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

[ XXXIX. ]
POLEMIUS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(OF A CHILD WHICH WAS ENTRUSTED TO A KNIGHT, AND HOW IT WAS CARRIED OFF BY A BEAR AND RECOVERED.)Harl. MS. 7333.

[leaf 176, col. 1 (cont'd)]

Story.

POlemius was a wise Emperoure Reignyng in the citee of Rome; the whiche ordeynid̛ for a lawe, þat yf any norisshe tooke [leaf 176, col. 2] eny childe to be norished̛, yf the childe dide, or wer̛ lepre, in defaute

of the noryshe, she shuld̛ be dede. Þerefor̛ happid̛ in a tyme, that þere was a kynge, that had̛ a fair̛ sone; and̛ a knyght askid̛ this childe of him, to be norished̛ fro his modir, and̛ he grauntid̛ it, and̛ seide, "be ware, that the chylde have noon̛ harme in thi defaute; for yf̘ he have, I wol pursue the lawe a-yene the." "Sir," quod̛ he, "I assente." He Receyvid̛ þe childe, & deliuerid̛ it to a norishe. So it fel aftirwarde, þat þer was in the same cite a concurs of peple, by cause of a gret feyr̛, in so moche alle þat wer̛ in the house yede out to se the feyr̛, and̛ lefte the childe by hit selfe at home in the cradille, and̛ shutte the dor̛ aftir hem; and̛ thei wer̛ oute a longe tyme. And̛ in the mene tyme þere come a wolfe, and̛ Enterid̛ in at the yate of the castelle, and̛ yede in to the house þere the chylde laye, and̛ toke the chylde, and̛ Ranne ther̛ with to wood̛. And̛ as the wolfe Ranne with the chylde, a Shepard̛ stode in the toppe of a tree, and̛ gaderid̛ frute; & whenne he saw the wolfe ber̛ the chylde, he blew his horne thris, and̛ made a lowde crye, at the whiche cry al the cite come oute; and̛ the wolfe was Ronne to the woode with the childe. and̛ men sette houndis aftir, & founde the wolfe, and̛ toke the childe fro him, but the chylde had̛ a gret signe of biting of the wolfe. Then the kniȝte toke the chylde, and̛ with in a few ȝeris bare him to the kynge, his fadir. And̛ when þe kynge saw the childe have a signe of bitynge, he saide to him, "frende, I toke to the my childe safe, and̛ withe outen̛ wounde and̛ hurte; take me my sone as I toke him to the, or elles I shalle pursue the Emperoures lawe ayenst the." Þenne spake the kniȝte, and̛ saide, "sir, trowist thow that I be god̛? how shulde I hele thi childe of alle spottis & woundes?" then seide the kyng, "how, and̛ in what defavte hathe the childe swiche a spotte in the fronte? yf it be in þy defaute, then thin accion̛ shaƚƚ stonde in my strenght; and̛ yf it be of kynde, I may have [leaf 176, back, col. 1] noon̛ accion̛ ayenst the." "ser," quod̛ the kniȝte, "I graunt welle that a wolfe toke him in my defaute, but he slowhe him not; and̛ towching that defaute þat I makid̛, I put me in yowr̛ mercy." Þen seide the kinge, "Þenne wolle I, that þow do homage to me fro hens forþeward̛, and̛ þat þou have no lorde but me; and̛ þen̛ I foryeve the þy defaute and̛ trespas in this cas."

MORALITEE.

DEre frendes, þe Emperoure that makithe this law, is oure lorde Ihesu Criste, þat ordeynid̛, þat yf a childe, scil. a clene soule, yif to a man̛ for to norisshe in goode werkes & vertues, deye, or be hurt, he shulde [lese] euerlastinge lyfe. but for sothe ther bethe mony men of holy chirche, that havithe cure off̘ Sowles, goþe to the feyris, vnprofitable siȝtis, as tavernys, wrestelynges, huntynges, and̛ swich vanyteys of þe worlde, that Ofte the wolfe, scil. the devil, takithe in hir defaute the soule out of the cradille of holie chirche, & Rynnitℏ þere withe to wode of helle. but thenne þe herde, scil. a goode prelate or a prechoure, [that] dwellithe in the tree of holy writte, blowithe, scil. prechiþe with the horne of goddes grace; and̛ so the soule is delivered̛ fro the power̛ of a synner, and̛ berithe a signe, þat it was som tyme in the seruitute of the devil, and̛ now is lyveryd̛. And̛ þerefor̛ it behovithe vs to be sarvauntes, and̛ submitte vs to god̛, as longe as wee live in this worlde, to plese him, that we mowe come to him, Qui cum Patre &c.