The Tale of Constance
A side by side comparison of
Gower and Chaucer
using
the modern English translations of
Richard Brodie
The Tale of Constance from
Confessio Amantis, Book 2
The Man of Law's Tale
from Canterbury Tales
Click on an episode to jump to
its starting point:
Syrian merchants in Rome
Sultan's resolution to marry the
Emperor's daughter
Treachery of the Sultaness
Journey to Northumberland
Conversion of the castle custodian and his wife
Perfidy of the rejected knight
Marriage to the King and the birth of a son
Treachery of the King's mother
Constance cast off to sea with her son
King's revenge on his mother (Chaucer)
Deliverance from being raped by the Muslim steward
Encounter with the senator's fleet
Life in Rome with the daughter of Salustes
King's revenge on his mother (Gower)
King's journey to Rome to seek absolution
King's encounter with his son
King's reunion with his wife
Reunion of Constance with her father
King's departure from Rome with his wife
Constance's final journey to her home
| Gower | Chaucer | |
| Roman Emperor Emperor's wife Emperor's daughter Syrian merchants Sultan 12 prince's sons Pope Cardinals Sultaness Saxon King King's attendant attendant's wife blind man British knight Bishop from Wales King's son King's mother messenger Saracen lord rapist Roman Senator Emperor's brother Daughter of Emperor's brother King's lieutenant |
Tiberius Constantine Italy Constance/Cousta --------- --------- --------- Pelagius --------- --------- Allee Elda (chamberlain) Hermyngeld --------- --------- Lucia Moris Domilda --------- --------- Thelous (Moorish steward) Arcenne Salustes Helene Edwin |
--------- xxxxxxx Custance --------- --------- xxxxxxx --------- xxxxxxx --------- Alla --------- (constable) Hermengild --------- --------- xxxxxxx Maurice/Mauricius Donegild --------- --------- --------- (steward) --------- --------- --------- xxxxxxx |
| Gower | Chaucer | |
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The moral qualities of the Roman
emperor and his daughter. Constance, through her great faith, converts Islamic merchants. Christianity and Islam contrasted. |
Fanfare with which Islamic merchants
are greeted by the Romans. The outward beauty and secular virtues of Custance. Syrian merchants take note of Custance's outward beauty. |
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A worthy Christian knight in Rome, As told in many an ancient tome, The ruling scepter’s right did claim; Tiberius Constantine his name, Whose wife was known as Italy. They had no child for progeny Except a single maid, and she Did please the Lord so well that He Did cause the world to know her fame And worshipfully praise her name. Constance, as history’s records state, She’s called, and filled with faith so great, That heathen Moslems of renown Who brought their wares to trade in town, She had converted, when to Rome From time to time unto her home They came to show all their supplies; Which at fair price she from them buys, But more than that, in such a way Her wise words she to them did say That of Christ’s faith they learned so well That they from their Islamic hell Did turn. For Christian truth they yearned, And from their false god, Allah, turned. When solid in the faith they grow, Back home to Barbary they go, |
A group of merchants, rich beyond compare, From Syria, were trustworthy and true, And any place they took their spicy fare, Their cloth of gold, their satins rich in hue, Folks found their stuff so useful and so new That they desired this merchandise so strange, And offered them their own goods in exchange. The leaders, it so happened, of these chaps Got ready on a trip to Rome to go For business or for pleasure - both perhaps; You’d think they’d send a messenger - but no; They came with no fanfare, but lots of dough. And in such place as serves their purpose they Take lodging where they for the night will stay. So long around this town these merchants tour, As they were entertained by its allure. And it so happened that the great renown Of dame Custance, child of the Emperor, Reported to the Syrians was, down To the last little detail in a way That I’ll relate to you, from day to day. The general opinion went like this: “Our Emperor of Rome - God give him bliss! - A daughter has, that all men would agree, Has beauty that’s impossible to miss; There’s never been another such as she. We pray that God her honor might sustain; A queen like this o’er Europe ought to reign. Though blessed with beauty, she’s not cursed with pride, No folly immature goes with her youth; In all her actions virtue is her guide; Humility she has, to equal Ruth. All courtesy reflects in her, and truth And piety and grace and honor shine, In her good deeds and character benign.” All of these things were true, as God is great. But now let’s get back to the point again. These merchants loaded on their ships new freight, And when they saw this maiden, all these men Content to Syria return, |
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In his characteristically
straightforward and linear approach, Gower begins by introducing the
principal character, Constance. He then sets the stage for a conflict
between antagonistic religions, Christianity which is good and true, and
Islam which is wicked and false. Constance's principal virtue is her
great faith. Of her outward beauty we will have to wait to learn from
the merchants, to whom such surface qualities are of paramount
importance. To Gower it is such an insignificant detail that he does not
even mention it. The power of her faith is concretely illustrated when
she uses the occasion of purchasing their goods as an chance to expound
the gospel, and these heathens are converted by her. Chaucer on the other hand begins by introducing the Syrian merchants, praising THEIR moral virtues and thus undercutting the dramatic possibilities inherent in a clear cut moral and ethical dichotomy of cultures. Constance is introduced as an incidental happenstance encounter with these strange, enchanting and filthy rich foreigners. The emphasis is on her physical beauty, and the only one of her many enumerated virtues that is not secular is the relatively bland "piety" (a more literal translation would be "her heart is a veritable pandora's box of holiness"). She makes no attempt to proselytize the merchants, and at this point for all we know she might be basically irreligious, and just putting on an expected pious exterior. From this brief introduction it is clear that Gower's intent is to teach, while Chaucer's is merely to entertain. The former speaks to an intellectually active, thinking audience; the latter to a passive audience seeking pleasant, uncontroversial diversion. |
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Sultan's curiosity about why merchants
left Islam. He hears reports of Constance's physical attractiveness. He sends delegation of 12 princes to Rome. Emperor and Pope send 2 cardinals to try and convert the Sultan. |
Sultan seeks to gain information on
the countries visited. Merchants describe Custance, and Sultan sets heart on marriage.. Sultan's preordained fate of death predicted. Council convened to consider marriage to an infidel. Objections raised concerning religious incompatibility. Sultan foreseeing success of Crusades ignores objections. Treaty signed between converting Sultan and Emperor. Preparations for Custance's departure. |
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And there the Sultan for them sent And asked them why they did consent Away from their first faith to turn. And they, who did their false faith spurn The true faith to accept and hold, The substance of her message told Unto the Sultan’s curious ear. And when of Constance he did hear, On asking of her form and face, The beauty she possessed and grace, Since he was in the mood to marry, With haste he moves and does not tarry; A marriage he proposes, and He says to have her he has planned, With true intentions in his heart; From Islam’s ways he will depart And follow Christ: this bargain signed, Both sides were of a single mind, And thereupon this deal to close The Sultan’s emissary goes With sons of princes twelve to Rome: Whereof the father in his home Rejoiced, and with the pope resolved That on two cardinals devolved The duty, with some lords to go With Constance to the Sultan so That they might see him find the light. |
and then Their business goes on, and they live quite well As always. There is no more I can tell. It happened that they all stood in good graces Of him who as the Sultan there did reign; And when they came back home from foreign places, Out of his graciousness he’d entertain, And see what information he could gain About the countries where they’d been; he’s keen To learn of wonders that they’d heard or seen. Of many things they spoke, but dame Custance They did describe at such great length that he Began to feel the stirrings of romance. This Sultan thought on her with such great glee, All his ambition was with her to be. All his concern, all his desire intense Was her to love while he had life and sense. It’s written in that big book in the sky Which men call heaven, in the stars, alas! This Sultan for the sake of love would die. Ere birth it’s known how from this life we’ll pass, For in the stars, much clearer far than glass, Is written, for those who can make it out, The death of every man, without a doubt. The stars told, like the writing on a tomb, The death of Hector, and Achilles too, Pompeii, and Julius while in the womb; Who down, in Thebes, great Hercules would hew, And when the life of Socrates was through. But men’s wits are so very dull, indeed, The meaning they cannot completely read. The Sultan with his privy council met, And very briefly to pass over this, He told unto them how his heart was set, And said , “If I cannot enjoy the bliss Within a little time to have this Miss, I’ll come to grief.” He asked if they might find A plan to lift this burden off his mind. Each of these men had different things to say; They argue back and forth, as every one Gives reasons black and white, and shades of gray; Of hope, some think in magic there’s a ray. But finally, when all is said and done, That these things will not work, they all decide; He’ll simply have to take her for his bride. But on reflection they soon realize, To say what’s plain in everybody’s eyes, The problems with religion this would cause, With radically divergent holy laws. They thought, “No Christian prince would think it wise To wed his child in the Islamic ways Mohammed taught - to Allah be all praise!” To all of this he said, “Before I lose Custance, I’ll have in Christ my faith confessed. I must be hers; no other may I choose. I pray you, give your arguments a rest; To get her for me, you must try your best, For on her all my happiness depends; Without her all my joy in living ends.” Need words be multiplied about this? Nay. I say, by statesmanship and treaties signed, And by the blessing of the pope this day, That all crusaders, who are of one mind, That hell’s streets with idolaters be lined, And that Christ’s law be spread both far and near, Agree in unison, as you shall hear: This Sultan should, along with every sheik And servant in his kingdom christened be; He then the hand of dame Custance may take, And gold, I know not in what quantity, Along with pledges, as a guarantee. All swore to this agreement on each side; Now, fair Custance, may God thy footsteps guide. Now some men might expect, as I suppose, That of those preparations I should tell Made by the Emperor, whose greatness shows In all of the expense to which he goes For dame Custance; but men should know quite well That no man in a few words could relate All that was done for an affair so great. Bishops had been appointed to attend; Ladies and lords, and knights of great renown, But not much more to tell do I intend. It is made known to all throughout the town That everyone should on their knees go down, And pray that Jesus Christ this bond will bless, And to their homeward voyage lend success. |
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Gower continues to focus on the
religious. The Sultan shows an interest in learning why the merchants
converted away from Islam, and they relate to him the substance of
Constance's Christian message. But his romantic interest in her is
stirred more by reports of her physical beauty and poise, than by any
appreciation for the power of her faith. He protests that it is with
"true intentions" that he determines to convert to Christ, if that is
what it will take to be able to marry her! When a little later we learn
of similar "true intentions" on the part of the Sultaness - to be
supportive of his apostacy - we will be led to wonder whether this is a
case of "like mother, like son." He leads what has the appearance of a
political delegation of Syrian princes to Rome. His interest in
converting intrigues the Emperor, who sends his own delegation of
powerful Empire figures to assist Constance in effecting his conversion.
