The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 86v
8 of 31 folios
¶ Vnder an heþen casteƚƚ atte laste
Of which þe name in my text nouȝt I fynde
Custance and eek hir childe þe see vp caste
Almighty god þat saueþ al mankynde
810
Haue on Custance and hir child som mynde
That fallen is in hethene hond eft sone
In poynt to spille as I schal telle yow soone
Doun fro þe Casteƚƚ comþ þer many a wigħt
To gawren on þis schip and on Custance
815
But schortly fro þe castel on a nigħt
The lordes styward god yeue him meschance
A theef þat hadde renyed oure creance /
Com in to schip allone and seide he scholde
Hir lēman be wher so sche wolde or nolde /
820
¶ Wo was þis wrecchede wōman þo bigon
Hir child cryede and sche cried pitously
But blisful marie halp hir right anoon
For with hir strogelyn wel and mightily
The theef fel ouer bord al sodeinly
825
And in þe see he dreynte for vengance
And þus haþ crist vnwemmed kept Custance
O foule lust of luxurie lo þin ende
Nought oonly þat þou fayntest mannes mynde
But verreyly þou wolt his body schende
830
The ende of þi werk or of þi lustes blynde
Is compleynyng how many oon may men fynde
That nought for werk somtyme but for þentent
To don þis synne ben eyþer slayn or schent
¶ How may þis weyke wōman han þe strengþe
835
Hire to defende ageyn þis renegat
O . golyas vnmesurable of lengþe
How mighte Dauid make þe so mat
So yonge and of armure so desolat
How dorst he loke vpon þi dredful face
840
Wel may men sen it was but goddes gace
Who yaf Iudith corage or hardynesse