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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    and he lete make a proclamacione thor3 alle his empire, that he wold make a gret generalle feste, and that alle poore and riche shuld come to that feste ; for they shulde [not] only be wele y-fed, but also that thei shuld have many faire 3iftis. Whenne the bedelle hadde y-makide this proclamacione, ther lay by the wey too feble men, a blynde and a lame. Thoo the blynde seide to the lame, his felowe, “ Woo be now to me and to the, for how may we too do ! The Emperour hathe makid suche a proclamacione, that he wolle make a generalle feste, and who that euer comithe thedir, he shalle fare wele of metis and drinkis, and also be avauncyd for euermore; and I am blind, and thou art lame, and therfore neyther of vs may come there.” “ 3e,” quoth the lame man, “ I shalle shew the a goode wit in this cas; and if thou wolt do after my conseile, thou shalt not repente. Now herken me ; I am lame and feble, that I may not goo, but I may see, and thou art strong and swifte of foote, but thou may not see. Take me vpon thi bak, and bere me, and I shalle teclie the the ri3te way, and so we bothe shulle come thedir.” “ This is a goode conseile,” seide the blinde man, “ come vp fast vpone my bak, and teche me the ri3te wey, as thou seist, and so we bothe shulle come thedir, I trowe, as thou seist,” &c. Moralite. Dere frendis, this Emperour is our Lord Jhesu Criste, that hathe y-made a generalle proclamacione, and a generalle feste, sell, the ioye of Hevene, to the whiche ioye he hath callid alle mankynde ; for he deniithe to no man that ioy, if they wolle come ther to. By this lame or halting man buth vndirstond prelatis of holy chirche, as ben prechours, and confessours; and thei ben callid lame, or halting men, for they have not of hire owne to lyve with, but of tythingis, and of almys-dede of seculers. By the blynde man we shulle vndirstond the lewde seculers, that ben blynde, yn as moche as thei conne not