#  2.1 The Man of Law's Introduction, Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue 

 



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### The Introduction to The Man of Law's Tale 

*The wordes of the Hoost to the compaignye.*

1 **Oure Hooste saugh wel that the brighte sonne**  
 Our Host saw well that the bright sun  
2 **The ark of his artificial day hath ronne**  
 The arc of his twelve-hour day has run  
3 **The ferthe part, and half an houre and moore,**  
 One fourth, and half an hour and more,  
4 **And though he were not depe ystert in loore,**  
 And though he was not far advanced in learning,  
5 **He wiste it was the eightetethe day**  
 He knew it was the eighteenth day  
6 **Of Aprill, that is messager to May;**  
 Of April, that is messenger to May;  
7 **And saugh wel that the shadwe of every tree**  
 And saw well that the shadow of every tree  
8 **Was in lengthe the same quantitee**  
 Was in length the same quantity  
9 **That was the body erect that caused it.**  
 As was the erect body that caused it.  
10 **And therefore by the shadwe he took his wit**  
 And therefore by the shadow he judged  
11 **That Phebus, which that shoon so clere and brighte,**  
 That Phoebus, which shone so clear and bright,  
12 **Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on highte,**  
 Five and forty degrees had climbed on height,  
13 **And for that day, as in that latitude,**  
 And for that day, in that latitude,  
14 **It was ten of the clokke, he gan conclude,**  
 It was ten o'clock, he did conclude,  
15 **And sodeynly he plighte his horse aboute.**  
 And suddenly he pulled his horse about.

16 **"Lordynges," quod he, "I warne yow, al this route,**  
 "Gentlemen," said he, "I warn you, all this company,  
17 **The fourthe party of this day is gon.**  
 One fourth of this day is gone.  
18 **Now for the love of God and of Seint John,**  
 Now for the love of God and of Saint John,  
19 **Leseth no tyme, as ferforth as ye may.**  
 Lose no time, insofar as you can.  
20 **Lordynges, the tyme wasteth nyght and day,**  
 Gentlemen, the time wastes away night and day,  
21 **And steleth from us, what pryvely slepynge,**  
 And steals from us, in part imperceptibly when sleeping,  
22 **And what thurgh necligence in oure wakynge,**  
 And in part through negligence when we are awake,  
23 **As dooth the streem that turneth nevere agayn,**  
 As does the stream that never turns back,  
24 **Descendynge from the mountaigne into playn.**  
 Descending from the mountain into the plain.  
25 **Wel kan Senec and many a philosophre**  
 Well can Seneca and many a philosopher  
26 **Biwaillen tyme moore than gold in cofre;**  
 Bewail time more than gold in coffer;  
27 **For `Los of catel may recovered be,**  
 For `Loss of property may be recovered,  
28 **But los of tyme shendeth us,' quod he.**  
 But loss of time ruins us,' said he.  
29 **It wol nat come agayn, withouten drede,**  
 It will not come again, without doubt,  
30 **Nomoore than wole Malkynes maydenhede,**  
 No more than will Malkin's maidenhead,  
31 **Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse.**  
 When she has lost it in her wantonness.  
32 **Lat us nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse.**  
 Let us not grow moldy thus in idleness.

33 **"Sire Man of Lawe," quod he, "so have ye blis,**  
 "Sir Man of Law," said he, "as you may have bliss,  
34 **Telle us a tale anon, as forward is.**  
 Tell us a tale now, as was agreed.  
35 **Ye been submytted, thurgh youre free assent,**  
 You have submitted, through your free assent,  
36 **To stonden in this cas at my juggement.**  
 To stand in this case at my judgment.  
37 **Acquiteth yow now of youre biheeste;**  
 Now fulfill your promise;  
38 **Thanne have ye do youre devoir atte leeste."**  
 Then have you done your duty at the least."

39 **"Hooste," quod he, "depardieux, ich assente;**  
 "Host," said he, "in God's name, I assent;  
40 **To breke forward is nat myn entente.**  
 To break our agreement is not my intent.  
41 **Biheste is dette, and I wole holde fayn**  
 Promise is debt, and I will eagerly keep  
42 **Al my biheste, I kan no bettre sayn.**  
 All my promise, I can say no better.  
43 **For swich lawe as a man yeveth another wight,**  
 For such law as a man gives another person,  
44 **He sholde hymselven usen it, by right;**  
 He should himself use it, by right;  
45 **Thus wole oure text. But nathelees, certeyn,**  
 Thus our text will have it. But nonetheless, certainly,  
46 **I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn**  
 Right now I can tell no suitable tale  
47 **That Chaucer, thogh he kan but lewedly**  
 That Chaucer, though he is ignorant  
48 **On metres and on rymyng craftily,**  
 Of meters and of riming craftily,  
49 **Hath seyd hem in swich Englissh as he kan**  
 Has (not already) said them in such English as he knows   
50 **Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man;**  
 Long ago, as knows many a man;  
51 **And if he have noght seyd hem, leve brother,**  
 And if he has not said them, dear brother,  
52 **In o book, he hath seyd hem in another.**  
 In one book, he has said them in another.  
53 **For he hath toold of loveris up and doun**  
 For he has told of lovers up and down  
54 **Mo than Ovide made of mencioun**  
 More than Ovid made mention of   
55 **In his Episteles, that been ful olde.**  
 In his Epistles, that are very old.  
56 **What sholde I tellen hem, syn they been tolde?**  
 Why should I tell them, since they have been told?

57 **"In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcione,**  
 "In youth he wrote about Ceyx and Alcion,  
58 **And sitthen hath he spoken of everichone,**  
 And since has he spoken of each one,  
59 **Thise noble wyves and thise loveris eke.**  
 These noble wives and these lovers also.  
60 **Whoso that wole his large volume seke,**  
 Whoever will seek his large volume,  
61 **Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupide,**  
 Called the Saints' Legend of Cupid,  
62 **Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde**  
 There may he see the large wounds wide  
63 **Of Lucresse, and of Babilan Tesbee;**  
 Of Lucretia, and Thisbe of Babylon;  
64 **The swerd of Dido for the false Enee;**  
 The sword of Dido (used) because of the false Aeneas;  
65 **The tree of Phillis for hire Demophon;**  
 The tree of Phyllis for her Demophon;  
66 **The pleinte of Dianire and of Hermyon,**  
 The complaint of Deianire and of Hermione,  
67 **Of Adriane, and of Isiphilee --**  
 Of Ariadne, and of Hypsipyle --  
68 **The bareyne yle stondynge in the see --**  
 The barren isle standing in the sea --  
69 **The dreynte Leandre for his Erro;**  
 The drowned Leander for his Hero;  
70 **The teeris of Eleyne, and eek the wo**  
 The tears of Helen, and also the woe  
71 **Of Brixseyde, and of the, Ladomya;**  
 Of Briseis, and of thee, Laodamia;  
72 **The crueltee of the, queene Medea,**  
 The cruelty of thee, queen Medea,  
73 **Thy litel children hangynge by the hals,**  
 Thy little children hanging by the neck,  
74 **For thy Jason, that was of love so fals!**  
 Because of thy Jason, that was in love so false!  
75 **O Ypermystra, Penelopee, Alceste,**  
 O Hypermnestra, Penelope, Alcestis,  
76 **Youre wifhod he comendeth with the beste!**  
 Your wifehood he commends with the best!

77 **"But certeinly no word ne writeth he**  
 "But certainly no word writes he  
78 **Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee,**  
 Of that wicked example of Canace,  
79 **That loved hir owene brother synfully --**  
 Who loved her own brother sinfully --  
80 **Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy! --**  
 Of such cursed stories I say fie! --  
81 **Or ellis of Tyro Appollonius,**  
 Or else of Apollonius of Tyre,  
82 **How that the cursed kyng Antiochus**  
 How that the cursed king Antiochus  
83 **Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede,**  
 Deprived his daughter of her maidenhead,  
84 **That is so horrible a tale for to rede,**  
 That is so horrible a tale to read,  
85 **Whan he hir threw upon the pavement.**  
 When he threw her upon the pavement.  
86 **And therfore he, of ful avysement,**  
 And therefore he, after careful consideration  
87 **Nolde nevere write in none of his sermons**  
 Would never write in any of his compositions  
88 **Of swiche unkynde abhomynacions,**  
 Of such unnatural abominations,  
89 **Ne I wol noon reherce, if that I may.**  
 Nor will I tell any such, if that I may.

90 **"But of my tale how shal I doon this day?**  
 "But of my tale what shall I do this day?  
91 **Me were looth be likned, doutelees,**  
 I would hate to be likened, doubtless,  
92 **To Muses that men clepe Pierides --**  
 To the Muses that men call Pierides --  
93 **Methamorphosios woot what I mene;**  
 Metamorphoses shows what I mean;   
94 **But nathelees, I recche noght a bene**  
 But nonetheless, I reckon it not worth a bean  
95 **Though I come after hym with hawebake.**  
 Though I come after him with a humble dish.  
96 **I speke in prose, and lat him rymes make."**  
 I speak in prose, and let him make rhymes."  
97 **And with that word he, with a sobre cheere,**  
 And with that word he, with a solemn demeanor,  
98 **Bigan his tale, as ye shal after heere.**  
 Began his tale, as you shall after hear.

**The Prologue of the Man of Law's Tale**

*The Prologe of the Mannes Tale of Law*

99 **O hateful harm, condicion of poverte!**  
 O hateful harm, condition of poverty!  
100 **With thurst, with coold, with hunger so confoundid!**  
 By thirst, by cold, by hunger so distressed!  
101 **To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte;**  
 To ask help thou art ashamed in thy heart;  
102 **If thou noon aske, with nede artow so woundid**  
 If thou ask for none, thou art so wounded by need   
103 **That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid!**  
 That true need reveals all thy hidden wound!  
104 **Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indigence**  
 Despite all you can do, thou must for indigence  
105 **Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence!**  
 Either steal, or beg, or borrow thy living expenses!

106 **Thow blamest Crist and seist ful bitterly**  
 Thou blamest Christ and sayest full bitterly  
107 **He mysdeparteth richesse temporal;**  
 He wrongly allots temporal riches;  
108 **Thy neighebor thou wytest synfully,**  
 Thy neighbor thou blamest sinfully,  
109 **And seist thou hast to lite and he hath al.**  
 And sayest thou hast too little and he has all.  
110 **"Parfay," seistow, "somtyme he rekene shal,**  
 "By my faith," sayest thou, "sometimes he shall pay for it,  
111 **Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede,**  
 When his tail shall burn in the live coals,  
112 **For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir neede."**  
 For he helps not the needy in their need."

113 **Herkne what is the sentence of the wise:**  
 Listen to what is the opinion of the wise:  
114 **"Bet is to dyen than have indigence";**  
 "Better it is to die than to have poverty";  
115 **"Thy selve neighebor wol thee despise."**  
 "Thy very neighbor will despise thee."  
116 **If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence!**  
 If thou be poor, farewell thy reverence!  
117 **Yet of the wise man take this sentence:**  
 Yet of the wise man take this advice:  
118 **"Alle the dayes of povre men been wikke."**  
 "All the days of poor men are painful."  
119 **Be war, therfore, er thou come to that prikke!**  
 Beware, therefore, before thou come to that point!

120 **If thou be povre, thy brother hateth thee,**  
 If thou be poor, thy brother hates thee,  
121 **And alle thy freendes fleen from thee, allas!**  
 And all thy friends flee from thee, alas!  
122 **O riche marchauntz, ful of wele been yee,**  
 O rich merchants, full of prosperity are you,  
123 **O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas!**  
 O noble, o prudent folk, in such a case as this!  
124 **Youre bagges been nat fild with ambes as,**  
 Your bags are not filled with double aces (a losing throw in dice),  
125 **But with sys cynk, that renneth for youre chaunce;**  
 But with six five, that is your winning number;  
126 **At Cristemasse myrie may ye daunce!**  
 At Christmas merrily may you dance!

127 **Ye seken lond and see for yowre wynnynges;**  
 You seek land and sea for your winnings;  
128 **As wise folk ye knowen al th' estaat**  
 As wise folk you know all the condition  
129 **Of regnes; ye been fadres of tidynges**  
 Of (foreign) lands; you are fathers of tidings  
130 **And tales, bothe of pees and of debaat.**  
 And tales, both of peace and of war.  
131 **I were right now of tales desolaat,**  
 I would right now be without any tales,  
132 **Nere that a marchant, goon is many a yeere,**  
 Were it not that a merchant, gone by is many a year,  
133 **Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal heere.**  
 Taught me a tale, which you shall hear.

### The Man of Law's Tale

*Heere begynneth the Man of Lawe his tale.*

134 **In Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye**  
 In Syria once dwelt a company  
135 **Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe,**  
 Of rich merchants, and moreover trustworthy and true,  
136 **That wyde-where senten hir spicerye,**  
 That wherever they sent their oriental goods,  
137 **Clothes of gold, and satyns riche of hewe.**  
 Cloth of gold, and satins rich in color.  
138 **Hir chaffare was so thrifty and so newe**  
 Their merchandise was so serviceable and so novel  
139 **That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare**  
 That every person has desire to trade  
140 **With hem, and eek to sellen hem hire ware.**  
 With them, and also to sell them their goods.

141 **Now fil it that the maistres of that sort**  
 Now it happened that the masters of that company  
142 **Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende;**  
 Have prepared themselves to travel to Rome;  
143 **Were it for chapmanhod or for disport,**  
 Were it for business or for pleasure,  
144 **Noon oother message wolde they thider sende,**  
 No other messenger would they thither send,  
145 **But comen hemself to Rome; this is the ende.**  
 But came themselves to Rome; this is the sum of it.  
146 **And in swich place as thoughte hem avantage**  
 And in such a place as they thought advantageous  
147 **For hire entente, they take hir herbergage.**  
 For their purposes, they take their lodging.

