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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 911-924:
A thug attempts to rape Constance
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 925-952: Biblical examples about protection


925        O foule lust of luxurie, lo, thyn ende!
Nat oonly that thou feyntest mannes mynde,
But verraily thou wolt his body shende.
Th'ende of thy werk or of thy lustes blynde
Is compleynyng. Hou many oon may men fynde,
930That noght for werk somtyme, but for th'entente
To doon this synne, been outher slayn or shente!
925       O foul desire of lechery, lo thine end!
Not only dost thou cripple a man's mind,
But verily dost thou his body rend;
The end of all thy work and thy lusts blind
Is bitterness; how many may we find
930That not for actions but for mere intent
To do this sin, to shame or death are sent.

How may this wayke womman han this strengthe
Hire to defende agayn this renegat?
O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe,
935Hou myghte David make thee so maat,
So yong, and of armure so desolaat?
Hou dorste he looke upon thy dredful face?
Wel may men seen, it nas but Goddes grace!
How could this poor weak woman have the strength
To keep herself against that renegade?
Goliath of immeasurable length,
935How could young David such a death have made,
So slight and without armour? How arrayed
Himself to look upon that dreadful face?
Men may well see, it was but God's own grace!

Who yaf Judith corage or hardynesse
940To sleen hym, Olofernus, in his tente,
And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse
The peple of God? I seyde, for this entente
That right as God spirit of vigour sente
To hem, and saved hem out of meschance,
945So sente he myght and vigour to Custance.
Who gave to Judith courage all reckless
940To slay him, Holofernes, in his tent,
And to deliver out of wretchedness
The folk of God? I say, for this intent
That just as God a soul of vigour sent
To them, and saved them out of their mischance,
945So sent He might and vigour to Constance.

       Forth gooth hir ship thurghout the narwe mouth
Of Jubaltar and Septe, dryvynge alway,
Somtyme west, and somtyme north and south,
And somtyme est, ful many a wery day;
950Til Cristes mooder - blessed be she ay! -
Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse,
To make an ende of al hir hevynesse.
       Forth went her ship and through the narrow mouth
Of Ceuta and Gibraltar, on its way,
Sometimes to west, and sometimes north or south,
Aye and sometimes east, many a weary day,
950Until Christ's Mother - blest be she for aye! -
Did destine, out of good that is endless,
To make an end of Constance' heaviness.





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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 953-966:
The emperor of Rome learns about the conspiracy in Syria and sends a punitive expedition
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