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

Story.

Alexaundre reigned̛ in Rome; and amonge aƚƚ vertues that he had̛, he was right large. Therfore of grete nede he ordeyned̛ for a law, that no man shulde turne the playse in the dissℏ, but aƚƚ only he shuld̛ ete the white side, and in no wise the blak̘ side; and yf any man did̛ the contrarie, he shuld̛ dye. ¶ But before he shuld̛ dye, he shuld̛ aske iij. peticions of the Emperour̛, what that he wold̛, except his lyf̘, and he shuld̛ graunte hym theym̛. [leaf 18] It fille ones, that an Erle of a ferre countre witℏ his sone come to the Emperour̛, and at mete was sette before hem a playse. The Erle had̛ a good̛ apetite to ete. whan he had̛ eten̛ the white side of the playse, he ete the blak̘ side; and anon̛ he was accused̛ to the Emperour, that he had̛ done agayn̛ the law. ¶ The Emperour said̛, "do hym to dethe, witℏ outen any delay, after that the law asketℏ." The sone of the Erle, whan he had̛ herd̛ that his fadir shuld̛ be dede, he went to the

Emperour, and said̛, ¶ "Gracious lord̛, for the love of hym that died̛ on the crosse, lette me dye for my fadir." ¶ The Emperour̛ said̛, "it liketℏ me wele, that one dye for brekyng of the lawe." The sone herd̛ this, and said̛, "Sithen̛ it is so, that I shaƚƚ dye, I aske the benefice of the lawe, that I may have iij. peticions, before I dye." Tℏe Emperour said̛, "aske what thou wilte; no man shaƚƚ denye the the lawe that is made." ¶ "lord̛," he said̛, "thou hast a faire doughtir, and gracious to the sight of every man; I aske that she may lye by me aƚƚ nyght." The Emperour graunted̛ hym. Neverthelesse he defouled̛ her not; In that the sone of the Erle mekeƚƚ pleased̛ the Emperour. ¶ "The second̛ peticion̛, I aske thi Tresoure." The Emperour̛ graunted̛ hym aƚƚ his tresoure, for his law that he had̛ made. The sone toke the tresoure, and dalte it to poore men and riche; wherfore he had̛ the wille of the peple. ¶ "The third̛ peticion̛ is, I aske the eyen̛ of alle hem that sawe my fadir turne the playse in the disshe." ¶ Anon̛ was made an Inquysicion̛, who sawe the Erle turne the playse in the disshe. One thought, "yf I sey ye, I shaƚƚ lese bothe myn̛ eyen̛." thus the second̛ said̛, and the third̛, and aƚƚ other; so that there was not one, that sawe the

Erle turne the playse in the disshe. ¶ Than said̛ the sone of the Erle to the Emperour̛, "Beholde, my lord̛, and yeve a rightfuƚƚ dome." Than he said̛, "sithe it is so, that no man knowetℏ, that saw thi fadir turne the playse in the disshe, I wille not that he be dede." And thus the sone saved̛ the fadirs lyf̘; and after the Emperours dissease, he wedded̛ his doughtir.