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

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

[leaf 56, back]

Story.

A maydyn̛ there was myghty and̛ riche, that had̛ a kyngdome Endewed̛ with aƚƚ goodes, and̛ myghty. that sawe an Enviouse kyng̘, and̛ fuƚƚ of giles, and̛ thought to putt here oute of here kyngdome; nere the lese he wiste wele, that he myght not ouerecome hire, ne make here blynde be giftes. but he was besy with gile, and̛ come to hire with a fayned̛ frendship; and̛ so prively he begiled̛ here, and̛ with fraude ouercome here, and̛ vnrightfully caste hire oute of this kyngdome. Than the maydyn̛ levid̛ longe in pouerte and̛ wrechidnesse, wantyng̘ vertue and̛ richesse, and̛ myght not come agayne to hire heritage. But the sone of a kyng̘ moste

myghty loued̛ that maydyn̛, and̛ was sterid̛ with pite, and̛ wedded̛ that maydyn, that he had̛ longe loued̛, that he myght bryng̘ the maydyn̛ agayne to here heritage, be victorie of bataylle, that she had̛ [leaf 57] vnrightfully loste. Therfore in batayle agaynes the tyraunte he laughte, and̛ gladly was woundid̛; neuer the lese he was a noble ouercomere, and̛ seide to his spouse, that he moste deye in batayle, ande so haue the victorie. And̛ so the maydyn̛ rose oute of the bedde of wrechidnesse and̛ pouerte, and̛ had̛ hire kyngdome; and̛ toke the cote-armour of hire housbonde, that was aƚƚ be-spryngeld̛ with blode, and̛ hange it in hire prevey chambre, that it myght be aƚƚ

wey redy to hire sight̘. Afterwarde, be processe of tyme, come to hire noble men, for to wedde here. She answerid̛, and̛ seide, that hire housbonde had̛ shewed̛ to here so many tokens of loue, that neuer she shuld̛ take othere housbonde. and̛ if it happenyd̛ any tyme that hire mynde for frealte begone to bowe, be delectacion̛, Anone she rose vp, and̛ wente into here Chambyre, and̛ behelde the cote-armour of hire housbonde, that was be-spryngelid̛ with blode; and̛ wepte for the dethe of here housbond̛, for grete loue; and̛ so aƚƚ þe wille of weddyng̘ sesid̛.

[Declaracio.]

What shuƚƚ we vndirstonde by this maydyn̛, that hath this ryaƚƚ kyngdome, but mankynde beyng̘ in paradise? Mankynde was fyrste in the state of Innocencie, and̛ had̛ gyven̛ of god spirituaƚƚ richesse, to with-stonde his aduersaries; as seynte Austyn̛ seithe, in an̛ Omelie, the prince of vices, while he ouercome Adam̛, that was made of slyme of the Erthe to the Image of god̛, and̛ armyd̛ with chastite and̛ clennesse, arayed̛ with temperaunce, and̛ made shynyng̘ with charite. The enemy spoyled̛ oure fyrste parente of his giftes, and̛ of his money, and̛ goodes, and̛ also slowe hym̛. And̛ after that mankynde was putt oute of paradise, he was longe in pouerte and̛ miserei; neuer the

lese the sone of hym̛ that is hieste, that is, the Sone of god̛, louyd̛ hire; as it is saide, with parfite charite I haue louyd̛ that; And̛ therfore hauyng̘ mercy I haue drawen̛ þe; the which he weddid̛ in his incarnacion̛. the Sone of god̛ vnyed̛ hym̛ to mankynde to þe dethe; and̛ aƚƚ thoughe þe soule were partid̛ fro the bodie, neuer the lese the soule and̛ the bodye with in iij. dayes were vnyed̛ to the god̛hede; and̛ feghtyng̘ godis sone Criste, god̛ and̛ man̛, with the deuyƚƚ, he was slayne in bataylle, and̛ of his victorie man̛ kynde was brought agayne into the kyngdome of heuyn̛. Therfore the armys of oure spouse Ihesu Criste, that so many tokens of loue hathe shewed̛ to vs, moste be hanged̛ in oure prevey Chambre, that is, in oure herte and̛ in our mynde, that it may be a shewyng̘ euery day to þe Eyen̛ of our soule; as it is written̛, the dethe of my wele belouyd̛ sone, that he suffred̛ for [leaf 57, back] my helthe, moste aƚƚ weye be had̛ in mynde. But oure Enemeis drawyng̘ vs to delectable thinges, wolde wedde vs, and̛ bryng̘ vs to synne. we shuƚƚ then answere hem̛ thus, "While I haue in mynde the blode of hym̛ that was so kynde, *ande kyng̘, [These two words seem superfluous.] how shuld̛ I hym forsake, that the dethe for me wolde take? Nay, for sothe, I shaƚƚ not so, for he brought me from mekiƚƚ woo." Therfore turne we the Eyen̛ of oure mynde to the armys of oure spouse, that was aƚƚ besprengild̛ with his blessyd̛ blode. Then aƚƚ confusion̛, consente, and̛ dilectacione to synne shaƚƚ sese, by the vertue and̛ myght of his blessyd̛ passyon̛ and̛ dethe.