THIS IS THE DYALOGUS OR COMMUNYNG BETWIXT THE WYSE KING SALOMON AND MARCOLPHUS

Here begynneth the dyalogus or comynicacion betwixt Salomon the king of Jherusalem and Marcolphus that right rude and great of body was but right subtyll and wyse of wyt and full of undrestandyng, as thereafter folowyng men shall here.

Upon a season hertofore as King Salomon, full of wisdome and richesse, sate upon the kinges sete or stole that was his fadres Davyd, sawe comyng a man out of th’este that was named Marcolphus, of vysage greatly myshapen and fowle, nevyrthelesse he was right talkatyf, elloquend and wyse. His wif had he wyth hym, whiche was more ferefull and rude to beholde. And as they were bothe comen before King Salomon, he behelde thaym welle.

This Marcolf was of short stature and thykke. The hede had he great, a brode forhede rede and fulle of wrinkelys or frouncys, his erys hery and to the myddys of chekys hangyng, great yes and rennyng, his nether lyppe hangyng lyke an horse, a berde harde and fowle lyke unto a goet, the handes short and blockyssh, his fyngres great and thycke, rownde feet, and the nose thycke and croked, a face lyke an asse, and the here of hys heed lyke the heer of a goet. His shoes on his fete were ovyrmoche chorlysh and rude, and his clothys fowle and dyrty; a shorte kote to the buttockys, his hasyn hynge full of wrynkelys and alle his clothes were of the moost fowle coloure.

His wyf was of short stature, and she was out of mesure thycke wyth great brestys, and the here of hyr hede clustred lyke thystelys. She had longe wynde browes lyke brostelys of a swyne, longe erys lyke an asse, renning yen, berdyd lyke a goet; hyr vysage and skyn blacke and full of wrynkelys, and upon hyr great brestys she had, of span brode, a broche of leed. She had short fyngres, full of yren ryngys. She had right great nosethrylles, hyr leggys short and hery lyke a bere; hyr clothes were rough and broken. Of suche a woman, or of anothre lyke unto hyre, a yonge man hath made thies verses folowyng:

Femina deformis tenebrarum subdita formis
Cum turpi facie transit absque die.
Est mala res multum turpi concedere cultum,
Sed turpis nimirum turpe ferat vicium.

That is to saye, an evyll favouryd and a fowle blacke wyf behovyth to shewe the dayes lyght. It is to oure yes medycyne to se that fayre is and fyne.

As Kyng Salomon thies two persones thus had seen and beholden, he demaunded of thaym of whens they weryn and of what lynage they were comyn.Marcolphus thereto answeryd: “Saye furste to us youre kynrede and genleagie, and of youre fadres, and than shall I shewe and declare you of oures.”

Salomon: “I am of the xii kyndredes of patryarkes, that is to wete, that Judas gate Phares, Phares gat Esron, Esron gat Aron, Aron genderyd Aminadab, Aminadab gat Naazon, Naazon gat Salmon, Salmon gat Boos, Boos gat Obeth, Obeth gat Ysay, Ysay gat Davyd king, David gat Salomon the king, and that am I.”

Marcolfus answeryd: “I am of the xii kindred of chorlyS: Rusticus gat Rustam, Rusta gat Rustum, Rustus gat Rusticellum, Rusticellus gat Tarcum, Tarcus gat Tarcol, Tarcol gat Pharsi, Pharsi gat Marcuel, Marcuel gat Marquat, Marquat gat Marcolphum and that is I.“And my wyf is comen of the blood and xii kyndredes of untydy wyves, that is to knowe, of Lupica that gat Lupicana, Lupicana gat Ludibrac, Ludibrac gat Bonestrung, Bonestrung gat Boledrut, Boledrut gat Paldrut, Paldrut gat Lordan, Lordan gat Curta, Curta gat Curtula, Curtula gat Curtella, Curtella gat Polica, Polica gat Polycana, and thys is my wyf Polycana.”

Salomon sayde: “I have herd of thee that thou kanst right wele clatre and speke, and that thou art subtyle of wyt, although that thou be mysshapyn and chorlyssh. Lete us have betwene us altercacion. I shal make questyons to thee, and thou shalt therto Answere.”

Marcolphus answeryd: “He that singyth worste begynne furste.”

S: “If thou kanst answere to alle my questyons, I shall make thee ryche, and be named above alle othre withyn my Reaume.”

M: “The phisician promysyth the seeke folke helthe, whan he hath no power.”

S: “I have juged betwixt two light women, whiche dwellyd in oon house and forlaye a chylde.”

M: “Were erys are there are causes, where women be there are wordys.”

S: “God yave wysdam in my mouth, for me lyke is none in alle partys of the worlde.”

M: “He that hath evyll neighborys praysyth hymself.”

S: “The wykkyd man fleyth, no man folwyng.”

M: “Whan the kydde rennyth, men may se his ars.”

S: “A good wyf and a fayre is to hir husbonde a pleasure.”

M: “A potfull of mylke muste be kept wele from the katte.”

S: “A wyse woman byldeth an house, and she that unwyse and a fool is, distroyeth with hir handes that she fyndeth made.”

M: “A pot that is wele baken may best endure, and that clene is browyn that may they fayre drinken.”

S: “A ferdefull woman shal be praysed.”

M: “A catte that hath a good skyn shal be flayne.”

S: “A shamefast wyf and a fayre is mekyll to be belovyd.”

M: “To pore men whyte mete are to be kept.”

S: “A woman stronge in doyng good, who shall fynde?”

M: “Who shal fynde a catte trewe in kepyng mylke?”

S: “.”

S: “Noon.”

M: “And a woman seldom.”

S: “A fayre woman and an honest is to be praysed above alle rychesse that a man fynde may.”

M: “A fat woman and a great is larger in yevyng than othre.”

S: “A whyt kerchyf becomth wele a womans hede.”

M: “It standyth wryten that the furre is not all lyke the slevys, and undre a whyte cloth often are hyd mothys.”

S: “He that sowyth wyckydnesse shal repe evyll.”(N15ab)

M: “He that sowyth chaf shal porely mowe.”

S: “Out of the mouth of a holy man shal come good lernyng and wysedom.”

M: “The asse behovyth to be allweye where he fedyth, for ther it growyth. Where he etyth oon gres, there growe xl ayen; where he dungyth, there it fattyth; where he pyssyth, there makyth he wete; and where he wallowyth, there brekyth he the strawe.”(N16b)

S: “Lete an othre preyse thee.” (N17a)

M: “Yf I shulde myself dyspreyse, no man shall I please.”

S: “Thou shalt ete moche ony.”(N18a)

M: “That beys dryve lykke faste theyre fyngres.”

S: “In an evylle wylled herte the spyryt of wysedome shalle not entre.”(N19a)

M:“As ye smyte wyth an axe in an hard tre, beware that the chippes falle not in youre ye.”(N19b); (T19b)

S: “It is hard to spurne ayenst the sharp prykyl.”(N20a)

M: “The ox that drawyth bacwarde shal be twyse prycked.”

S: “Fede up youre children and from thayre youthe lerne thaym to do welle.”(N21a)

M: “He that fedyth well his cowe etyth often of the mylke.”(T21b)

S: “All maner kyndes turne ayen to theyre furste nature.”

M: “A worne tabyllcloth turnyth ayen to his furste kynde.”(N22b)

S: “What the juge knowyth of right and trouthe that spekyth he out.”(N23a)

M: “A bisshop that spekyth not is made a porter of a yate.”(N23b)

S: “Honoure is to be yeven to the maistre, and the rodde to be feryd.”(N24a)

M: “He that is wonte to anointe the juges handes oftyn tymes he makyth his asse lene.”(N24b)

S: “Ayenst a stronge and myghty man thou shalt not fyghte, ne stryve ayenst the streme.”(N25a); (T25a)

M: “The vultier takyth the skyn of stronge fowles and makyth thaym neked of theyre fethres.”(N25b)

S: “Lete us amende us in good that unwythyngly we have mysdone.”

M: “As a man wypyth his ars he doth nothing ellys.”

S: “Wyl thou not disceyve any man wyth fayre word?”(T27a)

M: “By wyt he etyth that gretyth the ether.” (N27b)

S: “Wyth brawlyng people holde no companye.” (N28a)

M: “It is reson that he of the swyne ete that medlyth amonge the bren.”(N28b); (T28b)

S: “There be many that kan have no shame.”

M: “They lyve undre the men that are lyke to howndes.”

S: “There are many that to theyr good doers do evyl for good.”(N30a)

M: “He that yevyth bred to anothre manys hownde shall have no thanke.”

S: “It is no frende that dureyth not in frendeshyp.”(N31a)

M: “The dung of a calf stynkyth not longe.”

S: “He sekyth many occasions that wolle departe from his maister.”(N32a); (T32a)

M: “A woman that wolle not consente seyth that she hath a skabbyd arse.”(N32b); (T32b)

S: “A kynges worde shulde be unchaungeable or stedfaste.”

M: “He is sone wery that plowyth wyth a wolf.” (N33b)

S: “The radissh rotys are good mete but they stynke in the counsell.”(N34ab); (T34a)

M: “He that etyth radyssh rotys coughyth above and undyr.”

S: “It is lost that is spokyn afore people that undrestande not what they here.”

M: “He lesyth his shafte that shetyth in the sande.”(N35b)

S: “He that stoppyth his erys from the crying of the pore people, oure Lord God shall not here hym.”(N36a)

M: “He that wepyth afore a juge lesyth his terys.”

S: “Ryse up, thou northren wynde, and come forth, thou southren wynde, and blowe through my gardeyne, and the wele smellyng herbys shalle growe and multiplie.”(N37ab)

M: “Whanne the northren wyndes blowe, than ben the high howses in great trouble and daunger.”

S: “The deth nor povertye wyll not be hyd.”

M: “A man that is brostyn and hyde it, they growe the more.”(N38b); (T38b)

S: “As thou syttyst at a riche mans table, beholde diligently what comyth afore thee.”(N39a)

M: “Alle metys that is ordeyned for the body muste through the bely, and it goth in the stomak.”

S: “Whan thou syttyst at the tabyll, beware that thou taste not furst.”(N40a)

M: “He that syttyth in the hyghest sete, he holdyth the uppermost place.”

S: “As the stronge the weyke wynneth, he takyth all that he hath.”

M: “The catte seeth wele whoos berde she lycke shall.”(N41b)

S: “That the wycked feryth, that fallyth hym often.”(N42a); (T42a)

M: “He that doth evylle and hopyth good is disceyvyd in thaym bothe.”(T42b)

S: “For the colde the slouthfull wolde not go to plough; he beggyd his brede, and no man wolde hym yeve.”(N43a); (T43a)

M: “A nakyd ars no man kan robbe or dispoyle.”(N43b)

S: “Studye makyth a maystre wele wylled.”

M: “Th’andys that are usyd in the fyre fere not the ketylle.”

S: “Brawlers and janglers are to be kaste out of alle good Companye.”

M: “An angry howsewyf, the smoke, the ratte, and a broken plater are often tymes unprofytable in an howse.”(N45b)

S: “For Goddys love men are bownden to love othre.”

M: “If thou love hym that lovyth not thee, thou lesyth thyn love.”

