The Introduction to the Man of Law's Tale 1: Oure hooste saugh wel that the brighte sonne 2: The ark of his artificial day hath ronne 3: The ferthe part, and half an houre and moore, 4: And though he were nat depe ystert in loore, 5: He wiste it was the eightetethe day 6: Of aprill, that is messager to may; 7: And saugh wel that the shadwe of every tree 8: Was as in lengthe the same quantitee 9: That was the body erect that caused it. 10: And therfore by the shadwe he took his wit 11: That phebus, which that shoon so clere and brighte, 12: Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on highte; 13: And for that day, as in that latitude, 14: It was ten of the clokke, he gan conclude, 15: And sodeynly he plighte his hors aboute. 16: Lordynges, quod he, I warne yow, al this route, 17: The fourthe party of this day is gon. 18: Now, for the love of God and of seint john, 19: Leseth no tyme, as ferforth as ye may. 20: Lordynges, the tyme wasteth nyght and day, 21: And steleth from us, what pryvely slepynge, 22: And what thurgh necligence in oure wakynge, 23: As dooth the streem that turneth nevere agayn, 24: Descendynge fro the montaigne into playn. 25: Wel kan senec and many a philosophre 26: Biwaillen tyme moore than gold in cofre; 27: For -- los of catel may recovered be, 28: But los of tyme shendeth us, -- quod he. 29: It wol nat come agayn, withouten drede, 30: Namoore than wole malkynes maydenhede, 31: Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse. 32: Lat us nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse. 33: Sire man of lawe, quod he, so have ye blis, 34: Telle us a tale anon, as forward is. 35: Ye been submytted, thurgh youre free assent, 36: To stonden in this cas at my juggement. 37: Acquiteth yow now of youre biheeste; 38: Thanne have ye do youre devoir atte leeste. 39: Hooste, quod he, depardieux, ich assente; 40: To breke forward is nat myn entente. 41: Biheste is dette, and I wole holde fayn 42: Al my biheste, I kan no bettre sayn. 43: For swich lawe as a man yeveth another wight, 44: He sholde hymselven usen it, by right; 45: Thus wole oure text. But nathelees, certeyn, 46: I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn 47: That chaucer, thogh he kan but lewedly 48: On metres and on rymyng craftily, 49: Hath seyd hem in swich englissh as he kan 50: Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man; 51: And if he have noght seyd hem, leve brother, 52: In o book, he hath seyd hem in another. 53: For he hath toold of loveris up and doun 54: Mo than ovide made of mencioun 55: In his episteles, that been ful olde. 56: What sholde I tellen hem, syn they been tolde? 57: In youthe he made of ceys and alcione, 58: And sitthen hath he spoken of everichone, 59: Thise noble wyves and thise loveris eke. 60: Whoso that wole his large volume seke, 61: Cleped the seintes legende of cupide, 62: Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde 63: Of lucresse, and of babilan tesbee; 64: The swerd of dido for the false enee; 65: The tree of phillis for hire demophon; 66: The pleinte of dianire and of hermyon, 67: Of adriane, and of isiphilee; 68: The bareyne yle stondynge in the see; 69: The dreynte leandre for his erro; 70: The teeris of eleyne, and eek the wo 71: Of brixseyde, and of the, ladomya; 72: The crueltee of the, queene medea, 73: Thy litel children hangynge by the hals, 74: For thy jason, that was of love so fals! 75: O ypermystra, penelopee, alceste, 76: Youre wifhod he comendeth with the beste! 77: But certeinly no word ne writeth he 78: Of thilke wikke ensample of canacee, 79: That loved hir owene brother synfully; 80: Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy!) 81: Or ellis of tyro appollonius, 82: How that the cursed kyng antiochus 83: Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede, 84: That is so horrible a tale for to rede, 85: Whan he hir threw upon the pavement. 86: And therfore he, of ful avysement, 87: Nolde nevere write in none of his sermons 88: Of swiche unkynde abhomynacions, 89: Ne I wol noon reherce, if that I may. 90: But of my tale how shal I doon this day? 91: Me were looth be likned, doutelees, 92: To muses that men clepe pierides -- 93: Methamorphosios woot what I mene; 94: But nathelees, I recche noght a bene 95: Though I come after hym with hawebake. 96: I speke in prose, and lat him rymes make. 97: And with that word he, with a sobre cheere, 98: Bigan his tale, as ye shal after heere. The Man of Law's Prologue 99: O hateful harm, condicion of poverte! 100: With thurst, with coold, with hunger so confoundid! 101: To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte; 102: If thou noon aske, with nede artow so woundid 103: That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid! 104: Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indigence 105: Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence! 106: Thow blamest crist, and seist ful bitterly, 107: He mysdeparteth richesse temporal; 108: Thy neighebor thou wytest synfully, 109: And seist thou hast to lite, and he hath al. 110: 0parfay, seistow, somtyme he rekene shal, 111: Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede, 112: For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir neede. 113: Herkne what is the sentence of the wise: 114: Bet is to dyen than have indigence; 115: Thy selve neighebor wol thee despise. 116: If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence! 117: Yet of the wise man take this sentence: 118: Alle the dayes of povre men been wikke. 119: Be war, therfore, er thou come to that prikke! 120: If thou be povre, thy brother hateth thee, 121: And alle thy freendes fleen from thee, allas! 122: O riche marchauntz, ful of wele been yee, 123: O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas! 124: Youre bagges been nat fild with ambes as, 125: But with sys cynk, that renneth for youre chaunce; 126: At cristemasse myrie may ye daunce! 127: Ye seken lond and see for yowre wynnynges; 128: As wise folk ye knowen al th' estaat 129: Of regnes; ye been fadres of tidynges 130: And tales, bothe of pees and of debaat. 131: I were right now of tales desolaat, 132: Nere that a marchant, goon is many a yeere, 133: Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal heere. The Man of Law's Tale 134: In surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye 135: Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe, 136: That wyde-where senten hir spicerye, 137: Clothes of gold, and satyns riche of hewe. 138: Hir chaffare was so thrifty and so newe 139: That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare 140: With hem, and eek to sellen hem hire ware. 141: Now fil it that the maistres of that sort 142: Han shapen hem to rome for to wende; 143: Were it for chapmanhod or for disport, 144: Noon oother message wolde they thider sende, 145: But comen hemself to rome, this is the ende; 146: And in swich place as thoughte hem avantage 147: For hire entente, they take hir herbergage. 148: Sojourned han thise merchantz in that toun 149: A certein tyme, as fil to hire plesance. 