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

CICLADES THE EMPEROUR.
(OF THE INGRATITUDE OF A STEWARD TOWARDS A POOR MAN WHO HAD SAVED HIS LIFE.)

[ LXV. ] Harl. MS. 7333.

[leaf 198, back, col. 1 (cont'd)]

Story.

Ciclades regnyd̛ a wise Emperour in þe Cite of Rome, and ouer aƚƚ thingis he was mercifuƚƚ. And it happid, as he went onys by a forest, ther mette with him a poor̛ man. And whan þe Emperour

sawe him, he saide to hym with a grete pyte and mercy, "Whens art þou, frend̛?" "Sir," quoþ þe oþer, "I am your man, and borne in your londe, and fallyn in to gret myschefe and nede." "For sothe" quoþ þe Emperour, "and if I knewe þat þou woldist be a trewe man, I sholde avaunce þe to grette digniteys and richesses. And what is thi name, tel me?" "sir," quoþ he, "Lenticulus. And I be-hote you to be a trewe man; and if euer ye find ony othir with me, I woƚƚ bynd me to aƚƚ þe peyne þat ye woƚƚ deme." And when þe Emperour hurd̛ that, He avauncyd̛ him, and made him knyȝt, and stiward̛ of aƚƚ his empire. And when he was this i-hyed̛, he wex prout; and he defyed̛ hem þat were worthier þan he, and sette hem at nouȝt, and simple men & poor̛ men he spoiled̛. And yn a tyme, as he roode yn to þe forest, he commaundid̛ to þe foster, þat he shulde make an hunderitℏ depe diches in þe forest, and cover them with wele smelling̘ herbis, þat þe bestis myȝt faƚƚ in hem, If it happid̛ hem to renne out of þe forest. And þe foster dude as he commaundid̛. It happid̛ afterward̛, þat þis stiward̛ rood̛ to þe forest̘, to see þe diches; and as he rood̛, he thowte, "I am riche, and

I-maade a gret lord, and aƚƚ þe Empire is at my ledyng̘." And with þat prowde þoȝte he smot þe hors with þe sporis, and sodenlicℏ fel into on of þe deppist dichis, þat he ordenyd̛ to be made; and he myȝte by no way passe out, For he was corpulent and hevy. and soone after þis, þer stert in to þe same dicℏ an hungery lyon̛; and when þe stiward̛ sawe þat, he was hyely adrad̛. And then soone after, þer fiƚƚ in an Ape; and after þe Ape, a serpent. And whenne þe stiward̛ was þis wallid abowte with theise iij. bestis, he began to swete for drede. In þis same tyme þer was in the cite a poor̛ man, namyd̛ Gwido, and he hadde an asse, with þe whicℏ asse he wolde go euery day to þe forest, for to gader smaƚƚ wode; and laade his asse, and lede it to þe market, and selle it, and so susteyne him and his wife, for mor̛ hadde he not to lyve with. So this poore man come in a certeyne day to þe forest, for̛ to gadir stikkys, as he was wonyd̛. And when he come nye þe pitte, þer as þe stiward̛ was in, The stiward̛ cryde, and saide, "Sir, sir, come heder, and here me, and þou shalt like it for euer!" And̛ [leaf 198, back, col. 2] thenne gwido hering̘ þe voys of a man̛, he hadde grette wondir, and come ner̛, and said̛, "lo! I am heere; what art þou that callist me?" Thenne saide he, "I am," quoþ he, "the stiward̛ of þe Empire, and þorȝ chaunce I am faƚƚ her̛ into

