The Corpus ms (Corpus Christi coll., Oxford) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.
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Title
The Corpus ms (Corpus Christi coll., Oxford) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.
Author
Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400.
Publication
London,: Pub. for the Chaucer society by N. Trübner & co.,
1868-[1869]
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"The Corpus ms (Corpus Christi coll., Oxford) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/AGZ8235.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 17, 2024.
Pages
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[6-text p 129]
GROUP B. (α. FRAGMENT II.)
§ 1. MAN OF LAW'S HEAD-LINK.
CORPUS MS.
Owre oost saugh wel þat by þe brighte sonneThe ark of his artificial day hadde ronneThe ferþe part of half an hour and mooreAnd þough he were nought deepe expert in lore [folio 74a] he wist it was þe xviij.e dayOf Aprille þat is messager to MayAnd saugh wel þat þe schadwe of euery treeWas as in lengþe þe same quantiteLine 8 That was þe body erect þat caused itAnd þerfore by þe schadewe he took his witThat Phebus which þat schon so cler and brightDegrees was xlv clombe on hightLine 12 And for þat day as in þat latitudeIt was ten atte clokke he gan concludeAnd sodeinly he plight his hors aboutelordynges quod he I warne ȝou alle þis routeLine 16 The ferþe party of þis day is gonNow for þe loue of god and of seint Iohnleseþ no tyme as ferforth as ye mayLordinges þe time it wasteþ night and dayLine 20 And steleþ from vs what priuely slepyngAnd what þurgh necligence in oure wakingAs doth þe streem þat turneþ neuer agaynDescendyng from þe mountayn in to playnLine 24 Wel can senek and many a PhilosophreBiweilen tyme more þan gold in cophreffor los of catelle may recouered beBut los of tyme schendeþ vs quod he
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[6-text p 130] Line 28 It wil nought come agayn wiþouten dredeNamore þan wile Malkyns maydenhedeWhan sche haþ lost it / in hir wantonnesselat vs nought mowlen þus in ydelnesseLine 32 Sire Man of lawe quod he saue ȝe blisTel vs a tale anon as forward isye be submitted þurgh your free assentTo stonde in þis cas of my IuggementLine 36 Aquiteþ ȝow now of ȝoure behesteThanne haue ȝe doon your deuer atte lesteOost quod he depardeux ich assenteTo breke forward is nought myn entente [folio 74b] Biheste is dette and I wil holde faynAl my biheste I can no bettre sainffor swich lawe as a man yeueþ anoþer wighthe schulde himself vsen it by rightLine 44 Thus wile oure text but naþeles certeinI can right now no þrifty tale seinThat Chaucer þough he can but lewedlyOn metris and in rymyng craftilyLine 48 haþ sayd hem in such englissh as he canOf olde tyme as knoweþ many a manAnd if he haue nought seyd hem leeue broþerIn o book / he haþ seyd hem in anoþerLine 52 ffor he haþ told of louers vp and donMo þan Ovide made mencionIn his Epistles þat been ful oldeWhat scholde I tellen hem sen þei ben toldeLine 56 In youþe he made of Ceys and alcioneAnd siþþen haþ he spoke of euerychoneThise noble wyfes and þese louers eekeWho so þat wile his large volom seekeLine 60 Cleped þe seintes legende of CupideTher may he seen þe large woundes wydeOf lucresse & of Babilan TisbeThe swerd of Dido for þe fals Ene
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[6-text p 131] Line 64 The tree of Phillis for hire DemephonThe pleynt of Dyanyre and of ErmionOf Adriane and of ysyphileThe barayne ysle stondyng in þe seeLine 68 The dreynt leander for his ErroThe teeres of helyne and eek þe wooOf Brixseyde and of þe ladomyaþe cruelte of queen medeaLine 72 The litel children hangyng by þe halsffor þe Iason þat was of loue so falsOf ypmistra Penolope Alcesteyoure wifhode he comendeth wiþ þe beste [folio 75a] But certeinly no word ne writeþ heOf þikke wicke ensample of CanaceThat loued hir owne brother synfullyOf suche cursed stories I sei fyLine 80 Or elles of Tyro Appoloneushow þat þe cursed king AntiochusBiraft his doughter of hir maydenhedeThat is so horrible a tale for to redeLine 84 Whan he hir þrew þorugh þe pamentAnd þerfore he of ful auisementNolde neuer write in none of his sermonsOf which vnkynde abhominacionsLine 88 Ne I ne wil not reherce if þat I mayBut of my tale how schal I don þis dayMe were loþ be likned doutelesTo muses þat men clepen pieriedesLine 92 Methamorphoseos wot what I meneBut naþeles I recche nought a beneThough I come after him with hawe bakeI speke in prose and lat him Rimes makeLine 96 And with þat word he with a sobre chereBigan his tale as ȝe schal after heere.
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[6-text p 132]
[PROLOGUE OF THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE.] ¶ Incipit ffabula.
O Hateful harm condicion of pouertWith thurst with cold with hunger he confoundethTo asken helpe þe schameþ in þin hertIf þou now axe wiþ neede art þou so woundedLine 102 That verray neede vnwrappeth al þi wounde hidMaugre þin heed þou most for IndigenceOr stele or begge or borwe þi dispenceLine 105
Thou blamest crist and seist ful bitterlyhe mys departeþ richesse temporalThy neyghebour þou witest synfullyAnd seist þou hast to litel and he haþ alLine 109 Par fey seistow somtyme he rekene schalWhan þat his tail schal brennen in þe gleedeffor he nought helpeþ needeful in here neede [folio 75b]
¶ Herkne what is þe menyng of þe wiseBet is to deyen þan haue IndigenceThis self neighebore wile þe dispiseIf þou be pouer far wel þi reuerenceLine 116 yet of þe wise man tak þis sentenceAlle þe dayes of pore men ben wikkeBe war þerfore or þou come in þat prikkeLine 119
¶ If þou be pouere þi broþer hateþ þeAnd alle þi freendes fleen fro þe allasO Riche marchantz ful of wele beO noble prudent folk as in þis casLine 123 youre bagges ben nought filled with ambes aasBut with Sis Cynk þat renneþ for ȝour chanceAt Cristes masse merye may ȝe daunce
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[6-text p 133] Line 126
¶ ye seeken lond and see for ȝour wynnyngesAs wys folk þat knowen alle thestatOf regnes ȝe ben fadres of tyþingesAnd tales bothen of pees and of debatLine 130 I were right now of tales desolatNere þat a marchant gon is many a yereMe taught a tale which as ye schal heere
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[PART I.]
