Part 2

Of these fifteen stories only three are the same as those given in the _Book of Sindibad_, as published by Professor Comparetti—namely, No. 2, the example of the first Master, which is told by the fifth Master in the Sindibad version; No. 6, the example of the third Master, which is told by the first Master of the Sindibad version; and No. 11, the sixth example of the Empress, which is told by the fourth Master of the Sindibad version. No. 3, the second example of the Empress, may perhaps be a variant of the fifth example of the Empress in the Sindibad version. The remaining stories then might, _prima facie_, be considered of Western origin; and perhaps genuine Folk-Tales thus early enshrined in literature. No. 4 is to be found in Peter Alfonsi's _Disciplina Clericalis_ and in the Decameron. And Mr. Wright, in his Introduction to The _Seuyn Sages_ (Percy Society), p. liii. says he heard the same story told traditionally in an English country town of a townsman who had a scolding unruly wife. No. 5 is a variant of the legend of Rhampsinitus, king of Egypt, as told by Herodotus; and a similar legend is given in Pausanias, lib. ix. c. 37. No. 7 contains some of the incidents of Merlin's story told by the Chroniclers. No. 10, the example of the fifth Master, is something like Campbell's "Fearachur Leigh," No. xlvii. of his _Highland Stories_ (vol. ii. p. 161). No. 13 bears an analogy to the plot of the _Miles Gloriosus_ of Plautus. Upon the entire question of the occurrence elsewhere of these stories I would refer to Mr. Clouston's _Book of Sindibad_ privately printed in 1884.

There are one or two curious words and expressions which may be of use to the philologist, but the reader will find that the language used is mainly that of the present day with a different spelling. Some of the difficulties of this style have been obviated by the insertion, where necessary, of letters left out in contracted words, and these insertions are printed in italics to distinguish them from the original.

¶ Here begynneth thystorye of yᵉ vii. Wyse Maysters of rome conteynynge ryghe (_sic_) fayre [et] ryght ioyous narracōns, [et] to yᵉ reder ryght delectable.

Somtyme in yᵉ Cyte of Rome was an Emperour named Poncianus a man of grete wysdome. He toke to his wyfe a kynges doughter that fayre [et] goodly was, and to all people gracyous [et] to her husbonde ryght dere, and cōceyued of hym and bare hym a sone named Dyoclesian. The chylde grewe [et] of all people was beloued. And whan he was of the aege of seuen yeres, his moder thempresse fyll sore seke / felynge herselfe that she myghte not lyue: sent after her lorde themperour a messenger that he sholde come without taryenge yf euer he wolde see her on lyue. And whan he was comen she sayd vnto hym, O my lorde of this īfyrmyte may I not escape. Wherfore I humbly requyre you of a lytell petycyon before my deth. He answered, Desyre what ye wyll, for I shall nothynge denye you. Then sayd she, After my deth ye shall take an other wyfe as it behoueth. I aske [et] pray you yᵗ she upon my son̄ haue no gouernaūor power, but yᵗ he be kepte and nourysshed fer from her, [et] yᵗ he may gete to hym connynge and wysdome. The Emperour sayd, My moste dere wyfe, your petycyon in all thynges shall be fulfylled [et] perfourmed. This sayd she torned her towardes the wall and yaue vp the goost [et] dyed. Many dayés after yᵉ Emperour bewáyled [et] morned her deth, [et] longe tyme after her buryenge he shewed his heuynes [et] sorowe, [et] wold ī no wyse mary or be ioyful.

How the Emperoure to the seuen wyse maysters commytted and delyuered his sone to lerne.

Upon a tyme as the emperour laye in his bed he bethought hym inwardly vpon his sone, sayenge in his herte, I haue only but one sone yᵉ whiche shall be myn heyre. It is good whyles he is yonge that he be sette to lerne connynge and wysdome by the whyche he maye after my dethe gouerne [et] rule the empyre. Erly whan he was rysen vp from his bedde, he lete to be called afore hym his lordes of his counseyll and of them toke aduyse what best therin was to done. And they answerd, Lorde, in Rome are vii wyse maysters they excelle and excede all other men in cunnynge [et] lettrature, lete them be sent for and delyuer to them your sone to nourysshe [et] to lerne. That vnderstandynge the emperour sent his letters sealed with his seale to yᵉ vii. maysters that they incontinent sholde come to hym without delay. And they anone came before themperour. and he demaū yf they knewe wherfore yᵗ he had sente for them. They answered the cause ne your wyll we knowe not / but yf please you to shewe vs your mynde [et] entent we ben redy to fulfyll it to the vttermoste of our powers. To whome yᵉ noble Emperour sayde, I haue but one sone the which I shal delyuer vnto you to nourysshe and to teche. so that by your doctryne [et] wysdome he maye the more wysly guyde and gouerne yᵉ empyre after my decesse.