þis dicℏe; and heere is beside me a lion̛, and an ape, and a serpent, and I ne wote of whom I shaƚƚ be furst devowryd̛. And þerfor, [for] the love of god̛, gete a long̘ corde, by þe whicℏ I may be drawyn̛ out; and y vndirtake, þat I shaƚƚ avaunce þe and aƚƚ þyne þerfore for euer. And but I soone be holpyn̛, I shaƚƚ be devowrid̛ by theise bestis." Thenne saide gwido, "Þat were harde to me for to do, for I haue not to live by, but þat I gadre wode here in þe forest, þat I seƚƚ; and if I go abowte þis erunde, I most thenne leve myne owne ocupacion̛; and̛ þerfore, if I haue not of you for my labour, it woƚƚ be to me and to my wife gret lost and harme." Then answerid̛ þe stiward̛, and saide, "By þe helthe of the Emperour, my lord̛, and by þe oþe that I haue maade to him, I shaƚƚ to-morowe avaunce þe and aƚƚ thyne to grete richesses, If þou wolt do so." quoth gwydo, "I shal do thi bidding̘." He went home, and fette a long̘ rope; and come to þe pitte, and saide, "Sir stiwarde, howe! looke vp! for I caste downe a long̘ roope here to the; and þerfore bynde it abowte þi mediƚƚ, and I shalle drawe þe vp." And þenne þe stiward̛ was glad, and̛ saide, "Late downe the corde;" and so he dude. And when þe lyon̛ sawe þe corde maade redy to take him oute, he stirte yn to it. And whenne gwido felte a grette weyȝt, he trowid̛ þat it hadde y-be þe stiward̛; and̛ vndir þat trust he drowe vp þe

lion̛; and when þe lion̛ was vp, he maad̛ a maner of ioiyng̘ to him, and þan he ran to þe wode. And thenne Gwido sent down̛ þe Roop aȝen. And thenne þe Ape stirte in to þe Roope, or corde, and so gwido drowe vp þe Ape in stede of þe stiward̛; and then þe Ape ran aȝen to þe wode. Thenne þe thirde tyme gwido late þe Roope go downe, and þe serpent stirte in to it, and was drawyn̛ vp as were þe oþer; and maade a maner of thonking̘ to þe man, and ȝede his way to þe wode. And thenne spake þe stiward̛ to him, "Deer̛ frend, nowe þou hast faire deliueryd̛ me of theise thre bestis, Nowe late þe corde faƚƚ, and I shaƚƚ come vp." the man late þe corde faƚƚ, and þe stiward̛ gurde him þer in, and was drawyn̛ vp. Whenne he was vp, he saide to gwido, "come to-morowe at noon to þe palys, and I shaƚƚ avaunce þe for euer." Thenne gwido was glad̛, and went home withoute ony stickys or wode. And whenne his wife sawe þat, She askid of him, whi þat he hadde not gaderid̛ stickis, wherby þat þei myȝte have hire sustynaunce that day. And thenne he tolde hire aƚƚ þe processe, as ys saide afore, How þe stiward̛ feƚƚ in to þe diche, and howe he deliuered̛ him, and howe he shaƚƚ receyve þerfore his meede on þe morow. And when she hadde hurde þes wordis, she was rigℏt glad̛, and saide, "Late vs nowe be mery, and in þe morowe

aryse, and go fecℏ our meede." On þe morowe gwido rose vp, and went to þe palys, an[d] knockid̛ at þe ȝate; and þe porter come, and askid̛ þe cause of his knockyng̘. And thenne saide Gwido, "sir, I pray you, for goddis love, go to þe stiward̛, and̛ [leaf 199, col. 1] telle him that here stonditℏ at þe ȝate a poore man, that spake with him ȝisterday in þe forest." And þe porter hiȝte for to do it; and ȝede to the stiward̛, and tolde him howe þat þer was a poor̛ man at þe ȝate, to abide hym, þat spake with him in the forest. And when he hadde saide þis message, þe stiward̛ baad̛ him go aȝen, and telle him, þat he lyetℏ in his hed̛, For þer spake noon̛ with him þere; and he sent him worde, þat he sholde go, þat he neuer sawe hym. And̛ thenne þe porter come to þe ȝate, and tolde to Gwido the answere of the stiward̛, and̛ howe he baad̛ þat he sholde hye him fro þe ȝate, vp peyne of worse; For he saide, þat he lyed̛ in his sawis. And whenne Gwido hurde þis, he wax riȝt hevy, and went home, and tolde his wife, Howe þat þe stiwarde saide. And thenne his wife, as a goode woman, comfortid̛ him, and saide to him, þat he sholde go an oþer tyme, and preve þe stiward̛. When morowe come, he rose, and went aȝen to þe palys, prayng̘ þe porter þat he shulde go aȝen, and say his erende. The porter saide, "I woƚƚ gladly, but I drede þat it woƚƚ not profite þe." He went to þe stiward̛, and shewid him þat þat þat [sic] þe poore man was comyn̛ aȝen. And whenne the

