CONFESSIO AMANTIS
John Gower
c. 1386-1393

JOHN GOWER (c. 1330-1408) was an English poet who wrote in French, Latin, and Middle English. He was a close friend of Geoffrey Chaucer. His 33,000-line poem Confessio Amantis ("The Lover's Confession") uses the frame of the confessions of an ageing lover to tell a series of incidents of famous loves. Among these is the story of Jason and Medea, told in Book V of the Confessio, quite possibly inspired by the similar treatment of the Jason story in Chaucer's Legend of Good Women. For this online version, I first present the summary of the relevant section of the Confessio by the Classical scholar G. C. Macaulay (1852-1919), who edited Gower's works. Then, I present the relevant section of the original Middle English poem.

SUMMARY IN MODERN ENGLISH
G. C. Macaulay
The English Works of John Gower, vol. 1 (London: Keegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner, & Co., 1900)

Jason and Medea. Jason was the nephew of king Peleus; and desiring to achieve adventures and see strange lands, he took a company of knights, and among them Hercules, and sailed to the isle of Colchos to win the fleece of gold. On the way they touched at Troy, where the king Lamedon treated them discourteously, and then they came to Colchos. Oetes, who was king there, endeavoured to persuade Jason to leave his adventure, but without success; and then the princess Medea entertained him with welcome. Moved by love of him she offered him her help to win the fleece, and he plighted his troth to her and swore that he would never part from her. She taught him what to do, and gave him a magic ring and an ointment, telling him also what charms and prayers to use, so that he might slay the serpent which guarded the fleece, yoke the fire-breathing oxen to the plough, sow the teeth of the serpent and slay the knights who should spring up.

He took his leave of her, and passing over the water in a boat did as Medea bade him. Returning with the fleece he was welcomed back by Medea and the rest, and that night he took Medea and her treasure on board his ship and they sailed away to Greece. It was vain to pursue: they were gone.

When they came to Greece, all received them with joy, and these lovers lived together, till they had two sons. Medea with her charms renewed the youth of Eson, Jason's father, and brought him back to the likeness of a young man of twenty years. No woman could have shown more love to a man than she did to Jason; and yet, when he bare the crown after his uncle Peleus was dead, he broke the oath which he had sworn and took Creusa, daughter of king Creon, to wife. Medea sent her the gift of a mantle, from which fire sprang out and consumed her; then in the presence of Jason she killed his two sons, and was gone to the court of Pallas above before he could draw his sword to slay her. Thus mayest thou see what sorrow it brings to swear an oath in love which is not sooth. (3247-4229.)

I have heard before this how Jason won the fleece, but tell me now who brought that fleece first to Colchos.

Pkrixus and Helle. King Athemas by his first wife had two children, Frixus and Hellen; but his second wife Yno hated them and contrived a device against them. She sowed the land with sodden wheat; and when no harvest came, she caused the priests of Ceres to say that the land must be delivered of these children. The queen bade men throw the children into the sea; but Juno saved them, and provided a sheep with golden fleece, which swam with them over the waves. Hellen for dread fell off his back and so was lost, but her brother was borne over to the isle of Colchos, and there the fleece was set, which was the cause why Jason was so forsworn.

My father, he who breaks his troth thus is worthy neither to love nor to be beloved. (4230-4382.)

CONFESSIO AMANTIS
John Gower
Book V., lines 3247-4382