S: “Saye not to thy frende, ‘Come tomorowe, I shal yeve thee,’ that thou maiste forthwyth yeve hym.”(N47a)

M: “He sayth an othre tyme he shalle doo it, that hath noth wherwyth redy for to do it withalle.”

S: “He that is wyne dronken holdyth nothing that he sayth.”(N48a)

M: “An opyn arse hath no lord.”(N48b)

S: “Many coveyte to have rychesse that with povertye are holden undre.”

M: “Ete that ye have, and se what shall remaigne.”

S: “There are many that susteyne hungyr, and yet fede they theyre wyves.”(T50a)

M: “The pore had ne breed and yet he bought an hownde.”(N50b)

S: “The fole answeryth aftyr hys folisshnes, for that he shulde not be knowyn wyse.”(N51a)

M: “What the stone heryth, that shalle the oke answere.”(N51b); (T51b)

S: “Wrathe hath no mercy, and therefore he that angrely spekyth beyth evyle or shrewdly.”(N52a); (T52a)

M: “Saye not in thyn angre to thy frende no evyl, lest thou forthynke it aftreward.”

S: “The mouthe of an ennemye kan saye no good, ne hys lyppys shall sownde no trouthe.”(N53a)

M: “He that lovyth me not doth not diffame me.”

S: “Slepe as ye have nede.”(N54a)

M: “He that leyth hym downe to slepe and kan not is not at his hertys ease.”

S: “We have well fyllyd oure bellys, lete us thanke God.”(N55ab); (T55a)

M: “As the owsell whystelyth, so answeryth the thrusshe; the hungery and the fulle synge not oon songe.”

S: “Lete us ete and drinke; we shall alle deye.”

M: “The hungery dyeth as wele as the full fedd.”

S: “As a man playeth upon an harpe, he kan not wele indicte.”(N57a)

M: “So whan the hownde shytyth, he berkyth noth.”

S: “The wretchyd wombe is full; go we now to bedde.”

M: “He turnyth and walowyth and slepyth evyl that hath not for to ete.”

S: “Dyspyse thou not a lytyll yifte that is yeven thee of a trewe frende.”(N59a)

M: “That a geldyd man hath, that yevyth he to his neigborwes.”(N59b)

S: “Go thou not wyth the evyll man or the brawelyng, lest thou suffre evyll for hym or peryle.”(N60a)

M: “A dede bee makyth no hony.”(N60b)

S: “If thou make frendeshipe with a false and evylwylled man, it shal hyndre thee more than proffyte.”(N61a)

M: “What the wolf doth, that pleasyth the wolfesse.”

S: “He that answeryth afore he is demaundyd shewyth hymself a fole.”(N62a); (T62a)

M: “Whan a man tredyth, drawe to you youre fete.”(N62b)

S: “Evrything chesyth his lyke.”(N63ab)

M: “Where a skabbyd horse is, he sekyth his lyke and eyther of thaym gnappyth othre.”

S: “A mercyfull man doth wele to his sowle.”(N64a); (T64a)

M: “He dyspyseth a great yifte that knowyth not hymself.”(N64b)

S: “He that skapyth the wolf metyth the lyon.”(N65ab); (T65a)

M: “From evyll into worse, as the cooke to a bakere.”

S: “Ware that no man do thee non evyll; if he do, do it not ayen.”

M: “The stylle standyng watyr and the man that spekyth but lytylle, beleve thaym not.”(N66b)

S: “We may not alle be lyke.”

M: “It standeth wryten in a boke, ‘He that hath no horse muste go on fote.’”(N67b)

S: “A chylde of an hundred yere is cursyd.”(N68ab)

M: “It is to late an olde hounde in a bande to lede.”

S: “He that hath, shal be yeven, and shall flowe.”(N69a)

M: “Woo to that man that hath frendes and no breed.”

S: “Whoo to that man that hath a dowble herte and in bothe weyes wyll wandre.”(N70ab)

M: “He that wolle two weyes go muste eythre his ars or his breche tere.”

S: “Of habundaunce of th’erte the mouth spekyst.”(N71a)

M: “Out of a full wombe th’ars trompyth.”

S: “Two oxen in one yocke drawen lyke.”

M: “Two veynes go lyke to oon ars.”

S: “A fayre woman is to be lovyd of hire husbande.”(N73a)

M: “In the necke is she whyte as a dove, and in the ars blacke and derke lyke a molle.”(N73b)

S: “Out of the generacion of Juda is my moost kyndrede; me the Lord of my fadre hath made governoure ovyr his people.”(T74a)

M: “I knowe wele a tabylcloth and of what werke it is made.”

S: “Nede makyth a right wyse man to do evyll.”(N75a)

M: “The wolf that is takyn and set fast, eythre he byteth or shytyth.”

S: “Were it so that God alle the world undre my power had set, it shulde suffyse me.”

M: “Men kan not yeve the katte so moche but that she woll hyr tayle wagge.”(N76b)

S: “He that late comyth to dyner, his parte is leest in the mete.”

M: “The glouton kan not se or renne al aboute.”(N77b)

S: “Though it be so that thy wif be sowre, fere hir not.”

M: “The shepherde that wakyth welle, ther shall the wolf no wolle shyte.”(N78b); (T78b)

S: “It becomth no foles to speke or to brynge forth any wyse reason.”(N79a)

M: “It becomyth not a dogge to bere a sadylle.”(N79b)

S: “Whyles the children are lytyll, reighte theyre lymmes and maners.”(N80a)

M: “He that kyssyth the lambe lovyth the shepe.”

S: “Alle reyght pathys goon towardes oon weye.”

M: “So done alle the veynes renne towardes the ars.”

S: “Of a good man comth a good wyf.”

M: “Of a good mele comyth a great torde that men wyth theyre fete trede. So muste men also alle the bestyalle wyves trede undre fote.”

S: “A fayre wyf becomyth well by hir husband.”

M: “A pot full wyth wyne becomth well by the Thrusty.”

S: “Wel becomyth a fayre sworde by my syde.”

M: “Wel becomth my hegge a great hepe of stonys.”

S: “The gretter that ye be, the more meke shulde ye be in alle thyngys.”

M: “He rydyth well that ridyth wyth his felawes.”

S: “The wyse chylde gladyth the fadyr, and the folyssh childe is a sorwe to the modyr.”(N86a)

M: “They synge not al oon songe, the glad and the sory.”

S: “He that sowyth wyth skaerstye repyth skaersly.”(N87a)

M: “The more it fryseth, the more it byndeth.”

S: “Do alle thynges by counsell, and thou shalt not aftre forthinke it.”(N88a)

M: “He is seke ynough that the sekenesse drawyth or folowyth.”

S: “Alle thinges have theyre seasons and tyme.”

M: “‘Now daye; tomorwe daye,’ sayde the oxe that the hare chacyd.”

S: “I am wery of spekyng; lete us therefore reste.”

M: “Therfore shall not Y leve my clapping.”

S: “I may no more.”

M: “Yf ye maye no more, yelde youreself ovyrcomen and yeve me that ye have promysed.”

Wyth that spake to Marcolf Hananyas, the sone of Joiade, and Zabus, the kinges frende, and Adonias, the sone of Abde, whiche hadden the charge and governaunce ovyr the kynges tribute, and sayde:

“Thou shalt not herefore be the thyrdde in the kingedome of oure soveraigne lord. Men shall rather put bothe thyn worst yen out of thy moost vyle hede, for it becomyth thee bettyr to lye amonge berys than to be exalted to any dignyte or honour.”

Than Marcolphus sayde: “Wherfor hath the king than promysed?”

Than sayde the kinges xii provostes, that is to wyte, Nenthur, Benadachar, Benesya, Bena, Benanides, Banthabar, Athurady, Bominia, Josephus, Semes, and Samer:

“Whereto comth this fole, oure soveraign lorde al thus to trouble and mocke? Why dryve ye hym not out wyth stavys of his syghte?” Tho sayde Salomon: “Not so, but yeve hym wele to ete and drinke and lete hym than goo in pease.”

Tho spak Marcolphus goyng his weye to the king: “I suffre ynough what that ye have sayde. I shall alweyes saye, ‘There is no king were no lawe is.’”

Onys upon a tyme the king rode an huntyng wyth his hunterys and howndes and fortunyd hym to come by the house of Marcolf, and turnyd hymself thidrewardes wyth his horse and demaunded, wyth his hede inclyned undre the dorre bowe, who was wythinne.

Marcolf answeryd to the king: “Wythin is an hool man, and an half, and an horse hede, and the more that they ascende, the more they downe falle.”

To that spak Solomon: “What menyst thou therwithall?”

Tho answeryd Marcolphus: “The hole man is myself syttyng wythin, ye are the half man syttyng wythoute upon youre horse, lokyng in wyth youre hede declyned, and the horse hede is the hede of youre horse that ye sytte on.”

Than Salomon demaunded of Marcolphus what they were that clymen up and fallyn downe.

Marcolph answeryd and sayde: “They are the benys boyllyng in the pott.”

Salomon: “Where is thy fadyr, thy modyr, thy sustyr, and thy brothyr?”

Marcolph: “My fadyr is in the felde and makyth of oon harme two. My modyr is goon and dooth to hir neighborwe that she nevyr more shall do; my brothyr sytting wythoute the house sleyth alle that he fyndeth. My sustyr syttyth in hire chambre and bewepyth that aforetyme she laughyd.”

Salomon: “What betokenth they?”

Marcolph: “My fadyr is in the felde and puttyth or settyth thornys in a footpath, and comyng men they make an othre path therby, and so he makyth of oon harme two.

My modyr is goon and closyth the yes ofhir neyghborwe deying, the whiche she shall nevyr more do.

My brothyr sytting withoute the house in the sonne and lowsyth, and alle that he fyndeth, he sleyth.

My sustyr the laste yere lovyd a yonge man and wyth kyssyng, laughing, tastyng, japyng, and playing, she was getyn wyth chylde whereof she now travayllyth, and that now she bewepyth sore.”

Salomon: “How comyth to thee alle this wysdome and subtyltye?”

Marcolfus: “In the tyme of King David youre fadyr, there was a yonge man his phisician, and as he onys had takyn a vulture for to occupye in his medicins and had takyn therof that was to hym expedyent, so toke youre modyr, Barsebea, the herte and leyde it upon a cruste of breed and rostyd it upon the feyre and yave you the herte to ete, and I thanne beyng in the kechin, she kast at my hede the cruste through moysted wyth th’erte of the vulture, and that ete I and therof, I suppose, is comen to me my subtiltie, lyke as to you is comen by etyng of th’erte wysedom.”

Salomon: “As verelye God helpe thee! In Gabaa, God appieryd to me and fulfylled me wyth sapience.”

Marcolphus: “He is holdyn wyse that reputyth hymself a fole.”

Salomon: “Haste thou not herde what rychesse God hath yevyn me aboven that wysedome?”

Marcolph: “I have herde it, and I knowe well that where God woll, there reynyth it.”

To that sayd Salomon alle laughyngly: “My folkys wayte upon me withoute. I may no lengyr wyth thee talke, but saye to thy modyr that she sende me of hir beste cowe a pot full of mylke, and that the pot of the same cowe be coveryd, and bringe thou it to me.”

Marcolphus: “It shal be done.”

