The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 87r
7 of 31 folios
To slen him Olefernus in his tent
And to delyueren out of wrecchednesse
The poeple of god I sey for þis entent
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Þat right as god spirit and vigor sent
To hem and saued hem out of meschance
So sent he migħt and vigor to Custance
Forþ goþ hir schip forþ on þe narwe mouth
Of Iubaltar and Septe dryuyng ay
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Somtyme west and som tyme north and soutħ
And som tyme est ful many a wery day
Til cristes mooder blissed be sche ay
Haþ schapen þurgħ hir endeles goodnesse
To make an ende of aƚƚ hir heuynesse /
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¶ Now lat vs stynte of Custance but a þrowe /
And speke we of þe Romeyn Emperour
That out of Surrie haþ þe lr~es knowe
The slaughtere of cristene folk and deshonor
Don to his doughter by a fals traytour
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I mene þe cursede wickede Sowdonesse
That at þe feste let slen boþe more and lesse
¶ For which þis Emperor haþ sent anou
His senatour wiþ real ordinance
And oþer lordes god wot many on
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On Surriens to taken his vengance
They brennen sleen and bringen hem to meschaūce
Ful many a day but schortly þis is þende
Homward to Rome þei schapen hem to wende
This Senatour repaireth with victorie
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To Romeward saylinge really
And mette þe schip dryuyng as seiþ þe storie
In which Custance sitte ful pitously
No þing ne knew he what sche was ne why
Sche was in swich aray ne sche nyl seye
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Of hire astate þougħ sche scholde deye
He bringeþ hire to Rome and to his wijf
He yaf hire and hire ȝonge sone also