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

[ XLVIII. ] Harl. MS. 7333.

[leaf 184, back, col. 2 (cont'd)]

Story.

DOlfinus was an Emperour in the citee of Rome; þe which hadde a faire dowter, whom he moche lovid̛. so in̛ a certeyn daye, as he rode by a forest to hunte, he was a-sunderid̛ fro aƚƚ his men̛, and̛ hadde vtterly loste hem̛; and̛ þerefor̛ withe a grete hevinesse he Rode by him selfe. So he [leaf 185, col. 1] Roode by a certen̛ place, & he cnockid̛ at the yate; and̛ a noon̛ þe lorde of the place openyd̛ þe yate, and̛ askid̛ the cause of his cnockinge. and̛ he seide, "it is nyght, and̛ þerefor̛ I praye the, for the love of god̛, that I may be loggid̛ her̛ al nyght;"—but he tolde him not þat he was Emperoure. Þenne seide that othir, "I am forester of the Emperoures in this forest, and̛ I ber̛ the cure þereof. I graunt þe harborow, & venison̛ y-now her̛ of this forest." The Emperoure was glad̛, & honestly he was resseyvid̛. The foresters wyf was in chyldebed̛, and̛ shulde that same nyght brynge a childe in to the worlde. whenne the Emperoure satte at soper, þe forster honestly seruid̛ him;

but he knew not þat þat that [sic] he was Emperoure, & his lorde, and̛ the Emperour dude as hit hadde not ben he. And̛ whenne þe soper was I-don̛, the Emperoure yede to bedde, & slept. And̛ as he was in his slepe, he harde a voyse sey thris, "tak! tak! tak!" and̛ withe that the Emperoure a-woke, & marvailed̛ what that shulde by-meene, tak! tak! tak!—"for what shulde I take?" quod̛ he. and̛ he slepte a-yene, and̛ he harde a voyse sey thris, "Ȝeld̛! Ȝeld̛! Ȝeld̛!" with that he awoke, and̛ marvailid̛ mor̛ than̛ enye man̛ may trowe; & hevy he was, and̛ thouȝte what that shulde be. "for first," quod̛ he, "take, and̛ not I toke; & now yelde, & what shalle I yelde? I wot not." he slepte a-yene, and̛ a voyse come, & saide, "fle! fle! fle! for this nyte in this hovse a childe is borne, that shalle be Emperour̛ aftir thi dissesse." whenne þe Emperour a-woke, he was not litle mevid̛ in herte; and̛ ther for̛ whenne morow come, he Ros, and̛ callid̛ to him the forster, and̛ saide, "Der̛ frend̛, I pray the telle me sothe, yf thow canne telle yf eny childe wer̛ I-bor̛ in this house þis nyȝt? god̛ save hit!" Þenne the Emperoure badde, that the childe

shulde be browte afor̛ him, and̛ that he myȝte se hit. And̛ whenne hit was afor̛ him, the Emperoure lokid̛ welle in his face, and̛ toke goode hede to a ce[r]teyn̛ marke that was in his visage; and̛ þenne he saide to the forster̛, "Dere frende, knowist thow not me, what I am?" "No, sir, no thing, for I saw yow neuer or nowe, but þou semist a gentilman̛." "I am," quod̛ he, "þe Emperour̛, thi [leaf 185, col. 2] lorde, whom thow hast harborowyd̛; and̛ I thonk the muche for thi goode cher̛." Þenne þe forster fel downe to his fete, and̛ askid̛ mercy, yf þat he had̛ owte offendid̛ him. "Nay," quod̛ he, "drede the noute; but I wolle have this childe, that thi wyf hathe browte forthe this nyght, to norisshe in my palys; and̛ þerefor̛ to-morow a-bowte this tyme, I wolle sende messagers for him." thenne saide the forster, "sir, my lord̛, þat is not semynge, þat swiche a worthi lorde have the childe of swiche a symple sarvaunt as I am, for to norysshe. Naþeles hit shaƚƚ be don̛ as thow wolt have hit; and̛ whenne the messagers comythe, I shal take the childe to hem." The Emperour Rode home to his palis; & he callid̛ his sarvauntes, and̛ seide to hem, "gothe swyftly in to the forest, to the house of the forster̛, for þer I was

