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

[ LXXI. ]
(HOW A MAN WHO HAD COMMITTED INCEST WAS PARDONED.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 68 back (cont'd)]

ÞEre was a pore yonge man, and̛ weddid̛ a pore yonge woman. this pore yonge man̛, swich litiƚƚ good̛ as he had̛, and̛ myght gete of his frendes, he bought and̛ solde, and̛ wanne faste; for he had̛ hape in aƚƚ thing̘ that he bought, and̛ richesse of the worlde felle faste to hym, that in fewe yeres he was a riche marchaunde. this man̛ had̛ by his wyfe a sone and̛ a doughter, and̛ noryshed̛ hem̛ wele, and̛ arayed̛ hem Gayle, that his neghbores spaken̛ therof̘, and̛ seydyn̛, "se this man̛! that late was a pore man̛, how nysely [he] arayes his childryn̛!" and̛ [he] lette hem be togedre in oo bedde, so longe, that his sister was with childe, and̛ tolde here brothere. then was he sorye and̛ she bothe, and̛ seide, "if̘ oure fadire and̛ modire wete it, we shuƚƚ be shamed̛ for Euer, and̛ aƚƚ oure frendes." then̛ seide the brothere, "I can̛ a better wile, for we shuƚƚ go privelye into a ferre contrey, there no man̛ knowes vs, and̛ there mow we dwelle, withoutyn̛ sklawndre." and̛ she assented̛ here to; and̛ [they] tokyn̛ with hem money, and̛ wente her̛ way prively. And̛ when they had̛ longe walked̛ be [leaf 69] dyuerse contrees, they comyn̛ in to a grete foreste, where were many wilde bestes; w[h]ere this woman was seke, and̛ ney childe byrth, and̛ seide, "good̛ brothere, lette me reste a while." he saide, "nay, we mowe not reste now, for it draweth towarde Euyn̛, and̛ the towne is ferre hense." "forsothe," she sayde, "I may no fyrther." he seide, "what wenys thou, that we shuƚƚ a-byde here, [for] wilde bestes to deuoure vs?" "nay," she sayde, "I may not go." he saide, "but if̘ thou arise, and̛ go hense, I shaƚƚ sle the." and̛ drewe oute his swerde. and̛ þe woman, what for payne and̛ for fere, Anone she was delyuered̛ of̘ a fayre sone. he se she wolde not aryse, for she myght not; and̛ he toke his swerde, and̛ smote here throwe, and̛ slowe here and̛ the childe bothe. and̛ when he had done, he wente his waye, and̛ lefte hem there dede; and̛ by Euyn̛ he come to the Cite. and̛ on the tothere day he wente and̛ fastenyd̛ hym with a riche man, a marchande; and̛ when he had̛ dwelled̛ there a while

with hym, the marchandise grewe faste to hym; And̛ the marchande toke hym a sertayne marchandise, for to assay how he couthe do. he wente, ande Chaffared̛ faste, and̛ wanne mekille, for he was happy, and̛ wanne faste; and̛ with in fewe yeres his mayster deyed̛. The wyfe sawe that this man was happy, and̛ wanne faste, and̛ thoughte, that it were good̛ for here to take hym to here housebonde, and̛ did so; and̛ with in a ten̛ yere or twelfe he was waxen the richeste marchande of aƚƚ the contree. Aftrewarde he felle seke, and̛ shuld̛ deye, as Euery man shaƚƚ; and̛ as he laye in his bedde, he Called̛ his wyfe to hym, and̛ seide, "steke faste the dore, and̛ lette no man̛ Come to me, and̛ namely of̘ holy kyrke, for I shaƚƚ deye fuƚƚ sone, and̛ go to helle." "Alas, sir," she seide, "why say ye so? haue mynde on̛ Ihesu, and̛ on his pasyosn̛, and̛ that is sufficiente remedie a-gayne aƚƚ synne; and̛ shryve you, and aske god̛ mercy, and̛ so ye shuƚƚ be saufe." he seide, "holde thy pease, for it is nought̘ that thou sayeste; for I shaƚƚ go to helle, there is no nothere way." she wepte, and̛ was right sorie; and̛ wente to a good̛ preste, that was a prechour, and̛ tolde hym how here housbonde had̛ seide he shuld̛ go to helle. "Be of good̛ comforte," he seide, "for I shaƚƚ come and̛ speke with hym̛." she wente home; and̛ he come sone aftire, as he had̛ bene a marchande. when the seke man sawe hym, he seide, "what arte thou?" he seide, "I am a marchande, and̛ haue marchandise that is profitable for the." when he herde that̘, [leaf 69, back] he sete hym on his bedde, and̛ seide, "if̘ thou come for no noþer thing̘, thou arte welcome." the preste seide, "my marchandise is this. I haue bene a preste this fourty wynter and̛ more, and̛ haue fastid̛, waked̛, and̛ prayde, gone on pilgremage, and̛ prechid̛; and̛ by the mercy of god̛ I haue tornyd̛ many soules to god̛. now telle thy chaffare, for, as I wene, thou haste many synnes; and̛ the moste thou haste, and̛ the gretter they be, the more wynnyng̘ to me." Thought this seke man̛, "that were for me a good̛ chaunge!" and̛ tolde hym aƚƚ his synnes, fro the begynnyng̘ vnto that tyme, with grete repentaunce, and̛ sorowe of herte. then the preste assoyled̛ hym̛, and̛ bade hym̛ haue fuƚƚ truste in oure lorde, for to be sauyd̛; for he wolde save aƚƚ that wil

aske mercy, if they wolde forsake here synne, and̛ do as holy chirche commaundith. sone after this man deyed̛, and̛ was beried̛; and̛ in his beryeng̘ a voice seide, "syn criste deyed̛, was neuer soule so slely wonne and̛ sauyd̛, blessyd̛ be gode!"