And wirke after thy wiser ever moo. For alderfirste,1 doghter, I love the soo For al the good under the colde moone; And what I meene, hyt shal be seyde ryght soone, With protestacioun, as seyn these wyse, That but thou do as I shal the devyse, 2640 Thou shalt be ded, by hym that al hath wrought! At shorte wordes thou ne schapest nought "I nyl," quod he, "have noon excepcioun." And out he kaughte a knyfe as rasour kene; "Hyde this," quod he, "that hyt be not i-sene And whan thyn housbonde ys to bedde goo, While that he slepeth kut hys throte atwoo; For in my dremes hyt is warned me, How that my nevywe shal my bane be, 8 But which I not; wherfore I wol be siker.* 1 First of all. 2 Counsel. 3 Know not. 4 Secure. "A COSTREL TAKETH HE." 181 Gif thou say nay, we two shal make a byker,' As I have seyde, by him that I have sworne!" This Ypermystra hath nygh hire wytte for lorne, 2 2662 And, for to passen harmlesse of that place, 2670 Oute cometh the bride, and with ful sobre chere, As ys of maidenes ofte the manere, To chambre broght with revel and with songe. 3 4 As colde as eny froste now wexeth shee, 2682 And drede of dethe doth hir so moche woo. 1 Quarrel. • A small vase or bottle of wood. 8 Full of dread Argos. That thries doun she fil in swich a were,1 She ryst hir up and stakereth her and there, And on hir handes faste loketh she. 2700 And at the wyndow lepe he fro the lofte, Whan she hath warned hym and doon hym bote." This Lyno swyfte was and lyght of fote, 2710 And from hir ranne a ful goode pace. This sely womman ys so wayke, allace! Confusion Of necessity. Conduit. 4 Shaketh Weak. Help FLE FRO THE PRES. Helpeles, so that er she ferre wente, 183 Allas, Lyno, why art thou so unkynde ? Why ne hast thou remembred in thy mynde, And taken hir, and ledde hir forthe with the? For when she saw that goon away was he, And that she myghte not so faste go, Ne folowen hym, she sate hir doun ryght thoo, Til she was kaught and fetred in prisoun. 2721 This tale ys sayde for this conclusioun. Here endeth the Legende of Goode Women. FLE FRO THE PRES. FLE fro the pres 2 and duelle with sothfastnesse ; 8 4 Suffice the thy good, though hit be smale; For horde hath hate and clymbyng tikelnesse," Pres hath envye and wele is blent over alle, Savour' no more then the behove shalle; Reule wel thyself that other folke canst rede, And trouthe the shal delyver, hit ys no drede. Peyne the not eche croked to redresse In trust of hire that turneth as a balle, Grete reste stant in lytil besynesse; Bewar also to spurn agein an nalle,10 4 Ambition. 1 Caused her to be taken. 2 Crowd. 8 Truth. Uncertainty. Wealth is deceived 7 Taste. 8 Counsel. That Fortune. 10 An awl. Stryve not as doth a croke1 with a walle; Daunte 2 thyselfe that dauntest otheres dede, And trouthe the shal delyver, hit is no drede. That the ys sent receyve in buxumnesse, The wrasteling of this world asketh a fall; Her is no home, her is but wyldyrnesse. Forth, pilgrime! Forth, best, out of thy stalle Loke up on hye and thonke God of alle; Weyve thy luste and let thy goste the lede, And trouthe the shal delyver, hit is no drede! ORISOUNE TO THE HOLY VIRGIN. MODER of God, and virgyne undefouled, Moder of mercy, wey of indulgence, Humble lady, mayde, moder and wyfe! 1 Earthen pot. Control. Courts. 4 Ignorant, foolish. |