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.

    63/544 (page 55)
    [ XIX. ] ANDRONICUS TH’EMPEROURE. Andronicus was Emperoure of Rome, and regnede there mighty in power: and he had with him a knygfrt, namede Temecius, the which was rightwis and good; neuertheles by enemys he was accusede grevously to the Emperoure, the which myght yeve noo sentence ayenst him. And when the Emperoure saw this, he thought how and by what manere that he myght grive or noy him; and therfore he clepid him to him, and seid, “ Dere frende, thou shalt answere to certein questions, the which I shal put vnto the, and that in peyne of thi lyf.” “ Sir,” quod that othir, “ I shal do alle that I can or may.” “ Telle me how moche is fro Hevene to Helle ? this is my first questione.” “ Sir,” quod that othir, “ as moche as is a sighing fro the hert.” “ The second I aske, how depe is the see 1” “ Sir,” quod he, “ as is the cast of a stone.” “ The thrid, how many galons of salte water bene in the see ?” “ Sir,” quod he, “ let alle the outepassinges of fressh water be stoppid, and I shalle telle the.” “ The iiij. of what crafte or of what myster beth moste men ?” “ Sir,” quod he, “ of leche-crafte.” “ The v. of whom beth moste and fewist ?” “ Sir,” quod he, “ of popys.” Then seid the Emperoure, “ The vj.th shal distroy him;—how many daies iourney beth in the sercle of the worlde ?” Then spake [he], “ Oonly the space of oo day.” “ Now, what difference is bytwene riche and pouere ?” “ But rychesse,” quod that othir. Whenne the Em- peroure had herde alle thes wordis, he seide, “ Thou answeredist to my first questione, and saidist, that Hevene was fro Helle as moche as is a sighyng fro the hert; telle me now how may that be ?” “ Sir,” quod he, “ for in turnyng of an y3e comyth a syghing fro the hert, and, ser, in so litelle space may a good soule passe to Hevene,