The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 78v
26 of 27 folios
1020
This gladde folke to denere þei hem sette
In Ioy & blisse att þe mete .I. lete hem dweƚƚ
A . þousand folde wel mor þan .I. can teƚƚ
¶ Þis Childe Moris was siþen Emperor
Maade be þe pope an leued Cristienly
1025
To Cristes chirche he dide grete honoure
Bot .I. lat al his storie passen bie
Of Constance is my tale sekerlie
In olde Romeyne gestes men mai finde
Moris lif .I. bere it nouht in mynde
1030
¶ This kinge Alla whan he his time seie
Wiþ his Custance his holy wif so swete
To Ingelonde bue þei comen þe riht weie
Where as þei leue in Ioy & in quyete
Bot litel while it lasteþ .I. ȝowe hete
1035
Ioy of þis werlde for time wil nouȝt abide
Fro day to nyht it chaungeþ as þe tide
¶ Who so leueþ euer in suche delite a daie
Þat ne meued eyþer conscience
Or ire or talent or sumkin afraie
1040
Envie or pride or passion or offense
I. ne saie bot þis ende þis sentense
Þat litel while in Ioy or in plesance
Lasteþ þe blisse of alla wiþ Constance
¶ For deþ þat takeþ of hihe & louhe his rent
1045
Whan passed was a ȝere euen as .I. gesse
Oute of þis werlde kinge Alla he hente
Fore whome Constance haþe ful grete heuinesse
Now latt vs preyne God his soule blisse
And dam Constance fynally to seye
1050
To warde þe toune of Rome goþe hire weye
¶ To Rome is comen is comen þis holy creature
And fyndeþe here frendes hole & sounde
Now is sche scaped al hir aventure
Whan sche hir fader haþ founde
1055
Doune on hir knees falleþ sche to grounde
Wepeinge for tendurnesse in hert bliþe
Sche herieþ god a .C. þousand siþe
¶ In vertu & holy almosdede
Thei leuen al . & neuer a sonder wende
1060
Til deþe depart hem þis lif þei lede
An fare nowe wele my tale is att an ende