King Salomon wyth his companye rydyng towardys Jerusalem was honourably receyvyd as a riche and moost puyssant king.

And whan Floscemya, Marcolphus modyr, was comyn home to hir house, he dede to hir the kings message.

Than she, taking a pot full wyth mylke of hir cowe, and coveryd it wyth a flawne of the same mylke made, and sent it so forth to the king by hir sone.

As Marcolphus went ovyr the felde, the wethir was warme of the sonne, sawe lying there a drye bakyn cowe torde, and for haste he unnethe cowde set downe the pot to the erthe but that he had etyn the flawne and toke up the cowe torde and therwyth covyrd the pot, and so covyrd presentyd it before the king.

And he askyd: “Why is the pot thus covyrd?”

Marcolf: “My lord, have not ye commaunded that the milke shulde be covyrd of the same cowe?”

Salomon: “I commaunded not so to be done.”

Marcolph: “Thus I undyrstode.”

Salomon: “It had ben bettyr coveryd wyth a flawne made wyth the mylke of the same cowe.”

Marcolph: “So was it furste done, but hungyr chaungyd wyt.”

Salomon: “How?”

Marcolph: “I wyste wele that ye had no nede of mete, and I havyng great hungyr ete the flawne wyth mylke anoynted, and for that wyth wyt chungyd, the pot I have thus coveryd wyth a cowe torde.”

Salomon: “Now leve we alle this, and yf that thou thys nyght wake not as wele as I, thou mayste have no truste tomorne of thy hede.”

Salomon and Marcolph consentyd bothe, and wythin a lytyll whyle aftyr Marcolph began to rowte.

Salomon sayde: “Marcolf, thou slepyst?”

Marcolph answeryd: “Lord, I do not. I thinke.”

Salomon: “What thinkyst thou?”

Marcolf: “I thinke that there are as many joyntys in the tayle of an hare as in hire chyne.”

Salomon: “If thou prove not that tomorne, thou arte worthy to deye.”

Salomon beyng stylle, began Marcolph to slepe ayen, and sayde to hym: “Thou slepyst?” And he answeryd: “I do not, for I thynke.”

Salomon: “What thynkest thou?”

Marcolphus: “I thynke that the pye hath as many whyte fethrys as blacke.”

Salomon: “But thou also prove that trewe, thou shalt lese thyn hede.”

As Salomon ayen began to be stylle, Marcolph began ayen to rowte and to blowe, and Salomon sayd to hym: “Thou slepyst?”

Marcolphus: “Nay, I thinke.”

Salomon: “What thinkest thou?”

Marcolph: “I thinke that undre th’erthe is no clerer thing than the daye.”

Salomon: “Is the daye clerer than mylke?”

Marcolph: “Ye.”

Salomon: “That muste thou prove.”

Anone herupon began Marcolphus to slepe.

Salomon: “Thou slepyst.”

Marcolph: “I slepe not, but I muse.”

Salomon: “What musyst thou?”

Marcolph: “I muse how that men may not surely truste the women.”

Salomon: “And that of thee shal be provyd.”

Anon aftyr as Salomon was stylle, began Marcolf ayen to blowe and to slepe.

Salomon: “Thou slepyst?”

Marcolph: “I do not, but I thinke.”

Salomon: “What thinkest thou?”

Marcolph: “I thinke how that nature goth afore lernyng.”

Salomon: “If thou prove not that trewe, thou shalt lese thyn hede.”

Aftyr that the nyght was ovyrpassyd and Salomon, wery of waking, put hymself to reste.

Than Marcolf lefte the king and ran hastely to hys sustyr Fudasa and fayned hymself sorwefull and hevy, and sayde to hyre:

“The king Salomon is ayenst me, and I may not bere hys threytys and injuries, and but I shall take this knyf and hyde it secretly undyr my clothes and therewyth thys daye all pryvely, he not knowyng, I shall smyte hym to th’erte and sle hym.

Now good dere sustyr, I praye thee, accuse me not but in any wyse kepe it secrete, ne shewe it not to myn owne brothyr Bufrydo.”

Fudasa answeryd: “My dere and leevest brothyr Marcolf, put no doubtes therin. I had levyr dye and be brent at a stake rather than I shulde discovre it or accuse thee.”

Aftyr that retournyd Marcolf alle pryvely towardys the kynges courte.

The sonne rysyng and spredyng hyr beamys ovyr th’erthe illumined and fulfyllyd the kingys palayce, and Salamon, rysyng from his bed, wente and sat in the trone or sete of his palayce.

Than commaunded he to bringe afore hym an hare, and as many joyntes in his tayle as in hys chyne were fownden by Marcolph and nombredyd.

Thanne was there a pye brought before the king, and as many whyte fethrys as black were fownden by Marcolph.

And thanne toke Marcolph a great panne wyth mylke and set it in the kinges bedchambre alle pryvely, and closyd to alle the wyndowes that no lyght myght in come.

Thanne kallyd he the king into the chambre, and as he come in he stumblyd at the panne and was nygh fallyn therin.

Tho was the king angry and displeasyd and sayd: “Thou fowle evyl body, what is it that thou doost?”

Marcolphus answeryd: “Ye ought not herefore to be angry. For have ye not sayd that milke is clerer than the daye? How is it that ye se not as wele by the clerenesse of the mylke as ye do bi the clerenesse of the daye? Juge egaly and ye shall fynde that I have nothyng mysdone unto you.”

Salomon: “God foryeve thee! My clothys be alle wyth mylke sprongyn, and nygh I had my necke brokyn and yet thou haste me nothing trespasyd?”

Marcolphus answeryd: “Anothre tyme se bettyr tofore you. Nevyrthelesse, sytte downe and do me justyce upon a mater that I shall shewe afore you.”

Whan he was set, Marcolph complayned and shewyd: “Lord, I have a sustyr that hath to name Fudasa, and she hath yeven hyrself to horedam and is wyth childe wherwyth she shamyth and dishonestyd alle oure bloode and lynage, and yet wolde she parte wyth me in my fathres good and herytage.”

Thanne sayde Salomon: “Lete hyr come afore us, and we shall here hyr what she woll saye herto.”

As Salomon sawe hyr come from ferre, sayde all laughyngly: “Thys may wele be Marcolphus sustyr!”

This Fudasa was short and thycke, and therto was she great with chylde, and thus was she thycker than she was of lenghthe. She had thycke leggys and short, and went on fote lame, wyth vysage, yen, and stature lycke to Marcolph.

Salomon sayde to Marcolph: “What complaynest or askyst thou of thy sustyr?”

Marcolph answeryd: “My lord, I complayne and shewe opynly afore you of my sustyr, that she is a stronge harlot and a strumpet and is wyth chylde, as ye may se, and alle oure blood and kynrede by hyr is shamyd. That wythstandyng, she wolde dele and parte wyth me in my fathres good and herytage. Wherefore, I requyre you of justyce and that ye commaunde hire that she take no parte ne make no clayme therto.”

This heryng, Fudasa, replete wyth angre and woednesse, cryed on hygh and sayde: “Thou fowle mysshapyn harlot, wherefore shulde not I have my parte in oure fadres good and herytage? And is not Floscemya moder to us bothe?”

Marcolph: “Thou shalt not have any dele or parte therin, for thin offense jugeth thee clerely therfro.”

Fudasa: “Therfore, I may not lese myn herytage. For have I mysdone, I shalle amende it, but oon thyng I promyse thee and swere by God and all hys myght. Yf thou wylt not lete me be in pease and suffre me to have my parte in the land, I shall shewe suche a thyng of thee that the king, or it be nyght, shall do thee to be hangyd.”

Marcolphus: “Thou fowle stynkyng hore, what kanst thou saye of me? I have no man mysdone. Saye thy worste, I dyffye thee.”

Fudasa: “Thou haste moche misdone, thou fowle facyd knave and rybaulde that thou art. For thou gladly woldyst sle the king, and yf ye beleve not me, seke undyr his cote and ye shall fynde the knyf.”

Tho was the knyf sought by the kinges servauntys and it was not fownde.

Sayde Marcolph to the king and to the aboutestanders: “And have I not sayde trouthe, that men shulde not put ovyrmoche truste or confidence in the women?”

Wyth that they alle began to laughen.

Tho sayd Salomon: “Marcolph, thou doost alle thy thynges by crafte and subtyltye.”

Marcolph answeryd: “Lord, it is no subtyltye, but that my sustyr had promysed me to have kept it secrete, and she hath falsely discoverd it, as though it had ben of a trouthe.”

Salomon: “Wherefore haste thou sayd that arte or nature goth before lernyng?”

Marcolph: “Take pacyence a lytyll, and afore or ye go to bedde, I shal shewe you.”

The daye passyd ovyr and the tyme of souper cam on.

The king sat to sowper and othre wyth whom sat Marcolph and had alle pryvely put into hys sleve thre quyk myse.

There was norysshyd in the kinges house a catte, that every nyght as the king sat at sowper was wont to holde betwyxt hyre forefeet a brennyng kandell upon the tabyll.

Thanne lete Marcolph oon of the myse go out of his sleve. As the catte that saugh, she wolde have lept aftyr, but the king yave hyr a wynke or countenaunce that she bode stylle syttyng and removyd not.

And in lyke wyse dede she of the secunde mowse. Thanne lete Marcolph the thrydde mowse go, and as the katte sawe she cowde no lenger abyde, but kaste the kandell awaye, and lept aftyr the mowse and toke it.

And as Marcolph that sawe, sayde to the king:

“Here I have now provyd before you that nature goth afore lernyng.”

Tho commaunded Salomon his servauntes:

“Have thys man out of my syghte, and if he come hythre any more, set my howndes upon hym.”

Marcolphus: “Now for certayne I knowe and may saye that where as the hede is seke and evyll at ease, there is no lawe.”

As Marcolph was thus out dryven, he seyde to hymself: “Neythre so nor so shall the wyse Salomon of Marcolf be quyte.”

On the next mornyng folowyng as he was out of his couche or kenel rysen, he bethoughte hym in his mynde how he myght beste gete hym ayen into the kinges courte wythout hurte or devouryng of the howndes.

He went and bought a quyk hare and put it undre his clothis, and yede ayen to the courte.

And whan the kinges servauntes had syghte of hym, they set upon hym alle the howndes, and forthwyth he caste the hare from hym, and the howndes aftre, and lefte Marcolph, and thus came he ayen be the king.

And as he sawe hym, he askyd who had letyn hym in.

Marcolph answeryd: “Wyth great sutyltie am I in comen.”

Salomon: “Beware that thys daye thou spytte not but upon the bare grownde.”

The palayce was all coveryd wyth tapettys, and the walles hangyd wyth riche clothys.

Marcolf wythin short space aftyr wyth his talkyng and clateryng wyth othre, his mouth was full of spytyll, began to cough and reche up, beholdyng al aboute hym where he myght best spytte and cowd fynde no bare erthe, sawe a ballyd man stondyng by the king barehedyd, and spatyld evyn upon his forehede.

The ballyd man was therwyth ashamyd, made clene his forehede, and fyll on kneyes before the kingys fete, and made a complaynt upon Marcolph.

Salomon: “Wherefore haste thou made fowle the forehede of this man?”

Marcolph: “I have not made it fowle, but I have dungyd it or made it fat. For on a bareyne grownde, it behovyth dunge to be layde, that the corne that is theron sowyn may the bettyr growe and multiplye.”

