# Confessio Amantis/Prologus

Torpor, ebes sensus, scola parua labor minimusque  Causant quo minimus ipse minora canam: Qua tamen Engisti lingua canit Insula Bruti  Anglica Carmente metra iuuante loquar. Ossibus ergo carens que conterit ossa loquelis  Absit, et interpres stet procul oro malus.
| 1 | Of hem that writen ous tofore |
| 2 | The bokes duelle, and we therfore |
| 3 | Ben tawht of that was write tho: |
| 4 | Forthi good is that we also |
| 5 | In oure tyme among ous hiere |
| 6 | Do wryte of newe som matiere, |
| 7 | Essampled of these olde wyse |
| 8 | So that it myhte in such a wyse, |
| 9 | Whan we ben dede and elleswhere, |
| 10 | Beleve to the worldes eere |
| 11 | In tyme comende after this. |
| 12 | Bot for men sein, and soth it is, |
| 13 | That who that al of wisdom writ |
| 14 | It dulleth ofte a mannes wit |
| 15 | To him that schal it aldai rede, |
| 16 | For thilke cause, if that ye rede, |
| 17 | I wolde go the middel weie |
| 18 | And wryte a bok betwen the tweie, |
| 19 | Somwhat of lust, somewhat of lore, |
| 20 | That of the lasse or of the more |
| 21 | Som man mai lyke of that I wryte: |
| 22 | And for that fewe men endite |
| 23 | In oure englissh, I thenke make |
| 24 | A bok for Engelondes sake, |
| 25 | The yer sextenthe of kyng Richard. |
| 26 | What schal befalle hierafterward |
| 27 | God wot, for now upon this tyde |
| 28 | Men se the world on every syde |
| 29 | In sondry wyse so diversed, |
| 30 | That it welnyh stant al reversed, |
| 31 | As forto speke of tyme ago. |
| 32 | The cause whi it changeth so |
| 33 | It needeth nought to specifie, |
| 34 | The thing so open is at ije |
| 35 | That every man it mai beholde: |
| 36 | And natheles be daies olde, |
| 37 | Whan that the bokes weren levere, |
| 38 | Wrytinge was beloved evere |
| 39 | Of hem that weren vertuous; |
| 40 | For hier in erthe amonges ous, |
| 41 | If noman write hou that it stode, |
| 42 | The pris of hem that weren goode |
| 43 | Scholde, as who seith, a gret partie |
| 44 | Be lost: so for to magnifie |
| 45 | The worthi princes that tho were, |
| 46 | The bokes schewen hiere and there, |
| 47 | Wherof the world ensampled is; |
| 48 | And tho that deden thanne amis |
| 49 | Thurgh tirannie and crualte, |
| 50 | Right as thei stoden in degre, |
| 51 | So was the wrytinge of here werk. |
| 52 | Thus I, which am a burel clerk, |
| 53 | Purpose forto wryte a bok |
| 54 | After the world that whilom tok |
| 55 | Long tyme in olde daies passed: |
| 56 | Bot for men sein it is now lassed, |
| 57 | In worse plit than it was tho, |
| 58 | I thenke forto touche also |
| 59 | The world which neweth every dai, |
| 60 | So as I can, so as I mai. |
| 61 | Thogh I seknesse have upon honde |
| 62 | And longe have had, yit woll I fonde |
| 63 | To wryte and do my bisinesse, |
| 64 | That in som part, so as I gesse, |
| 65 | The wyse man mai ben avised. |
| 66 | For this prologe is so assised |
| 67 | That it to wisdom al belongeth: |
| 68 | What wysman that it underfongeth, |
| 69 | He schal drawe into remembrance |
| 70 | The fortune of this worldes chance, |
| 71 | The which noman in his persone |
| 72 | Mai knowe, bot the god al one. |
| 73 | Whan the prologe is so despended, |
| 74 | This bok schal afterward ben ended |
| 75 | Of love, which doth many a wonder |
| 76 | And many a wys man hath put under. |
| 77 | And in this wyse I thenke trete |
| 78 | Towardes hem that now be grete, |
| 79 | Betwen the vertu and the vice |
| 80 | Which longeth unto this office. |
| 81 | Bot for my wittes ben to smale |
| 82 | To tellen every man his tale, |
| 83 | This bok, upon amendment |
| 84 | To stonde at his commandement, |
| 85 | With whom myn herte is of accord, |
| 86 | I sende unto myn oghne lord, |
| 87 | Which of Lancastre is Henri named: |
| 88 | The hyhe god him hath proclamed |
| 89 | Ful of knyhthode and alle grace. |
| 90 | So woll I now this werk embrace |
| 91 | With hol trust and with hol believe; |
| 92 | God grante I mot it wel achieve. |
| 93 | If I schal drawe in to my mynde |
| 94 | The tyme passed, thanne I fynde |
| 95 | The world stod thanne in al his welthe: |
| 96 | Tho was the lif of man in helthe, |
| 97 | Tho was plente, tho was richesse, |
| 98 | Tho was the fortune of prouesse, |
| 99 | Tho was knyhthode in pris be name, |
| 100 | Wherof the wyde worldes fame |
| 101 | Write in Cronique is yit withholde; |
| 102 | Justice of lawe tho was holde, |
| 103 | The privilege of regalie |
| 104 | Was sauf, and al the baronie |
| 105 | Worschiped was in his astat; |
| 106 | The citees knewen no debat, |
| 107 | The poeple stod in obeissance |
| 108 | Under the reule of governance, |
| 109 | And pes, which ryhtwisnesse keste, |
| 110 | With charite tho stod in reste: |
| 111 | Of mannes herte the corage |
| 112 | Was schewed thanne in the visage; |
| 113 | The word was lich to the conceite |
| 114 | Withoute semblant of deceite: |
| 115 | Tho was ther unenvied love, |
| 116 | Tho was the vertu sett above |
| 117 | And vice was put under fote. |
| 118 | Now stant the crop under the rote, |
| 119 | The world is changed overal, |
| 120 | And therof most in special |
| 121 | That love is falle into discord. |
| 122 | And that I take to record |
| 123 | Of every lond for his partie |
| 124 | The comun vois, which mai noght lie; |
| 125 | Noght upon on, bot upon alle |
| 126 | It is that men now clepe and calle, |
| 127 | And sein the regnes ben divided, |
| 128 | In stede of love is hate guided, |
| 129 | The werre wol no pes purchace, |
| 130 | And lawe hath take hire double face, |
| 131 | So that justice out of the weie |
| 132 | With ryhtwisnesse is gon aweie: |
| 133 | And thus to loke on every halve, |