3247   In Grece whilom was a king,
3248   Of whom the fame and knowleching    
3249   Beleveth yit, and Peles 
3250   He hihte; bot it fell him thus, 
3251   That his fortune hir whiel so ladde
3252   That he no child his oghne hadde
3253   To regnen after his decess.
3254   He hadde a brother natheles, 
3255   Whos rihte name was Eson, 
3256   And he the worthi kniht Jason
3257   Begat, the which in every lond
3258   Alle othre passede of his hond
3259   In Armes, so that he the beste
3260   Was named and the worthieste,
3261   He soghte worschipe overal.
3262   Nou herkne, and I thee telle schal 
3263   An aventure that he soghte,
3264   Which afterward ful dere he boghte.
3265   Ther was an yle, which Colchos
3266   Was cleped, and therof aros
3267   Gret speche in every lond aboute,
3268   That such merveile was non oute 
3269   In al the wyde world nawhere,
3270   As tho was in that yle there.
3271   Ther was a Schiep, as it was told, 
3272   The which his flees bar al of gold,
3273   And so the goddes hadde it set, 
3274   That it ne mihte awei be fet 
3275   Be pouer of no worldes wiht: 
3276   And yit ful many a worthi kniht 
3277   It hadde assaied, as thei dorste,
3278   And evere it fell hem to the worste.
3279   Bot he, that wolde it noght forsake,
3280   Bot of his knyhthod undertake
3281   To do what thing therto belongeth, 
3282   This worthi Jason, sore alongeth
3283   To se the strange regiouns
3284   And knowe the condiciouns 
3285   Of othre Marches, where he wente;
3286   And for that cause his hole entente    
3287   He sette Colchos forto seche,
3288   And therupon he made a speche
3289   To Peles his Em the king.
3290   And he wel paid was of that thing; 
3291   And schop anon for his passage, 
3292   And suche as were of his lignage,
3293   With othre knihtes whiche he ches, 
3294   With him he tok, and Hercules,
3295   Which full was of chivalerie,
3296   With Jason wente in compaignie; 
3297   And that was in the Monthe of Maii,
3298   Whan colde stormes were away.
3299   The wynd was good, the Schip was yare,
3300   Thei tok here leve, and forth thei fare
3301   Toward Colchos: bot on the weie 
3302   What hem befell is long to seie;
3303   Hou Lamedon the king of Troie,
3304   Which oghte wel have mad hem joie. 
3305   Whan thei to reste a while him preide,
3306   Out of his lond he hem congeide;
3307   And so fell the dissencion,
3308   Which after was destruccion
3309   Of that Cite, as men mai hiere: 
3310   Bot that is noght to mi matiere.
3311   Bot thus this worthi folk Gregeis
3312   Fro that king, which was noght curteis,
3313   And fro his lond with Sail updrawe 
3314   Thei wente hem forth, and many a sawe 
3315   Thei made and many a gret manace,
3316   Til ate laste into that place
3317   Which as thei soghte thei aryve,
3318   And striken Sail, and forth as blyve
3319   Thei sente unto the king and tolden
3320   Who weren ther and what thei wolden.
3321   Oestes, which was thanne king,   
3322   Whan that he herde this tyding
3323   Of Jason, which was comen there,
3324   And of these othre, what thei were,
3325   He thoghte don hem gret worschipe: 
3326   For thei anon come out of Schipe,
3327   And strawht unto the king thei wente, 
3328   And be the hond Jason he hente, 
3329   And that was ate paleis gate,
3330   So fer the king cam on his gate 
3331   Toward Jason to don him chiere; 
3332   And he, whom lacketh no manere, 
3333   Whan he the king sih in presence,
3334   Yaf him ayein such reverence 
3335   As to a kinges stat belongeth.
3336   And thus the king him underfongeth,
3337   And Jason in his arm he cawhte, 
3338   And forth into the halle he strawhte, 
3339   And ther they siete and spieke of thinges,
3340   And Jason tolde him tho tidinges,
3341   Why he was come, and faire him preide 
3342   To haste his time, and the kyng seide,
3343   "Jason, thou art a worthi kniht,
3344   Bot it lith in no mannes myht
3345   To don that thou art come fore: 
3346   Ther hath be many a kniht forlore
3347   Of that thei wolden it assaie." 
3348   Bot Jason wolde him noght esmaie,
3349   And seide, "Of every worldes cure
3350   Fortune stant in aventure,
3351   Per aunter wel, per aunter wo:
3352   Bot hou as evere that it go, 
3353   It schal be with myn hond assaied."
3354   The king tho hield him noght wel paied,
3355   For he the Grekes sore dredde,
3356   In aunter, if Jason ne spedde,
3357   He mihte therof bere a blame;
3358   For tho was al the worldes fame 
3359   In Grece, as forto speke of Armes. 
3360   Forthi he dredde him of his harmes,    
3361   And gan to preche him and to preie;
3362   Bot Jason wolde noght obeie, 
3363   Bot seide he wolde his porpos holde
3364   For ought that eny man him tolde.
3365   The king, whan he thes wordes herde,
3366   And sih hou that this kniht ansuerde, 
3367   Yit for he wolde make him glad, 
3368   After Medea gon he bad,
3369   Which was his dowhter, and sche cam.
3370   And Jason, which good hiede nam,
3371   Whan he hire sih, ayein hire goth; 
3372   And sche, which was him nothing loth, 
3373   Welcomede him into that lond,
3374   And softe tok him be the hond,
3375   And doun thei seten bothe same. 
3376   Sche hadde herd spoke of his name
3377   And of his grete worthinesse;
3378   Forthi sche gan hir yhe impresse
3379   Upon his face and his stature,
3380   And thoghte hou nevere creature 
3381   Was so wel farende as was he.
3382   And Jason riht in such degre 
3383   Ne mihte noght withholde his lok,
3384   Bot so good hiede on hire he tok,
3385   That him ne thoghte under the hevene
3386   Of beaute sawh he nevere hir evene,
3387   With al that fell to wommanhiede.
3388   Thus ech of other token hiede,
3389   Thogh ther no word was of record;
3390   Here hertes bothe of on acord
3391   Ben set to love, bot as tho
3392   Ther mihten be no wordes mo. 
3393   The king made him gret joie and feste,
3394   To alle his men he yaf an heste,
