Chapter 4
¶ And wha{n} he had th{us} sayd {the} keyes he hy{m} toke. ¶ And toward his castell {with} his people went ¶ Byddy{n}g reason take good hede & about loke ¶ That se{n}sualite by Nature were not she{n}t. ¶ Kepe hy{m} short he sayd tyll his lust be spe{n}t ¶ For better were a chylde to by vnbore ¶ Than let hy{m} haue {the} wyll & foreuer be lore.
¶ And wha{n} olde Attropos had seen & herd all this ¶ How Vertu had opteyned astonyed as he stood. ¶ He sayd to hy{m}selfe somwhat there is amys. ¶ I trow well my patent be not all good. Next line is missing ¶ Sayeng to the goddys I see ye do but iape. from the original. ¶ After a worthy whew haue ye made me gape. The line reads: And ran to the palyse ¶ How a deuyll way sholde I Vertue ouerthrow. as he had be wood ¶ When he dredeth not all your hole route. ¶ How ca{m} ye make good your pate{n}t wold I know ¶ Hit is to Impossable to bryng that aboute. ¶ For stryke hym may I not {that} is out of doute. ¶ A good Attropos sayd god Apollo. ¶ An answere conuenyent shall thou haue herto.
¶ The wordes of thy patent dare I well say ¶ Stretche to no forther but were dame Nature ¶ Hath Iurysdyccyon the{re} to haue the way Nota. ¶ And largesse to stryke as longet to thy cure. ¶ And as for Vertu he his no cryature. ¶ Vnder the predycament conteyned of quantyte ¶ Wherefore his dystruccyon longeth not to the.
¶ A ha sayd Attropos then I see well. ¶ That all ye goddys be but cou{n}terfete. Original has ¶ For oo God there is that can euerydell. goodys and ¶ Tourne as hym lest bothe drye & whete. coue{n}terfete ¶ In to whoos seruyce I shal assay to gete. instead of ¶ And yf I may ones to his seruyce come. goddys and ¶ Your names shal be put to oblyuyone. cou{n}terfete
¶ Thus went Attropos fro the paleys wrooth. ¶ But in the mene tyme whyle {that} he there was. ¶ Glydyng by the paleys resydyuacyon gooth. ¶ Towarde Macrocosme with a peynted fase. ¶ Clad lyke a pylgryme walkyng a grete pase. ¶ In the forme as he had ben a man of ynde. ¶ He wede haue made reson & sadnesse both bly{n}de
¶ With sensualyte was he soone aqueynted. ¶ To whome he declared his mater pryuely. ¶ Yet he was espyed for all his face peynted. ¶ Then reson hy{m} co{m}mauded pyke hy{m} the{n}s lightly. ¶ For his ease q{uo}d sadnesse so cou{n}seyll hym wyll I. ¶ Soo was sensualyte ay kepte vnder foote. ¶ That to resydyuacyon myght he doo no boote.
¶ Then went he to Nature & asked her auyse. ¶ His entent to opteynde what was best to doo. ¶ She sayd euer syth Vertu of vyce wan {the} pryse. ¶ Reson with sadnesse hath rewled the felde soo. ¶ That I & sensualyte may lytyll for the doo. ¶ For I may noo more but oonly kepe my cours. ¶ And yet is sensualyte strenger kept & wours.
