The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

& bygynnithe þe tale

[THE PROLOGUE.]

Ohatfulle harme condicion of pouert With thrust with colde with hungre so confunded To asken helpe þe shameth in þine hert If þou now axe with nede arte þou so wounded That verray nede vnwrappid al þi wounde hyd [Sloane MS 1685 folio 63b] Maugre þine hede þou moste for Indegens Or stele or begge or borowe þi dispense Line 105

Thou blamest crist & seyst fulle vtterly He in his departith rychesse temporal Thy neghboure þou witest synfully And seyste þou haste to lytelle & he hath alle Line 109 Par fay seyste þou some tyme þou reken shalle Whan þat his tayle shal brenne in þe glede ffor he nouȝt helpith nedefulle in her nede Line 112

Herkene what ys þe menynge of þe wise Bet is to dien þan to haue Indigence · Thy self neghbore wol þe dispice If þou be pore fare wele þi reuerence Line 116 Ȝet of þe wise man take þis sentence · Alle dayes of pore men be wykke Be ware þerfore or þou com in þat prik / Line 119

If þou be pore þi Brother hatith þe Alle þi ffrendes fleen fro þe Allas · O riche merchantes ful of wele be ȝe O noble prudent folke as in þis cas youre bagges buth not fullyd with ambes ais But with sys synke þat renneth of your chaunce. At cristes masse merie may ye daunce. Line 126

Line 126

Ȝe sechen londe and See for your wynnynges As wyse folkes þat knowen alle þe staat / Of regnes ye ben fadres & tydynges And tales bothen of pees & debate Line 130 I were riȝt nowe of talys dissolate Nere þat a marchaunt goon ys many ·a· yeere Me taught a tale whiche as · ȝe shal here

[THE TALE.]

[PART I.]

In Surry whilom dwellede a c[u]mpaignye [folio 196a] Of chapmen riche & þerto sadde & trewe That wide where sentyn here spicerye Clothis of gold & satynys ryche of hewe Line 137 Here chaffare was so thrifty & so newe That euery wight hath deynte to chaffare With hem & ek to sellen hem here ware Line 140

Now fil it that þe maysteris of þat sort Han shapyn hem to rome for to wende Were it for chapmanhod or for disport Non oþer message wolde he dedyr sende Line 144 But comyn hem self to rome þis is thende And in swich place as thoghte hem thawauntage ffor hire entent þey take hire herbergage Line 147

Soiournyd han þese marchauntis in þat toun A serteyn tyme as fel to here plesaunce But so be-fel þat thexselent renoun Of themperourys doghter dame Custaunce Line 151 Reportid was with euery circumstance Vn-to thys surryne marchantys in swich wise ffrom day to day as I schal ȝow deuyse Line 154

This was the comune voys of euery man Oure emperoure of rome god hym se A doughtir hath þat syn þe world be-gan To rekene as wel here goodnes as here beute Line 158 Was neuere swich a-noþer as is sche I preye to god in honour here sustene And wolde sche were of al Europe þ^e quene Line 161

Line 161

In here is high beute with-oute pryde Ȝouthe with-oute grenehede or folye To alle here werkys vertu is here gyde Humblesse hath slayn in here al tyrannye Line 165 Sche is myrour of alle curteysye Here herte is verray chambyr of holynesse Hire hand mynystre of fredom for almesse Line 168

And al þis voys was soth as god is trewe [folio 196b] But now to purpos lat vs turne ageyn These marchantys han don frauȝt here schepis newe And whan þey han þis blysful maydyn seyn Line 172 Hom to surry ben þey went ful feyn And on here nedys as þey don ful ȝore / And lyuen in wele I can sey ȝow no more Line 175

Now fil it þat these marchantys stode in grace Of hym þat was þe soudon of surrye ffor whan þey come from ony strange place He wolde of hese benygne curteysye Line 179 Make hem good cher & besyly espye Tydyngis of sundery regnys for to lere The wonderis þat he myghte sen or here Line 182

Amongis oþere thyngis specially These marchauntis han hym told of dame Custaunce So gret noblesse in ernest certeynly That this soudan hath cauȝt so gret plesaunce Line 186 To han hyre fygure in hese remembraunce And al hese lust & al hese besy cure Was for to loue here whil his lyf may dure Line 189

Perauenture in thilke large boke Which þat clepid is þe heuene I-wretyn was With sterrys whan þat he hese berthe tok That he for loue schulde han hese deth allas Line 193

Line 193 ffor in þe sterris clerere than is glas Is wrete god wot ho so coude it rede The deth of euery man / with outyn any drede Line 196

In sterrys manye a wyntyr there be-forn Was wretyn þe deth of ector achilles Of pompeye Ielyus er þey were born The stryf of thebes & of hercules Line 200 Of sampson Thurnus & of socrates The deth but menys wittys ben so dulle That no with can wel rede it at þe fulle Line 203

This soudon for hese priuy conseyl sente [folio 197a] And schortely of þis matiere for to pace He hath to hem declarede his entente And seyde serteyn but he myȝte han grace Line 207 To han custaunce with-inne a lytyl space He nas but ded & chargede hem in hye To schapyn for hese lyf sum remedye Line 210

Dyuerse men dyuerse thyngys seydyn They argumentyn & castyn vp & doun Manye a subtyle resoun forth þey leydyn They spekyn of Magyk & Abusioūn Line 214 But fynally as in conclusioun They can not sen in that non auantage Ne in non othir woye saue maryage Line 217

Thanne sawe they þerin swich difficulte Be weye of resoun for to speke al pleeyn Be cause þere was / swich dyuercyte Be-twethyn here bothe lawys þat þey seyn Line 221 They trowede that no crystene prynce wolde fayn Weddyn his chyld vndyr oure lawys swete That vs was tauȝt be mahoun oure prophete Line 224

Line 224

And he answerde raþere than I lese Constance I wele ben cristened douteles I mote ben hers / I may non oþer chese I prey ȝow holde ȝoure argument in pes Line 228 Sauyth myn lyf & beth nat recheles To getyn here that hath myn lyf in cure ffor in þis wo I may not longe endure Line 231

What nedyth grettere dilatacioun I sey be tretys & enbassadrye And bi þe popis mediacioun And al the cherch & þe chyualrye Line 235 That in distruccioun of mametrye And in encres of Crystes lawe dere They ben ecordit so as ȝe schal here Line 238

