The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 50r
13 of 16 folios
And aftyr noon hoom wyth the senatour
Goth alla for to seen this wonder chance
This senatour dothe alla greet honour
And hastily he sente aftyr Custance
950
But trusteth wel hir liste nat to dance
Whan that she wist wherfore was that sonde
Vnneth vpon hir feet she myght stonde
Whan alla saw his wyf fair he hir gret
And wept that it was routh for to se
955
For at the first look he on hir sette
He knew wel verrayli that it was she
And she for sorwe as dombe stant as a tree
So was hir hert shet in hir destresse
Whan she remembred his vnkyndenesse
960
Twyes she sowneth in his owne syght
He weep and him excused pitously
Now god quod he and his halwes bryght
So wyssely on my soule as haue mercy
That of your harm as giltlees am I
965
As is maurice my sone so lyke your face
Elles the fende me fecch out of this place
Longe was the sobbyng and the bitter peyn
Er that hir woful hertes myght cesse
Greet was the pitee for to here hem pleyn
970
Thurgh which pleyntes gan hir wo encresse
I pray yow al my labour to relesse
I may not telle hir wo vnto til to morwe
I am so wery for to speke of sorwe
But fynally whan that the sothe is wist
975
That alla giltlees was of hir wo
I trow an hundred tymes han thei kist
And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two
That saue the ioy that lasteth euer mo
Ther nys noon lyk that any creature
980
Hath seyn or shal whil that the world may dure