Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British Poets Part 9

Whereof a crystal is that one, Which that corone is set upon: The second is an adamant: The third is n.o.ble and evenant, Which cleped is Idriades.

And over this yet natheless, Upon the sides of the werk, After the writing of the clerk, There sitten five stones mo.[2]

The Smaragdine is one of tho,[3]

Jaspis, and Eltropius, And Vendides, and Jacinctus.

Lo thus the corone is beset, Whereof it shineth well the bet.[4]

And in such wise his light to spread, Sits with his diadem on head, The Sunne shining in his cart: And for to lead him swith[5] and smart, After the bright daye's law, There be ordained for to draw, Four horse his chare, and him withal, Whereof the names tell I shall.

Eritheus the first is hote,[6]

The which is red, and shineth hot; The second Acteos the bright; Lampes the thirde courser hight; And Philogens is the ferth, That bringen light unto this earth, And go so swift upon the heaven, In four and twenty houres even, The carte with the brighte sun They drawen, so that over run They have under the circles high, All midde earth in such an hie.[7]

And thus the sun is over all The chief planet imperial, Above him and beneath him three.

And thus between them runneth he, As he that hath the middle place Among the seven: and of his face Be glad all earthly creatures, And taken after the natures Their ease and recreation.

And in his constellation Who that is born in special, Of good-will and of liberal He shall be found in alle place, And also stand in muchel grace Toward the lordes for to serve, And great profit and thank deserve.

And over that it causeth yet A man to be subtil of wit, To work in gold, and to be wise In everything, which is of prise.[8]

But for to speaken in what coast Of all this earth he reigneth most, As for wisdom it is in Greece, Where is appropred thilk spece.[9]

[1] 'Croned:' crowned.

[2] 'Mo:' more.

[3] 'Tho:' those.

[4] 'Bet:' better.

[5] 'Swith:' swift.

[6] 'Hot:' named.

[7] 'Hie:' haste.

[8] 'Prise:' value.

[9] 'Thilk spece:' that kind.

THE TALE OF THE COFFERS OR CASKETS, &c.

In a chronique thus I read: About a kinge, as must need, There was of knightes and squiers Great rout, and eke officers: Some of long time him had served, And thoughten that they have deserved Advancement, and gone without: And some also been of the rout, That comen but a while agon, And they advanced were anon.

These olde men upon this thing, So as they durst, against the king Among themselves complainen oft: But there is nothing said so soft, That it ne cometh out at last: The king it wist, anon as fast, As he which was of high prudence: He shope[1] therefore an evidence Of them that 'plainen in the case To know in whose default it was: And all within his own intent, That none more wiste what it meant.

Anon he let two coffers make, Of one semblance, and of one make, So like, that no life thilke throw,[2]

The one may from that other know: They were into his chamber brought, But no man wot why they be wrought, And natheless the king hath bede That they be set in privy stede,[3]

As he that was of wisdom sly; When he thereto his time sih,[4]

All privily that none it wist, His owne handes that one chest Of fine gold, and of fine perrie,[5]

The which out of his treasury Was take, anon he filled full; That other coffer of straw and mull,[6]

With stones meynd[7] he fill'd also: Thus be they full bothe two.

So that erliche[8] upon a day He bade within, where he lay, There should be before his bed A board up set and faire spread: And then he let the coffers fet[9]

Upon the board, and did them set, He knew the names well of tho,[10]

The which against him grutched[11] so, Both of his chamber, and of his hall, Anon and sent for them all; And saide to them in this wise:

'There shall no man his hap despise: I wot well ye have longe served, And G.o.d wot what ye have deserved; But if it is along[12] on me Of that ye unadvanced be, Or else if it be long on yow, The soothe shall be proved now: To stoppe with your evil word, Lo! here two coffers on the board; Choose which you list of bothe two; And witteth well that one of tho Is with treasure so full begon, That if he happe thereupon Ye shall be riche men for ever: Now choose and take which you is lever,[13]

But be well 'ware ere that ye take, For of that one I undertake There is no manner good therein, Whereof ye mighten profit win.

