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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    sette there a stiwarde, commaundyng to him, vp peyne of dethe, for to kepe wele that castelle. And this stiward kept wele this castelle during long tyme, but at the last he was traitoure to the Emperoure, and loste the castelle. And when the Emperoure lierde this, he was hily mevede in alle his bowels, andgert make a grete counseille, how that he mygfit best gete this castelle oute of the hondis of his enemys. So there ros vp a knyglit, and seid, there were thre weys for to gete hit, sell, the wey of strength; the wey of wisdome; and the wey of love. “ And suche iij. knyghtes there beth now in youre em- pire ; the first knyght is strengist of any that is in any place, and he berith a scochone of golde, with a lione in the myddelle; the second is wys, and berith a scochone with a pecok ; and the thrid knyght is amorous and lovyng, and lovith you more than may be trowide, and he berith a goldene scochone, with a white dove. And, ser, by my counseille, thes thre are to Wynne the castelle to you ayene; and therfore sendith for hem, for if strength be not worthe, wisdom shalbe worthe, and if wysdom may not do hit, love shalle gete the victory.” The Emperoure liked welle this counseille, and let send aftir hem, and seid to hem, “ Dere frendis, of you thre I haue herd spoke moche good. Ye know wele how that my castelle is lost, ther- fore to recouere hit ayene I send you thre; for the first of you is a strong warioure, the second a grete 3ever of counseille, the thrid is a subtille sercher in love. Goth to dyner, and I shal geve you a [c. 2.] competent mede.” When the knyghtis herd this, thei armed hem strongly, and yede her wey. When thei had ridene the space of iij. daies, thei come to a forest; and as thei shulde haue entrid in to the forest, a nyghtingale sat vpone a tre, and made a passing swete sonet-song. At the last, oon of the knyghtis spak to his felawis, and seid, “ Sirs, I vndirstond the song of this brid; the which is not ellis but a shewyng to vs that there ben thefes in this forest, and that in grete plentith ; the which haue i-herde telle that we come for to re- keuere the castelle, and here thei purpose for to kille vs.” Then seid