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[^TEXT:  DAME SIRITH.
MIDDLE ENGLISH HUMOROUS TALES IN VERSE.
ED. G. H. MCKNIGHT.
NEW YORK: GORDIAN PRESS, 1971 (1913). 
PP. 1.1 - 20.450

TEXT:  INTERLUDE. (APPENDIX TO DAME SIRITH).
Idem.
PP. 21.1 - 24.85^]

<P 1>

[} (\CI COMENCE LE FABLEL ET LA COINTISE DE DAME SIRIZ.\) }]

As I com bi an waie,
Hof on ich herde saie,
Ful modi mon and proud;
Wis he wes of lore,
And gou+tlich vnder gore,
And clo+ted in fair sroud.

To louien he bigon
On wedded wimmon,
+Ter-of he heuede wrong;
His herte hire wes alon,
+Tat reste neuede he non,
+Te loue wes so strong.

Wel +gerne he him bi+toute
Hou he hire gete moute
In ani cunnes wise.
<P 2>
+Tat befel on an day
+Te louerd wend away
Hon his marchaundise.

He wente him to +ten inne
+Ter hoe wonede inne,
+Tat wes riche won;
And com in to +ten halle,
+Ter hoe wes srud wi+t palle,
And +tus he bigon: - 

   "God almi+gtten be her-inne!"
"Welcome, so ich euer bide wenne,"
Quod +tis wif.
"His hit +ti wille, com and site,
And wat is +ti wille let me wite,
Mi leuelif.

Bi houre louerd, heuene-king,
If I mai don ani +ting
+Tat +te is lef,
+Tou mi+gtt finden me ful fre.
Fol ble+teli willi don for +te,
Wi+t-houten gref."
<P 3>
"Dame, god +te for+gelde,
Bote on +tat +tou me nout bimelde,
Ne make +te wro+t,
Min hernde willi to +te bede;
Bote wra+t+ten +te for ani dede
Were me lo+t."

"Nai I-wis, wilekin,
For no-+ting +tat euer is min,
+Tau +tou hit +girne,
Houncurteis ne willi be;
Ne con I nout on vilte,
Ne nout I nelle lerne.

+Tou mait saien al +tine wille,
And I shal herknen and sitten stille,
+Tat +tou haue told.
And if +tat +tou me tellest skil,
I shal don after +ti wil,
+Tat be +tou bold.

And +tau +tou saie me ani same,
Ne shal I +te noui+gt blame
For +ti sawe."
"Nou ich haue wonne leue,
+Gif +tat I me shulde greue,
Hit were hounlawe.

<P 4>
Certes, dame, +tou seist as hende,
And I shal setten spel on ende,
And tellen +te al,
Wat ich wolde, and wi ich com;
Ne con ich saien non falsdom,
Ne non I ne shal.

Ich habbe I-loued +te moni +ger,
+Tau ich nabbe nout ben her
Mi loue to schowe.
Wile +ti louerd is in toune,
Ne mai no mon wi+t +te holden roune
Wi+t no +tewe.

+Gurstendai ich herde saie,
As ich wende bi +te waie,
Of oure sire;
Me tolde me +tat he was gon
To +te feire of botolfston
In lincolne-schire.

And for ich weste +tat he ves houte,
+Tarfore ich am I-gon aboute
To speken wi+t +te.
Him bur+t to liken wel his lif,
+Tat mi+gtte welde secc a vif
In priuite.
<P 5>
Dame, if hit is +ti wille,
Bo+t dernelike and stille,
Ich wille +te loue."
"+Tat woldi don for non +tin[{g{] ,
Bi houre louerd, heuene-king,
+Tat ous is boue!

Ich habe mi louerd +tat is mi spouse,
+Tat maiden broute me to house,
Mid menske I-nou;
He loue+t me and ich him wel,
Oure loue is also trewe as stel,
Wi+t-houten wou.

+Tau he be from hom on his hernde,
Ich were ounseli, if ich lernede
To ben on hore.
+Tat ne shal neuere be,
+Tat I shal don selk falsete,
On bedde ne on flore.

Neuer more his lif-wile,
Thau he were on hondred mile
Bi-+gende rome,
For no +ting ne shuldi take
Mon on er+te to ben mi make,
Ar his hom-come."

