For which this emperour hath sent anon 5380 His fenatour, with real ordinance, And other lordes, God wote, many on, On Surriens to taken high vengeance: They brennen, fleen, and bring hem to mefchance, To Rome ward, fayling ful really, He bringeth hire to Rome, and to his wif He yaf hire, and hire yonge fønne also, The fenatoures wif hire aunte was, But for all that she knew hire never the more: I wol no longer tarien in this cas, But to King Alla, which I spake of yore, 5390 5395 5400 5405 King Alla, which that had his moder flain, Upon a day fell in swiche repentance, That if I fhortly tellen fhal and plain, To Rome he cometh to receive his penance, 5410 In high and low, and Jefu Crift befought By herbergeours that wenten him beforn, 3420 Gret chere doth this noble senatour To King Alla, and he to him alfo : Everich of hem doth other gret honour; And fo befell that in a day or two 5425 This fenatour is to King Alla go To feft, and fhortly, if I fhal not lie, Cuftances fone went in his compagnie. Som men wold fain at requeste of Cuflance This fenatour hath lad this child to fefte: 5430 may not tellen every circumftance; I Be as be may ther was he at the lefte: But foth is this, that at his mothers hefte The child ftood, loking in the kinges face. 5435 This Alla king hath of this child gret wonder, I n'ot, quod he, by God, and by Seint John; A moder he hath, but fader hath he non He told Alla how that this child was found, But God wot, quod this fenatour also, 5449 So vertuous a liver in all my lif Ne faw I never as the, ne herd of mo 5445 Of wordly woman, maiden, widewe or wif: I dare wel fayn hire hadde lever a knif Thurghout hire breft than ben a woman wikke; 5450 This Alla hath the face in remembrance Parfay, thought he, fantome is in min hed; I ought to deme of skilful jugement 5455 5460 Volume II. Y And after noon home with the fenatour Goth Alla, for to fee this wonder chance. 3465 This fenateur doth Alla gret honour, But trufteth wel hire lufte not to dance: Whan that the wifte wherfore was that fonde Unnethe upon hire feet the mighte ftonde. 5470 Whan Alla faw his wif faire he hire grette, And wept that it was touche for to fee; For at the firfte look he on hire fette He knew wel veraily that it was she; And the for forwe as domb ftant as a tree: 5475 Now God, quod he, and all his halwesbright, 5480 Eiles the fend me fetche out of this place. Long was the fobbing and the bitter peine 5485 Or that hir woful hertes mighten cefe, Gret was the pitee for to here hem pleine, Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encrefe. I pray you all my labour to relefe, I may not tell hir wo until to-morwe, I am fo wery for to fpeke of forwe. 5490 But finally, whan that the foth is wist, That Alla gilteles was of hire wọ,. Hirat I trow an hundred times han they kit, And fwiche abiliffe is cher betwix hem two, 5495 Ther is non like that any creature Hath feen or fhal, while that the world may dure. Tho praied the hire husbond mekely,' In releef of hire longe pitous pine, 5500 That he wold pray hire fader fpecially. That of his mageftee be wold encline. To vouchefauf fom day with him to dine; Unto hire fader no word of hire fay. 5505 Som men wold fayn how that the child Maurice Doth this nieffage until this emperour; But as I geffe Alla was not fo nicé, To him that is fo foveraine of honour, This empereur hath granted gentilly 551Q To come to dinner as he him befaughte; 5515 Upon this child, and on his doughter thought. 5506. Sommen wold ayn} See Gower, Conf. Amant. B. ii. fol. 35, b. 11, and the Discourse, Fc. § 15.---In another circumitance which has been atroduced with the fame words, ver. 5429, our Author agrees with Gower, ibid. Tək. 35, d. I. |