Now certes, frend, I dreed of thyn unhappe, Leste for thy gilte the wreche1 of love procede On alle hem that ben hoor and rounde of shappe,2 31 That ben so lykly folke in love to spede, 4 Scogan, that knelest at the stremes hede Of grace, of alle honour, and of worthynesse ! In thende of which streme I am dul as dede, Forgete in solytarie wildernesse ; Yet, Scogan, thenke on Tullius kyndenesse ; Mynde thy frend there it may fructyfye, Farewel, and loke thow never eft' love dyffye. L'ENVOY DE CHAUCER A BUKTON. My maister, Buktoun, whan of Crist our kyng Was axed, What ys trouthe or sothefastnesse? & The Again. 1 Vengeance. 2 An allusion to Chaucer's age and form. eld gray one. That is, at Windsor. That is, Greenwich. That is, Marcus Tullius Cicero's De Amicitiâ (of friendship). One Peter de Bukton is mentioned by Tyrwhitt, but the identity of Chaucer's friend is still uncertain. He nat a worde answerde to that axinge, As who saith, "Noo man is al trew," 1 gesse ; And therfore, though I highte1 to expresse I wol nat seyn how that hyt is the cheyne ΤΟ But yet lest thow do worse, take a wyfe ; Bet ys to wedde than brenne in worse wise, But thow shalt have sorwe on thy flessh, thy lyfe, And ben thy wyfes thral, as seyn these wise. 2°. 8 This lytel written proverbes or figure 1 Promised. Afterward. Advise. 4 Secure. GENTILNESSE. Of this matere that we have on honde. 197 30 GENTILNESSE. THE firste fadir and fynder of gentilnesse,1 Moste folowe his trace and alle his wittes dresse 2 Vertu to shew and vicis for to flee; 8 For unto vertu longeth dignitee, And nought the revers, savely dare I deme, The firste stoke was ful of rightwisnesse, Vice may wel bee heyre to olde richesse, But there may no man, as ye may welle see, Byquethe his sone his vertuous noblesse ; 1 That is, Christ. Compare Dekker's expression, "the first true gentleman that ever breathed." The same idea was suggested by Juliana Berners, circ. 1485. Address 8 Belongeth. Although he wear Race. Cf. Etas Prima. That is approperid into noo degree, But the firste Fadir in Magestee, Which may his heires deeme hem that him queme,1 Al were he mytre, corone, or diademe. BALLADE SENT TO KING RICHARD. SOMETYME the worlde was so stedfast and stable, That mannes worde was holde obligacioun ; 8 ΤΟ That alle is loste for lakke of stedfastnesse. Pitee exiled, noo man ys merciable; 4 ! Please. Bribery. Unskillful (Fr. inhabile). Put aside. VISAGE SANZ PEINTURE. The worlde hath made permutacioun 199 Fro ryght to wrong, fro trouthe to fikelenesse, That alle ys lost for lakke of stedfastnesse. 21 Lenvoye. O Prince, desire to be honourable; Drede God, do law, love trouthe and worthinesse, And wedde thy folke ageyne to stedfastnesse. BALADE DE VISAGE SANZ PEINTURE.' THIS wrecched worlde is transmutacioun, As wele or wo, now poverte, now honour, Withowten ordyr or wis descresyoun, Governed is by Fortunes erroure ; But natheles the lakke of hyr favoure 8 Ne may nat don me syngen, thogh I deye, Yit is me left the lyght of my resoun, 10 1 To be done. This appears to be a translation, but the connec don with the text is not apparent. Cause me to sing. 4 Cf. Can erbury Tales, l. 18,492. "I have lost all, my time and my labor. |