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

Page 129

GROUP B. (α. FRAGMENT II.)

§ 1. MAN OF LAW'S HEAD-LINK. CAMBRIDGE MS. Here begynneth the Prolog of the man of lawe.

[Harleian MS 1758, leaf 55, back.]

                    
                      oure Oste saugh well that the bright sonne.
                    
                      The arke of his artaficiall day had ronne.
                    
                      The fourthe parte & half an houre & more.
                    
                      And though he were not deep experte in lore.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      He wist it was the .xviij. day.
                    
                      Of Aprill that is messager/ to May.
                    
                      And saugh well that the schadow of euery tre.
                    
                      Was as in lengthe the same quantite.
                      Line 8 
                    
                      That was the body erecte that causid it. [[Harl. extract ends]] 
                    
                      And þerfore by þe schadewe he tok hese wit [Camb. MS]  [folio 194a] 
                    
                      That phebus which þat schon so cler & bryȝt
                    
                      Degreis fyue & forty I-clombe on hyȝt
                      Line 12 
                    
                      And for þat day as in þat latytude
                    
                      It was ten of þe clok he gan conclude
                    
                      And sodeynly he plyȝte hese hors a-boute
                    
                      Lordyngis quod he I warne ȝow al þis route
                      Line 16 
                    
                      The fourte party of þis day is gon
                    
                      Now for þe loue of god & seynt Iohn
                    
                      Leseth no tyme as fer forth as ȝe may
                    
                      Lordyngis it wastyth nyȝt & day
                      Line 20 
                    
                      And stelyth from vs what priuyly slepynge
                    
                      And what þerwith neclygence In oure wakynge
                    
                      As doth þe strem þat turnyth neuere a-geyn
                    
                      Dessendynge from þe monteyn In-to pleyn
                      Line 24 
                    
                      Wel can senykeke & manye a phylisofere
                    
                      Bewaylyn tyme more þan gold in cofere
                    
                      ffor los of catel may recouerede be
                    
                      But los of tyme schendyth vs quod he

                      Line 28

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                      Line 28 
                    
                      It wele not come a-geyn with-outyn drede
                    
                      No more þan wele malkenys maydynhede
                    
                      Whan sche hath lost it in here wantounnesse
                    
                      Let vs not moulyn þus in ydylnesse
                      Line 32 
                    
                      Syre man of lawe so haue ȝe blys
                    
                      Telle vs a tale now as forward is
                    
                      Ȝe ben submyttit þour ȝoure fre assent
                    
                      To stondyn in þis cas at myn Iugement
                      Line 36 
                    
                      A-quytht ȝow now of ȝoure be-heste
                    
                      Þanne haue ȝe don ȝoure deuyr at þe leste
                    
                      Host quod he depardeux I assente
                    
                      To brekyn forward is not myn entente
                      Line 40 
                    
                      Byheste is dette & I wele holde fayn
                    
                      Al myn beheste I can no betere seyn
                    
                      ffor swich lawe as man ȝeuyth a-noþer wyȝt
                    
                      He schulde hym selue vse it be right
                      Line 44 
                    
                      Thus wele oure tyxt / but natheles serteyn
                    
                      I can not now non thrifty tale seyn [folio 194b] 
                    
                      That Chaucer thoughte he can but lewedely
                    
                      On metris & on rymyng craftyly
                      Line 48 
                    
                      As seyde hem in swich engelych as he can
                    
                      Of olde tyme as knowyth manye a man
                    
                      And ȝif he haue not seyde hem leue broþer
                    
                      In on bok he hath seyd hem in a noþer
                      Line 52 
                    
                      ffor he hath told of louerys vp & down
                    
                      Mo þan ouyde made of mencyoun /
                    
                      In hese epistell þat ben ful olde
                    
                      What schulde I telle hem syn þat þey ben tolde
                      Line 56 
                    
                      In ȝouthe he made of Ceys & alceoun
                    
                      And syþe haþ he spoke of euerychon
                    
                      These nobele wyuys & þese loueris ek
                    
                      Who so þat wole hese large volum sek
                      Line 60 
                    
                      Clepid þe seyntis legende of cupide
                    
                      There may he se þe large woundis wyde
                    
                      Of lucresse & of babiloyn Tisbee
                    
                      The swerd of dido for þe false Enee

                      Line 64

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                      Line 64 
                    
