rape .

2

INCIPIT ORATIO GELFRIDI CHAUNCER.

ORISOUNE TO THE HOLY VIRGIN .

MODER ofGod, and virginundefould,O blisful queue , our quenis emperice

Preye thou for me that am insynymould,Oneto thi sone

,t h e punysar ofvice

,

That ofh is mercy, thoght4 that I b e nyce

And neclegent inkeping ofh is law ,

Hi s hi e mercymy soule onto h imdraw e .

Thoumoder ofmercy,w ey ofindulgence,

That ofal w ertu ar t superlatif !Savour ofsaulis

,th row thi benevolence !

O h umyll lady, mayde , moder,and w yve !

Causar ofpes, st rynth ar5ofw oe and strive !

InEdw ard t h e Th ird ’

s t ime t h e h air w as part ed int h e middle , andw ornlong, and curled over t h e ears and round t h e back Of t h e h ead,asmay b e seeninbrasses oft h e p eriod .

9 If t h e English language w as in such an unset t led state t h at

Ch aucer’s secre tary could not w rit e h is poetry correct ly under t h e immediat e direct ionOf t h e poe t h imse lf, w h at canw e expect of t h ose

w h o w ere removed from h is t ime by t w enty or t h irty years ?3 Th e orisonmay possib ly h ave beencomposed forAnne ofBoh emia,QueenofRich ard II ., as Ch aucer’s w as for t h e Duch essofLancaster. Th ismay exp laint h e allusionint h e t ex t .4 Th ogh t is for though .

5 Stryntha/r is probably a mistake for stynter, or stinter, one w h ost ints, or puts a stop to.

MINOR POEMS. 155

My prayer t o thi sone that thou present,Sene ofmy gilt hooly I me rapent .

Benyng comfort ofus w recch es alle [w aye] !Be at mynending quh enthat I sall deye .

O w e ll ofpiete, oneto t h e I call,Fulfi llit ofsw e itnes

,holp me for t o w eye

Agane t h e feynd,that w ith h is handis t w eyeAnd ai h is mygh t w il pluk at t h e ballanceTo w ey us dow ne, kep us from h ismischance.

‘

‘And for thou art ensample Ofch ast it e,

And ofalle vyrtuis, w orsch ip, and h onour,Above all w omenblisset mot th ou b e !N ow speik, now prey, unto our Salviour,That h e me send sw ych grace and favourThat al t h e heit and byrnyng lich eryeH e Slok inme, blissit madene Marye !

Most blissit lady, cle ir licht oft h e day !Tempil ofour lord, and w oce

’Iofallgudnes !

That by t h i prayer w ipe th clene aw ayTh e filt h ofour soulis w ikitnes !Put furth thi hond 5 help me inmy distres,And fro t emptacioun, lady, deliver meOfw ikit thogh t, for thi b enignit e .

So that t h e w ille fulfi llit b e oft h i sone,And that t h e Holi Gost h e me illumyn,Prey th ou for us, as evir h cs bene t h e w one,Al sw ich emprice sekerly bene thin5For sw ich anadvocat may no mandevin,As th ou

,lady, our grevis t o redres5

Inthi refuce is all our sekernes.

Probably an allusion to t h e mediaeval p ictures of t h e doom,

w h ich used generally t o b e placed over t h e ch ance l-arch . In t h ese

t h e souls of men are represent ed as w e igh ed in a balance , and t h efiends as endeavouring tomake t h emkick t h e beam by w eigh ing downt h e Opposite scale .

2 Woce isperh aps amistake for w ene , dw e lling.

156 MINOR POEMS.

‘Thou sch apinart b e Goddis ordinaunce ,To prey for us, flour ofh umilite !Q uh airfor ofthin0

“

as have rememb erauncc,Lest that t h e feynd, throw h is sub t ili t e

,

That inaw ait lye t h for t o cautch me,

Me never overcum w ith h is t rech ery5Unto my soule—h ele

,

‘l lady,thou me gy.

Thou art t h e w ay ofour redemcioun,

For Crist oft h e dedenyt”for t o tak

Both flesch and blood,t o this ent encioun,

U pone a croce t o dyene for our sak

H is precius deth maid t h e feyndis quaik,And cristinfolk for t o rejosene ever 5Help, from h ismercy that w e nogh t di ssevir !

‘Remember e ik upone t h e sorow and peyne,That thou sufferit int o hi s passioun,Q uh enw atter and blud out ofthinene t w eyn,For sorow ofh im

,ranby thi ch ekis doune 5

And sone thou know est w e il t h e ench esoneOfh is duing w as for t o saifmankind5Thoumoder ofmercy

,have that inthi myud.

We il ouch t ene w e thee w orsch ip and honour,Palace ofCrist

,floure ofvirginit e !

Be ing that upone th e w as laid t h e cure,

To bere t h e Lord ofb evin,oferth, and see

,

And ofalle t h ingis that formyt ever mygh t b e 5Ofh evynis king thou w as predest inat ,To hele our saulis ofth ynsic h ie estai t.

Thymadynisw ambe,inquh ich that our Lord lay5

Th y pappis qubit, th at gafh im souk alsoUnto our sau

"

mg, blissit b e thou ayl

l Soude-helle in t h e Ms. Souls-h ele means h ealth ofmy Soul, sea.

Christ . Lady , guide me t omy soul ’s h eal th .

’

2 We ough t , p e rh aps, to read dedenyt not , as in t h e Te Deum.

Th ou didst not abh or t h e Virgin’s w omb.’

158 MINOR: POEMS.

Apostil and frend familiar ofCrist,And virgin, ych ose ofh im

,sanct J Ohne !

Schynyng apostle and evange list,

And best b elov it amangis th ame ich one !With our lady

,I pray t h e , th ou b e one,

That onto Crist salfor us alle preye 5Do this for us

,Cristis darling

,I seye !

‘Mary and J ohnne,O h evynis gemmis t w eyne !

O lich t is tw oo,schynyng int h e presence

Ofour Lord God,now doth your lusty peyne ,

To w esche aw ay our cloude full ofOffence,

SO that w e mych t makenresistanceAgane t h e feynd, and mak him t o b e w aile,That your prayer may us so moche availle .

Ye bene t h e tw oo,I know w eraly,

Inquh ich t h e fader God canedefy,By h is Sone only-gottin

,specially

To h im a h ous51

quh arfor t o you I cry,Beeth le ich is ofour synfullmalady,Prayeth t o God, Lord ofmisericord

,

Our Old gilt is th at h e not record.

‘Be ye our help and our prot ect ioun,Sene for mercy ofyour b enigni t e,Th e prevelege ofh is dilect iounInyou confermyt God upone t h e t reHanging 5 and t o one ofyou, said h eRicht inthis w ys, as I reh ers now can

,

Behold and see, 10, heir thinsone,w oman! ’

‘And t o that other, H e ir is thi moder t oo !Thanpray I you for th at great sw e itnesOft h e haly luf that God b e tw ix you tw ooWith h ismouth maid, and ofh is h ie noblesCommandit hath you, th rou h is blissitnes.

3 Soil. th e church .2 Johnxix . 26 , 2 7.

MINOR POEMS. 159

Asmoder and sons t o help us inour neidAnd for our synnismak our hartis bleid.

Unto you t w eyne now I my soule commend,Mary and Johne

,for my salvacioun,

H elpeth me that I my lifmay mend,

Helpeth now that t h e h ab itaciounOft h e Holy Gost

,our recreacioun

,

l

Be inmy hart now and evermor 52

And ofmy soule w esch aw ay t h e sor.

’

‘EXPLICIT ORATIO GALPRIDI CHAUOEIR.’

1 Th e Holy Gh ost is called our recreacioun, as be ing t h e personofth e Holy Trinity by w h omCh ristiansare creat ed anew ,or. regenerat ed.

Johniii . 5 .

2 See 1 Cor.vi . 1 9 .

3 From t h e orth ograph y of th is poem it is obvious t h at t h e w rit eroft h e MS . w as anat ive of Scot land . Th us qu is used inst ead ofwas quh en, gub ich , quhairfor , qdh z

‘

t , for w h en, w h ich , w h erefor, w h it e ;a is subst itut ed for O— as w ambe , saulis, for w ombe , soules, or sow les s

for sh , or sch—as salfor sh al , or sch al . It w ill b e Observed t h at t h eseare t h e same peculiarit ies w h ich dist inguish t h e dialect of t h e t w oclerks, Aleynand Joh an, in Th e Reeves Tale. Th is is anaddit ionalreasonfor believing t h at t h e Strot h er t h ere ment ioned as t h eirnat ivep lace is Strot h er inFife , and not Langstroth dale inYorksh ire , asWh it taker supposes. Compare vol. 1. p . 333,not e I , w ith Glossary in

POEMS ATTRIBUTEDTOCHAUCEB.

INTRODUCTION.

IN all th e early editions of Chaucer’

s w orks is a poementitled Th e Lannentat ionofMary Magdalene. To t h istitle Spegh t adds th e follow ing note , by w h ich h e endeavoursto identify it w ith th atmentioned inTh e Legends of Goode

Women Th is treatise is takenout ofOrigen, w h ere Mary

Magdalene lamente th th e cruell death ofh er Saviour Ch rist.’

Uponth is Tyrw h itt observes InTh e Legends of Goode

Women,verse 427, h e [Chaucer] says ofh imselfth at

He made also, gonis a gret e w h ile ,Origenss up onthe Maudeleine ’

meaning, I suppose, a translation, into prose or verse, of th eHomily de Marid Magdalend, w h ich h as beencommonly,th ough falsely, attributed to Origen.

—Vide Op era Origenis,Tom. _ii. p. 291 , Ed. Paris. 1604. I cannot believe th at th e

poem entitled Th e Lamentation of Marie'

Magdalene ,w hi ch is inall th e editions of Ch aucer, is really a w ork ofhis. It canh ardly be considered as a translation, or evenimitation, of th e h omily ; and th e composition, in everyrespect , is infi nitely meaner th an th e w orst of his genuine

pieces.With Tyrw h it t

’

s judgment onth e comparative inferiority ofth e piece most readers w ill agree ; but th ere are circumstancesw h ich render th e internal evidence far from conclusive . In

Th e Legende of Geode Woment h e poem ont h e subject ofMary Magdalen

’

s sorrow s is stated to h ave beenw rittenganis a gre te w h ile , and th erefore inth e poet

’

s youth , w h enh is

geniusmay be supposed to h ave beenimmature , and h is styleuncultivated by practice. Th is in some degree disposes of

th e argument against th e auth enticity ofTh e Lamentat ion,

162 POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO CHAUCER.

Wh at creature hath h im hence caried?Or h ow migh t this so sodainly befall ?I w ould I h ad h ere w it h h im tarisd

,

And so Should I have h ad my purpose all.I bough t Ointment s full precious and royal,Whe re w ith I hoped h is corps t o h ananointed

,

But h e thus gone, my mind is dispoinct sd.

While I th erefore advertise and beholdThis pit ous chaunce here inmy presence,Full little marvails though my hart b e cold

,

Considring, 10, my Lordes absence .

Alas ! th at I so full ofnegligenceSh ould b e found ! b icause I come so late

,

Allmenmay say I am infortunate .

Cause ofmy sorow you may understand,Q aia tulerunt dominant meum.

Anoth er is,that I us may fonds,

I w ote nere , Ubi p osuerunt cum.

Thus I must b e w ayle doloremmeum,

Wi th hartis w eping, I canno better deserve,Till death approch my hart for t o kerve .

My hart opprest w ith sodaine aventure,

By fervent anguish is bs—w rapped so,

Th at long this lyfs I may not endure ,Soch is my pains, soch is my mortal w o 5

N sverth slssss t o What party sh all I go,Inhope t o fi nd myne ow ns Turt ill t rue,My lives joy, my soverainLords Jesu ?

Sith allmy joy th at I call h is presenceIs thus removed

,now I am full ofmone 5

Alas ! t h e w h ile I made no providence,For thismish ap 5 w herefore I Sigh and grone.

Succour to fi nd to w h at place might I gon?FainI w ould t o some manmy hart breaks,I not to w hom I may complains or speaks.

POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO CHAUCER. 163

Alone hers I stand full sory and full sad,Which hoped t o h ave sesne my Lord and K ing,Small cause have I t o b e msris or glad

,

Remembryng this b it tsrfull departing.Inth is w orld isno creature living

,

That w as t o me so good and gracious,H is love also thangold more precious.

Full sore I sigh w ithout comfort again,

There isno cure t o my salvacion,H is b rennyng love my hart so doth constrain5Alas ! hers is a w ofullpermutacion,Whereof I fi nd no joy nor consolacion5"

fh ersfors my payns all onely t o confesse ,With death I fears w oll end my heavinesss.

This w o and anguish is intollerabls,If I bide hers life canI not sustains,If I go hence my paines b e uncurable,Where h im t o fi nd

,I know no place certaine 5

And thus I not ofthese things tw ains,

Whi ch I may take and w hich I may refuse,

My heart is w ounded hereont o think or muse

Aw h ile I shall stand inthismournyng,Inhops if any visionw ould appere,Th at ofmy love might tell some good t idyng,Wh ich into joymigh t chaunge my w epyng chere ;I trust inh is grace and h ismercy dsrs

,

But at t h e least th ough I therew ith Ins kill,

I shall not spars t o w ails and w epe my fill .

And if that I die insoch aventure,

I canno more but w elcome as my ch aunce ,My bones shall rest here inthis sepulture ,My lyfs, my death, is at h is ordinaunce 5It sh al be told ineverlastyng remembraunce ,Thus t o departs is t o me no sh ame ,And also thereof I amnothyng to blame .

11— 2


H0pe against me hath h er course itake,There is no more , but thus sh all I die ,I see right w ell my Lords hath me forsake ,But inmy conce ipt , cause know I none w hy.

Though h e b e farrs h ence and not h yng nis,Y e t my w ofull h art aft er bym doth seeks,And causeth teares to rendounmy cheeks.

Thinkyng, alas I have lost h is presence,Which inthis w orld w as allmy sustenance

,

I cry and call w ith h arty diligence 5But there isno w ight giveth attendance

,

Me t o csrt i fi e Ofmyne enquitance 5Wherefore I w ill t o all t h is w orld bew ray

,

How that my Lord is Slains and borne aw ay.

Though I mourns it is no great w onder,

Sithe h e is allmy joy inspeciall,And, now I thinks, w e b e so farre asonder,That h im to see I fears never I shall 5It helpethno more aft er h im to call

,

N e aft er h im t o enquire inany costs5Alas ! h ow is h e thus gone and loste ?

Th e J ew es, I thinks, full ofmisery,Set inmalice , by their busie curs,

With force and might w ith gilefull trech ery,Hath ent erminsd my Lordes sepulture,And borne aw ay that precious fi g ure,Leaving ofit nothing 5 if they have doenso,

Marred I am5 alas ! w hat shall I do ?

With their vengeaunce insaciable,Now have they h im entreated so

,

That t o reports it is to lamentable ;They beats h is body from toppe t o t h e toe,N evermanw as borne that felt soch w oe !

They w ounded h im,alas ! w ith allgrevaunce ,

Th e blood dounre iled inmost habundaunce .


Thenthese w retchesful ofal frow ardnesss,Gave h im t o drinks sisel t empred w ith gall 5Alas

,that poisonfull ofbitternesss

My loves ch ere caused thent o appall 5And ye t thereofmigh t h e not drinks at all,But spake t h ese w ordes as h im thought best,Father Ofheaven

,consummatum est.

Thenkneeled I doune inpaines outrage ,Clipping t h e crosse w ith inmine armes tw ain,H is blood distilled doune onmy visage,My clothes eke t h e droppes did distain,To have died for h im I w ould full fain,But w hat should it avayle if I did so

,

Sith h e issuspensas finp atibulo ?

Thusmy Lord full dere w as all disguisedWith blood

, pain, and w oundsmany one,

H is ve ines brast, h is joynt s all t o-rived,Partyng a sondsr t h e flesh fro t h e bone 5But I saw h e hing not there alone

,

For cum iniquis dep atatas est,

Not like amanbut lyke a lsprus beest.

A blind knight men called Longias,With a Spears aproch sd unto my soverain,Launsing h is side full pit ously, alas !Th at h is precious hart h e clave intw ain,Th e purple blood eke fro t h e harts vain,Doune railed right fast inmost ruful w ise ,With Ch ristal w ater brought out ofParadise .

WhenI beheld th is w oful passion,I w ote not h ow by sodainaventure ,My hart w as peersed w ith very compassion,That inme rsmayned no life ofnature

,

Strokes ofdeath I felt w ithout measure,

My deaths w ound I caught w ith w o opprest .

And brought t o point asmy hart shuld b ra t .


Th e w ound,h art

,and blood ofmy darling,

Sh al never slide fro my memorial],Th e bit ter paines also oft ourmsnt ing,Withinmy souls b e gravenprincipal ;Th e spears, alas ! th at w as so Sharpe w ithal

,

SO thrilled my heart as t o my felyng,That body and souls w ere at departyng.

AS soone as I migh t I rsleved up agains,

My breth I coude not very w ell rest ore ,Fslyng my selfe drow ned inso great pains,Both body and souls Ins th ought w er all t o-tore ,Violent falles greeved me righ t sore

,

I w ept, I blsdde , and w ith my selfe I faredAs one that for h is life nothing h ad cared.

I, lokyng up to that ruful roode ,Saw fi rst t h e visage pals ofthat figure

,

But so pit ous a sight spotted w ith bloods,Saw never ye t no livyng creature

,

So it exceeded t h e bounds ofmeasure,

That mansmind w ith all h is w its fi ve ,Isnothing able that pains for t o discrive .

ThenganI th ere minarmes t o unbrace,Up liftyng my bande s full mourningly,I sighed and sore sobbed inthat place ,Both hevenand earth migh t have herdms crie

,

Weping, and said, ‘Alas ! ’ incessaunt ly 5Ah my sw e e t hart

,my gh ost ly paramour,

Alas,I may nat t hy body socour !

O blessed Lord,h ow fi erse and h ow cruell,

Th ese cursed w igh tsnow h at h thee slains,K erving, alas ! t hy body eve ridell,Wound w ith inw ound

,full bit t er is thy pains 5

Now w old t h at I migh t t o th e e at tains,To nayle my body fast unto t h y t re e ,So that oft h is payns th oumigh t go free.


I cannot report ne make no reh ersaile,

Ofmy demsh ing w ith t h e circumstaunce,

But w ell I w ot e t h e spears w ith every nailsTh irled my souls by inw ard rsssmblauncs,Which never Sh all out ofmy rememb raunce 5During my lyfs it w ol cause me t o w ails,As oft as I remembre that bataile .

Ah ! ye Jew es,w orse th andoggss rabiate ,

What moved you th us cruelly h im t o aray'

l

H e never displeased younor caused debate,

Your love and t rue harts h e coveyt ed aye ,He prsch ed, h e tech ed, h e shew ed t h e right w ay ;Wh erfore ys, like tyrants w ood and w ayw ard

,

Now have h im thus slains for h is rew ard.

Y e ought t o have remembred one th ing special,H is favour, h is grace , and h ismagni fi cence ,H e w as your prince b orne and Lord over all

,

How b e it ye toke h im insmall reverence 5He w as fulmeke insuffring your Offence

,

N evert h elss ye devoured h im w ith one assent,

As hungry w olves doth t h e lambs innocent.

Where w as your pite , O people mercilesss,Arming your selfe w ith falsh e ed and t reason?Onmy lord ye have shew ed your w oodnesse,Like no men

,but bessies w it h out reason,

Your malice h e suffred alfor t h e season,Your payns w olcome , thinks it not t o slacks

,

Manw it h out mercy ofmercis shall lacks.

O ye t rait ours and maintainers ofmadnesss,

Unto your foly l ascribe allmy pains !Ye have me deprived ofjoy and gladnesss,So dealing w it h my Loi d and sove raineNoth ing shuld I ne ed thus t o complains,If h e h ad lived Inpeace and t ranquillite ,Whom ye have Slains through your iniquit e .

170 POEMS ATTRIBUTED fro CHAUCER.

Th e joy excellent ofblissed paradise,May me, alas ! inno w ise comforts,Song ofange l nothing may me suffi se

,

As inminh arts now t o make disports,Al I refuse but that I might resortsUnto my love , t h e w e ll ofgoodlih sed,For w hose longing I trow e I shall b e deed.

Ofpainful labour and tourment corporalI make thereofnone exception,Paines ofhell I w olpasse over all

,

My love to fi nd inmine affection,So great t o h im is my delectacion,A thousand times mart red w ould I b ee ,H is blessed body ones if I migh t see .

About this w orld so large inall compasse,I shal not spare t o renne my life during,My feet also sh all not rest inone place ,Til ofmy love I may hears some t iding

,

For w hose absence my handsnow I w ring ;To thinks onh im cease shal never my mind,0 gentil Jesu ! w here shall I thee fi nd “

!

Jerusalem I w ol serch place fro place,Sion, t h e vale ofJ osaph at h also

,

And if I fi nd h imnot inal t h is space,By mount Olivet t o Bethany w ol 1 go

These w ayss w ol I w ander and many mo,Nazareth, Bethleem,

Mountana Jude,No travails shall me pains h imfor t o see.

His blissed face if I might see and finds,Serch I w ould every cost s and count rsy,Th e fardest part ofEgipt or h ot s Inde,Sulde b e t o me but a lit tle journey ;How is h e thus gone or takenaw ay ?If I knew t h e full t rout h and cert ent e,Ye t from this care released migh t I b e.

POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO CHAUCER. 17 1

Into w ildernesss I thinks best t o go,Sith I canno more tydings ofh im here,There may I my life lede t o and fro

,

Th ere may I dw el, and t o no manapere,To t ow ns ne village w oll I not come nere ,Alone inw oods

,inrockes

,and incaves dseps,

I may at mine ow nw il both w ails and w eep.

Mine eyentw ains Withoutenvariaunce,

Shal never cease,I promise faith fully

Th ere t o w e eps w ith great aboundaunceBitter teares renning incessauntly,Th e w h ich teares medled full petouslyWith t h e very blood ever shall renne also

,

Expressing ofmine hart t h e gre evous w o.

Worldly fode and sust enaunce I desire none,Soch living as I fi nd soch w ol] I take

,

Rootes that grow enont h e craggy stoneShall me su

"

i ce w it h w ater oft h e lake ;Thent hus may I say for my Lords sake,Fuerunt mih i Zach rimce mew

,

Indeserto panes, die ac nocte.

My body t o cloth e it maketh no force,

A mourning mante l sh al b e sufficient,

Th e grevous w oundes of h is pit ous corseShal b e t o me a full royal garnementH e departed thus I am best content,H is crosse w it h nailss and scourges w ith all

,

Sh al b e my th ough t and pains speciall.

Thus w ol I live as I have here told,

If I may any long tyms endure,

But I fe re deat h is over me so bold,That ofmy purpose I cannot b e sure ,

My paynes encrease w it h out measure ;For oflong lyfs w h o canlay any reason?All thing ismortal and h at h but a season.

172 POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO CHAUCER

I sigh ful sore and it is ferre yfe t ,Mine herte I feels now blede t h inw ardly,Th e blody teares I may inno w ise let

,

Sith ofmy pains I fi nd no rsmedie,

I thanks God of all if I now die,His w ill perfourmsd, I h old me content,My souls let h im have that hath i t me lent.

For lenger t o endure it is intollerabls,My w oful h arts inflamed is so huge ,That no sorow t o myne is comparable,Sith ofmy mind I finds no refuge ;Y et I h im require , as rightful jugs,To devoid fro me t h e inw ards sorow

,

Lest I live not to t h e next morow .

Withinmine h art is impressed full sore ,His royal forms, h is shape , h is semelines,His port s, h is chere , h is goodnes evermore ,Hisnoble persons w i th allgent ilnesH e is t h e w ell ofall parfi tnss,Th e very Redemer of allmankind

,

H im love I best w ith hart,souls

,andmind.

Inh is absence my paynes full bitter b e,Right w ell I may it fele now inw ardly,No w onder is though they h urte or flee me ,They cause me t o crie so rufully,Mine hart oppressed is so w onderfully,Onely for h im w h ich so is brigh t of bleeAlas ! I trow e I sh all himnever see .

My joy is translate full farre inexile,

Mymirth is chaunged into paynes cold,My lyfs I thinks endureth but a w hile,Anguish and payns is that I behold ;Wherefore my hands thus I w ring and fold,Into this grave I loks, I call , I pray,Death remaine th, and life is borne aw ay.


Unto h ismother I thinks for to go,Of h er haply some comfort may I take ,But one thing ye t me feareth and no mo,If I any mencionof h immake

,

Ofmy w ordes sh e w old trimble and quake 5And w h o coud h er blame sh e having but one !Th e sonne borne aw ay

,t h e moth er w olmone.

Sorow es many hath sh e suffrsd t rew ly,Sith th at sh e first conce ived h im and bare

,

And seventhings there b e most specially,That drow ne t h h er hert insorrow and care 5Y e t

,10

,inno w ise may they compare

With this one now,t h e w hich if sh e knew ,

Sh e w old h er paines everich one renew .

Great w as h er sorrow by menues saying,Whanint h e temple SimeonJustus,Shew ing t o h er, th ese w ords proph esiynTuam animamp ertmnsibi t gladius5Also w hanHerods

,that tyrant furious

,

H er childe pursued inevery place,For h is life w ent neither mercy ne grace .

Sh e mourned w hensh e knew h im gone,

Full long sh e sought or sh e h im found ayen5Whanh e w ent t o death h is crosse h im upon,It w as t o h er sight a rew full pains ;Whanh e h ong t h ereonbet w e ens th sves tw ains

,

And t h e spears unto h is herte thrust right,Sh e sw ouned, and t o t h e ground there pight.

Whande ed and bloody inh er lappe layHis blessed body, both hands and fete allSh e cried out and said

,Now w elaw ay !

Thus araide w as never manbefore ! ’

Whanhast w asmade h is body t o b e boreUnto sepulture , here t o remaine,Unnethes for w o sh e coude h er sustains.

POEMS ATTRIBUTED 'ro CHAUCER. 17a

Th e sorrow s seven, like sw erds every one ,H ismothers hert e w ounded fro syde t o syde,But if sh e knew h er sonne thus gone

,

Out of th is w orld sh e shuld w ith death ride 5For care sh e coude no lenger h ere abide,Having no more joy nor consolacioun,Th anI here standing inthis stacioun.

Wherefore h er t o see I dare nat presume ,Fro h er presence I w olmy selfe refrains

,

Yet h ad I lever t o di e and consume,

Th anh ismother should have any more pains 5N evert h elss h er sonne I w ould see full faine

,

H is presence w as very joy and sw e e tnes,H is absence is but sorrow and h eavines.

Th ere is no more , sith I may h imnat mete ,Whom I desire above all other thing

,

N eds I must take t h e sour w ith t h e sw ete,

For of h is noble corse I here no t iding 5Full oft I cry, and my hands w ring,Myne herte

,alas ! rslsnt st h all inpains,

Wh ich w ill brast both ssnew and vaine.

Alas ! h ow unh appie w as this w oful hour,

Where inis th us mispended my service,For mine intent and eke my true labour,To none effect may come inany w ise.

Alas ! I thinks if h e doe me despise,And list not t o take my simple observaunce

,

Th ere isno more,but death ismy fi naunce.

I h ave h im called, sed nonreep ondet mih i ,Wh erfore my mirth is t ourned t o mourning,O dsre Lord ! Q uid malifeci tibi ,Th at me t o comfort I fi nd no ert h ly thing ?Alas, have compassionofmy crying,Yffro mefaciem tuam abscondis,There isno more , but consumers me vis.


Withinmyne herte is grounded thy figure ,That all this w orlds horrible tourmentMay it not asw age , it is so w ithout measure ,It is so brenning. it is so fervent 5Remember

,Lord

,I have b indiligent

,

Ever thee to please one ly and no 1110,

Myne herte is w ith thee w here so ever I go.

Therefore, my dsre darling, trake me post te,And let me not stand thus desolate

,

Quia nonest, qui consoletur me ;

Myne herte for thee is disconsolate,My paines also nothing me moderate 5Now if it list t h e t o speaks w ith me alive

,

Com inhast,for my herte asonder w ill rive .

To thee I prefer, 10, my pore service,

Thee for t o please after mine ow ns entent,I offer here, as indevout sacrifice ,My boxe replete w ith pret ious oyntment ,Myne eyentw ains, w eeping su i cient 5Myne herte w ith anguish fulfilled is

,alas !

My souls eke redy for love about t o pas.

Naught els have I thee to please or pay,For if mine herte w e re gold or pre t ious stone,It should b e thine w ithout any delay,With h ert ely chere thou sh uld have it anone ;Why suffrsst thou me thenstand alone ?Thou haste

,I trow

,my w eeping indisdains,

Or els thou know est nat w hat ismy pains.

If thou w ithdraw thy noble daliaunceFor ought that ever I displeased thee ,Thou know st right w el it is but ignoraunce ,And ofno know ledge for certaint e 5If I have offended, Lord, forgive it me ,Glad I am for t o make full repentaunce,Ofall thing that hath bint o thy grievaunce.

178 POEMS ATI‘RIBUTED TO CHAUCER.

Let me behold, O Jesu ! thy blissed face,Thy faire glorious ange llike vi sage 5Bow thine eares t o my complaint, alas !For t o convey me out of this rage .

Alas ! my Lord, take fro me this dommage,

And t o my desire for mercy condiscend,For none but thoumay my grevance amend.

Now ye t , good Lord, I thee beseech and pray,AS thou raised my brother Laz arousFrom death t o life , t h e fourth day,Game ayeninbody and souls preciousAS great a thing maist thou shew unto us

,

Ofthy selfe,by pow er of thy godhead

,

As thou did of h im,lying ingrave dead.

Mine hart is w ounded w ith thy charite,

It brenne t h , it fi ame t h incessauntly,Come, my deare Lord, ad adjuccmdumme,Now b e not long

,my pains t o multiplie ,

Least int h e means time I depart and dieInt h y grace I put both hope and confidence,To do as it pleaseth thy high magnificence .

Floods of death and t ribulat iounInto my souls I feels ent red full dseps,Alas ! th at here isno consolat ioun!Ever I w ails

,ever I mourns and w eeps,

And sorow hath w ounded mine hert ful dseps,O deare love

,no marvaile though I die,

Sagi t tee tuce infuses aunt mih i.

Wandring inthis place as inw ildernesss,No comfort have I, ne ye t assuraunce ,Desolate ofjoy, reple t e w ith faintnesss,No answ ers rece iving ofmine enquiraunce,Mme heart also greved w ith displeasaunce 5Wherefore I may say, 0Deus

,Deus,

Nonest dolor sicut dolor mens.

POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO OHAUOER. 179

Mine hart expresseth , quad dilemi multum,I may not endure t h ough I w ould faine

,

For now solum sup erest sep ulc/w'um

,

I know it righ t w ell by my huge pains 5Thus for love I mavnot life sustains

,

But O God,I muse w hat ayle th thee,

Quad sic rep ente proecip itasme.

Alas,I see it w ill none otherw ise b e,

Now must I take my leave for evermore,

This bitter pains hath almost di scomfi t e me,

My loves corse I caninno w ise restore ;Alas ! to th is w o that ever I w as bor

‘

e !

H ere at this tombs now must I die and starve,

Death is about my heart for t o carve .

My testament I w oll begint o makeTo God t h e father my souls I commend

,

To J esumy love , that died for my sake,

My h eart and all both I give and send,Inw h ose love my life maketh end5My body also5 t o thismonumentI here bequeath both boxe and ointment.

Of allmy w ils,lo

,now I make t h e last

,

Right inthis place , w ithinthis sepulture ,I w oll b e buried w henI am dead and past,And uponmy grave I w olhave this scriptureH ere w ithinresteth a gh ostly creature

,

Christs true lover, Mary Magdalaine,Whose hart for love brake inpeeces tw ains.

Y e vertuous w omen,t ender ofnature ,

Full of pit is and of compassion,Resort I pray you unto my sepulture,To Sing my dirige w ith great devot ion5Shew your ch arit ie inth is condition,Sing w ith pitis, and let your h arts w eeps,

Remembring I amdead and layed to sle eps.

12— 2


Thenw henye begint o part me fro,And ended have your mourning observaunce,Remember w heresoever that ye go,Alw ay t o search and make due enqueraunceAfter my love , mine harts sust enaunce,Inevery t ow ns and inevery village

,

If ye may here of thisnoble image.

And if it happe by any grace at last,That ye my true love fi nd inany cost,Say that h isMagdaleine is dead and past,For h is pure love hath yeelded up t h e ghost 5Say that of all thing I loved h immost

,

And that I might not this death eschew ,

My paines so sore did ever renew .

And intokenof love perpetual,WhenI am buried inthis place present.Take out mine hart, t h e very root and all

,

And close it w i thinthis boxe of ointment,

To my deare love make thereof a present 5K neeling dow ne w ith w ords lamentable

,

Do your message, speaks fairs and t retable.

Say that to him my selfe I commendA thousand times, w ith hart so free,This poore tokensay t o h im I send,Pleaseth h is goodnesss t o take it ingree,It is h is ow ns of right

,it is h is fe e

,

W aich h e asked, w henh e said long before,Give me thy heart, and I desire nomore.

Adus, my Lord, my love so faire of face !Adus, my turtle dove , so fresh ofh ew !

