Alphabet of tales : an English 15th century translation of the Alphabetum narrationum of Etienne de Besançon, from Additional MS. 25,719 of the British Museum / by Etienne de Besançon

CCCXVI.
Exemplum a meliori est sumendum.

We rede in 'Vitis Patrum' how on̛ a tyme þer was two, þat was to say, a man̛, & a womman̛ his wyfe. And þe man̛ was a holie man̛, bod he was infortunatt in werdlie [MS. werlrdlie.] thyngis, to so mekuƚƚ þat on̛ þe day at he was berid̛ on̛, þer feƚƚ suche a wete and a rayn̛, þat ij dayes after þai mott nott berie hym̛. And his wife was ane iƚƚ liffer, bod scho was fortunatt; and when̛ þai war bothe dead, a doghter at þai had began̛ to vmthynk hur whedur of þer lyvis sho wolde folow. So after-ward̛ hur happend to be in a trans,

& hur thoght sho saw a fayr place & a merie; and þer hur þoght sho saw hur fadur, and sho hawsid̛ hym̛ and kyssyd hym̛, & besoght hym̛ at sho mott abyde þer stiƚƚ with hym̛. & he said̛ nay, sho mott nott; bott and sho led hur lyfe as he did̛, he said̛ sho suld com̛ thedur. And onone sho was removid̛ fro thens, & had vnto a noder place. And þer sho lukyd behynd̛ hur, & sho saw hur moder in ane horrible turment. And sho made sorow, & cryed on̛ hur doghter & said̛; "Doghter! Se what I suffer for myne vnclene lyfe!" And with þatt sho come agayn̛ vnto hur selfe, & thankid God of þat att sho had sene. And scho confermyd̛ to folow þe lyfe of hur fadur, and so sho did̛, and afterward̛ sho was a holie womman̛.