A new co[m]modye in englysh in maner of an enterlude ryght elygant [and] full of craft of rethoryk, wherein is shewd [and] dyscrybyd as well the bewte [and] good propertes of women, as theyr vycys [and] euyll co[n]dicio[n]s, with a morall co[n]clusion [and] exhortacyon to vertew

A new commodye in englysh in maner Of an enterlude ryght elygant & full of craft of rethoryk / wherein is shewd & dyscrybyd as well the bewte & good propertes of women / as theyr vycys & euyll condicions / with a morall conclusion & exhortacyon to vertew Melebea ¶ Franciscus petrarcus the poet lawreate Sayth that nature whych is mother of all thing without stryff can gyue lyfe to nothing create And Eraclito the wyse clerk in his wrytyng Sayth in all thyngꝭ create stryff is theyre workyng And ther is no thing vnder the firma●…ent with any other in all poyntes equivalent ¶ And accordyng to theyre dictys ●…ehersyd as thus All thyngꝭ are create in maner of 〈◊〉 These folysh louers then that be so amerous From pleasure to displeasure how lede they theyr lyfe Now sory now sad now Joyous now pensyfe ●…as I pore mayden than what shall I do Combryd by dotage of one Cali●…to ¶ I know that nature hath gyuyn me bewte with sanguynyous compleccy●…●…uour & fayrenes The more to god ought I to do fewte with wyll lyfe laud and loue of perfyt●…es I deny not but calisto is of grete worthynes 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 he makyth me almost wery O hys lamentacyons & exclamacyons on fortune with similytude maner as one that shuld dy But who shall pyte thys Infayth not I Shall I accomplysh hys carnall desyre Nay yet at a stake rather bren in a fyre ¶ Of trouth I am sory for hys troble To stryue wyth hym self thus for loue of me But though hys sorows I assure you shuld doble Out of his daunger wyll I be at lyberte what a mys woman now criste benedicite Nay nay he shall neuer that day see ●…ys voluptuous appetyte consentyd by me ¶ wyst he now that I were present here I assure you shortely he wold seke me And without dout he doth now inquere wether I am gone or where I shuld be Se / is he not now come I report me Alas of thys man I can nener be ryd w●…ld to cryst I wyst where I myght be hyd Calysto ¶ By you feyre melebea may be sene The grace the gyftes the gretnes of god M where i / C. In takyng effect of dāe nature stren●… Nor yerthly but angellyke of lykelyhode In dewte so passyng the kinde of womanhod O god I myght in your presens be able To manyfest my dolours incomperable ¶ Greter were that reward than the grace Heuyn to optayn by workys of pyte Not so gloryous be the saites that se goddes face Ne Ioy not so moch as I do you to see yet dyffereus there is bytwene theym & me For they gloryfy by his assuryd presens And I in torment be cause of your absens M ¶ why thynkyst thou that so grete a reward Ca ye more greter than yf god wold set me In heuyn aboue all seyntes & more in regard And thynk it a more hyer felycyte M yet more gretter thy reward shal be yf thou fle 〈◊〉 the determynacyon Of thy ●…sent of mynd by such temptacion I perseyue the entent of thy wordys all As of the wyt of hym that wold haue the vert●…w Of me such a woman to be come thrall Go thy wey wyth sorow I wold thou kuew I haue foule skorn of the I tell the trew Or any humayn creature with me shuld begyn Any communycacyon perteynyng to syn ¶ And I promyse the where thou art present whyle I lyff by my wyll I wyll be absent Et exeat ¶ Lo out of all ioy I am fallyn in wo Uppon whom aduers fortune hath cast her chauns Of cruell hate whych causyth now a wayto go The keper of my ioy and all my pleasauns Alas alas now to me what noyauns S Dew gard my lorde and god be in this place C Sempronio / S. ye syr . C. a syr I shrew thy face ¶ why hast thou bene from me so long absent S For I haue bene about your bysynes To order such thynge as were conuenient your house and horse and all thyng was to dress C O sempronio haue pyte on my dystres For of all creature I am the wofullest S How so what is the cause of your vnrest C ¶ For I serue in loue to the goodlyest thyng That is or euer was . S. what is she It is one which is all other excedyng The picture of angelle yf thou her see Phebus or phebe no comparyson may be To her . S. what hyght she / C. melebea is her name S Mary syr this wold make a wyld hors tame C ¶ I pray the sempronio goo fet me my lute And bryng some chayre or stole with the The argumente of loue that I may dispute whych scyens I fynd the arte without pyte Hy the sempronio hy the I pray the S Syr shortly I assure you it shal be done C Then farewell cryst send the agayn sone ¶ O what fortune is egall vnto myne O what wofull wyght with me may compare The thurst of sorow is my myxyd wyne which dayly I drynk wyth deepe draughte of ca●… S Tush syr be mery let pas awey the mare How sey you haue I not hyed me lyghtly Here is your chayre and lute to make you mery C ¶ Myry quod a / nay that wyll not be But I must nedys syt for very feblenes Gyue me my lute and thou shalt see How I shall syng myne vnhappynes Thys lute is out of tune now as I ges Alas in tune how shuld I set it when all armony to me discordith yche whyt ¶ As he to whos wyll reson is vnruly For I fele sharp nedyls within my brest Peas warr truth haterad and iniury Hope and suspect and all in one chest S Behold nero in the loue of tapaya oprest Rome how he brent / old and yong wept But she toke no thought nor neuer the less slept C ¶ Gretter is my fyre and less pyte shewd me S I wyll not mok this foule is a louer C what sayst thou / S. I say how can that fyre be That tormentyth but one lyuyng man gretter Than that fyre that brennyth a hole cyty here And all the people therin . C. mary for the fyre ys grettyst That brennyth verey sore and lastytꝭ lengyst ¶ And gretter is