Eritheus the first is hote,1
The which is red, and shineth hot;
The second Acteos the bright;
Lampes the thirdë courser hight;
And Philogens is the ferth,
That bringen light unto this earth,
And go so swift upon the heaven,
In four and twenty hourës even,
The carte with the brightë sun
They drawen, so that over run
They have under the circles high,
All midde earth in such an hie.2
And thus the sun is over all
The chief planet imperial,
Above him and beneath him three.
And thus between them runneth he,
As he that hath the middle place
Among the seven and of his face
Be glad all earthly creatures,
And taken after the natures
Their ease and recreation.
And in his constellation
Who that is born in special,
Of good-will and of liberal
He shall be found in allë place,
And also stand in muchel grace
Toward the lordës for to serve,
And great profit and thank deserve.
And over that it causeth yet
A man to be subtil of wit,
To work in gold, and to be wise
In everything, which is of prise.3
But for to speaken in what coast
1'Hote:' named.-Hie:' haste.-3 Prise:' value
Of all this earth he reigneth most,
As for wisdom it is in Greece,
Where is appropred thilk spece.1
THE TALE OF THE COFFERS OR CASKETS, &C.
In a chronique thus I read:
About a kingë, as must need,
There was of knightës and squiers
Great rout, and ekë officers:
Some of long timë him had served,
And thoughten that they have deserved
Advancement, and gone without:
And some also been of the rout,
That comen but a while agon,
And they advanced were anon.
These oldë men upon this thing,
So as they durst, against the king
Among themselves complainen oft:
But there is nothing said so soft,
That it ne cometh out at last:
The king it wist, anon as fast,
As he which was of high prudence:
He shope 2 therefore an evidence
Of them that 'plainen in the case
To know in whose default it was:
And all within his own intent,
That none more wistë what it meant.
Anon he let two coffers make,
Of one semblance, and of one make,
So like, that no life thilke throw,3
The one may from that other know:
They were into his chamber brought,
''Thilk spece:' that kind.- 'Shope:' contrived. Thilke throw:' at
But no man wot why they be wrought,
And natheless the king hath bede
That they be set in privy stede,1
As he that was of wisdom sly;
When he thereto his timë sih,2
All privily that none it wist,
His owne handës that one chest
Of fine gold, and of fine perrie,3
The which out of his treasury
Was take, anon he filled full;
That other coffer of straw and mull,4
With stones meynd 5 he fill'd also :
Thus be they full bothë two.
So that erlich upon a day
He bade within, where he lay,
There should be before his bed
A board up set and faire spread:
And then he let the coffers fet?
Upon the board, and did them set.
He knew the names well of tho,8
The which against him grutched so,
Both of his chamber, and of his hall,
Anon and sent for them all;
And saidë to them in this wise:
'There shall no man his hap despise
I wot well ye have longë served,
And God wot what ye have deserved;
But if it is along 10 on me
Of that ye unadvanced be,
Or else if it be long on yow,
The soothë shall be proved now:
To stoppe with your evil word,
1 Stede:' place. - -2 Sih:' saw.- Perrie:' precious stones.- 'Mull:'
rubbish. Meynd:' mingled.-Erlich:' early.-7 Fet:' fetched. those. Grutched:' murmured.-10 Along:' because of.
Lo! here two coffers on the board;
Choose which you list of bothë two:
And witteth well that one of tho
Is with treasure so full begon,
That if he happë thereupon
Ye shall be richë men for ever:
Now choose and take which you is lever,1
But be well 'ware ere that ye take,
For of that one I undertake
There is no manner good therein,
Whereof ye mighten profit win.
Now go together of one assent,
And taketh your advisement;
For but I you this day advance,
It stands upon your ownë chance,
All only in default of grace;
So shall be shewed in this place
Upon you all well afine,2
That no defaultë shall be mine.'
They kneelen all, and with one voice
The king they thanken of this choice:
And after that they up arise,
And go aside and them advise,
And at lastë they accord
(Whereof their tale to record
To what issue they be fall)
A knight shall speakë for them all:
He kneeleth down unto the king,
And saith that they upon this thing,
Or for to win, or for to lose,
Be all advised for to choose.
Then took this knight a yard in hand, And go'th there as the coffers stand, 'Lever:' preferable.-- Afine:' at last.-3 Yard:' rod.
And with assent of every one
He lay'th his yardë upon one,
And saith the king how thilke same
They chose in reguerdon 2 by name,
And pray'th him that they might it have.
The king, which would his honour save,
When he had heard the common voice,
Hath granted them their ownë choice,
And took them thereupon the key;
But for he wouldë it were see
What good they have as they suppose,
He bade anon the coffer unclose,
Which was fulfill'd with straw and stones:
Thus be they served all at ones.
This king then in the same stede,
Anon that other coffer undede,
Where as they sawen great richés,
Well more than they couthen3 guess.
'Lo!' saith the king, 'now may ye see
That there is no default in me;
Forthy myself I will acquite,
And beareth ye your ownë wite 5
Of that fortune hath you refused.'
Thus was this wise king excused:
And they left off their evil speech,
And mercy of their king beseech.
OF THE GRATIFICATION WHICH THE LOVER'S PASSION RECEIVES
FROM THE SENSE OF HEARING.
Right as mine eye with his look
Is to mine heart a lusty cook
Of love's foodë delicate;
1 Saith the king:' saith to the king.-Reguerdon:' as their reward.Couthen: could.-Forthy:' therefore.-5 Wite:' blame.
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