<P 6>
   "Dame, dame, torn +ti mod;
+Ti curteisi was euer god,
And +get shal be;
For +te louerd +tat ous haue+t wrout,
Amend +ti mod, and torn +ti +tout,
And rew on me."

"We, we! oldest +tou me a fol?
So ich euer mote biden +gol,
+Tou art ounwis.
Mi +tout ne shalt +tou newer wende;
Mi louerd is curteis mon and hende,
And mon of pris;

And ich am wif bo+te god and trewe;
Trewer womon ne mai no mon cnowe
+Ten ich am.
+Tilke time ne shal neuer bitide
+Tat mon for wouing ne +toru prude
Shal do me scham."

"Swete leumon, merci!
Same ne vilani
Ne bede I +te non;
Bote derne loue I +te bede,
As mon +tat wolde of loue spede,
And fi[{n{] de won."

<P 7>
"So bide Ich euere mete o+ter drinke,
Her +tou lesest al +ti swinke;
+Tou mi+gt gon hom, leue bro+ter,
For [{ne{] wille ich +te loue, ne non o+ter,
Bote mi wedde houssebonde;
To tellen hit +te ne wille ich wonde."
"Certes, dame, +tat me for+tinke+t;
An[{d{] wo is +te mon +ta[{t{] muchel swinke+t,
And at +te laste lese+t his sped!
To maken menis his him ned.
Bi me I saie ful I-wis,
+Tat loue +te loue +tat I shal mis.
An[{d{] , dame, haue nou godnedai!
And +tilke louerd, +tat al welde mai,
Leue +tat +ti +tout so tourne,
+Tat ihc for +te no leng ne mourne."

Dreri-mod he wente awai,
And +toute bo+te ni+gt and dai
Hire al for to wende.
A frend him radde for to fare,
And leuen al his muchele kare,
To dame siriz +te hende.

<P 8>
+Tider he wente him anon,
So sui+te so he mi+gtte gon,
No mon he ni mette.
Ful he wes of tene and treie;
Mid wordes milde and eke sleie
Faire he hire grette.

"God +te I-blessi, dame siriz!
Ich am I-com to speken +te wiz,
For ful muchele nede.
And ich mai haue help of +te
+Tou shalt haue, +tat +tou shalt se,
Ful riche mede."

"Welcomen art +tou, leue sone;
And if ich mai o+ter cone
In eni wise for +te do,
I shal streng+ten me +ter-to.
For-+ti, leue sone, tel +tou me
Wat +tou woldest I dude for +te."
"Bote, leue nelde, ful euele I fare;
I lede mi lif wi+t tene and kare;

Wi+t muchel hounsele ich lede mi lif,
And +tat is for on suete wif
+Tat hei+gtte margeri.
<P 9>
Ich haue I-loued hire moni dai,
And of hire loue hoe seiz me nai;
Hider ich com for-+ti.

Bote if hoe wende hire mod,
For serewe mon ich wakese wod,
O+ter mi selue quelle.
Ich heuede I-+tout miself to slo;
For-+ten radde a frend me go
To +te mi sereue telle.

He saide me, wi+t-houten faille,
+Tat +tou me cou+test helpe and uaile,
And bringen me of wo
+Toru +tine crafftes and +tine dedes;
And ich wile +geue +te riche mede,
Wi+t +tat hit be so."

"Benedicite be herinne!
Her hauest +tou, sone, mikel senne.
Louerd, for his suete nome,
Lete +te +terfore hauen no shome!
+Tou seruest affter godes grome,
Wen +tou seist on me silk blame.
For ich am old, and sek and lame;
Seknesse haue+t maked me ful tame.
<P 10>
Blesse +te, blesse +te, leue knaue!
Leste +tou mes-auenter haue,
For +tis lesing +tat is founden
Opp-on me, +tat am harde I-bonden.
Ich am on holi wimon,
On wicchecrafft nout I ne con,
Bote wi+t gode men almesdede.
Ilke dai mi lif I fede,
And bidde mi pater noster and mi crede,
+Tat goed hem helpe at hore nede,
+Tat helpen me mi lif to lede,
And leue +tat hem mote wel spede.
His lif and his soule wor+te I-shend,
+Tat +te to me +tis hernde haue+t send;
And leue me to ben I-wreken
On him +tis shome me haue+t speken."

