www.public4you.fora.pl

wywm299471

Beseeching him to do her the honour To let her have the Christian men to feast: "To entertain them will be my labour." The sultan said: "I'll be at your behest." And, kneeling, thanked her for that fair request, So glad he was he knew not what to say; She kissed her son, and homeward went her way. Explicit prima pars. Sequitur pars secunda. Arrived now are these Christian folk at land, In Syria, with a great stately rout, And hastily this sultan gave command, First to his mother and all the realm about, Saying his wife was come, beyond a doubt, And prayed her that she ride to meet the queen, That all due honour might be shown and seen. Great was the crush and rich was the array Of Syrians and Romans, meeting here; The mother of the sultan, rich and gay, Received her openarmed, with smiling cheer, As any mother might a daughter dear; And to the nearest city, with the bride, The Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales 99At gentle pace, right festively they ride. I think the triumph of great Julius, Whereof old Lucan make so long a boast, Was not more royal nor more curious Than was the assembling of this happy host. But this same Scorpion, this wicked ghost The old sultana, for all her flattering, Chose in that sign full mortally to sting. The sultan came himself, soon after this, So regally 'twere wonderful to tell, And welcomed her into all joy and bliss. And thus in such delight I let them dwell. The fruit of all is what I now shall tell. When came the time, men thought it for the best Their revels cease, and got them home to rest. The time came when this old sultana there Has ordered up the feast of which I told, Whereto the Christian folk did them prepare, The company together, young and old. There men might feast and royalty behold, With dainties more than I can e'en surmise; But all too dear they've bought it, ere they rise. O sudden woe! that ever will succeed On worldly bliss, infused with bitterness; That ends the joy of earthly toil, indeed; Woe holds at last the place of our gladness. Hear, now, this counsel for your certainness: Upon your most glad day, bear then in mind The unknown harm and woe that come behind.

[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
For, but to tell you briefly, in one word The sultan and the Christians, every one, Were all hewed down and thrust through at the board, Save the fair Lady Constance, she alone. This old sultana, aye, this cursed crone Has, with her followers, done this wicked deed, For she herself would all the nation lead. There was no Syrian that had been converted, Being of the sultan's council resolute, But was struck down, ere from the board he'd started And Constance have they taken now, hotfoot, And on a ship, of rudder destitute, They her have placed, bidding her learn to sail From Syria to Italy or fail. A certain treasure that she'd brought, they add, And, truth to tell, of food great quantity They have her given, and clothing too she had; And forth she sails upon the wide salt sea. O Constance mine, full of benignity, O emperor's young daughter, from afar He that is Lord of fortune be your star! She crossed herself, and in a pious voice The Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales 100Unto the Cross of Jesus thus said she: "O bright, O blessed Altar of my choice, Red with the Lamb's blood full of all pity, That washed the world from old iniquity, Me from the Fiend and from his claws, oh keep That day when I shall drown within the deep! "Victorious Tree, Protection of the true, The only thing that worthy was to bear The King of Heaven with His wounds so new, The White Lamb Who was pierced through with the spear, Driver of devils out of him and her Who on Thine arms do lay themselves in faith, Keep me and give me grace before my death!" For years and days drifted this maiden pure, Through all the seas of Greece and to the strait Of dark Gibraltar dier she adventure; On many a sorry meal now may she bait; Upon her death full often may she wait Before the wild waves and the winds shall drive Her vessel where it shall some day arrive. Men might well ask: But why was she not slain? And at that feast who could her body save? And I reply to that demand, again: Who saved young Daniel in the dreadful cave Where every other man, master and knave, Was killed by lions ere he might upstart? No one, save God, Whom he bore in his heart. God willed to show this wondrous miracle Through her, that we should see His mighty works; And Christ Who every evil can dispel, By certain means does oft, as know all clerks, Do that whereof the end in darkness lurks For man's poor wit, which of its ignorance Cannot conceive His careful purveyance.