The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 125v
26 of 31 folios
855
¶ xxx xat vs stynte of Custaunce / but a throwe
xnd speke we / of the Romayn Emperour
That out of Surrye / hath by lettres knowe
The slaughtre of cristen folk / and dishonour
Doon to his doghter / by a fals traytour
860
I mene / the cursed wikked Sowdanesse
That at the feeste / leet sleen bothe moore and lesse
¶ For which this Emperour / hath sent anon
His Senatour / with Roial ordinaunce
And othere lordes / god woot many oon
865
On Surryens / to taken heigh vengeaunce
They brennen / sleen / and brynge hem to meschaunce
Ful many a day / but shortly this is thende
Homward to Rome / they shapen hem to wende
¶ This Senatour / repaireth with victorie
870
To Romeward / saylynge ful Roially
And mette the Ship dryuynge / as seith the Storie
In which Custaunce / sit ful pitously
No thyng ne knew he / what she was / ne why
She was in swich array / ne she nyl seye
875
Of hir estaat thogh she sholde deye
¶ He bryngeth hir to Rome / and to his wyf
He yaf hire / and hir yonge sone also
And with the Senatour / she ladde hir lyf
Thus kan oure lady / bryngen out of wo
880
Woful Custaunce / and many another mo
And longe tyme / dwelled she in that place
In holy werkes euere / as was hir grace
¶ The Senatours wyf / hir Aunte was
But for al that she knew hir neuer the moore
885
I wol no lenger taryen in this cas
But to kyng Alla / which I spak of yoore
That for his wyf / wepeth and siketh soore
I wol retourne / and lete I wole Custaunce
Vnder the Senatours gouernaunce