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

Story.

[leaf 29, back]

DArius reigned̛ in the Citee of Rome, a fuƚƚ wise man, that had̛ a Citee wele walled̛, in the whiche was a belle hanged̛ in the myddes; and as ofte as he shuld̛ go to bataile, or out of the Citee, to take his pray, the belle shulde be rongen̛ of a maiden̛. ¶ It befelle in shorte tyme, that dragons and venemous bestes venemed̛ men, and thus thei didden̛ ofte; wherfore the Citee was nye distroyed̛, and nere hand̛ aƚƚ perisshed̛. ¶ The wise men of the Citee witℏ one assent and counseile went to the Emperour, and said̛, "Sir, what shaƚƚ we do? behold̛ our goodes are distroied̛ in the Citee, and brought to nought, and ye and we are in poynt to be lost, for dragons and venemous bestes distroien̛ vs. lette vs ordeyne some good̛ counseile, or els we shulle alle perissℏ." ¶ The Emperour said̛, "how may we defende vs?" Than one of hem seid̛, "heretℏ my counseile, and ye shulle not forthynke it. ¶ Sir, there is a lyon̛ in your paleys; sette vp a crosse, and hange the lion̛ ther on; and

whan the dragon̛ and the venemous bestes shuƚƚ se the lyon̛ on the crosse, for fere thei shuƚƚ not nygℏ vs, ne noye vs." ¶ Than seid̛ the Emperour, "this pleasetℏ me wele." and so thei didden̛ the lyon̛ on the crosse; ¶ And whan the venemous bestes sawe the lyon̛ on the crosse, thei come no more to the Citee, but fled̛ for fere.