stiward̛ hurde þat, he went to þe ȝate in a grete anger; and þer Lenticulus þe stiwarde bette Gwido þe poore man so soore, þat he lefte him halfe ded̛. Whenne his wife hurde þis, she come with hire asse, and ȝafe þe stiwarde hire blessing̘ with þe lefte hond̛; and careyd̛ hom hire husbond̛, and spend̛ on him aƚƚ þat she myȝte gete, tiƚƚ he hadde his heltℏ. And whenne he was hole, he went to þe wode as he was wonyd̛ to do, for to gadery wode. And in a certayne tyme, as þis gwido was in þe wode, he sawe a lyon̛ afer, and x. assis afore him, and aƚƚ þe assis were chargyd̛ with diuerse marchandise; and þe lion̛ brouȝte aƚƚ to Gwido. Gwido drad̛; but when he hadde biholden wel þe lion̛, he knewe wel in hym selfe þat it was þe same lion̛ þat he savid fro þe dicℏ; and þe lion̛ wold neuer leeve him, til tyme þat aƚƚ þe assis weere comyn̛ in to his house; and thenne he bowid down̛ with his hed̛, and thonkid̛ him by his tokenyng̘. Thenne gwido openyd̛ þe Fardelys, and he fond þerin gret diuersite of goodis; and thenne he dude mak a proclamacion̛, þat if ony man̛ hadde I-lost x. assis with hire fardels, come to him, and þey shulde haue hem; but þer was no man þat wolde chalenge hem. And then Gwido solde þe marchauntyse, and bouȝt him tenementys and othir maner of goodis, þat he was y-maad a ricℏ man̛; and ȝit he vsid̛ þe wode as he dude afor̛, and gaderid̛ wode. Hit happid̛ in a certayne

day, as he went to þe wode, þat he sawe þe Ape, þe whicℏ he drowe out of þe pitte, sitting̘ in þe top of a tre, and with hire tetℏ and with hire pawis roggyd and Rent a-downe branchis and wode, in as mocℏ quantite as Gwido hadde nede of to charge with his asse; and whan þe asse was chargid̛, þe ape ran to þe wode. Thenne Gwido went hom, and come aȝen þe thirde day, and cutte a-downe wode; and thenne he sawe þe serpent come to him, whom he helpyd owt of þe dicℏ; and she hadde in hire mowthe a ston̛ y-colourid̛ with a threfolde colour, and she late hit faƚƚ in þe lappe of gwido. Whenne she hadde so y-don̛, she kist his feet, and ran to the wode aȝen. And thenne gwido hiely mervelid̛ of what vertu þis stone was, and went to a stoner, and saide to hym, "good̛ man̛, I pray þe teƚƚ me þe vertu of þis ston, and I shaƚƚ rewarde þe for þi meede." Thenne when þe stoner hadde I-seyn̛ þe ston̛, he saide to hym, "I shaƚƚ ȝive þe an C. marke for þis ston̛." "Nay," quoþ Gwido, "I woƚƚ not seƚƚ it, tiƚƚ tyme þat I knewe þe vertu þerof." Thenne saide þe stoner, "Þis ston̛ hathe iij. vertuys; the frust vertu is, þat who so euer have [leaf 199, col. 2] it, he shaƚƚ haue euermore ioy witℏ oute hevinesse; The secunde is, that he shaƚƚ haue habundaunce withoute defawte; The thirde is, he shaƚƚ haue liȝt withoute derkenesse; and þerto he þat hatℏ it shaƚƚ

