The Petworth ms. of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 129]

GROUP B. (α. FRAGMENT II.)

§ 1. MAN OF LAW'S HEAD-LINK.

PETWORTH MS.

And here by|gynnes þe prologe of þe man of lawe

Oure hoost segh wel þat þe briȝt sonne þe arke of þis artificial day hadde ronne þe feerþ part and half an houre or more And þough he were not depe expert in lore Line 4 He wist it was þe xviij. day Of Aprile þat is massagere to may And seghe wel þat þe shadowe of euery tre Was as in length þe same quantite Line 8 þat was þe body erecte þat caused it And þerfore by þe shadowe he toke his witte Þat Phebus which þat shoon so clere and briȝt Degrees was xlv. clombe on hight Line 12 And for þat day as in þat latitude [folio 85a] Hit was .x. of þe clok he gan conclude And sodeynly he pliȝt his hors about Lordingges quod he I warne ȝow al þis route Line 16 þe feer party of þis day is goon Now for þe loue of god and of seint Iohn Leseþ no tyme as ferforþ as ȝe may Lordingges þe tyme it wasteþ boþ nyȝt and day Line 20 And steleþ from vs what priuely slepinge And what þourgh neglygence in our wakinge As doþ þe streme þat turneþ neuere agayn / Descending from þe mounteyn into playn Line 24 Wel can Senec and many a philosophre Byweillen tyme more þan gold in Cofre ffor losse of Catel may recouered be But losse of tyme shendeþ vs quod he Line 28

[6-text p 130] Line 28 It wil not come aȝein wiþ-outen drede No more þan wil Malkyns Maidenhede Whan she haþ lost it in her wantonesse Lat vs nout mowlen þus in Ydelnesse Line 32 Sire man of lawe quod he so haue I blesse Telle vs a tale anoon as forward es Ȝe bene submitted þourgh ȝour fre assent To stonden in þis cas at my Iuggement Line 36 Aquiteþ ȝou nowe of ȝoure biheest þan han ȝe done ȝoure devoire at þe leest Oost quod he depardeux ich assent To breke forward is not myn entent Line 40 Biheest is dette and I wil holde fayne Al my biheest I can no better seyne ffor such lawe as a man ȝeueþ anoþer wiȝt He shuld hym self vsen it by riȝt Line 44 Thus wil our text but naþeles certeyne I can riȝt now no trusty tale seyne þat chaucere þouȝt he can but lewdely On meters and in rymyng craftely Line 48 Haþ seide hem in such englissh as he can [folio 85b] Of olde tyme as knoweþ mony a man And if he haue nouȝt seide hem leue broþer In oo boke he haþ seide in a-noþer Line 52 ffor he haþ told of louers vp and doun Moo þan Ovide made mencioun In his Epistels þat bene ful olde What shuld I tellen hem siþ þei be tolde Line 56 In ȝouþe he made of Ceys and Alcione And siþ haþ he spoke of euerychone Thise noble wyues and þise louyers eke Who so þat wol his large volom seke Line 60 Cleped þe Seintes legende of Cupide þer may he see þe large woundes wide Of lucresse and of Babylan Tysbe þe swerd of Dido for þe fals ene Line 64

[6-text p 131] Line 64 The tre of Phillis for hir demophon þe pleynte of Dyanyre and of Hermyon Of Andrian and of ysiphilee Þe barayn Isle stonding in þe see Line 68 Þe dreynt leander for his erro The teres of Elyne and eke þe woo Of Brixseid and of þe ladomya The cruelte of quene Medea / Line 72 Þe litel children honging by þe hals ffor þe Iason þat was of loue so fals Of ypinistra penolope Alceste Ȝoure wivehode he commendeþ wiþ þe best Line 76 But certeynly no worde ne writeþ he Of þilk wicke ensample of canace Þat luffed her oune broþere synfully Of suche cursed storis I seie fye Line 80 Or ellis of Tiro Appolloneus How þat þe cursed king Antiocus Biraft his douȝter of her maydenhede Þat is so horrible a tale for to rede Line 84 Whan he her drewe þorgh-out þe pament [folio 86a] And þerfor he of ful avisement Nold neuer write in none of his sermons Of such vnkinde abhomynacions. Line 88 Ne I ne wil none reherce if þat I may But of my tale how shal I done þis day Me were loth be likned doutlees To muses þat men clepen pieriades Line 92 Methanorphoseos wote what I mene But naþelees I recche not a bene Þouȝe I come after hym wiþ hawe bake I speke in prose and lat hym rymes make Line 96 And wiþ þat word he wiþ a sobre chere Bygan his tale as ȝe shal after here Line 98

¶ Thus endeþ þe prologe

[6-text p 132]

And here by|gynneþ þe Mannys of lawe Tale

[Prologue.]

Ohateful harme condicion of pouert Line 99 Wiþ þrust wiþ cold with hunger so confounded To asken help þe shamest in þine hert If þowe now aske wiþ nede art þou so wounded Line 102 Þat verrey nede vnwrappeþ al þi wonud hed Maugre in þine hede þou most for indigence Or stele or begge or borowe þi dispence Line 105

Thow blamest crist and seist ful bitterly He mysdeparteþ ricches temporal Þi neighbour þow witest sinfully And saist þou hast to litel and he haþ all Line 109 Parfay seist þou somtyme he rekne shall Whan þat his tale shal brenne in þ^e glede ffor he nouȝt helpeþ nedeful in her nede Line 112

Herken what is þe menyng of þe wise Bett is to dyen þan haue indigence þi self neighboure wil þe despise If þou be poor fare wele þi reuerence. Line 116 Ȝit of þe wise man take þis sentence [folio 86b] Al þe daies of poor men ben wikke Be war þerfore er þou come in þat prikke Line 119

Ȝif þou be poor þi broþer hateþ þe And alle þi freendes fleen fro þe alas O riche marchauntes ful of wele be ȝe O noble prudent folk as in þis cas Line 123 Ȝoure bagges bene not filled with ambees aas But wiþ sise cynk þat renneþ for ȝour chance At Cristes mas mery may ȝe daunce Line 126

[6-text p 133] Line 126

Ȝe seken londe and ffe for ȝour wynnyngges As wise folk þat knowen al þe state Of regnes ȝe bene fadere of Tithenges And tales boþen of pees & debate Line 130 I was riȝt nowe of tales desolate Ner þat a marchaunt gone is mony a ȝere Me taught a tale which þat ȝe shal here Line 133

[6-text p 134]

[TALE. PART I.]