| 134 | Men sen the sor withoute salve, |
| 135 | Which al the world hath overtake. |
| 136 | Ther is no regne of alle outtake, |
| 137 | For every climat hath his diel |
| 138 | After the tornynge of the whiel, |
| 139 | Which blinde fortune overthroweth; |
| 140 | Wherof the certain noman knoweth: |
| 141 | The hevene wot what is to done, |
| 142 | Bot we that duelle under the mone |
| 143 | Stonde in this world upon a weer, |
| 144 | And namely bot the pouer |
| 145 | Of hem that ben the worldes guides |
| 146 | With good consail on alle sides |
| 147 | Be kept upriht in such a wyse, |
| 148 | That hate breke noght thassise |
| 149 | Of love, which is al the chief |
| 150 | To kepe a regne out of meschief. |
| 151 | For alle resoun wolde this, |
| 152 | That unto him which the heved is |
| 153 | The membres buxom scholden bowe, |
| 154 | And he scholde ek her trowthe allowe, |
| 155 | With al his herte and make hem chiere, |
| 156 | For good consail is good to hiere. |
| 157 | Althogh a man be wys himselve, |
| 158 | Yit is the wisdom more of tuelve; |
| 159 | And if thei stoden bothe in on, |
| 160 | To hope it were thanne anon |
| 161 | That god his grace wolde sende |
| 162 | To make of thilke werre an ende, |
| 163 | Which every day now groweth newe: |
| 164 | And that is gretly forto rewe |
| 165 | In special for Cristes sake, |
| 166 | Which wolde his oghne lif forsake |
| 167 | Among the men to yeve pes. |
| 168 | But now men tellen natheles |
| 169 | That love is fro the world departed, |
| 170 | So stant the pes unevene parted |
| 171 | With hem that liven now adaies. |
| 172 | Bot forto loke at alle assaies, |
| 173 | To him that wolde resoun seche |
| 174 | After the comun worldes speche |
| 175 | It is to wondre of thilke werre, |
| 176 | In which non wot who hath the werre; |
| 177 | For every lond himself deceyveth |
| 178 | And of desese his part receyveth, |
| 179 | And yet ne take men no kepe. |
| 180 | Bot thilke lord which al may kepe, |
| 181 | To whom no consail may ben hid, |
| 182 | Upon the world which is betid, |
| 183 | Amende that wherof men pleigne |
| 184 | With trewe hertes and with pleine, |
| 185 | And reconcile love ayeyn, |
| 186 | As he which is king sovereign |
| 187 | Of al the worldes governaunce, |
| 188 | And of his hyhe porveaunce |
| 189 | Afferme pes betwen the londes |
| 190 | And take her cause into hise hondes, |
| 191 | So that the world may stonde apppesed |
| 192 | And his godhede also be plesed. |
| 193 | To thenke upon the daies olde, |
| 194 | The lif of clerkes to beholde, |
| 195 | Men sein how that thei weren tho |
| 196 | Ensample and reule of alle tho |
| 197 | Whiche of wisdom the vertu soughten. |
| 198 | Unto the god ferst thei besoughten |
| 199 | As to the substaunce of her Scole, |
| 200 | That thei ne scholden noght befole |
| 201 | Her wit upon none erthly werkes, |
| 202 | Which were ayein thestat of clerkes, |
| 203 | And that thei myhten fle the vice |
| 204 | Which Simon hath in his office, |
| 205 | Wherof he takth the gold in honde. |
| 206 | For thilke tyme I understonde |
| 207 | The Lumbard made non eschange |
| 208 | The bisschopriches forto change, |
| 209 | Ne yet a lettre for to sende |
| 210 | For dignite ne for Provende, |
| 211 | Or cured or withoute cure. |
| 212 | The cherche keye in aventure |
| 213 | Of armes and of brygantaille |
| 214 | Stod nothing thanne upon bataille; |
| 215 | To fyhte or for to make cheste |
| 216 | It thoghte hem thanne noght honeste; |
| 217 | Bot of simplesce and pacience |
| 218 | Thei maden thanne no defence: |
| 219 | The Court of worldly regalie |
| 220 | To hem was thanne no baillie; |
| 221 | The vein honour was noght desired, |
| 222 | Which hath the proude herte fyred; |
| 223 | Humilite was tho withholde, |
| 224 | And Pride was a vice holde. |
| 225 | Of holy cherche the largesse |
| 226 | Yaf thanne and dede gret almesse |
| 227 | To povere men that hadden nede: |
| 228 | Thei were ek chaste in word and dede, |
| 229 | Wherof the poeple ensample tok; |
| 230 | Her lust was al upon the bok, |
| 231 | Or forto preche or forto preie, |
| 232 | To wisse men the ryhte weie |
| 233 | Of suche as stode of trowthe unliered. |
| 234 | Lo, thus was Petres barge stiered |
| 235 | Of hem that thilke tyme were, |
| 236 | And thus cam ferst to mannes Ere |
| 237 | The feith of Crist and alle goode |
| 238 | Thurgh hem that thanne weren goode |
| 239 | And sobre and chaste and large and wyse. |
| 240 | Bot now men sein is otherwise, |
| 241 | Simon the cause hath undertake, |
| 242 | The worldes swerd on honde is take; |
| 243 | And that is wonder natheles, |
| 244 | Whan Crist him self hath bode pes |
| 245 | And set it in his testament, |
| 246 | How now that holy cherche is went, |
| 247 | Of that here lawe positif |
| 248 | Hath set to make werre and strif |
| 249 | For worldes good, which may noght laste. |
| 250 | God wot the cause to the laste |
| 251 | Of every right and wrong also; |
| 252 | But whil the lawe is reuled so |
| 253 | That clerkes to the werre entende, |
| 254 | I not how that thei scholde amende |
| 255 | The woful world in othre thinges, |
| 256 | To make pes betwen the kynges |
| 257 | After the lawe of charite, |
| 258 | Which is the propre duete |
| 259 | Belongende unto the presthode. |
| 260 | Bot as it thenkth to the manhode, |
| 261 | The hevene is ferr, the world is nyh, |
| 262 | And veine gloire is ek so slyh, |
| 263 | Which coveitise hath now withholde, |
| 264 | That thei non other thing beholde, |
| 265 | Bot only that thei myhten winne. |
| 266 | And thus the werres thei beginne, |
| 267 | Wherof the holi cherche is taxed, |
| 268 | That in the point as it is axed |
| 269 | The disme goth to the bataille, |