150: And so bifel that th' excellent renoun 151: Of the emperoures doghter, dame custance, 152: Reported was, with every circumstance, 153: Unto thise surryen marchantz in swich wyse. 154: Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse. 155: This was the commune voys of every man: 156: Oure emperour of rome -- God hym see! -- 157: A doghter hath that, syn the world bigan, 158: To rekene as wel hir goodnesse as beautee, 159: Nas nevere swich another as is shee. 160: I prey to God in honour hire susteene, 161: And wolde she were of al europe the queene. 162: In hire is heigh beautee, withoute pride, 163: Yowthe, withoute grenehede or folye; 164: To alle hire werkes vertu is hir gyde; 165: Humblesse hath slayn in hire al tirannye. 166: She is mirour of alle curteisye; 167: Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse, 168: Hir hand, ministre of fredam for almesse. 169: And al this voys was sooth, as God is trewe. 170: But now to purpos lat us turne agayn. 171: Thise marchantz han doon fraught hir shippes newe, 172: And whan they han this blisful mayden sayn, 173: Hoom to surrye been they went ful fayn, 174: And doon hir nedes as they han doon yoore, 175: And lyven in wele; I kan sey yow namoore. 176: Now fil it that thise marchantz stode in grace 177: Of hym that was the sowdan of surrye; 178: For whan they cam from any strange place, 179: He wolde, of his benigne curteisye, 180: Make hem good chiere, and bisily espye 181: Tidynges of sondry regnes, for to leere 182: The wondres that they myghte seen or heere. 183: Amonges othere thynges, specially, 184: Thise marchantz han hym toold of dame custance 185: So greet noblesse in ernest, ceriously, 186: That this sowdan hath caught so greet plesance 187: To han hir figure in his remembrance, 188: That al his lust and al his bisy cure 189: Was for to love hire while his lyf may dure. 190: Paraventure in thilke large book 191: Which that men clepe the hevene ywriten was 192: With sterres, whan that he his birthe took, 193: That he for love sholde han his deeth, allas! 194: For in the sterres, clerer than is glas, 195: Is writen, God woot, whoso koude it rede, 196: The deeth of every man, withouten drede. 197: In sterres, many a wynter therbiforn, 198: Was writen the deeth of ector, achilles, 199: Of pompei, julius, er they were born; 200: The strif of thebes; and of ercules, 201: Of sampson, turnus, and of socrates 202: The deeth; but mennes wittes ben so dulle 203: That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle. 204: This sowdan for his privee conseil sente, 205: And, shortly of this matiere for to pace, 206: He hath to hem declared his entente, 207: And seyde hem, certein, but he myghte have grace 208: To han custance withinne a litel space, 209: He nas but deed; and charged hem in hye 210: To shapen for his lyf som remedye. 211: Diverse men diverse thynges seyden; 212: They argumenten, casten up and doun; 213: Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden; 214: They speken of magyk and abusioun. 215: But finally, as in conclusioun, 216: They kan nat seen in that noon avantage, 217: Ne in noon oother wey, save mariage. 218: Thanne sawe they therinne swich difficultee 219: By wey of reson, for to speke al playn, 220: By cause that ther was swich diversitee 221: Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn 222: They trowe, that no cristen prince wolde fayn 223: Wedden his child under oure lawe sweete 224: That us was taught by mahoun, oure prophete. 225: And he answerde, rather than I lese 226: Custance, I wol be cristned, doutelees. 227: I moot been hires, I may noon oother chese. 228: I prey yow hoold youre argumentz in pees; 229: Saveth my lyf, and beth noght recchelees 230: To geten hire that hath my lyf in cure; 231: For in this wo I may nat longe endure. 232: What nedeth gretter dilatacioun? 233: I seye, by tretys and embassadrie, 234: And by the popes mediacioun, 235: And al the chirche, and al the chivalrie, 236: That in destruccioun of mawmettrie, 237: And in encrees of cristes lawe deere, 238: They been acorded, so as ye shal heere: 239: How that the sowdan and his baronage 240: And alle his liges sholde ycristned be, 241: And he shal han custance in mariage, 242: And certein gold, I noot what quantitee; 243: And heer-to founden sufficient suretee. 244: This same accord was sworn on eyther syde; 245: Now, faire custance, almyghty God thee gyde! 246: Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse, 247: That I sholde tellen al the purveiance 248: That th' emperour, of his grete noblesse, 249: Hath shapen for his doghter, dame custance. 250: Wel may men knowen that so greet ordinance 251: May no man tellen in a litel clause 252: As was arrayed for so heigh a cause. 253: Bisshopes been shapen with hire for to wende, 254: Lordes, ladies, knyghtes of renoun, 255: And oother folk ynowe, this is th' ende; 256: And notified is thurghout the toun 257: That every wight, with greet devocioun, 258: Sholde preyen crist that he this mariage 259: Receyve in gree, and spede this viage. 260: The day is comen of hir departynge; 261: I seye, the woful day fatal is come, 262: That ther may be no lenger tariynge, 263: But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some. 264: Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome, 265: Ful pale arist, and dresseth hire to wende; 266: For wel she seeth ther is noon oother ende. 267: Allas! what wonder is it thogh she wepte, 268: That shal be sent to strange nacioun 269: Fro freendes that so tendrely hire kepte, 270: And to be bounden under subjeccioun 271: Of oon, she knoweth nat his condicioun? 272: Housbondes been alle goode, and han ben yoore; 273: That knowen wyves; I dar sey yow na moore. 274: Fader, she seyde, thy wrecched child custance, 275: Thy yonge doghter fostred up so softe, 276: And ye, my mooder, my soverayn plesance 277: Over alle thyng, out-taken crist on-lofte, 278: Custance youre child hire recomandeth ofte 279: Unto youre grace, for I shal to surrye, 280: Ne shal I nevere seen yow moore with ye. 281: Allas! unto the barbre nacioun 282: I moste anoon, syn that it is youre wille; 283: But crist, that starf for our redempcioun 284: So yeve me grace his heestes to fulfille! 285: I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille! 286: Wommen are born to thraldom and penance, 287: And to been under mannes governance. 288: I trowe at troye, whan pirrus brak the wal, 289: Or ilion brende, at thebes the citee, 290: N' at rome, for the harm thurgh hanybal 291: That romayns hath venquysshed tymes thre, 292: Nas herd swich tendre wepyng for pitee 293: As in the chambre was for hire departynge; 294: But forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or synge. 295: O firste moevyng! crueel firmament, 296: With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay 297: And hurlest al from est til occident 298: That naturelly wolde holde another way, 299: Thy crowdyng set the hevene in swich array 300: At the bigynnyng of this fiers viage, 301: That crueel mars hath slayn this mariage. 