148 **Sojourned han thise merchantz in that toun**  
 These merchants have sojourned in that town  
149 **A certein tyme, as fil to hire plesance.**  
 A certain length of time, as accorded with their desires.  
150 **And so bifel that th' excellent renoun**  
 And it so happened that the excellent renown  
151 **Of the Emperoures doghter, dame Custance,**  
 Of the Emperor's daughter, Lady Custance,  
152 **Reported was, with every circumstance,**  
 Was reported, in full detail,  
153 **Unto thise Surryen marchantz in swich wyse,**  
 Unto these Syrian merchants in such a manner,  
154 **Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse.**  
 From day to day, as I shall tell you.

155 **This was the commune voys of every man:**  
 This was the common opinion of every man:  
156 **"Oure Emperour of Rome -- God hym see! --**  
 "Our Emperor of Rome -- may God look after him! --  
157 **A doghter hath that, syn the world bigan,**  
 A daughter has that, since the world began,  
158 **To rekene as wel hir goodnesse as beautee,**  
 To consider as well her goodness as beauty,  
159 **Nas nevere swich another as is shee.**  
 There was never such another as is she.  
160 **I prey to God in honour hire susteene,**  
 I pray to God to sustain her in honor,  
161 **And wolde she were of al Europe the queene.**  
 And would she were of all Europe the queen.

162 **"In hire is heigh beautee, withoute pride,**  
 "In her is great beauty, without pride,  
163 **Yowthe, withoute grenehede or folye;**  
 Youth, without immaturity or folly;  
164 **To alle hire werkes vertu is hir gyde;**  
 In all her deeds virtue is her guide;  
165 **Humblesse hath slayn in hire al tirannye.**  
 Humility has slain in her all tyranny.  
166 **She is mirour of alle curteisye;**  
 She is mirror of all courtesy;  
167 **Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse,**  
 Her heart is a true chamber of holiness,  
168 **Hir hand, ministre of fredam for almesse."**  
 Her hand, minister of generosity in giving alms."

169 **And al this voys was sooth, as God is trewe.**  
 And all this opinion was true, as God is true.  
170 **But now to purpos lat us turne agayn.**  
 But now to the point let us turn again.  
171 **Thise marchantz han doon fraught hir shippes newe,**  
 These merchants have had their ships newly loaded,  
172 **And whan they han this blisful mayden sayn,**  
 And when they have this blissful maiden seen,  
173 **Hoom to Surrye been they went ful fayn,**  
 Home to Syria they have gone very happily,   
174 **And doon hir nedes as they han doon yoore,**  
 And they conduct their business as they have done for years,  
175 **And lyven in wele; I kan sey yow namoore.**  
 And live in prosperity; I can tell you no more.

176 **Now fil it that thise marchantz stode in grace**  
 Now it happened that these merchants stood in the good graces  
177 **Of hym that was the Sowdan of Surrye;**  
 Of him that was the Sultan of Syria;  
178 **For whan they cam from any strange place,**  
 For when they came from any foreign place,  
179 **He wolde, of his benigne curteisye,**  
 He would, of his gracious courtesy,  
180 **Make hem good chiere, and bisily espye**  
 Entertain them well, and busily seek out  
181 **Tidynges of sondry regnes, for to leere**  
 News from various countries, to learn  
182 **The wondres that they myghte seen or heere.**  
 The wonders that they could have seen or heard.

183 **Amonges othere thynges, specially,**  
 Amongst other things, specially,  
184 **Thise marchantz han hym toold of dame Custance**  
 These merchants have told him of Lady Custance   
185 **So greet noblesse in ernest, ceriously,**  
 Such great noble qualities in earnest, in detail,  
186 **That this Sowdan hath caught so greet plesance**  
 That this Sultan has caught such great desire  
187 **To han hir figure in his remembrance,**  
 To have her figure in his remembrance,  
188 **That al his lust and al his bisy cure**  
 That all his desire and all his intense concern  
189 **Was for to love hire while his lyf may dure.**  
 Was to love her while his life may endure.

190 **Paraventure in thilke large book**  
 Perhaps in that large book  
191 **Which that men clepe the hevene ywriten was**  
 Which men call the heaven was written   
192 **With sterres, whan that he his birthe took,**  
 In stars, when he was born,   
193 **That he for love sholde han his deeth, allas!**  
 That he because of love should have his death, alas!  
194 **For in the sterres, clerer than is glas,**  
 For in the stars, clearer than is glass,  
195 **Is writen, God woot, whoso koude it rede,**  
 Is written, God knows, whoever could read it,  
196 **The deeth of every man, withouten drede.**  
 The death of every man, without doubt.

197 **In sterres, many a wynter therbiforn,**  
 In stars, many a winter before then,  
198 **Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles,**  
 Was written the death of Hector, Achilles,  
199 **Of Pompei, Julius, er they were born;**  
 Of Pompey, Julius, before they were born;  
200 **The strif of Thebes; and of Ercules,**  
 The strife of Thebes; and of Hercules,  
201 **Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates**  
 Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates  
202 **The deeth; but mennes wittes ben so dulle**  
 The death; but men's wits are so dull  
203 **That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle.**  
 That no person can well interpret it fully.

204 **This Sowdan for his privee conseil sente,**  
 This Sultan for his privy council sent,  
205 **And, shortly of this matiere for to pace,**  
 And, to pass briefly over this matter,  
206 **He hath to hem declared his entente,**  
 He has to them declared his intent,  
207 **And seyde hem, certein, but he myghte have grace**  
 And said to them, certainly, unless he could have the good fortune  
208 **To han Custance withinne a litel space,**  
 To have Custance within a little time,  
209 **He nas but deed; and charged hem in hye**  
 He was as good as dead; and ordered them hastily  
210 **To shapen for his lyf som remedye.**  
 To arrange some remedy to save his life .

211 **Diverse men diverse thynges seyden;**  
 Different men said different things;  
212 **They argumenten, casten up and doun;**  
 They argue, consider alternatives;  
213 **Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden;**  
 Many a subtle argument they laid forth;  
214 **They speken of magyk and abusioun.**  
 They speak of magic and deception.  
215 **But finally, as in conclusioun,**  
 But finally, in conclusion,  
216 **They kan nat seen in that noon avantage,**  
 They can not see any advantage in that,  
217 **Ne in noon oother wey, save mariage.**  
 Nor in any other way, save for marriage.

218 **Thanne sawe they therinne swich difficultee**  
 Then saw they in that such difficulty  
219 **By wey of reson, for to speke al playn,**  
 By way of reason, to speak all plainly,   
220 **By cause that ther was swich diversitee**  
 Because there was such difference  
221 **Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn**  
 Between their two religions, that they say  
222 **They trowe that no "Cristen prince wolde fayn**  
 They suppose that no "Christian prince would be willing  
223 **Wedden his child under oure lawe sweete**  
 To wed his child under our sweet religion  
224 **That us was taught by Mahoun, oure prophete."**  
 That was taught us by Mohammed, our prophet."

225 **And he answerde, "Rather than I lese**  
 And he answered, "Rather than I lose  
226 **Custance, I wol be cristned, doutelees.**  
 Custance, I will be christened, doubtless.  
227 **I moot been hires; I may noon oother chese.**  
 I must be hers; I can choose no other.  
228 **I prey yow hoold youre argumentz in pees;**  
 I pray you to keep your arguments silent;   
229 **Saveth my lyf, and beth noght recchelees**  
 Save my life, and be not negligent   
230 **To geten hire that hath my lyf in cure,**  
 To get her who has my life in her keeping,  
231 **For in this wo I may nat longe endure."**  
 For in this woe I can not long endure."

232 **What nedeth gretter dilatacioun?**  
 What needs greater increase of words?  
233 **I seye, by tretys and embassadrie,**  
 I say, by treaty and negotiation,  
234 **And by the popes mediacioun,**  
 And by the pope's mediation,  
235 **And al the chirche, and al the chivalrie,**  
 And all the church, and all the knights,  
236 **That in destruccioun of mawmettrie,**  
 That for the destruction of idolatry,  
237 **And in encrees of Cristes lawe deere,**  
 And for the increase of Christ's dear law,  
238 **They been acorded, so as ye shal heere:**  
 They are agreed, as you shall hear:

239 **How that the Sowdan and his baronage**  
 That the Sultan and his baronage  
240 **And alle his liges sholde ycristned be,**  
 And all his vassals should christened be,  
241 **And he shal han Custance in mariage,**  
 And he shall have Custance in marriage,  
242 **And certein gold, I noot what quantitee;**  
 And a certain amount of gold, I do not know how much;  
243 **And heer-to founden sufficient suretee.**  
 And for this provided sufficient pledges.  
244 **This same accord was sworn on eyther syde;**  
 This same agreement was sworn on either side;  
245 **Now, faire Custance, almyghty God thee gyde!**  
 Now, fair Custance, almighty God thee guide!

246 **Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse,**  
 Now would some men expect, as I guess,  
247 **That I sholde tellen al the purveiance**  
 That I should tell all the preparations  
248 **That th' Emperour, of his grete noblesse,**  
 That the Emperor, of his great nobility,  
249 **Hath shapen for his doghter, dame Custance.**  
 Has arranged for his daughter, Lady Custance.  
250 **Wel may men knowen that so greet ordinance**  
 Well may men know that such great preparation  
251 **May no man tellen in a litel clause**  
 No man can tell in a brief statement  
252 **As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.**  
 As was provided for so important an occasion.

253 **Bisshopes been shapen with hire for to wende,**  
 Bishops are appointed to go with her,  
254 **Lordes, ladies, knyghtes of renoun,**  
 Lords, ladies, knights of renown,  
255 **And oother folk ynowe; this is th' ende;**  
 And other folk enough; this is the sum of it;  
256 **And notified is thurghout the toun**  
 And it is made known throughout the town  
257 **That every wight, with greet devocioun,**  
 That every person, with great devotion,  
258 **Sholde preyen Crist that he this mariage**  
 Should pray Christ that He this marriage  
259 **Receyve in gree and spede this viage.**  
 Receive favorably and lend success to this voyage.

260 **The day is comen of hir departynge;**  
 The day is come of her departure;  
261 **I seye, the woful day fatal is come,**  
 I say, the woeful fatal day is come,  
262 **That ther may be no lenger tariynge,**  
 That there may be no longer tarrying,  
263 **But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some.**  
 But to go forth they prepare themselves, one and all.  
264 **Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome,**  
 Custance, that was with sorrow all overcome,  
265 **Ful pale arist, and dresseth hire to wende;**  
 Full pale arises, and prepares herself to go;  
266 **For wel she seeth ther is noon oother ende.**  
 For well she sees there is no other possible conclusion.

267 **Allas, what wonder is it thogh she wepte,**  
 Alas, what wonder is it though she wept,  
268 **That shal be sent to strange nacioun**  
 She who shall be sent to a foreign nation  
269 **Fro freendes that so tendrely hire kepte,**  
 From friends who so tenderly cared for her,  
270 **And to be bounden under subjeccioun**  
 And to be bound under subjection  
271 **Of oon, she knoweth nat his condicioun?**  
 By one, (of whom) she knows not his character?  
272 **Housbondes been alle goode, and han ben yoore;**  
 Husbands are all good, and have been for years;  
273 **That knowen wyves; I dar sey yow na moore.**  
 Wives know that; I dare say you no more.

274 **"Fader," she seyde, "thy wrecched child Custance,**  
 "Father," she said, "thy wretched child Custance,  
275 **Thy yonge doghter fostred up so softe,**  
 Thy young daughter fostered up so tenderly,  
276 **And ye, my mooder, my soverayn plesance**  
 And you, my mother, my greatest joy  
277 **Over alle thyng, out-taken Crist on-lofte,**  
 Over all things, except Christ above,  
278 **Custance youre child hire recomandeth ofte**  
 Custance your child commends herself often  
279 **Unto youre grace, for I shal to Surrye,**  
 Unto your grace, for I must go to Syria,  
280 **Ne shal I nevere seen yow moore with ye.**  
 Nor shall I never see you again with my eyes.

281 **"Allas, unto the Barbre nacioun**  
 "Alas, unto the pagan world  
282 **I moste anoon, syn that it is youre wille;**  
 I must go right now, since it is your will;  
283 **But Crist, that starf for our redempcioun**  
 But Christ, that died for our redemption  
284 **So yeve me grace his heestes to fulfille!**  
 Give me grace his commands to fulfill!  
285 **I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille!**  
 I, wretched woman, no matter though I die!  
286 **Wommen are born to thraldom and penance,**  
 Women are born to servitude and suffering,  
287 **And to been under mannes governance."**  
 And to be under man's governance."

288 **I trowe at Troye, whan Pirrus brak the wal**  
 I believe at Troy, when Pirrus broke the wall  
289 **Or Ilion brende, at Thebes the citee,**  
 Before Ilion burned, at Thebes the city,  
290 **N' at Rome, for the harm thurgh Hanybal**  
 Nor at Rome, for the harm wrought by Hannibal  
291 **That Romayns hath venquysshed tymes thre,**  
 Who has vanquished Romans three times,  
292 **Nas herd swich tendre wepyng for pitee**  
 Was not heard such tender weeping for pity  
293 **As in the chambre was for hire departynge;**  
 As in the chamber was for her departing;  
294 **But forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or synge.**  
 But forth she must go, whether she weeps or sings.