Adus,mymirth, adus, allmy sollace !

Adus,alas

,my saviour Lord Jesu

Adus, t h e gent illest that ever I knew !Adus, my most exce llent paramour,

Fairer thanrose,sw eeter thanlilly flour !


A PRAISE OF WOMEN .

ALLE t h o that lists ofw omenevil t o speke,And saynofh em w orse thanthey deserve ,

I preys t o God that h ir nekkes t o-breke,

Or onsome evil dethe mote t h o janglers sterve 5For every manw ere holdenh em t o serve ,And do h em w orshi p, honour, and serviss,Ineverymaner that they best coude devise.

For w e ought first t o thinks onw hat manereThey brings us fort-h , and w hat peyne they endureFirst inour birth, and sith fro yere t o yereHow busely they done h ir busie cure

,

To keeps us fro every misaventureInour youth, w hanw e have no mightOur selfe to keeps, ne ither by day nor night.

Alas ! h ow may w e seye onh em but w e le,Ofw hom w e w ere fost red and ybore,And b enal our succour, and ever trew s as

And for our sake ful oft they suffer sore ?

Without w omenw ere all our j oye lore 5Wh erfore w e ought alle w oment o ob eys

Inal goodnesss5 I canno more seye .

This is w elknow ns,and hath b enor thi s

,

That w omenb encause ofal lightnesss,Ofknighthood, norture, esch uing almallis

,

Encrese ofw orship, and ofal w orth inesss 5Thereto curt eis and meke, and ground ofal goodGlad and merry, and true inevery w ise [nesse ,That any gentil herte canthink or devise.

And though any w olde trust t o your untrouth e ,And t o your feyre w ords w olde augh t assente

,

[ngods feyt h ms thinketh it w er gret rouths,


That other w omensh old for h ir gilt b e shent,

That never knew,ne w ist nought ofh ir entent,

N e list not t o h ere though feyre w ords ye w rite,Whi ch ye you peyne fro day t o day t endi t e .

But w h omay bew are ofyour tales untrew e,

That ye so busily peynt and endite ?For ye w ill sw ere that ye never knew ,

N e saw t h e w oman, ne ith er much ne lite,Save only h er t o w h om ye h ad delit e ,As for t o serve ofal that ever ye sey,And for h er love must ye nedes dey.

Thenw ille ye sw ere that ye knew never beforeWh at Love w as

,ne h is dredful ob servaunce

,

But now ye feels th at h e canw ounds sore 5Wh erfore ye put you into h er governaunce ,Whom Love hath ordeind you t o serve and

plesaunceWith alyourmight your litel lives space,Which endeth soone but if Sh e do you grace .

And thent o b ed w ille ye soone draw,

And soone sike ye w ille you thanfeyne ,And sw ere fast your lady hath you slaw ,

And brought you sudeinly so high a peyneThat fro your de tne mayno manyou rest reyne ,With a daungerous looks ofh er eyent w o

,

That t o your dethe must ye nedes go.

Thus w ill ye morne, thus w ill ye sigh s sore,

AS though your herte anonint w o w old breste,And sw ere fast that ye may live no more,Mynow ns lady ! that migh t

,if ye lest,

Brings mynh erte somedele into restAs if you list mercy onme to h ave 5Thus your unt rout h w ill ever mercy crave .


Thus w olye plain, t h o ye nothing smert e,Th ese innocent creatures for t o b egile,And sw ere to h em

,so w ounded is your herte

For h ir love,that ye may live no w hile

,

Scarsly so long as one might go amile,

So bi eth deth t o bring you t o anends,

But ifyour sovereynlady list you t o amends.

And if for rouths Sh e comfort you inany w ise

For pite ofyour false othes sere,

So that innocent w eneth that it b e as you devise ,And w eneth your hert e b e as sh e may here ,Thus for t o comforts and somw hat do you chere 5Thanw olle these janglers deme ofh er full ills,And seyne that ye have h er fully at your w ille .

Lo,h ow redy h ir tonges b en

,and preste

To speke harme ofw omencauselesss !Alas ! w hy might ye not as w ell say t h e best,As for t o deme h em thus guiltlesss ’

!

Inyour herte,yw is

,there isno gent ilnesse,

That ofyour ow ngilt list thus w omenfame 5Now

,by my t routh , me think ye b e t o blame .

For ofw omencometh this w orldly w e le,

Wh erfore w e ought to w orsh ippe h em evermore ;And though it mishap one, w e ought for t o hele ,For it is al t h orugh our false lore

,

That day and nigh t w e peyne us evermoreWith many anoth e these w oment o beguileWith false tales, and many a w i kked w ile .

And if falsh ede sh olde b e rekksned and toldInw omen

,yw is ful trouth w ere

,

Not as inmen, by a thousand fold 5Fro allvices, yw i s they stands clere,Inany thing that I coude ofhere

,

But if enticing ofthese menit make ,That h em t o flat t erenconmennever slake.


For this ye know w el,though I w old lie

,

Inw omenis al t rout h and st edfastnesse 5For ingood faith I never ofh em sie

But much w orsh ippe, bount e , and gent ilnesse ,Right comming, fairs, and full ofmeekenesse ,Goods and glade

,and low ly

,I you ensure,

Is this goodly angellike creature .

And if it happe a manb e indisese ,Sh e doth h er businesss and h er ful peyneWith al h er might

,h im t o comforts and plese

If fro h is disese sh e might h im rest reyne ;Inw ordme deeds

,yw is

,sh e w olnot feyne,

But w ith al h er might sh e doth h er businesssTo brings h im out ofh is heavinesss.

Lo, w hat gentillesse these w omenh ave,Ifw e coude know it for our rudenesss !How busie they b e us t o keeps and save

,

Both inhe le,and also insikenesse !

And alw ay right sorris for our distresse,

Inevery manner ; thus shew thy rouths,

That inh em is al goodnesss and t rout h e .

And sith w e fi nd inh em gent ilnesse and t routh e,Worshi ppe , b ount e , and kindnesss evermore ,Let never this gentillesse t hurogh your slout h eInh ir kind t routh e b e aught forloreThat inw omenis

,and hath b enfulyore ,

For inreverence of t h e h evenes Q ue ens,We ought t o w orship alle w omenthat beene .

For ofalle creatures that ever w er ge t and borne ,This w ote ye w el

,a w omanw as t h e best 5

By h er w as recovered th e blisse that w e h ad lorne,And t hurogh t h e w omansh alle w e come to rest,And b enysaved, if that our selfe lest 5Wherefore ,me thinketh, if that w e h ad grace,We ough t enhonour w omeninevery place.


Therefore I rede that, t o our lives end,Fro this time forth

,w h ile that w e have space,

That w e have t respaced, pursue t o amends,Preying our Ladie

,w ells ofalle grace ,

To brings us unto th at blisfulplace ,There as sh e and alle good w omenshall b e infersInhevenabove

,among t h e angels clere .

EXPLICIT.

GO forth king, rule thee by sapience ;Bishop, b e able t o minister doctrine 5

Lords,to true counsaile yeve audience 5

Womanh ode,t o chastity ever encline 5

K night,le t thy desdes w orship determine 5

Be righte ous,judge

,insaving thy name 5

Riche do almose, lest thou less bliss w ith shame .

People, obey your king and t h e law 5Age b e ruled by good religion5True servaunt

,b e dredfuland kepe thee under aw ,

And, thou poore , fi e onpresumpcion!Inobedience t o youth is utter destruction5Remember you h ow God hath se t you, 10,And doe your part as ye b e ordeined t o.

EIGHT GOODLY Q UESTIONS, WITH THEIR

ANSWERS.

‘

SOMETIME inGreece

,that noble region,

Th ere w ere e ight clerkes offull great science,Philosophers ofnotable di scretion,Of w h om w as asked, t o prove the ir prudence ,Eigh t questions of derke inte lligence

1 Ausonius, a Lat inpoet ofBordeaux , and preceptor to t h e Emperor Grat ian, h as left , among h is ot h er w orks, a poem, ent it led Ludus


To w hich they answ erd after their entent,As here doth appears plains and evident.

Th e first questionw as,What earthly thing

Is best,and t o God most commendable ?

Th e first clerks answ erd w ithout t arying,A mans souls

,ever ferme and stable

Inright,from t h e t routh not variable .

But now,alas ! full sore may w e w eeps,

For covetise hath brought t rout h asle ep'

e.

Th e second,What thing ismost odious?

A double man,saied t h e Phi losopher,

With a virgins face , and a tails venomousWith a faire view ,

and a false proferA corrupt carienina goldentree.

It is a monster innatures linage,One mant o have a double visage.

Th e thi rd,What is t h e best dow er

That may b e t o a w ife appropriate ?A cleans life , w as t h e clerkes answ er

,

Without sinne, all chast, and inviolateFromall dece its and speeches inornate ,Or count enaunce w hich Shall b e to dispise .

N0 fi re make,and thenno smoke w oll arise.

Th e fourth question, Wh at maidenmayBe called cleans inch ast it ie ?

Th e fourth clerks answ ered, Which alw ay

sep t emSap ientum, inw h ich all t h e answ ers h ere at tribut ed to sigh tp h ilosoph ers, are ascribed to Bias in t h e follow ing verses, w h ichappear to h ave beent h e source from w h ence t h is poem is derived

Q uaenam summa boni ? Mens guaz sibi conscia rect i.I’ erniciss bomini quaemax ima? Solus h omo alt er.

Qui s dives ‘

1’qui nil cup iat . Quis pauper ? avarus.

Q ua: dosmatronmpulch errima Vi ta pudica.

Quae casta est de quament iri fama verstur.

Quid prudent is opus ? quum possit nolls nocere .

Q uid stult i proprium nonposse et ve llsnocere .


TO THE K INGS MOST NOBLE GRACE, AND TO

THE LORDS AND K NIGHTS OF THE CARTER.

TO you

,w e lls of honour and w orthinesss,

Our Christenking, t h e h eirs and successour

Unto Just inians devout tendernesss,

Int h e faith of Jesu,our redempt our

And t o your lords of th e Garter,fi oure

Of ch evalri e,as menyou clepe and call

,

Th e Lord of vertue and of grace auth our

Graunt t h e fruit of your loss never appall.

O liege lord, that have t h e likenesssOf Constantine ! t h ensample and mirrourTo princes all! inhumble buxomenesse,To h oly church 0 veray sustainourAnd piller of our faith

,and w erriour

,

Agains of heresies t h e bitter gall !Doe forth ! doe forth ! continue your succour

,

Hold up Christs banner, le t it not fall.

This Isle or this h ad beenbut heathenesse,Nad b e of your faith t h e force and vigour 5And ye t this day t h e fiends crabbednesssWeneth fully t o catch a time and h ours,To have onus your lieges a Sharpe shonre

,

And t o h is servitude us knit t e and thrall :But aye w e trust inyou our prot ectour,

Onyour const aunce w e aw ai t enall.

Commandeth that no w ight have hardinesss,

O w orthy king,our ChristenEmperour,

Of t h e faith t o di sputenmore or lesseOpenly emong people : h er errour

Springeth allday, and engendret h rumour.

Maketh such law ,and for ought may befall,

Observe it w ele,thereto b e ye doct our 5

Doeth so, and God ingloris Shall you stall.

POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO OHAUCER. 191

Ye Lords eke, shining innoble fame ,To w hich approprsd is t h e maint enaunceOf Christs cause, inhonour of hi sname,Shove on

,and put h is foes t o ut t raunce 5

God w ould so,so w ould eke your legiaunce,

To t h o t w o aye pricke th you your dut ieWh o so nat keepeth this double observaunce,Ofmerits and honour naked is h e .

Your stile saiet h ye b e foes t o shameNow kith ofyour faith t h e perseveraunce ,Inw h ich anh eaps of us b e halt and lameOur ChristenK ing of England and Of France

,

And ye , my lords, w ith your alliaunce ,And other faithfull people that there b e,Trust I t o God

,sh al quench al thisnoisance ,

And this land set inhigh prosperit ie.

Conquest of high prow esss is for to tameTh e w ild w oodnesse of all these miscreaunce,Righ t t o t h e rote daily reps ye that same 5

Slepe t h nat thus, but for Gods pleasaunceAnd h is moth er

,and inSigni fi aunce,

That ye beenof saint Georges livers,

Doeth h im service and knigh tly ob eisaunce,

For Christs cause is h is w ell know ns ye .

St ilfe stand inthat, and ye Shall greeve and gramsTh e foe t o peace , t h e norice ofdistaunce 5Th at now is earnest

,turns it into game ;

Now kith e of your b elseve t h e constaunce .

Lord liege , and lords have inremembraunce ,Lord of all is t h e blisfullTrinitie ,Ofw hose vertue t h e migh t ie h abundaunceYou heart and strength infai th q unitie.

EXPLICIT.


ITfalleth for a gentlemanTo say t h e best that h e can

Alw aiesmmannes absence ,And th e sooth inh is presence .

IT commeth by kind of genti lTo cast aw ay allheavinesss,And gader t ogith er w ords good

,

Th e w erk ofw isdoms beareth w itnesss.

INTRODUCTION.

THE full and scientifi c Glossary of Tyrw hitt w ould havesaved th e Editor ofth e present edition of Ch aucer

’

s w orks1111 labour except th at Of abridgment, h ad h e been contentto adopt th e text of th e poems to w h ich th at Glossaryw as adapted. But th e various readings and th e importantdifferences inorth ography w h ich th e collationofMSS. for

th is editionh as brough t out , h ave rendered indispensable th eprepar ofanentirely new Glossary w ith special referenceto th e improved text .Th e follow ing briefexplanationw ill, it is h oped, enable th e

'

reader to consult it w ith ease and advantage.Th e initials A. S. and A. N . indicate derivations eith er

from th e Anglo-Saxonor th e Anglo-Norman, fromw h ich tw olanguages almost all English w ords, though many ofth emare traceable ultimately to Latinand Greek, are proximatelyderived. Th e term Anglo-N orman h as been adopted in

preference to French , because it is from th e eculiar dialectspokenby th eNormansettlers inEngland— a ialect ossess

ing anextensive literature, and exh ibiting a di stinct evelopment of its own— that our language h as derived one of th etw o elements ofw h ich it is composed. AS a general rule,th erefore, to h ave distinguish ed t h e w ords ofNormanorigin

‘

as French w ould h ave conveyed aninaccurate impression toth e reader

’

smind. Insome cases, especially in h is translationof th e Romande la Rose, th ere seems good reasontobelieve th at Ch aucer imported w ordsdirectlyfrom th e French ;but th ese cases are too few and too doubtful to create anynecessity for a departure from th e general rule h ere laiddownIt i snot by an means easy, h ow ever, to determine inall

cases to w h ich 0ass, w h eth er to t h eAnglo-SaxonorNorman, certainw ords ough t properly to be referred, because

13—2

196 INTRODUCTION.

Anglo-Norman w ords, w h enincorporated into th e Englishlanguage , almost alw ays assume th e Anglo-Saxoninflections,or become combined w ith Anglo-Saxonw ords or particles.For instance , th eAnglo-Normanw ord abate , w h entransferredinto medieval English , assumes th e inflexions of th e strongverbs in th e Anglo-Saxon, and makes abate in th e pasttense . Inlike manner, th e Anglo-Normanw ord solempne,w h enit assumes th e adverbial form,

takes th eAnglo-Saxonadverbial aflix, licks, or ly, and becomes salempneliclze , orsolempnely, not salennellement . And thus is English com

sed not only ofAnglo-Norman and Anglo-Saxonw ords,ut ofw ords w h ich inth emselves are oftenformed by a combinationofboth th ese languages.Verbs are giveninth e Glossary inth e form of th e infi nitive mood, w h ich ismost generally used inChaucer, viz ., thatending ine . It is true th at th e older form en, th e fi rstchange from th e Anglo-Saxon an, is oftenfound ; but th ereader w ill experience no di lenlty in resolving such w ords

as, for instance , w endenand seken into th e simple formsw ende and seke . In a few instances, h ow ever, th e verbw ill be found inth e text de fi cient of th e fi nal e , but th esemust be considered as hast omissions ofth e copyist, adoptedfrom th e MS., w h ich inal cases, h as beenstrictly follow edinth e present edition. Th e reader must rememberinfi nitive mood can ever properly end oth erw ise than inenor 6 .

Th e verbs called by grammarians w eak, or those w h ichmake th eir past tense and participle ined, are givenonly inth e infi nitive mood. Thus, ifth e reader w i sh es to know th emeanin oft h e w ords w ormed or maagay, h e must look forth e vergs w onne or meve . But th e past tense and participleofth e strong verbs, or those w h ich form th eir past tense andparticiple b a change ofth e radical letters, are giveninth eiralphabet ica order, w h enever th ey differ from th e modernforms, and referred to th e verbs to w hi ch th eybelong. Thus,th e reader w ill fi nd crep e , crap en, straug fi te, and straigh te ,in th eir alph abetical order, because th e verbs creep andstretclz , inmodernEnglish , form th eir past tenses and articiples, like th e w eak verbs, increp t and stre te/red, an th e

reader migh t, th erefore , be at a loss to trace th e Older inflectedforms to th eir proper infi nitive moods. Inmany cases, however, th e past tense and participle of th e Strong verbs, besidesappearing intheir alphabetical order, are givenafter th e

198 INTRODUCTION.

ferencesare suflicient ly im rtant to require it, but are

also collected togeth er, an bracketted w ith th eir expl onsannexed. Th is planh as beenadopted for th e convenience ofreference and c omparison, and to enable th e reader to see at a

lance th e nature and extent ofth e variations inth e MSS.

Ilaving thus obtained a generalknow ledge ofth ese variationsby consulting th e Gloss inh alf-a-doz eninstances, h e w illprobably afterw ards be

a

gle to dispense w ith it altogeth er,except inth ose cases w h ere not only th e manner of spelling,but th e w ords th emselves have become obsolete .

Th ere is a peculiarity in th e constructionofsome verbs inChaucer w h ich , involving as it does a curious question of

ethnology,may be usefullyadverted to inth isplace. ProfessorRaske, inth e preface to h isAn lo-SaxonGrammar, Observesth at ‘

th e old poe t ical dialectgrail. ofth e Scandinavian] hasmoreover numerous peculiarities of Structure ; e .g. th e com

positionof th e pronounw ith th e verbs.’ After giving severalexamples h e adds, ofall w h ich not th e faintest trace existsamong th e Anglo-Saxons, though man are to be found amongth e inhabitants ofCaucasus.

’ It sofiappens th at th ismodeofcompounding a verb w ith its pronoun, as anaffi x, is of

common occurrence in Chaucer ; as for instance, shalt th oubecomes sh altow art thou ar tow , sayest th ousiestow , so th eeich so t h each , or so th eelc. Eith er, th erefore , Professor Raskemust be inerror inasserting that th ere isno trace to be foundinth e Anglo-Saxonof th is kind of composition or th esew ordsmust have beenimported into medieval English fromth e Scandinavianor Danish . Th e latter supposition is insome degree supported by h istorical circumstances. Considering th e vast extent and influence of t h e Scandinavianimmigration, sh own inth e im sitionofa Danish dynastyonth e Anglo-Saxons, it is h igh y probable th at not only th e

singularcompound, butmany oth er peculiaritiesofth e Englishlanguage , may be referred to a Scandinavianorigin.

In t h e Glossary th e Editor has had an opportunity of

noticing some th ings w h ich escaped h im inth e Notes, and ofcorrecting a few mistakes. For instance, inVO]. ii. 109 ,th e w ordfermerere is supposed tomeana superintendent ofa farm; but inth e Glossary it is correctly derived from in

fi rmarius, th e o"

leerw ho h ad ch arge ofth e infi rmary ina religious h ouse . In th e same volume, p. 220, note 2, p oyntdevys is also erroneously inter

greted ; but th e correct inter

pretationw ill be found inth e lossary.

GLOSSARY.

A, prep . before a gerund is a corrup t ionof on. To go a begging,means togoonbegging. Th e pre

posit ion is Oft en expressed at

lengt h ; as, onhontyng be theyfi den. Before anounit isa corruption of on, in, or at , as, a

nyghtes, on nigh ts : a Gaddes

name , inGod’

s name aw erke ,at w ork . Somet imes it is w rit teninfull; as, onbedde ,onnyght es.

A incomposit ion, inw ords ofA.S .origin, is anabbreviat ionofof, of:at ,on, in;andoftenonly a corrupt ionoft h e preposit ive particle geory. Inw ordsofA.N . originit isgenerally to b e deduced fromth eLat inab , ad, and sometimes as .

A. interj .Ah !AbakAbakeAbaisch t , part . pa. A.N . abash ed.

Abate , v. A.N . to beat down.

Abaw ed, part .pa.ofabaw e , 0.ANastonish ed.

.8. to sufi'

er for.

Abe t tyng ,n. A.S. h elp.

Abyde , v. A.S. to ab ide , to stay ;abyden, part . pa , abyt , or abit ,th ird pere. sin. p res. tense , apparently a contracted form of

Able , adj . A.N . fi t , proper.

Abil , adj .A.N . skilful , convenient .Abot e , part . pa. ofabate .

Abough t , or abogh t , part . pa. of

Abouten,prep . A.S . about .

Abrede , adv.A.S. abroad.

0. A.S. to aw ake , to

start ;pa. t .abreyde .

0. AN. to abridge , to

quiet, to tame .

AbriggeAbroch e , 0. AN. to t ap. to set a

vesse l of liquor abroach ; me taph orically, tomake a beginning.

Abt ode , adv. A.S . abroad .

Abusioun, it . A.N. abuse , improp riety.

AcateAch ate }n.A.N . apurch ase.

Accesse , 13. AN . properly, th e ap

proach of a fever; a fever, or

ague.

Accidie , n. AN . Gr. “ flat“ : t h e

t h eological termfor sloth , one oft h e seven deadly sins ; negli sgence , arising fromdiscontent ormelanch oly.Accuse.v.A.N . to discover;

Ach at e,n. pr. Ach ates.Ach atour,n.AN . a purch aser.

Ach eve , v.A.N . to accomplish .

Acloye , v. t o oloy, to embarrassw ith supernuity.

Acomberd, part . pa. ofscombers, v.

A.N . encumbered.

$3253(1e n. A.N . agreement .

Acorde .0. AN . to agree.Acordeden, p a. t .p l. oflast .

Acordant ,oraccordantAcording , or according WAcroke , adj. AN. crooked , aw k

w ard.

200 GLOSSARY.

Adaw e, v.A.S. to rise, to aw ake .

Ado, v. A.S . to do, to h ave to do Agoow ith . It isused to express t h e AgonA.N . afaire ; as. to have ado, to

h ave to do. And done at that

th ey kanado, et faisent ce qu’ ile

Adon,corrup t ionofof-don,part .pa.

A.S . done aw ay.Adon,n. pr. Adonis.Adoun, adv. A.S.downw ard, below .

Adriane , n. pr. for AriadneAdvertens,n. A.N. at tent ion.

Advocaries, n. pl. A.N . law -suits.

In t h e printed cop ies t h is w ordis advocacies, w h ich is perh aps

righ t .Advocas, n. pl. A.H. advocates,law yers.

Advoutrie ,n.AN. adultery.of afere , v. A.S.frigh tened.

Afi’

eccioun,n.A.N. afi‘

ect ion, desireAfi

'

ect , afl’

ectes,n. Lat . affect ion.

Afi‘

ermed, part . pa. of afi'

ermc, 0.

AN . confi rmed .

Afl’yeAm to trust .

Afi ’rayc, v.A.N. to afi’

righ t .

Afi'

ray,n.A.N. disturbance , fear.Afi

’

rikan, n. pr. th e elder Scip ioAfricanus.

Afi'

yle , v. A.N . to fi le , polish .

A.S. before .

Aftir, adv. andprep . after.

Agast e, v. A.S. to t errify ; agast

Agat h on,n.pr. anunknownw riter.Ageins, same as agains.Agen, same as agains.Agilt , or agilts, v. A.S . to ofi

‘

end,

to sinagainst ; agilts, past tensesinned.

forygo,paa't . pa.A.S. gone.

past .

Agreeg } A.H. agré, ingood part.

Agrefe. ingrief.Agrege , v.A.N . to aggravat e.

Agreved, part . pa. A.N . aggrieved.Agrise , v. neat . A.S. to shudder.

Agrise ,v.ac.A.S.tomake toshudder.AgroosAgrose } pw tense sh uddered.

Agroted, part . pa. cloyed , surfeit ed.Aguler,n.A.N. aigm

’

ller , a needlecase .

Aissch en,n. p l. A.S . ash es.Ajust e , v. A.H. to app ly.Akeh orne ,n. p l. A.S. acorns.Ake le , v. A.S. to cool.Aknow e , v. A.S. to acknow ledgeto ben almow e, to confess. I

amalmow e , I acknow ledge .

Al, adj . sing ; alle , pl. A.S . all.adv. A.S. qui te .entirely ; as,al holly, entirely. Somet imesused for alt h ough ;as.Al be ye not of0 complexioun, alth ough you be notoft h e same comp lexion.

Alain,n. pr. Alanus de Insulls, apoet and divine of t h e t w elfthcentury.

gen. case, p l. ofall. It

is frequent ly joined incomposit ionw i th adj ect ives of t h e sup erlat ivedegree , as inGermant h us, aldenfi rst , first of

all; alderlevest , dearest

of all; our althur ook.t h e cock ofus all.

Alarged, part . pa. A.N . given

Alaune , n. p l. A.N . w olf-dogs, orgreyh ounds. Gualv. de la

Flamma, apud Muratori , Ant iq.Med. E tat ., commends t h e Go.

vernors of Milan—‘ quod canesAlanos altse statum e t mirabilisfort itudinis.nutrire studuerunt.’Alaye ,n.A.N.allay, alloy.

202 GLOSSARY.

Antylegyus,n. pr. Ant ilochus.

Anvelt ,n. A.S . ananvil.Apayde , or apside, part . pa. A.N

paid , sat isfied .

Ape , n. A .S . metaph orical ly a fool .Tap at inh is hood anap e meanstomake a fool of h im. WynQfap e , somuch w ine as to make a

manact l i ke anape .

Apeyre , v. A.N . to impair.

Apert , adj . A.N . open. Prive andap ert , inpublic and privat e .

Ap ies, for Op ies,n. p l.A.N . op iat es.Appalled , part . pa. A.N. madepale .

Apparaile , v. A.N . to prepare .

Apparence ,n. A.N . appearance .

A os ve

Aggi eeive } v. A.H. to perce ive .

Apparceyvynges, n. pl. A.N . per

cep tions.

Appet ite , v. A.N . to desire .

Appose , v. A.N . to oppose , objectto, quest ion.

Appourtenaunt , adf. A.N, appurt e

nant , appertaining.

Apprentys, part . pa. apprent iced .

Approvour n. A.N. approver, inApprow er former.ApprOpered , part . pa. ofappropere ,v. A N . appropriated .

Aqueyntable , adj . A.N . easy to beacquaint ed w it h , an

’

able .

Aquit e , v. A.N . to pay for.

Arace , v. A.N . to t ear, to draw

aw ay by force.ArayAraye

A.N . array , order, si tuArraye at ion‘, equipage .Areys v.A.N . toarray , dress, disArraye pose .

Arblast eres, n. pl. A.N . cross-bow s,

enginesofw armade ont h e principle ofcross

-bow s.

Arch angel ,n.A.N. th e bird calledt itmouse .

Arch edekne , 73. Gr. anarch deacon.

Arch ediacre ,n.A.N . anarch deacon.

Arch ew yves, n. pl. Gr. and A.S .w ives w h o asp ire to governt h eirh usbands.

Ardure,n.A.N. burning, ardour.

Arede , v.A.S. to int erpret , advise .

Arerage ,n. A.N . arrear.

ArsissAreyse

v. A.S . to raise.Aresone, v. A.N . to reasonw i th .

At e ste n. A.N . arrest.constraint,Arreste delay.Aresta, v. A.N . to arrest , stop .

Are t t e , v. A.S . gereh tan, to impute .

Argoil.n. A.N . pot ter’

s clay.Ariete ,n. Lat . Aries, t h e ram, oneofth e signsoft h e Zodiac.

Arive , n. A.N . landing, or disembarcat ionoftroops.

Arke , n. Lat . anarc ofa circle .

Arme ,n.A.N .arm metaph orically ,defence .

Armies, adi. A.S . w ith out anarm.

Arm-gret , adj . A .S. as t h ick as a

man’s arm.

Armipot ent , adj. Lat . migh ty in

Armure ,n. A.N . armour.Arn, pl. pres. indie . ofto be, v. A.S.are.

Aroos, past tense of arise , v. A .S .arose.

Aroume , adv. A.S . at large , roaming about.

Arow e , adv. A.N . ina row .

Arryvage , n. A.N . arrival, disembarcat ion.Arsme trike , n. Lat . (are metrica)arithmet ic.

Art e , v. Lat . (m e) to constrain.Artelries,n. A.N . art illery.Artow , v. art t h ou.

Arw e, n. A.S . arrow .

Aryvayle , n. A.N . landing, disembarcat ion.

Ascaunce adv. as th ough ,asmuchAscauns as to say.

Assch en,n. p l. A.S. ash es.Aslake , aslaken, v. A.S. to slake ,slacken, or abat e .

Asleke , v. A.S. to slack , satisfyh unger.Aspe , n. A.S. t h e aspen, or blackpoplar.

Aspen, adj . A.S . of, or belonging toanasp .

Asp is.or aspye, v.A.N. to espie.

GLOSSARY.

Asp ik,n. A.N . anasp .

Aspre , adj .A.N . rough , sh arp .

Asprenesse , n. A.N . sh arpness.Assaut , n. A.N . assault .Assege , n. A.N . siege .

Asse t h , adv. A.N . sufficient.Assise ,n. A.N . situat ion.

A.N . to absolve , to ex

plaina doubtful quest ion. Assoilet h , imp .

mood , second p ers. p lu.

Assomoned , part . pa. A.N. summoned.

Assure . v. A.N . to confide .

Astert s, v.A.S. to escape , to release .

Ast ert e , for ast ertet h .

Astonyed }part . pa. A.N . aston

Astoned ish ed, confounded.

Astrylabe , 71. Gr. t h e astrolabe , anastronomical instrument .

Astrologien,n.A.N . anastronomer.

Asw eved, part .pa.A.S . stup i fi ed , as

ina dream.

Asw oune , adj . A .S. ina sw oon.

At , p rep . A.S .at after soup er , at t h e

time w h ensupper w as ended ; atoon, at one , agreed.

Atake , v. to overt ake ; stake , part .pa. overtaken.

At h re , adv. int h ree parts.At tamed , atamyd , part . pa. A.N .

(entamé) op ened, begun; tast ed ,

fe lt ; disgraced .

Att e , prep . A.S . at t h e .

At t empre , adj . A.N . t emperate .

At t emprely, adv. A.N . t emperate ly .At tour,n. A.N . h ead-dress.

Assoils

At try adj . A.S . poisonous, perAt terly nicious.Atw innAt w o int w o.

Atw ooAtyz ar, adj . a t echnical w ord of

t h e old astronomy , applied to t h ep lanet Mars, and meaning, p er

h aps, inflamed , or angry.— See

not e , invoc.

Availe , v.neat . A.N . to fall.Avale , v. ac. A.N . to ve il, low er.

Avaunce , v. A.N . to advance , profit .Avaunt .n. A.N . a vaunt , boast .Avaunt , adv.A.N. forw ard.

203

Avauntage ,n. A.H. advantage .

Avaunt e , v. A.N . t o vaunt , boast .Avauntour,n.A.N . a vaunt er, brag~gart .

adv. anyw h ere .

past tense ofow e , v. A.S.ow ed .

A.N . an auth ority ,a text from Scripture , or from somerespectable auth or

Auctour,n. A.N . a w ri t er ofcredi t .Avenaunt . adj . A.N . becoming .

Aventayle , n. A.N . t h e visor of a

h elmet ; t h at part w h ich is raisedaventaille , to give t h e w earer air.Aventure,n.A.N. adventure ,ch ance .Averrois, n. pr . Ebn Rosch id , anArabianph ysicianoft h e t w elfthcentury.Augh t , n. A .S . anyth ing.

Aadv. by anymeans, or by

Ough tany ch ance .

Augh t-Wh ereOugh t -w h ere

Augh tOgh t

Ough t

Augrym, a corrup t ion of algori thm, numerat ion augrymstones, count ers, or calculi , forfacilitat ing calculat ions.

Avicen, n.pr .EbnSina, anArabianph ysicianoft h e t ent h century .AvisAvysAvisande ,pres.part .A N .observing.

Avise v. A.N . to observe , lookAvyse to.

Avisioun,n. A.N . a vision.

Aumble ,n. A.N . anambling pace .

Auntre , v. A.N . a corrup t ion of

aventure , to adventure , or venture .

Auntrous, adj.A.N . adventurous.AvoutererAvoutrer }n. A.N . anadulterer.

Avoutrie ,n. adult ery.Avow , n. A.N . a vow .

Aurora, n. pr . t h e t it le ofa Lat inmetrical versionof t h e Bible , byPet rus de Riga, a canon ofRh e ims inth e t w e lft h century.Aut er,n. Lat . altar.

I! n. A.Nladvice , Op inion.

204 GLOSSARY.

Aw ayte ,n. A.N . w atch .

Aw ayt and, part . p r. w atch ing.

