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

Story.

GOdfridus regnid̛ a wise Emperour in the cetee of Rome, & he had̛ childerin̛ that he louid̛ moche. And̛ when he laye on̛ his dethe-bed, he callid̛ to him his eldest sonne, and̛ saide to him, "Der̛ sone, the heritage that my fadir lefte & biquathe to me, holly I yeve hit to the." Aftir that he clepid̛ the secounde sone, and̛ saide to him, "Der̛ sone, I have certeyne possessions, londis and̛ tenementes, þat come of my purchas, & þerfor, sone, I yeve [the] al tho, and̛ alle oþer that I have, with oute my heritage." And̛ he made the thirde to be callid̛, & seide to him, "sone, I have noo mevable goodes to yeve the, but only þe ieweƚƚ, scil. a presious Ringe, a gay broche, & a Riaƚƚ clothe; and̛ thes iij. I bequethe the. And̛ the vertu of the Ringe is this, that who so euer ber̛ hit vp-on̛ him, he shalle have love of al men̛ The vertu of the broche is this, that who so euere ber̛ hit vpon̛ his brest, late him thinke what he

wolle, [leaf 181, back, col. 1] and̛ he shalle mete þerwith at his likynge; And̛ the vertu of the clothe is swiche, that lete a man sitte vppon̛ hit, & he shalle be in what partye of the worlde he wolle desire. &, sone, I yeve the thes iij. and̛ I charge the, that þou go to scole, for thow shalt by thes iij. gete gode I-nowhe." when this was seyde, he turnid̛ his body to the walle, and̛ yelde vp þe gost. The childerin with the moder Reuerently buryed̛ him, and̛ gret lamentacion̛ was made for his dethe. Then the Eldest sone occupied̛ his eritage; the Secounde sonne al þe purchas. And̛ the Emperes saide to the yongest sone, "Þi fadir yaf to the a Ringe, & a broche, & a clothe; here I take to the the Ringe, that thow go to scole, & lerne; and̛ yf þou do welle, þow shalte be myn owne der̛ harte." Þe yonge sone receyvid̛ the Ringe; and̛ his name was Ionathas; and̛ he yede to an vniuersite, and̛ þere he lernid̛, in a mervelous maner. And̛ as he walkid̛ in a certeyne day þer in the citee, þer mette with him a faire woman̛; & whenne Ionathas sawe hir, he was I-storid̛ to an̛

vnlawfuƚƚ maner of love, & spake to hir ther of. She grauntid̛ him, & he lay withe hir al nyght; and̛ aftir helde hir stille to his store. And̛ thorow vertu of the Ringe he hadde getyn̛ love of al the vniuersite; he made gret festes, and̛ no thinge him lackid̛, for they lovid̛ him so moche, that for his love they yeve him I-nowe. This woman̛, that was his leman̛, hiȝt felicia; and̛ she had̛ gret marvayle þat he had̛ alle thinges to his luste, and̛ at his wille, & for she covde fynde nere ner peny with him. So in a nyght, as þei lay to-geder in bed̛, she saide to him, "worshipfull sir, ye have I-had̛ my maydinhode, and̛ ye shulle have me as longe as I live; and̛ as ye coveyte me to be Redye to youre wille, I pray yow tellithe me a petucion̛ that I shalle aske of yow, scil. how ye make so many festes, & havithe so muche goode, & havithe no tresoure ne mony, þat I can se?" Þenne saide he, "yf so be that I telle þe my counseiƚƚ, I trowe þat þow woldest discouer me." "Nay, sir, god̛ forbede," quod̛ she, "þat euer I shuld̛ [leaf 181, back, col. 2] do that traytorye to yowe!" Þenne said̛ he, "My fadir hathe biquethe to me this Ringe, þat þow seist me have on̛ my finger; and̛ hit haþe swiche a vertu, that he that berithe hit

on̛ his finger, shalle have love of alle men, and̛ so al men̛ lovithe me therfore so moche, þat what so euer I aske of hem þei yevithe me." And̛ then saide she, "sir, whi wolde thow neuer telle me þis or nowe, for perilis that myght falle?" "whi?" quod̛ Ionathas, "what perile myght falle?" Þenne saide felicia, "Þou goste ofte tyme in the towne, & þer thow myȝtest les hit by some chavnse; And̛ for to lese swiche a Iewelle, hit wer̛ grete harme & periƚƚ; and̛ þerfore, der̛ birde, leve me that Ringe, & I shalle kepe it." Ionathas yaff goode credense to hir wordes, & toke hir the Ringe. and̛ when hit was so I-don̛, þe love of the peple bygan to turne fro him, ne þer was noon that wolde eny mor̛ yeve him, as þei dud̛ afore. And̛ when̛ he perceyvid̛ that, & þat the cause was for he bare not the Ringe, he turnid̛ ayene to his lemman, and̛ saide to hir, that she shulde deliuer hit to him ayene. And̛ thenne she be-ganne to feyne a lesynge, and̛ saide with a loude crie, "Alas! my cheste is I-broke, and̛ the Ringe is borne a-wey!" Þenne Ionathas was hili mevid̛, and̛ saide, "alas! womman̛, þat euer I saw the!" And̛ she be-ganne

to wepe, & to make [grete sorow]; and̛ Ionathas sawe that, & saide, "wepe not, for god̛ hathe holpin me hedir to;" & he trowid̛ hir Right welle. So he wente to his contre, & come to his modir. whenne þe Empresse Sawe him, she saide to him, "Der̛ sonne whi ert thow come hom so soone fro thi studie?" Þenne seide Ionathas, "A! modir, I have lost my Rynge, by cause that I toke hit to my lemman̛." Thenne answerd̛ þe modir, "sone, I have ofte tyme saide to the, that thow sholdeste be ware of womman̛; and̛ now I wolle take the thi broche, but loke that thow lese not hit." Ionathas Resseyuid̛ þe broche, & fastenid̛ hit vppon̛ his brest, and̛ yede to the vniuersite, as he dude afor̛. And̛ so, thorowe vertu of the broche, he gate al thinge that he wolde coveite towchinge wordly goodes, In so muche that the damiselle hadde grete marvayle of hit; & þerfore bothe nyght and̛ day [leaf 182, col. 1] she lay aboute him to seye the sothe, how that he made so gret festes, and̛ hadde so deyntefulle metis, but he wolde not telle hir longe tyme. but the shrewe wepte

siȝid̛, & saide, "Þou trowest not me, I see wel; & I wolle bynde my lyf to the, to kepe þi counseiƚƚ, & thi Iewel eke, yf þou haddist eny." Ionathas trowid̛ hir wordes, and̛ tolde hir the vertu of the broche. Þenne she wepte mor̛ faste, & wolde not be stille; & þen̛ saide he, "Woman̛, whi wepist thow, and̛ for what cavse sorowest þou?" "for I trowe," quod̛ she, "þat þow wolte lese thi broche, and̛ thenne thow lesist al thi thryfte." Þenne saide he, "What wolte thow counsaile me in this cas?" Þenne she saide, "I counseille the, that þou take hit me to kepe." "I trowe," quod̛ he, "that þou wolte lese hit, as thow loste my Ringe." "I-wisse," quod̛ she, "Rathir shalle the sowle parte from̛ my bodye or I lese hit." Ionathas vndir a grete triste tooke hir þe broche; and̛ sone aftir the godes bygon̛ to fayle. thenne Ionathas entirid̛ in to the chaumbr̛, and̛ she began̛ to crye, as she dude afor̛ and̛ saide, "Allas! þe broche is I-stole; I wolle now for woo slee nowe my self!" she drowe oute a knyf, & Feynid̛ as she wolde have smetin̛ hir selfe. Thenne Ionathas trowid̛ that she wolde have slayne hir selve; he

toke the knyf from hir, & saide, "damiselle, I pray the, leve thi wepinge, for I foryeve it the al to-gedir." Anon̛ by cause of nede he turnid̛ home ageyne, and̛ visitid̛ his moder. And̛ whenne his moder sawe him, she seide to him̛, "sey, sone, hast thowe lost thi broche, as þow didest thi Ringe?" & he saide, "the woman̛ that had̛ þe Ringe, hadde the broche in the same maner;" but what worthe of hit he ne knew, as he saide. Þenne þe modir beinge Ivele apayde withe him, she saide, "sonne, þou wotist welle I have now no mor̛ of thyne but a clothe, & þerfore her̛ it is; ches þou wher̛ þow wolte kepe it, or̛ leve it her̛. but, sone, I warnid̛ the to be ware of women." And̛ Ionathas seide thenne ayene, "Soþely, modir, yf so be that the clothe be lost, I shalle neuer mor̛ thenne loke þe in the face." Þenne she deliuerid̛ to him the clothe, and̛ he yede [leaf 182, col. 2] ayene to scole. & soone aftir his vnthrifti lemman mette withe him, as she dude afor̛, and̛ she made him gode chere, & kiste him; and̛ he dide as thowhe he hadde no Iewel. whenne he was in his hostelle, sone he leyde the clothe vndir him, and̛ bad̛ his