loggid̛ al nygℏt; and̛ takithe of him the litle Infaunt, that his wyf this nyght chylded̛. And̛ I charge yow, vp peyne of dethe, that ye sle hit by the way, and̛ caste his body to the houndes, and̛ bryngitℏ his herte to me; and̛ but ye do thus, I-wis ye shulle be dede, yf that ye abyde in my Empire." Sone thei tooke ther wey toward̛ the forster, and̛ þer thei Resseyuid̛ the childe; and̛ wh[e]nne thei wer̛ in the wey comyng homeward̛, thei seide to hem selve, "sirs, it is tyme nowe [to] fulfille the wille of oure lorde, scil.to slee this childe, for we beþe now nye home." Þei toke that childe, & wolde have kyllid̛ hit; but thenne on̛ of hem̛, beholding the gracious fase of the childe, he was mevid̛ by mercy, and̛ saide, "A! der̛ felawes, hit wer̛ grete synne & perel to vs, yf that we slowe this childe, þat is an Innocent; and̛ þerefore I shalle teche yowe a goode counseiƚƚ. her̛ by Rynnithe smale litle hogges; late vs slee on̛ of hem, and̛ ber̛ his herte to the Emperoure, oure lorde, & we shulle seye that it is þe harte of þe childe." "Þat is a gode counseiƚƚ," quod̛ thei, "but telle vs thenne what we shuƚƚ do withe the childe." Þenne aunswerde he, "we shulle lappe him wel [leaf 185, back, col. 1] in clothis, and̛

putte him in an holow tree, and̛ leve him þer; and̛ god̛ shaƚƚ ordeyne for him wel I-now." Whenne the childe was lappid̛ in clothis, þey putte him in the hole in a tree, and̛ lete him lye; and̛ thenne thei yede, and̛ slowhe a yonge pigge, and̛ drow oute his herte, and̛ browte hit home to the Emperoure; and̛ come to him̛ þer withe as he was at þe mete. And̛ when̛ the Emperour saw hem, he saide, "have ye fulfillid̛ my comaundment?" "ye, lorde," quod̛ they; "& this is to token̛;" & shewid̛ the hart of the pigge. Þenne the Emperour, trowing that it wer̛ the herte of the childe, he caste hit into the fir̛, & saide, "lo! wher̛ the harte is of him that shulde have Regnid̛ aftir me; and̛ swiche beþe dremis!" in that oþere day, aftir þat the childe was putte in to the tree, an Erle come Ridinge by the forest; and̛ as his houndis Ronne aftir an hynde, & come by the tree where as the chylde was, þei felt a savour̛ of the childe; and̛ þer they stynte, & wolle Rinne no forþer, in so muche that the knyȝt hadde þereof grete marvayle & Gret wonder; and̛ smote the hors withe sporis, & lokid̛ into the tree, and̛ þere he sawe lie a faire

sonne, of whom̛ he was hiliche gladde in his herte. & toke him̛ vp in his armes & bare him home to his castelle; and̛ saide to the countesse, his wyfe, "loo! dame, I have goode tithinges to telle the. Þorow chavnse I have founde a faire childe in a forest, & þow haddist neuer childe; feyne þe now as thowe þou were withe childe, and̛ thenne thowe shalt seye, that thow hast browte forthe a childe." "Ser," quod̛ she, "I assent." so withe in shorte tyme tiding was ouer aƚƚ þe contree, that the countes hadde a childe; and̛ þerefor̛ was grete Ioye makyd̛. the childe throfe, & wel was lovid̛ of al men̛. Þer fille a cas withe in xiiij.te yer̛ aftirwarde; the Emperour made a generaƚƚ feste, to the whiche þe Erle was I-bede in speciaƚƚ. & when he come, he browte the chylde wit[h] him, the whiche was at that tyme a faire yonge squiere; and̛ at mete he seruid̛ the Erle, and̛ gentilmanly stode afore him. Þe Emperour by-helde this yonge man̛, and̛ perseyvid̛ the token̛ in his fronte, that he sawe in the house of the forster; and̛ thenne with a grete mevinge in herte he saide to the Erle, "sir, whos sone is this, that stondithe a-for̛ the?" "sir," [leaf 185, back, col. 2] he saide, "it is my sone." "Tel me soþe," quod̛ the Emperour,

"by the feythe thow owist to me." Þenne þe Erle saw that he myght not escape hit, he tolde how that he mette withe the childe in a tree. And̛ whenne [the] Emperoure harde that, he callid̛ his servauntis to him, in a grete woodnesse,—þe whicℏ sarvauntes he had̛ sent afor̛, for to kille þat child̛. And̛ they come a-fore him; and̛ whenne they wer̛ I-come, the Emperoure made hem to swer̛ what thei dud̛ with the childe; and̛ thenne they seyde, "lorde, we put vs in youre grace, for sothely very pitee mevid̛ vs to save him, bi cause that he was an Innocent; and̛ so we slowe a pigge, and̛ browte the herte þer of a-for̛ yowe." whenne the Emperoure knew the bare sothe, he saide to the Erle, "sir erle, this yonge man̛ shalle abide her̛ at home withe me." "Sir," quod̛ the Erle, "hit shalle be at youre owne wille." And̛ whenne the grete fest was Endid̛, þe childe a-bode stille with the Emperour. And̛ in al this tyme the Emperesse dwellid̛ with hir dowter, a grete weye from̛ thens. In a day þis Emperoure clepid̛ to him this yonge man̛, and̛ seide to him, "thow most ber̛ my letteris to swicℏ a casteƚƚ, to the lady my empresse." "Sir," quod̛ he, "I am Redy to obeye vnto youre wille

