{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_22415/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_22415","id":"gutenberg_22415","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22415","summary":null,"tags":["Category: British Literature","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Poetry","Poetry"],"text":"Produced by Louise Hope, David Starner and the Online\nDistributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net\n\n\n\n\n\n  [Transcriber's Note:\n\n  This text is intended for users whose text readers cannot use the\n  \"real\" (unicode/utf-8) version of the file. Characters that could not\n  be fully displayed have been \"unpacked\" and shown in brackets:\n\n    [em], [on] ... [vowel printed with \"tilde\" or overline]\n    [gh]  [letter yogh]\n    [P]  [paragraph symbol]\n\n  A few words such as \"with\" or \"the\" were printed as abbreviations:\n  initial \"y\" or \"w\" with small \"t\" or \"e\" above it. These are shown\n  in brackets as [the].\n\n  Two sets of three pages were out of sequence. The sections involved\n  are indicated in the text with\n    [>>] beginning\n    [<>] page break\n    [<<] end\n  Details are at the end of the e-text, along with a list of\n  typographical errors.]\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n           *       *       *       *\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[P] Here begynneth the boke called the example of vertu.\n\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nTabula libri\n\n[P] Fyrste a prologue.\n\n[P] How youth mette with discrecyon in a medowe in his dreme & was\nreformed by her prouerbes      ca.i.\n\n[P] How youth with discrecyon sayled ouer the daungerous passage\nof vayne glorye and arryued in a fayre Ilonde longynge to foure\nladyes named Hardynes / Sapyence / fortune / & nature.     ca.ii\n\n[P] Of the meruaylous palays of fortune      ca.iii.\n\n[P] Of the triumphaunt estate of hardynes.      ca.iiii.\n\n[P] Of the gloryfyed towre of sapyence.      ca.v.\n\n[P] Of the stronge operacyons of nature      ca.vi\n\n[P] How these foure ladyes pleeded at the barre before Iustyce\nwhiche of theym was moost proufytable vnto mankynde & of the\nIugement of Iustyce.      ca.vii.\n\n[P] How after the Iugement of Iustyce / Sapyence c[om]maunded\nDiscrec[on]n to lede youth to marye with clennes the kynge of loues\ndoughter.      ca.viii.\n\n[P] How youth by the waye mette [with] lechery rydynge on a gote\nand pryde maned with couetyse on an olypha[un]tes backe in a fayre\ncastell / & how by the ayde of dyscrecyon he dyde withstande\ntheyr temptac[on]n and how he mette with sapience in the mase of\nwordely besynes.      capitulo.ix.\n\n[P] How Sapyence & dyscrecyon ledde youth ouer the narowe brydge\nof vanyte of the worlde to the palays of [the] kynge of loue &\nof his meruaylous appareyl.      ca.x\n\n[P] How sapyence presented youth to the kynge of loue for to mary\nClennes his doughter & how he before [the] maryage dyde fyght\nand discomfyte the dragon with thre hedys.      capitulo.xi.\n\n[P] How after the discomfyture of the sayd dragon he well growen\nin age was receyued with a farye company of ladyes and was named\nvertu & with all Ioye brought to the palays of the kynge of\nloue.      ca.xii.\n\n[P] Of the maryage of vertu & clennes & of [the] celestyal feste\nhow after the maryage an aungell shewed vnto theym hell / & of\nthe dyuysyons of hell.      ca.xiii.\n\n[P] How vertu cleymed the enherytaunce longynge to Clennes his\nwyfe / & how many aungelles & sayntes brought theym to heuen / &\nhow heuen is enteyled to Vertu and to Clennes & to all theym\nthat loue them & folowe & procede in theyr steppes.\n     capitulo.xiiii.\n\n[P] This boke called the example of vertue was made and compyled\nby Stephyn hawys one of the gromes of the moost honorable\nchaumber of oure souerayne lorde kynge Henry the .vii. the .xix.\nyere of his moost noble reygne / and by hym presented to our\nsayd souerayne lorde chapytred & marked after this table here\nbefore sette.\n\n\n\n\nThe prologe.\n\n\nWhan I aduert in my remembraunce\nThe famous draughtes of poetes eloquent\nWhiche theyr myndes dyd well enhaunce\nBokes to contryue that were expedyent\nTo be remembred without Impedyment\nFor the profyte of humanyte\nThis was the custume of antyquyte.\n\nI now symple and moost rude\nAnd naked in depured eloquence\nFor dulnes rethoryke doth exclude\nWherfore in makynge I lake intellygence\nAlso consyderynge my grete neglygence\nIt fereth me sore for to endyte\nBut at auenture I wyll now wryte.\n\nAs very blynde in the poetys art\nFor I therof can no thynge skyll\nWherfore I lay it all a part\nBut somwhat accordynge to my wyll\nI wyll now wryte for to fulfyll\nSaynt Powles wordes and true sentement\nAll that is wryten is to oure document\n\nO prudent Gower in langage pure\nWithout corrupcyon moost facundyous\nO noble Chauser euer moost sure\nOf frutfull sentence ryght delycyous\nO vertuous Lydgat moche sentencyous\nVnto you all I do me excuse\nThough I your connynge do now vse\n\n\nExplicit prologus.\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum prim[um]\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nIn Septembre in fallynge of the lefe\nWhan phebus made his declynacyon\nAnd all the whete gadred was in the shefe\nBy radyaunt hete and operacyon\nWhan the vyrgyn had full domynacyon\nAnd Dyane entred was one degre\nInto the sygne of Gemyne\n\nWhan the golden sterres clere were splendent\nIn the firmament puryfyed clere as crystall\nBy imperyall course without incombrement\nAs Iuppyter and Mars that be celestyall\nWith Saturne and Mercury that wer supernall\nMyxt with venus that was not retrograte\nThat caused me to be well fortunate\n\nIn a slombrynge slepe with slouth opprest\nAs I in my naked bedde was leyd\nThynkynge all nyght to take my rest\nMorpleus to me than made abreyd\nAnd in my dreme me thought he sayd\nCome walke with me in a medowe amerous\nDepeynted with floures that be delycyous\n\nI walked with hym into a place\nWhere that there grue many a fayre floure\nWith Ioye replete and full of solace\nAnd the trees dystyllynge redolent lycoure\nMore sweter fer than the Aprell shour\nAnd tary I dyd there by longe space\nTyll that I saw before my face\n\nA ryght fayre lady of myddell stature\nAnd also enduyd with grete vertue\nHer apparell was set with perlys pure\nWhose beaute alway dyd renue\nTo me she sayd and ye wyll extue\nAll wyldnes I wyll be your guyde\nThat ye to fraylte shall not slyde.\n\n[>>]\nVnto her I answerde o lady gloryous\nI pray you tell me what is your name\nFor ye seeme to be ryght precyous\nAnd I am yonge and sore to blame\nOf vyces full and in vertue lame\nBut I wyll be ruled now by your pleasure\nSo that your order be made by mesure\n\nEclepyd I am she sayd dyscrecyon\nAnd yf ye wyll be ruled by me\nYe shall haue Ioye without reprehencyon\nAnd neuer fall in to fragylyte\nYouth lackynge me it is grete pyte\nFor in what place I am exyled\nThey be with synne ryght oft defyled\n\nIt longeth euer vnto my properte\nYouth to gyue courage for to lerne\nI wyll not medle with no duplycyte\nBut faythfulnes I wyll dyscerne\nAnd brynge thy soule to blesse eterne\nBy wyse example and morall doctryne\nFor youth hauynge to me is a good syne\n\nForsake also all euyll company\nAnd be founde true in worde and dede\nRemembre that this worlde is transytory\nAfter thy desert shall be thy mede\nLoue god alway and eke hym drede\nAnd for no mannes pleasure be thyn owne foo\nGyue theym fayre wordes and lete theym goo\n\n[<>]\nBe to thy kynge euer true subgete\nAs thou sholdest be by ryght and reason\nLete thy herte lowely on hym be sete\nWithout ony spot of euyll treason\nAnd be obedyent at euery season\nVnto his grace without rebellyon\nThat thou with trouth may be companyon\n\nLoue neuer vnloued for that is payne\nWhyle that thou lyuest of that beware\nLoue as thou seest the loued agayne\nOr elles it wyll torne the to care\nBe neuer taken in that fast snare\nProue or thou loue that is moost sure\nAnd than thou in doubte shalt not endure.\n\nBeware byleue no flaterynge tonge\nFor flaterers be moost disseyuable\nThough that they company with the longe\nYet at the ende they wyll be varyable\nFor they by reason are not fauorable\nBut euermore fals and double\nAnd with theyr tonges cause of grete trouble\n\nThis brytell worlde ay full of bytternes\nAlway turnynge lyke to a ball\nNo man in it can haue no sykernes\nFor whan he clymmeth he hath a fall\nO wauerynge shadowe bytter as gall\nO fatall welth full soone at ende\nThough thou ryght hy do oft assende\n\n[<>]\nWhan she to me had made relacyon\nOf all these prouerbes by good conclusyon\nShe gaue to me an Informacyon\nFor to depryue all yll abusyon\nAnd to consydre the grete derysyon\nWhiche is in youth that may not se\nNo thynge appropred to his prosperyte\n\nForth than we went to an hauen syde\nWher was a shyp lyenge at rode\nTaryenge after the wynde and tyde\nAnd with moche spyces ryght well lode\nVpon it lokynge we longe abode\nTyll eolus with blastes began to rore\nThan we her aborded with payne ryght sore\n\nThis water eclyped was vayneglory\nEuer with yeopardy and tempestyous\nAnd the shyp called was ryght truly\nThe vessell of the passage daungerous\nThe wawys were hyghe and gretly troublous\nThe captayn called was good comfort\nAnd the sterysman fayre pasport\n\n\n\n\n[P] Capitulum .ii.\n\n\nLonge were we dryuen with wynde & weder\nTyll we arryued in a fayre Ilonde\nWher was a boote tyed with a teeder\nOf merueylous wood as I vnderstonde\nPrecyous stones ley vpon the sond\nAnd poynted dyamondes grewe on the rockes\nAnd corall also by ryght hyghe stockes\n[<<]\n\nAmased I was for to beholde\nThe precyous stones vnder my fete\nAnd the erth glysterynge of golde\nWith floures fayre of odour swete\nDame dyscrecyon I dyd than grete\nPraynge her to me to make relacyon\nWho of this Ilonde hath domynacyon\n\nShe sayd foure ladyes in vertue excellent\nOf whiche the eldest is dame nature\nThat dayly fourmeth after her entent\nEuery beest and lyuynge creature\nBoth foule and fayre and also pure\nAll that dependynge in her ordynaunce\nWhere that she fauoureth there is grete pleasaunce\n\nThe seconde is called dame fortune\nAyenst whome can be no resystence\nFor she doth sette the strynges in tune\nOf euery persone by her magnyfycence\nWhan they sound best by good experyence\nShe wyll theym loose and let theym slyp\nCausynge theym fall by her turnynge tryp\n\nThe thyrde called is dame hardynes\nThat often rulyth by her cheualry\nShe is ryght stowt and of grete prowes\nAnd the captayn of a lusty company\nAnd ruleth theym euer full hardely\nAnd to gete honour and worldely tresure\nShe putteth her oft in auenture\n\n[P] The fourth is wysedome a lady bryght\nWhiche is my syster as ye shall se\nWhom I do loue with all my myght\nFor she enclyneth euer to benygnyte\nAnd medeleth not with fraude nor subtylyte\nBut maketh many noble clerkes\nAnd ruleth theym in all theyr werkes\n\n[P] They dwell all in a fayre castell\nBesyde a ryuer moche depe and clere\nAnd be expert in feytys manuell\nThat vnto theym can be no peere\nOf erthely persone that lyueth here\nFor they be so fayre and wounderous\nThat theym to se it is solacyous.