The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Introduction
• Errata.
• Additions to ‘the Minor Poems’ In Vol. I.
• XXIV.: Womanly Noblesse.
• XXV.: Complaint to My Mortal Foe.
• XXVI.: Complaint to My Lode-sterre.
• Notes to the Preceding Poems.
• The Canterbury Tales. Group A.
• The Prologue.
• The Knightes Tale.
• The Miller’s Prologue.
• The Milleres Tale.
• The Reeve’s Prologue.
• The Reves Tale.
• The Cook’s Prologue.
• The Cokes Tale.
• Group B.
• Introduction to the Man of Law’s Prologue. (t. 4421-4446.)
• The Tale of the Man of Lawe.
• The Shipman’s Prologue.
• The Shipmannes Tale.
• The Prioress’s Prologue. (t. 13365-13382.)
• The Prioresses Tale.
• Prologue to Sir Thopas. (t. 13621-13641.)
• Sir Thopas.
• Prologue to Melibeus. (t. 13847-13875.)
• The Tale of Melibeus.
• The Monk’s Prologue. (t. 13895-13924.)
• The Monkes Tale.
• The Prologue of the Nonne Prestes Tale. (t. 14773-14798).
• The Nonne Preestes Tale.
• Epilogue to the Nonne Preestes Tale.
• Group C.
• The Phisiciens Tale. (t. 11935-11957.)
• Words of the Host. (t. 12221-12239.)
• The Prologue of the Pardoners Tale. (t. 12263-12288).
• The Pardoners Tale. ( Numbered In Continuation of the Preceding. )
• Group D.
• The Wife of Bath’s Prologue. (t. 5583-5602; For T. 5582, See P. 164.)
• The Tale of the Wyf of Bathe.
• The Friar’s Prologue. (t. 6847-6868).
• The Freres Tale.
• The Somnour’s Prologue. (t. 7247-7270.)
• The Somnours Tale.
• Group E.
• The Clerk’s Prologue. (t. 7877-7898.)
• The Clerkes Tale.
• The Merchant’s Prologue. (t. 9089-9120).
• The Marchantes Tale.
• Epilogue to the Marchantes Tale.
• Group F.
• The Squieres Tale. (t. 10315-10334).
• The Franklin’s Prologue. (t. 11021-11040).
• The Frankeleyns Tale.
• Group G.
• The Seconde Nonnes Tale.
• The Canon’s Yeoman’s Prologue. (t. 16022-16043.)
• The Chanouns Yemannes Tale.
• Group H.
• The Manciple’s Prologue. (t. 16950-16968).
• The Maunciples Tale.
• Group I.
• The Parson’s Prologue. (t. 17312-17330).
• The Persones Tale.
• Appendix to Group A.
• The Tale of Gamelyn.

THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE.

Here beginneth the Man of Lawe his Tale.