302: Infortunat ascendent tortuous, 303: Of which the lord is helplees falle, allas, 304: Out of his angle into the derkeste hous! 305: O mars, o atazir, as in this cas! 306: O fieble moone, unhappy been thy paas! 307: Thou knyttest thee ther thou art nat receyved; 308: Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow weyved. 309: Imprudent emperour of rome, allas! 310: Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun? 311: Is no tyme bet than oother in swich cas? 312: Of viage is ther noon eleccioun, 313: Namely to folk of heigh condicioun? 314: Noght whan a roote is of a burthe yknowe? 315: Allas, we been to lewed or to slowe! 316: To shippe is brought this woful faire mayde 317: Solempnely, with every circumstance. 318: Now jhesu crist be with yow alle! she sayde; 319: Ther nys namoore, but farewel, faire custance! 320: She peyneth hire to make good contenance; 321: And forth I lete hire saille in this manere, 322: And turne I wole agayn to my matere. 323: The mooder of the sowdan, welle of vices, 324: Espied hath hir sones pleyn entente, 325: How he wol lete his olde sacrifices; 326: And right anon she for hir conseil sente, 327: And they been come to knowe what she mente. 328: And whan assembled was this folk in-feere, 329: She sette hire doun, and seyde as ye shal heere. 330: Lordes, quod she, ye knowen everichon, 331: How that my sone in point is for to lete 332: The hooly lawes of our alkaron, 333: Yeven by goddes message makomete. 334: But oon avow to grete God I heete, 335: The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte 336: Or makometes lawe out of myn herte! 337: What sholde us tyden of this newe lawe 338: But thraldom to oure bodies and penance, 339: And afterward in helle to be drawe, 340: For we reneyed mahoun oure creance? 341: But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance, 342: As I shal seyn, assentynge to my loore, 343: And I shal make us sauf for everemoore? 344: They sworen and assenten, every man, 345: To lyve with hire and dye, and by hire stonde, 346: And everich, in the beste wise he kan, 347: To strengthen hire shal alle his frendes fonde; 348: And she hath this emprise ytake on honde, 349: Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse, 350: And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse: 351: We shul first feyne us cristendom to take, -- 352: Coold water shal nat greve us but a lite! 353: And I shal swich a feeste and revel make 354: That, as I trowe, I shal the sowdan quite. 355: For thogh his wyf be cristned never so white, 356: She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede, 357: Thogh she a font-ful water with hire lede. 358: O sowdanesse, roote of iniquitee! 359: Virago, thou semyrame the secounde! 360: O serpent under femynynytee, 361: Lik to the serpent depe in helle ybounde! 362: O feyned womman, al that may confounde 363: Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malice, 364: Is bred in thee, as nest of every vice! 365: O sathan, envious syn thilke day 366: That thou were chaced from oure heritage, 367: Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way! 368: Thou madest eva brynge us in servage; 369: Thou wolt fordoon this cristen mariage. 370: Thyn instrument so, weylawey the while! 371: Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt bigile. 372: This sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warye, 373: Leet prively hire conseil goon hire way. 374: What sholde I in this tale lenger tarye? 375: She rydeth to the sowdan on a day, 376: And seyde hym that she wolde reneye hir lay, 377: And cristendom of preestes handes fonge, 378: Repentynge hire she hethen was so longe; 379: Bisechynge hym to doon hire that honour, 380: That she moste han the cristen folk to feeste, -- 381: To plesen hem I wol do my labour. 382: The sowdan seith, I wol doon at youre heeste; 383: And knelynge thanketh hire of that requeste. 384: So glad he was, he nyste what to seye. 385: She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth hir weye. 386: Arryved been this cristen folk to londe 387: In surrye, with a greet solempne route, 388: And hastifliche this sowdan sente his sonde, 389: First to his mooder, and al the regne aboute, 390: And seyde his wyf was comen, out of doute, 391: And preyde hire for to ryde agayn the queene, 392: The honour of his regne to susteene. 393: Greet was the prees, and riche was th' array 394: Of surryens and romayns met yfeere; 395: The mooder of the sowdan, riche and gay, 396: Receyveth hire with also glad a cheere 397: As any mooder myghte hir doghter deere, 398: And to the nexte citee ther bisyde 399: A softe paas solempnely they ryde. 400: Noght trowe I the triumphe of julius, 401: Of which that lucan maketh swich a boost, 402: Was roialler ne moore curius 403: Than was th' assemblee of this blisful hoost. 404: But this scorpioun, this wikked goost, 405: The sowdanesse, for al hire flaterynge, 406: Caste under this ful mortally to stynge. 407: The sowdan comth hymself soone after this 408: So roially, that wonder is to telle, 409: And welcometh hire with alle joye and blis. 410: And thus in murthe and joye I lete hem dwelle; 411: The fryt of this matiere is that I telle. 412: Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste 413: That revel stynte, and men goon to hir reste. 414: The tyme cam this olde sowdanesse 415: Ordeyned hath this feeste of which I tolde, 416: And to the feeste cristen folk hem dresse 417: In general, ye, bothe yonge and olde. 418: Heere may men feeste and roialtee biholde, 419: And deyntees mo than I kan yow devyse; 420: But al to deere they boghte it er they ryse. 421: O sodeyn wo, that evere art successour 422: To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse! 423: The ende of the joye of oure worldly labour! 424: Wo occupieth the fyn of oure gladnesse. 425: Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse: 426: Upon thy glade day have in thy mynde 427: The unwar wo or harm that comth bihynde. 428: For shortly for to tellen, at o word, 429: The sowdan and the cristen everichone 430: Been al tohewe and stiked at the bord, 431: But it were oonly dame custance allone. 432: This olde sowdanesse, cursed krone, 433: Hath with hir freendes doon this cursed dede, 434: For she hirself wolde al the contree lede. 435: Ne ther was surryen noon that was converted, 436: That of the conseil of the sowdan woot, 437: That he nas al tohewe er he asterted. 438: And custance han they take anon, foot-hoot, 439: And in a ship al steerelees, God woot, 440: They han hir set, and bidde hire lerne saille 441: Out of surrye agaynward to ytaille. 442: A certein tresor that she thider ladde, 443: And, sooth to seyn, vitaille greet plentee 444: They han hire yeven, and clothes eek she hadde, 445: And forth she sailleth in the salte see. 446: O my custance, ful of benignytee, 447: O emperoures yonge doghter deere, 448: He that is lord of fortune be thy steere! 