Aw apydaw ape or

Aw h apedAw ayw ard , adv. A.S. aw ay .Awmener, n. A.N . aumdniere, a

purse for h olding money to b e

giveninaims.Awmere ,n. A.N . apparent ly a contract ionfor awmener.

Aw reke .v. A.s.

‘

to revenge .

Ax e.v. A.S. to ask .

Axyng,n. A.S. request .Ay,n. A.S. anegg.

j ?e } adv. ever.

Aye l,n. A.N . grandfath er.

Ayen adv. and prep . A.S. againAyenes against , tow ard.

Ayenst , adv. unt il.Ayenw ard , adv. A.S . back .

B.

Ba, v. seems to b e formed frombasse , v. A.N . to kiss.

Baar, past tense of bere , v. A.S .bare , bore .

Bach eler, n. A.N . an unmarriedman; a knigh t — See vol. vii . p .

1 9 7 .not e i a bach elor ofarts.

Bach elerie , n. A.N . knigh th ood ;th e bachelerie , t h e knigh ts.

Bade , past tense ofbede , v. A.S.Badder, adj . A.S. compar. degree of

b ad ; w orse .

Bagge , v. to sw e ll , disdain; rath er,perh aps, to squint , or look as

kance ,and h ence ,metaph oricallyto desp ise .

Baggyngly, adv. in a squint ingmanner.

Bai llie ,n. A.N . bailiw ick, t h e jurisdict ionofa sh eri fi

‘

, custody .Baite v. A.S. to feed, to amp toBayt e feed.

n. A.S . t h e back.

Balaunce , n.A.N . doubt , suspense ,jeopardy.

Bale,n. A.S. loss,misch ief, sorrow .

Bales, n. A.N . balais, th e bastardruby .

Balkes, n. pl. A.S. t h e beams ofth eroof.

1

1

3

331

1333 adj . smooth asaball , bald.

Barbe , n. A.N . a h ood , or muffler,w h ich covered t h e low er part oft h e face and sh oulders.

Baren, past tense pl. ofh ere , v.A.S.bore .

Bargeyn,n. A.N . cont ent ion.

Bargaret ,n. A.N . a pastoral song.

Barme ,n. A.S . t h e lap .

Barme-clot h ,n. anapron, or pe t ticoat .

Barre , n. A.N. a bar of a door, a

stripe .

Bareigne , adj . A.S. barren.

Basilicok, n. a basilisk.Basse ,n. A.N . a kiss.

Bastynge ,part .pres.ofh aste ,v.A.S.to sew sligh t ly.

Batayled , part . pa. A.N . embat t led.

Bath e , for both e .

Bat h e , v.A.S . to bat h e , or bask, app lied to a h enbasking int h e sun,and covering h erse lf w ith dust .

Baude , adj . A.N . joyous.Bauderie n. A.N. p imp ing, keepBaudrye ing a baw dy-h ouse .

Bandy , adj .A.N . dirty.Banndou, n. A.N . disposal .Bayard, n. A.N . a bay h orse ; apo

p lied to any h orse .

Bayely,n. A.N . a bail iff, stew ard.

Be , p rep . A.S. by.Be , part . pa. oft o b e , v. A.S . been.

Beau-Semblant , n. p r. A.N. FairAppearance .

Beau-sire ,n.A.N . fair sir.Bebledde , part . pa. A.S . covered

w it h blood .

Beclappe , v. A.S. tocatch .

made afool of.Bede , v. to desire , b id, pray , invit e ,Od

‘

er. To beds h is nekke , to offer

h isneck for execut ion.

Bede , n. A.S. a prayer, a bead onw h ich prayers w ere count ed ; a

p eire of bodes, a se t of beads forcount ing prayerson; a.rosary .

GLOSSARY.

v. A.S . beseen; evil besey, illbeseen, of a meanappearance :rickety besey, w e ll dressed , of a

rich appearance.

Besh e t

Besh e t t e part . pa. A.S . shut upBesh rew s, v. A.S. to curse.

Besmotred , part . pa. A.S. smut ted,

Bespe t , par t . pa. A.S . sp it upon.

Bespreynt , part . p a. of besprenge ,v. A.S . besprinkled.

Best edde par t . pa. of best ede , v

Bestad A.S . situated .

522:e n. A.N . a beast .Bests, adj . sup . degree, A.S. best .

Bisy adj . A.S. busy.BysyBe t adv. comp . degree , A .SBe t t e be t t er.

Be take . v. A.S . to give , to recommend.

Be taugh t , past tense of last , recommended .

Be te , v. A.S . See Be e te .

Be t e , v.A.N . to beat .Bet ech e , v. A.S. Same asbetake .

Beth

Beet h ofto b e , v. A.S. be ye .

Be t ed

Bet id past tense and part . ofBetidde v. A .S . bet ide , h apBetyd pened.

Be tydde

Be toke , past tense ofbe take , recommended .

Betraised

Betraysed past part . ofbetrayse ,

Betrassh ed v.A.H. be trayed.

Betrassh yd

Be tw ix

Bet w ixe prep . A.S. betw een.

Betw ixenBe tyt , for bet idith , th ird p ers. stag.

p res. tense of be t ide .

Bew epe , v .A.S. to w eep over.

Bew op e , past tense andpart . oflastBe reyBew reye

Bew rye'

Beforen

Beye , v. A.S. to buy. See abeys‘

.

Beye t e , part . pa A.S. begot t en.

Bi , prep . A.S . by , beside.Bialacoil, n. p r. A.N . Bel-Accudl;afterw ards t ranslated by ChaucerFaire-We lcoming.

Bibbed , pa/rt . pa. Lat . drunk .

Bible , n. A.N . a book ; t h e bible ,t h e book , par excellence.

Bib led , adj . covered w it h blood.Biblot te , v. A.S. to blot .Bicch el-bones, or bicch ed-bones,n.dice .

Bidde , v.A.S . same as bode. to de

sire , pray, invit e .

Bie , or bye , v. A.S. to suffer. Seeab eye .

Bifi lle , past . tense p l. of befalls, v.

A.S. befel.Biforen

advM dprepAS .before.

Bigoo

Bigoon} See Bego.

Bilder, n. A.S. a builder, anepith etapp lied to t h e oak , as be ing usedinbuilding.

Bills,n. A.N . a let ter, a pet it ion.BimeneBymene } v. A .S . to bemoan.

Bint for b indet h , th ird pers. sing.

Byut pres. tense ofb inds, v.A.S.1

1225311}n. A.S .abride .Bisch op ,n. A .S . Gr. a bish op .

Bissemarre ,n. abusive speech .

Bistadde , part . pa. bestead , inevi lp ligh t .

Bi t th ird p ere. sing. p res. tense ofByt bidde , v. A.S. biddeth .

Bitrent , part .pa.ofb itrende ,v.A.S.surrounded.

Biw op en,part .pa. drowned intears.Blancmanger, n. A.H. a dish composed Offow l , St e .

Blandise , v. A.H. to blandish ,flat ter.

Blanch e fevers, n. A.N . fi evrcsblanch es, t h e greensickness.

Ble ,n. A.S. colour.

Blee ,n.pr. a forest inK ent .Bleyne , n. A.S. a Main, boil, or

p imple.

GLOSSARY.

Blends, v. A.S. to blind, deceive .Blent , past tense and part . of

last .Blent , past tense ofblench e , v. A.S.sh runk , start ed aside .

Blered.part . pa. A.S. lit erally usedto describe sore eyes,met aph orically app lied to a personw h odece ived , or imposed upon.

Bleve, or hleven, v. A.S. to stay.

BlinBlinnsB1ynne

A .S. to cease.Bylynn

v.A.S. to bless.

£2

1218 adv. A .S . quickly.Blod ,n. A.S . blood.

Blosme ,n. A.S . blossom.

Bloems, v. to blossom.

Blosmy , adj . full ofblossoms.Blynns, as blinne .

Bob aunce ,n. A.N . boast ing.

Boch e ,n. A.N . a botch or boil.Bode , boden, part . pa. Of bede , v.

A.S. h idden.

Bode , past tense ofbide , v.A.S. remained .

Bode ,n. A.S. delay .Bode ,n. A.S . anomen.

£320

3; }n. pr. Boe th ius.Boydekyn, n. A.S. a bodkin, or

dagger.

Boiste ,n.A.N . a box .

Boistous, adj. A.S . boist erous.Boistously , adv. boist erously.Bokeler, n. A.N . a buckler.

Bokelyng, part . pre. buckling.Boket , n. A.S. a bucket .Bolas,n. th e bullace p lum.

Bole Armoniac, n. a drug calledArmenianeart h .

Bollen, part . pa. of bolge, v. A.S.sw ollen, bulged.

Bolt , n. A.S. anarrow .

Bolt-uprigh t , adv. lying on th e

back as st raigh t as anarrow .

Bonaire t e , for débonairete, n. A.N

courtesy.Boones,n. pl. A.S. bones.

207

Boon n. A.S. a boon, pet it ion.Boone He bad hemalle a boone;Bone asked t h emallape t it ion.

Boras, n. A.N . borax .

Boord n. A.N. a border ; a

Borde table.

Bordel,n. A.H. a brot h e l.w omen, w h ores.

Bordillers, n. pl. A.N . keepers of

brot h e ls.

Bore l , n. A.N. coarse clot h of a

browncolour.

Borel , adj . A.N . made of coarse

clot h ; h ence , metaph orically,unlearned , or laymen.

Bordel

‘Borned, part . pa. burnish ed . Gold

bornyd , burnish ed w it h gold.

Borw e , n. A.S . a p ledge . Hath

laid to borw e, h at h‘

pledged.

Have here my feythe to borw e ,h ave h ere my fai t h for a p ledge .

Seynt J ohan to borw e, St . Johnbe ingmy security.

Bosarde , n. A.S . a buzzard ; a

species of h aw k unfit for fal

conry.

Edges n. A.N . a protuberance .Boost ,n.A.S . pride , boast ing.

Boost , adv. A.S . aloud .

Boote n. A.S . remedy,Bot e profit .Boot s, past tense ofbit e , v. A .S .Bot eles, adj . A.S. boot less, remediless.

fissile nA.N. a bot t le.Bot erflie ,n. a but t erfly !Both e , adj . A.S . in th e genit ivecase , t w o t oget h er. Ours both e

labor, nostrflm amborum labor,t h e labour of us t w o toge th er.

Some t imes bother, of both , likealler, ofall.

Both um n. A.N . a bud , part icu

Ot h eum larly of’

a rose .

Bougeron,n. A.N . a Sodomi t e .

Bough ton’ under-Blee ,n. pr. a towninKent .

Bouke , n. A.S. bulk, t h e body.Boulte , v. A.S. to belt , or sift

meal.

h elp ,

208 GLOSSARY.

BonnBowne W.A.S. ready.BounteBountee n.A.N . gOOdDGSS.

Bourde , n. A.N . a j est .Bourde , v. A.N . to j est .Bourdon, n. A.N . a st afi

‘

.

Boure ,n. A.S . a h ouse , a ch amber.Bow e ,n. A.S . a bow .

Box ,n. A.S. a blow .

Bracer, n. A.N . armour for t h e

arm.

Bradw ardyn, n. pr. Th omas, Archbish op of Cant erbury in 1349

w rote a book , De causd Del.Brai ds

Breyde n. A.S . a start .Breyde

Braids same as abrayde , v. A.S .Brayde to start , to take up , or

off, suddenly .Bragat ,n. We lsh , bragod, a sw ee t

drink made of sw ee tw ort , h oney ,and sp ice .

Brasil , n. a w ood used as a red

dye . Its being ment ioned byCh aucer is a proof t h at i t is not

Brat t , n. A.S. a coarse mant le , a

Brech ,n. A.S. breach es.Brede , n. A.S. breadth . Inbredeabroad.

Breme , adj . and adv. A.S. furious,furiously .

Brenne , v. A.S. to burn.

Brent , past tense andpart .ofbrenne ,burnt .

Brenningly, adv. A.S. h ot ly.Breres, n. p l.A.N . briars.Breste , v. A.S . to burst .Bret -ful, adj . brim-full .Bribe , n. A.N . w h at is givento a

beggar, ex tortioner, or ch eat .Brib en, v.A.N . t o b eg, to st eal.Briboures,n. pl.A.N . t h ieves.

Bridale ,n. A.S. a bridal, marriagefeast .

gfy‘

h n. A.S. a bird

Briddes

Br),ddes } p1. oflast , birds.

Erige ,n. A.N . content ion.

Brik, n. A.S . breach , ruin.

Brimme , adj . same as breme .

Brocage , n. A.N . a t reaty by a

broker, or agent .Broch n. A.N . properly it Spi t .Broch e a brooch or pin.

Broided , pan. pa. A.N . braided .

w oven.

Brokking, part . pr. t h robbing.qua~

y ering.

Bromh olme , n.pr. a priory inNorfolk.

Bronde ,n.A.N . a torch .

Brost en, part .pa. ofbrest e , burst .Brote l, adj . A.S . brit t le .

Brot elnesse ,n. A.S. bri t t leness.n. A S . brot h erh ood ,fraternal afl‘

ect ion,a religious community.

Brouded . p art . pa. A.N. emBrow ded , broidered.

Bronken, v. A.S. to brook, enjoy,use .

Brut il, adj . A.S. brit t le .

Brut ilnesse , n. A.S . brit t leness.Buissh ,n. A.N . a bush .

Bukkes-h orne , n. a buck ’s h orn.To blame the bukkes home , to emp loy oneself ih any use lessamusement .

Bugle-h orn, n. A.S. a bull ’s h orn.from bow gle or bougle , a bull.Anyth ing made of a bull ’s h orn,such as a drinking cup .

Bulte , v. A .S. to bolt , sift .Bumble , v. A.S. to make a bumming noise , as t h e bit t ern.

Burdoun,n.A.N . t h e bass inmusic.Bure l , as bore l .Buriels,n.p l. A.S . burying-places.BurnedBorned part . pa. burnish ed.

Brunet te n. A.N . a fi ne cloth of

urne t te a browncolour.

Buske ,n. A.N. a bush .

ut adv. conj . and prep . A .S.ut t e but ,unless, only ; w ithout .

Buxome , adj. A.S. obedi ent , civil.Buxomly, adv. A.S. obedient ly.civilly.

GLOSSARY}

Carmes, n. p l. A.N . Carme lit e

Carol n. A.N . a dance aecomKarol panied w i th singing .

Carole v. A.N . to dance andKarole sing.

Carpe , v. to talk .Caroigne , n: A.N . a carrion.Garrik, n. A.N . a large sh ip .

Cart e ,n. A.N . a ch ariot .Cart er, n. A.N . a ch ariot eer.Cas, n. A.N . ch ance ; uponcas, bych ance .

Cassiodore , n. pr. Cassiodorus, a

law w rit er, several of w h ose

w orks are ex tant .Cast .n. A.S. a contrivance .

Cast e , v.A .S . to t h row , t o contrive .

Cast eloigne , n. pr. Catalonia inSpain.

Casue l , adj . A.N . accident al .Cat apuce , n. A.N . a species of

spurge .

Cat e l , n. A.N . goods, ch at t els.Cat erw raw ed , togena caterw raw ed

seems tomeant h e same t h ing as

to go a cat erw auling.

Cavillacioun, n. A.N . cavil.Caton, n. p r. t h e aut h or of t h e

DiStz‘

chs, a book of proverbspopular int h e middle ages.Cise v. for se ize , or seise , A.N .

Cese t o seize.Celerer, n. Lat . t h e offi cer in a

monast ery w h o h ad t h e care of

t h e provisions.

Ce lle , n. Lat . a ce ll, properly anEnglish branch of a foreignmonast ery, but app lied generally to

,any re ligious h ouse . App liedalso to t h e h ead , as t h e ce ll oft h e brain.

Celsitude , n. A.N . h ighness.

Celured, part . p a. A.N . ce iled , orcanop ied .

Censing,part .pres.A.N .fumigat ingw ith incense .

Centauree , n. pr . anh erb so called.

Cercle , v. A.N . to encircle or sur

round ; cercli th , th ird p ers. sing .

pres. tense.Cercles, rap t. A.H. circles.

Cerial, adj . A.N . belonging to th especies ofoak called cerrus.

adj . A.N . is somet imesused as a substant ivetomeanacertainquant ity as, ofunces a cer

tain, a certainnumberofounces.

Cert aineCert eyne adv.A.N . certainly.Cert esCeruse n. A.N . w h it e lead .

Gesed , part . pa. for se ised , used int h e legal sense ofse ized , to b e inpossessionof.

Cesse , v. A.N . to cease .

Ch afi‘

are , n. A .S . merch andise .

Ch affare , v. A.S t o t rade , ch afi‘

er.

Ch alouns,n. A.N . blanke ts.

Ch amayle , n. A.N . a camel .Ch amb erere , n. A.N . a ch ambermaid.

Ch ampartye , n. A.N . a legal t ermfor a consp iracy to deprive anowner ofpossessionby law .

Ch ant epleure , n.A.N . a sort ofpro

verb ial expression for singingand w eep ing successive ly .Ch ap itre , n. A.N . t h e ch ap t er ofa

re ligious order.

Ch aunt erie , n. A.N . anendowmentfor t h e payment of a priest tosing mass agreeably to t h e ap

pointment oft h e founder.

Ch apman, n. A.S . a merch ant ,trader.

Ch apmanh ede ,n.A.S . t h e condit ionofamerch ant or t rader.

Ch are ,n. A.N . a ch ariot .Ch arge , n. A.N . a load , burt h en,business of w e igh t . It nere nocharge , it w ere no h arm. Of thatno ch arge , no mat t er for t h at .Ch arge , v. A.N . to w e igh , to in.

cline on account of w e igh t .Wh ich chargeth not to say, w h ichit is use less to ment ion.

Ch argeant , p art . pres. A.N . bur

t h ensome .

anench ant ress.

Ch ast elaine , n. A.N . t h e w ife of ach ast elain, orgovernorofacastle.

GLOSSARY.

Ch astye , v.A.N . to ch ast ise.Ch ayer, n. A.N . a ch air, a pro

fessor’

s ch ai r.

Ch ekkere , n. A.N . a ch ess-board.

Ch ees past tense of ch ese , v. A .S .Ch es t o ch oose .

Ch e th s, n. w e Sh ould read ch eses.

Ch ek , ch eck, t h e t echnical t erm inch ess, to signify t h at t h e king isindanger.

Ch ekelatoun, n. A.N . a kind of

rich clot h .

Ch ek mat e , t h e term used at ch ess

to denot e t h at t h e king is takenprisoner.

Ch elaundre , n. A.N . a kind oflark ,p erh aps t h e w ood-lark.Ch epe , n. A .S . a market ; goodChepe , A.N . bon-march é, ch eap .

Ch epe , v. A .S . to buy, or, as is vul

garly said , tomarke t .Ch epe , n. pr . A .S . t h e marke t inLondon, now called Ch eap-side .

Ch erch e ,n. A .S. a church .

Ch ere , n. A.N . count enance , ap

p earance ; entertainment , goodch eer.

Ch ericeCh erise } v. A.N . to ch erish .

Ch erisaunce , n. A.N . comfort .Ch er] , n. A.S . a serf or copyh older ; amanofmeanbirt h andcondit ion.

Ch erlish , adj . A.S . illiberal .

}n. t h e game ofch ess

Ch ese , v. A.S . to ch oose .

Ch ese , th i/rd p ers. sing . p res. i/ndic.

for ch eset h .

Ch este , n. Lat . a coffin.

Ch est e ,n. debat e .

Ch est eyn, n. A.N . th e ch estnut .Ch evalerous, adj . A.N . ch ivalrous.Ch eve , v. A.N . to ach ieve , to cometo a conclusion. Yvelmote h e

ch eve , il l may h e endCh evered , past tense of ch ever, v.

A .S . to sh iver.

Ch evesaile , n. A.N . a. collar, or

necklace .

}n.A.N . a ch ieftain.

14— 2

Mput

Ch evisaunce , n. A.N . anagreementfor borrow ing money .Ch ich e , adj . A.N . niggardly , spar

ing.

Ch ich evach e , n. A.N . li terally , a

leancow ; a leancow supposed

to feed uponobedient w ives.

See vol. ii . p . 159 ,note 2 .

Ch ideresse

Ch idest ern.A.S .afemale scold.

Ch iere t e , n. A.H. t enderness, affect ion.

Ch ike , n. A.S. a ch ick or chi cken.

Ch imb e , v. to ch ime be lls.

Ch inch e , as ch ich e .

Ch erch ereve , n. A.S. a church

w arden.

Ch irch eh aw e , n.A.S . a ch urch yard.

Ch irke , v. A.S . to ch irp as a spur

row .

Ch irkynges, n. from part . p res. of

last , ch irpings.

Ch it , th ird p ers. sing. p res. tense ofch ide , v. A.S . ch ide t h .

A.N . a mi litary ex831322

1

1126

p edi t ion, a feat of

h orsemansh ip .

Ch ymb e , n. A.S . t h e prominentpart of t h e staves beyond t h e

h ead ofa barre l .Ch ynch e .

—See Ch inch e .

Ch ynch erie , n. A.N . p enuriousness.

Ch yvalryCh evalrye }n. A.N . ch ivalry .Cierges, n. p l. A.N . w ax -tapers.

Cit eCi t ee }n’ A.N . ci t y.Citole , n. A.N . a stringed instrument ment ioned by WilliamGuiart

Q ue ls roi de France ace lle créeEnve loppa si de parollesPlus douces que sonde citoles.’Barbazan supposes it to b e t h e

same as t h e cit h ara ; Sir JohnHaw kins believes i t to b e a kindof dulcimer, and t h at t h e nameis a corrup t ionof th e Lat incis

tella.

Cit rinat ioun, n. A.N . a ch emi calt erm.

212 GLOSSARY.

Clamb en, past tense pl. of climb e ;v. A.S. climbed .

Claperes,n.p l.A.N . rabbit -burrow s.Clappe , v. A.S. to knock repeat edly;to t alk incessant ly and loud.

Clappynge , n. A.S . noisy and i h

cessant talking.

Clapsud , part pa. clasped.

Clarre , n. A.N . w ine mix ed w ithh oney and sp ices, and clarified .

It w as ot h erw ise called p iment .Th e follow ing is t h e receip t formaking i t Clare tum bonumsive p igmentum. Accipe nucemmosch at am, cariofi los, gingeb as,macis.cinnamomum, galangam;

ques omnia in pulverem redacta

d ist empera cum bono vino cumt ert iaparte mellis post cola persaeculum, e t da ad b ib endum.

E t nota, quod illud idem pot est

fi eri de cerevisia.

’ Medulla Gi

rurgice Bolandi . MS. Bodl. 7 6 1 ,fol. 86 .

Clat ereden, past tensep l. ofelat erev. A.S . to clat t er.Clause , n. A.N . anend or conclusion.

Claw e , v. A .S. to stroke . He claw ed

h imon the bah , h e stroked h imon t h e back to encourage h im.

To clame onthe galle , to rub onasore p lace .

Cledde , p ast tense ofclede, v. A.S .clad .

Cleneness, n. A.S. cleanness, purity.Clepe. v. A.S . to call ; yclept e , partpa.

Clergial, adj . A.N . learned.

Clergie , n. A.N . t h e cleri cal profession.

Clergeoun, n. A.N . a young clerk.Clerk, n. A.N . a person in h olyorders ; a man of learning a

student at t h e university.Clift e ,n. A.S . a cleft .Cliket ,n.A.N . a lat ch -key.

Clinke , v. a. A.S. to ring.

Clinke , v.neat . to t inkle .

Clippe , v.A.S . to clip to embrace .

Clipei , adj . eclipsed.

Clobb ed, adj . A.S . clubbed, like a

club.Clomben, past tense p l. of climbsv. A.S.Closer,n. A.N . anenclosure .

Clot e-lefe , a leafOft h e burdock . orclot e-bur.

Clothred , past p a. A .S . clot t ed.

Clove-gilofreOlow e -ge lofre }n. A.N . clove .

Clout es, n. A .S. small p ieces, rags,patch es.

Clum, intevj . speak low ; fromA.S.olami

'

an, tomut t er.

Clumb en, past tense p l. ofclimb e .

Clyfl'

e , n. A .S. a cliff.Clyves, n. p l. ofclyd

'

e , or cli fi‘

e .

Clyw e , v. A.S . to turn or tw istround.

Coagulat , p art . pa. curdled.

CockesBones, acorrup t ionofGod’sBones.

Cod, n. A.S . a b ag.

Cofre , n. A.N . a cofi'

er, or ch est .

Cogge ,n. A.S. a cock-boat .Coilons,n. A.N . t est icles.Coke ,n. Lat . a cook .COkenay, n. a puny cont empt iblefe llow ; aninh abitant oft h e landofCokaigne , a Londoner.Cokew old ,n. a cuckold.

A .S . a prefix signifyingfalse , as col-prop h et , falseproph et , col-fox , t resch e

rous fox ; colle-tregetour,

false trickst er.

Oolde , v. A .S . to grow cold.

Coler, n. A.N . a col lar.

Colera,n. Lat . bile .

Colerd, part . pa. collared, w earingcollars.

Collacioun, n. A.N . a conference .Collinges, n. p l. A.N . embracesround t h e neck.

Colt issch , adj . A .S. playful as acolt .Colver, n. A.S . t h e culver, or w ildp igeon.

Columbine , adj . Lat . dovelike .

Combre-w orld , n. anencumbranceto t h e w orld .

Combust , adj . Lat . a t erminastro

nomy, app lied to a p lanet w h en

214’

Cornew aile , n. pr. Cornouai lle inBrit tany.Corny , adj . A.S. applied to ale ,strong Oft h e cornormalt .CoroneCoroune n.A.N . a crownor gar

Gorowne land.

Corps, n. A.N . t h e body .Corpus, n. Lat . body . Corpus Domini , t h e Lord ’

s body . Corpus

Madrian, t h e body of St . Madrianus.

Correccioun, n. A.N . correct ion.

Corrige , v. A.N . to correct .

Corumpable , adj . A.N . corrupt ible .

Corumpe , v. A.N . to corrupt .

Corup t , p art . pa. of last , corrup t ed .

Cors,n. A.S . a curse .

Corse , v. A.S. to curse .

Corseint}n. A.N . a h oly body,

Corseynt re lic.

Corven, part . pa. of kerve , v. A .S.cut .

Cosyn, n. A.N . cousin; somet imesused adj ect ive ly , allied.

Cosinage , n. A.N . kindred .

Costage ,n. A.N . cost , expense .

Cost eye , v. A.N . to coast , t o go byt h e coast .

Cost lew e , adj . cost ly.Costre l ,n. a drinking vessel .Cot e , n. A.N . a cot , cot tage .

Cot e ,n. A.N . a coat . Cote-armure .

coat -armour, a coat w orn over

t h e armour, onw h ich t h e armorial bearings of t h e w earer w ere

paint ed.

Cot idien, adj .A.N . quot idian, daily ;used as a substantive for a quo

t idianague .

Couch e , v. A.N . to lay couch ed

w ith p erles, laid , or t rimmed w i thp earls.Coud past tense and part . of

Coude conne , v.A.S . knew , w as

Gow ds able ; known.

Cove ite , v. A.N . to cove t ; coveit en,pl. pres. tense.Covenable , adj . A.N . convenient ,suitable .

Covercle .n. A.N . t h e cover, or lid

ofa pot .

GLOSSARY.

Covert , adj . A.N . secret covert .

Covine n. A.N . cunning, contriCovyne vance .

Coulpe ,n. A.N . a fault .Countrepese . v. A.N . t o count erpoise , t o make up for.

Countreple t e , v. A.N . to p leadagainst .

Count erw ayt e , v. A.N . to w atch

against .Countour,n.A.N . acount ing-h ousean accountant ; t h e abacus, or

instrument used for making cal

culat ions.Countre taille, n. A.N . a t allyansw ering exact ly to anot h er.Hence Ech o is said to answ er atth e countretaille.

Coure , v. A.N . to cow er, crouch .

Courfew -tyme , n. A.N . t h e t ime at

w h ich p ersons w ere obliged bylaw to put out t h e ir fires. Tyr

w h it t says i t probably variedw i th t h e seasons of t h e year.

Walsingh am speaking of anevent on t h e z ud Sep t . 1 31 1 ,

ment ions 9 o’

clock as t h e hora

Court epy ,n. A.N . a sh ort cloak.Court -man, n. a court ier.

Cout h past tense and part . of

Cout h e conne , t o know .

Cow ardise

Cow ardyse }n. A.N . cow ardi ce .

Coye, v. A.N . to quie t ,make tame .

ggg’

e

e

} adj .A.N . tame , quie t .Coyne ,n. a quince .

Coynt ,my. A.S. quaint , neat , t rim.

Cracch yng, n. A .S. scrat ch ing .

Craftys-man, n. A.S. a craftsman,

t radesman.

Crake v. A.S . to sing h oarselyCrakel and t remulously .Crakke , v. A.S. to crack .Cramp ish e , v. a. A.N . to contractviolent ly, as t h e cramp contractst h e limbs.

Crased , part . pa.

broken.

Creaunce ,n. A.N . faith , belief.Creat e ,part . pa. Lat . created.

A.N . ecrasé

GLOSSARY.

Crepul, n. A .S . a cripp le , one w h ocreeps.

Crevace ,n.A.N . a crevice , orch ink .Criande , p art . p res ofcrye , v. A.N .

crying .

Crips, adj . Lat . crisp , or curled .

Crisippus,n. pr. t h e w rit er ofaneucomiumonJohnt h e Bapt ist . SeeMontfaucon, Bib . Bibl. p . 5 13.

Crispe , a dj . Lat . curled .

Croce , n. Lat . a cross, a bish op ’

s

pastoral stad'

.

Crois, n. A.N . a cross.

Cromes, n. p l. A.S . crumbs.Crone , n. A .S . prop erly anold ew e ,

inw h ich sense i t is st ill used inNorfolk ; app lied, secondarily, t oanOld w oman.

Crope part . pa. and past tense ofCropen crep e , v. A.S . crep t .

n.A.S . t h e top ofanyth ingt h e young and upp er

most sh oots Of vege ta

bles. Gropp e and rote

root and branch .

Crossele t ,n. A.N . a crucible .

Crouch e , v. A.S . to Sign w ith th ecross.

v. A.S. to push , to sh ove

t oge th er. St ill app liedto push ing a w h ee lbarrow , i h Norfolk.

Crouke , n. A.S. a crock, or eart h enp itch er.

Croun,n.A.N . t h e crownofth e h ead .

Croupe ,n.A.N . t h e back , or crupp er.

Crowned, part . past , sovere ign;crowned malice , sovere ignmalice .

Crul, adj .A .S . curled.

Crynkled , adj . A .S . formed in a

circle .

Cucurbit e , n. Lat . a gourd ; a ves

sel sh aped like a gourd used ind ist illat ion.

Cuirbouly,n. A.N . leath er preparedby boiling, used for defensive ar

mour,Cuissh yn, n.A.N . a cush ion.

A.N . a bundle of

anyt h ing, as a lock ofh air, or a fagot of

Daun

215,

3333}n. A.S . th e w ild p igeon.

Cupps, n. A.N . a cup .

Curacioun, n. A.N . cure , h ealing.

Cure , n. A.N . care . I dono cure , Itake no care .

Curious, adj . A.N . careful.

(

0

33232sadj . A.N . court eous.

Custommere , adj . A.N . customary ,accustomed.

n. A.S. a lot ; a straw cut

into sh ort and longlengt h s, to draw lotsw it h .

Cytryne , adj . A.N . Ofa pale yellowor citroncolour.

Daf,n. A .S . a fool .Dagge ,n. A.S . a sh red, or patch .

Dagged , p art . pa. cut into dagges.Dagging, part . p res. sli t t ing.

Dagonu,n. a sl ip , or p iece .

Dampne , v. A.N . to condemn.

Damascene ,n.pr. t h e country aboutDamascus.

Damascen, n. pr . J oannes MesneDamascenus, anArabianph ysicianint h e e igh th and nint h century.

n. from A.N . Dom, Lat .

Dominus, a t it le giventodigni fi ed p ersonages generally, but especially tot h e Benedict ines.

n. A.N . jurisdict ionh ence t h e allegoricalname given in t h e

Courts of Love , andt h e poe try w h ichsprung from t h em, to

t h e h usband , as be ingt h e p erson w h o h as

legal jurisd ict ionover

t h e w ife . Also, adangerons situat ion.

216 GLOSSARY.

Dare , v. A.S . to stare . BeidenDares, n. pr. t h e h istorianof t h e DeydenTrojanWar. Beyde

Darreyne , v. A.N . to cont est . De ineDasen, p res. tense p l. of Dase , to Deyne } for deyen, to die .

past tense p l. of deye , v.A.S. died.

grow dimsigh t ed , t o stare as one Deinous, adj . A.N . d isdainful .does w h ose sigh t is dim.

Bannt e , v. A.N . to overcome .

Daunt e , n. pr. t h e Florent ine poet ,Dant e .

Daw e , v. A.S. to daw n.

Daw ening ,n. A .S . daybreak .Daw es,n. p l. A .S . days. Th e A.S .g is oftenexpressed by w as w e llasy.

Daye , n. A .S. day. Also, t imegenerally . At my day, at t h e

t ime appoint ed for me . To

graunte h im dayes of the remenaunt , to give h im t ime to payt h e remainder by instalments.

Daynt e , my. A.N . dainty , nice .Deaurat , p art . pa. Lat . gilded.