• • IN Surrie whylom dwelte a companye
  • Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe,135
  • That wyde-wher senten her spycerye,
  • Clothes of gold, and satins riche of hewe;
  • Her chaffar was so thrifty and so newe,(40)
  • That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare
  • With hem, and eek to sellen hem hir ware.140
• • Now fel it, that the maistres of that sort
  • Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende;
  • Were it for chapmanhode or for disport,
  • Non other message wolde they thider sende,
  • But comen hem-self to Rome, this is the ende;145
  • And in swich place, as thoughte hem avantage
  • For her entente, they take her herbergage.
• • Soiourned han thise marchants in that toun(50)
  • A certein tyme, as fel to hir plesance.
  • And so bifel, that thexcellent renoun150
  • Of themperoures doghter, dame Custance,
  • Reported was, with every circumstance,
  • Un-to thise Surrien marchants in swich wyse,
  • Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse.
• • This was the commune vois of every man—155
  • ‘Our Emperour of Rome, god him see,
  • A doghter hath that, sin the world bigan,
  • To rekne as wel hir goodnesse as beautee,(60)
  • Nas never swich another as is she;
  • I prey to god in honour hir sustene,160
  • And wolde she were of al Europe the quene.
• • In hir is heigh beautee, with-oute pryde,
  • Yowthe, with-oute grenehede or folye;
  • To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde,
  • Humblesse hath slayn in hir al tirannye.165
  • She is mirour of alle curteisye;
  • Hir herte is verray chambre of holinesse,
  • Hir hand, ministre of fredom for almesse.’(70)
• • And al this vois was soth, as god is trewe,
  • But now to purpos lat us turne agayn;170
  • Thise marchants han doon fraught hir shippes newe,
  • And, whan they han this blisful mayden seyn,
  • Hoom to Surryë been they went ful fayn,
  • And doon her nedes as they han don yore,
  • And liven in wele; I can sey yow no more.175
• • Now fel it, that thise marchants stode in grace
  • Of him, that was the sowdan of Surrye;
  • For whan they came from any strange place,(80)
  • He wolde, of his benigne curteisye,
  • Make hem good chere, and bisily espye180
  • Tydings of sondry regnes, for to lere
  • The wondres that they mighte seen or here.
• • Amonges othere thinges, specially
  • Thise marchants han him told of dame Custance,
  • So gret noblesse in ernest, ceriously,185
  • That this sowdan hath caught so gret plesance
  • To han hir figure in his remembrance,
  • That al his lust and al his bisy cure(90)
  • Was for to love hir whyl his lyf may dure.
• • Paraventure in thilke large book190
  • Which that men clepe the heven, y-writen was
  • With sterres, whan that he his birthe took,
  • That he for love shulde han his deeth, allas!
  • For in the sterres, clerer than is glas,
  • Is writen, god wot, who-so coude it rede,195
  • The deeth of every man, withouten drede.
• • In sterres, many a winter ther-biforn,
  • Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles,(100)
  • Of Pompey, Iulius, er they were born;
  • The stryf of Thebes; and of Ercules,200
  • Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates
  • The deeth; but mennes wittes been so dulle,
  • That no wight can wel rede it atte fulle.
• • This sowdan for his privee conseil sente,
  • And, shortly of this mater for to pace,205
  • He hath to hem declared his entente,
  • And seyde hem certein, ‘but he mighte have grace
  • To han Custance with-inne a litel space,(110)
  • He nas but deed;’ and charged hem, in hye,
  • To shapen for his lyf som remedye.210
• • Diverse men diverse thinges seyden;
  • They argumenten , casten up and doun;
  • Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden,
  • They speken of magik and abusioun;
  • But finally, as in conclusion,215
  • They can not seen in that non avantage,
  • Ne in non other wey, save mariage.
• • Than sawe they ther-in swich difficultee(120)
  • By wey of resoun, for to speke al playn,
  • By-cause that ther was swich diversitee220
  • Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn,
  • They trowe ‘that no cristen prince wolde fayn
  • Wedden his child under oure lawes swete
  • That us were taught by Mahoun our prophete.’
• • And he answerde, ‘rather than I lese225
  • Custance, I wol be cristned doutelees;
  • I mot ben hires, I may non other chese.
  • I prey yow holde your arguments in pees;(130)
  • Saveth my lyf, and beeth noght recchelees
  • To geten hir that hath my lyf in cure;230
  • For in this wo I may not longe endure.’
• • What nedeth gretter dilatacioun?
  • I seye, by tretis and embassadrye,
  • And by the popes mediacioun,
  • And al the chirche, and al the chivalrye,235
  • That, in destruccioun of Maumetrye,
  • And in encrees of Cristes lawe dere,
  • They ben acorded, so as ye shal here;(140)
• • How that the sowdan and his baronage
  • And alle his liges shulde y-cristned be,240
  • And he shal han Custance in mariage,
  • And certein gold, I noot what quantitee,
  • And her-to founden suffisant seurtee;
  • This same acord was sworn on eyther syde;
  • Now, faire Custance, almighty god thee gyde!245
• • Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse,
  • That I shulde tellen al the purveyance
  • That themperour, of his grete noblesse,(150)
  • Hath shapen for his doghter dame Custance.
  • Wel may men knowe that so gret ordinance250
  • May no man tellen in a litel clause
  • As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.
• • Bisshopes ben shapen with hir for to wende,
  • Lordes, ladyes, knightes of renoun,
  • And other folk y-nowe, this is the ende;255
  • And notifyed is thurgh-out the toun
  • That every wight, with gret devocioun,
  • Shulde preyen Crist that he this mariage(160)
  • Receyve in gree, and spede this viage.
• • The day is comen of hir departinge,260
  • I sey, the woful day fatal is come,
  • That ther may be no lenger taryinge,
  • But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some;
  • Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome,
  • Ful pale arist, and dresseth hir to wende;265
  • For wel she seeth ther is non other ende.
• • Allas! what wonder is it though she wepte,
  • That shal be sent to strange nacioun(170)
  • Fro freendes, that so tendrely hir kepte,
  • And to be bounden under subieccioun270
  • Of oon, she knoweth not his condicioun.
  • Housbondes been alle gode, and han ben yore,
  • That knowen wyves, I dar say yow no more.
• • ‘Fader,’ she sayde, ‘thy wrecched child Custance,
  • Thy yonge doghter, fostred up so softe,275
  • And ye, my moder, my soverayn plesance
  • Over alle thing, out-taken Crist on-lofte,
  • Custance, your child, hir recomandeth ofte(180)
  • Un-to your grace, for I shal to Surryë,
  • Ne shal I never seen yow more with yë.280
• • Allas! un-to the Barbre nacioun
  • I moste anon, sin that it is your wille;
  • But Crist, that starf for our redempcioun,
  • So yeve me grace, his hestes to fulfille;
  • I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille.285
  • Wommen are born to thraldom and penance,
  • And to ben under mannes governance.’
• • I trowe, at Troye, whan Pirrus brak the wal(190)
  • Or Ylion brende, at Thebes the citee,
  • Nat Rome, for the harm thurgh Hanibal290
  • That Romayns hath venquisshed tymes thre,
  • Nas herd swich tendre weping for pitee
  • As in the chambre was for hir departinge;
  • Bot forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or singe.
• • O firste moevyng cruel firmament,295
  • With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay
  • And hurlest al from Est til Occident,
  • That naturelly wolde holde another way,(200)
  • Thy crowding set the heven in swich array
  • At the beginning of this fiers viage,300
  • That cruel Mars hath slayn this mariage.
• • Infortunat ascendent tortuous,
  • Of which the lord is helples falle, allas!
  • Out of his angle in-to the derkest hous.
  • O Mars, O Atazir, as in this cas!305
  • O feble mone, unhappy been thy pas!
  • Thou knittest thee ther thou art nat receyved,
  • Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow weyved.(210)
• • Imprudent emperour of Rome, allas!
  • Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun?310
  • Is no tyme bet than other in swich cas?
  • Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,
  • Namely to folk of heigh condicioun,
  • Nat whan a rote is of a birthe y-knowe?
  • Allas! we ben to lewed or to slowe.315
• • To shippe is brought this woful faire mayde
  • Solempnely, with every circumstance.
  • ‘Now Iesu Crist be with yow alle,’ she sayde;(220)
  • Ther nis namore but ‘farewel! faire Custance!’
  • She peyneth hir to make good countenance,320
  • And forth I lete hir sayle in this manere,
  • And turne I wol agayn to my matere.
• • The moder of the sowdan, welle of vyces,
  • Espyëd hath hir sones pleyn entente,
  • How he wol lete his olde sacrifyces,325
  • And right anon she for hir conseil sente;
  • And they ben come, to knowe what she mente.
  • And when assembled was this folk in-fere,(230)
  • She sette hir doun, and sayde as ye shal here.
• • ‘Lordes,’ quod she, ‘ye knowen everichon,330
  • How that my sone in point is for to lete
  • The holy lawes of our Alkaron,
  • Yeven by goddes message Makomete.
  • But oon avow to grete god I hete,
  • The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte335
  • Than Makometes lawe out of myn herte!
• • What shulde us tyden of this newe lawe
  • But thraldom to our bodies and penance?(240)
  • And afterward in helle to be drawe
  • For we reneyed Mahoun our creance?340
  • But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance,
  • As I shal seyn, assenting to my lore,
  • And I shall make us sauf for evermore?’
• • They sworen and assenten, every man,
  • To live with hir and dye, and by hir stonde;345
  • And everich, in the beste wyse he can,
  • To strengthen hir shal alle his freendes fonde;
  • And she hath this empryse y-take on honde,(250)
  • Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse,
  • And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse.350
• • ‘We shul first feyne us cristendom to take,
  • Cold water shal not greve us but a lyte;
  • And I shal swich a feste and revel make,
  • That, as I trowe, I shal the sowdan quyte.
  • For though his wyf be cristned never so whyte,355
  • She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede,
  • Thogh she a font-ful water with hir lede.’
• • O sowdanesse, rote of iniquitee,(260)
  • Virago, thou Semyram the secounde,
  • O serpent under femininitee,360
  • Lyk to the serpent depe in helle y-bounde,
  • O feyned womman, al that may confounde
  • Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malyce,
  • Is bred in thee, as nest of every vyce!
• • O Satan, envious sin thilke day365
  • That thou were chased from our heritage,
  • Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way!
  • Thou madest Eva bringe us in servage.(270)
  • Thou wolt fordoon this cristen mariage.
  • Thyn instrument so, weylawey the whyle!370
  • Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt begyle.
• • This sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warie,
  • Leet prively hir conseil goon hir way.
  • What sholde I in this tale lenger tarie?
  • She rydeth to the sowdan on a day,375
  • And seyde him, that she wolde reneye hir lay,
  • And cristendom of preestes handes fonge,
  • Repenting hir she hethen was so longe,(280)
• • Biseching him to doon hir that honour,
  • That she moste han the cristen men to feste;380
  • ‘To plesen hem I wol do my labour.’
  • The sowdan seith, ‘I wol don at your heste,’
  • And kneling thanketh hir of that requeste.
  • So glad he was, he niste what to seye;
  • She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth hir weye.385

Explicit prima pars. Sequitur pars secunda.

