The seven sages of Rome. Edited from the manuscripts, with introd. notes, and glossary by Killis Campbell. Seven sages of Rome. English. Middle English. 149 pages, ca. 546 kb University of Michigan Library Ann Arbor, Michigan 2018 CME00033 01378116 AFW7628 sdr-nrlfGLAD296148-B sdr-ia-nrlf.b121088431 sdr-ia-loc8211178

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 The seven sages of Rome. Edited from the manuscripts, with introd. notes, and glossary by Killis Campbell. Seven sages of Rome. English. Middle English. Campbell, Killis, 1872- 217 p. Boston, Ginn, 1907. Mode of access: Internet.

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33 CME00033 CME00033

THE SEVEN SAGES OF ROME

EDITED FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS, WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARY BY KILLIS CAMPBELL ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH IN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

GINN & COMPANY BOSTON · NEW YORK · CHICAGO · LONDON

1907

 Here Bigyns þe Proces of þe Seuyn Sages. Heading R begyns, process, seuen. Lordynges þat here likes to dwell, 1 R Hordynges, lykes. Leues ȝowre speche and heres þis spell. 2 W yowr, R yhour spech. I sal ȝow tel, if I haue tome, 3 R sall yhow tell. Of þe Seuen Sages of Rome. Whilom lifed a nobil man; 5 R lyfed, noble mane. His name was Dyoclician. 6 R Diocliciane. Of Rome and of al þe honowre 7 R all, honoure. Was he lord and emperowre. 8 R emperoure. An emperes he had to wyfe, 9 R Ane Emperise. Þe fayrest lady þat bare life,— 10 R fairest, lyfe. Of al gude maners ful auenant; 11 R all gud, full, W auenaunt. And hir name was Dame Milisant. A childe þai had bytwix þam two, 13 R child, bi twix. Þe fayrest þat on fote myght go, 14 R fairest. A knaue childe þat was þam dere; 15 W, R child. Of him sone sal ȝe selkuths here. 16 R sall yhe selcouthes. Sone efterward byfel þis case: 17 R afterward bi fell. Þe lady died and grauen was, 18 R dyed, wasè. And went whare God hyr dight to dwell; 19 R hir dyght. Þarfore of hir na more I tell, 20 R þarfor, no more. Wheþer sho past to pyne or play; 21 R scho. Bot of þe son I sal ȝow say. 22 R sall yhow. When he was seuyn winter alde, 23 R seuen wynter ald. Of speche and bourding was he balde. 24 R spech, bourdyng, bald. Florentine his name cald was. 25 R fflorentyne. Herkens now a ferly case. His fader was Emperoure of Rome, 27 R Emperour. A nobil man and whise of dome; 28 R noble, wise. And Florentine þat was so fayre 29 R Florentyne. Was his son and als his ayre. It was nothing þat he lufed mare, Þarfore he wold him set to lare; 32 R þarfor, sett. And sone he gert byforn hym come 33 R bi for him. Seuyn Maysters þat war in Rome. 34 R Seuen maisters. Þe tale vs telles, who to it tentes, Þat þai kowth al þe seuyn sienz. 36 R couth all, seuen scientes. And sone when þai war efter sent, Hastly to þe court þai went. 38 R Hastily. Þai come byfor þe Emperoure, 39 R bi for. And hailsed him with grete honoure. 40 R gret. He said: "Lordinges, takes entent, 41 R lordynges. And sese whi I efter ȝow sent: 42 R yhow. For ȝe er wisest men of lare 43 R yhe, wysest. Þat in þis werld ȝit euer ware, 44 R world yhit. My son I wil ȝe haue forþi, 45 R will yhe. To make him kunand in clergy; 46 R mak, conand, W cunnand. And I wil þat ȝe teche him euyn 47 R will, yhe, euen. Þe sutelte of sience seuyn; 48 R sotelte, science seuen. And al ȝowre wisdom and ȝowre wit, 49 R all yhour, yhour wytt. Mi wil es þat ȝe teche him it. 50 R will, yhe, itt. Whilk of ȝow now wil him haue 51 R yhow, will. And fullfil þis þat I craue?" 52 R full fyll. Maister Bancillas spak þan; For of þam was he oldest man. 54 W that Lene he was and also lang, 55 R all so. And moste gentil man þam omang; 56 W most, R mast gentyll. Ful parfiteli he kouth his partes, 57 R ffull parfytely, couth, W in instead of his. And sadly of al þe seuyn artes. 58 R all, seuen. "Sir," he said, "tak me þi son; 59 R sayd. Ful mekil thank I wil þe kun; 60 R ffull mykell, will, kon. And trewly I sal teche him þan 61 R sall. Of clergy more þan ani man, 62 R any. Þat dar I vndertak þe here, 63 W ye for þe. Within þe terme of seuyn ȝere." 64 R space of seuen yhere. When þis was said, he held his pese. 65 R sayd. And þan said Maister Anxilles. He was a man meteliest, 67 R metelyest. And of eld as him semed best, Of sexty winter and na mare; 69 R wynter, no mare. And als he was ful wise of lare. 70 R full. "Sir, tak me þi son," he said, "And þou sal hald þe ful wele payd. 72 W you, ye, R sall, full. I sal him lere ful right and rath 73 R sall, full ryght, rathe. Þat I can and mi felous bath. 74 R kan, my felows bathe. I vndertak he sal it lere 75 R sall. Within þe space of sex ȝere." 76 R yhere. Þe thrid maister was litel man, 77 R thred, lytell. Faire of chere and white als swan; 78 R whyte, W as. His hare was white and nathing brown; 79 R nothing broune. And he hight Maister Lentilioune. He spak vnto þe Emperoure: "Tak me þi sun, sir, paramowre, 82 R son, para∣moure. And I sal teche him ful trewly 83 R sall, full. Al maner of clergy 84 R All. Þat ani man leres in þis liue, 85 R any, lyue. Within þe terme of ȝeres fiue." 86 W time, R yheres fyue. Þe ferth maister a rede man was, 87 R þe mutilated, red. And his name was Malquidras; Of fifty winter was he alde, 89 R fyfty wynter, ald. Quaint of hand and of speche balde. 90 R Quaynt, spech bald, W hande. Him thoght scorn and grete hething 91 R skorn, gret. Þat þai made so grete rosing. 92 R swa gret rosyng, W josyng. "Syr," he sayd, "I sal tell þe, 93 R Sir, said, sall, W tel. Mi felows wit fals noght to me, 94 R witt falles. Ne of þaire wisdom o nane wise 95 R pair wisdome on none wyse. Wil I mak no marchandise. 96 R Will, marchandyse. Bot, sir, þi son vnto me take, 97 W this. And I sal teche him for þi sake 98 R sall. Þe sienz of Astronomy, 99 R science. Þat falles to sternes of þe sky, 100 R inserts þe after to. And oþer sex syenz alswa, 101 R science all swa. In foure ȝere withowten ma." 102 R yhere with outen. Þe fift maister was wise of dome; 103 R fyft. And he was cald Caton of Rome. He made þe boke of Catoun clere, 105 R buke, Caton. Þat es biginnyng of Gramere. 106 W biginyng, R bi gynyng. He karped loud vnto þe Kyng: 107 R carped. "Sir, tak þi son to mi techeing; 180 W this, R my techyng. I wald noght he decayued ware, Bot I ne knaw noght mi felous lare. 110 R my felows. Bot for to lere him I warand Als mekil als he mai vnderstand, 112 R mykell, may. And als his wittes wele bere may— 113 R wyttes, may bere. Forþermare dar I noght say— So þat in time of seuen ȝere 115 R tyme, yhere. He sal be wise withowten were." 116 R sall, withouten. Þe sext maister rase vp onane; 117 R rayse. Þe fairest man of þam ilkane; Iesse was his name, godote, Withouten faut fra heuid to fote. 120 W faute, heid, R fro heued. His haire was blayke and nothing broun, 121 R hare, blayk, broune. With eghen faire als a faukoun. 122 R fawkoune. "Sir," he said, "if þi wil were, 123 R will. Tak þi son to me at lere; I sal him teche with hert fre, 125 R sall. So þat inwith ȝeres thre 126 R with in yheres. Sal he be so wise of lare 127 R Sall. Þat ȝe sal thank me euermare." 128 R yhe sall. Þe seuind maister, Maxencius, 129 R seuynd. A right wis man and vertiuus,— 130 R ryght wyse. Al his life with grete honowre 131 R All, lyfe, gret honoure. Had he serued þe Emperoure,— "Sir," he said, "if þi will be, For al þat I haue serued þe, 134 R all. Bitake þi son vnto my lare; 135 R Bi tak. For mi seruise I ask no mare. 136 R my seruyse. Ful mekil thank I wil þe kun; 137 R ffull mykell, will, con. And al þe clergy vnder son 138 R all. Sal I him teche to kun ful right. 139 R Sall, tech, full ryght. Ful hardily þis I þe hyght." 140 R ffull. When þe maisters þus had sayd, Þe Emperoure ful wele was payd; 142 R full. He spak to þam with meri chere, 143 R mery. And said on heght þat al might here. 144 R all myght. He said: "I thank ȝow all, lordinges, 145 R yhow, lordynges. Of ȝowre answers in al thinges; 146 R yhour, all. For if mi son so wele may lere 147 R my. To kun ȝowre vertuse al in fere, 148 R yhour, all. Sertes þan wald I be blithe 149 R blythe. And gif ȝow tresore, land, and lithe. 150 R gyf yhow, lythe. And sen ȝe profer þusgat now, 151 R yhe, þusgate. I wil ȝe tak mi son with ȝow, 152 R will yhe, my, yhow. And teche him al þe artes seuyn, 153 R tech, all, seuen. Þat none be whiser vnder heuyn. 154 R wiser, heuen. And ȝe sal dwel togeder still, 155 R yhe sall dwell to gyder styll. And teche mi son—þis es mi will— 156 R my, my. So þat he lere noght al of ane, 157 R Sa, all. Bot with al sal he be forth tane." 158 R all sall, furth. By þe hand he toke þe childe 159 R Bi, child. And gaf him to þo maisters milde. 160 R þe, mylde. Þe maisters war þarof ful blith, 161 R þareof full blythe. And thanked him ful fele sithe. 162 R full, sythe. Þai toke þaire leue and went in hy 163 R þair. With þe childe to þe consistori, 164 R child, consistory. Þat es a stede within Rome Whare clerkes cumes þat kan wisedome. 166 R comes, wisdome. Þe maisters þare þaire kounsail toke 167 R þair counsail. For to set þis childe to boke. 168 R sett, child. Þai said in Rome dwel might he noght, 169 R dwell myght. For faire wemen sold change his thoght; 170 R fair wymen suld chaunge. In ryot so þai sold him sett 171 R suld. Þat al his lare sone sold it let. 172 R all, suld, lett. Þai toke kownsail omang þam all 173 R counsail. At haue þe childe vnto a hall 174 R child. Biside Rome in a vergere, 175 R Besyde. A myle fra toun, bi a reuere; 176 R toune be, ryuere. Þe water of Tyber ran þareobout, And thorgh Rome, þis es no dowt. 178 R thurgh, dout. Al maner of trese groued þare 179 R All manere, trees. Þat ani froyt on erth bare. 180 R any frute, MS. erth. Þare was a hal with chambers seuen; 181 R hall chaumbers. Fairer was none vnder heuyn. 182 R heuen. Þe chambers closed obout þe hall 183 R chaumbers. So þat it stode omang þam all; Fayrer hal was none in land, 185 R ffairer hall. Richely painted with mans hand. 186 R Rychely paynted. Þare war paynted in diuers partes 187 R diuerse. Sotelly al þe seuyn artes; 188 R all, seuen. Þat es, to wit, first Gramary, 189 R witt. Musike and Astronomy, 190 R Musyke. Geometri and Ars Metrike, 191 R Geometry, als Metryke. Fisik and also Retorike. 192 R ffysyke, all so Retoryke. Þe child sege in middes was wroght 193 R myddes. So þat he al se þam moght. 194 R all. In þat sege he set him down; 195 R sett, doune. Þe maisters teched him a lessown. 196 R lessoune. When ane him left, anoþer him toke, 197 R aneother. Þat he was euer halden at his boke; 198 R buke. And to his lare euer toke he kepe, Bot when he ete or when he slepe. When he wald rest him at his boke, 201 R buke. On þe walles wald he þan loke, Whare he might se paynted euyn 203 R myght, euen. Ful opynly þe artes seuyn. 204 R ffull openly, seuen. Sone he concayued in Latin speche 205 R consayued, latyn. Al þat his maisters wald him teche; 206 R All. He toke so gude tent to his lare, 207 R gud. Arly and late and euermare, 208 R Arely. Þat þe ferth ȝere in þat hall 209 R yhere. Dessputed he with his maisters all; 210 R Desputed. Was none so witty fer ne nere 211 R wytty. Of Gramere ne of Mosike clere. 212 R Gramer, Musyke. Þe fift ȝere held he argument 213 R fyft yhere. Of planetes in þe firmament. Þe sext ȝere his maisters thoght 215 R yhere, maysters. For to asay him yf þai moght; 216 R ffor till assay, if. Þai puruaid þam leues sextene 217 R puruayd. Þat war of iubarb gude and grene. 218 R Iubark gud. Þe child lay in a bed o loft, Made ful esely and soft; 220 R full, and full soft. Vnder ilka corner of þe bed Foure leues þe maysters spred,— 222 R maisters. Ilkane on oþer als þam thoght. Bot þe maisters werk ne wist he noght. 224 R wist instead of noght. Þe childe went to his bed þat night, 225 R child, nyght. And sone him thoght it raised on hight. 226 R raysed, hyght. Þarfore þat night he sleped noght, 227 R þarfor, nyght. Bot euer in his hert he thoght Þat þe firmament was satteld doun 229 R done. Wele lawer þan it was won; 230 R wone. Or els þe erth was raised bidene 231 R raysed. Þe thiknes of foure leues grene. Þus lay he thinkand al þat night. 233 R all, nyght. And sone, when it was dayes light, 234 R days lyght. He redied him and went to hall. 235 R redyedy. Þarin he fand his maisters all; 236 R þare in. He hailsed þam, and hendly stode 237 R haylsed, hendely. Al bareheuid withouten hode. 238 R All, heued. Þe childe luked obout him fast; 239 R child loked. And hastily his maisters ast 240 R maysters. What thing he persaiued in þat place. 241 R persayued. "Perfay," he said, "a ferly case; For owþer am I mad or drunken, 243 R outher, dronken. Or els þe heuen es sumdel sonken, 244 R somdele. Or els raised es þis grounde 245 R raysed, ground. Þe thiknes of foure leues rounde; Þis night so mekill higher I lay 247 R nyght, mykell hegher. More þan it was ȝisterday." 248 R yhisterday. Þe maisters þan wele vnderstode Þe childes wit was wonder gode. 250 R witt, gude. Or þe seuin ȝere war gane, 251 R seuen yhere. He past his maisters euerilkane. Togeder had þai grete solace. 253 R To gyder, gret. Bot sone þan fel a ferly case. 254 R fell. Of þe riche Emperoure of Rome 255 R ryche Emperour. I sal ȝow tel if I haue tome; 256 R sall yhow tell. Þarfore þe childe now lat we be, 257 R þarfor, child. And of his fader speke wil we. 258 R spek will. His knightes com to him on a day, 259 R knyghtes come. And þir wordes gan þai say: "Sir, ȝe lif an anly life; 261 R yhe lyfe ane anely lyue. We wald ȝow rede to wed a wife, 262 R yhow red, wyue. To haue solace bitwix ȝow twa, 263 R To mutilated, yhow. And fandes to get childer ma; 264 R gett. For ȝe haue werldes welth gude wane 265 R yhe, worldes, gud. To mak þam riche men ilkane." 266 R ryche. Hereof þe Emperowre was payd, 267 R Emperour. And sone asented als þai said. 268 R assented, sayd. Þai puruaid him an emperise, 269 R puruayd þam ane. A gentil lady of mekil prise, 270 R gentyll, mykell pryse. Ful lufsom and of high lenage. 271 R ffull, hegh. Þe Emperoure asked þe mariage; 272 R Emperour, maryage. Þe barnage al þarto asent 273 R bernage all, assent. Þat he sold wed þat ladi gent. 274 R suld, lady. Þan war þai wed by comun dome; 275 R be comon. Þat was þe custum þan in Rome. 276 R custom. Þai made grete mirth and mangery, 277 R gret myrth, maungery. And samin lufed þai ful trewly. 278 R samen, full. Þare was grete welth at þaire wedyng, 279 R gret, þair. Als semly was to swilk a thing. 280 R semely. Sone efter þat fel ferly case; 281 R efter þan fell a. I sal ȝow tel how þat it wase. 282 R sall yhow tell. For nathing mai ay vnhid be, 283 R no thing may, vnhyd. Bot anely Goddes awin preuete. 284 R godes awen. Opon a day a seriant nyce Tald vnto þe Emperice 286 R Emperyse. Of þe Emperoure son ful euyn, 287 R Emperour, full euen. And how he wond with maisters seuyn, 288 R seuen And how he sal be Emperowre 289 R sall, Emperoure. Efter his fader of þat honowre, 290 R After, honoure. And how hir barnes sal be bastardes, 291 R sall. And how he sal haue al þe wardes, 292 R sall, all. And how he sal haue in his hand 293 R sall. Al þe lordship of þat land. 294 R All, lordschip. When þe Emperice herd of þis childe, 295 R Emperyse, child. Hir thoght þat sho was euil bigild; 296 R om. þat, R scho, euell bigyld. And in hir hert sho thoght ful sone, 297 R scho, full. With wichecraft sold he be vndone. 298 R wychecraft suld. Sho puruaid hir a counsailoure, 299 R Scho puruayd, counsayloure. A wiche þat cowth hir wele socoure. 300 R wyche, couth. Þai made couenant bitwen þam twa 301 R conand, bitwene. Þe Emperours son for to sla. 302 R Emperour. Þai ordand þus bi þaire asent 303 R ordaind, þair assent. A maner of experiment, 304 R manere, experyment. Þat if þe childe spak les or mare, 305 R child. Fra he into court entred ware 306 R ffro. To seuyn daies war went fully, 307 R seuen days. At þe first word sold he dy; 308 R suld. And if he seuyn daies hald him still, 309 R seuen days, styll. Efter may he speke at will. 310 R wyll. Þus was þaire purpose and þaire thoght 311 R þair, þair. Þe childe sone to dede haue broght. 312 R child, ded. Bot mani wald greue oþer sare 313 R many. And to þamself turnes al þe care. 314 R all. On þe same wise fel it here; 315 R fell. Herkins now on what manere. 316 R Herkens. Þe Emp[er]oure and his faire wife, 317 MS Empoure, R fair wyfe. Þat he lufed euer als his life, 318 R lyfe. On a day þai played þam samen; 319 R playd. And als þai war best in þaire gamen, 320 R þair. "Sir," sho said, "bi heuin king, 321 R scho sayd, heuen kyng. I luf ȝow ouer al oþer thing, 322 R yhow, all, thyng. And ȝe luf me noght so trewly; 323 R yhe, MS. lul. I sal ȝow say encheson why. 324 R sall yhow. Vntil þis court when þat I come, 325 R vntyll. Ȝe made me Emperice of Rome, 326 R Yhe, Emperyse. To be with ȝow at bed and borde, 327 R yhow, bord. And wit ȝowre cownsail ilka worde. 328 R witt yhour counsail, word. Bot a thing haue ȝe hid fra me 329 R yhe hyd fro. Þat I haue moste desire to se. 330 R most desyre. "Ȝe haue a son þat es ȝow dere, 331 R Yhe, yhow. With seuyn maisters for to lere; 332 R seuen. He es þi son, sir, and þine ayre, And als, I here say, whise and fayre. 334 R wise. I wald se him bifor me stand 335 R be for. Þat es so wise and so cunand; 336 R conand. I luf him wele, for he wil thriue; 337 R will thryue. Al samyn I wald we led oure liue. 338 R All samen, our lyue. For sertes, sir, sen he es þine, Me think also he sold be myne. 340 R all so, suld. For sertes, sir, it mai fal swa, 341 R may fall. Þat neuer gettes þou childer ma. If þou wil euer haue ioy of me, 343 R will. Þi faire son þou lat me se." 344 R fair. Son answerd þe Emperoure, 345 R Sone. And said: "Dame, by Saint Sauiore, 346 R be, sauyoure. Þou sal him se, yf þat I may, 347 R sall, if. Tomorn by vnderon of þe day." 348 R bi. Sho answerd þan with semblant blith, 349 R Scho, sembland blyth. "Gramercy, syr, a hundereth sith. 350 R sir, hundreth sythe. I sal him honore at my myght, 351 R sall, honoure. Als I am halden wele by right." 352 R bi ryght. Þe Emperoure cald currurs twa, 353 R emperour. And bad þam swith þat þai sold ga 354 R swyth, suld. His erand to þe Seuyn Sages, 355 R seuen. And to þam tald he his message[s]: 356 MS. message. "Ȝe sal þam prai, on al manere, 357 R Yhe sall, pray, all. Send hame my son, þat es me dere; For I wil wit tomorn by prime 359 R will witt, be pryme. How þat he has set his tyme; 360 R sett. Miself sal bath se and here 361 R sall. What he has lered þis seuyn ȝere." 362 R seuen yhere. Þe messagers er wightly went 363 R Messangers. To do þaire lordes cumandment. 364 R þair, comandement. Unto þe place smertly þai come Whare þai wond withouten Rome. Into þe hal þai went ful euyn, 367 R hall, full euen. And þare þai fand þe Maisters Seuyn, 368 R seuen. Faire desputand in Latyne 369 R ffair. With þe ȝung childe, Florentine. 370 R yhong child fflorentyne. Þe messagers on knese þam set, 371 R messangers, sett. And þe maysters faire þai gret. 372 R maisters fair, grett. Þe child also þai gret ful faire 373 R all so, grett full. Als prince of Rome and kindest ayre. 374 R prynce, kyndest. Þai said: "Þe Emperoure of Rome 375 R sayd, Emperour. Cumand vs heder to come; 376 R Comand, hyder. He biddes ȝe sal send hame his son, 377 R byddes yhe sall, sone. And hastily þat it be done, Þat he cum in his awin presens; 379 R com, awen presence. And for ȝowre trauail and ȝowre spens 380 R yhour, yhour spence. He wil ȝow quite on al manere, 381 R will yhow quyte, all. And mak aseth for þis seuyn ȝere." 382 R seuen yhere. Þe messagers war welkum þare 383 R messangers, welcom. With þa maisters les and mare. Vnto þe sopere war þai sett, And riche fode bifor þam fett; 386 R ryche, befor. Ful wele at ese þare war þai made 387 R ffull. With al gamyns þat men might glade. 388 R alkyn gamen, myght. Þare þai soiornd al þat night; 389 R all, nyght. Þe mone and sternes bath shined bright. 390 R both schyned bryght. Forth þan went þe maisters all, And þe childe with þam gan þai call 392 R child. Preuely to a gardine; 393 R gardyne. And þare þai teched Floreentine 394 MS. ffloreentine, R fflorentyne. How þat he sold do and say 395 R suld. His lord þe Emperowre to pay. 396 R fader instead of lord, Emperoure. And in þat time þai toke entent, 397 R tyme, tuke. And loked vp to þe fyrmament; 398 R luked, firmament. Þai saw þe constellaciowne. 399 R constellacyoune. Þareof a wise man was Catoun; 400 R wyse, Catoune. He luked þe sternes and þe mone, 401 R loked. And what he saw he said ful sone: 402 R full. "Felous, ȝe sal vnderstand 403 R ffelows yhe sall. Slike ferlies neuer bifore I fand; 404 R Swilk ferlyes. Þe Emperoure has til vs sent 405 R Emperour, till. To bring him hame his son so gent; 406 R bryng. And if we bring him to his lord, 407 R bryng. I se þare sal be sone discord. 408 R sall. For if he speke with man or wyfe, At þe first word he loses his life; 410 R lose, lyfe. And if him swilk vnhap bifall, 411 R vnhapp. Þe Emperoure wil ger sla vs all. 412 R Emperour will. And þat it sal þusgat be done, 413 R sall þusgate. May ȝe se in sternes and mone." 414 R yhe se bi þe sternes and þe mone. Þan þai biheld þe sternes ilkane, And al acorded þai vntil ane, 416 R all, vntyll. Þat al was soth þat Caton talde. 417 R all, tald. And Florentine þan gan byhalde 418 R fflorentyne, bi hald. Vnto þe sternes and to þe mone, And what he saw he said ful sone. 420 R sayd full. He said: "Sirs, se ȝe noght þis tide 421 R syrs, yhe, tyde. A litel stern þe mone bisyde? 422 R lytell sterne. Can ȝe me tel, þis pray I ȝow, 423 R Kan yhe, tell, yhow. What ȝone stern bitakins now?" 424 R yhone sterne, bi takens. Þan sayd þe maisters, mare and myn: 425 R said, more. "Tel vs what þou sese þareyn." 426 R Tell, þare in. "Sirs," he said, "I sal ȝow tell 427 R sall yhow. What þe mone and þe sternes menes omel. 428 R omell. Þe mone sais I sal dy with wreke 429 R says, sall. At þe first word þat I speke; 430 R fyrst. Þe litel stern þan tels me till 431 R lytell sterne, telles, tyll. If I mai seuyn dayes hald me still 432 R may seuen days, styll. And answer vnto þam nathing, 433 R nothing. Þan sal I lif in gude liking, 434 R sall, lyf, gud lykyng. And I sal be of grete renowne, 435 R sall, gret. And saue ȝow fra destrucciowne." 436 R yhow, destruccyoune. Þe maisters vnderstode ful wele 437 R full. Þat he said soth ilka dele. 438 R inserts euer after soth. Þan spak Maister Bausillas, 439 R þa of þan illegible, Bancillas. And said: "Þis es a ferly case. I rede we tak oure kounsail sone 441 R red, our counsail. On what maner es best to done." 442 R manere. Þe childe [said]: "Sirs, saun fayle, 443 R child, MS. om. said, R syrs. I sal tel ȝow my counsayle: 444 R sall tell yhow. Seuen daies sal I hald me still 445 R days sall, styll. And speke na word, gude ne ill; 446 R no, gud. And sen ȝe er Seuyn Maysters wise, 447 R yhe, seuen maisters. In al þe werld maste of prise, 448 R all, world most, pryse. By ȝowre wit me think ȝe may 449 R Bi yhour witt, yhe. Ilka man saue me a day, And warand me with ȝowre wisdom 451 R yhour wysdome. Bifor mi fader, Emperoure of Rome; 452 R my, Emperour. And seþin I sal speke for vs all 453 R sithen, sall. And ger oure famen al doun fall. 454 R our, all doune. Þan sal we wele venged be 455 R sall. Of þam þat ordans þus for me." Þan spak Maister Bausillas, 457 R Bansillas. And said: "Son, by Saint Nicholas, 458 R bi. A dai for þe I sal be bowne." 459 R day, sall, boune. "And I anoþer," said Maister Caton. 460 R ane other, Catoune. And al halely to him þai hight 461 R all. For to saue him at þaire might 462 R þair myght. Fra alkin shame and velany. 463 R ffro alkyn schame, vilany. And he said: "Maisters, gramercy; I mun suffer ful grete turmentes, 465 R mon, full gret turment. Bot if ȝe haue gude argumentes." 466 R yhe, gud argument. After þir wordes rase þai all 467 R Efter, rayse. And went ogayn into þe hall. It was wele passed of þe night; 469 R nyght. Vnto bed al went þai right. 470 R all, ryght. Þe childes thoght was euer in one How þat him was best to done; And how he sold be war and wise 473 R suld, wyse. And answer noght þe Emperice. 474 R Emperise. For wele he wist and vnderstode Þat scho wald him litel gude. 476 R lytell. When day was cumen and nyght gane, 477 R comen. Þe maisters rase ful sone ilkane; 478 R raise full. Þai cled þe childe in riche wede 479 R child, ryche. And horsed him on a gude stede, 480 R gud. And forth þai went fra þat gardyne 481 R furth, fro. Þat was kald Boys Saynt Martine. 482 R cald, saint Martyne. Þai broght þe childe furth in his way; 483 R child. And at þaire parting gan þai pray 484 R þair partyng. Þat he sold speke wordes nane 485 R suld. Til seuyn dayes war cummen and gane: 486 R Till seuen days, comen. "Þan sal þou pas fro al þi payne." 487 R sall, pass, all. When þis was said, þai turned ogayn. 488 R o gayne. Þe messagers and þe childe hende 489 R messangers, child. Toward þe court gan þai wende. When þe Emperiz herd tiþand 491 R Emperice, tythand. Þat þe childe was nere cumand, 492 R child, comand. A desterer sone gert sho dyght, 493 R scho. And keped him with many a knyght. He louted hir and þam ilkane, 495 R lowted. Bot wordes wald he speke right nane. 496 R ryght. In court þai come within a while. Þe Emperice thoght euer on gile; 498 R gyle. Sho toke þe child þat was so hende, 499 R Scho, MS. an erasure, doubtless of an e, after child. And vnto chamber gan þai wende; 500 R chaumbre. And doun sho set him on hir bed; 501 R doune scho sett. And Florentine was ful adred. 502 R fflorentyne, full. Sho said: "Þou ert of mekil prise, 503 R Scho, mykell pryse. Hende and curtays, war and wise; 504 R curtase, wyse. And sen þi fader has wedded me, Gude reson es þat I luf þe; 506 R Gud. And so I do, þe soth to say, And þarfore, paramore, I þe pray 508 R þarfor paramoure. Þat þou me kys and luf me, And, sir, þi soiet sal I be. 510 R soiett sall. Vnto þe, sir, so God me rede, Haue I keped my maydenhed." 512 R maydenhede. Sho toke þe childe obout þe hals, 513 R Scho, child. Bot al þat fageing was ful fals. 514 R all, fageyng, full. Þe childe made ay ful heuy chere, 515 R child, full. And wald noght speke on no manere; 516 R na. He turned oway with al his might. 517 R all, myght. And als sone þan þe lady bryght Saw sho might noght turn his mode; 519 R scho. And for wa sho was nere wode. 520 R scho. "Sir," sho said, "what ayles þe? 521 R scho. Whi wiltou noght speke with me, 522 R will þou. And al þi wil, syr, wil I do?" 523 R all, will sir will. He answerd nothing hir vnto. Sho saw þir gaudes might noght gain, 525 R Scho, hir instead of þir, myght, gayne. Þarfore sho toke anoþer trayn: 526 R þarfor scho take ane other trayne. Sho lete als sho war wode for wrath, 527 R Scho, scho, wrathe. And sone sho rafe euer-ilka klath, 528 R scho, of after rafe deleted, clathe. And als þe forors of ermyne, 529 R furres. And couercheues of silk gude and fyne. 530 R couerches, sylk gud. Hir smok also sone rafe sho it, 531 R all so, scho itt. Als sho wer wode out of hir wit. 532 R schowar, witt. Hir faire hare sho al to-drogh; 533 R fair, scho all to droghe. And sari noys sho made inogh. 