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

[LI. ] Harl. MS. 7333.

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.

MORALITEE.

DEre Frendes, this Emperoure may be callid̛ eche goode Cristen̛ man̛, þe whiche owithe to be Emperour of him selfe; and̛ so he owithe first & furþermost and̛ principalli, to take

the wey toward̛ his owne contre, & þereto manfulli to laboure. what is contree? Certenly the kyngdome of hevene, wonne by the passioun̛ of crist. And̛ wher for̛ owe we to laboure þerefore? Certenlye to that entente, that we mowe have þere by helpe of soule; as is seide in the psalme, Saluum me fac, deus quoniam intraverunt aque vsque ad animam meam, This is to seye, lorde, make me saffe, for waters, scil. perilis of synnys, have enterid̛ to my sovle. the wyf is the fleshe, that ofte tyme holdiþe the soule in his dilectaciouns, for the whiche he may not come to the euerlastyng lyf; For wher is his conuersacion̛ but in the Empire of hevene? why thenne wolle not the fleshe lete him passe to that mury contree? For the fleshe is naturely a-yenste the sprite. Do þerfor̛ as dud̛ the Emperoure; huyr̛ payntours, scil. men of holy chirche, that conne paynte in the hede of thin herte two ymages, scil. contrucion̛, & confession̛, so that eyþere of hem have a wel I-polishid̛ glasse, scil. a consiens and̛ perseveraunce, the whicℏ perseueraunce amonge alle oþer vertues is I-crownid̛. & yf thow be-holde welle thes, þou shalt forȝite the wey of inpediment, and̛ thow shalt late þi soule passe frely. but allas! for ofte tyme while þat þe soule lyþe in þe way of penaunce toward̛ hevene, þere comythe

a servaunt, scil. a shrewde or a froward̛ wil, or a fleshli delectacion̛, that makitℏ foule the consienns and̛ the perseueracion̛, so that þe soule may not [leaf 189, col. 1] Se god̛, ne his owne periƚƚ. Do ther for̛ as dude the Emperour; yif hir a Gurdiƚƚ, scil. charite, with presious stonys, scil. lownesse & chastite; and̛ ofte tyme redde the superscripcioun̛, scil. but yf hope wer̛, herte shulde breste. This hope owithe to be Redressid̛ vnto god̛, þat yf þowe do penaunce, thow shalt come to þe lyf that euermor̛ lastithe; and̛ þerefor̛ seithe the Apostle, Spe salui facti sumus, This is to seye, Þorow hope we bethe I-made safe. And̛ yf we do so, with oute dowte we shulle come to the Euerlastinge lyf, bothe in fleshe & in soule, aftir the laste dome. god̛ graunte vs þat for his mercy! Amen.