4

16

24

25

=

1 I have omitted two lines, which probably were not many wonders have 17 unless 18 they the friars in the earliest version. 2 lubbers labour shaped 19 better 20 earth 21 as if 22 absolve 23 broken vows them to, became 5 friars bellies interpreting ignorant believed 26 banged 27 blinded 28 eyes according to their own desire 9 many reached, got 30 license your gluttons rascals trader 15 shrive, confess practice ears 36 it is not all the fault of

8

11 money

12

since

13 been 14

10

may

29

34

35

31

32

33

reson me

And right so," said this rat then, "reason doth counsel

And right so," quod this raton,
sheweth
To bugge1 a belle of brasse or of brighte To buy a bell of brass
sylver

And knitten on a colere for owre comune
profit,

And hangen it upon the cattes hals; 2 than here 3 we mowen 4

Where he ritt 6 or rest or renneth 7 to playe.

8

172

And yif him list for to laike, thenne loke
we mowen,
And peren in his presence ther-while hym
plaie liketh;
And yif him wrattheth," be y-war and his
weye shonye." 12

10

Alle this route of ratones to this reson thei assented.

175 Ac tho 13 the belle was y-bought and on the beighe hanged,

Ther ne was ratoun in alle the route, for alle the rewme 14 of Fraunce,

That dorst have y-bounden the belle aboute the cattis nekke,

Ne hangen it aboute the cattes hals, al Engelond to wynne;

And helden hem unhardy 15 and here conseille feble,

180 And leten 16 here laboure lost and alle here longe studye.

A mous that moche good couthe,17 as me thoughte,

Stroke forth sternly and stode biforn hem alle,

And to the route of ratones reherced these wordes:

"Though we culled 18 the catte yut 19 sholde ther come another

To cracchy us and al owre kynde,

185 though we

croupe 20 under benches.

For-thi 2 I conseille alle the comune the catte worthe,2 22

to lat

And be we never so bolde the belle hym to shewe;

For I herde my sire seyn,23 is sevene yere y-passed,

'There 24 the catte is a kitoun the courte is ful elyng'; 25

190

or of bright silver And clasp on a collar for our common profit,

And knit it round the cat's neck; then may we know clearly

Whether he rides or rests or runs to disport him.

And if he pleases to play then may we press forward,

172

And appear in his presence while playing him pleases;

And if wrathful he be, then beware and his way shun well."

All this rabble of rats to this reasoning assented.

175 But when the bell had been bought and bound on the collar,

There was no rat in all the rout that, for all
the realm of France,

Durst have bound that same bell
cat's neck there,

about the

And be we never so bold the bell for to show him;

For I heard my sire say 'tis seven years since then

'Where the cat is a kitten the court will be ailing'; 190

That witnesseth Holy-writ, whoso will read it: Vae terrae ubi puer rex est, etc.

24

26

14 realm 15 timid 16 counted 17 knew 18 killed 19 yet
20 should creep 21
22 be
therefore
say where
25 ailing
woe to the land where the king is a boy

23

SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE? (D. 1371)

THE VOIAGE AND TRAVAILE OF SIR JOHN MAUNDEVILE, KT.
FROM CHAP. IV

And from Ephesim Men gon 25 throghe many Iles in the See, unto the Cytee of Paterane, where Seynt Nicholas was born, and so to Martha, where he was chosen to ben 26 Bisschoppe; and there growethe right gode Wyn and strong; and that Men callen Wyn of Martha. And from thens 27 gon Men to the Ile of Crete, that the Emperour yaf 28 som

And from Ephesus men go through many isles in the sea unto the city of Pateran, where St. Nicholas was born, and so to Martha, where he was chosen to be bishop; and there groweth right good wine and strong; and men call it Wine of Martha. And from thence go men to the isle of Crete, which the Emperor gave formerly to the Genoese. And

8

13

9 14

crowd
tyrant
much talking cost

10
15

were

21
27

22

28

20 each

26 be