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BOOK II.

CHAPTER I.

Very welth may not be founden in al this worlde; and that

is wel sene. Lo! how in my mooste comfort, as I wende

and moost supposed to have had ful answere of my contrary

thoughtes, sodaynly it was vanisshed. And al the workes of man

faren in the same wyse; whan folk wenen best her entent for to

have and willes to perfourme, anon chaunging of the lift syde to

the right halve tourneth it so clene in-to another kynde, that never

shal it come to the first plyte in doinge.

O this wonderful steering so soone otherwysed out of knowinge!

But for my purpos was at the beginninge, and so dureth yet, if god

of his grace tyme wol me graunt, I thinke to perfourme this

worke, as I have begonne, in love; after as my thinne wit, with

inspiracion of him that hildeth al grace, wol suffre. Grevously,

god wot, have I suffred a greet throwe that the Romayne

emperour, which in unitè of love shulde acorde, and every with

other * * * * in cause of other to avaunce; and namely, sithe

this empyre [nedeth] to be corrected of so many sectes in heresie

of faith, of service, o[f] rule in loves religion. Trewly, al were

it but to shende erroneous opinions, I may it no lenger suffre.

For many men there ben that sayn love to be in gravel and sande,

that with see ebbinge and flowinge woweth, as riches that sodaynly

vanissheth. And some sayn that love shulde be in windy blastes,

that stoundmele turneth as a phane, and glorie of renomè, which

after lustes of the varyaunt people is areysed or stilled.

Many also wenen that in the sonne and the moone and other

sterres love shulde ben founden; for among al other planettes

moste soveraynly they shynen, as dignitees in reverence of estates

rather than good han and occupyen. Ful many also there ben

that in okes and in huge postes supposen love to ben grounded,

as in strength and in might, whiche mowen not helpen their owne

wrecchidnesse, whan they ginne to falle. But [of] suche diversitè

of sectes, ayenst the rightful beleve of love, these errours ben forth

spredde, that loves servantes in trewe rule and stedfast fayth in

no place daren apere. Thus irrecuperable joy is went, and anoy

endless is entred. For no man aright reproveth suche errours,

but [men] confirmen their wordes, and sayn, that badde is noble

good, and goodnesse is badde; to which folk the prophete biddeth

wo without ende.

Also manye tonges of greet false techinges in gylinge maner,

principally in my tymes, not only with wordes but also with armes,

loves servauntes and professe in his religion of trewe rule pursewen,

to confounden and to distroyen. And for as moche as holy †faders,

that of our Christen fayth aproved and strengthed to the Jewes, as

to men resonable and of divinitè lerned, proved thilke fayth with

resones, and with auctoritès of the olde testament and of the newe,

her pertinacie to distroy: but to paynims, that for beestes and

houndes were holde, to putte hem out of their errour, was †miracle

of god shewed. These thinges were figured by cominge of th'angel

to the shepherdes, and by the sterre to paynims kinges; as who

sayth: angel resonable to resonable creature, and sterre of miracle

to people bestial not lerned, wern sent to enforme. But I, lovers

clerk, in al my conning and with al my mightes, trewly I have no

suche grace in vertue of miracles, ne for no discomfit falsheedes

suffyseth not auctoritès alone; sithen that suche [arn] heretikes

and maintaynours of falsitès. Wherfore I wot wel, sithen that

they ben men, and reson is approved in hem, the clowde of errour

hath her reson beyond probable resons, whiche that cacchende

wit rightfully may not with-sitte. By my travaylinge studie I have

ordeyned hem, †whiche that auctoritè, misglosed by mannes

reson, to graunt shal ben enduced.

Now ginneth my penne to quake, to thinken on the sentences

of the envyous people, whiche alway ben redy, both ryder and

goer, to scorne and to jape this leude book; and me, for rancour

and hate in their hertes, they shullen so dispyse, that although

my book be leude, yet shal it ben more leude holden, and by

wicked wordes in many maner apayred. Certes, me thinketh,

[of] the sowne of their badde speche right now is ful bothe myne

eeres. O good precious Margaryte, myne herte shulde wepe if

I wiste ye token hede of suche maner speche; but trewly, I wot

wel, in that your wysdom shal not asterte. For of god, maker of

kynde, witnesse I took, that for none envy ne yvel have I drawe

this mater togider; but only for goodnesse to maintayn, and

errours in falsetees to distroy. Wherfore (as I sayd) with reson

I thinke, thilke forsayd errours to distroye and dequace.

These resons and suche other, if they enduce men, in loves

service, trewe to beleve of parfit blisse, yet to ful faithe in

credence of deserte fully mowe they nat suffyse; sithen 'faith hath

no merite of mede, whan mannes reson sheweth experience in

doing.' For utterly no reson the parfit blisse of love by no waye

may make to be comprehended. Lo! what is a parcel of lovers

joye? Parfit science, in good service, of their desyre to comprehende

in bodily doinge the lykinge of the soule; not as by

a glasse to have contemplacion of tyme cominge, but thilke first

imagined and thought after face to face in beholding. What

herte, what reson, what understandinge can make his heven to be

feled and knowe, without assaye in doinge? Certes, noon. Sithen

thanne of love cometh suche fruite in blisse, and love in him-selfe

is the most among other vertues, as clerkes sayn; the seed of

suche springinge in al places, in al countreys, in al worldes shulde

ben sowe.

