The Metrical Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester Edited by William Aldis Wright |
 |
|
| I. |
Constans rex & imperator. Constantinus rex & imperator.
|
| II. |
 | The Metrical Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester |  |
Constans rex & imperator. Constantinus rex & imperator.
A monþe it was þer after þat cole wel sik lay
& deide as god it wolde wiþinne þe eiȝteþe day
& oþer eir nadde he non bote seint eleyne þe gode
His doȝter þat suþþe fond þe swete holi rode
Constance uor ir eritage þis maide to wiue nom
& nom wiþ ire so þis lond & þis kinedom
& let him crouni to king & god king was afin
Bi hire he adde an gode sone icluped constantin
Þo constance adde ibe enleue ȝer king iwis
He deide at euerwik & ibured was þer & is
& deide as god it wolde wiþinne þe eiȝteþe day
133
His doȝter þat suþþe fond þe swete holi rode
Constance uor ir eritage þis maide to wiue nom
& nom wiþ ire so þis lond & þis kinedom
& let him crouni to king & god king was afin
Bi hire he adde an gode sone icluped constantin
Þo constance adde ibe enleue ȝer king iwis
He deide at euerwik & ibured was þer & is
Constantin is ȝonge sone ikrouned was þo king
& noble mon he bicom & wis þoru alle þing
King he was þritti ȝer he ladde is kinedom
Riȝtuolliche & suiþe wel wiþ quoyntise & wisdom
A luþer emperour biuore þat het maximian
Þat was upe cristinemen as we sede so luþerman
An sone he adde ssrewe inou maxencius bi name
Him he made emperour monimon to ssame
He was as luþer as is fader gret ssrewe inou
Vor in strong martirdom seinte katerine he slou
& moni oþer martir & þat folc of rome al so
He vondede to deseriti & moni ssame do
So þat deserites into þis londe come
To constantin þe gode king uor defaute fram rome
& he hom vaire vnderueng so þat mo & mo
Þer come uor enlegeance to abbe of hor wo
So þat deserites bigonne alle on him grede
Sire hii sede vor godes loue bring us of þis wrechede
Of þe kunde blod of aunperie þer nis bileued nou
Ne þat bi kunde were emperour non bote þou
Hou longe woltou soffri þe ssrewes outrage
Go & win þi kunde lond & þin eritage
Þou ssalt abbe þer help inou of þin kunde londe
Wel þou wost þat lute wile þe ssrewe þe ssal at stonde
& noble mon he bicom & wis þoru alle þing
King he was þritti ȝer he ladde is kinedom
Riȝtuolliche & suiþe wel wiþ quoyntise & wisdom
A luþer emperour biuore þat het maximian
Þat was upe cristinemen as we sede so luþerman
An sone he adde ssrewe inou maxencius bi name
Him he made emperour monimon to ssame
134
Vor in strong martirdom seinte katerine he slou
& moni oþer martir & þat folc of rome al so
He vondede to deseriti & moni ssame do
So þat deserites into þis londe come
To constantin þe gode king uor defaute fram rome
& he hom vaire vnderueng so þat mo & mo
Þer come uor enlegeance to abbe of hor wo
So þat deserites bigonne alle on him grede
Sire hii sede vor godes loue bring us of þis wrechede
Of þe kunde blod of aunperie þer nis bileued nou
Ne þat bi kunde were emperour non bote þou
Hou longe woltou soffri þe ssrewes outrage
Go & win þi kunde lond & þin eritage
135
Wel þou wost þat lute wile þe ssrewe þe ssal at stonde
| The Metrical Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester | |