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

[ XXIII. ] Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 35, back (cont'd)]

Story.

Flosculus reigned̛ in Rome, that had̛ a sone that was wode, that dyverse daies rent his membres. the Fadir sawe that, and yaf̘ hym venyme, and had̛ lever slee him softly than he shuld̛ so rente hym self̘ dyverse daies. The modir sawe that, and was right sory; She wente to the domesman, and playned̛ on her husbond̛, that he had̛ slayn̛ his sone. ¶ The fadir before the domesman aunswered̛, and said̛, "it was a werke of charitee, and that for

this skille. ¶ My sone aƚƚ to-rente hym self̘, and so of longe tyme he suffred̛ many wrecchednesse. ¶ I, that was his Fadir, seyng that, I chase rather to slee hym, than longe tyme to se hym in sorow."

Declaracio.

Frendes, this Emperour is the world̛. The sone, that rent hym self̘, is a doer of penaunce, the whiche tametℏ his flessℏ. ¶ But oure Fadir, the whiche is the world̛, by the whiche we are susteyned̛ bodely, yevetℏ vs venymes of̘ the erthe of our birthe, by the whiche ofte sithes we are dede. ¶ But oure modir, that is holy chirche, accusetℏ the world̛ to god̛. therfore flee we the world̛, that oure modir, holy chirche, may have of vs solace, grete ioye, and gladnesse.