449: She blesseth hire, and with ful pitous voys 450: Unto the croys of crist thus seyde she: 451: O cleere, o welful auter, hooly croys, 452: Reed of the lambes blood ful of pitee, 453: That wessh the world fro the olde iniquitee, 454: Me fro the feend and fro his clawes kepe, 455: That day that I shal drenchen in the depe. 456: Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe, 457: That oonly worthy were for to bere 458: The kyng of hevene with his woundes newe, 459: The white lamb, that hurt was with a spere, 460: Flemere of feendes out of hym and here 461: On which thy lymes feithfully extenden, 462: Me kepe, and yif me myght my lyf t' amenden. 463: Yeres and dayes fleet this creature 464: Thurghout the see of grece unto the strayte 465: Of marrok, as it was hire aventure. 466: On many a sory meel now may she bayte; 467: After hir deeth ful often may she wayte, 468: Er that the wilde wawes wol hire dryve 469: Unto the place ther she shal arryve. 470: Men myghten asken why she was nat slayn 471: Eek at the feeste? who myghte hir body save? 472: And I answere to that demande agayn, 473: Who saved danyel in the horrible cave 474: Ther every wight save he, maister and knave, 475: Was with the leon frete er he asterte? 476: No wight but god, that he bar in his herte. 477: God liste to shewe his wonderful myracle 478: In hire, for we sholde seen his myghty werkis; 479: Crist, which that is to every harm triacle, 480: By certeine meenes ofte, as knowen clerkis, 481: Dooth thyng for certein ende that ful derk is 482: To mannes wit, that for oure ignorance 483: Ne konne noght knowe his prudent purveiance. 484: Now sith she was nat at the feeste yslawe, 485: Who kepte hire fro the drenchyng in the see? 486: Who kepte jonas in the fisshes mawe 487: Til he was spouted up at nynyvee? 488: Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he 489: That kepte peple ebrayk from hir drenchynge, 490: With drye feet thurghout the see passynge. 491: Who bad the foure spirites of tempest 492: That power han t' anoyen lond and see, 493: Bothe north and south, and also west and est, 494: Anoyeth, neither see, ne land, ne tree? 495: Soothly, the comandour of that was he 496: That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte 497: As wel whan she wook as whan she slepte. 498: Where myghte this womman mete and drynke have 499: Thre yeer and moore? how lasteth hire vitaille? 500: Who fedde the egipcien marie in the cave, 501: Or in desert? no wight but crist, sanz faille. 502: Fyve thousand folk it was as greet mervaille 503: With loves fyve and fisshes two to feede. 504: God sente his foyson at hir grete neede. 505: She dryveth forth into oure occian 506: Thurghout oure wilde see, til atte laste 507: Under an hoold that nempnen I ne kan, 508: Fer in northhumberlond the wawe hire caste, 509: And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste 510: That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde; 511: The wyl of crist was that she sholde abyde. 512: The constable of the castel doun is fare 513: To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte, 514: And foond this wery womman ful of care; 515: He foond also the tresor that she broghte. 516: In hir langage mercy she bisoghte, 517: The lyf out of hir body for to twynne, 518: Hire to delivere of wo that she was inne. 519: A maner latyn corrupt was hir speche, 520: But algates therby was she understonde. 521: The constable, whan hym lyst no longer seche, 522: This woful womman broghte he to the londe. 523: She kneleth doun and thanketh goddes sonde; 524: But what she was she wolde no man seye, 525: For foul ne fair, thogh that she sholde deye. 526: She seyde she was so mazed in the see 527: That she forgat hir mynde, by hir trouthe. 528: The constable hath of hire so greet pitee, 529: And eek his wyf, that they wepen for routhe. 530: She was so diligent, withouten slouthe, 531: To serve and plesen everich in that place, 532: That alle hir loven that looken in hir face. 533: This constable and dame hermengyld, his, wyf, 534: Were payens, and that contree everywhere; 535: But hermengyld loved hire right as hir lyf, 536: And custance hath so longe sojourned there, 537: In orisons, with many a bitter teere, 538: Til jhesu hath converted thurgh his grace 539: Dame hermengyld, constablesse of that place. 540: In al that lond no cristen dorste route; 541: Alle cristen folk been fled fro that contree 542: Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute 543: The plages of the north, by land and see. 544: To walys fledde the cristyanytee 545: Of olde britons dwellynge in this ile; 546: Ther was hir refut for the meene while. 547: But yet nere cristene britons so exiled 548: That ther nere somme that in hir privetee 549: Honoured crist and hethen folk bigiled, 550: And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three. 551: That oon of hem was blynd and myghte nat see, 552: But it were with thilke eyen of his mynde 553: With whiche men seen, after that they ben blynde. 554: Bright was the sonne as in that someres day, 555: For which the constable and his wyf also 556: And custance han ytake the righte way 557: Toward the see a furlong wey or two, 558: To pleyen and to romen to and fro; 559: And in hir walk this blynde man they mette, 560: Croked and oold, with eyen faste yshette. 561: In name of crist, cride this blinde britoun, 562: Dame hermengyld, yif me my sighte agayn! 563: This lady weex affrayed of the soun, 564: Lest that hir housbonde, shortly for to sayn, 565: Wolde hire for jhesu cristes love han slayn, 566: Til custance made hire boold, and bad hire wirche 567: The wyl of crist, as doghter of his chirche. 568: The constable weex abasshed of that sight, 569: And seyde, what amounteth al this fare? 570: Custance answerde, sire, it is cristes myght, 571: That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare. 572: And so ferforth she gan oure lay declare 573: That she the constable, er that it was eve 574: Converted, and on crist made hym bileve. 575: This constable was nothyng lord of this place 576: Of which I speke, ther he custance fond, 577: But kepte it strongly many a wyntres space 578: Under alla, kyng of al northhumbrelond, 579: That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond 580: Agayn the scottes, as men may wel heere; 581: But turne I wole agayn to my mateere. 582: Sathan, that evere us waiteth to bigile, 583: Saugh of custance al hire perfeccioun, 584: And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while, 585: And made a yong knyght that dwelte in that toun 586: Love hire so hoote, of foul affeccioun, 587: That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille, 588: But he of hire myghte ones have his wille. 589: He woweth hire, but it availleth noght; 590: She wolde do no synne, by no weye. 591: And for despit he compassed in his thoght 592: To maken hire on shameful deeth to deye. 593: He wayteth whan the constable was aweye, 594: And pryvely upon a nyght he crepte 595: In hermengyldes chambre, whil she slepte. 596: Wery, forwaked in hire orisouns, 597: Slepeth custance, and hermengyld also. 598: This knyght, thurgh sathanas temptaciouns, 599: Al softely is to the bed ygo, 600: And kitte the throte of hermengyld atwo, 601: And leyde the blody knyf by dame custance, 602: And wente his wey, ther God yeve hym meschance! 