University of Virginia Library

Fulle fiftene daies þat fest was holden,
wiþ al þe realte of rome þat euer rink of herde.
no tong miȝt telle þe twentiþe parte
of þe mede to menstrales þat mene time was ȝeue,
of robes wiþ riche pane & oþer richesse grete,
sterne stedes & strong & oþer stoute ȝiftes,
so þat eche man þer-mide miȝt hold him a-paied.
& er þe fest fulli was fare to þe ende,
william þemperour þat newe was crouned,
as a curteys king on þe kowherd þouȝt,
þat him hade fostered to-fore, seuen ȝere;
& sent sone after him & his semli wiue.
& whan þe kowherde kom þe king to him saide,
“sire kowherde, knowestow me ouȝt so þe crist help?”
þe kowherd kneled sone & karped þese wordes,
“ȝa! lord, wiþ ȝour leue ful litel i ȝou knewe.
I fostered ȝou on mi flet for soþe, as me þinkeþ,
& seide ȝe were my sone seuen ȝer and more.
þe riche emperour of rome þat regned here þat time,
wan ȝou fro me a-wei wo was me þer-fore.
but heriȝed be þe hiȝe king ȝou þus haþ holpe,
& pult ȝou to þis pliȝt fram pouert euer-more!”
william þe worþi emperour ful wiȝtli þus saide,
“bi crist, sire, þou hast seid al þe soþe euene;
þou me fostredes ful faire as fel for þin astate,
& bi our lord, as i leue þat schaltou lese neuer!”
anon þan het he in hast do him forto come
his stiward wiþ-oute stint to stiȝtli alle his londes,
& bi-fore kud kniȝtes and oþer kene lordes,
he ȝaf to þe kowherde a kastel ful nobul,
þe fairest vpon fold þat euer freke seie,
& best set to þe siȝt him-selue to kepe;
and al þat touched þer to a tidi erldome,
to þe kowherd & his wif þe king ȝaf þat time,
as freli as eni freke for euer couþe deuise.
& hastili het eche a baili þat hade it to kepe,
to do eche burn be buxum bi niȝtes & daie[s],
to þe cowherdes comaundement as to here kinde lord,
as þei louede here liues neuer to lette his wille;
& sent his stiward as swiþe to sese him þer-inne.
& hastili was his wille wrouȝt witow for soþe.
þus was þe kowherd out of kare kindeli holpen,
he & his wilsum wif wel to liuen for euer.
of þe kinde couherde now nel i telle no more,
but lete him in his blisse & his burde alse,
& touche we ferre as þis tale forþeres.