But o! welawaye! thilke seed is forsake, and †mowe not ben

suffred, the lond-tillers to sette a-werke, without medlinge of

cockle; badde wedes whiche somtyme stonken †han caught the

name of love among idiotes and badde-meninge people. Never-the-later,

yet how-so-it-be that men clepe thilke †thing preciousest

in kynde, with many eke-names, that other thinges that the soule

yeven the ilke noble name, it sheweth wel that in a maner men

have a greet lykinge in worshippinge of thilke name. Wherfore

this worke have I writte; and to thee, tytled of Loves name,

100

I have it avowed in a maner of sacrifyse; that, where-ever it be

rad, it mowe in merite, by the excellence of thilke name, the

more wexe in authoritè and worshippe of takinge in hede; and to

what entent it was ordayned, the inseëres mowen ben moved.

Every thing to whom is owande occasion don as for his ende,

105

Aristotle supposeth that the actes of every thinge ben in a maner

his final cause. A final cause is noblerer, or els even as noble,

as thilke thing that is finally to thilke ende; wherfore accion of

thinge everlasting is demed to be eternal, and not temporal;

sithen it is his final cause. Right so the actes of my boke 'Love,'

110

and love is noble; wherfore, though my book be leude, the cause

with which I am stered, and for whom I ought it doon, noble

forsothe ben bothe. But bycause that in conninge I am yong,

and can yet but crepe, this leude A. b. c. have I set in-to lerning;

for I can not passen the telling of three as yet. And if god

115

wil, in shorte tyme, I shal amende this leudnesse in joininge

syllables; whiche thing, for dulnesse of witte, I may not in three

letters declare. For trewly I saye, the goodnesse of my Margaryte-perle

wolde yeve mater in endyting to many clerkes; certes, her

mercy is more to me swetter than any livinges; wherfore my

120

lippes mowen not suffyse, in speking of her ful laude and worshippe

as they shulde. But who is that [wolde be wyse] in

knowing of the orders of heven, and putteth his resones in the

erthe? I forsothe may not, with blere eyen, the shyning sonne of

vertue in bright whele of this Margaryte beholde; therfore as yet

125

I may her not discryve in vertue as I wolde. In tyme cominge,

in another tretyse, thorow goddes grace, this sonne in clerenesse

of vertue to be-knowe, and how she enlumineth al this day,

I thinke to declare.

Ch. I. 2. howe. comforte. 3. hadde. 5. folke. 6. anone. 10. purpose. 12. wytte. 14. wotte. great. 16. (Something seems to be lost here). 17. I supply nedeth. 18. o; read of. 19. erronyous. maye. 20. menne. sayne. 26. amonge.

31. wretchydnesse. fal. I supply of. 32. forthe. 33. stedfaste faythe. 34. darne. 35. endlesse. 36. I supply men. 37. folke. 39. great. 40. onely. 42. fathers; read faders. 44. faythe. 47. put. miracles; read miracle. 48. thangel. 50. saythe. 51. werne. 53. discomfyte. 54. I supply arn. 55. wotte. 56. reason. erroure. 57. reason. bewonde (sic). catchende wytte. 59. with; read whiche. 60. reason. 61. Nowe. 62. alwaye. 63. booke. rancoure. 64. althoughe. 65. booke.

67. I supply of. nowe. 69. wotte. 70. wysdome 71. toke. 73. reason. 75. reasons. 76. parfyte. 78–9. reason (twice). 79. parfyte. 80. maye. persel. 81. parfyte. 85. reason. 86. none. 88. amonge. sayne. 88–91. sede. 91. mowen; read mowe. 92. londe-tyllers. set. 93. hath; read han. 94. meanynge. 95. howe. menne cleape. kynge (sic); read thing. 98. great. 99. the. 101. radde.

104. thynge. done. 107. thynge. 110. boke. 111. done (sic). 112. yonge. 113. canne. sette. 114. thre. 116. thynge. maye. thre. 121. that in knowyng (sic); supply wolde be wyse before in knowing. 125. maye. 126. thorowe. 127. howe.

CHAPTER II.

In this mene whyle this comfortable lady gan singe a wonder

mater of endytinge in Latin; but trewly, the noble colours in

rethorik wyse knitte were so craftely, that my conning wol not

strecche to remembre; but the sentence, I trowe, somdel have

I in mynde. Certes, they were wonder swete of sowne, and they

were touched al in lamentacion wyse, and by no werbles of

myrthe. Lo! thus gan she singe in Latin, as I may constrewe it

in our Englisshe tonge.