3395   So as thei wolde his thonk deserve,
3396   That thei scholde alle Jason serve,
3397   Whil that he wolde there duelle.
3398   And thus the dai, schortly to telle,   
3399   With manye merthes thei despente,
3400   Til nyht was come, and tho thei wente,
3401   Echon of other tok his leve, 
3402   Whan thei no lengere myhten leve.
3403   I not hou Jason that nyht slep, 
3404   Bot wel I wot that of the Schep,
3405   For which he cam into that yle, 
3406   He thoghte bot a litel whyle;
3407   Al was Medea that he thoghte,
3408   So that in many a wise he soghte
3409   His witt wakende er it was day, 
3410   Som time yee, som time nay,
3411   Som time thus, som time so,
3412   As he was stered to and fro
3413   Of love, and ek of his conqueste
3414   As he was holde of his beheste. 
3415   And thus he ros up be the morwe 
3416   And tok himself seint John to borwe,
3417   And seide he wolde ferst beginne
3418   At love, and after forto winne
3419   The flees of gold, for which he com,
3420   And thus to him good herte he nom. 
3421   Medea riht the same wise, 
3422   Til dai cam that sche moste arise, 
3423   Lay and bethoughte hire al the nyht,
3424   Hou sche that noble worthi kniht
3425   Be eny weie mihte wedde:
3426   And wel sche wiste, if he ne spedde
3427   Of thing which he hadde undertake, 
3428   Sche mihte hirself no porpos take; 
3429   For if he deide of his bataile, 
3430   Sche moste thanne algate faile
3431   To geten him, whan he were ded. 
3432   Thus sche began to sette red 
3433   And torne aboute hir wittes alle,
3434   To loke hou that it mihte falle 
3435   That sche with him hadde a leisir
3436   To speke and telle of hir desir.
3437   And so it fell that same day     
3438   That Jason with that suete may
3439   Togedre sete and hadden space
3440   To speke, and he besoughte hir grace. 
3441   And sche his tale goodli herde, 
3442   And afterward sche him ansuerde 
3443   And seide, "Jason, as thou wilt,
3444   Thou miht be sauf, thou miht be spilt;
3445   For wite wel that nevere man,
3446   Bot if he couthe that I can, 
3447   Ne mihte that fortune achieve
3448   For which thou comst: bot as I lieve, 
3449   If thou wolt holde covenant
3450   To love, of al the remenant
3451   I schal thi lif and honour save,
3452   That thou the flees of gold schalt have."
3453   He seide, "Al at youre oghne wille,
3454   Ma dame, I schal treuly fulfille
3455   Youre heste, whil mi lif mai laste."
3456   Thus longe he preide, and ate laste
3457   Sche granteth, and behihte him this,
3458   That whan nyht comth and it time is,
3459   Sche wolde him sende certeinly
3460   Such on that scholde him prively
3461   Al one into hire chambre bringe.
3462   He thonketh hire of that tidinge,
3463   For of that grace him is begonne
3464   Him thenkth alle othre thinges wonne. 
3465   The dai made ende and lost his lyht,
3466   And comen was the derke nyht,
3467   Which al the daies yhe blente.
3468   Jason tok leve and forth he wente, 
3469   And whan he cam out of the pres,
3470   He tok to conseil Hercules,
3471   And tolde him hou it was betid, 
3472   And preide it scholde wel ben hid, 
3473   And that he wolde loke aboute,
3474   Therwhiles that he schal ben oute. 
3475   Thus as he stod and hiede nam,   
3476   A Mayden fro Medea cam 
3477   And to hir chambre Jason ledde, 
3478   Wher that he fond redi to bedde 
3479   The faireste and the wiseste eke;
3480   And sche with simple chiere and meke, 
3481   Whan sche him sih, wax al aschamed.
3482   Tho was here tale newe entamed; 
3483   For sikernesse of Mariage 
3484   Sche fette forth a riche ymage, 
3485   Which was figure of Jupiter, 
3486   And Jason swor and seide ther,
3487   That also wiss god scholde him helpe, 
3488   That if Medea dede him helpe,
3489   That he his pourpos myhte winne,
3490   Thei scholde nevere parte atwinne, 
3491   Bot evere whil him lasteth lif, 
3492   He wolde hire holde for his wif.
3493   And with that word thei kisten bothe; 
3494   And for thei scholden hem unclothe,
3495   Ther cam a Maide, and in hir wise
3496   Sche dede hem bothe full servise,
3497   Til that thei were in bedde naked: 
3498   I wot that nyht was wel bewaked,
3499   Thei hadden bothe what thei wolde. 
3500   And thanne of leisir sche him tolde,
3501   And gan fro point to point enforme 
3502   Of his bataile and al the forme,
3503   Which as he scholde finde there,
3504   Whan he to thyle come were.
3505   Sche seide, at entre of the pas 
3506   Hou Mars, which god of Armes was,
3507   Hath set tuo Oxen sterne and stoute,
3508   That caste fyr and flamme aboute
3509   Bothe at the mouth and ate nase,
3510   So that thei setten al on blase 
3511   What thing that passeth hem betwene:
3512   And forthermore upon the grene
3513   Ther goth the flees of gold to kepe    
3514   A Serpent, which mai nevere slepe. 
3515   Thus who that evere scholde it winne, 
3516   The fyr to stoppe he mot beginne,
3517   Which that the fierce bestes caste,
3518   And daunte he mot hem ate laste,
3519   So that he mai hem yoke and dryve; 
3520   And therupon he mot as blyve 
3521   The Serpent with such strengthe assaile, 
3522   That he mai slen him be bataile;
3523   Of which he mot the teth outdrawe, 
3524   As it belongeth to that lawe,
3525   And thanne he mot tho Oxen yoke,
3526   Til thei have with a plowh tobroke 
3527   A furgh of lond, in which arowe 
3528   The teth of thaddre he moste sowe, 
3529   And therof schule arise knihtes 
3530   Wel armed up at alle rihtes. 
3531   Of hem is noght to taken hiede, 
3532   For ech of hem in hastihiede 
3533   Schal other slen with dethes wounde:
3534   And thus whan thei ben leid to grounde,
3535   Than mot he to the goddes preie,
3536   And go so forth and take his preie.
3537   Bot if he faile in eny wise
3538   Of that ye hiere me devise,
3539   Ther mai be set non other weie, 
3540   That he ne moste algates deie.
3541   "Nou have I told the peril al:
3542   I woll you tellen forth withal,"
3543   Quod Medea to Jason tho,
3544   "That ye schul knowen er ye go, 
3545   Ayein the venym and the fyr
3546   What schal ben the recoverir.
3547   Bot, Sire, for it is nyh day,
3548   Ariseth up, so that I may 
3549   Delivere you what thing I have, 
3550   That mai youre lif and honour save."
3551   Thei weren bothe loth to rise,   
3552   Bot for thei weren bothe wise,
3553   Up thei arisen ate laste: 
3554   Jason his clothes on him caste
3555   And made him redi riht anon, 
3556   And sche hir scherte dede upon
3557   And caste on hire a mantel clos,
3558   Withoute more and thanne aros.
3559   Tho tok sche forth a riche Tye
3560   Mad al of gold and of Perrie,
3561   Out of the which sche nam a Ring,
3562   The Ston was worth al other thing. 
3563   Sche seide, whil he wolde it were, 
3564   Ther myhte no peril him dere,
3565   In water mai it noght be dreynt,
3566   Wher as it comth the fyr is queynt,
3567   It daunteth ek the cruel beste, 
3568   Ther may no qued that man areste,
3569   Wher so he be on See or lond,
3570   Which hath that ring upon his hond:
3571   And over that sche gan to sein, 
3572   That if a man wol ben unsein,
3573   Withinne his hond hold clos the Ston, 
3574   And he mai invisible gon. 
3575   The Ring to Jason sche betauhte,
3576   And so forth after sche him tauhte 
3577   What sacrifise he scholde make; 
3578   And gan out of hire cofre take
3579   Him thoughte an hevenely figure,
3580   Which al be charme and be conjure
3581   Was wroght, and ek it was thurgh write
3582   With names, which he scholde wite, 
3583   As sche him tauhte tho to rede; 
3584   And bad him, as he wolde spede, 
3585   Withoute reste of eny while, 
3586   Whan he were londed in that yle,
3587   He scholde make his sacrifise
3588   And rede his carecte in the wise
3589   As sche him tauhte, on knes doun bent,
3590   Thre sithes toward orient;    
3591   For so scholde he the goddes plese 
3592   And winne himselven mochel ese. 
3593   And whanne he hadde it thries rad, 
3594   To opne a buiste sche him bad,
3595   Which sche ther tok him in present,
3596   And was full of such oignement, 
3597   That ther was fyr ne venym non
3598   That scholde fastnen him upon,
3599   Whan that he were enoynt withal.
3600   Forthi sche tauhte him hou he schal
3601   Enoignte his armes al aboute,
3602   And for he scholde nothing doute,
3603   Sche tok him thanne a maner glu,
3604   The which was of so gret vertu, 
3605   That where a man it wolde caste,
3606   It scholde binde anon so faste
3607   That noman mihte it don aweie.
3608   And that sche bad be alle weie
3609   He scholde into the mouthes throwen
3610   Of tho tweie Oxen that fyr blowen, 
3611   Therof to stoppen the malice;
3612   The glu schal serve of that office.
3613   And over that hir oignement, 
3614   Hir Ring and hir enchantement
3615   Ayein the Serpent scholde him were,
3616   Til he him sle with swerd or spere:
3617   And thanne he may saufliche ynowh
3618   His Oxen yoke into the plowh 
3619   And the teth sowe in such a wise,
3620   Til he the knyhtes se arise, 
3621   And ech of other doun be leid
3622   In such manere as I have seid.
3623   Lo, thus Medea for Jason
3624   Ordeigneth, and preith therupon 
3625   That he nothing foryete scholde,
3626   And ek sche preith him that he wolde, 
3627   Whan he hath alle his Armes don,
3628   To grounde knele and thonke anon    
3629   The goddes, and so forth be ese 
3630   The flees of gold he scholde sese. 
3631   And whanne he hadde it sesed so,
3632   That thanne he were sone ago 
3633   Withouten eny tariynge.
3634   Whan this was seid, into wepinge
3635   Sche fell, as sche that was thurgh nome
3636   With love, and so fer overcome, 
3637   That al hir world on him sche sette.
3638   Bot whan sche sih ther was no lette,
3639   That he mot nedes parte hire fro,
3640   Sche tok him in hire armes tuo, 
3641   An hundred time and gan him kisse, 
3642   And seide, "O, al mi worldes blisse,
3643   Mi trust, mi lust, mi lif, min hele,
3644   To be thin helpe in this querele
3645   I preie unto the goddes alle."
3646   And with that word sche gan doun falle
3647   On swoune, and he hire uppe nam,
3648   And forth with that the Maiden cam,
3649   And thei to bedde anon hir broghte,
3650   And thanne Jason hire besoghte, 
3651   And to hire seide in this manere:
3652   "Mi worthi lusti ladi dere,
3653   Conforteth you, for be my trouthe
3654   It schal noght fallen in mi slouthe
3655   That I ne wol thurghout fulfille
3656   Youre hestes at youre oghne wille. 
3657   And yit I hope to you bringe 
3658   Withinne a while such tidinge,
3659   The which schal make ous bothe game." 
3660   Bot for he wolde kepe hir name, 
3661   Whan that he wiste it was nyh dai, 
3662   He seide, "A dieu, mi swete mai."
3663   And forth with him he nam his gere,
3664   Which as sche hadde take him there,
3665   And strauht unto his chambre he wente,