| 270 | As thogh Crist myhte noght availe |
| 271 | To don hem riht be other weie. |
| 272 | In to the swerd the cherche keie |
| 273 | Is torned, and the holy bede |
| 274 | Into cursinge, and every stede |
| 275 | Which scholde stonde upon the feith |
| 276 | And to this cause an Ere leyth, |
| 277 | Astoned is of the querele. |
| 278 | That scholde be the worldes hele |
| 279 | Is now, men sein, the pestilence |
| 280 | Which hath exiled pacience |
| 281 | Fro the clergie in special: |
| 282 | And that is schewed overal, |
| 283 | In eny thing whan thei ben grieved. |
| 284 | Bot if Gregoire be believed, |
| 285 | As it is in the bokes write, |
| 286 | He doth ous somdel forto wite |
| 287 | The cause of thilke prelacie, |
| 288 | Wher god is noght of compaignie: |
| 289 | For every werk as it is founded |
| 290 | Schal stonde or elles be confounded; |
| 291 | Who that only for Cristes sake |
| 292 | Desireth cure forto take, |
| 293 | And noght for pride of thilke astat, |
| 294 | To bere a name of a prelat, |
| 295 | He schal be resoun do profit |
| 296 | In holy cherche upon the plit |
| 297 | That he hath set his conscience; |
| 298 | Bot in the worldes reverence |
| 299 | Ther ben of suche manie glade, |
| 300 | Whan thei to thilke astat ben made, |
| 301 | Noght for the merite of the charge, |
| 302 | Bot for thei wolde hemself descharge |
| 303 | Of poverte and become grete; |
| 304 | And thus for Pompe and for beyete |
| 305 | The Scribe and ek the Pharisee |
| 306 | Of Moises upon the See |
| 307 | In the chaiere on hyh ben set; |
| 308 | Wherof the feith is ofte let, |
| 309 | Which is betaken hem to kepe. |
| 310 | In Cristes cause alday thei slepe, |
| 311 | Bot of the world is noght foryete; |
| 312 | For wel is him that now may gete |
| 313 | Office in Court to ben honoured. |
| 314 | The stronge coffre hath al devoured |
| 315 | Under the keye of avarice |
| 316 | The tresor of the benefice, |
| 317 | Wherof the povere schulden clothe |
| 318 | And ete and drinke and house bothe; |
| 319 | The charite goth al unknowe, |
| 320 | For thei no grein of Pite sowe: |
| 321 | And slouthe kepeth the libraire |
| 322 | Which longeth to the Saintuaire; |
| 323 | To studie upon the worldes lore |
| 324 | Sufficeth now withoute more; |
| 325 | Delicacie his swete toth |
| 326 | Hath fostred so that it fordoth |
| 327 | Of abstinence al that ther is. |
| 328 | And forto loken over this, |
| 329 | If Ethna brenne in the clergie, |
| 330 | Al openly to mannes ije |
| 331 | At Avynoun thexperience |
| 332 | Therof hath yove an evidence, |
| 333 | Of that men sen hem so divided. |
| 334 | And yit the cause is noght decided; |
| 335 | Bot it is seid and evere schal, |
| 336 | Betwen tuo Stoles lyth the fal, |
| 337 | Whan that men wenen best to sitte: |
| 338 | In holy cherche of such a slitte |
| 339 | Is for to rewe un to ous alle; |
| 340 | God grante it mote wel befalle |
| 341 | Towardes him which hath the trowthe. |
| 342 | Bot ofte is sen that mochel slowthe, |
| 343 | Whan men ben drunken of the cuppe, |
| 344 | Doth mochel harm, whan fyr is uppe, |
| 345 | Bot if somwho the flamme stanche; |
| 346 | And so to speke upon this branche, |
| 347 | Which proud Envie hath mad to springe, |
| 348 | Of Scisme, causeth forto bringe |
| 349 | This newe Secte of Lollardie, |
| 350 | And also many an heresie |
| 351 | Among the clerkes in hemselve. |
| 352 | It were betre dike and delve |
| 353 | And stonde upon the ryhte feith, |
| 354 | Than knowe al that the bible seith |
| 355 | And erre as somme clerkes do. |
| 356 | Upon the hond to were a Schoo |
| 357 | And sette upon the fot a Glove |
| 358 | Acordeth noght to the behove |
| 359 | Of resonable mannes us: |
| 360 | If men behielden the vertus |
| 361 | That Crist in Erthe taghte here, |
| 362 | Thei scholden noght in such manere, |
| 363 | Among hem that ben holden wise, |
| 364 | The Papacie so desguise |
| 365 | Upon diverse eleccioun, |
| 366 | Which stant after thaffeccioun |
| 367 | Of sondry londes al aboute: |
| 368 | Bot whan god wole, it schal were oute, |
| 369 | For trowthe mot stonde ate laste. |
| 370 | Bot yet thei argumenten faste |
| 371 | Upon the Pope and his astat, |
| 372 | Wherof thei falle in gret debat; |
| 373 | This clerk seith yee, that other nay, |
| 374 | And thus thei dryve forth the day, |
| 375 | And ech of hem himself amendeth |
| 376 | Of worldes good, bot non entendeth |
| 377 | To that which comun profit were. |
| 378 | Thei sein that god is myhti there, |
| 379 | And schal ordeine what he wile, |
| 380 | Ther make thei non other skile |
| 381 | Where is the peril of the feith, |
| 382 | Bot every clerk his herte leith |
| 383 | To kepe his world in special, |
| 384 | And of the cause general, |
| 385 | Which unto holy cherche longeth, |
| 386 | Is non of hem that underfongeth |
| 387 | To schapen eny resistence: |
| 388 | And thus the riht hath no defence, |
| 389 | Bot ther I love, ther I holde. |
| 390 | Lo, thus tobroke is Cristes folde, |
| 391 | Wherof the flock withoute guide |
| 392 | Devoured is on every side, |
| 393 | In lacke of hem that ben unware |
| 394 | Schepherdes, whiche her wit beware |
| 395 | Upon the world in other halve. |
| 396 | The scharpe pricke in stede of salve |
| 397 | Thei usen now, wherof the hele |
| 398 | Thei hurte of that thei scholden hele; |
| 399 | And what Schep that is full of wulle |
| 400 | Upon his back, thei toose and pulle, |
| 401 | Whil ther is eny thing to pile: |
| 402 | And thogh ther be non other skile |
| 403 | Bot only for thei wolden wynne, |
| 404 | Thei leve noght, whan thei begynne, |
| 405 | Upon her acte to procede, |
| 406 | Which is no good schepherdes dede. |