leman̛ sitte downe biside him vppon̛ the clothe; & she knewe not of the vertu of the clothe; and̛ a-noon̛ Ionathas thovte, "lorde! yf we wer̛ now in fer contrees, wher neuer man come afore this!" And̛ thenne withe the same thovte þey wer̛ bothe Reysid̛ vp to-gedir, in to the ferrest coste of the worlde, with the clothe with hem. And̛ whenne the woman̛ sawe þat, she saide, "alas! what do we her̛?" "Her̛ we bethe nowe," quod̛ he, "and̛ her̛ I shalle leve the, and̛ bestes shulle devoure the, for that thow hast I-holdyn̛ my Rynge, & my broche." "A! sir, mercy," quod̛ she, "for sothely yf thow wolte brynge me ayene to the citee, I shalle yeve to the þi Ringe and̛ thi broche, with outen̛ anye ayene-stondynge; and̛ but yf I do in dede þat I seye, I wolle bynde me to the foulest dethe." Ionathas trowid̛ hir, & saide, "loke nowe, that þou neuer do trespas mor̛, for yf thow do, þou shalt dye." And̛ thenne she saide to him, "for the love of god̛ tel me now how we come hedir?" Þenne saide he, "the vertu of the clothe is, that who so euere sittithe þer vpon̛, shalle be in what coste of the worlde he wolle desire to be ynne."

And̛ then̛ he saide, "for soþe, I hadde leuer slepe then al þe worldes goode, as me thinkithe; and̛ þerefore, I pray the, ley forthe þi sherte, þat I may ligge down̛, and̛ have a litle slepe." she dude so, & he leyde downe his hede in hir shirte, and̛ byganne stronglye to slepe. Þenne she heringe his grete slepe, she drow the parti of the clothe that was vndir him vn to hir; & þenne she thowte, "lord̛! yf I wer̛ now wher̛ that I was to-day!" and̛ anon̛ sodenly she was browte to the same plase; & Ionathas lay stille slepinge. whenne he wakid̛, he sawe neiþere clothe, ne woman̛; he wepte bitterly, and̛ saide, "Alas! alas! what shalle I nowe do I wot neuere; and̛ I am̛ worthi al this bale, for I tolde to the woman̛ al my counseiƚƚ." he lokid̛ abowte on̛ euerye side, and̛ sawe no thinge but wilde [leaf 182, back, col. 1] bestes, and̛ briddis fleing in the heir̛; and̛ of hem he hadde grete drede in herte. And̛ he Rose vp, and̛ yede by a certeyne [pathe], but he wiste neuer to what place. and̛ as he yede, þer was a water in his weye, ouer the whiche he moste nedis goo; and whenne he Enterid̛

into the water, it was so hote, þat hit brende of the fleshe fro þe boone of his legges, for hit drowe a-wey alle the fleshe that it towchid̛. And̛ Ionathas hadde þer a crewette, and̛ fillid̛ hit of that water. tho he yede forthe, tille he saw a tree fulle of frute; and̛ þere he gaderid̛ frewte, & ete, thorow the whiche he was made a foule lepre. And̛ þoo for sorowe he fel down̛, & seide, "Cursid̛ be the day wher̛ in I was borne, and̛ also the hour in whicℏ I was conseyvid̛ in my modir!" Aftir this he Rose, & yede, and̛ sawe the secounde water; and̛ dradde for to entr̛. neuerþeles he enterid̛ in, & as the fyrste water drowe of the fleshe of his feet, so the secounde water Restorid̛ hit ayen̛. And̛ he filde a cruet þer with, & bare the frute with him also. And̛ as he yede forthe, he sawe the secounde frewte afer, and̛ for he hungerid̛, he yete of that frute, and̛ anon̛ he was clansid̛ of alle his lepr̛; and̛ toke of the frute with him, and̛ liuid̛ welle withe sustenaunce þereof. Þenne he sawe a feire casteƚƚ, and̛ in the circuite a-boute ful of hedis of lechis. And̛ as he come ny to the casteƚƚ, þere mette [him] ij. squiers, and̛ þei seid̛ to him, "Der̛ frende,

