The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 51r
15 of 16 folios
Who kan the pitous ioy tellen al
Be twix hem thre syn thei beth thus I mette
But of my tale make an ende I shal
The day goth fast I wol no lenger lette
1020
This glad folk to dyner thei hem sette
In ioy and blisse at mete I let hem dwelle
A thousant fold wol more than I can telle
This child maurice was sithen Emperour
Maad bi the pope and lyued cristenly
1025
To cristes chirche he dide gret honour
But I let al this story passen by
Of Custance is my tale specyally
In the olde Romayn gestes may men fynde
Maurices lyf I bere it noght in mynde
1030
This kyng alla whan he his tyme say
Wyth his Custance his holy wyf so swete
To Engelond ben thei come the ryght wey
Ther as thei lyue in ioy and in quyete
But litel while it lasteth I yow hete
1035
Ioy of this world for tyme wol not abyde
Fro day to nyght it chaungeth as the tyde
Who lyued euer in swich delite o. day
That him ne meened outher conscience
Or Ire or talent or som kynnes affray
1040
Enuye or pride or passion or offence
I ne sey but for this ende this sentence
That litel while in ioy or in plesance
Lasteth the blisse of alla wyth custance
For deth that taketh of high and logh his rente
1045
Whan passed was a yeer euene as I gesse
Out of this world this kyng alla he hente
For whom Custance hath gret heuynesse
Now let vs prey god his soule blesse
And dame Custance fynally to seye
1050
Toward the toun of Rome goth hir weye