   "Leue nelde, bilef al +tis;
Me +tinke+t +ta[{t{] +tou art onwis.
+Te mon +tat me to +te taute,
He weste +tat +tou hous cou+test saute.
Help, dame siri+t, if +tou maut,
To make me wi+t +te sueting saut,
<P 11>
And ich wille geue +te gift ful stark,
Moni a pound and moni a marke,
Warme pilche and warme shon,
Wi+t +tat min hernde be wel don.
Of muchel godlec mi+gt +tou +gelpe,
If hit be so +tat +tou me helpe."
"Li+g me nout, wilekin, bi +ti leute
Is hit +tin hernest +tou tekest me?
Louest +tou wel dame margeri?"
"+Ge, nelde, witerli;
Ich hire loue, hit mot me spille,
Bote ich gete hire to mi wille."
"Wat, god wilekin, me rewe+t +ti sca+te,
Houre louerd sende +te help ra+te!

Weste hic hit mi+gtte ben forholen,
Me wolde +tunche wel solen
+Ti wille for to fullen.
Make me siker wi+t word on honde,
+Tat +tou wolt helen, and I wile fonde
If ich mai hire tellen.

For al +te world ne woldi nout
+Tat ich were to chapitre I-brout
For none selke werkes.
<P 12>
Mi iugement were sone I-giuen
To ben wi+t shome somer driuen
Wi+t prestes and with clarkes."

"I-wis, nelde, ne woldi
+Tat +tou heuedest uilani
Ne shame for mi goed.
Her I +te mi trou+te pli+gtte,
Ich shal helen bi mi mi+gtte,
Bi +te holi roed!"

"Welcome, wilekin, hiderward;
Her hauest I-maked a foreward
+Tat +te mai ful wel like.
+Tou mai+gt blesse +tilke si+t,
For +tou mai+gt make +te ful bli+t;
Dar +tou namore sike.

To goder-hele euer come +tou hider,
For sone willi gange +tider,
And maken hire hounderstonde.
I shal kenne hire sulke a lore;
+Tat hoe shal louien +te mikel more
+Ten ani mon In londe."

<P 13>
"Al so haui godes gri+t,
Wel hauest +tou said, dame siri+t,
And goder-hele shal ben +tin.
Haue her twenti shiling,
+Tis ich +geue +te to meding,
To buggen +te sep and swin."

"So ich euere brouke hous o+ter flet,
Neren neuer penes beter biset
+Ten +tes shulen ben.
For I shal don a iuperti,
And a ferli maistri,
+Tat +tou shalt ful wel sen.

Pepir nou shalt +tou eten,
+Tis mustart shal ben +ti mete,
And gar +tin eien to rene;
I shal make a lesing
Of +tin heie-renning,
Ich wot wel wer and wenne."

"Wat! nou const +tou no god?
Me +tinke+t +tat +tou art wod:
+Geuest +to +te welpe mustard?"
"Be stille, boinard!
<P 14>
I shal mit +tis ilke gin
Gar hire loue to ben al +tin.
Ne shal ich neuer haue reste ne ro
Til ich haue told hou +tou shalt do.
Abid me her til min hom-come."
"+Gus, bi +te somer blome,
He+ten nulli ben binomen,
Til +tou be a+gein comen"
Dame siri+t bigon to go,
As a wrecche +tat is wo,
+Tat hoe come hire to +ten inne
+Ter +tis gode wif wes inne.
+To hoe to +te dore com,
Swi+te reuliche hoe bigon:
"Louerd," hoe sei+t, "wo is holde wiues,
+Tat in pouerte lede+t ay liues;
Not no mon so muchel of pine
As poure wif +tat falle+t in ansine.
+Tat mai ilke mon bi me wite
For mai I nou+ter gange ne site.
Ded woldi ben ful fain.
Hounger and +turst me haue+t nei slain;
Ich ne mai mine limes on-wold,
For mikel hounger and +turst and cold.
War-to liueth selke a wrecche?
Wi nul goed mi soule fecche?" 
<P 15>
"Seli wif, god +te hounbinde!
To dai wille I +te mete finde
For loue of goed.
Ich haue reu+te of +ti wo,
For euele I-clo+ted I se +te go,
And euele I-shoed.