295 **O firste moevyng! Crueel firmament,**  
 O first moving! Cruel firmament,  
296 **With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay**  
 With thy daily motion that pushes ever  
297 **And hurlest al from est til occident**  
 And hurls all from east to west  
298 **That naturelly wolde holde another way,**  
 That naturally would go the other way,  
299 **Thy crowdyng set the hevene in swich array**  
 Thy impetus set the heaven in such an arrangement  
300 **At the bigynnyng of this fiers viage,**  
 At the beginning of this dangerous voyage,  
301 **That crueel Mars hath slayn this mariage.**  
 That cruel Mars has slain this marriage.  
302 **Infortunat ascendent tortuous,**  
 Unfortunate ascending oblique house, \[see n.\]  
303 **Of which the lord is helplees falle, allas,**  
 From which the lord, helpless, has fallen, alas,  
304 **Out of his angle into the derkeste hous!**  
 Out of his angle into the most unfavorable house!  
305 **O Mars, o atazir, as in this cas!**  
 O Mars, o dominant planet, in this case!  
306 **O fieble moone, unhappy been thy paas!**  
 O feeble moon, unhappy are thy steps!  
307 **Thou knyttest thee ther thou art nat receyved;**  
 Thou join thyself where thou art not (well) received;  
308 **Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow weyved.**  
 Where thou were well, from thence art thou driven away.

309 **Imprudent Emperour of Rome, allas!**  
 Imprudent Emperor of Rome, alas!  
310 **Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun?**  
 Was there no astrologer in all thy town?  
311 **Is no tyme bet than oother in swich cas?**  
 Is no time better than another in such a case?  
312 **Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,**  
 For voyages is there no choice of a favorable time,  
313 **Namely to folk of heigh condicioun?**  
 Especially for folk of noble social status?  
314 **Noght whan a roote is of a burthe yknowe?**  
 Not when an exact date of a birth is known?  
315 **Allas, we been to lewed or to slowe!**  
 Alas, we are too ignorant or too slow in wit!

316 **To shippe is brought this woful faire mayde**  
 To ship is brought this woeful fair maid  
317 **Solempnely, with every circumstance.**  
 Solemnly, with every ceremony.  
318 **"Now Jhesu Crist be with yow alle!" she sayde;**  
 "Now Jesus Christ be with you all!" she said;  
319 **Ther nys namoore, but "Farewel, faire Custance!"**  
 There is no more, but "Farewell, fair Custance!"  
320 **She peyneth hire to make good contenance;**  
 She takes pains to make a cheerful appearance;  
321 **And forth I lete hire saille in this manere,**  
 And forth I let her sail in this manner,  
322 **And turne I wole agayn to my matere.**  
 And turn I will again to my subject matter.

323 **The mooder of the Sowdan, welle of vices,**  
 The mother of the Sultan, well of vices,  
324 **Espied hath hir sones pleyn entente,**  
 Espied has her son's full intention,  
325 **How he wol lete his olde sacrifices;**  
 How he will leave his old sacrifices;  
326 **And right anon she for hir conseil sente,**  
 And right away she sent for her council,  
327 **And they been come to knowe what she mente.**  
 And they are come to know what she intended.  
328 **And whan assembled was this folk in-feere,**  
 And when this folk was assembled together,  
329 **She sette hire doun, and seyde as ye shal heere.**  
 She set herself down, and said as you shall hear.

330 **"Lordes," quod she, "ye knowen everichon,**  
 "Lords," said she, "you know each one of you,  
331 **How that my sone in point is for to lete**  
 How my son is about to forsake  
332 **The hooly lawes of our Alkaron,**  
 The holy laws of our Koran,  
333 **Yeven by Goddes message Makomete.**  
 Given by God's messenger Mohammed.  
334 **But oon avow to grete God I heete,**  
 But one vow to great God I promise,  
335 **The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte**  
 The life shall rather out of my body go  
336 **Or Makometes lawe out of myn herte!**  
 Before Mohammed's law (goes) out of my heart!

337 **"What sholde us tyden of this newe lawe**  
 "What should come to us from this new religion  
338 **But thraldom to oure bodies and penance,**  
 Except slavery to our bodies and suffering,  
339 **And afterward in helle to be drawe,**  
 And afterward to be dragged into hell,  
340 **For we reneyed Mahoun oure creance?**  
 Because we renounced our faith in Mohammed?  
341 **But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance,**  
 But, lords, will you make assurance,  
342 **As I shal seyn, assentynge to my loore,**  
 As I shall say, assenting to my teaching,  
343 **And I shal make us sauf for everemoore?"**  
 And I shall make us safe for evermore?"

344 **They sworen and assenten, every man,**  
 They swore and agree, every man,  
345 **To lyve with hire and dye, and by hire stonde,**  
 To live with her and die, and by her stand,  
346 **And everich, in the beste wise he kan,**  
 And every one, in the best way he can,  
347 **To strengthen hire shal alle his frendes fonde;**  
 To strengthen her shall try (to persuade) all his friends;  
348 **And she hath this emprise ytake on honde,**  
 And she has this enterprise taken in hand,  
349 **Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse,**  
 Which you shall hear as I shall tell,  
350 **And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse:**  
 And to them all she spoke right in this manner:

351 **"We shul first feyne us cristendom to take --**  
 "We shall first pretend to receive Christendom --  
352 **Coold water shal nat greve us but a lite! --**  
 Cold water shall not grieve us but a little! --  
353 **And I shal swich a feeste and revel make**  
 And I shall such a feast and revel make  
354 **That, as I trowe, I shal the Sowdan quite.**  
 That, as I believe, I shall pay back the Sultan.  
355 **For thogh his wyf be cristned never so white,**  
 For though his wife be christened never so white,  
356 **She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede,**  
 She shall have need to wash away the red,  
357 **Thogh she a font-ful water with hire lede."**  
 Though she a baptismal font full of water bring with her."

358 **O Sowdanesse, roote of iniquitee!**  
 O Sultaness, root of iniquity!  
359 **Virago, thou Semyrame the secounde!**  
 Virago, thou Semiramis the second!  
360 **O serpent under femynynytee,**  
 O serpent under (cover of) femininity,  
361 **Lik to the serpent depe in helle ybounde!**  
 Like the serpent deep in hell bound!  
362 **O feyned womman, al that may confounde**  
 O feigned woman, that can destroy all   
363 **Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malice,**  
 Virtue and innocence, through thy malice,  
364 **Is bred in thee, as nest of every vice!**  
 That is bred in thee, nest of every vice!

365 **O Sathan, envious syn thilke day**  
 O Satan, envious since that same day  
366 **That thou were chaced from oure heritage,**  
 That thou were chased from our heritage,  
367 **Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way!**  
 Well knowest thou the old way to women!  
368 **Thou madest Eva brynge us in servage;**  
 Thou madest Eva bring us into slavery;  
369 **Thou wolt fordoon this Cristen mariage.**  
 Thou wilt destroy this Christian marriage.  
370 **Thyn instrument so -- weylawey the while! --**  
 Thy instrument thus -- alas the times! --  
371 **Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt bigile.**  
 Makest thou of women, when thou wilt deceive.

372 **This Sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warye,**  
 This Sultaness, whom I thus blame and curse,  
373 **Leet prively hire conseil goon hire way.**  
 Privately had her council go their way.  
374 **What sholde I in this tale lenger tarye?**  
 Why should I in this tale longer tarry?  
375 **She rydeth to the Sowdan on a day,**  
 She rides to the Sultan on a day,  
376 **And seyde hym that she wolde reneye hir lay,**  
 And said to him that she would renounce her religion,  
377 **And cristendom of preestes handes fonge,**  
 And take Christendom from a priest's hands,  
378 **Repentynge hire she hethen was so longe,**  
 Repenting that she heathen was so long,

379 **Bisechynge hym to doon hire that honour,**  
 Beseeching him to do her that honor,  
380 **That she moste han the Cristen folk to feeste --**  
 That she might have the Christian folk to feast --  
381 **"To plesen hem I wol do my labour."**  
 "To please them I will work hard."  
382 **The Sowdan seith, "I wol doon at youre heeste,"**  
 The Sultan says, "I will act according to your command."  
383 **And knelynge thanketh hire of that requeste.**  
 And kneeling thanks her for that request.  
384 **So glad he was, he nyste what to seye.**  
 So glad he was, he knew not what to say.  
385 **She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth hir weye.**  
 She kissed her son, and home she goes her way.

*Explicit prima pars.*  
Here ends the first part.

*Sequitur pars secunda.*  
The second part follows.

386 **Arryved been this Cristen folk to londe**  
 This Christian folk have come to land   
387 **In Surrye, with a greet solempne route,**  
 In Syria, with a great solemn company,  
388 **And hastifliche this Sowdan sente his sonde**  
 And hastily this Sultan sent his messenger  
389 **First to his mooder, and al the regne aboute,**  
 First to his mother, and all the reign about,  
390 **And seyde his wyf was comen, out of doute,**  
 And said his wife was come, without doubt,  
391 **And preyde hire for to ryde agayn the queene,**  
 And prayed her to ride to meet the queen,  
392 **The honour of his regne to susteene.**  
 The honor of his reign to sustain.

393 **Greet was the prees, and riche was th' array**  
 Large was the crowd, and rich was the assembly  
394 **Of Surryens and Romayns met yfeere;**  
 Of Syrians and Romans met together;  
395 **The mooder of the Sowdan, riche and gay,**  
 The mother of the Sultan, richly dressed and gay,  
396 **Receyveth hire with also glad a cheere**  
 Receives her with as glad a demeanor  
397 **As any mooder myghte hir doghter deere,**  
 As any mother might have for her daughter dear,  
398 **And to the nexte citee ther bisyde**  
 And to the nearest city there beside  
399 **A softe paas solempnely they ryde.**  
 At a slow pace solemnly they ride.

400 **Noght trowe I the triumphe of Julius,**  
 I do not believe the triumph of Julius,  
401 **Of which that Lucan maketh swich a boost,**  
 Of which Lucan makes such a boastful account,  
402 **Was roialler ne moore curius**  
 Was more royal nor more splendid  
403 **Than was th' assemblee of this blisful hoost.**  
 Than was the assembly of this blissful host.  
404 **But this scorpioun, this wikked goost,**  
 But this scorpion, this wicked spirit,  
405 **The Sowdanesse, for al hire flaterynge,**  
 The Sultaness, for all her flattering,  
406 **Caste under this ful mortally to stynge.**  
 Planned, under cover of this, very mortally to sting.

407 **The Sowdan comth hymself soone after this**  
 The Sultan comes himself soon after this  
408 **So roially that wonder is to telle,**  
 So royally that it is a wonder to tell,  
409 **And welcometh hire with alle joye and blis.**  
 And welcomes her with all joy and bliss.  
410 **And thus in murthe and joye I lete hem dwelle;**  
 And thus in mirth and joy I let them remain;  
411 **The fruyt of this matiere is that I telle.**  
 The essential part of this matter is what I tell.  
412 **Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste**  
 When time came, men thought it for the best  
413 **That revel stynte, and men goon to hir reste.**  
 That revel should stint, and people go to their rest.

414 **The tyme cam, this olde Sowdanesse**  
 The time having come, this old Sultaness  
415 **Ordeyned hath this feeste of which I tolde,**  
 Has arranged this feast of which I told,  
416 **And to the feeste Cristen folk hem dresse**  
 And to the feast Christian folk go  
417 **In general, ye, bothe yonge and olde.**  
 All together, yes, both young and old.  
418 **Heere may men feeste and roialtee biholde,**  
 Here may men behold feasting and royalty,  
419 **And deyntees mo than I kan yow devyse;**  
 And dainties more than I can tell you;  
420 **But al to deere they boghte it er they ryse.**  
 But all too dear they paid for it before they rise (from the feast).

421 **O sodeyn wo, that evere art successour**  
 O sudden woe, that ever art successor  
422 **To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse,**  
 To worldly bliss, sprinkled with bitterness,  
423 **The ende of the joye of oure worldly labour!**  
 The end of the joy of our worldly labor!  
424 **Wo occupieth the fyn of oure gladnesse.**  
 Woe takes over at the end of our gladness.  
425 **Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse:**  
 Hearken to this counsel for thy safety:  
426 **Upon thy glade day have in thy mynde**  
 Upon thy glad day have in thy mind  
427 **The unwar wo or harm that comth bihynde.**  
 The unexpected woe or harm that follows.

428 **For shortly for to tellen, at o word,**  
 For shortly to tell, at one word,  
429 **The Sowdan and the Cristen everichone**  
 The Sultan and the Christians each one  
430 **Been al tohewe and stiked at the bord,**  
 Are all hacked to pieces and stabbed at the table,  
431 **But it were oonly dame Custance allone.**  
 Except for only Lady Custance alone.  
432 **This olde Sowdanesse, cursed krone,**  
 This old Sultaness, cursed crone,   
433 **Hath with hir freendes doon this cursed dede,**  
 Has with her friends done this cursed deed,  
434 **For she hirself wolde al the contree lede.**  
 For she herself wanted to rule all the country.

435 **Ne ther was Surryen noon that was converted,**  
 Nor there was any Syrian that was converted,  
436 **That of the conseil of the Sowdan woot,**  
 Who knew of the counsel of the Sultan (followed his advice),  
437 **That he nas al tohewe er he asterted.**  
 Who was not all hacked to pieces before he could escape.  
438 **And Custance han they take anon, foot-hoot,**  
 And Custance have they taken right then, immediately,   
439 **And in a ship al steerelees, God woot,**  
 And in a ship entirely without a rudder, God knows,   
440 **They han hir set, and bidde hire lerne saille**  
 They have set her, and told her to learn to sail  
441 **Out of Surrye agaynward to Ytaille.**  
 Out of Syria back to Italy.

442 **A certein tresor that she thider ladde,**  
 A certain amount of treasure that she brought there,  
443 **And, sooth to seyn, vitaille greet plentee**  
 And, to say the truth, a great store of provisions  
444 **They han hire yeven, and clothes eek she hadde,**  
 They have given her, and clothes also she had,   
445 **And forth she sailleth in the salte see.**  
 And forth she sails in the salt see.  
446 **O my Custance, ful of benignytee,**  
 O my Custance, full of goodness,  
447 **O Emperoures yonge doghter deere,**  
 O Emperor's young daughter dear,  
448 **He that is lord of Fortune be thy steere!**  
 He that is lord of Fortune be thy rudder!

