#  6.1 The Physician's Tale 

 



 ##  

  expand\_more  

 
  

 

## **The Physician's Tale**

1  **Ther was, as telleth Titus Livius,**  
 There was, as Titus Livius tells,  
2  **A knyght that called was Virginius,**  
 A knight who was called Virginius,  
3  **Fulfild of honour and of worthynesse,**  
 Filled with honor and with worthiness,  
4  **And strong of freendes, and of greet richesse.**  
 And having powerful friends, and great wealth.

5  **This knyght a doghter hadde by his wyf;**  
 This knight had a daughter by his wife;  
6  **No children hadde he mo in al his lyf.**  
 No more children had he in all his life.  
7  **Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee**  
 Fair was this maid in excellent beauty  
8  **Aboven every wight that man may see;**  
 Above every person that one may see;  
9  **For Nature hath with sovereyn diligence**  
 For Nature has with her greatest diligence  
10  **Yformed hire in so greet excellence,**  
 Formed her in such great excellence,  
11  **As though she wolde seyn, "Lo! I, Nature,**  
 As though she would say, "Lo! I, Nature,  
12  **Thus kan I forme and peynte a creature,**  
 Thus can I form and paint a creature,  
13  **Whan that me list; who kan me countrefete?**  
 When I wish; who can counterfeit my work?  
14  **Pigmalion noght, though he ay forge and bete,**  
 Not Pygmalion, though he always forge and beat,  
15  **Or grave, or peynte; for I dar wel seyn**  
 Or carve, or paint; for I dare well say  
16  **Apelles, Zanzis, sholde werche in veyn**  
 Apelles or Zeuxis, should work in vain  
17  **Outher to grave, or peynte, or forge, or bete,**  
 Either to carve, or paint, or forge, or beat,  
18  **If they presumed me to countrefete.**  
 If they presumed to imitate me.  
19  **For He that is the formere principal**  
 For He who is the principal creator  
20  **Hath maked me his vicaire general,**  
 Has appointed me his Chief Deputy,  
21  **To forme and peynten erthely creaturis**  
 To form and paint earthly creatures  
22  **Right as me list, and ech thyng in my cure is**  
 Right as I wish, and in my control is each thing   
23  **Under the moone, that may wane and waxe,**  
 Under the moon, which may grow less or grow larger,  
24  **And for my werk right no thyng wol I axe;**  
 And nothing at all will I ask for my work;  
25  **My lord and I been ful of oon accord.**  
 My lord and I are fully in agreement.  
26  **I made hire to the worshipe of my lord;**  
 I made her to the worship of my lord;  
27  **So do I alle myne othere creatures,**  
 So do I all my other creatures,  
28  **What colour that they han or what figures."**  
 Whatever complexion they have or whatever shapes."  
29  **Thus semeth me that Nature wolde seye.**  
 It seems to me that Nature would say thus.