How þat the soudan & hese baronage [folio 197b] And alle hese lyges schulde cristenede be And he schal haue custaunce in maryage And serteyn gold I not what quantyte Line 242 And heer to fyndyn sufficient suretee This same a-cord was sworn on eyþer syde Now fayre Custaunce al-myȝty god ȝow gyde Line 245

Now wolde sum men waytyn as I gesse Ȝit I schulde telle al þe puruyaunce That þe emperour of his greete noblesse Hath schapyn for hese doughtur dame Custaunce Wel may men knowe þat so gret ordenaunce May no man telle in swich a lytyl clause As was arayed for so high a cause Line 252

Byschopis ben schapyn with here for to wende Lordyngis ladyis knyȝtis of renoun And oþere folk I-nowe this is the ende And notyfyed is thorw out þe toun Line 256

Line 256 That euery knyȝt with gret deuocioun Schulde preye crist þat he this maryage Receyue In gre & spede þis viage Line 259

The day is come of here departynge I sey the woful fatal day is come That þere may be no lengere taryinge But forward þey hem drese alle & some Line 263 Custaunce that was with sorwe al ouyrcome fful pale a-ryst & dreseth here to wende ffor weel sche seeth there is non oþer ende Line 266

Allas no wondir is it þow sche wepte That schal be sent in-to straunge nacioun ffor frendys that so tenderely here kepte And to ben boundyn vndyr subieccyoun Line 270 Of on sche knowyth not hese condicioun Housbondis ben alle goode & han been ȝore That knowyn wyuys I dar sey ȝow no moore Line 273

ffadyr sche seyde þyn wrechede chyld Custaunce [folio 198a] Thi ȝonge douȝty fosterede vp so softe And ȝe myn modyr myn souereyn plesaunce Ouer alle thynge out take cryst on lofte Line 277 Custaunce ȝore child hire recomaundyth ofte Vn-to ȝoure grace for I schal to surrye Ne schal I neuere sen ȝow more with eye Line 280

Allas vn-to þe barbre nacioun I muste anon sithe þat it is ȝoure wille But cryst þat starf for our redempcyoun So ȝeue me grace hese hestis to fulfylle Line 284 I wreche woman no fors thow I spille Wemen are bore to thraldam & penaunce And to ben vndyr manys gouernaunce Line 287

Line 287

I trowe at troye whan pirrus brak þe wal Or ylion brende at thebes the cetee Nat rome for þe harm þorw hanybal That romaynys han enqueschid tymys three Line 291 Nas herd swich tendere wepyng for pete As in the chaumbere was for here departynge But forth sche muste / where so sche wepe or synge Line 294

O fyrste moeuyng crewel fyrmament With thi dyurnal which þat croudist ay And hurlyst al from est til occident That naturally wolde holde a-noþer way Line 298 Thi croudyng set þe heuene in swich aray At þe begynynge of this ferse viage That crewel mars hath slaye þis maryage Line 301

Infortunat ascendent tortuous Of which þe lord is helpeles falle allas Out of hese angels in-to þe derkeste hous O mars o ataȝer as in this cas Line 305 O febele mone vn-happi ben thi pas Thow knyttist þe þere þat art not reseyuyd There þow were wel from thens art thow weyuyd Line 308

Inprudent Emperour of Rome allas [folio 198b] Whas þere no philisophere in al thyn toun Is no tyme bet þan oþer in swich cas Of viage is þere non eleccioun Line 312 And namely to folk of high condicioun Nat whan a rote is of a burthe I-knowe Allas we ben to lewede & to slowe Line 315

To schip is brouȝt this woful fayre mayde Solempnely with euery circumstaunce Now Ihesu crist be with ȝow alle sche seide There is namore but fare wel fayre Custaunce Line 319

Line 319 Sche peynyth here to make good cuntenaunce And forth I lete here sayle in this manere And turne I wele a-geyn to myn matere Line 322

The modyr of the soudon welle of vices Espyed hath here sonys pleyn entente How he wolde lete his olde sacrifises And ryȝt a-non sche for here conseyl sente Line 326 And they be come to knowe what sche mente And whan assembelede were þe folk en feere Sche sette here doun & seyde as ȝe schal here Line 329

Lordys quod sche ȝe heryn euerychon How þat myn sone in poynt is for to lete The holy lawis of oure alkaron Ȝeuen be goddys message Makomete Line 333 But on a wow to grete god I heete The lyf schal raþere out of myn body sterte On makometes lawe out of myn herte Line 336

What schulde vs tydyn of this newe lawe But thraldam to oure bodyis & penaunce And aftyr in helle for to be drawe ffor we reneyede mahoun oure creaunce Line 340 But lordis wele ȝe makyn a suraunce As I schal seyn assentynge to myn lore And I schal make vs saf for euere more Line 343

They sworyn & assentyn euery man [folio 199a] To lyue with hyre & deye & by here stonde And eueryche in þe beste wyse sche can To strenthe here schal alle here frendis fonde Line 347 And sche hath this empryse take on honde Whiche ȝe schal here that I schal deuyse An[d] to hem alle sche spak ryth in þis wyse Line 350

Line 350

We schul fyrst feyne vs cristene-dam to take Cold watyr schal nat greue vs but a lite And I schal swich a feste & reuel make That as I trowe I schal the soudon quyte Line 354 ffor thow hese wyf be crystenede neuere so whyte Sche schal han neede to wasche a-wey the reede Thow sche a funt ful of watyr with here leede Line 357

O soudonesse roote of iniquite Virago thow semiame the secunde O serpent vndyr femynynyte Lyk to the serpent deepe in helle I-bounde Line 361 O feynede woman al that may conffounde Vertu & innocence thour thyn maleyce Is bred in þe / as nest in euery vice Line 364

O satan enuyous syn thilke day That þou were chasede þour oure erytage Wel knowyst þou to wemen þe elde way Thow madist eua brynge vs in seruage Line 368 Thow wilt for-don this cristene maryage Thyn Instreument so weyleawey the whyle Makyst þou of wemen wan þou wit begile Line 371

This soudonesse whom I þus blame & warye Let pryuyly hire conseyl gon here way What schulde I in this tale lengere tarye Sche rydith to þe soudan on a day Line 375 And seyde he wolde receyue hire lay And cristendom of prestis hondis fonge Repentynge hire sche hethene was so longe Line 378

Be-sekynge hem to don here þat honour [folio 199b] That sche muste haue þe crystene folk to feste To plesyn hem I wele don myn labour The soudon seyth I wele don at ȝoure heste Line 382

Line 382 And kenelynge thankyth here of þat requeste So glad he was he nyste what to seye Sche kyste here sone / & hom sche goth here weye Line 385

[PART II.]