\n\n[P] Longe haue they trauerst gretly in the lawe\nWhiche of theym sholde haue the preemynence\nAnd none of them theyr case wyll withdrawe\nTyll of dame Iustyce they knowe the sentence\nThey argue often and make defence\nEche vnto other withouten remedy\nI wyll no lenger of them specefy\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum tercium.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nCome on fayre youth and go with me\nVnto that place that is delectable\nBylded with towres of curyosyte\nAnd yet though that ye be lamentable\nWhan thou art there you wylt be confortable\nTo se the merueyles that there be wrought\nNo man can prynt it in his thought\n\nA path we founde ryght gretely vsed\nWhere in we went tyll at the last\nA castell I sawe wherof I mused\nNot fully from me a stones cast\nTo se the towres I was agast\nSet in a valey so strongely fortefyed\nSo gentyll compassed and well edefyed\n\nThe towres were hyghe of adamond stones\nWith fanes wauerynge in the wynde\nOf ryght fyne golde made for the noonys\nAnd roobuckes ran vnder the lynde\nAnd hunters came theym fer behynde\nA Ioye it was suche sawe I neuer\nAbyde quod she ye shall se a better.\n\nForth she me ledde to the castell warde\nWhere we were let in by humylyte\nAnd so after she lede me forwarde\nTyll that I sawe a royall tre\nWith buddys blossomed of grete beaute\nAnd than we wente in to the hall\nThat glased was truely with crystall\n\nAnd hanged was with clothes of Aras\nMade of fyne golde with a noble story\nHow that there some tyme reynynge was\nIn the regyon of hyghe Italy\nA valyaunt emperour and a myghty\nThat had to name forsothe Tyberius\nWhiche dyde enquere of prudent Iosethus\n\n[P] Why he his offycers so longe kepte\nVnto hym he answered a good cause why\nSomtyme I sawe a man that slepte\nThat wounded was full pyteously\nAnd on his woundes suckynge many a fly\nI than for pyte moued theym away\nBy whiche he woke and to me dyde say\n\n[P] Wher that thou trowed to me comfort\nThou now hast done me double greuaunce\nPuttynge away the flyes that dyde resorte\nTo me beynge full of blody sustynaunce\nBy this thou mayst haue good perseueraunce\nThat now wyll come the flyes moost hungry\nThat wyll me byte .x. tymes more greuously\n\n[P] The roof was wrought by merueylous gemetry\nColered with asure gold and gowlys\nWith knottes coruen full ryght craftely\nAnd set also with wanton fowlys\nAs popyniays / pyes / Iays / and owlys\nAnd as I loked on my ryght syde\nA lady I sawe of meruellous pryde\n\n[P] Syttynge in a chayer at the vpper ende\nOf all the hall as a lady and prynces\nAmonge many kynges that dyde entende\nTo be obedyent to her hyghe noblenes\nHer apparell was made of moche fayre ryches\nSet with rubyes moost pure and rubicound\nEmbrawded with perles and many a dyamound\n\nBesydes her sate the worthyes nyne\nAnd she amonge theym a whele turnynge\nFull lowe to her they dyd than enclyne\nShe somtyme laughynge and somtyme lowrynge\nHer condycyon was to be dyssymelynge\nAnd many exalten vpon her whele\nGyuynge theym grete falles that they dyd fele\n\nThan sayd dyscrecyon beholde and see\nThat in dame fortune is no stablenes\nThis worlde also is but a vanyte\nA dreme a pompe nothynge in stedfastnes\nFor fortune is fals and full of doblenes\nWhan she moost flatereth she is not sure\nAs thou mayst se dayly in vre\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum .iiii.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nForth than we went vnto the habytacle\nOf dame hardynes moost pure and fayre\nAboue all places a ryght fayre spectacle\nStrowyd with floures that gaue good eyer\nOf vertuous turkeys there was a cheyr\nWherin she sate in her cote armure\nBerynge a shelde the felde of asure\n\nWherin was sette a rampynge lyon\nOf fyne golde ryght large and grete\nA swerd she had of merueylous fassyon\nAs though a thousand she sholde bete\nNo man the vyctory of her myght gete\nA noble vyrgyn there dyde her serue\nThat fyrst made harnes called Mynerue\n\nThe chaumbre where she held her consystory\nThe dewe aromatyke dyde oft degoute\nOf fragraunt floures full of delycasy\nThat all yll heyres dyde ensence oute\nA carbuncle there was that all aboute\nEnlumyned the chaumbre both day and nyght\nMy thought it was an heuenly syght\n\nNyne quenes I sawe that satte her by\nBeynge all armed of grete fortytude\nIn many a stower they wanne the vyctory\nAnd were endued with facounde pulcrytude\nFor to haunte armes was theyr consuetude\nMany a regyon they often wanne\nAnd also vaynquysshed many a noble man\n\nNexte vnto her sate the hyghe quene Azia\nThat was a conqueres so puyssaunt\nAnd besyde her the quene of Saba\nWhiche in grete ryches was tryumphaunt\nAnd also Ipolyte in armes valyaunt\nSate with her besyde quene Hecuba\nAnd yet also the quene Europa\n\nPresent ther was the wiche quene Iuno\nAnd quene Pantasyll wyth fayre quene Elyn\nAnd yet I sawe by her than also\nThe noble vyrgyn yonge Polyxyn\nThat was destroyed at the last ruyn\nOf Troye the grete by cruell Pyrrus\nThe sone of Achylles that was so cheualrus\n\nAs I dyd loke I had commaundement\nOf dame dyscrecyon for to remembre\nThese noble ladyes so pure and excellent\nHardy in corage of age ryght tendre\nYet not withstandynge deth dyde surrendre\nAnd all theyr strength and lusty corage\nFor he spareth nother youth ne age\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum .v.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nForth we walked to the dwellynge place\nOf dame sapyence so full of blys\nReplete with Ioye vertu and grace\nNo thynge there lacked that possyble is\nMan for to comfort withouten mys\nThough he were derke in wordely foly\nHe sholde there b enlumyned shortely\n\nHer towre was made of werkes curyous\nI can no thynge extende the goodlynes\nOf her palays so good and gloryous\nBylded in the place soth of fastnes\nWith owten tast of wordely bytternes\nNo persone can extoll the souerente\nOf her worthy and royall dygnyte\n\nShe eche estate sholde haue in gouernaunce\nAs theym to rule or that they repent\nFor better it is to haue good puruyaunce\nAt the begynnynge as is expedyent\nThan for to wyssh for thynges myspent\nThat myght be saued longe afore\nAnd with a for wytte kepte in store\n\nHer chaumbre was glased with byrall clarefyed\nDepeynted with colours of delectacyon\nA place of pleasure so heuenly gloryfyed\nIn vertue heale lyfe and saluacyon\nWithout ony stormy trybulacyon\nThat myght anoy the heuenly helth\nBut alway comfort to the sowlys welth\n\nThere sate dame prudence in vertue magnyfyed\nImpossyble it is to shewe her goodelyhed\nShe was so fayre and clerely puryfyed\nAnd so dyscrete and full of womanhede\nThat and I trowe vertue were deed\nIt sholde reuyue yet in her agayne\nShe was so gentyll and without dysdeyn\n\nIt was grete comfort vnto my hert\nFor to beholde that heuenly syght\nDyscrecyon sayd I sholde not depert\nTyll I had spoken with her syster bryght\nForth she me ledde with all her myght\nVnto that prynces and royall souerayn\nErgo my labour was not in vayn\n\nThan spake dame prudence with meke contena[un]ce\nWelcome dyscrecyon my syster dere\nWhere haue ye ben by longe contynuaunce\nWyth youth she sayd that ye se here\nAnd for my sake I you requere\nHym to receyue in to your seruyse\nAnd he shall serue you in goodely wyse\n\nWelcome she sayd for my systers sake\nAnd yet also now for your owne\nIn to my seruyce I wyll you take\nSythens that your wyldnes is ouerblowen\nThe sede of vertu on you shall be sowen\nVyce to depryue by his good auctoryte\nAs for to subdue all yll iniquyte\n\nOf other mennes wordes be thou not bolde\nAnd of theyr promys make no behest\nAnd yf thou here an yll tale tolde\nGyue no iugement but say the best\nSo shall thou lyue euermore in rest\nWho lytell medeleth is best at ease\nFor well were he that all myght please\n\nBeware kepe the from grete offence\nThat thou condempned be not by ryghtwysnes\nWhan she doth gyue her mortall sentence\nWithout pease or mercy cause her reles\nHer iugement of mortall heuynes\nThat the best frende to the wyll be\nThe for to socour in grete necessyte\n\nBut yet in theym haue none affyaunce\nAs fyrst to synne thynkynge that they\nAt the ende to the wyll be delyueraunce\nNay ryghtwysnes wyll dryue theym away\nFor of all synnes without delay\nSuche synne in hope it is the moost\nFor it is the synne of the holy ghoost\n\nNow I amytte you into your rome\nIn the whiche ye shall your selfe apply\nOf myn owne chaumbre ye shall be grome\nLoke ye be dylygent and do not vary\nFrom my c[om]maundementes neuer specyally\nFor and ye wyll theym well obserue\nA moche better rome ye do deserue\n\nThe fyrst c[om]maundement that I gyue the\nThynke on the ende or thou begynne\nFor thou by ryght may knowe the certente\nThat deth is fyne of euery synne\nBe neuer taken in dyabolycall engyne\nBut that repentaunce may loose the sone\nOf that grete synne that thou hast done\n\nTrust not to moche in fortunes grace\nThough that she laugh on the a whyle\nFor she can sodenly turne her face\nWhan that she lyst the to begyle\nShe welth and Ioye can sone defyle\nAnd plonge the in the pyte of pouerte\nWherfore in her haue thou no suertye\n\nPresume no ferther than the behoueth\nFor it wyll turne the to grete shame\nFor who that from his rome remoueth\nHe is often full gretely to blame\nAnd medeleth with other in theym lame\nAs no thynge connynge nor expert\nThey may hym say syr malapert\n\nOr that thou speke call to remembraunce\nVnto what mater thy worde shall sygnyfye\nLoke that it torne no man to greuaunce\nThough that it be spoken merely\nYet many a one wyll take it greuously\nWhiche that myght cause wroth and debate\nWhyle that thou lyues beware of that\n\nFor a thynge lost without recouer\nLoke that thou neuer be to pensyfe\nThanke god of it thynke to haue an other\nLete wysedome than be to the comfortyfe\nThat to thy brayn is best preseruatyfe\nFor euermore ryght wyse is he\nThat can be pacyent in aduersyte\n\nProue thy frende in a mater fayned\nOr thou haue nede than shalt thou se\nWhyther he be iustly with the reteyned\nThe for to socour in thy necessyte\nBy profe thou mayst knowe the veryte\nFor profe afore that nede requere\nDefeteth dowte euer in fere\n\nBe thou neuer so blynde in wylle\nYet loke thou be refourmed by reason\nThan shalt thou my mynde fulfyll\nAnd thou therto thy selfe abandon\nStryue not with reason for none encheson\nFor wher she lacketh ther is grete outrage\nAnd without her may not aswage\n\nEschew also the synne of pryde\nThe moder and the feruent rote\nOf all the synnes at euery tyde\nWherfore trede thou her vnder fote\nWith helpe of vertue so swete and sote\nWhiche is best salue to hele thy sore\nAnd to thy helth the to restore\n\nWo worth synne without repentaunce\nWo worth bondage without reles\nWo worth man without good gouernaunce\nWo worth infynall payne and dystresse\nWo worth vyce put fer in presse\nWo worth soueraynte hauynge dysdeyn\nAnd wo worth pyte that doth refrayn\n\nWo worth ryght that may not be herd\nWo worth frendshyp without stabylyte\nWo worth true sentence that is deferd\nWo worth the man full of duplycyte\nWo worth hym without benygnyte\nWo worth lybertye withouten pease\nAnd wo worth crueltye that may not cease\n\nWo worth connynge that is abused\nWo worth promys withouten payment\nWo worth vertue that is refused\nWo worth trouble without extynguysment\nWo worth foly on message sent\nWo worth reason that is exyled\nAnd wo worth trouth that is defyled\n\nWo worth the trust without assuraunce\nWo worth grace not sette by\nWo worth Iustyce kepte in dystaunce\nWo worth welth replete with enuy\nWo worth the batayll without vyctory\nWo worth begynnynge without good ende\nAnd wo worth wronge that doth defende\n\nThese commaundementes I put in memory\nTheym for to kepe doynge my dylygence\nWith dame Sapyence I dyd longe tary\nWhiche dyd me teche with partynge influence\nOf her delycate and doulcete complacence\nThan spake dyscrecyon anone to me\nIn the presens of her systers mageste\n\nThou art beholdynge to my syster reuerent\nThat the reteyned hath vnto her seruaunt\nWherfore be thou to her obedyent\nAnd at euery houre to her attendaunt\nAnd ryotous company do thou not haunt\nFor that wyll payre and yll thy name\nWherfore of vertuous myrth let be thy game\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum .vi.