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

[ XL. ]
SELESTINUS A WYSE EMPEROURE.
(THE "BOND" STORY IN THE "MERCHANT OF VENICE.")Harl. MS. 7333.

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

Story.

SElestinus Reignid̛ a wyse Emperoure in Rome, and̛ he had̛ a faire dowter; and̛ in his tyme ther was a knyȝte that lovid̛ this dowter, but he thowte in him [leaf 176, back, col. 2] selfe that he dud al in veyne, for̛ he thowȝt as for sothe, that the Emperoure wolde not late him to have hir, for he was vnworthi ther to. Neuerþeles he thought, yf he myght be ony wey have love of the damiselle, it were I-nowe to me. he yede ofte tyme to the damiseƚƚ, and̛ aspied̛ hir wille; & she saide to him a-yene, that he travaylid̛ al in veyne. "for trowist thow," quod̛ she, "with thi deseyvable and faire wordes to begile me? nay, sir, be my soule, hit shal not be so!" Þenne saide the kniȝte, "what shal I yeve to the, and late me lye by the a nyght?" "Not þowh þou woldest yeve me an c. marke of florens," quod̛ she,

"þou shalt not lye by me a nyght." "Þen̛ hit shal be as þou wilte," quod̛ he. what dude he but purveyde him of so muche mony, scil. an c. marke of floreyns, & yaf hir. whenne nyght come, þe kniȝte enterid̛ in to the bed of the mayde, and̛ a-noon̛ he was a-slepe; and̛ she dude of hir harnes, & come, & laye downe by him; so the kniȝte laye slepynge al the nyght. On̛ þe morow she Ros, & did̛ on̛ hir clothis, & wishe her hondes; and̛ the kniȝte a-woke of his slepe, & thenne he saide, "come hedir to me, that I may do my wille with the." "Nay, by the helþ of my fadir, that wolle I not," quod̛ she, "for, frende, I do the no wronge. Þow accordiste with me that I shulde lye withe þe al nyte, and̛ so it is I-don̛; for I lay by the al nyght, & þou sleptest, & proferdest me no solace; and̛ þerefore blame thi selfe, & not me." And̛ þe kniȝte was hevy, and̛ seide, "what shal I yeve to the, & lete me lygge by þe anoþere nyght?" "As muche," quod̛ she, "as þou did̛ afor̛, & no lasse." "I assente," seide he. And̛ the kniȝte yede, and̛ solde aƚƚ his mevable goodes, and̛ made Redy an c. marke of floreynse; but se now a marvelovse case! for Right as hit was þe furste nyght, so hit was in the secounde. thenne the kniȝte mervaylid̛ more þanne man may suppose, and̛ hevy he was, and̛ saide, "Allas! for̛ now have I spend̛ al my godes withe oute spede, and̛ þerfore, [leaf 177, col. 1] þowhe þow [sic] I shuƚƚ dye þerefore, I wolle make anoþere Ende. how moche shaƚƚ I yeve the, and̛ late vs be to-geder the thirde nygℏt?" quod̛ the kniȝte to the damiseƚƚ. "sothely," she saide, "yf þou have me, as þou paide afore, fiat voluntas tua." "I assent," quod̛ he, "þou shalte have þin askynge and̛ thi wille." Þe kniȝte yede in to fer̛ contree, Til he come to a grete citee, in the whiche wer̛ many marchauntes, & many philesophers; amonge the wiche was master Virgile, þe philesofere. then the kniȝte yede to a grete marchaunt, and̛ saide, "I have [nede] of monye, & yf thow wolt lende me an c. marke vnto a certeyne day, I wolle ley to the al my londes, vndir this conducion̛, þat If I holde not my day, thow shalt have my londes for euere." Þenne seyde the marchaunt, "Der̛ frend̛, I sette not so muche be thi londes, but yf thow wolt make this covenaunt, þat I shalle sey to the, I wolle fulfiƚƚ þi wille." "yis," saide he, "I