¶ In Surrye whilom dwelt a companyeOf Chapmen riche and þer-to sad and treweThat wyde where sente here spicerieCloþes of gold and Satyn riche of heweLine 137 here chaffare was so thrifty and so neweThat euery wight haþ deynte to chaffareWith hem and eek to sellen hem here wareLine 140
¶ Now fil it þat þe maistres of þat sorthan schapen hem to Rome for to wendeWere it fo chapmanhode or for disportNon oþer message wolde þey þider sendeLine 144 But comen hemself to Rome þis is þe endeAnd in swich place as þought hem auantageffor here entente þei take here herbergageLine 147
Soiorned han þise marchantez in þat toun [folio 76a] A certein tyme as felle to hire plesanceBut so felle þat þe excellent renounOf þe Emperour doughter dame CustanceLine 151 Reported was with euery circumstancevnto þise Surrien marchantz in swich wiseffro day to day as I schal you deuyse/Line 154
¶ This was þe comone voys of euery manOure emperour of Rome god him seeA doughter he haþ þat syn þe world biganTo rekne as wel hir goodnesse as beauteLine 158 Nas neuer such anoþer as is scheI pray to god in honour hir susteneAnd wolde sche were of alle Europe þe queene
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¶ In hire is heigh beaute wiþoute prideyouþe wiþoute greenehod of folyeTo alle hire werkes vertu is hire guydehumblesse haþ slayn in hire al tyrannyeLine 165 Sche is a merour of alle curtesyehire herte is verray chambre of holynessehire hand ministre of fredam for almesseLine 168
¶ And al þis voys is soþ as god is treweBut now to purpos lat vs turne againThise marchantz han doon fraught here schippes neweAnd whan þay haue þis blisful mayde sainLine 172 hom to Surrey beþ þei went agaynAnd don here needes as þey han don yoreAnd lyuen in wele I can seye yow nomoreLine 175
Now fil it þat þis marchantz stoden in graceOf him þat was þe Sowdon of Surrieffor whan þei came from eny strange placehe wolde of his benigne curtesie/Line 179 Make hem good chere and besily aspieTythynges of sundy Remes for to leereThe wondres þat þey mighte seen or heereLine 182
Amonges oþer þinges speciallyThise marchantz han him told of Dame Custance [folio 76b] So gret noblesse in ernest ceriouslyThat þis Sowdan haþ caught so gret/ plesanceLine 186 To han hire figure in his remembranceAnd alle his lust and alle his besy cureWas for to loue hire whil his lijf may dureLine 189
Parauenture in þilke large bookWhich þat þei cleped þe heuen write wasWiþ sterres whan þat he his birþe tookThat he for loue schulde han his deþ allas
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[6-text p 136] Line 193 ffor in þe sterres clerer þan is þe glasIs writen god wot / who so cowde it rede/The deþ of euery man wiþouten dredeLine 196
¶ In sterres many a wynter þer bifornWas write þe deth of Ector AchillesOf Pompe Iulius or þei were bornThe stryf of Thebes and of hercules/Line 200 Of Sampson Turnus and of SocratesThe deth/ but mennes wittes ben so dulleThat no wight can wel rede it atte fulleLine 203
This Sowdon for his priuey counseil senteAnd schortly of þis mater for to pacehe haþ to hem declared his ententeAnd seide hem certein but if he might haue graceLine 207 To haue Custance wiþinne a litel spacehe nas but ded and charged hem in hyeTo schapen for his lyf som remedyeLine 210
¶ Diuerse men diuerse þinges seidenThe argumentes casten vp and dounMany a sotil reson forþ þey leydenThey speken of Magique and abusionLine 214 But fynally as in conclusionThey can not seen in þat non auantageNe in non oþer weye saf mariageLine 217
¶ Than saugh þey þer in such difficulteBy way of reson for to speke al playnBy cause þat þer was such diuersite [folio 77a] Bitwen here boþe lawes þat þei saynLine 221 They trowe þat no cristne prince wolde fainWedde his child vnder oure lawes so sweeteThat vs was taught by mahon oure prophete
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¶ And he answerde raþer þan I leeseCustance I wol be cristned doutelesI mot ben hires I may non oþer cheeseI pray ȝow holdeþ ȝour argumentz in peesLine 228 Saueþ my lif and beþ nought RechelesTo geten hire þat haþ my lif in cureffor in this woo I may not longe endureLine 231
¶ What nedeþ grettere dilatacionI seie by tretys and embassadrie/And by þe popes mediacionAnd alle þe chirche and alle þe chiualrieLine 235 That in distruction of mawmattrieAnd in encres of cristes lawe deereThey ben accorded so as ȝe schal heere/Line 238
¶ how þat þe Sowdan and his BaronageAnd alle his lieges schold y-cristened be/And he schal han Custance in mariageAnd certein gold y not what quantiteLine 242 And herto founden sufficeant seurteThis same accord was sworn in either sydeNow faire Custance almighty god þe gydeLine 245
Now wolde sommen waiten as I gesse/That I schulde tellen al þe purueanceThat þe Emperour of his noblessehath schapen for his doughter dame CustanceLine 249 Wel may men knowe þat so gret ordinanceMay noman tellen in a litel clauseAs was arrayed for so heigh a causeLine 252
¶ Bisschoppes ben schapen wiþ hire for to wendelordes ladies knightes of renounAnd oþer folk ynowe þis is þe endeAnd notified is þurgh out þe toun [folio 77b]
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[6-text p 138] That euery wight wiþ gret deuocionScholde preye crist þat he þis mariageResceyue in gree. and speede þis viageLine 259
¶ The day is come of hir departyngI sey þe woful lady fatal is comeThat þer may be no lenger taryingBut forþward þey hem dressen alle & someLine 263 Custance þat with sorw is al ouercomefful pale arist and dresseþ hire to wendeffor wel sche seeth þer is non oþer endeLine 266
Allas what wonder is it þough sche wepteThat schal be sent to strange nacionffro freendes þat so tendrely hire kepteAnd to be bounden vnder subiectionLine 270 Of oon sche knoweth not his condicionhousbondes ben alle goode and han ben yoreThat knowen wyfes I dar say ȝou namoreLine 273
¶ ffader sche sayde þi wrecchede child CustaunceThy yonge doughter fostred vp so softeAnd ye my mooder my souereigne plesanceOuer alle þing out taken crist a lofteLine 277 Custance youre child hir recomandeþ oftevnto your grace for I schal to SurrieNe schal I neuer seen ȝou more with yeLine 280
Allas vnto þe Barbarie nacionI moste anon siþþen it is your willeBut crist þat starf for oure RedempcionSo yeue me grace his hestes to fulfilleLine 284 I wrecche womman no fors þough I spilleWommen are born to thraldom and penanceAnd to ben vnder mannes gouernance