the fyre that brennyth one soule Than that whych brennyth an hundred bodyes S Hys sayeng in this none can controll C None but such as lyst to make lyes And yf the fyre of purgatory bren in such wyse I had leuer my spirete in brute bestis shuld be Than to go thydyr and than to the deyte S ¶ Mary syr that is a spyce of heryse C why so / S. For ye speke lyke no crystyn man I wold thou knewyst melebea worshyp I In her I beleue and her I loue / S. A ha than wyth the melebea is a grete woman I know on whych fote thou dost halt on I shall shortly hele the my lyff theruppon C ¶ An vncredable thyng thou dost promyse me S Nay nay it is easy I nough to do But furst for to hele a man knowlege must be Of the seknes than to gyff counsell therto C what counsell can rule hym sempronio That kepyth in hym kepyth no 〈◊〉 of counsell S A is this Calisto his fyre / now I know well ¶ How that loue ouer hym hath cast her net In whose perseuerans is all inconstans C why . is not Eliceas loue and thyn met S what than . C. why reprouest me than of ignorans S For thou settyst mannis dignite in obeysanus To the unperfeccion of the weke woman C A woman Nay a god of goddesses . S. beleuyst y● than C ¶ ye and as a goddes I here confesse And I beleue there is no such sufferayn In heuyn though she be in yerth . S. peas peas S A woman a god nay to god a vyllayn Of your sayeng ye may be sory . C. it is playu S why so . C. because I loue her and thynk surely To obteyn my desyre I am vnworthy S ¶ O ferfull hart why comparyst thou with Nembroth Or alexander of this world not lorde onely But worthy to subdew heuyu as sayeng goth And thou reputyst thy self more hye Then them both and dyspayryst so cowardly To wyn a woman of whom hath ben so many Gotten and vngotten neuer harde of any ¶ It is resytyd in the fest of seynt Ihōn Thys is the woman of auncyoun malyce Of whom but of a woman was it long on That adam was expulsyd from paradyse She put man to payn whom ely dyd dispyse C Than syth adam gaff hym to theyre gouernaunce Am I gretter than adam my self to auannce S ¶ Nay but of those men it were wysedome That ouercame them to seke remedy And not of those that they dyd ouercome Fle from theyre beginynge eschew theyre foly Thou knowyst they do euyll thynge many They kepe no meane but rygour of intencyon Be it fayre foule wylfull without reason ¶ Kepe them neuer so close they wyl be she wyd Gyff tokyns of loue by many subtell ways Semyng to be shepe and serpently shrewd Craft in them renewyng that neuer decays Theyre seyenge sightynge prouokynge theyr plays O what payn is to fulfyll theyre appetyte And to accomplysh theyre wanton delytis ¶ It is 〈◊〉 to se theyre dyssemblyng : Theyre flatteryng counte nann●…●…heyr ingratytude 〈◊〉 fals witnese faynyd wepyng There vayn glory and how they can delude Theyre folysh●…es theyre ●…anglyng not mewde Theyre lecherous lust and wylenes therfore whychcrafte & charmys to make men to theyr●… lore ¶ Theyre enba winyng & theyre vnshamfastnes Theyre bawdry theyre suttelte & fresh attyryng what trimyng what payntyng to make fayrnes Theyre fals intente & flykkeryng smyl●…ng Therfore lo yt is an old sayeng That women be the dyuelle nette and hed of syn And mannys mysery in paradyse dyd begyn C ¶ But what thynkyst thou by me yet for all this S Mary syrye were a man of clere wyt whom nature hath indewyd 〈◊〉 the best gyfte As bewte & gretnes of membres perfyt Strenght lyghtnes & beyond this yche whyt Fortune hath partyd with you of her influens For to be able of lyberall expens ¶ For wythout goode wherof fortuue is lady Noman can haue welth therfore by coniecture yow shuld be belouyd of euery body Calisto But not of Melebea now I am sure And thought thou hadst praysyd me with out mesure And comparyd me without comparison yet she is aboue in euery condicion ¶ Behold her noblenes her auncyon lynage Her gret patrymony her excellent wyt Her resplendent verteu hye portly corage Her godly grace her suffereyn bewte perfyte No tong is able well to expresse it But yet I pray the let me speke a whyle My sel●… to refresh in rehersyng of my style ¶ I begyn at her herr which is so goodly Crispyd to her helys tyed with fyne lase Farr shynyng beyond fyne gold of araby I trow the son coler to hyt may gyff place That who to behold it myght haue the grace wold say incomparison nothyng coūteruaylys S Then is it not lyke here of asse tayles Ca ¶ O what foule comparison this felow raylys Her gay glasyng eyen so fayre and bryght Her browes her nose in a meane no fassyon faylys Her mouth ●…per & feate her teeth small & whyght ●…er lyppis 〈◊〉 her body streyght vpryght Her lyttyll tetys to the eye is a pleasure O what Ioy it is to se such a fygure ¶ Her skyn of whytnes endarkyth the snow wyth rose colour ennewyd I the ensure Her lyttyll hande in meane maner this is no trow Her fyngers small & long with naylys ruddy most pure Of proporcyon none such in purtrayture without pere worthy to haue for fayrenes The apple that parys gaue venus the goddes S ¶ Sir haue ye all done . C. ye mary what than S I put case all this ye haue sayd be trew yet are ye more noble syth ye be a man C wherin . S. she is vnperfyte I wold ye knew As all women be and of lesse valew Phylozophers say the marter is less worthy Than the forme / so is woman to man surely C ¶ I loue not to here this alter●…ion Betwene melebea and me her louer S Possyble it is in euery condicyon To abbot her as mych as you do loue her In the wynnyug / begilyng is the daunger That ye shall see he●…e after wyth eyen fre C with what eyen . S. with clere eyen trust ●…e C ¶ why wyth what eyen do I se now S wyth dyme eyen whych shew a lytyl thyng much But for ye shall not dispayre I assure you No labour nor dylygens in me shall gruch So trusty & fryndely ye shall ●…ynd ●…he ●…urh In all thynge possyble that ye can 〈◊〉 The thyng to accomplysh to your desyre C ¶ God bryng that to pase so glad it is to me To here the thus though I hope not in thy doyng S yet I shall do yt trust me for a suret●… C God reward the for thy gentyll intendyng I gyff the this thayn of gold in rewardyng S Sir god reward you & lend vs good spe●… I dout not but I shall performe it in dede ¶ But wythout rewarde it is har●… to work well C I am ●…ontent so thou be not ne●…lygent S Nay be not you / for it passyth a meruell The master slow / the seruant to ●…e dylygent C How thynky●…t it can be shew me thyne intent S Sir I haue a neyghbour a moder of 〈◊〉 That can prouoke the har●… rokkys to 〈◊〉 ¶ In all euyll dede she is perfet wyse I trow more than a M vyrgyns Haue bene distroyed by her subtell deuyse For she neuer faylyth where she begynnis All onely by thys craft her lyffyng she wynnis Mayde wyffys wydows and euerychone If she ones meddyll ther skapyth none C ¶ How myght I speke wyth her sempronio S I shall bryng her ●…ydyr vnto this place But ye must in any wyse let rewardis go And shew her your greuys in euery case C Ellys were I not worthy to attayn grace But alas sempronio thou taryest to long S Syr god be with you . C. Lryst make the strong ¶ The myghty and petdurable god be his gyde As he gydyd the 〈◊〉 kynge in to bedleme From the est by the start and agayn dyd prouyde As theyre conduct to retorn to theyre own reame So spede my sempronio to quench the leme Of this fyre which my hart doth wast & spende And that I may com to my desyryd ende ¶ To pas the tyme now wyll I walk Up and down within myne orchard And to my self go comyn and talke And pray that fortune to me be nothard Longyng to here whether made or mard My message shall return by my seruannt sempronio Thus fare well my lordys for a whyle I wyll go C ¶ Now the blessyng that our lady gaue her sone That same blessyng I gyue now to you all That I com thus homely I pray you of ●…don I am sought and sendfore as a woman vniuersall Celestina of trewth my name is to call Sempronio for me about doth inquere And it was told me I shuld haue found hym here ¶ I am sure he wyll com hyther anone But the whylyst I shall tell you a prety game I haue a wench of Sempronios a prety one That soiornyth with ●…e Elecea is her name But the last day we were both ny a stark shame For sempron●…o wold haue her to hym self seuerell And she louyth one Cryto better or as well ¶ Thys Cryto and Elicea sat drynkyng In my hous and I also makyng mery And as the deuyll wold farr from our thynkyug Sempronio almost cam on vs sodenly But then wrought I my craft of bawdery I bad Cryto go vp and make hymself rome To hyde hym in my chamber among the brome ¶ Then made I Elicea syt doun a sowyng And I wyth my rok began for to spyn As who seyth of sempronio we had no knowyng He knokkyd at the dore and I lete hym in And for a countenaunce I dyd begyn To catch hym in myne armys and seyd see see who kyssyth me Elicea and wyll not kys the ¶ Elicea for a countenaunce made her greuyd And wold not speke but styll dyd sowe why speke ye not quod sempronio be ye meuyd Haue I not a cause quod she no quod he I trow A traytour quod she full well dost thou know where hast thou ben these . iii. days fro me That the inpostume and euyll deth take the ¶ Pease myne Elicea quod he why say ye thus Alas why put you your self in this wo The hote fyre of loue so brennyth betwene vs That my hart is wyth yours where euer I go And for .iii. days absens to say to me so In fayth me thynkyth ye be to blame But now hark well for here begynnyth the game ¶ Cryto in my chamber aboue that was hyddyn I thynk lay not easyly and began to romble Sempronio hard that and askyd who was within Aboue in the chamber that so dyd Iomble who quod she a louer of myne / may hap ye stomble Quod he on the trewth as many one doth Go vp quod she and loke whether it be soth ¶ well quod he I go / nay thought I not so I sayd com sempronio let this foole alone For of thy long absens she is in such wo And half besyde her self and her wyt ny gone well quod he aboue yet ther is one wylt thou know quod I ye quod he I the requere It is a wench quod I sent me by a frere ¶ what frere quod he wilt thou nedis know 〈◊〉 I than It is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 I pray 〈◊〉〈◊〉 O quod he what a lode hath that woman To bere hym / ye ●…uod I though women per case Bere heuy full oft yet they gall in no place Then he laught / ye quod I no mo worde of this For this tyme to long we spend here amys Intrat sempronio S ¶ Omoder Lelestyne I pray god prosper the C My son sempronio I am glad of our metyng And as I here say ve go aboute to seke me S Of trouth to seke you was myne hyther commyng Mother ley a perte now all other thyug And all only tend to me and Imagyn In that that I purpose now to begyn ¶ Calisto in the loue of fayre melebea Burnyth wherfore of the he hath grete nede C Thou seyst well knowyst not me Celestina I haue the end of the matter and for more spede Thou shalte wade no ferther / for of this dede I am as glad as euer was the surgyon For saluys for broke hede to make prouysyon ¶ And so intend I to do to Calisto To gyff hym hope and assure hym remedy For long hope to the hart mych troble wyll do wherfore to the effect therof I wyll hye S Peas for me thynkyth Calisto is nye Intrat Calisto et parmeno C Parmeno . P. what sey you . C. wottyst who is here Sempronio that reuyuyth my chere P ¶ It is sempronio with that old berdyd hore Be ye they my maister so sore for doth long C Peas I sey parmeno or go out of the dore Commyst thou to hinder me then dost thou me wrong I pray the help for to make me more strong To wyn this woman ells godde forbod She hath equall power of my lyff vnder god P ¶ wherfore