From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 729-742

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 708-728:
King Alla goes to war and Constance gives birth to a boy

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 729-742: A messenger is sent to the king, but the messenger goes to the king's mother first

	This messager, to doon his avantage,
730	Unto the kynges mooder rideth swithe,
	And salueth hir ful faire in his langage,
	"Madame," quod he, "ye may be glad and blithe,
	And thanketh God an hundred thousand sithe.
	My lady queene hath child, withouten doute,
735	To joye and blisse to al this regne aboute.

	This messenger, to forward his own ends,
730	To the king's mother rode with swiftest speed,
	Humbly saluting her as down he bends:
	"Madam," said he, "be joyful now indeed!
	To God a hundred thousand thanks proceed.
	The queen has borne a child, beyond all doubt,
735	To joy and bliss of all this land about.

Lo, heere the lettres seled of this thyng,

That I moot bere with al the haste I may.

If ye wol aught unto youre sone, the kyng,

I am youre servant both nyght and day."

740 Donegild answerde, "as now at this tyme, nay,

But heere al nyght I wol thou take thy reste,

Tomorwe wol I seye thee what me leste."

Lo, here are letters sealed that say this thing,

Which I must bear with all the speed I may;

If you will send aught to your son, the king,

I am your humble servant, night and day."

740 Donegild answered: "As for this time, nay;

But here tonight I'd have you take your rest;

Tomorrow I will say what I think best."

Next:
From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 743-756:
The letter to the king is falsified while the messenger sleeps