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¶ I trowe at Troye whan Purrus brak þe walleOr ylion þat brende Thebes þat CiteeNot Rome for the harme thurgh hanybalThat Romayns haþ venquissed tymes þreLine 291 Nas herde such tendre weepyng for pite [folio 78a] As in þe Chambre for hire departyngBut forþ sche moot wher so sche weepe or syngLine 294
¶ O ferste moeuyng cruel firmamentWiþ þy diuinal sweigh that crowdest ayAnd hurlest alle fro Est to OccidentThat naturelly wolde holde anoþer wayLine 298 Thy crowdyng sett þe heuen in such arrayAtte bygynnyng of þis fiers viageThat cruel mars haþ slain þis mariageLine 301
¶ Infortunat ascendent tortuousOf which þe lord is helples falle allasOut of his angle in to þe derkest housO. mars .o. ataȝir as in þis casLine 305 O fieble moone vnhappy been þy paasThou knettest þe þer þou nart nought receyuedThere þou were wel fro þens now art þou weyuedLine 308
¶ Imprudent Emperour of Rome allasWas þer no Philosophre in al þi tounIs no tyme bet þan oþer in such caasOf viage is þer non electionLine 312 Namly to folk of heigh condicionNat whan a roote is of a burthe y-knoweAllas ȝe ben to lewed or to sloweLine 315
¶ The schip is brought þis woful faire maydeSolempnely wiþ euery circumstanceNow Ihesu crist be with ȝou alle sche saydeTher nys nomore but far wel faire Custance
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[6-text p 140] Line 319 Sche peyneþ hire to make good contynanceAnd forþ I lete hire saile in þis manereAnd torne I wille again to my matiereLine 322
The mooder of þe Sowdon welle of vicesEspied haþ hir sones pleyne ententhow he wol lete his olde SacrificesAnd right anon sche for hire counseil sentLine 326 And þei ben come to knowe what sche mentAnd whan assembled was þis folk in feere [folio 78b] Sche sette hire doun and seide as ye schal heereLine 329
¶ lordes quoþ sche ȝe knowen euerych onhow þat my sone in poynt is for to leteThe holy lawes of oure alkaronyeuen by goddes messager MakometeLine 333 But oon avow to grete god I heteThe lyf schal rather out of my body sterteOr makometis lawe out of myn herteLine 336
What scholde vs tyden of þis newe laweBut þraldam to oure bodyes and penanceAnd afterward in helle to ben draweffor we reneyed mahon oure creanceLine 340 But lordes wol ye maken assuranceAs I schal sein assentyng to my loreAnd I schal make vs sauf for eueremoreLine 343
¶ They sworen and assenten euery manTo lyue with hire and dye and by hire stondeAnd euerich in þe beste wise he canTo strengþen hire schal alle his frendes fondeLine 347 And sche haþ þis emprise take on hondeWhich ȝe schal here þat I schal deuyseAnd to hem alle sche spak in þis wise
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¶ We schulle ferst feyne vs cristendom to take/Cold water schal not greue vs but a liteAnd I schal swich a reuel and feste makenThat as I trowe I schal þe soudon quiteLine 354 ffor þough his wijf be cristened neuer so whiteSche schal haue neede to waissche a-way þe reedeThough sche a ffonte ful of water wiþ hire leede/Line 357
¶ O soudanesse roote of IniquiteVirago þou Semyram þe secoundeO. serpent vnder femeninetelik to þe serpent deepe in helle y-boundeLine 361 O feyned womman al þat may confoundeVertu and Innocence þorgh þy maliceIs bredd in þe as nest of euery vice [folio 79a]
¶ O Sathan envious syn þilke dayThat þou were chased fro oure heritageWel knewestow to wommen þe olde wayThow madest Eua to bringen in seruageLine 368 Thow wilt fordon cristene mariageThin Instrument so weylowey þe whileMakest þou of wommen whan þou wilt begileLine 371
¶ This Sowdanesse whom I þus blame and warieleet priuely hire counseil gon here wayWhat schulde I in þis tale lenger taryeSche rideth to þe Sowdan on a dayLine 375 And seide him þat sche wolde reneye hir layAnd cristendom of prestes handes fongeRepentynge sche heþene was so longeLine 378
¶ Besekyng him to doon hire þat honourThat sche most han þe cristne folk to festeTo plesen hem I wol do my labourThe Sowdan seith I wil don at your heste
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[6-text p 142] Line 382 And knelyng þanketh hire of þat requesteSo glad he was he nyste what to seyeSche kiste hir sone and hom sche goþ hir weyeLine 385
[PART II.]
¶ Arryued been þise cristene folk to londeIn Surrie with a gret solempne routeAnd hastiliche þis sowdan sent his sondeffirst to his mooder and alle þe regne abouteLine 389 And saide his wijf was come out of douteAnd preyde hir for to ryde agein þe queeneThe honour of his regne to susteeneLine 392
¶ Gret was þe prees and riche was þarrayOf Surriens and Ramains met y feereThe mooder of þe Soudan riche and gayReceyued hire with also glad a cheereLine 396 As any mooder might hir doughter deereAnd to þe nexte Citee þer bisydeA softe paas solempnely þei rydeLine 399
¶ Naught trowe I þe tryumphe of Iulius [folio 79b] Of which þat lukan makeþ such a bostWas riallere ne more curiousThan was thassemble of þis blisful oostLine 403 But þis scorpion this wikkede goostThe Sowdanesse for alle hir flateringeCaste vnder þis ful mortally to styngeLine 406
¶ The Sowdan comeþ himself sone after þisSo really that wonder is to tellehe welcomeþ hire with alle ioye and blisAnd þus in merthe and Ioye I lete hem dwelle
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[6-text p 143] Line 410 The fruyt of þis matiere þat I telleWhan tyme come men þought it for þe bestThat Reuel stynte and men gon to here RestLine 413
¶ The tyme com þis olde SowdanesseOrdeyned haþ þis feeste of which I toldeAnd to þe feste cristene folk hem dresseIn general boþe ȝonge and oldeLine 417 here may men feste and rialte biholdeAnd deyntees mo þan I can ȝou deuyseBut all to deere þei bought it ar þey ryseLine 420
¶ O sodein woo þat euer art SuccessourTo worldly blysse spreynd is with bitternesseThe ende of þe ioye of oure worldly laboureWo occupieth þe fyn of oure gladnesseLine 424 herk þis counseille for þi sikernessevpon þi glade day haue in thy myndeThe vnwar wo or harm þat comth behyndeLine 427
ffor schortly for to tellen at oo wordThe Sowdan and þe cristene euerychoneBen al to-hewe and stiked atte bordBut it were oonly dame Custance alloneLine 431 This olde Sowdanesse cursede cronehaþ with hire freendes doon þis cursede dedeffor sche hir self wolde alle þe contre ledeLine 434