neuer haue power to selle it, withoute þat he Receyve þerfor as muche as it is wortℏ; For if he do þe Contrary, þe ston̛ shaƚƚ come to him aȝen." And thenne gwido was glad̛ y-nowe, and saide, "in a goode tyme I drowe out þe bestis out of þe dicℏ." And by vertu of þe ston̛ he gate many and gret habundances of goodis, so þat he was a grete and a myȝty man, and gret was his possession̛. And withInne short̘ tyme, word come to þe Emperour, howe Gwido had a ston̛ of grete vertu. And þenne the Emperour sent to him, and bad̛ þat he sholde come to him. And when he was y-come, þe Emperour saide to hym, "Deer̛ frend̛, I hurde telle þat þou were some tyme in a gret pouerte, and nowe þou art a gret riche man, thorowe vertu of a precious ston̛; I pray þe selle to me þat ston̛." "Sir," quoþ Gwido, "I dare not do þat; For I am sikir of iij. thingis as long̘ as I haue þat ston̛, scil. to haue ioy withoute sorowe, habundaunce withoute defaut, and liȝt withoute derkenesse." And when þe Emperour hurde þis, he was þe moor̛ y-temptyd̛ to þe ston̛ then he was afore, and þerfor̛ he saide to him in þis maner, "Chese þe on of theise two, or to passe out of myne empire for euer, with aƚƚ þi kynred̛, or Ellys

to selle me þe ston̛." Then saide he, "sir, if it woƚƚ noon oþer be, do as þou wolt; Neuerthelese I woƚƚ warne þe of þe periƚƚ, scil. þat but þou ȝive me as mocℏ for þe ston̛ as it is wortℏ, douteles it woƚƚ turne to me aȝen." Thenne saide þe Emperour, "I shaƚƚ ȝive þe a M. marke þerfor." And whenne þat was payd̛, he tooke him þe ston̛, and ȝede hom, and tolde his wife of þe bargayne. And as soone as þey openyd̛ hire cofer, for to put in hire golde, þai sawe hire ston̛ afore hem, ligging̘ þerInne. And when she sawe it, she baad̛ him take it, and ber̛ it aȝen in aƚƚ haste þat myȝt be, þat þe Emperour put not to vs no treson̛ ne gyle. So Gwido dude in dede, and saide to him, "sir, ȝisterday I solde you a ston̛, and nowe I wolde se him aȝen." Thenne þe Emperour went to his tresour; and whenne he cowtℏ not fynde it, he was hevy, and come aȝen to him, and shewid not to him þe ston̛. Then saide gwido, "sir, hevy you not, for I saide to you þat I myȝte not selle you þe ston̛, no lesse þan I receyvid þerfore the trewe value; and so ȝisterday ye gafe me a M. marc for the ston̛, and þis day I fonde it in my chest, and her̛

I have him." And when þe Emperour sawe þe ston̛, he had gret mervaile, and saide to him, "by þe feitℏ þat þou art holdyn̛ yn̛ to me, telle me howe þat þou come to þis stone first." Thenne saide gwido, "sir, by þe feitℏ þat I am boundyn̛ ynne to you, I shaƚƚ teƚƚ you þe sotℏ. Your stiward̛, þat ȝe brouȝt vp of nouȝt, maade many depe dichis in þe forest; and so he feƚƚ yn on̛ of hem, and myȝte not arise out aȝen, for depnesse. After it happid̛, þat a lyon̛, an ape, and a serpent, feƚƚ in to him. And þat tyme I was poore, I vsid̛ þat tyme for to gadre wode in þe forest, and bringe it hom with myne asse. And as I was þer in a certayne tyme, for to gadre wode, the stiward̛ cryd̛ to me, þat I sholde drawe him out of þe periƚƚ þat he was Inne þere, [leaf 199, back, col. 1] and fro þe venymous bestis þat he was among̘; and̛ he saide þat he wolde þerfore auaunce me and aƚƚ my kyn, and swore gret othis to fulfille it, If I deliuered him; and̛ for þat bihest I caste downe a long̘ corde. I trowid̛ to haue y-drawe himselfe vp, and drowe vp a lyon̛; I drowe vp an ape, and thenne a serpent; and at þe laste I drowe vp þe stiward̛, þat som̛ tyme was namyd Lenticulus, no better than a begger. And þe lion̛ hatℏ sitℏ payd

