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

Story.

CEsar was an Emperoure Reignynge in the citee of Rome, þe whiche weddid̛ a faire semli damiselle; þe whiche damiselle was the kynges dowter of sirie, and̛ she browte forthe a faire

sonne. So when̛ this child̛ was come to age, he awaytid̛ [leaf 188, col. 1] and̛ caste him, in alle that euere he myght, for the dethe of his fadir, in so muche þat the Emperoure had̛ grete marvayle, and̛ come to the Emperesse, and̛ askid̛ of hir, yf that eny man lay bi hir mo thanne he, scil. the Emperour him selfe. And̛ when she harde thes wordes, she was hevy in herte, by cause that he had̛ suche suspecion̛ to hir; & swor̛ grete othis, that she was neuer comon̛ to no man̛ flesshelye, but with him aloone. And̛ thenne spake he, "Ne was not this yonge man getyn̛ by me?" "yis, sir," quod̛ she, "dowtithe hit not, for he is your lawefully bigeten̛ sone." Then̛ the Emperour̛ was amekid̛, and̛ saide to his sonne, "Son," quod̛ he, "I am thi fadir, and̛ I gate the into this worlde, and̛ of me þow come into this world̛, and̛ by wey of generacion̛ þou shalt be myn̛ heyr̛; and̛ þerfor̛ whi erte thowe a-bowte my dethe, that have norisshed̛ the vp with deynteys, and̛, per dieu, al that is myn̛ is thyn? leef, sone, thi wickid̛ purpos, and̛ sle me not, for yf þou do, it is a foule synne in the syght of god̛, and̛ hit wolle be awreke." ¶ Þe sone toke noon̛ hede to his woordes, but Eche day mor̛ þan̛ [other] he was abowte to kille his fadir. And̛ when̛ the fadir saw that, he yede

into deserte, & toke his sone withe him, and̛ a swerde; and̛ when he was ther, he saide to his sone, "sone, sle me her̛, for her̛ is a prevy place, and̛ þerefor̛ it is welle the lesse synne, & lesse shame to the, þanne yf hit wer̛ in an opyn̛ place." whenne the sone hard̛ thes wordes, he cast a-wey the swerde from̛ him, & knelid̛ a-downe a-fore him, and̛ mekly askid̛ mercy, for he saide that he had̛ trespassid̛ vnto him,—"& þere for̛, fadir, dothe to me fro hennys forþeward̛ as þe likithe." the fadir withe a grete gladnesse kiste him; and̛ aftir him Regnid̛ the sone, that mekly askid̛ mercye.