| 407 | And upon this also men sein, |
| 408 | That fro the leese which is plein |
| 409 | Into the breres thei forcacche |
| 410 | Her Orf, for that thei wolden lacche |
| 411 | With such duresce, and so bereve |
| 412 | That schal upon the thornes leve |
| 413 | Of wulle, which the brere hath tore; |
| 414 | Wherof the Schep ben al totore |
| 415 | Of that the hierdes make hem lese. |
| 416 | Lo, how thei feignen chalk for chese, |
| 417 | For though thei speke and teche wel, |
| 418 | Thei don hemself therof no del: |
| 419 | For if the wolf come in the weie, |
| 420 | Her gostly Staf is thanne aweie, |
| 421 | Wherof thei scholde her flock defende; |
| 422 | Bot if the povere Schep offende |
| 423 | In eny thing, thogh it be lyte, |
| 424 | They ben al redy forto smyte; |
| 425 | And thus, how evere that thei tale, |
| 426 | The strokes falle upon the smale, |
| 427 | And upon othre that ben grete |
| 428 | Hem lacketh herte forto bete. |
| 429 | So that under the clerkes lawe |
| 430 | Men sen the Merel al mysdrawe, |
| 431 | I wol noght seie in general, |
| 432 | For ther ben somme in special |
| 433 | In whom that alle vertu duelleth, |
| 434 | And tho ben, as thapostel telleth, |
| 435 | That god of his eleccioun |
| 436 | Hath cleped to perfeccioun |
| 437 | In the manere as Aaron was: |
| 438 | Thei ben nothing in thilke cas |
| 439 | Of Simon, which the foldes gate |
| 440 | Hath lete, and goth in othergate, |
| 441 | Bot thei gon in the rihte weie. |
| 442 | Ther ben also somme, as men seie, |
| 443 | That folwen Simon ate hieles, |
| 444 | Whos carte goth upon the whieles |
| 445 | Of coveitise and worldes Pride, |
| 446 | And holy cherche goth beside, |
| 447 | Which scheweth outward a visage |
| 448 | Of that is noght in the corage. |
| 449 | For if men loke in holy cherche, |
| 450 | Betwen the word and that thei werche |
| 451 | Ther is a full gret difference: |
| 452 | Thei prechen ous in audience |
| 453 | That noman schal his soule empeire, |
| 454 | For al is bot a chirie feire |
| 455 | This worldes good, so as thei telle; |
| 456 | Also thei sein ther is an helle, |
| 457 | Which unto mannes sinne is due, |
| 458 | And bidden ous therfore eschue |
| 459 | That wikkid is, and do the goode. |
| 460 | Who that here wordes understode, |
| 461 | It thenkth thei wolden do the same; |
| 462 | Bot yet betwen ernest and game |
| 463 | Ful ofte it torneth other wise. |
| 464 | With holy tales thei devise |
| 465 | How meritoire is thilke dede |
| 466 | Of charite, to clothe and fede |
| 467 | The povere folk and forto parte |
| 468 | The worldes good, bot thei departe |
| 469 | Ne thenken noght fro that thei have. |
| 470 | Also thei sein, good is to save |
| 471 | With penance and with abstinence |
| 472 | Of chastite the continence; |
| 473 | Bot pleinly forto speke of that, |
| 474 | I not how thilke body fat, |
| 475 | Which thei with deynte metes kepe |
| 476 | And leyn it softe forto slepe, |
| 477 | Whan it hath elles al his wille, |
| 478 | With chastite schal stonde stille: |
| 479 | And natheles I can noght seie, |
| 480 | In aunter if that I misseye. |
| 481 | Touchende of this, how evere it stonde, |
| 482 | I here and wol noght understonde, |
| 483 | For therof have I noght to done: |
| 484 | Bot he that made ferst the Mone, |
| 485 | The hyhe god, of his goodnesse, |
| 486 | If ther be cause, he it redresce. |
| 487 | Bot what as eny man accuse, |
| 488 | This mai reson of trowthe excuse; |
| 489 | The vice of hem that ben ungoode |
| 490 | Is no reproef unto the goode: |
| 491 | For every man hise oghne werkes |
| 492 | Schal bere, and thus as of the clerkes |
| 493 | The goode men ben to comende, |
| 494 | And alle these othre god amende: |
| 495 | For thei ben to the worldes ije |
| 496 | The Mirour of ensamplerie, |
| 497 | To reulen and to taken hiede |
| 498 | Betwen the men and the godhiede. |
| 499 | Now forto speke of the comune, |
| 500 | It is to drede of that fortune |
| 501 | Which hath befalle in sondri londes: |
| 502 | Bot often for defalte of bondes |
| 503 | Al sodeinliche, er it be wist, |
| 504 | A Tonne, whanne his lye arist, |
| 505 | Tobrekth and renneth al aboute, |
| 506 | Which elles scholde noght gon oute; |
| 507 | And ek fulofte a litel Skar |
| 508 | Upon a Banke, er men be war, |
| 509 | Let in the Strem, which with gret peine, |
| 510 | If evere man it schal restreigne. |
| 511 | Wher lawe lacketh, errour groweth, |
| 512 | He is noght wys who that ne troweth, |
| 513 | For it hath proeved ofte er this; |
| 514 | And thus the comun clamour is |
| 515 | In every lond wher poeple dwelleth, |
| 516 | And eche in his compleignte telleth |
| 517 | How that the world is al miswent, |
| 518 | And ther upon his jugement |
| 519 | Yifth every man in sondry wise. |
| 520 | Bot what man wolde himself avise, |
| 521 | His conscience and noght misuse, |
| 522 | He may wel ate ferste excuse |
| 523 | His god, which evere stant in on: |
| 524 | In him ther is defalte non, |
| 525 | So moste it stonde upon ousselve |
| 526 | Nought only upon ten ne twelve, |
| 527 | Bot plenerliche upon ous alle, |
| 528 | For man is cause of that schal falle. |
| 529 | And natheles yet som men wryte |
| 530 | And sein that fortune is to wyte, |
| 531 | And som men holde oppinion |
| 532 | That it is constellacion, |
| 533 | Which causeth al that a man doth: |
| 534 | God wot of bothe which is soth. |
| 535 | The world as of his propre kynde |
| 536 | Was evere untrewe, and as the blynde |
| 537 | Improprelich he demeth fame, |
| 538 | He blameth that is noght to blame |
| 539 | And preiseth that is noght to preise: |
| 540 | Thus whan he schal the thinges peise, |
| 541 | Ther is deceipte in his balance, |
