[Sidenote: [TALE OF THE SIRENS.]] [Sidenote: Aliud exemplum super eodem, qualiter rex Vluxes cum a bello Troiano versus Greciam nauigio remearet, et prope illa Monstra marina, Sirenes nuncupata, angelica voce canoras, ipsum ventorum aduersitate nauigare oporteret, omnium nautarum suorum aures obturari coegit. Et sic salutari prouidencia prefultus absque periculo saluus cum sua classe Vluxes pertransiuit.] An othre thing, who that recordeth,[284] Lich unto this ensample acordeth, Which in the tale of Troie I finde. Sirenes of a wonder kynde Ben Monstres, as the bokes tellen, And in the grete Se thei duellen: Of body bothe and of visage Lik unto wommen of yong age[285] Up fro the Navele on hih thei be, And doun benethe, as men mai se, 490 Thei bere of fisshes the figure.[286] And overthis of such nature Thei ben, that with so swete a stevene Lik to the melodie of hevene In wommanysshe vois thei singe, With notes of so gret likinge, Of such mesure, of such musike, Wherof the Schipes thei beswike That passen be the costes there. For whan the Schipmen leie an Ere 500 Unto the vois, in here avys Thei wene it be a Paradys, Which after is to hem an helle. For reson may noght with hem duelle, [Sidenote: =P. i. 59=] Whan thei tho grete lustes hiere;[287] Thei conne noght here Schipes stiere, So besiliche upon the note Thei herkne, and in such wise assote, That thei here rihte cours and weie Foryete, and to here Ere obeie, 510 And seilen til it so befalle That thei into the peril falle, Where as the Schipes be todrawe, And thei ben with the Monstres slawe. Bot fro this peril natheles With his wisdom king Uluxes Ascapeth and it overpasseth; For he tofor the hond compasseth That noman of his compaignie Hath pouer unto that folie 520 His Ere for no lust to caste; For he hem stoppede alle faste,[288] That non of hem mai hiere hem singe. So whan they comen forth seilinge, Ther was such governance on honde, That thei the Monstres have withstonde And slain of hem a gret partie. Thus was he sauf with his navie, This wise king, thurgh governance. [Sidenote: Confessor.] [Sidenote: [THE SINS OF THE EYE AND THE EAR.]] Wherof, my Sone, in remembrance 530 Thou myht ensample taken hiere,[289] As I have told, and what thou hiere Be wel war, and yif no credence, Bot if thou se more evidence. [Sidenote: =P. i. 60=] For if thou woldest take kepe And wisly cowthest warde and kepe Thin yhe and Ere, as I have spoke,