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nDiscrecyon ferther forth me lede\nVnto the solempne and royall mancyon\nOf dame nature in humayne stede\nRyght pleasaunt was her habytacyon\nOf merueylous werke and sytuacyon\nAnd she her selfe helde her estate\nIn a gloryous chaumbre without chekmate\n\nHer towre was gylted full of sonne bemys\nAnd within hanged with cloth of aras\nThe roof was paynted with golden stremys\nAnd lyke crystall depured was\nEuery wyndowe aboute of glas\nWhere that she sat as a fayre goddes\nAll thynges creatynge by her besynes\n\nMe thought she was of merueylous beaute\nTyll that Dyscrecyon lede me behynde\nWhere that I sawe all the pryuyte\nOf her werke and humayne kynde\nAnd at her backe I dyd than fynde\nOf cruell deth a dolfull ymage\nThat all her beaute dyd perswage\n\nFull wonderous was her operacyon\nIn euery kynde eke and ryght degre\nWithouten rest or recreacyon\nI wyll not medle with her secrete\nFor it no thynge longeth to my faculte\nBut somwhat after I wyll expres\nOf her grete power and worthynes\n\nBut in my boke well for to procede\nDame dyscrecyon ferther me brought\nInto a fayre chambre as ye may rede\nOf fyne gemetry ryght well wrought\nTo comfort man there lacked nought\nBut that me thought there was no company\nSaue onely dame dyscrecyon and I\n\nWe had ben but a lytell whyle there\nBut that we sawe a lady clere\nRyght well appareled in sad gere\nMylde in her hauour dyscrete of chere\nThat came vs by and very nere\nAscendynge vp in to her hyghe sete\nGarnysshed with perle and with gold bete\n\nThan sayd dyscrecyon this is dame Iustyce\nClene of conscyence without corrupcyon\nAnd neuer be spotted with the synne of couetyse\nBut true as stele in the entencyon\nOf ryght euermore without destruccyon\nGeuynge alway a ryghtfull iugement\nObey thou youth this lady reuerent\n\nA iuge fulfylled with the synne of auaryce\nOr with fauour of kynne made blynd\nMust nedys do wronge by grete [pre]iudyce\nFor fauour shold not conscyence bynd\nRyght to dyssymyll as I now fynd\nIn problemys wryten of antiquyte\nMade by phylosophers of auctoryte\n\nAs we stode talkynge thus to gydere\nVp came dame fortune so gayly gloryfyed\nImpossyble it is for me to dyscouere\nHow gorges she was & gretly magnyfyed\nFull lyke a goddes that had ben deyfyd\nClothed with gold sette full of rubyes\nAnd tynst [with] emeraudys & many a turkes\n\nAnd next to her there dyd ensue\nDame Hardynes that noble lady\nAfter whome anone dyd pursue\nDame Sapyence whiche dyd not tary\nThan came dame nature appareled royally\nAnd all the other cladde in gold\nSet with dyamondes many a fold\n\nThey lowted all vnto the ground\nAfore dame Iustyce for obeysaunce\nThat sate there both hole and sound\nWithouten ony dyscontynuaunce\nGyuynge god ere vnto the vteraunce\nOf these foure ladyes pledynge at barre\nWith all theyr cases dyd well avarre\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum .vii.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nFyrst dame hardynes began to plede\nSaynge she was to man moost profytable\nFor she the hertes hath often fede\nOf conquerous as it was couenable\nAnd by my corage haue made theym able\nRegyons to wynne theyr ennemyes to subdue\nAnd yf I were not they had it rue\n\nAnd yf a man be neuer so wyse\nWithouten me he getyth none vteraunce\nWherfore his wysedome may not suffyse\nAll onely without myn allegeaunce\nFor I by ryght must nedys enhaunce\nA lowe born man to an hyghe degre\nYf that he wyll be ruled by me\n\nHaue I not caused many a noble warreour\nTo wynne the batell by my grete myght\nWithout me was made neuer conquerour\nNor yet man coragious whan he dyd fyght\nNo man without me may defende his ryght\nI may be worst from hym forborne\nFor and I were not he were forlorne\n\nDyd I not cause the noble hercules\nBy my power to wynne the vyctory\nOf the sturdy and stronge Philotes\nAs is recorded in bokes of memory\nFor without me can be no cheualry\nAnd vnder the wynge of my proteccyon\nAll rebels brought be to subieccyon\n\nA realme is vpholden by thynges thre\nThe fyrst and the chyef it is the swerd\nWhiche causeth it to be in good suerte\nAnd other realmes of it to be aferd\nBy whiche the vsurpers be dyfferd\nFrom theyr wyll with treason knyte\nAnd by me slayn for theyr fals fyte\n\nThe seconde is lawe that euer serueth\nBut within the realme onely\nFor other nacyons our lawe ne dredeth\nBut our swerd they do in specyally\nFor and they roose ayenst vs proudly\nAs they haue done often in tymes past\nYet [with] our swerd they shold be ouercast\n\nThe thyrde be marchauntes that do multyply\nIn this realme welth and prosperyte\nFor of euery thynge they often occupy\nEuery man lyke vnto his faculte\nFor without marchauntes can not be\nNo realme vpholden in welth & pleasure\nFor it to vs is a specyall tresure\n\nAlso yet hercules the puyssaunt geaunt\nDyd slee the monstre afore Troy the grete\nAnd with his strokes he dyd hym daunt\nThey were so peysantly on hym sette\nThat he the vyctory on hym dyd gette\nHad I not be comfort vnto his harte\nSuche vyctory had ben leyd aparte\n\nDyd he not vaynquysshe in [the] forest of Nemee\nThe thre mortall lyons by his grete hardynes\nAnd ryued theyr Iawes as was to se\nBy twene his handes by chyualrus prowes\nAnd yet by armes and knyghtly exces\nIn egypt he slewe the tyraunt Busyre\nAnd brent hym after in a grete fyre\n\nAlso he slewe the tyraunt Cacus\nFor his tyranny and grete myschefe\nBy cause his dedys were so odyous\nFor he dyd murdre and was a thefe\nWherfore his deth to many was leef\nWho more of his actes wyll haue report\nTo the Troyans story lette hym resort\n\nAlso the worthy and the noble hectour\nThat eclyped was the troyans champyon\nAnd of all cheualry called the flour\nIn his tyme reynynge and of renowne\nOf whose noble dedes the brute and sowne\nWas spred by euery straunge habytacyon\nThat they of his faytys dyde make relacyon\n\nBy his power and hardy corage\nHe put the grekes full often to flyght\nAnd bete theym downe by a grete outrage\nThat well was he that hym saue myght\nFull often he brought theym to the plyght\nHis dedes were pure without magycyon\nAnd without nygromancy or suche corrupcyon\n\nDyd I not cause also kynge dauith\nA lyon Iawbones to rent and tere\nThat dyd deuour his shepe in the fryth\nAs he sat kepynge of theym there\nThe lyons crueltye myght not hym fere\nAnd he in his youth so hardy was\nThat he dyd sle the gyaunt Golias\n\nDyd I not cause the noble Iulius\nEmperour of rome for to be electe\nBy cause he was so stronge and cheualrus\nWhan in armes he knewe the affecte\nHe all his ennemyes dyd abiecte\nAnd by the support of my chyef socour\nHe gouerned hymselfe lyke a noble emperour\n\nAnd also Arthur kynge of Bretayne\nWith all the knyghtes of the rounde table\nNeuer auentures had sought certayne\nAnd I therto had not ben greable\nThey for to fyght had not ben able\nWho that me lacketh is but a coward\nAnd shame is euer his rewarde\n\nAlso kynge Charlemayne kynge of Fraunce\nWith his dyssypers Rowland and Olyuer\nWith all the resydue of his alyaunce\nThat in all armes so noble were\nOn goddys ennemyes brake many a spere\nCausynge them to flee to theyr grete vylony\nHardynes was cause that they had vyctory\n\nO worthy hardynes the shynynge sterre\nAlway to mannys herte the comfort\nWhan that it is the tyme of werre\nVnto what partye that thou resort\nThey wynne the batall by thy support\nAnd wher that thou lettest thy bemys dyssende\nThey often hye to honoure assende\n\nThan sayd dame hardynes vnto the Iuge\nI pray you that ryght I may haue\nSythens I to man am chyef refuge\nWhan that he lysteth of me to craue\nI make hym coragyous and his worshyp saue\nWherfore I owte to haue the preemynence\nBy ryght reason and good experyence\n\nThat I deny you sayd dame Sapyence\nOf whom haue you your ordre of pledynge\nFor ye neuer can haue none intellygence\nBut by the meane of myn informynge\nFor I am alway your mynde techynge\nAnd without me your tale were but a fable\nFor ye without wytte sholde alway bable\n\nThis wyll I proue by myn opynyon\nThat I am grounde of the artes seuen\nAnd of all good werkes in c[om]munyon\nFor no man without me can go to heuen\nMy dedys be merueylous for man to neuen\nWhan they ben wrought in to theyr degre\nWho that wyll lerne theym he hath the lyberte\n\nOf my dedes bokes do make recorde\nThe whiche clerkes put into remembraunce\nFor an example without dyscorde\nOf heuenly way by vertuous gouernaunce\nWithout me man can haue no pleasaunce\nNor yet hym rule in no maner wyse\nA man without wytte is to dyspyse\n\nHardynes without prudence may not auayle\nThough that a man be neuer so sturdy\nFor a wyseman feble may wynne the batayle\nOf hym that is ryght stronge and myghty\nFor better it is for to be ryght wytty\nIn the defence of his good saue garde\nThan often to stryke and to renne forwarde\n\nThat thynge that hardynes may not wynne\nMay be goten by my hyghe souerente\nAnd with the helpe of subtyle engynne\nIt may be brought to the extremyte\nWher that it myght not by possybylyte\nOf hardynes longe afore be wonne\nYet by grete wysedome it may be donne\n\nVnto dyuers cases I take excepcyon\nOf dame Hardynes whiche are no lawe\nVnto the fyrst vndre your correccyon\nShe sayd and she her power dyd wythdrawe\nNo rebell than shold stand in awe\nAnd she is the chyef as I knowe well\nThat causeth hym for to be rebell\n\nBy her foly and folysshe hardynes\nShe causeth men to ryse ayenst theyr lorde\nShe is the cause of mortall heuynes\nWhan she doth breke the good concorde\nWherfore me thynke by one accorde\nFor to exyle her it is now the best\nThan man sholde lyue in peas and rest\n\nAnd where she sayd that she exalted\nIulius cesar by her grete exylence\nIn that case she ryght clerely varyed\nFor it was I by my grete dylygence\nThat neuer was out of his presence\nBut ruled hym and made hym worthy\nTo be chosen emperour of all Italy\n\nChosen he was by the comyn assent\nFor the grete wysedome that in hym shone\nWith a grete voyce and a hole entente\nFor lyke vnto hym was there none\nThat was so abell as he alone\nFor to occupye an Emperours dygnyte\nOf his promocyon he myght thanke me\n\nI Sapyence