Page 377
[ LX. ]
(OF A CLERK WHO LOVED A HEATHEN MAIDEN.)Addit. MS. 9066.
[leaef 63 back (cont'd)]
SOme tyme there was a clerke, that the deuyƚƚ was Besy a-boute, to confownde and̛ brynge into synne, and̛ made hym to brenne in the loue of a woman̛, be his suggestion̛; the which woman̛ was a paynym̛, that wolde on no wise consente to hym, with oute assente of here fadire. she wente and̛ tolde here fadire, that a clerke louyd̛ here. the Fader seide, "I shaƚƚ aske cownsaylle of my god̛ of this thing̘." he wente, and̛ asked̛ his god̛. his god̛ seide, with this condicion̛ he shuld̛ assente, if̘ he wolde forsake criste, of whome he was Called̛ a cristen man, and̛ blessyd̛ Marie, the which aƚƚ wey prayeth for synfuƚƚ men̛ and̛ women̛. The fadir seide to the clerke, "I wil consente to the, if̘ thou wilt forsake the lawe of thy god̛." The Clerke seide, "I wil, and̛ forsake Criste, and̛ oure ladie." The woman̛ wolde not yete assente, but hire fadire had̛ take cownsayle efte sonys of his god̛. The fadir of the maydyn̛ wente to his gode, and̛ tolde hym how the Clerke had̛ forsakyn̛ Criste and̛ marie. " What sayest þou?" his god̛ seide, "if̘ he haue forsakyn̛ Criste, Criste hathe not forsakyn̛ [leaf 64] him, if̘ he wolde be sorie for his synne, And̛ aske mercy." The fadir of the maydyn tolde the clerke what his god̛ had̛ saide. The clerk herde this, and̛ herde that his ydole knewe this, and̛ wiste wele he seide sothe. he was sory, and̛ askid̛ mercy of god̛, and̛ afterwarde leuyd̛ relegiously. Also the hethen̛ man̛ and̛ his doughter herdyn that oure lorde is so mercyfuƚƚ; þey were baptized̛, and̛ turned̛ to Cristen̛ feithe. Amen̛, &c.