Salomon: “What is that to this man?”

Marcolph: “My lord, have ye not forbedyn me that this daye I shulde not spytte but upon the bare erthe? And I sawe his forehede alle bare of herys, and thynkyng it be bare erthe, and therefore I spyttyd upon it. The king shall not be angry for this thing for I have done it for the manys proffyte, for and if his forehede were thus usyd to be made fat, the herys shulde ayen encrease and multiplye.”

Salomon: “God yeve thee shame! For the ballyd men aught to be aboven othre men in honure, for balydnesse is no shame, but a begynnyng of worshipe.”

Marcolphus: “Balydnesse is a flyes nest. Beholde I not, syre, how the flyes folowe more his forehede than alle the othre that ben wythin thys house? For why they trowen that it be a vessell turnyng full wyth som good drinke or ellys to be a stone anoynted wyth any swete thyng, and therfore they haste thaym to his bare forehede.”

To this sayd the ballyd man afore the king:

“Wherto is this moost vyle rybaulde sufferyd in the kinges presence us to rebuke and shame? Lete hym be kast out!”

Marcolph: “And be it pease in thy vertu, and I shal be stylle.”

Herewythall come yn two women bryngyng wyth thaym a lyving chylde, for the wyche they afore the king began to stryve.

For the oon sayde it belongyd to hyre, but the oon of thaym had forlayne hyre chylde slepyng so that they were in stryve for the levyng chylde.

Salomon sayd to oon of his servauntis: “Take a sworde and departe thys chylde in two pecys, and yeve eyther of thaym the oon half.”

That heryng, the naturall modyr of the lyvyng chylde sayde to the king: “Lord, I beseche you, yeve it to that woman all hool lyvyng for she his the verraye modyr therof.”

Than sayde Salomon that she was the modyr of the chylde and yave it to hire.

Marcolph demaunded of the king how he the modyr knewe.

Salomon: “By chaungyng of hir colure and affection, and by effusyon of terys.”

Marcolphus: “Ye myghthe so be disceyved, for beleve ye the wepyng of the women, and are so wyse and knowe the crafte of thaym no bettyr?

Whyllys a woman wepyth, she laughyth wyth th’erte. They kan wepe wyth oon yie and lawgh wyth the othyr. They make contenaunce wyth the vysage that they thinke not. They speke wyth the tunge that they mene not wyth th’erte. They promyse many tymes that they parforme not, but they chaunge theyre contenaunces as theyre myndes renne. The women have innumerable craftes.”

Salomon: “As many craftes as they have, so many good condicyons and propyrtyes they have.”

Marcolphus: “Saye not good condicyons or propyrtyes, but saye shrewdnessys and decepcyons.”

Salomon: “Surely she was an hore that bare suche a sone.”

Marcolph: “Wherefore saye ye so?”

Salomon: “For thou blamyst alle women, and they are honest, chaste, meke, lovyng, and curtayse.”

Marcolf: “To that myght ye adde and saye that they are brotyll and mutable.”

Salomon: “If they be brotyll, that have they of manys condicyon; yf they be chaungeable, that have they by delectacioun. Woman is though made of mannys rybbe and yeven unto hym for his helpe and comfort. For woman is as moche to saye as a ‘weyke erthe’ or a ‘weyke thynge.’”

Marcolph: “In like wyse it is as moche to saye as a ‘softe erroure.’”

Salomon: “There lyest thou, false kaytyf. Thou muste nedys be evyll and onhappy that sayst so moche shame and harme of women. For of women we are alle comen, and therfore he that seyth evylle of the kynde of women is greatly to be blamyd. For what is rychesse, wat is kingdomes, what is possessions, what is goold, what is sylver, what is costely clothyng or preciouse stonys, what is costely metys or drinkes, what is good companye or solace, what is myrthe withoute women?

On trouthe, they may kalle wele the world deed that from women are exiled or banysshed. For women muste bere the chyldren, they fede and norysshe thaym up, and love thaym welle. She desyryth thayre helthys.

She governyth the household. She forwyth the helthe of hyr husband and household.

Women is the dilectacioun of alle thinges. She is the swetnesse of youthe. She is the solace or joye of age. She is gladnesse of childre. She is joye of the daye. She is solace of the nyght. She is the glad ynd of laboure. Of alle hevynesses she is the forgeter. She servyth withhoute grutchyng, and she shall watche my goyng out, and myn incomyng.”

Therupon answeryd Marcolphus: “He seyth trouthe that thinkyth wyth his herte as he spekyth wyth his mowth.

Ye have the women in great favoure, and therfore ye prayse thaym. Rychesse, nobylnesse, fayrenesse, and wysedom be in you, and therfore it behovyth you to love women. But Y assure you one thyng, albeit that ye now prayse thaym ovyr moche, or ye slepe ye shal dysprayse thaym as faste.”

Salomon: “Therof thou shalt lye, for alle my lyve dayes I have lovyd women and shall duryng my lyf. But now go from me and se wele to that before me thou nevyr speke evyll of women.”

Than Marcolphus, goyng out of the kynges palayce, kallyd to hym the woman that had hir childe to hyre yeven ayen by the king and sayd to hyre:

“Knowyst thou not what is done and concluded in the kingys counsell todaye?”

She answeryd: “My chylde is yevyn me ayen alyve, what ellys there is done, that knowe not I.”

Tho sayd Marcolph: “The king hath commaunded and is uttyrly determyned that tomorwe thou and thy felawe shall come ayen afore hym, and that thou shalt have the one half of thy chylde and thy felawe the othre half.”

Than sayde the woman: “O what evyll king, and what false and untrewe sentence yevyth he!”

Marcolph sayde: “Yet shall I shewe thee grettyr matiers and more chargeable, and of grettyr weyghte. The king and his counseyle hath ordeyned that evyr man shall have vii wyves, therfor remembre and thinke what therin is best to be done. For as one man hath vii wyves, so shall ther nevyr more be reste or pease in th’ouse. One shal be belovyd, anothre shall displease hym. For hir that he lovyth shal be moost wyth hym, and the othre nevyr or seldom. She shal be wele clothyd, and the othre shal be forgetyn. Hyr that he lovyth best shall have ryngys, jowellys, goold, sylvyr, furres, and were sylkys. She shal kepe the keyes of alle the house, she shal be honouryd of alle the servauntys and be kallyd ‘Mastres.’

Alle his goodes shall falle to hire.What shall than saye the othre vi? And yf he love tweyne, what shall the othre v saye? And yf he love thre, what shal saye the othre iiii? and yf he love iiii what shall the othre iii do, etc.?

That he lovyth best, he shall alwayes have by hym and kysse hire and halse hyre.

The othyr shall nowe saye that they are neythre wydowes nor weddyd, nor yit unweddyd, nor wythoute husbande. They shal nowe well forthynke that they have theyre maydenhede loste. There shall evyr stryff, angre, envye, and brawelyng reigne, and if there be not fownde a remedy herefore, many great inconvenyencys shall growe thereof.

And by cause that thou arte a woman, and well acqueynted wyth the condicyons of women, haste thee and shewe thys to alle the ladyes and women wythin this citie, and advyse thaym that they consente not to it in any wyse, but wythstande it and saye ayenst the king and his counseyll.”

Marcolf retourned and went ayen to the courte and pryvely hyd hym in a corner. And the woman trowyd his wordys to be trewe, ranne trough the citie, and clappyd hire handys togydre, and cryed wyth opyn mowthe and shewyd all that she had herd and more.

And eche neyghborwe or gossyp saide it forth to anothre, so that in short tyme there was a great assemble or gaderyng of women, wel nigh that alle the women that weren wythin the citie, and so gadred, went to the kynges palayse well by the nombre of vi thousand women, and brak up dorys and ovyrwent the kyng and his counsell wyth great malyce and lowde crying.

The king, as he this herde, axyd what the cause was of thayre gaderyng. To that, oon woman that wyser and more eloquent than the othre sayde unto the king:

“Moost myghty prynce to whom goold, sylver, preciouse stones, and alle rychesse of the world to you are brought, ye do alle thyng as ye woll, and non ayensayth youre pleasure. Ye have a quene and many quenys, and ovyr that ye have concubynes or paramours wythoute nombre or as many as you pleasyth, for ye have all that ye wol. So may not every man do.”

Salomon answeryd: “God hath anoynted and made me king in Israhel. May I not than do and accomplyssh all my wylle?”

She answeryd: “Do youre wylle wyth youre owne, and medle not wyth us. We are of the noble blood of Abraham and holde Moyses lawe. Wherfor woll ye thane that chaunge and altre? Ye are bownden to do right and justyce. Wherefore do ye unryght?”

Tho sayde Salomon wyth great unpacyence: “Thou shamfull wyf, what unright or wronge do Y?”

She answeryd: “As great unright do ye as kan be thought or ymagined. For ye have ordeyned that every man shal have nowe lawefully vii wyves, and certaynli that shall not be. For there is not that prynce, duke, or erle that so riche and puyssaunt is, but that oon woman alone shall now fullfylle alle his desyres and wylle. What thanne shulde he do wyth vii wyves? It is aboven any mannys myght or power. It were bettyr ordeyned that oon woman shulde have vii husbondes.”

Than sayd Salomon all laughyngly: “I had not trowed that of men had ben fewer in nombre than of women.”

Tho kryed alle the women as mad people wythoute any reason: “Ye are an evyle king and youre sentences ben false and unrightfull. Now may we wel here and se that it is trouthe that we have herd of you, and that ye have of us sayde evyll, and therto ye skorne and mocke us before oure vysages that we se it. O Lord God, who was so evyle as Saule that regnyd ovyr us furste? Yet Davyd was worse, and now this Salomon werst of alle!”

Than the king beyng full of wrathe sayde: “There is no hede more worse than the serpent, and there is no malyce to the malyce of a woman, for it were bettyr to dwelle wyth serpentys and lyons, than wyth a wyckyd woman.

Alle evylles are but lytyl to the cursydnesse of a shrewd woman. Alle wyckydnesse falle upon women as the sande fallyth in the shoes of the oolde people goyng up an hylle. So a talkatyf woman and dishobedyent is a great confusyon. That wyf that is hir husbondes maister is evyr contrarye to hym. An evyl wyf makyth a pacient herte, and a sory vysage and is as plage of the deth.

A woman was the begynnyng of synne, and through hire we dye alle. The woman that is luxuriouse may men knowen in the uppermest of hire yes, and by hir browes. For hire yes are wythoute revyrence and ther nede no man wondre although she forgete hir husbonde.”

As the king al thus had sayd, so spak Nathan the prophete and sayde: “My lord, why rebuke ye and shame ye thus alle thies women of Jherusalem?”

Salomon: “Have ye not herd what dishonoure they have sayd of me wythoute deservyng?”

Nathan answeryd: “He that woll wyth hys subgiettys lyve in reste and pease, he muste som tyme be blynde, dumme, and deef.”

Salomon: “It is to be answeryd to a fole aftyr his folysshnes.”

Tho sprange Marcolph out of the corner that he sat in and sayde to the king: “Now have ye spokyn aftyr myn intent. For ones thys daye ye praysed women out of alle mesure, and now have ye dispraysed thaym as moche. That is it that I sought, alwayes ye make my saying trewe.”