¶ Th{us} hery{n}g resydiuacon fro the{n}s he went ageyn ¶ Full of thought & sorow {that} he myght not spede. ¶ Than reson & sadnesse toke wedehokes tweyn. ¶ And all wylde wa{n}tonesse out {the} felde gan wede. ¶ With all the slyper grasse {that} grewe of the sede. Original has ¶ That sensualyte before therin sew. thr instead ¶ And fro thens forth kept it clene for vertew of the
¶ Than began new grase in the felde to spryng. ¶ All vnlyke {that} other of colour fayr & bryght. ¶ But then I aspyed a meruelous thyng. ¶ For the grou{n}de of {the} felde gan wex hore & whyt. ¶ I coude not conceyue how {that} be myght. ¶ Tyll I was enformed & taught it to know. ¶ But wher vertu occupyet must nedes wel grow
Yet in the mene tyme while the felde thus grow. ¶ And reson with sadnesse therof had gouerau{n}ce. ¶ Many a preuy messenger thyder sent Vertew. ¶ To know yf it were guyded to his plesau{n}ce. ¶ Now prayer eft fastyng & often tyme penau{n}ce. ¶ And whan he myght goo preuely almesdede. ¶ And bad hy{m} to his power helpe where he se nede
While {that} felde thus rewled reson with sadnesse. ¶ Maugre dame Nature for all her carnall might ¶ Came thyder Attropos voyd of all gladnesse. ¶ Wrapped in his shete & axed of ony wyght. ¶ Coude wysse hym the vay to the lorde of light. ¶ Or ellis where myght fynde ryghtwysnesse. Original has ¶ Forsothe sayd reyson I trow as I gesse. ryghwysnesse instead of ¶ At Vertu his castell ye may soone hym fynde. ryghtwysnesse ¶ If ye lyst the laboure thyder to take. ¶ And there shall ye know yf ye be not blynde. ¶ The next wey to the lord of lyght I vndertake. ¶ So thyder went Attropos petycyon to make. ¶ To ryghtwysnesse preyeng that he myght. ¶ Be take in to the seruyse of the lorde of lyght.
¶ What sad ryghtwysnesse {thou} olde dotyng foole. Original has ¶ Whome hast thou seruyd syth the worlde bega{n} ryghwysnesse, ¶ But oonly hym where hast {thou} go to scole. yast and oonhl ¶ Whethery art {thou} double or elles the sam man. instead of ¶ That thou were fyrst a syr sayd he than. ryghtwysnesse, ¶ I praye you hertely holde me excused. hast and oonly ¶ I am olde & febell my wyttys are dysused.
¶ Well sayd ryghtwysnes for as moche as thow. ¶ Knowest not thy mayst{er} thy name shal I chau{n}ge ¶ Dethe shalt {thou} be caled from he{n}s forward now ¶ Among all the peple that shal be had strau{n}ge. ¶ But whan {thou} begynnest to make thy chalau{n}ge. ¶ Dredde shalt thou be where so thou become. ¶ And to noo creature shalt thou be welcome.
¶ And as for theym whome thou dedest serue. ¶ For as moche as they presume on hem to take. ¶ That hygh name of god they shal as they des{er}ue ¶ Therfore be rewarded I dare vnd{er}take. ¶ Wyth payn p{er}petual among fendes blake. ¶ And her names shall be put to oblyuyon. ¶ Among men but it be in dyrysyon.
¶ Aha sayd Attropos now begy{n}ne I wex glad. ¶ That I shal thus auenged of hem be. ¶ Syth they so long tyme haue made me so mad. ¶ Yee q{uo}d ryghtwysnesse here what I say to the. ¶ The lorde of lyght sent the worde by me. ¶ That in Macrocosme sesyne shalt thou take ¶ wherfore thy darte redy loke thou make
¶ And as soone as Vertue that vnderstood ¶ He sayd he was pleased that it sholde soo be ¶ And euen forth with he co{m}maunded presthood ¶ To make hym redy the felde for to se ¶ So thyder went presthode with benygnyte ¶ Conueyeni{n}g thyder the blessyd sacrament ¶ Of Eukaryst but fyrst were thyder sent
¶ Confessyo{n} contrycyon and satysfaccyo{n} (nota ¶ Sorow for synne and grete repentaunce ¶ Holy deuocyon with good dysposycyon ¶ All these thyder came and also penaunce ¶ As her dewte was to make purueaunce ¶ Agayn the comyng of that blessyd lorde ¶ Feyth hope & charyte therto were acorde
¶ Reason with sadnesse dyde his dylygence ¶ To clense the felde within and without ¶ And whan they se the bodely presence ¶ Of that holy Eukaryst lowly gan they lout ¶ So was that lorde receyued out of dout ¶ With all humble chere debonayre & benygne ¶ Lykly to pleasure it was a grete sygne
¶ Then came to the felde the mynyster fynall ¶ Called holy vnccyon with a crysmatory ¶ The fyue hye wayes in especyall ¶ Therof he anoy{n}ted & made hit sanctuary ¶ Whome folowed deth whiche wolde not tary ¶ His feruent power there to put in vre ¶ As he was co{m}mau{n}ded grau{n}tyng dame Nature
¶ Nota.