603: Soone after cometh this constable hoom agayn, 604: And eek alla, that kyng was of that lond, 605: And saugh his wyf despitously yslayn, 606: For which ful ofte he weep and wroong his hond, 607: And in the bed the blody knyf he fond 608: By dame custance. Allas! what myghte she seye? 609: For verray wo hir wit was al aweye. 610: To kyng alla was toold al this meschance, 611: And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wise 612: That in a ship was founden this custance, 613: As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse. 614: The kynges herte of pitee gan agryse, 615: Whan he saugh so benigne a creature 616: Falle in disese and in mysaventure. 617: For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght, 618: So stant this innocent bifore the kyng. 619: This false knyght, that hath this tresoun wroght, 620: Berth hire on hond that she hath doon thys thyng. 621: But nathelees, ther was greet moornyng 622: Among the peple, and seyn they kan nat gesse 623: That she had doon so greet a wikkednesse; 624: For they han seyn hire evere so vertuous, 625: And lovynge hermengyld right as hir lyf. 626: Of this baar witnesse everich in that hous, 627: Save he that hermengyld slow with his knyf. 628: This gentil kyng hath caught a greet motyf 629: Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere 630: Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere. 631: Allas! custance, thou hast no champioun, 632: Ne fighte kanstow noght, so weylaway! 633: But he that starf for our redempcioun, 634: And boond sathan (and yet lith ther he lay), 635: So be thy stronge champion this day! 636: For, but if crist open myracle kithe, 637: Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe. 638: She sette hire doun on knees, and thus she sayde: 639: Immortal god, that savedest susanne 640: Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde, 641: Marie I meene, doghter to seint anne, 642: Bifore whos child angeles synge osanne, 643: If I be giltlees of this felonye, 644: My socour be, for ellis shal I dye! 645: Have ye nat seyn somtyme a pale face, 646: Among a prees, of hym that hath be lad 647: Toward his deeth, wher as hym gat no grace, 648: And swich a colour in his face hath had, 649: Men myghte knowe his face that was bistad, 650: Amonges alle the faces in that route? 651: So stant custance, and looketh hire aboute. 652: O queenes, lyvynge in prosperitee, 653: Duchesses, and ye ladyes everichone, 654: Haveth som routhe on hire adversitee! 655: An emperoures doghter stant allone; 656: She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone. 657: O blood roial, that stondest in this drede, 658: Fer been thy freendes at thy grete nede! 659: This alla kyng hath swich compassioun, 660: As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee, 661: That from his eyen ran the water doun. 662: Now hastily do fecche a book, quod he, 663: And if this knyght wol sweren how that she 664: This womman slow, yet wol we us avyse 665: Whom that we wole that shal been oure justise. 666: A britoun book, written with evaungiles, 667: Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon 668: She gilty was, and in the meene whiles 669: An hand hym smoot upon the nekke-boon, 670: That doun he fil atones as a stoon, 671: And bothe his eyen broste out of his face 672: In sighte of every body in that place. 673: A voys was herd in general audience, 674: And seyde, thou hast desclaundred, giltelees, 675: The doghter of hooly chirche in heigh presence; 676: Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees! 677: Of this mervaille agast was al the prees; 678: As mazed folk they stoden everichone, 679: For drede of wreche, save custance allone. 680: Greet was the drede and eek the repentance 681: Of hem that hadden wrong suspecioun 682: Upon this sely innocent, custance; 683: And for this miracle, in conclusioun, 684: And by custances mediacioun, 685: The kyng -- and many another in that place -- 686: Converted was, thanked be cristes grace! 687: This false knyght was slayn for his untrouthe 688: By juggement of alla hastifly; 689: And yet custance hadde of his deeth greet routhe. 690: And after this jhesus, of his mercy, 691: Made alla wedden ful solempnely 692: This hooly mayden, that is so bright and sheene; 693: And thus hath crist ymaad custance a queene. 694: But who was woful, if I shal nat lye, 695: Of this weddyng but donegild, and namo, 696: The kynges mooder, ful of tirannye? 697: Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast atwo. 698: She wolde noght hir sone had do so; 699: Hir thoughte a despit that he sholde take 700: So strange a creature unto his make. 701: Me list nat of the chaf, ne of the stree, 702: Maken so long a tale as of the corn. 703: What sholde I tellen of the roialtee 704: At mariage, or which cours goth biforn; 705: Who bloweth in a trumpe or in an horn? 706: The fruyt of every tale is for to seye: 707: They ete, and drynke, and daunce, and synge, and pleye. 708: They goon to bedde, as it was skile and right; 709: For thogh that wyves be ful hooly thynges, 710: They moste take in pacience at nyght 711: Swiche manere necessaries as been plesynges 712: To folk that han ywedded hem with rynges, 713: And leye a lite hir hoolynesse aside, 714: As for the tyme, -- it may no bet bitide. 715: On hire he gat a knave child anon, 716: And to a bisshop, and his constable eke, 717: He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is gon 718: To scotlond-ward, his foomen for to seke. 719: Now faire custance, that is so humble and meke, 720: So longe is goon with childe, til that stille 721: She halt hire chambre, abidyng cristes wille. 722: The tyme is come a knave child she beer; 723: Mauricius at the fontstoon they hym calle. 724: This constable dooth forth come a messageer, 725: And wroot unto his kyng, that cleped was alle, 726: How that this blisful tidyng is bifalle, 727: And othere tidynges spedeful for to seye. 728: He taketh the lettre, and forth he gooth his weye. 729: This messager, to doon his avantage, 730: Unto the kynges mooder rideth swithe, 731: And salueth hire ful faire in his langage: 732: Madame, quod he, ye may be glad and blithe, 733: And thanketh God an hundred thousand sithe! 734: My lady queene hath child, withouten doute, 735: To joye and blisse to al this regne aboute. 736: Lo, heere the lettres seled of this thyng, 737: That I moot bere with al the haste I may. 738: If ye wol aught unto youre sone the kyng, 739: I am youre servant, bothe nyght and day. 740: Donegild answerde, as now at this tyme, nay; 741: But heere al nyght I wol thou take thy reste. 742: To-morwe wol I seye thee what me leste. 743: This messager drank sadly ale and wyn, 744: And stolen were his lettres pryvely 745: Out of his box, whil he sleep as a swyn; 746: And countrefeted was ful subtilly 747: Another lettre, wroght ful synfully, 748: Unto the kyng direct of this mateere 749: Fro his constable, as ye shal after heere. 