¶ The fyrste mayster named Pantyllas sayde, Lorde delyuer too me your sone [et] I shall teche hym as moche connȳge wᵗin vii. yere as I and all my felowes can. Then spake the seconde mayster that named was Lentulus, Syr of longe tyme I haue serued you, [et] hytherto I haue had no maner reward. I demaunde nothyng elles of you but that ye delyuer me your sone to lerne and gouerne. and I shall make hym as connynge within vi. yere as I [et] all my felowes be. The thyrde mayster sayd that had to name Craton, My lorde many tymes haue I ben with you vpon the se in peryll of my lyfe / [et] of you haue I had no maner of rewarde, yf that I myghte for my rewarde obteyne that ye wolde wouchesauf to commytte your sone vnder my rule [et] gouernaunce, I sholde enfourme hym as moche within v. yere. yf his wit therto wyll attayne as I and my felowes can. Tho stode vp the fourth mayster that to name had Malquydrac ryght lene of body [et] sayd, My lorde calle to your remembraunce how that I and al my predecessours haue serued emperours [et] haue receyued no maner of rewarde. Wherfore I shal aske none other thȳge but yᵗ ye wyll delyuer me your sone to enfourme [et] teche / [et] I shall make hym to take asmoche scyence [et] wysdome within foure yere as I and al my felowes haue lerned in all our lyues. Than spake yᵉ fyfth mayster yᵗ was called Joseph, lorde I am old [et] many tyms I am called to your coūseyl / [et] yᵗ my coūseyll ye knowe well hath auayled [et] p_er_fyted you [et] yet I folowe yᵉ same. But I desyre no more saue to delyuer me your sone [et] I shal enstructe [et] enfourme hȳ in as moche conynge [et] scyence that he wᵗin iii yere shal profyte [et] wyte as moche as I [et] alle my felowes. tho came forth the syxte mayster that was named Cleophas whiche sayd lyke the other p_ro_mysynge to lerne [et] enfourme yᵉ chylde in alle theyr connynges wᵗn two yere. The seuenth muyster (_sic_) rose vp [et] sayd, which also desyred the chylde [et] promysed for to lerne hym wᵗin one yere n̄ scyences and wysdome of them all. As all this was done. Than the Emperour sayde my trusty frendes I am moche bounden to thanke you all, and euery of you, for that eueryche of you haue so effectuelly desyred my sone to nouryssh [et] lerne. If I sholde now commytte hym to one and not to an other / therof sholde come yᵉ descencyon [et] varyaunce amonges you. Therfore to you al [et] euery of you I commyt my sone to nourysshe and to teche. The maysters heryng this wᵗ. grete thankȳges gyuynge to the Emperoure toke [et] receyued his sone, and ladde hym towardes the courte of Rome. ¶ Upon the waye spake Craton to his felowes, If we this chylde sholde lerne within the Cyte of Rome there is so grete resorte [et] concourse of people that it sholde hynder [et] lette hym in his lernynge [et] fantasyenge. I wote a fayre place withoute rome thre myle ryght pleasaunte [et] delectable: there lete vs do make a. iiii square cha_m_ber of stone [et] put hȳ therin [et] vpō yᵉ walles of yᵉ syde lete vs paȳte [et] wryte yᵉ .vii. artes lyberales, so yᵗ yᵉ chylde al times may se [et] beholde therin his doctrine as wel as in his boke [et] th_i_s aduyse [et] counseyll pleased theym all. and was done accordynge in euery poynte. The maysters dylygently euery daye durynge .vii. yere taught [et] lettred the chylde. whiche maysters determyned amonge themselfe and sayde / It is good yᵗ we examen our dyscyple how he is spedde in connynge [et] scyence. They al accorded to the same. Tho sayd mayster Pancyllas / howe shall we proue hym. Craton sayde, Lete euery of vs as he slepeth put vnder euery corner of his bed an olyue leue, and than we shall knowe yf he perceyued or felte ony thynge or not, this done he wakynge gretely marueyllynge lyftynge vp his eyen towarde yᵉ rofe of the chamber feruently. The maysters seynge yᵗ sayd. Wherfore lyft ye vp your eyen so sharply. He answered it is no merueyll, for in my slepe I saw the vppermost parte of the chamber inclyned towarde the erthe, or vnder me it was lyfte vp. This hery_n_ge yᵉ maysters sayd amonge themselfe, Yf this childe may lyue he shal be a man of grete connȳge [et] fame.

