Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400. The Canterbury tales :
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
|
Table of Contents for this work | | All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |
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,
-63-
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.
-64-
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,
-65-
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;
-66-
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,
-67-
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.
-68-
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.
-69-
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.
-70-
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;
-71-
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
-72-
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;
-73-
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!
-74-
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.
-75-
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!)
-76-