30  **This mayde of age twelve yeer was and tweye,**  
 This maid was twelve years of age and two,  
31  **In which that Nature hadde swich delit.**  
 In whom Nature had such delight.  
32  **For right as she kan peynte a lilie whit,**  
 For just as she can paint a lily white,  
33  **And reed a rose, right with swich peynture**  
 And a rose red, just so with such pigments  
34  **She peynted hath this noble creature,**  
 Has she painted this noble creature,  
35  **Er she were born, upon hir lymes fre,**  
 Before she was born, upon her noble limbs,  
36  **Where as by right swiche colours sholde be;**  
 Where such colors should rightly be;   
37  **And Phebus dyed hath hire tresses grete**  
 And Phebus has dyed her great tresses  
38  **Lyk to the stremes of his burned heete.**  
 Resembling the rays of his burnished sunbeams.  
39  **And if that excellent was hire beautee,**  
 And if her beauty was excellent,  
40  **A thousand foold moore vertuous was she.**  
 A thousand times more virtuous was she.  
41  **In hire ne lakked no condicioun**  
 In her there lacked no characteristic  
42  **That is to preyse, as by discrecioun.**  
 That is to be praised by (one with) sound moral judgement.  
43  **As wel in goost as body chast was she,**  
 As well in spirit as in body chaste was she,  
44  **For which she floured in virginitee**  
 For which she flourished in virginity  
45  **With alle humylitee and abstinence,**  
 With all humility and abstinence,  
46  **With alle attemperaunce and pacience,**  
 With all temperance and patience,  
47  **With mesure eek of beryng and array.**  
 With moderation also in demeanor and dress.  
48  **Discreet she was in answeryng alway;**  
 She was always discreet in conversation;  
49  **Though she were wis as Pallas, dar I seyn,**  
 Though she was wise as Pallas, I dare say,  
50  **Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn,**  
 Her manner of speaking was also very womanly and plain,  
51  **No countrefeted termes hadde she**  
 No pretentious terms had she  
52  **To seme wys, but after hir degree**  
 To seem wise, but in accordance with her rank in life  
53  **She spak, and alle hire wordes, moore and lesse,**  
 She spoke, and all her words, long speeches and brief,  
54  **Sownynge in vertu and in gentillesse.**  
 In accord with virtue and nobility.  
55  **Shamefast she was in maydens shamefastnesse,**  
 Modest she was in maidenly modesty,  
56  **Constant in herte, and evere in bisynesse**  
 Constant in heart, and ever diligent  
57  **To dryve hire out of ydel slogardye.**  
 To keep herself away from idle sluggishness.  
58  **Bacus hadde of hir mouth right no maistrie;**  
 Bacchus had no mastery of her mouth at all;  
59  **For wyn and youthe dooth Venus encresse,**  
 For wine and youth does increase (the power of) Venus,  
60  **As men in fyr wol casten oille or greesse.**  
 As if men would cast oil or grease into a fire.  
61  **And of hir owene vertu, unconstreyned,**  
 And of her own moral strength, of her own free choice,  
62  **She hath ful ofte tyme syk hire feyned,**  
 She has very often pretended to be ill,  
63  **For that she wolde fleen the compaignye**  
 Because she wanted to flee the company  
64  **Where likly was to treten of folye,**  
 Where there was likely to be talk of folly,  
65  **As is at feestes, revels, and at daunces,**  
 As is at feasts, revels, and at dances,  
66  **That been occasions of daliaunces.**  
 That provide opportunities for flirtations.  
67  **Swich thynges maken children for to be**  
 Such things make children to be  
68  **To soone rype and boold, as men may se,**  
 Too soon ripe and bold, as anyone can see,  
69  **Which is ful perilous and hath been yoore.**  
 Which is very perilous and has been since long ago,  
70  **For al to soone may she lerne loore**  
 For all too soon may she learn the lore  
71  **Of booldnesse, whan she woxen is a wyf.**  
 Of boldness, when she is grown to be a wife.

72  **And ye maistresses, in youre olde lyf,**  
 And you mistresses, in your old age,  
73  **That lordes doghtres han in governaunce,**  
 Who have lords' daughters in governance,  
74  **Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce.**  
 Do not take of my words any displeasure.  
75  **Thenketh that ye been set in governynges**  
 Think that you are set in charge   
76  **Of lordes doghtres oonly for two thynges:**  
 Of lords' daughters only for two things:  
77  **Outher for ye han kept youre honestee,**  
 Either because you have kept your chastity,  
78  **Or elles ye han falle in freletee,**  
 Or else you have fallen into frailty,  
79  **And knowen wel ynough the olde daunce,**  
 And know very well the tricks of the trade,  
80  **And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce**  
 And have fully renounced such misconduct  
81  **For everemo; therfore, for Cristes sake,**  
 For evermore; therefore, for Christ's sake,  
82  **To teche hem vertu looke that ye ne slake.**  
 Look that you do not desisit from teaching them virtue.