How the Emperour by the coūseyll of yᵉ grete pry_n_ces [et] lordes of his Empyre wedded an other wyfe.

The prynces and grete lordes of the Empyre in the meane tyme came to the Emperour [et] sayd, My lorde ye haue only but one sone, it is possyble yᵗ he myght happen to dye. And therfore it were profytable that ye sholde wedde an other wyfe to engendre and make mo chyldren to thentente that the Empyre of Rome be not lefte without heyre. Also ye are so myghty that yf it sholde happen you to gete many chyldren ye may promote [et] auaunce them all to grete dygnytees and lordshyppes. Therupon answerde themperour, It is your counseyll that I shall take an other wyfe, than seke me one yᵗ is gracyous / pure vyrgyne fayre and gentyll borne, [et] than shall I folowe your counseyll and aduyse. They went [et] sought and serched many kyngdomes and londes [et] at the laste they founde the kynges doughter of Castyle that ryght fayre was [et] beateuouse, [et] her they gaue the Emperour to wyf. She behad her so well that anone in her loue he was taken so sore that he forgate and put in oblyuyon all the heuynesse [et] sorowe of his herte that he had taken for yᵉ deth of his fyrste wyfe. And they lyued longe togyder wᵗout chyldren. And as Thempresse sawe yᵗ she myght not cõceyue for she herde yᵗ themperour had a sone wᵗ seuen wyse maysters to lerne [et] nourysshe to yᵉ behouffe [and] p[ro]fyte of Thempyre, she thought in herself [et] wysshed his deth. And from yᵗ houre forth she ymagyned how she myght conspyre his deth. It hapned on a nyght as yᵉ Emperour lay in his bed, he sayd to thempresse, My [most dear and best beloved wife, I shall now open to you the secrets of my heart, for under the sun there is no creature that I love so well as you and therefore trust in my love.

[Then said the fair Empress: if it be so as you say, I require of you, a little boon or petition. Desire what you will, said the Emperor and all that to me is possible, I shall fulfil, and give it to you. Then said the Empress, my dear Lord, you know I have no child yet by you conceived for which I am sore pensive and heave; but Fame that never conceals it self long to true joy, hath delivered this happy truth to me; that ye have one Son only the which is sent to the seven Wise Masters to be taught and governed, and him I hold and require for my own son: wherefore I beseech ye send for him that I may see him and have consolation of his presence, as though he were mine own. Hereupon answered the Emperor it is sixteen years past since I saw him, your will shall be fulfilled. Incontinent the Emperor sent unto the seven wise Masters a Letter sealed with his secret Sign, that upon pain of death they should bring his son in the feast of Penticost following.

[How the seven Wise Masters after the sight of the Emperor's letter would first observe the course and divine for shewing of the Firmament, and Planets, whether it were good to obey his commandment or not.

[And when the Masters by the letter had understood the Emperors will in the night they went and beheld the stars in the Firmament, whether it would be expedient to bring the child to the Emperor or not? and they saw clearly in the stars, that if they should lead the child in that time assigned, at the first word he should speak he should die an evil death: wherefore they were all very sorry; and as they beheld another star, they saw, that if they delivered not the child at the day aforesaid, they should lose their heads. Then said one of them of two evils the least is to be chosen: it is better that all we die, than that the child should lose his life: therefore that we may save the childs life let us go to the Emperor. And as they were thus sorrowful, the child came down from his chamber, and seeing his Masters so heavy, he demanded the cause of their heaviness: whereunto they answered: Sir, we have received your Fathers Letters that upon pain of death, now this high feast of Penticost we shall lead you to your countrey, whereupon we have beholden the firmament, wherein we clearly find, that if we (within the time prefixed) present you to your father, at the first word that ye shall pronounce out of your mouth ye shall be to the most vilest death condemned. Then said the child, I must also behold the Firmament with the stars: and so he did; and found clear in a little star, that if he could abstain from speaking seven dayes, he should be preserved and save his life. And after he had seen this, he call'd his Masters and shewed them the star, and said Behold my dear Masters, I see perfectly in the star, that if I abstain myself seven daies, I shall save my life. Ye are now seven Masters, the wisest of all the world, it is an easie thing for you, every of you for me one day to answer and with your wise answer every of you his day, my life may save and keep; and in the eighth day I shall speak my self, and save my life and all you from peril. As the Masters did behold that certain star, they thought with themselves that the child had said truth, saying, Almighty God be thanked, that the wisdom and cunning of our Disciple exceedeth us all. Then said the first master Pantillus, Lord, I shall speak for you the first day, and save your life. And Lentulus, the second master said I shall for you the second day answer; and so consequently every of them promised to answer for himself his day; and this said, they cloathed the child in purple, leaped on horseback with a fair company and hasted with the child to the Emperor.