am Redy to do thi wille, yf þou wolt do my petucion̛." Þenne seide he, "when̛ this couenaunt is made, þat I shalle sey vnto the, þenne I shalle fulfille þyne askynge; and̛ þe covenaunt shalle be this, þat þou make to me a charter of thin owne blood̛, in conducion̛, that yf thowe kepe not þi day of payment, hit shalle be lefulle to me for to draw awey alle the flesℏ of thi body froo the bone, with a sharp swerde; and̛ yf thow wolt assent her̛ to, I shalle fulfille þi wille." The kniȝte louid̛ the damiseƚƚ so mocℏ, þat he grauntid̛ al this; and̛ made a charter of his owne bloode, and̛ selid̛ it; & after the selying, this marchaunt toke him the mony þat he askid̛. when he had̛ the moneye, he þoute to him selfe, "yf I gete [not] my wylle by this moneye, I am but dede; nay, nay, it may not be so." when̛ he harde telle of the grete name of maister virgile, he yede to him, and̛ seide, "gode sir, I have previ counseiƚƚ to speke a-twene vs too, and̛ I be-seche yowe of youre wise counseiƚƚ in this cas." "Sey on̛," quod̛ virgile, "and̛ I shalle telle the, aftir my discrecion̛." "sir, I love the dowter of the Emperoure, mor̛ þan̛ ye wolle trowe; and̛ I accordid̛ with hir for a certen̛ sum of money. I have be disceyvid̛ two nyghtes in̛ swiche maner,"—& tolde alle þe cas, as welle as he coude,—"and̛, sir, nowe I have borowed̛ of a marchaunt̘ so moche moneye, for the same cas to be fulfillid̛, and̛ vndir this conducion̛ þat yf I holde not my day of payment, hit shalle thenne be lefulle to him to helde of alle the skynne of my body with his [leaf 177, col. 2] swerde, and̛ then I am but dede; and̛ ther for, sir, I am come to yow, to have counsaiƚƚ & wyt, how I may bothe have helpe ayenste swiche a pariƚƚ, and̛ also to have the love of that lovely lady." "Þou hast made a lewde covenaunt," seide virgile; "For as a man bindithe him withe his owne wille, right so he shaƚƚ be seruid̛, be lawe of the Emperoure; & þerefore þou shalt do wysely for to kepe þe day of thi payment, alle thinges lefte. And̛ towchinge þe dameseƚƚ, I shalle yeve the a tale of truthe. bi-twene her shete & hir couerlyte of hir bed̛ is a letter of swiche vertu, that who so euer gothe with hir to bed̛, he shaƚƚ anon̛ falle in to a dede slepe, & he shalle not wake til tyme þat hit be put awey; and̛ þerefore when thowe comest to hir bed̛, seche a-twene the shete and̛ the couerlyte, and̛ þow shalt

fynde the letre; and̛ when̛ þow hast founde hit, caste hit fer from̛ the bedde, and̛ thenne Entre in to the bed̛; for þou shalt not slepe til tyme that thow hast doon̛ thi wille withe the damiselle, and̛ that shalle torne to the gret honour̛ and̛ Ioye." The kniȝte toke his leve at Virgile, and̛ thonkid̛ him moche of his hie counseiƚƚ; and̛ yede to the damyseƚƚ, and̛ yafe hir the monye. when nyȝt come, the kniȝt enterid̛ the chaumber̛, and̛ preveli putte his honde bitwene þe couerlite and̛ the shete, and̛ þere he fonde the letter; & whenne he hadde hit, he caste hit fer fro the bedde, and̛ lay downe, & feynid̛ as he hadde I-slepte. And̛ thenne the damiselle, trowing that he had̛ y-slepte, as he dude afor̛, she caste of hir clothis, & went to bedde. Anon̛ þe kniȝte sette hande to hir, as is þe maner of bed̛; and̛ she perceyvid̛ that, and prayd̛ him of grace, and̛ to save hir maydinhode.—"And̛ I shaƚƚ dovble al the monye that thow hast yevin to me, and̛ yeve it to the." Þenne said he, "Thow lokist at a wronge hole; þy wordes bethe in wast; I shaƚƚ now do in dede that I have longe labovrid̛ for̛;"—and̛ ocupijd̛ him with hir body, as cours is of kynde. And̛ aftir he lovid̛ hir so muche, that he drow so moche to hir compane, that he for-ȝate þe marchaunt; and̛ the day of payment was passid̛ by the space of xiiij. dayes. And̛ as he lay in a certen̛ nyght in his bed̛, hit come to his mynde, the day that he made to the marchaunt, and̛ aƚƚ his bowelles wer̛ storid̛ þere withe. & þenne [he] saide to hir, "Alas! woman̛, þat euer I saw the, for I am but dede! I borowed̛ for thi love swiche a some of mony, for [leaf 177, back, col. 1] to pay at a certeyne day, bi this conducion̛, þat yf I pay not at my day, he shaƚƚ have fuƚƚ power̛ for to hilde of the fleshe of my body, with out contradiccion̛; and̛ now my day is passid̛ fourtenyte ago, so hili I sette myn̛ hert in the." then seide she, "sorowithe not so moche; gothe to him, and̛ debbelithe the mony to him; and̛ yf he wolle not, aske howe moche he wolle have, and̛ I shalle paye it." Þo was the kniȝte comfortid̛; he yede to the citee, and̛ þere he mette with the marchaunt in the stret, and̛ lowly he saluid̛ him. Þo saide the marchaunt, "so sey I not to the." Þenne seyde the kniȝte, "ser, for the trespas that I have made ayenst youre conuencion̛, I wolle dowble þe payment." "Naye,"