534 R sary, scho, I noghe. Sho al to-raced hir vesage, 535 R Scho all to, visage. And cried "Harrow!" in grete rage. 536 R cryed, gret. Þe Emperoure was in þe hall, 537 R Emperour. Carpand with his knightes all; 538 R knyghtes. And when þai herd slike nois and cri, 539 R swilk noys, cry. Fast to chamber gan þai hy. 540 R chaumber. Þai fand þe Emperice al to-rent; 541 R all to. Hir hare, hir face was fouly shent. 542 R his face, foully schent. Þe Emperoure was ful euil payd, 543 R emperour, full euell. And vnto hir ful sone he said: 544 R full, sayd. "Tel me wha did þis dishonowre, 545 R Tell, þe after did, dishonoure. And sertes it sal be boght ful soure." 546 R sall, full. "Þis deuil," sho said, "þat here standes 547 R deuell scho. Has me shent þus with his handes; 548 R schent. Had ȝe noght titter cumen me till, 549 R yhe, tytter comen, tyll. With me he had done al his will. 550 R all. Þus he haues me al to-rent, 551 R all. Mi body for he wolde haue shent. 552 R wald, schent. He was neuer cumen, sir, of þi blode; 553 R comen. Ger bind him fast, for he es wode. 554 R bynd. He es a deuil, withowten drede; 555 R deuell, with outen. Þarfore to preson gers him lede. 556 R þarfor. I tine mi wit, þat wele wit ȝe, 557 R tyne my witt, witt yhe. And I lenger opon hym se." 558 R lengar, him. Þan hastily þe Emperowre 559 R Emperoure. Cald vnto his turmentoure, And bad þe traitur sold als sone 561 R traytur suld. Be nakend and in preson done, 562 R nakkend. And beten als with skowrges sare, 563 R skourges. For his misdedis and his lare: 564 R mysdedes. "And ger him speke if þat þou may; Here says he nowþer ȝa ne nay. 566 R nouther yha. Bot if he speke, by God in heuyn, 567 R bi, heuen. I sal ger sla his Maisters Seuyn." 568 R sall, seuen. Alsone þan þe turmentoure Led þe childe fra þe Emperowre 570 R child fro, Emperoure. Hastily þe preson vntill. 571 R vntyll. Þat lyked many a man ful ill. 572 R full. Þe knyghtes asked whi it was; Þe turmentoure tald þam þe case. Þai bad þe child sold haue na skath, 575 R suld, no skathe. Bot plente of mete and drink bath. 576 R drynk bathe. Þe turmentoure said: "Lattes me allane; Mete ne drink sal him want nane." 578 R na drynk sall. Þan þe knightes of grete valure 579 R knyghtes, gret valoure, MS. of above line. Went tite vnto þe Emperowre; 580 R tyte, emperoure. Þai blamed him for þat owtrage 581 R outrage. Withowten cownsail of his barnage. 582 R with outen counsail. Þai praied him to ses of his sorow, 583 R prayd, sese. And gif þe childe respite til þe morow, 584 R gyf, child respyte till to morow. And þan ger sla him, or els bren, 585 R ger after And deleted. By kownsail of his wisest men. 586 R Bi counsail. Þat dai þe Emperoure spared his son, 587 R day, sone. And bad no harm þai sold him done; 588 R harme, suld. Bot gif him mete and drink at will, 589 R gyf, drynk. And hald him so in presown still. 590 R preson styll. Ful wrath he was, þe soth to say, 591 R ffull, tyll for to. Bot þus his son was saued þat day. Here Bigins þe Fyrst Proces. Heading R bygyns, process. On euyn late þe Emparowre 593 R euen, Emperoure. Was broght to bed with grete honeore. 594 MS. e of honeore above the line, R gret honoure. Þe Emperice, his bed-fere, Sighed and made sary chere. 596 R Syghed. Þe Emperoure hir asked why, 597 R Emperour, whi. And sho answerd ful drerily, 598 R scho, full. And said: "Sertes, þe soth I se, Þat into cuntre cumen es he 600 R contre comen. Þat sal in þine old age 601 R sall. Reue þe al þine heritage." 602 R all, herytage. Þe Emperowre said: "Wha sold so done?" 603 R Emperoure, suld sa. "Sir," sho said, "þi cursed son." 604 R scho sayd, sone. He said: "Dame, lat slike wordes be, 605 R slyke. For þat dai sal þou neuer se 606 R day sall. Þat he sal haue any myght 607 R sall. For to do me any vnryght." "Ȝis, sir," sho said, "þat dar I lay, 609 R Yhis, scho. For þou saued þi son þis day, Als wele sal it like to þe 611 R sall, lyke. Als it did þe pine-appel tre 612 R dyd, pyne appeltre. Of his ymp þat he forth broght." Þe Emperoure þan him bithoght: "Dame," he said, "I prai þe, How was it of þe pine-appel tre?" And of his [ymp], how it byfell, 617 MS. om. ymp, R bi fell. Þe Emperice bigan to tell. 618 R þ of þe illegible. Here Bygins þe First Tale of þe Whyfe. [Story I. Arbor.] Scho said: "Sir, whilum in þis town 619 R whilom, toune. Wond a man of grete renown. 620 R gret renoune. He had ordaynd in his palays 621 R ordaind. A faire gardine, þe romance sais. 622 R fair gardyn, says. Þarein was mani trese grouand 623 R many. Als faire als on erth might stand. 624 R fair, myght. Omang al oþer, I tel þe, 625 R all, tell. Þare stode a faire pine-appel tre, 626 R fayre pyne, Appeltre. With faire bowes and leues klene; 627 R fair, clene. And vnder it was an herber grene. 628 R om. it, R ane. Vnder þat tre was his playing In time of solace and of resting. 630 R tyme, restyng; R. om. second of. "So it bifel opon a day 631 R bi fell. Fra hame þe burias toke þe way For marchandise and chafare dere. 633 R marchandyse. He dwelt out mare þan half a ȝere; 634 R yhere. And efter sone, when þat he might, 635 R myght. Hame he toke þe wai ful right. 636 R way full ryght. He went sone on þat oþer day 637 R þe tother. Into his gardine him to play, 638 R gardyne. And to loke his pine-appel tre; 639 R pyne appeltre. And þar bisid sone gan he se 640 R þare be syde. A litel ymp þat was noght lang; 641 R lytell. And out of þe tre rote it sprang. Þe burgase cald his gardinere, 643 R buriase, gardynere. And said: 'Belamy, go here; Sese þou þi[s] ymp þat standes hereby? 645 MS. þi. Can þou me tel encheson why 646 R tell. It waxes na more sen it bigan?' 647 R no more. 'Ȝa, sir,' he said, 'I trow I kan; 648 R Yha. Þis gret bogh and oþer ma Haldes þe son oway þarfra, So þat it mai noght wele thriue.' 651 R may, thryue. Þe burias bad klimb vp bilyue 652 R buriase, clymb. And hak oway þe grete bogh, 653 R hag, gret. And lat þe ymp haue son inogh. Þe gardener biliue was boun; 655 R gardinere bi lyue, boune. Þe grete bogh he hagged down. 656 R gret, haged doune. "Þe burias thoght it was wele done; 657 R buriase. He bad hag of anoþer sone. 658 R ane other. Þe gardenere did als he him bad; 659 R gardinere dyd. He haged anoþer with hert glad. 660 R hagged ane other of with. Þare þai leued nonkins thing 661 R nonekyns. Þat sold let þe ymp to spring. 662 R suld lett, spryng. Þe ald tre had his bewte lorn 663 R lorne. 'When his twa bowes owai war shorn. 664 R oway, schorne. Þe ymp had rowm, and wex ful fast; 665 R rowme, full. Þe ald tre dried at þe last. 666 R dryed. And þat was no ferly, godote; For þe ymp standes on þe maister rote. 668 R in. "Þe burias come anoþer day 669 R buriase com ane other. Into þat place him for to play. Þe ȝong ymp stode grene in þat stede, 671 R yhong. And þe ald tre was al dede. 672 R all. He cald his gardener to him þare, 673 R gardinere. And asked if þe ald tre ded ware. 'Ȝa, sir,' he said, 'ded es it right; 675 R Yha, ryght. Þe ȝong ymp haues al þe might. 676 R yhong, all, myght. And for þe ald [tre] has so bene hewid, 677 MS. om. tre, R hewed. Þarfore es it al bishrewed.' 678 R þarfor, all bi schrewed. Þe burias said: 'Sen it es ded, 679 R buriase. Lat it noght ocupi þis stede. 680 R occupy, sted. Fel it doun or þou do dede, 681 R ffell, doune. Þat þe ȝong ymp faire may sprede.' 682 R yhong, fair. "Sir," sho said, "þus was þe tre 683 R scho. Ded als I haue tald to þe, And hewen done and worthed to noght, 685 R doune. For þe ymp þat it forth broght. And, sir," sho said, "so mot I the, 687 R scho. Þe ald tre bitakens þe; Þe ymp vnto þi son so wode, Þat sprongen es out of þi blode. Sone he sal slike power haue, 691 R sall slyke. He bese þi maister and þou his knaue; And so es right, withowten fail. 693 R ryght withouten fayle. Sen þou wil trow na gude consail, 694 R will, gud counsaile. Þarfore so sal bifal of þe 695 R þarfor, sall bi fall. Als did of þe pine-appel tre." 696 R pyne appel tre. "Sertes, dame," said þe Emperoure, "Þat war a fowl misauenture; 698 R foule mysauentoure. Bot sertes it sal noght swa, 699 R sall, MS. om. be. Whils I haue might to ride and ga. 700 R myght, ryde. And, dame, I hete þe sekerly, 701 R sykerly. He sal be ded tomorn arly." 702 R sall, arely. And þusgat passed ouer þat nyght. 703 R þusgate. Þe first tale þus endes right. 704 R fyrst, ryght. Here Bygins þe Secund Proces. Heading R bygyns, process. Þe Emperowre rase on þe morn, 705 R emperour rays. And gert feche his son him biforn. He bad bilyue þai sold him hang 707 R suld. On high galows and on strang. 708 R hegh. Þe knightes and al þe menȝe 709 R knyghtes, all, meneyhe. For þe childe had grete pete, Þat he sold to ded be dight 711 R suld, dyght. Al with wrang and noght with right. 712 R All, ryght. Þan come rideand Maister Bausillas 713 R rydeand, Bansillas. Þat an of þe childes maisters was. 714 R ane. He saw þe childe so hard bistad; For him his hert was vnglad. Toward þe galows þe child gan fare. Þe Maister went to court with care. When he come at þe palays ȝate, 719 R yhate. He lighted and leuid his hors þareat; 720 R lyghted, leued, þare ate. And fast he hied into þe hall, 721 R hyed. Bifore þe Emperoure and þe knightes all. 722 R Bifor, Emperour, knyghtes. He hailsed þe Emperoure sone sertayn, 723 R Emperour. And greously he loked ogayne. He said: "God gif þe euil fyne 725 R gyf, euell. For þe techeing of son myne." 726 R techyng. "Syr," said Maister Bausillas, 727 R Sir, Bansillas. "Whi er ȝe greued and for what case? 728 R yhe. Ȝe war won to be meke and milde, 729 R Yhe, myld. And now with wrang will sla þi childe." 730 R child. Þan answerd þe Emperowre: 731 R Emperoure. "Þou sal be hanged, loseniowre; 732 R sall, losenioure. Mi son vnto ȝow I bitoke 733 R yhow, betoke. For to lere hym on þe boke; 734 R him, buke. Ȝe haue him teched on wrang manere; 735 R Yhe. And þat ȝe sal aby ful dere. 736 R yhe sall, full. Ȝe haue reft my son his speche; 737 R Yhe. Þe deuil of hel I ȝow biteche! 738 R deuell, hell, yhow be teche. And he wald haue forlayn my wif; 739 R forlayne, wyfe. Þarfore sal na man saue his lyfe; 740 R þarfor sall no. And to ded sal ȝe al be done, 741 R sall yhe all bi. Þat better sold haue teched my son." 742 R suld, sone. "Sir," said Maister Bausillas, 743 R Bansillas. "Þat war grete wrang, to safe ȝoure grace. 744 R gret, saue yhour. Al if þi son had wrethed þi wife, 745 R All, wyfe. Wald þou þarfore lose his lyfe?" 746 R þarfor. He said: "I fand my wife al rent, 747 R all. Hir hare and hir face fowly shent; 748 R foully schent. And whoso es funden hand-haueing, 749 R fonden hand haueyng. It es no nede of witnesing." 750 R witnesyng. Þe maister said: "Sir, no man sale Sadly trow a stepmoders tale; For þaire bolt es ful sone shot, 753 R þair, full, schote. Titter to ill þan til gude note. 754 R till gud. If þou for hir þi son so slase, 755 R þi son for hir. On þe mun bifall swilk a case 756 R mon fall. Als did vntil a gentil knight 757 R vntyll, gentell knyght. For his grehund þat was wight." 758 R, A, E Of instead of For. Þe Emperowre þat tale gan frayn, 759 R Emperour, frayne. And þe maister sayd ogayn: 760 R said ogayne. "Sir, whils þat I tel my tale 761 R tell. Ȝowre son might suffer mekil bale; 762 R Yhour, myght, mykell. Þan war my trauail al forlorn. 763 R all for lorne. Þarfore do bring him vs biforn 764 R þarfor, bryng, bi forne. And respite him for mi saying, 765 R respyte, my. And ȝe sal here a wonder thing." 766 R yhe sall. Þe Emperoure said: "Respite I him grant." 767 R Emperour, respyte, graunt. And hastily went a sergant, 768 R sergeaunt. And broght þe child into þe hall 769 R vn to. Bifore his fader and þe knightes all. 770 R Bi for, knyghtes. He lowted his fader and þam ilkane, Bot wordes wald he speke nane. Þe Emperoure said: "Maister Bawsillas, 773 R Emperour, Bansillas. Tel now forth þi ferly case." 774 R Tell, furth. Þe Secund Tale, of Maister Bausillas. Heading R Bansillas. [Story II. Canis.] He said: "Sir, in þis same cete, On a day of þe Trinite, Was ordand to be a bowrdice 777 R ordaynd, bourdyse. Of nobil knightes of mekil prise. 778 R noble knyghtes, mykell pryse. In a medow þai made þaire play. 779 R mydow, þair. And þus bifel on þat same day, 780 R bi fell. Þe knight þat I of tel þis stownde, 781 R knyght, tell, stounde. Had at hame a faire grehownde. 782 R fair grehounde. Biside þe medow was his manere, 783 R Bisyde, mydow. Al vmclosed with a reuere. 784 R All, ryuere. Of ald werk was ilka wall, Ful of creuices and holes ouer all. 786 R ffull, creuyces. Þe knight had wed a faire lady; 787 R knyght, fair. A faire childe sho haued him by. 788 R fair child scho. Þare war thre norices it to ȝeme; 789 R þar, tre noryssches, yheme. An gaf at sowke, als it wald seme; 790 R Ane, souke. Þe toþer wasshes it and bathes, 791 R þe [or þat] obliterated, other wesches. Makes þe bed, and dons þe clathes; Þe thrid wasshes þe shetes oft, 793 R thred wesches. And rokkes it on slepe soft. "Þis grehund þat I are of talde 795 R grehound, tald. Was wonder wight and þarto balde; 796 R þare to bald. And þarto was he so wele taght, 797 R þare to. Þe knight wald gif him for none aght. 798 R knyght, gyf. Þe knight was armed in nobil wede, 799 R knyght, noble. And sone lepe vp on his stede With sheld on sholder and shaft in hand 801 R scheld, schulder, schaft. To iust with knightes of þe land. 802 R knyghtes. Sone he come into þe feld. 803 R felde. Þe lady lay euer and byhelde, 804 R bi helde. Vp in þe kastell on a vice, 805 R castell, vyce. Whare sho might se þe faire bourdice. 806 R scho myght, fair bourdyse. Þe norices said þat þai wald ga 807 R noryces. For to se þe gamyn alswa; 808 R gamen all swa. And al thre þai went out of þe hall 809 R all tre, MS. iii above line, perhaps in later hand. And set þe credil vnder a wall. 810 R sett, credell. Þe childe þarein slepand it lay. 811 R child. Al thre þai went to se þe play 812 R All tre. At a preue place bisyde. 813 R be syde. And in þat time þus gan bitide: 814 R tyme, be tyde. "A nedder was norist in þe wall, 815 R noryst. And herd þe noys of riding all. 816 R rydeyng. He loked out to se þat wonder, And saw þe childe stand him vnder. 818 R child. Vnto þe erth he went onane; Þe childe he hopid to haue slane. 820 R child, hoped. Þe grehund wanders þareobout, 821 R grehound wandres. And sese how þe nedder crepis out; 822 R crepes. And sone þan gan he him asail, 823 R assayle. And toke him ful tite bi þe tayl. 824 R full tyte be, tayle. And sone þe nedder bate him sare, Þat he durst hald him na mare. 826 R no. Out of his mowth when he was gane, 827 R mouthe. Vnto þe credel he crepis onane; 828 R credell, crepes. He fanded fast þe childe to styng. 829 R fandes, child. Þe grehund ogayn to him gan flyng; 830 R grehound. And sone he hentes [him] by þe bak, 831 MS. om. him, R bi. And al obout his eres gan shak. 832 R all o bout, schak. Bitwix þe nedder and þe grehownd 833 R grehound. Þe credil weltered on þe grownd 834 R credell welterd, ground. Vp so down with þaire fyghting, 835 R Vp sa doune, þair fyghtyng. So þat þe childe lay grouelyng. 836 R child. Þe foure stulpes held vp þe childe, 837 R four stolpes, child. Þat he was nowþer hurt ne filde. 838 R nouther, fyld. Þe nedder bate þe grehund sare, 839 R grehound. Buth bak and side and eueraywhare. 840 R Both, syde. Þe grehund bledes, þe nedder alswa; 841 R grehound, all swa. Grete batail was bitwix þam twa. 842 R Gret. "At þe last þe grehund þe neder slogh, 843 R grehound, nedder. And al to peces he hym drogh. 844 R all, him. By þai had done, withouten dout, 845 R Be. Al was blody þam obout. 846 R All. When þe bourdice was broght til ende, 847 R bourdyse, till. Þe knightes wald no lenger lende, 848 R knyghtes, langer. Bot ilka man his hernayse hent, 849 R hernays. And hastily hame er þai went. Þe norices went to hall in hy; 851 R noryces. And ful sone þai war sary: 852 R full. Þe credel with þe childe þai fand; 853 R credell, child. Turned on þe stulpes þai saw it stand. Þai wend þe childe ware ded for ay, 855 R child war. Þarfore þai luked noght how it lay; 856 R þarfor. Al obout þare saw þai blode. 857 R All. Þai had slike wa þai wex nere wode; 858 R slyke. Grete sorow had þai in þaire hert. 859 R Gret, þair. Þe grehund cried, so euyl him smert; 860 R grehound cryed, euell. Þai wend he had bene wode and wilde, 861 R wyld. And in his wodnes slane þe childe. 862 R wodenes, child. Þe lady oft in swown gan fall 863 R swoun. Euin omang þam in þe hall. 864 R Euen. 'Allas,' sho said, 'þat I was born! 865 R scho sayd. Es my faire childe now fra me lorn?' 866 R fair child. Þe knight hame come in þat tyde, 867 R knyght. And his men on ilka side; 868 R syde. He sese þam wepe and sorow make, Ilkane for þe childes sake; Þe knight þam asked what þam was, 871 R knyght, þan for þam, þat for þam, MS. hat of what obliterated. And son þai tald him al þe cas. 872 R sone, all, case. "Þe lady said: 'Sir, þi grehunde 873 R grehounde. Has etin oure childe on þis grownde. 874 R eten our child, grounde. Bot if þou reue him sone his life, 875 R lyfe. Miself I sal sla with my knyfe.' 876 R sall. Þe knight went withowten let; 877 R knyght, with outen lett. His fayre grehund sone him met; 878 R fair grehound, mett. He ran obout both here and þare, And berked fast, so felde he sare; 880 R barkett, feld. Of rinyng might he haue no rest: 881 R rynyng myght. Þe nedder had venum on him kest; He fawned his lord fast with his tail. 883 R tayle. And þe knyght, for he wald noght fayl, 884 R fayle. With his swerd on þe rig he hittes, 885 R ryg, hyttes. And sone in sonder he him slittes. 886 R slyttes. Þe grehund es ded in þat place. 887 R grehound. Þe knight vnto þe credil gase; 888 R knyght, credell. Ay lay þe childe fast slepeand, 889 R child, slepand. And þe wemen sare wepeand. 890 R wepand. Þe knyght findes þe nedder ded, 891 R fyndes, dede. In peces casten in þat stede; Þe credil was blody and þe grund 893 R credell, bludy, ground. Of þe nedder and þe grehund. 894 R grehound. Þe credel es turned, þe child es quik; 895 R credell, quyk. Þareof haue þai grete ferlik. 896 R gret ferlyk. He sese þe hund þe nedder slogh; Þan þe knight had sorow inogh; 898 R knyght. Ful grete greuance to him bigan. 899 R gret, tyll for to, bygan. He said: 'Sorow cum to þat man, 900 R com. And sertanly right so it sale, 901 R sertainly ryght. Þat euer trowes any womans tale. 902 R wemens. Allas,' he said, 'for so did I!' 903 R sayd, dyd. Þarwith he murned and made grete cri. 904 R gret cry. He kald his menȝe les and mare, 905 R cald, menyhe. And shewed þam his sorow sare, 906 R schewed. How his childe was hale and sownde, 907 R child, sounde. And slane was his gude grehound 908 R gre∣hounde. For his prowes and his gude dede, 909 R gud. And also for his wiues rede. 910 R all so, wyves. "'A!' he said, 'sen I þe slogh, I miself sal by þe wogh; 912 R mi self sall bi. I sal ken oþer knightes, sanz fail, 913 R sall, knyghtes, faile. To trow noght in þaire wife counsail.' 914 R þair, counsaile. He set him down þare in þat thraw, 915 R sett, doune. And gert a grome his gere of draw; Al his gay gere he gaf him fra, 917 R All. And al barfote forth gan he ga, 918 R all bare fote furth. Withowten leue of wife or childe. 919 R with outen, child. He went into þe woddes wilde, 920 R wild. And to þe forest fra al men, 921 R fro all. Þat nane sold of his sorow ken. 922 R suld. Þare tholed he mani a sari stownde 923 R many, sary stounde. For sorow of his gude grehownde; 924 R gud grehounde. And for þe kounsail of his wife 925 R counsail, wyfe. In sorow þus he led his life. 926 R lyfe. "So mai þou haue, Sir Emperoure, 927 R may. Sorow, and shame, and dishonoure, 928 R schame. To sla þi son ogains þe right, 929 R ogayns, ryght. Als þe grehund was with þe knyght; 930 R grehound. For he was fel and ouer hastif, 931 R fell, hastyfe. And wroght by kounsayl of his whif." 932 R counsail, wyfe. Þe Emperoure [sware]: "By Ihesu fre, 933 R Emperour, MS. om. sware, R bi. So sal noght bifal to me! 934 R sall, bi fall of me. And, maister, I hete þe hardily, Þis day sal noght my son dy." 936 R sall. "Sir," said Maister Bausillas, 937 R Bansillas. "Trowes my kownsail in þis cas; 938 R coun∣sail, case. For al þis werld wil þe despise, 939 R all, world will, despyse. To trow þi whif and leue þe wise." 940 R wife, wyse. Þe Emperowre said: "Þat ware reson; 941 MS. roson, R Emperowr, war resone. I sal noght by hir kownsayl done." 942 R sall, be, cownsail. Þe childe ogayn to preson es sent; 943 R child. Þe court departes, þe maister es went. Here Bigins þe Thrid Proces. Heading R bigyns, thred process. When al war parted out of þat place, 945 R all. Þe Emperoure to chamber gase. 946 R Emperour, chaumbre. Þare he findes his lady; 947 R fyndes. Sho sobbed and sighed ful sarily. 948 R Scho, syghed full saryly. "Whannow," he said, "dame, ertow wrath?" 949 R wrathe. "Ȝa, sertes," sho sayd, and sware grete ath. 950 R Yha, scho said, gret athe. He said: "Dame, tel me who þe greues." 951 R tell. Sho said: "Þat lad þat ouer lang lifes, 952 R Scho, lyfes. Þat þou calles þine owin sone. 953 R awen. To euil ded might he be done! 954 R euell, myght. Bot if þou of him tak vengance, 955 R vengaunce. Of þe sal fal swilk a chance, 956 R On instead of Of, sall fall, chaunce. He wil þe bring to swilk ending 957 R will, bryng, endyng. Als þe wilde bare had with clowing." 958 R wyld, clowyng. Þe Emperoure said: "Dame, tel me mare, 959 R Emperour, tell. How it was of þe wild bare." 960 R wyld. "Sir," sho said, "gladly I will, 961 R scho. Bot luke ȝe tak gude tent þartill." 962 R yhe, gud, þare tyll. Þe Thrid Tale Tald þe Wyfe. Heading R thred. [Story III. Aper.] "Sir, a litel here by west 963 R lytell, bi. Was sumtime a faire forest. 964 R som tyme, fair. A wilde bare was bred þarin 965 R wild, þare ine. Fra a gryse til a grete swyn. 966 R gryss tyll, gret swyne. Na man dorst walk in þat forest 967 R No, durst, foreste. For ferdnes of þat wilde beste. 968 R wild. In middes þe forest was a playn; 969 R myddes, playne. Þare stode a tre of hawes sertayn; 970 R sertayne. Faire and rede and ripe þai ware. 971 R ffair, rype. Þeder was wont þe wilde bare; 972 R þider, wyld. Ilka day he went þartill, 973 R þare tyll. Vnder þe tre to ete his fill. 974 R ett, fyll. "Bifel þus in þat somer tide, 975 R Bi fell, tyde. A hird ȝemed bestes þar biside; 976 R hyrd yhemed, þare bi syde. A beste fra him was raiked oway. 977 R fro, rayked. He went to seke it al a day, 978 R all. And by þis tre of hawes he come. 979 R bi. Of þam he toke, for he had tome; In his hode he gederd þare; And in þat cumes þe wilde bare. 982 R comes, wild. When þe hird him saw, he was ful rad; 983 R hyrd, full. He might noght fle, so was he stad; 984 R myght. Into þe tre he clymbes on high, 985 R klymbes, hegh. And þe bare þan come him negh. Hawes findes he ferly fone 987 R fyndes. Forby he was won to done; 988 R ffor bi. He loked vp and saw þe hird; 989 R luked, hyrd. Stil he sat and noght he stird. 990 R Styll, satt, styrd. "Þe bare for tene þan whet his tuskes, And wrot þe erth vp al in buskes; 992 R wrott, all. Out of his mowth þe fame was white. Vnto þe tre fast gan he smite; 994 R smyte. Þe tre wagged als it wald fall; Þan was þe hirdman ferd at all. 996 R hyrd man. Bot sone he fand a medcine gode: 997 R medsyn gude. His hand he put tite in his hode, 998 R tyte. And kastes down fast of þe hawes. 999 R doune. Þan þe bare on þe grund gnawes; 1000 R ground. And when his wambe was filled wele, 1001 R wamb, fyld. On his knese þan gan he knele. And son percayued þe hirdman 1003 R sone persayued, hyrd man. Þat þe bare to fall bygan; 1004 R bi gan. He castes him down hawes inogh, 1005 R kastes, doune. And cumes himself down by a bogh. 1006 R comes, doune bi. By þe left hand he hinges þare, 1007 R Bi, hynges. And with þe right hand he clowes þe bare. 1008 R ryght, klowes, R om. hand. Fast he rubed him on þe rig, 1009 R rubbed, ryg. And þe bare bigins to lyg. 1010 R bi gyns. "Seþin he clowed him on þe wambe, 1011 R Sithen. And he lay doun meke als a lambe; 1012 R doune. He closed his yen als he wald slepe, 1013 R eghen. And þe hird þan toke gude kepe: 1014 R hyrd, gud. Preuely he drogh his knife, 1015 R knyfe. And reft þe wilde bare his life. 1016 R wild, lyfe. Al if he wild and wighter ware, 1017 R All, wyld. Þe hirdman þus has slane þe bare; 1018 R hyrd man. He lete him ly and went his way. Sir Emperoure, by þe I say, 1020 R Emperour. Þou ert þe bare, þe maisters þe clowes; With þaire fals tales, þat þou trowes, 1022 R þair. Þai sal so counsail þe and rede 1023 R sall. Til þai haue broght þe to þi ded." 1024 R Till, dede. He said: "I wate by wham þou menes, 1025 R be. Bot it sal noght be als þou wenes; 1026 R sall. For sertes, dame, arly tomorow 1027 R arely. Sal my son be ded, with sorow!" 1028 R Sall. "Sir," sho said, "þan dose þou right." 1029 R scho, ryght. Þus þai passed ouer þat night, 1030 R nyght. And sleped till þe dai gan spring. 1031 R tyll, day, spryng. Þe thrid tale þus mase ending. 1032 R thred, endyng. Here Bygyns þe Ferth Proces. Heading MS. iiii., R bigyns, process. Þe day es cumen, þe night es gane; 1033 R þ of þe illegible, comen, nyght. Þe Emperoure rase sone onane. 1034 R Emperour rayse. Þai opind ȝates of þe palays, 1035 R opend yhates. And in come knightes and buriase. 1036 R knyghtes. When þai war cumen into þe toure, 1037 R comen. Omang þam come þe Emperowre. 1038 R Emperoure. His turmentoure sone gert he call, Bad bring his sone forth into hall; 1040 R bryng, furth into þe hall. He did his lordes biding biliue. 1041 R dyd, bydyng bi lyue. Omang þam þan was mekil striue; 1042 R mykell stryue. For þe Emperoure was so boun 1043 R boune. To sla his son ogayns resoun; 1044 R resoune. He wald spare him for nothing, Bot gert do of al his clething, 1046 R all. And bad þam bete him in þat tide 1047 R tyde. Til blode brast out on ilka side. 1048 R Till, syde. He bad, when he was sogat bet, 1049 R so gate bett. Þai sold him hang on a gebet, 1050 R suld, gebett. And þat þai sold let for nothing. 1051 R at instead of þat, suld lett. Þan led þai him forth for to hing. 1052 R furth, hyng. Þai led him thurgh þat riche cete; 1053 R ryche. Of his pain was grete pete. 1054 R payn, gret. Mani men of grete renown 1055 R Many, gret renoune. Folowd him out of þe toun; 1056 R toune. And al þai made grete noys and cri, 1057 R all, gret, cry. And said with wrang þat he sold dy. 1058 R suld. And right omang þam in þe prese 1059 R ryght. Come ridand Maister Anxilles, 1060 R rydeand. Þat an of his Seuyn Maisters was; 1061 R ane, seuen. For his decipil he said "Allas!" 