From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 246-266

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

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

	Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse,
	That I sholde tellen al the purveiance
	That th'Emperour, of his grete noblesse,
	Hath shapen for his doghter dame Custance;
250	Wel may men knowen that so greet ordinance
	May no man tellen in a litel clause
	As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.

	Now would some men expect, as I may guess,
	That I should tell of all the purveyance
	The emperor, of his great nobleness,
	Has destined for his daughter, fair Constance.
250	But men must know that so great ordinance
	May no one tell within a little clause
	As was arrayed there for so high a cause.

Bisshopes been shapen with hir for to wende,

Lordes, ladies, knyghtes of renoun,

255 And oother folk ynogh, this is th'ende,

And notified is, thurghout the toun,

That every wight with greet devocioun

Sholde preyen Crist, that he this mariage

Receyve in gree, and spede this viage.

Bishops were named who were with her to wend,

Ladies and lords and knights of high renown,

255 And other folk- but I will make an end,

Except that it was ordered through the town

That everyone, with great devotion shown,

Should pray to Christ that he this marriage lead

To happy end, and the long voyage speed.

260 The day is comen of hir departynge,

I seye, the woful day fatal is come,

That ther may be no lenger tariynge,

But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some.

Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome,

265 Ful pale arist, and dresseth hir to wende,

For wel she seeth ther is noon oother ende.

260 The day is come, at last, for leave-taking,

I say, the woeful, fatal day is come,

When there may be no longer tarrying,

But to go forth make ready all and some;

Constance, who was with sorrow overcome,

265 Rose, sad and pale, and dressed herself to wend;

For well she saw there was no other end.

Next:
From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 267-315:
Constance's pity and woe