seide the marchaunt, "þat spake we not of; I wolle have Right as þou dudist bynde the to me." "Aske of me," quod̛ the knight, "as muche mony as thowe wolte, and̛ thowe shalt̘ be paide for my trespas." "It is veyne that thow spekist," quod̛ the marchaunt, "for thowhe thow geve to me al the gode of þi citee, I wolle have the covenaunt I-holde; & non̛ oþere wolle I have of the, þan as the charter asselid̛ makithe mencioun̛ of." And̛ anon̛ he made the kniȝt̘ to be I-take, and̛ lad̛ to the casteƚƚ, and̛ sette him in a safe warde, abydinge the Iustice. when the Iuge was come, & satte in the dome, the kniȝt come to barr̛ amonge oþer presoners; and̛ the marchaunt shewid̛ his letre afor̛ the Iuge. Anoon̛ as þe Iuge sawe þere his owne dede, he saide to alle that stode aboute, "sirs, ye know welle it is the law of the Emperour, that yf enye man̛ bynde him by his owne free wille, he shal Resseyve as he servithe; and̛ þerefore this merchaunt shalle have covenaunt̘, as lawe wolle." Now in al þis tyme þe damyseƚƚ, his love, had̛ sent kniȝtes for to aspie and̛ Enquer̛, how the law was pursued̛ a-yenst him; & whenne she harde telle that the lawe passid̛ ayenst him, she kytte of al the longe her̛ of hir hede, and̛ cladde hir in precious clothing like to a man; and̛ yede to the palys þere as hir lemon̛ was to be demyd̛, and̛ saluyd̛ þe Iustice; and̛ al they trowid̛ þat she had̛ be a kniȝte. And̛ þe Iuge Enquerid̛, of what contree she was, and̛ what she had̛ to do ther? She said̛, "I am a kniȝte, & come of fer̛ contree, and̛ her̛ tithinges that þere is a kniȝte amonge [leaf 177, back, col. 2] yowe, that shulde be demid̛ to dethe for an̛ obligacion̛ that he made to a marchaunt; and̛ þerefore I am come to deliuer him." Þenne þe Iuge saide, "it is lawe of the Emperoure, þat who so euer byndethe him with his owne propre wille & consente, with oute enye constraynynge, he shulde be seruid̛ so ayene." when the damiseƚƚ harde this, she turnid̛ to the marchaunt, and̛ saide, "der̛ frend̛, what profite is it to the that this kniȝte, that stondithe her̛ redy to the dome, be slayne? it wer̛ [better] to the to have monye, than to have him slayne." "Þou spekist al in veyne," quod̛ the merchaunt̘, "for with oute dowte I wolle have the lawe, siþe he bonde him so frely; and̛ þerefor̛ he shalle have noon̛ oþer grace þan lawe wolle; for he come to me, and̛

I not to him; I desirid̛ him not þereto a-yenste his wille." Þenne seide she, "I praye þe howe moche shalle I yeve to have my petucion̛? I shalle yeve the thi monye double, and̛ yf that be not plesynge to the, aske of me what þou wolte, & þou shalt have?" Þen̛ saide he, "thow harde me neuer seye, but that I wolde have my covenaunt kepte." "Soþely," seyde she, "and̛ þou shalt, trowe me. Afor̛ yowe, sir iuge, and̛ afore yowe alle, I sey now, sir iuge, yevithe a Rightwisdome of þat þat I shalle sey to yowe. ye have I-harde howe moche I have proferid̛ this marchaunt for þe lyf of this kniȝte, and̛ he forsakithe aƚƚ, and̛ askithe the lawe; and̛ that likithe me moche. And̛ therfor̛, lordinges, that beþe her̛, herithe me what I shalle seye. ye knowithe welle, þat the kniȝte bonde him neuer by letter, but that the marchaunt shulde have power̛ to kitte his fleshe fro the boons, but þere was no couenaunt made of sheding of blode; þere of was nothing I-spoke. And̛ þerefor̛ late him set hond̛ on̛ him anoon̛; and̛ yf he shede ony bloode with his shavinge of the fleshe, for soþe then shalle the kynge have goode lawe vpon̛ him." And̛ when the marchaunt harde this, he said̛, "yef me my monye, and̛ I foryeve my accion̛." "For soþe," quod̛ she, "thowe shalt not have oo penye; for a-for̛ al this companye I proferid̛ to the al þat I myght, and̛ þou forsoke hit, and̛ saydist withe a lowde voyse, I shalle have my covenaunte; [leaf 178, col. 1] and̛ þerfor̛ do thi beste withe him, but loke þat þow shede no blode, I charge the, for it is not thin, ne no covenaunt was þere of." Þenne þe marchaunt seynge this, yede awey confus, and̛ so was the kniȝtes lyf sauid̛, & no penye I-payde. And̛ she yede home ayene, and̛ dude of that clothinge, & clothid̛ hir as she was afor̛, like to a woman̛. And̛ the kniȝte yede home a-yene; and̛ the damiseƚƚ turnid̛, and̛ met him, and̛ askid̛ howe he had̛ I-spedde, as thowhe she had̛ not knowen ther of. "A! lady," quod̛ he, "þis day was I in poynt to be dede for þy love, but as I was in point to be dampnid̛, þere come in sodeynlye a knite, a fair̛ and̛ wel I-shape, the whiche I sawe neuer afor̛; and̛ he deliuerid̛ me by his Excellent wisdam, boþe from dethe and̛ eke from̛ payment of moneye." "Þenne were thow" quod̛ she, "vnkynde, þat woldest nat bidde that kniȝte to mete, that so faire had̛ savid̛ the." He