¶ He toke his darte called his mortall launce ¶ And bent his stroke towarde the feldes herte ¶ That seyng preesthode bad good remembrau{n}ce ¶ Towarde the felde tourne hym & aduerte ¶ For except hym all vertues thense must sterte ¶ And euen with that dethe there sesyne toke ¶ And then all the company clerely hit forsoke
¶ And as soone as dethe thus had sesyne take ¶ The colour of the felde was chau{n}ged sodeynly ¶ The grasse therin seere as though it had be bak ¶ And the fyue hygh wayes were mured vpon hy ¶ That fro the{n}sforwarde none entre shold therbi ¶ The posternes were also without lette ¶ Bothe inwarde & outwarde fyne fast shette
¶ Whiche done sodeynly dethe vanysshed a way ¶ And Vertu exalted was aboue the fyrmament ¶ Where he toke crowne of glory {that} is ay ¶ Preparate by Alpha & oo omnypotent ¶ The swete frute of macrocosme thyd{er} {with} hy{m} we{n}t ¶ And on all this mater as I stood musyng thus ¶ Agayn fro the felde to me came Morpleus
¶ Saye{n}g thus what chere how lyketh {the} this fyght ¶ Haste thou seen ynough or wyll thou see more ¶ Nay syr I sayd my trouthe I you plyght ¶ This is suffycyente yf I knew wherfore ¶ This was to me shewed for therof he lore ¶ Coueyte I to haue yf I gete myght ¶ Folow me quod he and haue thy delyght
¶ Soo I hym folowed tyll he had me brought ¶ To a foresquare herber walled round aboute ¶ Loo q{uo}d Morple{us} here maist thou {that} thou sought ¶ Fynde yf thou wyll I put the out of doute ¶ A lytyll whyle we stood styll there withoute ¶ Tyll wytte chyef porter of that herber gate ¶ Requyred by stodye lete vs in there ate
¶ But whan I came in meruayled gretly ¶ Of that I behelde & herde reporte ¶ For fyrst in a chayre apparaylled royally ¶ There sate dam doctryne her childern to exorte ¶ And about her was many a sondry sorte ¶ Some wyllyng to lerne dyuerse scyence ¶ And some for to haue perfyte intellygence
¶ Crowned she was lyke an Emperesse ¶ With .iii. crownes standyng on her hede on by ¶ All thyng about her an Infynyte processe Original has ¶ Were to declare I tell you certaynly teyng ¶ Neuerthelesse some in mynde therof haue I instead of ¶ Whiche I shall to you as god wyll yeue me grace thyng ¶ As I sawe & herde tell in short space
¶ Fast by Doctryne on that one syde ¶ As I remembre sate holy Texte ¶ That opened his mouthe to {the} people wyde ¶ But not in comparyson to Glose {that} sate nexte. ¶ Moralyzacyon with a cloke contexte ¶ Sate & Scrypture was scrybe to theym all ¶ He sate ay wrytyng of that that sholde fall
¶ These were tho that I there knewe ¶ By no maner waye of olde acqueyntau{n}ce ¶ But as I before saw theym with Vertewe ¶ Company in felde & hauyng dalyau{n}ce ¶ And as I thus stood halfe in a traunce ¶ Whyle they were occupyed in her besynesse ¶ Aboute the walles myn ey gan I dresse
¶ Where I beheld the meruaylous story ¶ That euer I yet sawe in ony pycture ¶ For on tho walles was made memory ¶ Syngulerly of euery creature ¶ That there had byn bothe forme & stature ¶ Whoos names reherse I wyll as I can ¶ Bryng theym to mynde in ordre euery man
¶ Fyrst to begynne there was in portrature ¶ Adam & Eue holdyng an apell rounde ¶ Noe in a shyp & Abraham hauyng sure ¶ A flyntstone in his honde & Isaac lay bounde ¶ On an hyghe mou{n}te Iacob slepyng sounde ¶ And a long ladder stood besyde ¶ Ioseph in a Cysterne was also there that tyde.
¶ Next whom stode Moyses with his tables two ¶ Aaron and Vrre his armes supportynge ¶ Ely in a brennyng chare was there also. ¶ And Elyze stode clad in hermytes clothynge. ¶ Dauyd wyth an harpe and a stone slynge. ¶ Isaye Ieremy and Ezechyell. ¶ And closed wyth Lyons holy Danyell.