With all of this taking place at a time when Crusaders are attempting to
repulse Muslim incursions into Christian Europe, one can only guess as
to the nature of the calculations motivating the behavior and actions of
these two monarchs. In stark contrast Chaucer's focus is strictly on the secular. He praises the virtues of the Sultan, portraying him as "gracious" and having a cosmopolitan interest in the "wonders" of those foreign cultures the merchants may have visited. He is portrayed not just as claiming to have honorable intentions, but as being genuinely swept off his feet by many-faceted reports of Constance, reports which are not necessarily only about her appearance. In fact his love for her is said to have been written in the stars which even foretell that he will die for the sake of it. In contrast to the strong and decisive character portrayed by Gower, Chaucer's Sultan has to call his advisers together to come up with a plan of action that will allow him to fulfill his desires for her. There is intense debate over the advisability of a marriage that attempts to span such a wide cultural and religious gap. He tires of their arguing, but still demands that they relieve him of the burden of coming up with a solution to his dilemma on his own. By some unspecified maneuvering an agreement is reached between the two countries regarding a marriage, with an implication that one motivation at least, on the part of the Syrians, might have been to achieve a union that would bring an end to the Crusaders "lining the streets of Hell with idolators." |
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Sultaness resolves to frustrate the
marriage. She feigns happiness and requests permission to put on feast. Hidden confederates slay everyone celebrating except Constance. Constance's reaction to the Islamic bloodletting. Sultaness has her put into a rudderless ship and cast out to sea. |
Custance's grief about going to live
among Muslims. Astrological premonitions of disaster. Custance's resignation to her fate. Sultaness's outrage at son's conversion from Islam. Her deceptively treacherous and evil plan. Sultan, Christians, and all Syrian converts hacked to pieces. Custance is spared and cast off to live long in lonely terror. |
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But that which malice does incite, Envy, began to rear its head Distress to bring to those who’d wed, In stealth so none would be aware. The one who did this Sultan bear Was still alive, and thought: ‘If he Who is my son would married be Unto an infidel this way, Then all my joy is gone this day, For I shall surely live in shame.’ Thus thinking, it became her aim Deceptively her son to bait; And so she for a time did wait, Till they to slumbering were near, And then she whispered in his ear, And in this way began to say: ‘My son, with all my heart today In two ways I am pleased and glad, For many times for you I’ve had A wish that you would, as men say, Receive a brand new way to pray, That would bring profit to your life: And gain so worshipful a wife, The daughter of a ruling king; To wed her will much honor bring. Therefore, my son, I’d ask of you, That when my daughter her debut Does make, that by your leave I may, In honor of that special day, As is most fitting, be the one Who makes the first feast for my son To hail and welcome his new bride.’ To humor her he did decide, And for that she was glad enough. For under all the genial bluff Of her false words she laid a black Design of death behind his back. And thereupon at her command, When Constance with her Roman band Their citizens and clergy came, This treacherous deceitful dame A lavish feast for them had spread; And when they all were finely fed, With false confederates concealed Her hidden Envy was revealed, And all of those who privately Or in the open did agree This evil marriage to permit, She had slain in a sudden fit Along the table, everyone, The marriage to prevent; her son The fate of death, at her behest, Did suffer as did all the rest. But what God with his holy arm Will spare may never come to harm. This worthy maiden which was here Stood, as they say, near death from fear, To see what festal was before, Had now turned into blood and gore. The cups and all the the dishes there With blood were covered everywhere. She saw them die on every side; No wonder that she wept and cried Sobbing with many a woeful moan. When all were slain but her alone, Then this old pagan Saracen, Did give command to all her men To take this maiden born of kings, Unto a ship, with all her things, An empty vessel, rudderless, For her and all she did possess, Provisioned for five years, no less; And at the mercy of the gales, Upon the wild waves off she sails. |
The day is finally come for her to leave; That woeful, fatal day, a day to grieve. No longer may they linger; all must start To make their preparations to depart. Custance’s heart’s nigh breaking, I believe; Face pale with sorrow she prepares to pack, For well she sees there is no turning back. It is no wonder that she feels ensnared, She who unto a foreign land must come, Away from friends who fondly for her cared, With one whose heart to her has not been bared, And there in bondage live beneath his thumb. Husbands have always been regarded good; Especially where the women wear a hood. “Father, Custance thy wretched child.” she cried, “Thy daughter whom so tenderly you raised, And mother, thou my greatest joy beside Dear Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose name be praised, Custance, who must in Syria reside, Can but commend herself unto your graces, For ne’er again shall I behold your faces. “Alas, unto barbaric nations I Must now depart, since for me that’s your will; But Jesus Christ, who for our sins did die, Grace give me his commandments to fulfill! They very well may this poor woman kill, For we are born to servitude and pain, And life subjected to a husband’s reign.” Not when Thebe’s wall Achilles’ son did pierce, Nor when Troy’s topless towers were aflame, Nor when bold Hannibal, with armies fierce, Three times brave Roman legions put to shame, Was e’er such piteous weeping heard as came Out of her chamber as the time to go Drew nigh, but go she must, in joy or woe. O cruel firmament! O primal force, Driving inexorably from day to day All things, from east unto the west, a course In opposition to their natural way. Thine influence set forces into play Upon that day when anchors up they pull, Allowing Mars this marriage to annul. Unfortunate ascending evil sphere, Auguring ill this hapless ruler’s place, Rising unto the darkest house of fear! O Mars, thou planet dominating here! O moon, unhappy is thy feeble pace! In an unwelcome house thou dost intrude, Far from where thou art favorably viewed. Thou Emperor of Rome short-sighted! Brother! You’ve no astrologers? Give me a break! Is one time just as good as any other? No inauspicious time a voyage to take When high-placed people’s fortunes are at stake, And when the date precise of birth you know? Alas, we’re stupid, or in wit too slow! Unto the ship is brought this woeful maid With ceremonies not exactly gay! “Now Jesus Christ be with you all!” she prayed. “Farewell Custance!” is all that’s left to say. She tries her best the happy girl to play. I leave her sailing, as the tide doth swell, And now of other kinds of currents tell. This Sultan’s mother really is bad news! Her son’s intention to convert she sees, How rituals Islamic he’ll refuse. A meeting of her council she decrees; They come to hear and rubber-stamp her views. And when those men were gathered all around, She sat down, and as follows did expound: She said, “Of those assembled here, each lord Knows that my son’s intending to forsake The laws Mohammed, prophet of the sword, Recorded in the Koran. Now I make One promise unto God, this vow I take: First from my body shall the life depart Before Mohammed’s teachings leave my heart! “What should this new religion to us give But slavery on earth, and suff’ring too; And then forever we in hell shall live, Since to Mohammed’s faith we were untrue? But lords, will you assure me that you’ll do As I shall say - praise unto Allah be - And I shall save us from this heresy?” Down to the very last man they did swear To stand with her and die - no man was mute. So one and all they promised they would dare To strengthen her, and all their friends recruit; For she this Christian heresy would boot Out of an Arab and Islamic land; So to them she revealed what she had planned: “Acceptance, first, of Christendom we’ll fake - Cold water for a while we can endure - And I shall such a festive party make As payback for the Sultan to ensure. For though his wife be white, naïve, and pure, A whole baptismal font she’d better bring To cleanse the crimson of my caustic sting!” O Sultaness, fount of iniquity! Thou Virago, thou Semiramis Two! Snake, in the cloak of femininity, Just like that viper deep in hell are you In woman’s guise! Thy malice can fordo All innocence and virtue, for thou art A nest of every vice, bred in thine heart! O Satan, jealous since thou wert expelled From heaven’s heritage, cast down to hell. A woman’s way of old thou knowest well! Eve thou enticed, and humankind was felled; This Christian marriage you would like to quell. Women are, since the time of man’s inception Thine instrument, when times call for deception. This Sultaness, whom I thus blame and curse, Quietly had her council go their way. This tale should I belabor to rehearse? She rides to meet the Sultan one fine day, And said aside Mohammed she would lay; A Christian to become, she would elect; From her false pagan faith she would defect. That she might have the honor, she requests A feast to make, the Christian folks to feed - “I’ll try my best to please them as my guests.” “According to your will shall be my deed,” He says, “and thanks for thinking of their need.” Speechless he was to hear her talk like this. She leaves, but first gives him an adder’s kiss. The Christian party from their ship descends On Syrian soil, a large and solemn band; His messenger this Sultan quickly sends First to his mother, then throughout the land, And that his queen’s arrival is at hand Proclaims, and bids her come and see his wife, And thus help to forestall potential strife. The crowd was large, all richly dressed were they, With Syrians beside the Roman race; The Sultan’s mother, richly robed and gay, Receives her, as she feigns a happy face, As mother’s might a daughter new embrace; And to the nearest city, side by side, Unhurriedly and solemnly they ride. No Caesar in triumphal glory greeted, As Lucan liked to boast about, compares In splendor to the way in which was feted This happy host who ride on royal chairs. This scorpion, though innocent her airs, This Sultaness, 'neath all her flattering, Had planned a very deadly, mortal