whens erte thowe?" "I am̛," quod̛ he, "a leche of fer contrees hennys." Þenne saide þei, "Þe kynge of this casteƚƚ is a lepr̛ man, & manye lechis comithe to him, and̛ vndirtakithe to hele him, vp peyne of hir hedis, and̛ þei havithe y-faylid̛ euerychone; and̛ þer̛ for̛ thow maiste see hir hedis sitte in the wallis of the castelle. and̛ þere fore we telle the for certeyne, yf þow vndirtake my lorde, and̛ not hele him, þou shalte lese þy lyfe." Þenne saide he, "yis, I shalle hele him." tho he was browte [to] him, and̛ he yaf the kynge of his frewte to ete, & also he yafe him of his secounde water to drynke, and̛ anon̛ the kynge was hole; & he yaf to Ionathas Riche yiftes, and̛ fair̛, plentefully, & mo be-hite him, yf he wolde abyde withe him, but he wolde not assent to dwelle withe him. And̛ eche day he vsid̛ to go vnto the [leaf 182, back, col. 2] see-syde, þat was þerin, to aspie yf ther wer̛ enye shippe, that myght bringe him home. & at the laste, in a certeyne day þere come toward̛ xxx. shippis, and̛ alle in a morow reysid̛ þere. Þenne Ionathas enquerid̛ amonge hem, yf eny shippe wer̛ þere Redy for to go to swiche a londe, wher as he

havntid̛ scole. At the last he founde a shippe redy, þat wolde to the same contree. Þenne Ionathas was gladde, and̛ enterid̛ into the shippe, aftir that he hadde take leve of the kynge. Sone aftir that he was come to the citee, þere as was his leman̛; but þer was noon̛ that had̛ knowleche of him, for longe tyme, that he had̛ be devourid̛ with wilde bestes. whenne Ionathas was in the citee, a-noon̛ he toke cure of Syke peple, & he helid̛ alle; and̛ by that tyme his leman̛ was þe Richeste of that citee, by vertu of the Rynge, & of the broche, and̛ of the clothe, but she was gretly turmentid̛ withe sikenesse. And̛ whenne [she] harde telle, that sucℏ a sotiƚƚ leche was come to the citee, anoon̛ she made messagers to go for him, & that he wolde vouchesaffe to hele hir of hir sykenesse. Ionathas come to hir, & þere he fonde his lemman̛ on̛ bed̛; and̛ he knewe hir welle, but she knew not him. And̛ whenne he hadde I-seyne hir vryne, he seide to hir, "worthi ladye, thow haste oo sekenesse that may not be helid̛ but by oo way; and̛ yf þow wolt preve that

wey, þowe may be helid̛." then seide she, "I am Redy to do what so euer þow comaundist, so that I be hole ther by." Ionathas saide to hir, "Þou moste be clene I-shriven; & yf þou have withe-drawe owte fro eny man̛ with wronge, thow moste Restor̛ hit ayene, and̛ thenne I shalle warante the to be hole; and̛ ellis my medicinis wolle not stonde in stede." and̛ so by cause that she was grevousely holde withe sekenesse, she made an opyn̛ confession̛ afore al men̛, how þat she had̛ deseyvid̛ the sonne of the Emperoure, as hit is seide afor̛, and̛ how she lefte him at the Ende of the worlde. Thenne seide he, "Wher̛ ben̛ the iij. Iewellis þat þou withe-drew fro him, scil. þe Ringe, þe broche, & the Clothe?" And̛ she tolde him, that thei wer̛ at hir beddis fete, in a chest. "and̛ þerefor̛," she saide, "open̛ þe cheste." And̛ þere he fonde as she saide, with gret Ioye to him; & [leaf 183, col. 1] he toke the Ringe, & put hit on̛ his fynger; he sette the broche on̛ his breste; and̛ toke the clothe vndir his arme. And̛ he toke hir drinke of his Firste cruet, scil. of that water that drow awey the fleshe of his fete, and̛ yaf hir to Ete of that frute that

made him lepr̛; and̛ whenne she hadde Resseyvid̛ hit, she was in swiche a likenesse, that no man̛ wolde no lenger abide with hir, and̛ in that grete angr̛ she yede vp the sprite. thenne aftir hir dethe, Ionathas turnid̛ home to his contree, with gret Ioye, beryng with hime the ringe, þe broche, & the clothe; and̛ in goode pes Endid his lyf.