From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 757-770

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

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 757-770: The king reads the letter and sends the messenger back with a return letter

	Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had sayn,
	But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore,
	But of his owene hand he wroot agayn:
760	"Welcome the sonde of Crist for everemoore
	To me, that am now lerned in his loore!
	Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce,
	My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce.

	Sad was the king when this letter he'd seen;
	But to no man he told his sorrows sore,
	But with his own hand he wrote back again:
760	"Welcome what's sent from Christ, for evermore,
	To me, who now am learned in his lore;
	Lord, welcome be thy wish, though hidden still,
	My own desire is but to do your will.

Kepeth this child, al be it foul or feire,

765 And eek my wyf, unto myn hoom-comynge;

Crist, whan hym list, may sende me an heir

Moore agreable than this to my likynge."

This lettre he seleth, pryvely wepynge,

Which to the messager was take soone

770 And forth he gooth, ther is namoore to doone.

Guard well this child, though foul it be or fair,

765 And guard my wife until my home-coming;

Christ, when he wills it, may send me an heir

More consonant than this with my liking."

This letter sealed, and inwardly weeping,

To the same messenger 'twas taken soon,

770 And forth he went; there's no more to be done.

Next:
From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 771-777:
A sermon on drunkenness