sting. Up with these ladies soon the Sultan meets; How royally arrayed I can’t express. His mother whom he loves and trusts he greets. I leave their mirth and joy for you to guess, As the denouement of this I address. The time came when they thought it would be best To cease festivities, and all should rest. The Sultaness, who her true motive cloaks, Gives signals as the time for feasting nears, And to the feast come all the Christian folks, Those bent with age, and youths of tender years. All toast the Sultaness with shouts of: “Cheers!” Delicious dainties are before them placed, But all will soon Islamic terror taste. O sudden woe, that always seems to follow With bitterness close on the heels of bliss, And makes our worldly happiness seem hollow! The end of gladness is in grief to wallow. Now for thy safety hearken unto this: When everything seems rosy keep in mind The unexpected pain that’s close behind. To tell you just as briefly as I’m able, The Sultan and all Christians, God’s elect, Are hacked to pieces sitting at the table; Lady Custance alone does God protect. Allah be praised? What else can you expect But carnage in the name of Islam’s Lord, When a false faith is founded on the sword! All Syrians who to the Sultan’s new Religion did convert, ere they could flee, And save their lives, were hacked to pieces too; And then Custance they took down to the sea. Set in a ship without a rudder, she Was told to teach herself to catch a gale, Back home to Italy alone to sail. Her Christian treasures they unto her give; Plenty of food and clothing they provide, That she in lonely terror long might live, And forth she sails upon the salty tide. |
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| For three years God steers ship to castle on the Humber. |
Custance's prayers for protection and
salvation. One year's journey to Gibraltar. Suggestion of God's purpose in preserving her. Her preservation likened to Daniel and Jonas. Her food and drink lasting so long likened to Christ feeding the five thousand. Journey of unspecified time in Atlantic to Northumberland castle. |
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But He whose mercy never fails, Three years, till she was blown to land, Did steer the ship with His own hand Which to Northumberland He’d guide. Beneath a castle, with the tide, It happened that she came to land, Which on the Humber’s bank did stand, |
O my Custance, so full of good inside, O Emperor’s young child, his joy and pride, May God thy rudder be, thy fortunes guide. Custance herself did bless, with piteous voice; Unto the cross of Christ she this did say: “Thou altar where disciples true rejoice, Red with the blood which for our sins did pay, And washed the sins of ages all away, Safe from the devil’s claws wilt thou me keep, That day when I shall perish in the deep. Victorious tree, protection of the pure, Worthy alone the bleeding King to bear, As He exquisite suff’ring must endure, The spotless Lamb, whose flesh the spear did tear, Who banished demons from men everywhere, To thee in fervent prayer my knees are bent, Guard me and give me power to repent.” This creature floats around almost a year Upon the Sea, till to Gibraltar’s Strait She finally comes - this was her fate I fear. Unappetizing were the meals she ate; Her fear of drowning in the sea was great; Ere she was washed ashore she’d often think: “Beneath the surging waves I’ll surely sink!” Well might men ask: “How come she was not slain Like all the others? Who could her life spare? And in reply I give this answer plain: Who rescued Daniel from the lion’s lair Where none else did so fortunately fare, But who, ere they could flee, were torn apart? Those with the love of God within their heart. A miracle most wondrous God will show In her, that men His mighty works may see; Christ, who is balm for every injury, By certain means oft, as a priest would know, Does something for a certain reason we In ignorance fall short of comprehending, Unable to foresee His prudent ending. Already from the sword, her God did save; Who spares her now from drowning in the sea? Who Jonas, in the fish, from Neptune’s grave Kept till at Nineveh spewn out was he? None other than, as wise men all agree, He who the Hebrews, through the surging flood On dry ground brought, where once there was wet mud. Who bade the four tempestuous winds to cease That have the power to harm both land and sea, From north, south, east, and west, commanding, “Peace! Bring harm to neither sea, nor land, nor tree”? Surely the one who ordered that would be The same who made sure that Custance stayed dry, And did not when awake or sleeping die. How could this woman’s food and drink have lasted So many months at sea? Were Christ not there, In Egypt’s desert Mary would have fasted. Five thousand hungry followers no fare Would have enjoyed, but them with food to spare, With five loaves and two fishes He did feed. God sent His plenty in their time of need. Into the wild Atlantic she is driven, Till to the British Isles she comes at last Next to a castle whose name can’t be given, Far in Northumberland by waves she’s cast, And in the sand her ship got stuck so fast That it would stay put at the highest tide; It was Christ’s will that she should here reside. |
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King Allee's chamberlain Elda
discovers Constance and her riches. She refuses to identify herself He and wife Hermyngeld decide to take her in. Custance's dismay at lack of Christianity in the land. Hermyngeld converts from Constance's teaching. Hermyngild responds to blind man's request for a healing. Seeing this miracle, Elda converts. |
Unnamed constable of the castle
discovers Custance and her treasure. She claims bewilderment from long voyage impaired her recollection. His wife Hermengild's affection for Custance. Custance prays for and converts Hermengild. Blind underground Christian requests Hermengild to heal him. Hermengild is reluctant for fear of offending husband. Custance's encouragement and preaching lead to constable's conversion. |
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And that was where the king, Allee, As he was called, resided. He A Saxon was, a worthy knight, But He did not believe aright. The chamberlain as Elda known Attendant to the royal throne, An honorable man and just, When he saw where the waves had thrust The solitary ship, he sends His men to go, for he intends The situation to assay. This was upon a summer’s day, They searched and found the lady there. Of this, soon Elda was aware And with his wife toward this lass He goes anon, and they a mass Of treasure and of riches see. But wholly disinclined was she, To tell them what she was. But when They saw her plight decided then Out of the ship with great regard To take her in to be their ward, For in her they took great delight. But she had no joy at the sight Of such a land, at which she frowned, Where Christendom could not be found. But as her needs were all supplied, With them in peace she did reside. Dame Hermyngeld, who was the wife Of Elda, did as her own life This Constance love; it happened that, As they did oft together chat, Through God’s grace which did them surround The faith this maiden did expound Unto this wife so perfectly, That when, one day of fasting, she Was with her husband as they each Went walking down along the beach, A blind man, which to her was led, Did cry unto this wife and pled, With both his hands up in the air And uttered unto her this prayer: ‘O Hermyngeld, who has believed What Constance taught, and has received The faith of Christ, my sight restore.’ His words did pierce her to the core; And thinking what was best to do, Responding to what he did sue She said, ‘With faith in Christ’s true way, Whom they upon the cross did slay, Thou sightless man, behold and see.’ Then unto God upon his knee He for his sight gave thanks in prayer, At which all marveled who were there, But Elda was the most impressed. This thing that his own eyes attest Which could in no way be denied, Made him for Jesus Christ decide. |
The castle’s constable came and assessed This wreck, wherein for valuables he sought, And found this woman weary and distressed; He also found the treasure that she brought. And in her native tongue her drift he caught, That he could take her life, for all she cared, For then more pain and woe she would be spared. She spoke a Latin dialect impure, But he could nonetheless her understand. When of this vessel he did end his tour, This woeful woman brought he onto land. She knelt and thanked God for his guiding hand; But who she was to none would she reveal For anything - in death her lips she’d seal. She was bewildered so upon the sea, She said, her recollection was impaired. Such pity had the constable that he With his good wife did weep; for her they cared. She was so diligent, and nothing spared To serve and please all living in that place, That all do love her who look on her face. This constable and Lady Hermengild, His wife, were pagans as was every Celt; But Hermengild with love for her was filled. Custance, who for so long with her had dwelt Did offer many a tearful prayer heartfelt, Until Dame Hermengild for Jesus yearns, And through His grace into a Christian turns. In all that land to meet, no Christian dared; All Christian folk had from that country fled Because the pagan armies so well fared In northern coastal regions. It is said All Christian folks from there to Wales did head, Those Britons old who dwelt upon this land; There was the refuge for that little band. But Christian Britons were not so suppressed That some did not in secret congregate To honor Christ - the heathens never guessed! Three such resided near the castle gate, And one of these, since blindness was his fate, Sees only with his mind’s eye, so to speak - God’s substitute for sight when eyes grow weak. The sun shone brightly one fine summer’s day, On which the constable his wife did take, And with Custance went by the shortest way Down to the sea to walk around and play, And from their daily routine take a break. While there, into this blind man they did bump, Eyes tightly shut, and on his back a hump. “In Jesus’ name,” this sightless Briton said, “Dame Hermengild, my sight to me restore!” This lady was, at these words, filled with dread, For fear her husband might with her be sore, And for Christ’s love his wrath upon her pour, Until Custance to challenge her made bold, To serve Christ as a daughter in His fold. The constable this outburst thought bizarre, And said, “What is the meaning of this noise?” “With Christ’s great pow’r this for the course is par.” Custance replied, “Whom Lucifer annoys, To help defend folks Jesus Christ enjoys.” So forcefully His doctrine she asserted, By evening was the constable converted. |
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Elda goes to tell the king about