me x. assis chargid with diuerse merchaundise; The ape ȝafe me as mocℏ wode as myne asse wolde ber̛; and þe serpent gafe me þis precious stone; and your stiward̛ gafe me so many gret wondis and strokis, þat he lefte me for ded̛, and I was borne home vp on̛ an asse." When þe Emperour hurde þat, he was hiely mevid in mynde aȝen þe stiward̛, and made him to come fortℏ, and fowle reprevid him. The stiward̛ stoode stiƚƚ like a beest, for he cowthe not denye it; and þenne þe Emperour saide to him, "A! wrecche, a! false begger! loo! vnresonabiƚƚ bestis as þe lion̛, þe ape, and þe serpent, haue thankid him, and rewardid him his meede for his meede! and þou, þat art a resonabiƚƚ man, hast, for his socouryng̘ þat he socouryd þe, ny bet him to detℏ; and þerfore, false wrecche, þou shalt þis day be hongid in þe iebet, and he shaƚƚ haue aƚƚ þi londis, and be stiward̛ in þi stede." And so it was in dede, for þe stiward was y-hongid, and Gwido was set in nis stede, and wan love of aƚƚ men, & in faire pese endid his life.

MORALITE.

Deere frendis, þis Emperour is þe fadir of Hevene. The poore man, þat is so avauncyd, is þe poore man comyng̘ out of his moder wombe, and avauncyd heer̛ to wordly richesses and possessions; and þerfore saietℏ þe Psalm, De stercore erigens pauperem vt sedat cum principibus, He resede þe poore man fro filtℏede and tordis, and to sette him among̘ princis. And so þer ben many þat ben þis auauncyd. And thenne thei neythir knowe god ne hem selfe; they make diuerse and depe diches, scil. malice and wickidnesse aȝenst þe poore, in þe whicℏ þe deuel ofte tyme makitℏ hem selfe to faƚƚ; And þerfore it is y-rad þus, Qui foueam fecit alteri, sepe incidit in eam, He þat makitℏ a dicℏ to an othir, ofte tyme fallitℏ þerInne him selfe; And þat shewid wele by Mardoche. And þe man Gwido, þat goitℏ in þe forest with his asse for wode, is eche riȝtwisman̛, þat goitℏ in þe forest of this wordle, and gaderitℏ merytorie werkis; and he makitℏ his asse. scil. his body, bere hem, by the whiche þe soule may be glorified in þe blisse of hevene; and so he finditℏ his wife. scil. his conscience, and his childeryn̛, scil. vertuys. And in the dicℏ of þe stiward̛ fallitℏ a lion̛, an ape, and a serpent; and so ofte tyme fallitℏ þe lion̛ in þe kynrede of Iude, scil. god with a synner, as ofte tyme as he is redy to ȝive him grace; and

þerof seiytℏ dauid þe prophete, Cum ipso sum in tribulacione, &c. I am with þe synfuƚƚ, seiytℏ god bi his prophet here, in his tribulacion̛. Gwido drowe out þe lion̛, scil. þe riȝtwisman̛ drawitℏ out by þe corde of vertuys. Also he drowe out an ape, scil. þe wiƚƚ, contrary to reson̛, scil. whan it is maade obedient to reson̛, for among̘ aƚƚ bestis þe ape is most likenyd to a man̛, and so wiƚƚ, among̘ aƚƚ powers of þe soule, it is most specially to be licnyd to reson̛, scil. to assent and drawe vnto him. Also he drowe out a serpent, scil. penaunce, and þat for ij. skelis; The serpent beritℏ in his tunge medecyn̛, and in his taile venym̛; And so penaunce is bitter an[d] soor̛ pricking to þe doer, but it is a swete medecyn̛ for þe soule; and þerfore ecℏ man þat is riȝtℏwisse, owitℏ for to drawe vnto þe serpent of̘ penaunce. Also at þe laste he drowe vp þe stiward̛; And so doitℏ a riȝtwisman̛ or a saynt; he oftyn̛ tyme drawitℏ a man fro þe dicℏ of synne by goode ensampelis. And þat we see by ensampiƚƚ of crist, Non veni vocari iustos, set peccatores, Crist saietℏ, I com not to clepe riȝtℏwismen̛, but sinfuƚƚ men̛ to penaunce. And so dude seneca; he tauȝte Nero, the [leaf 199, back, col. 2] Emperour, mocℏ profit an[d] goode, But at þe laste he dude as a wickyd tiraunt, For he made seneca, his maister, do be slayne. Also crist ȝafe power to Iudas for to do miracℏis, as