449 **She blesseth hire, and with ful pitous voys**  
 She blesses herself, and with full pitiful voice  
450 **Unto the croys of Crist thus seyde she:**  
 Unto the cross of Christ thus said she:  
451 **"O cleere, o welful auter, hooly croys,**  
 "O clear, o blessed altar, holy cross,  
452 **Reed of the Lambes blood ful of pitee,**  
 Red with the blood of the Lamb full of pity,  
453 **That wessh the world fro the olde iniquitee,**  
 That washed the world from the old iniquity,  
454 **Me fro the feend and fro his clawes kepe,**  
 Keep me from the fiend and from his claws,  
455 **That day that I shal drenchen in the depe.**  
 That day that I shall drown in the deep.

456 **"Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe,**  
 "Victorious tree, protection of true (believers),  
457 **That oonly worthy were for to bere**  
 That alone was worthy to bear  
458 **The Kyng of Hevene with his woundes newe,**  
 The King of Heaven with his fresh wounds,  
459 **The white Lamb, that hurt was with a spere,**  
 The white Lamb, that hurt was with a spear,  
460 **Flemere of feendes out of hym and here**  
 Banisher of fiends out of man and woman  
461 **On which thy lymes feithfully extenden,**  
 Over which thy limbs faithfully extend,  
462 **Me kepe, and yif me myght my lyf t' amenden."**  
 Guard me, and give me power my life to amend."

463 **Yeres and dayes fleet this creature**  
 Years and days floated this creature  
464 **Thurghout the See of Grece unto the Strayte**  
 Throughout the Sea of Greece unto the Strait  
465 **Of Marrok, as it was hire aventure.**  
 Of Gibraltar, as it was her lot.  
466 **On many a sory meel now may she bayte;**  
 On many a sorry meal now may she feed;  
467 **After hir deeth ful often may she wayte,**  
 Full often may she expect her death,  
468 **Er that the wilde wawes wol hire dryve**  
 Before the wild waves will drive her  
469 **Unto the place ther she shal arryve.**  
 Unto the place where she shall come to land.

470 **Men myghten asken why she was nat slayn**  
 Men might ask why she was not slain  
471 **Eek at the feeste? Who myghte hir body save?**  
 Also at the feast? Who could save her body?  
472 **And I answere to that demande agayn,**  
 And I answer to that question in reply,  
473 **Who saved Danyel in the horrible cave**  
 Who saved Daniel in the horrible cave  
474 **Ther every wight save he, maister and knave,**  
 Where every person except for him, master and servant,  
475 **Was with the leon frete er he asterte?**  
 Was devoured by the lion before he could escape?  
476 **No wight but God that he bar in his herte.**  
 No one but God Whom he bore in his heart.

477 **God liste to shewe his wonderful myracle**  
 God wanted to show his wonderful miracle  
478 **In hire, for we sholde seen his myghty werkis;**  
 In her, so that we should see his mighty works;  
479 **Crist, which that is to every harm triacle,**  
 Christ, Who is a medicine for every harm,  
480 **By certeine meenes ofte, as knowen clerkis,**  
 By certain means often, as know clerks,  
481 **Dooth thyng for certein ende that ful derk is**  
 Does something for a certain reason that is very obscure  
482 **To mannes wit, that for oure ignorance**  
 To man's understanding, which, because of our ignorance,  
483 **Ne konne noght knowe his prudent purveiance.**  
 Can not know His prudent foresight.

484 **Now sith she was nat at the feeste yslawe,**  
 Now since she was not slain at the feast,  
485 **Who kepte hire fro the drenchyng in the see?**  
 Who kept her from the drowning in the sea?  
486 **Who kepte Jonas in the fisshes mawe**  
 Who kept Jonas in the fish's maw  
487 **Til he was spouted up at Nynyvee?**  
 Until he was spouted up at Nineveh?  
488 **Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he**  
 Well may men know it was no one but He  
489 **That kepte peple Ebrayk from hir drenchynge,**  
 Who kept the Hebrew people from their drowning,  
490 **With drye feet thurghout the see passynge.**  
 With dry feet through the sea passing.

491 **Who bad the foure spirites of tempest**  
 Who commanded the four spirits of tempest  
492 **That power han t' anoyen lond and see,**  
 That have power to harm land and sea,  
493 **Bothe north and south, and also west and est,**  
 Both north and south, and also west and east,  
494 **"Anoyeth neither see, ne land, ne tree"?**  
 "Harm neither sea, nor land, nor tree"?  
495 **Soothly, the comandour of that was he**  
 Truly, the commander of that was He  
496 **That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte**  
 Who from the tempest always this woman guarded  
497 **As wel whan she wook as whan she slepte.**  
 As well when she woke as when she slept.

498 **Where myghte this womman mete and drynke have**  
 Where could this woman have food and drink  
499 **Thre yeer and moore? How lasteth hire vitaille?**  
 Three years and more? How lasts her store of provisions?  
500 **Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the cave,**  
 Who fed the Egyptian Mary in the cave,  
501 **Or in desert? No wight but Crist, sanz faille.**  
 Or in desert? No person but Christ, without doubt.  
502 **Fyve thousand folk it was as greet mervaille**  
 It was as great marvel five thousand folk  
503 **With loves fyve and fisshes two to feede.**  
 To feed with five loaves and two fish.  
504 **God sente his foyson at hir grete neede.**  
 God sent his plenty at their great need.

505 **She dryveth forth into oure occian**  
 She drives forth into our ocean  
506 **Thurghout oure wilde see, til atte laste**  
 Throughout our wild sea, until at the last  
507 **Under an hoold that nempnen I ne kan,**  
 Next to a castle that I can not name,  
508 **Fer in Northhumberlond the wawe hire caste,**  
 Far in Northumberland the waves cast her,  
509 **And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste**  
 And in the sand her ship stuck so fast  
510 **That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde;**  
 That thence it would not (move) for the duration of an entire tide;  
511 **The wyl of Crist was that she sholde abyde.**  
 The will of Christ was that she should remain there.

512 **The constable of the castel doun is fare**  
 The constable of the castle down has come  
513 **To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte,**  
 To see this wreck, and all the ship he searched,  
514 **And foond this wery womman ful of care;**  
 And found this weary woman full of care;  
515 **He foond also the tresor that she broghte.**  
 He found also the treasure that she brought.  
516 **In hir langage mercy she bisoghte,**  
 In her language mercy she besought,  
517 **The lyf out of hir body for to twynne,**  
 The life out of her body to take away,  
518 **Hire to delivere of wo that she was inne.**  
 Her to deliver from the woe that she was in.

519 **A maner Latyn corrupt was hir speche,**  
 A sort of corrupt Latin was her speech,  
520 **But algates therby was she understonde.**  
 But nonetheless by means of this she was understood.  
521 **The constable, whan hym lyst no longer seche,**  
 The constable, when he desired no longer to search,  
522 **This woful womman broghte he to the londe.**  
 This woeful woman he brought to the land.  
523 **She kneleth doun and thanketh Goddes sonde;**  
 She kneels down and gives thanks for what God has sent;  
524 **But what she was she wolde no man seye,**  
 But who she was she would tell no man,  
525 **For foul ne fair, thogh that she sholde deye.**  
 For anything, though she should die.

526 **She seyde she was so mazed in the see**  
 She said she was so bewildered in the sea  
527 **That she forgat hir mynde, by hir trouthe.**  
 That she lost her memory, by her pledged word (she swore).  
528 **The constable hath of hire so greet pitee,**  
 The constable has for her such great pity,  
529 **And eek his wyf, that they wepen for routhe.**  
 And also his wife, that they weep for pity.  
530 **She was so diligent, withouten slouthe,**  
 She was so diligent, without laziness,  
531 **To serve and plesen everich in that place**  
 To serve and please every one in that place  
532 **That alle hir loven that looken in hir face.**  
 That all who look in her face love her.

533 **This constable and dame Hermengyld, his wyf,**  
 This constable and Lady Hermengild, his wife,  
534 **Were payens, and that contree everywhere;**  
 Were pagans, and (so was) that country everywhere;  
535 **But Hermengyld loved hire right as hir lyf,**  
 But Hermengild loved her as much as her life,  
536 **And Custance hath so longe sojourned there,**  
 And Custance has so long lived there,  
537 **In orisons, with many a bitter teere,**  
 In prayers, with many a bitter tear,  
538 **Til Jhesu hath converted thurgh his grace**  
 Until Jesus has converted through his grace  
539 **Dame Hermengyld, constablesse of that place.**  
 Dame Hermengild, wife of the constable of that place.

540 **In al that lond no Cristen dorste route;**  
 In all that land no Christians dared assemble;  
541 **Alle Cristen folk been fled fro that contree**  
 All Christian folk have fled from that country  
542 **Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute**  
 Because of pagans, that conquered all about  
543 **The plages of the north, by land and see.**  
 The coastal regions of the north, by land and sea.  
544 **To Walys fledde the Cristyanytee**  
 To Wales fled the Christian people  
545 **Of olde Britons dwellynge in this ile;**  
 Of old Britons dwelling in this isle;  
546 **Ther was hir refut for the meene while.**  
 There was their refuge at that time.

547 **But yet nere Cristene Britons so exiled**  
 But yet Christian Britons were not so (completely) exiled  
548 **That ther nere somme that in hir privetee**  
 That there were not some that in their secrecy  
549 **Honoured Crist and hethen folk bigiled,**  
 Honored Christ and deceived the heathen folk,  
550 **And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three.**  
 And near the castle there dwelt three such (Christians).  
551 **That oon of hem was blynd and myghte nat see,**  
 The one of them was blind and could not see,  
552 **But it were with thilke eyen of his mynde**  
 Unless it were with those eyes of his mind  
553 **With whiche men seen, after that they ben blynde.**  
 With which men see, after they have become blind.

554 **Bright was the sonne as in that someres day,**  
 Bright was the sun in that summer's day,  
555 **For which the constable and his wyf also**  
 For which the constable and his wife also  
556 **And Custance han ytake the righte way**  
 And Custance have taken the direct route  
557 **Toward the see a furlong wey or two,**  
 Toward the sea an eighth of a mile or two,  
558 **To pleyen and to romen to and fro,**  
 To amuse themselves and to roam to and fro,  
559 **And in hir walk this blynde man they mette,**  
 And in their walk this blind man they met,  
560 **Croked and oold, with eyen faste yshette.**  
 Bent over and old, with eyes fast shut.

561 **"In name of Crist," cride this blinde Britoun,**  
 "In the name of Christ," cried this blind Briton,  
562 **"Dame Hermengyld, yif me my sighte agayn!"**  
 "Dame Hermengild, give me my sight again!"  
563 **This lady weex affrayed of the soun,**  
 This lady grew afraid of these words,  
564 **Lest that hir housbonde, shortly for to sayn,**  
 Lest that her husband, shortly to say,  
565 **Wolde hire for Jhesu Cristes love han slayn,**  
 Would have slain her for Jesus Christ's love,  
566 **Til Custance made hire boold, and bad hire wirche**  
 Until Custance made her bold, and told her to work  
567 **The wyl of Crist, as doghter of his chirche.**  
 The will of Christ, as daughter of his church.

568 **The constable weex abasshed of that sight,**  
 The constable grew troubled at that sight,  
569 **And seyde, "What amounteth al this fare?"**  
 And said, "What does all this business mean?"  
570 **Custance answerde, "Sire, it is Cristes myght,**  
 Custance answered, "Sir, it is Christ's might,  
571 **That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare."**  
 That helps folk out of the fiend's snare."  
572 **And so ferforth she gan oure lay declare**  
 And so completely she did our religion explain  
573 **That she the constable, er that it was eve**  
 That she the constable, before it was evening,  
574 **Converteth, and on Crist made hym bileve.**  
 Converts, and made him believe in Christ.

575 **This constable was nothyng lord of this place**  
 This constable was in no way lord of this place  
576 **Of which I speke, ther he Custance fond,**  
 Of which I speak, where he Custance found,  
577 **But kepte it strongly many a wyntres space**  
 But kept it securely many a winter's space of time  
578 **Under Alla, kyng of al Northhumbrelond,**  
 Under Alla, king of all Northumberland,  
579 **That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond**  
 Who was full wise, and worthy of his hand (a mighty warrior)  
580 **Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel heere;**  
 Against the Scots, as men may well hear;  
581 **But turne I wole agayn to my mateere.**  
 But I will turn again to my subject.

582 **Sathan, that evere us waiteth to bigile,**  
 Satan, that ever waits (for a chance) to trick us,  
583 **Saugh of Custance al hire perfeccioun,**  
 Saw of Custance all her perfection,  
584 **And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while,**  
 And considered right away how he might repay her,   
585 **And made a yong knyght that dwelte in that toun**  
 And made a young knight that dwelt in that town  
586 **Love hire so hoote, of foul affeccioun,**  
 Love her so passionately, by foul desire,  
587 **That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille,**  
 That truly he thought he should die,  
588 **But he of hire myghte ones have his wille.**  
 Unless he might once have his will of her.

589 **He woweth hire, but it availleth noght;**  
 He woos her, but it avails not;  
590 **She wolde do no synne, by no weye.**  
 She would do no sin, in no way.  
591 **And for despit he compassed in his thoght**  
 And for malice he plotted in his mind  
592 **To maken hire on shameful deeth to deye.**  
 To make her in a shameful death to die.  
593 **He wayteth whan the constable was aweye,**  
 He waits until the constable was away,  
594 **And pryvely upon a nyght he crepte**  
 And secretly one night he crept  
595 **In Hermengyldes chambre, whil she slepte.**  
 In Hermengild's bedroom, while she slept.

