[6-text p 148]
¶ The Constable wex abassched of þat siht
And seide what amounteþ al þis fare
Custance anseward it is cristes miht [folio 72a]
Þat helpeþ folke oute of þe fendes snare
Line 571
And so ferforþe sche gan oure laye declare
Þat sche constable ar þat it was eue
Conuerteþ and on criste maad him beleue
Line 574
¶ This Constable was nouht lorde of þis place
Of whiche .I. spak þare he constance fonde
Bot keped it stronge mony a winter space
Vnder Allea kynge of of Northehumbrelonde
Line 578
. . . . . [no gap in the MS.]
Aȝein þe scottes as men may wele here
Bot torne .I. wil a-ȝeine to my matier
Line 581
¶ Sathan þat euer waiteþ vs to begile
Sauhe of Custance al hir perfeccioun
And kast anone howe he myht white hir while
And maad a ȝonge knyht þat dwelleþ in þe toune
Line 585
Loue hire so hote of foule affeccione
Þat verraily him þouht þat he scholde spille
Bote of hir myht ones haue his wille
Line 588
¶ He woweþe hir bot it aveileþ nouht
Sche wolde do no sinne be no weie
And for dispite he compassed in his þouht
To make hir a schameful deþe to deye
Line 592
He waiteþ whan þe Constable was awaie
And priuely on a nyhte he crepte
In Ermenilda scambur whiles þat sche sleped
Line 595
¶ Wery for-waked in hire orisons
Slepeþ custance and Ermenilde also
Þis knyht þouht to performe sathanas temptacions
Al softly he is to þe bedde go
Line 599
