The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 203r
15 of 29 folios
For they han seyn hire so vertuous
And louynge hermengild ryȝt as hire lyf
Of þis bar witnesse eueryche in that hous
Saue he þt hermengelt slow with his knyf
530
This gentil kyng hath cauȝt a gret motyf
Of this witnesse & thoght he wolde enquire
Deppere in this trouthe for to lere
Allas Custaūce þu hast no chaūpioū
Ne fyȝte canst þu so weyle awey
535
But he that starf for oure redempcioū
And bond satan & ȝit lyth þere he lay
So be þēy stronge champioū þis day
For but ȝif cryst opyn merakele kythe
With outyn gilt þu schat ben slayn aswythe
540
Sche sette hire doū on kneis & thus sche seyde
Inmortal god þt sauedist susanne
Frō false blame & þu merciful mayde
Marye I mene douȝtyr to seynt anne
By forn hos child aūgeƚƚ sȳge osanne
545
If I be gilteles of this felonye
Myn socour be for ellis schal I deye
Han ȝe nat seyn sūtyme a pale face
Among a pres of hȳ þt hath be lad
Toward hese deth where as he gat no grace
550
And swich a colour in hese face hath had
Men myȝte knowe hise face þt was be stad
A mongis alle þe facis in þt route
So stant custaūce & lokyth hire a boute
O queenys lyuynge in prosperite
555
Duchesses & ȝe ladijs euerychone
Hauyth sū routhe of hire aduercite
An emperouris douȝtyr stant a lone
Sche hath no wyȝt towhō to make hire mone
O blood royal þt standyst in þis drede
560
Fer ben thyne frendis at thi grete nede