596 **Wery, forwaked in hire orisouns,**  
 Weary, exhausted because of her prayers,  
597 **Slepeth Custance, and Hermengyld also.**  
 Sleeps Custance, and Hermengild also.  
598 **This knyght, thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns,**  
 This knight, through Satan's temptations,  
599 **Al softely is to the bed ygo,**  
 Very quietly has gone to the bed,  
600 **And kitte the throte of Hermengyld atwo,**  
 And cut the throat of Hermengild in two,  
601 **And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance,**  
 And laid the bloody knife by Lady Custance,  
602 **And wente his wey, ther God yeve hym meschance!**  
 And went his way, may God give him misfortune!

603 **Soone after cometh this constable hoom agayn,**  
 Soon after, this constable comes home again,  
604 **And eek Alla, that kyng was of that lond,**  
 And also Alla, who was king of that land,  
605 **And saugh his wyf despitously yslayn,**  
 And saw his wife mercilessly slain,  
606 **For which ful ofte he weep and wroong his hond,**  
 For which full often he wept and wrung his hands,  
607 **And in the bed the blody knyf he fond**  
 And in the bed the bloody knife he found  
608 **By Dame Custance. Allas, what myghte she seye?**  
 By Lady Custance. Alas, what could she say?  
609 **For verray wo hir wit was al aweye.**  
 For sheer woe her wit was all away.

610 **To kyng Alla was toold al this meschance,**  
 To king Alla was told all this misfortune,  
611 **And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wise**  
 And also the time, and where, and in what manner  
612 **That in a ship was founden this Custance,**  
 That in a ship was found this Custance,  
613 **As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse.**  
 As before this you have heard tell.  
614 **The kynges herte of pitee gan agryse,**  
 The king's heart for pity trembled,  
615 **Whan he saugh so benigne a creature**  
 When he saw so good a creature  
616 **Falle in disese and in mysaventure.**  
 Fallen in distress and in misfortune.

617 **For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght,**  
 For as the lamb toward its death is brought,  
618 **So stant this innocent bifore the kyng.**  
 So stands this innocent before the king.  
619 **This false knyght, that hath this tresoun wroght,**  
 This false knight, who has this treason wrought,  
620 **Berth hire on hond that she hath doon thys thyng.**  
 Falsely testifies that she has done this thing.  
621 **But nathelees, ther was greet moornyng**  
 But nonetheless, there was great mourning  
622 **Among the peple, and seyn they kan nat gesse**  
 Among the people, and they say they can not imagine  
623 **That she had doon so greet a wikkednesse,**  
 That she had done so great a wickedness,

624 **For they han seyn hire evere so vertuous,**  
 For they have seen her always so virtuous,  
625 **And lovynge Hermengyld right as hir lyf.**  
 And loving Hermengild as much as her life.  
626 **Of this baar witnesse everich in that hous,**  
 Of this bore witness every one in that house,  
627 **Save he that Hermengyld slow with his knyf.**  
 Except for him who slew Hermengild with his knife.  
628 **This gentil kyng hath caught a greet motyf**  
 This gentle king was deeply moved  
629 **Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere**  
 By this witness, and thought he would enquire  
630 **Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere.**  
 Deeper in this, to learn the truth.

631 **Allas! Custance, thou hast no champioun,**  
 Alas! Custance, thou hast no champion,  
632 **Ne fighte kanstow noght, so weylaway!**  
 And fight can thou not, alas!  
633 **But he that starf for our redempcioun,**  
 But He that died for our redemption,  
634 **And boond Sathan (and yet lith ther he lay),**  
 And bound Satan (and he yet lies where he lay),  
635 **So be thy stronge champion this day!**  
 So be thy strong champion this day!  
636 **For, but if Crist open myracle kithe,**  
 For, unless Christ a clear miracle reveals,  
637 **Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe.**  
 Without guilt thou shalt be slain immediately.

638 **She sette hire doun on knees, and thus she sayde:**  
 She set herself down on knees, and thus she said:  
639 **"Immortal God, that savedest Susanne**  
 "Immortal God, that savedest Susannah  
640 **Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde,**  
 From false blame, and thou, merciful maid,  
641 **Marie I meene, doghter to Seint Anne,**  
 Mary I mean, daughter to Saint Anne,  
642 **Bifore whos child angeles synge Osanne,**  
 Before whose child angels sing Hosanna,  
643 **If I be giltlees of this felonye,**  
 If I be guiltless of this felony,  
644 **My socour be, for ellis shal I dye!"**  
 My succor be, for otherwise I shall dye!"

645 **Have ye nat seyn somtyme a pale face,**  
 Have you not seen sometime a pale face,  
646 **Among a prees, of hym that hath be lad**  
 Among a crowd, of him that has been led  
647 **Toward his deeth, wher as hym gat no grace,**  
 Toward his death, where he got no reprieve,  
648 **And swich a colour in his face hath had**  
 And such a color in his face has had  
649 **Men myghte knowe his face that was bistad**  
 Men might know his face that was in trouble  
650 **Amonges alle the faces in that route?**  
 Amongst all the faces in that route?  
651 **So stant Custance, and looketh hire aboute.**  
 So stands Custance, and looks around her.

652 **O queenes, lyvynge in prosperitee,**  
 O queens, living in prosperity,  
653 **Duchesses, and ye ladyes everichone,**  
 Duchesses, and you ladies each one,  
654 **Haveth som routhe on hire adversitee!**  
 Have some pity on her adversity!  
655 **An Emperoures doghter stant allone;**  
 An Emperor's daughter stands alone;  
656 **She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone.**  
 She has no person to whom to lament (plead for help).  
657 **O blood roial, that stondest in this drede,**  
 O blood royal, that stands in this dreadful state,  
658 **Fer been thy freendes at thy grete nede!**  
 Far away are thy friends at thy great need!

659 **This Alla kyng hath swich compassioun,**  
 This king Alla has such compassion,  
660 **As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee,**  
 Since a noble heart is filled with pity,  
661 **That from his eyen ran the water doun.**  
 That from his eyes ran the water down.  
662 **"Now hastily do fecche a book," quod he,**  
 "Now hastily have a book fetched," said he,  
663 **"And if this knyght wol sweren how that she**  
 "And if this knight will swear how that she  
664 **This womman slow, yet wol we us avyse**  
 Slew this woman, then will we think carefully about  
665 **Whom that we wole that shal been oure justise."**  
 Whom we desire to be our judge (i.e., bring her to trial)."

666 **A Britoun book, written with Evaungiles,**  
 A British book, in which were written the gospels,  
667 **Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon**  
 Was fetched, and on this book he swore at once   
668 **She gilty was, and in the meene whiles**  
 That she was guilty, and in the same moment  
669 **An hand hym smoot upon the nekke-boon,**  
 A hand struck him upon the neck-boon,  
670 **That doun he fil atones as a stoon,**  
 That down he fell at once like a stone,  
671 **And bothe his eyen broste out of his face**  
 And both his eyes burst out of his face  
672 **In sighte of every body in that place.**  
 In sight of every body in that place.

673 **A voys was herd in general audience,**  
 A voice was heard by everyone there,  
674 **And seyde, "Thou hast desclaundred, giltelees,**  
 And it said, "Thou hast slandered, guiltless,  
675 **The doghter of hooly chirche in heigh presence;**  
 The daughter of holy church in the presence of the High One (God);  
676 **Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees!"**  
 Thus hast thou done, and yet I hold my peace!"  
677 **Of this mervaille agast was al the prees;**  
 Of this marvel terrified was all the crowd of people;  
678 **As mazed folk they stoden everichone,**  
 Like bewildered folk they stood each one,  
679 **For drede of wreche, save Custance allone.**  
 For fear of vengeance, except for Custance alone.

680 **Greet was the drede and eek the repentance**  
 Great was the fear and also the repentance  
681 **Of hem that hadden wrong suspecioun**  
 Of them that had a wrong suspicion  
682 **Upon this sely innocent, Custance;**  
 Of this blessed innocent, Custance;  
683 **And for this miracle, in conclusioun,**  
 And because of this miracle, in conclusion,  
684 **And by Custances mediacioun,**  
 And by Custance's mediation,  
685 **The kyng -- and many another in that place --**  
 The king -- and many another in that place --  
686 **Converted was, thanked be Cristes grace!**  
 Converted was, thanked be Christ's grace!

687 **This false knyght was slayn for his untrouthe**  
 This false knight was slain for his untruth  
688 **By juggement of Alla hastifly;**  
 By judgment of Alla immediately;  
689 **And yet Custance hadde of his deeth greet routhe.**  
 And yet Custance had for his death great pity.  
690 **And after this Jhesus, of his mercy,**  
 And after this Jesus, of His mercy,  
691 **Made Alla wedden ful solempnely**  
 Made Alla wed full solemnly  
692 **This hooly mayden, that is so bright and sheene;**  
 This holy maiden, that is so bright and beautiful;  
693 **And thus hath Crist ymaad Custance a queene.**  
 And thus has Christ made Custance a queen.

694 **But who was woful, if I shal nat lye,**  
 But who was woeful, if I shall not lie,  
695 **Of this weddyng but Donegild, and namo,**  
 Of this wedding but Donegild, and no others,  
696 **The kynges mooder, ful of tirannye?**  
 The king's mother, full of tyranny?  
697 **Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast atwo.**  
 She thought her cursed heart broke in two.  
698 **She wolde noght hir sone had do so;**  
 She wished that her son had not done so;  
699 **Hir thoughte a despit that he sholde take**  
 She thought it an insult that he should take  
700 **So strange a creature unto his make.**  
 So foreign a creature as his mate.

701 **Me list nat of the chaf, ne of the stree,**  
 I do not want of the chaff, nor of the straw,  
702 **Maken so long a tale as of the corn.**  
 To make so long a tale as of the grain (the essential part).  
703 **What sholde I tellen of the roialtee**  
 Why should I tell of the royalty  
704 **At mariage, or which cours goth biforn;**  
 At the marriage, or which course goes before;  
705 **Who bloweth in a trumpe or in an horn?**  
 Who blows in a trumpet or in a horn?  
706 **The fruyt of every tale is for to seye:**  
 The fruit (the essential part) of every tale is to be told:  
707 **They ete, and drynke, and daunce, and synge, and pleye.**  
 They eat, and drink, and dance, and sing, and play.

708 **They goon to bedde, as it was skile and right;**  
 They go to bed, as it was reasonable and right;  
709 **For thogh that wyves be ful hooly thynges,**  
 For though wives are full holy things,  
710 **They moste take in pacience at nyght**  
 They must take in patience at night  
711 **Swiche manere necessaries as been plesynges**  
 Such sorts of necessary acts as are pleasing  
712 **To folk that han ywedded hem with rynges,**  
 To folk that have wedded them with rings,  
713 **And leye a lite hir hoolynesse aside,**  
 And (they must) lay their holiness aside a little while,  
714 **As for the tyme -- it may no bet bitide.**  
 As for the time being -- it can be no better.

715 **On hire he gat a knave child anon,**  
 On her he begot a male child quickly,  
716 **And to a bisshop, and his constable eke,**  
 And to a bishop, and his constable also,  
717 **He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is gon**  
 He gave his wife to protect, when he is gone  
718 **To Scotlond-ward, his foomen for to seke.**  
 Toward Scotland, his foemen to seek.  
719 **Now faire Custance, that is so humble and meke,**  
 Now fair Custance, who is so humble and meek,  
720 **So longe is goon with childe, til that stille**  
 So long is gone with child, until that quietly  
721 **She halt hire chambre, abidyng Cristes wille.**  
 She keeps to her chamber, abiding Christ's will.

722 **The tyme is come a knave child she beer;**  
 The time is come a male child she bore;  
723 **Mauricius at the fontstoon they hym calle.**  
 Mauricius at the baptismal font they call him.  
724 **This constable dooth forth come a messageer,**  
 This constable orders a messenger to come forth,  
725 **And wroot unto his kyng, that cleped was Alle,**  
 And wrote unto his king, who was called Alla,  
726 **How that this blisful tidyng is bifalle,**  
 How this blissful event has occurred,  
727 **And othere tidynges spedeful for to seye.**  
 And other tidings useful to be said.  
728 **He taketh the lettre, and forth he gooth his weye.**  
 He takes the letter, and forth he goes his way.

729 **This messager, to doon his avantage,**  
 This messenger, to do (something for) his profit,  
730 **Unto the kynges mooder rideth swithe,**  
 Unto the king's mother rides quickly,  
731 **And salueth hire ful faire in his langage:**  
 And salutes her full fair in his language:  
732 **"Madame," quod he, "ye may be glad and blithe,**  
 "Madame," said he, "you may be glad and happy,  
733 **And thanketh God an hundred thousand sithe!**  
 And thank God a hundred thousand times!  
734 **My lady queene hath child, withouten doute,**  
 My lady queen has a child, without doubt,  
735 **To joye and blisse to al this regne aboute.**  
 As a joy and bliss to all this reign about.

736 **"Lo, heere the lettres seled of this thyng,**  
 "Lo, here (are) the letters sealed of this business,  
737 **That I moot bere with al the haste I may.**  
 That I must bear with all the haste I can.  
738 **If ye wol aught unto youre sone the kyng,**  
 If you will (send) anything unto your son the king,  
739 **I am youre servant, bothe nyght and day."**  
 I am at your service, both night and day."  
740 **Donegild answerde, "As now at this tyme, nay;**  
 Donegild answered, "Right now, at this time, no;  
741 **But heere al nyght I wol thou take thy reste.**  
 But here all night I want that thou take thy rest.  
742 **To-morwe wol I seye thee what me leste."**  
 Tomorrow will I say to thee what I wish."

743 **This messager drank sadly ale and wyn,**  
 This messenger drank heavily ale and wine,  
744 **And stolen were his lettres pryvely**  
 And stolen were his letters secretly  
745 **Out of his box, whil he sleep as a swyn;**  
 Out of his box, while he slept like a pig;  
746 **And countrefeted was ful subtilly**  
 And counterfeited was full subtly  
747 **Another lettre, wroght ful synfully,**  
 Another letter, made full sinfully,  
748 **Unto the kyng direct of this mateere**  
 Directed unto the king concerning this matter  
749 **Fro his constable, as ye shal after heere.**  
 From his constable, as you shall after hear.