Aryuede ben these crystene men to londe In surrey with a gret solempne route And hastiliche þis soudan sente hese sonde ffyrst to hese modir & al hese regne a-boute Line 389 And seyde hese wyf was comyn out of doute And preyede hire to ryde a-ȝen þe quene The honour of hese regne to sustene Line 392

Gret was þe pres & riche was tharay Of surreynys & romeynys met in fere The modyr of the soudan ryche & gay Receyuyth hire with also glad a chere Line 396 As any modir myȝte hire douȝtyr dere And to þe nexte sete þere be syde A softe pas solempnely þey ryde Line 399

Noght trowe I þe triumphe of Iulius Of which þat lucan makyth swich a bost Was royallere ne more curyous þan was thasemble of þis blysful ost Line 403 But þis scorpioun þis wekede gost The soudonesse for al hyre flaterynge Caste vndyr this ful mortali to stynge Line 406

The soudan comyth hym self sone aftyr this So royali þat wondir is to telle He wolcomyth hire with al ioye & blys And þus in merthe & ioye I lete hem dwelle Line 410

Line 410 The freut of this matiere is þat I telle Whan tyme cam men thouȝte it for þe beste That reuel stynte & men gone to here reste Line 413

The tyme cam this olde soudonesse [folio 200a] Ordeynyd hath this feste of which I telle And to þe feste cristene folk hym dresse In general ȝe bothe ȝynge & olde Line 417 Here may men feste & rialte be-holde And deynteis mo þan I can ȝow deuyse But al to dere they bouȝte it er they ryse Line 420

O sodeyn wo that euere art successour To wordely blysse spreynt with bittyrnesse Thende of the ioye of oure wordely labour Who occupiet the fyn of oure gladnesse Line 424 Herkene þis conseyl for thyn sekyrnesse Vp-on thyn glade day haue in thyn mynde The onwar wo or harm that comyth be-hynde Line 427

ffor schortely for to tellyn at on word The soudon & the crystene euerychone Ben al to-hewe & stikid at the bord But it were only dame custaunce a-lone Line 431 This olde soudanesse cursede crone Hath with here frendis don this curssede dede ffor sche here selue wolde at the cuntre lede Line 434

Ne þere was surreyn non that was conuertid That of the conseyl of the soudon wot That he was hewe er that he a-sterted And custaunce han they take a-non fot hot Line 438 And in a schip al stereles god wot They han hire set & bidde hire lerne sayle Out of surrie a-geyn ward to ytayle Line 441

Line 441

A serteyn trosor that sche theþer ladde And soth to sayn vitayle gret plente They han hyre ȝeuyn & clothis ech sche hadde And forth sche saylyth in the salte see Line 445 O myn custaunce ful of benyngnete O emperouris douȝtyr ȝonge dere He that is lord of fortune be thi stere Line 448

Sche blysseth hire & with ful pitous voys [folio 200b] On to the Croys of crist thus seyde sche O cler o wilful auter holy cros Reed of the lambis blod ful of pite Line 452 That wesch þe world from old iniquite Me from the fend & from hese clawis kepe That day þat I schal drenchyn in þe deepe Line 455

Victorious tre protexioun of trewe That only worthy were for to bere The kyng of heuene withese woundis newe The white lomb that hurt was wyt a spere Line 459 fflemere of feendis out of hym & hire On which thyn lyfis feythfully extenden Me kep & ȝif me myȝt myn lyf to a-menden Line 462

Ȝeerys & dayis fleth this creature Torw-out the strem of grece in-to strayte Of marrok whiche that was hese auenture On manye a sory Mel now may ȝe beyte Line 466 Aftyr hire deth ful ofte may sche wayte Er than þe wylde wawys wole here dryue Vn-to the place there sche schal a-ryue Line 469

Men myȝtyn axsyn whi sche was not slayn Ek at the feste ho myȝte hire body saue And I answere to that demaunde a-gayn Ho sauede daniel in þe orybele caue Line 473

Line 473 There euery with saue he maystyr & knave Was with the lyoun frete er he a-sterte Non wigh but god þat he bar in hese herte Line 476

God lyste to schewe his wondyrful merakele In hire for we schud sen hise myȝty werkys Cryst which þat is / to euery harm tryakele Be serteyn mene oftyn as knowyn klerkes Line 480 Doth thyng to serteyn ende þat ful derk is To mannys wit that for oure ignoraunce Ne kunne not knowe hese prudent puruyaunce Line 483

Now sythe sche was not at the feste slawee [folio 201a] Who kepte hyre from the drenchynge in þe see Who kepte Ionas in the fyschis mawee Thil he was spoutid out at niniuee Line 487 Wel may men knowe it was no wiȝt but he That kepte þe peple Ebrayk from here drenchynge With dreye feet thorw-out þe se passynge Line 490

Who bad the foure spirytis of tempest That power han tanoyen lond & se Bothe north & south & also west & est Anoyeth neyþer se lond ne tree Line 494 Sothly the comaundour was hee That from the tempest ay this woman kepte As wel whan sche wok as whan sche slepte Line 497

Where myȝte this woman mete or drynk haue Thre ȝer & more how lastyth hire vitayle Ho fedde þe egipcien marye in þe caue Or in desert no wiȝt but crist sauns fayle Line 501 ffyue thousent folk it was a gret meruayle With louys fyue & fyschis too to feede God sente hese foysoun at here moste neede Line 504

Line 504

Sche dryuyth forth in-to oure occian Thour-out oure wilde see til at þe laste Vndyr an hold þat nemenyn I ne can ffor in northumbyrlond the wawis hire caste Line 508 And in þe se hire schip stekede so faste That þens ne wolde it not of al a tide The wyl of here was þat sche schulde a-byde Line 511