In Surry whilom dwelt a companye Of Chapmen riche and þerto sadde and trewe þat wide where setten her spicerie Cloþes of golde and saten riche of hue Line 137 Her chaffare was so þrifty and so nwe þat euery wiȝt haþ deynte to chafare Wiþ hem and eke to sellen hem her ware Line 140

Nowe fille it þat þe maisters of þat sort Han shapen hem to Rome forto wende Were it for chapmanhode or for disport Noon oþer massage wold þei þider sende Line 144 But commen hem self to Rome þis is þe ende And in suche place as þouȝt hem auauntage ffor her entent þei taken her herbergage Line 147

Soiourned han þise merchaundes in þat toun [folio 87a] A certeyn tyme as fille to her plesaunce But so byfelle þat þe excellen renoun Of þe Emperour douȝtere Dame Castaunce Line 151 Reported was with euery circumstaunce Vnto þise Surryen merchauntz in such wise ffro day to day as I shal ȝou deuise Line 154

This was þe comon vois of euery man Our Emperour of Rome god hym see A doughter haþ þat siþe þe world bygan To rekne as wel her goodnes as bewte Line 158 Nas neuere such anoþer as is she I prei to god in honure hir sustene And wolde she were of al Europe þ^e quene

[6-text p 135]

IN hure is hegh bewte wiþ-oute pride ȝouþe wiþ-out grenehode or folye To all her werkes vertue is her gide Humblesse haþ sclayn in hire al tyrannye Line 165 She is a myrour of al Curtesie Hire herte is verrey chambere of holynesse Her hand mynystre of fredam for almesse Line 168

And al þis vois was soþ as god is trewe But nowe to purpoos lat vs turne ageyn þise Merchauntz han do fraught her shippes newe And whan þei han þis blisful Maiden seyn Line 172 Howe to Surrey ben þei went ageyn And done her nedes as þei han do ȝore And lyuen in wele I can say ȝou no more Line 175

Now fille it þat þise marchauntes stoden in grace Of hym þat was þe Sawden of Surrye ffor whan þat þei came from eny strange place He wolde of his benygne Curtesie. Line 179 Make hem good chere and bysilie aspie [folio 87b] Tiþingges of sondry rewmes forto lere þe wondres þat þei myȝt se or here Line 182

Amonges oþere þingges specialy Thise marchauntes han hym tolde of dame custaunce So grete noblesse in ernest ceriously þat þis sowden haþ caught so grete plesaunce Line 186 To han her figure in his remembraunce And al his lust and al his bysy cure Was forto loue her þe whilis his lif may dure Line 189

Perauenture in þe þikke large book Which þat cloped is heuene ywriten was Wiþ sterres whan þat he his birth toke þat he for loue shuld han his deth allas Line 193

[6-text p 136] Line 193 ffor in þe sterres clerer þan is þe glas / y-writen god wote who coude it rede þe deþe of euery man with-outen drede Line 196

In Sterris mony a wynter þer byforn Was writen þe deþ of Ector achilles Of pompe Iulius er þei were born þe strif of Thebes and of hercules / Line 200 Of sampson turuno and of Socrates þe deþ but mennys wittes ben so dulle þat no wiȝt can wel rede it at þe fulle Line 203

This souden for his prive counsell sent And shortly of þis matere forto pase He haþ to hem declared his entent And seide hem certeyn but he myȝt haue grace Line 207 To haue custance wiþ-Inne a litel space He nas but dede and charged hem in hie To shapen for his lif somme remedye Line 210

Dyuers men dyuers þingges seiden þe argumentz Custen vp and Doun [folio 88a] Mony a sotele reson forþ þei leiden þei speken of magik and abusion Line 214 But fynaly as in conclusion þei can not seen in þat non auauntage Ne in noon oþer way sauf mariage Line 217

Than segh þei þere in such difficulte Be way of reson forto speke al playn By cause þat þer was such dyuersite Bytwene hor boþ lawes þat þei seyn Line 221 þei trowe þat no cristen prince wold fayn Wedden his childe vnder oure lawes so swete þat vs was taught be Mahoun our prophete Line 224

[6-text p 137] Line 224

And he answered raþer þan I lese Custance I wil be Cristened doutlees I mote bene hers I may non oþere chese I prei ȝou holde ȝoure argumentes in pees Line 228 Saueþ my lif and beþ not rechelees To geten hure þat haþ my lif in cure ffor in þis woo I may not longe endure Line 231

What nedeþ gretter dilatacion I saye by tretis and Embassadrye And by þe popes mediacion And alle þe cherch and all þe Chivalrye Line 235 þat in destruccion of Mawmetrie And in encrees of cristes lawe dere þei bene acorded so as ȝe shal here Line 238

Now þat þe Sawden and his Baronage And al his lieges shuld ycristened be And he shal haue custance in mariage And certeyn gold I note what quantite Line 242 And herto founden sufficient suerte This same accorde was sworn in eiþer side [folio 88b] Now faire custaunce almyȝty god þe gyde Line 245

Now wold somme men waiten as I gesse þat I shulde tellen al þe purviaunce That þe Emperour of his noblesse haþ shapen for his douȝter dame Custaunce Line 249 Wel may men knowe þat so grete ordynaunce May no man telle in a litel clause As was araied for so hie a cause Line 252

Bisshopes bene shapen wiþ hure forto wende Lordes ladys knyȝtes of renoun And oþer folk ynow þis is þe ende And notified is þorgh-out þe toun Line 256

[6-text p 138] Line 256 That euery wiȝt with grete deuocioun Shulde preye crist þat he þis mariage Resceyue in gre and spede þis viage Line 259

The day is commen of her departinge I seie þe wooful day fatal is come That þer may be no lenger tariynge But forþward þei hem dressed al and some Line 263 Custance þat with sorowe is al ouercome fful pale arist and dresseþ hure to wende ffor wel shee seeþ þer is noon oþere ende Line 266

Allas what wondere is it þouȝe she wepte þat shal be sent to straunge naciōn ffro frendes þat so tenderly her kepte And to be bounden vnder subiecciōn Line 270 Of oon she knoweþ nouȝt his condiciōn Husbondes bene all good and han ben ȝore þat knowen wives I dar seie ȝou no more Line 273

Fadere she seide þⁱ wrecched child custance Thi ȝonge douȝtere fostred vp so soft [folio 89a] And ȝe my modere my souereyn plesaunce Ouer al þinge outaken crist aloft Line 277 Custaunce ȝoure child hire recomanndeþ oft Vnto ȝoure grace for I shal to Surrye Ne shal I neuere seyn ȝow more wiþ ye Line 280

Allas vnto þe Barbarye nacion I most anoon siþ it is ȝoure wille But crist þat starf for oure redempcion So ȝeue me grace his heestes to fulfille Line 284 I wrecched womman no fors þouȝe I spille Wommen ben born to thraldom and penaunce And to bene vnder mannes gouernaunce Line 287

[6-text p 139] Line 287

I trowe at Troye whan purrus brak þe wall Or ylyon þat brent Thebes þat Cite Nor Rome for þe harme þorgh Hanyball Þat Romaynes han venqwisshed tymes þre Line 291 Nas herd such tendere weping for pite As in þe Chambere for her departinge But forþ she mote wher she wepe or singe Line 294

O first mouynge cruel firmament Wiþ þine dyurnal sweigh þat crowdest aye And hurlest al from eest to occident That naturelly wold hold anoþer waye Line 298 þi Crowding sette þe heuene in such araye At þe bygynnyng of þis feers viage That cruel mars haþ sclayn þis mariage Line 301