'Alas! that these hevenly bodyes their light and course shewen,

as nature yave hem in commaundement at the ginning of the first

age; but these thinges in free choice of reson han non

understondinge. But man that ought to passe al thing of doinge, of

right course in kynde, over-whelmed sothnesse by wrongful tytle,

and hath drawen the sterre of envye to gon by his syde, that the

clips of me, that shulde be his shynande sonne, so ofte is seye,

that it wened thilke errour, thorow hem come in, shulde ben myn

owne defaute. Trewly, therfore, I have me withdrawe, and mad

my dwellinge out of lande in an yle by my-selfe, in the occian

closed; and yet sayn there many, they have me harberowed; but,

god wot, they faylen. These thinges me greven to thinke, and

namely on passed gladnesse, that in this worlde was wont me

disporte of highe and lowe; and now it is fayled; they that

wolden maystries me have in thilke stoundes. In heven on

highe, above Saturnes sphere, in sesonable tyme were they

lodged; but now come queynte counsailours that in no house

wol suffre me sojourne, wherof is pitè; and yet sayn some that

they me have in celler with wyne shed; in gernere, there corn is

layd covered with whete; in sacke, sowed with wolle; in purse,

with money faste knit; among pannes mouled in a †whicche;

in presse, among clothes layd, with riche pelure arayed; in stable,

among hors and other beestes, as hogges, sheep, and neet; and

in many other wyse. But thou, maker of light (in winking of

thyn eye the sonne is queynt), wost right wel that I in trewe name

was never thus herberowed.

Somtyme, toforn the sonne in the seventh partie was smiten,

I bar both crosse and mytre, to yeve it where I wolde. With me

the pope wente a-fote; and I tho was worshipped of al holy

church. Kinges baden me their crownes holden. The law was

set as it shuld; tofore the juge, as wel the poore durste shewe

his greef as the riche, for al his money. I defended tho taylages,

and was redy for the poore to paye. I made grete feestes in my

tyme, and noble songes, and maryed damoselles of gentil feture,

withouten golde or other richesse. Poore clerkes, for witte of

schole, I sette in churches, and made suche persones to preche;

and tho was service in holy churche honest and devout, in

plesaunce bothe of god and of the people. But now the leude

for symonye is avaunced, and shendeth al holy churche. Now is

steward, for his achates; now †is courtiour, for his debates; now

is eschetour, for his wronges; now is losel, for his songes,

personer; and [hath his] provendre alone, with whiche manye

thrifty shulde encrese. And yet is this shrewe behynde; free

herte is forsake; and losengeour is take. Lo! it acordeth; for

suche there ben that voluntarie lustes haunten in courte with

ribaudye, that til midnight and more wol playe and wake, but in

the churche at matins he is behynde, for yvel disposicion of his

stomake; therfore he shulde ete bene-breed (and so did his

syre) his estate ther-with to strengthen. His auter is broke, and

lowe lyth, in poynte to gon to the erthe; but his hors muste ben

esy and hye, to bere him over grete waters. His chalice poore,

but he hath riche cuppes. No towayle but a shete, there god

shal ben handled; and on his mete-borde there shal ben bord-clothes

and towelles many payre. At masse serveth but a clergion;

fyve squiers in hal. Poore chaunsel, open holes in every

syde; beddes of silke, with tapites going al aboute his chambre.