to her do ye make such sorow Thynk ye in her ars ther is any shame The contrary who tellyth you be neuer his borrow For as much she gloryfyeth her in her name To be callyd an old hore as ye wold of fame Dogge in the strete and chyldren at euery dore Bark and cry out ther goth an old hore C ¶ how knowyst all this dost thou know her P ye that 〈◊〉 lou●…th one Cryto better 〈◊〉〈◊〉 agone For a fals hore the deuyll ouer throw her My moder when she dyed gaue me to her alone And a sterker baud was ther neuer none For that I know I dare well se Let se the contrary who can ley ¶ I haue bene at her hows & sene her trynkette For payntyng thynge inumerable Squalmys & ●…almys I wonder where she gette The thynge that she hath with folke for to fable And to all baudry euer agreable yet wors then that whych wyl neuer be laft Not only a baud but a wych by her craft Ce ¶ Say what thow wylt son spare not me S I pray the permeno lefe thy malycyous enuy P Hark hydyr sempronyo here is but we thre In that I haue sayd canst thou dcnye Ca Com hens permeno I loue not thys I And good mother greue you not I you pray My mynde I shall shew now hark what I say ¶ O notable woman O auncyent vertew O'gloryous hope of my desyryd intent Th ende of my delectable hope to renew My regeneracion to this lyfe present Resurreccon from deth / so excellent Thou art aboue other / I desyre humbly To kys thy handes wherin lyeth my remedy ¶ But myne vnworthines makyth resystence yet worship I the ground that thou gost on Beseching the good woman with most reuerens On my payn with thy pyte to loke vppon without thy comfort my lyfe is gone To revyue my dede spryte thou mayst preferr me with the wordes of thy mouth to make or marr me Ce ¶ Sempronio can I lyff with these bonys That thy master gyffyth me here for to ete wordes are but wynd therfore attons Byd hym close his mouth and to his purs get For money makyth marchaunt that must Iet I haue herd his wordes but where be his dedes For with out money with me no thyng spedys Ca ¶ what seyth she sewpronio alas my hart bledes That I wyth you good woman mystrust shuld be S syr she thynkyth that money all thyng fedys Then come on sempronio I pray the wyth me And ta●… here moder a whyle I pray the For where of mystrust ye haue me appelyd haue here my cloke tyll your dout be assoylid S ¶ Now do ye well for wede among corn Nor suspecious with frynde dyd neuer well Or faythfulnes of worde tornyd to a skorn Makyth mynde doutfull good reason doth tell Ca Lome on sempronio thou gyffyst me good counsell S Go ye before & I shall wayt you vppon Farewell mother we wyll come agayn anon P ¶ How sey ye my lordis se ye not this smoke In my maisters eyes that they do cast The one hath his chayn the other his cloke And I am sure they wyll haue all at last Ensample may be by this the is past How seruauntis be dissaytfull in theyr maisters foly Nothyng but for lucre is all theyr bawdry Ce ¶ It pleasyth me parmeno that we to gedyr May speke wherby thou maist se I loue the yet vndeseruyd now thou commyst hydyr wherof I care not but vertew warnyth me To fle temptacyon & folow charyte To do good agayns yll & so I rede the Sempronio & I wyll helpe thy necessyte ¶ And in tokyn now that it shall so be I pray the among vs let vs haue a ●…ong For where armony is ther is amyte P what a old woman syng / Ce. why not among I pray the no lenger the tyme prolong P Go to when thou wylt I am redy Ce Shall I begyn / p. ye but take not to hye / & cantan●… ¶ How sey ye now by this lytyll yong fole C For the thyrd parte sempronio we must get After that thy maister shall come to skole To syng the fourth parte that his purs shall swet For I so craftely the song can set Though thy maister be hors his purs shal syng clere And taught to solf that womans flesh is dere ¶ How seyst to this thou praty parmeno Thou knowyst not the world nor no delytis therin Dost vnderstand me infeyth I tro no Thou art yong inough the game to begyn Thy ●…aisterhath wadyd hymself so farr in And to bryng hym out lyeth not in me old pore P Thou shnldyst sey it lyeth not in me old hore Ce ¶ A hotesona a shame take such a knau●… How darst thou wyth me thou boy be so 〈◊〉 M Because such knolege of the I haue Ce why who art / p pineno son to albert the old I dwelt with the by the ryuer where wyne was sold And thy moder I trow hyght claudena That a wyld fyre bren the celestena Ce ¶ But thy ●…oder was as olde a hore as I Lome hydyr thou lytyll fole let me see the A it is euen he by our blyssyd lady what lytyll vrchyn hast forgotyn me when thou layst at my bedde fete how mery were we P A thou old matrone it were almys thou were ded How woldestthou pluk me vp to thy bedde hed ¶ And inbrace me hard vnto thy bely And for thou smellydyst oldly I ran from the Ce A shamefull horeson fy vppon thefy fy Lome hyther and now shortly I charge the That all this folysh spekyng thou let be Leue wantonnes of youth than shalt thou do well Folow the doctryne of thy Elders and counsell ¶ To whom thy parente on whos soulis god haue 〈◊〉 In payn of cursyng bad the be obedyent In payn wherof I command the straytly To much i mastership put not thyne intent No trust is in theym if thyne owen be spent Maysters now adays coveyt to bryng about All for theym self & let theyre seruantes go without ¶ Thy mai●…er men sey and as I thynk he be But lyght karych not who come to his seruyce Faire worde shall not lak but ●…inal rewarde trust me Make sempronio thy frynd in any wyse For he can handle hym in the best gyse Kepe thys & for thy profet tell it to none But loke that sempronio and thou be one P ¶ Moder celestyne I wot not what ye meane Calisto is my mayster and so I wyll take hym And as for ryches I de●…ye it clene For who so euer with wrong rych doth make hym Soner than he gat it / it wyll forsake hym I loue to lyfe in yoyfull pouerte And to serue my 〈◊〉 with trewth and honeste Ce ¶ ●…roth and honeste ●…e ryches of the name But surete of welth is to haue ryches And after that for to get hym good fa●…e By report of fryndꝭ thys is truth dowtles Than no such maner frynd can I expresse As sempronyo for both your ꝑfettꝭ to spede whych lyeth in my handis now yf ye be agreyd ¶ O ꝑmeno what a lyfe may we endure Sempronyo louyth the doughter of elyso P And who arusa / Ce. lykyst her / ꝑ / peraduenture I shall get her to the that shall I do P Na moder celystyne I purpose not so A man shuld be conuersant I here tell wyth them that be yl & thynk to do well ¶ Sempronyo hys ensample shall not make me Better nor wors nor hys fautis wyll I hyde But moder celestyne a questyon to the Is not syn a non in one espyed That is drownyd in delyte / how shuld he prouyde Agayns vertew to saue hys honeste Ce Lyke a chyld with out wysdome thou answeryst me ¶ without company mirth can haue non estate vse no slowth nature abhorryth idelnes whych lesyth delyte to nature appropryate In sensnall causys delyght is chefe maistres Specyally recountyng louys bysynes To say thus doth she the tyme thus they pas And soch maner they vse and thus they kys & basse ¶ And thus they mete & enbrase to gyther what spech what grase what pleys is betwene theim where is she there she goth let vs se whyther Now pleasyd now froward now mume now hem Stryke vp mynstryl with sawꝭ of loue the old problem Syng swete songꝭ now Justꝭ & torney Of new inuencyons what conseytꝭ fynd they ¶ Now she goth to mas to morow she commyth owt Behold her better yonder goth a cokold I left her alone / she comyth / turn abowt ●…o thus permeno thou mayst behold Fryndꝭ wyll talk to geder as I haue told wher fore perseyue thou that I sey truly Neuer can be delyte with out company hic iterum intrat calisto Ca Moder as I promysed to assoyle thy dowt here I gyfe the an . C. pesis of gold Ce Syr I promyse you I shall bryng it about All thyng to purpose euyn as ye wold For your reward I wyll do as I shuld Be mery fere nothyng content ye shall be Then moder fare well be dylygent I pray the C ¶ how sayst semptonio haue I done well S ye syr in my mynd & most accordyng Ca Then wylt thou do after my councell After this old woman wyll thou be hyeng To remember & hast her in euery thyng S Syr I am content as ye commaund me Ca Then go & byd ꝑmeno come I pray the ¶ Now god be theyre gyddys the poste of my lyfe My relefe fro deth the ●…mbassade of my welth My hope my hap my quyetnes my stryfe My Joy my sorow my sekenes my helth The hope of thys old woman my hart telth That comfort shall come shortly as I Intend Or els come deth & make of me an end P ¶ In fayth it makyth no forse nor matter mych Ca what seyst ꝑmeno what sayst to we P Mary I say playnly that yonder old wych And sempronio to geder wyll vndo the Ca A yll tongyd wrech wyll ye not see Thynkyst thou lordeyn thou handelyst me fayre why knaue woldest thow put me now in dyspayre Et exeat calisto P ¶ Lo syrs my master ye se is angry But thys it is tell folys for theyre proffyt 〈◊〉 warn theym for theyre welth it is but foly For stryk theym on the hele and as moch wyt Shall con forth as at theyr forehede to ꝑscyue it Go thy way calesto for on my charge Thy thryft is sealyd vp though thou be at large ¶ O how vnhappy I am to be trem For other men wyn by falsehed & flatery I lese for my troth the world doth so ensew Troth is put bak & takyn for foly Therfore now I wyll chaunge my copy If I had done as celystyne bad me Lalysto hys mynyon styll wold haue had me ¶ Thys gyuyth me warnyng from hens forward how to dele with hym for all thyng as he wyll I will the same forward or bakward I will go streyght to hym and folow hym still Say as he sayth be it good or yll And syth these vawde get good prouokyng lechery I trust flatery shall spede as well as bawdery Hic exeat parweno et intret melebea M ¶ I pray you cawe this wowan here neuer syn In fayth to entre here I aw half adrad And yet why so / I may boldly com in I am sure frow you all I shall not be had But iesus iesus be these men so wad On wowen as they sey / how shuld it be It is but fables and lyes ye way trust ine Intret Celestina C God be here i M. who is ther C. wyl ye bye any thred M ye mary good woder I pray you come in C Lryst saue you fayre mestres & god be your sped●… And helth be to you & all your kyn And mary godde mother that blessyd vyrgyn Preserue & prosper your womanly personage And well to inioy your yough & pusell age ¶ For that tyme pleasurys are most eschyuyd And age is the hospytall of all maner sykenes The restyng place of all thought vnreleuyd The sporte of tyme past the ende of all quiknes Neybour to deth a dry stok wythout swetnes Discomforte disease all age alowith A tre without sap that small charge boweth M ¶ I meruell moder ye speke so much yll Of age that all folke desyre effectuously C They desyre hurt for them self as all of wyll And the cause why they desyre to come therby Is for to lyff for deth is so lothly He that is sorowfull wold lyff to be soryer And he that is old wold lyff to be elder ¶ Fayre damesell who can shew all the hurte of age His werynes feblenes his discontentyng His chyldishnes frowardnes of his rage wrynkelyng in the face lak of syght and heryng Holownes of mouth fall of teth faynt of goyng And worst of all possessyd with pouerte And the lymmys arestyd with debylite M ¶ Moder ye haue takyn grete payn for age wold ye not retorn to the begynnyng C Folys are they that are past theyre passage To begyn agayn which be at the endyng For better is possession than the desyryng M I desyre to lyff lengger do I well or no. C That ye desyre well I thynk not so ¶ For as sone goth to market the lambys fell