Early English versions of the Gesta Romanorum / edited by Sidney J.H. Herrtage

[ LXVIII. ]
(THE PUNISHED OF ADULTERERS.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 67]

A woman there was some tym a-lyve, that was a bawde be-twene an housbond-man̛ and̛ a-nothere mannys wife, and̛ ofte sithe had̛ brought hem to-gedre in the synne of a-voutery; and̛ contenued̛ many a day, throw help of this bawde. atte laste this woman̛, that was bawde, felle seke, and̛ shuld̛ deye. she thought in here herte, how she had̛ ben a synfuƚƚ wrech, and̛ was sory in here herte, that Euer she had offendid̛ god̛, and̛ thought she wolde amende here, as holy chirche wolde; and̛ sente for here Criature, and̛ was shreuyn̛, and̛ toke here penaunce, as she myght for the tyme, and̛ was in wille neuer to torne a-gayne to synne; and̛ wepte faste, and̛ praiede criste, for the vertue of̘ his blessyd̛ passyon̛, that he wolde haue mercy on here, and̛ also for the prayere of his blessyd̛ modre, and̛ aƚƚ seyntes; and̛ so she passyd̛ oute of̘ this worlde. And̛ sone after, the man̛ and̛ the woman̛, that lyvedyn̛ in synne, deyedyn̛ with oute repentaunce. This womans housbond̛ praide faste for his wife, that was the bawde, that god̛ wolde shewe hym how his wife fared̛. Afterwarde on̛ a nyght̘, as he lay in his bedde, his wife aperid̛ to hym̛, and̛ seide, "housbond̛, be not a-ferde, but rise vp, and̛ go with me, for thou shalte se mervayles." he rose, and̛ wente with here, til they come into a fayre playne. then she seide, "stond̛ here stiƚƚ, and̛ be not a-ferde, for thou shalte haue no harme, and̛ wisely be-holde what thou shalte se." then she wente a litiƚƚ way from̛ hym̛, til she come at a grete stone, that had̛ an hole in the myddes; and̛ as she stode a-fore þe stone, sodenly she was a longe addre, and̛ putte here hede in at an hole in the myddys

of þe stone, ande Crepte throwe; but she lefte hire hame with oute the stone, and̛ anone she stode vp a fayre woman̛. and̛ sone after come ij. deuyls yellyng̘, and̛ broughtyn̛ a Cawderon̛ fuƚƚ of hote wellyng̘ brasse, and̛ sette it downe be-syde the stone; and̛ after hem came othere ij. deuyls, Cryenge, and̛ broughtyn̛ a man̛; and̛ after hem̛ Came othere ij. deuyls, with grete noyse, and̛ broughtyn̛ a woman̛. than the ij. deuyls tokyn̛ bothe the man ande the woman̛ that they brought, and̛ Caste hem into a Cawderon̛ and̛ helde hem̛ there, tiƚƚ the fleshe was sothyn̛ fro the bone. then they tokyn̛ oute the bonys, and̛ [leaf 67, back] leyde hem beside the Cawderon̛; And̛ anone they were made man̛ and̛ woman. and̛ the deuyls caste hem in a-gayne into the Cawderon̛; and̛ this were they serued̛ many a tyme. and̛ then̛ the deuyls wentyn as they comyn̛ thiddere. the woman, that Crepte throw the stone, wente a-gayne to hire housbonde, and̛ seide, "Knewes þou ought this man̛ and̛ this woman̛?" he seide, "yee, they were oure neghbores." "sawe thou," she saide, "what payne they had̛?" he saide, "yee, an hideouse payne." "this peyne," she seide "shuƚƚ they haue in helle euer more, for they lyvedyn in avoutery, and̛ amendid̛ hem nought. and̛ I was bawde be-twene hem, and̛ brought heme to-gedre; and̛ I shuld̛ haue bene with hem in the Cawderon̛ Euer, had̛ I nought amendid̛ me in my lyfe, with contricion̛, confession̛ And̛ satisfaccion̛, as I myght, be the mercy of god̛; and̛ crepte throw the stone, and̛ lefte my hame be-hynde me." The stone is Criste; the hole is his blessid̛ wounde on his side; and̛ the hame is my synnes, that I lefte behynde me, be the merite of Cristes passion̛; and̛ therfore I shaƚƚ be sauyd̛. Go thou now home, and̛ be-warre of synne, and̛ amende the, for thou shalte lyve but a while; and̛ do almesse dedes for the and̛ for me." then the housbond̛ wente home, and̛ did̛ as she bade hym; and̛ with in shorte tyme after he deyede, and̛ wente to the blisse.