From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 582-602

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 533-581:
Constance converts her host to Christianity

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 582-602: Another conspiracy

	Sathan, that ever us waiteth to bigile,
	Saugh of Custance al hir perfeccioun
	And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while;
585	And made a yong knyght, that dwelte in that toun,
	Love hir so hoote of foul affeccioun
	That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille,
	But he of hir myghte ones have his wille.

	Satan, that ever waits, men to beguile,
	Saw now, in Constance, all perfection grown,
	And wondering how to be revenged the while,
585	He made a young knight, living in the town,
	Love her so madly, with foul passion flown,
	That verily he thought his life should spill,
	Except that, of her, be once might have his will.

He woweth hir, but it availleth noght,

590 She wolde do no synne, by no were;

And for despit he compassed in his thoght

To maken hir on shameful deeth to deye.

He wayteth whan the constable was aweye

And pryvely upon a nyght he crepte

595 In Hermengyldes chambre whil she slepte.

He wooed her, but it all availed him naught;

590 She would not sin in any wise or way;

And, for despite, he plotted in his thought

To make her die a death of shame some day.

He waited till the warden was away,

And, stealthily by night, he went and crept

595 To Hermengild's bed-chamber, while she slept.

Wery, for-waked in hir orisouns,

Slepeth Custance, and Hermengyld also.

This knyght, thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns,

All softely is to the bed ygo,

600 And kitte the throte of Hermengyld atwo,

And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance,

And wente his wey, ther God yeve hym meschance!

Weary with waking for her orisons,

Slept Constance, and Dame Hermengild also.

This knight, by Satan's tempting, came at once

And softly to the bedside he did go.

600 And cut the throat of Hermengild, and so

Laid the hot reeking knife by fair Constance,

And went his way- where God give him mischance!

Next:
From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 603-630:
Constance is accused, but not yet convicted