he dude to othir apostolis, but in þe end̛ he betraid crist; and so it is nowe a days, For late many men̛ þat dreditℏ hire god teche foolis þe sothe, and doctrine of heltℏ, The foolis ȝelditℏ to hem aȝen scorne, and Iviƚƚ for goode. but þe lion̛ ȝelditℏ x. assis chargid with Marchandise, scil. crist shal ȝeve to þe riȝtwisman̛ x. commaundementys, chargid with diuerse vertuys, by þe whicℏ he may come to be richesse of þe kyngdom of hevene. Also þe Ape gaderitℏ wode, scil. a man, as ofte as he doitℏ dedis of charite, and þat is to gadr̛ to-gedir wode; and it is likenyd to wode for þis skile, for wode servitℏ for too profitis [MS. has 'pfitis' = 'perfitis'] , scil. to belding̘, and to fyre. So dede of charite is not only plesing̘ to man, but also to þe angelis of hevene; and þerfore it is saide þis, Magis gaudium est angelis dei super vno peccatore penitenciam agente, quam super nonaginta nouem iustos non indigentes penitencia, Hit is mor̛ ioy to þe angelis of god of oo synner doing penaunce, Than it is of Nyenty and nyne iuste men̛ mañ [sic] that neditℏ no penaunce. Also charite makitℏ redy the house of heuene for þe sowle. Also þe serpent ȝaf hym a stoone, y-colourid with threfolde colour. This stoone is crist, for skile þat we mowe by penaunce plese hym; And þerfore seiytℏ Ierome, Penitencia est secunda tabula post naufragium, Penaunce is the secunde table after naufragie. And þat crist hym selfe is a stoon, he shewitℏ an[d]

affermitℏ him selfe, saying̘, Ego sum lapis viuus, I am a quik stone; and þe stone, scil. crist, is colourid with a threfold colour, scil. with mygℏt of þe fader, with wisdom̛ of þe soone, and with grace of þe holy gost. And dowteles he þat hatℏ this stoone shaƚƚ haue habundaunce with owte defaute, ioy with oute hevynesse, and liȝt with oute derkenesse, in þe kyngdom̛ of heuene. And þis stoone, scil. crist, is so precious, þat he may not be solde for siluer and gold̛e, for with þe riȝtwisman he shaƚƚ euer abyde and dwelle. And þerfor howe shuƚƚ we mowe haue him? Certenly by wey of penaunce, and not by an othir way; and þerfore saiytℏ Augustinus, Venale habeo regnum celeste, I haue þe kyndom̛ of heuene to selle. And howe is þat bouȝt? Certenly by penaunce; and if we do so we shuƚƚ not as þe stiward̛ be hongid̛ in helle, but we shuƚƚ be sekir of þe heritage of heuene, as ben riȝtwismen. Ad quod nos ducat &c.

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

[leaf 30, back]

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.

¶ Declaracio.

