To kepe his lawes wiþ good entent,
Line 180
Was ichose so feiþfuliche
A bisschop to beo verreyliche.
Þe prefecte, þat corteis was of wille, [Laetabatur enim probus praefectus, quod verbum suum fuerat in eo adimple|tum; dixerat enim, cum proficiscenti mandata donaret: vade, age, non ut judex, sed ut episcopus.]
Was glad þat he þat schulde folfille;
For, whon Ambrose was to Melan sent,
Line 185
Þe prefecte seide wiþ good talent:
"Go forþ now, as no domusmon,
But as bisschop ouer mony on."
Whil þat þeos tiþinges þus hynge, [Pendente relatione, iterum absconditur, sed inventus, cum ad|huc esset catechumenus, baptizatur et VIII die in episcopalem cathedram sublima|tur.]
Ambrose him hudde, wiþoute lesynge;
Line 190
But he was founden amongus hem.
He leued wel, but him lakked baptem:
Þen was he cristened in watur cler
And þe eihteþe day set in bisschops chayer.
Þenne at þe four ȝeres ende [Cum autem post annos IV Romam ivisset et soror sua, sacra virgo, ejus dex|tram oscularetur, sibi ridens ait: Ecce, ut dicebam tibi, sacerdotis manum oscularis.]
Line 195
To Rome forsoþe gan he wende.
His sustur þat maiden was, an holy wom|mon,
His riht hond heo custe anon.
He smyled and seide: "suster, hit is wust,
Þou hast cussed a prestes fust;
Line 200
I seide þe sum tyme hit moste so be,
But neuerþeles þou leuedest not me."
HIt bifel afturward sikerliche [Cum autem in quandam civitatem pro quodam episcopo ordinando ivisset et ejus electioni Justina imperatrix et alii haeretici contradicerent, volentes ut aliquis de sua secta ordinaretur,]
Þat in a cite voyded a bisschopriche.
Þider he went al in certeyne,
Line 205
A bisschop þer forte ordeyne.
Whon þer on ichosen was,
Þen nolden heo assente to þat caas,
Þe emperice, was clept Justine,
Ne oþur heretykes monye and fyne,
Line 210
For þei wolden þat þe eleccioun
Hed fallen vppon on of here sori reli|gioun. [Of secte of þe arian st. of þe secte of arian wie 213. 276. 286.]
Þen a maiden of secte of þe Arian [una de Arianorum virginibus impudentior caeteris (tribunal con|scendit et) beatum Ambrosium per vestimentum apprehendit, volens ipsum ad partem mulierum trahere, ut ab iis caesus de ecclesia cum injuria pelleretur.]
Hedde þouȝt haue wrouȝt Ambroses ban;
To seint Ambrose anon heo stert
Line 215
And tok him smartly bi þe skert,
To þe wymmen heo wolde him haue drawe,
And þei him wolde ha smite ful fawe,
Him boren an honde þen vuel talent
And, bi þe lawe! þenne him haue schent
Line 220
And from his churche wrongfuly
Haue put him out wiþ vileny.
Þenne to hire he seide corteisly: [Cui Ambr. ait: Etsi ego indignus tanto sacerdotio, tibi tamen non convenit in qualemcunque sacerdotem manus injicere: unde timere debuisti judicium Dei, ne tibi aliquid con tingat.]
"Prest ich am, þauȝ i beo not worþi.
Forsoþe, þou art vuele itauht,
Line 225
To set hond on prest bi semeþ þe nauht.
Godus dom þou scholdest haue in drede;
Þou nost what may falle to þi mede."
Hit byfel as he seid: [Quod dictum exitus confirmavit: nam die alio mortuam ad sepulcrum usque deduxit, gratiam pro contumelia rependens; quod factum omnes perterruit:]
Heo was on morwen ded on bere ileyd.
Line 230
Touward hire graue of his godnesse
Þen he hire ladde for al hire schrewed|nesse.
Þen alle men þat þis wondur herd
Of God and him woxun aferd.
AFtur þat, in certeyn, [Post hoc Mediolanum reversus, innumeras insidias a Justina imperatrice pertulit, muneribus et honoribus adversus eum populum excitante.]
Line 235
To Melan he tornde aȝein.
Þen Justine, þat emperice,