| 542 | And al is that the variance |
| 543 | Of ous, that scholde ous betre avise; |
| 544 | For after that we falle and rise, |
| 545 | The world arist and falth withal, |
| 546 | So that the man is overal |
| 547 | His oghne cause of wel and wo. |
| 548 | That we fortune clepe so |
| 549 | Out of the man himself it groweth; |
| 550 | And who that other wise troweth, |
| 551 | Behold the poeple of Irael: |
| 552 | For evere whil thei deden wel, |
| 553 | Fortune was hem debonaire, |
| 554 | And whan thei deden the contraire, |
| 555 | Fortune was contrariende. |
| 556 | So that it proeveth wel at ende |
| 557 | Why that the world is wonderfull |
| 558 | And may no while stonde full, |
| 559 | Though that it seme wel besein; |
| 560 | For every worldes thing is vein, |
| 561 | And evere goth the whiel aboute, |
| 562 | And evere stant a man in doute, |
| 563 | Fortune stant no while stille, |
| 564 | So hath ther noman al his wille. |
| 565 | Als fer as evere a man may knowe, |
| 566 | Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe; |
| 567 | The world stant evere upon debat, |
| 568 | So may be seker non astat, |
| 569 | Now hier now ther, now to now fro, |
| 570 | Now up now down, this world goth so, |
| 571 | And evere hath don and evere schal: |
| 572 | Wherof I finde in special |
| 573 | A tale writen in the Bible, |
| 574 | Which moste nedes be credible; |
| 575 | And that as in conclusioun |
| 576 | Seith that upon divisioun |
| 577 | Stant, why no worldes thing mai laste, |
| 578 | Til it be drive to the laste. |
| 579 | And fro the ferste regne of alle |
| 580 | Into this day, hou so befalle, |
| 581 | Of that the regnes be muable |
| 582 | The man himself hath be coupable, |
| 583 | Which of his propre governance |
| 584 | Fortuneth al the worldes chance. |
| 585 | The hyhe almyhti pourveance, |
| 586 | In whos eterne remembrance |
| 587 | Fro ferst was every thing present, |
| 588 | He hath his prophecie sent, |
| 589 | In such a wise as thou schalt hiere, |
| 590 | To Daniel of this matiere, |
| 591 | Hou that this world schal torne and wende, |
| 592 | Till it be falle to his ende; |
| 593 | Wherof the tale telle I schal, |
| 594 | In which it is betokned al. |
| 595 | As Nabugodonosor slepte, |
| 596 | A swevene him tok, the which he kepte |
| 597 | Til on the morwe he was arise, |
| 598 | For he therof was sore agrise. |
| 599 | To Daniel his drem he tolde, |
| 600 | And preide him faire that he wolde |
| 601 | Arede what it tokne may; |
| 602 | And seide: "Abedde wher I lay, |
| 603 | Me thoghte I syh upon a Stage |
| 604 | Wher stod a wonder strange ymage. |
| 605 | His hed with al the necke also |
| 606 | Thei were of fin gold bothe tuo; |
| 607 | His brest, his schuldres and his armes |
| 608 | Were al of selver, bot the tharmes, |
| 609 | The wombe and al doun to the kne, |
| 610 | Of bras thei were upon to se; |
| 611 | The legges were al mad of Stiel, |
| 612 | So were his feet also somdiel, |
| 613 | And somdiel part to hem was take |
| 614 | Of Erthe which men Pottes make; |
| 615 | The fieble meynd was with the stronge, |
| 616 | So myhte it wel noght stonde longe. |
| 617 | And tho me thoghte that I sih |
| 618 | A gret ston from an hull on hyh |
| 619 | Fel doun of sodein aventure |
| 620 | Upon the feet of this figure, |
| 621 | With which Ston al tobroke was |
| 622 | Gold, Selver, Erthe, Stiel and Bras, |
| 623 | That al was in to pouldre broght, |
| 624 | And so forth torned into noght." |
| 625 | This was the swevene which he hadde, |
| 626 | That Daniel anon aradde, |
| 627 | And seide him that figure strange |
| 628 | Betokneth how the world schal change |
| 629 | And waxe lasse worth and lasse, |
| 630 | Til it to noght al overpasse. |
| 631 | The necke and hed, that weren golde, |
| 632 | He seide how that betokne scholde |
| 633 | A worthi world, a noble, a riche, |
| 634 | To which non after schal be liche. |
| 635 | Of Selver that was overforth |
| 636 | Schal ben a world of lasse worth; |
| 637 | And after that the wombe of Bras |
| 638 | Tokne of a werse world it was. |
| 639 | The Stiel which he syh afterward |
| 640 | A world betokneth more hard: |
| 641 | Bot yet the werste of everydel |
| 642 | Is last, whan that of Erthe and Stiel |
| 643 | He syh the feet departed so, |
| 644 | For that betokneth mochel wo. |
| 645 | Whan that the world divided is, |
| 646 | It moste algate fare amis, |
| 647 | For Erthe which is meynd with Stiel |
| 648 | Togedre may noght laste wiel, |
| 649 | Bot if that on that other waste; |
| 650 | So mot it nedes faile in haste. |
| 651 | The Ston, which fro the hully Stage |
| 652 | He syh doun falle on that ymage, |
| 653 | And hath it into pouldre broke, |
| 654 | That swevene hath Daniel unloke, |
| 655 | And seide how that is goddes myht, |
| 656 | Which whan men wene most upryht |
| 657 | To stonde, schal hem overcaste. |
| 658 | And that is of this world the laste, |
| 659 | And thanne a newe schal beginne, |
| 660 | Fro which a man schal nevere twinne; |
| 661 | Or al to peine or al to pes |
| 662 | That world schal lasten endeles. |
| 663 | Lo thus expondeth Daniel |
| 664 | The kynges swevene faire and wel |
| 665 | In Babiloyne the Cite, |
| 666 | Wher that the wiseste of Caldee |
| 667 | Ne cowthen wite what it mente; |
| 668 | Bot he tolde al the hol entente, |
| 669 | As in partie it is befalle. |
| 670 | Of gold the ferste regne of alle |
| 671 | Was in that kinges time tho, |
| 672 | And laste manye daies so, |
| 673 | Therwhiles that the Monarchie |
| 674 | Of al the world in that partie |
| 675 | To Babiloyne was soubgit; |
| 676 | And hield him stille in such a plit, |
| 677 | Til that the world began diverse: |
