From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 1030-1078

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 1002-1029:
King Alla unknowingly meets his own son

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 1030-1078: King Alla and Constance are happily united

1030	Now was this child as lyke unto Custance,
	As possible is a creature to be.
	This Alla hath the face in remembrance
	Of dame Custance, and theron mused he,
	If that the childes mooder were aught she
1035	That is his wyf; and prively he sighte
	And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte.

1030	Now this boy was as like unto Constance
	As it was possible for one to be.
	Alla had kept the face in remembrance
	Of Dame Constance, and thereon now mused he:
	Mayhap the mother of the child was she
1035	Who was his wife; and inwardly he sighed,
	And left the table with a hasty stride.

"Parfay," thoghte he, "fantome is in myn heed!

I oghte deme, of skilful juggement,

That in the salte see my wyf is deed."

1040 And afterward he made his argument:

"What woot I, if that Crist have hyder ysent

My wyf by see, as wel as he hir sente

To my contree fro thennes that she wente?"

"In faith," thought he, "a phantom's in my head!

I ought to hold, by any right judgment,

That in the wide salt sea my wife is dead."

1040 And afterward he made this argument:

"How know I but that Christ has hither sent

My wife by sea, as surely as she went

To my own land, the which was evident?"

And, after noon, hoom with the senatour

1045 Goth Alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce.

This senatour dooth Alla greet honour,

And hastifly he sente after Custance.

But trusteth weel, hir liste nat to daunce

Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde;

1050 Unnethe upon hir feet she myghte stonde.

And, after noon, home with the senator

1045 Went Alla, all to test this wondrous chance.

The senator did Alla great honour,

And hastily he sent for fair Constance.

But, trust me, she was little fain to dance

When she had heard the cause of that command.

1050 Scarcely upon her two feet could she stand.

Whan Alla saugh his wyf, faire he hir grette,

And weep, that it was routhe for to see.

For at the firste look he on hir sette,

He knew wel verraily that it was she.

1055 And she for sorwe, as doumb stant as a tree,

So was hir herte shet in hir distresse,

Whan she remembred his unkyndenesse.

When Alla saw his wife, he greeted her,

Then wept till it was a sad thing to see.

For, at the first glance, when she entered there,

He knew full truly that it was she.

1055 And she for grief stood dumb as ever tree;

So was her heart shut up in her distress

When she remembered his unkindliness.

Twyes she swowned in his owene sighte.

He weep, and hym excuseth pitously.

1060 "Now God," quod he, "and alle hise halwes brighte

So wisly on my soule as have mercy,

That of youre harm as giltelees am I

As is Maurice my sone, so lyk youre face;

Elles the feend me fecche out of this place!"

Twice did she swoon away there, in his sight;

He wept and he protested piteously.

1060 "Now God," said he, "and all His angels bright

So truly on my spirit have mercy

As of your ills all innocent am I,

As is Maurice, my son, so like your face,

Or may the foul devil take me from this place!"

1065 Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne

Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse,

Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne,

Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse.

I pray yow alle my labour to relesse;

1070 I may nat telle hir wo until tomorwe,

I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.

1065 Long was the sobbing and the bitter pain

Before their woeful hearts could find surcease;

Great was the pity to hear them complain,

Whereof their sorrows surely did increase.

I pray you all my labour to release;

1070 I cannot tell their grief until tomorrow,

I am so weary, speaking long of sorrow.

But finally, whan that the sothe is wist,

That Alla giltelees was of hir wo,

I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist,

1075 And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two,

That, save the joye that lasteth everemo

Ther is noon lyk that any creature

Hath seyn, or shal, whil that the world may dure.

But, truth being known and all doubt now dismissed,

And Alla proven guiltless of her woe,

I think a hundred times they must have kissed,

1075 And such great bliss there was between the two

That, save the joy that nevermore shall go,

There was naught like it, present time or past,

Nor shall be, ever, while the world shall last.

Next:
From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 1079-1120:
Constance meets her father the emperor of Rome