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

[ LXXXIX. ]
(HOW AN ANCHORESS WAS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 80 back (cont'd)]

ÞEre was a woman̛ some tyme in the worlde leuyng̘, that sawe the wrechidnesse, the synnes, and̛ the vnstablenesse, that was in the worlde; therfore she lafte aƚƚ the worlde, and̛ wente into deserte, and̛ leuyd̛ there many yeres with rotes and̛ grasse, and̛ such Frute as she myght gete; and̛ dranke water of the welle-spryng̘, for othere lyvelode had she none. Atte laste, when̛ she had̛ longe dwelled̛ there in that place, The deuyƚƚ, in lyknesse of a woman̛, come to this holy womans place; and̛ when̛ he come there, he knocked̛ atte dore. the holy woman̛ come to the dore, and̛ asked̛, what she wolde? she saide, "I pray the, dame, of̘ a bone, that thou wilte herborow me this nyght; for this day is at an Ende, and̛ I am̛ aferde that wilde bestes shuld̛ deuoure me." The good̛ woman̛ seide, "for goddis loue ye are welcome to me; and̛ take such as god̛ sendith." they settyn̛ hem̛ downe bothe to-gedre; and̛ the good̛ woman̛ sate, and̛ redde seyntes lyues, and̛ othere good̛

thinges, tiƚƚ she come to this writing̘, "Euery tree that bryngeth not forthe good̛ frute, shaƚƚ be caste downe, and̛ brente in helle." "that is sothe," saide the fende, "and̛ therfore I am̛ a-dred; for if we lede oure lyfe alone, therfore we shuƚƚ haue litiƚƚ mede, for when̛ we dwelle alone, we profite non̛ but oure self̘; Therfore it were better, me thinketh, to go and̛ dwelle amonge folke, for to gyfe good̛ Ensawmpiƚƚ to man̛ and̛ woman̛ dwellyng̘ in this worlde. than̛ shuƚƚ we haue mych mede." when this was seide, they wentyn̛ to reste. This good̛ woman̛ thought faste in here herte, that she myght not slepe ne haue no reste, for the thing̘ that the fende had̛ seide. Anone this woman̛ rose, and̛ seide to the tother woman̛, "this nyght myght I haue no reste, for the wordes that̘ thou seide yester Euyn̛; Therfore I wote neuer what is beste to done for vs." then̛ the deuyƚƚ seide to here agayne, "it is beste to go forthe to profite to othere, that shuƚƚ be glad̛ of̘ oure comyng̘, for that is mych more worthe than̛ to lyve alone." Than̛ seide the woman̛ to the fende, "go we now forthe on̛ oure waye, for me thinketh, it is not Euyƚƚ to assaye." And̛ when she shuld̛ go oute atte dore, she stode stiƚƚ, and̛ seide thus, "nowe, swete lady, modre of mercy, and̛ helpe at aƚƚ nede, now cownsayle me [leaf 81] the beste, and̛ kepe me bothe body and̛ soule from̛ dedly synne." when she had̛ seide thes wordes with good̛ herte, and̛ with good̛ wiƚƚ, oure lady come, and̛ leyde here hande on here breste, and̛ putte here in a-gayne, and̛ bade here, that she shulde abide there, and̛ not be ladde by falshede of oure Enemy. The fende anone wente away, that she sawe hym no more there. Then she was fuƚƚ fayne, that she was kepte, and̛ not be giled̛ of here Enemy. then she seide on this wise to oure blessid̛ lady, that is fuƚƚ of mercy and̛ goodnesse, "I thanke the now with aƚƚ my herte, specially for this kepyng̘, and̛ many moo that thou haste done to me ofte sithes; and̛ good̛ ladie, kepe me from hensforward." lo! here may men̛ and̛ women̛ se, how redy this good̛ ladie is to helpe here seruauntes at aƚƚ here nede, when they calle to here for helpe, þat they falle not in synne, be stirryng̘ of the wicked̛ Enemy the false fende.