am endewed with grace\nAnd the lode sterre of heuenly doctryne\nThe sprynge of comfort Ioye and solace\nWho that lyst to me for to enclyne\nHe shall knowe thynges that be dyuyne\nAnd at his ende beholde the deyte\nThat is one god and persones thre\n\nIt pleased the fader that is omnipotent\nHis sone to send to be incarnat\nOf the vyrgyn Mary the sterre moost excellent\nMayden and moder yet not vyolate\nLyke a vessell chosen and made ornat\nAll onely for to be goddys moder\nAnd he hym selfe vnto man broder\n\nBut a stryfe there was bytwene god and man\nWhan man consented to synne dedely\nBy that the dyscorde fyrst began\nWhan he the sone of god on hy\nThat is his brother agayn wyll crucefy\nYf he had power by whiche is offended\nThe fader of heuen as is entended\n\nTherfore lete vs to our brother go\nNamed Ihesu Cryst and axe hym mercy\nWith a good entent and hert also\nThere is for vs none other remedy\nThat ony tonge truely can specyfy\nAnd he wyll take it for a correccyon\nAnd of all vengeaunce sease the affeccyon\n\nThat we may of hym haue forgyuenes\nOf our grete synne with reformacyon\nOf peas bytwene the faders hyghenes\nOf heuen and vs in suspyracyon\nTherfore yf thou drede the amocyon\nOf his ryghtwysnes loke that thou flee\nRyght fast vnto his mercyfull pyte\n\nFor his mercy is more than all our mysery\nAnd eke aboue his werkes all\nAs Dauyd sheweth in his prophecy\nSaynge his mercy is ouer all\nTo whom I pray euer in especyall\nTo gyue me grace well my penne to lede\nThat quaketh aye for drede\n\nDame Sapyence sayd I do procede\nOf the strength of the holy ghoost\nThat is and shall be mater in dede\nGod and lorde of myghtys moost\nWhose infynall power was neuer lost\nAnd yet neuer had no begynnynge\nBut alway lyke stronge without endynge\n\nWhere that dame hardynes in her pledynge\nMade her selfe to knyghtes moost necessary\nBy the meanes of her power shewynge\nThat I by ryght do now well deny\nFor in that case she dyd moche vary\nFor syxe there are that more profyte be\nOf whiche the lest is better than she\n\nThe fyrst is prudence that is the chefe\nThat hym doth rule and is his gyde\nAnd kepeth hym from grete reprefe\nAnd causeth his worshyp for to abyde\nSo euery crysten man shold prouyde\nBy his wit to withstand the deuyll\nThat he consent not to do euyll\n\nThe seconde is that he sholde be true\nTo his souerayn lorde that on hym reyneth\nAnd all treason for euer to eschewe\nIn whiche grete shame often remayneth\nAnd by whiche he hiz k[yn]ge dysteyneth\nSo a crysten man sholde be true euer\nTo Ihesu Cryst that was his redemer\n\nThe thyrde is that he sholde be lyberall\nAmonge his c[om]mons withouten lette\nThat is the cause euer in generall\nThat he the loue of theym doth gette\nFor it causeth theyr hertes on hym be sette\nSo euery true crysten man sholde be\nTo god intended with lyberalyte\n\nThe fourth is that he sholde be stronge\nHis ryght euer for to defende\nAnd neuer to no man for to do wronge\nBut wronges for to dyrecte and amende\nAs ferre as his power wyll extende\nSo a true crysten man sholde exclude\nAll maner of vyces by his fortytude\n\nThe fyfth is [that] he sholde be mercyable\nIn all his dedes withouten furoure\nFor that to hym is gretly conuenable\nAnd eke to kepe hym out of erroure\nFor he of mercy sholde be a myrroure\nSo vnto them it is ryght necessary\nWho that wyll be saued for to haue mercy\n\nThe syxte is a knyght ought for to kepe\nThe poore folke in theyr grete nede\nThat often for hungre and thyrst do wepe\nHe ought with almes theym for to fede\nAnd the better he shall than spede\nSo euery true crysten man sholde do\nAs ferre as his power cometh vnto\n\nI Sapyence am of the kynges counsayll\nWhiche is clothed with purple that sygnyfyeth\nThe grace and the pulcrytude without fayll\nOf grete vertues that in hym shyneth\nFor to no vyces he neuer enclyneth\nHauynge in his hede a fayre crowne royall\nThat sheweth his dygnyte to be regall\n\nWhiche to his people is the chefe glory\nThrugh whome his subgectes be dyrecte\nAnd made obedyent to hym certaynly\nAt euery houre by ryght true effecte\nBut forthermore by good aspecte\nHe bereth a ball in his lefte hande\nThe whiche betokeneth as I vnderstande\n\nA kynge to be a good admynystratour\nVnto his subgectes in euery place\nAnd to be for theym a good prouysour\nAs reason requyreth in euery case\nI Sapyence do rule his noble grace\nIn his ryght hand he hath a septure\nThat doth sygnyfye by ryght his rygoure\n\nYll men to punysshe for theyr offence\nBy his ryghtwysnes whome the loue\nOf vertue shynynge in experyence\nDoth not extoll nor yet now remoue\nA lampe doth hange his heed aboue\nAlway lyght and clerely brennynge\nWhiche sygnyfyeth the mercy of a kynge\n\nThe olde philosophers by theyr prudence\nFonde the seuen scyences lyberall\nAnd by theyr exercyse & grete dylygence\nThey made theyr dedes to be memoryall\nAnd also poetes that were fatall\nCraftely colored with clowdy fygures\nThe true sentence of all theyr scryptures\n\nO Iustyce lady and souerayne goddesse\nGyue you true sentence now vpon me\nAs ye be surmountynge in vertue & noblesse\nLete me dame Sapyence haue the soueraynte\nAs is accordynge to my royall dygnyte\nFor I am moost profytable vnto man\nAnd euer had ben syns the world began\n\nThan sayd dame Fortune ye are imperfyte\nWithout that I therto be accordaunt\nFor all your hardynes & prudence perfyte\nI vnto you must be well exuberaunt\nAnd with your werkes euer concordaunt\nWhere that I fauer they haue good c[om]fort\nIn all theyr dedes by my swete resort\n\nI Fortune am the rule and steere\nOf euery persone lyke to my wyll\nThat in this worlde now lyueth here\nWhan that I lyst for to fulfyll\nMy mynde ryght sone I can dystyll\nThe dewe of comfort welth and rychesse\nTo man exaltynge hym to noblenesse\n\nThough that a man were neuer so hardy\nWithout me he myght not attayne\nAnd though that a man were neuer so wytty\nAnd I dyd my power from hym refrayne\nAll his labour were lost in vayne\nSo hardynesse and prudence in no wyse\nWithout good fortune may well suffyse\n\nThough that a man were but a fole\nYf I consent that he be fortunate\nHe nedyth not to make no grete dole\nFor I shall mayntene so his estate\nThat he in rychesse shall be so eleuate\nFulfylled with welth & worldely tresure\nThat he shall lacke no maner of pleasure\n\nWhere that dame hardynes wold afferme\nBy her cases that are so vnsure\nThat she by her power doth conferme\nThe knyghtes of vyctory for to be sure\nWhan she doth take theyr hertes in cure\nYf fortune be awaye she may not auayle\nFor they by reason must lose the batayle\n\nYet forthermore as I do well consyder\nHow dame hardynes dyd expresse\nSythens the tyme that I came hyder\nThat she promoted had to worthynes\nHector dauid and the noble hercules\nWith many other wherof she fayleth\nFor it was fortune as she well knoweth\n\nFor in olde tyme the noble warryours\nFor to eschewe euer my grete daungere\nIn whiche tyme they were ydolestours\nThan they to put hym oute of fere\nTo ydols went that theyr goddes were\nFor to haue answer yf they sholde wynne\nThe batayll or they dyd begynne\n\nWhat nede I pleed by longe contynuaunce\nAs dame Sapyence dyd in maters hy\nIt were of tyme but dyscontynuaunce\nBut o dame Iustyce the gentyll lady\nLoke that ye Iuge my mater ryght wysely\nThat I of hardynes may be the pryncypall\nAnd of dame prudence & nature with all\n\nThan sayd dame nature that may not be\nAs I can proue by ryght and reason\nFor I am moost confort to humanyte\nAs man well knoweth at euery encheason\nAnd can not be forborne for none season\nFor where I lacke without ony delay\nMan is but dede and turned to clay\n\nThat nature gyueth by her power\nWysedome nor hardynes may not defete\nFor I to man am the chefe doer\nDurynge his lyfe without retrete\nAlso dame fortune may not well lete\nMe of my course though she it thought\nIn sondery wyse my dedes are so wrought\n\nThough that a man were infortunable\nAnd though that he were neuer so folysshe\nAnd a grete coward to fyght not able\nYet shulde he lyue and neuer perysshe\nTyll that my power of hym doth fynysshe\nWhiche fayle must ones it is my proprete\nAnd that was gyuen me by the deyte\n\nI am the orygynall of mannes creacyon\nAnd by me alway the world doth multyply\nIn welth pleasure and delectacyon\nAs I wyll shewe now in this party\nMy dedes be subtyll & wrought craftely\nWhat were the worlde yf I were note\nIt were sone done as I well wote\n\nThe lawe of nature doth man bynde\nBoth beste foule and fysshe also\nIn theyr degre to do theyr kynde\nBlame theym not yf they do so\nFor harde it is euer to ouer go\nThe kynde of nature in her degre\nFor euery thynge must shewe his proprete\n\nWho of theyr propretes lyst to rede\nLete hym loke in the boke of barthelmewe\nAnd to his scripture take good hede\nThat ryght nobly of theym do shewe\nWith all theyr actes beynge not a fewe\nBut wounderous many by alteracyon\nFor lyke hath lyke his operacyon\n\nI nature norysshe by myn afflyccyon\nMannes humayne partyes superfyxcyall\nAnd am the sprynge of his complexion\nThe fonteyne of his vaynes inferyall\nTo hym conserue moost dere and specyall\nThough he were hardy & wyse he my[gh]t not me forbere\nNor fortune without me auayleth not hym a pere\n\nWherfore dame Iustyce be you now indyfferent\nConsydre that I am moost dere and lefe\nVnto euery man that is eliquylent\nAnd aboue all medycyns to hym moost chefe\nAnd by my strongh vnto hym relefe\nIn his dysease wherfore as thynke me\nI ought of reason to haue the soueraynte\n\nThan spake dame Iustyce with meke contena[un]ce\nI wyll all your contrauersy now redresse\nFor I of your reasons haue good perseueraunce\nAnd after your cases both more and lesse\nWherfore I Iustyce by good ryghtwysnesse\nGyue now vpon you a fynall Iugement\nThat ye foure agree by a hole assent\n\nMan for to please at euery houre\nWithout dysgrement or contradiccyon\nAnd in his nede to do hym socoure\nWith louynge herte and true affeccyon\nHe shall be in your good iurysdyccyon\nAnd you of hym shall be copertyners\nBoth of his lyfe and of his maners\n\nThan sayd dame hardynes I agre therto\nAnd so do I than sayd dame Sapyence\nThan sayd dame Fortune I also do\nAgre vnto dame Iustyce sentence\nAnd I dame Nature wyll do my dylygence\nLyke as ye do man for to please\nAnd hym to strength in his dysease\n\nWith that dame Iustyce vp arose\nVnto the ladyes byddynge fare well\nAnd went into her chaumbre close\nI cleped conscyence wher she dyd dwell\nAs dame Dyscrecyon dyd me tell\nThan hardynes & fortune went downe the stayre\nAnd after theym Nature so clere and fayre\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum .viii.