¶ Abacuc Mychee with Malachy. ¶ And Ionas out of a whales body comynge. ¶ Samuel in a Temple & holy zachary. ¶ Besyde an aulter all blody stondynge. ¶ Osee wyth Iudyth stood there conspyryng. ¶ The deth of Dioferne & Salamon. ¶ A chylde wyth hys swerde dyuydynge in two.
¶ Many mo p{ro}phetes certeynly there were. ¶ Whoos names now come not to my mynde: ¶ Melchysedech also I espyed there. ¶ Brede & wyne offryng as fell to his kynde. ¶ Ioachym & Anna stode al behynde. ¶ Embraced in armes to the golden gate. ¶ And holy Iohan Baptyst in desert sat.
¶ And now comyth to my remembrunce. ¶ I am auysed I saw Sodechy: ¶ And Amos also with sober countenaunce. ¶ Stondyng wyth her faces towarde Sophony. ¶ Neemy & Esdras bare hem companye. ¶ The holy man Iob as an Impotente. ¶ Then folowed in pycture wyth Thoby pacyent
¶ Thyse wyth many mo on that one syde. ¶ Of that grene herber portrayed were. ¶ A sayd Morpleus a lytyll tyme abyde. ¶ Turn thy face where thy backe was ere. ¶ And beholde well what thou seeste there. ¶ Than I me turned as he me badde. ¶ With herte stedfaste & countenaunce sadde.
¶ Where I sawe Peter wyth his keyes stonde. ¶ Poule wyth a swerde and Iames also. ¶ Wyth a scalop & Thomas holdyng in his honde ¶ A spere and Phylyp aproched hym to: ¶ Iames the lesse nexte hem in pycture too. ¶ Stode wyth Bartylmew whych was all flayn ¶ Symon & Thadee shewed how they were slayn
¶ Mathy and Barnabe drawy{n}g lottys stode ¶ Nexte whome was Marke a Lyon hym by. ¶ Hys boke holdyng & Mathew in his mode. ¶ Resembled an aungell wyth wyngys gl{or}yously. Original has ¶ Luke had a calfe to holde his boke on hye. gl{or}youly ¶ And Iohan wyth a cuppe & palme in his honde. instead of ¶ An Egle bare his book thus saw I hem stonde gl{or}yously
¶ Gregory and Ierome Austyn and Ambrose. ¶ Wyth pyllyo{n}s on ther hedes stode lyke doctors ¶ Bernard wyth Amselme and as I suppose. Original has ¶ Thomas of alquyne and Domynyk co{n}fessours. suppese ¶ Benet and Hew relygyous gouernours. instead of ¶ Martyn & Iohan with bysshops tweyne. suppose ¶ Were there also and Crysostom certayne.
¶ Behynd all thyse was worshypfull Bede. ¶ All behynde and next hym stood Orygene. ¶ Hydynge his face as he of his dede. ¶ Had hem ashamed ye wote what I mene. Original has ¶ For of errour he was not al clene. bem instead ¶ And on that syde stode laste of alle. of hem ¶ The noble p{ro}phetyssa Sybell men her call.
¶ Let me remembre now I you pray ¶ My barayn is so thynne I deme in my herte ¶ Some of the felyshyp that I there say. ¶ In all this whyle to haue ouersterte. ¶ A benedicite none coude I aduerte. ¶ To thy{n}ke on Andrew the apostle {with} his crosse. ¶ Whome to forgete were a grete losse.
¶ Many one were peynted on that wall. ¶ Whoos names come not to my remembrau{n}ce. ¶ But thyse I marked in especyall. ¶ And moo coude I tell in countenaunce. ¶ Of tyme but forth to shewe you the substaunce. ¶ Of this mater in the myndys of that arbere. ¶ Sat Doctryne coloured as ony crystall clere.