750 **The lettre spak the queene delivered was**  
 The letter said the queen delivered was  
751 **Of so horrible a feendly creature**  
 Of so horrible a fiendish creature  
752 **That in the castel noon so hardy was**  
 That in the castle no one was so bold  
753 **That any while dorste ther endure.**  
 That for any length of time dared to remain near it.  
754 **The mooder was an elf, by aventure**  
 The mother was an evil spirit, by chance  
755 **Ycomen, by charmes or by sorcerie,**  
 Come, by charms or by sorcery,  
756 **And every wight hateth hir compaignye.**  
 And every person hates her company.

757 **Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had sayn,**  
 Woe was this king when he this letter had seen,  
758 **But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore,**  
 But to no person he told his painful sorrows,  
759 **But of his owene hand he wroot agayn,**  
 But by his own hand he wrote in answer,  
760 **"Welcome the sonde of Crist for everemoore**  
 "Welcome be the dispensation of Christ for evermore  
761 **To me that am now lerned in his loore!**  
 To me that am now learned in his teaching!  
762 **Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce;**  
 Lord, welcome be thy desire and thy pleasure;  
763 **My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce.**  
 I put all my will in thy governance.

764 **"Kepeth this child, al be it foul or feir,**  
 "Guard this child, whether it be foul or fair,  
765 **And eek my wyf, unto myn hoom-comynge.**  
 And also my wife, until my home-coming.  
766 **Crist, whan hym list, may sende me an heir**  
 Christ, when He pleases, may send me an heir  
767 **Moore agreable than this to my likynge."**  
 Moore agreeable than this to my desire."  
768 **This lettre he seleth, pryvely wepynge,**  
 This letter he seals, secretly weeping,  
769 **Which to the messager was take soone,**  
 Which to the messenger was given soon,  
770 **And forth he gooth; ther is na moore to doone.**  
 And forth he goes; there is nothing more to do.

771 **O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse,**  
 O messenger, filled with drunkenness,  
772 **Strong is thy breeth, thy lymes faltren ay,**  
 Strong is thy breath, thy limbs ever tremble,  
773 **And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse.**  
 And thou betray all secrets.  
774 **Thy mynde is lorn, thou janglest as a jay,**  
 Thy mind is lost, thou chatter like a jay,  
775 **Thy face is turned in a newe array.**  
 Thy face is completely changed.   
776 **Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route,**  
 Where drunkenness reigns in any group,  
777 **Ther is no conseil hyd, withouten doute.**  
 There is no secret hidden, without doubt.

778 **O Donegild, I ne have noon Englissh digne**  
 O Donegild, I do not have any English suitable (to describe)  
779 **Unto thy malice and thy tirannye!**  
 Unto thy malice and thy tyranny!  
780 **And therfore to the feend I thee resigne;**  
 And therefore to the fiend I thee consign;  
781 **Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie!**  
 Let him write about thy treachery!  
782 **Fy, mannysh, fy! -- o nay, by God, I lye --**  
 Fie, like a man, fie! -- o nay, by God, I lie --  
783 **Fy, feendlych spirit, for I dar wel telle,**  
 Fie, like a fiendish spirit, for I dare well tell,  
784 **Thogh thou heere walke, thy spirit is in helle!**  
 Though thou here walk, thy spirit is in hell!

785 **This messager comth fro the kyng agayn,**  
 This messenger comes from the king again,  
786 **And at the kynges moodres court he lighte,**  
 And at the king's mother's court he dismounted,  
787 **And she was of this messager ful fayn,**  
 And she was very happy because of this messenger,  
788 **And plesed hym in al that ever she myghte.**  
 And (she) pleased him in all that ever she could.  
789 **He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte;**  
 He drank, and well stuffed (drink) under his belt;  
790 **He slepeth, and he fnorteth in his gyse**  
 He sleeps, and he snorts in his way  
791 **Al nyght, til the sonne gan aryse.**  
 All night, until the sun did arise.

792 **Eft were his lettres stolen everychon,**  
 Again were his letters stolen every one,  
793 **And countrefeted lettres in this wyse:**  
 And counterfeited letters in this manner:  
794 **"The king comandeth his constable anon,**  
 "The king commands his constable at once,  
795 **Up peyne of hangyng, and on heigh juyse,**  
 Upon pain of hanging, and of strict judicial punishment,  
796 **That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse**  
 That he should not allow in any manner  
797 **Custance in-with his reawme for t' abyde**  
 Custance within his realm to remain  
798 **Thre dayes and o quarter of a tyde;**  
 Three days and a quarter of duration of a tide (three hours);

799 **"But in the same ship as he hire fond,**  
 "But in the same ship as he her found,  
800 **Hire, and hir yonge sone, and al hir geere,**  
 Her, and her young son, and all her gear,  
801 **He sholde putte, and croude hire fro the lond,**  
 He should put, and push her from the land,  
802 **And charge hire that she never eft coome theere."**  
 And command her that she never again come here."  
803 **O my Custance, wel may thy goost have feere,**  
 O my Custance, well may thy spirit have fear,  
804 **And, slepynge, in thy dreem been in penance,**  
 And, sleeping, in thy dream to be in suffering,  
805 **Whan Donegild cast al this ordinance.**  
 When Donegild devised all this plan.

806 **This messager on morwe, whan he wook,**  
 This messenger in the morning, when he awoke,  
807 **Unto the castel halt the nexte way,**  
 Unto the castle goes the nearest way,  
808 **And to the constable he the lettre took;**  
 And to the constable he gave the letter;  
809 **And whan that he this pitous lettre say,**  
 And when that he this pitiful letter saw,  
810 **Ful ofte he seyde, "Allas and weylaway!"**  
 Full often he said, "Alas and woe!"  
811 **"Lord Crist," quod he, "how may this world endure,**  
 "Lord Christ," said he, "how can this world endure,  
812 **So ful of synne is many a creature?**  
 So full of sin is so many a creature?

813 **"O myghty God, if that it be thy wille,**  
 "O mighty God, if it be thy will,   
814 **Sith thou art rightful juge, how may it be**  
 Since thou art rightful judge, how may it be  
815 **That thou wolt suffren innocentz to spille,**  
 That thou wilt allow innocents to die,  
816 **And wikked folk regne in prosperitee?**  
 And wicked folk to reign in prosperity?  
817 **O goode Custance, allas, so wo is me**  
 O good Custance, alas, so woeful am I  
818 **That I moot be thy tormentour, or deye**  
 That I must be thy tormentor, or die  
819 **On shames deeth; ther is noon oother weye."**  
 In a shameful death; there is no other way."

820 **Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place**  
 Weep both young and old in all that place  
821 **Whan that the kyng this cursed lettre sente,**  
 When the king this cursed letter sent,  
822 **And Custance, with a deedly pale face,**  
 And Custance, with a deadly pale face,  
823 **The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente.**  
 The fourth day toward her ship she went.  
824 **But nathelees she taketh in good entente**  
 But nonetheless she takes in good faith  
825 **The wyl of Crist, and knelynge on the stronde,**  
 The will of Christ, and kneeling on the strand,  
826 **She seyde, "Lord, ay welcome be thy sonde!**  
 She said, "Lord, always welcome be thy dispensation!

827 **"He that me kepte fro the false blame**  
 "He that me kept from the false blame  
828 **While I was on the lond amonges yow,**  
 While I was on the land amongst you,  
829 **He kan me kepe from harm and eek fro shame**  
 He can keep me from harm and also from shame  
830 **In salte see, althogh I se noght how.**  
 In the salt sea, although I see not how.  
831 **As strong as evere he was, he is yet now.**  
 As strong as ever He was, He is yet now.  
832 **In hym triste I, and in his mooder deere,**  
 In Him trust I, and in his mother dear,  
833 **That is to me my seyl and eek my steere."**  
 Who is to me my sail and also my rudder."

834 **Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm,**  
 Her little child lay weeping in her arm,  
835 **And knelynge, pitously to hym she seyde,**  
 And kneeling, pitifully to him she said,  
836 **"Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee noon harm."**  
 "Peace, little son, I will do thee no harm."  
837 **With that hir coverchief of hir heed she breyde,**  
 With that her kerchief off her head she pulled,  
838 **And over his litel eyen she it leyde,**  
 And over his little eyes she it laid,  
839 **And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste,**  
 And in her arm she lulls it fast asleep,  
840 **And into hevene hire eyen up she caste.**  
 And into heaven her eyes up she caste.

841 **"Mooder," quod she, "and mayde bright, Marie,**  
 "Mother," said she, "and maiden bright, Mary,  
842 **Sooth is that thurgh wommanes eggement**  
 True it is that through woman's instigation  
843 **Mankynde was lorn, and damned ay to dye,**  
 Mankind was lost, and damned forever to die,  
844 **For which thy child was on a croys yrent.**  
 For which thy child was on a cross stretched.  
845 **Thy blisful eyen sawe al his torment;**  
 Thy blissful eyes saw all his torment;  
846 **Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene**  
 Then is there no comparison between  
847 **Thy wo and any wo man may sustene.**  
 Thy woe and any woe man may sustain.

848 **"Thow sawe thy child yslayn bifore thyne yen,**  
 "Thou saw thy child slain before thy eyes,  
849 **And yet now lyveth my litel child, parfay!**  
 And yet now lives my little child, in faith!  
850 **Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryen,**  
 Now, lady bright, to whom all woeful (people) cry,  
851 **Thow glorie of wommanhede, thow faire may,**  
 Thou glory of womanhood, thou fair maiden,  
852 **Thow haven of refut, brighte sterre of day,**  
 Thou haven of refuge, bright star of day,  
853 **Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse**  
 Have pity on my child, (thou who) of thy nobility  
854 **Rewest on every reweful in distresse.**  
 Takes pity on every wretched person in distress.

855 **"O litel child, allas! What is thy gilt,**  
 "O little child, alas! What is thy guilt,  
856 **That nevere wroghtest synne as yet, pardee?**  
 That never did sin as yet, in faith?  
857 **Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt?**  
 Why will thy hard father have thee killed?  
858 **O mercy, deere constable," quod she,**  
 O mercy, dear constable," said she,  
859 **"As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee;**  
 "Let my little child remain here with thee;  
860 **And if thou darst nat saven hym, for blame,**  
 And if thou dare not save him, for fear of punishment,  
861 **So kys hym ones in his fadres name!"**  
 Kiss him once in his father's name!"

862 **Therwith she looked bakward to the londe,**  
 Therewith she looked backward to the land,  
863 **And seyde, "Farewel, housbonde routhelees!"**  
 And said, "Farewell, ruthless husband!"  
864 **And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde**  
 And up she rises, and walks down the strand  
865 **Toward the ship -- hir folweth al the prees --**  
 Toward the ship -- all the crowd follows her --  
866 **And evere she preyeth hire child to holde his pees;**  
 And ever she prays her child to hold his peace;  
867 **And taketh hir leve, and with an hooly entente**  
 And takes her leave, and with a holy attitude  
868 **She blisseth hire, and into ship she wente.**  
 She blesses herself, and into the ship she went.

869 **Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede,**  
 Supplied with food was the ship, it is no doubt,  
870 **Habundantly for hire ful longe space,**  
 Abundantly for her very long time (of sailing),  
871 **And othere necessaries that sholde nede**  
 And other necessities that should be needed  
872 **She hadde ynogh -- heryed be Goddes grace!**  
 She had enough -- praised be God's grace!  
873 **For wynd and weder almyghty God purchace,**  
 For wind and weather almighty God provide,  
874 **And brynge hire hoom! I kan no bettre seye,**  
 And bring her home! I can no better say,  
875 **But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye.**  
 But in the sea she drives forth on her way.

*Explicit secunda pars.*  
The second part ends.

*Sequitur pars tercia.*  
The third part follows

876 **Alla the kyng comth hoom soone after this**  
 Alla the king comes home soon after this  
877 **Unto his castel, of which I tolde,**  
 Unto his castle, of the which I told,  
878 **And asketh where his wyf and his child is.**  
 And asks where his wife and his child is.  
879 **The constable gan aboute his herte colde,**  
 The constable began about his heart to grow cold,  
880 **And pleynly al the manere he hym tolde**  
 And plainly the whole affair he him told  
881 **As ye han herd -- I kan telle it no bettre --**  
 As you have heard -- I can tell it no better --  
882 **And sheweth the kyng his seel and eek his lettre,**  
 And shows the king his seal and also his letter,

883 **And seyde, "Lord, as ye comanded me**  
 And said, "Lord, as you commanded me  
884 **Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein."**  
 Upon pain of death, so have I done, certainly."  
885 **This messager tormented was til he**  
 This messenger tortured was until he  
886 **Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and pleyn,**  
 Had to reveal and tell, bluntly and plainly,  
887 **Fro nyght to nyght, in what place he had leyn;**  
 From night to night, in what place he had lain;  
888 **And thus, by wit and sotil enquerynge,**  
 And thus, by wit and subtle questioning,  
889 **Ymagined was by whom this harm gan sprynge.**  
 Deduced was by whom this harm did spring.

890 **The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot,**  
 The hand was known that the letter wrote,  
891 **And al the venym of this cursed dede,**  
 And all the venom of this cursed deed,  
892 **But in what wise, certeinly, I noot.**  
 But in what manner (this was done), certainly, I know not.  
893 **Th' effect is this: that Alla, out of drede,**  
 The effect is this: that Alla, without doubt,  
894 **His mooder slow -- that may men pleynly rede --**  
 His mother slew -- that may men plainly read --  
895 **For that she traitour was to hire ligeance.**  
 Because she traitor was to her allegiance.  
896 **Thus endeth olde Donegild, with meschance!**  
 Thus ends old Donegild, with bad luck to her!