Salomon: “Thou fowle evyle body, knowyst thou of this commocion?”

Marcolph: “Nay. Nevyrthelesse, ye shulde not yeve credence to alle thing that ye here.”

Tho sayd the king Salomon: “Go from hens out of my syghte, and I charge thee that I se thee no more betwixt the yes.”

Forthwith was Marcolph kast out of the kinges palayse.

Thanne they that stoden by the king sayden: “My lord, speke to thiese women sumwhat that may please thaym to here to th’entent that they may departe.”

Than turnyd the king towardes thaym and sayd: “Youre goodnesse shal undrestande that I am not to be blamyd in that that ye laye to my charge. That evyl sayer, Marcolf, that ye here late sawe, hath out of hymself alle this matier surmysed and fayned. And every man shall have hys owne wyf and hyr, wyth faythe and honestie, love and cherysshe.

That I have spokyn ayenst the wyves, I have not sayde it but ayenst the froward wyves. Who shulde of the good wyves speke any evyll? For a good wyf makyth hyr husbande glad and blythe wyth hyre goodnesse.

She is a parte the lyvyng of hyre husbond upon erthe, and hyr lernyng advauntagyth or forthryth hys body. She is a yifte of God. A wyse wyf and a stylle is a grace aboven graces. A good, shamefast and an honeste wyf is lyke the sonne clymmyng up to God. A wyf of good condicyons is the ornament or apparayle of the house. She is a lyght shynyng bryghther than the lyght of candellys. She is lyke the goolden pyller standyng upon hir feet, and an ovyrfaste fundament grwnded upon a sure stone wythoute mutacions and the commandemantys of God evyr in hyr mynde. The Hooly God of Israhel blesse you and multiplye youre sede and kynderede unto the ende of the worlde.”

Tho sayde they alle ‘Amen’ and toke leve of the king and went theyre weyes.

Marcolph, beryng in his mynde of the unkyndnesse that the king had commanded hym that he shulde no more se hym betwixt the yes, thought in hymself what was best to do. It happenyd that the next nyght folowyng fyll a great snowe. Marcolphus toke a lytyll cyve or temse in his oon hande, and a foot of a bere in the othre hande, and he turnyd hys shoes that stode forwardes upon his feet bakward, and upon the mornyng erly he began to go lyke a beste upon alle fowre feet through the strete.

And whan he was comen a lytyll wythouthe the towne, he fownde an olde ovyn and crept into it. And as the lyght of the daye was on comen, oon of the kingys servauntys founde the footstappys of Marcolph and thougt that it was the trace or stappys of a merveylous beste, and in alle haste went and shewyd it to the king.

Thanne incontynent wyth huntres and howndes, he wente to hunte and seke the sayd wondrefull beeste and folowed it unto they comen before the oven where they had loste and fownde no more of the steppys. The king Salomon discended from hys hors and began to loke into the oven. Marcolphus laye all crokyd, hys vysage from hymwardes, had put downe hys breche into hys hammes that he myght se hys arshole and alle hys othre fowle gere.

As the kyng Salomon, that seyng, demawnded what laye there, Marcolph answeryd: “I am here.”

Salomon: “Wherefore lyest thou thus?”

Marcolf: “For ye have commaunded me that ye shulde no more se me betwyxt myn yes. Now and ye woll not se me betwyxt myn yes, ye may se me betwene my buttockys in the myddes of myn arsehole.”

Than was the king sore meovyd, commaunded his servauntys to take hym and hange hym upon a tre.

Marcolph, so takyn, sayde to the kyng: “My lord, will it please you to yeve me leve to chose the tre wherupon that I shalle hange?”

Salomon sayde: “Be it as thou haste desyred, for it forcyth not on what tre that thou be hangyd.”

Than the kinges servauntes token and leddyn Marcolph wythoute the citie, and through the Valé of Josaphath, and ovyr the hyghte of the hylle of Olyvete, from thens to Jericho and cowde fynde no tre that Marcolf wolde chese to be hanged on.

From thens went they ovyr the Flome Jordane and alle Arabye through, and so forth all the great wyldernesse unto the Rede See. And nevyrmore cowde Marcolph fynde a tre that he wolde chese to hange on.

And thus he askapyd out of the dawnger and handes of King Salomon, and turnyd ayen unto hys howse, and levyd in pease and joye.

And so mote we alle do aboven wyth the Fadre of Heven. Amen.

Emprentyd at Andewerpe by me M. Gerard Leeu

This is the Dialogue or Communication Between Wise King Solomon and Marcolf

Here begins the dialogue or communication between Solomon, the King of Jerusalem, and Marcolf, who was rude and great of body but subtle and wise of wit and full of understanding, as men shall hear in the following.

Once upon a time, as King Solomon, endowed with wisdom and riches, sat upon the king’s seat or stool that had belonged to David his father,^[1] he saw a man coming out of the East named Marcolf. He had a visage greatly misshapen and foul; nevertheless he was talkative, eloquent, and wise. His wife had he with him, who was more fearful and rude to behold. And as they were both coming before King Solomon, he beheld them well.

This Marcolf was short and thick of stature.^[2] He had a broad forehead, red and full of wrinkles and frowns. His ears were hairy, hanging to the middle of his cheeks;^[3] he had great runny eyes, his bottom lip hung like a horse’s, his beard was hard and foul like a goat’s, his hands short and blocky, his fingers great and thick. He had round feet, a thick and crooked nose, and a face like a donkey. The hair on his head was like the hair of a goat. His shoes were overly churlish and rude, and his clothes foul and dirty;^[4] he wore a short coat coming to his buttocks, his hose hung full of wrinkles and all his clothes were of the most foul colors.^[5]

His wife was of thick and short of stature with big breasts, and her hair was knotted like thistles. She had long windy brows that were like the bristles of a pig, long ears like a donkey, runny eyes, and she was bearded like a goat. Her face and skin^[6] were black and wrinkled, and upon her breasts she had a leaden brooch a span wide. She had short fingers, which were full of iron rings. She had large nostrils and short hairy legs like a bear’s, and her clothes were rough and torn.

 For this woman, or a woman like her, a young man had written the following verse:^[7]

Femina deformis tenebrarum subdita formis
Cum turpi facie transit absque die.
Est mala res multum turpi concedere cultum,
Sed turpis nimirum turpe ferat vicium.

Which is to say: an evil favored and a foul wife^[8] behooveth to show the day’s light. It is to our best medicine to see that which is fair and fine.

Rival Genealogies

As King Solomon saw these two persons and beheld them, he demanded of them whence they were and of what lineage^[9] they were. Marcolf answered: “Say first to us your kindred and genealogy, and of your fathers, and then shall I declare to you ours.”

Solomon: “I am of the twelve kindreds of Patriarchs, that is to say, Judas begat Phares, Phares begat Esrom, Esrom begat Aram, Aram begat Aminadab, Aminidab begat Naasson, Naasson begat Salmon, Salmon begat Booz, Booz begat Obed, Obed begat Jesse,^[10] Jesse begat King David, and David begat Solomon the king, who I am.”

Marcolf answered: “I am of the twelve kindred of churls: Rusticus begat Rustam,^[11] Rusta begat Rustum, Rustus begat Rusticellum, Rusticellus begat Tarcum, Tarcus begat Tarcol, Tarcol begat Pharsi, Pharsi begat Marcuel, Marcuel begat Marquat, Marquat begat Macolf, who I am. My wife is a descendant of twelve kindreds of untidy wives,^[12] Lupica who begat Lupicana, Lupicana begat Ludibrac, Ludibrac begat Bonestrung, Bonestrung begat Boledrut, Boledrut begat Paldrut, Paldrut begat Lordan, Lordan begat Curta, Curta begat Curtula, Curtula begat Curtella, Curtella begat Polica, Polica begat Polycana, who is my wife.”

The Proverb Contest

Solomon said: “I have heard of thee, that thoucanst speak and clatter, and that thou art subtle and witty, even though thou art misshapen and churlish. Let us have a debate^[13] between us. I shall ask thee a question, and then thou shalt answer.

Marcolf answered: “He that sings worst begins first.”^[14]

S: “If thou canst answer all of my questions, I will make thee rich, and name [exalt] thee above all others within my Realm.” ^[15]

 M: “The physician promises the sick folk health, when he has no power.”

S: “I have judged between two prostitutes, who dwell in the same house and both have brought forth a child.”^[16]

M: “Where men are there are causes, and where women are there are words.”^[17]

S: “God put wisdom in my mouth, and there is no one like me in all the world.”^[18]

M: “He who has evil neighbors praiseth himself.”^[19]

S: “The wicked man flies, no man following.”^[20]

M: “When the kid runs away men will see his arse.”^[21]

S: “A good wife and a fair is to her husband a pleasure.”

M: “A potful of milk must be kept well away from the cat.”^[22]

S: “A wise woman buildeth a house, an unwise and foolish woman destroys what she finds created.”^[23]

M: “A pot that is well-baked endures, and what is well-brewed that may they fairly drink.”^[24]

S: “A faithful woman shall be praised.”^[25]

M: “A cat with a good skin shall be flayed.”

S: “A modest wife and a fair is much to be cherished.”^[26]

M: “White meat is to be kept for poor men.”^[27]

S: “A woman who is strong in doing good is hard to find.”^[28]

M: “Who shall find a cat true in keeping milk?”

S: [missing]

S. “No one.”

M: “And a woman seldom.”

S: “A fair and honest woman is to be praised above all riches that man may find.”

M: “A fat woman is more generous in giving than the other.”^[29]

S: “A white kerchief becometh a woman’s head.”

M: “It is written that the fur is not like the sleeves, and under a white cloth are often hidden moths.”^[30]

S: “He that soweth wickedness shall reap evil.”^[31]

M: “He that sows chaff shall mow poorly.”

S: “Out of the mouth of a holy man comes good learning and wisdom.”

M: “The ass behooveth to always be where he feeds,^[32] for there it grows. Where he eats one [blade of] grass, there grows forty back again. Where he dungs, there it fattens, where he pisses, there he makes wet; and where he wallows, there he breaks the straw.”

S: “Let another praise thee.”^[33]

M: “If I should myself disparage, no man shall I please.”

S: “Thou shalt eat much honey.”^[34]

M: “That bees lick their fingers fast.”

S: “Into an evil-willed heart wisdom will not enter.”^[35]

M: “As you strike a hard tree with an ax, beware that the chips do not fall in your eye.”^[36]

S: “It is hard to spurn against the sharp pricks.”^[37]

M: “The ox that draws backwards shall be pricked twice.”

S: “Feed up thy children and from their youth teach them to do good.”^[38]

M: “He that feeds his cow well has milk often.”

S: “All sorts turn again to their first nature.”

M: “A worn tablecloth turns again to his first kind.”^[39]

S: “What the judge knows of truth and right he speaketh out.”^[40]

M: “A bishop that speaks not is made the porter of a gate.”^[41]

S: “Honor is to be given to the master, and the rod to be feared.”^[42]

M: “He that anoints the judge’s hands often has a lean ass.”^[43]

S: “Against a strong and mighty man thou  shouldst not fight, nor swim against the stream.”^[44]

M: “The vulture takes the skin and feathers of strong fowls.”^[45]

S: “Let us amend and make good what we unwittingly have misdone.”