The constabele of þe Castel doun is fare To sen þis wrak & al þe schip he souȝte And fond þis wery woman ful of care He fond also þe tresore þat sche brouȝte Line 515 In hyre langage mercy sche be-souȝte The lyf out of hire body to twynne Hire to delyuere of woo þat sche was inne Line 518

A maner latyn corupt was hire speche [folio 201b] But algatis þerbi was sche vndir-stonde The Constabele whan hym lyste no lengere seche This woful woman brouȝte he to the londe Line 522 Sche knelyth doun & thankyth godis sonde But what sche was sche durste no man seye ffor foul ne fayr thow þat sche schulde deye Line 525

Sche seyde sche was so masede in the see That sche forgat hire mynde by hyre trouthe The cunstabele hath of hire gret pite And ek his wif that þey wepe for routhe Line 529 Sche was so diligent with-outyn slouthe To serue & plese eueryche in þat place That alle hyre louyn þat lokyn in hyre face Line 532

This constabil & dame hermengylt his wyf Were payenys in þat cuntrey euery where But Ermengylt louede hire ryȝt as hire lyf And Custaunce hath so longe soiurnede þere Line 536

Line 536 In orisounys with manye a bittere tere Til Ihesu hath conuertede þour hese grace Dame Ermengilt Constabellesse of þat place Line 539

In al þat lond no cristene durste at route Alle cristen folk ben fled from þat cuntre Thour poynyms þat conqueredyn al a-boute The plagis of the north & se Line 543 To walis fledde þe cristianyte Of olde brytunys dwellynge in þis yle There was hire refeut for the mene while Line 546

But ȝit nere cristene britounys so exiled þat þere nere some þat in hire priuite Honourede crist & hethene folk begilede And n[i]gh þe castel swich þere dweltyn thre Line 550 That on of hem was blynd & myȝte not se But it were with þe ilke eyen of hise mynde Wit[h] whiche men sen aftyr þat þey ben blynde Line 553

Bryȝt was þe sune as in þat someris day [folio 202a] ffor which þe Constabel & hese wyf also And custaunce hath I-take þe ryȝte way Toward þe se a furlong wey or to Line 557 To pleyen & to romyn too & fro And in hire walk þis blynde man þey mette Crokid & old with eyen faste I-schette Line 560

In name of cryst cryede þis blynde Erytoun Dame Hermengelt ȝif me myn syȝt a-geyn This lady wex a-freyed of þe soun Lest þat hire husbonde schortly for [to] seyn Line 564 Wolde hire for ihesu crist han slayn Til Custaunce made hire bold & bad hire for to werche The wil of crist as doughtyr of hise cherche Line 567

Line 567

The Constabele wex a-baschid of that syȝt And seyde what amounty[t]h al þis fare Custaunce answere syre it is cristis myȝt That helpith folk out of þe fendis snare Line 571 And so fer forth sche gan oure lay declare That sche þe Constabele er þan it was eue Conuertid & on cryst made hym bileue Line 574

This Constabele was no þyng lord of þis place Of whiche I speke þere he constaunce fond But kepte it strongely manye a wynteris space Vndir alla kyng of al northhumbir londe Line 578 That was ful wys & worthi of hese honde A-geyn þe skottis as men may wel here But turne I wele a-gen to myn matyere Line 581

Satan þat euere wayth vs to be-gyle Saugh of Custaunce al þe perfeccioun And caste a-non how he myȝte quite hire while And made a ȝong kn[y]ght þat dwellede in þat toun Line 585 Loue hire so hote of foul affeccioun That verayly hym thouȝte he schulde spille But he of hire myȝte onys haue hese wille Line 588

He wowyth hire but it a-uaylyth nouȝt [folio 202b] Sche wolde don no synne be no weye And for dispit he compassith in his thouȝt To makyn hyre on schamful deth to deye Line 592 He waythith whan þe Constable is a-weye And priui vp-on a nyȝt he crepte In-to Hermengildis chaumbere whil sche slepte Line 595

Wery for-wakede in hire orysouns Slepith custaunce and hemegild also This knyȝt þour satanys temptacions Al softeli is to þe bed I-go Line 599

Line 599 And kitte þe throte of Hermegild a too And leyde þe blodi knyf be dame Custaunce And wente his wey þere god ȝyf hym myschaunce Line 602

Sone aftyr comyth this Constabele hom ageyn And ek .Alla. þat kyng was of þat lond / And saw his wif dispitously I-slayn ffor which ful ofte he wepte & wrong here hon[d] Line 606 And in þe bed þe blody knyf he fond By dame Constance Allas what myȝte sche seye ffor werray woo hire wit was al a-weye Line 609

To kyng alla was told þis tale Mischaunce And ek þe tyme where & in what wyse That in a schyp was founde þis custaunce As here be-forn þat ȝe han herd deuyse Line 613 The kyngis herte of pete gan to gryse Whan he saw so benygne a creature ffalle in desese & in mysauenture Line 616

ffor as þe lomb toward þe deth is brouȝt So stant this innocent by-fore þe kynge This false knyȝt that hath this tresoun wrought Beryth hire on honde þat sche hath don þis thynge Line 620 But natheles þere was gret mornyng A-mong the puple & seyn þey can not gesse That sche hadde don so gret a wekedenesse Line 623

ffor they han seyn hire so vertuous [folio 203a] And louynge hermengild ryȝt as hire lyf Of þis bar witnesse eueryche in that hous Saue he þat hermengelt slow with his knyf Line 627 This gentil kyng hath cauȝt a gret motyf Of this witnesse & thoght he wolde enquire Deppere in this trouthe for to lere Line 630

Line 630

Allas Custaunce þou hast no chaumpioun Ne fyȝte canst þou so weyle-awey But he that starf for oure redempcioun And bond satan & ȝit lyth þere he lay Line 634 So be þeyn stronge champioun þis day ffor but ȝif cryst opyn merakele kythe With-outyn gilt þou schat ben slayn aswythe Line 637

Sche sette hire doun on kneis & thus sche seyde Inmortal god þat sauedist susanne ffrom false blame & þou merciful mayde Marye I mene douȝtyr to seynt ann Line 641 By-forn hos child aungell synge osanne If I be gilteles of this felonye Myn socour be for ellis schal I deye Line 644

