The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 49v
12 of 16 folios
Som men wold seyn at requeste of Custance
This senatour had lad this child to feste
I may nat tellen euery circumstance
Be as be may ther was he atte leste
915
But soth is this that at his modres hest
Bi forn alla duryng the metes space
The child stood lokyng in the kynges face
This alla kyng hath of this child gret wondyr
And to the Senatour he seide anon
920
Whos is that fair child that stondeth yonder
I noot quod he by god and bi seint Ioħn
A moder he hath but fader hath he noon
That I of woot but shortly in a stounde
He told alla how that this child was founde
925
But god woot quod this Senatour also
So vertuous a lyuer in my lyf
Ne saw I neuer as she ne herd of mo
Of worldely wommen mayde ne of wyfe
I dar wel seyn hir had leuer a knyf
930
Thurgh oute hir brest than ben a womman wykke
Ther is no man koude brynge hir to that prikke
Now was this childe as lyke vn to Custance
As possible is a creature to be
This alla hath the face in remembrance
935
Of dame Custance and ther on mused he
If that the childes moder were augh she
That is his wyf and piuely he sighte
And sped him fro the table that he myght
Parfay thought he fantom is myn hed
940
I oght deme of skylful Iuggement
That in the salt see my wyf is deed
And afterward he made his argument
What wot I if that crist haue hider I sent
My wyf bi see as wel as he hir sente
945
To my Contre fro thennes that she wente