¶ Crowned as I tolde you late here before. ¶ Whoos apparayl wos worth tresour Infynyte ¶ All erthly rychesse count I no more. ¶ To that in co{m}paryson valewy{n}g the{n} a myte. ¶ Ouer her hede houed a culuer fayr & whyte. ¶ Out of her byll p{ro}ceded a grete leme. ¶ Downward to Doctryne lyke a sonne beme
¶ The wordes of Doctryne yaue grete redole{n}s ¶ In swetnesse of sauour to her dyscyples al. ¶ It fer exceded myr & frankencense. ¶ Or ony other tre spyce or els galle. ¶ And whan she me espyed anone she gan me cal. ¶ A{n}d co{m}mau{n}ded morple{us} {that} he shold bry{n}g me nere ¶ For she wold me hew the effect of my desyre. Original has Ad{n}, bry{n} ¶ She sayd I know the cause of thy comyng. and theffect ¶ Is to vnderstond be myn enformal yon. instead of ¶ Sensyble the mater of morpleus his shewynge A{n}d, bry{n}g ¶ As he hath the led about in vesyon. and the effect ¶ Wherfore now I apply thy natural reason. ¶ Vnto my wordes & or thou hens wend. ¶ Thou shalt it know begynnyng and ende.
¶ For whan Colus to pluto was broughte: ¶ By hys owne neclygence taken prysonere. ¶ Wythin the erth for he so fer foughte. ¶ Sygnyfed is no more be that matere. ¶ But only to shew the how it doth appere: ¶ That welth vnbrydeled at thyn eye. ¶ Enbraseth mysrewle and oft causyth foly.
¶ For lyke as Colus beyng at his large ¶ Streyted hymself thrugh his own lewdenesse ¶ For he wolde deele where he had no charge ¶ Ryght soo wantons by her wyldenesse ¶ Oftesythe bryng hymselfe in dystresse ¶ Because they sometyme to largely deele ¶ What may wors be suffred tha{n} ouermykell weele
¶ By Mynos the Iuge of hell desparate ¶ May be vnderstonde goddys ryghtwysnes ¶ That to euery wyght his payne deputate ¶ Assygneth acordyng to his wyckednes ¶ Wherfore he is called Iuge of cruelnes ¶ And as for Dyana & Neptunus compleynte ¶ Fygured may be fooles reason feynt.
¶ For lyke as they made her suggestyon ¶ To haue me Colus from cours of hys kynde ¶ Which was Impossyble to bryng to correccyon ¶ For euermore hys lyberte haue wyll the wynde ¶ In lyke wyse fooles other whyle be blynde ¶ Wenyng to subdew with her one honde ¶ That is ouermykell for all an hole londe
¶ But what foloweth therof that shall thou here ¶ When they were come to the bankete ¶ The grete Apollo with his sad chere ¶ Soo fayre & curtously gan theym entret ¶ That he made her beerdys on the new gete ¶ Loo what wysdome dooth to a foole ¶ Wherefore are children put to scoole
¶ Ofte is it seen with sobre contenaunce ¶ That wyse men fooles ouercome ay ¶ Tornyng as hem lyst & all her varyaunce ¶ Chaunge from ernest in to mery play ¶ What were they bothe amendeth that day ¶ When they were dreuen to her wyttes ende ¶ Were they not fayne to graunt to be his frende
¶ Ryght soo fooles when they haue done ¶ All that they can than be they fayne ¶ Gyue vp hed mater to oblyuyone ¶ Without rewarde they haue no more brayne ¶ And yet ful ofte hath hit be sayne ¶ When they it haue foryete & set at nought ¶ That they full dere haue afterwarde it bought
¶ And as for all tho that represent ¶ To be called goddys at that banket ¶ Resemble false ydollys but to his entent ¶ Was Morpleus co{m}maunded thyder the to fet ¶ That thou sholdest know the maner & the get ¶ Of the paynym law and of her byleue ¶ How false ydolatry ledeth hem by the sleue
¶ For soone vppon the worldys creacyon ¶ When Adam and Eve had broke the precept ¶ Whiche clerkes call the tyme of deuyacyon ¶ The worldly people in paynym law slept ¶ Tyll moyses vnd{er} god the tables of stone kept ¶ In whiche tyme Poetes feyned many a fable ¶ To dyscrete Reason ryght acceptable
¶ And to the entent that they sholde sounde ¶ To the eeres of hem the more pleasantly ¶ That they{m} sholde rede or here the yaue they{m} a grou{n}d{e} ¶ And addid names vnto they{m} naturally ¶ Of whom they spake & callid he{m} goddis hy ¶ Some for the strength & myght of her nature ¶ And some for her sotyll wytty coniecture