Infortunat ascendent tortuous Of which þe lord is helplees falle allas Out of his Angle in to þe derkest hous O Mars o Atazir in this caas Line 305 O feble mone vnhappy bene þi paas./ þow knettest þe þer þou art not receyued [folio 89b] Ther þou were wele fro þennes now art þou weyued Line 308

Imprudent Emperour of Rome alas Was þer no Philisophre in al þi toun Is no tyme bette þan oþer in such cas / Of viage is þer non election Line 312 Namely to folk of high condicion Nat whan a roote is of a birþ yknowe Allas ȝe bene to lewde or to sclowe Line 315

The shippe is brouȝt þis woful faire mayde Solempnely wiþ euery circumstaunce Nowe Ihesu crist be wiþ ȝou al she seide Ther is no more but fare wel faire Custaunce Line 319

[6-text p 140] Line 319 She peyneþ hure to make good countenaunce And forþe I lete hire saile in þis manere And turne I wil ageyn to my matere Line 322

The modere of þe Sowden welle of vices Espied haþ her sones pleyn entent Howe he wil lete his olde sacrifises And riȝt anone she for her counsel sent Line 326 And þei ben commen to knowe what she ment And whan assembled was þis folk in fere She sette her doune and seide as ȝe shal here Line 329

Lordes quod she ȝe knowe euerichon Howe þat my sone in poynt is forto lete þe holy lawes of our akkaron Ȝeuene by goddes massagere Makamete Line 333 But on avowe to grete god I hete þe lif shal raþer out of my body sterte Or makametes lawe out of myn herte. Line 336

What shuld vs tyden of þis newe lawe But þraldome to our bodies and penaunce [folio 90a] And afterward in helle to ben drawe ffor we reveied Mahonne our creaunce Line 340 But lordes wil ȝe maken assurance As I shal sein assenting to my lore And I shal make vs sauf for euermore Line 343

¶ Thei sworen and assenten euery man To lyve and dye wiþ hure and by hure stonde And euery in þe best wise he can To strengthen hure shal al his freendes fonde Line 347 And she haþ þis emprise taken on honde Which ȝe shal here þat I shal devise And to hem alle she spak in þis wise Line 350

[6-text p 141] Line 350

We shul first feyn vs cristendom to take Cold watere shal not greue vs but a lite And I shal suche a reuel and feest make þat as I trowe I shal þe Sowden quite Line 354 ffor þouȝe his wif be cristned neuer so white She shal haue nede to wassh awaye þe rede þough she a font ful of water wiþ her lede Line 357

O Sawdenesse Roote of Iniquite Virago þou Semyram þe Second O Serpent vnder femyninete Like to þe Serpent depe in helle ybound Line 361 O feyned womman al þat may confound Vertue and Innocence þorgh þi malice Is bredde in þe as nest of euery vice Line 364

O Sathan envious siþ þilk day þat þou were chased fro our heritage Wel knewest þou to wommen þ^e old way þou madest Eva to bringe in seruage Line 368 Thow wilt fordone cristen mariage Thyn Instrument so wele away þe while Makestowe of wommen wham þou wilt begile [folio 90b]

This Sowdonesse whom I þus blame and warye Lat prively her counsel gone her way What shuld I in þis tale lenger tarye She rideþ to þe Sawden on a daye Line 375 And seide him þat she wold reneye her laye And Cristendom of preestes hondes fonge Repenting she heþen was so longe Line 378

Biseching him to done her þat honoure þat she most han þ^e cristen folk to feest To plesen hem I wil do my labour þe Sawden seiþ I wil don at ȝour heest Line 382

[6-text p 142] Line 382 And knelinge þonkeþ hure of þat request So glad he was he nyst what to seye She kist her sone and hom she goþ her way Line 385

[PART II.]

Arriued bene þise cristen folk to londe In Surrye wiþ a grete solempne Route And hastely þis Sowden sent his sonde ffurst to his modere and al þe regne aboute Line 389 And seide his wiff was commen out of doute And preide hure forto riden ageyn þe quene The honure of his regne to sustene Line 392

Grete was þe prees and rich was tharray Of Surriens and romaynes met yfere The modere of þe Sowden riche and gay Resceyueþ her wiþ as glad a chere Line 396 As eny modere myȝt her douȝter dere And to þe next Cite þer beside A soft paas solempnely þei ryde Line 399

Naught trowe I þe triumphe of Iulius Of which þat lucan makeþ such a boost Was ryallere ne more curious [folio 91a] Than was þe assemple of þis blisful hoost Line 403 But þis scorpion þis wikke goost þe Sawdenesse for al her flateringe Cast vnder þis ful mortally to stynge Line 406

The Sowden commeþ hym self sone after þis So Rialli þat wonder is to telle He welcommeþ hure with alle ioye and blis And þus in merþe and Ioie I lete hem dwelle Line 410

[6-text p 143] Line 410 þe froyte of þis matere þat I telle Whan tyme come men þouȝt it for þe best That reuell stint and men gon to her rest Line 413

The tyme come þis olde Sawdenesse Ordeyned haþ þis feest of which I told And to þe fest cristen folk hem dresse In general boþ ȝenge and old Line 417 Here may men feest and rialte bihold And deyntes moo þan I can ȝo^u devise But al to dere þei bouȝt it er þei rise Line 420

O sodeyn woo þat euer art successoure To worldly blisse sp[r]ayned is wiþ bitternesse þe end of þe ioye of our worldely laboure Woo occupieþ þe fyne of our gladnesse Line 424 Herk þis counsaille for þi sikernesse Vppon þi glade day haue in þi mynde þe vnwar woo or harme þat commeþ behinde Line 427

For shortely forto tellen at oon word The Sowden and þe cristen euerechone Bene al to-hewe and stikked at þe bord But it were oonly dame custance allone Line 431 Þis olde Sawdenes þis cursed krone haþ wiþ her frendes done þis cursed dede ffor she her self wold al þe cuntre lede [folio 91b]

NE þer nas Surrien noon þat was conuerted þat of þe counsaille of þe Sawden wote þat he nas al to-hewe er he asterted And Custaunce han þei take anon fote hoot Line 438 And in a shippe al steerless god woote þei han hure sette and bidden her lerne saile Out of Surry ageynward to ytaile Line 441

[6-text p 144] Line 441

A certeyn tresour þat she þider ladde And soþe to seyn vitaile grete plente They han her ȝeuen and cloþes eke she hadde And fforþ she sailleþ in þe salt see Line 445 O my custaunce ful of benygnyte O Emperours ȝonge douȝtere dere He þat is lord of fortune be þi stere Line 448

She blesseþ and wiþ ful pitous voys Vnto þe Crois of crist þus seid she O cleer o. welful autere holy croys Rede of þe lambes blood ful of pite Line 452 That wessh þe world from þe olde iniquyte Me from þe feende and from his clawes kepe þat day þat I shal drenche in þe depe Line 455

Victorious tree protection of trewe That oonly worþi were for to bere The king of heuene wiþ his woundys newe The white lombe þat hirte was with a spere Line 459 fflemer of feendes out of hym and here On which þi lyues feiþfully extenden Me kepe and ȝeue myght my lyf tamenden Line 462