M: “As a man wipes his arse he does nothing else.”

S: “Wilt thou not deceive any man with fair words?”

M: “By wit he eats that greets the other.”^[46]

S: “With brawling people hold no company.”^[47]

M: “It is reason that he that eats of the swine meddles among the bran.”^[48]

S: “There are many that have no shame.”

M: “They live under the men who are like hounds.”

S: “There are many that do evil to their good-doers.”^[49]

M: “He that giveth bread to another’s hounds shall have no thanks.”

S: “It is no friend that endures not in friendship.”^[50]

M: “The dung of a calf does not stink long.”

S: “He seeks many occasions that will depart from his master.”^[51]

M: “A woman that will not consent saith that she hath a scabby arse.”^[52]

S: “A king’s word should be unchangeable and steadfast.”

M: “He who plows with a wolf is soon weary.”^[53]

S: “The radish roots are good to eat, but they stink in the council.”^[54]

M: “He that eateth radish roots cough above and under.”

S: “What is spoken before people that understand not what they hear is lost”

M: “He loseth his shaft that shitteth in the sand.”^[55]

S: “He that stops his ears from the crying of the poor, our Lord God will not hear him.”^[56]

M: “He that weeps before a judge loses his tears.”

S: “Rise up, thou northern wind, and come forth, thou southern wind, and blow through my garden, and the good-smelling herbs shall grow and multiply.”^[57]

M: “When the northern winds blow, then the high houses are in great trouble and danger.”

S: “Neither death nor the poverty shall be hid.”

M: “A man that is brostyn [broken?] and hide it, grows all the more.”^[58]

S: “When thou sittest at a rich man’s table, behold diligently what cometh before thee.”^[59]

M: “All meat that is ordained for the body must go through the belly, and it goes in the stomach.”

S: “When thou sittest at the table, beware that thou taste not the food first.”^[60]

M: “He that sits in the highest seat, he holds the uppermost place.”

S: “When the strong wins over the weak, he taketh all that he hath.”

M: “The cat sees well whose bird she shall lick.”^[61]

S: “That which the wicked feareth, falleth on him often.”^[62]

M: “He that does evil and hopes for good is deceived in them both.”

S: “In the cold the slothful would not go to the plough; he begs his bread, and no man would to him give.”^[63]

M: “A naked arse no man can rob or despoil.”^[64]

S: “Study maketh a master well willed.”

M: “The hands that are used in the fire fear not the kettle.”

S: “Brawlers and janglers are to be cast out of all good company.”

M: “An angry housewife, the smoke, the rat, and a broken platter are oftentimes unprofitable in a house.”^[65]

S: “For God’s love men are bound to love others.”

M: “If you love him that loves you not, you lose your love.”

S: “Say not to thy friend, ‘come tomorrow, I shall give thee,’ that thou mayest forthwith give him.”^[66]

M: “He says another time he shall do it, that does not have the wherewithal to do it.”

S: “He that is drunken with wine holds to nothing that he says.”^[67]

M: “An open arse hath no lord.”^[68]

S: “Many covet riches that are held in poverty are hidden under.”

M: “Eat what ye have, and see what shall remain.”

S: “There are many that sustain hunger, and yet feed their wives.”

M: “The poor had no bread and yet he bought a hound.”^[69]

S: “The fool answers after his foolishness, so he should not be known as wise.”^[70]

M: “What the stone hears, that shall the oak answer.”^[71]

S: “Wrath hath no mercy, and therefore he that angrily speaketh be evil or shrewd.”^[72]

M: “Say not in thine anger to thine friend any evil, lest thou forsaketh it afterword.”

S: “The mouth of an enemy can say no good, nor shall his lips sow any truth.”^[73]

M: “He that loveth me doth not defame me.”

S: “Sleep as ye have need.”^[74]

M: “He that lies down to sleep and cannot is not at his heart’s ease.”

S: “We have filled our bellies well, let us thank God.”^[75]

M: “As the ousel whistles, so answers the thrush; the hungry and the full sing not the same song.”

S: “Let us eat and drink; we shall all die.”

M: “The hungry dies as well as the full fed.”

S: “As a man plays upon a harp, he can not well compose”^[76]

M: “When the hound shits, he doesn’t bark.”

S: “The wretched womb is full; go we now to bed.”

M: “He that has nothing to eat turns and wallows and sleeps badly.”

S: “Despise thou not a little gift that is given to thee of a true friend.”^[77]

M: “That which a gelded man hath, that giveth he to his neighbors.”^[78]

S: “Go thou not with the evil man or the brawling, lest thou suffer evil or peril for him.”^[79]

M: “A dead bee makes no honey.”^[80]

S: “If thou makest friends with a false and evil willed man, it shall hinder thee more than it profits.”^[81]

M: “Whatever the wolf does pleases the she-wolf.”

S: “He that answers before he is asked shows himself a fool.”^[82]

M: “When a man treads, draw to you your feet.”^[83]

S: “Everything chooses its like.”^[84]

M: “Where a scabbed horse is, he seeks his like and either of them nips the other.”

S: “A merciful man does well to his soul.”^[85]

M: “He despises a great gift that knows not himself.”^[86]

S: “He that escapes the wolf meets the lion.”^[87]

M: “From evil into worse, as the cook to a baker.”

S: “Beware that no man do thee evil; if he do, do it not to him again.”

M: “The still standing water and the man that speaks but little, believe them not.”^[88]

S: “We may not all be alike.”

M: “It is written in a book, ‘He that hath no horse must go on foot.’”^[89]

S: “A child of a hundred years is cursed.”^[90]

M: “It is too late for an old hound to lead a band.”

S: “He that has, shall be given, and shall flow.”^[91]

M: “Woe to that man that has friends and no bread.”

S: “Woe to that man that hath a double heart and in both ways will wander.”^[92]

M: “He that will go two ways must either his arse or his britches tear.”

S: “Of abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”^[93]

M: “Out of a full womb the arse tromps.”

S: “Two oxen in one yoke draw alike.”

M: “Two veins go alike to one arse.”

S: “A fair woman is to be loved of her husband.”^[94]

M: “In the neck she is as white as a dove, and in the arse black and dark like a mole.”^[95]

S: “Out of the generation of Judah is most of my kindred: it is I that the Lord of my father hath made governor over his people.”

M: “I know well a tablecloth and of what work it is made.”

S: “Need makes a wise man do evil.”^[96]

M: “The wolf that is taken and set fast, either bites or shits.”

S: “Were it so that God set all the world under my power, it should suffice me.”

M: “Men can not give the dog so much and she will wag her tail.”^[97]

S: “He that cometh to dinner late, his part has the least meat.”

M: “The glutton cannot see or run all about.”^[98]

S: “Though it be so that thy wife be sour, fear her not.”

M: “The shepherd that walketh well, there shall no wolf shit.”^[99]

S: “It becomes no fool to speak or to bring forth any wise reason.”^[100]

M: “It becomes not a dog to bear a saddle.”^[101]

S: “While the children are little, correct their limbs and manners.”^[102]

M: “He that kisses the lamb loves the sheep.”

S: “All right paths go towards one way.”

M: “So do all veins run towards the arse.”

S: “Of a good man comes a good wife.”^[103]

M: “Of a good meal comes a great turd that men tread with their feet. So must men also all the best wives tread under foot.”^[104]

S: “A fair wife is welcomed by her husband.”

M: “A pot full of wine is welcomed by the thirsty.”

S: “Well becomes a fair sword by my side.”

M: “Well becomes my hedge a great heap of stones”^[105]

S: “The greater thou art, the meeker thou shouldst be in all things.”^[106]

M: “He rides well that rides with his fellows.”^[107]

S: “The wise child pleases the father, and the foolish child is a sorrow to the mother.”^[108]

M: “They sing not all one song, the glad and the sorry.”

S: “He that sows sparsely, so shall he reap.”^[109]

M: “The more it freezes, the more it binds.”

S: “Do all things by counsel, and thou shalt not after rethink it.”^[110]

M: “He is sick enough that the sickness draws or follows.”

S: “All things have their seasons and time.”

M: “‘Now day: tomorrow day,’ said the ox that the hare chased.”^[111]

S: “I am weary of speaking; let us therefore rest.”

M: “Therefore shall not I leave my chattering.”

Solomon confesses himself beaten

S: “I may no more.”

M: “If you may no more, yield yourself as overcome and give me that which you promised.”

With that spoke to Marcolf Hananias, the son of Joiade, and Zabus, the king’s friend, and Adonias, the son of Abde, who had charge and governance over the king’s tribute, and said:

“You shall not therefore be the third in the kingdom of our sovereign lord. Men shall rather put both your eyes out of your most vile head, for it becomes you better to lie among berriesthan to be exalted to any dignity or honor.”

Then Marcolf said: “Why then did the king promise?”

Then said the king’s twelve counselors, that is to wit, Nenther, Benadacher, Benesya, Bena, Benanides, Banthabar, Athurady, Bominia, Josephus, Semes, and Samer:^[112]

“To what purpose comes this fool, to trouble and mock our sovereign lord so? Why do you not drive him out with staves, out of our lord’s sight?” Said Solomon: “Not so, but give him to eat and drink and let him then go in peace.”

Then spoke Marcolf going his way to the king: “I suffer enough what that you have said. I shall always say, ‘There is no king where there is no law.’”

The Riddling Contest

Once upon a time the king rode a-hunting with his hunters and hounds and by fortune came by the house of Marcolf, and turned himself toward it with his horse and demanded, with his head bent under the arch of the door, who was within.^[113]

Marcolf answered the king: “Within is a whole man and a half, and a horse head, and the more they ascend, the more they fall down.”

To that said Solomon: “What meanest thou?”

Marcolf answered: “The whole man is myself sitting within, you are the half man sitting outside upon your horse, looking in with your head bent, and the horsehead is the head of your horse that ye sit on.”

Then Solomon demanded of Marcolf what they were that climbed up and fell down.

Marcolf answered and said: “They are the beans boiling in the pot.”

Solomon: “Where is thy father, thy mother, thy sister, and thy brother?”

Marcolf: “My father is in the field and makes of one harm [pain?] two. My mother is gone and does to her neighbor that she never more shall do; my brother sitting outside the house slays all that he finds. My sister sits in her chamber and weeps over that which she used to laugh.”

Solomon: “What does that mean?”

Marcolf: “My father is in the field and puts or sets thorns in a footpath, and coming men they make another path, and so he makes of one harm two.

My mother is gone and closes the eyes of her dying neighbor, of which she will never more do.

My brother sits outside the house in the sun and picks lice, and all he finds, he slays.

My sister last year loved a young man and with kissing, laughing, tasting, japing, and playing, she was gotten with child of which she is now in travail, so that now she weeps sore.”

Solomon concedes the riddling contest.

Solomon: “How cometh to thee all this wisdom and subtlety?”^[114]

Marcolf: “In the time of King David your father, there was as his physician a young man, and as he once had taken a vulture to use for his medicines and had taken thereof that which was to him expedient, so took your mother, Bathsheba, the heart and laid it upon a crust of bread and roasted it upon the fire and gave you the heart to eat, and I then being in the kitchen, she cast at my head the crust moist through with the heart of the vulture, and that I ate and thereof, I suppose, has come to me my subtlety, like as you have come by eating the heart of wisdom.”^[115]

Solomon: “Verily God help thee! In Gabaa, God appeared to me and filled me with wisdom.”

