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

Story.

Ancelmus was a wise emperour̛ regnyng in the cite of Rome; the which edified̛ in the ende of his empire a passing fair̛ Casteƚƚ & sette þere a Stiward̛, commaundyng to him, vp-peyne

of detℏ, for to kepe wele þat casteƚƚ. And this Stiward kept wele this casteƚƚ during long tyme, but at þe last he was traitour̛ to þe emperour̛, & loste the casteƚƚ. And when the Emperoure herd̛ this, he was hily meved̛ in aƚƚ his bowels, & gert make a grete counseiƚƚ, how þat he mygℏt best gete this casteƚƚ oute of̘ the hondis of his enemys. So there ros vp a knygℏt, and seid, þere were thre weys for to gete hit, scil. þe wey of strength; þe wey of wisdom̛; and the wey of love. "& suche iij. knyghtes þere beth now in your̛ Empire; þe first knyght is strengist of any þat is in any place, and he berith a scochon̛ of gold̛, with a lion̛ in þe myddeƚƚ; the second is wys, and berith a scochon̛ with a pecok; & þe thrid knygℏt is amorous & lovyng, and lovith you more þan may be trowid̛, and he berith a golden̛ scochon̛, with a white dove. And, ser, by my counseiƚƚ, thes thre are to wynne the casteƚƚ to you ayen̛; and þerfore sendith for hem, for if strength be not wortℏ, wisdom shalbe wortℏ, and if̘ wysdom may not do hit, love shalle gete þe victory." The emperour̛ liked welle this counseiƚƚ, and let send aftir hem, and seid to hem, "Dere frendis, of̘ you thre I haue herd spoke moche good. ye know

wele how þat my casteƚƚ is lost, therfore to recouere hit ayen̛ I send you thre; for the first of you is a strong wariour̛, the second a grete ȝever of counseiƚƚ, the thrid is a subtiƚƚ sercher in love. Goth to dyner, and I shal geve you a competent mede." [leaf 159, col. 2] When þe knyghtis herd this, thei armed hem strongly, and yede her wey. When̛ thei had riden̛ the space of iij. daies, thei come to a forest; and as thei shuld̛ haue entrid in to the forest, a nyghtingale sat vpon̛ a tre, & made a passing swete sonet-song. At þe last, oon of the knyghtis spak to his felawis, and seid, "Sirs, I vndirstond the song of this brid; the which is not ellis but a shewyng to vs that ther̛ ben thefes in þis forest, & þat in grete plentith; the which haue I-herd̛ telle that we come for to rekeuere the casteƚƚ, & here thei purpose for to kille vs." then seid þe strong knygℏt, "I was for my strength sent hider, & þerfore with my strength I shal defende me." Then spake þe wise knygℏt, "& as þou wilt defende þe by thi strengtℏ, so shal I me by my wisdom." Then spak the thrid, "I am neiþer strong ne wys, as ye betℏ, and þerfore god help me!" Whenne þis was

seid, thei entrid in to þe forest, and þei met with her aduersaries. So the strong knygℏt began̛ to defende him, & to figℏt manfully; but atte þe last þere came an arowe, & smote him at þe stomak, & he feƚƚ doun̛ ded. Whenne þe wise man saw þat, he gan̛ to alegge resons, & to putte forthe wise wordis; but thei yeve not grete heryng to his resons, but at þe last oon smote him to þe hert, and slow him. then the thrid knygℏt seyng this, he shet an arowe to þe maister of the thevis, & he was ded þerby; and when þat oþer meyne saw þat her maister was ded, thei fled. And þe knygℏt pursued forth to þe casteƚƚ þat was lost; and when he come, he founde the yatis open̛. He entrid, & slow hem that were therin, & sette vp in a toure the baner of the emperour̛. And when the emperour̛ herd̛ telle how wisely and strongly þat he had ywonne þe casteƚƚ, he avaunced the knygℏt to grete honour̛ and richesses; þe which bare him and shewid hym to be a doughti body in aƚƚ his lyf̘, and faire ende made.