1062 R disciple. Þe puple cried to him in fere: 1063 R pople cryed. "Maister, help now þi scolere." Þe maister rides fast fra þam all, 1065 R rydes. And hies to þe Emperowres hall. 1066 R hyes fast to þe emperours. Þare he findes þe Emperowre; 1067 R fyndes, Emperoure. He gretes him with grete honowre. 1068 R gret honoure. Þe Emperoure answers with ill, 1069 R Emperour. And þus he said þe mayster vntill: 1070 R sayd, maister vntyll. "Mekil mawgre mot þou haue 1071 R Mykell. For þe teching of my knaue; 1072 R techyng. Ȝe haue serued litil mede, 1073 R Yhe, lytell. And so sal ȝe haue for ȝowre dede." 1074 R sall yhe, yhour. Þe maister said: "Emperoure of prise, 1075 R Emperour, pryse. Ȝe war won to be war and wise; 1076 R Yhe, wyse. Nowþer sold ȝe bete ne ban 1077 R Nouther suld yhe. For þe wordes of a woman; For wemen wil be ligh[t]ly wrath, 1079 MS. lighly, R will, lyghtly wrathe. And cownsail comunly to skath. 1080 R counsail comonly, skathe. Ȝe sold noght sla ȝowre son forthi, 1081 R Yhe suld, yhour. Bot if ȝe wist he war worthi. 1082 R yhe, worthy. If ȝe him sla and vs al seuyn, 1083 R yhe, all seuen. I pray to Ihesu Crist in heuyn 1084 R heuen. Þat vnto ȝow mot fal slike case 1085 R yhow, fall slyke. Als did to Maister Ypocrase, 1086 R dyd. Þat slogh his neuow for his lare." Þe Emperoure said: "Tel me mare." 1088 R Emperour, sir tell. Þe maister answerd wordes milde: 1089 R myld. "Sir, and þou wil saue þi childe, 1090 R will, child. And gif him respite al þis day, 1091 R gyf, respyte all. Þan þe soth I sal þe say 1092 R sall. Of Ypocras and his neuow." 1093 R Ypocrase. Þe Emperoure said: "I grant him trew." 1094 R Emperour, graunt. Efter þe childe sone war þai boun, 1095 R boune. To put him ogayn to presown. 1096 R ogayne, presoune. Bot first þai broght him to þe towre, 1097 R trowr. Bifore his fader, þe Emperowre. 1098 R Bi for, Emperoure. Þare gederd al þe cownsail hale, 1099 R all, counsail. And þe maister bigan hys tale. 1100 R his. Þe Ferth Tale Sayd Mayster Anxilles. [Story IV. Medicus.] "Syr," he said, "somtym it was 1101 R Sir, sayd som tyme. A grete clerk þat hight Ypocras. 1102 R gret, ypocrase. Of sotelte might none be slike, 1103 R myght, slyke. Ne of lechecraft was none him like. 1104 R lyke. With him was dweland his neuow 1105 R dwelland. For to lere of his vertu. 1106 R vertow. Þe childe was ful sharp of wit; 1107 R child, full scharp, witt. Al þat he saw sone lerid he it. 1108 R All, lered. Ypocrase percayued hys lare, 1109 R persayued his. And thoght he wald shew him na mare; 1110 R schew, no. For wele he trowed, on euyn and morn, 1111 R euen, morne. Þat þe childe sold pas him byforn. 1112 R child suld, bi forne. Þe child percayued his emes will, 1113 R chyld persayued. And wroght al preuely and styll, 1114 R all. Vntil he kowth al þe maistri; 1115 R vn tyll, couth all, maistry. Ypocras was ful wrath forþi. 1116 Ipocrase, Ipo∣crase, full. "In þat time bifel þis thing: 1117 R tyme be fell. Of Hungery þe riche king 1118 R ryche kyng. Had a son þat ful seke was, 1119 R full. And he sent efter Maister Ypocras, 1120 R om. he (perhaps an erasure), ypocrase. And had him com his son to hele, And he sold gif him florines fele. 1122 R suld gyf, florance. Ypocras thoght lath to gane; 1123 R Ypocrase, lathe. He calles his neuow sone onane, And bides him wend vnto þat land 1125 R byddes. To tak þe king son vnder hand: 1126 R kyng. 'If þou can do him no medcine, 1127 R kan, medcyne. Þan sal I send him som of myne.' 1128 R sall. Þai ordand þe childe a gude palfray; On he strides and wendes his way. 1130 R And on, strydes. Wen he was cumen bifore þe king, 1131 R When, comen bi for, kyng. Vnto his son he gan him bring; 1132 R bryng. And sone when þat he saw þe childe, 1133 R child. He spak vnto him wordes milde. 1134 R myld. He tastes þe child syn and vayne, And says he suffers mekil payne. 1136 R suffirs mikell. "Þan þe leche askes a glas; 1138 R Ane vrynall. An vrinal sone broght him was. Þe child made water als þai him kend; Þe leche loked what might him mend. 1140 R luked. In þe water he saw, sanz fail, 1141 R fayle. Þe child was geten out of sposail. 1142 R sposaile. Vnto him þan he cald þe quene, And said: 'Madame, tel vs bitwene 1144 R tell. Wha has getin þis child of þe; 1145 R geten, chid. On al manere wit bus me.' 1146 R all, witt. Sho said: 'Nane oþer bot þe king.' 1147 R Scho, none, kyng. 'Madame,' he said, 'þat es gabing; 1148 R gabyng. He was neuer cumen of kynges strene.' 1149 R comen. Sho said: 'Lat al slike wordes bene, Or sertes I sal ger bete þe so 1151 R sall, MS. þe above line (pale, perhaps a later hand). Þat þou sal neuer ride ne go.' 1152 R sall, ryde. "'Madame,' he said, 'so mot I the, So may noght þi son heled be; Þu most tel me al þe case 1155 R tell, all. How þat þis childe getin was. 1156 R child geten wase. Sertes, dame, it most be so, Or els þi son sal neuer go. 1158 R sall. I mai do þi childe na bote 1159 R may, child no. Bot if þou tel me crop and rote.' 1160 R tell, cropp. "Þe quene said: 'Sen it most be so, Þou most tel it til na mo; 1162 R tell, to no. For and my kounsail war vndone, 1163 R counsail. Sertes I mund be shent ful sone.' 1164 R mond, schent full. 'Dame, by ded þat I sal degh, 1165 R bi þe ded, sall. I sal neuer more þe wregh.' 1166 R sall. 'Sir,' sho said, 'so it bifell, 1167 R scho. Þis es þe twe[l]ft ȝere in Auerell, 1168 MS. tweft, R yhere. Þe Eril of Nauern hider gan ride, 1169 R Erell, hyder, ryde. With mani knightes and mekil pride, 1170 R many knyghtes, mykell pryde. With my lord him for to play; And here he dwelled moni a day. 1172 R many. And sone bigan I him to loue More þan ani þe erth oboue; 1174 R any. For grete luf and for gude drewri, 1175 R gret, gud drewry. I let þe Erl so lig me by. 1176 R lete, Erell, lyg. Þusgat was þis ilk child getin; 1177 R þusgate, geten. Bot I prai þe þat no man weten.' 1178 R pray, wyten. "'Nai, dame,' he said, 'bot wiltou here? 1179 R Nay, sayd, will þou. For þe child was geten on þis manere, To medcin bus him drink and ete 1181 R medcyn, drynk. Contrariouse drink, contrarius mete; 1182 R Contrarius drynk. Him bihoues on þis wise do: Ete beres fless and drink þe bro.' 1184 R Ette, flessch, drynk. Þai toke a bere þare in þe town, And sethed it in a kalderowne. 1186 R kalderoune. Þai gaf þe childe þareof to ete, 1186 R kalderoune. Ilk day omang his oþer mete. 1187 R child. Þe bro he drank also with wyne, And sone amended bi þis medcine. 1190 R medcyne. When he was warist faire and wele, 1191 R waryst fair. Þe king gaf him mani faire iuel 1192 R kyng, many fair iuele. Vnto þe leche, and siluer and golde 1193 R both instead of first and, syluer, gold. Als mekil als he tak wolde. 1194 R mykell, wold. "Hame ogayn he went ful sone 1195 R ogayne, full. And tald his mayster how he had done. 1196 R maister. Ypocras asked if al war wele; 1197 R Ypocrase, all. 'Ȝa, sir,' he said, 'als haue I sele.' 1198 R Yha. He asked what was þe childes medcine; 1199 R medcyne. 'Beres fless,' he said, 'and þe bro with wine.' 1200 R flessch, wyne. 'Þan was he horkop,' said Ypocras. 1201 R horcopp, ypocrase. 'Sir,' said þe child, 'I trow he was.' 1202 R wase. 'O son,' he said, 'bi Goddes dome, 1203 R godes. Þou ert waxen a wel wise grome!' 1204 R well. Þan Ipocras thinkes how he myght 1205 R Ypocrase thynkes. Sla his neuow ogains þe right. 1206 R ogayns, ryght. "Son þareefter on a day 1207 R Sone. To feldes þai went þam for to play; Vntil a gardine gan þai gane 1209 R vntyll, gardyne. Whare nobil herbes war many ane. 1210 R noble erbes. Ypocras said to his neuow: 1211 R Ypo∣crase. 'Here er herbes of grete vertu.' 1212 R gret vertow. Þe child gaf ane to Ypocras, 1213 R ypocrase. And he said fele better þar was; 1214 R om. he, R þare wase. And so he said bot to asay 1215 R assay. How he might þe childe bitray. 1216 R myght, child. Anoþer herb þe child has found, 1217 R Ane other herbe, founde. And doun he stowpes vnto þe grownd, 1218 R doune, grounde. Þat nobil herb vp for to tane. 1219 R noble erbe. Ypocras him strake in þe rig-bane; 1220 R Ypocrase, ryg bane. Þe childe fel down and might noght stand. 1221 R child fell doune, myght. Þus his eme slogh him with his hand. He beried him right sone in hy, 1223 R biryed, ryght. And said þat he died sodanly. 1224 R dyed sodainly. "Bot God, þat es of heuyn king, 1225 R heuen kyng. Þat ouersese erth and alkins thing, 1226 R alkyns thyng. Tok vengance on þis tresown, 1227 R Toke, tresoune. And sent Ypocras þe menisowne. 1228 R ypocrase, menysoune. Þan wist wele Maister Ypocras 1229 R ypocrase. Þat he sold dy for þis trispase; 1230 R suld. For al medcines þat he kowth teche, 1231 R all medcyns, couth. His menyson he might noght leche, 1232 R meny∣sone, myght. Himseluyn might he mend no dele. 1233 R Him seluen myght. And, for he wald men wist þis wele, A tome wineton forth gert he set, 1235 R wyne ton furth, sett. And ful of water he did it ȝet; 1236 R full, dyd, yhett. And hastili he sent þat tide 1237 R hastily, tyde. Efter his neghburs on ilka side. 1238 R syde. He tald bifore þam euerilkane 1239 R bi for, a dele deleted before ane. How he had his neuow slane; 'And sertes for I wroght þat ill, Es þis vengance cumen me till.' 1242 R comen, tyll. In þe tun he bored holes ful fele, 1243 R full. And stopped ilkane with a dosele. "Þan he enoynt þe holes obout, And seþen he drogh þe dosels out; 1246 R sythen. And water of þe ton come nane. 1247 R om. And. Hereof meruayled mani ane. 1248 R þar of meruaild many. 'Lo,' he said, 'I can ger stem 1249 R kan, steme. Þe water wele, withowten wem; 1250 R with outen weme. Bot I can noght, bi no resown, 1251 R kan, be, resoune. Sese miself of þe menisown. 1252 R my self, menysoune. And vnto me es cumen þis wogh 1253 R comen. For my neuow þat I slogh; And I had none encheson why, 1255 R enchesoune whi. Bot for he was wiser þan I. Now es nane mai salue my sare 1257 R may. Bot if þat he now lifand ware.' 1258 R lyfand. "Sir," said þe maister, "þus it wase Of þe wise man Ypocras; 1260 R ypocrase. Þus ended he with sorow inogh, 1261 R I noghe. For þat he his neuow slogh, 1262 R sloghe. Þat vnto him had trispast noght. Þe same, sir, sal to þe be wroght 1264 R sall. If þou so smertly slas þi sone 1265 R sla. And wate noght what he haues il done. 1266 R ill. Þarfore, sir, do him alegance." 1267 R þarfor, aleggance. Þe Emperoure als sone him grantes. 1268 R Emperour al sone, grauntes. Þe maister takes his leue and gase. Þe firth tale þus ending mase. 1270 R ferth, endyng. Here Bigins þe Fift Proces. Heading R bigyns, fyft process, MS. v. Þe mayster hame ogayn es gane; 1271 R ogayne. Þe Emperoure wendes to chameber onane. 1272 R Emperour, chaumber o .... . Þe Emperice byfore he fand; 1273 R bi fore. Wepid fast and wrang hyr hand. 1274 R Wepand, hir. Þe Emperoure said: "Dame, for þe rode, Mak meri and amend þi mode, 1276 R mery. And tel me wha haues done þe wrang; 1277 R tell. I sal þe venge or euer I gang." 1278 R sall. Sho said: "Sir, meruayl es it nane; I se þine honore es nere gane; 1279-80 R om. Þe wede I se wax ouer þe corn; 1281 R waxes, corne. Allas, þat I in werld was born! 1282 R world, borne. Allas, þat I þat dai sold sene 1283 R day suld. Þat we sold departed bene!" 1284 R suld. "Dame," said þe Emperoure, "how swa? 1285 R Emperour. Sal we part now son in twa?" 1286 R Sall, sone. "Ȝa, sertes," sho said, "þat sal þou se; 1287 R Yha, scho, sall yhe. For þou wil noght wirk efter me, 1288 R yhe will. Hastily þou bese vndone By him þat þou cals þi son. 1290 R Bi, calles, sone. For his sake bath knight and swayn 1291 R knyght, swayne. Sal al be turned þe ogayn; 1292 R Sall all, ogayne. And hastly sal þai put þe downe 1293 R hastily sall, putt, doune. Out of þi realme and þi renowne, 1294 R renoune. And set þi son vp in þi stede; 1295 R sett. And sertes me war leuer to be ded. 1296 R dede. And if þou lat it sogat be, 1297 R sogate. I prai to God it fal of þe 1298 R pray, fall. Als it was sene for sertayne Of him þat with his son was slayn: 1300 R slayne. Þe son þe fader heuid of smate." 1301 R heued. "Dame," he said, "what was he þat?" 1302 R þate. "Sir," sho said, "if I þe tell, 1303 R scho. Þou settes nothing bi my spell; 1304 R be. And sertanly þat sal þe rew." 1305 R sertainly, sall. "Dame," he said, "by dere Ihesu, 1306 R be. I sal tomorn wirk al þi will; 1307 R sall, all. And þarfore tel þis tale me till, 1308 R tell, tyll. Fully al how it byfell." 1309 R all, bi fell. Þe Emperise hir tale gan tell. 1310 R Emperice. Þe Fift Tale Sayd Þe Wyfe. Heading R fyft, said. [Story V. Gaza.] Sho said: "Sir, sen þis town bigan, 1311 R Scho, toune. Here was wonand a nobil man. 1312 R noble. Of him was word in ilk cuntre, 1313 R contre. For no man was so riche als he; 1314 R ryche. Emperoure he was of nobil fame, 1315 R Emperour, noble. And Octouian was his name. 1316 R Octouyane. He gert mak a ful nobil toure, 1317 R full noble. And þarin did he his tresoure. 1318 R þare in dyd. In Rome þan was wise klerkes twa. 1319 R wyse clerkes. A liberal man was ane of þa; 1320 R lyberall. Þe toþer was hard and fast haldand,— Nothing wald he gif with his hand. 1322 R wold, gyf, MS. his above line. Þarfore þe Emperowre him toke 1323 R þarfor, emperour. To kepe his tresore, als tels þe boke. 1324 R telles, buke. He keped it wele by night and day, 1325 R bi nyght. For wele he hoped it sold last ay. 1326 R suld. "Þe large clerk wist al ful right. 1327 R all full ryght. And efterward, opon a night, 1328 R nyght. Vntil ane of his sons said he: 1329 R vn tyll. 'Rise vp, felow, and wend with me.' 1330 R Ryse. Þe child said: 'Sir, at ȝowre will.' 1331 R yhour. Forth went þai preuely and still. 1332 R styll. Þai toke with þam bath hak and spade; 1333 R both. Vnder þe erth a hole þai made 1334 R vndor. Right into þat nobil towre. 1335 R Ryght, noble toure. Þe fader went in to feche tresoure; 1336 R fech. He findes a bag ful of mone; 1337 R fyndes, full. In bath his handes þat hentes he, And til þe hole sone he it gat. 1339 R till, gatt. His son keped it right þarat. 1340 R þare att. Þan þe fader come forth ogayne, 1341 R furth. And dited þe hole euyn and playn. 1342 R dytted, euen, playne. Hame with þe tresore hied þai fast, 1343 R hyed. And made meri wils it last. 1344 R mery whils. "Sone efter þe kaytef senatoure 1345 R kaytyf. Gase to loke his lord tresoure. 1346 R luke. Þe hole he findes stoped with a stane; 1347 R fyndes stopped. Þe mekil bag oway was tane. 1348 R mykell. His wa he wald tel to na man; 1349 R tell, no. Bot in his hert he thinkes þan Þat he þat þe hole so left Ogain þeder wald cum eft; 1352 R Ogayn þider, com. And þan he thoght þam for to swike. 1353 R swyke. Þare gert he mak a ful depe dike, 1354 R make, full, dyke. Vnder þe wall, þat was so thik; 1355 R thyk. And filled it ful of ter and pik, 1356 R fyld, full, terr, pyk. Þat if þe thef come þeder ogain, 1357 R thefe com þider o gayne. In þe dike he sold be slayne. 1358 R dyke, suld, slane. And efter þat ilk day arly 1359 R arely. Went he to þe tresory, To loke if þat his gest war cumen 1361 R luke, comen. Þat þe tresore þeþin had nomen. 1362 R þethen. "Al had þai spended sone sertayn; 1363 R All, sertayne. Þe fader and þe son wendes ogayn. 1364 R ogayne. Bitwene þam toke þai out þe stane; Þe fader crepis in sone onane, 1366 R crepes. And doun he fals in ter and pik,— 1367 R doune, falles, terr, pyk. Wit ȝe wele, þat was ful wik. 1368 R Witt yhe, full. Loud he cried and said "Allas!" 1369 R cryed. His son askes him how it was. 1370 R om. son. He said: 'I stand vp til þe chin 1371 R to, chyn. In pik, þat I mun neuer out win.' 1372 R pyk, mon, wyn. 'Allas,' said þe son, 'what sal I do?' 1373 R sall. He said: 'Tak my swerd þe vnto, And smite my heuid fra my body.' 1375 R smyte, heued fro. Þe son said: 'Nai, sir, sekerly; 1376 R nay, sikerly. Are I sold myseluen sla.' 1377 R suld. 'Son,' he said, 'it most be swa, Or els þou and al þi kyn 1379 R all. Mun be shent, bath mare and myn; 1380 R Mon, schent both more, myne. And if mi heuid be smeten oway, 1381 R my heued, smyten. Na word sal men of me say. 1382 R sall. Þarfore, son, for mi benisown, 1383 R þarfor, benysoune. Smite of my heuid, and wend to town, 1384 R Smyte, heued, toune. And hide it in som preue pit, 1385 R hyde, pytt. So þat na man mai knaw it.' 1386 R no, may, itt. "His fader heuid of smate he þare, 1387 R heued. And forth with him oway it bare. 1388 R furth. Wele he thoght it for to hide, 1389 R hyde. For shame þat efter might bitide; 1390 R schame, myght be tyde. For if men wist, it wald be wer, 1391 R war. And lath him was to bere it fer. "Als he went biside a gang, 1393 R bi syde. Into þe pit þe heuid he slang. 1394 R pytt, heued. Þan went he hame wightli and sone, 1395 R wightly. And tald his moder how he had done. Þe whif weped, so was her wa; 1397 R wife, hir. So did his breþer and sisters alswa. 1398 R systers. On þe morn þe senatoure Went arly vnto þe toure; 1400 R arely. In þe pit he findes a hedles man, 1401 R pytt, fyndes. Bot knaw him for nothin[g] he can. 1402 MS. no thin, R kan. He kowth noght ken þan his felaw 1403 R couth. Þat he wont ful wele to knaw. 1404 R he was wont full. He gert haue of þe pik bidene, 1405 R pyk. And wass þe body faire and clene. 1406 R wasch, fair. He loked byfore þan and bihind; 1407 R bi fore, bi hynd. Knawlageing kowth he none find. 1408 R knawlegyng couth, fynd. "Þan gert he bring twa stalworth hors, 1409 R bryng. And bad þam draw þe hedeles cors; 1410 R hedles. And whoso þai saw sorow make, He bad biliue þai sold þam take, 1412 R bi lyue, suld. And at þai war to preson led, For þai er al his awin kinred. 1414 R all, awen kynred. Þat hedles body by þe fete 1415 R bi. Was drawen in Rome thorgh ilka strete, 1416 R thurgh. Vntil þai come bifor þe dore 1417 R vn tyll, be for. Whare þe ded man wond bifore; Þare þai murned and made il chere, 1419 R ill. Whif and childer, al in fere. 1420 R Wife, all. Þe seriantes toke þarto gude kepe, 1421 R tuk, gud. Þam for to tak þat þai saw wepe. Þe childer þan war sare adred; 'Allas,' þai said, 'now er we ded!' "Þe son, þat wist of al þe care, 1425 R all. Hirt himseluen wonder sare; He smate himseluen in þe cheke; Þaire sorow sone so gan þai eke. 1428 R þair. Þai tald to þam þat wald þam take, Þat þai wepid for þaire broþer sake. 1430 R weped, þair. Þai shewed þe wonde of þaire broþer, 1431 R schewed, wound, þare. And said þai wepid for nane oþer. 1432 R sayd. Þe seriantes saw þe wound sertain; 1433 R sertaine. Þai trowed þam wele and turned ogain. 1434 R ogayne. "Lo, sir," sho said, "here may þou see 1435 R scho. How þi son wald do with þe. Þe childe was his wit bireuid, 1437 R child, witt bi reued. When he kest his fader heuid 1438 R heued. Intil a gang, so ful of fen, 1439 R Intyll, full. And wald noght in erth hide it þen, 1440 R hyde. Preueli, als he wele myght." 1441 R Preuely. "Dame," he said, "þou sais ful right; 1442 R full ryght. Vnkind vntil his fader he was." 1443 R vnkynd vn tyll, wase. "Sir, on þe mot fal swilk case 1444 R fall slyke. Bi þi son,—þe deuil him hang 1445 R deuell. Bot he kast þi heuid in a gang!" 1446 R heued. "Dame," he said, "so mot I the, It sal noght so bifall of me; 1448 R sall. For, sertes, I hete þe hardily Þat tomorn my son sal dy; 1450 R sall. Þan sal he neuer swilk dedes do." 1451 R sall. Sho said: "Sir, God gif grace þarto." 1452 R Scho, gyf, þare to. Here Bigins þe Sext Prolong. Heading R bigyns, MS. vi. At morn sone efter þe son, Þe Emperoure rase, als he was won; 1454 R Emperour rayse. Into þe hal þan come he down; 1455 R hall, doune. Þar was moni balde barown. 1456 R þare, many bold baroune. Doun he settes him in his sete, 1457 R Doune. And biddes his son fra preson fet; 1458 R bydes, fete. And biliue þai sold be boun 1459 R bi lyue, suld, boune. To graue him quik withowten town, 1460 R quyk with outen toune. So þat he sold neuer here tell 1461 R suld. Mare of his son, how it bifell. 1462 R More. Forth þai led þe semly childe; 1463 R semely child. Ladies weped and maidens milde, 1464 R Ladyse, maydens mylde. So had þai sorow for to se How he was led thurgh þat cete. Right so come Maister Lentiliown, 1467 R Ryght, Lentilioune. Rideand fast vnto þe toun, 1468 R Rydeand, toune. Þat lered þe child are on þe boke. For sorow he might noght on him loke; 1470 R myght, luke. Bot forth he rides fast to þe hall, 1471 R rydes. Omang þe knightes and swiers all, 1472 R knyghtes, squyers. And on him fast þus gan þai cri: 1473 R cry. "Maister, kith now þi maistri, 1474 R kyth, maistry. And help þi scoler in þis nede." 1475 R scolere. Þan to þe Emperoure he ȝede, 1476 R yhede. And doun he knele[d] opon his kne. 1477 R doune, MS. knele. Þe Emperoure wald noght on him se; 1478 R Emperour. Til at þe last he said: "Traytoure, 1479 R Till. God gif þe mekil misauentoure!" 1480 R gyf, mykell mysauentoure. "A, lord," he said, "whi so? allas! 1481 R om. he said. I am no traitur, saue ȝowre grace. 1482 R traytoure, yhour. Ȝowre gentil wordes, lord, lat me here." 1483 R Yhour gentell. He said: "Þou sal aby ful dere; 1484 R sall, full. Þou and al þi cumpani 1485 R all, company. Sal be drawen and hanged in hy. 1486 R Sall. For I toke ȝow mi son to teche, 1487 R yhow my. And ȝe haue gert him lose his speche, 1488 R yhe. And also for to force my wife; 1489 R all so, wyfe. Þarfore sal he lose his life." 1490 R þare of þarefor mutilated, sall, lyfe. Þe maister said: "Sir, it war wrang 1491 R þe multilated. Vs oþer to draw or hang; 1492 R outher. And if þou do þi son forfare, Þou sal haue shame als mekil or mare 1494 R sall, schame, mykell. Als he had þat his wife gert take With enimes for hir owin ded sake." 1496 R enmyse, awen dede. Þe Emperoure said: "What was he? 1497 R Emperour. Þat tale, maister, þou most tel me." 1498 R tell. "What helpis to tel, sir, in þis stede, 1499 R helpes, tell. And þi son þat tyme war dede? Gif him respit, I þe pray, 1501 R Gyf, respyte, say after þe deleted. Whils þat I my reson say." Þe Emperoure him granted respite, 1503 R Emperour, graunted respyte. And he was broght ogain ful tite. 1504 R ogayne full tyte. And þan Maister Lentiliowne 1505 R Len∣tilyoune. Blithli bigan his resown. 1506 R Blythely, resoune. Þe Sext Tale Sayd Maister Lentilion. Heading MS. vi., R said, Lentilioune. [Story VI. Puteus.] "Sir, whilum was in þis cuntre 1507 R Whilom, contre, þis in margin. A riche man of gold and fe. 1508 R ryche, fee. Hym wanted nothing bot a wife, 1509 R Him, wyfe. For to solace with his life. Of neghburs childer none wald he, 1511 R childre. Bot toke a whife in strange cuntre; 1512 R wife, straunge contre. A damisel he feched ferr; 1513 R damysell. He might haue had wele better nere. 1514 R myght, nerr. Faire sho was and lufsom als; 1515 R scho. Bot vnderneth ȝit was sho fals; 1516 R yhit, scho. Sho had a leman preuely 1517 R Scho, lemman. Þat lang bifore had liggen her by. 1518 R lyggen hir. When hir husband had broght hir home, Hir leman smertly efter come. 1520 R lemman. He toke a chamber nere þat stede. 1521 R chumbre. Him thurt noght care þan for his brede; Þe wife fand him inogh plente; 1523 R wyfe, I noghe. With þe husband gode ful meri made he. 1524 R gud full mery. And when þe wife might þeder wyn, 1525 R myght þider. To play þam let þai for no sin. 1526 MS. let obliterated except for part of l, R lett, syn. "In þat toun was ane vsage 1527 R toune, MS. w.. .ne. Þat halden was with maister and page: Þat whoso war tane in þe toun 1529 MS. w.. ...e, R toune. Efter curfu bel vp or down, 1530 R After curfew, MS. be. .p, R bell, doune. Seriantes sold þam tak ful sone 1531 R suld, full. And hastily in preson done; And on þe morn for ani thing 1533 R any. Bifore domes-men þai sold him bring; 1534 R Bi for, suld, bryng. Þan thorgh þe toun men sal þam driue. 1535 R thurgh, toune, sall, dryue. Þe gudeman percayued of his wiue, 1536 R gud man, persayued, wyue. How þat sho rase o nightes him fra 1537 R scho rayse o nyghtes. And tald him noght wheder sho wold ga; 1538 MS. whedes, R whider scho wald. Bot til hir leman went sho sone, 1539 R tyll, lem∣man, scho. And come ogain when þe plai was done. 1540 R ogayne, play. Þe gudeman had wonder of his wife, 1541 R gud man, wyfe. And ful lath him was to strife; 1542 R full, stryfe. Wele he thoght þar was sum gile, 1543 R þare, som gyle. Bot ȝit he wold habide a while. 1544 R yhit, abyde. "Opon a night þarefter sone 1545 R nyght þare efter. To bed þai went, als þai war won. 1546 R wone. Vntil his whif he turned his bak, 1547 R vn tyll, wife. And still he lay and nothing spak. 1548 R styll. When sho hopid he war on slepe, 1549 R scho hoped, was. Þe whif out of þe bed gan crepe. 1550 R wife. Þe gudeman wele percayued in hi 1551 R gud man, persayued, hy. How þat sho went to hir lutby. 1552 R scho. When he wist how þe gamin ferd, 1553 R gamen. Þe dore ful stalworthly he sperd 1554 R full. With lokkes and with barres grete, And lete his whif stand in þe strete. 1556 R wyfe. He sweres bi God, mekil of might, 1557 R mykell, myght. Sho sold noght come þarin þat night. 1558 R Scho suld, com þare in, nyght. Þe whif at þe dore þe ring gan shak; 1559 R wife, ryng, schake. Þe godeman at a window spak, 1560 R gud man, wyndow spake. And said: 'Now mai þou noght sai nay, 1561 R may, say. How þou has done þis moni a day. 1562 R many. Now haue I tane þe hand-haueing; 1563 R hand haueyng. Þou may deny it for nothing. Vnto þi fere ogain þou fare; 1565 R ogayn. Þi cumpani kepe I na mare.' 1566 R company I kepe no. "Sho said: 'Sir, merci for Ihesu! 1567 R Scho, mercy. For right sone sal þai ring curfu. 1568 R ryght sone will, ryng. If men me find, I mun be tane; 1569 R fynd, mon. And leuere me war here to be slane.' 1570 R leuer. 'Nai, dame,' he said, 'so mot I the, 1571 R Nay. In þi syn sal þou taken be; 1572 R sall. Al þi kyn sal heren and sene 1573 R All, sall. What myster woman þou has bene.' "Sho saw hir prayer helpid noght, 1575 R Scho, helped. Þan of a wile sho hir bythoght. 1576 R wyle scho, bi thoght. Sho waited hir a heui stane 1577 R Scho wayted, heuy. And said" 'Sertes or I here be tane, Sir, þe soth I sal þe tell: 1579 R sall. I sal me drown right in þis well.' 1580 R sall, drowne ryght. 'Dame, wheþer þou wil þe drown or hang, 1581 R will, droune. Me think þou has lifed al to lang.' 1582 R lyfed all. Þan preuely sho toke þe stane 1583 R scho. And went vnto þe well onane. 'Sir,' sho said, 'vengance I call; 1585 R scho. For in þis well now wil I fall.' 1586 R will. Sho lete þe stane fal in þe well, 1587 R Scho, fall. And stirt vnder a stok ful still. 1588 R styrt, full stell. Þe godeman herd noys of þe stane; 1589 R gud man. And þan he was ful wil of wane: 1590 R full will. He wend his whif had fallen down 1591 R wyfe, doune. Into þe well, hirself to drown. 1592 R droune. 