it ran through his land. And its water is in some places clear, and in some places troubled; in some places hot, and in some places cold. The second river is called Nile, or Gyson, for it is always troubled; and Gyson, in the language of Ethiopia, is to say Trouble, and in the language of Egypt also. The third river, called Tigris, is as much as to say, Fast Running; for it runs faster than any of the others. The fourth river is called Euphrates, that is 10 in his service and worship; and in no thing forto say, Well Bearing; for there grow upon that river corn, fruit, and other goods, in great plenty. many thousands to be lost that night, some in water, some in fire, some by sudden death, and some to be damned without end. And for these goodnesses and mercies thank thy 5 God with all thine heart, and pray him to give thee grace to spend, in that day and evermore, all the mights of thy soul, as mind, reason, wit, and will, and all the mights of thy body, as strength, beauty, and thy five wits, feit again his commandments, but (be) ready to perform works of mercy, and to give good example of holy life, both in word and in deed, to all men about thee. Look afterwards that thou be well occupied, and in no time idle for temptation. Take meat and drink in measure, not too costly nor too licorouse,1 and be not too curious thereabout, but such as God sendeth, with truth take it, And you shall understand that no man that is mortal may approach to that Paradise; for 15 by land no man may go for wild beasts, that are in the deserts, and for the high mountains, and great huge rocks, that no man may pass by for the dark places that are there; and by the rivers may no man go, for the water runs 20 in such measure that thou be fresher in mind and wits to serve God, and algates thank him for his gift. Over this, look thou do right and equity to all men, both to sovereigns, peers,5 subjects, or servants; and stir all men to love 4 so roughly and so sharply, because it comes down so outrageously from the high places above, that it runs in so great waves that no ship may row or sail against it; and the water roars so, and makes so huge a noise, and so 25 truth and mercy, and over these charity; and great a tempest, that no man may hear another in the ship, though he cried with all the might he could. Many great lords have essayed with great will, many times, to pass by those rivers towards Paradise, with full great 30 companies; but they might not speed in their voyage; and many died for weariness of rowing against the strong waves; and many of them became blind, and many deaf, for the noise of the water; and some perished and were lost in 35 the waves; so that no mortal man may approach to that place without special grace of God; so that of that place I can tell you no more. John Wyclif c. 1324-1384 A SHORT RULE OF LIFE suffer no man be at dissension, but accord them if thou mayest in any good manner. Also most of all things dread God and his wrath, and most of all things love God and his law and his worship; and ask not principally worldly meed, but in all thine heart desire the bliss of heaven, through the mercy of God and thine own goodness of life. . . . And in the end of the day think where thou hast offended God, and how much and how often, and therefore have entire sorrow, and amend it while thou may. . . . If thou be a priest, and especially a curate, live thou holily, passing others in holy prayer and holy desire and 40 thinking, in holy speaking, counselling, and true teaching, and ever that God's hests and his gospel be in thy mouth, and ever despise sin, to draw men therefrom. And that thy deeds be so rightful, that no man shall blame 45 them with reason, but thine open deeds be a true book to all sogettis and lewd men, 10 to serve God and do his hests thereby. For ensample of good, and open and lasting, stirreth rude men more than true preaching by the great feasts of rich men, but live a mean 11 life of poor men's alms and goods, both in meat and drink and clothes; and the remnant give truly to poor men that have naught of their A SHORT RULE OF LIFE FOR EACH MAN IN GENERAL, AND FOR PRIESTS AND LORDS AND LABOURERS IN SPECIAL, HOW EACH MAN SHALL BE SAVED IN HIS DEGREE, IF HE WILL HIMSELF. 50 naked word. And waste not thy goods in First, when thou risest or fully wakest, think on the goodness of God; for his own goodness and none other need he made all things of naught, both angels and men, and all other creatures good in their kind. The second time 55 think on the great passion and wilful death that Christ suffered for mankind. . . And think the third time, how God hath saved thee from death and other mischiefs, and suffered 1 Dainty, tempting to the appetite. Equals, 7 Reward. Subject, i. e. lowly. 11 Moderate. 2 Fastidious. • Superiors. 6 Reconcile them. 8 Commands. 