¶ Heere begynneth the man of lawe his tale
IN Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye [[Painting of the Man of Law, on the left.]]
Of chapmen riche / and therto sadde and trewe
That wyde where / senten hir spicerye
Clothes of gold / and satyns riche of hewe
Line 137
Hir chaffare / was so thrifty and so newe
That euery wight / hath deyntee to chaffare
With hem / and eek / to sellen hem hire ware
Line 140
Now fil it that the maistres / of that sort
Han shapen hem / to Rome for to wende
Were it for chapmanhode / or for disport
Noon oother message / wolde they thider sende
Line 144
But comen hem self to Rome / this is the ende
And in swich place / as thoughte hem auantage
ffor hire entente / they take hir herbergage
Line 147
¶ Soiourned han thise Marchantz / in that toun
A certein tyme / as fil to hire plesance
And so bifel / that thexcellent renoun
Of the Emperours doghter / Dame Custance
Line 151
Reported was / with euery circumstance
Vn to thise Surryen Marchantz / in swich a wyse
ffro day to day / as I shal yow deuyse
Line 154
¶ This was the commune voys of every man
Oure Emperour of Rome / god hym see
A doghter hath / that syn the world bigan
To rekene as wel / hir goodnesse as beautee
Line 158
Nas neuere / swich another as is shee
I prey to god / in honour hire susteene
And wolde she were / of all Europe the queene [Europa est tercia pars mundi.]