Debat e , v. A.N . to figh t .Debonaire . adj . A.N . courteous,Deboneyre gent le .

Decoped , part . pa. A.N . cut down;applied to sh oes cut inpat terns.

1

2

2233n. A .S . death .

Dede , adj . A.S. dead.

Dede , v. neut . A .S. to becomedead.

Dedly, adj . A.S . devoted to deathfatal.Deduit , n. A.N . p leasure .

Dedyn, th ird p ers. p l. past tense ofdo , v. A.S . did.

n. A .S. a port ion. Th is£2316 w ord ent ers into t h e comDel posit ionof many ot h ers,Delle as somdeel, or somdelle

halvendelle,&c.

Dees, as deys.

Defame ,n. A.N . infamy .Defunt e ,n. A.N . w ant , defect .Defende , v. A.N. to forbid .

Defence ,n. A.N . proh ibi t ion.

Defe t , part . p a. A.N . cast down.

De fi nish e , v. A.N . to define .

Degre , or degree ,n. A.N . a st ep , or

fligh t ofstairs ; rank inlife .

el, a por

D e lleDele , v. A .S. to divide , to deal .

321122311 } v. A.N . to de liberat e .

Delices,n. p l. A.N . de ligh ts.Delie , adj . A.N . t h in, slender.

32m} n. A.N . de ligh t .Deli table .adj . A.N . delectable .

DeliverDelyver} adj .A.N .mmble .

De liverly ,adv.A.N .nimbly, quickly.Delivernesse , n. A.N . agility.De lve , v. A .S . to dig, bury ; part.pa. dolven, dug , buried.

Deluvy, n. A.N. t h e de luge .

Demeyne , v. A.N . to manage ,govern.

DemeyneDemaineDeme , v. A.S . to judge .

Denw ere , n. A .S. doubt .

De par Dieu j eo assent e , inGod ’s

name I agree .

Depart s, v. to divide , distribut e .

Dep e int , part . pa. A.N . paint ed.

Dequace , v. A.N . to sh ake down.

Dere , v. A.N . to h urt .

Dere , adj . A.S. dear.

relinDerlyng

g}n. A.S. darling .

Derere , adv. A.N . beh ind.

Derew ort h , adj . A .S . precious,valued at a h igh rat e .

Dereyne , v. A.N . to cont est .Derne , adj . A.S . secre t .Derre , adj . comp . ofdere , dearer.

Descensorie , n. A.N . a vessel usedin ch emistry for t h e ex tract ionofoils, per descensum.

Descriven, v. A N . to describe.Desirous, adj . A.N . eager.

Desp itous, adj . A.N . sp it eful.Despi tously, sp it efully .

n. A.N . management .

218 GLOSSARY.

Dit e , called '

inTh e House ofFame ,Tytus, Dictys Cre t ensis.D it e , v. A N . t o endit e .

DiversDyverse } ad.7 A N d ifferent .

Diverse , v. ANN t o diversify .DO, v. A .S . to cause ; to domake, tocause to b e made .

Do p art . p a. ofdo

Doande , part . p res. of do ; doing .

Dogerel. adj . paltry . Rime dogerel,rh ime de ch ien, paltry rh yme .

Dogh t er

}n. A .S. a daugh t er ; p l.

Dogh tre dogh tren.

Doke , n. A .S . a duck.Dolven, part . pa. of delve , v. N .S.

buried .

Dombe , adj . A S . dumb .Dome , n. A .S. doom, judgment .Domesman,n. ANS a judge .

Donet ,n. a grammar, t h e e lementsofany art , from Aulius Donatus,t h e aut h or Of a Lat ingrammarincommonuse .

Donne , adj . A.S . ofa duncolour.

e as dee l , del, orort ion. Halfenh alf port ion.

Doole , n. A.N . deuil, mourning ,

grief.Doon, third p ers. p l. p res. tense Ofdo.

Dormant ,adj .A.N . primarily , sleeping ; me taph orically fix ed . Atable dormant , a table fix ed, likea sideboard , and not ont rest les,as t h e tables at w h ich p eop ledined usually w ere in t h emiddleages.

Dortour, n. A.N . a dormitory.Doseyn, n. A.N . a dozen.

Dosser,n. A.N . a basket to carry ont h e back.Dot e , v. A .S . t o doat .Dot h , second p ers. p l. imp . mood ofdo, v. A.S . do ye .

Douce t , n. A.N . a musical instrument , p erh aps, t h e dulcimer.

Bough t er n. A.S. daugh ter ; pl.

Dough tre dough t ren.

Dout aunce ,n. A.N . doubt .Dout e , v. A.N . to fear.

Dout eles, adv. w ith out doubt .Doutous, adj . A.N . doubtful .

d’outremer,D ’

out re mere beyond sea,

De ow t ermere

Dow ayre ,n. A.N . dow er.

Drad past tense and part . of

Dradde } drede , v. A .S . dreaded.

Draf,n. A.S . drafi ‘

e , refuse , as inferior corn,not fi t for t h e use of

man.

Drat-sack , n. A .S . a sack full ofdrafl

'

e .

Drafty , adj . A.S. ofno more valuet h andrafi

‘

e .

Dragges,n. A.N . drugs.

Drecch e , v. A .S . to oppress, vex ,

t rouble .

Drecch ed , p art . pa. Oppressed,

vex ed , t roubled.

Dreds, n. A.S . dread , fear, doubt .Wi thoutendrede , w i th out doubt ;Out ofdrede , out ofdoubt .

Drede , v. A .S . to dread , fear ; past

tense , drad , dred, p l.dradde p art .

ydrad .

Dredeful, adj . full of dread, t imorous.

Dredeles, adv. w i th out doubt .Drench e , v. a. A .S . to drow n.

Drench e , v. neut . A .S . to drown, or

b e drowned.

Dreried , for drerih ed,n.A.S . dreariness.

Drery, adj . A.S . dreary, sorrow ful .Dresse , v. A.N . to address, app ly .Dreynt ,part . p a. ofdrench e , v. A.S.drowned .

Drifth , th ird pers. sing . pres. tenseofdrife , v. A.S . drive t h .

gri e

} v. A.S . t o endure , suffer.

rye

Drinkeles, adj . A .S . w ith out drink .Dronke lew , adj . A.S. drunk , givento drink.

Dronken, adj . drunk .Drough , p ast tense ofdraw e. drew .

Drovy, adj . A.S . d irty .Druerie , n. A .N . court sh ip , gal

lantry ; amist ress.

Drugge , v. A.S . t o drag.

Dryf, for dryfe , v. A .S . to drive .

GLOSSARY.

Buete

}n. duty, w h at is due to

Due t ee any one .

Dulle , v a. A.S . t o make dul l .Dulle , v. n. A .S . to grow dull .Dun, n. pr . a nickname given to

t h e h orse or ass int h e proverb ,As dullas Daninthe mire .

Puranse ,n. A.N . a kind ofapp le.Dure , v. A N . to endure .

lDuresse ,n. A .N . severi ty .Duske , v. A.S. to grow dark .

n. A.N . See Bue t e .

Dw ale , n. A.S . a sleep ing pot ion.

Dw yned , p art . p a. A .S . dw indled ,

w ast ed . Dw iny is st ill used inEast Anglia.

Dyke , v. A.S . to dig.

Dynt ,n. A .S . a stroke .

Dyt e es,n. p l. A.N . d it t ies.Dyvyne ,n. A.N . d ivinity.Dyvynistre , n. A.N . a divine , a

t h eologian.

Eb rayk

Ebre ik } adj . Hebrew .

Ecclesiast , n. an ecclesiast icalp erson t h e book of Ecclesie st es.

Ech e , adj . A.S . each .

Ech e v. A.S . to eke out , to add , to

Eke increase .

£19

22} adv. A.S . also.

Edippe , n. pr . (Edipus.

EemEme }n. A .S . anuncle .

Effect , n. A.N . subst ance .

Eflect e , v. A.N . t o infect .Eft , adv. A.S . again.

Eftsone adv. A.S . soonafter, preEft sones sently.

Egalit e , n. A .N . equality .I

ggfig} adj . A.N . sh arp , bit ing.

Egge , v. A.S . to egg on, incit e .

ggement , n. A.S . incit ement ,inst igat ion.

Egging , n. same as eggement .Egremoine ,n. A.H. agrimony .

A.S. e lse .

219

E igh ! interj . eh ! or like t h e

Scot t ish h ech !Eiscl, n. A .S . vinegar.

Elat , p art . pa. Lat . e lat ed.

Egge n. A .S . Old age .

E lde , v. a. A .S . to make old ; v.

n. to grow old.

E lenge , adj . mournful , sorrow ful ,dull .

Elengenesse , n. care , trouble .

Elf, n. A .S. a fairy .Elf-queen,n. queenoffaery.E lisee , n. pr. E lish a.

E lvish , adj . A.S . like a fairy, sh y,reserved.

Elye , n. pr. E lijah .

Emang adv. and p rep . among,Emanges amongst .Embat ailled , part . p a. A .N . embat t led.

Emb elissh e , v. A.N . to embellish .

Embolde , v. A.N . to embolden.

Emboyssement ,n.A.N . ambuscade .

Embrace , v. A.N . to take h old of.

52231

3316

5} v. A.S . to embroider.Eme , n. A .S . anuncle .

Emfort h , p rep . A.S. a corrup t ionofevenfort h , even t o t h e utmostof as emforth mymigh t , eventot h e utmost ofmy migh t .

Emisp ere ,n. Gr. h emisph ere .

Empaire , v. to impair, h urt .A.N . anEmpress.

Emplast re , v. A .N . to p last er over.

Emplie , v. t o infold , to involve .

Empoisoner,n. A.N . a poisoner.Emprise .n. A.N . anent erprise .

Emp t e , v. A.S . t o emp ty .Enbat t eled , p art . p a. indent ed likea bat t lement .

Enb ibyng, part . pres. imbibing .

Enb osed , p art . pa. A.N . embosque,sh e l t e red in a w ood . Erroneously ex plained in Urry

’

s

Gloss , w h ich h as beenfollow ed

in anexp lanatory not e inThe

GLOSSARY.

Boke ofth e Duch esse , to mean, soh ard pressed as to h ang out t h e

tongueEnbosed , p art . pa. A.N . raised, embossedEncense ,n. A.N . incense .

Encense , v. A.N . to burn incense ,to offer incense .

Ench aufi ng,n. A.N . h eat .

Ench esoun, n. A.N . cause , occasion.

Encomb rouse , adj . A.N . cumbrous.

Encorporing , part . p res. A.N . inv

corporat ing.

EndelongEndelange w ays, side-w ays.

Ende t t ed , p art . pa. A.N . indebt ed.

1

113

323131} v. A.N . to dictat e , relat e .

Endout e . v. A.N . t o doubt , fear ;p art . pa. endout et .

Endrye , v. A .S . to endure .

Enee , n. pr . JEneas.Eneydos, n. pr . V irgil ’s lEne id.

Enfamyned , p art . pa. A.N . h ungry.Enforce , v. A.N . to strengt h en.

Enfortune , v. A.N . t o endow w it ha certainfortune .

Engendrure , n. A.N . generat ion.

Engined, part . pa. racked, t or

tured.

Engregge , v. A.N . t o aggravat e .

Engreve , v. A.N . to aggrieve .

Engyn, n. Lat . t h e understanding,genius.

Engyne ,n. A.N . an engine of w ar

for cast ing missiles.

Enh aunse , v. A.N . to enh ance ,raise .

Enh ort e , v. A.N . t o ex h ort .

Enlaced , part . p a. A.N . entangled.

Enlangoured , part . p a. A.N . faded

w i t h languor.

Enleven, num. adj . A.S . e leven.

Enlumynd , part . pa. of enlumyne ,v.A.N . i llumined , or illuminat ed.

Enlumyne , v. A.N . to illuminat e ,to ornament w it h paint ing.

Enoynt , part . pa. A.N . anoint ed.

Enseled , p art . p a. A.N . sealed up ,kep t secret .

Euspire , v. A.N . t o inspire .

Ensure , v. A.N . to assure.

Entayle n. A.N . cut , sh ape ,Entaile figure .

Entailed, part . pa. A.N . carved.

Ent alent e , v. A.N . to incit e .

Ent ende , v. A.N . to at t end .

Ent endement ,n. A.N . understanding.

Ent ent e ,n. A.N . int ent ion.

Entent if, adj . A.N . at t ent ive .

Ent erch aungeden, p ast tense p lur.

of ent erch aunge , v. A.N . int erch anged.

Ent ermelled ,part .pa. ofent ermelle ,v. A.N . int ermixed .

Entremet v. A.N . to interpose , toEnt ermet e meddle .

Entrepartyn, v. A.N . to sh are .

Ent ech ed , part . pa. A.N . lit erallyspot t ed , me tap h orically, markedw ith e it h er good or b ad qualit ies.

Ent ewnes,n. A.N . tunes, songs.Ent re , n. A.N . entrance .

Entremess, n. p l. A.N . entremets,ch oice d ish es served inbe tw eent h e courses at a feast .

Entrike , v. A.N . to entangle .

Entuned , part . pa. A.N . tuned.

Envenyme , v. A.N . to poison.

Envye , v. A.N . to vie , t o endeavour to at taint h rough emulat ion.

Enviroun, adv. A.N . around.

Envolup ed ,part . pa.A.N . w rapt up .

Envyned , p art . p a. A.N . stored

w it h w ine .

Eny, adj . A .S . any.

Eorth e , n. A.S . earth .

Ep ist elles,n. pl. Lat . ep ist les.

Equipolences, n. p l. A N . equiva

lents.Er, adv. A.S . before , before t h at .Erande n. A.S . an errand

, mesErrands sage .

Erch eb issch op , n. A .S. an arch

bish op . Therchebisschop , t h e arch

bish op .

Ere , v. A.S. to p lough .

Erke, adj . A.S . w eary , indisposed ;

w h ence irksome .

Erly , adv. A .S . early.Erme , v. A .S . to grieve .

Ermeful, adj . A.S . p i t iful.Ermin, adj . Armenian.

GLOSSARY.

Fantom, n. A.N . a ph antom, falseimaginat ion.

Farce , v. A.N .farder, t o paint .Farde l , n. A .N . a burden.

Fare , v. A .S . t o b e , to go ; tofarew el, to Sp eed , to b e h appy ; p asttense ferd, ferde ; p art . p a. fare ,

fared.

Fare , n. ado. Th is hote fare , t h eseviolent proce edings. For w h ich

the w ardeinch idde andmadefare ,made much ado. In t h is sensei t seems to b e derived from t h e

A.N .faire . Inw elfare, thorough

fare , i t follow s t h e meaning of

t h e A.S . v.fare.

Farse , v. A.N . to stuff.

Faut e , n. A.N . w ant .Faw e , adj . A .S. g lad.

Fay,n. A.N . fait h .

Feblenes, n. A.N . feebleness.Fecch e , v. A.S . to fe tch .

Fee , n. A.S . money , rew ard ; landh eld infee simp le .

Feend , n. A .S . an enemy ; t h e

enemy , i .e . t h e devil ; a fiend.

Feendly, adj . fi end-like .

Fe fi e , v. A.N . t o enfeofl‘

, to grantpossessioninfee simp le .

Feyne , v. A.N . t o fe ign.

Fel, adj . A.S . fe ll , cruel.Felaw , n. A.S. fe llow , companion.

Felaw sch ipe , n. A.S. fellow sh ip ,

company.Fe lde , n. A.S . a fie ld.

Felden, p ast tense p l. offelle , v.A.Smade to fall , fe lled .

Fele , adj . A.S . many.Fe le , v. A .S . to fee l , to h ave sense ,to perce ive .

Fe ll , n. A.S . t h e Skinor h ide of ananimal .Fe lonie ,n. A.N . criminal violence .

F eloun, adj . A.N . crue l .Feminie , n. pr . t h e country of t h eAmazons.

Feminit e , n.A.N . w omanh ood.

Fend , n. A.S .— see feend .

Fendlich e , adj . A.S . fi endlike .

Fenne , n. t h e name of t h e sect ionsofAvicenne ’sgreat w ork, ent i t ledCanun.

Feofi‘

ed , part . pa. A N . enfeofled ,put inpossessioninfee simple .

Fer, adv. A.S . far.

Ferre , adv. comp . degree of last ,furt h er.

Ferrest , adv. sup erl. degree, furth est .

Ferd part . p a. offere , v. A.S. t erered ri fi ed .

Ferd past tense Offare , v. A .S .Ferden fared .

Fere , n. A.S . a companion, w ifeinfere , afere , toge t h er, in company.Fere , n. A.S. fi re .

Fere , v. neut . A.S. tofear.

Fere , v. ac. A.S . to t errify .Ferfort hFerfort h ly} adv. A.S. farfort h .

Ferly , adj . A.S . strange .

Fermacye , for ph armacy, n. Gr. amedicine .

Ferme , n. A.N . a farm.

Fermerere , n. A.N . t h e infi rmarius,or sup erint endent of t h e infi rmary in a re ligious h ouse .

Th isw ord w as erroneously int erpret ed inanot e t o Th e SompnoursTale to mean, t h e offi cer in a

religious h ouse w h o h ad ch arge

oft h e farms.

Ferne , adj . A.S . distant .Ferne , adv. A .S . before .

Fers, adj . A.N . fierce .

Fers, n. Persian, Ph erz , t h e queeninch ess.

Fert h ing,n. A .S. t h e fourt h part ofanyt h ing, h ence anyt h ing verysmall. N o ferthyng of grees, nodrop ofgrease .

Fert h ren, v. A .S . to furth er.

Fest , n. A.S. t h e fi st .Fest e ,n. A.N . afeast .

Fest eying , part . p r . A.N . feast ing.

Festly, adj . accustomed to feasts, ofpolish ed manners.

Fecch is, n. p l. A.S. ve tch es.Fe t e ,n. A.N . feat , performance .

Fetys, adj . A.N . w e ll-made , neat .Fe tysly, adv. A.N . neat ly.Fet past tense and part . of

Fe t t e fecch e , v. A.S . fetch ed.

Fey,n.A.N . faith .

GLOSSARY.

Feyne , v. A.N . to fe ign.

Feynt e , v. t o faint , become w eary .Feyne , v. for fyne , t o cease .

Fiaunce .n. A N . afli ance , t rust .Fil past t ense of falle , v. A .S .F ille f fell.F ingris, n. pl. fingers.Fit h ul, n. A.S . a fiddle .

Fix e , adj . A.N . fixed.

Flay , p ast tense of flee or fly ; flew .

Flayne , part . p a. of flaye , v. A.S.flayed .

Flaumb eFlawme }n. A.N . flame .

Flatour, n. A.N . a flat t erer.

Flaw s, adj . Lat .flavus, ye llow .

Fle , v. A .S . to flee , t o fly , past tense,flay, fle igh .

Flekked , adj . Spot t ed.

Fleen, n. p l. A .S . fleas.

Fleme , v. A.S. to banish .

F lemer,n. A.S. one w h o banish es.

Flese , n. A .S. a fleece .

Fle t e , v. A .S. to float , to sw im.

Th ird p ers. sing. p res. tense fle t ,or flet t e , float et h part . pres.

fle t ing, float ing.

F let past tense of flet e , v. float

F let t e ed.

Flikere , v. A .S . to flicker, to flut t er.

Flit}v.neut .A.S . to fly , to ch ange

Flit t e one ’

s residence .

Flit}v. ac. to cause to flit or

Fli t t e ch ange .

Flit tering , part . pres. A .S . float ing.

Flo, n. A .S . anarrow ; p l. flone .

Flokmel, adv. A .S. inflocks.

Floreyn, n.pr . asp eciesofgold coin.

Flot ery, adj . A.S . float ing.

Flot t e , v. A.N . to float .Flourelesse , adj . w ith out flow er.

Floure , v. A.N . to flourish .

Floure t t e , n. A.N . a small flow er.

Flow t e ,n. a flut e .

Flow t ing, par t .pres. p laying ont h eflute .

Floyt e , n. A.N . a flut e .

FOO, n. A.S . a foe .

Foomen, n. A .S . foes.

Foyne v. A.N . to make a pass infencing.

Foysoun,n.A.N. abundance .

Folid , part . pa. foaled.

Foleh ardiness, n. A.N . foolh ardiness.Fole-large , adj . A.N. foolish ly liberal .Folk , n. A.S . people ,nation.

Polye , n. A.N . folly.Folily , adv. foolish ly .Folw e , v. A.S . t o follow .

Foly, adj . foolish .

Folys, pl. offole , n. A.S . fools.Fon, n. A.S . a fool.Fond , past tense of fi nde, v. A.S .found.

Fonde , v. A.S. to try.

Fonding, n. A.s.

~a joke .

Fone , n. p l. foes.

Fong, v. A.S. t o t ake .

Fonne , v. A .S . to b e foolish ;fonned , part .pa. foolish .

For, prep . A .S. is somet imes prefix ed to t h e infi n. mood , as inFr. pour dire, for to t ellen; somet imes to t h e present part icip le ,t h us— For stealing of th e rose, inw h ich case it means to preventt h e rose frombe ing stolen. It is

some t imes pre fi x ed to a past

part icip le or adject ive ; as fordw ined, inconsequence of beingdw ined for blah , for drye , inconsequence ofbe ing black ,ordry.

For, conj . because , as, For kymlusteto ride so, because i t p leased h imto ride SO.

For, incomposit ionh as somet imesanint ensit ive , some t imes anegat ive , force , like t h e Germanver ,asforlorn, Germ. verloren, ut t erlylost : forbid , to b id a p ersonnotto do a t h ing.

Forb ere , v. A .S. to forbear.

Forboden, part . pa. of forb ede , v.

A .S. forbidden.

Forbrused , part . pa. sorely bruised.

Forby , adv. A.S . by , beside , past , leetforby hempace, le t t h em pass by.Forby , prep . A.S. besides

224 GLOSSARY.

Fordo, v. A .S. to do aw ay , ruin.

Fordo part . p a. of fordo, nuFordon done.Fordryve , part . pa. of fordryve

drivenaw ay.Fore , part . pa. offare , v. A.S. gone .Forcin, n. a jakes. InThe Leg. ofGeode Woment h e cont ex t seemst o require t h at i t sh ould signify acourt or garden.

Forew e t ing,n. A.S. foreknow ledge .

£33322} v. A.S . t o foreknow .

Forfait e , v. A.N . tomisdo.

Forfare , v. A.S . to fare i ll.Forgon, v. A. S . to forego.

Forgrow en, p art . p a. A .S . over

grown.

Forgyfe , v. A .S . to forgive .

Forgyft , n. A.S . forgiveness.Forjuged, part . pa.A.N . w rongftjudged.

Forkerve , v. A .S . to cut t h rough .

Forleft , part . pa. left off.Forlese , v.A.S . t o lose ut t erly.Forle t e , v. A.S . to g ive over, quit .Forleygne , n. A.N . a point of t h e

ch ase , Signifying th at t h e gameh as got too faroffto follow . Th ist erm h as been erroneously saidinanot e ont h e passage w h ere itoccurs, to b e derived from t h e

A.S. forlorne , lost , w h ereas it isfrom t h e A.N .Forlonge , orforloin.

Forlore part . p a. A.S . ut t erlyForloren lost , undone .

Forme , adj . A.S . first , t h e disusedposit ive degree of former, foremost . Adamoureformefader, ourfirst or forefath er.

Formest , adj . sup erlai . degree of

forme ; foremost , first .Formel , adj . A.N . t h e female of

birds ofprey .Fornays, n.A.N . a furnace .

Forpyned , part . pa. A .S. p ined,w ast ed aw ay.

Forseke , v. A .S . to deny.Forsh apyn, part . pa. of forsh ape

v. A.S. t ransformed.

Forsh ronke , part . pa. offorsh rinke ,v. A.S . Sh runk up .

v. A .S . to lose th roughsloth

Forsleuth e

Forslout h e

Forslugge

Forsongen, part . pa.A.S. t ired w ithSinging.

giggle } n. A.N . a forest er.

Forstraugh t ,part .p a. offorstrecch e ,

v. A.S . dist ract ed.

Fort h by, adv. A.S. forw ard by.Forth ere , v. A.S . to furth er ; forthrit h , th ird pers. sing . pres. tense.

Fort h erygh t ,adv.A.S. immediat ely,fort h w it h .

orth enke v. A.S. t o grieve , toorth inke vex .

Forth ough t , past tense Of forth enke .Fort h y , conj . A.S . t h erefore .

Fortroden, part . pa. of fortrede, v.

A.S . t roddendown.

Fortuit , adj . A.N . fortuitous, accidental .Fortune , v. A.N . to make fortu

nat e , to give good or bad fortune .

Fortunous, adj . proceeding fromfortune .Forw aked , part . pa. of forw ake ,v. A.S . w eary w ith w atch ing.

Forw andred , part . p a. w eary w ithw andering.

Forw elked , part . pa. of forw elke ,

v. A .S . much w rinkled .

Forw ept , part . pa. of forw epe , v

A.S . h aving w ept much .

Forw ered, part . pa. of forw ere , v

A.S. w ornout .

Forw ery , adj . A .S. very w eary.Forw ard, n. A.S. a promise or

covenant .Forw oundi d,part . pa. Offorw ounde ,v. A.S. severe ly w ounded.

Forw rapped , part . pa. offorw rappe,v. A.S. w rapp ed up .

Foryelde , v. A.S. to repay.Forye t e , v. A.S . to forge t .

gggzgzn} part . pa. forgot t en.

Fostred , part . pa. of fosters, v.

A.S . nourish ed.

Fostryng,n.nourishment .Fote-h ote adv. immediately,w ithFoot-h oote } out delay.

226 GLOSSARY.

Gane , v. A.S. to ya’

wn. Geomancy , n. A.N . divinat ionbyGar, v. A.S . to cause ; past tense figuresmade ont h e earth .

gert , or gret . Gepoun,n. A.N . a sh ort cassock.Gardebrace , n. A.N . armour for Gere , n. A.S . all sort s of instrut h e arm. ments, w h et h er of cookery , w ar,

Gargat e , n. A.N . t h e gorget , th e appare l , or ch emistry. Inh eret h roat . queynt e yeres, in t h eir quaint

Garisoun, v. A.N . to h eal .Garnement ,n. A.N . a garment .Garner,n. A.N . a granary or store adj . A .S . ch angeable ,room. capricious.

GarnysounGarnisoun

n. A.N . a garrison.

Gastness, n. A.N . gh ast liness.Gat e , past tense of get e , v. A.S.got , begot .

Gat e , n. A .S . a street , or w ay ;algates, alw ays.

Gat -toth ud , adj . A .S . w ith t h e

low er t ee t h project ing beyondt h e upper, l ike t h ose of a goat ,

underjaw ed.

Gat t , past tense of get e , v. A.S. toge t .

Gaude , n. A.N . a j est , a ridiculoust rick ; a paint ed or ename lledornament .

Gaudid , part . pa. enamelled.

Gaule , v. A.S . same as gale .

Gaure , gauren, v. A.S . to stare .

Gaw ain,n. pr . t h e neph ew ofKingArth ur, by h is sist ermarried toK ing Lot .

Gaylard,adj . A.N . brisk , gay.

GaylerGaylere }n.A .N . a gaoler.Geaunt ,n. A.N . a giant .Gears,n. A.S . same as gere .

n. pr . one Of Ch arlemagne

’s ofli cers, w h o

be trayed t h e Ch rist ian army to t h e

Moors at Roncesvalles.

Gende , adj . for gent .Gent , adj . A.N .neat , pret t y.Gent erye ,n. A.N . gent ility .Gent il , adj . A.N . primarily , bornof noble blood ; secondarily,l iberal, gent lemanlike .

Gent ilnes n. A.N . th e be ingGent i llesse gent il .

Gerlonde , n. A.N . a garland ; t h ename ofa dog.

Gesse , v. A.S. to guess.Gest , n. A.S . a guest .Gest e , v. A.N . to relat e h istory .Gestes, n. p l. A.N . h istorical incidents.

Gestour , n.A.N . a re lat er Ofgest es.

Ge t . n. A.N . fash ion, beh aviour.

Wi th that false get , w i th t h at

ch eat ing cont rivance .

Get h s, for goet h .

Gilb ertin, n. pr. anEnglish ph ysicianof t h e t h irteent h century .See FABRICIUS, Bibl. Med. Altaiinvoc. Gilb ertus de Aqui la.

Gile , n. A.N . guile .

Gilt ,n. A .S . guilt .Gilt eles, adj . A .S . gui lt less.Gilt if, adj . A.S. guilty .Gin, n. A.N . engine , contrivance .

Gipser,n. A.N . a pouch , or purse.

Gir,n. A.S . same as gsre .

G irde , v. A .S. t o smit e .

Girdilst ede , n. A.S . th e place of

t h e girdle , t h e w aist .Girt , part . p a. of gird, v. A .S .smit t en. Thurgh girt , smit t ent h rough .

n. A.N . Lat . cithara; a

guitar.

Glade , v. A .S . tomake glad.

Glader, n. A.S . one w h o makesglad.

Gladsom, adj . A.S. p leasant .Glaze , for glose .

Glasynge ,n.A.S . glass-w ork ; part .pa. yglasyd, glazed, filled w ithglass.

GLOSSARY.

di e n. A.S.mirth , music,musicalGlee instruments.Glede n. A.S. a burning coal , orGleeds brand ; sparks.

G lent s, p ast tense , glanced .

Gleve , n. A.N . a sw ord.

Gleyre , n. A.N . t h e w h ite ofanegg.

Glimsing, n. A.S . glimmering.

Glit eren, p res. tense p l. of glit ere ,v. A.S . glit t er.

Glode , past tense of glide , v. A.S .glided .

Gloss, n. A.N . a gloss, or comment .Gloss, v. A.N . to comment , int erpre t ; to flat t er.

Glotoun, n. A.N . a glut ton.

Glow sden, p ast tense p l. Of glow s,v. A .S . glow ed .

Glowmb e , v. A.S . t o look gloomy,or gluln.

Gnarrs,n. A S. a h ard knot ina

tree .

Gnof, n. A.S . anold cuff, amiser.

Gnow e , past tense ofgnaw e , v. A.S .gnaw ed.

ggo} pm‘t . pa. ofgo, v. A .S . gone .

Gobe t ,n. A.N . a gobbet , morsel .GOde

nA s lth dGoods} . . w ea goo s.

Goodles, adj . w ith out goods.

Goodlyh ede n. A .S . w ort h , good

Goodlih eed ness.A.S. advantage ;

322322288 as, at goodnesss, atanadvantage .

Godsib , n. A.S. one re lat ed inGod , a sponsor, or god-parent .

Gofi ssh e . adj . A.N . foolish .

Gold-bet en, adj . A.S. ornament edw ith gold.

Goldsmit h ry , n. A.S. goldsmith ’

s

w ork.Golet ,n. A.N . t h e t h roat or gullet .Golyardeys,n. A.N . a bufl

‘

oon.

Gomme , n. A.N . gum.

v.A.S . togo, tow alk. SOmoteI gon, SO may I fare w e ll.Somote I ride or gon, somay I fare w e l l riding or

going. Th ey ganto goon,Th ey beganto w alk.

15— 2

[0

Gon, pres. tense p l. Oflast .Gon, part . pa. Ofgonor goon.

n. A N . a banner,or st andard ;met aph orically, an h o

nourable p erson.Gongs, n. A.S. a jakes.Gonne , n. a gun.

Gounen past tense p l. Of ginne , v.

Gonne A.S . begun.

Gore , n. a t riangular p iece of cloth ,

also called a gusse t , let into a

garment , generally a Sh irt ; h encea sh irt itse lf.Gose , for goes..

Gosp elers, n. A.S . anevangelist .Gossomsr,n. gossamer.

Gost n. A.S. sp irit or gh ost ;Gost e mind.

Got h , imp erai .moo d, second p ers. p l.

ofgo ; go ye .

Governayle , n. A.N . government ,st eerage .

Gourd ,n. avessel forcarrying liquorin, p erh aps made of a h ollowgourd .

Gowns-cloth , n. clot h sufficient tomake a gown.

Gracch e , v. probably a mist ake forgrait h s, or greyt h e , w h ich see .

Grace , n. A.N . favour ; sory grace,harde grace , i ll favour. Withharde grace ! may ill favour at

t end h im1 Save your grace , w ithyour favour.

Gracious, adj .A.N . agreeable , graceful.

Grayth s

Greyt h s

Grams,n. A.S . grief, anger.Grammers,n. A.N . grammar.

Grane ,n. A.N . a grain.

Grapenel, n. A.N . a grapne l.Graunge , n. A.N . p roperly a

barn, generally ap plied t o anout lying farm be longing to anabbey .Graunt mercy, A.N . great th anks.Grave , v. A.S . prop erly, to dig ; toengrave , carve .

Grave , part . pa. of grave , v. A.S.buried.

v. A.S . to prepare , cloth e .

228

n. A.N . from Lat . grat ia ,

favour, p leasure , sat isfact ion. To receive ingre, totake kindly. Th e gree, t h e

prize .

Gre , n. from Lat . gradus, a st ep ,

or degree .

Grede , n. A.S ., greediness, a greedyp erson.

Grede , v. barbarous Lat . to cry.

Grefh ed , n. A.S . ch ildishness.

Grees, n. A.N . grease .

Gret e , same as grede , to cry. Also,t o gree t , to salut e .

Gret t e , past tense ofgre te , v. A.S .gree t ed , salut ed.