750: The lettre spak the queene delivered was 751: Of so horrible a feendly creature 752: That in the castel noon so hardy was 753: That any while dorste ther endure. 754: The mooder was an elf, by aventure 755: Ycomen, by charmes or by sorcerie, 756: And every wight hateth hir compaignye. 757: Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had sayn, 758: But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore, 759: But of his owene hand he wroot agayn, 760: Welcome the sonde of crist for everemoore 761: To me that am now lerned in his loore! 762: Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce; 763: My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce. 764: Kepeth this child, al be it foul or feir, 765: And eek my wyf, unto myn hoom-comynge. 766: Crist, whan hym list, may sende me an heir 767: Moore agreable than this to my likynge. 768: This lettre he seleth, pryvely wepynge, 769: Which to the messager was take soone, 770: And forth he gooth; ther is na moore to doone. 771: O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse, 772: Strong is thy breeth, thy lymes faltren ay, 773: And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse. 774: Thy mynde is lorn, thou janglest as a jay, 775: Thy face is turned in a newe array. 776: Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route, 777: Ther is no conseil hyd, withouten doute. 778: O donegild, I ne have noon englissh digne 779: Unto thy malice and thy tirannye! 780: And therfore to the feend I thee resigne; 781: Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie! 782: Fy, mannysh, fy! -- o nay, by god, I lye -- 783: Fy, feendlych spirit, for I dar wel telle, 784: Thogh thou heere walke, thy spirit is in helle! 785: This messager comth fro the kyng agayn, 786: And at the kynges moodres court he lighte, 787: And she was of this messager ful fayn, 788: And plesed hym in al that ever she myghte. 789: He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte; 790: He slepeth, and he fnorteth in his gyse 791: Al nyght, til the sonne gan aryse. 792: Eft were his lettres stolen everychon, 793: And countrefeted lettres in this wyse: 794: The king comandeth his constable anon, 795: Up peyne of hangyng, and on heigh juyse, 796: That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse 797: Custance in-with his reawme for t' abyde 798: Thre dayes and o quarter of a tyde; 799: But in the same ship as he hire fond, 800: Hire, and hir yonge sone, and al hir geere, 801: He sholde putte, and croude hire fro the lond, 802: And charge hire that she never eft coome theere. 803: O my custance, wel may thy goost have feere, 804: And, slepynge, in thy dreem been in penance, 805: Whan donegild cast al this ordinance. 806: This messager on morwe, whan he wook, 807: Unto the castel halt the nexte way, 808: And to the constable he the lettre took; 809: And whan that he this pitous lettre say, 810: Ful ofte he seyde, allas! and weylaway! 811: Lord crist, quod he, how may this world endure, 812: So ful of synne is many a creature? 813: O myghty god, if that it be thy wille, 814: Sith thou art rightful juge, how may it be 815: That thou wolt suffren innocentz to spille, 816: And wikked folk regne in prosperitee? 817: O goode custance, allas! so wo is me 818: That I moot be thy tormentour, or deye 819: On shames deeth; ther is noon oother weye. 820: Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place 821: Whan that the kyng this cursed lettre sente, 822: And custance, with a deedly pale face, 823: The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente. 824: But nathelees she taketh in good entente 825: The wyl of crist, and knelynge on the stronde, 826: She seyde, lord, ay welcome be thy sonde! 827: He that me kepte fro the false blame 828: While I was on the lond amonges yow, 829: He kan me kepe from harm and eek fro shame 830: In salte see, althogh I se noght how. 831: As strong as evere he was, he is yet now. 832: In hym triste I, and in his mooder deere, 833: That is to me my seyl and eek my steere. 834: Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm, 835: And knelynge, pitously to hym she seyde, 836: Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee noon harm. 837: With that hir coverchief of hir heed she breyde, 838: And over his litel eyen she it leyde, 839: And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste, 840: And into hevene hire eyen up she caste. 841: Mooder, quod she, and mayde bright, marie, 842: Sooth is that thurgh wommanes eggement 843: Mankynde was lorn, and damned ay to dye, 844: For which thy child was on a croys yrent. 845: Thy blisful eyen sawe al his torment; 846: Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene 847: Thy wo and any wo man may sustene. 848: Thow sawe thy child yslayn bifore thyne yen, 849: And yet now lyveth my litel child, parfay! 850: Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryen, 851: Thow glorie of wommanhede, thow faire may, 852: Thow haven of refut, brighte sterre of day, 853: Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse, 854: Rewest on every reweful in distresse. 855: O litel child, allas! what is thy gilt, 856: That nevere wroghtest synne as yet, pardee? 857: Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt? 858: O mercy, deere constable, quod she, 859: As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee; 860: And if thou darst nat saven hym, for blame, 861: So kys hym ones in his fadres name! 862: Therwith she looked bakward to the londe, 863: And seyde, farewel, housbonde routhelees! 864: And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde 865: Toward the ship, -- hir folweth al the prees, -- 866: And evere she preyeth hire child to holde his pees; 867: And taketh hir leve, and with an hooly entente 868: She blisseth hire, and into ship she wente. 869: Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede, 870: Habundantly for hire ful longe space, 871: And othere necessaries that sholde nede 872: She hadde ynogh, heryed be goddes grace! 873: For wynd and weder almyghty God purchace, 874: And brynge hire hoom! I kan no bettre seye, 875: But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye. 876: Alla the kyng comth hoom soone after this 877: Unto his castel, of the which I tolde, 878: And asketh where his wyf and his child is. 879: The constable gan aboute his herte colde, 880: And pleynly al the manere he hym tolde 881: As ye han herd -- i kan telle it no bettre -- 882: And sheweth the kyng his seel and eek his lettre, 883: And seyde, lord, as ye comanded me 884: Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein. 885: This messager tormented was til he 886: Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and pleyn, 887: Fro nyght to nyght, in what place he had leyn; 888: And thus, by with and sotil enquerynge, 889: Ymagined was by whom this harm gan sprynge. 890: The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot, 891: And al the venym of this cursed dede, 892: But in what wise, certeinly, I noot. 893: Th' effect is this, that alla, out of drede, 894: His mooder slow -- that may men pleynly rede -- 895: For that she traitour was to hire ligeance. 