Marcolf: “He is held wise that holds himself a fool.”

Solomon: “Hast thou not heard what riches God hath given me above that wisdom?”

Marcolf: “I have heard it, and I know well that where God will, there it reigns.”

Evidence and Argumentation

To that said Solomon laughing: “My people are waiting for me.^[116] I may no longer talk with thee, but say to thy mother that she send me of her best cow a pot full of milk, and that the pot be covered by the same cow, and bring thou it to me.”

Marcolf:^[117] “It shall be done.”

King Solomon with his company riding towards Jerusalem was honorably received as a rich and most powerful king.

And when Floscema, Marcolf’s mother, came home to her house, he gave her the king’s message.

Then she, taking a pot full of milk from her cow, covered it with a flan of the same milk made, and sent it so forth to the king by her son.

As Marcolf went over the field, the weather was warm from the sun, and he saw lying there a dry baked cow turd, and with haste he unnethe cowde set down the pot on the ground, ate the flan. Then he took up the cow turd and covered the pot with it, and so covered presented it to the king.

And he [the king] asked: “Why is the pot thus covered?”

Marcolf: “My lord, did you not command that the milk should be covered of the same cow?”

Solomon: “I commanded not so to be done.”^[118]

Marcolf: “I understood it thus.”

Solomon: “It had been better covered with a flan made with the milk of the same cow.”

Marcolf: “So was it first done, but hunger changed it.”^[119]

Solomon: “How?”

Marcolf: “I knew well that ye had no need of food, and I having great hunger, ate the flan made with milk, and the pot I have thus covered with a cow turd.”

Solomon: “Now let us leave all this, and if thou this night stay not awake as well as I, thou mayest have no trust tomorrow of thy head.”^[120]

Solomon and Marcolf both consented, and within a little while after, Marcolf began to drowse.

Solomon said: “Marcolf, thou sleepest?”

Marcolf answered: “Lord, I do not. I think.”

Solomon: “What thinkest thou?”

Marcolf: “I think that there are as many joints in the tail of a hare as in her chin.”

Solomon: “If thou provest not that tomorrow, thou art worthy to die.”

Solomon being still, began Marcolf to sleep again, and [the king] said to him: “Thou sleepest?” And he answered: “I do not, for I think.”

Solomon: “What thinkest thou?”^[121]

Marcolf: “I think that the magpiehath as many white feathers as black.”

Solomon: “Except thou also prove that true, thou shalt lose thine head.”

As Solomon again began to be still, Marcolf began again to drowse and to snore, and Solomon said to him: “Thou sleepest?”

Marcolf: “Nay, I think.”

Solomon: “What thinkest thou?”

Marcolf: “I think that under the heart is no clearer thing than the day.”

Solomon: “Is the day clearer than the milk?

Marcolf: “Yea.”

Solomon: “That thou must prove.”

Hereupon Marcolf began to sleep.

Solomon: “Thou sleepest.”

Marcolf: “I sleep not, but muse.”

Solomon: “What musest thou?”

Marcolf: “I muse how that men may not surely trust women.”

Solomon: “And that of thee shall be proved.”

Soonafter, as Solomon was still, Marcolf again began to snore and to sleep.

Solomon: “Thou sleepest?”

Marcolf: “I do not, but I think.”

Solomon: “What thinkest thou?”

Marcolf: “I think how that nature goes before learning.”

Solomon: “If thou prove not that true, thou shalt lose thine head.”

Finally, night was over and Solomon, weary of waking, put himself to rest.

Then Marcolf left the king and ran with haste to his sister Fudasa^[122] and feigned himself sorrowful and heavy, and said to her:

“The king Solomon is against me,^[123] and I may not bear his threats and injuries. So I shall take this knife and hide it secretly under my clothes, and therewith this day, all privily, he not knowing, I shall stab him in the heart and slay him.

Now good dear sister, I pray thee, accuse me not but keep it secret, nor shew it to mine own brother Bufrydo.”

Fudasa answered: “My dear and loved brother Marcolf, have no fear. I had ratherdie and be burnt at a stake rather than I should discover it or accuse thee.”

After that Marcolf returned privily to the king’s court.

The sun rising and spreading her beams over the earth illuminated and filled the king’s palace, and Solomon, rising from his bed, went and sat in the throne or seat of his palace.^[124]

Then commanded he to bring before him a hare, and as many joints in his tail as in his chin were found by Marcolf and numbered.^[125]

Then was there a magpiebrought before the king, and as many white feathers as black were found by Marcolf.

And then Marcolf took a great pan with milk and set it in the king’s bedchamber privily, and closed all the windows that no light might come in.

Then called he the king into the chamber, and as he came in he stumbled on the pan and nigh fell therein.

The king was angry and displeased and said: “Thou foul evil body, what is it that thou doest?”

Marcolf answered: “You ought not to be angry. For did you not say that milk is clearer than the day? How is it that ye see not as well by the clearness of the milk as ye do by the clearness of the day? Judge equally and ye shall find that I have nothing misdone unto you.”

Solomon: “God forgive thee! My clothes be all splatteredwith milk, and I nearly had my neck broken and yet thou hast me nothing trespassed?”

Marcolf: “Another time watch where you are going. Nevertheless, sit down and do me justice upon a matter that I shall show before you.”

When he was set, Marcolf complained and said: “Lord, I have a sister by the name of Fudasa, and she has given herself to whoredom and is with child wherewith she shames and dishonors all our blood and lineage, and yet would she wants a share of my father’s goods and heritage.”

Then said Solomon: “Let her come before us, and we shall hear her what she has to say about it.”^[126]

As Solomon saw her come from afar, [he] said, laughing: “This may well be Marcolf’s sister!”

This Fudasa was short and thick, and since she was great with child, she was thicker than she was long. She had short, thick legs and one lame foot, with a face, eyes, and stature like Marcolf.

Solomon said to Marcolf: “What is thy complaint against or demand of thy sister?”

Marcolf answered: “My lord, I complain and show openly before you that my sister is a thorough harlot and a strumpet and is with child, as ye may see, and all our blood and kindred is shamed by her. That notwithstanding, she would deal and share with me in my father’s goods and heritage. Wherefore, I require you of justice that you command her that she take no part not make no claim thereto.”

Hearing this, Fudasa, replete with anger and woe, cried high and said: “You foul misshapen harlot,^[127] why should not I have my part in our father’s good and heritage? Is not Floscema mother to us both?”

Marcolf: “You shall not have any deal or part therein, for your offense clearly convicts you therefore.”

Fudasa: “God forbid that I may lose my heritage. If I have misdone, I shall amend it, but one thing I promise you and swear by God and all His might, If you will not let me be in peace and suffer me to have my part in the land, I shall show such a thing of you that the king, before it be night, shall have you hanged.”

Marcolf: “You foul stinking whore, what can you say of me? I have no man misdone. Say your worst, I dare you.”

Fudasa: “You have much misdone, foul-faced knave and ribald that you are. For you would gladly slay the king, and if ye believe me not, seek under his coat and ye shall find the knife.

Though the king’s servant sought for the knife, it was not found.

Said Marcolf to the king and the bystanders: “And have I not said truth, that men should not put overmuch trust or confidence in women?”

With that they all began to laugh.

Said Solomon: “Marcolf, thou doest everything by craft and subtlety.”

Marcolf answered: “Lord, it is no subtlety, but that my sister had promised me to have kept it a secret, and she hath falsely discovered it, as though it had been truth.”

Solomon: “Wherefore hast thou said that art or nature goeth before learning?”

Marcolf: “Be patient, and before you go to bed, I shall show you.”

The day passed over and the time of supper came on.

The king and the others sat down to supper with whom sat Marcolf,^[128] who had secretly put into his sleeve three live mice.

There was living in the king’s house a cat, that every night as the king sat at supper was wont to hold betwixt her forefeet a burning candle upon the table.^[129]

Then Marcolf let one of the mice go out of his sleeve. The cat saw it, and would have leapt after, but the king gave her a wink or face that she should bide, sitting still and not moving.

Likewise did she with the second mouse, but when Marcolf let the third mouse go, and when the cat saw, she could no longer abide, but cast the candle away and leapt after the mouse and caught it.

And as Marcolf saw it, he said to the king:

“Here I have now proved before you that nature goes before [is stronger than] learning.”^[130]

Then commanded Solomon to his servants:

“Get this man out of my sight, and if he comes hither any more, set my hounds upon him.”

Marcolf: “Now for certain I know and may say that where the head is sick and ill at ease, there is no law.”

As Marcolf was thus driven out, he said to himself: “The wise Solomon will not be rid of Marcolf so easily.”

On the following morning as he [Marcolf] rose from his couch, he thought how he might get again into the king’s court without hurt or being eaten by the [king’s] hounds.

He went and bought a live hare and put it under his clothes, and went back to the court.

And when the king’s servants saw him, they set the hounds on him; he at once threw down the hare, and the hounds went after it and left Marcolf, and thus he came again to the king.

And as he saw him, he asked who had let him in.

Marcolf answered: “With great subtlety have I come in.”

Solomon: “Be careful this day that thou spit only upon the bare ground.”^[131]

The palace was all covered with tapestries, the walls hung with rich cloth.

Marcolf, within a short time, with his talking and chattering with others, his mouth was full of spittle, and he began to cough and retch,^[132] and looking all about him, to see where he might best spit and finding no bare earth, saw a bald man standing by the king with a bare head, and spat upon his forehead.^[133]

The bald man was therewith ashamed, and cleaning his forehead, he fell on his knees before the king’s feet, and made a complaint against Marcolf.

Solomon: “Wherefore hast thou made foul the forehead of this man?”

Marcolf: “I have not made it foul, but I have dunged it or made it fat [fertile]. For on a barren ground, it behooves dung to be laid, that the grain that is sown thereon may the better grow and multiply.”

Solomon: “What is that to this man?”

Marcolf: “My lord, did you not forbid me this day to spit only upon the bare earth? And I saw his forehead all bare of hair, and thinking it be bare earth, therefore I spat upon it. The king shall not be angry for this thing for I have done it for the profit of many, for if his forehead were thus used to be made fat, the hairs should again multiply.”

Solomon: “God give thee shame! For the bald man ought to be above other men in honor, for baldness is no shame, but a beginning of worship.”

Marcolf: “Baldness is a fly’s nest. Look, sire, I see how the flies follow more his forehead than all the others that are within this house? That’s because they believethat it be a vessel turning full with some good drink or else be a stone anointed with any sweet thing, and therefore they hasten to his bare forehead.”

To this the bald man said to the king:

“Why is this most vile ribald suffered in the king’s presence to rebuke and shame us? Let him be cast out!”

Marcolf: “Be it to please thy virtue, and I shall be still.”

There came in then two women, bringing with them a living child, over which they began to strive before the king.^[134]

For the one said it belonged to her, but the one of them had substituted her [dead] child for a sleeping so that they were in strife for the living child.

Solomon said to one of his servants: “Take a sword and part this child in two pieces, and give each of them one half.”