• • Arryved ben this cristen folk to londe,
  • In Surrie, with a greet solempne route,
  • And hastily this sowdan sente his sonde,(290)
  • First to his moder, and al the regne aboute,
  • And seyde, his wyf was comen, out of doute,390
  • And preyde hir for to ryde agayn the quene,
  • The honour of his regne to sustene.
• • Gret was the prees, and riche was tharray
  • Of Surriens and Romayns met y-fere;
  • The moder of the sowdan, riche and gay,395
  • Receyveth hir with al-so glad a chere
  • As any moder mighte hir doghter dere,
  • And to the nexte citee ther bisyde(300)
  • A softe pas solempnely they ryde.
• • Noght trowe I the triumphe of Iulius,400
  • Of which that Lucan maketh swich a bost,
  • Was royaller, ne more curious
  • Than was thassemblee of this blisful host.
  • But this scorpioun, this wikked gost,
  • The sowdanesse, for al hir flateringe,405
  • Caste under this ful mortally to stinge.
• • The sowdan comth him-self sone after this
  • So royally, that wonder is to telle,(310)
  • And welcometh hir with alle Ioye and blis.
  • And thus in merthe and Ioye I lete hem dwelle.410
  • The fruyt of this matere is that I telle.
  • Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste
  • That revel stinte, and men goon to hir reste.
• • The tyme cam, this olde sowdanesse
  • Ordeyned hath this feste of which I tolde,415
  • And to the feste cristen folk hem dresse
  • In general, ye! bothe yonge and olde.
  • Here may men feste and royaltee biholde,(320)
  • And deyntees mo than I can yow devyse,
  • But al to dere they boughte it er they ryse.420
• • O sodeyn wo! that ever art successour
  • To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse;
  • Thende of the Ioye of our worldly labour;
  • Wo occupieth the fyn of our gladnesse.
  • Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse,425
  • Up-on thy glade day have in thy minde
  • The unwar wo or harm that comth bihinde.
• • For shortly for to tellen at o word,(330)
  • The sowdan and the cristen everichone
  • Ben al to-hewe and stiked at the bord,430
  • But it were only dame Custance allone.
  • This olde sowdanesse, cursed crone,
  • Hath with hir frendes doon this cursed dede,
  • For she hir-self wolde al the contree lede.
• • Ne ther was Surrien noon that was converted435
  • That of the conseil of the sowdan woot,
  • That he nas al to-hewe er he asterted.
  • And Custance han they take anon, foot-hoot,(340)
  • And in a shippe al sterelees, god woot,
  • They han hir set, and bidde hir lerne sayle440
  • Out of Surrye agaynward to Itayle.
• • A certein tresor that she thider ladde,
  • And, sooth to sayn, vitaille gret plentee
  • They han hir yeven, and clothes eek she hadde,
  • And forth she sayleth in the salte see.445
  • O my Custance, ful of benignitee,
  • O emperoures yonge doghter dere,
  • He that is lord of fortune be thy stere!(350)
• • She blesseth hir, and with ful pitous voys
  • Un-to the croys of Crist thus seyde she,450
  • ‘O clere, o welful auter, holy croys,
  • Reed of the lambes blood full of pitee,
  • That wesh the world fro the olde iniquitee,
  • Me fro the feend, and fro his clawes kepe,
  • That day that I shal drenchen in the depe.455
• • Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe,
  • That only worthy were for to bere
  • The king of heven with his woundes newe,(360)
  • The whyte lamb, that hurt was with the spere,
  • Flemer of feendes out of him and here460
  • On which thy limes feithfully extenden,
  • Me keep, and yif me might my lyf tamenden.’
• • Yeres and dayes fleet this creature
  • Thurghout the see of Grece un-to the strayte
  • Of Marrok, as it was hir aventure;465
  • On many a sory meel now may she bayte;
  • After her deeth ful often may she wayte,
  • Er that the wilde wawes wole hir dryve(370)
  • Un-to the place, ther she shal arryve.
• • Men mighten asken why she was not slayn?470
  • Eek at the feste who mighte hir body save?
  • And I answere to that demaunde agayn,
  • Who saved Daniel in the horrible cave,
  • Ther every wight save he, maister and knave,
  • Was with the leoun frete er he asterte?475
  • No wight but god, that he bar in his herte.
• • God liste to shewe his wonderful miracle
  • In hir, for we sholde seen his mighty werkes;(380)
  • Crist, which that is to every harm triacle,
  • By certein menes ofte, as knowen clerkes,480
  • Doth thing for certein ende that ful derk is
  • To mannes wit, that for our ignorance
  • Ne conne not knowe his prudent purveyance.
• • Now, sith she was not at the feste y-slawe,
  • Who kepte hir fro the drenching in the see?485
  • Who kepte Ionas in the fisshes mawe
  • Til he was spouted up at Ninivee?
  • Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he(390)
  • That kepte peple Ebraik fro hir drenchinge,
  • With drye feet thurgh-out the see passinge.490
• • Who bad the foure spirits of tempest,
  • That power han tanoyen land and see,
  • ‘Bothe north and south, and also west and est,
  • Anoyeth neither see, ne land, ne tree?’
  • Sothly, the comaundour of that was he,495
  • That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte
  • As wel whan [that] she wook as whan she slepte.
• • Wher mighte this womman mete and drinke have?(400)
  • Three yeer and more how lasteth hir vitaille?
  • Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the cave,500
  • Or in desert? no wight but Crist, sans faille.
  • Fyve thousand folk it was as gret mervaille
  • With loves fyve and fisshes two to fede.
  • God sente his foison at hir grete nede.
• • She dryveth forth in-to our occean505
  • Thurgh-out our wilde see, til, atte laste,
  • Under an hold that nempnen I ne can,
  • Fer in Northumberlond the wawe hir caste,(410)
  • And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste,
  • That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde,510
  • The wille of Crist was that she shulde abyde.
• • The constable of the castel doun is fare
  • To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte,
  • And fond this wery womman ful of care;
  • He fond also the tresor that she broghte.515
  • In hir langage mercy she bisoghte
  • The lyf out of hir body for to twinne,
  • Hir to delivere of wo that she was inne.(420)
• • A maner Latin corrupt was hir speche,
  • But algates ther by was she understonde;520
  • The constable, whan him list no lenger seche,
  • This woful womman broghte he to the londe;
  • She kneleth doun, and thanketh goddes sonde.
  • But what she was, she wolde no man seye,
  • For foul ne fair, though that she shulde deye.525
• • She seyde, she was so mased in the see
  • That she forgat hir minde, by hir trouthe;
  • The constable hath of hir so greet pitee,(430)
  • And eek his wyf, that they wepen for routhe,
  • She was so diligent, with-outen slouthe,530
  • To serve and plesen everich in that place,
  • That alle hir loven that loken on hir face.
• • This constable and dame Hermengild his wyf
  • Were payens, and that contree every-where;
  • But Hermengild lovede hir right as hir lyf,535
  • And Custance hath so longe soiourned there,
  • In orisons, with many a bitter tere,
  • Til Iesu hath converted thurgh his grace(440)
  • Dame Hermengild, constablesse of that place.
• • In al that lond no cristen durste route,540
  • Alle cristen folk ben fled fro that contree
  • Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute
  • The plages of the North, by land and see;
  • To Walis fled the cristianitee
  • Of olde Britons, dwellinge in this yle;545
  • Ther was hir refut for the mene whyle.
• • But yet nere cristen Britons so exyled
  • That ther nere somme that in hir privetee(450)
  • Honoured Crist, and hethen folk bigyled;
  • And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three.550