Poore masse-book and leud chapelayn, and broken surplice with

many an hole; good houndes and many, to hunte after hart and

hare, to fede in their feestes. Of poore men have they greet

care; for they ever crave and nothing offren, they wolden have

hem dolven! But among legistres there dar I not come; my

doinge[s], they sayn, maken hem nedy. They ne wolde for

nothing have me in town; for than were tort and †force nought

worth an hawe about, and plesen no men, but thilk grevous and

torcious ben in might and in doing. These thinges to-forn-sayd

mowe wel, if men liste, ryme; trewly, they acorde nothing. And

for-as-moch as al thinges by me shulden of right ben governed,

I am sory to see that governaunce fayleth, as thus: to sene smale

and lowe governe the hye and bodies above. Certes, that

policye is naught; it is forbode by them that of governaunce

treten and enformen. And right as beestly wit shulde ben

subject to reson, so erthly power in it-selfe, the lower shulde ben

subject to the hygher. What is worth thy body, but it be

governed with thy soule? Right so litel or naught is worth

erthely power, but if reignatif prudence in heedes governe the

smale; to whiche heedes the smale owen to obey and suffre in

their governaunce. But soverainnesse ayenward shulde thinke in

this wyse: "I am servaunt of these creatures to me delivered,

not lord, but defendour; not mayster, but enfourmer; not

possessour, but in possession; and to hem liche a tree in whiche

sparowes shullen stelen, her birdes to norisshe and forth bringe,

under suretee ayenst al raveynous foules and beestes, and not to

be tyraunt them-selfe." And than the smale, in reste and quiete,

by the heedes wel disposed, owen for their soveraynes helth and

prosperitè to pray, and in other doinges in maintenaunce therof

performe, withouten other administracion in rule of any maner

governaunce. And they wit have in hem, and grace to come to

suche thinges, yet shulde they cese til their heedes them cleped,

although profit and plesaunce shulde folowe. But trewly, other

governaunce ne other medlinge ought they not to clayme, ne

the heedes on hem to putte. Trewly, amonges cosinage dar

100

I not come, but-if richesse be my mene; sothly, she and other

bodily goodes maketh nigh cosinage, ther never propinquitè ne

alyaunce in lyve was ne shulde have be, nere it for her medling

maners; wherfore kindly am I not ther leged. Povert of

kinred is behynde; richesse suffreth him to passe; truly he saith,

105

he com never of Japhetes childre. Whereof I am sory that

Japhetes children, for povert, in no linage ben rekened, and

Caynes children, for riches, be maked Japhetes heires. Alas! this

is a wonder chaunge bitwene tho two Noës children, sithen that

of Japhetes ofspring comeden knightes, and of Cayn discended

110

the lyne of servage to his brothers childre. Lo! how gentillesse

and servage, as cosins, bothe discended out of two brethern of

one body! Wherfore I saye in sothnesse, that gentilesse in

kinrede †maketh not gentil linage in succession, without desert

of a mans own selfe. Where is now the lyne of Alisaundre the

115

noble, or els of Hector of Troye? Who is discended of right

bloode of lyne fro king Artour? Pardè, sir Perdicas, whom that

Alisandre made to ben his heire in Grece, was of no kinges

bloode; his dame was a tombestere. Of what kinred ben the

gentiles in our dayes? I trow therfore, if any good be in gentilesse,

120

it is only that it semeth a maner of necessitè be input to

gentilmen, that they shulden not varyen fro the vertues of their

auncestres. Certes, al maner linage of men ben evenliche in

birth; for oon †fader, maker of al goodnes, enformed hem al,

and al mortal folk of one sede arn greyned. Wherto avaunt men

125

of her linage, in cosinage or in †elde-faders? Loke now the ginning,

and to god, maker of mans person; there is no clerk ne no

worthy in gentilesse; and he that norissheth his †corage with

vyces and unresonable lustes, and leveth the kynde course, to

whiche ende him brought forth his birthe, trewly, he is ungentil,

130

and among †cherles may ben nempned. And therfore, he that

wol ben gentil, he mot daunten his flesshe fro vyces that causen

ungentilnesse, and leve also reignes of wicked lustes, and drawe

to him vertue, that in al places gentilnesse gentilmen maketh.

And so speke I, in feminine gendre in general, of tho persones,

135

at the reverence of one whom every wight honoureth; for her

bountee and her noblesse y-made her to god so dere, that his

moder she became; and she me hath had so greet in worship,

that I nil for nothing in open declare, that in any thinge ayenst her

secte may so wene. For al vertue and al worthinesse of plesaunce

140

in hem haboundeth. And although I wolde any-thing speke,

trewly I can not; I may fynde in yvel of hem no maner mater.'

Ch. II. 1. meane. ganne. 4. stretche. somdele. 7. ganne.

11. none. 12. thynge. 15. sey; read seye or seyen. 16. thorowe. 17. made. 19. sayne. 20. wote. 21. wonte. 23. nowe. 24. seasonable. 26. sayne. 27. corne. 28. layde. 29. knytte. amonge (twice). wyche; read whicche. 30. layde. 31. amonge horse. shepe. nete. 33. woste. 36. bare. 37. went. 40. grefe. 41. pay. great. 44. preache.

45. deuoute. 46. nowe. 47. Nowe. 48. stewarde. nowe. it; read is. nowe. 49. eschetoure. nowe. 50. I supply hath his. 51. encrease. 56. eate beane-. 58. lythe. gone. horse. 59. easy. beare. great. 61. meate-. borde-. 65. boke. leude chapelayne. 66. harte. 67. great. 68. nothynge. 69. amonge. dare. 70. sayne. 71. forthe; read force. 72. worthe. pleasen. 73. to-forne-. 74. nothynge. 76. sorye. se. 78. polesye. 79. treaten. wytte.

80. subiecte. reason. 82. worthe. 83. reignatyfe. 85. ayenwarde. 87. lorde. 88. possessoure. 89. forth bring. 90. suretie. 96. cease. 97. profyte. pleasaunce. 99. put. dare. 100. meane. 109. comeden (sic); read comen? 110. howe. 111. bretherne. 113. maken; read maketh. deserte. 114. nowe.

118. tombystere. 123. one. father; read fader. 124. folke. arne. 125. -fathers; read -faders. 126. clerke. 127. corare; read corage. 128. leaueth. 129. forthe. 130. amonge. clerkes (!); read cherles. 131. mote. 132. leaue. 136. bountie. 137. great. 139. maye.

CHAPTER III.

Right with these wordes she stinte of that lamentable

melodye; and I gan with a lyvely herte to praye, if that

it were lyking unto her noble grace, she wolde her deyne to

declare me the mater that firste was begonne, in which she lefte

and stinte to speke beforn she gan to singe.

'O,' quod she, 'this is no newe thing to me, to sene you men

desyren after mater, whiche your-selfe caused to voyde.'

