From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 1079-1120

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 1030-1078:
King Alla and Constance are happily united

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 1079-1120: Constance meets her father the emperor of Rome

	Tho preyde she hir housbonde mekely,
1080	In relief of hir longe pitous pyne,
	That he wolde preye hir fader specially
	That, of his magestee, he wolde enclyne
	To vouche sauf som day with hym to dyne.
	She preyde hym eek, he wolde by no weye
1085	Unto hir fader no word of hir seye.

	Then prayed she of her husband, all meekly,
1080	As for her pain a splendid anodyne,
	That he would pray her father, specially,
	That, of his majesty, he would incline
	And that, some day, would come with him to dine;
	She prayed him, also, he should in no way
1085	Unto her father one word of her say.

Som men wolde seyn, how that the child Maurice

Dooth this message unto this emperour,

But, as I gesse, Alla was nat so nyce

To hym that was of so sovereyn honour,

1090 As he that is of Cristen folk the flour,

Sente any child, but it is bet to deeme

He wente hymself, and so it may wel seeme.

Some men would say, it was the child Maurice

Did bear this message to the emperor;

But, as I guess, King Alla was too nice

In etiquette to one of such honour

1090 As he that was of Christendom the flower,

To send a child; and it is best to deem

He went himself, and so it well may seem.

This emperour hath graunted gentilly

To come to dyner, as he hym bisoughte,

1095 And wel rede I he looked bisily

Upon this child, and on his doghter thoghte.

Alla goth to his in, and as him oghte

Arrayed for this feste in every wise

As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise.

This emperor has granted, graciously,

To come to dinner, as he's been besought,

1095 And, well I think, he pondered busily

Upon the child, and on his daughter thought.

Alla went to his inn, and, as he ought,

Made ready for the feast in every wise

As far as his experience could devise.

1100 The morwe cam, and Alla gan hym dresse

And eek his wyf, this emperour to meete,

And forth they ryde in joye and in galdnesse,

And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete,

She lighte doun and falleth hym to feete.

1105 "Fader," quod she, "youre yonge child Custance

Is now ful clene out of youre remembrance.

1100 The morrow came, and Alla rose to dress,

And, too, his wife, the emperor to meet;

And forth they rode in joy and happiness.

And when she saw her father in the street,

She lighted down, and falling at his feet,

1105 "Father," said she, "your young child, your Constance,

Is now gone clean out of your remembrance.

I am youre doghter Custance," quod she,

"That whilom ye han sent unto Surrye.

It am I, fader, that in the salte see

1110 Was put allone, and dampned for to dye.

Now goode fader, mercy I yow crye,

Sende me namoore unto noon hethenesse,

But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse."

I am your daughter Constance," then said she,

"That once you sent to Syria. 'Tis I.

It is I, father, who, on the salt sea,

1110 Was sent, alone to drift and doomed to die.

But now, good father, mercy must I cry:

Send me no more to heathendom, godless,

But thank my lord, here, for his kindliness."

Who kan the pitous joye tellen al

1115 Bitwixe hem thre, syn they been thus ymette?

But of my tale make an ende I shal,

The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.

This glade folk to dyner they hem sette,

In joye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle,

1120 A thousand foold wel moore than I kan telle.

But all the tender joy, who'll tell it all

1115 That was between the three who thus are met?

But of my tale, now, make an end I shall;

The day goes fast, I will no longer fret.

These happy folk at dinner are all set,

And there, in joy and bliss, I let them dwell;

1120 Happier a thousand fold than I can tell.

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 1121-1127:
Constance's son Maurice is the future emperor of Rome