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

[L. ] Harl. MS. 7333.

[leaf 187, back, col. 2 (cont'd)]

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.

MORALITEE.

[leaf 188, col. 2]

DEre frendes, þis Emperoure is oure lorde Ihesu Criste; The sone is ecℏ Cristin man; The Emperesse is holye chirche. But ofte tyme þe sone, scil. þe Cristyn̛ man̛, is froward̛, & contrarye to the wille of god̛, for he obeythe not to his comaundementes. Þenne Criste askithe of holye chirche. wheþer he be his sone or no; and̛ holy chirche seithe, "Ye, lord̛, for of me he Reseyvid̛ baptime, and̛ þere for̛ he is thy sone." and̛ þerfor̛ Criste

Enformithe vs, and̛ counseilithe vs, by prelatis and̛ prechovrs, to leve oure folijs and̛ synnys, and̛ that we be not contrarye to his werkes; and̛ he spekithe to vs, seyng thus, Reuertere, Reuertere, sunamitis, et ego suscipiam te, This is to sey, be thow tornid̛, be thow tornid̛ to me, thow synfulle soule, and̛ I shalle vnderfonge the. but the synner wolle not be bowid̛ by worde, ne be betynges; & þerefor̛ Criste bryngithe him in to a deserte place of this worlde, and̛ bryngithe with him the swerde of devine Rightwysnesse, scil. þat he deye for synne that is done; for yf synne hadde not ben̛, deþe had̛ neuer ben̛. Also þe fadir had̛ a swerde of power̛, by the whicℏ þe sonne of god̛ deyde; & þerfor̛ hit is wretyn̛ thus, ¶ Non haberes potestatem super me vllam, nisi Esset tibi datum desuper, Þow sholdest have no power̛ vppon̛ me, but yf it wer̛ yeven̛ the from̛ above. O! lorde, that ther buþ manye that dothe Crist ayene vpon̛ the crosse! And̛ þere for̛ do as dude the sonne of the Emperour̛, cast from̛ the þe swerde of wickidnesse, and̛ bowe the by penaunce byfor̛ god̛; and̛ thenne thow shalt fynde Remedye, grace, and̛ Ioye, and̛ the kyngdom of hevin aftir þi decesse. Amen!