Han ȝe nat seyn sumtyme a pale face Among a pres of hym þat hath be lad Toward hese deth where as he gat no grace And swich a colour in hese face hath had Line 648 Men myȝte knowe hise face þat was be-stad Amongis alle þe facis in þat route So stant custaunce & lokyth hire a boute Line 651

O queenys lyuynge in prosperite Duchesses & ȝe ladijs euerychone Hauyth sum routhe of hire aduercite An emperouris douȝtyr stant a-lone Line 655 Sche hath no wyȝt to whom to make hire mone O blood royal þat standyst in þis drede ffer ben thyne frendis at thi grete nede Line 658

This alla kyng hath swich compascioun [folio 203b] As gentyl herte is ful fyld of pite That from hyse eyen ran the watyr doun Now hastyfliche do feche a bok quod he Line 662

Line 662 And ȝif this kn[y]ȝt wele swere þat sche This woman slow ȝit wele we vs auyse Hom þat we wele þat schal ben oure Iustyse Line 665

A brytoun bok wrytyn with euaungilis Was fet in on this bok he swor a-non Sche gilty was & in the mene whilis An hand hym smot vp-on the nekke bon Line 669 That doun he fyl a-tonys as a ston And bothe hise eyen broste vp on hise face In syȝte of euery body in þat place Line 672

A woys was herd in general audience And seyde þou hast disclaunderede gilteles The douȝtyr of holy cherche in high presence Thus hast þou don & ȝit I holde myn pees Line 676 Of this mervayle a-gast was al þe pres As masede folk they stodyn euerychone ffor drede of wreche saue Custaunce allone Line 679

Gret was þ^e dred & ek þ^e repentaunce Of hem þat han wrong suspecioun Vp-on þis sely Innocent custaunce And for this myrakele in conclusioun Line 683 And by Custauncis mediacioun The kyng & manye a noþer in þat place Conuertede were thankid be godis grace Line 686

This false knyȝt was slayn for hise ontrouthe Be Iugement of alla hastifly And ȝit Custaustaunce hadde of hise deth routhe And aftyr this Ihesus of hise mercy Line 690 Made alla weddyn solempnely This holy maydyn þat is so bryȝt & scheene And þus hath Cryst mad Custaunce a queene Line 693

Line 693

But who was woful ȝif I sc[h]al not lye [folio 204a] Of this weddyng but donegild & no mo The kyngis modir ful of tyrannye Hire thouȝt hire curssede herte brast a to Line 697 Sche wolde not hire sone hadde don so Hire thouȝte a dispit þat he schulde take So straunge a creature vn-to hise make Line 700

Me lyste not of þe chaf nor of þe stre Makyn so long a tale as of þe corn What sholde I telle of the royalte At mariage or wich cours goth be-forn Line 704 Who blowith in a trompe or in an horn The freut of eueri tale is for to seye They ete & drynke & daunce & synge & pleye Line 707

Thei gon to bedde as it was skele & ryȝt ffor þow þat wiuys ben ful holye thyngis They muste takyn in pacience at nyȝt Swiche manere of necessarijs as ben plesyngis Line 711 To folk þat han wedit hem with ryngis And leyn a lityl here holynesse a-syde As for þe tyme it may non oþer be-tyde Line 714

On hire he gat a knave child a-non And to a bischop & his constabele ek He tok hise wyf to kepe whan he is gon To skotlondeward hise fomen for to seke Line 718 Now fayre custaunce þat is so vmble & meke So longe is gon with childe til þat stille Sche halt hire chaumbere a-bydynge cristis wille Line 721

The tyme is come a knaue child sche beere Mauricyus at þe funtston þey hym calle This Constabele doth forth a massanger And wrot on-to his kyng þat clepid was alle Line 725

Line 725 How þat this blisful tydyng is byfalle And oþere tydyngis spedful for to seye He taath þe lettere & forth he goth hise weye Line 728

This massanger to don his auauntage [folio 204b] Vn-to þe kyngis modyr ridyth swythe And saluyth hire ful fare in hyre langage Madame quod he ȝe may ben glad & blyþe Line 732 And thankede god a hunderede thousent sythe Myn lady quen hath child with-outyn doute To Ioye & blysse to al þe regne a-boute Line 735

Lo here þe letteris selede of þis thyng That I mot bere with þe haste I may Ȝif ȝe wele ouȝt on-to ȝoure sone þe kyng I am ȝoure seruaunt bothe nyȝt & day Line 739 Donegild answerede as now at þis tyme nay But here al nyght I wele þou take þyn reste To morwe wele I seye þe what me leste Line 742

This massangere drank faste ale & wyn And stole were hise letteris priuyly Out of his box whil he slepte as a swyn And countyrfetid was ful subtilly Line 746 Anoþer lettere wrouȝt ful synfully Vn-to þe kyng direckt of this matere ffrom his Constabil as ȝe schal aftyr here Line 749

The lettere spak þe quen delyuerede was Of so orible & fendlyche cryature That in þe castel non so hardy was That ony while durste þere endure Line 753 The modyr was an elf be nature I-comyn by charmys or bi socerye And euery wyȝt hath hire cumpanye Line 756

Line 756

Wo was this kyng whan he þis lettere hath seyn But to no wyȝt he tolde hise sorwis sore But of hyse owene hand he wrot a-geyn Wolcome þe sonde of cryst for euere more Line 760 To me that am now lernede in þis lore Lord wolcome be thyn lust & þyn plesaunce Myn lust I putte al in thyn ordenaunce Line 763

Kepith this child al be it foul or fayr [folio 205a] And ek myn wyf on-to myn hom comynge Cryst whan hym lyste may sende me an eyr More agriable þan this to myn lykynge Line 767 This lettere he selyth pryuyly wepynge Whiche to þe massangere was take sone And forth he goth þere is no more to done Line 770

O Massanger fulfild of dronkenesse Strong is thi breth thi lemys falteryn ay And þou be-wreyest alle sekere-nesse Thyn mynde is lorn þou iangelist as a Iay Line 774 Thyn face is turnede in a newe aray There dronkenesse regnyth in ony route There is no conseyl hid with-outyn doute Line 777