83  **A theef of venysoun, that hath forlaft**  
 A thief of venison, who has abandoned  
84  **His likerousnesse and al his olde craft,**  
 His greedy appetite and all his old craft,  
85  **Kan kepe a forest best of any man.**  
 Can guard a forest better than any other man.  
86  **Now kepeth wel, for if ye wole, ye kan.**  
 Now guard well, for if you want (to do it), you can.  
87  **Looke wel that ye unto no vice assente,**  
 Take good care that you assent unto no vice,  
88  **Lest ye be dampned for youre wikke entente;**  
 Lest you be damned for your wicked intent;  
89  **For whoso dooth, a traitour is, certeyn.**  
 For whoever does so, is a traitor, certainly.  
90  **And taketh kep of that that I shal seyn:**  
 And pay attention to what I shall say:  
91  **Of alle tresons sovereyn pestilence**  
 Of all betrayals the supreme wickedness  
92  **Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.**  
 Is when a person betrays innocence.

93  **Ye fadres and ye moodres eek also,**  
 You fathers and you mothers also as well,  
94  **Though ye han children, be it oon or mo,**  
 If you have children, be it one or more,  
95  **Youre is the charge of al hir surveiaunce,**  
 Yours is the responsibility for all their supervision,  
96  **Whil that they been under youre governaunce.**  
 While they are under your governance.  
97  **Beth war, if by ensample of youre lyvynge,**  
 Beware, lest by example of your (manner of) living,  
98  **Or by youre necligence in chastisynge,**  
 Or by your negligence in chastising,  
99  **That they ne perisse; for I dar wel seye**  
 That they should perish; for I dare well say  
100  **If that they doon, ye shul it deere abeye.**  
 If they do, you shall dearly pay for it.  
101  **Under a shepherde softe and necligent**  
 Under a soft and negligent shepherd   
102  **The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb torent.**  
 The wolf has many a sheep and lamb torn to pieces.  
103  **Suffiseth oon ensample now as heere,**  
 Let one ensample sufficefor the present,  
104  **For I moot turne agayn to my matere.**  
 For I must turn again to my subject.

105  **This mayde, of which I wol this tale expresse,**  
 This maiden, of whom I will narrate this tale,  
106  **So kepte hirself hir neded no maistresse,**  
 So guarded herself she needed no governess  
107  **For in hir lyvyng maydens myghten rede,**  
 For in her manner of life maidens might read,  
108  **As in a book, every good word or dede**  
 As in a book, every good word or deed  
109  **That longeth to a mayden vertuous,**  
 That is proper to a virtuous maiden,  
110  **She was so prudent and so bountevous.**  
 She was so prudent and so filled with good.  
111  **For which the fame out sprong on every syde,**  
 For which sprang out all around the fame,  
112  **Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde,**  
 Both of her beauty and her goodness widespread,  
113  **That thurgh that land they preised hire echone**  
 So that throughout that land they praised her everyone  
114  **That loved vertu, save Envye allone,**  
 Who loved virtue, save Envy alone,  
115  **That sory is of oother mennes wele**  
 Who is sorry of other men's prosperity  
116  **And glad is of his sorwe and his unheele.**  
 And is glad of his sorrow and his misery.  
117  **(The Doctour maketh this descripcioun.)**  
 (The Doctor \[St. Augustine\] makes this description.)

118  **This mayde upon a day wente in the toun**  
 This maid upon a day went in the town  
119  **Toward a temple, with hire mooder deere,**  
 Toward a temple, with her mother dear,  
120  **As is of yonge maydens the manere.**  
 As is the manner of young maidens.  
121  **Now was ther thanne a justice in that toun,**  
 Now was there then a justice in that town,  
122  **That governour was of that regioun.**  
 Who was governor of that region.  
123  **And so bifel this juge his eyen caste**  
 And it so happened that this judge cast his eyes   
124  **Upon this mayde, avysynge hym ful faste,**  
 Upon this maid, considering her very intently,  
125  **As she cam forby ther as this juge stood.**  
 As she passed by where this judge stood.  
126  **Anon his herte chaunged and his mood,**  
 Immediately his heart changed and his mood,  
127  **So was he caught with beautee of this mayde,**  
 So was he caught by the beauty of this maid,  
128  **And to hymself ful pryvely he sayde,**  
 And to himself very secretly he said,  
129  **"This mayde shal be myn, for any man!"**  
 "This maid shall be mine, despite what any man (may do)!"