Yeeres and daies fleet þis Creature Thorgh-out þe see of Grece vnto þ^e strayte Of Marrok as it was hir aventure [folio 92a] O mony a sory mele nowe may she baite Line 466 After her deth ful oft may she wayte Er þat þe wilde wawes wil her dryve Vnto þe place þere she shal aryue Line 469

MEn myghten axen whi she was not sclayn Eke atte feeste who myght her body saue I Answere to þat demannde agayn Who saued Danyel in þe horrible caue Line 473

[6-text p 145] Line 473 Ther euery wiȝt saf he maister or knaue Was wiþ þe leon frette or a-stert No wight but god þat hem bare in his hert Line 476

GOd list to shewe his wonderful myracle In hir? þat shee shulde seen his myȝty werkes Crist which þat is to euery harme triacle By certayne meenes oft / as knowen clerkes Line 480 Doþ þing for certeyn ende þat ful derk es To mannys witt? þat for our ignoraunce Ne kon not knowe his prudent puruyaunce Line 483

Now siþ she was not at þe feest ysclawe Who kepte her from þe drenching in þe see Who kepte Ionas in þe fisshes mawe Til he was spowted vp at Nynyve Line 487 Wel may men knowe it was no wiȝt but he What kept puple Ebrayk from drenchinge Wiþ drie feet þorgh out þe see passinge Line 490

Who bad þe foure spiretes of tempest That power han boþ annoyen londe and see Boþ norþe and souþe and also west and Eest Annoyeþ neiþer See londe ne tree Line 494 Soþly þe Comannder of þat was he That from þe tempest ay þis womman kept As wel whan she woke as whan she sclepte [folio 92b]

Where myȝt þis womman mete or drynk haue Thre ȝere or more how lasteþ hir vitaille Who fedde þe Egipcien mary in þe Caue Or in desert noon but Crist saunz faille Line 501 V. Ml. folk it was as grete mervaille Wiþ loues .v. and fisshes two to fede God sent his foysen at her grete nede Line 504

[6-text p 146] Line 504

She dryueþ forþ into our Occiān Thorgh-out oure wilde See to atte last Vnder an hold þat nempne I ne can ffor in Nourth humberlond þ^e wawe hire cast Line 508 And in þe sonde her shipp stiked so fast þat þennes wold it not of al a tyde The wille of Crist was þat she shuld abide Line 511

The Constable of þe Castel doun is fare To seen þis werk and al þe ship he souȝt And fonde þis wery womman ful of care He fonde also þe tresoure þat she brouȝt Line 515 In her langage mercy she bysouȝt The lif out of her body forto twynne Hire to delyuere of woo þat she was Inne Line 518

A Maner latyn corrupte was her speche But algates þer-by was she vnderstonde The Constable whan he list no lengere seche This wooful womman brouȝt he to þe londe Line 522 She kneleþ doune and þonkeþ goddys sonde But what she was she wolde no man seye ffor foule ne faire þouȝe þat she shuld deye Line 525

She seide she was so mased in the See þat she forgate hure mynde by hure trouþe The Constable of hire haþ so grete pite [folio 93a] And eke his wiff þat þei wepen for rouþe Line 529 She was so diligent wiþ-outen slouþe To serue and plese euerech in þat place That al her louen þat loken on her face / Line 532

The Constable and dame Ermengeld his wiff Were paynymes and þat contray euerywhere But Hermengilt loued hure riȝt as hir liff And Constance haþ so longe soiourned þere Line 536

[6-text p 147] Line 536 In Orisons wiþ mony a bitter tere Til Ihesu haþe conuerted þorgh his grace Dame hermengild Constablesse of þat place Line 539

In all þat londe durst none cristen route Alle Cristen folk ben fledd fro þat cuntre Thorgh paynymes þat conquered þer aboute þe plages of þe north by lond and see Line 543 To wales fledde þe Cristiante Of olde Bretoynes dwellin in þe Ile Ther was hure refute for þe mene while Line 546

But ȝit nas neuere cristen Bretoyne so exiled That þer nas somme in her priuetee Honoured Crist and heþen folk begyled And nyȝe þe Castel such þer dwelled thre Line 550 That oon of hem was blynde and myȝt not see But it were wiþ þilk yen of his mynde With which men seen after þat þei bene blynd Line 553

Briȝt was þe sonne as in þat somers day ffor whiche þe constable and his wif also And Custance han ytake þe riȝt way Toward þe see a forlonge way or two Line 557 To pleien and to romen to and froo / And in her walk þis blynde man þei mette Croked and olde wiþ fast eyen yshett [folio 93b]

In þe name of crist cried þis blynd Bretoun Dame hermegild ȝeue me siȝt agayn This lady wexe a-fraied of þe soune Lest þat her husbond shortely forto seyne Line 564 Wold hure for Ihesu cristes loue haue slayn Til Custance made hure bold and bad hire wirche The wille of crist as douȝter of his chirche Line 567

[6-text p 148] Line 567

The constable wexe abasshed of þat sight And seide what amounteþ al þis fare Custance answerd Sire it is cristes myȝt Þat helpeþ folk out of þe fendes snare Line 571 And so ferforþ she can our lay declare þat she þe constable er it was eve Conuerteþ and on crist made hym byleue Line 574

This Constable nas no þing lord of þis place Of which I speke þer he Custaunce fonde But kepte it strongly mony a wynter space Vnder Alla king of all Norþhumberlonde Line 578 þat was full wise and worþi of his honde Ageyne þe scottes as men may wel here But turne I wil ageyn to my matere Line 581

Sathan þat euere vs waiteþ to begile Seghe of Custance al hure perfeccioun And cast anone howe he myȝt quyte her while And made a yonge knyght þat dwelt in þe toun Line 585 Loue hire so hoot of foule affeccioun Þat verrely hym þouȝt he shulde spille But he of hire ones myȝt haue his wille Line 588

He woweþ hure but it availleþ nouȝt She wolde do no synne by no weye And for despite he compased in his þouȝt [folio 94a] To make hure a shameful deeþ to dye Line 592 He waiteþ whan þe constable was away And priuely vpon a nyȝt he crept In hermengildes Chambre while she slept Line 595

Wery for-waked in her Orisons Slepeþ Custance and hermengild also / This knyght þourgh Sathanas temptacions Al softly is to þe bed y-goo Line 599

[6-text p 149] Line 599 And kitte þe þrote of hermengild atwoo And laide þe blody knyf by dame Custaunce And went his waye þer god ȝeue hym meschaunce Line 602

Sone after Commeþ þis Constable home agayn And Eke Alla þat kinge was of þat londe And segh his wiff dispitously slayn ffor whiche ful oft he wepte and wronge his honde Line 606 And in þe bedde þe blody knyf he fonde By dame Custaunce allas what myȝt she say ffor verry woo her witte was al away Line 609

So kinge Alla was tolde al þis meschaunce And eke þe tyme and where and in what wise þat in a shipp was founden þis Custaunce As here byforn ȝe han herde devise Line 613 The kingges hert of pite gan agrise Whan he seye so benigne a creature ffalle in dissese and in mysauenture Line 616