Constance, and he agrees to meet her. Elda requests a knight to go and make ready for the king. Knight contemplates romantic possibilities. Realizing the futility of it, envy possesses him. He cuts Hermygild's throat and plants knife to incriminate Constance. Elda returns to find wife dead and wakens Constance who faints. Knight accuses Constance, swearing on "a book." God smites him, popping out his eyeballs; he confesses and dies. Elda's great pain over the loss of his wife. |
Constable watches castle while Alla is
fighting the Scots. Satan sends a lustful knight to woo Custance. He attempts courtship but Custance prefers to remain undefiled. When constable is away he cuts sleeping Hermengild's throat. He plants knife beside Custance. Constable returns with king Alla and finds wife slain. Knight accuses Custance who pleads for justice. Custance prays for deliverance. Alla requires knight to swear on British book with four gospels. God's hand smite's him, bursting out his eyeballs, but sparing his life. Custance uses this miracle to convert many including the king. Alla has knight executed, which causes Custance great pain |
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Now listen to what came to be. Forth Elda went the king to see; The next day he was underway, While Hermyngeld at home did stay With Constance and in peace did dwell. Elda, who’d please his lord, would tell, Since he remained a single king, Of Constance plainly everything As well and fully as he could. The king was glad and said he would Come on the strength of this report To meet her and perhaps to court, So on a time they did decide. Elda did in a knight confide Who from his childhood he had known And with him into manhood grown. Before him all his thoughts he sets, Whereof he later had regrets; For him to ride, he now did ask, Unto his wife to give the task Of making ready everything In preparation for the king. And said that it was his intent To come himself to this event, And bade him go and timely be. And so this knight rode forth, but he Already, when he heard that she So lovely was, was thinking of A way in which to win her love. But when he knew it was no use, He felt his lust for her reduce, And what was love turned into hate; And this great Envy did create, So that a treacherous deceit He planned with enmity replete. He hurries home without delay. To Elda's wife he does convey The message which her husband sent: And then a whole long day they spent Attempting all things to prepare, Arranging things with special care To cause a king to take delight; And when the day turned into night, Down in her bed this lady laid, Where she did sleep with this fair maid. This false knight hung around; he stayed Till they were both asleep, for he Would take his time till he could see His dastardly appointment kept; And to the bed he softly crept, Where he knew Elda’s woman slept, And in his hand he had a knife, And cut the throat of Elda’s wife, Then quietly the knife he laid Under the bed with bloody blade, 'Neath Constance on the other side. Elda came home that night and tried To be as quiet as he could, With covered light so that he would Not wake his wife; his footsteps led Into the room where he, in bed, His bleeding wife discovered dead, Right next to Constance, who was still Asleep; and Elda feeling ill Aloud did cry, and startled she Arose and looked around to see This lady lying bleeding here, And fainted dead away from fear, And she was still as any stone, And thereupon in rending tone Throughout the castle sound his cries, And all abruptly did arise. And all into the chamber went. But he, who was on lies intent, This false knight, wickedly did state Of Hermyngeld's most ghastly fate That Constance did the evil deed; Then to the bed he did proceed When his false speech was at an end, And there he searching did pretend, And found the knife beneath the bed Where he had hidden it, and said, ‘Lo, see this knife all bloody here! No need to ask more. All is clear’ Thus he assails her innocence Among this gathered audience With false words which the truth disguise. For all his skill in telling lies, Still Elda thought he smelled a rat: Upon which it so happened that This knight a book did notice there; And on it he to God did swear, That to all men it might be shown, ‘Now by this book, let it be known That Constance bears the guilt alone.’ With that the hand of God him smote, Which did his perjury denote, So hard that both his eyeballs fled As in that instance from his head They both popped out and hit the ground. As they fell down a voice did sound, ‘O thou man damned to hell,’ it blared For slandering you’ll not be spared, For Constance, I avenge your lie: Confess the truth before you die.’ And he admitted how he’d lied, And with his tale at once he died. Into the ground, where all men go This lady buried was. Although The honor of Elda was not stained, His sorrow could not be contained. |
This constable in no way was the master Of this place where Custance he rescued, and In wintertime he warded off disaster Under king Alla of Northumberland, Who deftly does a mighty force command Against the Scots, as well may people learn; But now unto my subject I’ll return. Satan is always trying to trip us up; Custance’s goodness fills him with disgust; He plots, with bitterness to fill her cup, And makes a young knight notice her with lust, Who wants her so, to sleep with her he must. He dreams of how he’d love with her to lie, And thinks, “I’ll have my way with her or die!” He tries to win her, but to no avail; No way would she to any sin descend. And out of malice, since his efforts fail, He plots to make her meet a shameful end. And to his wicked business to attend He waits until the constable’s away And creeps in where the sleeping ladies lay. Custance was sound asleep from all her prayers, And right beside her Hermengild was too. This knight, entrapped in one of Satan’s snares, Sneaks toward the bed, the work of Hell to do, And slashed the throat of Hermengild. A clue To frame Custance, the bloody knife, was laid Beside her, may he by God’s grief be paid! This constable back home returns, and he’s With king Alla, whose company he kept. His good wife mercilessly slain he sees, For which he wrung his hands in grief and wept, And found the bloody knife, where she had slept, By Dame Custance, who suffered pain untold; Beset with woe, she could not be consoled. The king was told of this great tragedy, The time, location, and the manner too, Where in a ship Custance they first did see, As you have all been told before by me. With pity was the king’s heart filled to view A creature whom God with such goodness blessed, Fallen in such misfortune, and distressed. For as the lamb unto its death is led, So stands this innocent before the king. This lying knight, whose hands with blood are red, Does in this case false testimony bring Against this woman who for justice pled. The people mourned, for they could not believe Custance could such a wicked crime conceive. For they’d all noticed how her virtue shone, And Hermengild loved, more than her own life. All said, “To such a crime she’d not be prone.” All, that is, but this lying knight alone, Who Hermengild did murder with his knife. King Alla all these witnesses inspire; Now for the truth he deeper would enquire. No champion for poor Custance, it seems; And for herself - alas! - she cannot fight. But he who died, and thereby us redeems, And has in Hell bound Satan by his might, Be thou her champion in this her plight! A miracle must all see clearly from Christ Jesus, or to grief she’ll surely come. She knelt down on her knees, and thus she prayed: “Immortal God, that didst Susannah save From accusations false, and thou, kind maid, Mary, who birth unto the Savior gave, While hosts of angels heavenly music played, If in this felony I have no guilt, Help me, and spare me dying if thou wilt!” You may, among a mob, have seen this thing: The face, white as a sheet, of one who knows That he unto the gallows goes to swing; The color in his face, at his life’s close, That he’s the one in trouble clearly shows, Among all other faces in the crowd; So stands Custance, and looks at all the proud. O queens, who live in luxury’s soft lap, O duchesses, all of a royal race, Into the wellsprings of thy pity tap! A princess stands alone here in this place, And there is no one who can plead her case. In trouble, she who royal blood does boast, Far from her friends is, when she needs them most! Compassion this king Alla’s heart so moves, His noble breast with pity overflows, And water down his cheeks from his eyes goes. “Go fetch a book, and if this young knight proves, By swearing on it, that he really knows Exactly how this woman she did slay, We’ll see what for herself she has to say. A British book that had the gospels four Was fetched, and on this book anon he swore That she was guilty, and at once a hand Came out of nowhere, with a blow so sore Upon his neck that down he tumbled, and Out of their sockets bursted forth each eye, As every person there could testify. And then a voice by everyone was heard, That said, “Thou hast defamed a guiltless daughter Of God’s most holy church. Now hear My word: In spite of this, I shall refrain from slaughter!” The crowd was terrified when this occurred; Each of them stood bewildered and amazed, Except Custance alone, who was not fazed. Great was the dread of those who now repent That of Custance they had suspected guilt - That pure and holy, blessed innocent. Upon this miracle much faith was built, And its effect Custance played to the hilt. The king and many others there, through her, Thanks be to Jesus Christ, converted were. This false knight for his perfidy was slain, As Alla’s judgment quickly did require; And yet his death did cause Custance great pain. |
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King arrives, converts to Christianity
to gain Constance's favor.. King tries to find out more about her, but is unsuccessful. Bishop of Wales invited to perform marriage ceremony. She conceives; Allee goes off to war; Moris is born. |
Jesus inspires Alla to desire Custance
and he marries her. The king's mother, Donegild, is unhappy with his marriage to a foreigner. Wedding briefly described; details of wedding night. Custance conceives; Alla goes off to war; Mauricius is born. |