O donegilt I haue non engelissh dygne Vn-to þyn maleys & thi tyrannye And þerfore to þe fend I þe resigne Let hym endyte of thyn tratorye Line 781 ffy mannyssh fy / o nay by god I lye ffy fendelyche spirit for I dar wel telle Thow þow here walke thyn spyrit is in helle Line 784

This Massanger comyth from þe kyng a-geyn And at þe kyngis moderis court he lyghte And sche was of þe massenger ful fayn And plesede hym in al þat euere sche myȝte Line 788

Line 788 He drank & wel hise gerdyl vndyr pyȝt He slepith & he snortith in hise gyse Al nyȝt tyl þe sunne gan a-ryse Line 791

Eft were hise letterys stolyn euerychon And counterfetid letterys in þis wyse The kyng comaundyth hise constablis a-non Vp peyne of hangynge & heigh Iuyse Line 795 That he ne schulde suffere in no wyse Custaunce in whith his regne for tabyde Thre dayis & a quartyr of a tide Line 798

But in þe same schip as he hire fond [folio 205b] Hire & hyr ȝenge sone & al hire geere He schulde putte & croude from þe lond And charge hire þat sche neuere eft come þere Line 802 O myn custaunce wel may þy gost haue fere And slepynge in þyn drem han penaunce Whan donegilt caste al þis ordenaunce Line 805

This messenger on morwe he wok On-to þe castel holt þe neste wey And to þe constabele he þe lettere tok And whan þat he þis pitous lettere say Line 809 fful ofte he seyde allas & weyle-away Lord crist how may þis world endure So ful of synne is manye a cryature Line 812

O myȝti god ȝif þat it be þyn wille Sith þou art ryȝtful Iuge how may þis be That þou wit suffere innocentis to spille And wekede folk regnyn in prosperite Line 816 O goode Custaunce allas so wo is me þat I mote be þyn turmentour or deye On schamys deth þere is non oþer weye Line 819

Line 819

Wepyn bothe ȝynge & olde in þat place Whan þat þe kyng his cursede letere sente And Custaunce with a dedly pale face The forte day toward hire schip sche wente Line 823 But natheles sche takyth in good entente The wil of crist & knelynge on þe stronde Sche seyde lord ay wolcome be þyn sonde Line 826

He þat me kepte from þe false blame Whil I was on þe lond a-mongis ȝow He can me kepe from harm & ek from schame In þe salte se al þow I se nat how Line 830 As strong as euere he was he is now In hym troste I & hyse modyr dere That is to me myn sayl & ek myn stere Line 833

Hyre lytyl child lay wepynge in hire arm [folio 206a] And knelynge pitously to hym sche seyde Pes lityl sone I wele don þe non harm With þat hire couerchif ouer hire hed sche bryde Line 837 And ouer hise lityl eyen sche it leyd And in hyre arm sche lullede it ful faste And in-to heuene hyre eyen vp sche caste Line 840

Modyr quod sche & mayde / bryȝte marye Soth is þat þour wemanys eggement Man kynde was lorn & dampnede for to deye ffor wich þyn chyld was on a cros I-ret Line 844 Thi blysful eyen saw al his turment Thanne is þere non comparisoun be-twene Thi wo & any wo / man may sustene Line 847

Thow saw þyn child slawyn be-fore þyn eyen And ȝit now lyuyth my lityl child parfey Now lady bryȝt to whom alle folk now cryen Thow glorye of womanhede fayre may Line 851

Line 851 Thow hauene of refut bryȝte sterre of day Rewe on myn child þat of þyn gentillesse Rewist on euery reuful in destresse Line 854

O lityl child allas what is þyn gilt That neuere wroughtist synne as ȝit parde Whi wolde thyn harde fadyr han þe spilt O mercy dere constabele quod sche Line 858 As lat myn lytil child dwelle here with þe And ȝif þou darst not sauyn hym from blame So kysse hym onys in hese faderys name Line 861

Therwith sche lokith bakward to þe londe And seyde farewe[l] housbonde routheles And vp sche rist & walkyth doun þe stronde Toward þe schip here folwyth al þe pres Line 865 And euere sche preyeth hire child to holde hise pes And takyth hire leue & with an holy entente Sche blysseth hire & in-to schip sche wente Line 868

Vitaylid was þe schip it is no drede [folio 206b] Habundaunt for hyre ful longe space And oþere necessaryis þat schuldyn nede Sche hadde I-now haryed be godis grace Line 872 ffor wynd & wedyr al-myȝty god purchase And brynge hire hom I can no betere seye But in þe se sche dryuyth forth hire weye Line 875

[PART III.]

Alla þe kyng comyth hom soone aftyr þis On-to þe Castel whiche I tolde And axsith where þat his wif & his child is The Constabele gan a-boute hise herte colde Line 879

Line 879 And pleynly al þe manere hym tolde As ȝe han herd I can telle it no bettre As schewith þe kyng his sel & hise lettere Line 882

And seyde lord as ȝe comaundede me Vp peyne of deth so haue I do serteyn This massanger turmentid was tyl he Moste beknowe & telle plat & pleyn Line 886 ffrom nyȝt to nyȝt what place he hadde leyn And þus by wit & subtyl Inquyrynge Ymagined was bi hom þis harm gan sprynge Line 889

The hand was knowe þat þe lettere wrot And al þe venym of þis cursede dede But in what wise serteynli I not Theffect is þis þat Alla out of drede Line 893 His modyr slow þat may men pleynly rede ffor þat sche traytour was to hire legiaunce Thus endyth donegild with myschaunce Line 896

The sorwe þat þis alla nyȝt & day Makith for his wif & hise child also Ther is no tunge þat it telle may But now wolde I on-to Custaunce go Line 900 That fletyth in þe se in peyne & wo ffyue ȝer & more as lykede cristis sonde Er þat hir schip aprochede to þe londe Line 903

Vndyr an hethene castel at þe laste [folio 207a] Of which þe name in myn tixt not I fynde Custaunce & ek hire child þe se vp caste Almyȝty god þat sawith al mankynde Line 907 Haue on custaunce & of hire child sum mynde that is fallyn in hethene hand eft sone In poynt to spylle as I schal telle ȝow sone Line 910

Line 910

Doun from þe castel comyth þere manye a wyȝt To gauryn on þis wyȝt & on custaunce But schortly from þe castel on a nyȝt The lordis styward god ȝeue hym myschaunce Line 914 A thef that hadde reneyed oure cre-aunce Cam in-to þe schip alone & seyde he schulde Hire leman be wheþer sche wolde or nolde Line 917

