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

¶ Declaracio.

This Emperour, frendes, is the Fadir of heven̛. the child̛ is our lord̛ Ihesu crist, the whiche many desire for to norissℏ, and namly in Esterne tyme, whan thei have resceived̛ contricion̛. Neverthelesse he that beres hym in the turnement, that is, he that dothe best penaunce, and over-cometℏ the deveƚƚ, shaƚƚ have the child̛ Ihesu to norissℏ. ¶ The knyght, that resceived̛ the child̛, is a good̛ cristen̛ man, that wele and holely hathe fasted̛ aƚƚ lenton̛. therfor do thou as the knyght did̛; send̛ for messangers, tho be meritorie werkes, vnto the casteƚƚ of thyn̛ hert, that it be clensed̛ of aƚƚ spottes of synne; and so the child̛ Ihesu shaƚƚ lye in the myddes of thyn̛ hert. ¶ The welle is mercy, that owetℏ to be beside [leaf 46, back] the child̛ Ihesu; for he that is witℏ oute mercy and charitee, shaƚƚ not norissℏ the child̛ Ihesu. ¶ But ofte sithe the

wyf̘, that is, the flessℏ, that beretℏ the keye of chastite, levethe the dore open̛, by the whiche ofte sithe the Bere entrethe, that is, the deveƚƚ, and puttithe venyme in the welle of mercy; and therfore the husbond̛ and the wyf̘, that is, the flessℏ, and reson̛, and aƚƚ the membres, that tasten̛ of that venyme of synne, are enfected̛, and made lepres. ¶ And the wyndow, by the whiche the light entred̛, is the grace of the holy gost, by the whiche a man livetℏ gostly, and is comforted̛. ¶ By this wyndow entretℏ an Egle, that is, the myght of god̛, that taketℏ away the child̛ Ihesu out of thyn̛ hert; and so hathe man grete herte and matir of sorowyng. what is than for to do? ¶ For sothe for to send̛ aftir a soteƚƚ leche, that is, a discrete confessour, that shaƚƚ yeve the counsaile for to blede, and aƚƚ thy meyne, that is, that thou put out alle thi synne by the vayne of thi tonge before thi confessour; and than shalt thou be bathed̛ by teres of confession̛, conpunccion̛, and contriccion̛ and after that thou shalt have a liteƚƚ medecyne of satisfaccion̛, and so thou shalt be made hole fro aƚƚ spices of the lepre of synne. ¶ Than assend̛ vp on the stede of good̛ lyf̘, witℏ iij. Squyers, that is, fastynge, praiyng, and almesse-dede; and yf thou do thus, witℏ outen doute

thou shalt wele mow norissℏ the swete child̛ Ihesu, for the whicℏ norisshyng the Fadir of heven̛ shaƚƚ yeve the ever-lastynge kyngdome of heven̛. to the whiche bryng vs that child̛ Ihesus! amen.