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

Declaracio.

Frendes, this Emperour is the Fadir of heven̛, that made this law, that yf a wedded̛ woman, that is, the soule, the whiche

is goddes wyf̘, do dedly synne, [she] shaƚƚ everlastyngly be take to the prison̛ of helle, yf she dye in dedly synne, and wille not amende her. ¶ Wherfor, yf thi soule have done avowtrye ayenst god̛, that is, dedely [leaf 8, back] synne, grete cause of sorowyng thou hast, For thou art departed̛ from the light and the Ioye of heven̛. ¶ The sone, that said̛, "while I have plente of mete and drynk̘," By hym are vndirstonde thise grete worldly men, that whan thei here speke of the grete light and blisse of heven̛, thei make no force, for they have here welfare and likyng of the world̛; ¶ And also men of holy chirche, whan thei preche of holy chirche, and of the grete glorie and blisse that is in heven̛; And some say as the sone said̛, ¶ "Have we plente of metes and drynkes, and solace of the world̛ in aƚƚ thyng, we desire no thyng of the Ioye of heven̛." ¶ Thise ben heretikes, of hem that saiden̛, that is gretly to sorow. The Steward̛, that herd̛ the lamentacion̛ of the modir and of her sone, Is oure lord̛ Ihesu crist in heven̛ above vs, that knowetℏ aƚƚ oure wordes, and aƚƚ oure werkes, and the lest thought of oure herte; ¶ And whan he heretℏ the lamentacion̛ that we make for our synne, he hathe rewthe and compassion̛ of vs, and lovetℏ mekeƚƚ that we have contriccion̛ of oure synne. ¶ Than he gotℏ to his fadir, and besely praietℏ, that we may be delyvered̛ out

of prison̛ of synne, yf we wille; And so it folowitℏ we shaƚƚ have the everlastyng light and Ioye and blisse of heven̛. To the whiche brynge vs aƚƚ the mercifuƚƚ lord̛ and pacient lord̛ Ihesu crist! Amen.