130  **Anon the feend into his herte ran,**  
 Immediately. the fiend ran into his heart,  
131  **And taughte hym sodeynly that he by slyghte**  
 And taught him suddenly that he by trickery   
132  **The mayden to his purpos wynne myghte.**  
 Could win the maiden to his purpose.  
133  **For certes, by no force ne by no meede,**  
 For certainly, not by any force nor by any bribery,  
134  **Hym thoughte, he was nat able for to speede;**  
 He thought, would he be able to succeed;  
135  **For she was strong of freendes, and eek she**  
 For she had powerful friends, and also she  
136  **Confermed was in swich soverayn bountee**  
 Was confirmed in such supreme goodness  
137  **That wel he wiste he myghte hire nevere wynne**  
 That he knew well he could never win her   
138  **As for to make hire with hir body synne.**  
 And make her sin with her body.  
139  **For which, by greet deliberacioun,**  
 For which, after great deliberation,  
140  **He sente after a cherl, was in the toun,**  
 He sent for a churl, who was in the town,  
141  **Which that he knew for subtil and for boold.**  
 Whom he knew for trickery and for boldness.  
142  **This juge unto this cherl his tale hath toold**  
 This judge unto this churl his tale has told  
143  **In secree wise, and made hym to ensure**  
 Secretly, and made him swear   
144  **He sholde telle it to no creature,**  
 He should tell it to no creature,  
145  **And if he dide, he sholde lese his heed.**  
 And if he did, he should lose his head.  
146  **Whan that assented was this cursed reed,**  
 When this cursed plot was agreed upon  
147  **Glad was this juge, and maked him greet cheere,**  
 Glad was this judge, and made much of him (the churl),  
148  **And yaf hym yiftes preciouse and deere.**  
 And gave him precious and expensive gifts.

149  **Whan shapen was al hire conspiracie**  
 When all their conspiracy was planned  
150  **Fro point to point, how that his lecherie**  
 In great detail, how his lechery  
151  **Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly,**  
 Should be accomplished very subtly,  
152  **As ye shul heere it after openly,**  
 As you shall later hear it clearly,  
153  **Hoom gooth the cherl, that highte Claudius.**  
 Home goes the churl, who is called Claudius.  
154  **This false juge, that highte Apius,**  
 This false judge, who is called Apius,  
155  **(So was his name, for this is no fable,**  
 (Such was his name, for this is no fable,  
156  **But knowen for historial thyng notable;**  
 But known for a noteworthy historical fact;  
157  **The sentence of it sooth is, out of doute),**  
 The substance of it is true, beyond doubt),  
158  **This false juge gooth now faste aboute**  
 This false judge goes now fast about  
159  **To hasten his delit al that he may.**  
 Hastening his delight all that he can.  
160  **And so bifel soone after, on a day,**  
 And so it happened soon after, on a certain day,  
161  **This false juge, as telleth us the storie,**  
 This false judge, as the story tells us,  
162  **As he was wont, sat in his consistorie,**  
 As he was accustomed, sat in his court,  
163  **And yaf his doomes upon sondry cas.**  
 And gave his judgements upon various cases.  
164  **This false cherl cam forth a ful greet pas,**  
 This false churl came forth at a very rapid pace,  
165  **And seyde, "Lord, if that it be youre wille,**  
 And said, "Lord, if it be your will,  
166  **As dooth me right upon this pitous bille,**  
 Do me justice concerning this piteous formal complaint,  
167  **In which I pleyne upon Virginius;**  
 In which I complain about Virginius;  
168  **And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus,**  
 And if he will say it is not thus,  
169  **I wol it preeve, and fynde good witnesse,**  
 I will prove it, and find good evidence,  
170  **That sooth is that my bille wol expresse."**  
 That what my formal complaint will express is truth."

