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

Reduccio.

Frendes, this Emperour is the Fadir of heuyn. the woman so fayre is the soule, made to þe liknesse of god̛, the which, after the synne of Adam, was put into þis worlde to swynke and̛ to

swete for his brede. the which was biseged̛ of thre kynges, that is, of the fende, the worlde, and̛ the fleshe; and̛ many were dede, for aƚƚ that [were] before Criste wentyn to Helle, and̛ perishiden̛. herynge this, the wise men̛ of the Empire, tho ben̛ patriarkes and̛ prophetis, thei Criden̛ to the fadir of heuyn for remedie. Then the Fadir of heuyn̛ he sente not only oon̛ messynger, but dyuerse prophetis, for to preche to the woman̛, that is, the soule, the way of trouthe. neuer the lese the soule is dede, by synne of̘ oure fyrste parentes; wherfore aƚƚ the peyntours were Called̛; tho be Aungells, patriarkes, and̛ prophetes. and̛ amonge hem aƚƚ is not fowndyn̛ oon̛, that couthe ne myght the Image, that is, the soule, peynte in so grete fayrenesse, vnto the sotyƚƚ peyntour come, that is, oure lorde Ihesu Criste, that with rede coloure, that is, with his owne preciouse blode, depeynted̛ the soule, when he bought it on the crosse, sufferyng̘ his peynfuƚƚ passion̛. But this peyntoure, that is, oure lorde Ihesu Criste, chose .iiij. of the fayreste of aƚƚ the women̛, that is to say, [for] the fyrste woman̛ he gafe to the soule weyng̘ and̛ leuyng̘ with trees; for the second̛ he gafe felyng̘ with bestes; for the thrid̛ and̛ the fourte he gafe vndirstondyng̘ with aungeƚƚes. wherfore Euery man say as the Emperour saide, "O! woman̛, that is, O! thou soule, if thou levid̛ in perfite charite, mekiƚƚ ought thou be-fore aƚƚ othere thinges to loue this peyntour, that is, Ihesu Criste. Then, if thou do so, it foloweth þat þou shalte haue euer lastyng̘ blisse; to þe which bryng̘ vs the soueraine peyntoure oure mercyfuƚƚ lorde Ihesu Criste! Amen &c.