University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The seuin Seages

Translatit out of prois in Scottis meter be Iohne Rolland in Dalkeith, with ane Moralitie efter euerie Doctouris Tale, and siclike efter the Emprice Tale, togidder with ane louing and laude to euerie Doctour efter his awin Tale, & ane Exclamation and outcrying vpon the Empreouris wife efter hir fals contrusit Tale ... Edited, with introduction, notes, and glossary, by Geo. F. Black

collapse section
 
 
collapse section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
How the Empreour raid to meit his Sone comming fra the studie, with greit Pomp and Pryde.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

How the Empreour raid to meit his Sone comming fra the studie, with greit Pomp and Pryde.

And sa as thay had enterit to veyage
The Poistis ran with all haistie Message
To Romes toun, and tauld the Empreour

37

That his ane Sone, with all haist and laubour
Was cumming hame, on hors the reddy way.
His Fatheris will and Precept to obey.
Than his Father Incontinent gart call
His greit Princes, and vther Lordis all,
And bad thame be in reddynes Ilkane,
He wald ga meit his Sone Dioclesiane.
The seuin Maisters perfytelie sa knawand
The Empreour, with his Court was cūmand.
Vnto the Childe all in ane voce thay said,
We think it best sum danger to auoid,
That we all seuin pas into the Citie,
And ȝe fordward pas with ȝour companie.
In the meane time, that we may all prouyde
Sum help, that may put by this towter tide,
And we sall do all that we can or may
For ȝour supplie, Ilk ane to keip ane day.
The Childe answerit as ȝe will plesis me,
Remember ȝit on my necessitie.
In greit danger I wait that I will stand.
Thairfoir think on quhat ȝe haue tane on hād.
Thay tuke thair leif at him sorrowfullie.
Sine all thay raid toward Romes Citie.
Sa fordwart come Dioclesiane rydand,
And lukis on far saw his Father cumand,
And as thay met, of his hors lichtit doun,
To his Father he maid him reddy boun,
Kneland on kne with all obedience,
Sine his Father with lufe and reuerence,
About his neck oft times he tuke and kist,
That he was dum his Father ȝit not wist.
My awin deir Sone ȝe ar welcum he said
Of ȝour weilfair I am richt wonder glaid.
How is it with ȝow I pray ȝow lat me knaw,
For it is lang afoir sen I ȝow saw.
Thā this ȝoung man ful richt manlike & meik

38

Bowit doun his heid, & nathing wald he speik
Quhairof his Father meruellit gretumlie
That he agane answerit not Instantlie.
Zit he compast into his mynde agane
Be his Maisters, that he was sa constrane
And commandit, that he suld speik nathing
He on horsbak, be ony way ryding.
Sa hame thay come, out throw the greit Cietie
Of Romes toun, with greit Solemnitie.
Quhill thay come to the Empreours Palice
Quhair that thair was mony antick deuise.
And of thair hors beliue thay lichtit doun
With greit triumph honour and als Renoun,
The Father led his Sone in be the hand
Into the hall, quhair mony was bydand,
And set him doun besyde him at the deis,
The Heralds had sone silence all and ceis.
Than Sone he said, now ȝe will speik to me
Zour seuin Maisters, how do thay tell lat se?
How dois ȝour self, for it is lang ago
Sen I ȝow saw, the suith it is euin so.
Ze ar welcome to me with hart and minde
Sa than the Childe his heid he did Inclinde,
As he wald say, I thank ȝow Father deir,
Quhat euer he thocht thair was na man micht heir.
Quhairat his Father meruellit gretumlie
And in ane part he lukit ernestlie,
And said tell me, withoutin mony sawis
That ȝe speak not, the maner and the caus.
He answerit not, bot bowit doun his heid,
The Empreour saw that than was na remeid,
He pansit in minde, of his Sone not content,
Sa the Emprice gat word Incontinent,
Quhairof scho was wonder Ioyous and glaid
To hir Ladyis with merie minde scho said,

39

Now will I go Dioclesiane to se,
Quhairfoir that ȝe my best clething bring me.
And sa anone scho went doun to the haw
Quhair that beliue Dioclesiane scho saw
Vpon the deis besyde the Childe sat doun
Is this ȝour sone my Lord suld bruik ȝour croū?
And hes bene teichit with all yt seuin Doctouris
He is to me welcome with all fauouris.
He is my Sone the Empreour said agane,
Bot he speikis not, quhairof I am not fane.
I knaw na thing how it is fallin be chance,
Be Deuilrie, or Godds Ordinance.
Bot all the time to me sen he is cum
I heir nathing, bot alwayis he is dum.
Scho said my Lord delyuer him to me
Gif euer he spak, that ȝe sall heir and se
I sall him caus with wordis fair and meik,
That I dout not bot he will to me speik.
The King said go away with hir and rise
The Childe he rais on his maist humbill wise,
Inclining law with all Obedience,
To his Father randring gude Reuerence.
To the Chalmer with the Emprice he went,
Bot I beleue it plesit not his Intent.