¶ Ne þer nas Surrian non þat was conuertedThat of þe counseil of þe Sowdan wot [folio 80a] That he nas al to-hewe or he astertedAnd circumstance han þei take anon foot hootLine 438 And in a Schippe al steereles god wootThay han hire sette and bidden hire lerne sayleOut of Surrie agaynward to ytaile
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¶ A certein tresour þat sche þider laddeAnd soþ to sain vitaile gret plenteThey han hire yeuen and cloþes eek sche haddeAnd forþ sche saileþ in þe Salte seeLine 445 O my Custance ful of benigniteO emperoures yonge doughter deerehe þat is lord ouer fortune be þy steereLine 448
¶ Sche blisseþ & with ful pitous voisvnto þe croys of crist þus seyde scheO cler o welful auter holy croysRede of þi lambes blood ful of piteLine 452 That wisshe þe world fro þe olde iniquiteMe fro þe feend and fro his clawes keepeThat day þat I schal drenchen in þe deepeLine 455
¶ victorious tree proteccion of treweThat oonly worþi were for to bereThe king of heuene with his woundes neweThe white lambe þat hurt was with a spereLine 459 ffleemer of feendes out of him and hereOn whych þi lymes feithfully entendenMe keepe and yef me might my lijf tamendenLine 462
¶ yeeres and dayes fleet þis creatureThurgh out þe see of grece vnto þe strayteOf Marrok as it was hire auentureO many a sory meel now may sche bayteLine 466 After hire deþ fulofte may sche wayteOr þat þe wilde wawes wil hir dryuevnto þe place þer sche schal arryueLine 469
¶ Men mighten [aske] whi sche nas nat slaynEke atte feste who might hir body saueI answere to þat demande agayn [folio 80b] he saued daniel in þe horrible caue
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[6-text p 145] Line 473 Ther euery wight saue he maister or knaueWas wiþ þe leon frete or asterteNo wight but god þat he bar in his herteLine 476
¶ God list to schewe his wonderful myracleIn hire. for sche scholde seen his mighty werkesCrist which þat is to euery harm triacleBy certein menes oft as knowen clerkesLine 480 Doþ þing for certein ende þat ful derk isTo mannes wit þat for oure ignoranceNe konne nought knowe his prudent purueanceLine 483
¶ Now siþ sche was not atte feste y-slaweWho kept hir fro þe drenching in þe seeWho kepte Ionas in þe fisshes maweTil he was spouted vp at NyniueLine 487 Wel may men knowe it was no wight but heThat kepte pepul ebraik from here drenchyngWith drye feet þurgh out þe see passyngLine 490
¶ Who bad þe foure spiritz of tempestThat power han boþe to annoyen lond and seeBoþe north and south and also west and estAnoyeþ neyþer see ne lond ne treeLine 494 Soþly þe comandour of þat was heThat fro þe tempest ay þis womman kepteAs wel whan sche wook as whan sche slepteLine 497
¶ Wher might þis womman mete and drynke haueThree ȝeer and moore how lasteþ hire vitailleWho fedde þe Egipcien marie in the CaueOr in desert no wight but crist sanz failleLine 501 v. þousand folk it was a gret meruailleWith loues fyue and fisshes tuo to feedeGod sent his foyson at hire grete neede
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¶ Sche driueþ forþ in to oure Occeanþurghout oure wilde see til atte lastvnder an hold þat nempnen I ne canffor in Northumburland þe wawe hir cast [folio 81a] And in þe sond hir schippe stiked so fastThat þennes wold it nought of alle a tydeThe wille of crist was þat sche scholde abydeLine 511
¶ The Constable of þe castelle doun is fareTo seen þis wrak and alle þe schippe he soughtAnd fond þis wery womman ful of carehe fond also þe tresow þat sche broughtLine 515 In hire langage mercy sche bisoughtThe lyf out of hir body for to twynnehire to deliuere of wo þat sche was InneLine 518
¶ A maner latyn corupt was hire specheBut algates þer by was sche vnderstondeThe constable whan him list no lengere secheThis woful womman brought he to þe londeLine 522 Sche kneeleth doun and þankeþ goddes sondeBut what sche was sche wolde no man seyeffor foul ne fair þough þat sche scholde deyeLine 525
¶ Sche seyde sche was so mased in þe see/That sche foryat hire mynde by hire trouþeThe constable of hire haþ so gret piteAnd eek his wyf þat þei weepen for rouþeLine 529 Sche was so diligent wiþouten slouþeTo serue and plese euerich in þat placeThat alle hire louen þat loken on hire faceLine 532
¶ The constable and dame hermengheld his wifWere payens and þat contray euery whereBut hermyngeld loued hir right as hire lijfAnd Custance haþ so longe soiorned þere
Line 536
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[6-text p 147] Line 536 In orisons wiþ many a bitter teereTil Ihesu haþ conuerted þurgh his graceDame hermyngeld constablesse of þilke placeLine 539
¶ In alle þat land durste no cristene routeAlle cristene folk ben fled from þat contreThurgh payens þat conquereden heer abouteThe plages of þe north by land & seeLine 543 To wales fledde þe cristianite/ [folio 81b] Of olde britons dwellyng in þis Isle/There was hire refut / for þe meene whileLine 546
¶ But yit nas neuer cristene britons so exiledThat þer nas somme in here priuytehonourede crist/ and hethen folk bygiledAnd neygh þe castelle swich þer dwelden þreLine 550 That oon of hem was blynd and might not seBut it were wiþ þilk eyen of his myndeWith whiche men seen after þat þai ben blyndeLine 553
¶ Bright was þe sonne as in þat Someres dayffor which þe Constable and his wyf alsoAnd Custance han y-take þe righte wayToward þe see a forlong weye or twoLine 557 To pleyen and to Romen to and froAnd in here walk þre blynde men þey metteCrokede and olde with fast eyen y-schetteLine 560
¶ In the name of crist criede þis blynde bretondame hermyngild yeue me sight agaynThis lady wax affrayed of þe sounlyst þat hir housbond schortly for to seinLine 564 Wolde hire for ihesu cristes loue haue slainTil Custance made hire bold and made hire wercheThe wille of crist as doughter of his cherch
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[6-text p 148] Line 567
¶ The Constable wax abaisshed of þat sightAnd sayde what amounteþ al þis fareCustance answerde sire it is cristes mightThat helpeþ folk out of þe feendes snareLine 571 And so ferforth sche gan oure lay declareThat sche þe Constable or þat it was eueConuerteþ and on cryst made him bileeueLine 574