Worshipfuƚƚ frendes, this Emperour is the Fadir of heven̛. the poore man, that was promoted̛, is man, born̛ of his modir naked̛ and feble, that ofte tyme is promoted̛ to richesse and dignytees; ¶ wherfore many so promoted̛ know neither god̛ nor hem self̘, but maken̛ dyuerse pittes, that is, malice and wikkednesse, that thei ordeyn̛ agayn̛ symple men, into the whiche pittes often tymes the deveƚƚ maketℏ hem falle. ¶ Guy, the whiche went witℏ his asse to the Forest, is eche rightfuƚƚ man, that in the Forest of this world̛ gadretℏ meritorie werkes, and maketℏ his Asse to bere hem, that is, his body, by the whiche the soule may be glorified̛ in the ever lastyng tabernacle of god̛. ¶ And so his wyf, that is, his conscience, or his children̛, that are good̛ vertues, he norisshetℏ and fedetℏ. ¶ In the dyke of the Steward̛ fille the lyon̛, the Ape, and the Serpent. ¶ So ofte sithes witℏ the synner, the verrey lyon̛ of the kynrede of Iuda, that is, god̛, he discenditℏ, as ofte as he is redy to yeve grace to a synner. ¶ Guy, that drew out the lyon̛, is a

rightfuƚƚ man, that drawetℏ god to hym by the corde of good̛ vertues. he drew oute the Ape, that is, the contrarie wille to reason̛, for amonge aƚƚ bestes he is most like to man. Right so wille amonge aƚƚ the powers of the soule, namly it owetℏ to be like reason̛, and restyng ther [leaf 33, back] witℏ. ¶ Also he drew out the Serpent, that is, penaunce, and that for ij. thynges. the Serpent in his tongue beretℏ medecyne, and in his taile venyme; So penaunce to the doer is bitter, never the lesse it is better medecyne; therfore every rightfuƚƚ man owetℏ to drawe to hym the serpent of penaunce. And atte last he drew out the Steward̛. ¶ Right so the rightfuƚƚ man by werkes of mercy drawetℏ out the synfuƚƚ man of the pitte of synne, and that by the ensample of crist, that came not to calle rightfuƚƚ men, but synners. ¶ And Senek̘ taught many profitable thynges to Nero, the Emperour, but in the ende he did̛ slee Senek̘ his maister, as the Steward̛ did̛ the poore man, for his good̛ dede. ¶ Also crist yaf̘ power to Iudas, for to do myracles, neverthelesse in the ende he

lost hym self̘. ¶ Right so there are many children̛ of the deveƚƚ Beliaƚƚ; aƚƚ thougℏ some drede god̛, and shew to the body and to the soule holy doctryne and profitable, they yeld̛ to hym no thyng agayn̛, but eveƚƚ for good̛. ¶ Behold̛ the lyon̛ witℏ the x. asses charged̛, that is, crist shaƚƚ yeve x. preceptis to the rightfuƚƚ man, charged̛, witℏ dyuerse vertues, by the whiche he may come to the richesse of the kyngdome of heven. ¶ Also the Ape gadred̛ stikkes, that is, alse ofte as man wilfully gettetℏ hym werkes of charite; and that is for to gadre stikkes, in as moche as stikkes are good̛ and profitable to ij. thynges, that is, to make hote, and to edefie houses. ¶ Right so parfite charite hetetℏ the soule; also charitee araietℏ the house of the kyngdom̛ of heven̛, to the comyng of the soule. ¶ Also the serpent yaf hym a stone of iij. colours. This stone is crist, in þat by penaunce we may gete this stone, that is, crist. this stone, that is, crist, is of iij. colours, that is, power of the Fadir,

wysedome of the sone, and the goodnesse of the holy gost. ¶ he that hathe this stone, shaƚƚ have in heven habundaunce witℏ out defaute, Ioye witℏ out hevynesse or sorow, light witℏ out derknesse; and this stone is so precious, that it may not be sold̛ for silver ne for gold̛, but that it shaƚƚ alway dwelle witℏ the rightfuƚƚ man. ¶ how then mow ye have that stone? forsothe by penaunce; and yf we do so, the Steward̛, that is, the vnrightfuƚƚ man, shaƚƚ be hanged̛ in helle, and the rightful man in the heritage of the kyngdome of heven shaƚƚ ever ioye. to the whicℏ [leaf 34] Crist brynge vs! Amen.