¶ By nature thus as the seuen planettes ¶ Haue her propre names by Astronomeres ¶ But goddys were they called by old Poetes ¶ For her gret feruency of werkyng in her speres ¶ Experyence preueth this at all yeres ¶ And for as other that goddys called be ¶ For sotyll wytte that shall I teche the
¶ How they by that hyghe name of god cam ¶ In this sayd tyme the people was so rude ¶ That what maner creature man or woman ¶ Coude ony newelte contryue and conclude ¶ For the comon wele all the multytude ¶ Of the comon people a god sholde hym call ¶ Or a goddesse after hit was fall
¶ Of the same thyng that was so newefounde ¶ As Ceres for she the crafte of tylthe fonde ¶ Wherby more plentouously corne dyd habou{n}de ¶ The people her called thrugh out euery londe ¶ Goddesse of corne wendyng in her honde ¶ Had layn all power of cornes habundaunce ¶ Thus were {the} Paynems deceyued by ignorau{n}ce
¶ In lyke maner Isys was called the goddesse ¶ Of frute for she fyrst made it multuply ¶ By the name of graffyng & soo by processe ¶ The name of Pan gan to deyfy ¶ For he fyrst founde the mene shepe to guy ¶ Some toke it also by her condycyon ¶ As Pluto Fortune and suche other doon
¶ Thus all that Poetes put vnder couerture ¶ Of fable the rurall people hit toke ¶ Properly as acte refusyng the fygure Original has ¶ Which errour some of hem neuer forsoke arte ¶ Ofte a false myrour deceyueth a mannes loke instead of ¶ As thou mayst dayly pryue at thyne ey acte ¶ Thus were the paynyms deceyued generally
¶ That seyng the dedely enemy of mankynde ¶ By his pouer premyssyue entred the ymagys ¶ Within the Temples to make the people blynde ¶ In her ydolatry standyng on hyghe stagys ¶ Insomoche whoo vsed dau{n}gerous passagys ¶ Ony maner way by water or be londe ¶ When hyd his sacryfyce his answere redy fonde
¶ Thus duryng the tyme of deuyacion ¶ From Adam to Moyses was ydolatry ¶ Through the worlde vsed in comon opynyon ¶ These were the goddys that thou there sy ¶ And as for the awayters that stood hem by ¶ They polytyke Phylosophers & Poetes were ¶ Whiche feyned the fables {that} I speke of here
¶ Then seased the tyme of deuyacyon ¶ When Moyses receyued that tables of stone ¶ Entryng the tyme of reuocacyon ¶ On the mounte of Synay stondyng allone ¶ God yaue hym myght ayene all his fone ¶ And then began the olde testament ¶ Whiche to the people by Moyses was sent
¶ And that tyme dured the Incarnacyon ¶ Of Cryste and then began it to sese ¶ For then came the tyme of reconcylyacyon ¶ Of man to god I tell the doutlese ¶ When the sone of man put hym in prese ¶ Wylfully to suffre dethe for mankynde ¶ In holy scrypture this mayst thou fynde
¶ This Reconcylyacyon was the tyme of grace ¶ When fou{n}ded was the chirche vpon {that} fayre sto{n}e ¶ And to holy Peter the keye delyuered was ¶ Of heuen hell dyspoyled was anone ¶ Thys was mankynde delyuered from his fone Original has Wnd ¶ And then began the newe testament instead of And The last line of stanza ¶ Whiche .iii. tymes a sondry dyuyded is missing. The line reads: ¶ Mayst thou here see yf thou lyst beholde That the Crystyn pepyll ¶ The fyrst behynde the in pycture is prouyded beleve in present. ¶ The seconde of the lyft honde shew p{ro}phet olde Original has ¶ The .iii. on the ryght honde here it is to {the} tolde in instead ¶ Thus hast thou in vysyon the verey fygure of is ¶ Of these .iii. tymes here shewed in portrayture
¶ That is to say fyrst of deuyacyon ¶ From Adam to Moyses recordyng scripture ¶ Seconde fro Moyses to the Incarnacyon ¶ Of Cryst kepeth reuocacyon cure ¶ And as for the thyrd thou mayst be verrey sure ¶ Wylt dure from thens to the worldes ende ¶ But now the .iiii. must thou haue in mynde