\n\n\nDame Sapyence taryed a lytell whyle\nBehynd the other saynge to Dyscrecyon\nAnd began on her to laugh and smyle\nAxynge her how I stode in condycyon\nWell she sayd in good perfeccyon\nBut best it is that he maryed be\nFor to eschewe all yll censualyte\n\nI knowe a lady of meruelous beaute\nSpronge out of hyghe and noble lynage\nReplete with vertue and full of bounte\nWhiche vnto youth were a good maryage\nFor she is comen of royall apparage\nBut herde it wyll be to gete her loue\nWithout youth frayltye do sore reproue\n\nI kneled downe than vpon my kne\nAfore dame Sapyence with humble chere\nBesechynge her of me to haue pyte\nAnd also Dyscrecyon her syster dere\nThan dame Sapyence came me nere\nSaynge youth wyll ye haue a wyfe\nAnd her to loue durynge her lyfe\n\nYe madame that wolde I fayne\nYf that she be both fayre and bryght\nI wyll her loue euer more certayne\nAnd pleas her alway with all my myght\nOf suche a persone wolde I haue a syght\nWith all my herte now at this houre\nWolde to god I had so fayre a floure\n\nThan sayd dyscrecyon there is a kynge\nDwellynge fer hens in a fayre castell\nOf whome I oft haue herd grete talkynge\nWhiche hath a doughter as I you tell\nI trowe that youth wyll lyke her well\nShe is both good eke fayre and pure\nAs I report me vnto dame Nature\n\nBut yf that youth sholde her go seke\nYe must syster than hym well indue\nWith your grete power so good and meke\nThat he all frayltye may eschue\nFor by the way it wyll oft pursue\nOn hym by flatery and grete temptacyon\nThat shall brynge hym in tribulacyon\n\nAs for that sayd she he shall not care\nFor he shall theym sone ouercome\nAnd of theyr flatery ryght well beware\nFor I to hym shall gyue grete wysedome\nTheyr dedes to withstande & make theym d[om]me\nWherfore dere syster as I you pray\nVnto her lede hym now on the way\n\nLoke that ye send me in his necessyte\nBy dame swyftnes full sone a letter\nBy whiche that I may knowe the certaynte\nThat I may come to ayde hym beter\nSo that fraylte to hym be no freter\nAnd though I be not alway vysyble\nWith hym my power he hath inuyncyble\n\nThan sayd dame Sapyence to dyscrecyon\nFare well dere syster I may not tary\nLoke ye of youth haue the tuycyon\nThat he fall not into vaynglory\nAnd that ye puruey for hym shortly\nThat he may wedde the fayre dame clennesse\nWhiche for her loue haue ben in duresse\n\nWith that dame Sapyence downe went\nIn to her place that was the doctrynall\nOf famous clerkes in connynge splendent\nA myrrour of lernyng that was dyuynall\nWith all the craftes artyfycyall\nByfore her dame Fortune went to her mancyon\nAnd eke dame hardynes to her habytacyon\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum nonum\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nForth than went dyscrecyon and I\nOut of the castell into a grene\nWhere byrdys sange by grete melody\nThere daunst also the fayre quene\nBesyde a ryuer named Ephesene\nOuer whiche we wente to the other syde\nThat was a medowe both longe and wyde\n\nLonge there we wandred tyll at the last\nWe came vnto a ryght grete wyldernes\nBy that tyme Phebus was ouer past\nWherfore we walked in grete derkenes\nThe whiche to me was a grete heuynes\nFor Lucyna eke dyd her shrowde\nVnder a blacke and mysty clowde\n\nFor she was horned and no thynge cleere\nAnd entred into the sygne of caprycorne\nRyght ferre from phebus fulgent speere\nAnd not ayenst hym the crowne had worne\nI went vp and downe tyll on the morne\nThat phebus his golden reyes dyd sprede\nThan dyscrecyon ferther forth me lede\n\nAmonge thornes sharpe & bestes wylde\nThere was the lyon the wolf & the bere\nBut I coude mete nother man ne chylde\nBut many serpentes that dyde me fere\nAnd by a swete smelle I knewe a pantere\nSo forth I went by longe contynuaunce\nTyll that I sawe an herber of pleasaunce\n\nTo whiche I toke anone my waye\nWhere that I sawe a lady excellent\nRydynge on a goote in fresshe arraye\nRyght yonge of age & lusty of entent\nPrayenge me to her for to assent\nAs to fulfyll the flesshly pleasure\nWhiche she desyred me out of mesure\n\nNay sayd dyscrecyon that may not be\nNo sayd I in no maner of wyse\nTo her request I wyll now agree\nBut euermore here foule lust despyse\nFor I my selfe do now aduyse\nTo kepe me chast that I may mary\nFayre dame Clennes that noble lady\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nSo forth I went walkynge my iournay\nMetynge a lady olde and amyable\nSyttynge in a castell both fressh and gay\nOn an olyphauntes backe in strength so stable\nWhiche it to bere was good and able\nHauynge in her hande a cup of golde\nSette with perles ryght many afolde\n\nShe sayd she was the lady of rychesse\nThe quene of welth and worldely glory\nPraynge me to company with her noblenesse\nAnd she than wolde promote me shortely\nTo innumerable ryches and make me worthy\nWhere I am poore and sette by nought\nBy her to worshyp I sholde be brought\n\nVnto her I answered I wolde not so\nAs for to hunt in the parke of pryde\nThe whiche to Clennes is mortall fo\nBut with Dyscrecyon I wyll abyde\nWhiche doth a wyfe for me prouyde\nBy whome I shall haue the possessyowne\nOf heuenly kyngdome & grete renowne\n\nSo forth I went and had grete trauayle\nWithout the comfort of ony persone\nSaue of dyscrecyon whiche dyd me counsayle\nAs she went walkynge with me alone\nVnto her I made full grete mone\nAnd lykened the wyldernes by morall scence\nVnto worldely trouble by good experyence\n\nShe sayd the fyrst lady that I dyd mete\nIclyped was dame Sensualyte\nWhiche can well flater with wordes swete\nCausynge a man to fall into fragylyte\nAnd for to haunt the carnall freylte\nWhiche vnto clennes is abhomynable\nFor they in werke be gretely varyable\n\nThe seconde was pryde enduyd with couetyse\nA lady of ryght fruytles medytacyon\nDelytynge gretly in the synne of auaryce\nThe whiche is cause of her dampnacyon\nFor she by her fals supportacyon\nBlyndeth many a mannes conscyence\nAnd dryueth ryght oft fer in absence\n\nSo ferther I went tyll at the last\nI was in a mase goynge in and oute\nTher was none other way I was agast\nBut forth I walked in grete doute\nNow here now there and so rounde aboute\nThan sayd vnto me dame Dyscrecyon\nYe are in the besynes of worldely fastyon\n\nTherein I trauayled by longe space\nTyll that I mette a lady gloryous\nIndued with vertue and grete grace\nTo whom I sayd o lady precyous\nAs ye seme to be good and vertuous\nI you beseche now without delaye\nVnto dame Clennes to teche me the waye\n\nI Sapyence now wyll shewe to the\nThe ryght waye vnto fayre clennes\nAnd yf thou wylt be ruled by me\nThou shalt mary that noble prynces\nYes that wyll I sayd than douteles\nDyscrecyon sayd she wolde be my suerte\nSapyence sayd none better myght be\n\nThan sayd dyscrecyon to dame sapyence\nWelcome to vs my syster dere\nAnd I to her dyd humble reuerence\nSaynge who had went to fynde you here\nYes she sayd I haue ben neere\nYou often tymes syth my departynge\nAnd haue ben cause of your goode gydynge\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum .x.\n\n\nCome on your waye walke on a pace\nFor ye longe for to haue a syght\nOf dame Clennes so clere a face\nSo goodely of body in beauty bryght\nThat there can not be so fayre a wyght\nSo forth we walked to a ryuer syde\nThat ebbed and flowed at euery tyde\n\nThan I saw a castell a pales royall\nBylded with marble blacke as the gette\nWith glasse wyndowes as clere as crystall\nWhiche on the other syde was sette\nNo man to the castell myght gette\nBut ouer the water on a lytell brydge\nNot halfe so brode as a hous rydge\n\nBut as I cast myn eye than asyde\nI saw a lady wounderous fayre\nDemure of contenaunce without pryde\nThat went her selfe for to repayre\nBy the water syde to take the ayre\nBeholde and se than sayd dame sapyence\nYonder is dame Clennes the sterre of excellence\n\nFull glad was I than in my mynde\nFor to se that flour of complacence\nThe syght of her dyd my herte bynde\nEuer her to loue with percynge influence\nVnto her I sayd o well of contynence\nVnto your grace fayne wolde I go\nNer lettynge of this water blo\n\nTo me she answered than agayne\nSaynge this worlde withouten mys\nIs but a vanyte no thynge certayne\nIn the lyke wyse as this water is\nYe can not come to me now ywys\nBut by that brydge that goth ouer\nThis stormy troublous & wawy water\n\nTherof sayd sapyence he shall not lette\nWell sayd Clennes be you his gyde\nAnd dyscrecyon also for to be sette\nFor to vpholde hym vnto the other syde\nThat he do not in the water slyde\nSo to the brydge they dyde me lede\nI quacked than for fere and drede\n\nI sawe there wryten this lytterall sence\nNo man this brydge may ouer go\nBut he be pure without neglygence\nAnd stedfast in goddes byleue also\nYf he be ignoraunt and do not so\nHe must nedys into this water fall\nOuer the heed and be drowned with all\n\nThey led me ouer this brydge so peryllous\nTyll that I came to a preuy place\nWhere were wryten with letters gloryous\nThis is the kyngdome of grete grace\nNo man by yonde this marke may trace\nBut yf he be brought in by dame wysedome\nIf he so be he is moche welcome\n\nSo forthermore yet forth we went\nInto a hall that was solacyous\nMade of precyous stones splendent\nThat theym to se it was ryght wounderous\nThey were there so gretly plenteuous\nThat the hall paued was for the nones\nWith none other grauell but precyous stones\n\n\n[Illustration]\n\nThere was dame Clennes that lady gent\nAnd eke her fader the kynge of loue\nHe satte in a chayre ryght clere and excellent\nAt the vpper ende of the hall aboue\nHe satte styll and dyd not remoue\nGyrde with wylowes and myght not se\nNo maner a thynge in his degre\n\nHe had two wynges ryght large and grete\nAnd his body also was naked\nAnd a dart in his ryght hand was sette\nAnd a torche in his left hand brenned\nA botell aboute his necke was hanged\nHis one leg armed and naked the other\nHym for to se it was a wonder\n\nSapyence bad me meruayll no thynge\nFor she wold shewe me the sygnifycacyon\nWhy he so sate by shorte rekenynge\nAccordynge to a morylyzacyon\nNow of the fyrste to make relacyon\nLoue sholde be gyrde faste with stabylyte\nWithout whiche loue can haue no suerte\n\nLoue may not se but is alway blynde\nAnd wenyth no man can haue perseuera[un]ce\nWhere that he loueth by naturall kynde\nBut he do shewe hym by wordes of vtera[un]ce\nTrught he bewreyeth hym by contenaunce\nFor hard it wyll be loue so to couere\nBut that som man shall it perceuere\n\nAlso his nakednes doth sygnyfy\nThat true loue no thynge ellys desyreth\nBut the very persone and eke body\nThat he so well and feruentely loueth\nHis wynges also well betokenyth\nThat his mynde fleeth vnto the persone\nThat he doth loue so well alone\n\nAnd also loue is stryken with a sharpe darte\nThat maketh a man for to complayn\nWhan that it hath wounded sore his herte\nIt brenneth hote lyke fyre certeyn\nThan loue his purpose wolde fayne atteyn\nAnd is euermore both hoot and drye\nTyll his lady gyue hym drynke of mercy\n\nHis one legge is armed to defende\nThe ryght that longeth vnto amyte\nAnd wronge loue for to amende\nHis naked legge betokeneth charyte\nThat is the Ioye of grete felycyte\nSo charyte ryght loue and good concorde\nWith stablynes reygneth in this myghty lorde\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum .xi.