Greves, n. A.S . groves.Greynde Parys, n. A.N . grains of

paradise , a sp ice . Greynde Portugale , a kind ofvermiliondye .

Grille , adj . h orrible .

Grint , th ird p ers. sin. pres. tense ofgrinde , v. A.S . grinde t h .

Grint e , past tense ofgrinde , v. A.Sground.

Grint ing, n. grinding , gnash ing.

Gris n. A.N . t h e fur of t h e greyGrys squirre l . Also, sw ine .

Grisly , adj . A.S. t h at w h ich causes

one to agrise or sh udder ; h orrible .

Groffe , v. A .S . to grove l.Groine , n. A.S . t h e snout of a h og ,a h anging lip .

Grone .v. A.S. to groanor grunt .Gront , past tense oflast .Grot ,n. a groat , a coin.

Grounden,part .pa. ofgrinde , v.A.S .Groyne , v. A.S. t o h ang t h e lip indiscont ent .

Groyning, n. A.S. pout ing, discont ent .

Gruf, adv. A.S . flat ont h e face .

Grunt , past tense ofgrinde , v. A.S .Grunt ing , n. A.S . grinding .

Grynt , th ird p ers. sing. pres. tense ofgrynde , or grinde , v. A.S.

Guerdoun,n. A.N . rew ard.

Guerdoune , v. A.N . to rew ard.

Guerdonlesse ,adj . w it h out a rew ard.

Gui do de Columpnis, or dalleColonne , a law yer and poet of

Messina, in Sicily, died about Halden

GLOSSARY.

Habitacles, n. p l. A.N . p laces of

h abitat ion.

Habit e , v. A.N . to dw e ll .Habundaunt , adj . A.N . abundant .Haburgeon, n. A.N . diminut ive of

h auberk , a coat -of-mai l.Hadden, past tense p l. of h ave , v.

Haf, past tense of h eve ; v. A.S .h eaved.

Hay, n. A.N . a h edge .

Hail , n. A .S . h ealth , w e lfare .

Haire ,n. A.N . a h air-sh irt .Hakeney, n. A.N . a h ackney , or

h ack.Hake toun,n. A.N. a sh ort cassockw it h out sleeves.

Hald part . pa. of h old, v. A.S .h olden.

1290. His Lat inHistory of th eTrojanWar is probably t h e original from w h ich t h e lat er Me

di seval w riters h ave taken th eiraccountsofTrojanaffairs.

Gulde ,n. p r . amarygold.

Gult .n. A.S . guilt .

Gult if, adj . A.S . gui lty.Gurles, n. A.S. young p ersons of

e it h er sex .

33:e v. A.N . toguide .

Gygges, n. pl. A.S. irregularsounds produced by th e w ind.

Gigue , Fr. signified a musicalinstrument , and from t h ence a

sort of ligh t tune ; but it is

probably a w ord of Teutonicorigin.

Gylour, n. A.N . a beguiler.

Gyngevre ,n. A.N . ginger.

Gyune , n. A.N . a cunning device ,or t rap .

Gynnen, same as beginnenor b e

ginne .Gyp e , n. A.N. an upp er frock orcassock.

Gysarme, n. A.H. a bat t le -ax e .

Gyt ernyng , par t . p res. of gyt erne ,v. A.N . p laying t h e guitar .

230 GLOSSARY.

Henchmen, n. pl. pages.

adj . A.S . civil, court eousH endyH enen,n. A .S . h ens.HenenHenne A .S. h ence . HermesHermes efort h .

H ensHeng, past tense and part . ofh ange ,v. A .S . h ung.

Hent e , v. A .S . to t ake h old of, to

cat ch : h ent , th ird p ers. sing. pres.

t ense for h ent e th ; h ent ,past tenseand part .

Hep e , n. A . S. a h eap .

Hepe , n. A.S . t h e h ip , or fruit oft h e dog

-rose .

H er, adv. A .S . h ere .

Herber, v. A.N . a garden.

£33121}n. A.H. a h erald.

Herbergage ,n. A.N . lodging.

Herb erjoursm. p l.A.N . providersoflodging, h arbingers.

Herb erw e ,n. A.S . aninn, a lodging,

a h arbour.

Hercos, put for Eros, n. Gr. love .

h erd , keeper of

or sh eph erd ;

a pastor, or

Herde-gromes,n. p l. A.S . sh eph erdboys.

Here , for h ire , p ron. t h e ir.

H ere v.A.S . to h ear. H erd , h erde ,Heere past tense and part . Her

H iere den, past tense p l.1

5233}n. A.S . h air.Here , incomposit ion, signifies th is;as h ere agayn, against t h is.

H eren, adj .made ofh air.

Herie , v. A .S . to praise , w orsh ip .

Heris, p ron. A.S. t h eirs.

Herking , part . p res. of h erke , v.

A .S . h earkening.

Hern,n. A .S. a corner.Heronere , n. A.N. a h aw k fi t to flyat a h eron.

Heronsew es, n. pl. young h e

t ons.

£2129

}n. A.S . th e h eart .Hert , n. A .S. a h art or stag.

Herte-spon, n. t h e h ollow placeWh ere t h e ribs join t h e breastbone , st ill called by t h e Irishp easantry t h e spoonoft h e breast .

Hert eles, adj . w ith out courage .

Hertly, adj . A.S . h earty.Herye , v. same as h erie .

Herying, part icip ialnoun, praising.

H est e ,n.A.S . command , promise .

He t e , v. A.S . to promise .

Het e v. A.S. same as h at e , t o b e

called.

He th enesse , n. A .S . from t h e Gr.,

t h e country inh abit ed by h eat h ens.

He th yng ,n. A.S. cont empt .B et t e , past t ense ofh e t e , h eat ed .

Heve , v. ac. A.S . to h eave , raise .

Heve , v.n. A.S . to labour.

Heved ,n. A.S . h ead.

n. A.S. h eaven. Hevenguene, t h e queen of

h eaven, t h e blessedVirgin.

He w e ,n. A .S . a servant .Hew e , v. A.S. t o h ew .

Hew e , n. A .S . h ue , colour. Hew is

p l. colours.

Hew ed , part . adj . h ued , coloured .

Hex t , adj . superl. A.S . h igh est .Th e degrees of comparison arc

h e igh , h eigh er, h ex t , as inneigh-neigh er , nex t .Heygh , adj . A.S. h igh .

Heysugge , n. A.S . t h e h edge-sparrow .

Heye ,n. A.S. h ast e, diligence .H idons, adj . A.N . h ideous.

Hidously, adj . A.N . h ideously.H iere , v. A.S . to h ear.

B igben, onbigb en, onh igh .

H igh t , n. A .S . h e igh t .H igh t e , past tense of h etan, v.A. St o b e called .

H im, p ron. acc. case of h e . It is

oft enused ina reflect ive sense forh imself; as, thanhath h e donh isfrend, ne h im, no shame , i . e . norh imself. It also occurs as t h e

GLOSSARY.

dat ive case w ith out apreposit ion;as, she falleth h im to fete , like

sw ore h im, elle lui j ura.

B iene , n. a h yena.

Hir, possessive pron. A .S. from hy,t h ey t h eir. Pl. and inflectedcases, h ire .

H ire , p ers. p ron. dat . case of A.S.heo, sh e , to h er.

Hire , possessive pron. fromheo, sh e ,A.S. h er.

H ire, poss. p ron. t h eirs.

H ise , p l. ofh is.

Historial , adj . A.N . h istorical .H it

A S tHyt

pr. 1

Ho,relat . pron. w h o.

Ho ! interj ec. commanding a cessa

t ionofanyth ing.

Hoch epot ,n. a mix ture of varioust h ings sh aken togeth er in t h e

same pot . It is now used as a

law t erm.

Hoker, n. A.S. frow ardness.Hokerly, adv. frow ardly .Holde ,n. A .S. a fort , or cast le .

Holde , h olden, part . pa. of h olde ,v. A.S. obliged .

Hole , h ol, adj . A .S . w h ole, entire .

HollyHoly } adv. A.S. w h olly.Holour, n. A.S. a w h oremonger.

Holt , thir d p ers. sing. pres. tense of

h olde , h olde th .

Holte , n. A.S . a grove , or forest .Homly, adj . A .S . domest ic, h omely.Homlynesse , n. A .S . domest ic management , familiarity.

Honde , n. A.S. h and p l. h onden.

Honde -brede , n. A.S. a h andbreadt h .

Honest , adj . A.N . means generally ,according to t h e French usage ,

creditable , h onourable , civi l , b ecoming a personofrank

Honest e n.A.N . virtue , decency,Honestet e good manners.

Honey-sw et e , adj . assw ee t as h oney .Hoppest eres, n. p l. female dancers.

Hord n. A.S . treasure , a p lace forHorde} keep ing treasure.

231

adj. A.S . h oary, grey.Borow e , adj . A.S. foul.Horriblet e , n. A.N . h orribleness.

Hors, n. a h orse p l. h ors, h orses.

Horse , adj . A.S . h oarse .

Horsly, adj . possessing t h ose qualit ies w h ich a h orse ough t to pos

sess. It is app lied to a h orse , as

manly is to aman.

Hosp italers, n. p l. Knigh ts of St .

JohnofJerusalem.

Hoste l , n. A.N . anh ote l , inn, or

dw elling-p lace .

Host elrie n. A.N . anh ot el , or inn.

Host ilement es;n. p l. h ouseh old furniture .

Hostyler, n. A.N . innkeeper.

Hote , adj . and adv. A.S. h ot ,h ot ly .

Hot e , h ot en, pct/rt . pa. of h at en, v.

A.S . called .

Hove , v. A.S . to h over.Hound-fi sch , n. A.S . t h e dog-fi sh .

Houped , past tense ofh oupe , v. A.S.w h oop ed.

Housel , n. A.S. t h e euch arist .Housele , v. A .S . to administ er t h e

sacrament of t h e euch arist ; tocommunicat e . To ben houseled ,t o b e communicat ed.

How ve ,n. A .S. a cap , or a h ood.

Hulfere , n. A.S . h olly .Hulstred , part . pa. of h ulst eren, v.

A.S . h idden.

Humb leh ede ,n.A.S . h umble estat e .

Humblesse ,n. A.N . h umility.Humblynge , n. A.S . a h umming.

Hence our h umble-b ee .

Hunt e ,n. A .S. a h untsman, h unt er.

Hure ,n. A.S . h ire , w ages.Hurt le , v. A.N . to push .

Hust , adj . A.S . h ush ed, silent .Wh ist is used by Sh akspeare int h is sense . Th e w ild w aves

w h ist .’Buyre , v. A.S. to h ire , to bribe.Hye , n. A .S. h ast e , d iligence .Hye , v. A.S . to h asten.

Hyerdesse ,n. A.S . a female h erd,orsh eph erdess.

Hylde , v.A.S . to pour.

232

Hylled, part . pa. of h e le , v. A.S .covered .

Hynderest , adj . superl. degree , h indmost . Pos. h ynd , compar. h ynder.

Hyw e ,n. A.S. hue .

I , a prefix used indi fi‘

erently w ithy. I generally denot es t h e pastpart icip le , and is equivalent to

t h e A.S . and modernGermange.Ich

Ich e So the ich , so

Ikcont ract ed, so

Yko t h eek .

Idel , adj . A.S . idle . Inidel, invain.Idolastre ,n. A.N . anidolater.1k , pron. A.S. I, same as w k.{Y

l

fe }n. A.S . anisle .

I lke , adj ., A.S . same .

Imaginatyf, adj . AN. suspicious.

Impe ,n. A.S. a scion.

Impe tren, v. A.N . to obtain byprayer.

Importable , adj . A.N . intolerable ,impossible .

Importune , adj . A.N . importunat e.Impossible , n. A.N impossibility.In, p rep . upon. Inw i th , With in.

Inconstance , n. A.N . inconstancy.Incubus,n. Lat . t h e fairy supposedto produce t h e nigh t mare .

Inde , adj . A.N . azure .

Indigne , adj . A.N . unw orth y.Inequal , adj .A.N . unequal .Infortunat , adj . A.N . unfortunate .

Ingot , n. amould for cast ing ingot s.Inh abit , part . pa. of inh ab it e , v.

A.N . inh abit ed .

lnh e lde , v. A.S. to pour. See Hylde .

Injure , n.A.N . injury.Inly , adv. A.S ., inw ardly , deep ly ,t h orough ly.Inne , adv. A.S . in.

In n. A.S . a h ouse , h abitat ion,Inne lodging.

InnedYnned part . pa. lodged.

Iumerest e , adj . sup . A.S . inmost .Innocent , adj . A.N. ignorant .

GLOSSARY.

Insele ,n. A.N . to at t est by seal.Inse t t e , v. A.S . to implant .Inw i t t e ,n. A .S . understanding.

Inw ith , prep . A.S . w it h in.

n. pr. w ine mix ed w i thsp ices and ot h er in

gredient s ; so called b ecause strained t h rougha w oollenclot h , calledthe sleeve of Hippo

Irish s, adj.A.N . passionate , givent o ire .

Irous, adj .A.N . passionate.Isault

Isaw de n. pr. different formsofth eIsot ta name of t h e mistress ofIsoude Tristram, t h e ce lebrat edIsulte h ero ofRomance.Yseut

Itaille ,n. pr. Italy.

J akke Straw . Walsingh am t hus

describes t h e noise made by t h ispopular leader and h is follow ers :

-‘ Clamor h orrendissimus, nonsimilis clamoribus quos edere so

lent h omines, sed qui ultra cmnem sest imat ionem superare t cmnes clamores humanos, e t max imeposset assimilari ululat ibus infernalium incolarum.

’ Many Flemings (Flandrenses)w ere beh eadedby t h ese insurgents, cum clamore

J amb eux ,n. p l.A.N . armourfor t h elegs.Jane ,n. a coinofGenoa, t h e ancientJ anua.

J angle , v.A.N . to prat e , babble.J anglerJ anglourJ angleresse , n. A.N . female prat er.J anglerye , n. A.N . idle t alk.J ape ,n. A.S. a trick or jest .J ape , v. A.S . to ch eat , trick , laughat .

J aper, n. A.S. a commonjest er or

bufl'

oon.

J aperie ,n. bufi‘

oonery.

}n. a prat er.

34 GLOSSARY.

v. A.S . to reveal , makeKi th e know n. Part .p a.kit h ed,h yth c’ kyt h ed. k idde , or kydde .

£3129 part . pa. ofkut t e , v. A S

Ki tt en cut

K nakke ,n. A.S . a t rifling trick.Knarry, adj . A.S. full ofgnarres or

knots.

Knave , n. A.S ., a b oy ; a servant ,

a rogue .

Kned.p art . pa. of knede , v. A .S .kneaded.

K nene} n. p l. A .S. knees.

KneenKue i t e , part .pmofknit t e , v. A.S .

n h mist

z:235:k nygh t

gh t

K nigh t h ode ,n. A.S . valour.

Knit , pa/rt . pa. of kni t te , v. A.S .joined , bound , agreed.

Knobbe , n. A.S. anexcrescence int h e sh ape ofa bud or but ton.

Knopp e , p l. knopp is, n. A.S . a bud,or but ton.

Huot t e , n. A .S . a knot .K not t eles, adj . A.S. With out a knot .Know e , n. pl. A .S . knees.

K now lech e , v. A.S . t o acknow ledge .

K now lech ing, n. A.S . know ledge .

Koude , same. as coude .

K outh e , same ascout h e .

K unnynge ,n. A.S . cunning.

Kyke , v. A .S . to look st eadfast ly .K ynrede, n. A.S. k indred.

Laas,n. A.N . a lace , a snare .

Labbe , n. a blab , a great talker.

Labb ing , pa/rt . p res. blabbing.

Lacch e , n. A.N . a snare .

Laced , part .pa.A.N . snared , bound .

Lacert , n. A.N . a flesh y muscle , socalled from be ing sh aped like a

lizard .

Lach e , adj .A.N . sluggish ,negligent .Lach esse , n. A.N . slackness, negligence .

Lad past tense and p art . of lede ,Ladde v. A.S . led, carried.

Laft past tense and part . ofleve ,vLaft e A.S. left .Lake , n. a sort ofcloth .

Lakke , n. A.S . lack , w ant , a fault .Lakke , v.A .S . to fi ndfault , to blame.

11231226

21

}n. p l. A .S. lambs.

Languyssh e , v. A.N . t o languish .

Lappe ,n. A.S . t h e skirt or lappetofa garment .Large , adj . A.N . spacious, free , prodigal . Tilthat it w asprime large ,t ill t h e h ourofprime w asfar spent .Largely , adv. fully.asse adj . and adv.

Las less.

Latrede , part . pa. of lat ere v. A.S.delayed .

Lat h e , n. A.S . a barn.

Latoun,n. A.N . a kind ofbrass.Laude , n.A.N . praise .

Laudes, n. Lat . t h e service p er

formed inre ligious h ouses int h efourt h or last w at ch oft h e nigh t .Dicuntur aut em laudes, quodillud offi cium laudem precipuesonst divinam.

’— DU CANGE , inv.

Laved , part . pa. A.N . drawn, as

w at er out ofa w ell.Lavender,n. A.N . a courtesan.

Laverokke , n. A .S . a lark.Launcegay, n. A.N . ak ind oflance .

Launcelot du Lake ,n. pr. one oft h eKnigh ts of t h e Round Table ,w h ose adventuresw ere t h e subj ectofa romance , begunby Ch rest iende Troyes, and finish ed by Godefrois de Le igui . H is intrigue w i thGuenever, w ife of King Art h ur,is alluded to by Dant e , Inferno,v. ;

and by Petrarch , Theonfo d'Amore,

lll.

Launde , n. A.N . a lawn, a p lainnotp lough ed or plant ed .

Lavours, n. A.N . lavers, w at eringbasins.Laureat , adj . Lat . crowned w it hlaure l .Laureole , n. A.N . spurge-laure l.aurer

}n. A.N . a laure l.aureyaw e , adj . for low e.

GLOSSARY.

Laxat if, n. A.N . a purging mediczne .

Lay,n. A.N . law , reli gion.

Laye , adj . fallow , unsown; h ence ,lea.

Layen, past tense p l. ofligge , v.A .S .Laynere ,n. A.N . a lanner, or w h i plash .

Layt , n.A.S . ligh tning.

Lazer, n. A.N . a lep er.Lech e , n. A.S . a ph ysician.

Lech e , v. A.S . to cure .

Lech e-craft , n. t h e skill of a ph ysician.

Lech erous, acy. provoking lech ery.Lech our,n. a lech er.

Lectornc, n. Lat . a reading-desk .Leden,n. A.S. properly Latin, h enceany fore ignlanguage .

Leede}n. A.S. peop le ; serfs, or

Ledes vassals.

Ledge , v. A.N . t o allege .

Lees,n. A.N . a leash by w hi ch dogsare h eld .

Lees,n. p l. A .S . lies. Withoutenlees,t ruly .

adj . A.S. pleasing, agreeable .

Al be h im lothe or lefe,w h et h er i t b e p leasing or

disp leasing to h im. It

somet imes signifies p leased , as I nam not lefe toyabbe, I do not Wish to

prat e .

Lefe , n. A .S . a fri end or lover.

Leful, adj . law ful.Legge , v. A .S. to lay.

Leggen, v. A.N . to ease , to alleviat e .

Le it h , th ird p ers. sing. of legge orleye , v. A.S . layet h .

Le it e , n. A.S . ligh t . Wonder-lede,ligh tning.

Leke ,n. A.S . a le ek ; used as anexamp le ofsome t h ing ofvery lit t levalue .

Lemes,n. pl. A.S . flames.

Lemman, n. A .S . a lover or gallant ,a mistress.

Lendes, n. p l. A .S . th e loins.Lene , adj . A.S . lean.

Lene . v. A S . to lend , to give , togrant . God lene,God grant .

A.S . p leasure.

235

Lenger. adj . and adv. comp . degree.

A.S . longer. Ever lenger themore,ever ont h e increase .

Lent e , part . pa. oflene , v.A.S.Lenton,n. A.S. t h e seasonof Lent .L ’ envoy , n. A.N . lit erally , t h at

w h ich is sent ; a poem, w h et h er

inth e form of a dedicat ionsub

joined t o a longer poem, or of a

separat e p iece , addressed to somepart icularpersonorpe rsons. Th us

t h e six last stanzasofThe Clerke ’sTale are ent it led, insome MSSL

'

envoy de Chaucer a les Marie de

notre temps; but L ’envoy de Chau

cer aSoogan, is a separat e poem.

Leonine , adj ging toalion.

giggitt

} n. A.N . a leopard.

Leos, n. Gr. p eople .

Lepande , part . p r. of lepe v. A.S.leap ing.

Lep e , v. A .S . to leap .

Lep e th ird pers. sing. pres. tense ofLep lep e .

LepeLeepLere v. A.S. to learn, to t each ,Lerne par t . pa . lered, learned.

Lere ,n. A .S. t h e skin.

Lese ,n. A.N . leash ; same as lees.Inlusty lese , is love ’s snare .

Lese , v. A.S . to lose . Imp . lese th ,lose ye .

Lesing n. A.S. a lie ; pl. lesynges,Lesyng lyings.LestLustLyst

} past tense oflepe .

v. imp ersonal, A .S . it

p leases. Me listnot p leye ,i t does not p lease me to

p lay ; ifpow leste , if i t

p lease you. Past tense,lust e Himluste ryde soo,i t pleased h im to rideso ; w et to drynke us

luste, it p leased us w e llto drink .

Lest e , adj . sup erl. degree , A.S . least .At th e leste w ay, at leastw ise : atth e lest e, at least .

236 GLOSSARY.

Leste , for last .A.S. to leave , to omit ;to p ermit ; to cause , as

Lete make, cause to be

made .

Le t t e , v. A.S. to let or h inder.Le t -game ,n. A.S. spoil-sport .Let t e , n. A .S. let or h indrance .

£22223}n. A.N . lit erature .

Le t tred , adj . A.N . learned.

Letuarie , n. A.N . ane lectuary.Leve , n. A.S . desire .

Leve , adj . A.S. dear. Same as lefe .Leve , v. A.S . to beli eve. Imp erat .p l. leve t h .

Leve , occurs inTroylusand Crgseyde,book ii. int h e expression, God leveat be w ele ! and againinbook i ii .God leve hymw erk ; inbot h t h esecases i t ough t t o b e lene ; Godgrant t h at all b e w e ll ; God granth im to w ork.

Levelesse , adj. w i th out leave.Levene , n. A.S. ligh tning.

Lever, adj . and adv. compar . degree ,more agreeable . It w ereme lever ,i t w ould b e more agreeable t omeI hadde lever , I h ad rath er. Here

kadde lever, it w ould h ave beenmore agreeable to h er.

Levere ,n. A.N . a l ivery , a rat ion.

Levese l ,n. Th e meaning is doubt

lorum it is exp lained ,

‘ Levesel ,before a w yndow e or oth erp laceumbraculum.

’ Mr.Halliw e ll quot est h e follow ing passage , in w h ichi t occurs, from aMS in t h e Lib.of t h e 800. of Ant iq. 134, f.

253

Alle h is devocionand h olinesseAt taverne is, as for t h e most edelle ,

To Bacchus signe , and to t h e

leveselle .

’

Its occurrence so often in connex ionw ith taverns induced Tyrw h it t t o suppose t h at it w as t h e

bush , w h ich is st ill used abroad ast h e sign of a cabaret ; but inCh aucer t h e student ’s h orse is

n. A.N . loyalty.

p res. tensep l. ofligge , v.A.S.

t ied up under the levesel at th e

mill . Fromi tsbeing int erpret ed int h e Promp t . Parv. Umbramd wm,

’

and described as a t h ing usuallyp laced before a w indow , from i ts

be ing a usual app endage of a t avern, and from t h e h orse beingt ied under it inThe Reeve’s Tale ,it w ould appear to b e t h e generalname for a verandah or sh ed

made ofbough s, w h et h er to keept h e sun off a w indow , to drinkunder, or as a sh elt er for farmingimp lement s and h orses.

Lew de adj . A.S. ignorant , nuew ed learned ; lew d.

Leut eLeyes, n. pr. Layas inArmenia.

Leye}v. A.S. same as legge ;part.

Leyne pa. leyde , laid.Leysir,n. A.N . leisure.Leyt e , n. A.S. flame .

Liard adj . A .S. grey ; a name forLyard a grey h orse .

Licenciat , n. Lat . one licensed to

administ er t h e sacrament of p e

nance particularly app lied to

such of t h e medicant orders as

w ere relieved by a licence fromt h e Pope from t h e jurisdict ionof

t h e ordinary.Licourous, adj. lech erous.L ich eLych e } adj . A.S . li ke .

Lich e-w ake . n. A.S . t h e w atch or

w ake formerly h e ld over t h e bo

dies oft h e dead .

Liege , n. A.N. a subject ; p l.

liegesLienLyen

E7

6

31 part . pa. ofligge .

Liflode , n. A.S. live lih ood, living,

ex ist ence .

Lift , n. A.S . t h at w h ich is onh igh ,

t h e h eavens ; h ence t h e verb tolift , to raise onh igh .

Ligeaunce , n. A.N . allegiance.Ligge , v. A.S . to lie down.

238

Lough , past tense of laugh e , v. A.S.laugh ed.

Loure , v. A.S. to look discont ented.

Loust ,n. A.S. p leasure .

1

1121233137

} adv. A .S . lust ily .Loute , v. A.S. to b ow , to lurk.Low e , v. A.N . to allow , approve .

Low e , n. for law e .

Low h , past tense oflaugh e , laugh ed.

Low ke ,n. a rece iver ofstolengoods.Low lyh ede ,n. A.S . h umility .Luce ,n. A.N . a p ike .

Lucina,n. Lat . t h e moon,Lufsom, adj . A.S . love ly .Lumbardes, n. p r. p l. Lombardmerch ants, bankers.

Lunarie ,n.p r .A.N . t h e h erb moonw ort .

Lure , n. A.N . a p iece of w ood w itht h e w ings of a bird at tach ed

t o it , w it h w h ich falconers recalt h e ir h aw ks.Lure , v. to bring to t h e lure .

Lussh eburgh es, n. p l. count erfe itcoin, so called because manufactured at Lux embourg.

Lust , n. See Lest .Lust e , v. See Lest e .

Lustyh ede ,n. A .S . p leasure , mirth .

Luxurie , n. A.N . lech ery .Lyfly, adv. A.S . like t h e l ife .Lye , n. A.S . a lie .

Lyere ,n. A.S . a liar.Lyes,n. p l. A.S . lees ofw ine .

Lymere ,n. A.N . a blood-h ound.

Lymytacion, n. A.N . a certainprecinct , to w h ich each friar w as

obliged to confine h is solicitat ionsfor alms.

Lymytour,n. A.N . a friar licensedt o ask alms w it h in a certainlimit .Lynage , n. A.N . lineage .

Lynde ,n. A.S . t h e linden, or limet ree .

Lysse , same as lisse .

Lyt e , adj . and adv. A.S. lit t le.Lyt h e , n. A.S . a limb.Lyt h e , adj . A .S . pliable .Lyt h e , v.A.S . to soften.

Lyve , same as l ive .

GLOSSARY.

A.S . poetry , l ike t h eGr. noiva

'

is'

. Jifa

kgnges, poet ical composit ions.

Male ,n. A.N . a portmanteau.

Maad, part . pa. ofmake , v. A.S.

$ 313

3part . pa. A.N . dej ect ed,

Mat e struck dead.

Mace , n. A.N . a club .Maob ah e ,n. pr . th e book ofMaccabees.

Macrob es,n. pr. Macrobius.

Madde , v. neut . A .S. to b e mad .

Ma fey, interj . A.N . by my faith .

Magicien,n.A.N . amagician.

Magik , n. A.N .magic.

Mah oun,n.pr . Mah ome t .Maint e par/rt . pa. ofmenge , v. A.S .Me int e } mingled.

n. A.N . a ski lful art ist , amast er. Maister strete,

t h e h igh st ree t . Mais

ter temp le , t h e ch ieft emp le , or cat h edral.Maister tour, th e principal t ow er.

n. A.N . ski ll , skilfulmanagement . Pow er, su

p eriority. Amaistrye,uncoup de maitre, amast erly op erat ion.

Fair for the maistrie ,l ike bonne pour la

maistrie , so fair as toexce l all ot h ers

Mai stresse , n. A.N . mistress, governess.

Maistrise , n. A.N . mast erly w orkmansh ip .

Make ,n. A.S .a companionormat ea h usband or w ife .

Make , v. A.S . t o compose poet ry .Tomake aman’sbeard ,toch eat h im.

Make , adj . A.S . meek.Maked , part .pa. ofmake .

Makeles, adj . A.S . p eerless.

Maker, n. A.S . a poet , like t h e

Greek , nor/mic, from w ater! . t o

make .

GLOSSARY.

Male , adj . A.N . bad.

Male fi ce ,n. A.N . ench antment .Male talent , n. A.N . ill-w i ll .Malgre ,n. and adv. same asmaugre .

Malisoun,n. A.N . maledict ion.

Malt , past tense of melt e , v. A.S .me lt ed ; p l. malte ; part. pa.

molt en, molt e .

Malvesie ,n. A.N . malmsey w ine .

Malure , n. A.N . misfortune .

Manace , n. A.N . a t h re at .

Manace , v. A.N . to t h reat en.

n. from t h e Lat .manceps, a purch aser, or

contractor ; a cw

t erer. Mancip le isst ill t h e name ap

p lied to t h is officerin our col leges andinns ofcourt .

Mandement ,n. A .M. amandat e .

n. A.N . manner, beh aviour. Kind or sort ,

as a manere Lat in, a

kind ofLat in.

Maner,n. A.N .manor,mansion.

Mangery , n. A.N . a feast .

Mangonel, n. A.N . an engine usedt o bat t er t h e w alls of a besiegedtown.

adj . A.S . h uman, prop er to t h e h umanspecies;masculine ,proper to man, as

dist inguish ed fromw oman; int h is lastsense , w h enapp liedto a w oman, i t is a

termofreproach .

Mansuet e , adj . A.N . gent le .

Mant ele t ,n. A.N . a sh ort mant le .

Manye ,n. A.N . mania, madness.Marcian, adj . A.N . mart ial , undert h e influence ofMars.

Margarit e n. A.N . a p earl , aMargueret e } daisy .Market b e t er, n. A.S. one w h o

forestals t h e marke t . Tyrw h it tmakes many surmises as to t h e

origin of t h is ph rase ; but it isevident ly a translat ionofaLat in

239.

Marie bySaint Mary .

Mase ,maze , n. a w ild fancy .Mase , v.neat . to b e bew ildered, todream.

Masednesse , n. amazedness, as

tonishment .Mase lin, n. A.N. for mazerin, adrinking-cup .

Mat e , same asmaat .Maundement . n. A.N . amandat e.Mat ere ,n. A.N . mat ter.

adv. A.N . inspite of.

A.S. virginity.

expressionw h ich occurs inPliny , Mayle,n.A.N . a cos-2ofmai l.

Manceps annonam flagellat ,’a

purch aser w h o beats t h e marke ti .e . forestals, monopolizes.Marneys, n. A.N . amarsh .MaryMarieMark, n. A.S . image , pat tern.

Markis,n. A.N . amarquis.Mart e , n. pr. A.N . Mars.Mart ire , n. A.N . mart yrdom, tor

ment .Martyre , v. A.N . to torment .Marquysesse ,marquisesse,n. A.N . a

march ioness.

}n. A .S . marrow .

Maugre , n. A.N . ill-w i ll. Malgre

h is, w ith h is ill-w ill .Mavis, n. A.N . probably a mistakeformuis, ameasure ofcornequalto about fi ve quart ers.

Mavys,n. A.S. a t h rush .

Maume t ,n. anidol , fromMah omet .Maumetrie , n. t h e re ligionof Mabome t , idolatry.Maw e ,n. A.S . t h e maw or stomach .

Maximian, n. pr. t h e auth or of six

e legies, w h ich h ave been fre

quent ly print ed 1mder t h e nameofGallus. He is said by Fabricius t o h ave lived in t h e reignofAnastasius.

May, n. A .S. a maid or virgin, ayoung w oman.

240 GLOSSARY.

Maysondew e , n. A.N. a maisond ieu, or h ospital .

Maystreful, adj . imperious.Maympris, n. A.N . bai l , or mainprize .

Meanelich e , adj. A.S. moderat e .

Mede ,n. A.S . amead ormeadow .

£2236 n. A.S. rew ard.

MedeMet h mead, a h quor

Me th e ofh oney.Medle , v. A.S . tomix .

Medled, adj . ofamix ed colour.

n. A.S a port ion ameal , °

or

port ionoffood . Th isw ordincomposit ionmeans bysmall port ions, as stoundemele , by small portions of

time , or at int ervals.MeisneMe inee n. A.N . at tendants, folMe igne low ers.

MeyneMeke , adj. A.S .meek , humble .M eke , v.neut .A .S . to become meek.Mekede ,past tense , th irdpers. sing.

Me le . See meel.Me lle , v. A.N . tomeddle.Melle , n. A.S . amill.Memorie , v. A.N . remembrance .To be dr aw ento memon

‘

e , to b e

recorded.

Memorie , v. A.N . to record.

Mendinaunt z ,n. p l. A.N . friars, socalled because t h ey obtained t h eirl iving by asking alms.Mene , v. A.S. tomeanor int end.

Mene , n. A.N . a mean, or instrument ; a procurer.