in al poyntes." soone the Emperoure made letteres, to send̛ to the Emperesse, in the whiche letteres he chargid̛ hir, vndir a grete peyne, that she shulde, affter that she hadde sen̛ the letteres, make that yong̘ childe to be drawe with hors, and̛ aftir to be hongid̛ in the Iebet. he yaf the letters to the yonge childe, & badde him spede him welle by the weye, that he wer̛ ther̛. And̛ the child̛ toke the letters, & made him Redy, & yede. And̛ whenne he hadde labourid̛ iij. or iiij. dayes, hit happid̛ that he travaylid̛ late in a nyght; and̛ he come to the castelle of a knyȝt, and̛ þere he askid̛ herborowe, & the kniȝt grauntid̛ him. whenne the childe was coume in to the halle, for gret werynesse he felle on̛ slepe on̛ the benche; and̛ whenne the knyȝt saw him slepe, he lokid̛ a-bowte him, & sawe a boxe be-hynde him; and̛ thenne he openid̛ hit, & sawe þerein letters selid̛ withe the sinet of þe Emperoure. And̛ he was hilie temptid̛ in herte for to loke the tenour̛ of the letteris, and̛ dude hit sotelye in dede; and̛ whenne [he] had̛ Redde þe letteres, he fond̛ how that hit was comaundid̛, in [leaf 186, col. 1] peyne of shamefulle deþe, þat the Emperesse shulde putte that childe vnto the dethe. and̛ thenne he

sorowed̛ in his herte, And̛ saide, "this is a grete synne to hem, to sle swiche a faire childe. Nay," quod̛ he, "this may not be, for shame." and̛ þerefor̛ he wrote oþer letteres, in thes wordes, "Dame, I charge the, in peyne of dethe, þat þou yeve owr̛ dowter to this childe, and̛ lete him wedde hir as sone as he comythe, witheout lenger delaye; and̛ what tyme that the solempnite of the matrimonye is made, holdithe him with yow, & dothe him almaner worshipe; and̛ late him holde my stede, til I come to yow." whenne this was wretin̛, the knyȝt with his sotilte selid̛ hit withe the same sele, & put hit into the box. Soone aftir the childe awoke, & the knyȝt made him al the solase and̛ comforte that he coude make, & lete him goo. And̛ in the thirdde day aftir, he come to the Emperesse, & Salvid̛ hir worshi[p]fully in the name of the Emperoure; & yafe to hir the letteres. whenne the Emperesse had̛ Redde the letteres, She sente abovte messageris, for to calle to the bridale of hir dowter alle maner peple, mor̛ & lesse. & whenne the day was I-come, the yonge man̛ weddid̛ the damseƚƚ, & heilde the stede of the Emperoure wel and̛

wisly, that he was hiliche lovid̛, and̛ worshipid̛ of al maner of peple. Aftirwarde the Emperoure shulde come to the lady the Emperesse; and̛ the lady come withe alle hir meyne, and̛ mette him as hir owte to doo. & whenne the Emperoure sawe the Emperesse come, and̛ lad̛ as a lady shulde be with þe arme of the childe, he wonderid̛, and̛ wext wrothe; and̛ saide to hir̛, "thow wickid̛ woman̛, whi haste thow not do my precepte? þow shalte dye therfor̛." "sothely," quod̛ [s]he, "alle þat þowe badde me doo, is now fulfillid̛ in dede." "I sey thowe lyes in thin hede," quod̛ he; "for I chargeid̛ the, that þou sholdest do that boye to an orible dethe." "A! sir, save youre Reuerens, ye wrote to me, that I sholde yeve him your̛ douter, vp peyne of dethe; and̛ loo! her̛ is your̛ lettre." whenne the Emperour hadde sene the letteris, and̛ sawe wretyn̛ Right as þe Emperes saide, he mervailid̛, & saide, "but wheþer, hathe he weddid̛ my dowter, or no?" "yis," quod̛ she, "and̛ [leaf 186, col. 2] þat with grete solempnite; and̛ I trow that youre dowter be with childe." and̛ þenne saide he, "O! lord̛ god̛, it is a lewde thinge for to stonde ayenst the, or thin

ordinaunce!" And̛ thenne he saide, "Fiat voluntas tua, lorde, thi wille be fulfillid̛!" and̛ the Emperoure kiste him; & aftir his dicesse, he was made Emperoure, and̛ faire he Endid̛ his lyfe.