'Ah, good lady,' quod I, 'in whom victorie of strength is proved

above al other thing, after the jugement of Esdram, whos lordship

al lignes: who is, that right as emperour hem commaundeth,

whether thilke ben not women, in whos lyknesse to me ye aperen?

For right as man halt the principaltè of al thing under his beinge,

in the masculyne gender; and no mo genders ben there

but masculyn and femenyne; al the remenaunt ben no gendres but

of grace, in facultee of grammer: right so, in the femenyne, the

women holden the upperest degree of al thinges under thilke

gendre conteyned. Who bringeth forth kinges, whiche that ben

lordes of see and of erthe; and al peoples of women ben born.

They norisshe hem that graffen vynes; they maken men comfort

in their gladde cheres. Her sorowe is deth to mannes herte.

Without women, the being of men were impossible. They conne

with their swetnesse the crewel herte ravisshe, and make it meke,

buxom, and benigne, without violence mevinge. In beautee

of their eyen, or els of other maner fetures, is al mens desyres;

ye, more than in golde, precious stones, either any richesse.

And in this degree, lady, your-selfe many hertes of men have

so bounden, that parfit blisse in womankynde to ben men wenen,

and in nothinge els. Also, lady, the goodnesse, the vertue of

women, by propertè of discrecion, is so wel knowen, by litelnesse

of malice, that desyre to a good asker by no waye conne they

warne. And ye thanne, that wol not passe the kynde werchinge

of your sectes by general discrecion, I wot wel, ye wol so enclyne

to my prayere, that grace of my requeste shal fully ben graunted.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'thus for the more parte fareth al mankynde,

to praye and to crye after womans grace, and fayne many fantasyes

to make hertes enclyne to your desyres. And whan these

sely women, for freeltè of their kynde, beleven your wordes, and

wenen al be gospel the promise of your behestes, than graunt[en]

they to you their hertes, and fulfillen your lustes, wherthrough

their libertè in maystreship that they toforn had is thralled; and

so maked soverayn and to be prayed, that first was servaunt,

and voice of prayer used. Anon as filled is your lust, many of you

be so trewe, that litel hede take ye of suche kyndnesse; but

with traysoun anon ye thinke hem begyle, and let light of that

thing whiche firste ye maked to you wonders dere; so what

thing to women it is to loven any wight er she him wel knowe,

and have him proved in many halfe! For every glittring thing

is nat gold; and under colour of fayre speche many vices may

be hid and conseled. Therfore I rede no wight to trust on you

to rathe; mens chere and her speche right gyleful is ful ofte.

Wherfore without good assay, it is nat worth on many †of you

to truste. Trewly, it is right kyndely to every man that thinketh

women betraye, and shewen outward al goodnesse, til he have

his wil performed. Lo! the bird is begyled with the mery voice

of the foulers whistel. Whan a woman is closed in your nette,

than wol ye causes fynden, and bere unkyndenesse her †on

hande, or falsetè upon her putte, your owne malicious trayson

with suche thinge to excuse. Lo! than han women non other

wreche in vengeaunce, but †blobere and wepe til hem list stint,

and sorily her mishap complayne; and is put in-to wening that

al men ben so untrewe. How often have men chaunged her

loves in a litel whyle, or els, for fayling their wil, in their

places hem set! For fren[d]ship shal be oon, and fame with another

him list for to have, and a thirde for delyt; or els were he lost

bothe in packe and in clothes! Is this fair? Nay, god wot.

I may nat telle, by thousande partes, the wronges in trechery

of suche false people; for make they never so good a bond,

al sette ye at a myte whan your hert tourneth. And they that

wenen for sorowe of you deye, the pitè of your false herte is flowe

out of towne. Alas! therfore, that ever any woman wolde take

any wight in her grace, til she knowe, at the ful, on whom she

might at al assayes truste! Women con no more craft in queynt

knowinge, to understande the false disceyvable conjectementes

of mannes begylinges. Lo! how it fareth; though ye men

gronen and cryen, certes, it is but disceyt; and that preveth wel

by th'endes in your werkinge. How many women have ben

lorn, and with shame foule shent by long-lastinge tyme, whiche

thorow mennes gyle have ben disceyved? Ever their fame shal

dure, and their dedes [ben] rad and songe in many londes; that

they han don, recoveren shal they never; but alway ben demed

lightly, in suche plyte a-yen shulde they falle. Of whiche slaunders

and tenes ye false men and wicked ben the verey causes; on you

by right ought these shames and these reproves al hoolly discende.