\n\n\nThan forth me led good dame Sapyence\nAfore that myghty lordes mageste\nCome on she sayd put the in presence\nThat thou mayst se dame clennes beaute\nPonder in thy mynde by veryte\nThat so fayre as she was not quene helyn\nQuene Ipolyte or yonge Polyxyn\n\nThis lady is clene without corrupcyon\nAnd wereth thre crownes for her vyrgynyte\nOne is for people of perfyt relygyon\nAn other for maydens kepynge chastyte\nThe therde for true wedowes as [thou] mayst se\nI wyll the now to her fader present\nHer for to mary yf she wyll consent\n\nThan sayd dame sapyence o noble emperour\nO souerayne lorde and royall potestate\nO vyctoryous prynce & famous conquerour\nO kynge of loue and seaser of debate\nTo the no creature may say chekmate\nI present the now this vertuous knyght\nFor to mary clennes your doughter bryght\n\nI thanke you he sayd for your good wyll\nBut he that to Clennes maryed must be\nHe must my commaundement fyrste fulfyll\nAs to scomfyte the dragon with heedes thre\nThat is a serpent of grete subtylte\nWhiche well betokeneth as we do fynde\nThe worlde the flesshe & the deuyll by kynde\n\nSapyence sayd I sholde not fayle\nTo do his comma[un]dement for Clennes sake\nAs for to sle the dragon in batayle\nThat lay in a marys in a grete lake\nWhiche was moche stynkynge foule & blake\nWysedome bade me be not aferde\nFor she wolde gyue me a shelde and swerde\n\nAnd arme me also with fayre armure\nTo vaynquysshe that dragon so ferse & grete\nShe sayd it sholde be so good and sure\nThat I no harme of hym sholde gete\nThough he his teth on me had sete\nYet sholde I slee hym for all his myght\nBy my grete strokes whan I dyd fyght\n\nFyrst she my legge harneys sette on\nAnd after my plackerd of grete ryches\nShe armed me her selfe alone\nAnd laced my helmet of her gentylnes\nI thanked her for her grete goodnes\nAnd gaue me my swerde and sheld also\nSaynge lete vs to the dragon go\n\nThis is the armure for the soule\nThat in his epystole wrote saynt Poule\nGood hope thy legge harneys shall be\nThe habergyn of ryghtwysnes gyrde [with] chastyte\nThy plackarde of besynes [with] bra[un]ches of almes dede\nThy shelde of beleue and mekenes for the hede\nThy swerde shall be the to defend\nThe worde of god the deuyll to bl[ey]nde\n\n\n[Illustration]\n\nDame sapyence & I dyd take our lycence\nOf the kynge of loue in vertue depured\nAnd of his doughter shynynge in excellence\nWhiche to me sayd with wordes assured\nO vertuous knyght you for me haue dured\nIn grete wo & payne but thynke you verely\nTo scomfyt that dragon by wysedome shortly\n\nThan went we forth to that serpent\nIn merueylous trauayle of sorowe and bale\nBy that tyme the daye ryght fayre was spent\nAnd phebus his course began to auale\nBut at the last we came into a dale\nWher we felt the sauer of a dungeon\nOf the foule and stynkynge dragon\n\nNere to that dragon there was a way\nThat men vsed vpon a fayre hyll\nVnto hyghe heuen so fressh and gay\nBut that dragon lette theym theyr wyll\nAnd by the way he dyd theym kyll\nBryngynge theym vnto the dungeon\nIclyped the place of grete oblyuyon\n\nI had not be there halfe an houre\nBut that this dragon me approched\nAs though that he wolde me deuoure\nHe so fersly than on me marched\nThe batayle bytwene vs longe contynued\nBut he had me ryght sone ouercome\nIf I had not helpe of dame wysedome\n\nI strake at hym fast with my swerde\nAnd with my shelde dyd me defende\nWysedome bad me not be aferde\nBut my stroke that for to amende\nAs fer as my myght weld extende\nSo by her wordes I plucked vp myn herte\nAnd dyd than vnto the dragon sterte\n\nBut he caught me than in his clawes\nAnd so we wrasteled longe to gyder\nBut he hyld me sharpely in his pawes\nTyll wysedom my feblenesse dyd consyder\nBeholde she sayd dame clennes yonder\nThan as a syde I cast all my syght\nI sawe that lady so pure and bryght\n\nMy strength than dobeled an hundred folde\nAnd I from hym brake by vertuous prowes\nMy herte was warme that afore was colde\nWith the c[om]fortable syght of fayre dame clennes\nThan I to hym gaue strokes of exces\nAnd with my sharpe swerde cut of anone\nTwo of his heedes leuynge hym but one\n\nThese two heedes by good morall sens\nThe worlde and the flesshe do sygnyfy\nAs I in scrypture haue intellygence\nThe fyrste the worlde that is transytory\nLyeth bytwene man and heuenly glory\nLettynge hym often of his passage\nIf it of hym can gete auauntage\n\nThe seconde is the flesshly desyre\nThat troubleth a man ryght sore within\nSettynge his courage vpon a fyre\nCausynge hym to enclyne to dedely syn\nHis flessh the batayll of hym doth wyn\nOften bryngynge hym into dampnacyon\nIf repentaunce were not his saluacyon\n\nRepentaunce alway requyreth mercy\nAnd penaunce to god is a satisfaccyon\nFor god desyreth euermore truely\nAn humble herte full of contrycon\nAnd the worlde desyreth restytucyon\nOf goodes that haue be goten wrongfully\nTo be restored vnto the ryghtfull party\n\nWhan I by wysedom had won the vyctory\nOf these two heedes I was ryght glad\nHis thyrde heed marched ayenst me sharpely\nBut I my swerd in my hand had\nStrykynge at hym with strokes sad\nAnd blode of hym coude I drawe none\nFor he had nother flesshe ne bone\n\nBut at the last I dyd hym vaynquysshe\nDryuynge hym home to his derke regyon\nOf infernall payne that shall not fynysshe\nFor hell is called his propre mancyon\nAnd of all other of his opynyon\nThat do the preceptes of god forsake\nAnd to deuelyche werkes theym do be take\n\nGod by his ryghtwysnes made a lawe\nBy whiche man for dedely synne is cond[em]pned\nIf god his vengeaunce do not withdrawe\nIn euerlastynge payne he sholde be prysoned\nBut and man mercy of hym requyred\nWith penytent hert he sholde it haue\nAnd with his mercy he wyll man saue\n\n\n\n\n[P] Capitulum .xii.\n\n\n[>>]\nWhan I had scomfyte this serpent venymous\nSapyence to me ryght gentely sayd\nBlessyd be god ye are so gracyous\nThat ye shall mary Clennes the mayd\nBut yet erwhyles ye were afrayd\nYe I sayd and swet full ryght sore\nTyll ye newe strength dyd me restore\n\nThis batayll was grete & longe endured\nWhiche caused me to be ryght wery\nBut sapyence with her wordes me mured\nWith walles of comfort makynge me mery\nCome on she sayd and walke on lyghtly\nVnto the castell that we come fro\nI answered to her I wolde do so\n\nThan forth we went a grete pace\nTyll that we came to the castell syde\nThere mette vs ladyes with grete solace\nAnd welcomed vs at the same tyde\nSo fayre a sort in the worlde so wyde\nMay not be founde by no maner of reason\nAs I sawe there at the same season\n\nThe fyrste lady that dyd vs mete\nIclyped was dame perseueraunce\nWhiche to me sayd with wordes swete\nBlessyd be god of your good gouernaunce\nThat hath kept you from the incomberaunce\nOf the serpent with the heedes thre\nAnd caused you vyctor of hym to be\n\n[<>]\nThan came dame fayth that lady gloryous\nWelcome she sayd with wordes amyable\nI am ryght glad ye ar so vyctoryous\nOf that foule dragon so abhomynable\nShe sayd that I was euermore stable\nIn her in dede eke worde and thought\nOr elles my labour had ben to nought\n\nThan spake the lady fayre dame charyte\nWelcome vertue the noble veteran\nSythens that ye alway haue loued me\nFrom the fyrst season that ye began\nBothe in your youth & syth ye were man\nYe haue had me in humble reuerence\nAnd haue ben ruled by my preemynence\n\nThan sayd dame prayer in my presence\nYe neuer cast me in oblyuyaunce\nBy no slouth nor wordely neglygence\nBut haue had me in grete remembraunce\nWhiche hath ben to me very grete pleasaunce\nWherfore welcome vertue my dere\nVnto this castell that ye se here\n\nThan came fast to me dame lowelynes\nClyppynge me harde with louely chere\nByddynge me welcome with grete gladnes\nAs by her contena[un]ce it dyd well appere\nCome on she sayd and walke on nere\nSo than amonge these fayre ladyes all\nI went in to the grete castell hall\n\n[<>]\nAnd there met me dame clennes blyue\nAnd dame grace bare vp her trayne\nWhiche euer to her was affyrmatyue\nFrom whome dame clennes myght not refrayne\nThan sayd she to me I am ryght fayne\nThat ye ar comen in to this place\nWhere ye shall wedde me in short space\n\nVpon my kne I kneled than downe\nSaynge o sterre of the blysse eterne\nO well of vertue and of grete renowne\nO dyuyne comfort moost sempyterne\nWhan I your beautye do so well decerne\nYe set myn hert vpon a brennynge fyre\nWith feruent loue to come to my desyre\n\nTo me she answered in this wyse\nO my dere herte my spouse so pure\nWhy do ye not on your fete aryse\nYou of my true loue shall be sure\nFor ye my hert haue now in cure\nLete vs go now to our fader reuerente\nSo forthe vnto hym than we wente\n\nWhan that we came afore his fayre face\nDame clennes made curtesye vnto the grounde\nSaynge o fader kynge of grete grace\nThis knyght to loue ye are now bounde\nAnd so am I for I haue often founde\nGrete kyndnes on hym both nyght and day\nFor he hath loued me ryght well alway\n[<<]\n\nWelcome he sayd ryght noble knyght\nHow haue ye done sythens your departynge\nHaue ye scomfyted with your myght\nThe merueylous dragon so gretly slynkynge\nYe I sayd with the power shynynge\nOf my maystresse good dame sapyence\nI dyd hym vaynquysshe by her experyence\n\nWher is dame Sapyence than sayd he\nAnd eke her syster dame dyscrecyon\nSyr I sayd they are comen with me\nAnd they haue had me in iurisdyccyon\nSyns my departynge without destruccyon\nThan spake dame sapyence by her faculte\nVnto that myghty lordes mageste\n\nSaynge this knyght than cleped vertue\nHath loued your doughter by longe contynua[un]ce\nWith stable loue so faythfull and true\nAnd for her sake hath put to vteraunce\nThe thre heeded dragon by wyse puruyaunce\nWherfore me thynke he ought to mary\nYour doughter Clennes that noble lady\n\nThe kynge sayd me thynke the same\nIf that my doughter wyll agre\nAnd she do not she moche is to blame\nConsyderynge his wysedome & grete beaute\nCome hyder he sayd my doughter fre\nTo be wyfe to vertue wyll ye consent\nYe fader she sayd with hole entent\n\nThan he called vnto his presence\nPerseueraunce charyte and fydelyte\nWith lowlynes prayer and intellygence\nShewynge vnto theym the certeynte\nHow clennes his doughter wedded shall be\nVnto me now vertu in all godely hast\nBy fore that thre dayes be ryght fully past\n\nHe called me than to his magnyfycence\nByddynge me go to bed and to rest\nIn the chaumbre of clene conscyence\nThan so to do I thought it the best\nFor phebus was tourned into the west\nSo sapyence and I went forthe to bed\nFor lake of rest oppressed was my hed\n\nA lytyll welp within this chaumbre was\nThat lay wakynge and barked alway\nThat no man in to it sholde passe\nThat wolde with conscyence make a fray\nI dyd slepe there tyll that it was day\nThan vp I rose and made me redy\nCallynge vnto me dame sapyence shortely\n\nSaynge vnto her o lady and maystres\nO comfortable salue vnto euery sore\nO fontayne of welth and carbuncle of clernes\nWithout ye helpe me I am forlore\nWherfore I shewe you as now before\nWithout I mary fayre dame clennes\nI shall endure in mortall heuynes\n\nTherof sayd she be no thynge adred\nFor ye shall mary here ryght soone\nBy me your mater shall be well sped\nAnd the same daye it shall be doone\nAboute the houre truely of noone\nAnd there shall be at your good dyner\nCharyte fayth penaunce and prayer\n\nDame sapyence led me into a gardeyn\nWhere Clennes was amonge floures swete\nHer to repayre without dysdeyn\nAs I to her wente she dyd me mete\nBryngynge me a floure called the margarete\nWhiche is a floure ryght swete and precyous\nIndued with beaute and moche vertuous\n\nThis floure I kyst often ryght swetely\nSettynge it nere vnto my hert\nDame Clennes loked vpon me louely\nSaynge that I sholde not depert\nTyll she had shewed me a grete couert\nSo with her I wente without delay\nWhere byrdes sate on many a spray\n\nBy this tyme phebus had begon\nHis ascencyall cours in grete bryghtnes\nIn to the sygne of the fierous lyon\nExylynge the fenerous frosty coldnes\nAnd depryuynge the noxyall derkenes\nAnd also setherus his fragraunt breth\nDystylled had vpon euery heth\n\nThan to her I sayd my lady dere\nBeholde this weder so clere and fayre\nHow royall walkynge that it is here\nLyke a place of pleasure you to repayre\nAmonge the floures so swete of ayre\nAn other she had as she me tolde\nBryghter than phebus a thousande folde\n\nThis is a place of recreacyon\nMy mynde to comfort after study\nIn welth pleasure and delectacyon\nFor yf I sholde my selfe applye\nEuer to pray to god an hye\nWithout this place I may not be sure\nIn other tyme in prayer to endure\n\nBut the other gardyn is celestyall\nThat longeth to vs by enherytaunce\nAnd is entayled to vs in generall\nFor our clene lyfe & vertuous gouerna[un]ce\nWho that vs loueth without doubta[un]ce\nWith vs shall go to eternall glory\nIn short space or elles to purgatory\n\nThan forth we went to her fader royall\nWhiche welcomed vs by grete humylyte\nSaynge my doughter dere and specyall\nYe shall this daye by grete solempnyte\nBe wedded to vertue with benygnyte\nWe kneled downe and thanked his grace\nAnd than forth we went to an other place\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum .xiii.