That lawe shal ben a laborer And love shal lede thi lond, Clerkes that were confessours 2375 Ac noght for confort of the com- Wynked upon Mede, 2386 And seide," Madame, I am youre What so my mouth jangle; [man, I falle in floryns," quod that freke, "And faile speche ofte." Alle rightfulle recordede That Reson truthe tolde; And Wit acorded therwith, And comendede hise wordes, 2397 And the mooste peple in the halle, And manye of the grete, And leten Mekenesse a maister, Love leet of hire light, And leauté yet lasse, And seiden it so heighe 2408 But he be knowe for a cokewold, Kut of my nose." Mede mornede tho, And made hevy chere, For the mooste commune of that Called hire an hore. Ac a sisour and a somonour Sued hire faste, And a sherreves clerk [court The kyng callede Conscience, And afterward Reson, 2420 And recordede that Reson Mede overmaistreth lawe, And muche truthe letteth. [leve! Ac Reson shal rekene with yow, If I regne any while, And deme yow bi this day, As ye han deserved. Mede shal noght maynprise yow, By the Marie of hevene! I wole have leauté in lawe, And lete be al youre janglyng; 2442 And as moost folk witnesseth wel, Wrong shal be demed." Quod Conscience to the kyng, "But the commune wole assente, It is ful hard, by myn heed! Hertoo to brynge it, Alle youre lige leodes To lede thus evene." [rode!" "By hym that raughte on the Quod Reson to the kynge, "But if I rule thus youre reaume, Rende out my guttes, If ye bidden buxomnesse Be of 66 myn assent." 2454 "And I assente," seith the kyng, By seinte Marie my lady! By my counseil commune, Of clerkes and of erles; Thow shalt noght ride fro me, "I am al redy," quod Reson, "To reste with yow evere; So Conscience be of oure counseil, I kepe no bettre." "And I graunte," quod the kyng, "Goddes forbode ellis ! Als longe as oure lyf lasteth, 2472 Passus Quintus de Visione, ut supra. HE kyng and hise knyghtes TH To here matyns of the day Thanne waked I of my wynkyng, And wo was withalle, That I ne hadde slept sadder, Ac er I hadde faren a furlong, That I ne myghte ferther a foot And sat softely a-doun, And seide my bileve, And so I bablede on my bedes, Thei broughte me a-slepe. 2485 And thanne saugh I muche moore Than I bifore of tolde, For I seigh the feld ful of folk, And how Reson gan arayen hym 2196 He preved that thise pestilences Were for pure synne, And the south-westrene wynd Was pertliche for pure pride, Beches and brode okes Were blowen to the grounde, 2508 Turned upward hire tailes, In tokenynge of drede That dedly synne er domes-day Of this matere I myghte Mamelen ful longe; Ac I shal seye as I saugh, How pertly afore the peple Reson bigan to preche. He bad Wastour go werche, 2519 What he best kouthe, And wynnen his wastyng With som maner crafte. He preide Pernele Hir purfil to lete, And kepe it in hire cofre For catel at hire nede. Tomme Stowne he taughte To take two staves, Fro the wynen pyne. 2530 |