Now go together of one a.s.sent, And taketh your advis.e.m.e.nt; For but I you this day advance, It stands upon your owne chance, All only in default of grace; So shall be shewed in this place Upon you all well afine,[14]

That no defaulte shall be mine.'

They kneelen all, and with one voice The king they thanken of this choice: And after that they up arise, And go aside and them advise, And at laste they accord (Whereof their tale to record To what issue they be fall) A knight shall speake for them all: He kneeleth down unto the king, And saith that they upon this thing, Or for to win, or for to lose, Be all advised for to choose.

Then took this knight a yard[15] in hand, And go'th there as the coffers stand, And with a.s.sent of every one He lay'th his yarde upon one, And saith the king[16] how thilke same They chose in reguerdon[17] by name, And pray'th him that they might it have.

The king, which would his honour save, When he had heard the common voice, Hath granted them their owne choice, And took them thereupon the key; But for he woulde it were see What good they have as they suppose, He bade anon the coffer unclose, Which was fulfill'd with straw and stones: Thus be they served all at ones.

This king then in the same stede, Anon that other coffer undede, Where as they sawen great riches, Well more than they couthen [18] guess.

'Lo!' saith the king, 'now may ye see That there is no default in me; Forthy[19] myself I will acquite, And beareth ye your owne wite[20]

Of that fortune hath you refused.'

Thus was this wise king excused: And they left off their evil speech.

And mercy of their king beseech.

[1] 'Shope:' contrived.

[2] 'Thilke throw:' at that time.

[3] 'Stede:' place.

[4] 'Sih:' saw.

[5] 'Perrie:' precious stones.

[6] 'Mull:' rubbish.

[7] 'Meynd:' mingled.

[8] 'Erlich:' early.

[9] 'Fet:' fetched.

[10] 'Tho:' those.

[11] 'Grutched:' murmured.

[12] 'Along:' because of.

[13] 'Lever:' preferable.

[14] 'Afine:' at last.

[15] 'Yard:' rod.

[16] 'Saith the king:' saith to the king.

[17] 'Reguerdon:' as their reward.

[18] 'Couthen:' could.

[19] 'Forthy:' therefore.

[20] 'Wite:' blame.

OF THE GRATIFICATION WHICH THE LOVERS Pa.s.sION RECEIVES FROM THE SENSE OF HEARING.

Right as mine eye with his look Is to mine heart a l.u.s.ty cook Of love's foode delicate; Right so mine ear in his estate, Where as mine eye may nought serve, Can well mine hearte's thank deserve; And feeden him, from day to day, With such dainties as he may.

For thus it is that, over all Where as I come in special, I may hear of my lady price:[1]

I hear one say that she is wise; Another saith that she is good; And some men say of worthy blood That she is come; and is also So fair that nowhere is none so: And some men praise her goodly chere.[2]

Thus everything that I may hear, Which soundeth to my lady good, Is to mine ear a l.u.s.ty food.

And eke mine ear hath, over this, A dainty feaste when so is That I may hear herselve speak; For then anon my fast I break On suche wordes as she saith, That full of truth and full of faith They be, and of so good disport, That to mine eare great comfort They do, as they that be delices For all the meats, and all the spices, That any Lombard couthe[3] make, Nor be so l.u.s.ty for to take, Nor so far forth restoratif, (I say as for mine owne life,) As be the wordes of her mouth For as the windes of the south Be most of alle debonaire;[4]

So, when her list to speake fair, The virtue of her goodly speech Is verily mine hearte's leech.

And if it so befall among, That she carol upon a song, When I it hear, I am so fed, That I am from myself so led As though I were in Paradise; For, certes, as to mine avs,[5]

When I hear of her voice the steven,[6]

Methink'th it is a bliss of heaven.

And eke in other wise also, Full ofte time it falleth so, Mine care with a good pitance[7]

Is fed of reading of romance Of Ydoine and of Amadas, That whilom weren in my case; And eke of other many a score, That loveden long ere I was bore.

For when I of their loves read, Mine eare with the tale I feed, And with the l.u.s.t of their histoire Sometime I draw into memoire, How sorrow may not ever last; And so hope cometh in at last.