For as þe lombe toward þ^e deth is brouȝt So þis Innocent stant to-fore þe king Þis fals knyȝt þat haþ þis treson wrouȝt Bereþ hure on honde þat she haþ do þis þing Line 620 But naþelees þer was grete mournyng Amonge þe puple and seie þai can not gesse Tha[t] she had done so grete a wickednesse [folio 94b]

For þei han seyn her euere so vertuous And louyng hermengile riȝt as her liff Of þis bare witnesse euerich in þat hous Saue he þat hermengild slowe with his knyff Line 627 This gentile kinge haþ kauȝt a gret motiff Of þis witnesse and þouȝt he wold enquere Depper in þis caas trouþe forto lere Line 630

[6-text p 150] Line 630

Allas Custance þow nast no champyon Ne fighte Canstowe nat so wele away But he þat for oure redempcion And bonde Sathan and lyeþ hym þer he lay Line 634 So be þi strong Champion þis daye ffor but Criste on þe miracle kith Wiþ-owten gilt þou shalt be slayn as swiþe Line 637

She sette her doune on knees and þer she seide Immortal god þat sauedest Susanne ffro fals blame and þou merciful maide Marye I mene douȝter to seint Anne Line 641 Byforn whoos childe aungels sing Osanne If I be giltlees of þis felonye My socoure be for ellis shal I dye Line 644

Haue ȝe not sene somtyme a pale face Among a prees of him þat haþ be ladde Toward þe deþe where as he gete no grace And swich a coloure in his face haþ hadde Line 648 Men myȝt knowe his face þat was bistadde Amonge alle þe faces of þat route So stant Custance and lokeþ hire aboute Line 651

O quenes lyuynge in prosperite Duchesses and ȝe ladies euerechone Haue some rouþe on her aduersite [folio 95a] An Emperours douȝtere stant allone Line 655 She haþ no wiȝt to whom to make her mone O blood real þat stondest in þis drede ffer bene þi frendes at þi grete nede Line 658

This Alla king haþ swich compassioun As Geltile hert is fulfilled of pite þat from his eyen ranne þe water doun Now hasteli do fecche a boke quod he Line 662

[6-text p 151] Line 662 And if þis knyght wil swere howe þat she þis womman sclowe ȝit wil we vs avise Whom þat we wold shuld be our Iustise Line 665

A breton booke writen with euaungelies Was fette and þer-on he swore anone She giltif was in þe mene whiles An honde him smote vpon þe nekke bone Line 669 þat doune he felle at ones as a stone And boþe his eyen brast out of his face In siȝt of euery body in þat place Line 672

A voys was herde in general audience And seide þou hast disslaundered giltelees þe douȝter of holy church in high presence Thus hastowe done and ȝit I mot hold my pees Line 676 Of þis mervaile agast was all þe prees As mazed folk þei stoden euerechone ffor drede of wreche sauf Custance alone Line 679

Grete was þe drede and eke þe repentaunce Of hem þat hadden wrong suspecioun Vppon þis cely Innocent Custaunce And for þis miracle in conclusioun Line 683 And by Custance Mediacioun Þe kinge and mony anoþer in þat place Conuerted were þonked be goddis grace [folio 95b]

This fals knyght was sclayn for his vntrouþe By Iuggement of Alla hastifly And ȝit Custance haþ of his deþ gret rouþe And after þis Ihesus of his mercye Line 690 Made Alla wedden ful solempnely This holy maiden þat is so briȝt and shene And þus haþ crist made Custance a quene Line 693

[6-text p 152] Line 693

But who was wooful if I shal not lye Of þis wedding but donegild and no moo / The kingges modere ful of Tyrannye Hire þouȝt her cursed hert brast a two Line 697 She wold not her sone had done so / Hire þouȝt a despite þat he shulde take So straunge a creature vnto his make Line 700

ME list not of þe Chaf ne of þe stre Make so longe a tale as of þe corne What shuld I tellen of þe Rialte Of mariage or which cours goþ byforne Line 704 Who bloweþ in trompe or in an horne þ^e ffrwte of euery tale is forto seye þe[i] and drinke . þei daunce singe or pley . Line 707

Thei gone to bedde as it was skil and riȝt ffor þouȝe þat wives bene ful holy þingges þei most take in pacience a nyght Such manere necessaries as ben plesingges Line 711 To folk þat han ywedded hem with ringges / And laye a litel her holynesse aside As for þe tyme it may none oþere betide Line 714

On hire he gate a knaue child anone And to a bisshope and his Constable eke He toke his wif to kepe whan he is gone [folio 96a] to scotlond ward his foomen for to seke Line 718 Nowe faire Custance þat is so humble and meke So longe is goon wiþ child til þat stille She halt her chambere abiding cristes wille Line 721

The tyme is come a knaue child she bere Mauricius atte fontstone þei hym calle þis Constable doþ forþ come a massagere And wrote to his kinge þat cleped was Alle Line 725

[6-text p 153] Line 725 Howe þat þis blisful tydyngges is byfalle And oþer tydingges spedeful forto seye He takeþ þe lettre and forþ he goþ his waye Line 728

This Massagere to done his auauntage Vnto þe kingges modere rideþ swiþe And salweþ hire ful faire in his langage Madame quod he . ȝe may be glad and bliþe Line 732 And þonkeþ god an hundred þousand siþe My lady quene haþ child wiþ-outen doute To Ioie and blisse of al þis regne aboute Line 735

Lo here þe lettres seled of þis þinge Þat I mot bere wiþ al þe hast I may If ȝe wil ouȝt vnto ȝoure sone þe kinge I am ȝoure seruaunte boþ nyȝt and day Line 739 Dongild answerd not not at þis tyme But here al nyȝt I wil þou take þi rest To morowe wil I saye what me lest Line 742

This Massagere dronk sadly ale and wyne And stollen were his lettres prively Out of his boxe whilst he slepte as a swyn And counterfeted was ful subtily Line 746 A noþere lettre wrouȝt ful synfully Vnto þe kinge directe of þis matere ffrom his Constable as ȝe shal after here [folio 96b]

The lettre spak þe Quene delyuered was Of so horrible a fendlich creature That in þe Castel noon so hardy was þat eny while dorst þer-Inne endure Line 753 The modere was an Elf by auenture Ycome by Charmes or by sorcerye And euery wight hateþ her companye Line 756

[6-text p 154] Line 756

WOo was þis kinge whan he þis lettre had seyne But to no wiȝt he tolde his sorowes sore But of his owne honde he wrote ageyne Welcome þe sonde of crist for euermoore Line 760 To me þat am nowe lered in his lore Lord welcome be þi lust and þi plesaunce My lust is putte al in þine ordynaunce Line 763

Wepeþ þis child al be it foule or feire And eke my wiff vnto myn home commynge Crist whan him list may sende me an heire More a-greable þan þis is to my likinge Line 767 This letter he celeþ prively wepinge Whiche to þe massagere was take sone And forþ he goþ þer nys no more to done Line 770