897 **The sorwe that this Alla nyght and day**  
 The sorrow that this Alla night and day  
898 **Maketh for his wyf, and for his child also,**  
 Makes for his wife, and for his child also,  
899 **Ther is no tonge that it telle may.**  
 There is no tongue that it can tell.  
900 **But now wol I unto Custance go,**  
 But now will I go unto Custance,  
901 **That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo,**  
 Who floats in the sea, in pain and woe,  
902 **Fyve yeer and moore, as liked Cristes sonde,**  
 Five years and more, as it pleased Christ's dispensation,  
903 **Er that hir ship approched unto londe.**  
 Before her ship approached unto land.

904 **Under an hethen castel, atte laste,**  
 Alongside a heathen castle, at the last,  
905 **Of which the name in my text noght I fynde,**  
 Of which the name in my text I do not find,  
906 **Custance, and eek hir child, the see up caste.**  
 Custance, and also her child, the sea up cast.   
907 **Almyghty God, that saveth al mankynde,**  
 Almighty God, that saves all mankind,  
908 **Have on Custance and on hir child som mynde,**  
 Have for Custance and for her child some thought,  
909 **That fallen is in hethen hand eft soone,**  
 Who fallen is in heathen hand once more,  
910 **In point to spille, as I shal telle yow soone.**  
 On the point of dying, as I shall tell you soon.

911 **Doun fro the castel comth ther many a wight**  
 Down from the castle comes there many a person  
912 **To gauren on this ship and on Custance.**  
 To stare on this ship and on Custance.  
913 **But shortly, from the castel, on a nyght,**  
 But shortly, from the castle, on a night,  
914 **The lordes styward -- God yeve hym meschance! --**  
 The lord's steward -- God give him bad luck! --  
915 **A theef, that hadde reneyed oure creance,**  
 A thief, that had renounced our religion,  
916 **Cam into ship allone, and seyde he sholde**  
 Came into ship alone, and said he should  
917 **Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde.**  
 Her lover be, whether she would or would not.

918 **Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon;**  
 Woebegone then was this wretched woman;  
919 **Hir child cride, and she cride pitously.**  
 Her child cried, and she cried pitifully.  
920 **But blisful Marie heelp hire right anon;**  
 But blissful Mary helped her right then;  
921 **For with hir struglyng wel and myghtily**  
 For with her struggling well and mightily  
922 **The theef fil over bord al sodeynly,**  
 The thief fell over board all suddenly,  
923 **And in the see he dreynte for vengeance;**  
 And in the sea he drowned as a punishment;  
924 **And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance.**  
 And thus has Christ kept Custance undefiled.

925 **O foule lust of luxurie, lo, thyn ende!**  
 O foul lust of lechery, lo, thy end!  
926 **Nat oonly that thou feyntest mannes mynde,**  
 Not only that thou make man's mind grow faint,  
927 **But verraily thou wolt his body shende.**  
 But truly thou wilt his body destroy.  
928 **Th' ende of thy werk, or of thy lustes blynde,**  
 The end of thy work, or of thy blind desires,  
929 **Is compleynyng. Hou many oon may men fynde**  
 Is lamentation. How many a one may men find  
930 **That noght for werk somtyme, but for th' entente**  
 That not for the deed sometimes, but for the intention  
931 **To doon this synne, been outher slayn or shente!**  
 To do this sin, are either slain or destroyed!

932 **How may this wayke womman han this strengthe**  
 How may this weak woman have this strength  
933 **Hire to defende agayn this renegat?**  
 Herself to defend against this renegade?  
934 **O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe,**  
 O Goliath, immeasurable of height,  
935 **Hou myghte David make thee so maat,**  
 How could David make thee so defeated,  
936 **So yong and of armure so desolaat?**  
 So young and so lacking in arms and armor?  
937 **Hou dorste he looke upon thy dredful face?**  
 How dared he look upon thy dreadful face?  
938 **Wel may men seen, it nas but Goddes grace.**  
 Well may men see, it was nothing but God's grace.

939 **Who yaf Judith corage or hardynesse**  
 Who gave Judith courage or hardiness  
940 **To sleen hym Olofernus in his tente,**  
 To slay that Holofernes in his tent,  
941 **And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse**  
 And to deliver out of wretchedness  
942 **The peple of God? I seye, for this entente,**  
 The people of God? I say, for this purpose,  
943 **That right as God spirit of vigour sente**  
 That just as God the spirit of vigor sent  
944 **To hem and saved hem out of meschance,**  
 To them and saved them out of misfortune,  
945 **So sente he myght and vigour to Custance.**  
 So sent he might and vigor to Custance.

946 **Forth gooth hir ship thurghout the narwe mouth**  
 Forth goes her ship throughout the narrow mouth  
947 **Of Jubaltare and Septe, dryvynge ay**  
 Of Gibraltar and Morocco, driving ever  
948 **Somtyme west, and somtyme north and south,**  
 Sometimes west, and sometimes north and south,  
949 **And somtyme est, ful many a wery day,**  
 And sometimes east, full many a weary day,  
950 **Til Cristes mooder -- blessed be she ay! --**  
 Until Christ's mother -- blessed be she always! --  
951 **Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse,**  
 Has devised a plan, through her endless goodness,  
952 **To make an ende of al hir hevynesse.**  
 To make an end of all her sadness.

953 **Now lat us stynte of Custance but a throwe,**  
 Now let us stint of Custance but a short while,  
954 **And speke we of the Romayn Emperour,**  
 And speak we of the Roman Emperor,  
955 **That out of Surrye hath by lettres knowe**  
 That out of Syria has by letters known  
956 **The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour**  
 The slaughter of Christian folk, and dishonor  
957 **Doon to his doghter by a fals traytour,**  
 Done to his daughter by a false traitor,  
958 **I mene the cursed wikked Sowdanesse**  
 I mean the cursed wicked Sultaness  
959 **That at the feeste leet sleen bothe moore and lesse.**  
 That at the feast caused to be slain both high ranking and low.

960 **For which this Emperour hath sent anon**  
 For which this Emperor has sent at once  
961 **His senatour, with roial ordinance,**  
 His senator, with royal armaments,  
962 **And othere lordes, God woot, many oon,**  
 And other lords, God knows, many a one,  
963 **On Surryens to taken heigh vengeance.**  
 On Syrians to take great vengeance.  
964 **They brennen, sleen, and brynge hem to meschance**  
 They burn, slay, and bring them to misery  
965 **Ful many a day; but shortly -- this is th' ende --**  
 Full many a day; but shortly -- this is the end --  
966 **Homward to Rome they shapen hem to wende.**  
 Homeward to Rome they prepared themselves to wend.

967 **This senatour repaireth with victorie**  
 This senator goes with victory  
968 **To Rome-ward, saillynge ful roially,**  
 Toward Rome, sailing full royally,  
969 **And mette the ship dryvynge, as seith the storie,**  
 And met the ship sailing, as says the story,  
970 **In which Custance sit ful pitously.**  
 In which Custance sits full piteously.  
971 **Nothyng ne knew he what she was, ne why**  
 In no way knew he who she was, nor why  
972 **She was in swich array, ne she nyl seye**  
 She was in such a state, she will not tell  
973 **Of hire estaat, althogh she sholde deye.**  
 Of her rank, although she should die.

974 **He bryngeth hire to Rome, and to his wyf**  
 He brings her to Rome, and to his wife  
975 **He yaf hire, and hir yonge sone also;**  
 He gave her, and her young son also;  
976 **And with the senatour she ladde hir lyf.**  
 And with the senator she led her life.  
977 **Thus kan Oure Lady bryngen out of wo**  
 Thus can Our Lady bring out of woe  
978 **Woful Custance, and many another mo.**  
 Woeful Custance, and many another more.  
979 **And longe tyme dwelled she in that place,**  
 And long time dwelled she in that place,  
980 **In hooly werkes evere, as was hir grace.**  
 In holy works ever, as was her special gift of God.

981 **The senatoures wyf hir aunte was,**  
 The senator's wife was her aunt,  
982 **But for al that she knew hire never the moore.**  
 But for all that she knew her never the more.  
983 **I wol no lenger tarien in this cas,**  
 I will no longer tarry in this case,  
984 **But to kyng Alla, which I spak of yoore,**  
 But to king Alla, whom I spoke of formerly,  
985 **That for his wyf wepeth and siketh soore,**  
 Who for his wife weeps and sighs sore,  
986 **I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance**  
 I will return, and I will leave Custance  
987 **Under the senatoures governance.**  
 Under the senator's governance.

988 **Kyng Alla, which that hadde his mooder slayn,**  
 King Alla, who had his mother slain,  
989 **Upon a day fil in swich repentance**  
 Upon a day fell in such repentance  
990 **That, if I shortly tellen shal and playn,**  
 That, if I shortly tell shall and plainly,  
991 **To Rome he comth to receyven his penance;**  
 To Rome he comes to receive his penance;  
992 **And putte hym in the Popes ordinance**  
 And put him in the Pope's governance  
993 **In heigh and logh, and Jhesu Crist bisoghte**  
 In all things, and Jesus Christ besought  
994 **Foryeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte.**  
 To forgive his wicked deeds that he did.

995 **The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is born,**  
 The news at once through Rome town is carried,  
996 **How Alla kyng shal comen in pilgrymage,**  
 How Alla king shall come in pilgrimage,  
997 **By herbergeours that wenten hym biforn;**  
 By arrangers of lodging that went before him;  
998 **For which the senatour, as was usage,**  
 For which the senator, as was the custom,  
999 **Rood hym agayns, and many of his lynage,**  
 Rode to meet him, and many of his lineage,  
1000 **As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence**  
 As well to show his high magnificence  
1001 **As to doon any kyng a reverence.**  
 As to do any king a reverence.

1002 **Greet cheere dooth this noble senatour**  
 Great friendliness shows this noble senator  
1003 **To kyng Alla, and he to hym also;**  
 To king Alla, and he to him also;  
1004 **Everich of hem dooth oother greet honour.**  
 Every one of them does the other great honor.  
1005 **And so bifel that in a day or two**  
 And so it happened that in a day or two  
1006 **This senatour is to kyng Alla go**  
 This senator is to king Alla gone  
1007 **To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye,**  
 To feast, and shortly, if I shall not lie,  
1008 **Custances sone wente in his compaignye.**  
 Custance's son went in his company.

1009 **Som men wolde seyn at requeste of Custance**  
 Some men would say at request of Custance  
1010 **This senatour hath lad this child to feeste;**  
 This senator has led this child to the feast;  
1011 **I may nat tellen every circumstance --**  
 I can not tell every detail --  
1012 **Be as be may, ther was he at the leeste.**  
 Be as be may, there he was at the least.  
1013 **But sooth is this, that at his moodres heeste**  
 But the truth is this, that at his mother's command  
1014 **Biforn Alla, durynge the metes space,**  
 Before Alla, during the meal time,  
1015 **The child stood, lookynge in the kynges face.**  
 The child stood, looking in the king's face.

1016 **This Alla kyng hath of this child greet wonder,**  
 This king Alla has of this child great wonder,  
1017 **And to the senatour he seyde anon,**  
 And to the senator he said at once,  
1018 **"Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder?"**  
 "Whose is that fair child that stands yonder?"  
1019 **"I noot," quod he, "by God, and by Seint John!**  
 "I do not know," said he, "by God, and by Saint John!  
1020 **A mooder he hath, but fader hath he noon**  
 A mother he has, but father has he none  
1021 **That I of woot" -- and shortly, in a stounde,**  
 That I know of" -- and shortly, in a little while,  
1022 **He tolde Alla how that this child was founde.**  
 He told Alla how this child was found.

1023 **"But God woot," quod this senatour also,**  
 "But God knows," said this senator also,  
1024 **"So vertuous a lyvere in my lyf**  
 "So virtuous a liver in my life  
1025 **Ne saugh I nevere as she, ne herde of mo,**  
 Saw I never as she, nor heard of more,  
1026 **Of worldly wommen, mayde, ne of wyf.**  
 Of worldly women, maiden, nor of wife.  
1027 **I dar wel seyn hir hadde levere a knyf**  
 I dare well say she had rather have a knife  
1028 **Thurghout hir brest, than ben a womman wikke;**  
 Through her breast, than be a woman wicked;  
1029 **There is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke."**  
 There is no man could bring her to that point."

1030 **Now was this child as lyk unto Custance**  
 Now was this child as like unto Custance  
1031 **As possible is a creature to be.**  
 As it is possible for a creature to be.  
1032 **This Alla hath the face in remembrance**  
 This Alla has the face in remembrance  
1033 **Of dame Custance, and ther on mused he**  
 Of Lady Custance, and thereon mused he  
1034 **If that the childes mooder were aught she**  
 If the child's mother were in any way she  
1035 **That is his wyf, and pryvely he sighte,**  
 Who is his wife, and secretly he sighed,  
1036 **And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte.**  
 And sped himself from the table as fast as he could.

1037 **"Parfay," thoghte he, "fantome is in myn heed!**  
 "In faith," thought he, "hallucination is in my head!  
1038 **I oghte deme, of skilful juggement,**  
 I ought to believe, by reasonable judgment,  
1039 **That in the salte see my wyf is deed."**  
 That in the salt sea my wife is dead."  
1040 **And afterward he made his argument:**  
 And afterward he made his contrary argument:  
1041 **"What woot I if that Crist have hyder ysent**  
 "What know I if Christ has hither sent  
1042 **My wyf by see, as wel as he hire sente**  
 My wife by sea, as well as he her sent  
1043 **To my contree fro thennes that she wente?"**  
 To my country from thence that she went?"