Com her-in, ich wile +te fede,"
"Goed almi+gtten do +te mede,
And +te louerd +tat wes on rode I-don,
And faste fourti daus to non,
And heuene and er+te haue+t to welde.
As +tilke louerd +te for+gelde.
Haue her fles and eke bred,
And make +te glad, hit is mi red;
And haue her +te coppe wi+t +te drinke;
Goed do +te mede for +ti swinke."
+Tenne spac +tat holde wif,
Crist awarie hire lif!
"Alas! Alas! +tat euer I liue!
Al +te sunne ich wolde forgiue
+Te mon +tat smite of min heued!
Ich wolde mi lif me were bireued!"
<P 16>
"Seli wif, what eille+t +te?"
"Bote e+te mai I sori be:
Ich heuede a douter feir and fre,
Feiror ne mi+gtte no mon se.
Hoe heuede a curteis hossebonde;
Freour mon mi+gtte no mon fonde.
Mi douter louede him al to wel;
For +ti maki sori del.
Oppon a dai he was out wend,
And +tar-+toru wes mi douter shend.
He hede on ernde out of toune;
And com a modi clarc wi+t croune,
To mi douter his loue beed,
And hoe nolde nout folewe his red.
He ne mi+gtte his wille haue,
For no +ting he mi+gtte craue.
+Tenne bigon +te clerc to wiche,
And shop mi douter til a biche.
+Tis is mi douter +tat ich of speke;
For del of hire min herte breke.
Loke hou hire heien greten,
On hire cheken +te teres meten.
<P 17>
For +ti, dame, were hit no wonder,
+Tau min herte burste assunder.
A[{nd{] wose euer is +gong houssewif,
Ha loue+t ful luitel hire lif,
And eni clerc of loue hire bede,
Bote hoe grante and lete him spede."
"A! louerd crist, wat mai +tenne do!
+Tis enderdai com a clarc me to,
And bed me loue on his manere,
And ich him nolde nout I-here.
Ich trouue he wolle me forsape.
Hou troustu, nelde, ich moue ascape?"
"God almi+gtten be +tin help
+Tat +tou ne be nou+ter bicche ne welp!
Leue dame, if eni clerc
Bede+t +te +tat loue-werc,
Ich rede +tat +tou grante his bone,
And bicom his lefmon sone.
And if +tat +tou so ne dost,
A worse red +tou ounderfost."

"Louerd crist, +tat me is wo,
+Tat +te clarc me hede fro,
Ar he me heuede biwonne.
<P 18>
Me were leuere +ten ani fe
That he heuede enes leien bi me,
And efft-sones bigunne.

Euer-more, nelde, ich wille be +tin,
Wi+t +tat +tou feche me willekin,
+Te clarc of wam I telle,
Giftes willi geue +te
+Tat +tou mai+gt euer +te betere be,
Bi godes houne belle!"

"So+tliche, mi swete dame,
And if I mai wi+t-houte blame,
Fain ich wille ffonde;
And if ich mai wi+t him mete,
Bi eni wei o+ter bi strete,
Nout ne willi wonde.

Haue goddai, dame! for+t willi go."
"Allegate loke +tat +tou do so
As ich +te bad;
Bote +tat +tou me wilekin bringe,
Ne mai neuer lawe ne singe,
Ne be glad."

<P 19>
"I wis, dame, if I mai,
Ich wille bringen him +get to-dai,
Bi mine mi+gtte."
Hoe wente hire to hire inne,
Her hoe founde wilekinne,
Bi houre dri+gtte!

"Swete wilekin, be +tou nout dred,
For of +tin her[{n{]de ich haue wel sped.
Swi+te com for +tider wi+t me,
For hoe haue+t send affter +te.
I-wis nou mai+gt +tou ben aboue,
For +tou hauest grantise of hire loue."
"God +te for-+gelde, leue nelde,
+Tat heuene and er+te haue+t to welde!"

+Tis modi mon bigon to gon
Wi+t Siriz to his leuemon
In +tilke stounde.
Dame Siriz bigon to telle,
And swor bi godes ouene belle,
Hoe heuede him founde.