  • That oon of hem was blind, and mighte nat see
  • But it were with thilke yën of his minde,
  • With whiche men seen, after that they ben blinde.
• • Bright was the sonne as in that someres day,
  • For which the constable and his wyf also555
  • And Custance han y-take the righte way
  • Toward the see, a furlong wey or two,
  • To pleyen and to romen to and fro;(460)
  • And in hir walk this blinde man they mette
  • Croked and old, with yën faste y-shette.560
• • ‘In name of Crist,’ cryde this blinde Britoun,
  • ‘Dame Hermengild, yif me my sighte agayn.’
  • This lady wex affrayed of the soun,
  • Lest that hir housbond, shortly for to sayn,
  • Wolde hir for Iesu Cristes love han slayn,565
  • Til Custance made hir bold, and bad hir werche
  • The wil of Crist, as doghter of his chirche.
• • The constable wex abasshed of that sight,(470)
  • And seyde, ‘what amounteth al this fare?’
  • Custance answerde, ‘sire, it is Cristes might,570
  • That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare.’
  • And so ferforth she gan our lay declare,
  • That she the constable, er that it were eve,
  • Converted, and on Crist made him bileve.
• • This constable was no-thing lord of this place575
  • Of which I speke, ther he Custance fond,
  • But kepte it strongly, many wintres space,
  • Under Alla, king of al Northumberlond,(480)
  • That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond
  • Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel here,580
  • But turne I wol agayn to my matere.
• • Sathan, that ever us waiteth to bigyle,
  • Saugh of Custance al hir perfeccioun,
  • And caste anon how he mighte quyte hir whyle,
  • And made a yong knight, that dwelte in that toun,585
  • Love hir so hote, of foul affeccioun,
  • That verraily him thoughte he shulde spille
  • But he of hir mighte ones have his wille.(490)
• • He woweth hir, but it availleth noght,
  • She wolde do no sinne, by no weye;590
  • And, for despyt, he compassed in his thoght
  • To maken hir on shamful deth to deye.
  • He wayteth whan the constable was aweye,
  • And prively, up-on a night, he crepte
  • In Hermengildes chambre whyl she slepte.595
• • Wery, for-waked in her orisouns,
  • Slepeth Custance, and Hermengild also.
  • This knight, thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns,(500)
  • Al softely is to the bed y-go,
  • And kitte the throte of Hermengild a-two,600
  • And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance,
  • And wente his wey, ther god yeve him meschance!
• • Sone after comth this constable hoom agayn,
  • And eek Alla, that king was of that lond,
  • And saugh his wyf despitously y-slayn,605
  • For which ful ofte he weep and wrong his hond,
  • And in the bed the blody knyf he fond
  • By dame Custance; allas! what mighte she seye?(510)
  • For verray wo hir wit was al aweye.
• • To king Alla was told al this meschance,610
  • And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wyse
  • That in a ship was founden dame Custance,
  • As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse.
  • The kinges herte of pitee gan agryse,
  • Whan he saugh so benigne a creature615
  • Falle in disese and in misaventure.
• • For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght,
  • So stant this innocent bifore the king;(520)
  • This false knight that hath this tresoun wroght
  • Berth hir on hond that she hath doon this thing.620
  • But nathelees, ther was greet moorning
  • Among the peple, and seyn, ‘they can not gesse
  • That she hath doon so greet a wikkednesse.
• • For they han seyn hir ever so vertuous,
  • And loving Hermengild right as her lyf.’625
  • Of this bar witnesse everich in that hous
  • Save he that Hermengild slow with his knyf.
  • This gentil king hath caught a gret motyf(530)
  • Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere
  • Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere.630
• • Allas! Custance! thou hast no champioun,
  • Ne fighte canstow nought, so weylawey!
  • But he, that starf for our redempcioun
  • And bond Sathan (and yit lyth ther he lay)
  • So be thy stronge champioun this day!635
  • For, but-if Crist open miracle kythe,
  • Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swythe.
• • She sette her doun on knees, and thus she sayde,(540)
  • ‘Immortal god, that savedest Susanne
  • Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde,640
  • Mary I mene, doghter to Seint Anne,
  • Bifore whos child aungeles singe Osanne,
  • If I be giltlees of this felonye,
  • My socour be, for elles I shal dye!’
• • Have ye nat seyn som tyme a pale face,645
  • Among a prees, of him that hath be lad
  • Toward his deeth, wher-as him gat no grace,
  • And swich a colour in his face hath had,(550)
  • Men mighte knowe his face, that was bistad,
  • Amonges alle the faces in that route:650
  • So stant Custance, and loketh hir aboute.
• • O quenes, livinge in prosperitee,
  • Duchesses, and ye ladies everichone,
  • Haveth som routhe on hir adversitee;
  • An emperoures doghter stant allone;655
  • She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone.
  • O blood royal, that stondest in this drede,
  • Fer ben thy freendes at thy grete nede!(560)
• • This Alla king hath swich compassioun,
  • As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee,660
  • That from his yën ran the water doun.
  • ‘Now hastily do fecche a book,’ quod he,
  • ‘And if this knight wol sweren how that she
  • This womman slow, yet wole we us avyse
  • Whom that we wole that shal ben our Iustyse.’665
• • A Briton book, writen with Evangyles,
  • Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon
  • She gilty was, and in the mene whyles(570)
  • A hand him smoot upon the nekke-boon,
  • That doun he fil atones as a stoon,670
  • And bothe his yën broste out of his face
  • In sight of every body in that place.
• • A vois was herd in general audience,
  • And seyde, ‘thou hast desclaundred giltelees
  • The doghter of holy chirche in hey presence;675
  • Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees.’
  • Of this mervaille agast was al the prees;
  • As mased folk they stoden everichone,(580)
  • For drede of wreche, save Custance allone.
• • Greet was the drede and eek the repentance680
  • Of hem that hadden wrong suspeccioun
  • Upon this sely innocent Custance;
  • And, for this miracle, in conclusioun,
  • And by Custances mediacioun,
  • The king, and many another in that place,685
  • Converted was, thanked be Cristes grace!
• • This false knight was slayn for his untrouthe
  • By Iugement of Alla hastifly;(590)
  • And yet Custance hadde of his deeth gret routhe.
  • And after this Iesus, of his mercy,690
  • Made Alla wedden ful solempnely
  • This holy mayden, that is so bright and shene,
  • And thus hath Crist y-maad Custance a quene.
• • But who was woful, if I shal nat lye,
  • Of this wedding but Donegild, and na mo,695
  • The kinges moder, ful of tirannye?
  • Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast a-two;
  • She wolde noght hir sone had do so;(600)
  • Hir thoughte a despit, that he sholde take
  • So strange a creature un-to his make.700
• • Me list nat of the chaf nor of the stree
  • Maken so long a tale, as of the corn.
  • What sholde I tellen of the royaltee
  • At mariage, or which cours gooth biforn,
  • Who bloweth in a trompe or in an horn?705
  • The fruit of every tale is for to seye;
  • They ete, and drinke, and daunce, and singe, and pleye.
• • They goon to bedde, as it was skile and right;(610)
  • For, thogh that wyves been ful holy thinges,
  • They moste take in pacience at night710
  • Swich maner necessaries as been plesinges
  • To folk that han y-wedded hem with ringes,
  • And leye a lyte hir holinesse asyde
