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

Story.

INclides in the Citee of Rome Reigned̛, a fuƚƚ wise man, and aboue aƚƚ thyng he was mercyfuƚƚ. It happed̛ ones as he walked̛ by a forest, he mette witℏ a poore man. ¶ The

Emperour, whan he sawe [met with] hym, he was stered̛ witℏ mercy, and seid̛, "of whens art thou?" he said̛, "sir, I am your man, and of your lond̛ born̛, and [I] am poore and nedy." ¶ The Emperour said̛, "yf I wist that thou were trew, I shuld̛ [shalle] promote the to richesse; telle me, what is thi name?" he said̛, "lenticulus is my name, [leaf 31] and I wille [wole passim] be trew vnto [to] you; and yf [omitted] I do otherwise, I bynde me to [in] aƚƚ payn̛." whan the Emperour had̛ herd̛ this, he promoted̛ hym; and sone after he [omitted] made hym knyght, and ordeyned̛ hym steward̛ of *his Empire [the Emperour] . ¶ Whan he was thus I-lifte [lifte] vp, his hert was enhaunsed̛ in [with] pride, *passyng aƚƚ [syngulery, so that alle] that were worthier than he; he dispised̛ the symple, and the poore he dispoyled̛ and robbed̛. ¶ On a tyme whan [as] he rode by a forest, he comaunded̛ the forster [forsters] to make an hundred̛ pittes right depe in the forest, and hille hem witℏ swete herbes; and [that] yf it happed̛ þat the bestes ronne by the forest, thei shuld̛ falle into the pittes. he [Thei] said̛, "sir, thi wille shaƚƚ be do [done] ." ¶ After this [this than] it happed̛, that the *bestes ronne, and the [omitted] Steward̛ rode to the forest, for to see the pittes; and as he rode, he

thought, "I am right grete, for aƚƚ *thyng are [thinges ben] at my biddyng. Is there any god but I?" And he smote the horse witℏ the sporres, and fille into one of the pittes, that before he had̛ ordeyned̛; and myght not out. ¶ And sone aftir hym fille a lyon̛ into the same pitte; ¶ *And aftir the lyon̛ fille [omitted] an Ape; and *aftir the Ape [omitted] a Serpent. whan the Steward̛ was thus vnbesette [byset] witℏ thise iij. [omitted] bestes, he was right sory. ¶ There was that [in that] tyme in the Citee a poore man, whos name was Guy, that had̛ no thynge but an Asse, that every day was wonte to go to the forest, for to gadre stikkes, and [to] charge his asse, and [to] lede to the market for [omitted] to selle; and so susteyned̛ hym self̘ and his wyf̘. ¶ And as Guy went in to [omitted] the forest, he herd̛ the Steward̛ out of the pitte seiyng, "O! dere frend̛, what so ever thou art, here me, and it [that] shaƚƚ be to the ever wele." ¶ Guy, whan he herd̛ a [the] voice of a man, he stode beside the pitte, and seid̛, "lo! I am here, for thou called̛ me." ¶ Than said̛ the

knyght, "I am the [omitted] Steward̛ of the Emperour, and [omitted] in this pitte are witℏ me a lyon̛, an Ape, and a serpent; and I wote not whiche of thise shaƚƚ first devowre me. therfore, for goddes love, draw [with a long cord draw] me out, and I shaƚƚ wele promote the, For but I sone have help, of thise iij. bestes I shaƚƚ be devowred̛." ¶ Guy seid̛, "this is herd̛ to [for] me to do, for I have right nought, but that [omitted] I gadre stikkes, and selle hem, and therof̘ am I susteyned̛. But I shaƚƚ fulfille [do] your wille, and yf [omitted] I have nought of you, it shaƚƚ be *harme to me [my harme] ." ¶ The Steward̛ seid̛, "by the help [helthe] of the Emperour, thou [the] and aƚƚ thyne to-morow I shaƚƚ promote to grete richesse." ¶ Guy seid̛, "I shaƚƚ do that thou biddest." he [leaf 31, back] went to the Citee, and bought [brought] a longe corde, and stode on [by] the pitte side, and lette downe the corde, and said̛, "Steward̛, come vp by the corde." ¶ Whan the lyon̛ [The lyon when he] sawe

the corde, he sterte therto, and held̛ it strongly. Guy wend̛ he had̛ drawen̛ vp the knyght, and [but he] drewe vp the lyon̛; and [omitted] whan the lyon̛ was drawen̛ vp, he lowted̛ to hym, and ranne to the wode. [Then the second tyme he lete downe the corde. The ape saw that, and lepe therto, and so he was drawne vp; and thankyd hym on his maner, and went to the wode. The iij. tyme he let don̛ the corde. The serpent saw that, and stert therto, and was drawyn vp; and lowtyd to hym, and went to the wode.] [supplied from Cambridge MS] ¶ Than the steward̛ seid̛, "now am I delyuered̛ of iij. [thes iij.] bestes, lette downe now the corde to me, that I may assend̛." and so it was done. he knytte it fast about his arse, and Guy drew hym out. ¶ And than said̛ [seyd to hym] the knyght, "come to-morow at none to the [my] paleys, and [omitted] I shaƚƚ make the riche for ever." ¶ Guy was Ioyfuƚƚ, and went home voide. his wyf asked̛ whi he had̛ gadred̛ no stikkes, of the whiche thei myght lyve that day. he told̛ her how he had̛ delyuered̛ the Steward̛ out of the pitte; and the [that] next day folowyng he shuld̛ yeve hym worthi mede. ¶ his wyf was glad̛, and said̛, "lette vs be of good̛ comfort;