Wo was þe wrechede woman þo be-gon Hire child cryed & sche cryede pitously Blysful marye halp hyre ryȝt a-non ffor with hire strogelyng wel & myȝtyly Line 921 The thef fel ouyr bord al sodeynly And in þe se he dreynte for veniaunce And þus hath cryst onwemmede kept custaunce Line 924

O foule lust of luxurye lo thyn ende Not only þat þou feyntist manys mynde But verayly þou wilt hise body schende Thende of þy werk or of þynne lustis blynde Line 928 Is compleynynge how manyon may men fynde That not for werk but only þe entente To don þis synne ben owthir slayn or schente Line 931

How may þis wayke woman han þis strenthe Hire to defende a-ȝen þis Renegat O golyas vnmesurabe of lenthe How myȝte dauid make þe so maat Line 935 So ȝong & of armeure so desolat How durste he loke vp-on þyn dredful face Wel may men sen it was but godis grace Line 938

Ho ȝaf Iudyth corage or hardynesse [folio 207b] To slen hym Olofernus in hise tente And to delyueryn out of wrechedenesse The peple of god I sey for þis entente Line 942

Line 942 But ryȝt as god spyrit of vigour sente To hym & sauede hym from myschaunce So sente vigour & myȝt to Custaunce Line 945

fforth goth the schip þour-out þe narwe mouth Of Iubaltare / and Cepte dryuynge ay Sumtyme west & sumtyme north & south And sumtyme est ful many a wery day Line 949 Til Cristis modyr blyssede be sche ay Hath schapyn þour hire endeles goodnesse To make an ende of al hire heuynesse Line 952

Now lat vs stynte of Custaunce but a trowe And speke we of þe romayn Emperour That out of surry hath bi letterys knowe The slauthe of Cristene folk & dishonoure Line 956 Don to his douȝtyr by a fals traytoure I mene þe wikkede cursede soudonesse That at þe feste let sle boþe more & lesse Line 959

ffor which þis emperour hath sent a-nor His senatour with royal ordenaunce And oþere lordis god wot many on On surryens to take veniaunce Line 963 They brenne & slen & brynge hem to myschaunce fful manyaday but schortly þis is þe ende Homward to rome þey schapyn hem to wende Line 966

This senatour repayreth wictorye To romeward saylynge ful ryalye And mette þe schyp dryuynge as seyth þe story In which Custaunce sit pitously Line 970 No þyng knewe he what sche was ne why Sche was in swich a-ray / ne sche wolde seye Of hyre estat þow sche schulde deye Line 973

Line 973

He bryngith hire to rome & to hise wyf [folio 208a] He ȝaf hire & hire ȝonge sone also And with þe senatour sche ledde hire lyf Thus can oure lady bryngyn out of wo Line 977 Woful custaunce & manye a noþer mo And long tyme dwellede sche in þat plase In holye werkys euere as was hyre grace Line 980

This senatourys wyf hyre aunte was But for al þat sche knew hyre neuere þe more I wele no lengere taryen in þis cas But to kyng alla which I spak of ȝore Line 984 That for hise wyf wepede & syghede sore I wele retorne & lete I wele Custaunce Vndyr þe senatourrys gouernaunce

Kyng Alla wich þat hadde hise modyr slayn Vp-on a day fil In swich repentaunce That ȝif I schortely schulde telle & playn To rome he comyth to receyue hese penaunce Line 991 And putte hym in þe popis ordenaunce In high & logh & Ihesu crist be-souȝte fforȝeue hise wikke werkis þat he wrouȝte Line 994

The fame a-non þour rome toun is born How Alla kyng schal come in pilgrymage By herberiourys þat wentyn here be-forn ffor which þe senatour as was þe vsage Line 998 Rod hym a-geyn as was þe vsage As wel to schewyn his magnificence As to don any kyng a reuerence Line 1001

Gret cher doth þis noble senatour [folio 208b] To kyng alla & he to hym also Euerych of hem doþ oþer gret honour An[d] that with-in a day or too Line 1005

Line 1005 This senatour is to kyng Alla go To feste & schortly ȝif I schal not lye Custauncis sone wente in his cumpanye Line 1008

Summen wolde seyn at þe request of Custaunce This senatour hath lad þis child to feste I ne may not tellyn euery circumstaunce Be as be may þere was he at þe leste Line 1012 But soth is þis þat at his moderys heste By-forn Alla durynge þe metis space This child stod lokynge in þe kyngis face Line 1015

This Alla kyng hath of þe child gret wondyr And to þe senatour he seyde a-non Whos is þat fayre child þat standis ȝondyr I not quod he bi god & bi seynt Iohn Line 1019 A modyr he hath but fadyr hath he non That I of wot & schortly in a stounde He tolde alla how þat þe child was founde Line 1022

But god wot quod this senatour also So verteuous a leuere in myn lyue Ne saw I neuere as sche ne herde of mo Of wordely wemen maydyn nor of wif Line 1026 I dare wel seyn hire hadde leuere a knyf Thurgh-out hyre brest þan ben a woman weke þere is no man coude brynge hire to þe prikke Line 1029

Now was þis child as lyk on-to custaunce As possible is a creatour to be This alla hath þis face in remembraunce Of dame custaunce & þeron musede he Line 1033 Ȝif þat þe childis modyr were ouȝt sche That is his wyf & pryuyly he sighte And sped hym from þe table þat he myȝte Line 1036

Line 1036

Parfay thouȝte he fantome is in myn hed [folio 209a] I oghte deme of ryȝtful iugement That in þe salte se myn wif is ded And aftyr he made hise argument Line 1040 What wot I if þat crist hath hire I-sent Myn wif be se as wel as he hire sente To myn cuntre from þens þat sche wente Line 1043

And aftyr non hom with þe senatour Goth alla for to se þis wondyr chaunce This senatour doth alla gret honour And hastilyche he sente aftyr custaunce Line 1047 But trustyth wel hire lyste not to daunce Whan þat sche wiste wherfore was þat sonde Oneþe vp-on hire feet sche myȝte stonde Line 1050