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nIn to a chapell gayly gloryfyed\nAnd also hanged with cloth of tyssue\nA place it was ryght gretly deyfyed\nThe roof was set with stones of vertue\nAs with rubyes and emeraudes bryght of hue\nThe rood loft was yuery garnysshed with gold\nSet with dyamoundes ryght many a fold\n\nTher I dyd se the arke of god\nWith many sayntes that suffred martyrdom\nAnd also I sawe there Moyses rod\nAnd saynt Austyn that brought crystendom\nInto englonde by his grete wysedom\nAnd the xii. apostles that fast gan wryte\nOf our byleue and eke dyd endyte\n\nThere was saynt peter the noble pope\nThat dyd stande on the ryght syde\nOf the hyghe auter in a ryche cope\nDame clennes and I dyd there abyde\nAnd vp there came than at that tyde\nDame prayer with her syster charyte\nAnd eke dame penytence with humylyte\n\nThan came dame fayth anone to vs\nWith ryghtwysenes peas and dame mercy\nWith dame contrycyon gay and gloryous\nWhiche after theym dyd not longe tary\nAnd than came bede and eke saynt gregory\nWith saynt ambrose the noble doctour\nWhiche of our fayth was good protectour\n\nThan came the kynge of feruent loue\nLed with argos in goodely wyse\nWithout whome he myght not remoue\nFrom his sete by ryght prudent gyse\nWho loueth argos wyll not deuyse\nNor yet begynne no maner of thynge\nWithout in his mynde he se good endynge\n\nAlso saynt Ierome the noble cardynall\nCame vp to vs by humble reuerence\nWhiche euermore was a good doctrynall\nPrechynge to vs by vertuous influence\nWith exhortacyon of dyuyne complacence\nAnd than foure bysshoppes in grete dygnyte\nRyght connynge cernynge vnto the deyte\n\nOn hym wayted by grete dylygence\nAnd neuer dyd forsake his company\nBut hym obeyed by good experyence\nAnd from his c[om]maundement dyd not vary\nBut in the chapell they dyd there tary\nAnd than saynt Ierome wente to the kynge\nOf feruent loue vnto hym saynge\n\nO amyable kynge seasour of debate\nO ioyner of vertue and well of vnyte\nO royall emperour o souerayne estate\nO messenger of feruent amyte\nO feruent dart of cordyall pryuyte\nHere is your doughter fayre dame clennes\nThat must be maryed with good ryghtwysenes\n\nVnto vertue the louely knyght\nWhiche the batayle now hath won\nBy dame sapyence helpe and myght\nOf the foule thre heeded dragon\nThis maryage by me shall be don\nGo ye now streyght into your tabernacle\nWhiche is to you moost propre habytacle\n\nThan the souerayne kynge to hym dyd call\nDame fayth dyscrecyon and dame sapyence\nWith dame contrycyon & charyte withall\nAnd eke dame mercy and dame penytence\nVnto theym saynge ye haue intellygence\nThat this daye clennes my doughter dere\nShall be maryed to vertue that ye se here\n\nThan they dyde all come vnto me\nWith dame peas and dame grace\nAnd after theym came dame virgynyte\nWhiche in her armes dyd me enbrace\nSaynge that I was to her grete solace\nGyuynge me vnto my good maryage\nA gowne of syluer for grete aparage\n\nShe gafe an other of the same\nVnto dame clennes puttynge it one\nVpon her back withouten blame\nAfter whiche Clennes wente anone\nVnto her fader her selfe alone\nAnd I with saynt Ierome dyd there tary\nTo wed dame Clennes that noble lady\n\nAnd all the ladyes with meke contenence\nStode on a rewe besyde the closette\nOf Clennes fader without resystence\nWhiche hanged was gayly with blue veluet\nAnd with perles & rubyes rychely set\nThan forth came Clennes with two a[un]gels led\nWhiche theyr golden wynges abrode dyd spred\n\nDame grace after her bare vp her trayn\nAnd .xv. ladyes her dyd ensue\nFyrst went dame humylyte certayn\nAnd after her than dyd pursue\nDame fayth in stablenes so true\nLedynge with her the fayre dame pease\nThat welth and ryches doth well encrease\n\nThan went dame reason with perseuera[un]ce\nAnd than dame mercy with contricyon\nAnd than exersyce with remembraunce\nAfter whome went dame restytucyon\nWith dame prayer and dame confessyon\nAnd dame charyte with obedyence\nAnd after theym came fayre dame abstynence\n\nSaynt Ierome dyd make there coniunccyon\nOf dame Clennes and me in matrimonye\nWith heuenly wordes and vertuous fastyon\nAnd aungels came downe from heuen hye\nAs saynt Mychell with gabryell & the gerachye\nTo helpe saynt peter the masse to synge\nThe organs went and the bellys dyd rynge\n\nMy penne for feblenes may not now wryte\nNor my tonge for domnes may not expresse\nNor my mynde for neglygence may not endyte\nOf the aungelycall Ioye and swete gladnesse\nThat I sawe there without heuynesse\nAnd whan this weddynge holy was fynysshed\nThe aungels than to heuen vanysshed\n\nThan downe I went in to the hall\nWhere ordeyned was by grete solempnyte\nA dyner of vertue moost celestyall\nTo whiche came my wyf full of benygnyte\nOn the one syde led by good auctoryte\nWith saynt Edmond the noble kynge\nAnd martyr whiche dyd her downe brynge\n\nAnd she was led on the other syde\nWith saynt Edward the kynge and confessour\nAnd so bytwene theym wente this bryde\nTo whom all the ladyes made grete honour\nAs alway seruynge her without errour\nAnd a lytell whyle anone after her\nErgos brought downe her noble fader\n\nThe kynge of loue than sat hym downe\nAt the table for that tyme to ette\nCausynge dame Clennes for her renowne\nOn his one syde than for to be sette\nAnd I on the other without ony lette\nAnd besyde me sapyence and dyscrecyon\nAnd than by theym sat dame contrycyon\n\nThan sate saynt Edwarde with vyrgynyte\nAnd afore hym sate dame obedyence\nSaynt Edmond and dame charyte\nAnd than dame prayer with dame abstynence\nAnd than dame fayth shynynge in excellence\nWith saynt Ierome and saynt Austeyn\nAnd than saynt gregory without dysdeyn\n\nThere was two aungels holdynge fast\nThe table cloth at euery ende\nKnelynge downe humbly and stedfast\nWhose seruyce no man coude amende\nOther there were that dyd entende\nVs for to serue with theyr grete dylygence\nThat in theym founde coude be no neglygence\n\nThere dyd saynt Peter by grete holynes\nSerue vs of our swete lordes body\nFyrst he serued the fader of clennes\nAnd after that he serued her shortly\nWith charyte fayth and dame mercy\nAnd I with dyscrecyon and dame sapyence\nOf saynt Peter was serued with grete indulgence\n\nSo dame obedyence with contrycyon\nWith saynt Edwarde and virgynyte\nIn lyke wyse were serued without corrupcyon\nAnd saynt Edmond with dame charyte\nAnd saynt Ierome with dame humylyte\nWith saynt austyn and saynt gregory\nWhat nede I lenger of theym specyfy\n\nThis was a fest moost swete and precyous\nTo fede the soule with dyuyne comfort\nThis was a mete moost dere and gloryous\nThat causeth all man for to resorte\nTo sempyternall lyfe and comforte\nThan saynt ambrose beynge dyuyne\nAfter our mete gafe vs good wyne\n\nBy this tyme was I .lx. yere olde\nAnd desyred for to lyue in peace\nFor I began to growe two folde\nAnd my feblenes dyde sore encreace\nFor nature her strength than dyd seace\nWherfore after this ghoostly fest\nI thought with my wyfe to abyde in rest\n\nAnd I to her sayd with louynge chere\nO my swete spouse moost fayre and beauteous\nTo me euer ryght leyfe and dere\nWhere is your lande that is solacyous\nYe shewyd me of your gardeyn gloryous\nVnto whiche now fayne wolde I go\nThere for to dwell and you also\n\nSyr she sayd the aungell raphaell\nShall with these martyrs & noble confessours\nBrynge you thyder with theym to dwell\nWhere ye shall see all your progenytours\nWith many sayntes and gloryous auctours\nThis lande is heuen that to vs longeth\nAs our euydence the gospell telleth\n\nThan came my fader in lawe to vs\nSaynge by ryght I dyd combynd\nClennes my doughter with vertue precyous\nAnd you must I loue by naturell kynde\nFor on you now is all my mynde\nAfore hym I kyst my wyfe moost swetely\nFor we loued to gyder hote and truely\n\nThan came my good aungell to me\nCausynge me with hym for to go\nWith clennes my wyfe wher I dyd se\nThe paynes of hell full of grete wo\nThere was the dragon that I dyd slo\nBounde with chaynes in fyer infynall\nWith the seuen dedely synnes in generall\n\nThan my good aungell to me sayd\nIf ye had loued dame sensualyte\nThe whiche with you dyd make a brayde\nYe had ben dampned by ryght and equyte\nIn to this pytte full of all iniquyte\nWherfore thanke god that sent you wysedome\nSuche deedly perylles for to ouercome\n\nAlso the lady with the cup of golde\nIs here condempned for her grete pryde\nIn endeles payne both hote and colde\nWhere in for synne she shall abyde\nThis is a dongeon longe and wyde\nMade for theym that do synne dedely\nAnd of cryst Ihesu wyll axe no mercy\n\nThis is a place full of all derkenes\nWherin be serpentes foull and odyous\nThis is a place of mortall heuynes\nWhere I sawe deuyles blacke and tedyous\nDampned soules turmented with hokes rygorous\nThis is the vppermoost parte of hell\nIn whiche paynyms dampned do dwell\n\nFor as moche as they lacked instruccyon\nFor to beleue in god omnypotent\nThey haue deserued the lesse correccyon\nYet theyr payne haue none extinguysshement\nFor they are dampned by true sentyment\nFor theyr byleue and fals idolatry\nThat made theyr goddes of mars & mercury\n\nThan went we doune to an other vaute\nWhere Iewes lay in grete paynes stronge\nWhome deuylles tourmented by grete assaute\nDrawynge theym with hokes a longe\nFor theyr opynyon so fals and wronge\nWhiche byleued not in the natyuyte\nOf Ihesu cryst and the vyrgyn Mare\n\nNor yet that he dyd suffre passyon\nBothe for theym and all mankynde\nNother yet of his resurreccyon\nIn theyr byleue they are so blynde\nYet as in bokes wryten we do fynde\nThat they haue ben taught many a tyme\nFor to forsake theyr owne fals cryme\n\nThan went we downe to a depper vale\nWhere crysten soules dyd weppe & crye\nIn grete sorowe payne and bale\nBrennynge in fyer moost hote and drye\nAnd some in Ice ryght