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

70 THE CANTERBURY TALES.
I dare well say she hadde lever 1 a knife To vouchesafe some day with him to dine *
Throughout her breast, than be a woman wick'2 She pray'd him eke, that he should by no way
There is no man could bring her to that prick.3 Unto her father no word of her say.
Now was this child as like unto Constance Some men would say, how that the child
As possible is a creature to be: Maurice
This Alla had the face in remembrance Did this message unto the emperor:
Of Dame Constance, and thereon mused he, But, as I guess, Alla was not so nice,18
If that the childe's mother were aught she 4 To him that is so sovereign of hon6r
That was his wife; and privily he sight,5 As he that is of Christian folk the flower,
And sped him from the table that he might.6 Send any child, but better'tis to deem
"Parfay," 7 thought he, "phantom 8 is in He went himself; and so it may well seem,
mine head. This emperor hath granted gentilly
I ought to deem, of skilful judgement,9 To come to dinner, as he him besought:
That in the salte sea my wife is dead." And well rede 19 I, he looked busily
And afterward he made his argument, Upon this child, and on his daughter thought.
" What wot I, if that Christ have hither sent Alla went to his inn, and as him ought
My wife by sea, as well as he her sent Arrayed 20 for this feast in every wise,
To my country, from thennes that she went?" As farforth as his cunning 2 may suffice.
And, after noon, home with the senator The morrow came, and Alla gan him dress,22
Went Alla, for to see this wondrous chance. And eke his wife, the emperor to meet:
This senator did Alla great hon6r, And forth they rode in joy and in gladness,
And hastily he sent after Constance: And when she saw her father in the street,
But truste well, her liste not to dance. She lighted down and fell before his feet.
When that she wiste wherefore was that sond,l0 "Father," quoth she, "your younge child
Unneth 1 upon her feet she mighte stand. Constance
When Alla saw his wife, fair he her gret,12 Is now full clean out of your remembrance.
And wept, that it was ruthe for to see, "I am your daughter, your Constance," quoth
For at the firste look he on her set she,
He knew well verily that it was she: "That whilom ye have sent into Syrie;
And she, for sorrow, as dumb stood as a tree: It am I, father, that in the salt sea
So was her hearte shut in her distress, Was put alone, and damned 23 for to die.
When she remember'd his unkindeness. Now, goodS father, I you mercy cry,
Twice she swooned in his owen sight, Send me rio more into none heatheness,
He wept and him excused piteously: But thank my lord here of his kindeness."
"Now God," quoth he, " and all his hallows13 Who can the piteous joyS tellen all,
bright Betwixt them three, since they be-thus y-met?
So wisly14 on my soulS have mercy, But of my tale make an end I shall,
That of your harm as guiltSless am I, The day goes fast, I will no longer let.24
As is Maurice my son, so like your face, These gladde folk to dinner be y-set;
Else may the fiend me fetch out of this place." In joy and bliss at meat I let them dwell,
Long was the sobbing and the bitter pain, A thousand fold well more than I can tell.
Ere that their woeful heartes mighte cease; This child Maurice was since then emper6r
Great was the pity for to hear them plain,l5 Made by the Pope, and lived Christianly,
Through which' plaintSs gan their woe increase. To ChristS's Churche did he great hon6r:
I pray you all my labour to release, But I let all his story passe by,
I may not tell all their woe till to-morrow, Of Constance is my tale especially,
I am so weary for to speak of sorrow. In the olde Roman gestes 25 men may find
But finally, when that the sooth is wist,16 Maurice's life, I bear it not in mind.
That Alla guiltless was of all her woe, This King Alla, when he his time sey, 2
I trow an hundred times have they kiss'd, With his Constance, his holy wife so sweet,
And such a bliss is there betwixt them two, To England are they come the righte way,
That, save the joy that lasteth evermo', Where they did live in joy and in quidt.
There is none like, that any creatftre But little while it lasted, I you hete,27
Hath seen, orshallsee, while theworld may dure.- Joy of this world for time will not abide,
Then prayed she her husband meekely From day to night it changeth as the tide.
In the relief of her long piteous pine,17 Who liv'd ever in such delight one day,
That he would pray her father specially, That him not moved either conscience,
That of his majesty he would incline Or ire, or talent, or some kind affray,28
1 Rather. 2 Wicked. 3 Point. 16 Truth is known. 17 Sorrow.
4. Could by any chance be she. 5 Sighed. 18 Rude, foolish. 19 Guess, know. 20 Prepared.
6 Fast as he could. 7 By my faith. 21 So far as his skill. 22 Make ready.
8 A phantasm, mere fancy. 23 Condemned, doomed. 2 Hinder.
9 I should be certain. 10 Message, summons. 25, Res gestm;" histories, exploits.
11 Not easily, with difficulty. 12 Greeted. 2 Saw. 27 Promise.
13 Saints, 14 Surely. 15 Mourn, complain. 28 Disturbance.