3666   And goth to bedde and slep him hente,     
3667   And lay, that noman him awok,
3668   For Hercules hiede of him tok,
3669   Til it was undren hih and more. 
3670   And thanne he gan to sighe sore 
3671   And sodeinliche abreide of slep;
3672   And thei that token of him kep, 
3673   His chamberleins, be sone there,
3674   And maden redi al his gere,
3675   And he aros and to the king
3676   He wente, and seide hou to that thing 
3677   For which he cam he wolde go.
3678   The king therof was wonder wo,
3679   And for he wolde him fain withdrawe,
3680   He tolde him many a dredful sawe,
3681   Bot Jason wolde it noght recorde,
3682   And ate laste thei acorde.
3683   Whan that he wolde noght abide, 
3684   A Bot was redy ate tyde,
3685   In which this worthi kniht of Grece
3686   Ful armed up at every piece, 
3687   To his bataile which belongeth, 
3688   Tok ore on honde and sore him longeth,
3689   Til he the water passed were.
3690   Whan he cam to that yle there,
3691   He set him on his knes doun strauht,
3692   And his carecte, as he was tawht,
3693   He radde, and made his sacrifise,
3694   And siththe enoignte him in that wise,
3695   As Medea him hadde bede;
3696   And thanne aros up fro that stede, 
3697   And with the glu the fyr he queynte,
3698   And anon after he atteinte
3699   The grete Serpent and him slowh.
3700   Bot erst he hadde sorwe ynowh,
3701   For that Serpent made him travaile     
3702   So harde and sore of his bataile,
3703   That nou he stod and nou he fell:
3704   For longe time it so befell, 
3705   That with his swerd ne with his spere 
3706   He mihte noght that Serpent dere.
3707   He was so scherded al aboute,
3708   It hield all eggetol withoute,
3709   He was so ruide and hard of skin,
3710   Ther mihte nothing go therin;
3711   Venym and fyr togedre he caste, 
3712   That he Jason so sore ablaste,
3713   That if ne were his oignement,
3714   His Ring and his enchantement,
3715   Which Medea tok him tofore,
3716   He hadde with that worm be lore;
3717   Bot of vertu which therof cam
3718   Jason the Dragon overcam. 
3719   And he anon the teth outdrouh,
3720   And sette his Oxen in a plouh,
3721   With which he brak a piece of lond 
3722   And sieu hem with his oghne hond.
3723   Tho mihte he gret merveile se:
3724   Of every toth in his degre
3725   Sprong up a kniht with spere and schield,
3726   Of whiche anon riht in the field
3727   Echon slow other; and with that 
3728   Jason Medea noght foryat, 
3729   On bothe his knes he gan doun falle,
3730   And yaf thonk to the goddes alle.
3731   The Flees he tok and goth to Bote, 
3732   The Sonne schyneth bryhte and hote,
3733   The Flees of gold schon forth withal, 
3734   The water glistreth overal.
3735   Medea wepte and sigheth ofte,
3736   And stod upon a Tour alofte: 
3737   Al prively withinne hirselve,
3738   Ther herde it nouther ten ne tuelve,
3739   Sche preide, and seide, "O, god him spede,   
3740   The kniht which hath mi maidenhiede!" 
3741   And ay sche loketh toward thyle.
3742   Bot whan sche sih withinne a while 
3743   The Flees glistrende ayein the Sonne, 
3744   Sche saide, "Ha, lord, now al is wonne,
3745   Mi kniht the field hath overcome:
3746   Nou wolde god he were come;
3747   Ha lord, that he ne were alonde!"
3748   Bot I dar take this on honde,
3749   If that sche hadde wynges tuo,
3750   Sche wolde have flowe unto him tho 
3751   Strawht ther he was into the Bot.
3752   The dai was clier, the Sonne hot,
3753   The Gregeis weren in gret doute,
3754   The whyle that here lord was oute: 
3755   Thei wisten noght what scholde tyde,
3756   Bot waiten evere upon the tyde, 
3757   To se what ende scholde falle.
3758   Ther stoden ek the nobles alle
3759   Forth with the comun of the toun;
3760   And as thei loken up and doun,
3761   Thei weren war withinne a throwe,
3762   Wher cam the bot, which thei wel knowe,
3763   And sihe hou Jason broghte his preie. 
3764   And tho thei gonnen alle seie,
3765   And criden alle with o stevene, 
3766   "Ha, wher was evere under the hevene
3767   So noble a knyht as Jason is?"
3768   And welnyh alle seiden this, 
3769   That Jason was a faie kniht, 
3770   For it was nevere of mannes miht
3771   The Flees of gold so forto winne;
3772   And thus to talen thei beginne. 
3773   With that the king com forth anon, 
3774   And sih the Flees, hou that it schon;     
3775   And whan Jason cam to the lond, 
3776   The king himselve tok his hond
3777   And kist him, and gret joie him made. 
3778   The Gregeis weren wonder glade, 
3779   And of that thing riht merie hem thoghte,
3780   And forth with hem the Flees thei broghte,
3781   And ech on other gan to leyhe;
3782   Bot wel was him that mihte neyhe,
3783   To se therof the proprete.
3784   And thus thei passen the cite
3785   And gon unto the Paleis straght.
3786   Medea, which foryat him naght,
3787   Was redy there, and seide anon, 
3788   "Welcome, O worthi kniht Jason."
