From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 218-245

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 204-217:
The sultan wants Constance

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 218-245: The legal difficulties of marriage

	Thanne sawe they therin swich difficultee
	By wey of reson, for to speke al playn
220	By cause that ther was swich diversitee
	Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn
	They trowe that "no Cristene prince wolde fayn
	Wedden his child under oure lawes swete
	That us were taught by Mahoun oure prophete."

	Then saw they therein so much difficulty,
	When reasoning of it, to make all plain,
220	Because such conflict and diversity
	Between the laws of both lands long had lain
	They held: "No Christian emperor were fain
	To have his child wed under our sweet laws,
	Given us by Mahomet for God's cause."

225 And he answerde: "Rather than I lese

Custance, I wol be cristned, doutelees.

I moot been hires, I may noon oother chese;

I prey yow, hoold youre argumentz in pees.

Saveth my lyf, and beth noght recchelees

230 To geten hir that hath my lyf in cure,

For in this wo I may nat longe endure."

225 But he replied: "Nay, rather then than lose

The Lady Constance, I'll be christened, yes!

I must be hers, I can no other choose.

I pray you let be no rebelliousness;

Save me my life, and do not be careless

230 In getting her who thus alone may cure

The woe whereof I cannot long endure."

What nedeth gretter dilatacioun?

I seye, by tretys and embassadrye

And by the popes mediacioun,

235 And al the chirche and al the chivalrie,

That in destruccioun of Mawmettrie

And in encrees of Cristes lawe deere,

They been acorded, so as ye shal heere:

What needs a copious dilation now?

I say: By treaties and by embassy,

And the pope's mediation, high and low,

235 And all the Church and all the chivalry,

That, to destruction of Mahometry

And to augmenting Christian faith so dear,

They were agreed, at last, as you shall hear.

How that the Sowdan and his baronage

240 And alle hise liges sholde ycristned be-

And he shal han Custance in mariage,

And certein gold, I noot what quantitee,

And heerto founden suffisant suretee.

This same accord was sworn on eyther syde.

245 Now, faire Custance, almyghty God thee gyde!

The sultan and his entire baronage

240 And all his vassals, they must christened be,

And he shall have Constance in true marriage,

And gold (I know not in what quantity),

For which was found enough security;

This, being agreed, was sworn by either side.

245 Now, Constance fair, may great God be your guide!

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 246-266:
The preparation of the marriage