  • As for the tyme; it may no bet bityde.
• • On hir he gat a knave-child anoon,715
  • And to a bishop and his constable eke
  • He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is goon
  • To Scotland-ward, his fo-men for to seke;(620)
  • Now faire Custance, that is so humble and meke,
  • So longe is goon with childe, til that stille720
  • She halt hir chambre, abyding Cristes wille.
• • The tyme is come, a knave-child she ber;
  • Mauricius at the font-stoon they him calle;
  • This Constable dooth forth come a messager,
  • And wroot un-to his king, that cleped was Alle,725
  • How that this blisful tyding is bifalle,
  • And othere tydings speedful for to seye;
  • He takth the lettre, and forth he gooth his weye.(630)
• • This messager, to doon his avantage,
  • Un-to the kinges moder rydeth swythe,730
  • And salueth hir ful faire in his langage,
  • ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘ye may be glad and blythe,
  • And thanke god an hundred thousand sythe;
  • My lady quene hath child, with-outen doute,
  • To Ioye and blisse of al this regne aboute.735
• • Lo, heer the lettres seled of this thing,
  • That I mot bere with al the haste I may;
  • If ye wol aught un-to your sone the king,(640)
  • I am your servant, bothe night and day.’
  • Donegild answerde, ‘as now at this tyme, nay;740
  • But heer al night I wol thou take thy reste,
  • Tomorwe wol I seye thee what me leste.’
• • This messager drank sadly ale and wyn,
  • And stolen were his lettres prively
  • Out of his box, whyl he sleep as a swyn;745
  • And countrefeted was ful subtilly
  • Another lettre, wroght ful sinfully,
  • Un-to the king direct of this matere(650)
  • Fro his constable, as ye shul after here.
• • The lettre spak, ‘the queen delivered was750
  • Of so horrible a feendly creature,
  • That in the castel noon so hardy was
  • That any whyle dorste ther endure.
  • The moder was an elf, by aventure
  • Y-come , by charmes or by sorcerye,755
  • And every wight hateth hir companye.’
• • Wo was this king whan he this lettre had seyn,
  • But to no wighte he tolde his sorwes sore,(660)
  • But of his owene honde he wroot ageyn,
  • ‘Welcome the sonde of Crist for evermore760
  • To me, that am now lerned in his lore;
  • Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce,
  • My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce!
• • Kepeth this child, al be it foul or fair,
  • And eek my wyf, un-to myn hoom-cominge;765
  • Crist, whan him list, may sende me an heir
  • More agreable than this to my lykinge.’
  • This lettre he seleth, prively wepinge,(670)
  • Which to the messager was take sone,
  • And forth he gooth; ther is na more to done.770
• • O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse,
  • Strong is thy breeth, thy limes faltren ay,
  • And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse.
  • Thy mind is lorn, thou Ianglest as a Iay,
  • Thy face is turned in a newe array!775
  • Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route,
  • Ther is no conseil hid, with-outen doute.
• • O Donegild, I ne have noon English digne(680)
  • Un-to thy malice and thy tirannye!
  • And therfor to the feend I thee resigne,780
  • Let him endyten of thy traitorye!
  • Fy, mannish, fy! o nay, by god, I lye,
  • Fy, feendly spirit, for I dar wel telle,
  • Though thou heer walke, thy spirit is in helle!
• • This messager comth fro the king agayn,785
  • And at the kinges modres court he lighte,
  • And she was of this messager ful fayn,
  • And plesed him in al that ever she mighte.(690)
  • He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte.
  • He slepeth, and he snoreth in his gyse790
  • Al night, un-til the sonne gan aryse.
• • Eft were his lettres stolen everichon
  • And countrefeted lettres in this wyse;
  • ‘The king comandeth his constable anon,
  • Up peyne of hanging, and on heigh Iuÿse,795
  • That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse
  • Custance in-with his regne for tabyde
  • Thre dayes and a quarter of a tyde;(700)
• • But in the same ship as he hir fond,
  • Hir and hir yonge sone, and al hir gere,800
  • He sholde putte, and croude hir fro the lond,
  • And charge hir that she never eft come there.’
  • O my Custance, wel may thy goost have fere
  • And sleping in thy dreem been in penance,
  • When Donegild caste al this ordinance!805
• • This messager on morwe, whan he wook,
  • Un-to the castel halt the nexte wey,
  • And to the constable he the lettre took;(710)
  • And whan that he this pitous lettre sey,
  • Ful ofte he seyde ‘allas!’ and ‘weylawey!’810
  • ‘Lord Crist,’ quod he, ‘how may this world endure?
  • So ful of sinne is many a creature!
• • O mighty god, if that it be thy wille,
  • Sith thou art rightful Iuge, how may it be
  • That thou wolt suffren innocents to spille,815
  • And wikked folk regne in prosperitee?
  • O good Custance, allas! so wo is me
  • That I mot be thy tormentour, or deye(720)
  • On shames deeth; ther is noon other weye!’
• • Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place,820
  • Whan that the king this cursed lettre sente,
  • And Custance, with a deedly pale face,
  • The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente.
  • But natheles she taketh in good entente
  • The wille of Crist, and, kneling on the stronde,825
  • She seyde, ‘lord! ay wel-com be thy sonde!
• • He that me kepte fro the false blame
  • Whyl I was on the londe amonges yow,(730)
  • He can me kepe from harme and eek fro shame
  • In salte see, al-thogh I se nat how.830
  • As strong as ever he was, he is yet now.
  • In him triste I, and in his moder dere,
  • That is to me my seyl and eek my stere.’
• • Hir litel child lay weping in hir arm,
  • And kneling, pitously to him she seyde,835
  • ‘Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee non harm.’
  • With that hir kerchef of hir heed she breyde,
  • And over his litel yën she it leyde;(740)
  • And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste,
  • And in-to heven hir yën up she caste.840
• • ‘Moder,’ quod she, ‘and mayde bright, Marye,
  • Sooth is that thurgh wommannes eggement
  • Mankind was lorn and damned ay to dye,
  • For which thy child was on a croys y-rent;
  • Thy blisful yën sawe al his torment;845
  • Than is ther no comparisoun bitwene
  • Thy wo and any wo man may sustene.
• • Thou sawe thy child y-slayn bifor thyn yën,(750)
  • And yet now liveth my litel child, parfay!
  • Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryën,850
  • Thou glorie of wommanhede, thou faire may,
  • Thou haven of refut, brighte sterre of day,
  • Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse
  • Rewest on every rewful in distresse!
• • O litel child, allas! what is thy gilt,855
  • That never wroughtest sinne as yet, pardee,
  • Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt?
  • O mercy, dere Constable!’ quod she;(760)
  • ‘As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee;
  • And if thou darst not saven him, for blame,860
  • So kis him ones in his fadres name!’
• • Ther-with she loketh bakward to the londe,
  • And seyde, ‘far-wel, housbond routhelees!’
  • And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde
  • Toward the ship; hir folweth al the prees,865
  • And ever she preyeth hir child to holde his pees;
  • And taketh hir leve, and with an holy entente
  • She blesseth hir; and in-to ship she wente.(770)
• • Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede,
  • Habundantly for hir, ful longe space,870
  • And other necessaries that sholde nede
  • She hadde y-nogh, heried be goddes grace!
  • For wind and weder almighty god purchace,
  • And bringe hir hoom! I can no bettre seye;
  • But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye.875