¶ This Constable was noþing lord of þis placeOf which I speke þere he Custance fondBut kepte it strongly many a wynter spacevnder .alla. kyng of all NorthumberlondLine 578 þat was ful wys and worþy of his hondAgayn þe Scottes as men may wel heere [folio 82a] But torne I wil again to my mateere/Line 581
¶ Sathan þat euer vs wayteth to begileSaugh of Custance al hire perfectionAnd cast anon how he might quite her whileAnd made a yong knight þat dwelte in þe tounLine 585 loue hire so hoot of fowl affectionThat verraily him þought he schulde spillBut he of hire might ones haue his willeLine 588
¶ he woweth hire but it auaileþ noughtSche wolde do no synne by no weyeAnd for dispit he compassed in his þoughtTo make hir on schameful deþ to deyeLine 592 he wayteþ whan þe Constable was aweyeAnd priuyly vpon a night he creptIn hermyngildes chambre whil sche sleptLine 595
¶ Wery for-waked in his orisonsSlepeth Custance and hermenghild alsoThis knight þurgh Sathanas temptacionsAl softely is to þe bedde I-go
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[6-text p 149] Line 599 And kutte þe þrote of hermengild a tuoAnd leyde þe blody knyf by dame CustanceAnd wente his wey þer god yeue him meschanceLine 602
¶ Sone after comth þis constable hom a gaynAnd eek Alla þat king was of þat londAnd saugh his wyf dispitousliche slainffor which ful ofte he wepte and wrong his hondLine 606 And in þe bed þe bloody knyf he fondBy dame Custance allas what might sche seyeffo verray woo hir witte was alle aweyeLine 609
¶ To king Alla was told al þis meschanceAnd eek þe tyme and wher and in what wiseThat in a schip was founde þis CustanceAs heer biforn ȝe han herd eer deuiseLine 613 The kinges herte of pite gan agriseWhan he seih so benigne a creatureffalle in disese and in mysauenture [folio 82b]
¶ ffor as þe lomb toward his deth is broughtSo stant þis Innocent bifore þe kingThis false knight þat haþ þis trayson wroughtBereþ hire an hand þat sche haþ do þis þingLine 620 But naþeles þer was gret mornyngAmong þe poeple and seye þay can not gesseThat sche hadde don so gret a wickednesseLine 623
¶ ffor þey han sein hir euer so vertuousAnd louyng hermynghild right as hire lifOf þis bar witnesse euerich in þat housSauf he þat hermegild slough wiþ his knifLine 627 This gentil king haþ caught a gret motyfOf þis witnesse and þought he wolde enquereDeppere in þis cas a trouthe for to lere
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[6-text p 150] Line 630
¶ Allas Custance þou nast no championNe fighte canst þou nought so weylowayBut he þat for oure redempcionAnd bond Sathan and lith yet þer he layLine 634 So be þy stronge champion þis dayffor but vpon þe miracle kitheWiþouten gilt þou schalt ben slayn as switheLine 637
¶ Sche sitte hir doun on knees and þus sche saydeImmortal god þat sauedest Susanneffro false blame and þou merciful maydeMarie I mene doughter to seint AnneLine 641 Biforn whos child aungelis synge OsanneIf I be gilteles of þis felonieMy socour be for elles schalt I dyeLine 644
¶ haue ye not sein som tyme a pale face/Among a prees of him þat haþ be ladToward his deth wher as him get no grace/And swich a colour in his face haþ hadLine 648 Men mighte knowe his face þat was bystadAmonges alle þe faces in þat routeSo stant Custance and loketh hire abouteLine 651
¶ O queenes lyuynge in prosperite [folio 83a] Duchesses and ȝe ladies euerichonehaue som routhe on hir aduersiteAn emperoures doughter stant alloneLine 655 Sche haþ no wight to whom to make hir mooneO blood real þat stondest in þis drede/ffer been þi freendes at þy grete needeLine 658
¶ This alla king haþ such compassionAs gentil herte is fulfild of piteThat from his eyhen ran þe water donNow hastilich do fecche a book quod he
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[6-text p 151] Line 662 And if þis knight wol swere how þat scheThis womman slough ȝit wol we vs auyse /Whom þat we wolde þat schal be oure IustiseLine 665
¶ A briton book y-writen with euaungilesWas fette and on þis book he swor anonSche giltif was in þe mene whilesAn hand him smot vpon þe nekke bonLine 669 That doun he felle at ones as a stoonAnd boþe his eyen brust out of his face/In sight of euery body in þat placeLine 672
¶ A vois was herd in general audienceAnd seyde þou hast disclandred giltelesThe doughter of holy chirche in heigh presenceThus hast þou doon and ȝet I moot holde my peesLine 676 Of þis merueyle agast was alle þe preesAs m[a]zed folk þei stooden euerychoneffor drede of wreche saue Custance alloneLine 679
Gret was þe drede and eek þe repentanceOf hem þat hadden wrong suspecionvpon þis seely Innocent CustanceAnd for þis miracle in conclusionLine 683 And by Custance mediacionThe king and many anoþer in þat placeConuerted was þanked be goddes graceLine 686
¶ This false knight was slain for his vntroutheBy Iuggement of. alla. hastily [folio 83b] And yet Custance haþ of his deth gret rouþeAnd after þis ihesus of his mercyMade Alla wedden ful solempnelyThis holy mayden þat is so bright and scheeneAnd þus haþ Crist made Custance a queene
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[6-text p 152] Line 693
¶ But who was woful if I schul nat lyeOf þis wedding but Donegilde and nomoThe kinges mooder ful of tyrannyehir þought hir cursed herte barst/ a twoLine 697 Sche wolde nought hir sone hadde don sohir þought a despit þat he schulde takeSo strange a creature vnto his makeLine 700
¶ Me list nouȝt of þe chaf ne of þe streMake so long a tale as of þe cornWhat schulde I tellen of þe realteOf mariage or which cours goþ bifornLine 704 Who bloweþ in a trompe or in an hornThe fruyt of euery tale is for to seie/Thei ete and drynke and daunce and synge and pleyeLine 707
They gon to bedde as it was skile and rightffor þough þat wyfes ben ful holy þingesThey moste take a pacience a nightSuch manere necessaries as ben plesyngesLine 711 To folk þat han y-wedded hem wiþ ryngesAnd leye a litel here holynesse asydeAs for þe time it may non oþer betydeLine 714
¶ On hire he gat a knaue child anonAnd to a bisshope and his counseil eekehe took his wijf to kepe whan he is goonTo Scotland ward his fomen for to seekeLine 718 Now faire Custance þat is so humble and meekeSo longe is gon wiþ childe til þat stilleSche halt hir chambre abydyng at cristes willeLine 721
¶ The tyme is come a knaue child sche beerMauricius atte font ston þei him calleThis Constable doþ forþ come a messagere [folio 84a] And wrot to his king þat cleped was alle.