Mene , adj .A.N .middle , moderat e.Menestrel ,n.A.N . aminstrel .Menyvere , n. A.N .menu vair,miniver, a kind offur.

Mercenrike ,n.pr.A.S. th e kingdomofMercia.

Merciable , adj . A.N .merciful.Meritorie , adj . A.N .meritorious.

Merke, mark , n. A .S. a mark ,image , pat t ern. Al the mark ofAdam, all t h e pat t ernof Adam,

i .e. allmankind.

Merke , adj . A.S . dark.Merlion, n. A.N . t h e merlin, th esmallest oft h e Brit ish h aw ks.

Merour, n. A.N . amirror.

Mervaille ,n.A.N .marve l.Mery , adj . A.S .merry , p leasant .Mesaventure ,n. A.N .misfortune.

Mesch aunce , n. A.N .misfortune .

Mese l ,n. A.N . a leper.

Meselrie ,n. A.N . leprosy .Message , n. A.N . amessenger.

Messagerie ,n. A.N . t h e carrying ofmessages ; h ence an allegoricalp ersonage int h e Court s ofLove .

Messe ,n. A.N .Mass, t h e Liturgy oft h e West ernCh urch .

Mest e , adj . sup erlat . degree , most .A.N . t rade , occupat ion.

M atmestirmenye been,Wh at kind ofmenyouare .

Mesurable , adj . A.N .moderate .

Mesure , n. A.N . measure ,moderat ion.

Metamorph oseos n. Ovid ’s Meta

Metamorph osos morph oses.Met e , adj . A.S. meet , fit t ing, convenient .Met e , n. A.S . meat . During the

metes space , during eat ing t ime .

Met e-borde , n. A.S. a dinnert able .Met ely , adj . A.S. proport ionable.

Met e , v. A.S. to meet .Met e , v. A .S. t o dream. Past

tense,me t t e ,me t . It occursas animp ersonal verb, me met t e , a

dream occurred t ome .

Metricien, n. A.N . one w h o is

skilled inmetre .

Mevab le , adj. A.S. moveable , unst eady.Mew e , v. to ch ange , tomoult ,Mew e ,n. a ch amber w h ere h aw ksare confined to mew e , or moult .Any sort of confinement . Inmew e, insecret .

Mew et , n. A.N . a dumb person.

Inmew et , enmuet , like a dumbperson.

Meynde , part .pa. ofmenge , v. A.S.mingled.

242 GLOSSARY.

Mountaunce ,n.A.N .amount , value .

Mourdaunt , n. t h e tongue of a

buckle .

Moveresse , n. A.N . a female fo

ment er ofquarrels.Mow ,n. A.S. a w ry face .

Mow e , v. A.S . may, to b e able .

Pres. tense, pl. mow en, may, orare able . Past tense,mough t , ormow gh t .Mow ing, n. A.S. abili ty.Moysoun, n. A.N . h arvest .

MuchMuch el} See Moch e .

Mullok , n. A .S. dung, rubbish .

Mult iplicacioun,n. A.N . t h e art of

making gold and silver by t h ecombinat ionof certainch emicalsubstances.

Mult iply, v. to make gold andsilver.

Musarde , n. A.N . a muser or

dreamer.

Muw et , adj . A.N .mut e .

Mych e ,n. A.N . a manch et , or loafoffi ne bread.

Mych eMych e ] cc Moch e .

Myke lMych er, n. A .S . a t h ief.Mylne, adj . A.N . be longing to a

mill .Mynde ,n. A .S. remembrance .

Myne , v. A.N . to mine , or penetrat e .

Mynour,n. aminer.Mynstrale ,n. A.N . aminstre l .Mynstralcye , n. A.N minstre lsy .Mysacompt ed , p art . pa. miscount ed.

Mysavise , v. A.N . to advise badly.Mysch e ef, n. A.N .misfortune .

Myscovert ing, part . pres apparent lyami stake formysacomp t ing.

Mysdepart e , v. A.N . to d ividew rongfully .

Mysforgafe , past tense of mysforyeven. v. A .S . misgave .

Mysgo, v. A.S . to go w rong.

£32380“ part . pa. ofmysgo.

Mysgye , v. A.N . to misguide .Mysh appe , n. A.S.misfortune.

Mysh appe , v.A.S.:to h appenamiss.

Myslede. v.A.S. to lead astray.Myslyved , part . pa. h aving lived to

a b ad purpose .

Mysme tre , v. to spoil t h e metre ofpoetry by reading or w rit ingi t i ll.

Myssaiere ,n. A.S. anevil speaker.

Myssat te, past tense of myssit te ,v. A.S. misbecame .

Mysse , v. A.S . tomiss, fail , or lose .

Mysse id, part . pa. ofmysseye , v.

A .S. ill spokenof.

Mysseye , v. A.S . to speak i ll of;part . pres.mysseiyng .

Mysw ent , part . pa. of mysw ende ,v. A.S . gone w rong.

Mysw ey, n. A.S . a w rong w ay.

Mysw rite , v. A.S. to w rit e w rong.

M st er

M?st ere }n' A.N .need.

Myt e ,n. amite , ormaggot .

N , for ne , t h e negat ive part icle, isoft enprefixed to

'

verbs beginningWit h a vow e l , or t h e le t t er h or

w ; as,nadde, ne badde , h ad not ;nam,ne am, amnot ; nas,ne h as,h asnot ;nere,ne w ere , w ere not ;nil, ne w il, w ill not ; nis, ne is, isnot niste, ne w ist e , w ist not ;nolde, ne w olde , w ould not , 850.

Na, used by t h e north countryclerks inTh e Reeves Tale forno.

Naker,n. A.N . a ke t t le-drum.

Nale , n. A.S. an ale-h ouse . Th is

w ord is probably derived froma

mistake int h e mannerofw rit ingt h e A.S. at ten ale, at t h e ale

h ouse . In pronunciat ion, andsubsequent ly inw ri t ing, at tenalebecame att e nale , as t h e fict it iouslit igant , from John at t en Oke ,became Johna

’

Noke . Th us anadder w as corrup t ed into a

nedder, and anew t or eft, a new t ;anouche , ont h e ot h er h and , h as

become anouche .

Nalle , n. A.S. a nai l or anaw l.

Th is is anoth er examp le of th e

GLOSSARY.

transference oft h e fi nal nof t h e

indef. article to t h e w ord w ithw h ich i t agrees.

Nam, fornc am.

Nam, p ast tense of nime ; v. A.S.took.

Nappe , v. A.S . to sleep .

Narcot ikes, n. p l. A.N . from Gr.

narcot ics.Nerw e , adj . and adv. close ,narrow ;

close ly , narrow ly.Nas, forne w as.

Nat . adv. A.S . not .Natal , adj . Lat . app li ed to Jupit eras presiding overnat ivit ies.

fiz

z adv. A.S . nevert h elessNaugh t

Nogh t n. A.S .noth ing.

Nogh t

Nough t

Nay, adv. A .S. t h e negat ive rep lyto a quest ion in an affirmat iveform, as No is to a quest ionint h enegat ive form.

Nay,n. It isnonay, it is impossibleto deny i t .

Nay, v. A.S . to deny.Nayle ,n. A.S. anail.Nayt e , v. A.S . to deny.Ne , adv. A.S. not . N e is used

toget h er w it h t h e oth ernegat ivenot , l ike t h e French ne and pas.

Ne , conj . A.S .nor.

Nece ,n. A.N . aniece , a cousin.

Necessaire , adj . A.N . necessary.

£2233

6 } n. A.S.need,necessity.

adv.A.S.not ,bynomeans

Nede

}v. imp ers. i t needeth , i t is

N eede necessary.Needful adj . A.S. distrest , indiN edeful gent .N edely, adv. A.S . necessarily .

adv.necessarily . It is generally joined w it h must ,or cost .

Nedder, n. A.S . anadder.N egard ,n. aniggard.

N egardes, n. avarice .

Negh ebore ,n. A .S.. aneigh bour._

243

Ncigbe , adj . A.S .nigh .

gggfie A .S . to approach , to

Nygh ecome nigh .

N ekke , n. A.S . t h e neck .N empne , v. A .S . to name .

adv. comparatd egree ofnegh

Nere , for ne w ere , v. w ere not .N ere the frensch ipp e , w ere i t notfor t h e friendsh ip .

Nerfe , n. A.N . nerve , sinew .

N esh e , adj . A.S . soft , t ender.1

1522}n. A.S . n'

eat cat t le .

N e t h er, adj . A.S . low er.

N even, v. A.S . t o name .Nevew n. A.N . a neph ew , a

Nevyw e grandson.

N ew e , adj . A .S . new , fresh .

N ew e , adv. new ly ; ofnew e, late ly.New e , v. A.S . to renew .

New efangel, adj . new fangled, desiroue ofch ange .

New fangelnesse ,n. desire ofch ange .

Nex t e , adj . sup erl. degree , nigh est .Ney, adj . A.S. nigh ; co

’

mp . degree

negh er, nyh er, contract ed nere ,ornear ; sup erlat . nex t e , nigh est .

N ice , adj . A.N . foolish .

Nicet e 7 n. A.N . folly . Do h is

Nyce t ee j nycete , faire foli e .

N iflet

.

flNyfle }n' a ri e .

N igara n. a st ingy fellow , a nigNygard gard.

N igardie

Nygardie n. st inginess.N egardes

N igh t ert ale ,n. A.S . t h e nigh t t ime .

Nigh t -sp el , n. A.S . a' nigh t

ch arm, or form of conjurat ionto count eract t h e diabolical influences supposed t oprevail at nigh t .

N il for ne w il, ne w ille ; w i l lN ille not .N is, forne is ; isnot .N ist e , for ne w iste , knew not . Pl.nisten, forne w ist en.

Nobledest , p ast tense;second personsing.ofnoble ,v. A.N .ennobledest .

lG—s

244 GLOSSAt

Noblesse n. A.N .nobility, dignity,Nobley sp lendour.

Noise , v. A.N . tomake anoise .Nokked , part . pa. of nokke. v. A.S.notch ed.

Nolde , forne w olde , w ould not .Nombre ,n. A.N . number.

Nomen part . pa. ofnime , v. A.S.Nome t aken.

Nompere , n. A.N . anump ire . Th isis an examp le of t h e confusioncreat ed by t ransferring t h e finalnoft h e indefinite art icle to t h enounw h eni t begins w i th a vow el , ort h e ini t ial nof t h e noun to t h e

indef. art icle ; for in t h is case i t

is impossible to de t ermine w h e

t h er t h e w ord ough t to be nomp ere , or, according to t h e modernorth ograph y , umpire . Umper andnumper bot h occur inold English .

It is probably derived from t h e

A.N .nonpaire ,anodd ,ort h ird person. Th is derivat ionis support edby t h e fact t h at impar, inLat .some t imesmeans anarbitrator.

1

153211 } adj. A.S. not one ,none .

Non adv. A.S. not . Whether -ye

Noon w olor non.

None , n. Lat . t h e space of t imew h ich int ervenes betw een t h e

nint h h our of t h e natural day, or

nine o ’

clock , and tw elve ; d innerh our.

Nones, For the nones, for t h enones,for t h en once , or, for t h at oneoccasion.

Nonne , n. A.S. anun.

Noon, same asnon.

Noot , forne w oot , know eth not .Norice , n. A.N . a nurse .

Norisch e , v. to nourish .

Nortelrye , n. A.N .nurture .

Noset h irles,n. p l. A.S .nostrils.

Not , forne w ot , know not .Notab ilit e , n. A.N . a t h ing w orth yto be known.

Not e , n. A.S. need, business.Not emugeNot emygge }n.nutmeg.

Notes,n. pl. A.S.nuts.

Not -h ed,n.A .S . ah eadclipped close ;fromnot t e , v. A .S . to clip .

conj . A.S.nor,neith er.Not h er, adj . A.S. for ne other.

N either nother, nor one nor th eot h er.

Not h ing, adv. A.S.not , not at all.Nouch e , n. A.S. anouch e , a clasp ,or buckle .

gifi ifi i}n. andadv—See Naugh t .

Nout h e , adv. A.S.now .

Novelrie , n. A.N . nove lty.Now and now , once and again.

Now ch e ,n. A.S. same asnouch e.Now e l ,n. A.N . Ch ristmas.

Noye ,n. A.N . h urt , t rouble , annoysance .

Noyen, v. A.N . to h urt , annoy.Noysaunce ,n.A.N .offence , t respass.Nyce t e , n. A.N. folly. Same as

nice t e .

Nyfles, n. pl. tri fi es.

Nygard , n. a st ingy fe llow .

Nyggoun, n. aniggard.

Nygh e, adv.A.S .nigh .

80}numeraladj. A.S. one.

8232211

1

1

31? n. A.N . obedience.Obeysant , part . p res. A.N. obe

dient .Ob servaunce , n. A.N . respect .

Observe , v. A.N . to pay regard to,to respect .

Occident , n. A.N . t h e w est .

Ocy,t h enigh t ingale ’snot e , supposedby t h e poet to b e derived fromt h e Lat . occidere, to ki ll.

Of, adv. A.S . ofl‘

.

Od’

ende , v. A.N . to hurt .

Ofi'

ensioun,n. damage.Ofl

‘

ertorie , n. Lat . a sent ence of

Scrip ture said or sung after t h e

N icene Creed in t h e Liturgy oft h e West ernChurch .

Ofl‘

ryng, n. A.N . t h e alms collectedat th e Ofl

’

ertory.

246 GLOSSARY.

Outraye , v. A.H. to fly out , to b eoutrageous.

Out -rede. v. A.S. to surpass incounse l .

Outrely, adv. A .S . ut terly.Out -renne , v. A.S . to outrun.

Out -rydere , n. A .S . one w h o ridesw e ll up w ith h ounds.

Outstraugh t ,par t .pa. ofoutstrecch e ,v. A .S . stre tch ed out .

Out -taken, part . pa. used as a p rep .

excep t ed . Out -takenCri st onloft ,Ch rist inh eavenbe ing except ed .

Ow e , v. A.S . to b e under anobligat ion past tense ofough t , w h ich isalone used in t h is sense inmodernEnglish part . pa. ow en.

Ow h ere , adv. A.S . anyw h ere .

Oxenford e, n. p r. Oxford .

Oynement , n. A.N . ointment .Oyse , n. pr. t h e Oise , a river of

Picardy.

Paas,n. A.N . a foot-pace .

Pace , 0. A.N . t o pass, pass on,or aw ay ; to surpass.

Page , n. A.N . a boy-ch ild, a ser

vant boy.

Pay, n. A.N . sat isfact ion.Paye , v. A.N . to sat isfy.

£23138 } part . pa. sat isfied.

Paindemaine ,n. A.N . Skinner supposed it to mean fresh bread ,

quasi , painde matin: Tyrw h it t , akind of very fi ne bread p eculiarto t h e province ofMaine .

Palasyns, adj . A.N . of or be longingto t h e palace . Ladyes palasyns,court ladies.Pale. n. A.N . t h e h eraldic t ermfor

a perpendicular stripe ona coat

ofarms.

Pale , v. A.N . tomake pale.Paleys, n. A.N . a palace .

Palfrey , n. A.N . a h orse for t h e

road , as opposed to st ede, or des

trier , a w ar h orse .

Paling, particip ial mun, imitat ingpales, or stripes.

interj . A.N . a commonoat h .

Palladion.n. Gr. th e image of Pal.las at Troy .

Palled , part . pa . A.N .made pale .

Palmer, n. a p ilgrim to t h e HolyLand , because such carried palmbranch es as tokens.

Pan,n. th e skull , or brain-pan.

Pant er,n. A.N . ane t .Panade ,n. A.N . a knife , or dagger.

a t erm

Pape lard, n. A.N . a h ypocrite .

Papelardie ,n. A.N . h ypocrisy.Par, p rep . A.N . by , w it h , for.Parage , n. A.N . kindred.

Paramour, paramours, n. A.N .

love , gallantry ; a lover of e ith ersex .

Parventure adv. A.N . peradvenParaunter ture , by ch ance .

Parce l-mele , adv. by parce ls, of

parts.

Parde

Pardee

Pardieux

Pardon, n. A.N . anindulgence , i . e.a commutat ion, in considerat ionoft h e performance ofsome act ofdevot ion, of t h e t emporal p enalt ies for sinrequired by t h e pri :mit ive Canons.

Pardoner, n. A.N . a se ller of indul‘gences.

Parement z ,n. p l. A.N . ornamentalfurniture , or clot h es.

n. A.N . kindred.

interj .A.N . by my faith .Parfi t

1Parfyt e

Perfi gh t JParforme

}v. A.N . t o perform, to

adj. A.N . perfect .

Parfourn comp le t e .

Parfytly, adv. A.N . p erfect ly.Parisch en, n. A.N . a parish ioner.

n. Lat . t h e h erb paristaria, or p ellitory oft h ew all .

Parlement n. A.N ., an assemblyParlement e for consultat ion.

Paritorie

GLOSSARY.

Parodye ,n. A.N . fromGr. apassage

or ex it . See vol. vi . p . 4 r,not e l .

Parten, v. A.N . to t ake part .Part ie , n. A.N . a part a part y inadisput e .

A.N . from paradisus, a

ch urch -porch . Here a

varie ty of business usedformerly to be t ransact ed.

Pas, n. A.N . a foot -pace ; same as

Passe , v. A.N . to surpass.

Passantrt

Passing pa pres. surpassmg.

Patre v. to repeat t h e pater-nosPatren ter ; to pray.Pawmes, n. p l. A.N . t h e palms of

t h e h ands.Pax , n. Lat . asmall tablet ofmetal ,w it h a representat ionof t h e cru

ci fi xionupon it , present ed to bekissed inturnby t h e fait hful atmass, intokenofmutual ch arity.Payen,n. A.N . a pagan.

PayenesPaynymes

n. pl. pagans.

Paylle t , n. A.N. a b ed of straw , a

palle t .Paysaunce , n.A.N . pausing.

Pecunial , adj . A.N . pecuniary, paidinmoney.Pees,n. A.N . peace .

Pees, interj . h old t hy peace !Peesible , adj . A.N . peaceable .

Peine n. A.N . penalty ; grief, torPeyne ment , trouble .

Pe ine v. A.N . to torture ; to trou

Peyne ble ; to take pains.Pe ire, v. A.N . to impair.

Pe ise , v. A.N . to poise , to w eigh .

Pel,n. a palace .

Pe let ,n. A.N . a ball .n. A.N . th e sacramentofpenance ; t emporalp enalt ies, voluntarilysuffered as a p ledgeof repentance, andcalled t echnically sat isfact ion; pain, sorrow .

Penaunt ,n. A.N . a penitent .

247

Penible , adj .A.N. industrious,painst aking.

Penit encer, n. A.N . an ecclesiast icappoint ed to resolve difli cult casesofconscience .

Penner, n. A.N . a p en-case .PenounPynounPens,n. p l. pence .

Pensel , n. A.N . a smal l pennant or

streamer.

Pensifeh ed, n. pensiveness.Pep ir, n. Lat . pepper.

£52512}n. A.N . p eop le .

Ferch e ,n. A.N , a p erch for birds ;a h orse to h ang clot h es on.

Percel, adv. A. N . by parce lsorpart s.Perde , for parde .

Pere , v. to appear.

£22; n. A.N . a peer, anequal.Peregal . adj . A.N equal.Peregryn, adj . Lat . fore ign, app liedto a part icular kind offalcon.

Pere les, adj . p eerless, unequalled.

Pexj one t t e , n. A.N . a particularkind ofp ear.

Pernaso, n. pr. Ital. Mount Parnassue .

Perrye ,n. A.N .j ew e llery .Persaunt , part . p res. A.N . p iercing.

Pers, adj . A.N . sky-blue .

Persley , n. A.N . parsley.Persone ,n. Lat . a person, generallya manof dignity ; a parson, orrector ofa ch urch .

Pert , for ap ert .adj . A.N . open.

Pertourb e ,v.A.N . toperturb , t roublePertourb ing, n. a disturbance .

Pervynke ,n.A.N. t h e flow er p erriWinkle .

Pery ,n. A.N . a pear-tree.

Pesen,n. p l. A.S . p eas.

Pe t er Alph onse ,n. p r. a convertedJ ew , t h e auth or of t h e Discip linaClericalis. He flourish ed in t h et w e lft h century .

Peyne , same as peine .

Peytrel , n. A.N . t h e breastplat e of

a h orse .

Ph isik ,n. A.N .medicine .

a pennant , or ensign.

248 GLOSSARY.

Ph isiologus, a popular treat ise ont h enatural h istory ofanimals.

n.Barb . Lat . fromGr.

a w omanpossessedby Apollo w i t h a

spirit Ofd ivinat iona fortune-t e ller.

Picch e ,n. p itch .

Pie

}n. A.N . a magp ie , a t e ll

Pye tale .

Pi errie , same as perrye .

Piggesneygh e , n. a lit t le p ig ; or

p erh aps a p ig’s eye ; a t erm of

endearment .Pigh t , past tense of p ike , v. A.S .p it ch ed .

Pike . v. A.S . to p itch ; to p ick , asa bird does i tsfeat h ers to st eal ;to pe ep .

Pikerel,n. A .S . a young p ike , jack ,Or luce .

Pilch s n. A.S . a pelisse , or fur

Pylch e cloak .

$219 72. A.N . a p illar.

£319

6 } v. A.N . to p illage , rob .

PiledFyled

pa/rt . pa. A.N . bald.Pilour,n. A N . a p lunderer.Pilw ebeer

Pilw eb ere

Piment n. A.N . spiced w ine andPyment h oney .Pinch e v. A.N . to Obj ect , to fi ndPynch e fault .

g; n. A.S. pain, grief, death .

n. A.S . a p illow -case .

A.S . to torment .

Pirie , n. A.N . a p ear-t ree .

Fist e l, n. A.N . an ep ist le , a sh ort

lesson.

Pitaunce ,n. A.N .amessofvictuals ;properly anaddit ional allow anceserved t o t h e inmat es ofre ligioush ouses ona h igh fest ival.

fi fe }n. A.N . p ity .Pitons adj . A.N . mercifi il, comPytous passionate , p it eous.

gyt

fou

ifslyy adv. A.N . p it eously.Plage ,n. Lat . t h e p lague .

Plat t e adj . A.N . flat , p lain; th ePlat flat ofa sw ord.

Plat t e , adv. flat ly.Play , v. A.S . to take one ’s p leasure .

333 n. A.N . a p lain.

Pleyn adj. A.H. simp le, clear ;Ple ine adv. simp ly clearly.

3 adj . A.N . ful l , perfect .Plee ,n. A.N . a plea, argument , orp leading.

Pleygh e , v. A.S. to p lay, jest , takeone ’s p leasure .

Plenere , adj . A N . plenary , full.Plesaunce ,n. A.N . p leasure .

Plesynges,n. pl. p leasures.

Ple t e , v. A.N . to p lead .

Pleyne , v. A.N . to explain.

Pleyne , v. A.N . to comp lain.

Pleynly, adv. p lainly.Pligh t , part .pa. of plukke , v. A.S.

p lucked .

Pligh t e , v. A.S . to engage , promisepast tense, pligh t e , p l. pligh ten.

girl; v. A.N . to p lait or fold.

Plungy, adj . A.N . rainy ,Plye , v. A.N . to bend , ormould,Flyt , n. p ligh t , condit ion,Poeple ,n. A.N . peop le .

Poeplisch , adj . vulgar.n. A.N . t h e principal business a full stop . Ingood point , ingood condit ion. At poynt devys,w i t h th e greatest exact

ness—See Devys.Pointel , n. A.N . a style , or pencilfor w rit ing.

Poke ,n. A.N . a bag, pocket .Pollax , n. A.S. a h albert .Polyve ,n. a pulley.Pome l , n. A.N . anyth ing in t h e

sh ap e ofanapple , or round ; t h etop oft h e h ead , t h e h ilt ofasw ord .

Pomelee , adj . A.N . marked w ithround spots, like anapp le, dapp led. Pomelce gris, dapp le-grey.

‘

250 GLOSSARY.

Proh eme , n. A.N . a preface .

Prolle , v. to prow l.Pronost ike , n. Lat . a prognost ic or

omen.

Provable , adj .A.N . capable Ofbeingdemonstrat ed .

Provende , n. A.N . a prebend.

Provendre ,n.A.N . a prebendary.Proverbe , n. A.N . a proverb .Proverbe , v. A.N . to speak inproverbs.

Provostrie , n. A.N . t h e ofl‘ice ofa

provost .

Prow ,n. A.N . profit .Prow esse , n. A.N . integrity.

v. A.N . provigner. It

seems originally to

h ave signified to takecut t ings from vines,h ence to cut aw ay superfluous sh oots, or to

prune ; t h en to p ickout damaged feat h ers

as birds, and part icularly h aw ks, or to

preen;metaph orically ,to make neat . Th us

Damian is said to

p rogneand pike h imself.Pruce ,n. pr . Prussia.

Pruce , adj . Prussian.

1'~Prye , v. to pry.

Pryme-t emps, n. A.N . spring.

Pryvyly, adj . private ly .Pryvyt e , n. A.N . privity , pri vacyprivate business.

Puella and Rubens, th e names of

t w o figures ingeomancy , represent ing t w o constellat ions inh eaven Puella signifies Mars re trograde , and Rubens Mars d irect .Pulch ritude , n. Lat . beauty.Pullayle ,n.A.N . poultry.Pulled h en; Tyrw h it t supposes t h isexpression to meana h enw h osefeat h ers h ave been p lucked to

h inder it from sit t ing ; but i t

w ould rath er appear t o b e derivedfrom t h e A.N . poulet , a pullet .A pulled h enw ould t h enmeanah ench icken.

Punice , v. A.N . to punish .

Pure , adj. A.N .mere , very.Pured, part . pa. purified .

Purfi led ,part . pa. ofpurfi le , v.A.Rembroidered , or fi 'inged.

Purpos, n. A.N . purpose , design,proposit ionindiscourse .

Purpris, n. A.N . anenclosure , orPurprise , park.Purt raye ,v. A.N . to paint .Purt reyour ,n. A.N . a paint er.Purtre ture ,n.A.N . a p icture .

Purveyance , n. A.N . foresigh t , providence , provision.

Purveye , v. A.N . to foresee , to pro

vide .

Putrie , n. A.N .w h oredom.

Putout , n. A.N. a w h oremonger.

Q.

adj. A.S. b ad.

Quaile-pip e ,n.a p ipe used forcallingquails.

Q uakke ,n. aninart iculate noise occasioned by anobst ruct ionint h et h roat .

Qualm, n. A.S. t h e croak ing of a

raven.

Qualms, n. A.S . sickness.

Quappe , v. A .S . to t remble , quake .

Q uarel, n. A.N . a square-h eadedarrow .

Oneyre ,n. A.N . a quire ofpaper, abook .

Q uh airfor conj. A.S . Scot t ish dia

Q uh arfor lect , w h erefore .

Q uh en, adv. Scot t ish dialect , w h en.

Q uh it , adj . Scot t ish dialect , w h ite.Q ueint e , same as queynt e .

Que lle , v. A.S . tokill , destroy.Queme , v.A.S. to please .

Q uene , n. A.S . a h arlot .Querne , n. A.S . a bandmill .Q uerrour,n. A.N , a quarry-man.

Quest ,n.A.N . aninquest , or judicialinquiry ; a jury ; a verdict ; a request .

Q uest emonger, n. a packer ofjuriesor inquest s.

Que th e , v. A .S . to say, to declare ;past tense, quod or quoth . I que th

'

e

GLOSSARY

him quyte, is a t echnical t erm in Rakel , adj. h ast y , rash .

law , clamo illum quietum, I declare h im released.

Q ueynt n. A.S . pudenda mulieQ ueynt e bria.

Q ueynt adj . AN . strange, cunQ ueynte nmg, artful trim,neatQ ueynt , past tense and part . of

quench e , v.A.S. quench ed .

Q ueyntise , n. A.N . t rimness.

83311

1

1

311

1

1

}n. A.N . a cush ion.

Quod , past tense Of que th e , v. A .Ssaid .

Q uok past tense of quake , v. A .SQ uook quaked , t rembled.

Quot h , same as quad .

Q uyk

Q uyke or, alive w it h peop le ,v. ac. A.S. to make alive .

v. neat . A.S . to becomealive , to revive .

Q uynyble , n. A.N . inmusic, th efift h above t h e key not e , a partsung orp layeda fi fth above t h e air.

Q uystroun, n. A.N . a beggar, fromquester to b eg ; or, a scallion,fromcuisine , a kitch en.

Quyt e , adj . A.N . quit , fre e , quiet .Q uyt t , v. A.N . to requit e , pay for ;to acquit . Q uyt t , quyt t e , p asttense, acquit ted.

Q uyt ely, adv. free ly , at liberty.Q w an, adv. A.S . w h en.

Ra,n. A.S . a roebuck.Race , v. A.N . same as arace , to

t ear.

Racyne , n. A.N . a root .

Racle , adj . same as rake l, rash .

Bad p ast tense of rede , v. A.SRadde advised , explained.

Radevore , n. A.N . t apestry .Bafle , n. A.N . a raflle , p lay w ithdice .

Rafte , past tense of reve , v. A.Sbereft .

Rage , v. A.N . to toy w antonly.Ragerie ,n. A.N. w antonness.

Rakelnesse ,n. rashness.Rakes st ele , t h e h andle ofa rake.Rake t, n. t h e game ofracket .Ramage , adj . A.N . w ild.

Rammish , adj .A.S . rank, like aram.

Rampe , v. A.N . to climb , to riseont h e h ind legs, as a lion, h enceto rage .

adv. A.N . rap idly.

Rape ,n. A.N . h aste .

Rape , v. A.S . to take capt ive , tose ize and p lunder.

Rasis, n. pr. anArabian ph ysicianOft h e 10t h century.

Rate . v. to ch ide ; part . pa . ratyd,

ch idden.

Rat h e , adj. and adv. early , soon,speedily .

Rat h er, adj . and adv. comp . degree ,earlier, sooner.

Rat h est , adj . and adv. superl. de

gree , earliest , soonest .Ratoun, n. A.N . a rat .

Raugh t , p ast tense Of rech e , v.

A.S . reach ed .

Raugh t , p ast tense of recch e , v.

A.S . cared, recked .

Ravine , n. A.N . rapine . Foules Qfravine , birds ofprey .avinour,n. A.N . a p lunderer.avisab le , adj . A.N . ravenous.Raunsoun, n. A.N . ransom.

Rayed , pa/rt . pa. A.N . striped.

Rayh ing, part .n. A.S . grinding.

RealRyal} adj .A.N . royal .ReallerRyaller royal.Reallich

Ryallyadv. A.N . royally.

Reslt e n. A.N . royalty, magniRyalte .flcence .

n. A.N . a kind ofviolin,called by Rocquefortviolonbatard , violonch ampetre . It h ad

frets on t h e fi ngerboard , and but tw o

252 GLOSSARY.

Rech assa, part . pa. a terminh unting, meaning, apparent ly , h eaded

, back.

£3126

} v. A .S. to care , to reek.

Recch eles, adj . A .S. reckless.

Recch elesnes,n. recklessness.

Reclayme , v. A.N . to t raina h aw k ,so t h at sh e w il l return to t h e

falconer, submit to be h ooded,

&c . ; ,h ence , metaph orically , to

bring a personunder subj ect ion.

Recomforte ,v. A.N. to comfort .Recorde , n. A.N . w itness, test imony.

Recorde , v. A.N . to remember, torecord.

Recreaundise , n. A.N. desert ionof

one ’s allegiance .

A.N .one w h oyieldsto h is adversary insingle combat .

Recure ,n. A.N . recovery .Recure , v. A.N. to recover.

gggde } past tense ofrede , v.A.S.

Beddoure , n. A.N. strengt h , violence .

Bede , n. A.S. counsel , advice ; a

reed.

Reds, v. A.S. to advise , to read, to

exp lain.

BedeReed

,

A.S. red.

Beede

Redoute , v. A.N . to fear,

Redoutyng, n. reverence .

Redresse , v. A.N . to recover, makeamends for.

Rees,n. anexploit .Refect , part . pa. Lat . recovered.

Re fi gure , v. A.N . to p icture to th e

imaginat ion.

Refrain n. A.N . t h e burdenof a

Refreyn song.

Refreynynge , participial n. t h e

singing of t h e burdenofa song.

Refreyde , v. A.N . to grow cool.

g?“ n. A.S. a ch ink or crevice .

Refut e ,n. A.N . refuge .

Regals, n. pl. A.N . royalt ies.

'RecreantRecreaunt

A.N . to remove.

A.N. renown.

Renoveilaunce ,n. A.N . renew al.Renovelle , v.A.N . to renew .

Rent e , v. A.S . to rend , t ear.Repairs, v. A.N. resort .

,Repai re, v. A.N. to return.

Regard,n. A.N . at regard of, w ithrespect to, incomparisonof

Regne , n. A.N . a kingdom.

Rebe te , v. A.N . t o revive , ch eer,comfort .

Reh et ing, n. A.N . revival.Be ile , v. neat . to roll.Rejoye , v. A.N . to rejoice .

Reke , v. A .S. to reek, or smoke .Reken v. A.S. to reckon, come toRekken a reckoning.

Reke , n. A.S . a rick ofcorn.

Relayes, n. p l. A.N . re lays, freshse tsOfh ounds.

Relefe ,n. A .S . w h at is left .Belees, n. A.N . re lease .