As the shyppe / none so old but may lyff a yere And ther is none so yong but ye wot well May dye in a day then no aduauntage is here Betwen youth & age the matter is clere M wyth thy fablyng & thy resonyng I I wys I am begylyd but I haue knowen the or thys ¶ Art not celystyne that dwellyd by the ryuer syd●… C ye for soth / M in dede age hath aray the That thou art she now can skant be espyed Me thynkyth by thy fauour thou shuldyst be she Thou art sore chaungid thou mayst beleue me Fayre maydon kepe thou well thys tyme of youth But bewte shall passe at the last thys is truth ¶ yet I am not so old as ye iuge me Good moder I ioy much of thyne accoyntanaunce And thy moderly reasons ryght well please me And now I thank the here for thy pastaunce Fare well tyll a nother tyme that hap may chaunce Agayn that we two may mete to gedyr May hap ye haue bysynes I know not whether C ¶ O angelyk ymage o ꝑle so precyous O how thou spekyst it reioysyth me to here Knowist thou not by the deuyne month gracyous That agaynst the infernall feend lucyfere we shuld not only lyf by bred here But by our good workys wher in I take some payn yf ye know not my mynd now all is in veyn M ¶ Shew me moder hardely all thy nesessite And yf I can I shall prouyde the remedy C My necessite nay god wot it is not for me As for myne I laft it at home surely To ete when I wyll & drynk when I am dry And I thank god euer one peny hath be myne To by bred when Ilyst & to haue . iiii . for wyne ¶ Afore I was wyddow I caryd neuer for it For I had wyne ynough of myne owne to sell And with a tost in wyne by the fyre I coud syt with .ii. dosen soppe the collyk to quell But now with me it is not so well For I haue nothyng but that is brought me In a pytcher pot of quartys skant thre ¶ Thus I pray god help them that be nedy For I speke not for my self alone But as well for other how euer spede I The infyrmyte is not myne though that I grone It is for a nother that I make mone And not for my self it is a nother way But what I must mone where I dare not say M ¶ Say what thou wylt & for whom thou lest C now gracyous damsell I thank you than That to gyf audyens ye be so prest with lyberall redynes to me old woman whych gyffyth me boldnes to shew what I can Of one that lyeth in daunger by sekenes Remyttyng hys langour to your gentyllnes M ¶ what meanyst thou I pray the good moder Go forth with thy demaund as thou hast done On the one parte thou prouokyst me to anger And on the other syde to compassyon I know not how thy answere to fassyon The wordes whych thou spekyst in my presence Be so mysty / I ꝑseyue not thy sentence C ¶ I sayd I laft one in daunger of sekenes Drawyng to deth for ought that I can se Now chose you or no to be murderes Or reuyue hym with a word to come from the M I am happy yf my word be of such necessyte To help any crystyn man or ells goddis forbod To do a good dede is lykyng to god ¶ For good dedis to good men be alowable And specyally to nedy aboue all other And euer to good dedys ye shall fynd me agreable Trustyng ye wyll exhort me to non other Therfor fere not spek your peticion good mother For they that may he le sekefolk & do refuse theym Suerly of theyre deth they can not excuse theym Ce ¶ Full well & gracyously the case ye consyder For I neuer beleuyd that god in vayn wold gyff you such countenaunnce & bewte to gedyr But charyte therwith to releue folke in payn And as god hath gyffyn you so gyff hym agayn For folkis be not made for them self onely For then they shuld lyff lyke bestis all rudely ¶ Among whych bestis yet some be pyteful The vnicorne humblyth hy●… self to a mayd And a dog in all his power yrefull Let a man fall to ground his anger is delayd Thus by nature pyte is conueyd The kok when he skrapith & happith mete to fynd Lallith for his henne lo se the gentyll kynde ¶ Shuld humayn creaturys than be of cruelnes Shuld not they to theyre neybours shew charyte And specyally to them wrappyd in sekenes Than they that may he le theym cause the infirmyte M Mother without delay for godde sake shew me I pray the hartly wythout more prayeng where is the pacient that so is paynyng Ce ¶ Fayre dansell thou maist well haue knowlege herto That in this Lyte is a yong knyght And of clere lynage callyd Calisto whose lyfe & body is all in the I plyght The pellycan to shew naturys ryght Fedyth his byrdys me thynkith I shuld not ●…ch the Thou wotist what I meane lo nature shuld tech the M ¶ A ha is this the entent of thy conclusyon Tell me no more of this matter I charge the Is thys the dolent for whom thow makyst petycyon Art thow come hyther thus to desseyue me Thow berdyd dame shameles thou semest to be Is this he that hath the passion offolishnes Thikyst thow rybaud I am s●…ch one of lewdnes ¶ It is not sayd I se well in vayn The tong of man & woman worst members be Thow brut baud thow gret enmy to honeste certayn Lause of secret errours Ihu Ihu bnedicite Son good bodi take this old thef●… fro me That thus wold me disseyue me 〈◊〉 her fals sleyght Go owt of my syght now / get the hens streyght C ¶ In an yuyll howre cam I hyther I may say I wold I had brokyn my legge twayn M Go ●…ens thou brothell go hens in the dyuyll way B●…yst thou yet to increase my payn wylt thow make me of thys fole to be fayn To gyue hymlyfe to make hym mery And to my self deth to make me sory ¶ wilt thow ●…ere a way profet for my perdi●…ion And make me lese the house of my fathe●… To wyn the howse of such an old matrone As thow art shamfullyst of all other Thikist thou that I understand not thou falls mother Thy hurtfull message thy fals subtell ways Make a mende to god thou lyffyst to long days ¶ Answere thou traytres how darst be so bold Ce The fere of the makyth me so dysmayd That the blod of my body is almost cold Alas fayre