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[6-text p 153] Line 725 how þat þis blisful tyding is bifalleAnd oþer tydynges spedful for to seyehe takeþ þe lettre and forth he goþ his weyeLine 728
¶ This messager to don his auantage/vnto þe kinges moder rideþ swiþeAnd salueth hire ful faire in his langageMa dame quoþ he ȝe may be glad and bliþeLine 732 And thanke god an hundred þousand siþeMy lady queen haþ child wiþouten douteTo Ioye and blisse of alle þis regne abouteLine 735
¶ lo here þe lettres seled of þis þingThat I mot bere with al þe haste I mayIf ye wole aught vnto your sone þe kingI am your seruant boþe night and dayLine 739 Dongyld answerd as now at þis tyme nayBut heer al night I wole þou take þi restTomorwe wil I seie what me lestLine 742
¶ This messager drank sadly ale and wynAnd stolen weren his lettres priuylyOut of his box whil he sleep as a swynAnd counterfeted was ful subtillyLine 746 Anoþer lettre wrought ful synfullyvnto þe king direct of þis matiereffro his Conestable as ȝe schal after heereLine 749
The lettre spak þe queen deliuered wasOf so horrible a feendlich creatureThat in þe Castelle non so hardy wasThat ony while dorste þerinne endureLine 753 The mooder was an elf by auentureycome by charmes or by sorcerieAnd euery wight hateþ hire companye
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[6-text p 154] Line 756
Wo was þis king whan he þis lettre hadde seynBut to no wight he tolde his sorwes soreBut of his oughne hond he wrot ageynWelcome þe sonde of crist for eueremore [folio 84b] To me þat am now lerned in his lorelord welcome be þi lust and þi plesanceMy lust is put al in þin ordinanceLine 763
¶ kepeth þis child al be it foul or faireAnd eek my wif vnto myn hom comyngCrist whan him list may sende me an haireMore agreable þan þis is to my likingLine 767 This lettre he seleþ priuyly wepyngWhich to þe messager was take soneAnd forth he goþ þer is nomore to dooneLine 770
¶ O messager fulfild of dronkenesse /Strong is þi breþ þi lymes faltren ayAnd þou biwreyest alle sikernesse /Thy mynde is lorn þou iangelest as a IayLine 774 Thy face is torned in a newe arayTher dronkenesse regneþ in ony routeTher nys no counseil hid wiþouten douteLine 777
¶ O donegild I haue non englissh dignevnto þy malice and þy tyrannyeAnd þerfore to þe feend I þe resigne /lat him enditen of þi traiterie /Line 781 ffy mannyssh fy o nay by god I lyeffy feendlich spirit for I dar wel telleThough þou here walke þy spirit is in helle /Line 784
¶ This messager comþ fro þe king agaynAnd at þe kinges moodres court he lightAnd sche was of þis messager ful fainAnd plesed him in al þat euer sche might
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[6-text p 155] Line 788 he drank and wel his gerdel vnderpighthe sleepeþ and he snorteþ in his gyseAl night til þe sonne gan ariseLine 791
¶ Eft were his lettres stolen euerich onAnd countrefeted lettres in þis wiseThe king comandeþ his constable anonvp peyne of hangyng on a heih IuyseLine 795 That he ne schulde suffre in no wise/ [folio 85a] Custance in with his Regne for tabideThre dayes and a quarter of a tydeLine 798
¶ But in þe same schip as he hire fondhire and hire ȝonge sone and alle hir gerehe schulde putte and croude fro þe londeAnd charge hire þat sche neuer eft come þereLine 802 O my Custance wel may þi goost haue feere/And sleping in þi drem ben in penaunce/Whan Donegild caste al þis ordinanceLine 805
¶ This messager on morwe whan he wookVnto þe castel halt þe nexte wayAnd to þe Constable he þe lettre tookAnd whan þat he þis pitous lettre sayLine 809 fful ofte he seyde allas and weylaway¶ lord crist quod he how may þis lettre endureSo ful of synne is many a creatureLine 812
¶ O mighty god if þat it be þi willeSith þou art rightful Iuge how may it beThat þou wolt suffren Innocentz to spilleAnd wikke folk regnen in prosperiteLine 816 ¶ O goode Custance allas so wo is meThat I moot be þi tormentour or deyeOn schames deþ þer is non oþer weye
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[6-text p 156] Line 819
¶ Wepen boþe ȝonge and olde in al þat placeWhan þat þe king þis cursede lettre senteAnd Custance with a dedly pale faceThe ferþe day toward hir schip sche wenteLine 823 But naþeles sche takeþ in good ententeThe wille of crist and knelyng in þe strondeSche seyde lord ay welcome be þi sondeLine 826
he þat me kepte fro þe false blameWhil I was on þe lond amonges yow /he kan me kepe from harm and eek fro schameIn salte see al þough I se not howLine 830 As strong as euer he was he is right now /In him trust I and in his mooder deere [folio 85b] That is to me my sail and eek my steereLine 833
hir litel child lay weepyng in hire armAnd knelyng pitously to him sche seidePees litel sone I wol do þe non harmWiþ þat hir couerchef of hir heed sche breydeLine 837 And ouer his litel eyȝen sche it leyde/And in hir arm sche lulleth it ful faste /And in to heuen hir yhen vp sche casteLine 840
¶ Moder quod sche and mayde bright marieSoth is þat þurgh wommannes eggementMankynde was lorn and dampned ay to deyeffor which þi child was on a croys y-rentLine 844 Thy blisful eighen saugh al his tormentThan is þer no comparison bitweneThy wo and any wo man may susteneLine 847
¶ Thou saugh þi sone y-slayn biforn þin eyenAnd ȝit now lyueþ my litel child par fayNow lady bright to whom alle woful cryenThow glorie of wommanhod þou faire may
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[6-text p 157] Line 851 Thou hauen of refut brighte sterre of dayRewe on my child þat of þi gentilesseRewest on euery rewful in distresseLine 854
¶ O litel child allas what is þi giltThat neuer wroughtest synne as ȝit par deWhy wil þin harde fader haue þe spiltO mercy deere Conestable quod scheLine 858 As lat my litel child dwelle heer with þeAnd if þou darst nought sauen him for blameSo kisse him ones in his fadres nameLine 861
¶ Ther with sche lokeþ bakward to þe londAnd sayde farewel housbonde routhelesAnd vp sche rist and walketh doun þe strondeToward þe schip hir folweþ alle þe preesLine 865 And euer sche preieþ hir child to holde his peesAnd takeþ hire leeue and with an holy ententSche blisseþ hire and in to schip sche wente [folio 86a]
vitailled was þe schip it is no dredehabundauntly for hire ful longe spaceAnd oþer necessaries þat scholden needeSche hadde ynough heried be goddes graceLine 872 ffor wynd and weder almighty god purchaceAnd brynge hir home I can no better seyBut in þe see sche dryueþ forþ hir weyLine 875
[PART III.]