3789   Sche wolde have kist him wonder fayn, 
3790   Bot schame tornede hire agayn;
3791   It was noght the manere as tho, 
3792   Forthi sche dorste noght do so. 
3793   Sche tok hire leve, and Jason wente
3794   Into his chambre, and sche him sente
3795   Hire Maide to sen hou he ferde; 
3796   The which whan that sche sih and herde,
3797   Hou that he hadde faren oute 
3798   And that it stod wel al aboute, 
3799   Sche tolde hire ladi what sche wiste, 
3800   And sche for joie hire Maide kiste.
3801   The bathes weren thanne araied, 
3802   With herbes tempred and assaied,
3803   And Jason was unarmed sone
3804   And dede as it befell to done:
3805   Into his bath he wente anon
3806   And wyssh him clene as eny bon; 
3807   He tok a sopp, and oute he cam, 
3808   And on his beste aray he nam,
3809   And kempde his hed, whan he was clad, 
3810   And goth him forth al merie and glad
3811   Riht strawht into the kinges halle.
3812   The king cam with his knihtes alle     
3813   And maden him glad welcominge;
3814   And he hem tolde the tidinge 
3815   Of this and that, hou it befell,
3816   Whan that he wan the schepes fell. 
3817   Medea, whan sche was asent,
3818   Com sone to that parlement,
3819   And whan sche mihte Jason se,
3820   Was non so glad of alle as sche.
3821   Ther was no joie forto seche,
3822   Of him mad every man a speche,
3823   Som man seide on, som man seide other;
3824   Bot thogh he were goddes brother
3825   And mihte make fyr and thonder, 
3826   Ther mihte be nomore wonder
3827   Than was of him in that cite.
3828   Echon tauhte other, "This is he,
3829   Which hath in his pouer withinne
3830   That al the world ne mihte winne:
3831   Lo, hier the beste of alle goode." 
3832   Thus saiden thei that there stode, 
3833   And ek that walkede up and doun,
3834   Bothe of the Court and of the toun.
3835   The time of Souper cam anon, 
3836   Thei wisshen and therto thei gon,
3837   Medea was with Jason set: 
3838   Tho was ther many a deynte fet
3839   And set tofore hem on the bord, 
3840   Bot non so likinge as the word
3841   Which was ther spoke among hem tuo,
3842   So as thei dorste speke tho. 
3843   Bot thogh thei hadden litel space, 
3844   Yit thei acorden in that place
3845   Hou Jason scholde come at nyht, 
3846   Whan every torche and every liht
3847   Were oute, and thanne of other thinges
3848   Thei spieke aloud for supposinges
3849   Of hem that stoden there aboute:    
3850   For love is everemore in doute, 
3851   If that it be wisly governed 
3852   Of hem that ben of love lerned. 
3853   Whan al was don, that dissh and cuppe 
3854   And cloth and bord and al was uppe,
3855   Thei waken whil hem lest to wake,
3856   And after that thei leve take
3857   And gon to bedde forto reste.
3858   And whan him thoghte for the beste,
3859   That every man was faste aslepe,
3860   Jason, that wolde his time kepe,
3861   Goth forth stalkende al prively 
3862   Unto the chambre, and redely 
3863   Ther was a Maide, which him kepte. 
3864   Medea wok and nothing slepte,
3865   Bot natheles sche was abedde,
3866   And he with alle haste him spedde
3867   And made him naked and al warm. 
3868   Anon he tok hire in his arm: 
3869   What nede is forto speke of ese?
3870   Hem list ech other forto plese, 
3871   So that thei hadden joie ynow:
3872   And tho thei setten whanne and how 
3873   That sche with him awey schal stele.
3874   With wordes suche and othre fele
3875   Whan al was treted to an ende,
3876   Jason tok leve and gan forth wende 
3877   Unto his oughne chambre in pes; 
3878   Ther wiste it non bot Hercules. 
3879   He slepte and ros whan it was time,
3880   And whanne it fell towardes prime, 
3881   He tok to him suche as he triste
3882   In secre, that non other wiste, 
3883   And told hem of his conseil there, 
3884   And seide that his wille were
3885   That thei to Schipe hadde alle thinge 
3886   So priveliche in thevenynge, 
3887   That noman mihte here dede aspie    
3888   Bot tho that were of compaignie:
3889   For he woll go withoute leve,
3890   And lengere woll he noght beleve;
3891   Bot he ne wolde at thilke throwe
3892   The king or queene scholde it knowe.
3893   Thei saide, "Al this schal wel be do:"
3894   And Jason truste wel therto. 
3895   Medea in the mene while,
3896   Which thoghte hir fader to beguile,
3897   The Tresor which hir fader hadde
3898   With hire al priveli sche ladde,
3899   And with Jason at time set
3900   Awey sche stal and fond no let, 
3901   And straght sche goth hire unto schipe
3902   Of Grece with that felaschipe,
3903   And thei anon drowe up the Seil.
3904   And al that nyht this was conseil, 
3905   Bot erly, whan the Sonne schon, 
3906   Men syhe hou that thei were agon,
3907   And come unto the king and tolde:
3908   And he the sothe knowe wolde,
3909   And axeth where his dowhter was.
3910   Ther was no word bot Out, Allas!
3911   Sche was ago. The moder wepte,
3912   The fader as a wod man lepte,
3913   And gan the time forto warie,
3914   And swor his oth he wol noght tarie,
3915   That with Caliphe and with galeie
3916   The same cours, the same weie,
3917   Which Jason tok, he wolde take, 
3918   If that he mihte him overtake.
3919   To this thei seiden alle yee:
3920   Anon thei weren ate See,
3921   And alle, as who seith, at a word
3922   Thei gon withinne schipes bord, 
3923   The Sail goth up, and forth thei strauhte.
3924   Bot non espleit therof thei cauhte,
3925   And so thei tornen hom ayein,    
3926   For al that labour was in vein. 
3927   Jason to Grece with his preie
3928   Goth thurgh the See the rihte weie:
3929   Whan he ther com and men it tolde, 
3930   Thei maden joie yonge and olde. 
3931   Eson, whan that he wiste of this,
3932   Hou that his Sone comen is,
3933   And hath achieved that he soughte
3934   And hom with him Medea broughte,
3935   In al the wyde world was non 
3936   So glad a man as he was on.
3937   Togedre ben these lovers tho,
3938   Til that thei hadden sones tuo, 
3939   Wherof thei weren bothe glade,
3940   And olde Eson gret joie made 
3941   To sen thencress of his lignage;
3942   For he was of so gret an Age,
3943   That men awaiten every day,
3944   Whan that he scholde gon away.
3945   Jason, which sih his fader old, 
3946   Upon Medea made him bold, 
3947   Of art magique, which sche couthe, 
3948   And preith hire that his fader youthe 
3949   Sche wolde make ayeinward newe: 
3950   And sche, that was toward him trewe,
3951   Behihte him that sche wolde it do, 
3952   Whan that sche time sawh therto.
3953   Bot what sche dede in that matiere 
3954   It is a wonder thing to hiere,
3955   Bot yit for the novellerie
3956   I thenke tellen a partie. 
3957   Thus it befell upon a nyht,
3958   Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht,
3959   Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste,
3960   That no wyht bot hirself it wiste, 
3961   And that was ate mydnyht tyde.
3962   The world was stille on every side;    
3963   With open hed and fot al bare,
3964   Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare,
3965   Upon hir clothes gert sche was, 
3966   Al specheles and on the gras 
3967   Sche glod forth as an Addre doth:
3968   Non otherwise sche ne goth,
3969   Til sche cam to the freisshe flod, 
3970   And there a while sche withstod.
3971   Thries sche torned hire aboute, 
3972   And thries ek sche gan doun loute
3973   And in the flod sche wette hir her,
3974   And thries on the water ther 
3975   Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge onde,
3976   And tho sche tok hir speche on honde. 
3977   Ferst sche began to clepe and calle
3978   Upward unto the sterres alle,
3979   To Wynd, to Air, to See, to lond
3980   Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond 
3981   To Echates, and gan to crie, 
3982   Which is goddesse of Sorcerie.
3983   Sche seide, "Helpeth at this nede,
3984   And as ye maden me to spede, 
3985   Whan Jason cam the Flees to seche, 
3986   So help me nou, I you beseche." 
3987   With that sche loketh and was war, 
3988   Doun fro the Sky ther cam a char,
3989   The which Dragouns aboute drowe:
3990   And tho sche gan hir hed doun bowe,
3991   And up sche styh, and faire and wel
3992   Sche drof forth bothe char and whel
3993   Above in thair among the Skyes. 
3994   The lond of Crete and tho parties
3995   Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye, 
3996   And there upon the hulles hyhe
3997   Of Othrin and Olimpe also,
3998   And ek of othre hulles mo,         
3999   Sche fond and gadreth herbes suote,
4000   Sche pulleth up som be the rote,
4001   And manye with a knyf sche scherth,
4002   And alle into hir char sche berth. 
4003   Thus whan sche hath the hulles sought,
4004   The flodes ther foryat sche nought,
4005   Eridian and Amphrisos, 
4006   Peneie and ek Sperchei5dos,
4007   To hem sche wente and ther sche nom
4008   Bothe of the water and the fom, 
4009   The sond and ek the smale stones,
4010   Whiche as sche ches out for the nones,
4011   And of the rede See a part,
4012   That was behovelich to hire art,
4013   Sche tok, and after that aboute 
4014   Sche soughte sondri sedes oute
4015   In feldes and in many greves,
4016   And ek a part sche tok of leves:
4017   Bot thing which mihte hire most availe
4018   Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile.