171  **The juge answerde, "Of this, in his absence,**  
 The judge answered, "Of this, in his absence,  
172  **I may nat yeve diffynytyf sentence.**  
 I can not give definitive judgment.  
173  **Lat do hym calle, and I wol gladly heere;**  
 Let him be called, and I will gladly hear (the case);  
174  **Thou shalt have al right, and no wrong heere."**  
 Thou shalt have all justice, and no wrong here."

175  **Virginius cam to wite the juges wille,**  
 Virginius came to learn the judge's will,  
176  **And right anon was rad this cursed bille;**  
 And right away this cursed complaint was read;  
177  **The sentence of it was as ye shul heere:**  
 The substance of it was as you shall hear:

178  **"To yow, my lord, sire Apius so deere,**  
 "To you, my lord, Sir Apius so dear,  
179  **Sheweth youre povre servant Claudius**  
 Your poor servant Claudius shows  
180  **How that a knyght, called Virginius,**  
 How a knight, called Virginius,  
181  **Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitee,**  
 Against the law, against all equity,  
182  **Holdeth, expres agayn the wyl of me,**  
 Expressly against my will, holds   
183  **My servant, which that is my thral by right,**  
 My servant, who is my slave by right,  
184  **Which fro myn hous was stole upon a nyght,**  
 Who was stolen from my house upon one night,  
185  **Whil that she was ful yong; this wol I preeve**  
 While she was very young; this will I prove  
186  **By witnesse, lord, so that it nat yow greeve.**  
 By evidence, lord, providing that you be not displeased.  
187  **She nys his doghter nat, what so he seye.**  
 She is not his daughter, whatever he may say.  
188  **Wherfore to yow, my lord the juge, I preye,**  
 Therefore to you, my lord judge, I pray,  
189  **Yeld me my thral, if that it be youre wille."**  
 Yield me my slave, if it be your will."  
190  **Lo, this was al the sentence of his bille.**  
 Lo, this was all the substance of his complaint.

191  **Virginius gan upon the cherl biholde,**  
 Virginius began to look upon the churl,  
192  **But hastily, er he his tale tolde,**  
 Hastily, before he finished telling his tale,  
193  **And wolde have preeved it as sholde a knyght,**  
 And would have proven it as a knight should (by battle),  
194  **And eek by witnessyng of many a wight,**  
 And also by the evidence of many a person,  
195  **That al was fals that seyde his adversarie,**  
 That all that his adversary said was false,  
196  **This cursed juge wolde no thyng tarie,**  
 This cursed judge would not at all delay,  
197  **Ne heere a word moore of Virginius,**  
 Nor hear one word more from Virginius,  
198  **But yaf his juggement, and seyde thus:**  
 But gave his judgment, and said thus:

199  **"I deeme anon this cherl his servant have;**  
 "I decide that this churl should have his slave right now;  
200  **Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir save.**  
 Thou shalt no longer keep her in thine house.  
201  **Go bryng hire forth, and put hire in oure warde.**  
 Go bring her forth, and put her in our guardianship.  
202  **The cherl shal have his thral, this I awarde."**  
 The churl shall have his slave, this I decree."