'Allas,' he said, 'mi whif es ded!' 1593 R my wif, dede. And forth he went ful wil of rede. 1594 R will. He opind þe ȝates and went þareout, 1595 R opend, yhates. And law into þe wel gan lowt. 1596 R well, lout. "And whils he morned in þe gate, 1597 R murned. Þe whif wan sone in at þe ȝate. 1598 R wife, yhate. Þe dore sho sperres and barres fast 1599 R scho. With barres þat ful wele wald last. 1600 R full. Þe godeman heres þe dore sper hard, 1601 R gud man. And fast he hies him þederward. 1602 R hyes, þiderward. 'Whannow?' he sayd, 'wha es þare now?' 1603 R said. Þan went þe whif to a window; 1604 R wyfe, wyndow. Sho said: 'What dose þou now þarout? 1605 R Scho. Es it now time to walk obout?' 1606 R tyme. "'A, dame,' he sayd, 'for luf of þe, 1607 R said. For þat þou sold noght perist be!' 1608 R suld, peryst. 'Nay,' sho said, 'now am I here; 1609 R scho. I haue no drede of þi dangere.' 1610 R dred, daungere. 'Lat me in, dame, I pray þe!' 'Nay,' sho said, 'so mot I the!' 1612 R scho. 'Ȝis, dame,' he said, 'for heuyn kyng, 1613 R Yhis, heuen. For alsone wil men curfu ring.' 1614 R will, ryng. 'Ȝa,' sho said, 'þat es wele done, 1615 R Yha scho. Þe wakemen sal þe tak ful sone, 1616 R sall, full. And se þat þou has bene lichowre 1617 R lychoure. And cumes hame efter curfoure. 1618 R comes. Þe war fayrer hald with þi spouse 1619 R fairer. Þan spend oure gude at þe hore-hows.' 1620 R our gud, hore howse. "Þan come þe wakemen þar biside 1621 MS. wake man, R þare bysyde. And herd þam twa togeder chide. 1622 R to gyder chyde. Curfu bel was rungen þan, 1623 R Curfew bell, rongen. Þarfore tane was þe gudeman. 1624 R þarfor, gud man. Þai had grete ferly it so ferd, 1625 R gret. For euil of him neuere are þai herd. 1626 R euell, neuer. Þarfore þai prayed þe woman þare To lat him in and speke na mare. 1628 R spek no. Þan said þe whife maliciows: 1629 R wife maliciouse. 'He comes now fra þe hore-hows; 1630 R howre howse. Þus has he oft-siþes serued me, 1631 R oft sythes. And þarfore may we neuer the. 1632 R þarfor. Ful lang haue I hid his shame; 1633 R ffull, hir schame. Now sal himselues bere þe blame.' 1634 R sall him seluen. "Þan vnto presown put he was. 1635 R presone putt. Þe whife at hame had hir solas; 1636 R wife, solace. For sone hir leman come hir till, 1637 R lemman, tyll. And þai had mete and drink at will. 1638 R drynk. At morn sone was þe gudeman fet 1639 R Att, gud man fett. Bifor þe domes-men þat war set; 1640 R sett. Thurgh þe toun þan was he led, 1641 R toune. Fowl desspoyled and al uncled. 1642 R ffoule despoyled, all. Seþin lathly haue þai led him hame. 1643 R Sithen lathely. Þat whif was worthi for to blame 1644 R wife. Þat lete þam so hir husband lede Anly for hir awin mysdede; 1646 R Anely, awen. Þis woman kouth of gile sumdele." 1647 R couth, gyle som dele. "Ȝa, sertes," said þe Emperoure, "ful wele; 1648 R Yha, Emperour full. Sho was wele wer þan ani hownd." 1649 R Scho, any hounde. Þe maister said: "Swik fele er found. And, sir, be ȝe noght euil payd, 1651 R yhe, euell payde. Ȝowre awin es wer, war sho asaid. 1652 R Yhour awen, war war scho asayde. And if þat þou, thurgh hir euil rede, 1653 R euell. Gers þi son be done to ded, 1654 R Ger, dede. Swilk shame mot þou haue in þi liue Als had þis gudeman for his wiue." 1656 R gud man, wyue. Þe Emperoure sayd: "Sir, for þi tale, 1657 R Emperour said. Þis dai mi son sal haue no bale." 1658 R day my, sall. Þe child was done into presoun, 1659 R presoune. And þe maister went out of þe toun. 1660 R toune. Vnto his felows he tald þe case, 1661 R felaws, þis. How his decipil helpid was. 1662 R disciple helped wase. Here Bigyns Þe Seuind Prolong. Heading MS., R vii. Þe knightes voided out of þe towre; 1663 R knyghtes voyded, toure. To chamber went þe Emperoure. 1664 R chaumbre. He findes his whif þare makand sorow; 1665 R fyndes, wyfe. Sho sais sho sal noght bide tomor[o]w. 1666 R Scho says scho sall, byde, MS. tomorw. "Dame," he sayd, "whi sais þou so?" 1667 R said, says. Sho said: "I ne mai none oþer do; 1668 R Scho, may. For leuer me war oway be gane Þan se þi landes fra þe tane. 1670 R fro. Þi maisters to shame sal þe bring 1671 R schame sall, bryng. With argumentes and with lesing. 1672 R lesyng. Wele it semes for to be swa Þat many sal speke of vs twa 1674 R sall. Als did anes of a riche king 1675 R rych kyng. And a steward and a lady ȝing." 1676 R yhing. "How bifel þat, dame, tel me, 1677 R bi fell, tell. Als þou wil þat I luf þe." 1678 R will. Sho said: "My telling es noght worth, 1679 R Scho, tellyng. For my reson may noght forth. If I sai neuer so sothfastly, 1681 R say. I se þou settes nothing þarby; 1682 R þare by. And þarfore wil I hald me still, 1683 R þarfor will, styll. What shame so þai will do þe till." 1684 R schame, tyll. He said: "Dame, tel me þi resown, 1685 R tell, resoune, MS. reswon. And sertanly I sal be boun 1686 R sertainly, sall, boune. To do þi lyking al bidene." 1687 R lykyng all be dene. Þe Emperice said: "Sir, now be sene." Þe Seuind Tale Sayd þe Wife. Heading MS., R vii., R said, wyfe. [Story VII. Senescalcus.] "Syr," sho said, "þis ender ȝere 1689 R Sir scho, yhere. Was a king of grete powere; 1690 R kyng, gret. Bath Poyle and Calaber land 1691 R Both. Was halely bowand to his hand. 1692 R tyll. But in luf had he no delite; 1693 R delyte. He vsed no wemen brown ne quite; 1694 R wemman browne, white. Til at þe last þe riche king 1695 R Till, rych kyng. On his members had bolnyng, 1696 R membirs. Þat þe skin might noght ouer it reche; 1697 R skyn myght. And sone he sent to seke a leche. 1699 R with outen lettyng. And when he come, without letting Was he broght bifor þe kyng. He gert þe king sone make vrine, 1701 R kyng, vryne. To loke what might be his medcine; 1702 R luke, myght, medcyne. Þat þe king might lif wele saw he þare. 1703 R kyng myght lyf. A plaster he layd vnto þe sare; 1704 R laid. He made him medcines moni and sere, 1705 R medcyns many. Vntil þe king was hale and fere. 1706 R vn tyll, kyng. Þe leche said: 'Sir, for þi bote On al maner nedes þou mote 1708 R manere. Have wemen to play with o night; 1709 R wemmen, o nyght. Þan sal ȝe sone be helid right.' Þe king said: 'Right so I sall'; 1711 R kyng. And sone his steward gert he call. "Þe steward said: 'Sir, what wil ȝe?' 1713 R will yhe. 'A leman,' he said, 'feche þou me, 1714 R lemman. Þat I mai þis night with hir play 1715 R may, nyght. And mak me mirth al þat I may.' 1716 R myrth all. 'Sir,' said þe steward, 'bi Saint Iohn, In þis cuntre knaw I none 1718 R contre. Þat wald be with ȝow in bed; 1719 R yhow. For ȝowre word so wide es spred.' 1720 R yhour worde, wyde. Þe king said: 'Hete hir hardily 1721 R kyng. Ten pownd of gold to lig me by.' 1722 R pound, lyg. 'Sir,' said þe steward, 'it sal be done.' 1723 R sall. Hame he hied him þan ful sone, 1724 R hyed, full. And fol oft thinkes þe steward þan: 1725 R full. 'I wald I war a faire woman, 1726 R fair. So þat I might win þis golde, 1727 R myght wyn, gold. And do þarwith what I wolde.' 1728 R þare with, wold. Þe steward was so couaitus, 1729 R couetus. He said: 'Þe gold sal go with vs.' 1730 R suld ga. "Vntil his wife he went onane 1731 R Vn till. And said: 'Þou most an erand gane.' 1732 R ane. 'Gladly,' sho said, 'sir; telles me wheder.' 1733 R scho, whider. 'Þe king es seke, þou most go þeder 1734 R kyng, þider. For to play with him þis night; 1735 R nyght. Ten pound of gold he has þe hight. Þis night þou do what he wil craue; 1737 R nyght, will. Þat gold, dame, þan sal we haue.' 1738 R sall. 'A, sir,' sho said, 'lattes be, fy! fy! 1739 R scho. He is noght lufsom to lig by, 1740 R lyg. And þat wate mani woman wele; 1741 R many wemen. Þat war hard winyng of catele.' 1742 R wynyng. He said: 'Þou sal lig þare þis night 1743 R sall lyg, nyght. For þe gold þat he has hight; For he that nothing win will, Nedely moste he lose bi scill. 1746 R most, skyll. And, dame, þis gold now sal þou win, 1747 R sall, wyn. Or I sal cache þe fro mine in.' 1748 R sall, myne. "Sho said: 'Sen I mot nedes þartill, 1749 R Scho, most, þar tyll. God wote at it es noght my will.' 1750 R þat. Þe steward wald noght dwel ful lang; 1751 R dwell. He gert his whif forth with him gang, 1752 R wife. And hastily he has hir led Right bifore þe kinges bed. 1754 R bi for, kynges. He did out torches al bidene, 1755 R all. For no man sold his whif sene; 1756 R suld, wife. And þan he gert his owin whife 1757 R awen wyfe. Go to þe kinges bed with strif. 1758 R kynges, stryfe. Þan till his owin bed he went. 1759 R till, awen. Þe king þe lady in armes hent; 1760 R kyng. Of hir was he right wele paid, 1761 R ryght, payd. And at his will with hir he plaid. 1762 R playd. "Þe steward nothing slepe might; 1763 R myght. He sighed and sorowd al þat night. 1764 R syghed, sorowed all, nyght. Sone on þe morn, when it was day, To þe kinges chamber he toke þe wai. 1766 R kynges chaumbre, way, MS. chanber. Þe kyng lay ful wele and warm, 1767 R full, warme. Slepeand in þe ladies arm. 1768 R Slepand, ladyes arme. Þe steward had ful mekil wa; 1769 R full mykell. Vp and doun fast gan he ga, And sighed euer with mekil sorow 1771 R syghed, mykell. Vntil it was nere myd-morow. 1772 R vn tyll. Þe king sleped ful wele ay; 1773 R kyng, full. Þe steward thoght ful lang þai lay. 1774 R full. 'Allas!' he said, 'I was to blame To do myself so mekil schame. 1776 R mykell. Better es to waken þe king 1777 R kyng. And preueli my whif hame bring.' 1778 R preuely, wife, bryng. He opind þe chamber dor bilyue 1779 R opend, chaumbre dore. Whare þe king lay with his wyue; 1780 R kyng. 'Wake, sir,' he said, 'it es forth dais; 1781 R days. And lattes þe lady wend hir waies.' 1782 R ways. "'Nai,' said þe king, 'by Saint Dinise, 1783 R Nay, kyng be, Dynyse. Ȝit ne think I noght to rise; 1784 R Yhit, ryse. First, in faith, I sal asay 1785 R ffirst, fayth, sall assay. With þis lady anes to play.' 'Nai, sir,' he sayd, 'for, sertanly, 1787 R Nay, said, sertainly. Þat es my whif þat ligges þe by.' 1788 R wife, lygges yhow. 'What!' said þe king, 'es þis þi whif?' 1789 R kyng, wife. Þe steward said: 'Ȝa, bi mi life!' 1790 R yha, my lyfe. 'Fy!' said þe king, 'fitz de putayne! 1791 R kyng fytz. Whi lete þou hir þan be forlayne?' Þe steward said: 'Sir, for ten pownd 1793 R pound. Of florins þat er riche and rownd.' 1794 R florance, ryche, round. Þe king said: 'Þou wate ful wele, 1795 R kyng, full. I bad þe bring a damysele 1796 R bryng. And noght to bring to me þi wiue; 1797 R bryng, wyue. Out of my land þou fle bilyue! 1798 R be lyue. Þou has bitraied þi whif and me. 1799 R bitrayd, wif. And þou bide til I resin be, 1800 R byde tyll rysen, omitting I. I sal ger draw þi traytur cors 1801 R sall. Thurgh þis toun with wild hors! 1802 R toune, wyld. Out of my land I fleme þe, And þi whif sal won with me. 1804 R wife sall. If þou habide mine vp-rising, 1805 R habyde my vp ryseyng. Þou sal be hanged, by heuyn king!' 1806 R sall, bi heuen kyng. Þusgat þe steward lost his whife, 1807 R þusgate, wyfe. And fled oway to saue his life; 1808 R lyfe. "Þus out of þe land þe steward gase. Þe king, when þat him list, vp rase. 1810 R kyng, lyst. Þe lady, whils him liked, held he, 1811 R lyked. And gaf hir giftes, bath gold and fe; 1812 R gyftes both. And seþen he gaf hir with his hand 1813 R sithen. Vntil a baron of his owin land. 1814 R vn tyll, awen. He wedded hir and was wele payd; Þis ladi was noght euel bitrayd." 1816 R lady, euell. Þe Emperice said: "Sir, right swa 1817 R ryght. Mun þou be flemed þi landes fra, 1818 R Mon. Or els done to doleful ded, 1819 R dolefull. Thorgh þi wiked maisters rede. 1820 R Thurgh, maisters wicked red. Þus sal þou lose þi landes and me. 1821 R sall. Bot I mai dwell in þis cuntre; 1822 R may, contre. And efter þe, Sir Emperowre, 1823 R Emperoure. Mai me wed sum vauaceowre; 1824 R May, som vauaceoure. For I mai lede ful esey life 1825 R may, full, lyfe. If I be noght an emperoures whife. 1826 R ane Emperice wyfe. Sir, þus sal þi hap be hard 1827 R sall. Als it bitid to þe steward." 1828 R bi tyd. "Dame," he said, "so mot I ga, To me sal noght bitide swa; I sal noght trow þe maisters rede, 1831 R sall. "Sir," sho said, "so haue I sele, 1833 R scho. Þan wirkes þou wisely and wele. Els sal he bring þe vnto bale." 1835 R sall, bryng. Þus endes þe seuind tale. 1836 MS. vii., R seuend. Here Bigins þe Aght Prolong. Heading R bigyns, MS., R viii. Þe morn come, als men mai here; 1837 R may. Þe Emperowre rase with meri chere; 1838 R Emperour raise, mery. Vnto þe hal he makes him ȝare; 1839 R hall, yhare. Barons and knightes he findes þare. 1840 R knyghtes, fyndes. He bad his son bifore þam bring; 1841 R by for, bryng. Sone was it done at his biding. 1842 R it was, bydyng. He bad þam wend out of þe toun 1843 R wende, toune. And sla him sone in þat sesown. 1844 R sesoune. Þai led him þare he sold be slane. 1845 R suld. So come þare of his maisters ane— Malquidas, forsoth, he hight; 1847 R Malquidras, hyght. And when he of þe childe had sight, 1848 R child, syght. How he was led omang þe rowt, 1849 R sett instead of led. Aiþer gan til oþer lowt. 1850 R Ayther, tyll other lout. Þe child þai led forth thorgh Rome, 1851 R furth thurgh. And þe mayster vnto cowrt come. 1852 R maister, court. Son on knese he haues hym set; 1853 R Sone, knes, him sett. Þe Emperoure ful fayre he gret. 1854 R Emperour full faire, grett. Þe Emperourė said: "With right resown 1855 R Emperour, ryght resoune. Þou sold be drawen thurgh þe toun; 1856 R suld, toune. For ȝe haue made my son to nyce, 1857 R yhe. For to force myne Emperice. 1858 R enforce. Þarfore fra bale sal nane him borow, 1859 R þarfor, sall. And ȝe al seuyn sal dy, with sorow!" 1860 R yhe all seuen sall. Þe maister said þan in þat stede: "Sir, if þou dose þi son to dede, 1862 R do. Or thinkes his maisters sal be slane 1863 R sall. For cownsail of a wik woman, 1864 R counsail, wicked womane. So mot bifal þe in þi life 1865 R bi fall, lyfe. Als did an aldman and his wife." 1866 R dyd ane old, wyfe. Þe Emperowre said: "Maister, if þou can, 1867 R Emperour, kan. Tel me of þat old man, 1868 R Tell, ald. If he was with his wife bitrayd." 1869 R war. Þe maister answerd sone and said: 1870 R sayd. "Efter þi son, sir, most þou send, And I sal tel þe tale till end." 1872 R sall tell. Þe Emperowre biddes þai saue him sale 1873 R Emperour bydes. Vntil þe maister haue tald his tale. 1874 R vn tyll. Efter þe child þai war ful snell; 1875 R full. Þe mayster þan his tale gan tell. 1876 R maister. Þe Aght Tale Said Maister Malquidas. Heading MS., R viii., R Malquidras. [Story VIII. Tentamina.] He said: "Sir, it was whylum 1877 R whilom. A riche man of grete wisdom; 1878 R ryche, gret. He had wedded a nobil whife. 1879 R noble wife. In mekil ioy þai led þaire life; 1880 R mikell, lyfe. Til at þe last, sir, soth it es, 1881 R Till. Þis gode wife toke a grete sekenes. 1882 R gud, gret. I can noght tel how lang sho lay; 1883 R kan, tell, scho. At þe last sho died and went oway. 1884 R scho dyed. Þe gudeman was in liking sted; 1885 R gud man, lykyng. Anoþer whif ful sone he wed; 1886 R wife full. And sone sho died and heþen ȝede. 1887 R scho dyed, hethen yhede. Þan lifed he lang in wedowhede; 1888 R lyfed, wydowhede. Into eld so gan he pas Þat al his hare nerehand white was. 1890 R all. His seriantes said: 'Sir, we rede ȝow, 1891 R red yhow. For ȝowre solace and for ȝowre prow, 1892 R yhour, yhour. Þat ȝe tak to ȝow a whife, 1893 R yhe, yhow, wyfe. For certes ȝe lede an anely life. 1894 R yhe, ane, lyfe. Sho mai ȝow solace night and day; 1895 R Scho may yhow, nyght. Þan mai ȝe lif with gamyn and play. 1896 R yhe lyf, gamen. We rede ȝe tak sum maiden ȝing; 1897 R red yhe, som mayden yhing. Þan sal ȝe lif in grete likeing.' 1898 R sall yhe lyf, gret lykyng. "A damisel he wedded þen; 1899 R damysell. Þat es þe maner of ald men; Ȝong wemen wil þai spows, 1901 R yhong, will, spowse. And þan be prowd and ful gelows. 1902 R full gelowse. Bot litel þai mai of preue note, 1903 R lytell, may. Or els noght; þat dose þam dote. So did þis man, þe soth to say, 1905 R tyll. His whif of him had litil play; 1906 R wife, lytell. Hir liked noght his oþer spell. 1907 R lyked. Herkens, now, how it bifell. Sone efterward, opon a day, 1909 R afterward. Vntil þe kirk sho toke þe way; 1910 R vn tyll, kyrk scho. Sho findes hir moder redy þare, 1911 R Scho fyndes. And talde hir sone of al hir care. 1912 R tald, all. 'Dame,' sho said, 'bi Goddes grace, 1913 R scho, godes. Mi husband dose me no solace. Þarfore no better rede I can 1915 R þarfor, kan. Bot I most luf sum oþer man.' 1916 R som. 'Doghter,' sho said, 'I sal þe tell; 1917 R scho, sall. Ald men er oft ful fell; 1918 R full. Þai kan think on more quaintise 1919 R quaintyse. Þan ani woman can deuise.' 1920 R any, kan deuyse. "On þis wise haues þe modere thoght 1921 R moder. To mend þe doghter, if sho moght; 1922 R scho. And if sho mai, on any wise, 1923 R scho may. Ger þe husband hir chastise: 1924 R chastyse. Sho said: 'Doghter, þou be na fole, 1925 R Scho. Bot wirk hally efter mi scole.' 1926 R halely, my. 'Moder,' sho said, 'I sal do 1927 R scho, sall. Whatso þou wil tel me to.' 1928 R will tell. 'Þi husband has a faire gardine; 1929 R fair gardyne. A fayre ymp groues þarin. 1930 R þare ine. Ouer an herber þe bowes hing; 1931 R ane, hyng. Þi husband þare has his play[i]ng. 1932 MS. playng. When þi husband es fra hame, Luke þou let for nakins blame, 1934 R lett, nanekyns. Bot bid biliue ȝowre gardinere 1935 R byd bilyue yhour. Hew doun þat ymp vnto þe fire. 1936 R doune, fyre. If þi lord sai it es euil done, 1937 R say, euell. Answer him on þis wise sone: Say þou did it for þe nanes, To warm withal his ald banes.' 1940 R with all. Sho said: 'So sal I do, my dame.' 1941 R Scho, sall. When þe gudeman was fra hame, 1942 R gud man. Wheþer þe gardenere wald or noght, 1943 R gardyner. Þe ymp vnto þe fire es broght. 1944 R fyre. When þe gudeman come hame ogayn, 1945 R gud man, o gayne. For his faire ymp he was vnfayn. 1946 R fair, vnfayne. He asked wha had done þat ded. 1947 R dede. 'Sir,' sho said, 'it was my rede.' 1948 R scho. Sho said: 'I did it for na harm, 1949 R Scho, dyd, no harme. Bot ȝowre ald banes for to warm.' 1950 R yhour, with after banes, warme. Þe gudeman said: 'Þat rewes me sare.' 1951 R gud man. Bot in þat time said he na mare. 1952 R tyme, no. To bed he went with litil gle, 1953 R lytell. Bot til his whife nothing did he. 1954 R tyll, wife, dyd. On þe morn þe whife in hy 1955 R morne, wife. Vnto þe kirk went hastily. 1956 R kyrk. Hir moder fand sho sone þarin. 1957 R scho, þare in. 'Dame,' sho sayd, 'ȝe did grete syn 1958 R scho said yhe dyd gret. To wed me til so ald a man, 1959 R to for til. Þat of no luf ne mirthes can; 1960 R na, myrthes kan. Anoþer I sal luf, by Saint Iame!' 1961 R Ane other, sall, be. 'Nay, doghter,' said sho, 'þat war shame. 1962 R scho said, schame. If þou did so, þou war noght hende, 1963 R dyd. Þi kynred for to shame and shende. 1964 R schame, schende. Yf þou did ani swilk foly, 1965 R If, dyd any. Sone þi husband sold aspi, 1966 R suld aspy. And tak on þe ful hard vengance; 1967 R full, vengaunce. Þarfore, doghter, for al chance, 1968 R þarfor, all chaunce. Do als I sal tel to þe; 1969 R sall tell. Þan trow I it sal better be. 1970 R sall. Þi lord has, so haue I sele, A gre biche þat he lufes wele. 1972 R bych. When þou sittes þe for to warm, 1973 R syttes, warme. Þe byche wil lig hir in þi barm. 1974 R bych will lyg, barme. Þou make þe wrath, and with þi knife 1975 R knyfe. Reue þe biche sone hir life. 1976 R bych, lyfe. Yf þi husband be wrath forþi, 1977 R If, i of þi erased, wrathe. Answer him wele hardily.' Þe ȝong wife said it sold be swa. 1979 R yhong, suld. Sho toke her leue and hame gan ga. 1980 R Scho, hir. Sone efterward,—sho wald noght let,— 1981 R afterward scho, lett. Or hir lord bi þe fire war set, 1982 R fyre, sett. Sho had opon a robe ful fine, 1983 R Scho, full fyne. Forord wele with riche ermyne. 1984 R ffurred, ryche. Down sho sat to warm hir swa; 1985 R Doune scho satt, warme. Hir skirt sho laid ful fer hir fra. 1986 R skyrt scho layd full. Þe gre biche thoght of na harm; 1987 R grebych, harme. Sho laid hir on þe ladies barm. 1988 R Scho layd, ladyse barme. Þe lady smertly drogh hir knif, 1989 R knyfe. And sone sho reft þe biche hir life. 1990 R scho, byche, lyfe. And with þe blode þat sho þare bled 1991 R scho. Þat ladyes clothes war al spred. 1992 R lady, all ouer spred. "Ful wrath þan was þe gudeman, 1993 R ffull, gud mane. When he saw his biche was slane. 1994 R byche. 'Dame,' he said, 'whi did þou so?' 1995 R w of whi erased, hi dyd. 'Sir, for sho trispast me vnto; 1996 R scho. And now sho haues þus on me bled.' 1997 R scho. Þe gudeman rase and went to bed. 1998 R gud man raise. For his hund sare him forthoght; Þarof þe wife ful litil roght. 2000 R þare of, full lytell. "Anoþer day to kirk sho went, 2001 R Ane other, kyrk scho. And þare sho findes hir moder gent. 2002 R scho fyndes. 'Dame,' sho said, 'for al þi lare, 2003 R scho, all. Mi lord lufes me neuer þe mare; Luf som oþer most I nede.' Þe moder said: 'Nai, God forbede; 2006 R sayd nay. And if it sold nedely be swa, 2007 R suld. Tel me, doghter, wham þou wald ta.' 2008 R Tell, whame. 'A preste,' sho said, 'for sertan skill.' 2009 R prest scho, sertaine skyll. 'Nay, doghter, I trow noght þat þou will; Better war a squier or a knight.' 2011 R squyer, knyght. 'Nay, moder,' sho said, 'þat es no right; 2012 R scho, noght ryght. And I war tane in a knightes bed, 2013 R knyghtes. Ful sone þe word wald be wide spred. 2014 R ffull, wyde. With þe preste I mai play preuely, 2015 R prest, may. And na man wit bot he and I.' 2016 R no, witt. "Hir moder fast þan gan hir blame, And said: 'Doghter, lat be, for shame; 2018 R schame. I sal þe teche anoþer gyn, 2019 R sall, ane other. Þi lordes luf how þou sal win. 2020 R sall wyn. Whenso þi lord makes ani feste 2021 R any. Of riche men and of honest, 2022 R ryche, honeste. Þou sit bifore þe burd þat day, 2023 R sytt be for. And on þi belt þou hing a kay; 2024 R hyng. And in þe klath fast þou it fest, 2025 R clath. And stirt oway when þai ett best; 2026 R styrt, beste. And loke þou draw doun mete and klathe: 2027 R luk, doune, clath. Þarof es bot lityl scathe.' 2028 R lytell skath. 'Moder,' sho sayd, 'þis sal be done.' 2029 R scho said, sall. Hame ogain sho hies hir sone. 2030 R ogayne scho. Sone efter þat þe gudeman grayd 2031 R gud man. A grete feste, als þe moder said. 2032 R gret fest. What helpes to mak lang tale? Þe wife serued of wine and ale. 2034 R wyne. Seþin gert sho set hir a chayere, 2035 R Sithen, scho sett. And set hir down with meri chere; 2036 R sett, doune, mery. Onnence hir lord sho gan hir set, 2037 R Onence, scho, sett. Þat þai might of a platere ett. 2038 R myght. "On hir belt was hanged a kay, 2039 R hynged. Als hir moder gan hir say. Sho festend it fast in þe clath, 2041 R Scho fested, clathe. And stirt oway als sho war wrath; 2042 R styrt, scho, wrathe. Down sho drogh bath clath and kup; 2043 R Doune scho, cup. Bot hastly war þai gaderd vp. 2044 R hastily. Mikel mane þe lord gan make, 2045 R Mikell. Anly for his gestes sake; 2046 R Anely. Bot ȝit his wife he wald noght blame. 2047 R yhit. When þai had etin, al went þai hame. 2048 R eten all. Þarefter, at þe tyme of nyght, 2049 R þare efter. Þe gudeman went to bed ful right. 2050 R gud man, full ryght. Noght wald he say ȝit to his wyue, 2051 R yhit. For him was ful lath to striue. 2052 R full, stryue. Bot on þe morn, for his whif sake, 2053 R wife. A grete fire sone gert he make; 2054 R gret fyre. And efter a barbure sent he sone. And when he had on þis wise done, Vnto þe chamber went he still, 2057 R chaumbre, styll. And bad his wife sold cum him till. 2058 R suld com, tyll. "When sho was cumen, alsone he sayd, 2059 R scho, comen, said. Of hir thre trispas to vpbrayd; 'And, dame,' he said, 'by est and west, 2061 R bi. Men sais þe thrid time thrawes best. 2062 R thred tyme. To chasty þe I wil bigyn, 2063 R will be gyn. For euil blode es þe withyn; 2064 R euell, with in. And, dame, þat sal be laten out, 2065 R sall. For þou ert ouer bald and ouer stout.' Þe gudeman gert tak of hir clathes; 2067 R gud man. Sho cried loud, and sware grete athes 2068 R Scho cryde, gret. Þat sho wald noght be laten blode, 2069 R scho. For it wald do hir na gode. 2070 R gude. Bot wheþerso sho wald or noght, 2071 R whether scho, omitting so. Hir clathes war sone of hir broght. "When sho stode in hir smok allane, 2073 R scho. Þan sho gret and made hir mane. 2074 R scho grett. Sho said sho sold dy and go wode, For sho was neuer are laten blode. 2076 R scho. Þe gudeman letted noght hir to greue; 2077 R gud man. Ouer þe elbow he rafe hir sleue; 2078 R raue. Þai set hir bi þe fire to warm, 2079 R sett, fyre, warme. And first þai toke out þe right arme. Þe barbure smate euyn in þe vaine; 2081 R euen, vayne. Þe blode brast out with mekil main. 2082 R mykell mayne. Bi thre dishes war ful vp right, 2083 R Be, dysches, full, ryght. Þe whife lost bath colore and might. 2084 R wife, both coloure, myght. And when þai saw sho lost colowre, 2085 R scho, coloure. Þe gudeman said to þe barbowre 2086 R gud man, barboure. Þat he sold smertly stanche þe wiue, 2087 R suld, staunch, wyfe. Þat sho sold noght lose hir liue. 2088 R scho suld, lyfe. "Þe barbure stanched þe blode ful sone. 2089 R staunched. Vntil a bed þan was sho done. 2090 R vn tyll, scho. Þe lord said: 'Thrise has þou bene wode; 2091 R thryse. Forþi þou bled thre disshes of blode. 2092 R dyssches. And if þou gang wode any mare, 2093 R gan. I sal ger duble al þi care.' 2094 R sall, dubble. Þe whif wend to have died þan. 2095 R wife, dyed. Efter hir moder sho sent a man; 2096 R scho. Hir moder come and stode hir by. 'A,' sho said, 'my dame, mercy! 2098 R scho. Sertes, moder, I am nere dede; I rise neuer quik out of þis stede.' 2100 R ryse, quyk. 'Doghter,' sho said, 'what ailes þe?' 2101 R scho, ayles. 'Moder, mi lord has slane me; 2102 R my. For I did thrise euil dede, 2103 R thryse euell. Thre disshes of blode he gert me blede; 2104 R dyssches. Þarfore mi dede I wate es neste.' 2105 R Þar for my ded. 'Doghter, wiltou luf þe preste?' 2106 R will þou. 'Nay, moder, bi God of might, 2107 R be, myght. I wil luf nowþer preste ne knight.' 2108 R will, nouther prest, knyght. 'Doghter, bifore I gan þe tell Þat old men oft siþes er fell; 2110 R ald, sythes, full inserted before fell. Þarfore hald þi husband till, 2111 R þar for, tyll. And, doghter, þou sal haue þi will.' 2112 R sall, all inserted before þi. "Lo, sir," said Maister Malquidas, 2113 R Malquidras. "Was noght þis a ferly case? Thrise trispast þe woman balde, 2115 R Thryse, bald. And hir penance was thrinfalde. 2116 R thrynfald. Els moght þe ferth, so mot I the, 2117 R mot for moght. Haue bene wer þan al þa thre. 2118 R war, all. Sir, on þis wise fares þi whife; 2119 R fars, wyfe. Sho wil þe bring in sorow and strife. 2120 R Scho will, bryng, stryfe. Sho es obout bath dai and night 2121 R Scho, both day, nyght. At ger þi son to ded be dight. 