| 678 | And that was whan the king of Perse, |
| 679 | Which Cirus hyhte, ayein the pes |
| 680 | Forth with his Sone Cambises |
| 681 | Of Babiloine al that Empire, |
| 682 | Ryht as thei wolde hemself desire, |
| 683 | Put under in subjeccioun |
| 684 | And tok it in possessioun, |
| 685 | And slayn was Baltazar the king, |
| 686 | Which loste his regne and al his thing. |
| 687 | And thus whan thei it hadde wonne, |
| 688 | The world of Selver was begonne |
| 689 | And that of gold was passed oute: |
| 690 | And in this wise it goth aboute |
| 691 | In to the Regne of Darius; |
| 692 | And thanne it fell to Perse thus, |
| 693 | That Alisaundre put hem under, |
| 694 | Which wroghte of armes many a wonder, |
| 695 | So that the Monarchie lefte |
| 696 | With Grecs, and here astat uplefte, |
| 697 | And Persiens gon under fote, |
| 698 | So soffre thei that nedes mote. |
| 699 | And tho the world began of Bras, |
| 700 | And that of selver ended was; |
| 701 | Bot for the time thus it laste, |
| 702 | Til it befell that ate laste |
| 703 | This king, whan that his day was come, |
| 704 | With strengthe of deth was overcome. |
| 705 | And natheles yet er he dyde, |
| 706 | He schop his Regnes to divide |
| 707 | To knyhtes whiche him hadde served, |
| 708 | And after that thei have deserved |
| 709 | Yaf the conquestes that he wan; |
| 710 | Wherof gret werre tho began |
| 711 | Among hem that the Regnes hadde, |
| 712 | Thurgh proud Envie which hem ladde, |
| 713 | Til it befell ayein hem thus: |
| 714 | The noble Cesar Julius, |
| 715 | Which tho was king of Rome lond, |
| 716 | With gret bataille and with strong hond |
| 717 | Al Grece, Perse and ek Caldee |
| 718 | Wan and put under, so that he |
| 719 | Noght al only of thorient |
| 720 | Bot al the Marche of thoccident |
| 721 | Governeth under his empire, |
| 722 | As he that was hol lord and Sire, |
| 723 | And hield thurgh his chivalerie |
| 724 | Of al this world the Monarchie, |
| 725 | And was the ferste of that honour |
| 726 | Which tok the name of Emperour. |
| 727 | Wher Rome thanne wolde assaille, |
| 728 | Ther myhte nothing contrevaille, |
| 729 | Bot every contre moste obeie: |
| 730 | Tho goth the Regne of Bras aweie, |
| 731 | And comen is the world of Stiel, |
| 732 | And stod above upon the whiel. |
| 733 | As Stiel is hardest in his kynde |
| 734 | Above alle othre that men finde |
| 735 | Of Metals, such was Rome tho |
| 736 | The myhtieste, and laste so |
| 737 | Long time amonges the Romeins |
| 738 | Til thei become so vileins, |
| 739 | That the fals Emperour Leo |
| 740 | With Constantin his Sone also |
| 741 | The patrimoine and the richesse, |
| 742 | Which to Silvestre in pure almesse |
| 743 | The ferste Constantinus lefte, |
| 744 | Fro holy cherche thei berefte. |
| 745 | Bot Adrian, which Pope was, |
| 746 | And syh the meschief of this cas, |
| 747 | Goth in to France forto pleigne, |
| 748 | And preith the grete Charlemeine, |
| 749 | For Cristes sake and Soule hele |
| 750 | That he wol take the querele |
| 751 | Of holy cherche in his defence. |
| 752 | And Charles for the reverence |
| 753 | Of god the cause hath undertake, |
| 754 | And with his host the weie take |
| 755 | Over the Montz of Lombardie; |
| 756 | Of Rome and al the tirandie |
| 757 | With blodi swerd he overcom, |
| 758 | And the Cite with strengthe nom; |
| 759 | In such a wise and there he wroghte, |
| 760 | That holy cherche ayein he broghte |
| 761 | Into franchise, and doth restore |
| 762 | The Popes lost, and yaf him more: |
| 763 | And thus whan he his god hath served, |
| 764 | He tok, as he wel hath deserved, |
| 765 | The Diademe and was coroned. |
| 766 | Of Rome and thus was abandoned |
| 767 | Thempire, which cam nevere ayein |
| 768 | Into the hond of no Romein; |
| 769 | Bot a long time it stod so stille |
| 770 | Under the Frensche kynges wille, |
| 771 | Til that fortune hir whiel so ladde, |
| 772 | That afterward Lombardz it hadde, |
| 773 | Noght be the swerd, bot be soffrance |
| 774 | Of him that tho was kyng of France, |
| 775 | Which Karle Calvus cleped was; |
| 776 | And he resigneth in this cas |
| 777 | Thempire of Rome unto Lowis |
| 778 | His Cousin, which a Lombard is. |
| 779 | And so hit laste into the yeer |
| 780 | Of Albert and of Berenger; |
| 781 | Bot thanne upon dissencioun |
| 782 | Thei felle, and in divisioun |
| 783 | Among hemself that were grete, |
| 784 | So that thei loste the beyete |
| 785 | Of worschipe and of worldes pes. |
| 786 | Bot in proverbe natheles |
| 787 | Men sein, ful selden is that welthe |
| 788 | Can soffre his oghne astat in helthe; |
| 789 | And that was on the Lombardz sene, |
| 790 | Such comun strif was hem betwene |
| 791 | Thurgh coveitise and thurgh Envie, |
| 792 | That every man drowh his partie, |
| 793 | Which myhte leden eny route, |
| 794 | Withinne Burgh and ek withoute: |
| 795 | The comun ryht hath no felawe, |
| 796 | So that the governance of lawe |
| 797 | Was lost, and for necessite, |
| 798 | Of that thei stode in such degre |
| 799 | Al only thurgh divisioun, |
| 800 | Hem nedeth in conclusioun |
| 801 | Of strange londes help beside. |
| 802 | And thus for thei hemself divide |
| 803 | And stonden out of reule unevene, |
| 804 | Of Alemaine Princes sevene |
| 805 | Thei chose in this condicioun, |
| 806 | That upon here eleccioun |
| 807 | Thempire of Rome scholde stonde. |
| 808 | And thus thei lefte it out of honde |
| 809 | For lacke of grace, and it forsoke, |
| 810 | That Alemans upon hem toke: |
| 811 | And to confermen here astat, |
| 812 | Of that thei founden in debat |
| 813 | Thei token the possessioun |
| 814 | After the composicioun |
| 815 | Among hemself, and therupon |