203  **And whan this worthy knyght Virginius**  
 And when this worthy knight Virginius  
204  **Thurgh sentence of this justice Apius**  
 Because of the verdict of this justice Apius  
205  **Moste by force his deere doghter yiven**  
 By force had to give his dear daughter  
206  **Unto the juge, in lecherie to lyven,**  
 Unto the judge, to live in lechery,  
207  **He gooth hym hoom, and sette him in his halle,**  
 He goes home, and sat himself in his hall,  
208  **And leet anon his deere doghter calle,**  
 And immediately had his dear daughter called,  
209  **And with a face deed as asshen colde**  
 And with a face as dead as cold ashes   
210  **Upon hir humble face he gan biholde,**  
 Upon her humble face he did behold,  
211  **With fadres pitee stikynge thurgh his herte,**  
 With a father's pity stabbing through his heart,  
212  **Al wolde he from his purpos nat converte.**  
 Although he would not deviate from his purpose.

213  **"Doghter," quod he, "Virginia, by thy name,**  
 "Daughter," said he, "Virginia, by thy name,  
214  **Ther been two weyes, outher deeth or shame,**  
 There are two ways, either death or shame,  
215  **That thou most suffre; allas, that I was bore!**  
 That thou most suffer; alas, that I was born!  
216  **For nevere thou deservedest wherfore**  
 For never thou deservedest for whatever reason  
217  **To dyen with a swerd or with a knyf.**  
 To die by a sword or by a knife.  
218  **O deere doghter, endere of my lyf,**  
 O dear daughter, ender of my life,  
219  **Which I have fostred up with swich plesaunce**  
 Whom I have nurured with such pleasure  
220  **That thou were nevere out of my remembraunce!**  
 That thou were never out of my thoughts!  
221  **O doghter, which that art my laste wo,**  
 O daughter, who art my greatest woe,  
222  **And in my lyf my laste joye also,**  
 And in my life my greatest joy also,  
223  **O gemme of chastitee, in pacience**  
 O gem of chastity, in patience  
224  **Take thou thy deeth, for this is my sentence.**  
 Take thou thy death, for this is my decision.  
225  **For love, and nat for hate, thou most be deed;**  
 For love, and not for hate, thou must be dead;  
226  **My pitous hand moot smyten of thyn heed.**  
 My piteous hand must smite off thy head.  
227  **Allas, that evere Apius the say!**  
 Alas, that ever Apius saw thee!  
228  **Thus hath he falsly jugged the to-day" --**  
 For that reason he has falsely judged thee to-day" --  
229  **And tolde hire al the cas, as ye bifore**  
 And told her the whole business, as you before  
230  **Han herd; nat nedeth for to telle it moore.**  
 Have heard; there is no need to tell it again.

231  **"O mercy, deere fader!" quod this mayde,**  
 "O mercy, dear father!" said this maid,  
232  **And with that word she bothe hir armes layde**  
 And with that word she both her arms laid  
233  **Aboute his nekke, as she was wont to do.**  
 About his neck, as she was accustomed to do.  
234  **The teeris bruste out of hir eyen two,**  
 The tears burst out of her two eyes,  
235  **And seyde, "Goode fader, shal I dye?**  
 And said, "Good father, must I dye?  
236  **Is ther no grace, is ther no remedye?"**  
 Is there no grace, is there no remedy?"

237  **"No, certes, deere doghter myn," quod he.**  
 "No, certainly, dear daughter mine," said he.

238  **"Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn," quod she,**  
 "Then give me time, father mine," said she,  
239  **"My deeth for to compleyne a litel space;**  
 "To lament my death for a little while;  
240  **For, pardee, Jepte yaf his doghter grace**  
 For, truly, Jeptha gave his daughter grace  
241  **For to compleyne, er he hir slow, allas!**  
 To lament, before he slew her, alas!  
242  **And, God it woot, no thyng was hir trespas,**  
 And, God knows it, her trespass was nothing,  
243  **But for she ran hir fader first to see,**  
 Except that she ran first to see her father,  
244  **To welcome hym with greet solempnitee."**  
 To welcome him with great solemnity."  
245  **And with that word she fil aswowne anon,**  
 And with that word immediately she fell in a swoon,  
246  **And after, whan hir swownyng is agon,**  
 And afterwards, when her swooning is gone,  
247  **She riseth up, and to hir fader sayde,**  
 She rises up, and to her father said,  
248  **"Blissed be God that I shal dye a mayde!**  
 "Blessed be God that I shall die a maid!  
249  **Yif me my deeth, er that I have a shame;**  
 Give me my death, before I have dishonor;  
250  **Dooth with youre child youre wyl, a Goddes name!"**  
 Do with your child your will, in God's name!"