Explicit secunda pars. Sequitur pars tercia.

• • Alla the king comth hoom, sone after this,
  • Unto his castel of the which I tolde,
  • And axeth wher his wyf and his child is.(780)
  • The constable gan aboute his herte colde,
  • And pleynly al the maner he him tolde880
  • As ye han herd, I can telle it no bettre,
  • And sheweth the king his seel and [eek] his lettre,
• • And seyde, ‘lord, as ye comaunded me
  • Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein.’
  • This messager tormented was til he885
  • Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and plein,
  • Fro night to night, in what place he had leyn.
  • And thus, by wit and subtil enqueringe,(790)
  • Ymagined was by whom this harm gan springe.
• • The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot,890
  • And al the venim of this cursed dede,
  • But in what wyse, certeinly I noot.
  • Theffect is this, that Alla, out of drede,
  • His moder slow, that men may pleinly rede,
  • For that she traitour was to hir ligeaunce.895
  • Thus endeth olde Donegild with meschaunce.
• • The sorwe that this Alla, night and day,
  • Maketh for his wyf and for his child also,(800)
  • Ther is no tonge that it telle may.
  • But now wol I un-to Custance go,900
  • That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo,
  • Fyve yeer and more, as lyked Cristes sonde,
  • Er that hir ship approched un-to londe.
• • Under an hethen castel, atte laste,
  • Of which the name in my text noght I finde,905
  • Custance and eek hir child the see up-caste.
  • Almighty god, that saveth al mankinde,
  • Have on Custance and on hir child som minde,(810)
  • That fallen is in hethen land eft-sone,
  • In point to spille, as I shal telle yow sone.910
• • Doun from the castel comth ther many a wight
  • To gauren on this ship and on Custance.
  • But shortly, from the castel, on a night,
  • The lordes styward—god yeve him meschaunce!—
  • A theef, that had reneyed our creaunce,915
  • Com in-to ship allone, and seyde he sholde
  • Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde.
• • Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon,(820)
  • Hir child cryde, and she cryde pitously;
  • But blisful Marie heelp hir right anon;920
  • For with hir strugling wel and mightily
  • The theef fil over bord al sodeinly,
  • And in the see he dreynte for vengeance;
  • And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance.
• • O foule lust of luxurie! lo, thyn ende!