depe dyd lye\nFor to expresse it is impossyble\nThe paynes there they are so horryble\n\nThese crysten men knowe goddes lawe\nAnd euery daye had informacyon\nFrom deuelysshe werkes theym to withdrawe\nThat they sholde not fall in dampnacyon\nYet wyll they not make sequestracyon\nOf goddes c[om]maundement but syn deedly\nTherfore here are they dampned ryght wysey\n\nAnd thou haddest set thy delectacyon\nIn flesshely pleasure and vayne glory\nThou haddest ben here without saluacyon\nWithout thou of god had axed mercy\nWho that it axeth shall haue it truely\nYf he be contryt and do repent\nThat he his lyfe in yll hath spent\n\nThis place sythens it is moost heuy\nMoost derke and moost ferre from lyghtnes\nAs philosophers afferme by astronomy\nIs in the myddes of the erthe doutles\nThat is a place of dyssolate derkenes\nWherfore by reason it must nedes be sette\nIn the myddes of the erthe both longe & grette\n\n\n\n\nCapitulum .xiiii\n\n\nMy good aungell by his grete vertue\nShewed me all this in a shorte space\nAnd after hym I dyd than pursue\nWith my wyfe vnto the fayre place\nThat we came fro full of all solace\nWhere was my fader in the company\nOf many sayntes that dyd there tary\n\nMy wyfe and me than for to brynge\nTo the place of eternall glory\nWith heuenly tewnes swetely syngynge\nThat theym to here it was grete melody\nMore than ony tonge can specyfy\nThis was theyr songe so swete and gloryous\nThat they dyd synge with voyce so vertuous\n\nO celestyall kynge one two and thre\nAll people prayse the god and lorde\nWhiche art in heuen o noble trynyte\nWhose royall power and miserycorde\nConfermed is by thyn hye accorde\nOn vs with trouth for to endure\nWithouten ende as we are sure\n\nGlory be to the fader almyghty\nAnd to the sone and to the holy ghoost\nThre persones and one god truely\nWhose power neuer can be loost\nFor he is lorde of myghtes moost\nAnd so hath ben without begynnynge\nAnd euer shall be without endynge\n\nWhan we were in the ayre of asure\nThere dyd vs mete the noble Ierarchy\nAs Cherubyn and Seraphyn so pure\nWith other aungels in theyr company\nThat dyd proclayme & synge on hye\nWith voyce insacyat moost melodyous\nTo god aboue Sanctus sanctus sanctus\n\nThere dyd I se the planettes seuen\nMoue in ordre by alteracyon\nTo merueylous for me to neuen\nFor they seassed not theyr operacyon\nSome assended some made declynacyon\nEntrynge theyr houses of the .xii. synes\nSome indyrectly and some by dyrecte lynes\n\nTo heuen we styed a place moost gloryous\nWhere that we dyd beholde the deyte\nWith insaciable contenaunce moost desyrous\nAnd truely than the more that we\nDyd loke vpon his souerayne beaute\nThe more our desyre dyd encreace\nThis is a Ioye that shall not seace\n\nThis is a regyon moost full of swetnes\nThis is a realme of delectacyon\nThis is a lande of infenyte gladnes\nWithout ony stormy tribulacyon\nThis place is of eterne saluacyon\nWhere aungels and sayntes for theyr solace\nEuermore do loke on goddes face\n\nWhat sholde I wryte thynges of dyuynyte\nOr endyght of suche maters hye\nSythen it no thynge longeth to my faculte\nTherfore of it I wyll not lenger tarye\nFor fere that I in it sholde varye\nAnd by cause that trouth shall be my mede\nI wyll now leue and take me to my crede\n\nSo vertue and clennes by good ryght\nTruely in maryage ioyned must be\nFor they loue to gyder with all theyr myght\nWithout dyscencyon or duplycyte\nAnd they both are alway in vnyte\nTo whome heuen by tayll generall\nEntayled is by a dede memoryall\n\nNow are they to gyder to heuen gone\nThere for to dwell in Ioye eternall\nWhere that there is the heuenly trone\nOf our sauyour Ihesu deere & specyall\nWho that hym loueth truely ouer all\nLedynge his lyfe with vertue and clennes\nShall come vnto the glory endeles\n\nBut in the fynysshynge of my mater\nTo god the maker of all thynge\nDeuoutely now I make my prayer\nTo saufe kynge Henry our ryghtfull kynge\nFrom all treason and dolefull mornynge\nAnd for to maynteyn the grete honour\nOf this swete rede rose so fayre a colour\n\nThis floure was kepte ryght longe in close\nAmonge the leuys holsom and sote\nAnd regally sprange and arose\nOut of the noble stoke and rote\nOf the rede rose tre to be our bote\nAfter our bale sente by grete grace\nOn vs to reygne by ryght longe space\n\nO lorde god what Ioye was this\nVnto his moder so good and gracyous\nWhan that she sawe her sone I wys\nOf his ennemys to be so vyctoryous\nIt caused her to be moost Ioyous\nAnd yet there of no wonder why\nFor he was ryght longe from her truely\n\nA ioyfull metynge than bytwene\nThe moder and the sone so dere\nA daye of gladnes bryght and shene\nFressher than phebus myddaye spere\nWhan her sone to vs dyd appere\nHe dyd vs lyght with his pure bemys\nQuenchynge of mars the fyrous lemys\n\nO heuenly kynge o eternall emperoure\nO thre persons and one god equall\nI praye the to kepe from all doloure\nThis moder with her sone in specyall\nWith all theyr noble buddes in generall\nAnd laude be to the that dyd enhaunce\nHym to his ryght and propre herytaunce\n\nThe whyte rose that [with] tempestes troublous\nAualed was and eke blowen asyde\nThe reed rose fortyfyed and made delycyous\nIt pleased god for hym so to prouyde\nThat his redolent buddes shall not slyde\nBut euer encrease and be vyctoryous\nOf fatall brerys whiche be contraryous\n\nThus god by grace dyd well combyne\nThe rede rose and the whyte in maryage\nBeynge oned ryght clere doth shyne\nIn all clennes and vertuous courage\nOf whose ryght and royall lynage\nPrynce Henry is spronge our kynge to be\nAfter his fader by ryght good equyte\n\nO noble prynce Henry our seconde treasure\nSurmontynge in vertue & myrour of beaute\nO geme of gentylnes & lanterne of plasure\nO rubycound blossome and sterre of humylyte\nO famous bud full of benygnyte\nI pray to god well for to encrease\nYour hyghe estate in rest and pease\n\nO thoughfull hert for lack of connynge\nNow layde to slepe this longe wynters nyght\nRyse vp agayne loke on the shynynge\nOf fayre lucyna clere and bryght\nBeholde eke mercury with his fayre lyght\nCastynge a doune his stremys mery\nIt may well glad thyn emyspery\n\nO gower fountayne moost aromatyke\nI the now lake for to depure\nMy rudnes with thy lusty retoryke\nAnd also I mys as I am sure\nMy mayster Chaucers to take the cure\nOf my penne for he was expert\nIn eloquent termes subtyll and couert\n\nWhere is now lydgate flourynge in sentence\nThat shold my mynde forge to endyte\nAfter the termes of famous eloquence\nAnd strength my penne well for to wryte\nWith maters fresshe of pure delyte\nThey can not helpe me there is no remedy\nBut for to praye to god almyghty\n\nFor to dystyll the dewe of influence\nVpon my brayn so dull and rude\nAnd to enlumyn me with his sapyence\nThat I my rudnes may exclude\nAnd in my mater well to conclude\nVnto thy pleasure and to the reders all\nTo whome I excuse me now in generall\n\nExplicit exemplum virtutis\n\n\n[Illustration: {Printer's symbol}]\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n           *       *       *       *\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nErrors and Irregularities\n\n_Transposed Text_\n\nTwo groups of pages appear to have been printed out of sequence. Each\ninvolves pages from the later part of a signature, so visible page\nnumbering is absent. It is not known whether the error is from the\noriginal printing or from the facsimile reprint.\n\n  Pages 9-11 = aa.v.(recto) - aa.vi.(recto)  [unnumbered]\n  Pages 69-71 = ff.iii.(recto) - ff.iiii.(recto)  [unnumbered]\n\nPages beginning:\n\n  Vnto her I answerde o lady gloryous  [printed as page 11]\n  Be to thy kynge euer true subgete\n  Whan she to me had made relacyon  [printed as pages 9, 10]\n\n  Whan I had scomfyte this serpent venymous  [printed as page 71]\n  Than came dame fayth that lady gloryous  [printed as page 70]\n  And there met me dame clennes blyue  [printed as page 69]\n\nPrinted folio numbers show an unusual pattern:\n  aa, cc, ee: 16 pages each\n  gg: 12 pages\n  bb, dd, ff, hh: 8 pages\n\n_Numbers_\n\nNumbers such as .x. were usually printed without spaces.\n\nChapter headings for .vi. and .vii. were printed near the bottom of\nthe page-- as main text, not catchwords-- and again at the top of the\nfollowing page. This pattern was not consistently followed for all\nchapters that began at the top of a page.\n\n\n_Typographical Errors_\n\n  Unless otherwise noted, errors were left unchanged.\n\n  Tabula Libri, cap. viii:\n  -maunded Discrec[on]n to lede youth to marye with clen-\n  Tabula Libri, cap. ix:\n  ... dyscrecyon he dyde withstande theyr temptac[on]n and ...\n    [error for Discrecy[on], temptacy[on]]\n    [Both words occur in full-length lines of prose. When the\n    typesetter saw that he needed an abbreviation to make the line\n    fit, he may have removed the wrong letter from the words to be\n    abbreviated.]\n  Morpleus to me than made abreyd  [error for Morpheus]\n  Tyll eolus with blastes began to rore  [text reads \"colus\"]\n  Whiche dyde enquere of prudent Iosethus\n    [error for Iosephus? compare \"setherus\" below]\n  He sholde there b enlumyned shortely  [error for be enlumyned]\n  And with a for wytte kepte in store\n    [spacing ambiguous: may be one word \"aforwytte\"]\n  With all theyr cases dyd well avarre  [v letterform in original]\n  For I by ryght must nedys enhaunce  [text reads \"enhauncce\"]\n  Whan they ben wrought in to theyr degre  [text reads \"beu\"]\n  He shall knowe thynges that be dyuyne  [text reads \"dyuyue\"]\n  And by whiche he hiz k[yn]ge dysteyneth  [text reads \"k[yn]ne\"]\n    [there is no evident reason for using an abbreviation in this line]\n    [for \"hiz\", see below]\n  To man exaltynge hym to noblenesse  [text reads \"exaltyuge\"]\n  The worde of god the deuyll to bl[ey]nde\n    [e, required by rhyme, printed above y, required by sense]\n  In grete wo & payne but thynke you verely  [\"Ingrete\" without space]\n  Lettynge hym often of his passage  [text reads \"Lettyuge\"]\n  An humble herte full of contrycon [error for contrycyon]\n  The merueylous dragon so gretly slynkynge\n    [reading may be \"stynkynge\", but letterforms are closer to \"sl-\"]\n  And also setherus his fragraunt breth\n    [error for sepherus? compare \"Iosethus\" above]\n  Who that vs loueth without doubta[un]ce\n    [text reads \"doubtau[un]ce\", probably through confusion with\n    preceding line where -a[un]ce abbreviation was required by line\n    length]\n  And than dame mercy with contricyon\n    [text unchanged, but \"contrycyon\" is the usual form]\n  For to beleue in god omnypotent  [be leue]\n  Therfore here are they dampned ryght wysey  [error for wysely]\n  O geme of gentylnes & lanterne of plasure  [error for pleasure]\n\n\n_Unusual Letter_\n\nIn four places the text has an unusual letter. It has been variously\ntranscribed as \"z\" or \"[gh]\" (yogh) according to context, but appears\nto be the identical letter every time:\n\n  Nexte vnto her sate the hyghe quene Azia\n  And by whiche he hiz k[yn]ge dysteyneth\n  Though he were hardy & wyse he my[gh]t not me forbere\n  Accordynge to a morylyzacyon","title":"The Example of Vertu: The Example of Virtue","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":16056}