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

Story.

THeodosius reigned̛ in Rome, that amonge aƚƚ the goodes of the world̛ he chose the harpe, and also for to hunte, in resonable tyme. ¶ It happed̛ *on a tyme, as [ones whanne] he wente to hunte, he herde the melodie of an harpe witℏ so swete a sowne, that he was ravisshed̛ from hym self̘ for swetnesse. He went aboute the forest to [for to] fynde the melodie, And in the ende of the Forest he founde [saw] sittyng a poore man, beside a watir, havyng in his honde an harpe, *and harped̛ [omitted] ; of̘ [leaf 14, back] the whiche wente oute so swete a melodie, that the Emperour̛ *thought he [had] herde never [omitted] none suche before. ¶ The Emperour said̛, "frende, I pray the telle me, how so swete a melodie gothe out of thyn̛ harpe?" ¶ he said̛, "I and my wyf̘ and my children̛ have dwelled̛ beside *this water [here this] xxx. wyntir, and god̛ hathe yoven̛ [gyf] me grace, that whan I touche myn̛ harpe, there gothe out so swete a sownde, that the fisshes of this watir, for the [omitted] swetnesse *of myn̛ harpe [omitted] cometℏ [comyne] to

myn̛ honde, and so I take hem; and by hem I and my wyf̘ and my meyne have oure sustenaunce in grete plente. ¶ But allas for sorow! for *from the [on that] other partie of the watir there [omitted] cometℏ an hissar̛, that hissetℏ so swetely, that many daies the fisshes levetℏ [leve] me, and gotℏ [gone] to his hissyng; and therfore [therfor, sir] in this nede I aske youre helpe agayn̛ this hissar̛, that thus disceivetℏ me." The Emperour̛ said̛, "I have here in my [this] purse a golden̛ hoke, the whiche I shaƚƚ yeve the. have it, and bynde it fast in the ende of a yerde, and touche thyn harpe; and witℏ this hoke thou shalt draw the fishes to the [omitted] lond̛, and the hissyng of the hissar̛ shaƚƚ not availe agayn̛ the melodie of thyn̛ harpe." ¶ The poore man did̛ as he badde; and whan he smote on his harpe, the fisshes began for to stere. The hissare, whan he sawe this, witℏ shame and confusion̛ he went away; And the poore man dwelled̛ there aƚƚ his lyfe aftir.