The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 126v
28 of 31 folios
925
¶ xxx god woot quod this Senatour also
xo vertuous a lyuere / in my lyf
Ne saw I neuere as she / ne herde of mo
Of worldly wommen / mayde ne of wyf
I dar wel seyn / hir hadde leuere a knyf
930
Thurgh out hir brest than been a womman wikke
Ther is no man / koude brynge hire to that prikke
¶ Now was this child / as lyk vn to Custaunce
As possible is / a creature to be
This Alla / hath the face in remembraunce
935
Of dame Custaunce / and ther on mused he
If þt the childes moder / were aught she
That is his wyf / and pryuely he sighte
And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte
¶ Parfay thoughte he / fantome is in myn heed
940
I oghte deme / of skilful Iugement
That in the salte see / my wif is deed
And afterward / he made his argument
What woot I / if þt Crist hath hider sent
My wif by See / as wel as he hir sente
945
To my contree / from thennes þt she wente
¶ And after noon / hom with the Senatour
Goth Alla / for to seen this wonder chaunce
This Senatour / dooth Alla greet honour
And hastily / he sente after Custaunce
950
But tristeth wel / hir liste noght to daunce
Whan that she wiste / wher fore was that sonde
Vnnethe / vp on hir feet she myghte stonde
¶ Whan Alla saugh his wyf / faire he hir grette
And weepe / that it was routhe for to se
955
For at the firste look / he on hir sette
He knew wel verraily / þt it was she
And she for sorwe / as domb stant as a tree
So was hir herte shet in hir distresse
Whan she remembred / his vnkyndenesse