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Then two days later came the king, As was agreed; whereon the thing That had occurred they did relate, How at the knight God was irate. He thought about it hard except His words unto himself he kept. His whole affection he did lay On Constance, and this he did say: That for her love, if she agreed He'd be baptized and in Christ's creed Believe, and in addition he Proclaimed that she his wife would be, Whereon they both agreed to court. And then, to make a long tale short, There came a Bishop out of Wales, Lucia who from Bangor hails, Who by that which God's grace avails The king had christened, and between These two, a monarch and his queen, The marriage he did solemnize. But neither rage nor curious eyes The truth about her from her pries. But still the king was satisfied With how things were with his new bride. For he well knew and understood That she was noble, pure, and good. And He who nature did create Did visit her; that she was great With child by her new mate Allee Was obvious for all to see, About which did this happy king His thanks to God in heaven bring. And at that time intent was he Upon a war and he must be Away; But while engaged in strife, He left at home to watch his wife Two men whose holiness he knew, The Bishop from Wales and Elda too. And with a force he goes to fight Against the Scottish that he might Pursue the war they did incite. The time is come that nature set: When Constance would a son beget, Her chamber was this lady's choice, Wherein she greatly did rejoice, And gave birth without incident. The Bishop, as the custom went, Baptized him; Moris was his name: |
Then through his mercy Jesus did inspire This king for sweet Custance to feel desire, And so a marriage feast he does convene; And thus did Jesus make Custance a queen. To tell the truth, this wedding one displeased. Just Donegild, the mother of the king, Controlling and opinionated, seized Upon this opportunity to bring Objections up, as to most anything. It was an insult to the family name, She thought, for him to wed this foreign dame. About the chaff and bran I shall not tell, But get right to the kernel of the tale. On all the royalty I will not dwell, Who to the marriage came, nor on the ale, Nor food, nor entertainment, in detail. I’ll get right to the substance, if I may: They eat, and drink, and dance, and sing, and play. As was appropriate, they went to bed; For though in holy things wives put much stock, They must at night by carnal lust be led And not at certain special favors balk That will a husband’s world with pleasure rock. Their holiness aside they need to set, For that’s as good as it is going to get. So she conceives as they together lay; A bishop and his constable he charges To be her guardians, while he’s away To Scotland, on his enemies to prey. Custance with patience while her womb enlarges, Waits humbly, by temptations not enticed, And in her room abides the will of Christ. The time arrives - a baby boy she bears; Mauricius they christen him with joy. |
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Letter sent to the king to tell of
baby's birth. Messenger stays with Allee's mother at Knaresborough. Domilda pretends to be happy about the baby. She secretly changes message, saying baby is a freak. King reads letter, and replies to be privately discreet till he returns. Messenger again stops at the king's mother's house. She gets him drunk and changes the kings message. The king is made to appear fearful of losing his throne over this. and that they have four days to cast her and the child to sea. |
Missive composed to inform king of
baby's birth. Courier goes to Donegild, hoping to get paid for letting her add something. She gets him drunk and changes message to say that the baby is a freak. The king reads letter, and replies that he accepts child as God's will. Messenger again gets drunk at Donegild's house on the way back. The king's message is changed, without indicating his motivation, to say that they have one week to shove her and the child out to sea. |
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And this event they would proclaim With letters sent unto her lord, Which they all duly did record, Who were the keepers of the queen. And he who'd be the go between, The messenger, whose route would be Through Knaresborough, there did he Arrive the first day, where he found The mother of Allee, the crowned; And as Domilda she was known, By whom destruction's seeds were sown. For he, who'd thanks and wages rate, Goes to this lady to relate His message of the newborn boy. She listened with pretended joy And him rewarded handsomely. But in the night all secretly She took the letters he did bring, And point by point changed everything, As she was utterly untrue, And in their place wrote something new, And thus as follows went her speech: 'Our liege and lord, we thee beseech That with us you'll not angry be, Though what is loath to thee do we Attest, on our good faith we stand. Thy wife, who is from fairy land, Has given birth unto a kid At odds with nature, whom we hid Away; So that no one would peer, We've kept it under wraps for fear That we would be the butt of shame. A common child we gave the name Of such as she did misconceive, A ruse that all but us believe; We've sworn that only we, our king, Shall know about this secret thing. Moris it's name, thus men assume That it came from the queen's own womb And was of thine own self begotten. But this thing may not be forgotten, And so we all shall wait until You send us word as to thy will.' This letter, as you've heard was spun, Was counterfeited such that none Would realize that anything Was wrong: And she who would the king Deceive, did substitute it. When This messenger awoke he then, Not knowing what it had inside, Arose and crossed the great divide And took this letter to the king. And when he saw this dreadful thing, He made no outward show of pain, But in a manner most humane In turn he wrote, and gave them charge That they not suffer her at large To go about, but keep her still, Till they have heard more of his will. This messenger received no pay, But with this letter anyway, Whether or not it pleased him, back He goes in haste along the track To Knaresborough, where he went Unto the mother, there he meant To tell how he had found the king; And she, when she had heard this thing, Decided she would him invite To feast and revel for the night, Pretending like she him would thank. But he from strong wine which he drank And his exhaustion from the day Fell sleeping drunk, and while he lay, She took his letter from Allee And formed another forgery. Thus wrote Domilda's pen untrue: 'It's my desire you know that through The secret kept by both of you My own demise might well ensue, My fate to be a king deposed. If it is by all men supposed, That my wife Constance is possessed, And if I, so they say distressed, To cast her off decline to choose, My kingship I will surely lose; But added unto this they say, Her child shall not among them stay, And no inheritance shall claim. In this I nothing see but shame; If she stays all will come to naught. From every angle I have thought On this unhappy mishap, and Now sadly I must you command, That you provision and equip, For her and for her son, that ship In which she first arrived, inside Of which her and her child shall ride, And bring it down unto the deep Entrusting her the sea to keep. To do this you're allowed four days, Be certain there are no delays, Or surely all your lives I'll take.' |
The constable a missive then prepares To tell Alla how blissfully affairs Have gone, that he’s the father of a boy, And other happy tidings of the day. A courier’s then sent forth on his way. In hopes that there might be some profit in it, This messenger to Donegild first rides. Smooth talking, where there’s money he can win it: “Madame, you may be happy,” he confides, “And thank the Lord, who all men’s fortunes guides! The queen has borne a son, no doubt of this, For all his reign a thing of joy and bliss. Here are the letters sealed, of this new lad, That I with haste unto the king must bear. If there is anything you’d like to add Unto your son the king, for you I’m there.” “Right now there’s nothing of which I’m aware,” Said Donegild to him, “but stay the night, And then tomorrow I may something write.” Of ale and wine he guzzled many a swig, And lost the letters unto him committed; He slept, while in a stupor, like a pig; Thus Donegild him sinfully outwitted And had new letters subtly counterfeited, Sent from the constable unto the king, As you shall later hear, about this thing. The queen delivered was, the letter said, Of such a fiendish creature, such a freak, That all who looked on it were filled with dread, Some so aghast they couldn’t even speak. The mother must have a demonic streak, Possessed of witchcraft, so that every one Does her despise - her company they shun. This letter read, king Alla says goodbye To joy, but to himself keeps all his pain, And by his hand composes this reply: “Now that I know his teachings, till I die, From blessing Jesus Christ I’ll not refrain. Lord, thy will and desire shall I accept; All thy commandments shall by me be kept. “So guard this child, whether it’s foul or fair, And too my wife, till I from war return. Christ, at his pleasure, may send me an heir More suitable, in answer to my prayer.” He seals it, as his eyes with teardrops burn, And then a messenger he gives it to; Right now, there’s not much more that he can do. O messenger, to alcohol a slave, Your breath reeks, all things double you do see; With you no confidence is kept, you knave. You like a magpie chatter mindlessly; Your speech is peppered with profanity. Wherever drunken chums together chat, No secret’s kept, you can be sure of that. O, Donegild, the words I cannot find, Your malice and your tyranny to tell! And therefore may you be consigned to hell; Those words exist within the devil’s mind! Fie, mannish woman! - nay, God knows you well - The queen of all demonic, fiendish ladies, Though here you walk, your spirit is in Hades! This messenger returns, back from the king, And at the court of Donegild dismounts; She welcomes him, and to him she does bring That ale which is for him the only thing, Besides carousing with the girls, that counts. Snorting in bed, he tries to sleep it off, Until the sun does night’s dark mantle doff. Again the letters that he brought were lifted While, wasted, off in la-la land he drifted, And changed to read: “The constable’s commanded On pain of hanging - not just reprimanded - Custance, that dame who on the beach was stranded, He must not let within his realm abide More than a week, as measured by the tide. “But with her young son to that ship where she Had landed, he, along with all her gear, Should take, and he should shove them out to sea, And tell her she must never come back here.” |
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Messenger returns with forged letter. With great sorrow the people cast Constance out to sea. She is not told of the king's decree. She prays for mercy and receives comfort. Realizing her motherly duties gives her renewed strength. |
Custance's tribulation attributed to