4019   In daies and in nyhtes Nyne, 
4020   With gret travaile and with gret pyne,
4021   Sche was pourveid of every piece,
4022   And torneth homward into Grece. 
4023   Before the gates of Eson
4024   Hir char sche let awai to gon,
4025   And tok out ferst that was therinne;
4026   For tho sche thoghte to beginne 
4027   Such thing as semeth impossible,
4028   And made hirselven invisible,
4029   As sche that was with Air enclosed 
4030   And mihte of noman be desclosed.
4031   Sche tok up turves of the lond
4032   Withoute helpe of mannes hond,
4033   Al heled with the grene gras,
4034   Of which an Alter mad ther was   
4035   Unto Echates the goddesse 
4036   Of art magique and the maistresse, 
4037   And eft an other to Juvente, 
4038   As sche which dede hir hole entente.
4039   Tho tok sche fieldwode and verveyne,
4040   Of herbes ben noght betre tueine,
4041   Of which anon withoute let
4042   These alters ben aboute set: 
4043   Tuo sondri puttes faste by
4044   Sche made, and with that hastely
4045   A wether which was blak sche slouh,
4046   And out therof the blod sche drouh 
4047   And dede into the pettes tuo;
4048   Warm melk sche putte also therto
4049   With hony meynd: and in such wise
4050   Sche gan to make hir sacrifice, 
4051   And cride and preide forth withal
4052   To Pluto the god infernal,
4053   And to the queene Proserpine.
4054   And so sche soghte out al the line 
4055   Of hem that longen to that craft,
4056   Behinde was no name laft, 
4057   And preide hem alle, as sche wel couthe, 
4058   To grante Eson his ferste youthe.
4059   This olde Eson broght forth was tho,
4060   Awei sche bad alle othre go
4061   Upon peril that mihte falle; 
4062   And with that word thei wenten alle,
4063   And leften there hem tuo al one.
4064   And tho sche gan to gaspe and gone,
4065   And made signes manyon,
4066   And seide hir wordes therupon;
4067   So that with spellinge of hir charmes 
4068   Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes, 
4069   And made him forto slepe faste, 
4070   And him upon hire herbes caste. 
4071   The blake wether tho sche tok,   
4072   And hiewh the fleissh, as doth a cok; 
4073   On either alter part sche leide,
4074   And with the charmes that sche seide
4075   A fyr doun fro the Sky alyhte
4076   And made it forto brenne lyhte. 
4077   Bot whan Medea sawh it brenne,
4078   Anon sche gan to sterte and renne
4079   The fyri aulters al aboute:
4080   Ther was no beste which goth oute
4081   More wylde than sche semeth ther:
4082   Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her, 
4083   As thogh sche were oute of hir mynde
4084   And torned in an other kynde.
4085   Tho lay ther certein wode cleft,
4086   Of which the pieces nou and eft 
4087   Sche made hem in the pettes wete,
4088   And put hem in the fyri hete,
4089   And tok the brond with al the blase,
4090   And thries sche began to rase
4091   Aboute Eson, ther as he slepte; 
4092   And eft with water, which sche kepte, 
4093   Sche made a cercle aboute him thries, 
4094   And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes: 
4095   Ful many an other thing sche dede, 
4096   Which is noght writen in this stede.
4097   Bot tho sche ran so up and doun,
4098   Sche made many a wonder soun,
4099   Somtime lich unto the cock,
4100   Somtime unto the Laverock,
4101   Somtime kacleth as a Hen, 
4102   Somtime spekth as don the men:
4103   And riht so as hir jargoun strangeth, 
4104   In sondri wise hir forme changeth, 
4105   Sche semeth faie and no womman; 
4106   For with the craftes that sche can 
4107   Sche was, as who seith, a goddesse,
4108   And what hir liste, more or lesse, 
4109   Sche dede, in bokes as we finde,    
4110   That passeth over manneskinde.
4111   Bot who that wole of wondres hiere,
4112   What thing sche wroghte in this matiere, 
4113   To make an ende of that sche gan,
4114   Such merveile herde nevere man. 
4115   Apointed in the newe Mone,
4116   Whan it was time forto done, 
4117   Sche sette a caldron on the fyr,
4118   In which was al the hole atir,
4119   Wheron the medicine stod, 
4120   Of jus, of water and of blod,
4121   And let it buile in such a plit,
4122   Til that sche sawh the spume whyt; 
4123   And tho sche caste in rynde and rote, 
4124   And sed and flour that was for bote,
4125   With many an herbe and many a ston,
4126   Wherof sche hath ther many on:
4127   And ek Cimpheius the Serpent 
4128   To hire hath alle his scales lent, 
4129   Chelidre hire yaf his addres skin, 
4130   And sche to builen caste hem in;
4131   A part ek of the horned Oule,
4132   The which men hiere on nyhtes houle;
4133   And of a Raven, which was told
4134   Of nyne hundred wynter old,
4135   Sche tok the hed with al the bile; 
4136   And as the medicine it wile, 
4137   Sche tok therafter the bouele
4138   Of the Seewolf, and for the hele
4139   Of Eson, with a thousand mo
4140   Of thinges that sche hadde tho, 
4141   In that Caldroun togedre as blyve
4142   Sche putte, and tok thanne of Olyve
4143   A drie branche hem with to stere,
4144   The which anon gan floure and bere 
4145   And waxe al freissh and grene ayein.   
4146   Whan sche this vertu hadde sein,
4147   Sche let the leste drope of alle
4148   Upon the bare flor doun falle;
4149   Anon ther sprong up flour and gras,
4150   Where as the drope falle was,
4151   And wox anon al medwe grene, 
4152   So that it mihte wel be sene.
4153   Medea thanne knew and wiste
4154   Hir medicine is forto triste,
4155   And goth to Eson ther he lay,
4156   And tok a swerd was of assay,
4157   With which a wounde upon his side
4158   Sche made, that therout mai slyde
4159   The blod withinne, which was old
4160   And sek and trouble and fieble and cold. 
4161   And tho sche tok unto his us 
4162   Of herbes al the beste jus,
4163   And poured it into his wounde;
4164   That made his veynes fulle and sounde:
4165   And tho sche made his wounde clos, 
4166   And tok his hond, and up he ros;
4167   And tho sche yaf him drinke a drauhte,
4168   Of which his youthe ayein he cauhte,
4169   His hed, his herte and his visage
4170   Lich unto twenty wynter Age; 
4171   Hise hore heres were away,
4172   And lich unto the freisshe Maii,
4173   Whan passed ben the colde shoures, 
4174   Riht so recovereth he his floures. 
4175   Lo, what mihte eny man devise,
4176   A womman schewe in eny wise
4177   Mor hertly love in every stede, 
4178   Than Medea to Jason dede? 
4179   Ferst sche made him the flees to winne,
4180   And after that fro kiththe and kinne
4181   With gret tresor with him sche stal,
4182   And to his fader forth withal    
4183   His Elde hath torned into youthe,
4184   Which thing non other womman couthe:
4185   Bot hou it was to hire aquit,
4186   The remembrance duelleth yit.
4187   King Peles his Em was ded, 
4188   Jason bar corone on his hed, 
4189   Medea hath fulfild his wille:
4190   Bot whanne he scholde of riht fulfille
4191   The trouthe, which to hire afore
4192   He hadde in thyle of Colchos swore,
4193   Tho was Medea most deceived. 
4194   For he an other hath received,
4195   Which dowhter was to king Creon,
4196   Creusa sche hihte, and thus Jason, 
4197   As he that was to love untrewe, 
4198   Medea lefte and tok a newe.
4199   Bot that was after sone aboght: 
4200   Medea with hire art hath wroght 
4201   Of cloth of gold a mantel riche,
4202   Which semeth worth a kingesriche,
4203   And that was unto Creusa sent
