The old English versions of the Gesta Romanorum: edited for the first time from manuscripts in the British Museum and University Library, Cambridge, with an introduction and notes / By Sir Frederic Madden. Printed for the Roxburghe Club.

Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The old English versions of the Gesta Romanorum: edited for the first time from manuscripts in the British Museum and University Library, Cambridge, with an introduction and notes / By Sir Frederic Madden. Printed for the Roxburghe Club. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    HIC INCIPIT LIBER JESTUS ROMANORUM. [ I. ] EMPERATOR FELICIANUS. Felician regnyd Emperour in the cyte of Rome, in the empeire of whom ther was a kny3t that hadde weddid a yong dameselle to wife. And withinne fewe yerys this woman lovid by wey of synne an other kny3t, vndir hire husbonde, and that so moche, that she ordeyned for hire husbonde to be ded. Happynge that this kny3t wold goo on pilgrimage ouer the see; and therfore he seide to his wife, “ Dame, Y wolle goo on pilgrimage, ouer the see ; and therfore gouerne the wele the while til I come home a3en.” And with that she was glad, and seide, “ Sir, with the grace of God alle shalle be wele y-do.” And shortly for to touche this mater ; he tooke his leve, and 3ede his wey. Nowe this false queue, his wife, ordeyned for his dethe in alle that she cowde, and spake therfore to a nigromauncer in this forme : “ Myn husbond,” quod she, “ is blende the see ; I wolle wite, if thou cowde helpe that he were ded by ony crafte. Aske of me what thou [f.i94,b.c.i.] wolt, and thou shalt have hit.” Then spake he to hyre a3en, and saide, “ 3is, forsothe, lady, that I can. That kny3t shalle dye by my crafte, yn what cuntre of the wordle so euer that he be ynne. And Y wolle haue no thing of the for my trauayle but the love of thyne hert.” And she it grauntid to him. So this nigromancien dyd make an ymage of erthe, and fastenyd it in the walle afore him. And the kny3t, that was gon on pilgrimage, walkyd yn the same day in