                      The tre of phill for here demephoun
                    
                      The pleynt of dyane & of hermyoun
                    
                      Of adryane & of Isiphilee
                    
                      The barayne yle standynge in þe se
                      Line 68 
                    
                      The dreynte leandere for hese erro
                    
                      The terys of elyne & ek þe wo
                    
                      Of brixseyde & of þe ladomya
                    
                      The cruelte of þe quene media
                      Line 72 
                    
                      Thy lityl childeryn hangynge by þe hals
                    
                      ffor thy Iason þat was in loue so fals
                    
                      O ypermystre penolopee Alceste
                    
                      Ȝoure wifhod be commendit with þe beste
                      Line 76 
                    
                      But serteynly no word wryty[t]h he
                    
                      Of thilk ensaumple of Canacee
                    
                      That louede here owene broþer synfully
                    
                      Of swiche cursede storyis I seye fy
                      Line 80 
                    
                      Or ellis of Thiro appolonyus
                    
                      [How þe cursid kynge Anciocus [Sloane MS 1685 folio 63a] 
                    
                      Byrafte hys douȝtir hir Maydenhede
                    
                      þat ys so horrible a tale for to here
                      Line 84 
                    
                      Whan he hir þrowe þorough þe pament
                    
                      And þ[er]fore he of full avisement
                    
                      Wolde nevere write in none of his sermones
                    
                      Of whiche vnkynde abhomynacions
                      Line 88 
                    
                      Ne I· ne wil non reherse if þat I may
                    
                      But of my tale how shalle doo þis day
                    
                      Me were lothe he lykned douteles
                    
                      To Muses þat men clepen pieriedes
                      Line 92 
                    
                      Metham-orphaseos wot wat y mene
                    
                      But natheles I ne reche not a bene
                    
                      Thoughe ·y· come after hym with aw bake
                    
                      I speke in prose & let hym Rymes make
                      Line 96 
                    
                      And with þat worde he with a sobre chere
                    
                      By-gan his tale as ye shul after here
                      Line 98

Here endithe þe prolooge [[No break in the MS here or between the stanzas.]]

& bygynnithe þe tale

Page 132

[THE PROLOGUE.]

                      
                        Ohatfulle harme condicion of pouert [[Sloane MS 1685]] 
                      
                        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 [[The MS trans|poses these two lines.]] 
                      
                        O noble prudent folke as in þis cas [[The MS trans|poses these two lines.]] 
                      
                        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

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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 [[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]]

Page 134

[THE TALE.]

[PART I.]

                      
                        In Surry whilom dwellede a c[u]mpaignye [Cambridge MS]  [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 þe quene

                        Line 161

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161

                      
                        In here is high beute with-oute pryde
                      
                        Ȝouthe with-oute grenehede or folye [[in a later hand]] 
                      
                        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 [[or chambur]]  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 [[han put-in in a later hand]]  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

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                        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

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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 [[altered]]  dame [[altered]]  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

Page 138

                      
                        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 [[altered]] 
                      
                        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

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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 [[altered from sende]] 
                      
                        There is namore but fare wel fayre Custaunce

                        Line 319

Page 140

                      
                        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

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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 [[altered from here]]  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

Page 142

                      
                        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

Page 143

                      
                        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

Page 144

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

Page 145

                      
                        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 [[altered]]  this [[altered]]  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

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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 [[altered]]  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

Page 147

                      
                        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 [[altered]]  swich [[altered]]  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 [[altered]] 
                      
                        The wil of crist as doughtyr of hise cherche

                        Line 567

Page 148

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

Page 149

                      
                        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 [[altered]] 
                        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

Page 150

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 [[altered]] 
                      
                        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

Page 151

                      
                        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 þe dred & ek þe 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 [[Ihe]]  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

Page 152

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 [[clepe put at the side, later]]  a massanger
                      
                        And wrot on-to his kyng þat clepid was alle

                        Line 725

Page 153

                      
                        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 [[altered]] 
                      
                        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

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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 [[altered]]  lykynge [[altered]] 
                        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

Page 155

                      
                        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 [[altered from whiche]]  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

Page 156

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

Page 157

                      
                        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

Page 15

                      
                        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

Page 159

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

Page 160

                      
                        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 [[? eure]] 
                        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

Page 161

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 [[This stanza is repeated in the MS. See the second version on p. 133 above]]

                      
                        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

Page 162

                      
                        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

Page 163

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

Page 164

                      
                        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

Page 165

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

Page 166

                      
                        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 [[Break of 2 lines, after which is the heading of the Wife of Bath's Prologue.]]

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GROUP B. (α. FRAGMENT II.)

§ 1. MAN OF LAW'S HEAD-LINK. CAMBRIDGE MS. Here begynneth the Prolog of the man of lawe.

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& bygynnithe þe tale

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[THE PROLOGUE.]

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[THE TALE.]

[PART I.]

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[PART II.]

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