O Massagere fulfilled of dronkenesse Stronge is þi breeþ þi lymmes flateren ay And þou by-wreiest al sikernesse Thy mynde is lorn þou Iangelest as a Iaye Line 774 Thi face is turned in a newe aray Ther dronkenesse regneþ in ony route Ther nys no counsell hidde wiþ-oute doute Line 777

O Donegild I ne haue noon englissh digne Vnto þi malice and þi tyrannye [folio 97a] And þerfore to þe fende I þe resigne Lat hym enditen of þi traterye Line 781 ffy mannyssh fy. o nay by god I lie ffy feendissh spirit . for I dar wel telle Thowe þou here walk þi spirit is in helle Line 784

This massagere commeþ fro þe feende agayn And at þe kingges moders court he liȝt And she was of this massagere ful fayn And plesed him in al þat euere she myȝt Line 788

[6-text p 155] Line 788 He drank wel his girdel vnder piȝt He sclepeþ and he ffronteþ in his gise Al nyght to þe sonne gan arise Line 791

Ofte were his lettres stolle euerechone And counterfeted lettres in þat wise Þe kinge commaundeþ his constable anone Vp peyn of hongyng on an high Iwyse Line 795 That he ne shulde suffre in no wise Custance wiþ-Inne his regne forto abide Thre daies and a quarter of a tyde Line 798

But in þe same ship as he hire fonde Hure and her yonge sone and al her gere He shulde putte and croude fro þ^e londe And charge hure þat she neuere eft come þere Line 802 O my Custance wel may þi goost haue fere And sleping in þi dreme bene in penaunce Whan donegil cast all hir ordinaunce Line 805

This Massagere on morowe whan he woke Vnto þe Castel halt þe next waye And to þe Constable he þe lettre toke And whan þat he þis pitous lettre saye Line 809 fful oft he seide allas and walawaye lord Crist quod he howe may þis lettre endure [folio 97b] So ful of synne is mony a creature Line 812

O myȝty god if þat it be þi wille Siþ þou art riȝtful Iuge how may it be þat þou wilt suffren Innocentz to spille And wicked folk regnen in prosperite Line 816 O good Custance allas so woo is me þat I mote be þi turmentour or deye On shames deth þer nys noon oþere waye Line 819

[6-text p 156] Line 819

Wepen boþ ȝonge and olde in al þat place Whan þat þe kinge þis cursed lettre sent And Custance wiþ a dedly pale face þe ferþe day toward her ship she went Line 823 But naþelees she takeþ in good entent þe wille of Crist and kneling in þe stronde She saide lorde o. welcome be þi sonde Line 826

He þat me kept from þe fals blame While I was in þe londe amonges ȝou He kan me kepe from harme and eke fro sham In salt See al-þouȝe I se not howe Line 830 As stronge as euer he was he is riȝt nowe In hym trust I and in his modere dere þat is to me my saille and eke my stere Line 833

Hire litel child lay weping in her Arme An kneling pitously to him she seide Pees litel sone I wil do þe noon harme Wiþ þat her keerchef of her hede she breide Line 837 And ouer his smale yen she it leyde And in her Arme she lulleþ it ful fast And in to heuene her yen vp she cast Line 840

Modere quod she and maide briȝt marie Soþe is þat þorowe wommennys eggement [folio 98a] Mankinde was lorn and dampned ay to dye ffor which þi child was on croys yrent Line 844 þi blisful eyen segh al his turment þan is þer no comparison bytwene þi woo and any woo man may sustene Line 847

Thowe seghe þi sone yslayn bifore þine eyen And ȝit now lyueþ my litel child parfay Now lady briȝt to whoom al woful crien Thowe glory of wommanhode þou faire may Line 851

[6-text p 157] Line 851 þow hauen of refute briȝt sterre of day Rewe on my child þat of þi gentilnesse Rewest on euery Rwefull in distresse Line 854

O litel child allas wat is þi gilt þat neuer wrouȝtest synne as ȝit parde Why wil þine harde fadere haue þe spilt O mercye dere constable quod she Line 858 As lat my litel child dwelle here with þe And ȝif þou darst not fauour hym for blame So kisse him onys in his faders name Line 861

Therwiþ she lokeþ bacward to þe lande And saide fare wel husbond rewthlees And vp she rest and walkeþ doun þ^e stronde Toward þe shippe hire foloweþ al þe prees Line 865 And euere she preieþ her child to hold his pees And takeþ her leue and with an holy entent She blesseþ hire and into ship she went Line 868

Availed was þe ship it is no drede Abundantly for hire a longe space And oþer necessaries þat shulde nede She had ynowe heryed be goddes grace Line 872 ffor wynde and weder almyȝty god purchase And bringe hure home I can no better seye [folio 98b] But in þe See she driveþ forþ her weye Line 875

[PART III.]

Alla þe kynge commeþ home sone after þis Vnto his Castel of þe which I tolde And axeþ wher his wif and his child is The Constable gan about his hert cold Line 879

[6-text p 158] Line 879 And pleynly al þe manere he hym told As ȝe han herde I can telle it no bettere And sheweþ þe kinge his seele and his lettere Line 882

And seide lord as ȝe commaunded me Vp peyn of deþe so haue I done certeyne This massagere tormented was til he Most be-knowen and tellen plat and pleyne Line 886 ffrom nyght to nyȝt in what place he had leyne And þus by witte and subtil enqueringe Ymagened was by whom þis harme can sprynge Line 889

The honde was knowen þat þe lettere wrote And al þe venyme of þis cursed dede But in what wise certeynly I note þe effecte is þis þat Alla out of drede Line 893 his modere sclowe þat mony men pleynly rede That for she tratour was to her legeaunce Thus endeþ old donegild with meschaunce Line 896

The Sorowe þat þis Alla nyȝt and day Makeþ for his wif and for his child also Ther nys no tunge þat it telle may But now wil I vnto Custance goo Line 900 That fleteþ in þe See in peyn and woo V. ȝere and more as liked cristes sonde Er þat her shippe approched vnto londe Line 903

Vnder an hethen Castell atte last Of which þe name in my tixt noȝt I fynde [folio 99a] Custance and eke þe child þe see vp cast Almyȝty god þat saueþ al man kinde Line 907 Haue on custaunce and her childe som mynde þat fallen is in hethen hand eft sone In poynt to spille as I shal telle ȝou sone Line 910

[6-text p 159] Line 910

Downe fro þe Castell comþe þere mony a wiȝt To gawen on þis ship and on custance But shortely from þe Castel on a nyȝt The lordes steward god ȝeue hym meschaunce Line 914 A theef þat had reyned our creaunce Come into shipp allone and seide he shuld Her lemman be where so she wold or nold Line 917

Woo was þis wrecched womman þoo bygone Her childe cried and she cried pitously But blisful mary halpe hure riȝt anone ffor wiþ her strogelinge wel and myȝtely Line 921 þe theef fille ouer bord al sodeynly And in þe See he dreynt for vengeance And þus haþ crist vnwemmed kepte custance Line 924

O foule lust of luxurie lo þine ende Not only þat þou fayntest mannys mynde But verrely þou wilt his body shende þe ende of þi werk or of þi lustes blynde Line 928 Is compleynyng how mony one may men fynde þat nouȝt for werk somtyme but for þentente To done þis synne bene eiþer slayn or shente Line 931