maydyn what hast thou sayd To me pore wydow why am I denayed Here my conclusion which ys of honeste with out cause ye blame thys gentylman & me M I sey I wyll here no more of that fole was he not here with me euyn now Thow old which thou bryngyst me in grete dole Ask him what answere he had of me & how I toke hys demaund as now know mayst thou More shewyng is but lost where no mercy can be Thus I answerd hym & thus I answer the Ce ¶ The more straunge she makyth the gladder am I Ther is no tempast that euer doth endure M what seyst thou what seyst thow shameful enmy Speke out . Ce. so ferd I am of your dyspleasure your anger is so grete I ●…seyue it sure And your pacyens is in so gret an hete That for wo & fere I both wepe & swete M ¶ Lyttyll is the hete incoparyson to say To the gret boldnes of thy demeanyng Ce Fayre mayden yet one word now I you pray Appease with pacyens & here my sayeng It Is for a prayer mestres my demaundyng That is sayd ye haue of seynt appolyne For the toth ake wher of this man is in pyne ¶ And the gyrdle there thou weryst about the ¶ So many holy relyke it hath towchyd That thys knyght thynkyth his bote thou maist be Therfore let thy pyte now be a vouchid For my hart for fere lyke a dog is couthyd The delyght of vengen●…s who so doth vse Pyte at theyre nede shall they●… refuse ¶ yf this betrew that thou s●…yst to me 〈◊〉 Myn hart is lyghtnyd ●…eyuyng thecase I wold be content well 〈◊〉 I wyst how To bryng this seke knyght vnto some 〈◊〉 Ce Fayre damsell to the be hesth & grace For yf this knyght & ye were aquap●…tyd both two ye wold not iudge him the man that ye do ¶ By god & by my soule in him is no malyncoly with grace indewid in fredome as alexandre In strength as hectour in countenaunce mery Gracious / enuy in him reynyd neuer Of noble blod as thou knowyst / & yf ye ●…uer Saw him armyd he semeth a seynt george Rather than to be made in nature forge ¶ An angell thou woldist iudge him I make auow The gentyll narciso was neuer so fayre That was ināmoryd on his own shadow wherfore fayre mayde let thy pyte repayre Let mercy be thy mother & thou her heyre This knyght whom I come for neuer seasyth But cryeth out of payn that styll encresyth M ¶ How long tyme I pray the hath it holdyn hym Ce I thynk he be . xxiiii . yeres of age I saw hym born & holpe for to fold hym M I demaund the not therof thyne answer aswage I ask the how long in this paynfull rage He hath leyn / Ce. of trewth fayr maydyn as he says He hath be in this agony this . viii . days ¶ But he semyth he had leyn this . vii . yere Me O how it greuyth me the il of my pacyent Knowyng his agony & thy innocency here Unto myne anger thou hast made resistens wherfore thy demaund I graunt in recompens Haue here my gyrdyll the prayer is not redy To morow it shal be / come agayn secretly ¶ And moder of these worde passyd betwene vs Shew uothyng therof vnto this knyght Lest he wold report me cruell & furyous I trust the / now be trew for thougte be lyght Ce I meruell gretly thou dost me so atwyght Of the dout that thou hast of my secretnes As secret as thy self I shall be dowteles ¶ And to calisto with this gyrdle celestina Shall go and his ledy hart make hole & lyght For gabriell to our lady with aue maria Came neuer gladder than I shall to this knyght Calisto how wylt thou now syt vp ryght I haue shewid thy water to thy phesycyon Comfort thy self the feld is half won M ¶ Moder he is much beholdyn vnto the Ce Fayr maydyn for the mercy thou hast done to vs This k●…yght & I both thy bedfolkis shall be M Moder yf nede be I wyll do more than thus Ce It shal be nedefull to do so / & ryghteous For this thus begon must nedis haue an ende which neuer can be without ye condescend Me ¶ well mother to morow is a new day I shall performe that I haue you promest Shew to this seke knyght in all that I may Byd him be bold in all thyngis honest And though he to me as yet be but a gest If my word or dede his holth may support I shall not fayle and thus byd him take comfort Et exeat melebea . Ce ¶ Now cryst comfort the & kepe the in thy nede Now say you now is not this matter caryed clene Can not old celestina her matter spede A thing not well handlyd is not worth a bene Now know ye by ye●…alf tale what the hole doth ●…eane These women at the furst be angry & furyous Fayre we ther comyth after stormys tempestyous ¶ And now to calisto I wyll me dres which lyeth now languyshyng in grete payn And shew hym that he is not remedyles And bere hym this to make hym glad and fayn And handyll hym so that ye shall sey playn That I am well worthy to bere the name For to be callyd a no●…le arche dame Danio pate●… melebee . ¶ O meruelous god what a dreme had I to nyght Most terryble vysy on to report and here I had neuer none such nor none yerthely wyght Alas when I thynk theron I quak for fere It was of melebe●… my doughter dere God send me good tythyuge of her shortly For tyll I here from her I can not be mery M ¶ O dere father nothyng may me more displease Nothyng may do me more anoyans Nothyng may do me gretter disease Than to se you father in any perturbans For me chefly or for any other chauns But for me I pray you not to be sad For I haue no cause but to be mery and glad Da ¶ O swete melebea my doughter dere I am replete with ●…oy and felycyte For that ye be now in my presens here As I perceyue in Ioy & prosperite From deth to lyfe me thynkyth it reuyuyth 〈◊〉 For the ferefull dreme that I had lately M what dreme syr was that I pray you hertely D ¶ Dowtles me though that I was walkyng In a fayre orchard where were placys two The one was a hote ●…ath holsome & pleasyng To all people that dyd repayre therto To was●…h them & clen●… them from sekenes also The other a pyt of foule stynkyng water shortely they dyed all that ther in did