Now fell it, that these merchants stood in grace1455
Of him that was the Soudan1456 of Syrie:
For when they came from any strangë place
He would of his benignë courtesy
Make them good cheer, and busily espy1457
Tidings of sundry regnës,1458 for to lear1459
The wonders that they mightë see or hear.
Amongës other thingës, speciálly
These merchants have him told of Dame Constance’
So great nobless, in earnest so royálly,
That this Soudan hath caught so great pleasance
To have her figure in his remembránce,
That all his lust,1460 and all his busy cure,1461
Was for to love her while his life may dure.
Paráventure in thilkë1462 largë book,
Which that men call the heaven, y-written was
With starrës, when that he his birthë took,
That he for love should have his death, alas!
For in the starrës, clearer than is glass,
Is written, God wot, whoso could it read,
The death of every man withoutë dread.1463
In starrës many a winter therebeforn
Was writ the death of Hector, Achilles,
Of Pompey, Julius, ere they were born;
The strife of Thebes; and of Hercules,
Of Samson, Turnus, and of Socrates
The death; but mennë’s wittës be so dull,
That no wight can well read it at the full.
This Soudan for his privy council sent,
And, shortly of this matter for to pace,1464
He hath to them declared his intent,
And told them certain, but1465 he might have grace
To have Constance, within a little space,
He was but dead; and charged them in hie1466
To shapë1467 for his life some remedy.
Diversë men diversë thingës said;
And arguments they casten up and down;
Many a subtle reason forth they laid;
They speak of magic, and abusión;1468
But finally, as in conclusión,
They cannot see in that none ávantage,
Nor in no other way, save marriáge.
Then saw they therein such difficulty
By way of reason, for to speak all plain,
Because that there was such diversity
Between their bothë lawës, that they sayn,
They trowë1469 that no Christian prince would fain1470
Wedden his child under our lawë sweet,
That us was given by Mahound1471 our prophéte.
And he answered: “Rather than I lose
Constance, I will be christen’d doubtëless:
I must be hers, I may none other choose,
I pray you hold your arguments in peace,1472
Savë my life, and be not reckëless
To gettë her that hath my life in cure,1473
For in this woe I may not long endure.”
What needeth greater dilatation?
I say, by treaty and ambassadry,
And by the Popë’s mediation,
And all the Church, and all the chivalry,
That in destruction of Mah’metry,1474
And in increase of Christë’s lawë dear,
They be accorded1475 so as ye may hear;
How that the Soudan, and his baronage,
And all his lieges, shall y-christen’d be,
And he shall have Constance in marriáge,
And certain gold, I n’ot1476 what quantity,
And hereto find they suffisant suretý.
The same accord is sworn on either side;
Now, fair Constance, Almighty God thee guide!
Now wouldë some men waiten, as I guess,
That I should tellen all the purveyance,1477
The which the emperor of his nobless
Hath shapen1478 for his daughter, Dame Constance.
Well may men know that so great ordinance
May no man tellen in a little clause,
As was arrayed for so high a cause.
Bishops be shapen1479 with her for to wend,1480
Lordës, ladíes, and knightës of renown,
And other folk enough, this is the end.
And notified is throughout all the town,
That every wight with great devotioún
Should pray to Christ, that he this marriáge
Receive in gree,1481 and speedë this voyáge.
The day is comen of her départíng—
I say the woful fatal day is come,
That there may be no longer tarrying,
But forward they them dressen1482 all and some.
Constance, that was with sorrow all o’ercome,
Full pale arose, and dressed her to wend,
For well she saw there was no other end.
Alas! what wonder is it though she wept,
That shall be sent to a strange natión
From friendës, that so tenderly her kept,
And to be bound under subjectión
of one, she knew not his conditión?
Husbands be all good, and have been of yore,1483
That knowë wivës; I dare say no more.
“Father,” she said, “thy wretched child Constance,
Thy youngë daughter, foster’d up so soft,
And you, my mother, my sov’reign pleasance
Over all thing, out-taken1484 Christ on loft,1485
Constance your child her recommendeth oft
Unto your grace; for I shall to Syrie,
Nor shall I ever see you more with eye.
“Alas! unto the barbarous natión
I must anon, since that it is your will:
But Christ, that starf1486 for our redemptión,
So give me grace his hestës1487 to fulfil.
I, wretched woman, no force though I spill!1488
Women are born to thraldom and penánce,
And to be under mannë’s governance.”
I trow at Troy when Pyrrhus brake the wall,
Or Ilion burnt, or Thebes the city,
Nor at Rome for the harm through Hannibal,
That Romans hath y-vanquish’d timës three,
Was heard such tender weeping for pitý,
As in the chamber was for her partíng;
But forth she must, whether she weep or sing.
O firstë moving cruel Firmament,1489
With thy diurnal sway that crowdest1490 aye,
And hurtlest all from East till Occident
That naturally would hold another way;
Thy crowding set the heav’n in such array
At the beginning of this fierce voyáge,
That cruel Mars hath slain this marriáge.
Unfortunate ascendant tortuous,
Of which the lord is helpless fall’n, alas!
Out of his angle into the darkest house;
O Mars, O Atyzar,1491 as in this case;
O feeble Moon, unhappy is thy pace.1492
Thou knittest thee where thou art not receiv’d,1493
Where thou wert well, from thennës art thou weiv’d.1494
Imprudent emperor of Rome, alas!
Was there no philosópher in all thy town?
Is no time bet1495 than other in such case?
Of voyage is there none electión,
Namely1496 to folk of high conditión,
Not when a root is of a birth