Donegild's wickedness. Messenger returns and shows constable the letter. He is simultaneously sad and angry at the injustice, accusing the king of evil.. Custance kneels on the shore and accepting fate prays for divine protection. She comforts child, humbly comparing her own fate to Mary's greater grief. Knowing of the king's decree, she begs constable to keep the child. She walks toward the ship not turning to look back. She boards with dignity, thanking God for being well provisioned. |
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And thus this letter, which was fake The envoy, who was unaware, Upon the king's behalf did bear, And where he was directed went. But when they saw what had been sent, And they had read what it contained, Their sorrow could not be restrained, As if they'd heard their mother's cries Burned in a fire before their eyes: They wept in anguish everyone, But finally the thing was done. They cast her out upon the sea, But she knew not the king's decree, And thus they live upon the flood, This mother and the king's own blood. And then with hands stretched to the sky As one who does on God rely, She said while kneeling on bare knees, In soft voice, 'Thou, O Lord, who sees, All instances of loyalties, Unto this woeful woman and This child of mine extend thy hand In mercy.' And with that she wept Swooning as dead, and there she slept. But He who anything can do Gives comfort, and does her renew; Whereon she looks and casts her eyes Upon her child and in this wise She speaks: 'It matters not what I Must suffer, but it makes me cry To think about how you would die If I should starve. And so I must If for no other reason, just For motherhood's sweet providence With every ounce of diligence Ordain myself that I might be, Thy nursemaid here upon this sea.' Thus she was strengthened to endure; And then her child to reassure She nursed, and then from time to time She wept, and then with voice sublime She rocked her child to sleep with song. And thus God's healing made her strong To keep her own dear child alive. |
O my Custance, now may you sleep in fear; In peace your troubled spirit may not dream, Since Donegild devised this wicked scheme. Next morning, when this messenger arose, Unto the castle by the shortest path He on his evil errand quickly goes; And when unto the constable he shows This letter, great his weeping and his wrath. ”Lord Christ,” said he, “how can this world survive, When sinful people in abundance thrive?” “O God almighty, it must be thy will Thou righteous judge, and yet how can it be That wicked people innocent ones kill, And then enjoy lives of prosperity? O good Custance, alas, it falls to me To be the instrument of thy distress, Or die; there is no other way, I guess.” Both young and old in all that country cry; The cause, that cursed letter from the king! And poor Custance! when that fourth day draws nigh, Her and her son unto the ship they bring. But nonetheless Christ’s praises she will sing; And so, while kneeling in the sand she prays: “It’s not for me to question, Lord, thy ways! “He who upon the land protected me From accusations false while here I’ve stayed, Is able to protect me now at sea, Though how I can’t imagine, I’m afraid. Ever I’ll trust in Him to whom I’ve prayed, Whose strong arm will the faithful never fail; He who shall be my rudder and my sail” Within her arms she took her weeping son, And on her knees she piteously said, “Peace, I’ll do thee no harm, my little one.” Then she removed the scarf upon her head, Which o’er his little eyes she gently spread, And lulled him fast asleep. No more he cries. Then she to heaven lifted up her eyes. “Mary, thou shining mother blest of my Redeemer, since a woman sinned, it’s true,” She said, “mankind was lost, and damned to die, For which thy child was nailed, for thee to view, Upon a cross, and cruelly taunted, too; There’s no comparison between thy pain And grief, and any grief men may sustain. “Thy child before thy very eyes was slain, Yet mine now lives, for which the Lord I praise! Thou shining maiden, fair and without stain, Who, filled with pity, knows all peoples’ pain; Thou haven, refuge from life’s stormy days, Have pity on my child; thy name I bless, Thou who dost comfort all in dire distress. “O little child, what is thy guilt,” she said, “That never yet has stolen, killed, or lied? And why should thy mean father want thee dead. O mercy, my dear constable,” she cried, “Allow my son to live here by your side; And if to save his life you do not dare, Then kindly kiss this child who’s Alla’s heir!” With that she took one last look at the land, Her husband’s meanness weighing on her mind. She rises up, then walks down to the strand Toward the ship - the crowd was close behind - Holding her child, who was to cry inclined. Her mien befits the faith that she confesses, For as she boards the ship, herself she blesses. Provisions were abundant in the ship, To feed her well for an extended trip. She had all the necessities she’d need, And praised God’s grace for food, and drinks to sip! May God provide the winds that with all speed Will bring her safely home! What can I say, But that to sea she goes forth on her way. |
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The king returns looking for wife and
child. Constable reveals letter to the king. They learn of Donegild's complicity from the messenger. The king slays his mother as a traitor. |
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Soon after this Alla the king returns Unto his castle; for his wife he yearns, And wonders where she and his child have gone. Then into ice the constable’s heart turns, As plainly he recounted what went on. The letter to the king he does reveal, Who sees that it is stamped with his own seal, And says, “My Lord, I’ve done this thing because On pain of death, that’s what your order was.” The messenger, tormented till he talked, Is asked to spill his guts, and so he does. The secrets of his movements were unlocked, And thus by subtle questioning they got Down to the bottom of who hatched this plot. Whose hand this letter wrote it soon was clear, And just how evil was this cursed act; I don’t know how they learned all this, I fear. The upshot was: this monarch mercy lacked; His mother - and we know this for a fact - He as a traitor slew, so all may see That for this, Donegild cannot go free. The sorrow Alla felt, and all the hell, For Custance and his child, that he went through, And all his suffering, no tongue can tell. |
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They survive one year, coming to land
at a Spanish Saracen's castle. Theolus, the Moorish steward and a rapist, discovers them. He makes certain they stay on the ship till nightfall. He boards the ship after dark and threatens her. She promises to submit if he first looks over the side. God answers her prayer and causes a strong wind to come up. It blows him off to drown in the bay, and drives her ship out to sea. |
They survive a year or two and land
near a heathen castle. Curious people come down and stare at her and her ship. One night the lord's steward comes down insisting on having sex with her. She refuses, they struggle, and he falls over the side. Her strength to frustrate his designs on her attributed to Christ. The episode compared to David vs. Goliath and Judith vs. Holfernes. Her ship enters the Mediteranean |
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And in this way they both survive, Till nearly one whole year had passed. Her ship, upon the ocean vast, Was driven by the wind God sent, So eastward unto Spain it went Till 'neath a castle's wall it came, A Saracen's of naval fame. And he a Moorish steward had, One Thelous, who was all bad, A renegade inclined to rape. He goes to look and see what shape The ship was in, and there did see This woman with a child, and he Could tell that all alone was she. He looked her over well and saw That she was fully without flaw, And thought, with lust, when nighttime fell He would her carnally compel, But caused her therein to remain, So other men no access gain That day. At God's will thus she lay, Not knowing what might come her way; And so it was when night arrived This knight all by himself contrived Unto the ship to come by boat, His lustful motives to promote, And swore that if she trouble made He'd see she was with death repaid.| Since she could not escape this guy, Said she'd not his lust deny, If he would o'er the portside peer, To check that no one else was near, Who might be witness to their deed, And then he may fulfill his need. He was delighted with her pledge, And so he ventured to the edge. She prayed, and God did hear her pray, And he fell off into the bay And drowned, and then a wind did start To blow and caused her to depart, And thus did God's almighty hand Save her from this Islamic land. |
But now on poor Custance I’d like to dwell, Who floats upon the sea, in sorrow too, More than a year or two, as it did please The Lord, before the land at last she sees. Down from a heathen castle, finally, The name of which is in my text not found, Custance and child were cast up by the sea. Have some regard for her, that is our plea Almighty God, whose mercy does abound; She’s fallen into heathen hands again, And is in mortal danger from the men. Down from the castle curious people came, Upon Custance, and at her ship, to stare. But one night came, with passion all aflame, The steward of the lord - ill may he fare! - One who had given up on faith and prayer, Into the ship, and said he’d come for sex, Whether she’s in agreement, or objects. This wretched woman was beset with woe; She and her child most piteously cried. But blessed Mary made her fiendish foe To understand the meaning of her “No!” She struggled, and this jerk fell o’er the side, Drowned in the sea because he honor lacked; And thus has Christ her virtue kept intact. O lo thine end, foul lecherous desire! Not only is man’s judgment left impaired, But consequences physical are dire. The end result of all thy passion’s fire Is lamentation. One should be prepared To be disgraced sometime, or be done in, For even thinking of this wicked sin! Whence came the strength that this weak woman had To ward off this foul renegade’s attacks? How was Goliath felled, so big and bad, By youthful little David, one lone lad, Who weaponry and heavy armor lacks? How did he dare this dreadful foe to face? There was no other way but by God’s grace. Who gave to Judith courage and endurance Great Holofernes in his tent to slay, And thereby gave God’s people the assurance Of His protective care? In this same way, As to them mighty power in the day Of their travail, to send was God’s intent, So to Custance He might and vigor sent. Into the narrow strait her ship goes forth That twixt Gibraltar and Morocco lies, And sometimes east, and sometimes south and north, And sometimes west she’s driven, in this wise, Till Jesus’ mother hears her plaintive cries And, through her boundless goodness does devise A plan to wipe the teardrops from her eyes. |