    Auctor.925

  • Nat only that thou feyntest mannes minde,
  • But verraily thou wolt his body shende;
  • Thende of thy werk or of thy lustes blinde(830)
  • Is compleyning, how many-oon may men finde
  • That noght for werk som-tyme, but for thentente930
  • To doon this sinne, ben outher sleyn or shente!
• • How may this wayke womman han this strengthe
  • Hir to defende agayn this renegat?
  • O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe,
  • How mighte David make thee so mat,935
  • So yong and of armure so desolat?
  • How dorste he loke up-on thy dredful face?
  • Wel may men seen, it nas but goddes grace!(840)
• • Who yaf Iudith corage or hardinesse
  • To sleen him, Olofernus, in his tente,940
  • And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse
  • The peple of god? I seye, for this entente,
  • That, right as god spirit of vigour sente
  • To hem, and saved hem out of meschance,
  • So sente he might and vigour to Custance.945
• • Forth goth hir ship thurgh-out the narwe mouth
  • Of Iubaltar and Septe, dryving ay,
  • Som-tyme West, som-tyme North and South,(850)
  • And som-tyme Est, ful many a wery day,
  • Til Cristes moder (blessed be she ay!)950
  • Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse,
  • To make an ende of al hir hevinesse.
• • Now lat us stinte of Custance but a throwe,
  • And speke we of the Romain Emperour,
  • That out of Surrie hath by lettres knowe955
  • The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour
  • Don to his doghter by a fals traitour,
  • I mene the cursed wikked sowdanesse,(860)
  • That at the feste leet sleen both more and lesse.
• • For which this emperour hath sent anoon960
  • His senatour, with royal ordinance,
  • And othere lordes, got wot, many oon,
  • On Surriens to taken heigh vengeance.
  • They brennen, sleen, and bringe hem to meschance
  • Ful many a day; but shortly, this is thende,965
  • Homward to Rome they shapen hem to wende.
• • This senatour repaireth with victorie
  • To Rome-ward, sayling ful royally,(870)
  • And mette the ship dryving, as seith the storie,
  • In which Custance sit ful pitously.970
  • No-thing ne knew he what she was, ne why
  • She was in swich array; ne she nil seye
  • Of hir estaat, althogh she sholde deye.
• • He bringeth hir to Rome, and to his wyf
  • He yaf hir, and hir yonge sone also;975
  • And with the senatour she ladde her lyf.
  • Thus can our lady bringen out of wo
  • Woful Custance, and many another mo.(880)
  • And longe tyme dwelled she in that place,
  • In holy werkes ever, as was hir grace.980
  • The senatoures wyf hir aunte was,
  • But for al that she knew hir never the more;
  • I wol no lenger tarien in this cas,
  • But to king Alla, which I spak of yore,
  • That for his wyf wepeth and syketh sore,985
  • I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance
  • Under the senatoures governance.
• • King Alla, which that hadde his moder slayn,(890)
  • Upon a day fil in swich repentance,
  • That, if I shortly tellen shal and plain,990
  • To Rome he comth, to receyven his penance;
  • And putte him in the popes ordinance
  • In heigh and low, and Iesu Crist bisoghte
  • Foryeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte.
• • The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is born,995
  • How Alla king shal come in pilgrimage,
  • By herbergeours that wenten him biforn;
  • For which the senatour, as was usage,(900)
  • Rood him ageyn , and many of his linage,
  • As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence1000
  • As to don any king a reverence.
• • Greet chere dooth this noble senatour
  • To king Alla, and he to him also;
  • Everich of hem doth other greet honour;
  • And so bifel that, in a day or two,1005
  • This senatour is to king Alla go
  • To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye,
  • Custances sone wente in his companye.(910)
• • Som men wolde seyn, at requeste of Custance,
  • This senatour hath lad this child to feste;1010
  • I may nat tellen every circumstance,
  • Be as be may, ther was he at the leste.
  • But soth is this, that, at his modres heste,
  • Biforn Alla, during the metes space,
  • The child stood, loking in the kinges face.1015
• • This Alla king hath of this child greet wonder,
  • And to the senatour he seyde anon,
  • ‘Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder?’(920)
  • ‘I noot,’ quod he, ‘by god, and by seint Iohn!
  • A moder he hath, but fader hath he non1020
  • That I of woot’—but shortly, in a stounde,
  • He tolde Alla how that this child was founde.
• • ‘But god wot,’ quod this senatour also,
  • ‘So vertuous a livere in my lyf,
  • Ne saugh I never as she, ne herde of mo1025
  • Of worldly wommen, mayden, nor of wyf;
  • I dar wel seyn hir hadde lever a knyf
  • Thurgh-out her breste, than been a womman wikke;(930)
  • Ther is no man coude bringe hir to that prikke.’
• • Now was this child as lyk un-to Custance1030
  • As possible is a creature to be.
  • This Alla hath the face in remembrance
  • Of dame Custance, and ther-on mused he
  • If that the childes moder were aught she
  • That was his wyf, and prively he sighte,1035
  • And spedde him fro the table that he mighte.
• • ‘Parfay,’ thoghte he, ‘fantome is in myn heed!
  • I oghte deme, of skilful Iugement,(940)
  • That in the salte see my wyf is deed.’
  • And afterward he made his argument—1040
  • ‘What woot I, if that Crist have hider y-sent
  • My wyf by see, as wel as he hir sente
  • To my contree fro thennes that she wente?’
• • And, after noon, hoom with the senatour
  • Goth Alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce.1045
  • This senatour dooth Alla greet honour,
  • And hastifly he sente after Custaunce.
  • But trusteth weel, hir liste nat to daunce(950)
  • Whan that she wiste wherefor was that sonde.
  • Unnethe up-on hir feet she mighte stonde.1050
• • When Alla saugh his wyf, faire he hir grette,
  • And weep, that it was routhe for to see.
  • For at the firste look he on hir sette
  • He knew wel verraily that it was she.
  • And she for sorwe as domb stant as a tree;1055
  • So was hir herte shet in hir distresse
  • Whan she remembred his unkindenesse.
• • Twyës she swowned in his owne sighte;(960)
  • He weep, and him excuseth pitously:—
  • ‘Now god,’ quod he, ‘and alle his halwes brighte1060
  • So wisly on my soule as have mercy,
  • That of your harm as giltelees am I
  • As is Maurice my sone so lyk your face;
  • Elles the feend me fecche out of this place!’
• • Long was the sobbing and the bitter peyne1065
  • Er that hir woful hertes mighte cesse;
  • Greet was the pitee for to here hem pleyne,
  • Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse.(970)
  • I prey yow al my labour to relesse;
  • I may nat telle hir wo un-til tomorwe,1070
  • I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.
• • But fynally, when that the sooth is wist
  • That Alla giltelees was of hir wo,
  • I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist,
  • And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two1075
  • That, save the Ioye that lasteth evermo,
  • Ther is non lyk, that any creature
  • Hath seyn or shal, whyl that the world may dure.(980)
• • Tho preyde she hir housbond mekely,
  • In relief of hir longe pitous pyne,1080
  • That he wold preye hir fader specially
  • That, of his magestee, he wolde enclyne
  • To vouche-sauf som day with him to dyne;
  • She preyde him eek, he sholde by no weye
  • Un-to hir fader no word of hir seye.1085
• • Som men wold seyn, how that the child Maurice
  • Doth this message un-to this emperour;
  • But, as I gesse, Alla was nat so nyce(990)
  • To him, that was of so sovereyn honour
  • As he that is of cristen folk the flour,1090
  • Sente any child, but it is bet to deme
  • He wente him-self, and so it may wel seme.
• • This emperour hath graunted gentilly
  • To come to diner, as he him bisoghte;
  • And wel rede I, he loked bisily1095
  • Up-on this child, and on his doghter thoghte.
  • Alla goth to his in, and, as him oghte,
  • Arrayed for this feste in every wyse(1000)
  • As ferforth as his conning may suffyse.
• • The morwe cam, and Alla gan him dresse,1100
  • And eek his wyf, this emperour to mete;
  • And forth they ryde in Ioye and in gladnesse.
  • And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete,
  • She lighte doun, and falleth him to fete.
  • ‘Fader,’ quod she, ‘your yonge child Custance1105
  • Is now ful clene out of your remembrance.
• • I am your doghter Custance,’ quod she,
  • ‘That whylom ye han sent un-to Surrye.(1010)
  • It am I, fader, that in the salte see
  • Was put allone and dampned for to dye.1110
  • Now, gode fader, mercy I yow crye,
  • Send me namore un-to non hethenesse,
  • But thonketh my lord heer of his kindenesse.’
• • Who can the pitous Ioye tellen al
  • Bitwix hem three, sin they ben thus y-mette?1115
  • But of my tale make an ende I shal;
  • The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.
  • This glade folk to diner they hem sette;(1020)
  • In Ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle
  • A thousand fold wel more than I can telle.1120
• • This child Maurice was sithen emperour
  • Maad by the pope, and lived cristenly.
  • To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour;
  • But I lete al his storie passen by,
  • Of Custance is my tale specially.1125
  • In olde Romayn gestes may men finde
  • Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in minde.
• • This king Alla, whan he his tyme sey,(1030)
  • With his Custance, his holy wyf so swete,
  • To Engelond been they come the righte wey,1130
  • Wher-as they live in Ioye and in quiete.
  • But litel whyl it lasteth, I yow hete,
  • Ioye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde;
  • Fro day to night it changeth as the tyde.
• • Who lived ever in swich delyt o day1135
  • That him ne moeved outher conscience,
  • Or ire, or talent, or som kin affray,
  • Envye, or pryde, or passion, or offence?(1040)
  • I ne seye but for this ende this sentence,
  • That litel whyl in Ioye or in plesance1140
  • Lasteth the blisse of Alla with Custance.
• • For deeth, that taketh of heigh and low his rente,
  • When passed was a yeer, even as I gesse,
  • Out of this world this king Alla he hente,
  • For whom Custance hath ful gret hevinesse.1145
  • Now lat us preyen god his soule blesse!
  • And dame Custance, fynally to seye,
  • Towards the toun of Rome gooth hir weye.(1050)
• • To Rome is come this holy creature,
  • And fyndeth ther hir frendes hole and sounde:1150
  • Now is she scaped al hir aventure;
  • And whan that she hir fader hath y-founde,
  • Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde;
  • Weping for tendrenesse in herte blythe,
  • She herieth god an hundred thousand sythe.1155
• • In vertu and in holy almes-dede
  • They liven alle, and never a-sonder wende;
  • Til deeth departed hem, this lyf they lede.(1060)
  • And fareth now weel, my tale is at an ende.
  • Now Iesu Crist, that of his might may sende1160
  • Ioye after wo, governe us in his grace,
  • And kepe us alle that ben in this place! Amen.