10 Unlearned. own, and may not labour for feebleness or sickness, and then thou shalt be a true priest both to God and man. FIFTEENTH AND EARLY SIX- From A PRAISE OF WOMEN 135 For this ye knowe well, though I would lie, And if it hap a man be in disease," 140 She doth her business and her full fain 150 If thou be a lord, look thou live a rightful life in thine own person, both anent God and 5 man, keeping the hests of God, doing the works of mercy, ruling well thy five wits, and doing reason and equity and good conscience to all men. The second time, govern well thy wife, thy children, and thy homely meyne 12 in 10 God's law, and suffer no sin among them, neither in word nor in deed, upon thy might, that they may be ensamples of holiness and righteousness to all others. . . . The third time, govern well thy tenants, and maintain 15 them in right and reason, and be merciful to them in their rents, and worldly merciments, 13 and suffer not thy officers to do them wrong nor extortions, and chastise in good manner them that rebel against God's hests and vir- 20 tuous living, more than for rebellion against thine own cause or person. . . . If thou be a labourer, live in meekness, and truly and wilfully 14 do thy labour; that if thy lord or thy master be an heathen man, that by thy 25 meekness and wilful and true service, he have not to gruche 15 against thee, nor slander thy God nor Christendom. 16 And serve not to Christian lords with gruching," nor only in their presence, but truly and wilfully in their 30 absence, not only for worldly dread nor worldly reward, but for dread of God and good conscience, and for reward in heaven. For that God that putteth thee in such service wots 18 what state is best for thee, and will reward 35 thee more, than all earthly lords may, if thou doest it truly and wilfully for his ordinance. And in all things beware of grucchyng 17 against God and his visitation, in great labour and long, and great sickness, and other adversi- 40 ties; and beware of wrath, of cursing and waryying, 19 or banning, of man or of beast. And ever keep patience, and meekness, and charity, both to God and man. And thus each man in these three estates oweth 20 to live, to save 45 That we have trespassed, púrsue to amend, himself and help others; and thus should good If we could know it for our rudeness! 160 This wot ye well, a woman was the beste: By her recovered was the bliss that we had lorne, 4 And through the woman shall we come to reste, 165 And be y-saved, if that our selfé lest; Wherefore, me thinketh, if that we had grace, We oughten honour women in every place. Therefore I read that, to our lives ende, Fro this time forth, the while that we have space, 170 Praying our Lady, well of alle grace, MERCILES BEAUTE Your eyen two wol slee me sodenly, I may the beauté of hem not sustene, 175 So woundeth hit through-out my herté kene. And but your word wol helen hastily My hertes wounde, whyl that hit is grene, I may the beauté of hem not sustene. 1 Saw. 2 Discomfort. The god of love, a! benedicite! And he can make, within a little stoundė1 To tell his might my wit may not suffyse; For he may do all that he will devyse 5 10 15 This little song, this compilatioun. For he can make of wise folk full nice, And eke in lyther3 folk destroyen vice; And proude heartės he can make agrysė.' Shortly, all that e'er he wills he may; Ageinės him there dare no wight say nay. For he can glad and grieve whom him liketh; And whom he will, he laugheth or he syketh; And most his might he showeth ever in May. 20 For every trewe gentle heartė free That with him is, or thinketh for to be, Ageinės May now shall have some stirring, Either to joy, or alles to mourning, In no sesóun so great, as thinketh me. 25 750 753 Tarry no longer towards thine heritage: His name to slay; his high virtúe upstarteth Unslain by thee, which aye us lively hearteth With bookes of his ornate inditing, 1974 2073 2075 That are to all this land illumining. Simple my spirit, scarce my letterure 7 Unto your excelléncy for to write Mine inward love, and yet, in aventure I put myself, although I can but lyte.8 My deare master-(God his soul requite!) And father, Chaucer, fain would have me taught; But I was dull, and little learned or naught. 6 Care. 7 Appease. Possibly an allusion to the proverb: "He that gives thee a bone would not have thee die." A long didactic poem dedicated to Prince Henry, the future Henry V. The Prologue contains many autobiographical confessions, as well as the familiar passage on Chaucer, given above. 2 Dead. 3 Instruction. A single injury. Security. 7 Learning. 4 Understanding. 6 Hearteneth i. c. cheers. 8 Know but little. The firstė finder 16 of our fair language, Hath writ of death as many another one, So highly well that it is my dotáge17 4978 4980 To speak, I cannot reach what they have done. Alas! my father from the world is gone- As thou well knowest, O blessed virgíne, 4985 THE TALE OF THE PADDOCK AND THE MOUSE Upon a time, as Æsop could report, A little Mouse came to a river side; She micht not wade, her shankės were sa short; She could not swim, she had na horse to ride; Of very force hehoved her to bide, And to and fra beside the river deep, Crying she ran, with mony a piteous peep. 5 "Help ower, help ower!" this silly Mouse gan cry, "For Goddes luve, some body o'er this brim!" With that a Paddock 2 in the water by, 10 Put up her heid, and on the bank gan clym;3 Whilk by natúre could duck, and gaily swim. 19 The portrait of Chaucer, which Hoccleve employed someone to paint on the margin of his manuscript (Harl. Ms. 4688) opposite to this stanza. |