896: Thus endeth olde donegild, with meschance! 897: The sorwe that this alla nyght and day 898: Maketh for his wyf, and for his child also, 899: Ther is no tonge that it telle may. 900: But now wol I unto custance go, 901: That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo, 902: Fyve yeer and moore, as liked cristes sonde, 903: Er that hir ship approched unto londe. 904: Under an hethen castel, atte laste, 905: Of which the name in my text noght I fynde, 906: Custance, and eek hir child, the see up caste. 907: Almyghty god, that saveth al mankynde, 908: Have on custance and on hir child som mynde, 909: That fallen is in hethen hand eft soone, 910: In point to spille, as I shal telle yow soone. 911: Doun fro the castel comth ther many a wight 912: To gauren on this ship and on custance. 913: But shortly, from the castel, on a nyght, 914: The lordes styward -- God yeve hym meschance! -- 915: A theef, that hadde reneyed oure creance, 916: Cam into ship allone, and seyde he sholde 917: Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde. 918: Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon; 919: Hir child cride, and she cride pitously. 920: But blisful marie heelp hire right anon; 921: For with hir struglyng wel and myghtily 922: The theef fil over bord al sodeynly, 923: And in the see he dreynte for vengeance; 924: And thus hath crist unwemmed kept custance. 925: O foule lust of luxurie, lo, thyn ende! 926: Nat oonly that thou feyntest mannes mynde, 927: But verraily thou wolt his body shende. 928: Th' ende of thy werk, or of thy lustes blynde, 929: Is compleynyng. Hou many oon may men fynde 930: That noght for werk somtyme, but for th' entente 931: To doon this synne, been outher slayn or shente! 932: How may this wayke womman han this strengthe 933: Hire to defende agayn this renegat? 934: O golias, unmesurable of lengthe, 935: Hou myghte david make thee so maat, 936: So yong and of armure so desolaat? 937: Hou dorste he looke upon thy dredful face? 938: Wel may men seen, it nas but goddes grace. 939: Who yaf judith corage or hardynesse 940: To sleen hym olofernus in his tente, 941: And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse 942: The peple of god? I seye, for this entente, 943: That right as God spirit of vigour sente 944: To hem, and saved hem out of meschance, 945: So sente he myght and vigour to custance. 946: Forth gooth hir ship thurghout the narwe mouth 947: Of jubaltare and septe, dryvynge ay 948: Somtyme west, and somtyme north and south, 949: And somtyme est, ful many a wery day, 950: Til cristes mooder -- blessed be she ay! -- 951: Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse, 952: To make an ende of al hir hevynesse. 953: Now lat us stynte of custance but a throwe, 954: And speke we of the romayn emperour, 955: That out of surrye hath by lettres knowe 956: The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour 957: Doon to his doghter by a fals traytour, 958: I mene the cursed wikked sowdanesse 959: That at the feeste leet sleen bothe moore and lesse. 960: For which this emperour hath sent anon 961: His senatour, with roial ordinance, 962: And othere lordes, God woot, many oon, 963: On surryens to taken heigh vengeance. 964: They brennen, sleen, and brynge hem to meschance 965: Ful many a day; but shortly, this is th' ende, 966: Homward to rome they shapen hem to wende. 967: This senatour repaireth with victorie 968: To rome-ward, saillynge ful roially, 969: And mette the ship dryvynge, as seith the storie, 970: In which custance sit ful pitously. 971: Nothyng ne knew he what she was, ne why 972: She was in swich array, ne she nyl seye 973: Of hire estaat, althogh she sholde deye. 974: He bryngeth hire to rome, and to his wyf 975: He yaf hire, and hir yonge sone also; 976: And with the senatour she ladde hir lyf. 977: Thus kan oure lady bryngen out of wo 978: Woful custance, and many another mo. 979: And longe tyme dwelled she in that place, 980: In hooly werkes evere, as was hir grace. 981: The senatoures wyf hir aunte was, 982: But for al that she knew hire never the moore. 983: I wol no lenger tarien in this cas, 984: But to kyng alla, which I spak of yoore, 985: That for his wyf wepeth and siketh soore, 986: I wol retourne, and lete I wol custance 987: Under the senatoures governance. 988: Kyng alla, which that hadde his mooder slayn, 989: Upon a day fil in swich repentance 990: That, if I shortly tellen shal and playn, 991: To rome he comth to receyven his penance; 992: And putte hym in the popes ordinance 993: In heigh and logh, and jhesu crist bisoghte 994: Foryeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte. 995: The fame anon thurgh rome toun is born, 996: How alla kyng shal comen in pilgrymage, 997: By herbergeours that wenten hym biforn; 998: For which the senatour, as was usage, 999: Rood hym agayns, and many of his lynage, 1000: As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence 1001: As to doon any kyng a reverence. 1002: Greet cheere dooth this noble senatour 1003: To kyng alla, and he to hym also; 1004: Everich of hem dooth oother greet honour. 1005: And so bifel that in a day or two 1006: This senatour is to kyng alla go 1007: To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye, 1008: Custances sone wente in his compaignye. 1009: Som men wolde seyn at requeste of custance 1010: This senatour hath lad this child to feeste; 1011: I may nat tellen every circumstance, -- 1012: Be as be may, ther was he at the leeste. 1013: But sooth is this, that at his moodres heeste 1014: Biforn alla, durynge the metes space, 1015: The child stood, lookynge in the kynges face. 1016: This alla kyng hath of this child greet wonder, 1017: And to the senatour he seyde anon, 1018: Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder? 1019: I noot, quod he, by god, and by seint john! 1020: A mooder he hath, but fader hath he noon 1021: That I of woot -- and shortly, in a stounde, 1022: He tolde alla how that this child was founde. 1023: But God woot, quod this senatour also, 1024: So vertuous a lyvere in my lyf 1025: Ne saugh I nevere as she, ne herde of mo, 1026: Of worldly wommen, mayde, ne of wyf. 1027: I dar wel seyn hir hadde levere a knyf 1028: Thurghout hir brest, than ben a womman wikke; 1029: There is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke. 1030: Now was this child as lyk unto custance 1031: As possible is a creature to be. 1032: This alla hath the face in remembrance 1033: Of dame custance, and ther on mused he 1034: If that the childes mooder were aught she 1035: That is his wyf, and pryvely he sighte, 1036: And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte. 1037: Parfay, thoghte he, fantome is in myn heed! 1038: I oghte deme, of skilful juggement, 1039: That in the salte see my wyf is deed. 1040: And afterward he made his argument: 1041: What woot I if that crist have hyder ysent 1042: My wyf by see, as wel as he hire sente 1043: To my contree fro thennes that she wente? 