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

Story.

SEsar was a wise Emperoure Reignynge in the cetee of Rome; & he ordeynid̛ for a lawe, þat yf þere wer̛ eny man̛ þat defoulid̛ a virgine, he shulde lese bothe his yen. This Emperoure had̛ a sonne, that he louid̛ moche. hit happid̛ on̛ a certeyne day, as this yonge man walkid̛ by the citee, he mette withe a fayr̛ mayde, þe dowter of a certeyne wedowe; & he oppressid̛ hir, & foulid̛ hir in flesh. And̛ the Emperoure come to the cetee, and̛ þe forsayde wedowe mette withe him, knelyng vppon̛ hir knees, and̛ seide to him, "My lorde, do Right and̛ lawe, as thow haste ordeynid̛ þi selfe. for I had̛ but oo dowter, and̛ thi sone hathe defoulid̛ hir by oppression̛ and̛ strenght." þenne the Emperoure was hilie y-mevid̛ in mynde, & saide to his sone, "A! cursid̛ wrecche, whi hast thow don̛ a-yenste my lawe? Þou shalt have the law withe

outene dowte, as I have ordeynid̛." when worthi lordes harde þis, thei seiden alle with on̛ voyse, "lorde, þou hast but on̛ sone, and̛ þerefore it is not for the beste, þat þou do oute his yen." then seide the Emperoure, "Sirs, ye knowithe wel, þat I made the lawe, & he hathe broken̛ hit; & þerefor̛ sithe he þat is my sonne wolde breke hit, he shalle have the lawe." "A! lorde," seyde thei, "for his love that dide on̛ the crosse, doþ not so to youre sone; for that wer̛ aftir your discese a grete shame to vs, that we shulde have a blynde man to our̛ Emperour̛ aftir [leaf 178, back, col. 2] yowe." Þenne seide þe Emperoure, "Þanne shalle I a-swage the lawe in him, and̛ yitte fulfille hit, and̛ that in this maner. Myn ye is þe ye of my sone, & his ye is myn̛; and̛ þerefor̛ takithe oute on̛ ye of myn̛ hede, and̛ anoþere ye out of my sones hede, and̛ so the law shalle be kepte." kniȝtes yede to, and̛ dude in al poyntes as the Emperour comaundid̛, in so muche that men dradde hili the Emperoure after, for þe hard̛ dome that he had̛ yevin þer, & so stretlye I-kepte.