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

(HOW A DRAGON WHICH KILLED THE PEOPLE OF A CITY WITH ITS BREATH WAS DRIVEN AWAY.)

[ XVIII.]Addit. MS. 9066.

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.

¶ Declaracio.

Frendes, this Emperour is the Fadir of heven̛. the Citee wele walled̛ is the soule, sette aboute witℏ vertues, whan god fourmed̛ it to his liknesse. ¶ The belle is a clene conscience, that leditℏ a man whan he shaƚƚ go to bataile agayn̛ the deveƚƚ, and armetℏ hym witℏ good̛ werkes. but this belle shaƚƚ no man Rynge but a maiden̛, that is, reson̛, that steretℏ to aƚƚ rightwisenesse. ¶ The dragon̛, that flew witℏ the fire, is the voluptuous flessℏ, that beretℏ the fire of glotonye and lechery, that brent Adam oure first fadir, whan he ete of the apple that was for-bode. the venemous bestes, that venyme aƚƚ folke, are fendes, that for the more parte distroien̛ aƚƚ man kynde. ¶ That sawe the wise men, that is, the prophetes and patriarkes sorowed̛, and cried̛ to god̛ for help. ¶ Therfore it was counseiled̛, that the lyon̛, that is, crist, shuld̛ be put on the crosse; as it was prophecied̛, It is spedfuƚƚ that one dye for the peple, that alle [leaf 30] the folke perissℏ not. ¶ Thei toke crist, the lyon̛, and put hym on̛ the crosse; wherfore the venemous bestes, that are fendes, that dreden̛ to come to cristen̛ folke, fleen̛. and so, by the help of god, cristen̛ folke shuƚƚ ever be in ever lastyng blisse with out ende.

Second Version. 19.Cambr. MS. Kk. 1. 6.

[leaf 232, back]

Darius regned in Rome a fuƚƚ wise man þat had a Cite wele walled In þe whiche A Belle hanged in the myddes / & as oft as he sholde go to þe bataile or out of þe Cite to take his pray / the belle sholde be rong̘ of a mayde / It byfeƚƚ with in A short tyme þat dragons & venem[e]s bestes venemyd̛ men̄ & þus þei dyed oft, Wherfor the Cite was nye distroyed̛, þat nerehand aƚƚ perisshed. The wise men of þe Cite with counceile & assent went to the Emperour & seyde / "Sir, what shaƚƚ we do? Beholde how our goodes be distroyed & the Cite brought to noght, & we Are in poynt to be loste for þe dragon̛ & þe venomes wormes / lorde, helpe vs, or ellys sey vs some goode counceiƚƚ, or ellys we shole perisshe" / The Emperour seyde / "how mow we diffende vs?" / Than one of hem seyde, "herith my counceiƚƚ, & ye shuƚƚ not ouerþink it / Sir, þer is A lyon̄ in your palys; [leaf 233] sit vp a crosse & hang þe lyon̄ / And

whan þe dragon̄ & the venomes bestes shuƚƚ se þe lyon̄ on þe crosse, for fere þei shuƚƚ not noye vs." Than seyde þe Emperour, "þis plesyth me well," & so thei did þe lyon̄ on the crosse / And whan þe venomes bestes saw þe lyon̄ on þe crosse thei come no more to þe Cite, but fled for fere.