Relent e , v. ac. A.N . to me lt .Religiousi te, n. A.N . t h e stat e of

re ligion, or be ing bound by religious vow s.

Be like , n. A.N . a relic.

Remenaunt ,n. A.N . a remnant .Reme ,n. A.N. a realm.

Remissails, n. p l. A.N . orts, leavings.

Remorde , v. A.N. to st ing w i th re

morse .

Remevable , adj. A.N .movable , uhstable .

Renable, adj . A.N . reasonable.Renably , adv. A.N . reasonably.Renegat ,n.A.N . anapostate fromCh rist ianity.

Reney, v. A.N. to renounce , abjure .

Benges,n. p l.A.N .ranks, t h e rungsOfa ladder.

Renne , v.neat . A.S . to run; part.pa. ronnen; past tense sing.

ranne pl. ronne or ronnen.Renne , v. ac. A.S . to rend.

Renom

254 GLOSSARY.

Boser,n. A.N . a rose-bush .

Rot e , n. A .S . a root . Also a rootinastrology .

Rots, n. Lat . rocta, a musical instrument , supposed by M. de

Rocquefort , and by a w riter int h e Arch . J ournal, to b e th e crw d ,

crow d ,or fiddle w ith t h ree strings;by ot h ers to b e t h e burdy-gurdy,as if derived from Lat . rota, a

w h eel . A t h ing w as said to b e

known by rote w h en i t’

w as

knownby h eart , so t h at it migh tb e sung to t h e rot e .

Rot e , v. A.S . to rot ;p art .p a. roten,rot t en.

Rot h er, n. A.S . t h e rudder of a

Sh ip .

Rough t , past tense ofrecch e , v. A .Sw h ich see .

Rouke , v. A.S. to lie close .

Roule , v. A.S. to roll , to runeasily.

Boume , n. A .S . room, space .

Roume , adj . A.S . roomy .Boumer, adj . comp . degree , roomier.

Rouncy.n. A.N . a h ackney .n.A.N . acircle ; also a

sass}.Roundelle

inFrench rondeau.

Same as ronde l.Rout e , n. A.N . a company.Rout e , v. A.N . to assemble in a

company.Rout e , v. A.N . to snore , to roar.

Bont h e , n. A.S . compassion, t h e Objcet ofcompassmn.

Routh eles, adj . A.S . dest itut e of

compassion.

ROWadj . A .S. rough , angry .Row e

n. A.N . int erp ret ed£232}2232 by Sp egh t tomeanR l bo

ivory stained in

Rue

ll1

1

1

; emany colours,from

euy e nt h e French rials.

Row is, n. pl. streaks, applied to t h est reaks ofcloud w h ich sometimesappear as t h e sunrises.

Rowne , v. A.S . to w h isper.Royne ,n. A.N . a scab .Rubin, n. A.N . a ruby.

Rucking, same asrouking,pres.part.ofronks, v. A .S .— w h ich see .

Rudds, n. A.S . comp lex ion, same asrode .

Ruddocke , n. A.S. t h e robin-redbreast .

Rufus, n. pr . a Greek ph ysician,some of w h ose w orks are ex

tant .— See FABc ms, Bibl. Gr.

iv. 3.

Ruggy , adj . A.S . rough .

Russe l ,n. p r . anick-name giventot h e fox because ofh is red colour.

Ryme , n. A.N . rh yme .

Rympled, p art . p a. Of rymple , v.

A.S. w rinkled , rump led .

Rys, n. A.S . a smal l t w ig , or bough .

Rys, imp . mood sing . Of ryse , v.

A .S . rise t h ou.

Ryst th ird . p ers. sing . p res. tenseRist ofryse , v. A.S . rise th .

Byt th ird p ere . sing. p res. tense ofRit ryde , v. A.S . rideth .

RyveRive v. A.S . to rive , or sph t .

Sach elles, n. p l. A.N . satch els,small sacks.Sacre ,n. A.N . a sacred funct ion.

ad adj . A.S . serious, grave , sorSade row ful, repentant .Sadly , adv. seriously , carefully.Sadness,n. A.S. seriousness.

Saf, adj . A.N . same as sauf.

Sailen, v. put for assation, t o assai l.Saillouris,n.p l. A.N . dancers.

Sal, north erndialect for Sh all.Salade , n. A.N . a kind of h elmet ;also a salad ofh erbs.

Sale . By Coddes sale ! by t h e saleof our Lord for t h irt y p ieces ofsi lver or p erh aps t h e north ernmode Ofpronouncing soul.

gil

lize

} v.A.N . to salut e .

Salveour

Saveour

Salw ynges,n. p l. salutat ions.Same t t e n. A.N . a rich si lk or

Samyt e sat in.

n. A.N . a saviour.

GLOSSARY.

Sanguin, adj. A.N . of a blood-redcolour.

Sarplere , n. A.N . a p iece of canvasto w rap up goods in.

Sark , n. A.S . a sh ift .Sarlynysh . Probably a mistake of

t h e scrivener for sarsynysh , fromt h e A.N. sarrasinois, a kind Of

t h insilk, st ill called sarcenet .Sat en, p ast tense p l. of sit t en, vA.S. sat .

Save , n. A.N . t h e h erb sage or

salvia.

221

3} adj . A.N . saved or excep ted.

Save t e , n. A.N . safe ty.Savere , v. A.N . to taste , t o smel l .Saverous, adj . A.N . sw ee t , fragrant .Saugh past t ense of se , v. A.S.Sauh saw .

Senns, p rep . A.N . w ith out .Saugh t e , v. A.S. to agree , to b e at

one .

Saulis,n.p l. Scot t . dial . soulsSavourynge , part . n. t h e sense of

t ast e , or smelling.

Sautes,n. p l. A.N . assaults.

Sautrie ,n.A.N .a psalt ery ,amusicalinstrument somew h at resemblinga h arp .

Saw ceflem, adj. p imp led .

Saw e ,n. A.S . a discourse , proverb,or w ise saying.

Saw hSeySeySe igh tense ofse.v.A.S . saw .

Seygh

SaughSih eSaynd , part . pa . Of senge , v. A.S.singed , toast ed.

Scalls, n. A.N . a scale or scab.Scant ilone , n. A.S . a scant ling or

pat t ern.

Scarce , adj .A.N . sparing , p enurious.Scariot , n. pr . Judas Iscariot ; me.t aph orically a t raitor.

Scarmyssh e n. A.N . a skirmishScarmych e bat t le .

gag)

; n. A.S. h arm, damage.

255

a stable

v. A.S . to sh ear or cut .

n. A.S . a sh irt .

Scat h efulScat h elich e adj . A.S . pernicious.Scat h les, adj . A.S. scath eless, w ithout h arm.

Sch adde , past tense Of sch ede , v.

neat . A.S. fe ll .Sch aft ,n. A.S . a sh aft or arrow .

Sch alv.A.S. sh all.Sch allesecond pers. sing.ofsh al ,v.A.S . w ith pron. t h ou

aflix ed , as in t h e

Scandinavian Shal

at tu, sh alt t h ou.

Sch amefast , adj . A .S . modest ,sh amefaced.

Sch apelySh ap ely } adj . A.S. fi t , l ikely.Seh aw e n. A.S . a sh ade Of trees,Sh aw e a grove

Sch e , .pron. A.S . sh e

Sch eeld , n. A.S. t h e coin calleda crown, or was.Sch eep ,n. A.S . sh eep .

Seh ende A.S. to ruin, destroy ;part . pa. sch eut orSh endesh ent .

Sch endsch ip n. A.S. ruin, destrucSh endsh ip t ion.

323? adj . A.S. beaut iful.

gigs)? part .p a. ofseh ende .

Sch ipneSch epneSh epneSch ereSh ereSch ert eSh ert e

v. A.S . to sh oot .

v. A.S . to shut ; past

213

1213

2? tense and par t . sch it teor sh i t t e , sh ut .

Sch ifte , v. A.S. to ch ange , divide .

Sch ilde v. A.S . to sh ie ld, h inder,or forbid. God sch ilde l God for

b id

Sch ipman, n. A.S. amariner.Seh ire , n. A.S. a Sh ire , or county;also t h e sh ire court , or sessions.

256 GLOSSARY.

Sch ivere, n. A.S . a sh iver, or smallslice .

Sch o, p ron. A.S . sh e .

Sch ood A.S . t h e h airofaman’s

Sh ood h ead .

Sch ondeSh ondeSch ope past tense of sch ape , v.

A.S . sh ap ed. I schop emeto begynne, I sh aped or

prepared myse lf to

Sh opeSh oopSh oope

Sch ore re , v.

Sh oreSch orte

Sh ort sSch ot , adj . A.S. qualifying w indow ,

means t h at t h e w indow projectsso t h at it may be convenient forsh oot ing from.

Sch ow ve , v. A.S. to sh ove , push .

Sch rew e

Sh rew ev. A.S . to curse .

n. A.S . a curst , or illggxx

et empered , or w ickedperson.

Sch rew de adj . A.S. w icked, ill

Sh rew de natured.

Sch rew ednesShrew ednes }n.A.S.w ickedness.

n. A.S. confession.

Schuft e-fader,n. A.S. a fath er confessor.

Sch righ t

Sch rygh t tense of sch rieb e , v.

Sh righ t A.S. sh rieket h .

ggggl

gt past tense of sch rieb e,Shrigl

gt

v. A.S. shrieked.

v.ac.A.S . toadmini st er th esacrament of Penance .

I have been shriventh isday ofmy carat , I h aveh ad t h e sacrament of

Penance administ eredto me tod ay by h imw h o h as t h e cure of

souls inmy parish .

v. reflective, to mak eone ’

s confession.

v. A .S. sh ould.

v. A.S . sh al l.

A.N . w rit ing.

SchuldeShulde

Sch ulleSch ullenSch ulnSh ullenSclat , n.A.S. a slat e .

Sclaundre ,n. A.S. slander.Sclendre , adj . A.S. slender.

n.A.N . anescutch ecn.

Scoley , v. A.N . to at tend sch ool , tostudy.

Scrippe , n.A.N . a scrip .

Scrip tures,n.pl.

Scryvenlich e , adj . like a scrivener.

23339

} A.S. to seek.Secresam e } adj . A.N . secret .

Seculer, adj. A.N . be longing to t h e

laity or paroch ial clergy , inOpposit ionto regular, applied to t h ose

clergy w h o lived by a monast icrule .

Seeden, v. A.S. to produce seed.See , n. A.N . a seat .

Seev. A.S. to look upon. God

Se you see , God look upon

Sene you. On to see , to lookupon.

See , n. A.S. t h e sea. The grete see ,t h e sea ont h e coast Of Palestine.See Numb. xxx iv. 6 , 7 .

Seer, adj . A.S. sear, dry.

Seet en, past tense pl. of sit te , v.

A.S . sat .Sege ,n. A.N . a siege , a seat .

Se ide , past tense of seye , v. A.S.said.

Seigh , past tense ofsee , saw .

Se ignorie , n. A.N . aut h ority, pow er.Seyntuarye ,n. A.N . a sanctury.

Seke , v. A.S. Same as sech e .

Seke , adj . A.S. sick.Se ldeSelden

adv. A.S . seldom.

Sele , n. A.N . a seal.Se lle , n. A.N . a ce ll.

258 GLOSSARY.

Sh of, past tense of sh ove , v. A.Ssh oved , push ed .

Sh onde , n. A .S . h arm.

Shot t is, n. pl. A.S. arrow s, darts,anyt h ing t h at is sh ot .

Sh ift — See sch rift .

Sh righ tShrygh t

Shulde;past tense of sh alle , v. A.S.sh ould p l. shulde, or shulden.

of sh alle , v. A.S.—Seesch ullen.

Sibbe , adj . A S. related , akin.

Sicladoun, n. A.N ..a kind of rich “dv A S~ Since

different forms of th e pasttense ofsee , 0. A.S. saw .

of sike , v. A.S.sigh ed.

Signe , v.A.H. to assign.

Signifer,n. Lat . t h e Zodiac.Signi fi aunce , n.A.N . significat ion.SikeSyke

adj . A .S . 810k.

Slkev. A.S. to sigh .

n. A.S. a sigh .

adj . A.S . sure.Sikerde , part . pa. of sikere , v. A.S.assured.

SikernesseSykernesseSikerlySykerly} adv. securely.

Sims} n. A.N .

SinSins

adv. A.S. abbreviat ionofSynSen si then, since . Sleer,n. A.S . a slayer.Sene Slegh t ,n. A.S. any th ing elm

n. A.S. security.

Sippe ,n. A.S. sup , drink.Siph er,n. a ciph er.

n. A.N . a t it le of respect

giventoa knigh t or bach elor of arms, a bach e lor ofarts, and also to a priest .It w asalso prefix ed to t h ename of a man’

s calling,w h enh e w as addressed ;as, sir, or sire knigh t , sireclerk, svre monk, sire mamoflaw e. Sire isalso some.

as, And Melancholy, thatangry sire. Our sire , our

good man.

Sisour,n. A.N . anassizer, jurymau.

Sit h e , for sith es,n.p l. A.S. times.Sit h enSithSyt h enSyt h

Sit t e v. A S. to sit , to suit w ith ,Syt t e } to be fit t ing.

Sit tande , part . pres. sitt ing, fit t ing.

Sit tenrt f

‘

t tSyt t en pa . pa. o 81 e .

Skafi‘

aut , n. A.N . a scaffold, or

w ooden tow er, used inbesiegingt owns.

Skath e , n. A.S . scath e , loss.

Skee t , adv. A.S . sw ift ly.Skil ,n. A .S . a reason, argument .Skilful , adj . A.S. reasonable.Skinke , n. A.S. to pour out , serve

w ith drink..A.S. to skip ,to dance ;

211

233“ to pass over inatten

Skyppet ively in reading.

Past tense, skipt e.Skorcle , v. A.S . to scorch .

Skye , n. A.S . a cloud.

Slake , adj . A.S . slow .

Slake , v. ac. A.S. to appease, to

make slack.Slake , v. neat . A.S. to fail , todesist .Slaw e , part . pa. ofsle , v. A.S. slain.

GLOSSARY. 259

Sleigh ly, adv. A.S . slyly , cunningly . Sojourne , v. A.S. to sojourn.Sle igh t , n. A.S . contrivance. Soken,n. A.S . t oll.Slen.

— See sle . Sokingly, adv. gent ly .Slepe , v. A.S. to sleep ; past tense Solas, n. A.N . solace , mirth ,slepe , slep t e , slept . sport .

Sle t e , n. A.S. sleet , snow mixedw it h rain.

Slevelesse , adj . unprofitable .

Slider, adj . A.S . slipp ery .Sliding, part .pres. unstable.

S lik , for sw ilke , adj . A.S. such .

th ird p ers. sing . p res. tense ofSlyt slide , v. A.S . slidet h .

‘

A.S . somew h at .

Size } v. A.S . to slay.Slogardie , n. sloth .

Sloppe ,n. A.S. loose breech es.S lough , past tense of sle , v. A.Sslew .

’

Sloumb erynges,n.p l. A.S . slumberings.

Slow e , n. A.S . amoth .

S luggy , adj .A.S . sluggish .

Slye , adj . A.S. sly.

Slygh tly, adv. A.S . slyly , cunningly .Smalish , adj . A .S. smallish , rath ersmall.

Smert e ,n. A.S . smart ing, pain.

Smert e , v. A.S . to smart ,Smert e , adv. A.S. smart ly .Smit third p ers. sing . pres. tense ofSmyt smite , v. A.S . smit et h .

Smite t h , imp er.mood , smite ye .

Smit t ed , part . pa. of smit e , v. A.Ssmit t en.

Smokles, adj . A.S . w it h out asmockSmoterlich , adj . A.S . smut ty .Smyt h ed , past tense of smyth e , vA.S . w rough t as a

'

smith .

Snew ed , past tense ofsnow e , v. A .S.snow ed ; met aph orically, w as as

p lent iful as flakes ofsnow .

211

1233; v. A.S . so snub , remove .80, for seo, A.S. sh e .

Sodeyn, adj . A.N . sudden.

Sodeynly, adv. suddenly.Soge t , adj . A.N . subject .Sojour,n. A.H. sojourn, stay.

adj .A.N . alone, single ;sullen.

Solempne , adj . A.N . solemn.

Solemp enely. adv. A.N . solemnly.Som, adj . A.S . some . Th is is alandsom, th is is t h e Wh ole mat t er ingeneral and inpart icular. Alleand som, one and all.

Somer,n. A.S . summer.Somer,n. A.N . a beast of burden,or sump t er.Somme , adj . A.S . some . With histenth s somme ij ere , toget h er w ithsome t enofh is att endants.

Sfi fi ggz v. A.N . to summon.

Sompnour, n. A.N . anofficer emp loyed to summondelinquents toappear int h e ecclesiast ical courts,now called anapparitor.Sond ,n. A.S. sand.

Sonde , n. A.N . a sounding line .

Sonde ,n. A.S . anyt h ing sent , amessage . Goddes sonde , Wh at Godh as sent .

Sondit , probably amistake for soudit , part . pa. of soude, v. A.N .

soldered or joined .

233;e adv. A.S . soon.

233; n. A.S. a son.

Sonken, part . pa. of sinke , v. A.S.sunken.

Sonne ,n. A.S . t h e sun.

Sonnyssh , adj . A.S . like t h e sun.

Sepe ,n. A.N . a sup .

Sop er, n. A.N . supper.

Soph ime n. A.N . a soph ism, a

Soph eme } stratagem.

Sore , v. A.N . to soar.

Sort , n. A.N . ch ance , dest iny.Sorta, v.A.N. to allot.

17—2

260 GLOSSARY.

Sorw

Sorw e n. A.S. sorrow .

Sorow

Sory , adj . A.S . sorrow ful. Sory

grace, misfortune .

Sot e ,n. A.S . soot .SoteSooteSw ot e

Sw oot

Sot e ,n. A.N . a fool .Sot ed ,part .pa.A.N .fooled, besot t ed .

Sot el, adj . A.N . subt le , artfully cont rived .

SothSooth } adj . A .S . true.Sot h e

Sot h ely

20

0211

318 n. t ruth .

Sot hfastnesseSot h efastness

n. trut h .

Soth erne , adj . A.S. sout h ernSoth eness, n. A .S . trut h , reality .Sot h e-saw e , n. A.S. t rue saying.

adj . A.S. sw eet .

adv. truly.

veracity.Soudan

SoudannesseA.N . a sultaness.Sow dones

Souded , part . pa. Of soude , v. A.N .

soldered , unit ed.

Soudiour,n. A.N . a soldier.

Soveraine adj . A.N . sovereign, exSovereyne cellent n. a sove

re ign, monarch .

Souke , v. A.N . to suck.Souled part . pa. A.S. endued w ithSow led a soul.Soun,n. A.N . sound .

Sounde , v. ac. A.S . tomake sound ,

to h eal ; v.neat . to grow sound .

Soune , v. A.N . to sound. Asfer as

souneth into honeste , as far as ac

corde t h w it h decency.Soupe , v. A.N . to sup .

2335? n. A.N . supper.

Souple , adj .A.N . supple , p liant .Sourde , v. A.N . to riseSours, n. A.N. a soaring, a rap idascent ; t h e source ofa stream.

Sow e , v. A.S . to sew .

Sow e , v. A .S . to sow .

Sow er, n. a buck inh i s fourth year.Sow ke , v. A.N . to soak, drink.Sow led. Same as souled.

Sow ter,n. Lat . a cobbler.

Span-new , adj . quite new .

Spannish yng,part . pres. expanding.

Spare , v.A.S . to refrain.

Sparand, part . p res. sparing, penurions.

Sparh aw kSparbankSparre ,n. A .S. a b ar.Sparre , v. A.S . to bar, bolt .Spart h e n. A.S. an axe , or hal.

Sparth berd .

2322? n. Gr. a sph ere.

Spede , v. A.S . to speed , to despatch .

Sp ectacle , n. Lat . a spying-glass.Spe l, n. A.S . sport , p lay anex

orcism.

Spence , n. A.N . a store-room, or

ce llar.Spere ,n. Gr. asph ere .

Sp ere ,n.A.S .a b ar, aspear,apointedw eaponofany kind, as a spur.

Spere , v. A .S. to b ar.

Sperh aw k ,n. A.N . a sparrow h aw k.Sperme ,n. Gr. seed.

Sp et t e , th ird pers. sing. pres. tense ofspede , speede th .

Sp iced , part . pa. applied to conscience , means Soph ist icated bycasuist ic sub tlet ies, or scrupulous.

Thus, inBeaumont and Fletch er’sMad Lover , w h enCleant h e offersapurse , t h e priest ess says :

n. a sparrow -h aw k.

Fy lno corrup t ion.(716 . Take i t , i t is yours

Be not so sp iced, it is goodgold.

Spices, n.A.N . species, kinds.Spille , 0. ac. A.S. to w aste , to destroy.Sp ille , v.neat . A.S . to perish .

Sp ire ,n. A.S. a stake , or staff.Sp ire A S to ask uest ionSpere v. aq

Sp itous, adj.A.N. angry , sp iteful

262 GLOSSARY.

Stot , n. A.S. a stallion, or youngbul l.

Stot e , n. A.S . t h e stoat , or erminew easel , called, inNorfolk , t h emouse-hunts.

Stound , n. A.S. amoment .Stoundemele , adv. A.S. moment arily, every moment .

Stoupen.- Same as stopen.Stoure , n. A.S. figh t , bat t le , p l.

stouris.

Strake .v. A.S . to proceed direct ly.Strange , adj . A.N . fore ign, uncommon. H e made it strange, h emade it amat ter ofdifficulty.

Straugh t e , past tense Of strecch e , v.

A.S . stre tch ed.

Stre ,n. A.S . straw .

Streigh t , part . pa. of strecch e , v

A.S . stre tch ed , drawn.

Stremyde past tensep l. ofstreme ,v.

tremede A.S. st remed , flow ed .

Stremes,n. p l. A.S . streams,or raysofligh t .StreenStrene n. A.S. seed, strain,or race .

Streng, adj . A.S.,strong. Comp .

deg. strenger, superl. strengest .Strepe , v. A.S. to strip .

Stret e ,n. A.S. a street . Themaistrestrete, t h e h igh , ormain, street .

Strif

Stryf}n. A.S . strife.trike ,n. A.S. a streak. A strike

offlew , a h ank Offlax .

Strode , Ralph , n. pr. a Fel low of

Merton0. Oxford , a logicianandpoe t cont emporary w it h Ch aucer,w h o dedicat es to h im t h e Troylus

and Cryseyde.

Strof, past tense sing. Of strive , v.

A.S . strove ; p l. strove .

Stronde , n. A.S. a strand , or sh ore .

Stroth ir,n. pr. Ina not e ont h isw ord (see vol. i . p . not e i )i t is stat ed on t h e aut h ority ofDr. Wh itaker t h at t h is is t h e

valley ofLangst roth dale in t h eWest Riding of Yorksh ire ; buta correspondent h as obliginglysuggest ed t h at i t is more like ly

A.H. to destroy.

ster, pl. sustren,

t h at Stroth ir, inF ife , is t h e p lace Sw a, adv. A.S. so.

int ended, as be ing fer in the

north .

’ He h as also point ed out

t h at t h e dialect used by t h eclerks resembles t h at OfScot landmuch more nearly t h an th at of

Yorksh ire . Th is is anint erest ingfact , as sh ow ing t h at in t h e

middle ages students from Scotland , t h en a separat e kingdom,

resort ed to Oxford .

Strow t e , v. A.S. to strut , to expand

Stubb il, n. A .S . stubble . A stubbil

goos, agoose turned out to feed ont h e stubbles aft er h arvest .

Subarb es,n. p l. Lat . suburbs.Subget , n. Lat . subject .Sub limatorie , n. A.N . a vesse l usedby ch emists insublimat ion.

Sukkenye , n. A.N . (souquenille), a.loose frock or roch et , such as

t h at w ornby carters.Sue

Sew eSueton,n. pr. Suetonius, th e Romanh istorian.

Sufi isaunce ,n.A.N . suffi ciency.Sufi isaunt , par t . pres.A.N . sufi icing,sufficient .

Sugrid, part . pa. A.N . sw eet ened,sugared .

Supplye , v. A.N . to supplicat e .

Surcot e ,n.A.N . anupper coat .Surp lis, n. A.N . a surp lice .

Surquedrie , n. A.N . rresumpt ion.

Surrye ,n.p r. Syria.

Sursanure ,n. A.N . a w ound h ealedoutw ardly.

Surveaunce , n. A.N . superintendence .

SuspecciounSusp ectSuspecious, adj . A.N . suspicious.Suspect , part . pa. of suspects, v.

A.N . suspect ed .

Sust erSust ir

v.A.N . to pursue .

n. A.N . susp icion.

GLOSSARY. 263

Sw al, past tense of ew elle , v. A.S. Sys,n. A.N . th e cast of six onth esw elled ; part . pa. sw ollen. dice .

Sw appe , v. ac. A.S. to t h row down, Syt , th ird p ere. sing . Of syt te, or

to strike Ofi ’

; v.neat . to fall down; sit t e , v. A.S . si t tet h .

past tense sw apt e .

Sw art , adj . A.S. black , sw arth y. Syt h en adv. A .S . since .

Sw at t e , past teme of sw e te , v. Syt h eA .S . sw eat ed ; part . pa. sw ots,sw oot .

Sw egh , n. A.S. a violent mot ion, asw aying.

Sw eereSw ere

Sw ireSw elte , v. A.S. to die , to faint ; pasttense , sw e lt .

Sw erne , v. A .S. pres. tense p l. of

sw ere , v. A.S . sw ear.

Sw et e , v. A.S . to sw eat ; past tensesw at t e , sw e t e ; part . pa. sw ot s,

sw oot .

Sw evenSw evenynge

n. A.S. a dream.

Sw iene , adj. A.S. such .

Sw inke

Sw im— See sw ere .

Sw ith e , adv. A .S . quickly , immedi

Sw ive v. A.S .—Se e Junii EtymolSw yve inv.

Sw olow e n. A .S . t h e th roat ; a

Sw olw e w h irlpool .Sw onken,part .pa. ofsw inke , v.A.Slaboured , w eary w ith labour.

Sw oot , part . pa. Of sw e t e , v. A.S.sw eat ed. For swoot , because h eh ad sw eat ed.

Sw ough , n. A.S . confusednoise ; asw oon.

Sw ow ,n. A.S. a sw oon.

SykerSykyr

adj . A.S . sure .

Sykerde , past tense ofsykere ,v.A.Sassured.

S kernesseSykirnesse n. A.S. security.SykerlySykirly

adv. A.S . sure ly.Syn

adv. A.S. since.SinSynamome ,n.A.N. cinnamon.

Taas, n.A.N . a h eap .

Tabard, n. A.N . a loose frock, ah erald’

s coat-Of-arms.

Tables,n. A.N . backgammon.

Tab oure ,n. A.N . a drum.

Tach e , n. A.N .a‘

spot or blemish .

Taille , n. A.N . a tally, or notch edst ick to count by .

Take , part .pa . oft ake ,v.A.S. t akenTake l , n. A.S . anarrpwTale , v. A.S . to t e ll stori es.

Tale , n. A.S. sp eech , discoursereckoning, account . I/ itel tale

hath he told of ang d/reme , hemade lit t le account Ofany dream.

Talent , n. A.N . desire , affect ion.Talyng,n. A.S. story-t e lling.

Tamyd , part . pa ,Of tame , v. A.N .

(entamer) cut Openfor th e firsttime , begun.

Tane , for t aken.

Tapicer, n.A.N . anuph olsterer.Tapinage ,n.A.N . lurking, skulking,dece it .

Tapit e ,v.A.N . tob angw it h tapestry.Tappe ,n. A.S. a t ap or spigot .Tapst ere ,n. A.S . a female t apster.Tare , past tense oft ere , v. A.S. tore .Targe ,n.A.N . a t arge t or sh ield.

pr. perh aps Tarsus, inAsia Minor, w h ence clothofTars, a sort Ofsilk , w asimport ed .

Tas'

Taas}n. A.N . a h eap .

Tassid ,part .pa. adornedw ith tassels.Tast e v. A.N . (taster , téter) to th e] ,examine .

Tat arw agges,n. p l. A.S. rags.Taverner,n.A.N . a t avern-keeper.Taure ,n. pr.Lat . t h e constellationof Taurus.

264

Taylagier,n. A.N . a tax-gath erer.

Tecch e ,n. A.N . same as tach e .

Tech e. v. A .S . to t each .

Temps, n. A.N . t ime .

n. A.S . grief.

v. A.S . togrieve , toafi lict .Tene , for tane , t aken.

Terce l n. A.N . t h e male ofbirdsTerce le t Ofprey.Terin, n.A.N . a sort Ofsinging-bird.

Termagaunt ,n. pr .A.N . one of t h efalse gods oft h e h eat h en.Terrestre , adj . A.N . earth ly.Tery, adj . A .S . full Oft ears.Tester,n. A.N . a h ead-p iece , or h elmet .

Test yf, adj.A.N .h eady , h eadstrong.

Tew e l n. A.N . a p ipe , t h e fundaTuel ment .Tex tual , adj .A.N . ready at quot ingt h e t ex t ofScripture .

Teyne , n. A .S . a t ine , prong, or

t h inp iece Ofmetal.Th ak , n. A.S . t h atch .

Th akke , v. A.S. to t h w ack, slap .

Th am’

e , for t h em.

Th ankes, adv. A.S. w ith good w ill.His thankes, her thankes, A.N .

songre , leurgré, w ith h is, or t h eirgood w i ll.

Th enneTh an } adv. A .S. th en.

Th ar, v. imp ersonal, A.S . b eh oveth .

Th e , t h e definite art icle is Oftenincorporat ed w i th w ords beginningw ith a vow e l ; as, t h ambassiat ours, t h e ambassiatours, t h e ambassadors : t h ex ecucioun, t h e exsent iou.

gin} v.A.S. to t h rive .

put for the ich or the ile,t h rive

‘

I. So theech , so

may I t h rive .

Th edome ,n. A.S. t h rift , success.Th efely, adj . A.S. like a t h ief.Th ennesTh enne adv. A.S. t h ence .

Th ennesforth , -adv. th eneforth .

GLOSSARY

A.S . toenslave .

Th rie

Th ries

Th ryTh ryes

Th rilled , for t h irled, past tense ofth irle , pierced.

adv. A.S. thrice.

£11

1

1

2; adv.A.S. th ere , w h ere .

Th er, incomposit ionsignifies th at ,as therfor, for t h at ; therabouten,about t h at ; theragent , againstt h at ; therbefore , before t h at , &c.

Th ew es, n. A.S . manners, quali ti es.Th ider, adv.A .S . t h it h er.

Th ilke, adj . A.S . t h is same .

Meth inks, i t seems t ome ; h em though ts, it

seemed to t h em,

Th inke v. A.S. (thenkan) to t h ink,Th ynke consider.

Th inneTh ynne } cdg. A.S . slender.Th irle

Th yrle } v. A.S . to p ierce .

Th is pron. demons. A.S. th is,Th ise t h ese .

Th O0 pron. demons. A.S . th ose.

adv. A.S. t h en.

Th ole , v. A.S . to sufi‘

er.

Th ore , inTh e Rom. of the Rose, is

put for e it h er th ere, or thole . L

and r are oft enint erch anged .

Th orpe

Th rop en. A .S . a Vi llage.

Th ral,n. A.S: aslave , serf, orvillain

Th red , n. A.S . t h read.

Th reissh fold,n. A.S . a th resh old.

Th repe , v. A .S . to call .Th rest e , v. A.S. to t h rust ; past

tense , t h rast e , and t h rist .Th re te , v. A.S. to t h reat en.

Th ret t ene ,num. adj. A.S. t hirt een.adj.A.S. th ird.

266

gggggg}n. A.N . a ch eat .

Tredefoule , n. a treader Of h ens, acock.Tregetour,n. A.N . ajuggler.Trental ,n. A.N . a service Of th irtymasses, usually said onas manydifferent days, for t h e repose Of

t h e souls of t h e dead.

Trepeget ,n. A.N . anengine Ofw ar.Tresour,n. A.N . treasure .

Tretable , adj . A.N . t ractable .Tre te , v.A.N . to treat , to discourse

Tret eTre t isTretys

Tretys, adj .A.N . w ell proport ioned .

Treuw e ,n.A.N . a t ruce .

Trew e , adj . A.S. true .

Trew e-love , n. p r. t h e h erb , Truelove.

Triacle , n. A.N . a corruption Of

th eriaque , a remedy.Trice , v. A.S . to t h rust .

$32} adj. tried, or re fi ned.Trille , v. ac. A.S . to tw irl.Trille , v.neat . A.S. to t rickle .

Trine , adj . A.N . t h reefold. Trinecompas, t h e Trinity. See Compas.Trip , n. a small p iece.Trist e , v. for t rust e .

Tristre , n. a preconcerted p lace of

meet ing.

Trompe ,n. A.N. a trumpet .Trompour,n. A.N . a t rump eter.Tronch oun,n.A.N. a h eadless spear,or trunch eon.

Trone ,n. A.N . a t h rone .

Trotula, n. pr. a med ical w rit er,w h ose t reat ise , CarandarumzEgritudinumMuliebrium, &c., isprint edint er Medicos Antiques, Ven.

1547 .

Trouble , part . pa. A.N . troubled

a treaty.

gloomy.Troubler, comp . degree. moret roubled.