Thus arn ye al nighe untrewe; for al your fayre speche, your

herte is ful fickel. What cause han ye women to dispyse? Better

fruite than they ben, ne swetter spyces to your behove, mowe ye

not fynde, as far as worldly bodyes strecchen. Loke to their

forminge, at the making of their persones by god in joye of

paradyce! For goodnesse, of mans propre body were they

maked, after the sawes of the bible, rehersing goddes wordes in

this wyse: "It is good to mankynde that we make to him an

helper." Lo! in paradyse, for your helpe, was this tree graffed,

out of whiche al linage of man discendeth. If a man be noble

frute, of noble frute it is sprongen; the blisse of paradyse, to

mennes sory hertes, yet in this tree abydeth. O! noble helpes

ben these trees, and gentil jewel to ben worshipped of every

good creature! He that hem anoyeth doth his owne shame; it is

a comfortable perle ayenst al tenes. Every company is mirthed

by their present being. Trewly, I wiste never vertue, but a woman

100

were therof the rote. What is heven the worse though Sarazins

on it lyen? Is your fayth untrewe, though †renegates maken

theron lesinges? If the fyr doth any wight brenne, blame his

owne wit that put him-selfe so far in the hete. Is not fyr gentillest

and most comfortable element amonges al other? Fyr

105

is cheef werker in fortheringe sustenaunce to mankynde. Shal

fyr ben blamed for it brende a foole naturelly, by his own stulty

witte in steringe? Ah! wicked folkes! For your propre malice

and shreudnesse of your-selfe, ye blame and dispyse the precious[es]t

thing of your kynde, and whiche thinges among other

110

moste ye desyren! Trewly, Nero and his children ben shrewes,

that dispysen so their dames. The wickednesse and gyling of

men, in disclaundring of thilke that most hath hem glad[d]ed

and plesed, were impossible to wryte or to nempne. Never-the-later

yet I say, he that knoweth a way may it lightly passe; eke

115

an herbe proved may safely to smertande sores ben layd. So

I say, in him that is proved is nothing suche yvels to gesse.

But these thinges have I rehersed, to warne you women al at

ones, that to lightly, without good assaye, ye assenten not to

mannes speche. The sonne in the day-light is to knowen from

120

the moone that shyneth in the night. Now to thee thy-selfe

(quod she) as I have ofte sayd, I knowe wel thyne herte; thou

art noon of al the tofore-nempned people. For I knowe wel the

continuaunce of thy service, that never sithen I sette thee

a-werke, might thy Margaryte for plesaunce, frendship, ne fayrhede

125

of none other, be in poynte moved from thyne herte; wherfore

in-to myne housholde hastely I wol that thou entre, and al the

parfit privitè of my werking, make it be knowe in thy understonding,

as oon of my privy familiers. Thou desyrest (quod she)

fayn to here of tho thinges there I lefte?'

130

'Ye, forsothe,' quod I, 'that were to me a greet blisse.'

'Now,' quod she, 'for thou shalt not wene that womans condicions

for fayre speche suche thing belongeth:—

Ch. III. 2. ganne. 5. beforne. 6. thynge. menne. 9. thynge. whose.

10. lignes (sic). 11. whose lykenesse. 12. halte. 15. facultie. 17. forthe. 18. borne. 19. comforte. 20. dethe. 23. buxome. beautie. 27. parfyte. 32. wotte. 38. graunt. 40. toforne.

48. golde. 51. worthe. on; read of. 53. -warde. 54. birde. 56. beare. vnhande; read on hande. 58. none. 59. bloder; read blobere. 61. Howe. 63. sette. frenship (sic). one. 64. lyste. delyte. 65. faire. 66. maye. tel. 67. bonde. 69. dey. 72. trust. crafte. 74. howe. 76. thendes. Howe. 77. lorne. longe-. 78. thorowe. 79. I supply ben. radde. 80. done. 81. fal. 83. holy.

84. arne. 87. farre. stretchen. 97. dothe. 99. wyst. 101. faythe. thoughe rennogates. 102. leasynges. fyre (four times) 103. wytte. farre. heate. 104, 112. moste. 104. element comfortable; read comfortable element. 105. chefe. 108. precioust. 109. amonge. 112–3. gladed and pleased. 115. layde. 120. Nowe. the.

122. arte none. 123. set the. 124. frendeshyp. fayrehede. 127. parfyte. 128. one. 129. fayne. 130. great. 131. Nowe.

CHAPTER IV.

Thou shalt,' quod she, 'understonde first among al other

thinges, that al the cure of my service to me in the parfit

blisse in doing is desyred in every mannes herte, be he never

so moche a wrecche; but every man travayleth by dyvers studye,

and seke[th] thilke blisse by dyvers wayes. But al the endes

are knit in selinesse of desyre in the parfit blisse, that is suche

joye, whan men it have gotten, there †leveth no thing more to

ben coveyted. But how that desyre of suche perfeccion in

my service be kindely set in lovers hertes, yet her erroneous

opinions misturne it by falsenesse of wening. And although

mannes understanding be misturned, to knowe whiche shuld ben

the way unto my person, and whither it abydeth; yet wote they

there is a love in every wight, [whiche] weneth by that thing that

he coveyteth most, he shulde come to thilke love; and that

is parfit blisse of my servauntes; but than fulle blisse may not

be, and there lacke any thing of that blisse in any syde. Eke it

foloweth than, that he that must have ful blisse lacke no blisse in

love on no syde.'

