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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    that so shadde his bloode for vs, for we shold haue euerlasting life in blisse. To the whiche he vs bring that is Lord euerlasting! Ad quam nos perducat! Amen. [ X. ] [EMPERATOR APPOLANIUS.] iy9, c. i ] Appolanius regnyd in Rome, the whiche maade to be ordenyd, as for a lawe, that eche man sholde vp peyne of dethe kepe the day of the burthe of the Emperour, as for a festfulle day. And therfore he callid to him Virgilie, the philojophre, and saide, “ Goode maister, I suppose wele, that ther ben many trespassis done a3enst my lawe, the whiche ben kept so prively, that I may not knowe hem; and therfore I wolde pray the to make for me some crafte, by the whiche I may come to the knowliche of suche prive trespace.” So shortely to seyne, this Virgilie made by his crafte an ymage or a statute, and sett him in the myddys of the cite, the whiche sholde shewe and telle to the messagers of the Emperour the namys of hem that breke the lawe of the Emperour; and by this were mony men accusid. In this same tyme ther was a smithe in the cite, that was y-callid Focus, the whiche lielde not the day of the Emperour. So as he lay in his bed, he thowte that this ymage accusid many, and he dradde the more; but erly in the morowe he ros, and 3ede to this ymage, and saide, “ Sey thou, felawe, that accusist so mony, and tellist suche talys, I make avowe to God, that if thou be so bold to telle of me, I shalle breke thine hed. What lorelle art thou !”•—and so he 3ede* home his wey. The Emperour sent messagers to him in the same day, as he was y-wonyd afore, for to knowe who was culpable in his lawe. Whenne the messagers were y-come, the ymage saide to hem, “ Hold vp your hedis, and redithe what is writen in my front.” And 5e, MS. E