Confessio Amantis Volume 3

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857 edition. Excerpt: ... servit. A propre hous hath in the liver For his dwellinge made deliver. Fei domus coiere. The drie coler with his hete By wey of kinde his propre sete Hath in the galle, where he dwelleth, So as the philosophre telleth. Nota de stomacho, Now over this is for to wite, qui una cum aliis .... . . cordi spedaiius de- As it is in pnilique write Of liver, of lunge, of galle, of fplen, They all unto the herte ben Servaunts, and eche in his office Entendeth to don him service, As he, which is chefe lord above. The liver maketh him for to love, The lunge yiveth him wey of speche, The galle serveth to do wreche, The splen doth him to laugh and play, Whan all unclennesse is away. Lo, thus hath eche of hem his dede To susteignen hem and fede. In time of recreation Nature hath in creation The stomack for a comun coke Ordeined so, as saith the boke. The stomack coke is for the hall And boileth mete for hem all To make hem mighty for to serve The herte, that he shall nought sterve. For as a king in his empire Above all other is lorde and sire, So is the herte principals To whom reson in speciall Is yove as for the governaunce. And thus nature his purveaunce Hath made for man to liven here. But god, which hath the soule dere, Hath formed it in other wise, That can no man pleinly devise. But as the clerkes us enforme, That lich to god it hath a forme, Through which figure and which likenesse The soule hath many an high noblesse Appropred to his owne kinde. But oft her wittes ben made blinde Al onelich of this ilke pointe, That her abiding is conjointe Forth with the body for to dwelle. That one desireth toward helle, That other upward to the heven, So shall they never stonde in even, But if the flessh be overcome And that the soule have holy nome The...