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

MORALITE.

[G] od Frendis, this Emperour̛ is oure lord ihesu Crist; by thes two knyghtes beth vndirstond a good Cristen̛ man̛, and the deviƚƚ. Þe good cristen̛ man hath londe, scil. a soule, þe which the deviƚƚ euer coveitetℏ, but þe good Cristen̛ man̛ stondith ayen̛, and woƚƚ not assent þerto. Then the deviƚƚ aspying this, he abideth tiƚƚ he dey, by doyng of dedly syn̛; and then he takith to him thre witnesses, scil. pryde of lyf̘, wrong covetise of yen̛, and wrong covetise of flessh; and then he takith the thome, scil. the werkes of the dede man̛; for no man may lyve withoute cryme, and as hit is ysaid, seven̛ sithes in þe day fallith þe rightwise man̛; & he sealith þe chartre, when he makith a man̛ to do synne, and so he alleggith in

þe sigℏt of god, þat þe soule is his. But þen the Emperoure, scil. oure lord ihesu Crist, makith þe hert of þe synner, & þe witnessis, scil. pride of lyf, wrong couetise of flessh, and wrong covetise of yen̛, to be examyned̛ by a discrete confessour̛, how þat he felle in to synnes; For certein, by suggestion̛ of the deviƚƚ, þat is auctour of̘ aƚƚ yvels, man is drawe with hem withouten̛ ende, and hongid in the peynes of helle. And þerfore let vs besy to amend oure lyf̘, and to duelle in good werkes, that we may come to euerlastyng gladnes. Amen.