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

[ Second Version. XL.]Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 56]

Story.

POmpeius in the Cite of rome reigned̛, a fuƚƚ wise man, and̛ amonge othere vertues he was right mercyfuƚƚ; wherfore he did̛ Crie throw oute his Empire a feste, that euery man̛ rich and̛ pore shuld̛ come to the feste, and̛ aƚƚ þat comen to the feste shuld̛ not only be fedde, but he shuld̛ haue many giftes. when the bediƚƚ had̛ proclamed̛ this throw oute aƚƚ the Empire, there were that tyme twoo feble men̛ lyeng̘ by the way; oon̛ was halte, and̛ the tothere blynde. The blynde man̛ saide to þe Crokyd̛, "Alas!" he saide, "woo is the and̛ me; how mow we do? The Emperour [leaf 56, back] hathe do crie cried̛ [sic] a grete feste generaƚƚ to aƚƚ and̛ who that Euer comyth thiddere, he shaƚƚ not only haue a feste, but also many giftes. I am blynde, and̛ thou arte Crokyd̛ and̛ feble, and̛ may not go; and̛ I

may wele se, and̛ thou arte stronge and̛ myghty, and̛ may not se." he seide, "thou croked̛ man̛, thou shalte take me on thi back, and̛ bere me, and̛ I wil lede the by the right way." and̛ so they didden̛, and̛ comen̛ bothe to the feste, and̛ ressayued̛ grete mede amonge other; and̛ so they endid̛ here life in pease.

[Declaracio.]

Frendes, this Emperour is oure lorde Ihesu criste, the which hathe done crie a feste generaƚƚ, that is, the Ioye and̛ the blisse of þe kyngdome of heuyn̛; to the which Ioye he hathe called̛ aƚƚ mankynde, for he denyes it to none that wil come to hym. Be the halte and̛ croked̛ are vndirstondyn̛ prelates of holy chirche, prechours, and̛ confessours, abbottes and̛ prioures. thes are halte, for they han no thing̘ in propre, in alse mych as they lyuen̛ ofte sithes of almes of othere. Be the blynde we shuƚƚ vndirstonde the lewde men̛, that are blynde, for they know not the right way. therfore if thes ij. wil come to the feste of the kyngdome of heuyn̛, It behouys that the blynde, that is, the lewde men̛, bere the halte men; tho be the prelates of

the chirche, and̛ othere men̛ of holy chirche, sustenyng̘ hem be tythes and̛ oblacions, and̛ othere almese. And̛ prelates, and̛ other men̛ of holy chirche, are holdyn̛ for to teche hem, and̛ Enfourme hem the way towarde heuyn̛, where is not al only a feste for a tyme, But there we shuƚƚ haue many preciouse giftes; Tho be the Ioyes and̛ blisses that neuer shaƚƚ haue Ende. to the which bryng̘ vs oure lorde Ihesu criste, to þe feste riaƚƚ þat is in heuyne, withouten Ende!