Whan Alla saw his wif fayre he hire grette And wep þat it was routhe for to se ffor at þe ferste lok he on hyre sette He knewe wel verayly þat it was sche Line 1054 And sche for sorwe as doumb stant as a tre So was hire herte set in distresse Whan sche remembrede hys vnkyndenesse Line 1057

Twyes sche swounnyth in hise owene syghit He wepte & hym excuseth pitously Now god quod he & hise halwis bryȝte So wisely on myn soule as haue mercy Line 1061 That of ȝoure harm as gilteles am I As is Mauryce myn sone so lyk ȝoure face Ellis þe fend me feche out of þis place Line 1064

Long was þe sobyng & þe bittere peyne Er þat hire woful hertis myȝtyn cesse Gret was þe pyte for to here hem pleyne Thorgh whiche pleyntis gan hire wo encrese Line 1068

Line 1068 I prey ȝow of myn labour to relese I may nat telle here wo vn-tyl to morwe I am so wery for to speke of sorwe Line 1071

But finalli whan þat þe sorwe is wist [folio 209b] That Alla giltles was of hire wo I trowe an hunderede tymys ben þey kyst And swich a blysse is þere be-twen hem two Line 1075 That saue þe ioye þat lastyth eueremo There is non lyk þat any creature Hath seyn or schal whil þe word wele dure Line 1078

Tho preyede sche hire housbonde mekely In relef of hire longe pitous peyne That he wolde preye hire fadyr specially That of his maieste he wolde enclyne Line 1082 To vouche-saf sumday with hem to dyne Sche preyede hym ek he schulde be no weye Vn-to hire fadyr no word of hire seye Line 1085

Summen wolde seyn how þat þe child mauryce Doth þis message vn-to þis emperour But as I gesse alla was not so nyce To hym þat was of so souereyn honour Line 1089 As he þat is of cristene folk þe flour Sente any child but it is bet to deme He wente him selue & so it may wel seme Line 1092

This emperour hath grauntid gentyly To come to dyner as he hym be-souȝte And wel rede I he lokede besily Vp-on þis child & on his douȝtyr thouȝte Line 1096 Alla goth to hise in and as hym ouȝte Arayede for þis feste in euery wyse As fer forth as hise kunnynge may suffyse Line 1099

Line 1099

The morwe cam and alla gan hym dresse And ek his wif þis emperour to mete And forth þey rede In ioye & in gladnesse And whan sche saw hire fadyr in þe strete Line 1103 Sche lyȝte a-doun & fallyth hym to feete ffadyr quod sche ȝoure ȝonge chyld Custaunce Is now ful clene out of ȝoure remembraunce Line 1106

I am ȝoure douȝty[r] custaunce quod sche [folio 210a] That whilhom han sent vn-to surrye It am I fadyr þat in þe salte se Was put a-lone & dampned for to deye Line 1110 Now goode fadyr mercy I ȝow preye Sende me no more vn-to to non hethenesse But thanke myn lord here of his kyndenesse Line 1113

Who can þe pytous ioye tellyn al By-twexe hem thre syn þey ben þus I-mette But of myn tale makyn an ende I schal The day goth faste I wele no lengere lette Line 1117 These glade folk to dyner þey ben sette In ioye & blysse at dyner I lete hem dwelle A thousent fold more þan I can telle Line 1120

This child Maurice was sythe emperour Mad bi þe pope & lyuede cristene lyf To Cristis cherche he dede gret honour But I lete alle hise storyis passyn by Line 1124 Of Custaunce is myn tale specially In þe olde romayn storyis may men fynde Maurycis lyf I bere it not in mynde Line 1127

This kyng Alla whan he hise tyme say With his Custaunce his holy wif so swete To ingelond ben þey come þe ryȝte way Where as þey lyue In ioye & in quiete Line 1131

Line 1131 But lytil while it lastyth I ȝow hete Ioye of þis world for tyme wele not a-byde ffrom day to nyȝt it schaungith as þe tyde Line 1134

Who lyuede euere in swich delyt a day That sche ne menede outhir concyence Or yre or talent or sumkenys a-fray Enuye or pride or passioun or offence Line 1138 I ne seye but for þis ende this sentence That lytyl while in ioye & in plesaunce Lastith þe ioye of alla with Custaunce Line 1141

ffor deth þat takyth of high & low hise rente [folio 210b] Whan passede was euene a ȝer as I gesse Out of þe world þis kyng alla he hente ffor whom Custaunce hath ful gret heuinesse Line 1145 Now let vs preyen god his soule blysse And dame Custaunce finally to seye Toward þe toun goth hire weye Line 1148

To rome is comyn þis holy creature And fyndith hire frendis hole & sounde Now is sche scapid al hire Auenture And whan þat sche hire fadyr hath I-founde Line 1152 Doun on hire kneis fallyth sche to grounde Wepynge for tendirnesse in herte blyþe Sche heryeth god an hundered thousent sythe Line 1155

In vertu & holy allemesse dede They lyuyn alle & neuere asundyr wende Thil deth departyth hem þis lyf þey leede And faryth now wel myn tale is at an ende Line 1159 Now Ihesu crist þat of his myȝt may sende Ioye aftyr wo gouerne vs in hise grace And kepe vs alle þat ben in þis place. Amen Line 1162

Here endyth the man of lawe hise tale

Notes

• [Sloane MS 1685]
• [The MS trans|poses these two lines.]
• [The MS trans|poses these two lines.]
• [Sloane extract ends.]
• [Lines 981-7, p. 161, are repeated in the MS, leaf 208. Here is the second version, marked, in a later hand, vatat, for vacat, at the side:—

  This senatourys wif hyre aunte wasBut for al þat sche knew hyre neuere þe moreI wele no lengere taryen in þis casBut to kyng alla which I spak of ȝoreThat for his wyf wepith & sykyth soreI wele returne & lete I wele custaunceVndyr þe senatourys gouernaunce]
• Cambridge MS
• [in a later hand]
• [or chambur]
• [han put-in in a later hand]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [altered from sende]
• [altered from here]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [Ihe]
• [clepe put at the side, later]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [altered]
• [altered from whiche]
• [? eure]
• [This stanza is repeated in the MS. See the second version on p. 133 above]
• [Break of 2 lines, after which is the heading of the Wife of Bath's Prologue.]