1044 **And after noon, hoom with the senatour**  
 And after noon, home with the senator  
1045 **Goth Alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce.**  
 Goes Alla, to see this wonderful happening.  
1046 **This senatour dooth Alla greet honour,**  
 This senator does Alla great honor,  
1047 **And hastifly he sente after Custaunce.**  
 And hastily he sent after Custance.  
1048 **But trusteth weel, hire liste nat to daunce**  
 But trust well, she did not want to dance  
1049 **Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde;**  
 When she knew the reason for that summons;  
1050 **Unnethe upon hir feet she myghte stonde.**  
 Hardly upon her feet she could stand.

1051 **Whan Alla saugh his wyf, faire he hire grette,**  
 When Alla saw his wife, gently he greeted her,  
1052 **And weep that it was routhe for to see;**  
 And wept that it was a pity to see;  
1053 **For at the firste look he on hire sette**  
 For at the first look he on her set  
1054 **He knew wel verraily that it was she.**  
 He knew well indeed that it was she.  
1055 **And she, for sorwe, as doumb stant as a tree,**  
 And she, for sorrow, stands as dumb as a tree,  
1056 **So was hir herte shet in hir distresse,**  
 So was her heart shut (pressed by emotion) in her distress,  
1057 **Whan she remembred his unkyndenesse.**  
 When she remembered his unnatural cruelty.

1058 **Twyes she swowned in his owene sighte;**  
 Twice she swooned in his own sight;  
1059 **He weep, and hym excuseth pitously.**  
 He wept, and himself excuses piteously.  
1060 **"Now God," quod he, "and his halwes brighte**  
 "Now God," said he, "and his saints bright  
1061 **So wisly on my soule as have mercy,**  
 As surely as they may have mercy on my soul,  
1062 **That of youre harm as giltelees am I**  
 (I swear) that of your harm I am as guiltless  
1063 **As is Maurice my sone, so lyk youre face;**  
 As is Maurice my son, whose face is so like yours;  
1064 **Elles the feend me fecche out of this place!"**  
 Otherwise (may) the fiend me fetch out of this place!"

1065 **Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne,**  
 Long was the sobbing and the bitter pain,  
1066 **Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse;**  
 Before their woeful hearts might cease (giving pain);  
1067 **Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne,**  
 Great was the pity to hear them lament,  
1068 **Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse.**  
 Through which lamentations began their woe to increase.  
1069 **I pray yow alle my labour to relesse;**  
 I pray you to release me from all my labor;  
1070 **I may nat telle hir wo until to-morwe,**  
 I can not tell their woe until to-morrow,  
1071 **I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.**  
 I am so weary from speaking of sorrow.

1072 **But finally, whan that the sothe is wist**  
 But finally, when the truth is known  
1073 **That Alla giltelees was of hir wo,**  
 That Alla was guiltless of her woe,  
1074 **I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist,**  
 I believe a hundred times they have kissed,  
1075 **And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two**  
 And such a bliss is there between them two  
1076 **That, save the joye that lasteth everemo,**  
 That, except for the joy that lasts evermore,  
1077 **Ther is noon lyk that any creature**  
 There is none like it that any creature  
1078 **Hath seyn or shal, whil that the world may dure.**  
 Has seen or shall (see), while the world may endure.

1079 **Tho preyde she hir housbonde mekely,**  
 Then prayed she her husband meekly,  
1080 **In relief of hir longe, pitous pyne,**  
 In relief of her long, pitiful pain,  
1081 **That he wolde preye hir fader specially**  
 That he would pray her father specially  
1082 **That of his magestee he wolde enclyne**  
 That of his majesty he would incline  
1083 **To vouche sauf som day with hym to dyne.**  
 To grant some day with him to dine.  
1084 **She preyde hym eek he sholde by no weye**  
 She prayed him also he should by no means  
1085 **Unto hir fader no word of hire seye.**  
 Unto her father say any word of her.

1086 **Som men wolde seyn how that the child Maurice**  
 Some men would say that the child Maurice  
1087 **Dooth this message unto this Emperour;**  
 Takes this message unto this Emperor;  
1088 **But, as I gesse, Alla was nat so nyce**  
 But, as I guess, Alla was not so foolish  
1089 **To hym that was of so sovereyn honour**  
 To him that was of such high honor  
1090 **As he that is of Cristen folk the flour,**  
 As he that is of Christian folk the flower,  
1091 **Sente any child, but it is bet to deeme**  
 To have sent any child, but it is better to believe  
1092 **He wente hymself, and so it may wel seeme.**  
 He went himself, and that would be most fitting.

1093 **This Emperour hath graunted gentilly**  
 This Emperor has agreed nobly  
1094 **To come to dyner, as he hym bisoughte;**  
 To come to dinner, as he him requested;  
1095 **And wel rede I he looked bisily**  
 And well read I (in my source) he looked intently  
1096 **Upon this child, and on his doghter thoghte.**  
 Upon this child, and thought about his daughter.  
1097 **Alla goth to his in, and as hym oghte,**  
 Alla goes to his inn, and as he should,  
1098 **Arrayed for this feste in every wise**  
 Prepared for this feast in every way  
1099 **As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise.**  
 So far as his ability may suffice.

1100 **The morwe cam, and Alla gan hym dresse,**  
 The morning came, and Alla began to prepare himself,  
1101 **And eek his wyf, this Emperour to meete;**  
 And also his wife, to meet this Emperor;  
1102 **And forth they ryde in joye and in gladnesse.**  
 And forth they ride in joy and in gladness.  
1103 **And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete,**  
 And when she saw her father in the street,  
1104 **She lighte doun, and falleth hym to feete.**  
 She dismounted, and falls to his feet.  
1105 **"Fader," quod she, "youre yonge child Custance**  
 "Father," said she, "your young child Custance  
1106 **Is now ful clene out of youre remembrance.**  
 Is now completely out of your remembrance.

1107 **"I am youre doghter Custance," quod she,**  
 "I am your daughter Custance," said she,  
1108 **"That whilom ye han sent unto Surrye.**  
 "Whom long ago you have sent unto Syria.  
1109 **It am I, fader, that in the salte see**  
 It am I, father, that in the salt sea  
1110 **Was put allone and dampned for to dye.**  
 Was put alone and damned to die.  
1111 **Now, goode fader, mercy I yow crye!**  
 Now, good father, mercy I beg of you!  
1112 **Sende me namoore unto noon hethenesse,**  
 Send me no more unto any heathen country,  
1113 **But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse."**  
 But thank my lord here of his kindnesses."

1114 **Who kan the pitous joye tellen al**  
 Who can tell all the pitiful joy   
1115 **Bitwixe hem thre, syn they been thus ymette?**  
 Between them three, since they are thus met?  
1116 **But of my tale make an ende I shal;**  
 But of my tale I shall make an end;  
1117 **The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.**  
 The day goes fast, I will no longer delay.  
1118 **This glade folk to dyner they hem sette;**  
 This glad folk to dinner they themselves set;  
1119 **In joye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle**  
 In joy and bliss at their meal I let them remain  
1120 **A thousand foold wel moore than I kan telle.**  
 A thousand fold well more (blissful) than I can tell.

1121 **This child Maurice was sithen Emperour**  
 This child Maurice was later Emperor  
1122 **Maad by the Pope, and lyved cristenly;**  
 Made by the Pope, and lived in a Christian manner;  
1123 **To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour.**  
 To Christ's church he did great honor.  
1124 **But I lete al his storie passen by;**  
 But I let all his story pass by;  
1125 **Of Custance is my tale specially.**  
 Of Custance is my tale in particular.  
1126 **In the olde Romayn geestes may men fynde**  
 In the old Roman histories may men find  
1127 **Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in mynde.**  
 Maurice's life; I bear it not in mind.

1128 **This kyng Alla, whan he his tyme say,**  
 This king Alla, when he his time saw,  
1129 **With his Custance, his hooly wyf so sweete,**  
 With his Custance, his holy wife so sweet,  
1130 **To Engelond been they come the righte way,**  
 To England are they come by the direct route,  
1131 **Wher as they lyve in joye and in quiete.**  
 Where they live in joy and in quiet.  
1132 **But litel while it lasteth, I yow heete,**  
 But little while it lasts, I you promise,  
1133 **Joye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde;**  
 Joy of this world, because time will not stand still;  
1134 **Fro day to nyght it changeth as the tyde.**  
 From day to night it changes like the tide.

1135 **Who lyved euere in swich delit o day**  
 Who lived ever in such delight one day  
1136 **That hym ne moeved outher conscience,**  
 That he was not moved by either conscience,  
1137 **Or ire, or talent, or som kynnes affray,**  
 Or anger, or desire, or some kind of fear,  
1138 **Envye, or pride, or passion, or offence?**  
 Envy, or pride, or passion, or offence?  
1139 **I ne seye but for this ende this sentence,**  
 I make this statement only for this conclusion,  
1140 **That litel while in joye or in plesance**  
 That little while in joy or in pleasure  
1141 **Lasteth the blisse of Alla with Custance.**  
 Lasts the bliss of Alla with Custance.

1142 **For Deeth, that taketh of heigh and logh his rente,**  
 For Death, that takes of high ranking and low his payment,  
1143 **Whan passed was a yeer, evene as I gesse,**  
 When passed was a year, as I suppose,  
1144 **Out of this world this kyng Alla he hente,**  
 Out of this world this king Alla he seized,  
1145 **For whom Custance hath ful greet hevynesse.**  
 For whom Custance has full great sadness.  
1146 **Now lat us prayen God his soule blesse!**  
 Now let us pray God his soul be blessed!  
1147 **And dame Custance, finally to seye,**  
 And Lady Custance, finally to say,  
1148 **Toward the toun of Rome goth hir weye.**  
 Toward the town of Rome goes her way.

1149 **To Rome is come this hooly creature,**  
 To Rome has come this holy creature,  
1150 **And fyndeth hire freendes hoole and sounde;**  
 And finds her friends whole and sound;  
1151 **Now is she scaped al hire aventure.**  
 Now has she escaped all her adventure.  
1152 **And whan that she hir fader hath yfounde,**  
 And when she her father has found,  
1153 **Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde;**  
 Down on her knees falls she to ground;  
1154 **Wepynge for tendrenesse in herte blithe,**  
 Weeping for tenderness blithe in heart,  
1155 **She heryeth God an hundred thousand sithe.**  
 She praises God a hundred thousand times.

1156 **In vertu and in hooly almus-dede**  
 In virtue and in holy charitable works  
1157 **They lyven alle, and nevere asonder wende;**  
 They all live, and never parted;  
1158 **Til deeth departeth hem, this lyf they lede.**  
 Until death departs them, this life they lead.  
1159 **And fareth now weel! my tale is at an ende.**  
 And fare now well! my tale is at an end.  
1160 **Now Jhesu Crist, that of his myght may sende**  
 Now Jesus Christ, that of his might may send  
1161 **Joye after wo, governe us in his grace,**  
 Joy after woe, govern us in his grace,  
1162 **And kepe us alle that been in this place! Amen**  
 And keep us all that are in this place! Amen

*Heere endeth the tale of the Man of Lawe*

### The Epilogue of The Man of Law's Tale

1163 **\[Owre Hoost upon his stiropes stood anon,**  
 \[Our Host upon his stirrups stood up at once,  
1164 **And seyde, "Goode men, herkeneth everych on!**  
 And said, "Good men, listen every one!  
1165 **This was a thrifty tale for the nones!**  
 This was a excellent tale for this occasion!  
1166 **Sir Parisshe Prest," quod he, "for Goddes bones,**  
 Sir Parish Priest," said he, "for God's bones,  
1167 **Telle us a tale, as was thi forward yore.**  
 Tell us a tale, as was thy previous agreement.  
1168 **I se wel that ye lerned men in lore**  
 I see well that you men learned in lore  
1169 **Can moche good, by Goddes dignitee!"**  
 Know much that is good, by God's dignity!"

1170 **The Parson him answerde, "Benedicite!**  
 The Parson him answered, "Bless me!  
1171 **What eyleth the man, so synfully to swere?"**  
 What ails the man, so sinfully to swear?"  
1172 **Oure Host answerde, "O Jankin, be ye there?**  
 Our Host answered, "O Jankin, are you there?  
1173 **I smelle a Lollere in the wynd," quod he.**  
 I smell a Lollard in the wind," said he.  
1174 **"Now! goode men," quod oure Hoste, "herkeneth me;**  
 "Now! good men," said our Host, "listen to me;  
1175 **Abydeth, for Goddes digne passioun,**  
 Wait, for God's worthy passion,  
1176 **For we schal han a predicacioun;**  
 For we shall have a sermon;  
1177 **This Lollere heer wil prechen us somwhat."**  
 This Lollard here will preach us something."

1178 **"Nay, by my fader soule, that schal he nat!"**  
 "Nay, by my father's soul, that shall he not!"  
1179 **Seyde the Shipman, "Heer schal he nat preche;**  
 Said the Shipman, "Here shall he not preach;  
1180 **He schal no gospel glosen here ne teche.**  
 He shall no gospel interpret here nor teach.  
1181 **We leven alle in the grete God," quod he;**  
 We all believe in the great God," said he;  
1182 **"He wolde sowen som difficulte,**  
 "He would sow some difficulty,  
1183 **Or springen cokkel in our clene corn.**  
 Or sprinkle weeds in our clean grain.  
1184 **And therfore, Hoost, I warne thee biforn,**  
 And therefore, Host, I warn thee beforehand,  
1185 **My joly body schal a tale telle,**  
 My handsome body shall tell a tale,  
1186 **And I schal clynken you so mery a belle,**  
 And I shall clink you so merry a bell,  
1187 **That I schal waken al this compaignie.**  
 That I shall awaken all this company.  
1188 **But it schal not ben of philosophie,**  
 But it shall not be of philosophy,  
1189 **Ne phislyas, ne termes queinte of lawe.**  
 Nor legal cases, nor elaborate terms of law.  
1190 **Ther is but litel Latyn in my mawe!"\]**  
 There is but little Latin in my maw!"\]