The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE., 63
Should pray to Christ, that he this marriage Was there no philosopher in all thy town?
Receive in gree,1 and speede this voyage. Is no time bet 15 than other in such case
The day is comen of her departing,- Of voyage is there none electi6n,
I say the woful fatal day is come, Namely 1 to folk of high conditi6n,
That there may be no longer tarrying, Not when a root is of a birth y-know? 7
But forward they them dressen 2 all and some. Alas! we be too lewed,l8 or too slow.
Constance, that was with sorrow all o'ercome, To ship was brought this woeful fairi maid
Full pale arose, and dressed her to wend, Solemnely, with every circumstance:
For well she saw there was no other end. " Now Jesus Christ be with you all," she said.
Alas! what wonder is it though she wept, Thereisno more,but "Farewell, fair Constance."
That shall be sent to a strange nation She pained her 19 to make good countenance.
From friend's, that so tenderly her kept, And forth I let her sail in this mann6r,
And to be bound under subjection And turn I will again to my matter.
Of one, she knew not his conditi6n? The mother of the Soudan, well of vices,
Husbands be all good, and have been of yore,3 Espied hath her sone's plain intent,
That knows wives; I dare say no more. How he will leave his oldd sacrifices:
" Father," she said, " thy wretched child Con- And right anon she for her council sent,
stance, And they be come, to knowe what she meant,
Thy younge daughter, foster'd up so soft, And when assembled was this folk in fere,20
And you, my mother; my sov'reign pleasance She sat her down, and said as ye shall hear.
Over all thing, out-taken 4 Christ on loft,5 " Lordes," she said, " ye knowen every one,
Constance your child her recommendeth oft How that my son in point is for to lete 21
Unto your grace; for I shall to Syrie, The holy lawes of our Alkaron,22
Nor shall I ever see you more with eye. Given by God's messenger Mahom6te:
" Alas! unto the barbarous nati6n But one avow to greate God I hete,23
I must anon, since that it is your will: Life shall rather out of my body start,
But Christ, that starf6 for our redempti6n, Than Mahomet's law go out of mine heart.
So give me grace his hestis 7 to fulfil. "What should us tiden 24 of this newe law,
I, wretched woman, no force though I spill! 8 But thraldom to our bodies, and penance,
Women are born to thraldom and penance, And afterward in hell to be y-draw,
And to be under manne's governance." For we renied Mahound our creance? 25
I trow at Troy when Pyrrhus brake the wall, But, lordes, will ye maken assurance,
Or Ilion burnt, or Thebes the city, As I shall say, assenting to my lore? 2
Nor at Rome for the harm through Hannibal, And I shall make us safe for evermore."
That Romans hath y-vanquish'd times three, They sworen and assented every man
Was heard such tender weeping for pity, To live with her and die, and by her stand:
As in the chamber was for her parting; And every one, in the best wise he can,
But forth she must, whether she weep or sing. To strengthen her shall all his friendes fand.27
0 firste moving cruel Firmament,9 And she hath this emprise taken in hand,
With thy diurnal sway that crowdest l aye, Which ye shall heare that I shall devise; 28
And hurtlest all from East till Occident And to them all she spake right in this wise.
That naturally would hold another way; "We shall first feign us Christendom to take;29
Thy crowding set the heav'n in such array Cold water shall not grieve us but a lite: 30
At the beginning of this fierce voyage, And I shall such a feast and revel make,
That cruel Mars hath slain this marriage. That, as I trow, I shall the Soudan quite. 3
Unfortunate ascendant tortuous, For though his wife be christen'd ne'er so
Of which the lord is helpless fall'n, alas! white,
Out of his angle into the darkest house. She shall have need to wash away the red,
O Mars, O Atyzar,l as in this case; Though she a fount of water with her led."
O feeble Moon, unhappy is thy pace.l2 O Soudaness,32 root of iniquity,
Thou knittest thee where thou art not receiv'd,l3 Virago thou, Semiramis the sec6nd!
Where thou wert well, from thennes art thou 0 serpent under femininity,
weiv'd.1 Like to the serpent deep in hell y-bound!
Imprudent-emperor of Rome, alas O feigned woman, all that may confound
1 With good will, favour. 2 Prepare to set out. 13 Thou joinest thyself where thou art rejected, and
3 Of old. 4 Except. 5 On high. 6 Died. art declined or departed from the place where thou
7 Commands. 8 No matter though I perish. wert well. The Moon portends the fortunes of Con9 According to Middle Age writers there were two stance. 14 Waived, declined.
motions of the first heaven; one moving everything 15 Better. 16 Especially.
always from east to west above the stars; the other 117 When the nativity is known.
moving the stars against the first motion, from west to 18 Ignorant.. 19 Made an effort.
east, on two other poles. 20 Together. 21 Forsake.
10 Pushest together, drivest. 22 Koran.? 23 Promise. 24 Betide, befall,
11 The meaning of this word is not known; but 25 For denying Mahomet our belief. 26 Advice.
"occifer," murderer, has been suggested instead by 27 Endeavour; from Anglo-Saxon, "fandian," to try.
Urry, on the authority of a marginal reading on a 28 Relate.. 29 To embrace Christianity.
manuscript. 12 Progress. 30 Little. 31 Requite, match. 32 Sultaness.