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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    oon fallith in to the diche of desperacione, and of dedly synne. Also the kyng had not with him his fader, neither his modir ; by the fadir, that is cause of oure generacione, is vndistonde mekenesse or humilite, withoute which there abideth no vertue in a man; as seith Seint Gregory, Siquis ceteras virtutes sine humilitate portal, quasi in ventum portal, this is. Who so euer that berith othir vertues withoute humilite, he berith him as in to the wynde, or as men berith poudir in the wynde. The modir is hope ; for as the Appostille seithe, Spe salui facti sumus. We bethe made save thorughe hope. And therfore, ife a man wille haue this faire lif that euerlastithe, he moste leve the brode weye, and go by a strayt waye, that is to sey, the wey of penaunce and of fastynge ; of the which wey seith the Appostille, Stricta est via que ducit ad celum, et pauci ambulant per earn, this is to sey. The wey is * strayt that ledith to Heuene, and few go the therby, but many goth the brode wey, scil. flesshly likynges, the which ledith to Helle. And certenly suche men shul be deceyvede, for her goyng fro euerlastyng lif; and therfore. Sirs, lete vs vse to loue excellentlye this faire lyfe, and wisely vse the cloke of charite, and the bryg of the feith, the fadir of loulynesse in hert, the modir of hope, the wey of penaunce and of fastynge, and then by good argument, then shul we haue the faire lyfe that is euermore lastynge. Ad quam perducat nos, &c. [ XIII. ] AGYOS THE EMPEROURE. [f.201, b.c. i.] Agyos was a wyse Emperoure in the cite of Rome, and lovide wele bataille; the whiche had a knyght with him ynamede Gerinaldus, a strong man and a myghty; in the felde he was a lyone, and in halle he was a lambe. This forseid Emperoure had a feire doughter, the which the erle of Palester had previly ravisshede and deflouride; * of, MS.