2122 R dyght. And if þi son, sir, so war shent, 2123 R schent. Þan war þare none amendment. 2124 R amendement. Þarfore, sir, tak a better thoght, 2125 R þarfor. And at hir kownsail do þo[u] noght. 2126 R counsail, MS. þo. For al þe land wald þe despyse, 2127 R all. To trow hir wordes and leue þe wise." Þe Emperoure said: "So haue I sele, 2129 R Emperour. Þou sais right wittily and wele. 2130 R says ryght. Þis dai sal noght my son be slain, 2131 R day sall, slayne. Bot put him to preson ogayn. 2132 R o gayne. Tomorn he sal be borowd or brent 2133 R sall. By rightwis dome and iuiement." 2134 R Bi ryght wise, iugement. Þe mayster hame ogayn gan wend. 2135 R maister, o gaine, wende. Aght tales er now broght til end. 2136 R till ende. Here Bigins Þe Neghend Prolong. Heading R bigyns, MS., R ix. When day was went vnto þe night, 2137 R nyght. Þe Emperoure went to chamber right. 2138 R Emperour, chauber. Þe Emperice þan come him nere, Makand a ful sary chere. 2140 R full. "Whannow?" said þe Emperowre, 2141 R Emperoure. "Wha haues done þe dishonowre?" 2142 R dishonoure. Sho said: "Wele aght me to be wrath, 2143 R Scho, wrathe. For ȝe luf thinges þat me es lath. 2144 R yhe, thing, lathe. Ȝe luf lurdans with losengeri, 2145 R Yhe, losengery. And trowes þaire tales þat er gilri. 2146 R þair, gylry. So did Cressent, þe riche man, 2147 R ryche. Þat gold and siluer mekil wan. 2148 R syluer mykell. He trowed loseniowres techeing 2149 R loseniowrs techyng. Þat broght him vnto euil ending." 2150 R vn tyll euell endyng. Þe Emperowre said: "My lady fre, 2151 R Emperour. How Cressent endid tel þou me." 2152 R ended tell. Sho said: "Wharto sold I tel oght, 2153 R Scho, whare to suld, tell. Sen þat mi telling helpes noght?" 2154 R my tellyng. He said: "Dame, I sal do þat thing 2155 R sall. Þat may me saue fra euil ending; 2156 R fro euell endyng. And þarfore, dame, tel me þis tale." 2157 R tell. "Sir," sho said, "gladly I sale." 2158 R scho. Þe Neghend Tale Sayd þe Wyfe. [Story IX. Virgilius. "Syr," sho said, "þare was whilome 2159 R Sir scho. A clerk, hight Virgil, here in Rome. 2160 R Virgyll. Wele was he knawen omang clergi, 2161 R clergy. And mekil he cowth of nigromancy. 2162 R mykell, couth, nygromancy. He made a fire by experiment 2163 R fyre be. In middes Rome, on þe pauement. 2164 R myddes, pament. It brined bath by day and night, 2165 R birned both bi, nyght. Þat no man it stanche might; 2166 R staunche myght. With water ne with nonekins thing 2167 MS. none king, R nonekyn. No man myght it out bring. 2168 R bryng. Þe pouer folk of þe cuntre 2169 R pore, contre. Drogh ful fast to þe cete At warm þam bath fote and hand, For þe fire was ay brinand. 2172 R fyre, brynand. Opon a toure þare of þe toun 2173 R toune. Virgil made an ymage of latoun; 2174 R Uirgyll, ane, latoune. A bow þe ymage held in hand, And in þe bow ane arow taisand. 2176 R taysand. "In þe vesage als, on brede, 2177 R visage. Was wreten þus, þat men might rede: 2178 R wryten, myght. 'Whoso smytes me, knight or swain, 2179 R knyght, swayne. Sone I sal smyte him ogayn.' 2180 R sall, ogayne. So it bifell, opon a day, Þare come a Lumbard him to play; He saw þe image with bow bent, 2183 R ymage. And to þe lettres toke he tent. 2184 R letters, entent. Þai said: 'If ani man me smyte, 2185 R any. I sal shote at him ful tite.' 2186 R sall schote, full tyte. Þe Lumbard was iolif and stowt, 2187 R both iolyf. And said vntil his men obowt: 2188 R vn tyll, o bout. 'Wil ȝe þis man asaid be?' 2189 R Will yhe, assayd. And þai said: 'Ȝa, þat wald we se.' 2190 R yha. He shot at þe ymage with a vire, 2191 R schot, vyre. And sone it torned al into þal fire 2192 R turned all, fyre. Þat was made in middes þe way; 2193 R myddes. Þan slokkend it for euer and ay. Sir, þis was na wise kownsail. 2195 R no, counsaile. Bot ȝit þar was a more merua[i]l. 2196 R yhit þare, meruayle, MS. merual. "Virgil on þe est wal of þe town 2197 R Uirgyll, wall, toune. Made anoþer image of latown, 2198 R ane other ymage, latoune. And in his hand a ful faire ball; 2199 R full fair. And als he set on þe west wall 2200 R sett. Of fine laton anoþer ymage, 2201 R fyne latoune ane other. Like two breþer of vesage. 2202 R Lyke, brether, visage. Ful many men it saw, and sayd 2203 R ffull, said. Þat with þe ball þe childer plaide; 2204 R playd. Þe tane it kest, þat oþer it hent; 2205 R þe tother. Þis was a quaintise, verrayment. 2206 R quayntyse verament. In myddes Rome Virgil made a stage, 2207 R Virgyll. And þare he set anoþer ymage; 2208 R sett ane other. A merure had he in his hand, 2209 R merowre. Þat þai of Rome myght se ilk land Þat seuin daies iornay obout þam ere, 2211 R seuen days. Who wald þam pese and who wald were. 2212 R Wha, wold. Þus war þai warned ilka day When any fase wald þam affray. 2214 R faes wold. "Þe king of Poyl had grete enuy 2215 R kyng, gret. Þat þai vsed swilk maystri. 2216 R maistry. Ogaynes Rome, for nakins nede, 2217 R Ogyns, nanekyns. Of batayl myght he neuer spede, 2218 R batail. Þat he ne was alway euil flayed, 2219 R all way euell flayde. Ouercumen, or trattursly bytrayed. 2220 R Ouer commen, traytursly bi trayde. "Þe king of Poyl has sent his sande 2221 R kyng. Efter þe best clerkes of his land. 2222 R lande. He talde þam al his grete greuance, 2223 R tald, all, gret greuaunce. And said þat he sold þam avance, 2224 R suld, auaunce. And gif þam ful gude warisowne 2225 R gyf, full gud warysoune. Þat kowth bring þat ymage doun. 2226 R couth bryng, doune. Twa clerkes þat iurne vndertoke, 2227 R iourne. And said: 'Lord, lely we sal luke.' 2228 R sall we. Ayther of þam fild a forcere 2229 R fyld. Ful of gold and siluer clere, 2230 R ffull, syluer. And gert þam lede in preuete Vnto Rome, þat riche cete. 2232 R ryche. Þai groue þat ane, so God it wate, 2233 R þe tone. In Rome right at þe west ȝate, 2234 R ryght, yhate. Vnder the ymage þat held þe ball, 2235 R bale. Þat thoght wele what sold forþer fall. 2236 R suld. "Þat oþer forcer ful of golde 2237 R þe tother, full. Delued þai vnder þe molde, At þe est ȝate, þat same nyght. 2239 R yhate. And efter, when þe day was light, 2240 R lyght. Þai shewed þam opinly in Rome, 2241 R schewed, openly. And to þe Emperowre bath þai come. 2242 R Emperour both. Þai said: 'God luke þe, sir Emperoure; It fals to þe to luf tresowre, 2244 R falles, tresoure. And we er cumen fra fer cuntre 2245 R comen, contre. For tresore hid in þis cete; 2246 R hyd. And if þou wil vs grant halfdele, 2247 R will, graunt. We sal find it faire and wele.' 2248 R sall fynd, fayre. Þe Emperoure said: 'Þat grant I ȝow, 2249 R graunt, yhow. For it mai turn to mekil prow. 2250 R may, mykell. Gifes me a part, takes ȝow anoþer.' 2251 R Gyfes, yhow ane other. Þan answerd þe elder broþer: 'Sir, I rede we rest þis night, 2253 R red, ryst, nyght. And tomorn, bi dayes lyght, 2254 R days. Sir, þou sal haue al þi will.' 2255 R sall, all. Þus þat night habade þai still. 2256 R nyght abade, styll. "On þe morn þai toke þe gate, 2257 MS. þat for þai. With þe Emperowre, to þe west ȝate. 2258 R Emperoure, yhate. Þare þai delued in þe molde, 2259 R mold. And fand a forcer ful of golde. 2260 R full, gold. To þe Emperowre þai it gafe, 2261 R Emperour. And said: 'Sir, lo, þis vowche we safe.' 2262 R vouche, saue. Þan said þe Emperoure þai war wise; 2263 MS. þai for þan, R Emperour. Held he none so mekil of prise. 2264 R mykell, pryse. Þe Emperoure went to his palays, 2265 R Em∣perour. With mani barons and burgays. 2266 R many. Þe ȝonger clerk said: 'Sir Emperowre, 2267 R yhonger, Emperoure. Tomorn sal we find faire tresowre.' 2268 R sall, fynd fair tresoure. On þe morn þe toþer forceoure þai fand 2269 R forceour. Whare þai had feled it with þaire hand. 2270 R þair. Þan was þe Emperoure wele paid. 2271 R Emperour, payd. And bath þe clerkes vnto him said: 2272 R both, sayd. 'Tomorn, sir, sal we tresore fynde, 2273 R sall. Þar es none swilk fra hethin to Ynde.' 2274 R þare, fro hethen till. Þai went to bed and rase at morow, 2275 R rayse. Þe Emperoure to mekil sorow. 2276 R Emperour till mykell. "Þai said: 'Forsoth, Sir Emperowre, 2277 R Emperoure. Whare þe ymage standes with þe merour[e], 2278 MS. merour, the tail of the r having been obscured in the binding. Vnder þe stane, in þe molde, 2279 R stone. Es ful mekil seluir and golde. 2280 R full mykell syluer. In al Poyl and Romany 2281 R all poyle. Es noght so mekil tresori. 2282 R mykell tresory. If þat we myght þarvnder mine, 2283 R þare vnder myne. We sold find gold ful gude and fine. 2284 R suld fynd, full gud, fyne. Þe Emperoure said: 'By son and mone, 2285 R Emperour, bi. Þe ymage wald I na skath done.' 2286 R no. Þe clerkes said: 'Sir, in þat stede Has Virgil hid al his gold rede. 2288 R virgyll hyd all. And þe ymage sal we noght let, 2289 R sall, lett. So wele we sal it vnderset; 2290 R sall, vndersett. And when we haue þe tresore found, 2291 R founde. Þe towre sal we mak hale and sownd.' 2292 R toure sall, sounde. Þe Emperoure said: 'Wendes þarto, 2293 R Emperour. Els ȝe þe ymage na harm do.' 2294 R Yhe, no harme. Þai said: 'Sir, we er noght slike foles.' 2295 R slyke. Þan take þai men and mani toles. 2296 R many. Þai vnderset þe toure obout, 2297 R vnder sett. And myned it, withouten dout. 2298 R vnder instead of it. Þai sunderd softly stane fra stane, 2299 R fro. And sone vndid þe grundes ilkane. 2300 R vn dyd, groundes. "Al þat dai þai mined with might, 2301 R All, day, myned, myght. Vntil it neghed nere þe night; 2302 R vn till, nyght. Þan þai said þe Emperoure till: 2303 R Emperour tyll. 'Tomorn, sir, sal ȝe haue ȝowre will.' 2304 R sall yhe, yhour. Þan þai sessed of þaire werkes, 2305 R sesed, þair. And to þaire ines went þir clerkes. 2306 R þair. When ilka man was at þaire in, 2307 R ilk, þair. Þan thoght þai on anoþer gyn. 2308 MS. þat, R ane other. Vnto þe stage stilly þai stale 2309 R stylly. And toke þam stra and stikkes smale; 2310 R stykes. A fire þai dight, if it war derk, 2311 R fyre, dyght. Euyn vnder al þat werk. 2312 R Euen, all. Þe ymage fel, þe toure alswa; 2313 R fell. Þat turned Rome to mekil wa. 2314 R till mykell. Wen þe clerkes saw al was down, 2315 R when, all, doune. Þai hied þam tyte out of þe toun. 2316 R hyed, toune. "On þe morn þe Emperoure gan wake; 2317 R Emper∣our. Þan herd he men grete murning make. 2318 R gret murnyng. He asked whi þai made swilk cri; 2319 R cry. Þe pople answerd him in hy: 'Oure toure is down, oure ymage brend; 2321 R Our, doune our, brend mutilated for last four letters. And þat es al bi þine assent.' 2322 R all be. Þan was þe Emperoure sare adred; 2323 R Emperour. Ful fain he wald oway haue fled. 2324 R ffull fayn. Bot al þe comunalte of Rome 2325 R all, comonalte. Asented, by þaire aller dome, 2326 R Assented bi þair. Sen he þarof was crop and rote, 2327 R þareof. For to bind him hand and fote; 2328 R bynd. And gold and siluer þan þai melt, 2329 R syluer. And in his mowth and nese it helt; In eres and eghen þai helt alswa, Ay whils a drop in wald ga. Þai said, for gold and oþer mone War þai made thral þat are war fre; 2334 R thrall. 'Þou sal be fild now, or we go, 2335 R sall, fyld. Of gold þat þou has couayt so.' 2336 R couait. "Þus died þe Emperoure with shame; 2337 R dyed, Emperour, schame. His awin self was al to blame. 2338 R awen, all. He died for nane oþer thinges 2339 R dyed, none, thynges. Bot for he trowed twa fals gadlinges. 2340 R gadlynges. Swilk ending, sir, sal cum of þe." 2341 R endend, sall com. "A, dame," he said, "avoy! lat be!" Sho sayd: "Þou trowes þam þat þe glose, 2343 R Scho said. And sertanly þat sal þe lose. 2344 R sertainly, sall. And þou wil mak him þine a[y]re 2345 R will, MS., R insert þat before þine, MS. are. Þat es obout ay þe to payre. Allas, þat he was euer born, 2347 R borne. Þat þou sal for his luf be lorn!" 2348 R sall, lorne. "Nay, dame," he said, "by son and mone, 2349 R sayd be. Tomorn he sal to ded be done." 2350 R sall. Sho said: "I trow þe neueradele. 2351 R Scho. And sertis, sir, it sal noght seme wele, 2352 R sertes, sall. When þou ert ded with dishonowre, 2353 R dishonoure. A domb man to be Emperowre. 2354 R dom, Emperoure. And, sir, sen þat he es my fa, Þou spedes noght wele to spare him swa." "Dame," he said, "now hald þe still; 2357 R styll. Tomorn þou sal haue al þi will." 2358 R sall, all. Þan was þe Emperice ful blyth, 2359 R full blythe. And thanked hir lord oft sith. 2360 R sythe. Vnto þaire bed þan gan þai wende. 2361 R þair. Þusgat past þat nyght til ende. 2362 R þusgate, till. Here Bigins Þe Tend Prolong. Heading R bigyns, MS., R X. On þe morn, when day was light, 2363 R lyght. Þe Emperoure was smertly dight; 2364 R Emperour, dyght. After 2364 R inserts the couplet: His turmentoure sone gert he call And fech his son in to þe hall. And sone þe ȝates opend ware; 2365 R yhates. Þe knightes come with hertes sare. 2366 R knyghtes, hert. Þe Emperoure come into hall; 2367 R inserts þe before hall. His turmentoure sone gert he call, 2368 R eft in place of sone. And bad tak his son fra presown 2369 R presoune. And sla him sone withowten town; 2370 R with outen toune. "Langer sal no man him saue; 2371 R sall. No, sertes, he sal no merci haue." 2372 R Ne., sall, mercy. Knightes and ladies, mekil of prise, 2373 R Knyghtes, ladyse mykell. Banned ful fast þe Emperice 2374 R full. For þat wa and for þat pyne Þat sho did childe Florentyne. 2376 R scho, child. To lede him forth war boyes ful boun; 2377 R furth, boune. So come ridand Maister Catown, 2378 R rydeand, catoune. Þat mekil kouth of gude clergy, 2379 R mykell couth; R om. gude. And he taght þe childe curtaisi. 2380 R child curtasy. And when þe childe his maister saw, 2381 R child. Vnto him he louted law. 2382 R lowted. Þe maister had grete sorow in hert 2383 R gret. To se him suffer payn so smert. 2384 R payne. He praied þe folk for to habide, 2385 R prayed, abyde. And to þe toun fast gan he ride. 2386 R toune, ryde. He lighted doun bifore þe toure, 2387 R lyghted doune be for. And hies him to þe Emperowre. 2388 R hyes, Emperoure. He hailsed him myldely with mouth, 2389 R mowth. And al þe knightes, als he wele kowth. 2390 R all, knyghtes, cowth. Þe Emperoure sat lang ful still, 2391 R Emperour satt, full styll. And seþin with yre he spak him till, 2392 R sithen, Ire, tyll. And said: "Traitur, high mot þou hang, 2393 R traytur hegh. For þou has lered my son to lang, And teched him to be ouer nyce, For to defoul myne Emperice." 2396 R defoule. "Sir," he said, "so thriue I euer, 2397 R thryue. To saue ȝowre grace, he thoght it neuer. 2398 R yhour. And, sir, if þou þi son wil shende 2399 R will schende. Withowten asent of barons hende, 2400 R With outen assent. To þe mot fal swilk velany 2401 R fall, vilainy. Als fell þe burias of his py." Þan said þe Emperowre whar he sat: 2403 R Emperour, satt. "Tel me swith, what tale es þat?" 2404 R Tell. He sayd: "Sir, gif þi son respite, 2405 R said, gyf, respyte. And I sal tel it þe ful tyte." 2406 R sall tell, full. Þe Emperoure granted; þe child was fet, 2407 R Emperour graunted, fett. And sone ogayn in presown set. 2408 R o gayne, preson sett. Þarfore wele payd was mani man. 2409 R þar for, many. And Catonn þus his tale bigan. 2410 R Caton. Þe Tend Tale Sayd Mayster Catonn. Heading R said maister Catoune. [Story X. Avis.] Catonn said: "Sir, in this toun 2411 R Caton, toune. Was a burias of grete renown. 2412 R gret renoune. Marchand he was of grete auere, 2413 R Merchad, gret. And had a faire whif glad of chere; 2414 R fair wif. Bot sho was vnder hyr gare 2415 R scho, hir. Als wemen er now wideware. 2416 R wyde whare. Þe burias in his hal had a py 2417 R om. hall in body of text, but inserts in margin. Þat cowth tel tales ful properly 2418 R couth tell, full. And ful faire, in Frankis langwage; 2419 R full fair, frankys langage. And it hanged in a faire kage. 2420 R hynged, fair cage. Al þat þe py herd, ilka word, 2421 R All. Wald scho tel vnto þe lord. 2422 R tell. Þe py saw and wele vnderstode How þat anoþer come and ȝode 2424 R ane other, yhode. Vnto þe lady, als him lyst. Þe lord sho talde al þat sho wist. 2426 R scho tald all, scho wyst. Þe burias trowed ful wele his py, 2427 R full. For he hoped sho cowth noght ly; 2428 R scho couth. And for þe tales þat þe py sayd 2429 R said. Þe whif had many fowl vpbraid. 2430 R wyfe, foule upbrayd. "So on a day fel on þis wise: 2431 R fell. Þe burias went with marchandise 2432 R marchandyse. Intil þe cuntre, for sertayn; 2433 R In tyll, contre, sertayne. And þan þe wife was wonder fayn; 2434 R fayne. Hir hore-maister þan sent sho fore. 2435 R scho. And when he come to þe hal dore, 2436 R hall. Into þe hal dorst he noght hy 2437 R hall durst. For ferd of wreing of þe py. 2438 R wreyng. Þe lady toke him by þe hand, 2439 R bi. And said I sal þe wele warand. 2440 R sall. Þe py was wele war of þis, And sayd: 'Dame, þou dose amys. 2442 R said. Wist mi lord, he wold be wrath, 2443 R my, wrathe. And for þi folies do þe skath. 2444 R folyse, skathe. Þat man cumes heder for na gode; 2445 R comes hyder, no gude. My lord sal wit it, by þe rode.' 2446 R sall, be. "Þe wife thoght sho sold be shent, 2447 R scho suld, schent. Bot vnto chamber forth þai went. 2448 R chaumbre furth. Þe whif thoght of a gillri, 2449 R wife, gylry. How þat sho might bigile þe py. 2450 R scho myght begyle. When al was in bed, ȝong and ald, 2451 R all, yhong. Þe hore-maister and þe whif bald 2452 R wife. Set a ledder vnto þe hall, 2453 R Sett. Euyn ouer þe cage, without þe wall. 2454 R Euen. "Þare þai made a hole ful sone; 2455 R full. And when þai had thusgates done, 2456 R thusgate. Þai toke a torche brinand ful light, 2457 R brynand full lyght. And held þarouer a bacyn bright. 2458 R þare ouer, bryght. Þai dang the bacyn with a wand; Þe py for ferid was fast criand. 2460 R ferd, cryand. Þe gletering of þe bacyn bright 2461 R glyteryng, bryght. Wend þe py war leuynyng light. 2462 R leuenyng lyght. Þe bacyn-beting made hir wonder; 2463 R betyng. Wele sho wend it had bene thonder. 2464 R scho, thoner. And on þe cache water ful clere 2465 R kage, full. Powred þai out of a pitchere. 2466 R pycchere. Þe py wend it had rayned þarout, 2467 R þare out. For water fell so hir obout. With water so and torches light 2469 R lyght. Held þai þe py wakeand þat night. 2470 R wakand, nyght. "On þe morn, when it was day, Þe hore-maister went his way. Þe hole was opin on þe morow,— 2473 R open. Þat made þam efter mekil sorow,— 2474 R mykell. And þe ledder als lay still; 2475 R styll. Bot men toke litel tent þartill. 2476 R lytell, þar tyll. Þe day was cumen and night was gane; 2477 R comen, þe in place of and, nyght. Þe py hir shoke and made hir mane, 2478 R schoke. Þat sho had neuer so euyl rest 2479 R scho, euell. Sen sho come out of hir nest. 2480 R scho. At morn þe lord come hame ogayn; 2481 R o gayne. Þan was þe py ferly fayn. 2482 R fayne. And als sone als sho hym herd, 2483 R al sone, scho him. Sho asked hym how þat he ferd. 'Wele,' said þe burias; 'how feres þou?' 2485 R fars. 'Sertes,' sho said, 'neuer wer þan now. 2486 R scho. Bot, sir,' sho said, 'bi Goddes myght, 2487 R scho, be godes. Þe lichowre has bene here al night, 2488 R lychoure, all nyght. Vp in þe chamber with oure dame, 2489 R chaumbre. Ay whils þat ȝe war fra hame. 2490 R yhe. And, sir, it has rayned al þis night 2491 R all; last three letters of nyght worn off. And thonord fast with leuenyng bright. 2492 R last four letters of bryght worn off. So wikked weder was þareout 2493 R wicked. Þat had I neuer so mekil dout.' 2494 R mykell. When þe py had þusgat sayd, 2495 R þusgate. Þe gudeman held him nothing payd. 2496 R gud man. Ful felly loked he on his wiue 2497 R ffull, wyue. And hastily bigan to stryue. 'Sir,' said þe whif, 'þou dose outrage 2499 R wife. To trow so on a py in kage. 2500 R sa. Þe weder was þis night ful faire, 2501 R nyght, fayre. And nanekins noys was in þe ayre; 2502 R nanekyns. Bot of þe mone and sternes bright 2503 R bryght. Sais þe py was leuenyng lyght. 2504 R Says. Also þe py to ȝow me wries, 2505 R All so, yhow, wryes. Now may ȝe wit þat al es lyes. 2506 R yhe witt, all. Bot I be venged on þe py Þat has me said swilk velany, I sal neuer be glad ne blith.' 2509 R sall, blyth. Þan þe burias gert alswith 2510 R all swith. Cal al his menȝe bifore his sight, 2511 R Call all, meneyhe be for, syght. And asked what weder was þat night— 2512 R nyght. If it was owþer thonore or rayn. 2513 R war outher thonur, rayne. Þai said: 'Nay, sir, for sertayne, It was weder, wele we knaw, Als fayre als any of scy might blaw.' 2516 R fair, o sky myght. "Þe burgas sais þan þat þe py 2517 R buriase. Sold be lered na mare to ly. 2518 R Suld, no more. Na ma wordes þarof he spak, 2519 R þare of. Bot toke þe brid and brak þe bak. 2520 R byrd. Þus hastily þe py was slane. Bot him forthoght it sone onane: Als he went obout murnand, 2523 R mornand. To þe hal he saw a ledder stand; 2524 R hall. Vnto þat ledder toke he tent, He had grete meruayl what it ment. 2526 R And had gret meruaile. Vp on heght he gan him hi, 2527 R hy. And þare he fand al þe gilry; 2528 R all, gylry. Al he fand þare in þat stede 2529 R All. Þat gert his py be done to ded. 2530 R dede. If he war wrath, na wonder was. 2531 R no. Doun ogayn sone gan he pas. 2532 R Doune o gayne. He toke a staf was gude and grete, 2533 R A toke a stafe well gud. And þe wife wele gan he bete. He flemed hir þan for hir foly, 2535 R Only med remains of first two words. With wa, als sho was wele worthi; 2536 R Only a remains of first two words; R scho. Sho lered hir lord vnlefeful lawes, 2537 R Sc of Scho faded, unlefull. To sla his py for hir soth sawes. 2538 R The T of To illegible. "Þis gudeman trowed ouer wele his wife, 2539 R gud man. And als himself was ouer hastife." 2540 R hastyfe. Catonn sayd: "Sir, bi my berde, 2541 R Caton said, be, berd. Es none so wise man in midlerd 2542 R mydlerth. Þat ne a woman cowth bygyle, 2543 R couth be gyle. And bring him into grete perile. 2544 R bryng, gret peryle. And, sir, if þat þou trowes þi wife 2545 R trow. And for hir reues þi son his life, 2546 R reue, lyfe. To þe moght fall slike velany 2547 R mot, swilk vilany. Als did þe burias of his py." Þe Emperoure said: "So mot I go, 2549 R Emperour. Of me sal noght bifal so." 2550 R sall, bi fall. With þis carping come þe night; 2551 R carpyng, nyght. Fra court went bath clerk and knyght. 2552 R both. Here Bigins Þe Elleuynd Prolong. Heading R bigyns, MS., R xi. When al war past out of þat place, 2553 R all. Þe Emperowre to chamber gase. 2554 R Emperour, chaumber. Þe Emperice þarin he fand, 2555 R þare in. Makand ful sari sembland. 2556 R full sary semebland. "Dame," he said, "what ayles þe now?" "Sir," sho said, "neuer rekkes þou. 2558 R scho, yhow. Þou wil noght venge me on my fa, 2559 R will, of. And þarfore wil I wend þe fra 2560 R þarfor will. Vnto my kyn þat er me dere, And neuermare to negh þe nere. 2562 MS. neght. For me es leuer to wend my way Þan dwell in dole bath night and day." 2564 R both nyght. He said: "Dame, if I haue mysdone, Say me, and I sal mend it sone." 2566 R sall. Sho said: "It helpes noght for to neuyn; 2567 R Scho, neuen. For þe sal shende þi Maisters Seuyn, 2568 R sall schende, seuen. Þat þou trowes and tentes vntill, 2569 R vn tyll. And spares him þat þe sal spill. 2570 R sall spyll. Þarfore to þe mot fal swilk thing 2571 R þarfor, fall. Als bifel vnto Herod þe kyng, 2572 R bi fell. Þat tynt his sight for euil kownsail. 2573 R syght, euell counsaile. Sir, þis tale may þe mekil auayl." 2574 R mykell auaile. "Dame," he said, "þan pray I þe, Þis ilk tale now tel to me." 2576 R tell. "Sir," sho said, "with ful gude chere; 2577 R scho, full gud. God len ȝow grace wele it to lere." 2578 R þe. Þe Elleuynd Tale Sayd Þe Wyfe. Heading MS., R xi., R said. [Story XI. Sapientes.] "Syr, whilom was ane Emperoure 2579 R Sir. Þat led hys life with grete honoure; Herod was þe Emperoures name, 2581 R Emperours. A mighty man of nobil fame. 2582 R myghty, noble. He had with him seuyn clerkes of prise, 2583 R seuen, pryse. Als ȝe haue, þat ȝe hald so whise. 2584 R yhe, yhe, wyse. Whatsoeuer come him in thoght, Efter þaire kounsail al he wroght. 2586 R After þair counsail all. "Þa seuyn clerkes gan vprayse 2587 R seuen. A custume þat was noght to prays: 2588 R custom, prayse. Þat whaso dremyd any nyght, 2589 R who so dremed. And come vnto þe clerkes ful right 2590 R full ryght. And broght a besant til ofring, 2591 R besand tyll offryng. And tald þe clerkes of þaire dremyng, 2592 R þair. Þe clerkes þarto sold tak entent 2593 R þare to suld. And tel þam what þaire dremes ment. 2594 R tell, þair. Sum was soth, and sum was lese. 2595 R Som. Vntil þam come ful mekil prese, 2596 R vn tyll, full mykell. Bath of þe toun and of cuntre, 2597 R Both, toune, contre. For to wit what þaire dremes might be; 2598 R witt, þair. Lordes þam soght fra diuers land, 2599 R diuerse. And ilkane broght þam a besand. So lang þai lifed in þis errowre, 2601 R lyfed, arroure. Þai war richer þan þe Emperowre. 2602 R rycher, Emperoure. "Þe Emperowre opon a day 2603 R Emperour. Thoght he wald wend him to play; Out at þe ȝate als he gan ride, 2605 R yhate, ryde. With hys men on ilka side, 2606 R his, ylka syde. He bycome blynd als a stane; 2607 R be come, any stane. And sent efter þe clerkes onane. He asked þam what made him blynd, Bot þai cowth nanekyn reson fynd. 2610 R couth nonekyn. Þai asked respite four skore nyght, 2611 R respyte a seuen nyght. For in þat space þai hoped þai myght In þaire bokes find sum skill whi 2613 R þair, fynd som skyll. Þat he was blynd so hastily. Þe Emperowre went hame ogayn; 2615 R Emperour, o gayne. And þe clerkes did al þaire payn 2616 R dyd all þair mayne. In þaire bokes for to fynd 2617 R þair, fynde. Why þe Emperowre was blind. 2618 R Whi, Emperour, blynde. "Opon a day sone efter þan, Þe clerkes met with an ald man; 2620 R mett, ane old. The two folios of R which should come here (and be numbered 124, 125) are incorrectly placed after folio 125 (and so are numbered 126, 127). Folios 124, 125 according to the numbering of R should come just before folio 130. To him þai talde al þaire cownsayl, 2621 R tald all þair counsail. And he said: 'Sirs, withowten fayl, 2622 R with outen. Þare es no man þat now life hase 2623 R lyfe. Þat can ȝow cownsail in þis case, 2624 R kan yhow counsail. Bot a childe þat es faderles; 2625 R child. And I can noght say whare he es. 2626 R kan. He can ȝow tell ful properly 2627 R kan yhow, full. What ȝowre asking sal sygnyfi.' 2628 R yhour askyng sall signify. "Þe maysters wald no lenger byde, 2629 R maisters. To seke þe chyld fast gan þai ride. 2630 R child, ryde. Sum rade est, and sum rade west, 2631 R Som, som. Whare þai hoped to fynd him best. A fourtenyght þus gan þai ride, 2633 R ryde. And soght þe childe on ilka syde. 2634 R child. At þe last rade þai thurgh a town 2635 R toune. Whare childer played þam vp and down; 2636 R playd, doune. Þai saw a childe þare bete anoþer, 2637 R child, ane other. And called him lurdan, deuils broþer: 2638 R cald, deuels. 