From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 148-168

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines :
About a group of Syrian merchants that go to Rome

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 148-168: The emperor's beautiful daughter Constance

	Sojourned han thise marchantz in that toun
	A certein tyme, as fil to hire plesance.
150	And so bifel, that th'excellent renoun
	Of the Emperoures doghter, dame Custance,
	Reported was, with every circumstance
	Unto thise Surryen marchantz in swich wyse
	Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse.

	Remained have now these merchants in that town
	A certain time, as fell to their pleasance.
150	And so it happened that the high renown
	Of th' emperor's daughter, called lady Constance.
	Reported was, with every circumstance,
	Unto these Syrian merchants, in such wise,
	From day to day, as I will now apprise.

155 This was the commune voys of every man:

"Oure Emperour of Rome, God hym see,

A doghter hath that, syn the world bigan,

To rekene as wel hir goodnesse as beautee,

Nas nevere swich another as is shee.

160 I prey to God in honour hir sustene

And wolde she were of all Europe the queene!

155 This was the common voice of every man:

"Our emperor of Rome, God save and see,

A daughter has that since the world began.

To reckon as well her goodness as beauty,

Was never such another as is she;

160 I pray that God her fame will keep, serene,

And would she were of all Europe the queen.

In hir is heigh beautee, withoute pride,

Yowthe, withoute grenehede or folye,

To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde,

165 Humblesse hath slayn in hir al tirannye,

She is mirour of alle curteisye,

Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse,

Hir hand ministre of fredam for almesse."

In her is beauty high, and without pride;

Youth, without crudity or levity;

In an endeavours, virtue is her guide;

165 Meekness in her has humbled tyranny;

She is the mirror of all courtesy;

Her heart's a very shrine of holiness;

Her hand is freedom's agent for largess."

Next:
From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 169-189:
The merchants tell the sultan about Constance