therfore rise the day and the houre, and go to the man for the reward̛." ¶ On the [that] other day he went to the paleys, and spake to the porter, and said̛, "I pray the, go to the Steward̛, and telle hym, that [omitted] the man is here witℏ the whiche he spake yistirday." ¶ The porter went to the knyght, and said̛ the herand̛ *and the message [omitted] . The knyght said̛, "none spake witℏ me; lette hym go his way, that I se hym not." *the porter bad̛ him go his way. ¶ whan [omitted] Guy herd̛ this, he was sory, and went home, and told̛ his wyf aƚƚ *the matir [that was fallen] . his wyf comforted̛ hym in [omitted] aƚƚ that she myght, and said̛, "go [Gothe] to hym another tyme, and assaye." ¶ he went another day [tyme] to the paleys, and praied̛ the porter to spede his nedes. the porter went at his praiyng [prayer] to the steward̛, and shewed̛ to hym the comyng of the

pore man. the Steward̛, whan he herd̛ this, he went and bete him, and lefte hym halfe on lyve. ¶ his wyf herd̛ that, and come to hym, and put hym on his asse, and ledde hym home; and that she had̛, she spended̛ vpon [it on] medecynes, and so he was made hole. Than he went agayn̛ to the wood̛ witℏ his asse, for to gadre stikkes. ¶ It fille on a day, whan Guy went to the wood̛, he sawe a lyon̛, and before hym .x. asses chargede witℏ dyuerse chaffare. The lyon̛ brought hem aƚƚ before hym. Guy was aferde, but whan he hade wisely behold̛ *the lyon̛ [omitted] , he knew wele [it was] the lyon̛, *the whiche [that] he drew out of the pitte, And [leaf 32] whan aƚƚ the Asses were entred̛ into his house, the lyon̛ enclyned̛ his hede, and went ayene [so went] to the woode. ¶ Guy opened̛ the pakkes, and founde moche merchaundise. he went, and did̛ enquere [spere] in chirches [kyrkes] and markettes, yf [that if] any man hadde lost chaffare witℏ asses, that [omitted] he shuld̛ come to hym; but

there was none found̛. Notwithstondyng [And notwithstondyng] thise richesse, he went agayn̛ to the woode, for to gadre stikkes, witℏ his asse. ¶ It happed̛ on a day as he went to the woode, he sawe the Ape, that he drew oute of the pitte, in the croppe of a tree, brekyng stikkes witℏ his handes, and witℏ his tethe; and cast downe as many stikkes as he neded̛, to lade witℏ his Asse, and wente home. ¶ Another day [tyme] he *went to the wood̛, and he [omitted] sawe a-ferre a serpent, beryng in his mouthe a stone of .iij. colours, the whiche he gaf̘ hym, and wente agayne *to the woode [omitted] . ¶ Guy had̛ wondir of *the stone [this] , and wente to a lapydarye, to aske of what vertu it was. he aunswered̛, and said̛, it hadde .iij. vertues. ¶ The first vertu is this [omitted] ; he that *have this [hathe it] , shaƚƚ have ioye witℏ out hevynesse. ¶ The second̛ is, he shaƚƚ have habundaunce [habundaunce of good] witℏ out defaute. ¶ The thirde is, he shaƚƚ have light witℏout derknesse. also he that *hatℏ it, and [omitted] shaƚƚ selle it,

but yf he have as moche as it is worthe, it shaƚƚ come home [omitted] agayn̛ to hym." ¶ Guy, whan he herd̛ [had herd] this, he said̛ [was right glad, and seyde] , "in a good̛ tyme I drewe the bestes out of the pitte!" by the vertu of this [the] stone he gate moche good̛, and [in] so moche, that he was made a knyght, and gate many possessions. ¶ Anon̛ aftir this [omitted] , it was no counsaile, but it was shewed̛ to the Emperour, that Guy had̛ a stone of grete vertu. ¶ The Emperour sent to hym a messanger, that he shuld̛ sone come to hym, *at a certayn̛ day [in to a certen place] . ¶ Guy, whan he was come, the Emperour said̛ to hym, "Frend̛, I have herd̛ said̛, that some tyme thou [ye] were in grete pouerte, and now by the vertu of a stone *thou arte [ye be] made riche. I pray the, selle me that stone." ¶ he said̛, "sir, y may not, for I am certayn̛, that as [als] longe as I have the stone, I *shaƚƚ be [am] siker of iij. thynges. ¶ The firste is, I shaƚƚ have Ioye without hevynesse. The second̛ is, habundaunce witℏ oute defaute. The thirde is, light without derknesse." ¶ The Emperour, whan he had̛ herd̛ this, he was more covetouse of the stone, and said̛ to hym, "chese of ij. thynges, other thou shalt out of my Empire, witℏ aƚƚ

