|
Diverse men diversely hym tolde |
| Of mariage manye ensamples olde. |
| Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, certeyn; |
| 260 | But atte laste, shortly for to seyn, |
| As al day falleth altercacioun |
| Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun, |
| Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two, |
| Of whiche that oon was cleped Placebo, |
| 265 | Justinus soothly called was that oother. |
| Placebo seyde, "O Januarie, brother, |
| Ful litel nede hadde ye, my lord so deere, |
| Conseil to axe of any that is heere, |
| But that ye been so ful of sapience |
| 270 | That yow ne liketh, for youre heighe prudence, |
| To weyven fro the word of Salomon. |
| This word seyde he unto us everychon: |
| Wirk alle thyng by conseil," - thus seyde he, |
| "And thanne shaltow nat repente thee." - |
| 275 | But though that Salomon spak swich a word, |
| Myn owene deere brother and my lord, |
| So wysly God my soule brynge at reste, |
| I holde youre owene conseil is the beste. |
| For, brother myn, of me taak this motyf, |
| 280 | I have now been a court-man al my lyf, |
| And God it woot, though I unworthy be, |
| I have stonden in ful greet degree |
| Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat; |
| Yet hadde I nevere with noon of hem debaat. |
| 285 | I nevere hem contraried, trewely; |
| I woot wel that my lord kan moore than I. |
| With that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable; |
| I seye the same, or elles thyng semblable. |
| A ful greet fool is any conseillour |
| 290 | That serveth any lord of heigh honour, |
| That dar presume, or elles thanken it, |
| That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit. |
| Nay, lordes been no fooles, by my fay! |
| Ye han youreselven shewed heer to-day |
| 295 | So heigh sentence, so holily and weel, |
| That I consente and conferme everydeel |
| Youre wordes alle and youre opinioun. |
| By God, ther nys no man in al this toun, |
| Ne in Ytaille, that koude bet han sayd! |
| 300 | Crist halt hym of this conseil ful wel apayd. |
| And trewely, it is an heigh corage |
| Of any man that stapen is in age |
| To take a yong wyf; by my fader kyn, |
| Youre herte hangeth on a joly pyn! |
| 305 | Dooth now in this matiere right as yow leste, |
| For finally I holde it for the beste." |
|
| Then divers men to him diversely told, |
| Of marriage, many an instance known of old. |
| Some blamed it and some praised it, that's certain, |
| 260 | But at the last, and briefly to make plain, |
| Since altercation follows soon or late |
| When friends begin such matters to debate, |
| There fell a strife between his brothers two, |
| Whereof the name of one was Placebo |
| 265 | And truly Justinus was that other. |
| Placebo said: "O January, brother, |
| Very little need had you, my lord so dear, |
| Counsel to ask of anyone that's here; |
| Except that you are so full of sapience |
| 270 | That you like not, what of your high prudence, |
| To vary from the word of Solomon. |
| This word said he to each and every one: |
| 'Do everything by counsel,' thus said he, |
| 'And then thou hast no cause to repent thee.' |
| 275 | But although Solomon spoke such a word, |
| My own dear brother and my proper lord, |
| So truly may God bring my soul to rest |
| As I hold your own counsel is the best. |
| For, brother mine, of me take this one word, |
| 280 | I've been a courtier all my days, my lord. |
| And God knows well, though I unworthy be |
| I have stood well, and in full great degree, |
| With many lords of very high estate; |
| Yet ne'er with one of them had I debate. |
| 285 | I never contradicted, certainly; |
| I know well that my lord knows more than I. |
| Whate'er he says, I hold it firm and stable; |
| I say the same, or nearly as I'm able. |
| A full great fool is any Councillor |
| 290 | That serves a lord of any high honour |
| And dares presume to say, or else think it, |
| His counsel can surpass his lordship's wit. |
| Nay, lords are never fools, nay, by my fay; |
| You have yourself, sir, showed, and here today, |
| 295 | With such good sense and piety withal |
| That I assent to and confirm it all, |
| The words and the opinions you have shown. |
| By God, there is no man in all this town, |
| Or Italy, it better could have phrased; |
| 300 | And Christ Himself your counsel would have praised |
| And truthfully, it argues high courage |
| In any man that is advanced in age |
| To take a young wife; by my father's kin, |
| A merry heart you've got beneath your skin? |
| 305 | Do in this matter at your own behest, |
| For, finally, I hold that for the best." |
|