'Þou ert þe deuils son of blode! 2639 R deuels. Þou dose ay euil and neuer gode! 2640 R euell, gude. Faderles lurdan I þe call!' Þarof record bare þai all. 2642 R þare of. "Twa of þe maysters herd ful wele 2643 R maisters, full. Al þaire fliting ilka dele. 2644 R All þair flytyng. Merlyn saw he was aspied, 2645 R aspyed. And fast he said his felows lied; 2646 R lyed. He said: 'I se twa clerkes here Þat has me soght on sides fere; 2648 R sydes. Þai wil haue me vnto Rome 2649 R will. Of sertayn poyntes to gif þam dome.' 2650 R sertaine, gyf. Þe maisters come þan to þe childe, 2651 R chid. And spak vnto him wordes milde: 2652 R myld. 'Childe,' þai said, 'what es þi name?' 2653 R Child. 'Merlyn,' he sayd, 'I hat at hame.' 2654 R said, hate. So come a gudeman of þe land, 2655 R gud man. And broght a besand til ofrand. 2656 R tyll offrand. To Merlyn he it gaf in hi, 2657 R hy. And he said: 'Sir, þou ert hasty For to wit þi dremyng sone; 2659 R witt. Þat might ger þe be vndone. 2660 R myght. Bot sen þou profers me þis mede, Þi dreme I am redy to rede. "'Þe thoght þou saw in þi myding 2663 R myddyng. A faire well and water vp spryng; 2664 R fair. Þe water was of swete sauowre, 2665 R sauoure. And serued þe and þi neghboure. It menes þus: þar in þat molde 2667 R mold. Es a grete hurd al of golde; 2668 R gret hord all, gold. In þi midding þis find þou may. 2669 R myddyng, fynd. Go we þeder sone and assay.' 2670 R þider. With þe man went þai al bidene, 2671 R all bi dene. To loke if þis sold soth be sene. 2672 R suld. When þai come to þe mydyng, 2673 R myddyng. Þe childe gert hakkes and spades bring. 2674 R child, bryng. Down in þe grund a hole þai grayd; 2675 R Doune, ground. Þai fand a hord, als he had sayd, Þat was al ful of rede gulde. 2677 R all full, red gold. Þe gudeman bad tak what þai wolde; 2678 R gud man, wold. And in þat town ilka neghbowre 2679 R toune, neghboure. Made he riche with þat tresowre. 2680 R rych, tresoure. Þe maysters toke gold at þaire likyng; 2681 R maisters, þair lykyng. Bot Merlyn wald þarof nathing. 2682 R þare of. Þe maisters went to Rome ogayn, 2683 R o gayne. And toke with þam þat lytel swaine. 2684 R lytell swayne. "Als þai went opon þaire way, 2685 MS. And, R þair. Þai asked þe childe if he kowth say, 2686 R child, couth. Or any sertayn reson fynd, 2687 R sertaine. Why þe Emperoure was blynd. 2688 R Whi, Emperour. Merlyn said: 'Ȝa, sekerly, 2689 R yha sikerly. I can ȝow tel encheson why.' 2690 R kan yhow tell. Þan war þe maisters wonder blyth, 2691 R blythe. And vnto Rome þai hied þam swith. 2692 R hyed, swythe. When þe day come þat þam was set, 2693 R sett. To couret þai come withow[t]en let; 2694 MS. with owen, R court, with outen lett. And to þe Emperoure gan þai say: 'Sir, we er cumen to hald oure day.' 2696 R comen, our. He said: 'Can ȝe tel myne askyng?' 2697 R kan yhe tell. 'Nay, syr,' þai sayd, 'by heuyn kyng; 2698 R sir, said be heuen. Bot here a child, syr, haue we broght, 2699 R sir. Þat can tel ȝow al yowre thoght.' 2700 R kan tell yhow all yhour. Þe Emperoure said: 'Will ȝe warand 2701 R Emperour sayd will yhe. His answer opon lyfe and land?' 'Ȝa, sir,' þai said, 'opon al thyng 2703 R Yha, all. We vndertak hys answeryng.' 2704 R his. Þe Emperoure said: 'Tel, if þou can.' 2705 R Emperour, tell, kan. Þe child said: 'Gose to chamber þan, 2706 R chaumbre. And þare sal I tel ȝow ful right 2707 R sall, tell yhow full ryght. Why þat ȝe haue lorn ȝowre sight.' 2708 R Whi, yhe, yhour syght. "Into þe chamber þai went onane, 2709 R chaumber. Þe Emperowre and þe clerkes ilkane. 2710 R [E]mperour. Opon his bed he set him down, 2709-11 R torn or faded for the first six, three, and one letters respectively. 2711 R sett, doune. And bad þe child say his resown. 2712 R resoune. 'Sir,' said Merlyn to þe Emperoure, 'Vnder þi bed in þis bowre, 2714 R boure. In þe grunde ful depe þar down, 2715 R ground full, þare doune. Es an welland calderowne, 2716 R a, calderoune. With seuen walmes day and nyght; And, sir, þat has þe reft þi syght. Ai whils þa walmes boyland bene, 2719 R Ay. Sal þou neuer with eghen sene; 2720 R Sall. Þa walmes if men fordo myght, Þan sal þine eghen be faire and bright.' 2722 R sall, fair, bryght. "Þe Emperoure had wonder of þis. 2723 R Emperour. Sone gert he remu his bed, iwis, 2724 R remew, I wys. And in þe erth þai delued down 2725 R doune. Vntil þai come to þe caldrown 2726 R vntill, calderoune. Þat had walmes boiland seuyn; 2727 R boyland seuen. Þan trowed þai wele þe childes steuyn. 2728 R steuen. Þan sayd þe Emperoure, san fayl: 2729 R said, Emperour sazfayl. 'Childe, I wil do þi cownsayl. 2730 R Child, will, counsail. Say me son by sum resowne 2731 R be som resoune. What bymenes þis calderowne.' 2732 R bi menes, calderoune. "Þe childe said: 'Sir, withowten dout, 2733 R child, sr with outen. Biddes þe maisters wend þarout; 2734 R Byddes, wendes þare out. Þan sal I tel ȝow þe tale til ende.' 2735 R sall, tell yhow, till. Þe Emperoure bad þai sold forth wende; 2736 R Emperour, suld. Þarin lete he no man dwell. 2737 R þare in. Þan þe childe bigan to tell; 2738 R child. 'Sir,' he said, 'þir walmes seuyn 2739 R seuen. Ȝowre seuyn maysters bitakens euyn; 2740 R Yhour seuen maisters be takens euen. Þai haue raysed custums new Þat ȝe may ful sare rew. 2742 R yhe, full. Yf ani dremes day or night, 2743 R If any, nyght. Þai sal cum sone bifore þaire syght 2744 R sall come, be for þair. And bring a besant to ofryng, 2745 R bryng, besand tyll offryng. And gif it for þair dreme redeing: 2746 R gyf, þair, redyng. Þai rede þe dremys þan als þam likes; 2747 R dremes, lykes. Ȝowre maisters þus þe men biswikes. 2748 R Yhour, be swykes. And for þis syn, sir, wele I finde, 2749 R fynd. Er þine eghen bicomen so blynde.' 2750 R be comen, blynd. "Þe Emperoure sayd: 'Sen it es so, 2751 R Emperour said. Sai me what es best to do.' 2752 R Say. Þe childe said: 'Sir, for ȝowre byhoue, 2753 R child, yhour bi houe. By ane of þam I rede ȝe proue. 2754 R Bi, red yhe. If þat þe eldest sone be slane, Þe moste walm sal sese onane.' 2756 R mast walme sall. Þe Emperoure bad his men ful tyte 2757 R Emperour, full. Þe eldest mayster heuid of smyte; 2758 R maister heued. And als sone als þat ded was done, 2759 R all sone, dede. Þe grettest walme sesed ful sone. 2760 R gretest, full. Þan gert þe Emperoure, sone onane, 2761 R Emperour. Sla þe maisters euerilkane. Þe water wex þan cald and lyth; 2763 R lythe. Þe Emperoure þan was ful blyth. 2764 R Emperour, full blythe. Merlyn wasshed his eghen twa; 2765 R wasched. Þan myght he se to ride and ga. 2766 R ryde. Þus had þe Emperoure his sight, 2767 R Emperour, syght. And þe maisters lost þaire myght. 2768 R þair. "Sir, þus er ȝe bigiled euyn 2769 R yhe be gyld euen. And blinded by ȝowre Maisters Seuyn. 2770 R blynded, yhour, seuen. If ȝe do efter þaire rede, 2771 R yhe, þair. Ful euyl way þai wil ȝow lede. 2772 R ffull euell, will yhow. So was Herod for his trowing 2773 R trowyng. Nerehand broght to euyl ending." 2774 R tyll euell endyng. Þe Emperoure said: "Nay, sertes, dame, 2775 R Emperour. Þai sal neuer do me slike shame; 2776 R sall do me na slyke schame. To ded are sold þai al be dyght." 2777 R suld, all. "Sertes," sho said, "þan dose þou right." 2778 R scho, ryght. "Dame, I hete þe in þis stede, Þat mi son sal tomorn be dede; 2780 R my, sall. Þar sal nane borow him fra bale." 2781 R þare sall. Þus endes þe elleuynd tale. 2782 R elleuend. Here Bigins Þe Twelft Prolong. Heading R bigyns, MS., R xii. Sone at morn bifor þe sun 2783 R son. Þe Emperoure rase, als he was won. 2784 R rayse. He come omang his knyghtes all, And gert his turmentowre furth call. 2786 R turmentoure forth. He bad his son þat he sold bring, 2787 R suld bryng. And on þe galows high him hyng. 2788 R hegh. For mani knightes and burias come 2789 R many knyghtes. For to here þe childes dome; Þe Emperoure wald haue no rede, 2791 R Emperour. Bot said algates he sold be ded. 2792 R all gates, suld, dede. And right so cumes into þe hall 2793 R ryght, comes. Þe sest maister omang þam all. 2794 R sext. He said: "Sir Emperoure, lord of prise, 2795 R pryse. In þi werkes þou ert noght wise; Ilk man has mater þe to blame; Þarof þe burd think mekil shame. 2798 R þare of, mykell schame. Sen þat þou wil trow na whise rede, 2799 R will, wise. Bot wrang wil ger þi son be ded, 2800 R will, dede. Þat ilk chance bifal to þe 2801 R chaunce bi fall. Als fel a knyght of þis cuntre 2802 R fell, contre. Þat hurt his whife finger with a knif, 2803 R wife fynger, knyfe. And for þat sorow lost hys life." 2804 R his lyfe. Þe Emperoure said: "On al manere, 2805 R Emperour. Maister, þat tale most I here." He said: "Sir, grant þi son respite, 2807 R graunt, respyte. And I sal tel it þe ful tite." 2808 R sall tell, full tyte. Þe Emperoure said: "Blethly he sale." 2809 R Emperour, salle. And þan þe mayster tald his tale. 2810 R maister. Þe Twelft Tale Sayd Maister Iesse. Heading MS., R xii., R said. [Story XII. Vidua.] Þe maister said: "Bi God of might, 2811 R Me for Þe, be, myght. In þis cuntre wond a knight 2812 R contre, knyght. Þat wedded had a ful faire whif, 2813 R full fair wyfe. And lufed hir more þan his life; 2814 R lyfe. And sho lufed him wele, als him thoght, 2815 R scho. For efter his wil ai sho wroght. 2816 R will ay scho. So on a day, bifore his whife, 2817 R wyfe. To þe knight was gifen a fetyce knife; 2818 R knyght, gyfen, fetyse knyfe. And als þai plaied with þe knif bare, 2819 R played, knyfe. A litel in hir fynger he share. 2820 R lytell, schare. And when he saw þe blude rede, 2821 R blode. For sorow he said he sold be ded; 2822 R suld, dede. And so he was sone on þe morow. 2823 R in. Þan þe whife made mekyl sorow: 2824 R wife, mykell. Sho wrang hir hend and made il chere. 2825 R Scho, ill. Þe cors was sone broght on a bere, With torches and series faire brinand, 2827 R fair brynand. And prestes and freres fast singand. 2828 R syngand. For him þai delt seluer and golde; 2829 R syluer, gold. And sone he was broght vnder molde. 2830 R mold. "When þe knight þus grauen was, 2831 R knyght. Þe lady cried and sayd 'Allas!' 2832 R cryed, said. And hardily, sho said, na man 2833 R scho, mane. Sold mak hir fra þat graue to gan; 2834 R Suld, gane. Bot on þat graue ai wald sho ly, 2835 R ay, scho. And for hir lordes luf wald sho dy. 2836 R scho. Al hir frendes gederd þare 2837 R All. For to cumforth hir of care. 2838 R comforth. 'Dame,' þai said, 'par charite, 2839 R charyte. Of þiself þou haue pete. Þou ert faire of hide and hew, 2841 R fair, hyde. Þou may haue knightes nobil inowe; 2842 R knyghtes, In . . . . And sen þou ert both ȝong and fayre, Þou mai haue childer to be þine aire. 2843-4 R omits these lines. It es na bote to mak murning; 2845 R bute, mornyng. Al sal we dy bath ald and ȝing.' 2846 R All sall, both, yhing. Þe lady said oft siþes: 'Allas! Out of þis place sal I neuer pas Til I be ded with him alswa!' 2849 R Till, all swa. Þan hir frendes was ful wa. 2850 R full. "Na man might for na preching 2851 R No, myght, no prechyng. Þe lady fra þe graue bring; 2852 R fro, bryng. And euil þam thoght þare to dwell; 2853 R euell. Þarfore þai did als I sal tell: 2854 R þarfor, sall. Þai made a loge þe graue biside, 2855 R be syde. Fra rain and hayl hir for to hide; 2856 R rayne, haile, hyde. Þai couerd it ouer ilka dele, And made a fire þarin ful wele; 2858 R fyre þare in full. Mete and drink þai broght plente, 2859 R drynk. And bad þe lady blith sold be. 2860 R blythe suld. Bot ett ne drink wald sho nothing; 2861 R ete, drynk, scho nathing. Euer sho cried and made murning. 2862 MS. shied, R scho cryed, mornyng. Hir frendes went oway ilkane, And þus þe lady leued allane. "Þat ilk day war outlaws thre 2865 R outlawes. Dampned and hanged on galow tre, And knightes war þai euerilkane. 2867 R knyghtes. Ful many had þai robbed and slane; 2868 R ffull, MS. Robbed. Þarfore war þai hastily hent, 2869 R And þarfor. And hanged so by right iugement. 2870 R bi ryght. Anoþer knyght of þat cuntre 2871 R Ane other, contre. Fel for to kepe þa theues thre 2872 R ffell. On þe galows al þat nyght, 2873 R all. Als it was resown and right. 2874 R resowne, ryght. For, sirs, ȝe sal wele vnderstand, 2875 R yhe sall. He gaf na ferm els for his land 2876 R no. Bot for to kepe þe galows a night 2877 R nyght. When þare hang gentel men or knight; 2878 R gentyll man, knyght. And if ani þan war oway, 2879 R any. His landes sold he lose for ay. 2880 R suld. "Þe knight him cled in nobil wede, 2881 R knyght, nobyll. And set him on a stalworth stede, 2882 R sett. And went to kepe þe knightes thre 2883 R knyghtes. Þat hanged on þe galow tre. 2884 R hynged. Þe frost fresed fast þarout; 2885 R [þe fros]t frecsed, þare out. Þe knight rides euer obout, 2886 R [þe k]nyght rydes. Biside þe galows vp and down, 2887 R .. syde, doune. So was he dredand of tresown. 2888 R tresoune. So grete cald come him vnto 2889 R gret. Þat he ne wist what he might do. 2890 R myght. Toward þe toun luked þe knyght; 2891 R toune loked. He saw a fire brin faire and bright 2892 R fyre bryn fair, bryght. In þe kirk-ȝerd of þe town; 2893 R kyrk yherd, toune. And þeder fast he made hym boun. 2894 R þider, him boune. Vnto þe loge he come onane; Þe lady þare he fyndes allane. To cal and speke wald he noght spare. 2897 R call, spek. Þe lady sais sone: 'Wha es þare?' 'I am a knyght þat wald me warm, 2899 R warme. And wend my way withowten harm.' 2900 R with outen harme. Þe lady said: 'By him me boght, 2901 R be. Herin, sir, ne cumes þou noght!' 2902 R Here in, comes. 'Lat me cum in, dame, I þe pray.' 2903 R com. Þe lady said ful sadly: 'Nay.' 2904 R full. 'A, dame,' he said, 'me es ful kalde; 2905 R full cald. A litel while wharm me I walde.' 2906 R lytell, warme, wald. 'Sir,' sho said, 'bi him me boght, 2907 R scho In þis close ne cumes þou noght!' 2908 R Here in sir ne comes. 'A, dame,' he said, 'par charyte, Þare sal na man wit bot we.' 2910 R sall, witt. Þe knyght spak so with þe lady Þat in he come and sat hir by, 2912 R satt. And warmed him wele at his will. Þe lady gret and gaf hir ill. 2914 R grett. "Þan said þe knight to hir in hy: 2915 R knyght. 'Dame, whi ertou so sary, 2916 R ertow. And whi ertou þus here allane, 2917 R ertow. And so with murning makes þi mane? 2918 R mornyng. Tel me, gude dame, I þe pray, 2919 R Tell, gud. And I sal help þe if I may.' 2920 R sall. Sho said: 'Sir, I am wil of rede, 2921 R Scho, will. For my lord es fra me dede, And right here es he laid in graue; 2923 R ryght, layd. Swilk a lord mun I neuer haue; 2924 R mon. He lufed me euer ful stedfastly: 2925 R full. Þarfore here wil I lif and dy.' 2926 R þarfor, will, lyf. "Þe knyght said: 'Dame, þou ert a fole Þat þou makes so mekyl dole. 2928 R mykell. What helpes it so to sorow þe For thing þat may noght mended be? Þiseluen mai þou so forfare, 2931 R may. And him ogayn gettes þou na mare. 2932 R getes, no. I rede þou morn na mare þarfore; 2933 R red, no. Þou may haue ane worth twenti score. 2934 R twenty. Þarfore, dame, do efter me, 2935 R þarfor. And lat now al þi murning be; 2936 R latt, all, mornyng. I rede þou luf som oþer knyght 2937 R red. Þat may þe cumforth day and night.' 2938 R comforth, nyght. 'Nay,' sho said, 'sir, by Saint Iohn, 2939 R scho, Iohan. Swilk a lord get I neuer none 2940 R gett. Þat so mekil wil mensk me, 2941 R mykell will. Ne suffer my will als did he. For to seke fra hethin till Ynde 2943 R fro. Swilk a lord sold I neuer finde.' 2944 R suld, fynde. "When þe knight had warmed him a while, 2945 R knyght. He dred þat men sold do him gile, 2946 R suld, gyle. To stele som of þe hanged men, And ger him lose his landes þen. He toke his leue of þe lady, And went to his hors hastily. Vnto þe galows rides he; 2951 R rydes. And sone he myssed ane of þe thre. Þan was þe knyght ful sary man; 2953 R full. He hopid to tyne his landes ilkane. 2954 R hoped. He thoght wemen kowth gif gud rede 2955 R couth gyf. Vnto men þat had grete nede. 2956 R gret. He was noght fer fro þe lady; Ogayn he rides ful hastily. 2958 R Ogayne, rydes full. He cald als he bifore had done, 2959 R be fore. And in þan was he laten sone. He said he had more sorow þan sho, 2961 R scho. And assed wat was best to do. 2962 R asked what. Al þe soth he gan hir say 2963 R All. How his o knight was stollen oway. 2964 R knyght. "Þan spak þe lady to þe knight: 2965 R knyght. 'Say me þe soth, sir, if þou myght, If þou has any whif at hame?' 2967 R haue, wife. 'Nay,' he said, 'by swete Saint Iame, 2968 R be. Whif ne leman had I neuer.' 2969 R Wife, lemman. 'Sir,' sho said, 'so es me leuyr; 2970 R scho, leuer. Ful wele sal þou helped be, 2971 R ffull, sall. If þat þou wil wed me.' 2972 R will. 'Ȝis, dame,' he said, 'by swete Ihesus!' 2973 R Yhis, be. When þai had made þaire cownand þus, 2974 R conand. 'Sir, tak we vp þis cors,' sho sayd,— 2975 R scho said. 'Þis ilk day here was he layd,— And hang him vp for him þat failes.' 2977 R hyng, fayles. Þe knight was paid of þir counsailes: 2978 R knyght, payd, hir counsayles. Out of þe graue þai toke þe cors; Þe knight him led opon his hors. 2980 R knyght. Þan said þe knyght to hir in hy: 'Dame, þou most hang him sertanli; 2982 R sertainly. For if þat I hanged a knight, 2983 R hynged, knyght. Mine honore war lorn by þat vnright.' 2984 R My honoure, bi, vnryght. "Þe lady said: 'So haue I sele, I sal hang hym wonder wele.' 2986 R sall, him. Sho did þe rape obout his hals; 2987 R Scho dyd. In hir faith sho was ful fals; 2988 R fayth scho, full. Sho drogh him vp and fest him fast. 2989 R Scho. 'Lo,' sho said, 'now sal þis last.' 2990 R scho, sall. 'Dame,' said þe knight, 'habide a stound: 2991 R knyght habyde, stounde. He þat here hanged had a wonde, 2992 R hynged, wounde. In þe forheuyd wele to knaw; 2993 R forheued. Swilkane on þis byhoues vs shaw, 2994 R bi houes, schaw. Or els tomorn, in lytel while, 2995 R lytell. Wil be percayued al oure gile.' 2996 R Will, persayued all our gyle. 'Sir,' sho said, 'draw owt þi swerde; 2997 R scho, out, swerd. To smite him thar þe noght be fered. 2998 R smyte, ferd, MS. lered. Smite my lord wharesom þe list. 2999 R Smyte, lyst. Þan sal noght þi man be mist.' 3000 R sall, myst. 'Nay, dame,' he said, 'for al þis rike 3001 R all, ryke. A ded knyght wald I noght strike.' 3002 R stryke. Sho said: 'Tak me þi swerd þe fra, 3003 R Scho. And I sal merk him or we ga.' 3004 R sall. He tald hir whare þat sho sold smyte, 3005 R scho suld. And on þe heuyd sho hit him tite. 3006 R heued scho hytt, tyte. "Þan þe knyght wele vnderstode Þat sho was cumen of vnkind blode. 3008 R scho, comen, vnkynd. 'Dame,' he said, 'by heuen rike, 3009 R be, ryke. Ȝit es noght þis þat oþer lyke; 3010 R Yhit, þe tother. His forteth war al smeten out.' 3011 R all smyten. 'Sir,' sho said, 'þarof no dowt; 3012 R scho, þare of na dout. Smites out his teth, biliue, lat se.' 3013 R Smytes, bi lyue. 'Nay, dame,' he said, 'so mot I the, I wil do him no velany; 3015 R will, vilany. He was a knyght, and so am I.' Þan þe whif sone toke a stane 3017 R wife. And smate his fortheth out ilkane. 3018 R forteth. When sho had on þis wise done, 3019 R scho. Sho said vnto þe knight ful sone: 3020 R Scho, knyght full. 'Sir, now sal þou wed me.' 3021 R sall. 'Nay, dame,' he sayd, 'so mot I the! 3022 R said. Are wald I swere to wed na wife, 3023 R wyfe. Or I with þe sold lede my lyfe; 3024 R suld. For þou wald hang me with a cord, Right als þou has done þi lord. Swilk sorow has þou shewed me now 3027 R schewed. Þat I sal neuer no wemen trow.'" Þan said þe maister to þe Emperowre: 3029 R Emperoure. "I pray Ihesu, our Sauiowre, 3030 R our sauyoure. Þat to þe fal slike velany 3031 R fall swilk vilany. Als did þis knyght of his lady, If þou for kownsail of þi whife 3033 R counsail, wyfe. Reues þi faire son his life. 3034 R Reue, fair, lyfe. Spare him, sir, vntil tomorow; Vnto hir sal fal al þe sorow. 3036 R sall fall all. For, sertes, sir, þi son sall speke; By righ[t]wis dome þan þou him wreke." 3038 MS. righwisdome, R Bi ryghtwis dome þou sall. Þe Emperoure said: "So mot I gang, 3039 R Emperour. And I mai wit wha haues þe wrang, 3040 R may witt. And wha þe right, sir, þan sal I 3041 R ryght, sall. Deme þam bath ful rightwisly." 3042 R full ryghtwisly. Þan þe mayster went hys way. 3043 R maister, his. Þus was þe clerk saued þat day. Here Bygins þe Threttende Prolong. When it was þe tyme of nyght, Þe Emperoure to bed hym dyght. 3046 R him. Þe Emperice als went him tyll; No word sho said, bot held hir still; 3048 R scho, styll. And al night thoght sho by what rede 3049 R all nyght, scho be. Þat sho myght ger þe child be dede. 3050 R scho. On þe morn, when day was lyght, Þe Emperoure rase vp ful right. 3052 R Emperour rayse, full ryght. Sho saw he wald no langer ly, 3053 R Scho. And vp sho rase ful hastyly. 3054 R scho rayse full hastily. Sho vmbithoght hir of a gyn, 3055 R Scho vm by thoght. How þat sho might best bigyn. 3056 R scho myght. Sho said: "Sir, herd ȝe neuer þe geste, 3057 R Scho, yhe. Why men makes þe foles feste?" 3058 R Whi. "Na, dame," he said, "so mot I the! If þou it wate, tel it to me." 3060-2 R mutilated for first four, three, and one letters respectively. 3060 R tell. "Sir," sho said, "with ful gude chere; 3061 R scho, full gud. A nobil tale here sal ȝe here." 3062 R noble, sall yhe. Þe Threttende Tale Said þe Wyfe. [Story XIII. Roma.] "Þis cete, sir, withowten dout, 3063 R with outen. Was sumtyme enseged obout, 3064 R som tyme. With seuyn hathen kinges dai and night, 3065 R seuen, kynges day, nyght. For to wyn yt if þai myght. 3066 R it. Þai made ful mani asautes fell; 3067 R full many. Al Cristendom þai thoght to quell. 3068 R All. Þe Romaynes þat might wapen welde, 3069 R Romayns, weld. Defended þam with spere and shelde; Þe walles ful hardily þai held, 3071 R full. And mani hathen folk þai feld. 3072 R many. Bot of þe Sarezins had þai dowt 3073 R sarezyns, dout. Þat nane durst pas þe ȝates without. 3074 R pass, yhates. An old man þan, of grete honoure, 3075 R Ane, gret. Spak vnto þe Emperoure: 'Sir, and þou wil do efter me, 3077 R will. A gude cownsail I sal tel þe, 3078 R gud counsail, sall tell. To save þis cete and þi men.' Þe Emperoure said: 'Þat wald I ken.' 3080 R Emperour. 'To seuyn clerkes, sir, takes þis toun, 3081 R seuen, toune. To ȝeme it fra destrucciowne,— 3082 R yheme, destruccioune. O payn to lose þaire lyves all 3083 R þair. If any faut to þis toun fall.' 3084 R toune. "Þe Emperoure þan þe toun gan take 3085 R Emperour, toune. To seuyn maisters at kepe and wake. 3086 R seuen. A moneth þai it ȝemed wele, 3087 R yhemed. So þat no man faut might fele. 3088 R myght. When it come to þe moneth end, Þai might no lenger it defend. Þan ordand þai a fayre quayntise; 3091 R ordaind, fair quayntyse. Herkin, sir, on whatkin wise. 3092 R Herken, whatkyn wyse. Lenger might þai noght wele last, 3093 R myght. For þaire vetayles failed fast; 3094 R þair vetailes faylest. Þarfore þai ordand, by þaire wit, How þat þai might best be quit. 3096 R myght, quytt. "Ane of þa clerkes hight Genus; 3097 R hyght. He was ful quaynt and cautelus; 3098 R full. And efter him es named Ienuere, Þat es a moneth of þe ȝere. A garment to him gert he mak, 3101 R make. Side and wide and wonder blak. 3102 R Syde, wyde, blake. He gert it dub, fra top til to, 3103 R till. With swerel tailes ful blak also. 3104 R swerell tayles full, all so. Þan gert he ordain a vesere 3105 R ordaine, visere. With twa faces and fowl of chere, 3106 R foule. With lang noses and mowthes wide, 3107 R mouthes wyde. And vgly eres on aiþer syde; 3108 W other, R ayther. With eghen þat war ful bright and clere, 3109 R full bryght. And brade ilkone als a sawsere; With brade tonges and bright glowand, 3111 R bryght. Als it war a fire-brand. "When he had on þis wise done, Þe folk of Rome he sembled sone, And bad þam fast, withouten fayl, 3115 R fayle. Ordain þam vnto batayl. 3116 R Ordaine, batayle. Al þai answerd him vntil, 3117 R All, vntyll. Þai sold be redy at his will, 3118 R suld. On þe morn, with sheld and spere. 3119 R scheld. Þe maister þan dyd on his gere, And went vp in a towre on hight, 3121 R in till a toure. Whare þe Sarzins se him myght. 3122 R sarezyns. His veser on his heued he kest; 3123 R visere. A bright merure oboune he fest; 3124 R bryght meroure, W aboue. Twa swerdes out gan he brayd, 3125 R brayde. And grete strakes obowt him laid. 3126 R gret, o bout, layde. He made als mekil dyn and boste 3127 R mykell. Als he had foghten ogayns an ost. 3128 R ane oste. "When þe Sarsins saw þis meruail, 3129 R sarezyns, meruaile. Þai wald no lenger bede batayl. 3130 R bataile. Sum wend for þe merure lyght, 3131 R Som, meroure. Þat it war ane angel bright, 3132 R aungell bryght. Þat God had sent þeder, perchance, 3133 R þider per∣chaunce. On þam for to tak vengance. 3134 R vengaune. So mekil light þe merure kast 3135 R mykell lyght, meroure. Þat þe Sarzins fled ful fast. 3136 R sarezyns, full. Þe maister made slike nois omell, 3137 R slyke noys. Sum hoped he war þe fend of hell. 3138 R Som, fende. Þai war so temped in þat tyde, Þare þai durst no lenger bide. 3140 R byde. Þai opind þan þe ȝates of Rome, 3141 R opend, yhates. And Cristend men fast efter come. Þe Emperowre and his men ilkane 3143 R Emperour. Of þe Sarezins slogh gode wane; 3144 R sarezyns þus slogh gud. Als mani als þai might ouertake, 3145 R many, myght. Fast þai gan þaire crownes crake. 3146 W gain, R crounes. Þare wan þe Cristenmen honowre, 3147 R honoure. And mekil gold and gude armowre. 3148 R mykell, gud armoure. Þusgat Genus, þat was wise, 3149 R þusgate, wyse, W Gemis. Wan þe maystri by quaintise. 3150 R maistri be quayntyse. "Þe maysters of Rome and buriayse 3151 R maisters. Said he was worthi to prayse; And none was so worthy als he 3153 W om. was, R worthi. Emperoure of Rome to be. 3154 R Emperour. And right so, by þaire aller dome, 3155 R ryght, þair. Þai made him Emperoure of Rome. 3156 R Emperour. "Sir, þus sall þi maisters wise Decayue þe with þaire quayntise; 3158 R Desayue, þair quayntyse. And þou mun be ful fayn, may fall, 3159 R mon, full fayne. On knese for to serue þam all. I prai to God it might be so, 3161 R pray, myght. If þou more traystes þam vnto; 3162 R trayst more. For þai er nothing els obout Bot to mak þe þaire vnderlout. 3164 W, R make, R þair. Þat sal men se ful sone, I trow, 3165 R sall, full. And þiself sal noght wit how 3166 R sall, wytt. Vntil þou lose al þine honowre, 3167 R vn tyll, all, honoure. And sum of þam be Emperoure. 3168 R som. Ȝit war me leuere þat þai so ware 3169 R Yhit. Þan þi son þat greues me sare." Þus when þe Emperoure herd hir speke, He said als swith he sold hir wreke, 3172 R swyth, suld. And alsone sold his son be slayn. 