Confessio Amantis Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857 edition. Excerpt: ... Constancieabepis- That thou with us ne be nought wroth, DomikfaiTincon- Though we such thing, as is the loth, Upon our trouthe certisie. Thy wife, whiche is of fairie, Of such a child delivered is Fro kinde, which stant all amis. But for it shulde nought be safe We have it kept out of the waie For drede of pure worldes shame, A pouer childe, and in the name Of thilke, whiche is so misbore, We toke and therto we be swore, That none but only you and we Shall knowen of this privete. Morice it hat, and thus men wene, That it was bore of the quene And of thine owne bodie gete. But this thing may nought be foryete, That thou ne sende us worde anone, What is thy wille therupon. This letter, as thou hast herd devise, Was counterfet in fuche a wise, That no man shulde it apperceive. And she, which thought to deceive, It laith, where she that other toke. This messanger, whan he awoke, And wist nothinge how it was, Arose and rode the great pas And toke his letter to the kinge. And whan he sigh this wonder thinge, He maketh the messanger no chere, But netheles in wise manere, He wrote ayein and yaf him charge, That they ne suffer nought at large His wife to go but kepe her still, Till they have herd more of his will. This messanger was yefteles, But with his letter netheles Or be him le fe or be him loth In alle haste ayeine he goth By Knaresburgh, and as he went, Unto the moder his entent Of that he fond toward the kinge He tolde, and she upon this thinge Saith, that he shulde abide all night And made him feste and chere aright, Feignend as though she couthe him thonke. But he with strong wine which he dronke Forth with the travaile of the day Was drunke aflepe, and while he lay, She hath his letters oversay And formed in an other way, There was a...