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After three more years she floats into
a mighty fleet. God guides her to the admiral's vessel. He sends men to look; Contance hides in fear. They find her and bring her to the lord. She tells him what has most recently happened to her. He asks her religion and she replies that she is Christian. He asks her name, and she makes up the Saxon "Cousta". He can get no more out of her, but invites her to live at his home. He tells her he is returning to Rome from Barbary. Realizing what this meant, she accepts his offer. As he recounts the details of his mission, she betrayed no emotion. He tells her she is married to Helene, the brother of Salustes, brother to the emperor, making Helene and Custance cousins. |
The emperor's anger at learning of the
Christians' slaughter by the sultaness, He sends an army led by a senator to wreak vengeance. The Syrian terrorists are all slain. Senator returns with his fleet towards Rome and encounters Custance's ship. She is reticent to divulge much about herself. |
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And when three years had fully passed, One day, where naval ships were massed, Unto that mighty fleet did float Her little ship, and to promote His purpose for that time, Her ship God made between them all to slip, And to continue till it came Unto the vessel all acclaim To be the master of the fleet, And there came to a rest complete. This great ship did at anchor rest; The lord came forth; at his behest, When he this other ship did see So near, and thought what it might be, He bade his men to go and look. This lady then herself betook To go and hide inside; she shook With fear not knowing who they were; They looked around and finally her They found. Her and her child they brought Unto this lord, whereon he sought To ask and learn from whence she came, And who she was. 'I am,' she swore, 'A woman with afflictions sore. I had a husband who required That I forth with the child he sired Should live upon the waves, but I Know not the cause nor reason why. But He who knows all things on high, And whom I thank, has by his might My child and I so kept upright That both of us have been preserved.' This lord did ask what God she served, And she responded, 'I believe In Christ; unto his faith I cleave, Who on that bloody tree expired.' 'What is your name?' he then required. 'My name is Cousta,' she replied But with no luck he further pried To know the truth of her estate. She would no other thing relate; Her fabricated Saxon name Is all she told him, She became Completely tight-lipped otherwise. This lord then looks into her eyes And asks if she'd live at his home; Which he informs her was in Rome To which from Barbary he went. Then realizing what that meant For her, she said with him she'd go And live while she dwelt here below, If in this he delight would take. And since they did acquaintance make He plainly told her what took place, When those of Rome's most noble race Were by dark Saracens betrayed, And how he a commitment made By warfare such revenge to wreak, That none in that deceitful clique, Who this foul treason did contrive, Would from the sword escape alive; But as to Constance there's no way He could have known that of that day Of which he spoke, she knew too well. For though the story he did tell, No feeling did her face express. But in this matter nonetheless It happened that it was the case, This lord, who did her cause embrace, In Rome did hold a senate seat; Her father's brother's daughter sweet Was his dear wife, whose father still Did live although he was quite ill, And as Salustes known was he; This wife Helene was called, and she Thus unto Constance cousin was. |
But let us leave Custance now for a bit, For of the Roman Emperor I’d speak. This angry ruler to be tied was fit When letters came from Syria; He’d seek On that false wicked Sultaness to wreak Revenge for treatment given to his daughter, As payback for her ruthless Christian slaughter. For this thing did the Emperor dispatch His senator, with many an armed brigade, For which the Syrian forces were no match. For vengeance, waste to all the land they laid; All those Islamic terrorists they slayed - The taste of their own medicine they know! Then back to Rome they all prepare to go. This senator in victory then goes Toward Rome, with all his mighty royal fleet, And quite by accident they chance to meet The ship Custance is in, beset with woes. They know not who she is, and incomplete Their knowledge will remain; her lips she seals, And very little of herself reveals. |
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Senator promises to take care of her
as long as he lives. His wife receives her joyfully. She lives with them twelve years, concealing her identity all the time. They suspect her nobility; everyone adores her. |
Senator brings Custance back to Rome;
his wife is happy to take her in. This is an answer to her prayer to the Virgin Mary. She resides there "for a long time" doing good. Helene was like and aunt, but knew very little of her. |
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So for the sick God's grace does cause, A medicine to be ordained, That in this home that he maintained This senator his promise gave That till he went unto his grave, He would supply her every need, As long as God would intercede To bless this lady fate had sent To him, and thus by ship they went To Rome; her and her child he brought, Where to persuade his wife he sought To welcome her and take her in. And gracious, as she's always been As long as she has been his wife, That one so good into her life Had come, gave her great joy in love. Custance did with the daughter of The emperor Salustes dwell For twelve years, but she failed to tell To any man precisely who She was, but nonetheless it's true They thought for sure that she must be In status one of high degree. For her all persons love did feel. |
He brings her back to Rome; her and her boy He shows unto his wife, who takes them in. A happy life with them she does enjoy. Thus can Our Lady over evil win; Custance She saves from suffering and sin. A long time she resided in that place, And did much good, as was her special grace. Though like an aunt this woman was to her, About her very little did she know. |
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Flashback to king returning from
battle. Inquires where queen was and is told of his letter and instructions. Informed of a son, he asks why no one told him; They maintain they did. He shows them their letter, which they deny writing. Messenger interrogated, who reveals his stopovers with king's mother. Enraged at her treason the king rides to Knaresborough. He confronts his mother, she confesses and he has her burned |
[dealt with earlier by Chaucer] | |
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Now watch how Fate’s erratic wheel That's always turning spun around. The king, Allee, while battle bound, As you have now already heard, Deceived was by his mother's word. When he returned, here's what transpired: He from his chamberlain required, And from the bishop too desired, To know where they had sent his queen. And they replied that they had seen This letter which they bade him read, In which he had her fate decreed, And so they cast her out to sea, And said, for one as good as she There could no greater pity be, With such child as to her was born, To be so suddenly forlorn. He asked to what child they referred; The answer, in which all concurred, Was that though men the world around Might search, no woman would be found Who had conceived a fairer son. And then he asked them why not one Had sent him word to let him know? They told him that they had done so. 'Nay.' said he; to which 'Yes.' they said. He showed the letter, which they read; That they did write it they denied. Then well they knew that it belied That there was treason in this thing. The messenger before the king Was brought to give some answers; he Suspecting nothing wrong to be, In innocence began to say That he nowhere did on the way, Except for one place, stop to stay; The reason that he did was that, Both going and returning, at The town of Knaresborough he The mother of the king did see, And stayed the night as she desired. The king then knew how she'd conspired Her treason to commit. With haste Since he no time did want to waste, He in that instant took his horse And did at once set on his course With many another rider. They To Knaresborough went their way, And like a tinder kindled fire, His flames of rage shot ever higher, His mother suddenly he took And said with a most woeful look: 'O beast from hell, what sort of end Do you deserve for what you've penned, You who so falsely caused to flee, Through treason fed by envy, she Who was endowed with virtue rife, My truest and most honest wife? This promise to you I will make That ere I go I'll vengeance take.' And then he let a fire be made, And bade her thereon to be laid. But first about her sin she spoke, In detail so that all these folk Would know how she the letters wrote, And what she altered in each note. And then was she brought forth to die And burned before her son's own eye. Whereon those who did see this thing And heard what she'd done to their king, Saw that the penalty her son Had chosen was the proper one. She had it coming, from whose tongue The falsest tones of treason sprung, Which through the land was sadly sung; |
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Allee resolves never to remarry until
he learns his wife's fate. He achieves victory in battle and resolves to go to Rome, the seat of his new faith, to seek relief from pain and sin from Pope Pelagius. He leaves his heir Edwin to rule his kingdom in his absence. Elda is sent ahead to make arrangements. He asks his guide what senator they would see in Capodice, and is told his name is Arcenne. He recounts his mission to the senator, who offers them lodging. |
Flashback to king weeping for his
wife. and regretting killing his mother. He journeys to Rome to seek absolution from the Pope. He sends messengers to seek lodging for his company. Senator goes out to meet and welcome Alla. |