Trow andyseTruaundise n. A.N. begging.

Trow e, v. A.S. to believe.

GLOSSARY.

Vaine ,n. A.N . a vein.

Valence ,n. pr. Valencia inSpain.

Valerie , n. pr . a t ract ofWalterMapes, is called Epistola Valerti

Truw e ,n.A.N . a truce.

Tue l n. A.N . a p ip e , th e fundaTuelle ment .Tulle , v. A S. to allure;Tullius,n. pr . MarcusTullius Cicero.Turkes,n. A.N . a turquoise .

Turkeys, adj . A.N . Turkish .

Turment ise ,n. AN . torment .Turves, p l. ofturf,n. A.S.

Tw eifold, adj . A. S. t w ofold.

Tw igh t , past tense, and part . of

t w icch c, v. A.S. tw itch ed,plucked .

Tw inke , v. A.S. to w ink ; h ence ,tw inkle .

Tw inneTw ynne

v. A.S . to depart froma

p lace or t h ing ; to se

parat e .

Tw ire , v.A.S. t o sing low , as ab ird.

Tw ist ,n. A.S. a bough Ofa tree .

Tw ist e , v.A.S. to t w itch , past tense.tw ist e .

Tw yes, adv. A.S . tw ice .

Tw yt h en,part .pa.w h itt led ,ch ippedw ith a knife .

Tyke] . adj . A.S. uncert ain.

Tympan,n. Lat . a drum.

Typ et ,n. A.S . a t ippet .Tyre , v. A.N .

— Same as t ire.Tyt , th ird p ers. sing. pres. tense oft yde , v.A.S. b et idet h .

Tyteryng,n. A. S . courtsh ip .

Valerie ,n. pr. Valerius Maximus.Valour,n. A.N . value.Varien, v. A.N . to ch ange .

Variaunt , part .pr. ch anging.

Vasselage n. A.N . valour, spirit

Vesselage becoming a vassal.n. A.N. Blount int erprets t h is w ord onet h at isindignity nextto a baron.

GLOSSARY.

Vekke ,n. Ital. anOld h ag.

Vendable , adj . A.N . saleable.Venerye ,n. A.N . h unt ing.

V enge , v. A.N. to revenge .

Ventusing, n. A.N . cupping, a surgi cal term.

Venym,n. A.N . venom, poison.

Ver

Veer}n. Lat . t h e spring.

Veramant , adv. A.N . truly.Verdegresse ,n. A.N . verdigris.Verd it e , n. A.N . judgment , sent ence .

Verme le

Vem efet Gib . A.N . vernnh on.

Vernage ,n. A.N . w ine ofVerona.

Vernicle , n. A.N . dimin. of Veronike , a copy inminiature of t h e

p icture of Ch rist , supposed to

h ave beenmiraculously imprint edona h andkerch iefh anded to h imby St . Veronica to w ipe h is face

w h enbearing t h e cross to Cal

vary .V ernyssh e , v. A.N . to varnish .

Verre ,n. A.N . glass.Versifyour, n. A.N . a versifi er.

Vertules,my. w ith out virtue or effi

cacy .Vertuous,my. A.N . effi cacious.Vesselle, n. A.N . p lat e .Veyne ,n.A.N . a vein.

Viage , n. A.N . a journey by sea orland.

Vicary ,n. Lat . avicar.Vice , n. A.N . t h e new e l , or uprigh tcentre Ofa w inding stair.

Vigile n. A.N . t h e eve Of afest iV igillie val ; a w ake .

Vinolent , my. Lat . smel ling of

Wine.Viol ,n. A.N . t h e violin.

Virelaye , n. A.N . a round, or catch ,

called freeman’s song, but , pro

p erly, t h ree-man’s song.

Visage , v. A.N . to front , to face at h ing.

VitailleVytaylle }n. A.N . vi ctuals.

Vi t ilyon, n. pr . a w riter onOpt ics,w h o flourish ed in 1270. His

w orks, togeth er w it h t h ose of

267

Alh az en, w ere printed at Basilin1572 .

Umbrayde , v. A.S . to upbraid.

Unbodye , v. A.S. to leave th e

body.Unbokele , v. A.N . to unbuckle .

Unce , n. A.N . anounce , a smallport ion.

Uncommit ted ,part .pa.not assigned.

Unconnyng my. A.S. ignorant ;n.

Unkonning ignorance .

Uncovenable , (my. A.N . inconvenient , unbecoming.

Uncouth ly , adv. A .S . uncommonly.Undirfonge , v. A.S . to undertake .

Undergrow e , part . pa. undergrown,Oflow stature .

Undermele , n. A.S. t h e t ime after

dinner, t h e afternoon.

Undern, n. A .S. d inner-t ime , stillused inSw edish .

Undernome, past tense ofundernime ,v. A.S . took up , received.

Underpigh t ,past tenseOfunderpich e .

H e drank and w el his gardel underp igh t , h e drank and stuffed

h is girdle w e ll.Underspore , v. A.S. to raise a t h ingby put t ing a sp ere, or pole , underi t .

Understonde , part . pa. of understande .

Undo, v. A.S. to unfold.

Unese ,n. uneasiness.Unnet h e adv. A .S. uneasily,Unne th es scarce ly.Unfamouse , ash . unknown.

Unfest lich e , my. unsuitable to a

feast .

Ungoodly , ady. A .S. uncivi l .Unh e le , n. A.S .misfortune .

Unh ilid p art.p a. Of unh ele , v. A.S.uncovered , unroofed.

Unkindely, adv. A.S . unnaturally.Unlet t ed, part . pa. undisturbed.

Unloven, v. A.S. to cease to love.Unlust , n. A.S. dislike.

Unmanh ode ,n. A.S . cow ardice.Unpyn, v. A.S. to unlock.

268 GLOSSARY.

Unrest ,n. A.S. w ant ofrest , uneasiness, trouble .

Unresty, adj . A .S . unqui et .Unrigh t ,n. A .S. wrong.

Unsad, adj . unsteady .Unsely, adj . A.S . unh appy.Unse t , part . pa. not appoint ed.

Unsh et t c, part . pa. Opened.

Unslekked , part . pa. unslaked .

Unslep t , part . pa. h aving h ad nosleep .

Unsoft , acb'

. A.S. h ard.

Unspered, part . pa. unbarred .

Unsuffi cient ,my. insuflicient .Unsw elle , v. A.S. to fall aftersw elling.

Unt h ankUnt h onke }n. A.S. ill-Wi ll .Unt i l , p rep . A.S. to,‘ unto.

Unt ime , n. A.S . anunseasonablet ime .

Unto, adv. A.S. unt il.Unt ressed , par t . pa. not t ied ina

t ress, or tresses.

Untretab le , adj .not admi tt ing anyt reaty . Th is w ord is a translat ionOfth e Lat ininexorabile .

Untrist e , v. A.S. for untruste , tomistrust .Untrust , n. A.S.mistrust .Unusage , n. w ant of usage . Atranslat ionoft h e Lat . insolentia.

Unw are , part . pa. A1

gggzlge } “47 ° A’S' “ Wie ld?Unw emmed, part . pa. A .S . nu

spot t ed .

Unw eting, part . p r. A.S. not knowing. Unw et ing of th is Dorigen,Dorigennot know ing Oft h is.

Unw et ingly, adv.A.S. ignorant ly.Unw ist , part . pa. unknown. H er

intent w asfor to love hymunw ist ,sh e int ended to love h im insecre t . Unzvist of i t hymselve, h eh imselfbe ing ignorant ofit .

Unw it , n. A.S . w ant ofw i t .Unw ot e , v. A.S. to b e ignorant .

v. A.S . to uncover.Unyolden, part . pa. not h avingyie lded.

Voide v. ac. A.N. to remove, toVoyde emp ty.Voide}v.neat . A.S . to depart , to

Voyde go aw ay.Volage , adj . A.N . ligh t , giddy,Volantyn, n. p erh aps a clericalerror for

'

volat ile, game (Fr.

volaz’

lle) or t h e name of somekind ofw ine , possibly valteline .

Volunt e ,n. A.N . w ill.Volupere ,n. A.N . a w oman’

s cap , a

nigh t-cap . Int h e Promp tuariumParvulorum, teristrum is int erpre t ed volupere kerch er. There

'

s

trumsignifies, properly , a ve il.Vouch e , v.A.N . generally used w itht h e adj . sauf, w h en i t means tovouch safe , to grant . Int h is caset h e verb vouch e and t h e adj . saufare somet imes separat ed byseveral intervening w ords, as

For saud'

ofch erlis I ne vouch sTh at t h ey sh ulleneverneigh itnereFor } do not vouch safe , or grantallow ance , to ch urls t h at t h eysh ould ever come near i t . Bot h

t h e verb vouch s and t h e adj . saufare inflect ed. Vouch en sauf, tovouch safe ; vouch eth sauf; vouchsafe ye . Th e king vouch es it save,t h e king vouch safes, or sanct ions,it .

Up , prep . A.S. upon. Up peyne,uponpain; up peril, uponperil.

Up , adv. A.S. Up onland , up int h e count ry ; up so down, upsidedown. But Pandarusup , anellipt ical expression,meaning rose up .

Thus in t h e English t ranslat ionoft h e Psalms, w e fi nd, Up , Lord ,for Rise up , Lord ! and amongt h e vulgar, He up w ith h is stick.

Uph af.past tense ofuph eve , v. A.S.uph eaved.

Uph eping,n. A.S . accumulat ion.

Upper,adv.A.S . comp . degree , h igh er.Upperest , my. A.S. sup erl. degree ,h igh est .Uprigh t , adj . A.S . straigh t . Uprigh t as a bolt , straigh t as anar

row . Wh en app lied to persons

270 GLOSSARY.

umParoulorum, w arysonis translat edDonat ivwn.

Warne v. A.S . to caut ionor w arn,Werne } to apprize , to refuse .

Warnestore , v. A.S. to furnish , to

v. A.S . to abuse, speakevi l of.

v. A.S. to w ash ; past

tense w essch , w issh ,

w isseh ; pafft . p a.

w asch ed, w aissoh en,w eseben.

Wast el-breed, n. cake-bread, or

bread made of t h e finest flour,from t h e Anglo-Normangasteau,a cake .Wastour,n. a spoiler.

Wat erynge ofSeint Th omas. Tyr

w h it t supposes t h is to h ave beena p lace for w at ering h orses, a

W 1lit t le out of t h e Borough ofe e

South w ark , on t h e road to Cant erbury. Th e same p lace w as

aft erw ards called St . Thomas a

Waterings, probably from somech ape l ded icat ed to t h at saint .It w as a p lace of ex ecut ion inQueen E lizabeth ’

s t ime .— See

Woon, Athen. Orson. i . 229 .

Watlynge-stre t e ,n. pr. a ce lebratedRoman road w h ich t raversed

England ; t h e galaxy or mi lkyw ay.

Waved , part . pa. of w eve , v. A.Sw oven.

Waw e , n. A.S . a w ave p l. w aw i s.

Waw y.my. A.S. w avy.Way,

n. A.S . is oft enput for t h et ime inw h ich a certainspace canb e passed t h rough ; as a furlongw ay, a mile w ay, any sh ort t ime .

At the leste w ay, at least w ise . Adevilw ay, a tw enty devil w ay, areexpressions diffi cult to translate ,but t h ey meanw i t h ill luck.Way, adv. A.S. aw ay. Do w ay, do

aw ay , take aw ay ; used as anint erject ion, Aw ay w it h it !Wayke , adj . A.S. w eak.

Webb e ,n. A. S . a w eaver.Wedde , n. A .S . a pawnor pledge.To w edde , fora p ledge And leydeto w edde N ormandie , and mortgaged Normandy .Wede , n. A.S. cloth ing. Underw eds

,inh is cloth ing.

Wede n. A .S . a w eed pl. w edis.

Weep’

past tense of w cpc, v. A.S.Wepe w ep t .

Weive v. ac. A.S. to w aive ,decline,Weyve forsake.

$321} v.neat . A.S. to depart .Weken, v.neat . A.S. to grow w eak.

w eke

} adj . A.S. w eak.Wayke

adj . A.S. w ell , fortunate.Wel w ere they that th ider

migh t w inne , fortunat ew ere t h ey w h omigh t sucoecd inreach ing th at place.It is also joined to adverbsand adj ect ives int h e samew ayasfuland righ t ; t h us,w el more, considerablymore ; a w el good w right ,a righ t good art isan.

Welde , v. A.S . to govern, to w ield ;past tense w elt , w ielded.

Weldy, adj . A.S. act ive , able to governor w el l w ield h is limbs.We le , n. A.S. w eal , w eal th , pros

perity.

Weleful, my. A.S . productive of

w ealth or h app iness.

Welefulnes,n. A.S . h app iness.Welke , past tense of w alke , v. A .S.w alked.

We lke , v. A.S. to w ith er, to growmouldy ; part .pa. w elked.

Welkin,n. A .S . t h e sky.

We lle , n. A.S . a spring. Welle of

lesse , spring ofvices,ofperfect ions.ofall amiability.Wel le v. A .S . to flow , spring up ,We imo} as w at er ina w e ll.We lt e , past tense of w elde , v. A.S.governed , w ielded.

Wel-t h ew ed, part .pa. endow ed w ithgood qualit ies.

GLOSSARY.

Welew illy my. w ell-w ish ing, pro

Welew ally p it ious.

Wizme } n. A.S. a spot , a fault .Wench e , n. A.S. a young w oman.

It is somet imesused inanOpprobrions sense , as I ama gentilw oman, andno w encke

Wende , v. A.S . to go.

Wend , th ird p ersonsing. ofw ene ,v. A.S . w eeneth , guesse th .

Wene , n. A .S. guess, supposit ion.

Wi thoutenw ene , not by supposit ion, but certainly.Wene v. A.S. to think , to supWeene pose .

Went ,part p a.ofw ende ,tense ofw ende . Wentborde, lived as a

arder.

Went ,n. A.S . a w ay, a passage ; a

turninw alking ; a turning over

inb ed.

Went , usedby poet iclicenceforwant.Wcpc, v. A .S. t o w eep .

Wepely, adj . A.S. causing t ears.WepenWepne

n. A.S . a w eapon.

A.S. w ork.

Werke A.S. to w ork.

p I/uralofam, v. A .S. It

is sometimes used , as

a reflect ed verb, for

had , according to t h e

French custom, as,Wereset h emina taverne forto drynke, s

’

etoi ent assis.

Were , subjunctive mood, past tensesing ; as, it w ere a game, i t w ouldbe fun.Were , v. A.S. to w ear ; to guard ordefend.

A.N . guerre , w ar, confusion. H is herte insuchea w ere is set , sonover a

mis entelguerre.

27 1

app lied to

h enabout to

Were ,n. A.S. a w ear for catch ingfi sh .

Weren,past ten-86 p l. ofam, v. A.S.

w ere .

Werke . Same as w erebo.Weme . Same as w arne.Werre ,n. A.N . w ar.

Werreye , v. A.N . to make w ar

against .Werse , comp . degree of ille , adv.

A.S . w orse .

Werse , cmnp . degree of bad, adj .

Werst e , sup erl. degree ofbad , adj .

A .S. w orst .Wery , adj . A.S. weary.Wessch en,p ast tense ofw assch en,v.

A.S. w ash ed.

A.S . to know ; pres. tensesecond p ers. sing. w ost ;th ird, w oot ; p ast tense,w oot .

We th er, n. A .S. th e w eath er ; a

castrated ram.

We tyng,n. A.S . know ledge.Weve

WevenWex e , v. A.S. to grow , to w ax .

Past tense sing. w ax , w ex , p l.

v. A.S . to w eave.

w ox e p a. w oxen.

Weye

Weyen S . t o w e igh .

Wh at , pron. interrog. A.S. is oftenused by itself as a sort of int erject ion; as, What ? w elcome be

the cut te. What ? N icolas ! w hathow ? What ? th inke onGod.

Wh at , pron. indef. A.S . some th ing.

Alittle w hat . What for love andfor distress, part ly for love andpart ly for distress. Wete ye

w hat ? Do you know someth ing.

N e elles w hat , nor anyth inge lse .

Wh at , w h en joined to a noun(e ith er expressed or understood),is a mere adj ect ive , answ ering to

272 GLOSSARY.

qualis Lat ., quel Fr., as, Whatme nthey w eren.

Wh eder, conj. A.S. w h eth er.

A.S. to sink , depress,w h ence t h e modernw ord overw he lm.

Wh ennes, adv. A .S . w h ence .

Wh er

Wh ere } conj . A.S . w h eth er.Wh er, adv. A.S. w h ere , w h ereas.

Wh er, in composit ion, signifiesw h ich , as, w herfor, for w h ich ;w herin, in w h ich ; w herthrough ,t h rough w h ich ; w herw ith , w it hw h ich . Wh en used interrogat ively it signifies w hat ; as Wherof? of w h at ? w h erw ith ? w i thw h at ?

Wh e t h er,my. A.S . w h ich of t w o.

Wh e t te , v. A.S. to w h et , sh arpen;past tense and particip le .w h et te .

pron. rel.A.S. w h o, w h om.

adj . w h at , w h at sort of;Wh ich as, Wh ich a miracleWh ich e befel anoon, w h at ami

racle b efelanon.

Wh ile , n. A.S . t ime . Inth is menew h ile , in t h is int ervening t ime .

How h e . migh t quyt h ir w h ile ,h ow h e migh t requite_h er t imeor t rouble . God kanful w elle

youre w h ile quyte , God canfullw ell requite you your t ime or

pains.

Wh ilere. adv. A.S. some t ime ago.

Wh ilke , adj . A.S . w h ich .

Wh ilom adv.A.S . once ,once uponWh ylom a t ime .

Wh yne , v. A.S. to w h ine .

Wh ite , adj . A.S. metaph orical ly ,fair, sp ecious.Wh iten, v. neat .A.S . to grow w h it e .

Wh o, p ron. indef. as in t h efollow ing passage fromTroyl. andCrys , b . iii .For w e le t h ow w ost , t h e name yet

ofh ireAmong t h e p eple , as w ho seith ,

h alow id

Wh ere , as w ho seith is equivalentto as one w ould say. Th e same

n. A.S. dest iny .A.S . a w ife . Properly int h e accusat ive case w yve orw ive ; pl. w yves or w ives

ph rase is used to introduce a

fuller ex planat ionof a passage ,

as w e migh t use , That is to say .

Who so, w ho that , w h osoever,Wh os, gen. case sing. of w h o, pron.

rel. A.S . w h ose .

Wide-w h ere adv. A.S . w ide ly, farWyde-w h e t and near.

WierdeWerde

Wifh oodWifh odeWyfh odeWides adj . A.S . w ith out a w ife,Wyfles unmarried .

Wi fi”} adj .A.S. befitt ing a w ife.Wyflyn. A.S. a person, male or

female a sh ort port ionof t ime . We igh t . Aw itch . Wytch clepyd

nygh t mare — Promp tu

adj . A.S . act ive , strong,Wygh t } sw ift .Wiket ,n. A.N .a w icket .Wikke adj . A.S . w icked, noxiWikked ous.

A.S . tow ill ; pres. tense,I w ol, w ole ; p ast tense ,w olde , part . pa. w old.

Williamde St . Amour,n. pr. a doc

tor of t h e Sorbonne , int h e t h irt eenth century , w h o took a principal part int h e disput e be tw eent h e University and t h e Dominicanfriars. See Moret i , inv.

Wi lly , adj . A.S . disposed. Welw illy, w ell-disposed , prop it ious.Wiln, for w illen,p l. ofw ille ,v.A.S .Wilne , v. A .S. to desire .

n. A.S . a covering for

t h e neck. It is dis

t inguish edfromaveil,

w h ich covered t h e

h ead also.

Weryng a vayle inst ide of w ymple

Asnonnys doninh er abbey.’

274“

fi nit ive verb be ing understood ;as, As she to w ater w olde, as ifsh e

w ould me lt into w at er. And tot he w ood he w ol, and h e w ill go tot h e w ood . Fulmany amanhath h ebegyled or th is, and w ol, i .e. andw i l l beguile .

Wolde , past tense of w ille , w ould ;pl. w olden; past tense sub . mood ,

as, Wolde God ! God w olde ! 0t h at God w ere w illing N e w olde

God , 0 t h at God may not b ew illing l or, God forbid 1Wold , part . pa. w illed, beenw illing.

Wolle ,n. A .S . w ool .Womanh ede , n. A.S. w omanhood,t h e p erfect ionofw oman’

snature .

Wonde , v. A.S . w andian, to desistt h rough fear. Forno w igh t w il itw onde , i t w ill not desist for anybody .Wonde , past tense of w inde , v. A.Sbent .Wonde , past tense ofw one , dw e lt .Wonder

} adj . A.S. w onderful .WondreA.S. custom, usage , w ont ;h abitat ion; resort , int h esense . of a mult itude ;p lenty, abundance .

v. A.S. to dw e ll , t o b e accustomed , to resort to a

p lace .

Woneden, past tense p l. of w one ,dw e lled .

Woned . part . pa. of w one, w ontaccustomed .

Wonyng,n. A.S . dw elling.

Wonne , p art . pa. ofw inne , v. A.Sw on, conquered ; begot ten.

Wood , adj — Same as w ode .Woodnes

}n. A.S .madness.

WoneWony

W0denesWordles, adj . A.S . speech less.Worldes, gen. case sing. ofw orld, isused int h e sense of w orldly ; as,every w orldes sore, every w orldlypain my w orldes bliss, myw orldly bliss.

Wort , n. A.S. a cabbage .

Wort , n. A.S.new beer inastate of

GLOSSARY.

v. A.S . t o bend forcibly,to t w ist app lied t o t h enigh t ingale ’s singingthat thenygh tyngale ,w i thso grete mygh t her voys

v. A .S . to cover, to w rap ,t o turn, incline .

Wryth ing ,n. A .S . turning.

Wrogh t

} past t ense and part . of

Wrogh t e w erch e ,Wronge , part . pa. of Wringe , v.

A .S. squeezed toget h er, as t h e

h ands are inviolent grief.

Wort h e , v. A .S . to b e , to become .W0 w orth e ! unh appy b e . Late

ladies w orths w it h h er thynges, letladies b e , or, let ladies alone , w itht h eir t ricks, Soc.

Wort h e , v. A .S . to climb , tomount .Wost , second p ers. sing . pres. t enseofw ite , v. A .S. know est .

Wot p res. t ense ofw it en,0r w yt ch ,

Wot e v. A.S. to kndw .

Woung, n. A .S. t h e ch eek—Sameas w ang.

Wounger,n. A.S . ap illow onw h icht h e ch eck is laid.

Wow e , v. A.S. to w oo.

Wox e , past tense p l. of w exe, v.

A .S. w ax ed , grew .

Wox en, par t . pa. ofw exe , grown.

Wrat h en, v. ac. A.S. tomake angry,or w rat h .

Wraw e , adj .A.S. w rathful , p eevishWrawness, n. A .S. w rat h fulness,p eevishness.Wrech

v. A.S . to revenge ; pasttense w rak ; part . pa.Wrekew roken, or yw roken.

Wrench e , n. A .S . a fraud , strata

A.S. t w i st ed,Wryt h enw reath ed, toget h er.

Wreye , v. A.S. to bew ray, be tray.Wri e

WryeWryneWreneWrigh t ,n. A .S . anart isan.

A.S. to t w ist , to turn

GLOSSARY.

Wrote .v.A.S. to root w it h t h e snoutlike a h og.

Wyn,n.A .S. w ine ;Wynofap e, sucha quant ity of w ine as makes a

man act like anape . See vol.

iii. p . 2 37 ,not e 3.

Wynt er~myt e , n. A .S . p erh aps a

w armcovering for t h e h ead , w ornby t h e low er orders and called inFrance a marmot te.Wye, adj . A .S . w ise .

Wyvere ,n. A .S . a serpent .

Y at t h e beginning ofmany w ords,especially verbs and part icip les,is a corrup t ionof t h e Saxongew h ich h as remained uncorrup t edint h e oth ercollateral branch es oft h e Got h ic language . Wh at t h epow er of it may h ave beenori

ginally, it is impossible now to

de termine . In Ch aucer it doesnot app ear t o h ave any effect

upont h e sense ofa w ord ; so t h at

t h ere seems t o b e nonecessity forinsert ing ina glossary such w ordsas yblessed, ygranted . &c., w h ichdiffer not , in significat ion, fromblessed, granted , &c. Some h owever of t h is sort are insert ed ,w h ich may serve at least , to sh ew

more clearly t h e ex t ent of t h e

pract ice [ i .e . of pre fi xing y toverbs] in Ch aucer’s t ime —Tyrw h itt .

adv. Yea,A.S . th e affirmat iveansw er to a quest ionaskedint h e affirmat ive form, as

Yis,or Yes, isanaffirmat iveansw er to a quest ionaskedint h e negat ive form.

Yaf, past tense sing. of yeve , v. A.Sgave ; p l. yave .

th ird person sing. p resenttense of yelde , v. A.S .yie lde t h ;yalte h imself(Fr.

se rend)b e taket h h imse lf.Yare , adj . A.S. ready.Yat e ,n. A.S. a gat e .

Yave , past tense pl. ofyeve.18—2

275

Yb e , p art pa. oftob e , v. A.S . ; been.

Yburied , part pa. buried.

Yb e t e , part . pa. of bet e , v. A.S .beat en.

Yb lent , part . pa. of blinde , v. A.S.blinded.

Ybore , p art . pa. of bere , v. A.S.Ibore , borne .

Ybourded , p art . pa. of bourde , v.

A.S . j est ed .

Ybrent .p ar/rt . pa. of brenne , v. A.S.burnt .

Ych aped part . pa. furnish ed w ithIch apud ch apes, or clasps.

Ych e , pr. A.S . each .

Ycorven, part . pa. of

Ykorven, cut .

Ycoupled , part .pa. coupled.

Ycrased, part . pa. broken.

Ydel, adj ; A.S . idle .

Ydeled ,part .pa. distributed.

Ydigh t ,part . pa. adorned .

Ydo, part . pa. done , finish ed .

Ydolastre ,n. A.N . anidolator.Ydraw e , part . pa. drawn.

Ye , adv. A.S . See Ya.

Yeddynges,n.pl. Th e Promp tuar iwmPm dorw nmakes yedd/ing to bet h e same asgeste, w h ich it exp lainst husz— Geest or romaunce , gestis.So t h at ofyeddyngesmay perhapsmeanofstory-telling .

Yede , past tense ofgo, v. A.S. (geo '

h en, Germ.)w ent .Yeft e ,n. A.S. a gift .Yelde , v. A.S . to yield, to give , torequit e ; par .pa.yolden;God yeldeit you, God requit e youfor it .Yelle , v. A.S . to ye ll .Yelleden, third p ers. p l. past tense ,ye lled .

Yelp e , v. A.S. to w h ine , to prat e ,t o boast .Ye lt , th ird p ers. sing. pres. tense ofye lde , v. A.S. yieldet h .

Yeman,n. A.S . gama, aman; h encea servant . Hence , like t h e Lat .homo, a feudal retainer ; pl. ye

-men. See vol. iv. p . 130,not e 5.

Yemanrie , n. A.S.. th e rank ofyeoman.

276

Yerne , v. A.S . toaim.

Yemede , prep . A.S. amid.

Yis, adv. A.S. yes, t h e afi irmativerep ly to a quest ionina negat iveform. See Ya.

Yerde ,n. A.S . a rod or staff; underthe yerde , sub ferulii , inastate of

Yer n. A .S. a year, also put for

Yere yeres; as, thre yer andmore.Yerne ,adj . A .S. brisk, eager.Yerne , adv. A.S. briskly , eagerly ,early. As gerne , soon, immediat ely.

Yerne , v. A.S. to yearn, desire ; toseek eagerly.

Yernyng,n.A.S . act ivi ty, diligence.

Yet en,part .pa.ofye te ,v.A.S.got ten.

Ye t t is, n. pl. A.S . gates.Yeve ,v.A.S. togive . Past tense yef;pl. yave ; part . pa. yeve,or yeven.

Yfconj .A.S. if.

Yif

} part . pa.

Yfalle

Ifalle

Yfeynit , par t . pa. offeyne , v. A.S .fe igned . Lordes kesice mowben yfeynit , t h e commands of

lordsmust not be ex ecuted ina

slovenly manner.

Yfet t , part . pa. of fecch e , v. A.S.fetch ed .

o uden, part . pa. of fi nde , v. A.S.found.

o rst red, part .pa.offorstere ,v.A.S.brough t up , educat ed .

Yfre ten, part . pa. offrete, v. A.S.devoured .

Yge t en, part . pa. of ge te , v. A.S.got ten.

Yglosed , part . pa. ofglose , v. A.N .

exp lained , comment ed upon.

Yglew ed, part . pa. ofglew e , v. A.S.joined togeth er w ith glue .

Ygo, part . pa. ofgo, v. A.S .gone .

Ygrave , part . pa. ofgrave , v. A.S .

Yh allow ed , part . pa. ofh allow c, v.

A.S . h allooed, applied to a huntedstag.

Yh alw ed , part . pa. ofh alw e, v.A.S.

Yh e, adv. A.S.—See Ya.

Yh eerd , part. pa. h aired, coveredw it h hair.

Yh olde , part . pa. h e ld, beh olden.

Yive , v. A.S . to give .

Yjaped , part . pa. of jape, v. A.S.tricked.

A.S. like , resembling.

Ylimed , part . pa. limed, caugh t w ithbird-lime .

Ylogged , part . pa. lodged.

Ymaginacioun,n.A.N . imaginat ion.Ymasked , part pa. ofmaske , v. A .S.mesh ed ,

entangled.

Ymeint part pa. ofmenge , v. A.S.Ymeynt mingled.

Ymeneus,n. pr. Hymenaeus.Ympe , n. A.S. a scion.

Ympe , v. A .S. to graft.Yn, prep . A.S. in.

Ynne , adv. A.S. in.Ynou h

Ynowg

} adv. A.S. enough .Yolden, part . pa. of ye lde, v. A.S.yie lded , given, repaid.

Yongh ede A.S. youth .Yore , adv. A.S. ofa long t ime ; alit t le before . Yore ago, a longt ime ago ; Inolde tymes yore, inold t imes long past ; oftyme yore,ofancient t imes.Youre , pron. poss. A.S. is used for

Youres, pron. pose. A.S. used generally w h ent h e nounw ith w h ichi ‘. agrees is understood.

Youth ede , n. A.S . yout h , t h e stateofyouth .

Yox e , v.A.S. to h iccup .

Ypiked, part . pa. preened, spruce .

Ypocras,n. pr. Hippocrates ; a sort

ofdrink.Yqueint part . pa. of quench e, v.

Yqueynt A.S. quench ed .

Yreka part . pa. of reke , v. A.S.Ireke smoking.

Yren,n. A.S. iron.

Yrent , part .pa cfrende ,a A.S. tou

New Edition, cloth

,1 s. 6d ,

G R A M M A ROF THE

ENGLISH LANGUAGE,

To w hich is added Six Lessons intended to prevent

Statesmen from using false grammar, and fromting inanaw kw ard manner.

BY WILLIAM COBBETT.

C O N T E N T S.

DEFINITION. OF GRAMMAR.

DIFFERENT PARTS OF SPEECH.

ETYMOLOGY.

SYNTA! GENERALLY CONSIDERED.

SYNTA!,THE POINTS AND MARK S USED .

Errors andnonsense ina K ing’s Speech .

Specimens of False Grammar from th e w ritings ofDr.

Johnson.

Onputting Sentences toge ther, and Figurat ive Language .

False Grammar inth e Speech ofth e Right Hon.MannersSutton.

False Grammar inHis Majesty’s Speech at th e close of

1 81 9 .

False Grammar onth e Note ofLord Castlereagh.

False Grammar onth e Despatch of th e Duke ofWel

lington.

False Grammar ona Note of Lord Castlereagh onth eSlave Trade .

False Grammar onDespatches ofth e MarquisWellesley,1822 .

N E ON

Or Plain Instruct ions for t h e LEARNINGOF FRENCH . By WILLIAM COBBETT.

Eleventh Edit ion, Revised, w i th Addit ions and Corre ct ions by h is Son.

1 2m0., cloth , 6d.

CONTENTS.

Ofth e utility oflearning French.

Ofth e w ay ofgoing to w ork inth e learning ofFrench.Of language and of Grammar generally, and of th e

different branches or divisions ofGrammar.Etymology generally. Th e different parts of speech, or

th e different sorts ofw ords.Onparsing.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

Thousands w ill gladly w elcome th e reappearance of

this edit ion.

”— Li ’verpoolAlbion.

“ A w ork that w ill hold its groundnotw ithstanding allth e Grammars of th e French Language that have ap

peered since it w as first prepared.

”— Live7poolM rourjy.“ This clever and sensible w ork continues to have

many students —and deservedly so— for it is really a

very good Grammar, and for adults w e know offew so

good.

”— Edz°

nburg/z Mercury.

“ Shrew d common sense , indefatigable industry, andthorough English self-reliance are apparent on everypage . Businessmencommencing th e study w ill fi nd thistreatise one ofth e best self-aids that canb e procured.

Midland Counties Herald.

By th e sameAuth or.

CORBETT’

S E ! ERCISES TO THE FRENCH GRAM

MAR, w i th K ey, fcap . 8v0., cloth , 25 .

CHAfRLES GRIFFIN AND COMPANY, LONDON.

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