3173 R als sone suld, slayne, W sone. Sho thanked him and was ful fayn. 3174 R Scho, full fayne. Þan out of chamber gan þai pas. 3175 R chaumbre. Þus hir tale endid sho has. 3176 R ended scho. Here Bygins Þe Fourtend Prolong. Heading W om., R bigyns, MS., R xiiii. Þe Emperoure þan went to hall. His turmentowres son gert he call; 3178 R turmentoure sone. He bad þai sold let for nothing 3179 R suld lett. His son with scowrges for to dyng; 3180 R skourges. And when þat þai had sogates done, 3181 R sogate. He bad he sold be hanged sone:— 3182 R suld, W honged. "So þat I na more him se, 3183 R no. For mekil meneyng makes he me." 3184 R ffull mykell. Þe childe þan out of þe toun þai led, 3185 R child, toune. So forbeten þat he bled. And right als þai went with him þus, 3187 R ryght. So come Maister Maxencius. 3188 W com. He sese his scolere him bisyde; He prays þe folk a while to byde. A while þai hight to dwel þare still; 3191 R dwell, sty... Þe toun ful fast he hies him till. 3192 R toune full, hyes, tyll. He come bifore þe Emperoure, 3193 R bi for. And hailsed him with grete honowre. 3194 R haylsed, gret honoure. He sayd: "Sir, þou ert hy iustise; 3195 R said, hegh iustyse. Þe aght wele to be war and wise. Me think þou wirkis to þi reproue 3197 R wirkes. Onence þi son, þat þou sold loue. 3198 R suld. For a day wiltou be his frende, 3199 R will þou. Anoþer day þou wil him shende. 3200 R Ane other, will, schende, W wilt. Al day mai men turn þi mode; 3201 R All, may. So fares foles þat can na gode, 3202 R kan, W, R no, R gude. And namly þai þat dose þaire dede 3203 R namely, þair. Als wikked wemen wil þam rede. 3204 R wicked, will. Þou trowes ouer wele þi wiues tale, Þat es obout to brew þe bale. If þi son til tomorn may lif, 3207 R till, lyf. For nankins gode þou wald him gif. 3208 R nanekyng gud, gyf. And if þou by þi wyues rede 3209 R do instead of by, wyfe, W wiues. Ger do þi son to euil dede, Swilk a chance mot fal to þe 3211 R chaunce, fall. Als did ane erl of þis cuntre. 3212 R dyd, erell, contre. He trowed mare of his wife a leghe 3213 R legh. Þan þat himself saw with his eghe." 3214 R egh. Þe Emperoure sayd: "Me think wele þan 3215 R said. Þat he was no witty man, Þat his whife wordes trowed sold be 3217 R wife, suld, W he for be. Better þan þat himself might se." 3218 R myght. "Sir," sayd þe maister, "so ertow; 3219 R said. For þi whif tales wil þou trow 3220 R wife, will. Better þan any oþer rede; And sho wald ger þi son be ded. 3222 R scho, dede. And if he haue þis day respite, 3223 R respyte. Tomorn he sal himseluen quite. 3224 R sall, quyte. Þan sal þou þiseluen se 3225 R sall, þi self. Wha haues þe wrang, þi wife or he." 3226 W haue. Þe Emperoure said: "Sir, for sertayn, 3227 R Emperour, sertaine. Þat wald I here and þat ful fayn. 3228 R full fayne. Þarfore, maister, I þe pray, 3229 R þarfor. Þat ilk tale to me þou say, Of þat erl þat þou of talde; 3231 R Erell, tald. And, sir," he said, "þou mai be balde 3232 R may, bald. Þat þis day sal my son noght dy." 3233 R sall. Þe mayster sayd: "Sir, gramercy." 3234 R þe illegible, maister said. Þe Fourtend [Tale] Said Maister Maxencius. Heading W om.; MS. om. Tale; MS., R xiiii. [Story XIV. Inclusa.] "Lord," said þe maister, "þis es no ly. In þe kingdom of Hungery 3236 R kyngdom, hungry. Wond a nobil knyght whylom, 3237 R noble, whilome, W knight. A rightwis man and whise of dome. 3238 R ryghtwisman, wise. He dremyd þus opon a nyght, 3239 R dremed. Þat he lufed a lady bryght, Bot he ne wist in what contre Þat þe lady myght funden be. 3242 W might, R fonden. Him thoght he knew hir wele bi kinde, 3243 R be kynde. And wele he hopid he sold hir finde. 3244 R hoped, suld, fynde. Þat same time dremyd þat ladi bright, And thoght þat sho sold luf a knight; 3246 R scho suld, knyght. Bot sho wist noght of what land, 3247 R scho. Ne in whate stede he was dweland, 3248 R what, dwelland. Ne his name knew sho nathing; 3249 W she, R scho na thing. Þarfore made sho grete murnyng. 3250 R þarfor, scho gret. Opon þe morn, þe stori sayse, 3251 R story says. Þe knight toke horses and hernays 3252 R knyght, harnays. And went to seke þat lady bright 3253 R bryght. Þat him dremyd of þat nyght. 3254 R dremed. Þat iornay vnto him was hard, 3255 R iurnay. For he wist noght whederward 3256 R whider ward. Þat he sold tak þe redy way; 3257 R suld. Þarfore he drowped night and day. 3258 R þarfor, nyght. So he traueld monethes thre, 3259 R trauaild. And no signe of hyr kowth he se; 3260 R hir couth. Bot wele in hert he hoped ay Þat he sold hir se sum day. 3262 R suld, som. "So fer þe knyght his way had nomen Þat into Hungeri es he cumen. 3264 R hungry, comen, W om. es. Þare he findes a faire castele, 3265 R fyndes, fair. Bi þe se-syde, wroght ful wele; 3266 R full. Þarin stode a towre ful hee; 3267 R þare in, toure full heghe. Fairer saw he neuer with ee. 3268 R egh. An erl wond in þat castele 3269 R Ane Erell. Þat aght þe lordship ilka dele. 3270 R lordschip. With him he had a worthly wife, 3271 R worthi wyfe. Þe fairest lady þat had lyfe. 3272 R bare instead of had. Þe erl was ieluse of þat lady; 3273 R Erell. He sperid hir in þe toure forþi. 3274 R sperd. Sho might noght out by day ne night, 3275 R Scho myght, bi, W be. To speke with swier ne with knight. 3276 R squyer, knyght. In þat land was were ful strang, 3277 R full. Of kinges and lordes, þat lasted lang. 3278 R kynges. Þare come ridand þat nobil knight 3279 R rydeand, noble knyght. Þat so had soght þe lady bright; 3280 R bryght. He luked vp vnto þe toure, And saw þe lady, white so flowre, 3282 R whyte, floure. Lig in a window barred with stele. 3283 W Ligge, R Lyg, wyndow. Þan in his hert he wist ful wele 3284 R full. Þat þis lady was þe same Þat he had so dremyd of at hame. 3286 R dremed. He luked vp vnto þe toure, And merily sang he of amowre. 3288 R amoure. "And when sho herd him so bigyn, 3289 R scho. Vnnethes might þat ladi blyn 3290 R myght, R, W lady. Þat sho ne had cald him hir vnto; 3291 R scho. Bot for hir lord sho durst noght do. 3292 R scho. He sat biside vnder a tre, 3293 W gat, R satt be syde. At þe ches, a knyght and he. 3294 R chesse. Þis knyght percayued þe erl þare. 3295 R persayued, Erell. Vnto þe lady he mened na mare; 3296 R no. Bot til þe erl he rides ful right, 3297 R tyll, Erell rydes full ryght. And of his palfray down he lyght. 3298 R doune. On his kne sone he him set, 3299 R knese, sett. And þe erl ful faire he gret; 3300 R Erell full fayr, grett. 'Sir Erl,' he said, 'I am a knight, 3301 R Erell, knyght. Out of my cuntre cumen for fight. 3302 R contre comen, fyght. Þeder ogayn dar I noght gane, 3303 R þider o gayne. For a knight þare haue I slane. 3304 R knyght. Þarfore, sir, if þi willes be, 3305 R þarfor. Þus am I cumen to dwel with þe. 3306 R comen, dwell. My famen er ful steren and stout; 3307 R Mi, full. Þai haue destroyed my landes obout.' 3308 R distroyd. "Þe erl said: 'So mot I þe, 3309 R Erell. Right so fares my famen with me; So þat I haue no socoure Bot þis castel and þis toure. 3312 R castell. Þarfore, sir, þou ert welkum here; 3313 R þarfor, welcom. Of swilk a man haue I mystere; And if þou wil me help trewly, 3315 R will. I sal þe gif grete mede forthy.' 3316 R sall, gyf gret, for thi. 'Ȝis, sir,' he sayd, 'at my power, 3317 R Yhis, said, powere. Ay whils I my armes bere.' With þe erl þus dwels þe knight, 3319 R Erell, dwelles, knyght. Al for luf of þe lady bryght. 3320 R All. Þar was na knight þat bare shelde 3321 R þare, no knyght, scheld. Þat might so wele his wapen welde. 3322 R myght, weld. Thorgh strenkith of hand and Godes grace 3323 R thurgh. He ouercome al þe erles fase. 3324 R all, Erell. Þe erl him lufed and honord þan 3325 R Erell, honourde, W honourd. Mare þan any oþer man; He made hym steward of al his land, 3327 W, R him, R all. And bad þe men bow til hys hand. 3328 R till his. "Sone efter þat, opon a day, Þe knyght allane went him to play, Vnder þe toure whare þe lady was; Þare he made him grete solace. 3332 W There, R gret. Þe lady in a wyndow lay, And saw þe knyght allane him play; A letter sone sho kest hym tyll, 3335 R scho, R, W him. Wharby he might wit al hir will. 3336 W Wherby, R Whareby, myght witt all. Þe knight toke vp þe parchemyne, 3337 R knyght. And red þe Franche ful fayre and fyne; 3338 R full. And alsone als he red it had, 3339 R als sone. Was he neuer in hert so glad. By þat letter þe knyght wele kend 3341 R Be, kende. Þat his trauayl was cumen till end. 3342 R trauaile, comen tyll ende. Ful sare him langed to hyr at ga, 3343 R ffull, till hir. Preuely withowten ma; 3344 W Priuely, R with outen. And wele he saw þat, by na gyn, 3345 R bi. Allane to hir myght he noght wyn. Þar was bot a dur and a way; And þarof bare þe erl þe kay. 3348 R Erell. "So on a day, with mylde worde, 3349 R myld word. Þe knyght spekes vnto hys lord, 3350 R his. And said: 'Sir, of þi gude grace, 3351 R gud. I pray þe to gif me a place 3352 R gyf. Bifore þis towre, þat I may big 3353 R Bi for, toure, byg. A litel place in for to lig, 3354 R lytell, lyg. And þat I mai my wonyng haue 3355 R at instead of þat, W, R may. At myne ese if ȝe vowchesaue.' 3356 R yhe vouche saue. Þe erl answerd him ful sone: 3357 R Erell, full. 'Sir, þi wil sal al be done; 3358 R will sall all. Big þe a hows at þi lykyng.' 3359 R Byg. Þe knight him thanked of þat thing. Þe knight gat masons many ane, 3361 W, R knyght. And gert þam hew ful faire fre-stane; 3362 W grat, R full. A nobil hows þare gert he make 3363 R noble. Ful sone for þe lady sake. 3364 R ffull. When it was wroght als it sold be, 3365 R suld. Bath of stane and als of tre, Þan thoght he euer by whatkyn gin 3367 R be, gyn. Þat he moght to þe lady win. 3368 R wyn. "Biside þare, in anoþer town, 3369 R Be syde, ane other toune. Was þare cumen a new masown 3370 R comen, masoune. Þat soght had fra fer cuntre; 3371 R contre. Sotiler man might none be. 3372 R myght. Þe knyght vnto þat mason sent; 3373 R masoune. His messangers wigh[t]ly war went. 3374 MS. wighly. Þai broght him to þe knyght in hy; 3375 W That. He hailsed him ful curtaysly. 3376 R full curtaisly. Þe knyght said: 'Mai I traist on þe, 3377 W knight, W, R May, W in, R trayst. For to tel my preuete 3378 R tell. Þat I haue aghteld for to do?' Þe mason sware grete athes him to 3380 R gret. Þat he sold whatsom he wolde, 3381 R suld, R, W insert do after sold, R wold. And neuer tel man on þis molde. 3382 R tell, mold. "He said: 'In þis toure, I tel þe, 3383 R tell. Wons a lady þat lufes me; And I luf hir wele at my might; 3385 R myght. Bot I may, nowþer day ne night, 3386 R nouther, nyght. Til hir win ne with hir speke. 3387 R Till, wyn. Þarfore a hole bihoues þe breke 3388 R þarfor. In þis towre ful preuely, 3389 R toure full. Þat no man wit bot þou and I; 3390 R witt. Þat I may cum in preuete 3391 R com, W priuete. Vnto þe lady and sho to me.' 3392 R scho. 'Sertes, sir,' said þe mason sone, 'Als þou has said, it sal be done.' 3394 R sall. Hastily he takes hys tole, 3395 R his. And in þe toure he made a hole, Þat þe knight might cum þe ladi vntill, 3397 R knyght myght com, vn tyll, W lady. Night and day, at þaire owyn will. 3398 W thair, R þair awen. When þe lady wist of þis, Hir thoght hir hert was ful of blis. 3400 R full, blys. Þe knight quit wele þe seruise 3401 W, R knyght, R quyt, seruyse. Of þe mason for his quayntyse: 3402 R masoune, W quayntise. He slogh him sone, þat ilk day, For fered þat he sold oght say. 3404 W Forfered, R ferd, suld. "And efterward, ful sone onane, 3405 W, R afterward, R full. Into þe toure þe knight gan gane; 3406 R knyght. Thurgh þe hole gan he pas, Til he come whare þe lady was. 3408 R Till. Bitwene þam was grete ioy and blis; 3409 R blys. In armes ful curtaysly þai kys. 3410 R full curtasly. Wele sho wist it was þat knyght 3411 R scho. Þat sho had dremyd of a nyght. 3412 R scho, dremed. Sho said: 'Sir, þou ert welkum here.' 3409-13 R illegible for first letter of these lines. 3413 R Scho, welcom. He said: 'Gramercy, lady dere.' To hir he talde of his dremeing, 3415 R tald, dremeyng. And sho him talde of þe same thing. 3416 R scho, tald. And when þai wist it was sertayn, 3417 R sertaine. Ayther of oþer was ful fayn. 3418 R full fayne. Sho lete him wirk þare al his will; 3419 R Scho, all, W thar. And seþen he said þe lady vntyll: 3420 R sithen. 'Dame, I dar no lenger byde, 3421 R lengar. For herein may þou me noght hide. 3422 R hyde. And þarfore, dame, haue now goday; 3423 R þarfor, gud day. I sal cum ogayn when I may.' 3424 R sall com ogayne. "Þe lady, at þaire departyng, 3425 R þair. Gaf þe knight a gude gold ring, 3426 R knyght, gud, ryng. And said: 'Sir, I pray to þe, When þou sese þis, thinke on me.' 3428 R think. At þe lady þe ryng he tase, 3429 W hase. And graythly til þe hole he gase. 3430 R graythely till. Þe ring he put his fynger on, 3431 R ryng, putt, one. And doun ogayn he hied him sone, 3432 R doune ogayne, hyed. Thurgh þe hole was made of stane: A meri man þe knight was ane. 3434 R mery, knyght. Þe knyght went vnto þe hall, 3435 W into. Vnto þe erl and his menȝe all; 3436 R Erell, meneyhe. Þe erl gert him sit ful nere, 3437 R Erell, sytt full. And to hym made he meri chere. 3438 R him, mery. Als þai spak of diuers thing, 3439 R diuerse. Þe erl saw his whiues ring 3440 R Erell, wyues ryng. Opon þe knyghtes fynger bare; He had wonder how it was þare. He wist wele þar was none slike, 3443 R þare, slyke. Ne þat none might be made so like. 3444 R myght, lyke. And euer he thinkes in hert styll How ani man might come her till. 3446 R any, myght com, tyll. Styl he held al in his thoght; 3447 R Styll, all. Vnto þe knyght he sayd right noght. 3448 R said ryght. Bot vp he rase bilyue onane; 3449 R rayse be lyue. Vnto his whife he thoght to gane, 3450 R wife, W whyfe. For to wit whare hir ring was. 3451 R witt, ryng. Þe knight perzayued al þe case. 3452 R knyght, persayued all. He hies als fast als he may Tite vntil hys preue way. 3454 R vn tyll his, W priue. "Þe erl hies to þe lady fre; 3455 R Erell hyes. Bot þe knyght come lang or he. Vnto þe lady þe ring he cast, 3457 R ryng, kast. And doun ogayn he hies him fast. 3458 R doune, hyes. Þe lady has þe ring up hent; 3459 R ryng. Sho wist ful wele þan how it went. 3460 R Scho, full. Sho did it in hir purs in horde; 3461 R Scho. And sone þarefter come hir lorde. 3462 R þare efter. And with gude chere he gan hir glade, 3463 R gud. And asked hyr what chere sho made. 3464 R hir, scho. Sho said sho myght haue no solace, So was sho presond in þat place, 3466 R scho, W prisond. Fra þe sight of alkins men: 3467 R ffro, alkyns. 'How may I any kumforth ken?' 3468 R comforth. 'Dame,' said þe erl ful sone, 3469 R Erell full. 'For grete derenes es yt done, 3470 R gret, it. And for I wil nane change þi thoght.' 3471 R will, chaunge. Þe lady said: 'Sir, thinkes it noght; Þar es no knight in no cuntre 3473 R, W Thare, R knyght, contre. Þat might change my luf fra þe. 3474 R myght chaunge, W for. And sen ȝe wil þat it be þus, 3475 R yhe will. At ȝowre lyking habide me bus; 3476 R yhour lykyng abyde. For oþer cumforth kepe I nane 3477 R comforth. Bot of God and of ȝow allane.' 3478 R yhow. "Þe erl thoght ȝit on oþer thing. 3479 R yhit. 'Dame,' he said, 'whare es þi ring 3480 R ryng. Þat I þe gaf of gold ful fyne? 3481 W gaue, R full. Lat me se it, leman myne.' 3482 R lemman. Þe lady answerd hym vnto: 'Sir, what sal ȝe þarwith do? 3484 R sall yhe þare with. Wene ȝe þat it be oway 3485 R yhe. For I were it noght ilk day? 3486 R ilk a day. Nai, sir, dredes ȝow neuer a dele, 3487 R Nay, dred yhow. For I sal ȝeme it wonder wele.' 3488 R sall yheme. 'Dame,' he sayd, 'for luf of me, 3489 R said. A sight þarof þat I might se; 3490 R syght þare of, myght. And, sertes, I ask it for none ill.' Sho said: 'Sir, gladly at ȝowre will.' 3492 R Scho, yhour. Out of hir purs þe ring sho toke; 3493 R ryng scho. Þe lord gan graythly on hir loke. 3494 R graythely, luke. 'Lo! sir,' sho said, 'here is my ring.' 3495 R scho, es, ryng. Þe erl had meruail of þis thing, Þat it was like, by syght, 3497 R so lyke be, W sight. Þe ring þat he saw of his knight. 3498 R ryng, on, knyght, W this. Bot wele he hopid and weterly, 3499 R hoped, witerly. Þat nane might win to þe lady; 3500 R myght wyn. Ne þat hir ring was noght hir fra, 3501 R ryng. Bot þat þai had bene like, þai twa. 3502 R at, lyke. "He was wele solast of þat sight, 3503 R syght. And þare he dwelled al þat night. 3504 R dweld all, nyght. Þe lady bi hirself oft smyled, 3505 R be, smyld. And thoght þat he was wele bigild. 3506 R begyld. Opon þe morn þe knyght vp rase, And to þe kirk graythly he gase, 3508 R kyrk. Goddes werkes þare for to wirk. 3509 R Godes. Seþen com þe erl vnto þe kyrk; 3510 R Sithen come. A mes ful sone þan gert he sing, 3511 R mess full, syng. In honowre of oure heuyn kyng. 3512 R honoure, heuen. Þe erl sent þan hastily, 3513 R Erell. Efter þe knyght of Hungery. Þe knyght come sone þe erl vntill. 3515 W com, R vn tyll. Þe erl said: 'Sir, if þou will, 3516 W Sire. Þou sal wend to wod with me, 3517 R sall wende. At hunt and solace for to se.' 3518 W be. "Þe knyght answerd wordes hende: 'Sir, to wod may I noght wende; For me es cumen new tiþand, 3521 R comen, tythand. Þat makes me ful wele lykand, 3522 R full. Fra my cuntre withowten lese,— 3523 R ffro, contre with outen. Þat my frendes haues made mi pese 3524 R At, has, my. For þat knight þat I haue slayn; 3525 R knyght, slayne. And of þir tiþandes am I fayn. 3526 W, R tythandes, R fayne. And, sir, þis tiþandes es me broght 3527 R þes, W, R tythandes. Bi my leman, þat has me soght 3528 R Be, lemman. Heder out of myne awin cuntre. 3529 R Hyder, awen contre, W owt. Þarfore, sir, if ȝowre wil be, 3530 R þarfor, yhour will. Þis day I pray ȝow with me ete, 3531 R yhow, ette. And se my leman at þe mete, 3532 R lemman. Þe erl said: 'Gladly I will Do al þe comforth þat I can, 3535 R all, kan, W cumforth. Bath to þe and þi leman; Whenso þou will, send efter me, And smeretly sal I cum to þe.' 3538 W, R smertly, R sall, com. "Þan went þe erl to his solace, Vnto þe wod to mak his chace. And þe knight went sone onane, 3541 R knyght. And ordand mete and drink gud wane. 3542 R ordaind, drynk. His hows he dight on gude aray; 3543 R dyght, gud. And smertly þan he toke þe way Vnto þe lady faire and bright, 3545 R fair, bryght. And gert þat sho war gayly dyght, 3546 R scho. In gold garmentes, richely wroght, 3547 R rychely. And talde hir al how he has thoght 3548 R tald, all. Þat ilk day sho and hir lord 3549 R scho. Sold bath togeder et of a bord; 3550 R Suld, to gyder ett. And how hir lord sold vnderstand 3551 R suld. þat sho war cumen out of fer land. 3552 R scho, comen. Down he broght hir til his hows, 3553 R Doune, till. Hamely als sho war his spows. 3554 R scho. Bot hir garmentes war al new, 3555 R all. Þat no man in þat cuntre knew. 3556 R contre. Opon hir fingers gert he done 3557 R fyngers. Gold ringes ful many one. 3558 R rynges full. Hir hed was gayly dubed and dyght 3559 R heued, dubbed, dight. With gerlands al of gold ful bright. 3560 R garlandes all, full bryght. So out of kenyng he hir broght Þat hir lord þan knew hir noght. "Fra hunting come þe erl in hi; 3563 R huntyng, Erell, hy. Þe knyght him keped ful curtaisly, 3564 R full, W curtaysly. And til his hows he led him þan 3565 R till. For to ett with his leman. 3566 R lemman. Redy was ordaynd and dyght 3567 R ordaind. Mete and drink for mani a knight. 3568 R drynk, many, knyght. Vnto þe bord þe erl es set, 3569 R sett. And his whif, with him to et. 3570 R wyf, ett. Þe knight said: 'Þis es my leman; 3571 R knyght, lemman. Makes hir comforth if ȝe can.' 3572 R yhe kan. Þe erl bad sho sold be blith, 3573 R scho suld, blythe. And he biheld hir mony a syth; 3574 R be held, many, sythe. And wonder in his hert had he How þat it so myght be, Þat any lady in þis life 3577 R lyfe. Might be so like his owin wyfe. 3578 R lyke, awen. Þe lady praied him blith to be, 3579 W, R prayed, R blyth. And ett gladly, par charite. 3580 W elt, R charyte. Þe erl bad hir also be glad, 3581 R als. And loked on hir als he war mad; Bot he thoght þe towre was so strang 3583 R toure. Þat þare myght no man do him wrang, Ne þat his whif might noght cum doun. 3585 R wyfe ... ht, com doune. Þarfore trowed he no tresowne. 3586 R þar for, tresoune. He thoght: 'Oft sythes bifalles slike, 3587 R sithes, slyke. Þat mani wemen er oþer like, 3585, 3587, 3588 R first letter of the line obliterated. Als was þe ring of gold fyne 3589 R ryng. Þat I wend wele had bene myne.' "Þus þe erl left al his care; 3591 R all. Of þis mater he thinkes no mare. Þan said þe knight on þis manere 3593 R knyght. Vnto þe erl: 'Sir, mase gude chere.' 3594 R gud. Þe erl said: 'Sir, I þe pray, 3595 W Sire. Þe sertan soth þat þou me say 3596 R sertaine. Wheþin es þis faire lady 3597 R Whethen, W Wheym, R fayre. Þat þou has set at met me by?' 3598 R sett, mete. Þe knight said: 'Sir, bi my lewte, 3599 R knyght, be. Sho es cumen fra myne awyn cuntre; 3600 R Scho, comen fro, W from, R awen contre. Sho es my leman þat has me soght, 3601 R Askes instead of Sho es, R lemman. And new tithandes sho haues me broght: 3602 W, R tythandes, R scho, boght. Mi pese es made foreuermare For þe knight þat I slogh þare, 3604 R knyght. So þat I may wend hardily Hame ogayn my pese to cri; 3606 R o gayne, cry. And þarfore wil I with hir wende, 3607 R þarfor will, wend. For to speke with ilka frende.' 3608 R frend. 'Sir, sekerly,' said þe erl þan, 3609 R sikerly. 'Me think þou has a fayre leman.' "Whan þai had etyn and dronken inoghe, 3611 W eten, inoughe, R When. Þai toke vp mete, and clathes drogh. 3612 R droghe. When þe erl liked to gane, 3613 R lyked. He toke leue at þe knyghtes leman. 3614 R lemmane. And hastily when he was went, Þe knight and þe lady gent 3616 R knyght. Sone did of þe riche aray 3617 R ryche. Þat þai had done on þat day; Hir awyn robe sone did þai on, 3619 R awen. And dighted hir als sho was won. 3620 R dyghted, scho. And þan sho toke þe preue sty 3621 R scho, W priue. Into þe toure ful hastily. 3622 R full. Þe knight gan playnly with hir pas 3623 R knyght. Vntil sho in hir chamber was. 3624 R Vn till scho, chaumbre. And vnnethes was þe knyght went out When þe erl was gane obowt; 3626 R o bout. Vnto þe toure he takes þe way Als hastily als euer he may; Þare he findes his lady, 3629 R fyndes. Keped him ful curtaysely. 3630 R full curtaisly. "Þan was þe erl in hert ful glad 3631 R full. When he wist þat he hir had. 3632 W Whan. Him thoght ȝit sho was like fully 3633 R yhit scho, lyke. To þe lady þat sat him by. 3634 R satt. Þare þe erl dwelled al nyght, 3635 R all. And laiked him with his lady bright. 3636 R layked, bryght. Þat night þai wroght what þaire wils ware; 3637 R þair wyls. And on þat wise þai met na mare. 3638 R wyse, mett no. Herkens now, how it bifell: On þis maner stode þat castell, 3640 R manere. Þat þe se ran fast byside; 3641 R bi syde. Many gode shippes gan þare bide. 3642 R gud schippes, byde. Whils þe erl of grete honowre 3643 R gret honoure. Lay with þe lady in þe towre, 3644 R toure. Þe knight ordand a ship of sail, 3645 R knyght ordaind, schipp, sayle. And gert bere þeder gude vetaille; 3646 R þider gud vetaile. Al his gode þeder gert he bere, 3647 R All, gud þider. Gold and siluer and oþer gere. 3648 R syluer. "On þe morn þe erl forth gase, And left his lady in þat place. 3650 W plase. Vntil þe kirk þan went he sone 3651 R vn tyll, kyrk. And herd his mes als he was wone; 3652 R mess. And when he to þe kirk was gane, 3653 R kyrk. Þe knyght went to þe towre onane, 3654 R toure. And down he broght þe fayre lady 3655 R doune, fair. Into his hows ful preuely. 3656 R full, W priuely. And of þai toke þe clathes sone Þat þe lady had hir on; 3658 R o pone. Þai dight hir in þe garmentes gay 3659 R dyght. Þat sho had on þat oþer day; 3660 R scho. With gerlandes and with gleterand thing 3661 R garlandes. Was sho made out of knawyng. 3662 R scho. "When al was done als it sold be, 3663 R all, suld. Vnto þe erl, his lord, went he. 'Sir', he sayd, 'I wald þe pray Of a ded þis ilk day: 3666 R thing instead of ded. Þat þou wil gif me with þi hand 3667 R will gyf. My leman or I pas þi lond, 3668 R Mi lemman, pass. Þat I mai wed hir to my whife; 3669 R may, wyfe. For with hir wil I lede my lyfe.' 3670 R will. He sayd he thoght to wed hir þan 3671 R said. Þat had byfore ben his leman, 3672 R be fore, lemman. For luf of God and als for drede, 3673 W lufe. And for he sold þe better spede. Þe erl said: 'Þat es gude scill, And als þou sais, syr, do I will.' "Sone þe erl cals knightes twa, 3677 W knyghtes. And bad þam sone þat þai sold ga And feche þe lady vnto þe kirk. Þai war redy his wil to wirk; To kirk þai led þat faire lady. A preste was reuist hastily. 3682 W prieste. Þe erl come with meri chere, Omang al þat folk in fere. His owin lady he toke byliue And gaf þe knyght vntil his wiue; Þe prest þam weddes swith sone. And als tite als þe mes was done, Þan was þare made grete menestrelsy; And þe knight and his lady Went þam forth with grete solas To þe ship whare his godes in was. Þe erl went with þam þartill; Þe knight went yn with ful gude will. "Þe lady stode still on þe sand; Þe erl toke hir by þe hand, And bad þe knyght sold hir take, Euermare to be his make. Þare þe knyght toke þe lady, And said to þe erl: 'Sir, gramercy Of þis and of al oþer grace.' 3701 W om. second of. Þus of þe erl hys leue he tase; Þe wind blew, þai went þaire way. Þus lost þe erl his whife for ay; He gaf hir þus þe knyght to wed; Þarfore ful sari life he led. "When þe knight was went with þe lady, Þe erl wendes hame hastily; Vntil þe toure þe way he tase, To tel his lady how it was, And how he had his knyght cunuayd; 3711 W conuayd. He trowed noght how he was bitraid. Vntil his toure þus wendes he right, For to speke with his lady bright. Into þe chameber gan he ga, And loked obout, bath to and fra; He saw no syght of his lady; Þarfore sone he wex sary. Of hir cowth he nothing here; Þan he wepid with sari chere. Vnto himself he gan him mene Þat al was soth als he had sene. Þan wist he it was his lady Þat at þe mete was set him by. To wax wise þan he bigan; 3725 W began. Þarfore blamed him moni a man." Þan þe maister Maxencius Vnto þe Emperoure said þus: "On þis wise dose þou, sir," said he, "When þi whif spekes to þe: Þou trowes hir tales day and nyght, Better þan þat þou sese in sight. And, sir," he said, "þat þis soth be, Tomorn þou sal wele here and se— Who has þe wrang in al þis strife, Wheþer þi son or þi wife. For tomorn þi son sal speke; Þan hope I wele þou wil him wreke." 3738 W will. Þe Emperowre sais: "Bi my swire, Sir, þat war my moste desire. If I mai whit who has þe right, 3741 W may. It sal be venged at my might." 