'Therfore, lady,' quod I tho, 'thilke blisse I have desyred,

and †soghte toforn this my-selfe, by wayes of riches, of dignitè,

of power, and of renomè, wening me in tho †thinges had ben

thilke blisse; but ayenst the heer it turneth. Whan I supposed

beste thilke blisse have †getten, and come to the ful purpose

of your service, sodaynly was I hindred, and throwen so fer

abacke, that me thinketh an inpossible to come there I lefte.'

'I †wot wel,' quod she; 'and therfore hast thou fayled; for

thou wentest not by the hye way. A litel misgoing in the ginning

causeth mikil errour in the ende; wherfore of thilke blisse thou

fayledest, for having of richesse; ne non of the other thinges thou

nempnedest mowen nat make suche parfit blisse in love as I shal

shewe. Therfore they be nat worthy to thilke blisse; and yet

somwhat must ben cause and way to thilke blisse. Ergo, there is

som suche thing, and som way, but it is litel in usage and that

is nat openly y-knowe. But what felest in thyne hert of the

service, in whiche by me thou art entred? Wenest aught thy-selfe

yet be in the hye way to my blisse? I shal so shewe it to

thee, thou shalt not conne saye the contrary.'

'Good lady,' quod I, 'altho I suppose it in my herte, yet

wolde I here thyn wordes, how ye menen in this mater.'

Quod she, 'that I shal, with my good wil. Thilke blisse

desyred, som-del ye knowen, altho it be nat parfitly. For kyndly

entencion ledeth you therto, but in three maner livinges is al suche

wayes shewed. Every wight in this world, to have this blisse, oon

of thilke three wayes of lyves must procede; whiche, after opinions

of grete clerkes, are by names cleped bestiallich, resonablich, [and

manlich. Resonablich] is vertuous. Manlich is worldlich. Bestialliche

is lustes and delytable, nothing restrayned by bridel of reson.

Al that joyeth and yeveth gladnesse to the hert, and it be ayenst

reson, is lykened to bestial living, which thing foloweth lustes and

delytes; wherfore in suche thinge may nat that precious blisse,

that is maister of al vertues, abyde. Your †faders toforn you have

cleped such lusty livinges after the flessh "passions of desyre,"

which are innominable tofore god and man both. Than, after

determinacion of suche wyse, we accorden that suche passions of

desyre shul nat be nempned, but holden for absolute from al other

livinges and provinges; and so †leveth in t[w]o livinges, manlich

and resonable, to declare the maters begonne. But to make thee

fully have understanding in manlich livinges, whiche is holden

worldlich in these thinges, so that ignorance be mad no letter,

I wol (quod she) nempne these forsayd wayes †by names and

conclusions. First riches, dignitè, renomè, and power shul in

this worke be cleped bodily goodes; for in hem hath ben, a gret

throw, mannes trust of selinesse in love: as in riches, suffisance

to have maintayned that was begonne by worldly catel; in dignitè,

honour and reverence of hem that wern underput by maistry

therby to obeye. In renomè, glorie of peoples praising, after

lustes in their hert, without hede-taking to qualitè and maner of

doing; and in power, by trouth of lordships mayntenaunce, thing

to procede forth in doing. In al whiche thinges a longe tyme

mannes coveytise in commune hath ben greetly grounded, to come

to the blisse of my service; but trewly, they were begyled, and for

the principal muste nedes fayle, and in helping mowe nat availe.

See why. For holdest him not poore that is nedy?'

'Yes, pardè,' quod I.

'And him for dishonored, that moche folk deyne nat to

reverence?'

'That is soth,' quod I.

'And what him, that his mightes faylen and mowe nat helpen?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'me semeth, of al men he shulde be holden

a wrecche.'

'And wenest nat,' quod she, 'that he that is litel in renomè,

but rather is out of the praysinges of mo men than a fewe, be nat

in shame?'

'For soth,' quod I, 'it is shame and villany, to him that

coveyteth renomè, that more folk nat prayse in name than preise.'