Here endeth the Tale of the Man of Lawe; and next folweth the Shipmannes Prolog.

[150. ]E. And; rest But.

[153. ]E. swich a wyse; the rest omit a.

[212. ]Hl. Cp. argumentes.

[220. ]Cm. om. that.

[255. ]E. ynough; Hn. Cp. Hl. ynowe; Cm. Ln. Inowe.

[282. ]E. goon; rest anon.

[283. ]E. sauacioun; rest redempcioun.

[289. ]Cm. at; rest om. (Or means ere, and brende is intransitive.)

[290. ]E. Hn. Cm. Nat (for Ne at); Hl. Ne at.

[306. ]E. Hn. Cp. fieble.

[316. ]E. come; rest brought.

[330. ]E. she seyde; rest quod she.

[333. ]Cp. Pt. Ln. messager; Hl. messanger; see note.

[385. ]E. hoome; Hn. Cm. hom.

[402. ]E. or; rest ne. E. curius.

[411. ]E. Cm. Cp. matiere; Hn. Pt. matere.

[413. ]E. The; rest That.

[418. ]E. bihold.

[423. ]So Cm.; rest The ende.

[428. ]E. soothly; rest shortly.

[432. ]Pt. Hl. this cursed; rest omit this.

[435. ]E. omits ther.

[440. ]Hn. Cm. bidde; Cp. Pt. bidden; Ln. beden; E. biddeth; Hl. bad.

[442. ]E. with hire; rest thider.

[451. ]E. woful; rest welful, wilful, weleful.

[453. ]E. wesshe; Cm. wesch; Pt. wessh.

[462. ]Cm. Ln. kep; Hn. Pt. Hl. kepe; Cp. keepe; E. helpe.

[463. ]E. fleteth; but Hn. Cp Pt. fleet.

[469. ]Read placë; Hl. alone inserts as after ther.

[473. ]Hl. thorrible.

[489. ]Pt. Ln. om. hir.

[497. ]I insert that; Hl. awok.

[531. ]MSS. plese.

[532. ]E. Cm. in; rest on.

[536. ]soiourned] Hl. herberwed.

[553. ]E. whan; rest after.

[561. ]E. olde; Hl. old; rest blynde, blynd.

[574. ]Hl. Cm. Conuerted; rest Conuerteth. E. maketh; Ln. maad; rest made.

[598. ]E. Hn. Sathans; Hl. Satanas; but Sathanas in Cp. Pt. Ln.

[606. ]E. Hn. weep; Cm. Cp. Pt. wepte; Hl. wept. E. wroong.

[620. ]So in E.; rest Bereth.

[621. ]All moorning (mornyng); Tyrwhitt has murmuring; see note.

[626. ]E. baar.

[638. ]E. sit; Hn. Cm. Pt. sette; Hl. set.

[644. ]E. or; rest for.

[647. ]gat] Cp. get; Pt. gete; Hl. geyneth.

[654. ]E. Ln. om. ye.

[701. ]Cm. nor; E. or; rest ne.

[704. ]E. Hn. mariages; Ln. þe mariage; rest mariage; Hl. Of mariage.

[705. ]a] E. the; Hn. Pt. omit.

[728. ]Hn. tath; Cm. taath; rest taketh.

[733. ]Cp. Hl. thanke; E. Hn. thanketh; Cm. thankede; Pt. Ln. thonketh.

[735. ]E. Cm. to; rest of.

[740. ]Hl. om. at.

[750. ]MSS. queene, queen.

[755. ]E. Hn. Cm. Y-comen.

[756. ]E. Hn. om. wight; Hl. man.

[791. ]Hl. vn-to; Pt. to; rest til; but vn-til (as in Tyrwhitt) seems better.

[795. ]So E. Hn.; Cm. and heigh; Cp. on a heih; Pt. on an high; Hl. of an heigh; Ln. or an hihe.

[797. ]regne] E. Reawme.

[819. ]shames] Hl. schamful.

[823. ]E. Ln. the; rest hir.

[837. ]Ln. Hl. kerchef; Pt. keerchef; E. Hn. couerchief; Cm. couerchif; Cp. couerchef. E. Hn. Cm. ouer (wrongly); rest of.

[849. ]E. Ln. om. litel; rest have it.

[861. ]E. Yet; rest So.

[862. ]E. Ln. Hl. looked; rest looketh, loketh.

[868. ]Hn. Pt. Hl. blesseth; Cm. Cp. Ln. blisseth; E. blissed.

[882. ]The word eek seems wanted; but is not in the MSS.

[903. ]So Hn. Cp. Pt. Hl.; E. Ln. vn-to the; Cm. to the.

[907. ]E. saued; rest saueth.

[916. ]E. Cm. in-to the; rest omit the.

[920. ]E. Hn. heelp; Hl. hilp; Cm. Cp. halp; Pt. halpe; Ln. helped.

[938. ]E. Hl. nas; Ln. is; the rest was.

[940. ]E. Oloferne; Hl. Olefernes; the rest Olofernus, Olefernus, or Olesphernus; see note.

[947. ]E. alway; rest ay. (The latter is better, but recurs in l. 950.)

[948. ]All but Hl. ins. and after West.

[971. ]E. Cm. om. ne before knew; the rest have it.

[973. ]Hl. although; Pt. though that; rest thogh, though, thow.

[985. ]E. puts wepeth after That.

[995. ]E. thurgh out the toun; rest thurgh Rome toun.

[996. ]E. Hn. Cp. Pt. comen.

[999. ]E. Hn. agayns.

[1026. ]Hl. Cm. Ln. mayden; rest mayde. Cm. nor; Hl. Ln. or; rest ne.

[1041. ]E. haue; rest hath. E. ysent; Cm. I-sent; rest sent.

[1047. ]E. Pt. hastifly; rest hastily, hastely.

[1060. ]Hl. alle; which the rest omit.

[1074. ]Hl. they ben.

[1084. ]E. wolde; rest sholde.

[1107. ]So in all the MSS.; to be read as Cústancë (three syllables).

[1126. ]E. Hn. Cm. In the; rest om. the

[1137. ]E. som kynnes; Cm. sumkenys; Hl. som maner; Hn. Cp. Pt. som kyn; Ln. sumkin.

[1146. ]E. praye to; Hl. pray that; rest preyen, prayen, preien, or preyne.

[1150. ]Hl. And fynt hir freendes ther bothe hool and sound. The rest omit ther.