Alla þe king comþ hom sone after þis /vnto his castelle of þe which I toldeAnd axeþ wher his wyf and his child isThe Constable gan aboute his herte colde
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[6-text p 158] Line 879 And pleynly al þe maner he him toldeAs ye han herd I can telle it no bettreAnd scheweth þe king his seal and his lettreLine 882
And seyde lord as ȝe comaunded mevp peyne of deth so haue I don certeinThis messager tormented was til heMoste biknowen and tellen plat and pleinLine 886 ffrom night to night in what place he hadde leynAnd þus by witt and subtil enqueryngymagined was by whom þis harm gan springLine 889
¶ The hond was knowe þat þe lettre wrotAnd alle þe venym of þe cursed dedeBut in what wise certeinly I notThe effect is þis þat alla out of dredeLine 893 his mooder slough þat many men pleynly reedeffor þat sche traitour was to hire ligeance /Thus endeþ olde Donegild wiþ meschanceLine 896
The sorwe þat þis Alla night and dayMakeþ for his wyf and for his childTher is no tonge þat it telle mayBut now wol I vnto Custance goLine 900 That fleeteþ in þe see in peyne and wo.v. yeer and more as likede cristes sondeAr þat hire schip approched vnto londeLine 903
¶ Vnder an heþen castelle atte laste [folio 86b] Of which þe name in my text nouȝt I fyndeCustance and eek hir childe þe see vp casteAlmighty god þat saueþ al mankyndeLine 907 haue on Custance and hir child som myndeThat fallen is in hethene hond eft soneIn poynt to spille as I schal telle yow soone
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[6-text p 159] Line 910
Doun fro þe Castelle comþ þer many a wightTo gawren on þis schip and on CustanceBut schortly fro þe castel on a nightThe lordes styward god yeue him meschanceLine 914 A theef þat hadde renyed oure creance /Com in to schip allone and seide he scholdehir lemman be wher so sche wolde or nolde/Line 917
¶ Wo was þis wrecchede womman þo bigonhir child cryede and sche cried pitouslyBut blisful marie halp hir right anoonffor with hir strogelyn wel and mightilyLine 921 The theef fel ouer bord al sodeinlyAnd in þe see he dreynte for venganceAnd þus haþ crist / vnwemmed kept CustanceLine 924
O foule lust of luxurie lo þin endeNought / oonly þat þou fayntest mannes myndeBut verreyly þou wolt his body schendeThe ende of þi werk or of þi lustes blyndeLine 928 Is compleynyng how many oon may men fyndeThat nought for werk somtyme but for þententTo don þis synne ben eyþer slayn or schentLine 931
¶ how may þis weyke womman han þe strengþehire to defende ageyn þis renegatO. golyas vnmesurable of lengþehow mighte Dauid make þe so matLine 935 So yonge and of armure so desolathow dorst he loke vpon þi dredful faceWel may men sen it was but goddes graceLine 938
Who yaf Iudith corage or hardynesseTo slen him Olefernus in his tent [folio 87a] And to delyueren out of wrecchednesseThe poeple of god. I sey for þis entent
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[6-text p 160] Line 942 þat right as god spirit and vigor sentTo hem and saued hem out of meschanceSo sent he might and vigor to CustanceLine 945
fforþ goþ hir schip forþ on þe narwe mouthOf Iubaltar and Septe dryuyng aySomtyme west and som tyme north and southAnd som tyme est ful many a wery dayLine 949 Til cristes mooder blissed be sche ayhaþ schapen þurgh hir endeles goodnesseTo make an ende of alle hir heuynesseLine 952
¶ Now lat vs stynte of Custance but a þroweAnd speke we of þe Romeyn EmperourThat out of Surrie haþ þe lettres knoweThe slaughtere of cristene folk and deshonourLine 956 Don to his doughter by a fals traytourI mene þe cursede wickede SowdonesseThat at þe feste let slen boþe more and lesseLine 959
¶ ffor which þis Emperour haþ sent anonhis senatour wiþ real ordinanceAnd oþer lordes god wot many onOn Surriens to taken his venganceLine 963 They brennen sleen and bringen hem to meschāncefful many a day but schortly þis is þendehomward to Rome þei schapen hem to wendeLine 966
This Senatour repaireth with victorieTo Romeward saylinge reallyAnd mette þe schip dryuyng as seiþ þe storieIn which Custance sitte ful pitouslyLine 970 No þing ne knew he what sche was ne whySche was in swich aray ne sche nyl seyeOf hire astate þough sche scholde deye
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[6-text p 161] Line 973
he bringeþ hire to Rome and to his wijfhe yaf hire and hire ȝonge sone alsoAnd wiþ þe Senatour sche ladde hir lyf [folio 87b] Thus kan oure lady bringen out of wooLine 977 Woful Custance and many anoþer moAnd long tyme dwelled sche in þat placeIn holy werkes euere as was hir graceLine 980
¶ The Senatoures wijf hir aunte wasBut for al þat sche knew hir neuer þe moreI wil no lenger tarien in þis caasBut to king Alla which I spak of yoreLine 984 That for his wyf wepeþ and sikeþ sore /I wol retorne and lete I wil Custancevnder þe Cenatoures gouernance /Line 987
¶ kyng Alla which þat hadde his moder slaynvpon a day fil in such repentanceThat if I schortly tellen schal and playnTo Rome he comeþ to receyuen his penanceLine 991 And put him in þe popes ordinanceIn heigh and low and Ihesu crist besoughtefforyeue his wikkede werkes þat he wroughteLine 994
¶ The fame ano þurgh Rome toun is bornhow Alla king schal comen in pilgrinageBy herberiours þat wenten him bifornffor which þe Senatour as was vsageLine 998 Rood him agayn and many of his lynageAs wel to schewen his hie magnificenceAs to don any king a reuerenceLine 1001
¶ Gret cheere doth þis noble SenatourTo king Alla and he to him alsoEuerich of hem doþ oþer gret honourAnd so bifille þat in a day or tuo
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[6-text p 162] Line 1005 This Senatour is to king alla goTo feeste and schortly if I schal not lyeCustance sone is in his companye /Line 1008
¶ Som men wolde seyn atte requeste of CustanceThis Senatour haþ lad þis child to festeI may not tellen euerich circumstance /Be as be may þer was he atte leste [folio 88a] But soþ is þis þat at his moodres hesteByforn Alla duryng þe metes spaceThe child stood loking in þe kinges faceLine 1015
This alla king haþ of þe child gret wonderAnd to þe Senatour he sayde anonWhos is þat faire child þat stondeþ yonderI not quod he by god and by seint IohnLine 1019 A mooder he haþ but fader haþ he nonThat I of woot and schortly in a stounde /he tolde alla how þat þis child was foundeLine 1022
¶ But god wot quod þis Senatour alsoSo vertuous a lyuere in my lyfNe saugh I neuer as sche ne herde of moOf worldly wommen mayde ne of wijfLine 1026 I dar wel sayn sche hadde leuer a knyfThurghout hire brest þan ben a womman wikkeTher is noman kowde bringe hire to þat prikkeLine 1029
Now was þis child as lik vnto Custance /As possible as is a creature to beThis alla haþ þe face in remembranceOf dame Custance and þer on mused heLine 1033 If þat þe childes moder were aught sche /That is his wyf and priuily he sighteAnd spedde him fro þe table þat he mighte
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[6-text p 163] Line 1036
¶ Par fay he þought þe fantome is in myn hedI oughte demen of skilful IuggementThat in þe salte see my wyf is deedAnd aftirward he made his argumentLine 1040 What wot I if þat crist haþ hider sentMy wyf by see as wel as he hir senteTo my contre fro þennes þat sche wenteLine 1043