'Soth,' quod she, 'thou sayst soth; but al these thinges are

folowed of suche maner doinge, and wenden in riches suffisaunce,

in power might, in dignitè worship, and in renomè glorie; wherfore

they discended in-to disceyvable wening, and in that service disceit

is folowed. And thus, in general, thou and al suche other that so

worchen, faylen of my blisse that ye long han desyred. Wherfore

truly, in lyfe of reson is the hye way to this blisse; as I thinke

more openly to declare herafter. Never-the-later yet, in a litel to

comforte thy herte, in shewing of what waye thou art entred

*selfe, and that thy Margarite may knowe thee set in the hye way,

I wol enforme thee in this wyse. Thou hast fayled of thy first

purpos, bicause thou wentest wronge and leftest the hye way on

thy right syde, as thus: thou lokedest on worldly living, and that

thing thee begyled; and lightly therfore, as a litel assay, thou

100

songedest; but whan I turned thy purpos, and shewed thee

a part of the hye waye, tho thou abode therin, and no deth ne

ferdnesse of non enemy might thee out of thilk way reve; but

ever oon in thyn herte, to come to the ilke blisse, whan thou

were arested and firste tyme enprisoned, thou were loth to

105

chaunge thy way, for in thy hert thou wendest to have ben there

thou shuldest. And for I had routhe to sene thee miscaried,

and wiste wel thyn ablenesse my service to forther and encrese,

I com my-selfe, without other mene, to visit thy person in comfort

of thy hert. And perdy, in my comming thou were greetly

110

glad[d]ed; after whiche tyme no disese, no care, no tene, might

move me out of thy hert. And yet am I glad and greetly enpited,

how continually thou haddest me in mynde, with good avysement

of thy conscience, whan thy king and his princes by huge wordes

and grete loked after variaunce in thy speche; and ever thou

115

were redy for my sake, in plesaunce of the Margarite-perle and

many mo other, thy body to oblige in-to Marces doing, if any

contraried thy sawes. Stedfast way maketh stedfast hert, with

good hope in the ende. Trewly, I wol that thou it wel knowe;

for I see thee so set, and not chaunginge herte haddest in my

120

service; and I made thou haddest grace of thy kinge, in

foryevenesse of mikel misdede. To the gracious king art thou mikel

holden, of whos grace and goodnesse somtyme hereafter I thinke

thee enforme, whan I shew the ground where-as moral vertue

groweth. Who brought thee to werke? Who brought this grace

125

aboute? Who made thy hert hardy? Trewly, it was I. For

haddest thou of me fayled, than of this purpos had[dest thou]

never taken [hede] in this wyse. And therfore I say, thou might

wel truste to come to thy blisse, sithen thy ginninge hath ben hard,

but ever graciously after thy hertes desyr hath proceded. Silver

130

fyned with many hetes men knowen for trew; and safely men

may trust to the alay in werkinge. This †disese hath proved what

way hence-forward thou thinkest to holde.'

'Now, in good fayth, lady,' quod I tho, 'I am now in; me

semeth, it is the hye way and the right.'

135

'Ye, forsothe,' quod she, 'and now I wol disprove thy first

wayes, by whiche many men wenen to gette thilke blisse. But

for-as-moche as every herte that hath caught ful love, is tyed with

queynt knittinges, thou shalt understande that love and thilke

foresayd blisse toforn declared in this[e] provinges, shal hote the

140

knot in the hert.'

'Wel,' quod I, 'this inpossession I wol wel understande.'

'Now also,' quod she, 'for the knotte in the herte muste ben

from one to an-other, and I knowe thy desyr, I wol thou understande

these maters to ben sayd of thy-selfe, in disproving of thy

145

first service, and in strengthinge of thilke that thou hast

undertake to thy Margaryte-perle.'

'A goddes halfe,' quod I, 'right wel I fele that al this case is

possible and trewe; and therfore I †admitte it altogither.'

'†Understand wel,' quod she, 'these termes, and loke no

150

contradiccion thou graunt.'

'If god wol,' quod I, 'of al these thinges wol I not fayle; and

if I graunt contradiccion, I shulde graunte an impossible; and

that were a foul inconvenience; for whiche thinges, lady, y-wis,

herafter I thinke me to kepe.'

Ch. IV. 1. shalte. amonge. 2. parfyte. 4. wretche. 5. seke; read seketh. 6. parfyte. 7. lyueth; read leveth. thynge. 8. howe. perfection. 9. erronyous. 13. I supply whiche. 14. moste. 15. parfyte. maye. 16. thynge. 20. sothe; read soghte. toforne.

21. thrages (sic); read thinges. 22. heere. 23. get; read getten. 26. wol; read wot. 30. parfite. 33. some (twice). 37. the. shalte. con. 39. howe ye meanen. 41. some deale. 42. entention. thre. lyuenges. 43. one. 44. thre. 45. great. cleaped. I supply and manlich. Resonablich. 47. nothynge. 47–9. reason (twice). 49. lyueng. thynge. 50. maye. 51. fathers. toforne. 52. lyuenges. 54. determination. 56. lyuenges (twice). lyueth; read leveth. to; read two.

57. the. 58. lyuenges. 59. made. 60. be; read by. 62. cleaped. 64. begon. 65. werne. 66. obey. 70. greatly. 73. Se. 75. folke. 80. wretch. 89. disceite. 92. reason. 94. arte.

95–6. the (twice). 97–100. purpose. 98. lyueng. 99. the. 100–2. the. 101. parte. dethe. 103. one. 106. the. 107. wyst. thyne. encrease. 108. come. mean. For person read prison? comforte. 109. greatly gladed. 110. disease. 111. gladde. greatly. 112. howe. 114. great. 115. peerle. 119. se the. 121. arte. 122. whose. 123. the. grounde. 124. the. 126. purpose. had; read haddest thou. I supply hede. 128. harde. 129. desyre. 130. heates.

131. diseases (sic). waye. -forwarde. 133–142. Nowe (four times). 139. toforne. 143. desyre. 145. strenghthynge. haste. 148. admytted; read admytte it. 149. Vnderstanden (sic). 149–152. contradyction (twice). 153. foule. ladye.

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