| 816 | Thei made an Emperour anon, |
| 817 | Whos name as the Cronique telleth |
| 818 | Was Othes; and so forth it duelleth, |
| 819 | Fro thilke day yit unto this |
| 820 | Thempire of Rome hath ben and is |
| 821 | To thalemans. And in this wise, |
| 822 | As ye tofore have herd divise |
| 823 | How Daniel the swevene expondeth |
| 824 | Of that ymage, on whom he foundeth |
| 825 | The world which after scholde falle, |
| 826 | Come is the laste tokne of alle; |
| 827 | Upon the feet of Erthe and Stiel |
| 828 | So stant this world now everydiel |
| 829 | Departed; which began riht tho, |
| 830 | Whan Rome was divided so: |
| 831 | And that is forto rewe sore, |
| 832 | For alway siththe more and more |
| 833 | The world empeireth every day. |
| 834 | Wherof the sothe schewe may, |
| 835 | At Rome ferst if we beginne: |
| 836 | The wall and al the Cit withinne |
| 837 | Stant in ruine and in decas, |
| 838 | The feld is wher the Paleis was, |
| 839 | The toun is wast; and overthat, |
| 840 | If we beholde thilke astat |
| 841 | Which whilom was of the Romeins, |
| 842 | Of knyhthode and of Citezeins, |
| 843 | To peise now with that beforn, |
| 844 | The chaf is take for the corn, |
| 845 | As forto speke of Romes myht: |
| 846 | Unethes stant ther oght upryht |
| 847 | Of worschipe or of worldes good, |
| 848 | As it before tyme stod. |
| 849 | And why the worschipe is aweie, |
| 850 | If that a man the sothe seie, |
| 851 | The cause hath ben divisioun, |
| 852 | Which moder of confusioun |
| 853 | Is wher sche cometh overal, |
| 854 | Noght only of the temporal |
| 855 | Bot of the spirital also. |
| 856 | The dede proeveth it is so, |
| 857 | And hath do many day er this, |
| 858 | Thurgh venym which that medled is |
| 859 | In holy cherche of erthly thing: |
| 860 | For Crist himself makth knowleching |
| 861 | That noman may togedre serve |
| 862 | God and the world, bot if he swerve |
| 863 | Froward that on and stonde unstable; |
| 864 | And Cristes word may noght be fable. |
| 865 | The thing so open is at ije, |
| 866 | It nedeth noght to specefie |
| 867 | Or speke oght more in this matiere; |
| 868 | Bot in this wise a man mai lere |
| 869 | Hou that the world is gon aboute, |
| 870 | The which welnyh is wered oute, |
| 871 | After the forme of that figure |
| 872 | Which Daniel in his scripture |
| 873 | Expondeth, as tofore is told. |
| 874 | Of Bras, of Selver and of Gold |
| 875 | The world is passed and agon, |
| 876 | And now upon his olde ton |
| 877 | It stant of brutel Erthe and Stiel, |
| 878 | The whiche acorden nevere a diel; |
| 879 | So mot it nedes swerve aside |
| 880 | As thing the which men sen divide. |
| 881 | Thapostel writ unto ous alle |
| 882 | And seith that upon ous is falle |
| 883 | Thende of the world; so may we knowe, |
| 884 | This ymage is nyh overthrowe, |
| 885 | Be which this world was signified, |
| 886 | That whilom was so magnefied, |
| 887 | And now is old and fieble and vil, |
| 888 | Full of meschief and of peril, |
| 889 | And stant divided ek also |
| 890 | Lich to the feet that were so, |
| 891 | As I tolde of the Statue above. |
| 892 | And this men sen, thurgh lacke of love |
| 893 | Where as the lond divided is, |
| 894 | It mot algate fare amis: |
| 895 | And now to loke on every side, |
| 896 | A man may se the world divide, |
| 897 | The werres ben so general |
| 898 | Among the cristene overal, |
| 899 | That every man now secheth wreche, |
| 900 | And yet these clerkes alday preche |
| 901 | And sein, good dede may non be |
| 902 | Which stant noght upon charite: |
| 903 | I not hou charite may stonde, |
| 904 | Wher dedly werre is take on honde. |
| 905 | Bot al this wo is cause of man, |
| 906 | The which that wit and reson can, |
| 907 | And that in tokne and in witnesse |
| 908 | That ilke ymage bar liknesse |
| 909 | Of man and of non other beste. |
| 910 | For ferst unto the mannes heste |
| 911 | Was every creature ordeined, |
| 912 | Bot afterward it was restreigned: |
| 913 | Whan that he fell, thei fellen eke, |
| 914 | Whan he wax sek, thei woxen seke; |
| 915 | For as the man hath passioun |
| 916 | Of seknesse, in comparisoun |
| 917 | So soffren othre creatures. |
| 918 | Lo, ferst the hevenly figures, |
| 919 | The Sonne and Mone eclipsen bothe, |
| 920 | And ben with mannes senne wrothe; |
| 921 | The purest Eir for Senne alofte |
| 922 | Hath ben and is corrupt fulofte, |
| 923 | Right now the hyhe wyndes blowe, |
| 924 | And anon after thei ben lowe, |
| 925 | Now clowdy and now clier it is: |
| 926 | So may it proeven wel be this, |
| 927 | A mannes Senne is forto hate, |
| 928 | Which makth the welkne to debate. |
| 929 | And forto se the proprete |
| 930 | Of every thyng in his degree, |
| 931 | Benethe forth among ous hiere |
| 932 | Al stant aliche in this matiere: |
| 933 | The See now ebbeth, now it floweth, |
| 934 | The lond now welketh, now it groweth, |
| 935 | Now be the Trees with leves grene, |
| 936 | Now thei be bare and nothing sene, |
| 937 | Now be the lusti somer floures, |
| 938 | Now be the stormy wynter shoures, |
| 939 | Now be the daies, now the nyhtes, |
| 940 | So stant ther nothing al upryhtes, |
| 941 | Now it is lyht, now it is derk; |
| 942 | And thus stant al the worldes werk |
| 943 | After the disposicioun |
| 944 | Of man and his condicioun. |
| 945 | Forthi Gregoire in his Moral |
| 946 | Seith that a man in special |
| 947 | The lasse world is properly: |
| 948 | And that he proeveth redely; |
| 949 | For man of Soule resonable |
| 950 | Is to an Angel resemblable, |
| 951 | And lich to beste he hath fielinge, |
| 952 | And lich to Trees he hath growinge; |
| 953 | The Stones ben and so is he: |