[How the Emperor rode to meet his son coming from study with Joy, Solemnity and Triumph.]

Whan themperour perceyued yᵗ his sone was comynge upon yᵉ waye, he rode with grete joye to mete hym. The maysters vnderstandyng the comynge of themperour sayd to the chylde, It is best that we departe, [et] in the meane whyle we maye p_ro_uyde how we may saue your lyfe. The chylde sayd it pleaseth me well that ye so doo, but haue mynde of me in tyme of my necessyte. As they that herde, they toke theyr leue and departed towardes yᵉ Cyte. The chylde came after accompanyed ryght honourably. And as he and his fader themperour were mette, for joye [et] gladnesse he toke hym about the necke [et] kyssed hym and sayd, My dere sone how is it with you / is it (_sic_) longe sythen that I sawe you. He bowed downe his hede and answerd no thynge. The fader had grete wonder why that he spake not and thought in himselfe that his maysters had hym so enformed that he rydynge sholde not speke. And whan they were comen to the palays and were descended from theyr horses, The fader toke his sone by the honde [et] lad hym in to the hall and set hym next hym [et] behelde him and sayde, Say me how it is with your maysters, [et] how they haue enformed you, for now it is many yeres syth I saw you. He enclyned downe his hede [et] gaue none answere. The fader sayd, wherfore speke ye not to me. And whan thempresse herde that themperours sone was comen she was ryght joyous and glad, [et] sayd I wyl goo to se hym. She apparaylled her with ryche vesture [et] atyre, [et] toke with her two of her gentylwymen [et] went there as yᵉ emperour was syttȳge wᵗ his sone she sette her downe by yᵉ chylde. [et] she sayd to themperour is this your sone yᵗ hath ben nourysshed wᵗ yᵉ seuen wyse maysters. [et] he sayd / it is my sone / but he speketh not. She sayd, Delyuer to me your sone, [et] if euer he spake I shall do hym speke. Tho sayd themperour ryse [et] go wᵗ her. The sone dyde reuere_n_ce to yᵉ fader, as thoughe he sayd I am redy too accōplysshe your wyll, [et] went wᵗ her.

Howe thempresse ladde Dioclesyan themperours sone with her in her chamber for to make good chere wᵗ hym the whiche he withstode.

