Le Bone Florence of Rome by Jonathan Stavsky;

Author:Jonathan Stavsky;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ingram Publisher Services UK

Emere brings Garcy with him back to Rome. Upon news of his return, Florence liberates Mylys, who intercepts Emere and falsely accuses his wife of adultery with Egravayne. The latter refutes this charge. Expelled by his brother, Mylys abducts Florence under false pretences and repeatedly assaults though fails to rape her. He murders a hermit who has offered them inferior bread. Later, hearing men approaching, he flees. Florence is sheltered by Tyrry, who ministers to her wounds and employs her as governess to his daughter.

Soche a nave or† þere was oon

Was neuyr seen but þat allone

When hyt was on the see.

Then Emere þoght on Mylys hys brodur

1250 And on Florence feyreste of odur;

At them then wolde he bee.

He seyde vnto Syr Garcy

And to odyr lordys þat stode hym by,

‘To Hungary soone wyll wee,

1255 Justamownde for to forfare

And crowne Mylys my brodur þare,

For kyndyst† heyre ys hee’.

A messengere to londe wanne,

That sometyme rode and sometyme ranne

1260 Tyll he came Rome wythynne.

He tolde Florence bryght of hewe

How hys lorde was crownyd newe

And the empyre can wynne

And wyth hym bryngyth olde Garcy;

1265 The lady fayne was sche forthy.

Sche was comyn of gentyll kynne;

Sche gafe hym for hys newe tythandys

Worthe a baronry of landys

Or euyr wolde sche blynne.

1270 Lorde, that ys bothe God and man,

Gyf þe Emperowre had wetyn þan

The treson of hys brodur,

That he dud in hys absence

[248b]

To Sampson and to feyre Florence

1275 And Egravayne the todur!

The lady went vp to a towre

Be reuerence of þe Emperowre,

And wyth hur many odur,

And toke hym downe, þat cursyd thefe,

1280 That afturward dud hur grete grefe;

Ther was neuyr no sawe sotheyr.

The lady preyed Syr Egravayne

And odur lordys þat þey wolde layne

The treson of the knyght –

1285 ‘And all that he hath done to me;

All forgeuyn schall hyt bee,

For Godys loue moste of myght’.

Sche set hym on a gode palfray

And bad hym wende vpon hys way

1290 Agenste hys brodur ryght.

When that he came to the see,

A false lesynge there made hee

Of Florence feyre and bryght.

Syr Egravayne sadylde hys stede

1295 And hyed hym aftur a gode spede;

He hopyd that he wolde lye.

When Mylys sawe the Emperowre,

He felle downe in a depe fowre

Fro hys hors so hye.

1300 Emere seyde, ‘Mylys, what eylyth the?’

‘Syr, thus thy wyfe hath dyght me,

For Y seyde Y schulde hur bewrye

When Y fonde Egravayne lygyng hur by;

In preson put sche me forthy

1305 And sorowe hath made me to drye’.

The Emperowre smote down wyth hys hedd;†

All hys joye was fro hym revydd

Of Florence that he hadd;

All þe lykyng of hys longe trauayle

1310 Was away wythowten fayle;

[248c]

In sorowe was he stadde.

All the lordys that were hym by

Recowmforde hym full kyndely

And bad hym not be adradd –

1315 ‘Tyll we the sothe haue enqueryd

Bothe of lewde and of lernydd’;†

Thes wordys ȝyt made hym gladd.

Then came Egravayne, wythowten lees,

Faste prekynge into the prees;

1320 The sothe he wolde haue tolde,

But Mylys owte wyth a swyrde kene

And wolde Egravayne tene,

But he a mantell can folde

Ofte sythys abowte hys arme

1325 And kepyd hym wele fro any harme,

That hardy was and bolde.

The Emperowre bad put þem in sondur –

‘And† of yow schall bye þys blundur

Whych hath the wronge in holde’.

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