"Dame, so haue ich wilekin sout,
For nou haue ich him I-brout."
"Welcome, wilekin, swete +ting,
+Tou art welcomore +ten +te king.
<P 20>
Wilekin +te swete,
Mi loue I +te bihete,
To don al +tine wille.
Turnd ich haue mi +tout,
For I ne wolde nout
+Tat +tou +te shuldest spille."

"Dame, so ich euere bide noen,
And ich am redi and I-boen
To don al +tat +tou saie.
Nelde, par ma fai!
+Tou most gange awai,
Wile ich and hoe shulen plaie."

"Goddot so I wille:
And loke +tat +tou hire tille,
And strek out hire +tes.
God +geue +te muchel kare,
+Geif +tat +tou hire spare,
+Te wile +tou mid hire bes.

And wose is onwis,
And for non pris
Ne con geten his leuemon,
I shal, for mi mede,
Garen him to spede,
For ful wel I con."

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<P 21>
[} (\HIC INCIP=T= INTERLUDIUM DE CLERICO ET PUELLA.\) }]

Clericus ait,
"Damishel, reste wel!"
"Sir, welcum, by saynt michel!"
"Wer esty sire, wer esty dame?"
"By gode, es noyer her at hame."
"Wel wor suilc a man to life
Yat suilc a may mithe haue to wyfe."
"Do way, by crist and leonard,
No wily lufe na clerc fayllard,
Na kepi herbherg, clerc, in huse, no y flore
Bot his hers ly wit uten dore.
Go forth yi way, god sire,
ffor her hastu losye al yi wile."
"Nu, nu, by crist and by sant ihon;
In al yis land ne wis hi none,
Mayden, yat hi luf mor yan ye,
Hif me micht euer ye bether be.
ffor ye hy sory nicht and day,
Y may say, hay wayleuay!"
Y luf ye mar yan mi lif,
Yu hates me mar yan yayt dos chnief.
Yat es nouct for mys-gilt,
Certhes, for yi luf ham hi spilt.
A, suythe mayden, reu of me,
Yat es ty luf hand ay salbe,
<P 22>
ffor ye luf of y[{e{] mod[{er{] of efne,
Yu mend yi mode and her my steuene!"
"By crist of heuene and sant ione,
Clerc of scole ne kepi non,
ffor many god wymman haf yai don scam - 
By crist, yu michtis haf ben at hame!"
"Synt it noyir gat may be,
Ihesu crist by-te[{c{]hy ye,
And send neulic bot yar inne,
Yat yi be lesit of al my pyne."
"Go nu, truan, go nu, go,
ffor mikel yu canstu of sory and wo!"

"God te blis, mome helwis!"
"Son, welcum, by san dinis!"
"Hic am comin to ye, mome,
Yu hel me noth, yu say me sone.
Hic am a clerc yat hauntes scole,
Y lydy my lif wyt mikel dole.
Me wor leuer to be dedh,
Yan led ye lif yat hyc ledh
ffor ay mayden with and schen,
ffayrer ho lond hawy non syen.
Yo hat mayden malkyn, y wene.
Nu yu wost quam y mene.
Yo wonys at the tounes ende,
Yat suyt lif so fayr and hende.
Bot if yo wil hir mod amende,
<P 23>
Neuly crist my ded me send!
Men send me hyder, vyt-vten fayle,
To haf yi help anty cunsayle;
Yar for amy cummen here,
Yat yu salt be my herand-bere,
To mac me and yat mayden sayct,
And hi sal gef ye of my nayct,
So yat heuer al yy lyf
Saltu be ye better wyf.
So help me crist, and hy may spede,
Riche saltu haf yi mede."
"A, son, vat saystu? Benedicite!
Lift hup yi hand and blis ye!
ffor it es boyt syn and scam,
Yat yu on me hafs layt thys blam.
ffor hic am anald quyne and a lam,
Y led my lyf wit godis loue,
Wit my roc y me fede,
Cani do non oyir dede,
Bot my pater noster and my crede,
To say crist for missedede,
And myn auy mary - 
ffor my scynnes hic am sory - 
And my deprofundis
ffor al yat y sin lys;
ffor cani me non oyir yink - 
Yat wot crist, of heuene kync.
Ihesu crist of heuene hey,
<P 24>
Gef yat hay may heng hey,
And gef yat hy may se,
Yat yay be heng' on a tre,
Yat yis ley as leyit onne me.
ffor aly wymam ami on."  



