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

Story.

[leaf 188, back, col. 1]

FReudericus was a Emperoure Regnyng in the citee of Rome, þe whiche was longe with oute wyf and childe; but at the laste, at counseil of lordes and̛ of wyse men, he weddid̛ a faire damiselle, & dwelte with hir in an vnknowen contree, and̛ gete of hir a childe. Aftir that, he wolde have comyn to his Empyre, but he myght not have gete leve of hir ther to, but euer she wolde sey, that yf he yede, she wolde sle hir selve. And̛ whanne the Emperour harde this, he studied̛ muche, how that he myght beste goo, and̛ passe from̛ hir, with hir goode wille. he gate payntours, & he made to be paynte ouer hir hede ij. fair̛ Images; and̛ in the frounte of eyþere Image was I-sette a myrour, in the whiche she myght euery day biholde; & so she dude, & had̛ so grete delectacion̛, that she forȝat þe fervente desire that she hadde in hir lorde the Emperour. whenne the Emperoure sawe this, he yede his weye; and̛ aftir his going, a damesel, that was the ladies sarvaunt, yede preveli, and̛ made foule the glas, in so muche that the lady ȝede

aftir the lorde; and̛ whenne she had̛ founde him, she browte [him] aȝen̛ with hir. and̛ thenne the Emperour made muche sorowe in herte for that cas, and̛ studiyd̛ þerefor̛ by what weye, in al that he myght, how that he myght passe fro hir ayene. he purveyde him of a passing faire gurdil, sette aboute withe presious stonis, and̛ in the stonys he made thes wordes to be wreten, "yf hope wer̛ not, hert shulde breke." And̛ he yafe þis gurdil to his wyf, and̛ she toke hit Reuerentlye; & she sette so moche herte in fairnesse of the gyrdille, that she for yate the love of hir husbonde. whenne the Emperoure saw this, he yede prively fro hir to his contre, & þe wyf folowid̛ not aftir him, for as ofte as she was I-temptid̛ to go aftir him, as ofte she yede, and̛ lokyd̛ on̛ the gyrdil, and̛ she Redde on the scriptur̛, seing, yf hope wer̛ not, herte sholde tobreke. She thowte þer with to hir selfe, "yit I triste to [leaf 188, back, col. 2] see my husbonde, withe glorie & comforte." & thus she livid̛, vndir stedfaste hope & trist, by many dayes aftir.