MORALITEE.

DEre Frendis, þis Emperoure may wel be callid̛ herod̛, or a synner that walkitℏ by him selfe, scil.withoute ony vertu, til tyme that he come to the house of the Forster, scil. of holy chirche, þe whiche is the house of god̛. Now þe Emperoure wolde have slayne the chylde, scil.heroude wolde have slayne Criste, þat tyme that he spirid̛ of the kynges of Criste, feynyng that he wolde have come, & have I-worshipid̛ him. Þe forster was Iosep, that kepte him. but whenne the messager come, scil. þe iij. kynges, þei slowe him not, but with bowinge knees þey worshipid̛ him, & lefte him in̛ the tree of his godhede to be kepte; but thenne aftir come an Erle, scil. the holye gost, & he bar̛ a-wey the childe, scil.whenne he warnid̛ Iosepe to flee in to Egipte.

AN OÞER MANER MORALITE.

By the Emperoure I vndirstonde a synner, that goþe in the forest of this worlde, seching vanitees, til tyme be that he come to holy chirche, wher that he is goodly recevid̛ by the prelat, yf that he wolle stonde to the maundementes of holy chirche. But manye of vs slepithe in holy chirche, as ofte as we dothe not the vij. [werkes] of mercy; but þey drede, as þe Emperour dude, for the voys that he harde; of the whiche voys hooly scrypture spekithe thus, Accipe! Accipe! Accipe! Take! take! take! by the first take vndirstondith þe benefetes of god̛, scil. whenne he yaf the a soule made to his owne likenesse; by the Secounde take vndirstonde grace of withestondynge of noynge þynges; & by the iij. tak vndirstonde þe sonne of god̛, that dide for the on̛ cros. Also holy scripture seithe, Redde! Redde! Redde! þis is to seye, yeld̛ the! yeld̛ the! yelde the! by the first yelde þow most vndirstonde to yelde thi dette, scil. a clene soule, as god̛ yaf hit to the, aftir wasshynge of the baptime; by the secounde yelde vndirstond̛ yeldyng of contrucion̛, confession̛, & satisfaccion̛; by the thirde yelde vndirstonde yeldyng euere a clene soule to god̛, withe al thi power̛. Also hooly scripture seithe, Fuge! Fuge! Fuge! þis is to

sey, fle! fle! fle! by the furst fle we mot vndirstonde to flee the worlde, for alle is sette in wickidnesse; by the secounde flee we mot vndirstonde to fle al synnys, for drede of peyne, & for presaunce of god̛; by the third̛ fle vndirstonde euer to flee & eschew peyne, þat we owe to have, & to do meritorye werkis. The first voyse shaƚƚ be in the day of dome; for hit shalle be saide to the, "I yeve to the day, for to wake ynne; and̛ I yeve to the nyght, for to Reste the in." The yerþe shaƚƚ sey a-yenest þe synneres, "I ber̛ þe; I norisshe the; I fede the; I cloþe the; I gladde the; and̛ withe diuerse kynde of bestes I fille thi borde." The water shalle seye ayenste him, "I clanse alle þi filþis; I brynge forþe diuerse kynde of Fishis for thi sustentacioun̛." The ayr̛ shalle speke, & saye, "I yeve to the thi lyfe; and̛ send̛ to the the blastes; and̛ diuerse kyndis of briddes to thi nede." And̛ thus shalle the voyse thretin̛ him, & Repreve him. And̛ the worlde shalle seye, "lo! howe he lovid̛ the, that made me for the, & not for the but for him selfe; take benignite, yeld̛ charite." The fyr shalle seye, "Of me þou haddist grete solace & helpe; and̛ but þow servy wel thi maker, of me þou shalt be brent." Water shal seye, "I yaf to the drynke, and̛ Refressheynge

a-yenste thin hete; and̛ but þou serve wel þy creatur̛, of me þou shalte be draynte." And̛ helle shalle sey, "of me þow shalt be swolowed̛." but the wrecche, when̛ he herithe aƚƚ thes voys in his herte, wolle [leaf 186, back, col. 2] not amende his lyf, & wol but, in al that he may, sle the childe, by costome of synfulle werkes. But the knyght, that openithe the letteris, buthe they that writithe þe vij. werkes of mercye to holy chirche, that the dowter, scil. þe soule, y-wasshe by confession̛, be yeven̛ in matrimonye to the childe Criste, þe whiche he desirithe euermor̛ to wedde; & so he leditℏ [her to] the Empire of hevene, &c.