4204   In name of yifte and of present,
4205   For Sosterhode hem was betuene; 
4206   And whan that yonge freisshe queene
4207   That mantel lappeth hire aboute,
4208   Anon therof the fyr sprong oute 
4209   And brente hir bothe fleissh and bon. 
4210   Tho cam Medea to Jason 
4211   With bothe his Sones on hire hond, 
4212   And seide, "O thou of every lond
4213   The moste untrewe creature,
4214   Lo, this schal be thi forfeture."
4215   With that sche bothe his Sones slouh
4216   Before his yhe, and he outdrouh 
4217   His swerd and wold have slayn hir tho,
4218   Bot farewel, sche was ago 
4219   Unto Pallas the Court above, 
4220   Wher as sche pleigneth upon love,
4221   As sche that was with that goddesse,   
4222   And he was left in gret destresse. 
4223   Thus miht thou se what sorwe it doth
4224   To swere an oth which is noght soth,
4225   In loves cause namely. 
4226   Mi Sone, be wel war forthi,
4227   And kep that thou be noght forswore:
4228   For this, which I have told tofore,
4229   Ovide telleth everydel.
4230   Mi fader, I may lieve it wel,
4231   For I have herde it ofte seie
4232   Hou Jason tok the flees aweie
4233   Fro Colchos, bot yit herde I noght 
4234   Be whom it was ferst thider broght.
4235   And for it were good to hiere,
4236   If that you liste at mi preiere 
4237   To telle, I wolde you beseche.
4238   Mi Sone, who that wole it seche,
4239   In bokes he mai finde it write; 
4240   And natheles, if thou wolt wite,
4241   In the manere as thou hast preid
4242   I schal the telle hou it is seid.
4243   The fame of thilke schepes fell,
4244   Which in Colchos, as it befell, 
4245   Was al of gold, schal nevere deie; 
4246   Wherof I thenke for to seie
4247   Hou it cam ferst into that yle. 
4248   Ther was a king in thilke whyle 
4249   Towardes Grece, and Athemas
4250   The Cronique of his name was;
4251   And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte,
4252   Be whom, so as fortune it dihte,
4253   He hadde of children yonge tuo. 
4254   Frixus the ferste was of tho,
4255   A knave child, riht fair withalle; 
4256   A dowhter ek, the which men calle
4257   Hellen, he hadde be this wif.
4258   Bot for ther mai no mannes lif   
4259   Endure upon this Erthe hiere,
4260   This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere,
4261   Er that the children were of age,
4262   Tok of hire ende the passage,
4263   With gret worschipe and was begrave.
4264   What thing it liketh god to have
4265   It is gret reson to ben his; 
4266   Forthi this king, so as it is,
4267   With gret suffrance it underfongeth:
4268   And afterward, as him belongeth,
4269   Whan it was time forto wedde,
4270   A newe wif he tok to bedde,
4271   Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde,
4272   And ek the dowhter, as men saide,
4273   Of Cadme, which a king also
4274   Was holde in thilke daies tho.
4275   Whan Yno was the kinges make,
4276   Sche caste hou that sche mihte make
4277   These children to here fader lothe,
4278   And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe, 
4279   Which to the king was al unknowe.
4280   A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe
4281   The lond with sode whete aboute,
4282   Wherof no corn mai springen oute;
4283   And thus be sleyhte and be covine
4284   Aros the derthe and the famine
4285   Thurghout the lond in such a wise, 
4286   So that the king a sacrifise 
4287   Upon the point of this destresse
4288   To Ceres, which is the goddesse 
4289   Of corn, hath schape him forto yive,
4290   To loke if it mai be foryive,
4291   The meschief which was in his lond.
4292   Bot sche, which knew tofor the hond
4293   The circumstance of al this thing, 
4294   Ayein the cominge of the king
4295   Into the temple, hath schape so,    
4296   Of hire acord that alle tho
4297   Whiche of the temple prestes were
4298   Have seid and full declared there
4299   Unto the king, bot if so be
4300   That he delivere the contre
4301   Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe,
4302   With whom the goddes ben so wrothe,
4303   That whil tho children ben therinne,
4304   Such tilthe schal noman beginne,
4305   Wherof to gete him eny corn. 
4306   Thus was it seid, thus was it sworn
4307   Of all the Prestes that ther are;
4308   And sche which causeth al this fare
4309   Seid ek therto what that sche wolde,
4310   And every man thanne after tolde
4311   So as the queene hem hadde preid.
4312   The king, which hath his Ere leid, 
4313   And lieveth al that evere he herde,
4314   Unto here tale thus ansuerde,
4315   And seith that levere him is to chese 
4316   Hise children bothe forto lese, 
4317   Than him and al the remenant 
4318   Of hem whiche are aportenant 
4319   Unto the lond which he schal kepe: 
4320   And bad his wif to take kepe 
4321   In what manere is best to done, 
4322   That thei delivered weren sone
4323   Out of this world. And sche anon
4324   Tuo men ordeigneth forto gon;
4325   Bot ferst sche made hem forto swere
4326   That thei the children scholden bere
4327   Unto the See, that non it knowe,
4328   And hem therinne bothe throwe.
4329   The children to the See ben lad,
4330   Wher in the wise as Yno bad
4331   These men be redy forto do.
4332   Bot the goddesse which Juno   
4333   Is hote, appiereth in the stede,
4334   And hath unto the men forbede
4335   That thei the children noght ne sle;
4336   Bot bad hem loke into the See
4337   And taken hiede of that thei sihen.
4338   Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen,
4339   Whos flees of burned gold was al;
4340   And this goddesse forth withal
4341   Comandeth that withoute lette
4342   Thei scholde anon these children sette
4343   Above upon this Schepes bak; 
4344   And al was do, riht as sche spak,
4345   Wherof the men gon hom ayein.
4346   And fell so, as the bokes sein, 
4347   Hellen the yonge Mayden tho, 
4348   Which of the See was wo bego,
4349   For pure drede hire herte hath lore,
4350   That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore,
4351   As sche that was swounende feint,
4352   Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint;
4353   With Frixus and this Schep forth swam,
4354   Til he to thyle of Colchos cam, 
4355   Where Juno the goddesse he fond,
4356   Which tok the Schep unto the lond, 
4357   And sette it there in such a wise
4358   As thou tofore hast herd devise,
4359   Wherof cam after al the wo,
4360   Why Jason was forswore so 
4361   Unto Medee, as it is spoke.
4362   Mi fader, who that hath tobroke 
4363   His trouthe, as ye have told above,
4364   He is noght worthi forto love
4365   Ne be beloved, as me semeth: 
4366   Bot every newe love quemeth
4367   To him which newefongel is.
4368   And natheles nou after this,     
4369   If that you list to taken hiede 
4370   Upon mi Schrifte to procede, 
4371   In loves cause ayein the vice
4372   Of covoitise and Avarice
4373   What ther is more I wolde wite. 
4374   Mi Sone, this I finde write, 
4375   Ther is yit on of thilke brood, 
4376   Which only for the worldes good,
4377   To make a Tresor of Moneie,
4378   Put alle conscience aweie:
4379   Wherof in thi confession
4380   The name and the condicion
4381   I schal hierafterward declare,
4382   Which makth on riche, an other bare.


Source: John Gower, The English Works of John Gower, vol. 2, ed. G. C. Macaulay (London: Keegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner, & Co., 1900).