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

Story.

ANcelyne reigned̛ in the Citee of Rome, a fuƚƚ wise man, that in the endes of his Empire made a Casteƚƚ, and ordeyned̛ there a Steward̛, Biddyng hym, vpon [on] payn̛ of dethe, to kepe wele the Casteƚƚ.

The Stewarde kept it wele a liteƚƚ while, and after that, [omitted] agayn̛ [agayns] the Emperours wille he lost the Casteƚƚ. ¶ The Emperour, whan he had̛ [omitted] herd̛ that, he was right wrothe; and called̛ to hym his counsaile, and treted̛ therof̘, how and in [by] what way he myght gete the casteƚƚ oute of his enemyes handes. ¶ There a-rose a knyght, and said̛, "Sir, there are iij. waies, that is, the way of wisedom̛, the [and the] way of strengthe, and the way of love. So it is now, that in thi Empire are iij. knyghtes; ¶ *The first knyght is the strengest man of your̛ Empire, and [strengest of men; and one] beretℏ a golden̛ sheld̛, witℏ a lyon̛; ¶ The Second̛ knyght is wisedome, and beretℏ a silver̛ sheld̛, with a pecok̘; ¶ The thirde knyght is [is right a] wondir amerous [amerous passingly] , and lovetℏ [loues] you passyng wele, and he [omitted] beretℏ a golden̛ sheld̛, witℏ a white dove. ¶ Sir [omitted] , by my counsaile, send̛ after [omitted] thise iij. knyghtes to recover [rescu] the casteƚƚ; and yf it be so that *the strengest [strenght] may not *gete it [omitted] , wisedome shaƚƚ; and yf wisedome may not, love shaƚƚ wynne it." ¶ The Emperour, whan he had̛ [omitted] herd̛ this, it pleased̛ hym wele; and called̛ to hym thise iij. knyghtes, and said̛, "Frendes, we [I] have herd̛ of you grete praisynges [praysyng] , and it is

knowen to you of the [this] foresaid̛ casteƚƚ, that is lost; Therfore I sende you iij. to wynne agayn̛ the Casteƚƚ out of the handes of myn̛ enemyes, by cause the first of you is a stronge werriour̛, The second̛ best counseilour̛, and the thirde the [omitted] sotelest enserchour. ¶ Gothe therfor̛ to fight, and I shaƚƚ yeld̛ to you worthi mede." The knyghtes, whan they herd̛ [had herd] this, thei armed̛ hem, and toke her way to go; and so thei ridden̛ [ryde] iij. daies, tille thei come to a forest; and as they entred̛ the forest, *there was [omitted] a Nyghtyngale sange passyng [fulle] swetly vpon [on] a tree. ¶ Than said̛ wisedome the knyght to his felawes, "heretℏ *me, for I [omitted] vndirstond̛ right wele the *Nyghtyngale songe [nyghtyngalys song; her song] is not els but she [omitted] shewetℏ to vs, that in the forest are theves [leaf 11, back] many, that have herd̛ of oure comyng, for to recover̛ the casteƚƚ, and thei purpose for [omitted] to sle [destroy] vs." ¶ Than said̛ the stronge knyght, "for my strengthe I am hedir sent; therfore here [omitted] I shaƚƚ defende you by my strengthe." Tho [than] said̛ the wise knyght to his felawes, "and as thou wilte defende vs by thi [omitted] strengthe, Right so I shaƚƚ defende you by my wisedome." Than said̛ the thirde knyght, "I am not stronge, ne wise, as ye are; god be my helper!" ¶ Whan thei hadde thus

said̛, anon̛ thei entred̛ the forest, and sone the malefactours mette hem. the stronge knyght began myghtily to fight, and for to defende hym; [hem] and a quareƚƚ come from an arblast [arowblast] and smote hym in the stomak̘, and slougℏ hym. ¶ The wise knyght, whan he had̛ seen this [that] , than [omitted] he began to allegge resons, and shew to hem wisedome; but [omitted] thei *toke no kepe therof̘ [gaf no grete heryng to his resons] , but one smote hym to the hert, and he dyed̛. ¶ That saw the thirde knyght, and sent an arowe to the maister theef̘, and smote hym thurgℏ by the myddes; and so he dyed̛. ¶ The other theves sawe that, [and fled.] [supplied from Cambridge MS.] the knyght folowed̛ hem vnto the Casteƚƚ that was lost; and whan he founde the yates open, he went in, and aƚƚ that were *ther in [ther] he slougℏ, and the baner of the Emperour̛ he sette above an higℏ, in the towre. ¶ Whan the Emperour̛ herd̛ this [omitted] , that the knyght had̛ thus [so] myghtily and wisely recovered̛ [recurid] the casteƚƚ, he promoted̛ hym to grete richesse; the whicℏ aƚƚ his lyf̘ aftir *wisely and [omitted] myghtily governed̛ aƚƚ that he had̛, and so ended̛ his lyf̘ in pease.