enter ¶ And vnto this holesome bath me thought that ye In the ryght path were commyng 〈◊〉 But before that me thought that I dyd see A foule rough bych aprikeryd cur it was whych strakyng her body along on the gras And with her tayle lykkyd her so that she Made her selfe a fayre spaniell to be ¶ Thys bych then me thought met you in the way Leppyng & fawnyng vppon you apase And rownd abowt you dydrenne & play whych made you then dysport & solas whych lykyd you so well that in short space The way to the hote bath anon ye left it And toke the streyght way to the foule pyt ¶ And euer ye lokyd continually vppon that same bych & somoth her eyed That ye cain to the fonle pyt brynk sodeynly Lvke to haue fallyn in & to haue bene dystroyed whych when I saw anon than I cryed Stertyng in my slepe & therwith dyd awake That yet for fere me thynk my body doth quaks ¶ was not this a fcrefull dreme & meruelous I pray you doughter what thynk ye now to this Hic mese●…ea certo tempore nō●…oquit̄ sed uustu 〈◊〉〈◊〉 why speke ye not why be ye now so studious Is there any thyng that hath chauncyd you 〈◊〉 I am your father tell me what it is M A las now your dreme whych ye haue expressyd ¶ Hath made me all pensyfe & sore abasshyd I pray you dere doughter now tell me why M Sir I know the cause of your vision And what your dredefull dreme doth signyfye Ther of wold I fayn now haue noticion M Alas dere fade●… alas what haue I done Offendyd god as a wrech vnworthy D wherein / dyspayre not god is full of mercy Et genuflectat ¶ Than on my knees now I fall downe And of god chefely askyng forgyfnes And next of you for in to oblyuyon I haue put your doctryne & lessons dowtles D Fere not doughter I am not merciles I trust ye haue not so gretly offendyd But that ryght well it may be amendyd M ¶ ye haue fosterid me vp full louyngly In verteous dis●…plyne whych is the ryght path To all grace & vert●…w whych doth sygnyfye By your dreme y●●…ayre plesaunt holesome bath The foule pyt whereof ye dremyd which hath Destroyd so many betokneth ●…yse & syn In whych alas T ad almost fallyn In ¶ The prikyeryd curr & the foule ●…ych which made her self so smoth & fayre to see Betokenyth an old quene a baudy wych Lallyd celystyne that wo myght she be whych with her fayre worde ay so ●…swadydme That she had almost brought me here vnto To fulfyll the foule lust of calis●… D ¶ Alas dere doughter I taught you a lesson wh●…ch way ye shuld attayn vnto vertew That was euery mornyng to say an orason Prayeng god for grace all vyce to eschew M O dere fader that lesson I haue kept trew whych preseruyd me / for though I dyd consent In mynd / yet had he neuer hys intent D ¶ The verteu of that prayer I se well on thing hath preseruyd you from the shame of that sin But because ye were somwhat consentyng ye haue offendid god gretly therin wherefore doughter ye must now begyn humbly to besech god of hys mercy For to forgyue you your syn & mysery M ¶ O blyssid lord & fader celestiall whose infynite merci no tong can exprese Though I be a sinner wrech of wrechis all yet of thy gret merci graunt me forgifnes Full sore I repent my sy●… I confese Intendyng hens forth neuer to offend more Now humbly I besech thy mercy therfore D ¶ Now that is well sayd myne one fayte doughter Stand vp therfore or I know verely That god is good & mercyfull euer To all synners whych wyll ask mercy And be repentaunt & in wyll clerely To syn no more he of hys grete goodnes wyll graunt them therfore his grace & forgif●…es ¶ Lo here ye may see what a thyng it is To bryng vp yong people verteously In good custome / fo●… gra●… doth neuer mys To them that vse good prayers dayly which hath preseruyd thys mayde vndoutydly And kept her from actuall dede of shame Brought her to grace preseruy●… her good name ¶ wherfore ye vyrgyns & 〈◊〉 maydens all Unto this example now take good h●…de Serue god dayly the sone●… ye shall To honeste & goodnes no dout procede And god shall send you euer his grace at nede To withstand all euyll temptacions That shall come to you by any occasions ¶ And ye faders moders & other which be Rulers of yong folke your charge is dowtles To bryng them vp verteously & to see Them occupied styll in some good bysynes Not in idell pastyme or vnthryftynes But to teche them some art craft or lernyng whereby to be able to get theyr lyffyng ¶ The bryngers vp of youth in this region haue done gret harme because of theyr neclygens Not puttyng them to lernyng nor occupacyons So when they haue no craft nor sciens And com to mans state ye see th exꝑience That many of them compellyd be To beg or stele by very necessite ¶ But yf there be therfore any remedy The hedys & rulers must furst be dylygent To make good lawes & execute them straytely Uppon such maystres that be neclygent Alas we make no laws but ponyshment when men haue offendyd / but laws euermore wold be made to preuent the cause before ¶ yf the cause of the myscheffe were seen before whych by coniecture to fall be most lykely And good laws & ordynauncys made therfore to put a way the cause / that were best remedt what is the cause that ther be so many Thefte & robberies / it is be cause men be Dryuen therto by nede & pouerte ¶ And what is the verey cause of that nede Be cause they ●…abur not for theyr lyffyng And trewth is they can not well labour in dede Be cause in youth of theyr ydyll vpbryngyng But this thyng shall neuer come to reformyng But the world contynually shal be nought As long as yong pepyll be euell vpbrought ¶ wherfore the eternall god that raynyth on hye Send his mercifull grace & influens To all gouernours that they circumspectly May rule theyr inferiours by such prudence To bryng them to vertew & dew obedyeus And that they & we all by his grete mercy May be ꝑteners of hys blessyd glory . Amen .