How may þis weike womman han þis strength Hire to defend aȝeinst þis Renegat O Golyas vnmesurable of length How myȝt dauid make þe so mat Line 935 So yonge and of armure so desolat How durst he loke vpon þi dredful face [folio 99b] Wel may men seen it was but goddes grace Line 938

Who ȝaf Iudith corage or hardynesse To scleen hym Olesphernus in his tent And to delyuere out of wrecchednesse The puple of god I seye for þis entent Line 942

[6-text p 160] Line 942 That riȝt as god spirit and vigor sent To hem and saued hem out of meschaunce So sent he myȝt and vigor to Custaunce Line 945

Forþ goþ þe shippe þorowe-out þe narow mouþe Of Iubaltar and scepte dryuyng aye Som tyme west and somtyme nourþe and souþe And somtyme Este ful mony a wery daye Line 949 Til Cristes modere blessed be ȝe aye haþ scapen þorgh her endelees goodnesse To make an ende of al her hevynesse Line 952

Now lat vs stynt of Custance but a throwe And speke we of þe Romayn Emperour þat out of Surry haþ by letters knowe þe sclaughter of Cristen folk and dishonoure Line 956 Doon to his douȝter by a fals tratour I mene þe Cursed wicked Sowdenesse That at þe feest lete scleen boþ more and lesse Line 959

For which þe Emperour haþ sent anon His Senatour wiþ real ordynaunce And oþer lordes god wote mony on On Surriens to taken hie vengeaunce Line 963 They brennen sleen and bringgen hem to meschaunce. fful mony a day but shortely þis is þende Homword to Rome þei shapen hem to wende Line 966

This senatour repaireþ with victorye To Romeward saillinge ful Rially [folio 100a] And mette þe Shippe dryuyng as seiþ þe storye In which Custance sitte ful pitously Line 970 No þing ne knewe what she was ne why She was in such aray . ne she nyl sey Of her astaat þough þat she shulde deye Line 973

[6-text p 161] Line 973

HE bringeþ her to Rome and to his wiff He ȝaue hure and her ȝonge sone also And wiþ þe Senatoure she lad her liff Thus can our lady bringen out of woo Line 977 Wooful Custance and mony an oþer moo And longe tyme dwelled she in þat place In holy werkes euer as was hire grace Line 980

The Senatours wif her Aunte was But for al þat she knewe her neuere þe more I wil no lenger tarien in þis cas But to kinge Alla which I spake of yore Line 984 Þat for his wiff wepeþ and sigheþ sore I wil retorne and lete I wil Custance Vnder þe Senatours gouernaunce Line 987

Kynge Alla which þat had his modere sclayn Vpon a day felle in such repentaunce þat if I shortely tellen shal and playn To Rome he commeþ to resceyuen his penance Line 991 And putte him in þe Popes ordinance In by and lowe and Ihesu crist bysouȝt fforȝeue his wicked werkes þat he wrouȝt Line 994

The fame anon þorowe Room toune is born How Alla þe king shal commen in pilgrimage By herberiours þat wenten hym biforn ffor which þe Senatoure as was vsage Line 998 Rode hym aȝein and mony of his lynage As wel to shewen his hie magnificence [folio 100b] As to doon eny king a Reuerence Line 1001

Grete chere doþ þis noble Senatour To kinge Alla and he to hym also Euerech of hem doþ oþere grete honour And so byfelle þat in a day or twoo Line 1005

[6-text p 162] Line 1005 This Senatour is to king Alla goo / To feest and shortely if I shal not ly Custance sone in his Companye Line 1008

Somme men wold seyn atte request of Custance This Senatour haþ ladde þis child to fest I may not tellen euery Circumstance Be as be may þer was he atte leest Line 1012 But soþe is þis þat at his moders hest Byforn alla duringe þe metes space The Childe stode loking in þe kingges face Line 1015

This Alla kinge haþ of þe child gret wonder And to þe Senatoure he seide anoon Whoos is þat faire childe þat stondeþ ȝonder I noot quod he by god and be seynt Iohn Line 1019 A modere he haþ but fadere haþ he non þat I of wote and shortly in a stounde He told Alla how þat þis child was founde Line 1022

But god wote quod þis Senatour also So vertuous a lyuere in my liff Ne segh I neuere as she ne herd of mo Of worldly wommen / mayde ne wiff Line 1026 I dar wel seide she had leuer a knyff þorowe-out her brest þan bene a womman wicke þer is no man couþe bringe hire to þat prikke Line 1029

Now was þis Childe as like vnto custance As possible is a creature to be [folio 101a] This Alla haþ þe face in remembrance Of Dame Custance and þeron mused he Line 1033 If þat þe childes modere were ouȝt she þat is his wif and priuely he siȝt And spedde hym fro þe table þat he myȝt Line 1036

[6-text p 163] Line 1036

Perfay he þouȝt þe fantom is in myn hede I ouȝt demen of skilful Iuggement That in þe salt se my wif is dede And afterward he made his argument Line 1040 What wote I ȝif þat crist haþ hider sent My wiff by see as wel as he her sent To my cuntre from þennes as she was went Line 1043

And aftere anoon home wiþ þe Senatoure Goþ alla forto see þis wonder chance This Senatour doþ Alla grete honoure And hastifly he sent aftere Custance Line 1047 But trusteþ wel her lust nouȝt to dance Whan þat she wist wherfor was þat sonde Vnneþes on her fete she myȝt stonde Line 1050

Whan Alla segh his wif faire he her grette And wepte it was reuþe forto see ffor atte first loke he on hir sette He knewe wel verrely þat it was she Line 1054 And for sorowe as dombe stant as a tre So was hert shette in her distresse Whan she remembred his vnkindenesse Line 1057

Twise she swowneþ in his owne siȝt He wepte and him excuseþ pitously Nowe god quod he and his halowes briȝt So wisly on my soule haue mercy Line 1061 þat of ȝoure harme as giltelees am I As is Maurice Mi sone so lik ȝoure face [folio 101b] Ellis þe feend me fecche out of þis place Line 1064

Longe was þe sobbyng and þe bitter peyne Er þat her wooful hertes myȝten cese Grete was þe pite forto here hem pleyne þorgh whiche pleyntes gan her woo encrees Line 1068

[6-text p 164] Line 1068 I prei ȝou all my labour to relees I may not tellen her woo vntil to morowe I am so wery to speke of her sorowe Line 1071

But fynaly whan þat þe soþe is wist That Alla giltlees was of her woo I trowe an C. tymes ben þei kist And suche a blisse is þer ytwix hem twoo Line 1075 þat saue þe Ioie þat lesteþ euermoo þer is non like þat eny creature Haþ seyne or shal while þe world may dure Line 1078

Tho preied she her husbond mekely In relief of her longe pitous pyne þat he wolde prei hure fadere specialy þat of his maieste he wold enclyne Line 1082 To vouche sauf with him som day to dyne She preied him eke he shulde by no way vnto her fader no word of hire say Line 1085