251  **And with that word she preyed hym ful ofte**  
 And with that word she prayed him repeatedly  
252  **That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe;**  
 That with his sword he would smite gently;  
253  **And with that word aswowne doun she fil.**  
 And with that word down she fell in a swoon.  
254  **Hir fader, with ful sorweful herte and wil,**  
 Her father, with very sorrowful heart and will,  
255  **Hir heed of smoot, and by the top it hente,**  
 Struck off her head, and by the hair siezed it,  
256  **And to the juge he gan it to presente,**  
 And he did present it to the judge,  
257  **As he sat yet in doom in consistorie.**  
 As he sat yet rendering judgements in court.  
258  **And whan the juge it saugh, as seith the storie,**  
 And when the judge saw it, as says the story,  
259  **He bad to take hym and anhange hym faste;**  
 He ordered \[his men\] to take him and hang him at once;  
260  **But right anon a thousand peple in thraste,**  
 But right away a thousand people burst in,  
261  **To save the knyght, for routhe and for pitee,**  
 To save the knight, for compassion and for pity,  
262  **For knowen was the false iniquitee.**  
 For the false wickedness was known.  
263  **The peple anon had suspect in this thyng,**  
 The people immediately suspected in this matter,  
264  **By manere of the cherles chalangyng,**  
 Because of the manner of the churl's claim,  
265  **That it was by the assent of Apius;**  
 That it was by the conspiring of Apius;  
266  **They wisten wel that he was lecherus.**  
 They knew well that he was lecherous.  
267  **For which unto this Apius they gon**  
 For which unto this Apius they go  
268  **And caste hym in a prisoun right anon,**  
 And cast him in a prison straightway,  
269  **Ther as he slow hymself; and Claudius,**  
 Where he slew himself; and Claudius,  
270  **That servant was unto this Apius,**  
 Who was servant unto this Apius,  
271  **Was demed for to hange upon a tree,**  
 Was condemned to hang upon a tree,  
272  **But that Virginius, of his pitee,**  
 Except that Virginius, of his pity,  
273  **So preyde for hym that he was exiled;**  
 So prayed for him (Claudius) that he was exiled;  
274  **And elles, certes, he had been bigyled.**  
 And also, certainly, he had been tricked (by Apius).  
275  **The remenant were anhanged, moore and lesse,**  
 The remnant were hanged, high ranking and low,  
276  **That were consentant of this cursednesse.**  
 Who were accessories to this crime.

277  **Heere may men seen how synne hath his merite.**  
 Here may men see how sin has its reward.  
278  **Beth war, for no man woot whom God wol smyte**  
 Beware, for no man knows whom God will smite  
279  **In no degree, ne in which manere wyse;**  
 In any rank, nor in what sort of way;  
280  **The worm of conscience may agryse**  
 The worm of conscience may tremble for fear  
281  **Of wikked lyf, though it so pryvee be**  
 Because of a wicked life, though it so secret be  
282  **That no man woot therof but God and he.**  
 That no man knows about it but God and he.  
283  **For be he lewed man, or ellis lered,**  
 For be he ignorant man, or else learned,  
284  **He noot how soone that he shal been afered.**  
 He knows not how soon he shall be terrified.  
285  **Therfore I rede yow this conseil take:**  
 Therefore I advise you to take this counsel:  
286  **Forsaketh synne, er synne yow forsake.**  
 Abandon sin, before sin abandons you.

 *Heere is ended the Phisiciens Tale*