¶ And after non hom with þe SenatourGoþ alla for to seen þis wonder chaunceThis Senatour doþ alla gret honourAnd hastily he sente after CustanceLine 1047 But trusteþ wel hire luste nought to daunce [folio 88b] Whan þat sche wiste wherfore was þat sondeVnneþe vppon hire feet sche mighte stonde /Line 1050
¶ Whan alla saugh his wyf faire he hire grette /And wepte þat it was reuþe for to seffor atte ferste look he on hire sette /he knew wel verrely þat it was sche /Line 1054 and for sorwe as domb stant as a treSo was hir herte schet in hire distresseWhan sche remembred his vnkyndenesse /Line 1057
¶ Twies sche swowneþ in his owne sighthe wepte and him excuseth pitouslyNow god quod he and his halwes brightSo wisly on my saule as haue mercyLine 1061 That of youre harm as gilteles am IAs is Maurice my sone so lik ȝoure faceElles the feende me fecche out of þis place /Line 1064
¶ longe was þe sobbyng and þe bittre peyne /Or þat here wofulle hertes mighte cesse /Gret was þe pite for to heere hem pleyne /þurgh whiche pleyntes gan hire wo encresse /
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[6-text p 164] Line 1068 I pray ȝou alle my labour to relesseI may not tellen hir wo vntil to morweI am so wery for to speke of hire sorweLine 1071
¶ But finally whan þat þe soþe is wistThat Alla gilteles was of hire woo /I trowe an hundred tymes ben þei kisteAnd such a blisse is þer betwixe hem tuoLine 1075 That saue þe ioye þat lasteth eueremoTher is non lik þat ony creaturehaþ seyn or schal whil þe world may dureLine 1078
¶ Tho preyed sche hire housbonde mekelyIn relief of hir longe pitous pyneThat he wolde preye hire fader speciallyThat of his mageste he wolde enclyneLine 1082 To fouche sauf som day with him to dyneSche preyde him eek he scholde by no weye [folio 89a] vnto hir fader no word of hire seyeLine 1085
¶ Some men wolde sein how þat þe child MauriceDoþ þis message vntil þis EmperourBut as I gesse Alla was nought so nyceTo him þat was of so souereigne honourLine 1089 As he þat is of cristene folk þe flourSent eny child but it is bet to demehe went himself and so it may wel semeLine 1092
¶ This Emperour hath graunted gentilyTo come to dyner as he him bysoughtAnd wel redy he lokede bisilyvpon þis child and on his doughter þoughtLine 1096 Alla goþ to his In and as him oughtArrayed for þis feste in euery wiseAs ferforth as his konnyng may suffise
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[6-text p 165] Line 1099
¶ The morwe com and alla gan him dresseAnd eek his wyf þis Emperour to meeteAnd forþ þey ryde in ioye and in gladnesse /And whan sche seigh hir fader in þe streteLine 1103 Sche light a doun and falleþ him to feetffader quod sche youre ȝonge child CustanceIs now ful clene out of ȝoure remembranceLine 1106
¶ I am ȝoure doughter Custance quod scheThat whilom ye sent vnto SurryeI am I fader þat in þe salte seeWas putte allone and dampned for to dyeLine 1110 Now goode fader mercy to you I cryeSend me nomore vnto non hethenesseBut þonk my lord heer of his kyndenesseLine 1113
¶ Who can þe pitous Ioye tellen alBitwexe hem þre syn þey ben þus y-metteBut of my tale make an ende I schalThe day goþ faste I wol no lenger letteLine 1117 This glad folk to dyner þey hem setteIn ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelleA þousand fold wel more þan I can telle / [folio 89b]
This child maurice was sitthen EmperourMade by þe pope and lyuede cristenelyTo cristes chirche he dede gret honourBut I letete alle his story passen byLine 1124 Of Custance is my tale speciallyIn olde Romeyn gestes men may fyndeMaurices lyf I bere it nought in myndeLine 1127
¶ This king Alla. whan he his tyme sayWith his Custance his holy wif so sweeteTo Engelond þei come þe redy wayWher as þay lyue in ioye and in quiete
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[6-text p 166] Line 1131 But litel while it lasteþ I ȝou heeteIoye of þis world for tyme wil nouȝt abydeffro day to nyght it chaungeþ as þe tydeLine 1134
¶ Who lyued euere in such delyt a dayThat ne meued eyþer conscience /Or Ire or talent of som kyn affrayEnuye or pride or passion or offense /Line 1138 I ne say but for þis ende þis sentenceThat litel while in Ioye or in plesancelasteþ þe blisse of alla wiþ Custance /Line 1141
ffor deþ þat takeþ of heigh and lough his rentWhan passed was a yeer euene as I gesseOut of þis world þis king Alla he hentffor whom Custance haþ ful gret heuynesse /Line 1145 Now lat vs prayen god his soule blesse /And dame Custance finally to seyeToward þe toun of Rome goþ hire weyeLine 1148
To Rome is come þis holy creatureAnd fyndeþ hire freendes hol and soundeNow is sche scaped alle hire auentureAnd whan sche hir fader haþ I-foundeLine 1152 Doun on hir knees falleth sche to groundeWepynge for tendirnesse in herte bliþeSche herieþ god an C. þousand sitheLine 1155
In vertue and holy almesdede / [folio 90a] They lyuen alle and neuer asonder wendeTil deth departe hem þis lif þey ledeAnd fareþ now wel my tale is at an endeLine 1159 Now ihesu crist þat of his might may sendeIoye after wo gouerne vs in his graceAnd kepe vs alle þat ben in þis place /Line 1162
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[6-text p 167]
Owre oost vpon his stiropes stood anoonAnd seyde goode men herkeneþ euerych onThis was a thrifty tale for þe nonesSire parissche prest quod he for goddes boonesLine 1166 Telle vs a tale as was þi forward yoreI se wel þat ye lerned men in looreCan moche good by goddes digneteThe parson him answerde benediciteLine 1170 What eyleþ þe man so synfully to swere /Oure ost answerde. O Ianekyn be ye þereI smelle a lollere in þe wynd quod hehow goode men quod oure host herkeneþ meLine 1174 Abydeþ for goddes digne passionffor we schal han a predicacionThis lollere heer wil prechen vs som whatNay by my fader soule þat schal he natLine 1178 Seyde þe Esquier heer schal he nat precheHe schal no gospel glosen here ne techehe leueþ all in þe grete god hehe wolde sowen som difficulteLine 1182 Or springen Cokkel in oure clene cornAnd þerfore oost I warne þe bifornMy Ioly body schal a tale telleAnd I schal clynken ȝou so mery a belleLine 1186 That I schal waken al þis compaignieBut it schal not ben of philosophieNe Phislyas ne termes queinte of laweTher is but litel latyn in my naweLine 1190
¶ Vnde P[t]holomeus libro jo, Capitulo go primi motus celi duo sunt quorum vnus est qui mouet totum semper ab oriente in occidentem vno modo super orbes & cetera. Item aliter vero motus est qui mouet orbem stellarum currencium. Contra motum primum videlicet ab occidente in orientem super alios duos polos & cetera. Omnes enim concordati sunt quod electiones sint debiles nisi in di|uitibus, habent enim isti licet debilitentur eorum electiones radicem .i. natiuitates eorum que confortat omnem planetam debilem in itinere. huc. philosophus.
¶ Semper mundane leticie tristicia repentina succedit. Mundana ergo felicitas multis amaritudinibus est respersa. Extre|ma gaudij luctus occupat audi ergo salubre consilium in die bonorum ne immemor sis malorum.
¶ Quid turpius ebrioso cui fetor in ore tremor in corpore qui promit stulta prodit occulta cui mens alienatur facies trans|formatur nullum enim latet secretum vbi regnat ebrietas.
Quis vnquam vnicam diem totam duxit in sua delecta|cione iocundam quem in aliqua parte diei reatus consciencie vel impetus ire vel motus concupiscencie inde non turbauerit quem liuor inuidie vel ardor auaricie vel tumor superbie non vexauerit vel quem aliqua iactura vel offensa vel passio non commoauerit.