1044: And after noon, hoom with the senatour 1045: Goth alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce. 1046: This senatour dooth alla greet honour, 1047: And hastifly he sente after custaunce. 1048: But trusteth weel, hire liste nat to daunce, 1049: Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde; 1050: Unnethe upon hir feet she myghte stonde. 1051: Whan alla saugh his wyf, faire he hire grette, 1052: And weep, that it was routhe for to see; 1053: For at the firste look he on hire sette, 1054: He knew wel verraily that it was she. 1055: And she, for sorwe, as doumb stant as a tree, 1056: So was hir herte shet in hir distresse, 1057: Whan she remembred his unkyndenesse. 1058: Twyes she swowned in his owene sighte; 1059: He weep, and hym excuseth pitously. 1060: Now god, quod he, and alle his halwes brighte 1061: So wisly on my soule as have mercy, 1062: That of youre harm as giltelees am I 1063: As is maurice my sone, so lyk youre face; 1064: Elles the feend me fecche out of this place! 1065: Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne, 1066: Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse; 1067: Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne, 1068: Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse. 1069: I pray yow alle my labour to relesse; 1070: I may nat telle hir wo until to-morwe, 1071: I am so wery for to speke of sorwe. 1072: But finally, whan that the sothe is wist 1073: That alla giltelees was of hir wo, 1074: I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist, 1075: And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two 1076: That, save the joye that lasteth everemo, 1077: Ther is noon lyk that any creature 1078: Hath seyn or shal, whil that the world may dure. 1079: Tho preyde she hir housbonde mekely, 1080: In relief of hir longe, pitous pyne, 1081: That he wolde preye hir fader specially 1082: That of his magestee he wolde enclyne 1083: To vouche sauf som day with hym to dyne. 1084: She preyde hym eek he sholde by no weye 1085: Unto hir fader no word of hire seye. 1086: Som men wolde seyn how that the child maurice 1087: Dooth this message unto this emperour; 1088: But, as I gesse, alla was nat so nyce 1089: To hym that was of so sovereyn honour 1090: As he that is of cristen folk the flour, 1091: Sente any child, but it is bet to deeme 1092: He wente hymself, and so it may wel seeme. 1093: This emperour hath graunted gentilly 1094: To come to dyner, as he hym bisoughte; 1095: And wel rede I he looked bisily 1096: Upon this child, and on his doghter thoghte. 1097: Alla goth to his in, and as hym oghte, 1098: Arrayed for this feste in every wise 1099: As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise. 1100: The morwe cam, and alla gan hym dresse, 1101: And eek his wyf, this emperour to meete; 1102: And forth they ryde in joye and in gladnesse. 1103: And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete, 1104: She lighte doun, and falleth hym to feete. 1105: Fader, quod she, youre yonge child custance 1106: Is now ful clene out of youre remembrance. 1107: I am youre doghter custance, quod she, 1108: That whilom ye han sent unto surrye. 1109: It am I, fader, that in the salte see 1110: Was put allone and dampned for to dye. 1111: Now, goode fader, mercy I yow crye! 1112: Sende me namoore unto noon hethenesse, 1113: But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse. 1114: Who kan the pitous joye tellen al 1115: Bitwixe hem thre, syn they been thus ymette? 1116: But of my tale make an ende I shal; 1117: The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette. 1118: This glade folk to dyner they hem sette; 1119: In joye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle 1120: A thousand foold wel moore than I kan telle. 1121: This child maurice with sithen emperour 1122: Maad by the pope, and lyved cristenly; 1123: To cristes chirche he dide greet honour. 1124: But I lete al his storie passen by; 1125: Of custance is my tale specially. 1126: In the olde romayn geestes may men fynde 1127: Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in mynde. 1128: This kyng alla, whan he his tyme say, 1129: With his custance, his hooly wyf so sweete, 1130: To engelond been they come the righte way, 1131: Wher as they lyve in joye and in quiete. 1132: But litel while it lasteth, I yow heete, 1133: Joye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde; 1134: Fro day to nyght it changeth as the tyde. 1135: Who lyved euere in swich delit o day 1136: That hym ne moeved outher conscience, 1137: Or ire, or talent, or som kynnes affray, 1138: Envye, or pride, or passion, or offence? 1139: I ne seye but for this ende this sentence, 1140: That litel while in joye or in plesance 1141: Lasteth the blisse of alla with custance. 1142: For deeth, that taketh of heigh and logh his rente, 1143: Whan passed was a yeer, evene as I gesse, 1144: Out of this world this kyng alla he hente, 1145: For whom custance hath ful greet hevynesse. 1146: Now lat us prayen God his soule blesse! 1147: And dame custance, finally to seye, 1148: Toward the toun of rome goth hir weye. 1149: To rome is come this hooly creature, 1150: And fyndeth hire freendes hoole and sounde; 1151: Now is she scaped al hire aventure. 1152: And whan that she hir fader hath yfounde, 1153: Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde; 1154: Wepynge for tendrenesse in herte blithe, 1155: She heryeth God an hundred thousand sithe. 1156: In vertu and in hooly almus-dede 1157: They lyven alle, and nevere asonder wende; 1158: Til deeth departeth hem, this lyf they lede. 1159: And fareth now weel! my tale is at an ende. 1160: Now jhesu crist, that of his myght may sende 1161: Joye after wo, governe us in his grace, 1162: And kepe us alle that been in this place! Amen The Man of Law's Epilogue 1163: (Owre hoost upon his stiropes stood anon, 1164: And seyde, goode men, herkeneth everych on! 1165: This was a thrifty tale for the nones! 1166: Sir parisshe prest, quod he, for goddes bones, 1167: Telle us a tale, as was thi forward yore. 1168: I se wel that ye lerned men in lore 1169: Can moche good, by goddes dignitee! 1170: The parson hem answerde, benedicite! 1171: What eyleth the man, so synfully to swere? 1172: Oure host answerde, o jankin, be ye there? 1173: I smelle a lollere in the wynd, quod he. 1174: Now! goode men, quod oure hoste, herkeneth me; 1175: Abydeth, for goddes digne passioun, 1176: For we schal han a predicacioun; 1177: This lollere heer wil prechen us somwhat. 1178: Nay, by my fader soule, that schal he nat! 1179: Seyde the shipman; heer schal he nat preche; 1180: He schal no gospel glosen here ne teche. 1181: We leven alle in the grete god, quod he; 1182: He wolde sowen som difficulte, 1183: Or springen cokkel in our clene corn. 1184: And therfore, hoost, I warne thee biforn, 1185: My joly body schal a tale telle, 1186: And I schal clynken you so mery a belle, 1187: That I schal waken al this compaignie. 1188: But it schal not ben of philosophie, 1189: Ne phislyas, ne termes queinte of lawe. 1190: Ther is but litel latyn in my mawe!) 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