thi progenye, or thou shalt selle me the stone." ¶ "Sir," he [leaf 32, back] seid̛, "I were lothe to offende you; and therfore, yf ye wille bye the stone, I shaƚƚ fulfille your wille. but first I shaƚƚ shewe you the perile of the stone. ¶ Sir [omitted] , but yf ye yeve me as moche therfore as it is worthe, witℏ outen doute the stone shaƚƚ come [come home] ayene to me." ¶ The Emperour said̛, "I shaƚƚ yeve the sufficiantly, for thou shalt have of me a thousand̛ pounde [marc] ." Guy toke the money of hym, and delyuered̛ hym the stone. atte morow Guy opened̛ his chest [huch] , and founde the stone, and told̛ his wyf of the chaunce. ¶ She seid̛, "oo! sir, go fast to [agayn to] the Emperour, and take hym agayn̛ the stone, lest he put to vs gyle or fraude." ¶ Guy wente to the Emperour, and said̛, "Sir, yisterday I sold̛ to you a stone; I wold̛ gladly se it." the Emperour went to his tresorye, and found̛ not the stone. he come forthe hevy vnto Guy, and said̛, he [that he] had̛ lost the stone. ¶ Than said̛ Guy, "sir, be not hevy, for I said̛ to you before, that I myght not selle the [my] stone vnto I had̛ resceived̛ the valew. lo! here your [is your] thousand̛ mark̘, that ye gaf̘ me for the stone, For I this day found̛ it [the stone] in my chest [huche] ; and happely *but yf I had̛ [had not I] brought it [the stone]

to you ayene, *ye wold̛ have shewed̛ me myne [on me lightly ye shold put] offence." ¶ The Emperour, whan he sawe the stone, he mervailed̛, and said̛, "By the faithe thou owest to me, say how thou camest [come] by the stone?" ¶ Guy said̛, "by the faitℏ that I owe to you, I shaƚƚ telle you the trouthe. youre steward̛, that ye promoted̛ of [fro] nought, did̛ make many depe pittes in your forest. and he [omitted] , as he rode *vnavised̛, fille [on a day onauysyd, he fylle] into one [the one] , and myght not come out, for the pitte was depe. It happed̛ wele [omitted] , that after̛ hym fille a lyon̛, an Ape, and a Serpente, into the same pitte. and I was that tyme poore, and wente vnto [in to] the Forest witℏ my Asse, for to gadre stikkes; and as I wente, he cried̛ *to me [omitted] , that I shuld̛ help hym out of the pitte, and fro perile of dethe, by cause he was amonge suche [the] perillous bestes. and trewly he hight to me witℏ an othe, that he shuld̛ promote me and aƚƚ my progeny to richesse. ¶ And [omitted] whan I herd̛ this, I gate me a longe rope, and lette it into the pitte, and trowed̛ I shuld̛ draw hym to me; and I drewe vp the lyon̛, and aftir hym the Ape, and than the Serpent; *and atte [at the] last I drewe vp the Steward̛. ¶ The lyon̛

yaf̘ me .x. asses charged̛ witℏ dyuerse marchaundise; The Ape yaf̘ me stikkes, as many as myn̛ Asse myght bere; The serpent yaf̘ me this precious Stone, the whiche I have sold̛ to [leaf 33] you; but the Steward̛ bete me, and wounded̛ me greuously, þat I was born̛ home on myn̛ asse." ¶ The Emperour, whan he herd̛ this, he was gretly stered̛ in hym self̘ agayn̛ the Steward̛, and sent for hym; ¶ And whan he was come, the Emperour vndirtoke hym [omitted] of the cryme [wrong] that he did̛ to Guy; and he stode stille, and aunswered̛ not, for he myght not denye [deuoyde] it. ¶ Than said̛ the Emperour, "O! thou wrecche, vnresonable bestes, as the lyon̛, the Ape, and the Serpent, yelded̛ hym mede, because he drew hem out of the pitte vnpraied̛; and thou, that art a [omitted] resonable man, and for his good̛ purpose that delyuered̛ the fro thi [the] detℏ, for his mede thou bete hym [omitted] nere to the dethe. ¶ For the [this] whiche dede I deme the this day to be hanged̛ *on the Gibbette [omitted] , and aƚƚ thi londes I yeve to Sir Guy; and in thi stede I make hym Steward̛." ¶ Whan the Steward̛ was hanged̛ on the Gibbette, Sir Guy ocupied̛ his place, the whiche was loved̛ of aƚƚ, and so in pease ended̛ his lyf̘.