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

MORALITEE.

DEre frendes, þis Emperoure is oure lorde Ihesu Criste; the forest is holy chirche, in the whiche bethe plantid̛ the comaundementes of god̛; the forster is dethe, that sparithe no man̛; the swyne is a synner, that enterithe in to holy chirche, and̛ foylithe the comaundementes of god̛, ne sethe hem not in no place. Þenne it is seide to the forster̛, that he cut of his tayle, scil. deþe comythe to some of thi blode, wher thorow thow shuldeste be ware, and̛ amend̛ thi lyfe, or he smytithe of the tayle, scil. takeþe awey þi Richesse, wherby thow shuldeste be smyten̛, & turne to the knowleche of god̛. Also the secounde tyme he cuttithe awey the lyfte er̛, scil. dethe takithe fro the þi broþer, or thi sustre, for thi conuersioun̛ and̛ amendement; and̛ he takithe a-wey thi rite Er̛, when he takithe a-wey thi sone, or þi douter, or thi wyf, that thow most lovest, for thow shuldest a-mende the. neuerþeles al thes puneshynges takithe god̛ in a wrecchid̛ man̛, but yit we vncorrigible wrecchis conne not

sece of oure synnynge. [leaf 175, back, col. 1] Whenne god̛ seeþ þat, he comaundithe dethe to sle him; and̛ he sendithe the body to the Cooke, scil. þe deuil, for to swolewe him, & dite him in helle. And̛ when the Emperoure shall sitte at mete, scil. at the last dome, then he wolle aske the harte, scil. þe soule; For Crist lovithe mor̛ a soule than al the worlde. then in the day of dome shalle the wikid̛, cook, scil. the devil, stonde aduersari ayenste vs, and̛ alegge, þat þe synner hathe non̛ herte, scil. no soule,— —"þe whiche shold̛ have y-be obedient to god̛, but he was euere Obedient to me, & neuer to þe, and̛ þerefore, Iuge, deme þis soule to be myn̛, and̛ to be dampnid̛, for it is Right; for as aftin tyme as þou scorgediste him with thi punyshementes, for to make him to obeye to thi commaundmentes, he wolde neuer, but Encline to me, and̛ tel Right nowte of thi preceptes." And̛ þerfore late vs be ware of the cursid̛ cooke, and̛ love we the blessid̛ Emperoure. Qui cum Patre &c.