Hearing that, the natural mother of the living child said to the king: “Lord, I beseech you, give it to that woman all whole, living, for she is the very mother thereof.”

Then said Solomon that she was the mother of the child and gave it to her.

Marcolf demanded of the king how he knew which one was the mother.^[135]

Solomon: “By changing of her color and affection, and the effusion of tears.”

Marcolf: “You might be deceived, for believe ye the weeping of the women, and are so wise and know the craft of them no better?

While a woman weeps, she laughs in her heart.^[136] They can weep with one eye and laugh with the other. They make countenance with a face that shows other than they think. They speak with the tongue that means not with the heart.^[137] They promise many times that they perform not, but they change their countenances as their minds run. Women have innumerable arts.”

Solomon: “As many arts as they have, so many good conditions and properties they have.”

Marcolf: “Say not good conditions or properties. But say shrewdness and deceptions.”

Solomon: “Surely she was a whore that bore such a son.”

Marcolf: “Why do you say that?”

Solomon: “For thou blamest all women, and they are honest, chaste, meek, loving, and courteous.”

Marcolf: “To that might ye add and say that they are untrustworthyand mutable.”

Solomon: “If they be untrustworthy, that they have many conditions: if they be changeable, that have they by spiritual sense. Woman though is made of man’s rib and given unto him for his help and comfort. For woman is as much to say as ‘weak earth’ or a ‘weak thing’.”^[138]

Marcolf: “You might just as well say a ‘soft error’.”

Solomon: “There liest thou, false caitiff. Thou must needs be evil and unhappy that sayest so much shame and harm of women. For we are all come of women, and therefore he that saith evil of the kind of women is greatly to be blamed. For what is riches, what is kingdoms, what is possessions, what is gold, what is silver, what is costly clothing or precious stones, what is costly meats or drinks, what is good company or solace, what is mirth without women?

On truth, they may well call the world dead from which women are exiled or banished. For women must bear the children, they feed and nourish them up, and love them well. She desires their health.

She governs the household. She furthers the health of her husband and household.

Woman is the spiritual root of all things. She is the sweetness of youth. She is the solace or joy of age. She is the gladness of the children. She is the joy of the day, She is the solace of the night. She is the glad end of labor. Of all heaviness she is the forgetter. She serves without grudging, and she shall watch my going out, and my coming in.”

Thereupon answered Marcolf: “He says truth that thinks with his heart as he speaks with his mouth.

You hold women in great favor, and therefore you praise them. Riches, nobleness, fairness, and wisdom be in you, and therefore it behooves you to love women. But I assure you of one thing, as much as you over-praise them now, before you sleep you ye shall dispraise them as much.”^[139]

Solomon: “Thereof thou shalt lie, for all my days I have loved women and shall during my life. But now go from me and see well to that before me thou never speak evil of women.”

Then Marcolf, going out of the king’s palace, called to him the woman that had her child to her given by the king and said to her:

“Do you know what is done and concluded in the king’s counsel today?”

She answered: “My child is given to me alive, what else was is done there that know I not?”

Then saith Marcolf: “The king hath commanded and is utterly determined that tomorrow you and your fellow shall come again before him, and that you shalt have the one half of your child and your fellow the other half.”

Then said the woman: “O what an evil king, and what false and untrue sentence he giveth!”

Marcolf said: “Yet shall I show you greater matters and more chargeable, and of greater weight. The king and his counsel have ordained that every man shall have seven wives,^[140] wherefore remember and think what is best to be done about it. For if one man has seven wives, so shall there never more be rest or peace in the house. One shall be beloved, another shall displease him. For her that he loveth most shall be most with him, and the others never or seldom. She shall be well clothed, and the other shall be forgotten. Her that he loveth best shall have rings, jewels, gold, silver, furs, and wear silks. She shall keep the keys of all the house, she shall be honored of all the servants and be called ‘Mistress.’

All his goods shall fall to her. What then say the other six? And if he love two, what shall the other five say? And if he love three, what shall the other four say? And if he love four, what shall the other three do, etc.?

That he loveth best, he shall always have by him and kiss her and embrace her.

The others shall now say that they are neither widows not wedded, not yet unwedded, not without husband. They shall now well forthink that they have their maidenhead lost. There shall ever be strife, anger, envy, and brawling reign, and if there be not found a remedy for it, many great inconveniences shall grow thereof.^[141]

And because you are a woman, and well acquainted with the conditions of women, haste thee and shew this to all the ladies and women within this city, and advise them that they consent not to it in any way, but withstand it and say against the king and his council.”

Marcolf returned to the court and hid himself in a corner. And the woman, who believedhis words to be true, ran through the city, and clapped her hands together, and cried with open mouth and shewed all that she had heard and more.

And each neighbor and gossip [goodwife] said it forth to another, so that in a short time there was a great assemble or gathering of women, well-nigh all the women that were within the city, and so they gathered, and went to the king’s palace by the number of six thousand women,^[142] and broke up doors and went to the king and with great malice and loud crying.

The king, as he heard this, asked what the cause was of their gathering. To that, one woman wiser and more eloquent than the other said unto the king:

“Most mighty prince to whom gold, silver, precious stones, and all riches are brought, you do all things as you will, and no one says anything against your pleasure. You have a queen and many queens, and over that you have concubines and paramours without number or as many as it pleases you, for ye have all that you will. So many not every man has.”^[143]

Solomon answered: “God hath anointed and made me king in Israel. May I not then do and accomplish all my will?”

She answered: “Do your will with your own, and meddle not with us. We are of the noble blood of Abraham and hold Moses’ law. Wherefore will ye then change and alter it? You are bound to do right and justice. Why then do you do injustice?”^[144]

Said Solomon with great impatience: “Thou shameful wife, what injustice or wrong do I?”

She answered: “You do as great and injustice as can be thought or imagined. For ye have ordained that every man shall now have lawfully seven wives, and certainly that shall not be. For there is not that prince, duke, or earl that so rich and powerfulis, but that one woman alone shall fulfill all his desires and will.^[145] What then should he do with seven wives? It is above any man’s might or power. It would be better ordained that one woman should have seven husbands.”

Then said Solomon laughingly: “I had not believedthat men had been fewer in number than of women.”

Then cried all the women, as if mad people, without any reason: “You are an evil king and your sentences are false and unjust.^[146] Now may we well hear and see that it is truth that we have heard of you, and that you have said evil of us, and thereto you scorn and mock us before our faces. O Lord God, who was so evil as Saul that reigned over us first? Yet David was worse, and now this Solomon is worst of all!”^[147]

Then the king, being full of wrath said: “There is no head worse than the serpent, and there is no malice like the malice of a woman, for it were better to dwell with serpents and lions, than with a wicked woman.^[148]

All evils are but little to the cursedness of a shrewd woman.^[149] All wickedness falls upon women as the sand falls in the shoes of the old people going up a hill. So a talkative and disobedient woman is a great confusion. That wife that is her husband’s master is ever contrary to him.^[150] An evil wife makes a patient heart, and a sorry face and is as the plague of the death.^[151]

 A woman was the beginning of sin, and through her we all die.^[152] The woman that is luxurious may men know the uppermost of her eyes, and by her brows. For her eyes are without reverence and there need no man wonder although she forget her husband.”^[153]

As the king had thus said, so spake Nathan the prophet and said: “My lord, why do you rebuke and shame thus all these women of Jerusalem?”

Solomon: “Have ye not heard what dishonor they have said of me without deserving?”

Nathan answered: “He that will with his subjects live in rest and peace, he must sometimes be blind, dumb, and deaf.”

Solomon: “It is to be answered to a fool after his foolishness.”

Then sprang Marcolf out of the corner that he sat in and said to the king: “Now have you spoken after mine intent. For once this day you praised women out of all measure, and now have you disparaged them as much. That is what I sought; always you make my sayings true.”^[154]

Solomon: “Thou foul evil body, knowest thou of this commotion?”

Marcolf: “No. Nevertheless, you should not give credence to all things that you hear.”

Then said the king Solomon: “Go hence from my sight, and I charge thee that I see no more betwixt thy eyes.”^[155]

Forthwith was Marcolf cast out of the king’s palace.

Then they that stood by the king said: “My lord, speak to these women somewhat what may please them to hear to the intent that they may depart.”

Then turned the king towards them and said: “Your goodness shall understand that I am not to be blamed in that that thou layest to my charge. That evil sayer, Marcolf, that thou sawest here just now, has out of himself all this matter surmised and feigned. And every man shall have his own wife and her, with faith and honesty, love and charity.

That which I have spoken against the wives, I have said it only against the froward wives. Who should of the good wives speak any evil? For a good wife makes her husband glad with her goodness.

She is a part of the living of her husband upon earth, and her learning advantages his body.^[156] She is a gift of God. A wise and still wife is a grace above graces.^[157] A good, shamefast, and honest wife is like the sun climbing up to God. A wife of good condition is the ornament or apparel of the house. She is a light brighter than the light of candles. ^[158] She is like the golden pillar standing upon her feet, and a solid foundation built upon a solid and unchanging rock, with the commandments of God ever in her mind. The Holy God of Israel bless thee and multiply thine seed and kindred unto the end of the world.” ^[159]

Then said they all ‘Amen’ and took leave of the king and went their ways.

Marcolf, bearing in his mind the unkindness that the king had commanded him that he should no more see him betwixt the eyes, thought in himself what was best to do. It happened that the next night following, there was a great snow.^[160] Marcolf took a little jaror strainerin his one hand, and a foot of a bear in the other hand, and he turned his shoes that stood forward upon his feet backwards, and upon the morning early he began to go like a beast upon all four feet through the street.

And when he had come a little outside the town, he found an old oven and crept into it. And as the light of day was oncoming, one of the king’s servants found the footsteps of Marcolf and thought that it was the trace or steps of a marvelous beast, and in all haste went and shewed it to the king.

Then, with hunters and hounds he went to hunt and seek the said wonderful beast and followed it until they come before the oven where they lost the trail and found no more of the footprints. King Solomon got down from his horse and began to look into the oven. Marcolf lay all crooked, his face turned from him,^[161] had put down his britches to his thighsthat the king could see his arsehole and his other foul parts.

As King Solomon saw these things, he demanded what lay there. Marcolf answered: “I am here.”

Solomon: “Wherefore liest thou thus?”

Marcolf: “Because you have commanded me that you should no more see me between my eyes. Now you will not see me between my eyes, you will see me between my buttocks in the middle of my arsehole.”

Then was the king sore moved, and commanded his servants to take him and hang him upon a tree.

Marcolf, so taken, said to the king: “My lord, will it please you to give me leave to choose the tree whereupon I shall hang?”^[162]

Solomon said: “Be it as thou hast desired, for it doesn’t matter on what tree thou be hanged.”

Then the king’s servants took and led Marcolf out of the city, and through the valley of Josaphat, and over the height of the hill of Olives, from thence to Jericho and could find no tree that Marcolf would choose to be hanged on.

From thence they went over the RiverJordan and all Arabia through, and so forth all the great wilderness unto the Red Sea. And nevermore could Marcolf find a tree that he would choose to be hung on.

And thus he escaped out of the danger and hands of King Solomon, and turned again unto his house, and lived in peace and love.

And so mightwe all do with the Father of Heaven above. Amen.^[163]

Printed at Antwerp by M. Gerard Leeu