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For Constance everyone does mourn, But he who is the most forlorn, This plaintive king, was so distressed, That he would not, so he confessed, Again to marriage be disposed, Until her fate should be disclosed, She who of wives had been his first. And with his young life thus accursed He tried as best he could to fight. Till one fine day to his delight When he'd achieved his aim in war, He thought his soul he might restore And that the faith he had embraced Might heal his heart. Since it was based In Rome, he said he'd go with hope Upon a pilgrimage, the pope Pelagius to see, and gain From him relief from sin and pain. He Edwin his lieutenant made, His heir who in his kingdom stayed, While he was gone, to rule the land. Thus when Allee with prudence planned That all might be provided for, He went forth to that foreign shore. Elda, who went with him from home, While they were still a ways from Rome, To make arrangements forth was sent; And to his guide, who with him went, To find where there might lodging be, Did ask what senator they'd see That he might call him by his name. In Capodice, he said, the same Is called Arcenne, a worthy knight. His master's travels to recite He to this knight did go, and said: 'I by my lord was sent ahead To try and locate board and bed'; Which he did offer them with grace. |
But let us leave Custance, for I’d prefer Now into king Alla’s affairs to go, Who for his dear wife weeps, and sighs with woe. Back safely from barbaric heathen lands She, with the senator, is in good hands. Alla, this king who his own mother killed, Was with sore feelings of regret so filled That he, to make a long tale very short, Came, grieving that his mother’s blood he’d spilled, And to the Pope in Rome he did report. From Jesus Christ he sought to be absolved Of wicked works in which he was involved. Through Rome the tidings rapidly were spread Of Alla’s pilgrimage to see the pope By messengers who sought for board and bed. And so the senator a party led, With many of his lineage, with the hope To meet, as was the custom, with this king, And fitting royal greetings to him bring. |
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Senator advises Cousta of the King's
approach. She faints and is revived in the Senator's arms. She is joyous that God has brought him to her town. King confesses to the pope, and decides to give a feast before leaving. Cousta instructs son to go and try to be noticed by the King. King sees his wife's features in the boy. He asks Senator if the boy is his; Arcenne replies that he is not, then relates how he and his mother were found drifting on the sea. |
Senator attends king's feast with
Maurice. Custance had evidently learned of Alla's arrival, as the narrator (excusing himself for not recalling all the details!) alludes to the possibility that she was responsible for her son being there. She instructed the boy to rise during the meal and look Alla in the eyes. He asks the Senator who the boy is, and is told of her circumstances. Senator praises her virtue. King notices how his looks and manner resemble his memory of Custance. |
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When all was ready in this place, Soon after would the king appear. This senator, when he comes near To Cousta and his wife relates: 'A king is at the city gates, One whom they call Allee awaits.' And Cousta, when she hears this tale With pounding heart and color pale Did faint, and he did marvel much At how she suddenly had such A seizure. In his arms he took Her up. She woke with piteous look And sea sick she did seem to be; But it was for the king Allee, For thoughts of joy that God her king And husband to her town did bring. This king did with the pope confer And all which did within him stir To grieve his conscience, he confessed; And then he thought it would be best, For one in his position, ere He went, a great feast to prepare. The senator he did invite Along with others, that all might Together sit with him to eat. So Cousta thought it would be mete, For Moris to be there, and told Her son to go and to be bold That whensoe'er he could he should Be in the king's sight, so he would Be noticed by the king nearby. And so before this monarch's eye Did Moris on the morrow try To place himself, which did permit The king to see him quite a bit. At once he thought that in that face He could his wife's fair outlines trace. For in their visage nature chose To dress this duo in such clothes, That they seemed from the same cloth cut. This sight did feelings foster but The king still does not understand; He kindly loves this youngster, and Still he knows not the cause, I fear. One thing he noticed though, 'twas clear That he did to Arcenne stand near. Right on the spot he then inquired If this young boy was by him sired. He said, "Well, though I call him son, And wish that he of mine were one, Yet it is not at all that way.' And then did he begin to say How floating on the sea's expanse The mother of this child by chance He found within a ship that had No rudder; how her and this lad, He from this drifting ship had drawn. |
The senator unto this king extends Great hospitality, and in return Alla, to do the same, o’er backwards bends. And then one day the senator attends A feast that Alla gives, and as we learn -- This is God’s honest truth, believe you me -- Custance’s son went in his company. Some say it was Custance who was behind Her boy receiving at the feast a chair; All of the details I can’t call to mind -- But be that as it may, the kid was there. I know this though, his mother took great care To tell him during dinner to arise Before Alla, and look him in the eyes. At this fair child king Alla wondered greatly, And to the Senator he said, anon, “Who is that boy that stands up there so stately?” “I do not know, by God and By Saint John! He has a mother, but his father’s gone.” The senator, who with the king conversed, The circumstances of Custance rehearsed. “But God knows,” said this senator, “I’ve never So good a woman seen in all my life, Nor of a woman have I heard of, ever, As virtuous as she -- no maid, no wife. I dare say she would rather have a knife Thrust through her breast, than stoop to wicked ways; She always God’s will, not some man’s, obeys. In every way this child Custance took after. He mused, as on this youthful face he gazed, And noticed how his smile, his looks, his laughter, Resembled hers, as he recalled, amazed. |
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The truth begins to dawn on the King,
and he asks their names. Senator tells him, and he recognizes Cousta as Saxon for Constance. He goes through a whirlwind of emotions. He inquires where Cousta dwells and is invited to go meet her. She brings Helene along to greet him. When he sees that it is his wife they embrace with mutual joy. |
King contemplates the possibility
Custance might have survived. He wonders if Christ might have had her return to where she came from. Senator invites him to come to his house and see her. She was hesitant, still remembering her husband's meanness. King cries upon seeing her, but she faints twice from recalling his cruelty. He swears to her he has as little guilt as Maurice for her travails. They reconcile releasing their grief with many hours of sobbing and kissing. |
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Upon the king began to dawn The truth, and thus his urgent prayer Was that Arcenne their names declare, This mother and the heir she bred. 'Moris this child is called.' he said, 'His mother goes by Cousta, though That kind of name I do not know.' The clue was on Allee not lost, A smile upon his visage crossed; For Cousta is the Saxon word For Constance, which in Rome's preferred. Of his imaginings no one Could know the fantasies he spun, Nor how his mind in circles turned About the love which in him burned. To know! how wondrous it would be. For neither here nor there was he, But so beside himself that day, He knew not what to think or say, That it were she he so desired. Whereon his inmost thoughts conspired To wage a war of yea and nay, Uncertainty did hold such sway, That he composure no more has, Until the truth he knows; just as The state of mind of that man who In purgatory lies, in lieu Of wanting heaven is contented, That he might no more be tormented To know not what might be in store. And when the feast was finally o'er And all from eating did desist, The king this company dismissed, And with the senator alone He spoke and prayed it might be known To him just where this Cousta dwelled For he to see her felt compelled. The senator was gratified; 'So let's not linger,' he replied. The King to see this Cousta goes; To her his coming they disclose, To greet the king Helene she took; He paused and had a good long look, And when he saw it was his wife, Whom he loved more than his own life, Into each others arms they fell. No couple ever could excel In joy that which by them was felt, Whereof each person's heart did melt Who heard the story of this pair. |
“Could she be here?” The thought left him half-crazed With sheer anticipation. From the table He jumps up, running fast as he is able. “Surely,” he thought, “my judgment is unsound! For reason tells me that I should believe That in the salty sea my wife was drowned.” Then this alternative he did conceive: “How do I know Christ did not have her leave My country to return from whence she came, Just as he safely brought her from the same?” Unto his house the senator extends An invitation to the king, that he Indeed may for himself this wonder see. And for Custance at once in haste he sends. But trust me, not too overjoyed was she When she the reason she was wanted knew; To stand up on her feet was hard to do. His wife with gentle greetings Alla meets; How sad it is to notice how he cries; For from the moment that on her his eyes First look, he knows that it is her he greets. But she, mute as a tree, with sorrow sighs, For off from his her tender heart is walled, When she his cruelty to her recalled. Two times in his own sight she nearly faints. And for his family many a tear he spilt. “Now God,” said he, “and all his glorious saints, As on their mercy all, our faith is built, I’ve for your injury as little guilt As does Maurice my son, who has your face, Else may the devil fetch me from this place!” For many hours their sobbing did not cease, But then they did begin to find some peace. Great was the pity their lament to hear, By which they did all of their grief release. Now I must take a little break, I fear, For of their woe I can no longer speak; From telling of their sorrow I’ve grown weak. But when the truth was known about the crimes Of which Alla had falsely been suspected, I think they must have kissed a hundred times, In bliss their souls inseparably connected. Their happiness, eternal joy reflected; No persons on this earth, I’m pretty sure, Have ever had a joy that was so pure. |
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Constance continues to hide her past
from Allee. She asks him to arrange a feast with the Emperor. Since her disappearance, her father showed charity in her honor. Allee sends his son to request the Emperor to host a feast, for which he would supply the food and wine. The two parties see each other from a distance. Constance asks Allee to remain behind while she rides a white mule slowly towards her father. She meets and tells her father how glad she is to see him well. He kisses her, weeping | ||