Somme men wold seyn how þat þe childe Maurice Doþ þis massage vnto þe Emperour But as I gesse alla was not so nyce To him þat was of so souereyn honour Line 1089 As he þat is of cristen folk þe flour Sent eny childe but it is bette to deme He went him self and so it may wel seme Line 1092

This Emperour haþ graunted gentilly To come to dyner as he hym bysouȝt [folio 102a] And wel rede I he loked bisily Vpon þis child and on his douȝter þouȝt Line 1096 Alla goþ to his Inne and as hym ouȝt Arraied for þis feest in euery wise As ferforþ as his conyng may suffice Line 1099

[6-text p 165] Line 1099

The morowe come and Alla can hym dresse And eke his wif þis emperour forto mete And forþ þei ride in Ioie and in gladnesse And whan she segh her fadere in þe strete Line 1103 She liȝt a-doune and falleþ hym to fete ffadere quod she ȝoure ȝonge child Custance Is nowe ful clene out of ȝoure remembrance Line 1106

I am ȝoure douȝtere Custance quod she þat whilom ȝe sent vnto Surray It am I fadere þat in þe salt see Was putte allone and dampned forto dye Line 1110 Good fader now I yow mercye crye Send me no more vnto noon heþenes But þonke my lord here of his kindenes Line 1113

Who can þe pitous Ioye tellen alle Bitwixe hem þre siþ þei ben þus ymette But of my tale make an ende I shal The day goþ fast I wil no lenger lette Line 1117 This glad folk to dyner þei hem sette In Ioye and blisse at mete I lat hem dwelle A þousand fold wel more þan I can telle Line 1120

This child Maurice was siþen Emperour Made by þe pope and lyued cristenly To cristes churche he did grete honour But I lat al þis story passen by Line 1124 Of Custance is my tale specialy In olde romayn Gestes may men fynde [folio 102b] Mawrices lif I bere it not in mynde

This king Alla whan he his tyme say Wiþ Custance his holy wif so swete To Engelond ben þei come þe riȝt way Wher as þei lyve in Ioie and in quiete Line 1131

[6-text p 166] Line 1131 But litel while it lasteþ I ȝou hete Ioie of þis world for tyme wil not abide ffrom day to nyȝt it chaungeþ as þe tyde Line 1134

Who lyued euere in suche delite a day Þat ne meued eiþer conscience Or Ire or talent or somkyn affray Envie or pride. or passion or offence Line 1138 I ne seie but for þis ende þis sentence Þat litel while in Ioye or in plesaunce Lasteþ þe blisse of alla wiþ Custaunce Line 1141

For deþ þat takeþ of high and lough his rente Whan passed was a ȝeer euene as I gesse Out of þis world þis kinge alla he hente ffor whoom Custance haþ ful grete hevynesse Line 1145 Now lat vs preien god his saule blisse And Dame Custance fynally to seye Toward þe towne of Rome goþ her weye Line 1148

TO Rome is come þis holy creature And fyndeþ her frende hool and sound Now is she scaped all hure auenture And whan she her fadere haþ yfounde Line 1152 Doune on her knees falleþ she to grounde Weping for tendernesse in hert blith She herieþ God an C. thousand siþe Line 1155

In vertue and holy Almesdede þei lyuen all and neuere a sondrie wende [folio 103a] Til deþ departe hem þis lif þei lede And fareþ now wel my tale is at an ende Line 1159 Now Ihesu crist þat of his myȝt may sende Ioye after woo gouerne vs in his grace And kepe vs all þat ben in þis place Line 1162

¶ Here endeþ þe tale of þe man of lawe

[6-text p 167]

And here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe sqwiere

Oure hoost vpon his stiropes stood anon And seide good men herkeneþ euerychon This was a þrifty tale for þe nones Sire parissh preest quod he for goddes bonys Line 1166 Telle vs a tale as was þi forward yore I se wele pat ȝe leerned men in lore Can moche good by goddes dignyte þe Parsone hym answered benedicite Line 1170 What eileþ þe man so synfully to swere Oure hoost answerd O Iankyn be ȝe þere I smelle a lollard in þe wynde quod he Howe good men quod our hoost herkneþ me Line 1174 Abideþ for goddis digne passion ffor we shal haue a predicacion þis lollard here wil prechen vs somwhat Nay by my fader soule þat shal he nat Line 1178 Seide þe Sqwier here shal he nat preche He shal no gospel glosen here ne teche He leueþ al in þe grete god he He wolde sowen som difficulte Line 1182 Or springell Cokel in oure clene corn And þerfore hoost I warne þe byforn Mi Ioly body shal a tale telle And I shal Clynken ȝou so mery a belle Line 1186 Þat I shal waken al þis companye But it shal not bene of Philosophie Ne Phislyas ne teermes queynt of lawe Þer is but litel latyn in my mawe Line 1190

Notes

• on leaf 84, back
• ¶ Prologus viri legis
• [no break in the MS.]
• ¶ Incipit fabula
• [Only the usual stanza-gap of a line in the MS.]
• ¶ Europia est tercia / pars mundi
• ¶ Ceptra pharonei fratrum discordia thebe ¶ fflammam phetentis deutalionis aque ¶ In stellis priami. species audacia turni ¶ Sensus vlixeus herculies que vigor
• ¶ Cap. 9
• ¶ Vnde Philomeus libro .j^o. c^o. 8^o. primi motus celi duo sunt quorum vnus est qui mouet totum semper ab oriente & occidente vno modo super orbes & cetera. Ita aliter vero motus est qui mouet orbem stellarum currencium contra motum primum viz ab occidente in orientem super alios duos polos & cetera. Omnes .enim. concordati sunt quod elocciones sint debiles nisi in divitibus. habent .enim. isti licet debilitentur eorum electiones radicem .i. nativitates eorum quæ confortat omnem planetam debilem in Itinere. Hec. Philosophus.
• ¶ Inspirant
• ¶ Semper mundane leticie tristicia repentina succedit. Mundana ergo felicitas multis amaritudinibus est respersa Extrema gaudii. luctus occupat. Audi ergo salubre consilium in die bonorum ne immemor sis malorum.
• ¶ Quid turpius ebrioso cui fetor in ore. tremor in corpore. qui promit stulta. prodit occulta Cui mens alienatur facies transfor|matur nullum enim latet secretum. vbi regnat Ebrietas.
• line repeated in MS, with tirannye, as the first line of
• ¶ O extrema libidinis turpitudo que non solum mentem effeminat. sed et corpus eneruat semper sequuntur dolor & penitencia post &cetera.
• ¶ A mane vsque ad vesperam mutabitur tempus. tenent tympanum & gaudent ad sonum organi.
• Quis vnquam vnicam diem totam duxit in sua delecta|cione iocundam quem in aliqua parte die reatus consciencie vel im|petus ire vel motus concupiscencie inde non turbauerit quem liuor invidie vel ardor auaricie vel timor superbie non vexauerit. quem aliqua iactura vel offensa vel passio non commouerit & cetera.
• [The Squire's Prologue follows in the MS.]
• on leaf 103
• ‖ þe prologe
• [The Squire's Tale follows in the MS.]