| 954 | Thus of his propre qualite |
| 955 | The man, as telleth the clergie, |
| 956 | Is as a world in his partie, |
| 957 | And whan this litel world mistorneth, |
| 958 | The grete world al overtorneth. |
| 959 | The Lond, the See, the firmament, |
| 960 | Thei axen alle jugement |
| 961 | Ayein the man and make him werre: |
| 962 | Therwhile himself stant out of herre, |
| 963 | The remenant wol noght acorde: |
| 964 | And in this wise, as I recorde, |
| 965 | The man is cause of alle wo, |
| 966 | Why this world is divided so. |
| 967 | Division, the gospell seith, |
| 968 | On hous upon another leith, |
| 969 | Til that the Regne al overthrowe: |
| 970 | And thus may every man wel knowe, |
| 971 | Division aboven alle |
| 972 | Is thing which makth the world to falle, |
| 973 | And evere hath do sith it began. |
| 974 | It may ferst proeve upon a man; |
| 975 | The which, for his complexioun |
| 976 | Is mad upon divisioun |
| 977 | Of cold, of hot, of moist, of drye, |
| 978 | He mot be verray kynde dye: |
| 979 | For the contraire of his astat |
| 980 | Stant evermore in such debat, |
| 981 | Til that o part be overcome, |
| 982 | Ther may no final pes be nome. |
| 983 | Bot other wise, if a man were |
| 984 | Mad al togedre of o matiere |
| 985 | Withouten interrupcioun, |
| 986 | Ther scholde no corrupcioun |
| 987 | Engendre upon that unite: |
| 988 | Bot for ther is diversite |
| 989 | Withinne himself, he may noght laste, |
| 990 | That he ne deieth ate laste. |
| 991 | Bot in a man yit over this |
| 992 | Full gret divisioun ther is, |
| 993 | Thurgh which that he is evere in strif, |
| 994 | Whil that him lasteth eny lif: |
| 995 | The bodi and the Soule also |
| 996 | Among hem ben divided so, |
| 997 | That what thing that the body hateth |
| 998 | The soule loveth and debateth; |
| 999 | Bot natheles fulofte is sene |
| 1000 | Of werre which is hem betwene |
| 1001 | The fieble hath wonne the victoire. |
| 1002 | And who so drawth into memoire |
| 1003 | What hath befalle of old and newe, |
| 1004 | He may that werre sore rewe, |
| 1005 | Which ferst began in Paradis: |
| 1006 | For ther was proeved what it is, |
| 1007 | And what desese there it wroghte; |
| 1008 | For thilke werre tho forth broghte |
| 1009 | The vice of alle dedly Sinne, |
| 1010 | Thurgh which division cam inne |
| 1011 | Among the men in erthe hiere, |
| 1012 | And was the cause and the matiere |
| 1013 | Why god the grete flodes sende, |
| 1014 | Of al the world and made an ende |
| 1015 | Bot Noe5 with his felaschipe, |
| 1016 | Which only weren saulf be Schipe. |
| 1017 | And over that thurgh Senne it com |
| 1018 | That Nembrot such emprise nom, |
| 1019 | Whan he the Tour Babel on heihte |
| 1020 | Let make, as he that wolde feihte |
| 1021 | Ayein the hihe goddes myht, |
| 1022 | Wherof divided anon ryht |
| 1023 | Was the langage in such entente, |
| 1024 | Ther wiste non what other mente, |
| 1025 | So that thei myhten noght procede. |
| 1026 | And thus it stant of every dede, |
| 1027 | Wher Senne takth the cause on honde, |
| 1028 | It may upriht noght longe stonde; |
| 1029 | For Senne of his condicioun |
| 1030 | Is moder of divisioun |
| 1031 | And tokne whan the world schal faile. |
| 1032 | For so seith Crist withoute faile, |
| 1033 | That nyh upon the worldes ende |
| 1034 | Pes and acord awey schol wende |
| 1035 | And alle charite schal cesse, |
| 1036 | Among the men and hate encresce; |
| 1037 | And whan these toknes ben befalle, |
| 1038 | Al sodeinly the Ston schal falle, |
| 1039 | As Daniel it hath beknowe, |
| 1040 | Which al this world schal overthrowe, |
| 1041 | And every man schal thanne arise |
| 1042 | To Joie or elles to Juise, |
| 1043 | Wher that he schal for evere dwelle, |
| 1044 | Or straght to hevene or straght to helle. |
| 1045 | In hevene is pes and al acord, |
| 1046 | Bot helle is full of such descord |
| 1047 | That ther may be no loveday: |
| 1048 | Forthi good is, whil a man may, |
| 1049 | Echon to sette pes with other |
| 1050 | And loven as his oghne brother; |
| 1051 | So may he winne worldes welthe |
| 1052 | And afterward his soule helthe. |
| 1053 | Bot wolde god that now were on |
| 1054 | An other such as Arion, |
| 1055 | Which hadde an harpe of such temprure, |
| 1056 | And therto of so good mesure |
| 1057 | He song, that he the bestes wilde |
| 1058 | Made of his note tame and milde, |
| 1059 | The Hinde in pes with the Leoun, |
| 1060 | The Wolf in pes with the Moltoun, |
| 1061 | The Hare in pees stod with the Hound; |
| 1062 | And every man upon this ground |
| 1063 | Which Arion that time herde, |
| 1064 | Als wel the lord as the schepherde, |
| 1065 | He broghte hem alle in good acord; |
| 1066 | So that the comun with the lord, |
| 1067 | And lord with the comun also, |
| 1068 | He sette in love bothe tuo |
| 1069 | And putte awey malencolie. |
| 1070 | That was a lusti melodie, |
| 1071 | Whan every man with other low; |
| 1072 | And if ther were such on now, |
| 1073 | Which cowthe harpe as he tho dede, |
| 1074 | He myhte availe in many a stede |
| 1075 | To make pes wher now is hate; |
| 1076 | For whan men thenken to debate, |
| 1077 | I not what other thing is good. |
| 1078 | Bot wher that wisdom waxeth wod, |
| 1079 | And reson torneth into rage, |
| 1080 | So that mesure upon oultrage |
| 1081 | Hath set his world, it is to drede; |
| 1082 | For that bringth in the comun drede, |
| 1083 | Which stant at every mannes Dore: |
| 1084 | Bot whan the scharpnesse of the spore |
| 1085 | The horse side smit to sore, |
| 1086 | It grieveth ofte. And now nomore, |
| 1087 | As forto speke of this matiere, |
| 1088 | Which non bot only god may stiere. |
Explicit Prologus