Thempresse lad hym wᵗ her in to her chamber [et] commaunded all other to auoyde [et] set hym by her afore her bedde, [et] sayd, O my best beloued dyoclesyan, I haue moche of your persone [et] beaute herde, but now I am glad yᵗ I may se you wᵗ myn eyen that my herte coueyteth [et] loueth, for I haue caused your fader to sende for you / that I haue solace [et] joy of your persone. Wherfore I wᵗout faute gyue you knowledge that I for your loue vnto this daye haue kepte my vyrgynyte. Speke to me [et] lete vs goo bed togyder. But he gaue her no worde to answer. She seynge that sayd to hym, O good dyoclesyan haue the half of my soule wherfore speke ye not to me / or at yᵉ leest shewe me some token of loue / what shall I do, speke to me. I am redy to fulfyll and perfourme your wyll. [et] whan she had thus sayd she embraced hy_m_ [et] wold haue kyssed hys mouth [et] he torned his vysage from her, [et] in no wyse wolde cōsent. Tho sayd she ayen to hy_m_, O sone wherfore do ye thus wᵗ me: beholde there is none yᵗ may se vs lete vs togyder slepe / [et] than shall ye well p_er_ceyue yᵗ for your loue I haue kept my vyrgynyte, and he torned his vysage frome her. She seynge yᵗ he was of her ashamed shewed vnto hym her naked body and brestes and sayde, beholde my sone what body I haue att your wylle, gyue me youre consent or elles it shall be herde for me to passe with my ryght mȳde. He neyther wᵗ sygne ne wᵗ countenaūce of vysage shewed her ony maner of loue, but as much as he coude w_ith_drewe hy_m_ from her, whā she sawe yᵗ she sayd, O my moste swete sone yf it please you not to cōsent to me ne yet speke, haply for some resonable cause, Lo here is paper pen [et] ynke yf ye wyl not speke wᵗ your mouth than wryte your wyl yᵗ I ony tyme herafter may trust in your loue or not. The chylde wrote as hereafter folowed, O lady god forbede yᵗ I sholde defoule my faders orcheyerde, yf I shulde defoul it: I wote not what fruyte I shold haue of it. I knowe wel one thȳge yᵗ I sholde syn̄ in yᵉ syghte of god [et] I sholde ren in yᵉ maledictyon of my fader, [et] therfore from hensforth prouoke or styre me no more therto / Whan she had yᵗ cedule seen [et] red she brake it wᵗ her teth: [et] tare or rent her clothes wᵗ her nayles to her nauyll. [et] her vysage al to scratched, it was al blody, [et] cast from her al yᵉ ornamētes of her hede [et] cryed wᵗ a loude voyce: come hither my lords [et] help me afore yᵗ ths rude [et] euyll body shame [et] rauyssh me.

Howe Thempresse complayned to themperour of the shame to her done by his sone.

The Emperour was in his halle and herde the crye [et] noyse of thempresse. he hastely ranne towardes his chambre [et] his knyghtes and other of his seruauntes folowed hym after for to see what there was to [be] done. Tho beganne thempresse to crye and to speke to themperour thus, O my lorde haue pyte and compassyon vpon me, beholde this yonge man is not your sone, but yᵉ foulest rybaude [et] harlot yᵗ euer was borne, [et] a defouler of wymmen, for as ye knowe wel I lad and brought hym with me in to my chamber, [et] sholde haue exhorted and caused hym to haue spokē. I haue done asmoche therto as I can or may. [et] whyles I with my wordes exhorted and meued hym for to haue spoken, he hath endeuoyred hymself with me to haue synned. [et] by cause I wolde not to hym consēte, but withstode as moche as I myght for to flee the shame, he my vysage had made all blody, [et] my vesture and ornamentes of my heed broken [et] all to torne, as ye may openly se: And yf ye had not so sone comen vnto my callynge / he had accomplysshed in me his mooste foule and worste wyll. whan themperoure this sawe and herd, fulfylled wᵗ grete malyce [et] woodnesse / commaunded his seruauntes that they sholde lede hym to the galowes [et] hange hym. And after his lordes herde that sayde / Lorde ye haue no moo but this sone only. It is not good yᵗ ye thus lyghtely putt hym to deth / the lawe is put and ordeyned for transgressours [et] mysdoers, and yf it be so that he must edeye, lete hym by yᵉ lawe dye leest that it be sayd yᵗ themperour in his grete furour and Ire without lawe and Justyce he hath put his only sone to dethe. As themperour this herde commaunded him to be put in pryson vnto the tyme that iugement were gyuen ayenst hym. And whan thempresse vnderstode that the chylde was not put to dethe / she cryed [et] weped bytterly [et] wold haue no reste. whan the nyght was comen the Emperour entred in to his chamber to go to bed. and founde his wyfe wepynge [et] sorowyng. To whome he sayde, O my mooste dere lady / for what cause are ye thus sorowfull. She answered, Knowe ye not how yᵗ your cursed sone hath me thus moche shame done [et] offended / and ye haue commaunded hym too be hanged and yet he lyued / [et] your worde is not performed ne my shame is not wroken. Tomorowe sayde themperour he shall dye by yᵉ lawe. Then sayd she, shalle he so longe lyue. Then̄e myght it happen to you as it dyd vpon a burgeys of Rome of whome an example is sayd. The Emperoure sayd, I praye you shewe me that example. That shall I doo gladly sayd the Empresse.

_The Fyrst Example of the Empresse._