3742 W mi. Þan þe maister wendes his way; Þus was þe childe saued þat day. Þe Emperice þan was ful wa Þat þe childe was saued swa; For wele sho wist hir was na bote Of þat mater more to mote. 3748 W wel. Here Bigins þe Fiftend Prolong. Heading W om., MS. xv. Þe Emperoure þan, al þat night, In his hert he was ful lyght; Bot þe Emperice had mekil sorow For þe child sold speke at morow. 3752 W childe. Þe Emperoure lay in gude pese; Him for to preche wald sho noght prese. On þe morn þe Emperoure Went to kirk with grete honowre, With many knytes of his menȝe. And al þe burias of þat cete, Burias wiues, and maidens bright, Wele araid and richely dyght, To court þai come with ful gude chere, Þe child speche for þai wald here. Þe Seuyn Maisters euerilkane Come vnto þe court onane. Smertly when þe mes was done, Þe Emperoure him hasted sone; Til a faire place he made him boun, And bad þe folk þai sold syt down. Sone he cald þe Maisters Seuyn, And twa he gan bi names neuyn, And bad þam feche his sone forth sone. 3771 W fech. His cumandment bilyue was done; Þai went to presowne with gude will, And broght þe childe his fader vntill. Ful klenly was he cled and dyght, Bot he was lene and febil of myght. Þe childe was set in middes þe place, Right befor his fader face. 3778 W before. Þe folk made mikil noys and shrill; Þarfore þe childe ȝit held him still. He thanked God of his gude grace Whils þai made pese in þat place. Þan stode þe child vp sone onane, Bifore his fader and þe folk ilkane; He bowed him ful bowsumly, And of his fader asked mercy. He said: "Sir, ȝe er wrethed wrang; Þat sal ȝe wit wele or I gang. Þe wiked wil, sir, of ȝowre wife Has made me al þis mekil strif; For sho had made thurgh sorceri Thing þat I sold haue bene ded by. I saw in þe mone and sternes all How þat sold of me bifall: Þat, had I spoken with any man To seuyn days war cumen and gane, My hert sold sone haue broken in sonder; 3797 W asonder. Þan had my maisters bene al vnder. 3798 W maysters, under. And for my maisters þat me ȝemed For my sake sold noght be flemed, Þarfore, sir, I held me still, And sofferd what men did me till." "Bot, fader," he said, "it fars of þe, And right so haues þou done with me Als did a gudeman, here bi west, Þat his son in þe se kest, For he said he sold be, by grace, Richer man þan euer he was." Þe Emperoure said: "So haue I sele, Son, þi wordes payes me wele; 3810 W wel. Þarfore, son, for my benzown, Tel vs al now þat resown. Þi maisters has al tald for þe Tales þat ful wele liked me; Bot, sone, a tale of þe allane Wil like me mare þan þai ilkane; Þarfore þi tale þou tell vs till." He said: "Sir, gladly, at ȝowre will." Þe Fiftend Tale Said þe Childe. Heading W om., MS. xv. [Story XV. Vaticinium.] "Syr," he said, "in þis cuntre Wond a man, curtays and fre; He had a son was wise and balde, Of fully fiften winters alde. Opon a day, in somers tyde, Þe gudeman went by þe se-syde. He had a ship þat new was wroght; He bad þe mayster it sold be broght A mile or twa opon þe se, And himself þarin wald be. He toke his son, als ȝe may here, And went to ship þai bath in fere; Þai war in will þam to solas, In an yle þat in þe se was. "Als þai þederward gan wende, Twa rauenes on þaire shippes ende 3834 W ravenes. Cried on þam loud and shill, 3835 W loude. And ouer þaire ship þai houed still. Þan said þe fader, with hert fre: 'Son, what may al þis noys be, Þat þise rauens thusgat cri? What euer sal it sygnyfy?' "Þe child was of wit ful klene; He said: 'I wote wele what þai me[ne]. 3842 W wot, MS. me ... Þir twa rauens says in þaire steuyn Þat, thurgh þe help of God of heuyn, I sal be of so grete powste, Fader, þat þou sal noght knaw me; And if I wil it soffer sertayn, Fader, þou sal be ful fayn 3848 W fayne. For to hald my kapes sleue, Whils I washs; þis may ȝe leue. And more ȝit sais þe rauens twa: 3851 W says. Þat my moder sal alswa Be ful fayn to hald þe clathe Whills my handes be wyped bath.' 3854 W bathe. When þe fader herd how he sayd, Of his wordes he was noght payd, And til his son þan gan he say: 'Þe crakes sal ly, if I may. What, son,' he said, 'couaites þou To be richer þan I am now? Nay, sertes, it sal noght be swa Whils þat I may ride and ga.' His semly son þan hentes he, And kest him sone into þe se. He turned þe ship with eger mode; Þe child flet forth in þe flode. "Þe fader bade þe rauens him take, And with his body meri make; 3868 W bodi. And hastly went he hame ogayne; Ful wele he wend his son war slaine. Þe child swam forth in þe se; On God in heuyn ay thinkes he, And specially he praied him till To help him if it war his will. And God of heuyn, of his grete grace, Made him to riue vp in a place, Opon ane ile þare, in þe se. 3877 W an. Ful ioyful þan in hert was he. Þe childe ȝede vpon þe land, And thanked Ihesu of his sande. 3880 W Jesu, sand. In þat land he lifed allane; Foure daies mete ete he nane. 3882 W Four. "He herd þe fowles speke him till, And said: 'Childe, gif þe noght ill; Ihesu wil þe help in haste; 3885 W Jesu. Þi meschefe es now alþermaste.' 3886 W mischefe. Þe childe knew wele þe fowles sang; He thanked God graithly omang. He vnderstode al fowles language, Bath yn wod and als in cage. 3890 W Bathe. Þai sang him cumfort wonder wele, For he wist þaire mening ilk dele. "Þe fift day þan come sayland A fissher bote biside þe land. Of þat sight ful fayn was he, And fast he hies him to þe se. 'Help me, sir,' þus gan he cri, 'For Ihesu luf and milde Mari.' 3898 W Jesu. Þe fissher saw þe childe allane, 3899 MS. ffissher. And vnto him he rowed onane. And sone when he come to þe childe, He spak to him with wordes milde: 'Frely childe, what dose þou here?' Þan said þe childe with simpil chere: 'Sir, help þat I war in þi bate, And I sal tel þe al my state.' Intil his bate he gan him bring, And þan he talde him his asking: How his fader kest him in þe se For he said þat he sold be Gretter of myght, by Goddes grace, And richer þan his fader was; And how he swam into þat yle, Al he talde him in þat while. 3914 W whyle. "Þe fissher thoght of hym pete. 3915 MS. ffissher. 'Childe,' he said, 'I sal bring þe Vntil a kastel here nerehand, Vnto þe kinges steward of þis land. Þare sal þou play and meri make.' Þe childe said: 'For Ihesu sake, 3920 W Jesu. Bring me, if it be þi will, Þare I may ette and drink my fill.' Sone þai come to þe castele Whare þe fissher was knawen wele. 3924 W Where. He sald þe childe, I vnderstand, Vntil þe steward of þat land. Þe steward was of hym ful fayn; He saw neuer fairer for sertayne: 3928 W fayrer. He was ful cumly on to call, Faire and curtays euer with all. 3930 W Fayre. Þe childe wex and wele gan thryue; Þe steward lufed hym als his lyue. "In þat land þan was a king Þat had grete thoght and made mornyng For thre rauens þat cried on him ay; In kirk, in hall, in ilka way, Whareso he sold ryde or gane, Þa rauens cried euer onane— Opon þe king ay gan þai cry. His folk þarof had grete ferly; And al þe men of ilk cuntre Had grete selkuth þat sight to se. Þe king in no place [might] haue pese, 3943 MS. om. might. For of þaire noys wald þai neuer sese; 3944 W thair noyse. Nowþer for bow ne for sling No man might þam oway bring. "Þe king wald fayn oway þam wyn, Bot he wist noght how to bygyn. Efter his barnage has he sent, And gert ordayn a grete parlement, For to wit encheson why Þat þe rauens made slike cri; For wele he trowed þam al omell Þat som wise man sold him tell. When his barons wist his will, Hastily þai come him till; Al þe lordes on ilka syde Come vnto þe court þat tide. 3958 W Com, courte. Þe steward þat had þe childe in keping, Said he wald wend vnto þe king, If he myght here of any man Þat þe king wele tell can Why thre rauens opon him cry, And what þat it might signyfy. 'Sir,' said þe child, 'par charite, Wiltou lat me wend with þe?' Þe steward said: 'Sen þou wil swa, Gladly saltou with me ga. Þe kinges wil son saltow here, And sum gude þare may þou lere.' "Þe steward wendes, þe childe alswa, And with þam oþer many ma. Vnto þe kourt þan cumen ware, Erles, barons, both les and mare. Þe sertayn day bifore was set; Þarfor þe lordes, withowten let, Come vnto þat sertayn day. And þan þe king gert sone puruay Al þe lordes into a hall, 3979 W All. And set himself omang þam all. 'Sirs,' he sayd, 'ȝe sal sit downe, And takes entent to my resowne.' "Þan stode he vp omanges þam all, On þe heghest place in þe hall. 3984 W highest. 'Lordinges,' he said, 'lokes omang ȝow If any man can tel me now Of thre rauens þat cryes on me, 3987 W the for thre. In what stede so þat I be. Wha can me tel, so mot I thriue, My doghter sal he haue to wiue, And half my kingdom ilka dele, Þat he sal hald him paid ful wele.' When þe king had said his will, Al þe lordes sat stane-still; Of al þe wise men þat þar ware, Nane kowth gif him graith answare. Þe steward childe þan was wele paid, When he herd how þe kyng had said; In his hert he thinkes wele Þat he kowth tel him ilka dele. Til his lord spekes he preuely, 4001 W priuely. And sais: 'Þis tale wele tel can I, 4002 W said. Of þe rauens þat on þe king cries, And also what it signyfies. If þe king will hald þat he has hight Vnto þam þat kowth tel him right, To tel him wil I wele warand If he wil hald me lele couenand.' "Þe steward said: 'Lat swilk wordes be, For, son, þou may sone shend me; If þou tald a wrang resown, In euyl tyme come we to toun.' 'Sir,' said þe childe, 'drede þe nathing; 4013 W sayd. I knaw ful wele þe fowles criyng; Whare any singes in wode or cage I vnderstand wele þaire langwage.' Þe steward stode vp in þe hall And to [þe] king þan gan he call: 4018 MS. om. þe. 'I haue a childe,' he said, 'sir kyng, Þat can tel þe þine asking: Why þe thre rauens opon þe cry, 4021 W rauen. And als what it may signyfy, 3673 to 4022 (two folios following fol. 125)R omits. 4022 MS. gignyfy. If þou will hald þat þou has hyght Vnto þam þat can tel þe right.' 4024 W om. can, R kan tell, ryght. "' Ȝis,' said þe king, and þarto sware, 4025 R Yhis, kyng, þare to. 'Al þat I hight and mekyl mare 4026 R All, mykell. Sal I gif him þat me tels 4027 R Sall, gyf. Why þe thre rauens on me ȝelles.' 4028 R Whi, yhels. Þe steward þe childe vnto þe king led, 4029 R child, kyng. And bad he sold noght be adred. 4030 R suld. When þe child come to þe king, 4031 R kyng. He bad he sold mak no lesyng. 4032 R suld. Þe childe said: 'Sir, by God mighty, 4033 W,R child, R be, myghty. I sal say noght bot sothfastly.' 4034 R sall. "Þan stode þe childe vp sone onane, 4035 R child. Bifore þe barons euerilkane. 4036 R Bi for. On him þai loked, bath les and mare; 4037 R both less. So faire a childe saw þai neuer are. 4038 R fair, child. 'Sirs,' he said, 'ȝe se ilkane 4039 R yhe. How a rauen sittes and cries allane. 4040 R syttes, cryes. Sir king,' he said, 'I tel it þe, 4041 R kyng, tell. It es þe femal of þe thre. 4042 R female. And, sirs,' he sayd, 'ȝe se alswa 4043 W,R said, R yhe, all swa. How þare sittes oþer rauens twa. 4044 R syttes. Also ȝe se þaire ferly fare, How þe les cries on þe mare. 4046 R less cryes. Þe mare of þam þe elder ys; 4047 W them, R is. Þat oþer female first was his. He held hir wele al threty ȝere; 4049 R all thretty yhere. Þan so bifell þat corn was dere, Þarfore þe alder hir forsoke, 4051 R þarfor. And nothing wald he til hir loke. 4052 R till, luke. He fled fra hir in þat dere tyme, 4053 R fro. And on sere sides soght sho hym. 4054 R sydes, scho. "'Þus when þe alder hir gan forsake, Þe ȝonger toke hir to his make; 4056 R yhonger. Þe ȝonger rauen hir toke þat tyme 4057 R yhonger. For his felow forth with hym. 4058 R hime. He ȝemed hir ful wele always, 4059 R yhemed, full, all ways. Both by nightes and bi dayes. 4060 R bi nyghtes, days. Fro hir neuer fleghe he walde, 4061 R fle, wald. Nowther for hunger ne for calde. 4062 R Nouther, cald. Now es þe ald rauen cumen ogayn, 4063 R comen o gayne. And wald haue his fere ful fain. 4064 R full fayne. Þe ald rauen sais þat sho es his; 4065 R scho. Þe ȝonger sais þat "Myne sho ys, 4066 R yhonger, scho is. For I haue wond with hir alway 4067 R alway mutilated. And left hir nowþer night ne day." 4068 R nouther nyght, ne mutilated. He sais sho sal noght part him fra, 4069 R scho sall. Nowþer for wele ne for wa, 4070 R Nouther. Til þe dome, sir king, be gifen of þe, 4071 R Till, kyng, gyfen. Wheþer make þat sho sal be.' 4072 R scho sall. "Þe child said: 'Sertainly, sir king, 4073 R kyng. Þis es þe cause of þaire crying. 4074 R þair. When þou haues said to þam þi will 4075 R has. And gifen þe dome by right and scyll, 4076 R gyfen, be ryght, skyll, W scill. Wheþer of þam þat hir sal haue, 4077 R sall. Na mare on þe þan wil þai craue, 4078 R will. Ne na mare mak noyse ne cri; 4079 R no, noys, cry. Hame þai wil wend hastyly.' 4080 R will wende hastily. "Þe king toke kownsail of þis thing 4081 R kyng, counsail. At his barons ald and ȝing, 4082 W alde, R yhing. How he sold deme þe rauens twa: 4083 R suld. Whilk sold hir haue and whilk forga. 4084 R suld. Þan al his barons talde him to, 4085 R all, tald. How þat þam thoght best to do. Bi kownsail of barown and knyght 4087 R counsail, baroune and of. Þe king gaf dome by reson right. 4088 R kyng, bi, ryght. He went byfor þa rauens thre, 4089 R bi for. And stode þat þai al myght him se. 4090 W om. al, R all. Þe rauens cried als þai war won; 4091 R cryed, wone. Þe king spak vnto þam sone, 4092 R kyng, W son. And said þat þe female sold ay 4093 R suld. Dwel with hym, both night and day, 4094 R Dwell, nyght. Þat kepid hir fra noyes sere 4095 R keped, fro. In þat tyme þat þe corn was dere; 4096 W om. þe. And he þat put hir þan him fra, By reson he sal hyr forga: 4098 R Be, sall hir. He lufed hir noght, þis es sertayn, 4099 R is sertaine. Þat wald with hunger sho had bene slayne. 4100 R sch, slaine. "When þe alder rauen of þe twa 4101 R elder. Herd þe king gif þe dome swa, 4102 R kyng gyf. He made a cri and rewful mane; 4103 R cry, rewfull. Þareof had meruayl many ane. 4104 R þar of, meruail. On his maner he morned fast, 4105 R þis instead of his, manere, murned. And with swilk playnt oway he past. Þe king herd and saw al þis; 4107 R kyng, all. In hert he had ful mekil blys. 4108 R full mykell. Þa oþer gan þaire fethers shake, 4109 R þair, schake. And mekil myrth þan gan þai make; Þai toke a flight [and] flow oway; 4111 R .. yght, MS. om. and. Þis thoght þe king a nobil play. 4111, 4112 R first half of line obliterated. 4112 R kyng, noble. Þe child he gert bifore hym call, 4113 R bi for him. Right þare omang his barons all: 4114 R Ryght. He held him quaynt and wonder wise; And ful wele quit he his seruise. 4116 R full, quytt, W om. he, R he him his. "Þe king gaf him, þare in þat place, 4117 R kyng. Hys doghter, als þe couenant was, 4118 R His, conand wase. And half his kingdom, grete and small, 4119 R kyngdom gret. And efter hym for to haue all. 4120 R him. Now has þat childe so mekil thing, 4121 R haues, child, mykell. He may be felow with erl and king. 4122 R kyng. "Opon a day he hym bythoght 4123 R him bi thoght. On hys fader þat him forth broght, 4124 W, R his, R furth. And on his moder þat hym bare. 4125 R him. Þan in grete pouert fallen þai ware; 4126 R gret. Þai went for shame fra þaire cuntre, 4127 R schame, þair contre. And come and wond in þat cete Whare þaire son was lord and king. 4129 R þair, kyng. Bot þai ne wist noght of þat thing; Ne he wist noght þat þai war þare, Ne noght he knew of þaire mysfare. 4132 R þair. Bot als he lay opon a nyght, In a dreme þan thoght him right, 4134 R ryght. Þat he was warned in visiowne, His fader and moder was in þe town; 4136 R toune. It bad he sold tak þam hym till, 4137 R suld, him tyll. And also wirk what war þaire will. 4138 R all so, W thare. "At morn þe childe cald seriantes twa, 4139 R child. And bad þai sold his erand ga, 4140 R suld. Preuely into þe towne, 4141 R toune. And spir in stretes, vp and downe, 4142 R spyr, doune. Efter a man of strange cuntre 4143 R After, straunge contre. Newly cumen, hys whife and he:— 4144 R comen his wife. 'His name es Gerard Nories son; 4145 R noryes. Wayt preuely whare þai mai won.' 4146 W priuely, R may. When þai him fand, he bad þam say Þat þai war welkum alway 4148 R welcom all way. To soiorn in þat same cete,— And at þe king himself wald se 4150 R kyng. Of þaire fare and of þaire life, 4151 W their, R þair fair, þair lyfe. Bath of him and of his wife; 4152 R Both, wyfe. And bid þam ordain alkins thing 4153 W bad, R byd, ordaine alkyns. On þe morn to kepe þe king, 4154 R kyng. Mete and drink bath gude and fine:— 4155 R drynk, W bathe, R bothe gud, fyne. 'For my wil es with þam to dine.' 4156 R will, dyne. "Þe seriantes went with hert glad, And spird obowt als he þam bad; 4158 R spyrd o bout. Vp and down þai spirred ful fast, 4159 R doune, spyrd full. So þat þai fand þam at þe last. When þai had funden þat man vnkowth, 4161 R fonden, vncouth. Þai hailsed him mildely with mowth. 4162 R myldely. 'Sir,' þai said withouten leseing, 4163 R lesyng. 'Wele þe gretes þe ȝong kyng. 4164 R yhong. And, sir, he sendes þe word with me Þat he wil cum and dyne with þe 4166 R will come. Tomorn at prime, withowten delay; 4167 R pryme with outen. Þarfore his mete luke ȝe puruay.' 4168 R þarfor, yhe. 'Sertanly, sirs,' þan sayd he, 4169 R Sertainly, R, W said. 'Þe king es ful welkum to me, 4170 R kyng, full welcom. And swilk gode, sirs, als we haue 4171 R gud syrs. Vnto þe king w[e] vowche it saue.' 4172 R kyng, vouche, MS. om. e of we. Vntil his whif he sayd in hy: 4173 W Vntill, R vn tyll, wife, said. 'Dame, in hert I am sary Þat we haue noght al ful plente 4175 R all full. To welkum swilk a lord als he.' 4176 R welcom, kyng instead of lord. "Þe gude wife said: 'Sir, greues ȝow noght; 4177 R gud wyfe, yhow. What so vs wantes sal sone be boght, 4178 R sall. So þat he sal be wele at ayse.' 4179 R sall. Vnto þe seriantes þan sho sais: 4180 R scho says. 'Al þat we haue, sirs, in al thing 4181 R All, all. Es redy vnto mi lord þe king.' 4182 W my, R kyng. Þe seriantes went þan hame ogayn, 4183 R ogayne. And sayd þe king þir sawes sertayn: 4184 R said, kyng, wordes instead of sawes, ser∣tayne. How þat þai had funden þe man, 4185 R fonden. And how þat he þam answerd þan. Þan was þe king ful glad in hert 4187 R kyng full. Þat þai ware hale and in quert. 4188 R war, in gud quert. "On þe morn he toke a litel menȝe, 4189 R lytell meneyhe. And to his fader þan wendes he. He rides right til his fader dore; 4191 R rydes ryght tyll. Seriantes of mace went him bifore. 4192 R bi for. Right at þe dore þan down he lyght, 4193 R Ryght, doune. And went into þe hows ful right. 4194 R full ryght. Þe godeman welkumed fayre þe kyng, 4195 R gud man welcomd fair. Bot of him had he na knawing; 4196 R no knawyng. Þe whife him welkumd als ful rath; 4197 R wife, welcomd, full rathe, W welkumed. Þe kyng thanked blithly þam bath. 4198 R blythely, bathe. Þe kinges dener wele was grayd; 4199 R kynges dyner. Þai set trestes and bordes on layd, 4200 R sett trystes. Þai spred clathes and salt on set, 4201 R sette. And made redy vnto þe mete; Þai set forth water and towell. 4203 R sett. Herkens now how it bifell: In a gude kape þe king gan stand, 4205 R gud, kyng. Als custume was þan in þat land. "When þai gaf water vnto þe king, 4207 R Whan, kyng. Þe fader saw þe sleue down hing; 4208 R doune hyng. He stirt þarto and held it vp, 4209 R styrt þare to. For water sold noght þaron drop. 4210 R suld, þare on. Þe godewife gan bifore him stand, 4211 R gud wife, bi for. With a towayl to wipe his hand; 4212 R towell, wype. Sho honorde him at al hir myght. 4213 R Scho honourd, all. And when þe king saw þis in sight, 4214 R kyng, syght. A squier he gert þe towayl take; 4215 R squyer, towell. And to his moder þan he spake, And to his fader in þat place. 'Fader,' he said, 'thurgh Goddes grace, 4218 R godes. Fulfild es now þe crakes crying, 4219 R ffull fyld. Þat talde bifore of al þis thing: 4220 W, R tald, R all. How þat I sold be recher man, 4221 R suld, rycher. And haue more welth þan ȝe had þan; 4222 R yhe. And for I sayd it sold so be, 4223 R said, suld. Sir, ȝe kest me in þe se.' 4224 R yhe, see. "When þe fader herd þis tale, In his hert he had grete bale. 4226 R gret. Al þa wordes ful wele he knew; 4227 R All, full. He was so ferd him changed hew. 4228 R chaunged. He wend his son þan sold him sla, 4229 R suld. For þat he had hym serued swa. 4230 W, R him. Bot þe kyng kissed þam both in fere, 4231 R kyssed. And said: 'Bese meri, and mase gude chere; 4232 R mery, gud. For ȝe sal be in ioy and blis, 4233 R yhe sall, blys. And nonekins myrthes sal ȝe mys.' 4234 R nonekyns, sall yhe. Þe king gaf sone into þaire handes 4235 R kyng gafe, þair. New tenementes and riche landes, 4236 R ryche. And gold and syluer grete plente; 4237 R gret. His fader and moder þus helpid he." 4238 R helped. Þus þis tale was broght til ende; 4239 R tyll, W end. And Florentine with wordes hende, 4240 R ffloren∣tyne. And with reuerence and grete honowre, 4241 R om. first And, but inserts with after second and; R gret honoure. Sayd to his fader, þe Emperowre: 4242 R Emperoure. "Fader, on þis wise wald ȝe, 4243 R yhe. Ogayns þe right, haue gert sla me; 4244 R ryght. And fully haue ȝe bene my fa. 4245 R yhe. Dere fader, why do ȝe swa? 4246 R whi, yhe. I trispast na mare þan did he, 4247 R tryspast no more, dyd. Þe childe þat was kast in þe se; 4248 R child. And if I myght come to honowre 4249 R com, honoure. For to be king or emperowre, 4250 R kyng, Emperoure. Wene ȝe þat I wald greue ȝow? 4251 R yhe, yhow. Nay, sir, þat sal ȝe neuer trow. 4252 R sall yhe. Drawen and brend are wald I be 4253 R brent. Or I wald greue my fader fre. And, fader, ȝowre wife, weterly, 4255 R yhour, witerly. Wald haue gert me lig hir by; 4256 R lyg. Bot I had leuer haue died als sone 4257 R dyed. Þan þat dede to ȝow haue done." 4258 R yhow. When þe Emperoure herd how he sayd, 4259 R Emperour. Of þat poynt he was noght payd; 4260 W payde. And sone he sent efter his whife, 4261 R sent men, wyfe. Þat him had made so mekil strife. 4262 R mykell stryfe. "Dame," he sayd, "es þis soth thing?" 4263 R said, W sothe. "Ȝa, sir," sho sayd, "by heuyn kyng; 4264 R Yha, scho said bi heuen. He says al soth in þis sesowne, 4265 W om. al, R als, sesoune. And I sal say by what resowne: 4266 R sall, be, resoune. For he sold do na harm þe till, 4267 R suld, no harme, tyll. And also for þis sertayne skyll, 4268 R sertaine, W skill. Þat mi sons sold be na bastardes, 4269 R suld, no. Bot haue þi landes and be grete lardes. "And, sir, I dred me ȝit alswa 4271 W drede, R yhit all swa. Þat he sold haue þe empire þe fra, 4272 R suld, Empyre. Hereefter when þou cums on elde 4273 R comes, eld. And may noght wele þiseluen welde; 4274 R weld. Þarfore I wald haue had him dede, 4275 R þar for, ded. Þat my barnes might be in þi stede. 4276 R myght. And on þis wise, sir, haue I soght To ger hym vnto ded be broght." 4278 W, R him. "A! dame," said þe Emperowre, 4279 R Em∣peroure. "Þou haues bene a fals gilowre, 4280 W ben, R giloure. And with þi treson done me tene; Þat sal now on þiself be sene; 4282 R sall. For þi gaudes and þi gilry 4283 W gandes, R gylry. I gif þis dome þat þou sal dy. 4284 R gyf, sall. Sakles þou wald my son haue slayne; Þiself sal haue þe same payne; 4286 R sall. Þi witchecraft and þi sorceri 4287 W withcraft, R wyche craft, sorcery. Sal þou now ful dere aby. 4288 R Sall, full. Þou grantes þiself here al þe gilt; 4289 R grauntes, gylt, om. al. Þarfore es reson þou be spilt. 4290 R þar for, spylt. If þou lifed lenger, it war wath, 4291 R lyfed lengar. For ful sone wald þou shend vs bath; 4292 R full, schend. And sen þou grantes þi werkes wrang, 4293 R grauntes. It nedes no quest on þe to gang. Þou ert worthy þe ded to take, By rightwis dome, for my son sake." 4296 R Be ryghtwise. Þe Emperoure gert bifor hym call 4297 R Emperour, W, R him. His knightes and hys menȝe all, 4298 R knyghtes, W, R his, R meneyhe. And sayd: "Sirs, smertly for my sake, 4299 R said Syrs, W Sir. A grete fire þat ȝe ger make, 4300 R fyre, yhe. Hastily at þe towns end; 4301 W townes, R tounes ende. For þaryn sal þis whif be brend, 4302 R þare in sall, wife. With mekyl dole, þis day or none, 4303 R mykell. For þe tresown þat sho has done; 4304 R treson, scho. And loke ȝe spare hyr neueradele, 4305 R yhe, hir. For sho has serued it ful wele." 4306 R scho, full. Þe barons war al of ane asent, 4307 R all, assent. Þat sho sold haue þat same iugement. 4308 R scho suld. And al þe knyghtes fast gan cri: 4309 R all, cry. "Do to ded þat fals lady, Þat with hir wichecraft and hir rede Wald haue gert þe childe be ded!" 4312 R child, dede. Sone þai made, onane right, 4313 R ryght. A faire fire, brinand ful bright. 4314 R fayr fyre brynand full bryght. Þan þai tok þat faire lady; 4315 W fayr, R fair. Yt helpid hyr noght to ask mercy. 4316 R helped hir. Þai band hir fast, bath fote and hand, 4317 R both. Þat sho myght nowþer rise ne stand. 4318 R scho, nouther ryse. Hir fete þai fest vnto hir swyre, And lete hir flye in myddes þe fire. 4320 R fyre. Þus was þe ladies ending day, 4321 R ladyse endyng. And þus was sho quit her iornay. 4322 R scho quyt, W jornay, R iournay. Þe childe lifed with grete honowre, 4323 R child lyfed, gret honoure. And efter his fader was Emperoure, And led his life with werkes wise, 4325 R lyfe, wyse. And ended seþ[e]n in Goddes seruyse. 4326 MS. seþn, R sythen, godes. Þusgate endes al þis thing; 4327 R all. Ihesu grante vs his blyssyng! 4328 W Jesu, R graunt, W blessyng. AMEN.

NOTES

 ABBREVIATIONS A: Auchinleck MS., published by Weber, Metrical Romances, III, pp. 8 f. A*: the group of MSS. typified by the O. F. prose text published in part by Leroux de Lincy, Roman des Sept Sages, pp. 79 f. Ar: MS. Arundel 140 (unpublished). As: the Asloan MS. (unpublished). B: MS. Balliol 354 (unpublished). C: MS. Cotton Galba E. ix, published in the present volume. cr: the lost M. E. MS. whence C and R were copied. D: Cambridge University MS. Dd. I. 17, published by Wright, Percy Society Publica∣tions, XVI, pp. 1 f. D*: "Version Dérimée," published by G. Paris, Deux Rédactions du Roman des Sept Sages, pp. 1 f. E: MS. Egerton 1995 (unpublished). F: Cambridge University MS. Ff. II. 38 (unpublished). H: the group of MSS. and editions typified by the Historia Septem Sapientum, published by G. Buchner, Erlanger Beiträge, V, pp. 7 f., and others. I: "Versio Italica," a group of Italian and Latin redactions, MSS. of which have been published by Cappelli, Mussafia, and others. K: the O. F. metrical version published by Keller. L: the O. F. prose version published by Leroux de Lincy, Roman des Sept Sages, pp. 1 f. M: "La Male Marrastre" (unpublished). R: MS. Rawlinson Poet. 175 (unpublished; but its variants from C appear in the foot∣notes to this edition). S: the Latin prose version preserved in the Scala Celi, and republished by Goedeke, Orient und Occident, III, pp. 402 f. W: Weber's edition of A. x: the lost M. E. MS. whence y and D were derived. Y: the group of M. E. MSS. (A, Ar, E, B, F, C, R) derived from y. y: the lost M. E. MS. whence Y was derived.