The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 84v
26 of 29 folios
930
Thurghout hir brest þan ben a wōman wikke
Ther is no man can bryng hir to þat prikke
Now was þis child as lik vnto Custaūce
As possible is a creature to be
This alla haþ þe face in remembance
935
Of Dame Custance and þer on mused he
If þat þe childes mooder were ought sche
That is his wyf and pryuely he hight
And sped him fro þe table þat he might
Parfay þougħt he fantom is in myn heed
940
I ougħt to deme of righful iuggemēt
That in þe salte see my wyf is deed
And afterward he made þis argument
What woot I wher crist haþ hider sent
My wyf by see as wel as he hir sent
945
To my contre fro þennes þat sche went
And after noom home wiþ þe senatour
Goth alla for to see þis wonder chaunce
This Senatour doþ alla gret honour
And hastely he sent after Custaunce
950
But trusteþ wel hir luste nat to daunce /
Whan þat sche wiste wherfore was þat sonde
Vnneþes vp on hir feet / sche mighte stonde /
Whan alla saugh his wyf fayre he hir grette
And wepte þat it was rewþe to se
955
For at þe firste look he on hir sette
He knew wel verrely þat it was sche
And for sorwe as domb sche stant as tre
So was hire herte schett in his distresse
Whan sche remembred his vnkyndenesse
960
Twies sche swowned in his owen sigħt
He wept and him excuseþ pitously
Now god qd he and aƚƚ his halwes bright
So wisly on my soule haue mercy
That of ȝoure harm as gulteles am I
965
As is maurice my sone so lyk ȝoure face
Elles þe feend me fecche out of þis place /
Long was þe sobbyng and þe bitter peyne