aunswerde þere to, & saide, þat he come sodenly, and̛ sodenly yede. Þenne seide she, "knowiste þow him, if þou seye him?" "yee," quod̛ he, "Rigℏt wele." She yede vp, and̛ cladde hir as she dide afore; and̛ þen she yede forthe, and̛ the kniȝte knewe her thenne wele, and̛ for Ioye fel dovne vpon̛ hire, and̛ saide, "blessid̛ be thow, & þe houre in the whiche I fyrste knew the!" And̛ he wepte; and̛ aftir he weddid̛ hir, and̛ livid̛ & deyde in the service of god̛; and̛ yelde to god̛ goode sowlis.

MORALITEE.

DEre frendes, þis Emperour̛ is þe Fadir of hevin, oure lorde Ihesu Criste; þe dowter, þat is so faire, is the sowle I-made to the similitude of god̛. Þe kniȝt, that stirithe hir to synne, is Euery worldly man̛, the whiche is aboute bothe nyte and̛ day to foule his soule; and̛ þerfor̛ he proferithe many grete yiftes, scil. veyne worldly goodes. [But as longe] as þe letre lithe in the bedde, scil. vertues whiche þe soule receyvid̛ in baptime, so longe he may not foule þe [leaf 178, col. 2] soule; and̛ so bethe they contrarijd̛ to-gedyr, scil. the sprite & þe fleshe; & þerefor̛ seithe þe Apostle, Spiritus concupiscit aduersus carnem, et caro aduersus spiritum, &c. This is to seye, Þe sprite coveitithe ayenste þe fleshe, and̛ the fleshe ayenste the sprite. Þen þe kniȝt, scil. þe fleshely man, gothe to the marchaunt, scil. to the devil, as ofte as he delitithe in dedly synne; & he writithe the charter, when̛ he consentithe to synne; he selithe hit, when he dothe the synne. for in holy writte Effucion̛ of bloode is not elles but trespas in synnyng, or effucion̛ bi cause of synne; as Crist shadde his blood̛ by cause of synne; and̛ so al that dothe synne bethe sarvauntes of the devilis, as thes wordes witnessithe, Cuius opera quis facit, seruus Eius est, This is to seye, Eche man is seruaunt of him, whos werkis he worchiþe. And̛ therfor̛, yf we do synne, we bethe servauntes of the devil. virgile, that meuyd̛ him to meve þe letre, is pryde of lyf, þe whiche suffrithe not that a soule livithe not in clennesse. For as sone as vertues bethe Remevid̛ by assentyng to synne, assone the soule fallithe, and̛ a man̛ is delitid̛ in synne, þat he foryetithe þe euerlastyng lyf whiche he lost for synne, til tyme

that sekeness come of feblenesse, by povert, or tribulacion̛; & þenne swiche men bethe ofte tyme attachid̛ by the marchaunt, scil. þe devil, in so moche that the wrecchid man̛ shalle have no power̛ to make satisfaccioun̛ or sorowe for his synnes, but outerly stondithe in perilis of dethe. thenne the damiselle seing this, she clotheithe hir like to a knight. right so we shulde do; we shulde caste fro vs the olde lyf, and̛ cloþe vs with a newe, scil. goode vertuys, and̛ assende vpon̛ the palfrey of Resoune, and̛ so go forthe to holy chirche, & þere pray god̛ with a fulle herte, & allegge ayenst þe devil, that he sle vs not, by cause that god̛ bowte vs. but then vs muste take awey the fleshe, scil. flesshelye affecciouns, so that no bloode falle, scil. no synne be in vs; for yf we do not so, scil. take awey flesshely affecciouns, þat þere be no synne, elles þe Emperoure of hevene wolle have an accion̛ a [leaf 178, back, col. 1] yenst vs. And̛ yf we wolle thus alegge ayenste þe devil, as þe damisel dud̛ a-yenst the marchaunt, witheouten dowte þenne shalle the flesshe & þe sprite be marijd̛, to live in blisse, &c.