[148: T. 5030-5064.]
To king Alla was told al this meschance, 610
And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wyse
That in a ship was founden dame Custance,
As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse.
The kinges herte of pitee gan agryse,
Whan he saugh so benigne a creature 615
Falle in disese and in misaventure.
For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght,
So stant this innocent bifore the king; (520)
This false knight that hath this tresoun wroght
Berth hir on hond that she hath doon this thing. 620
But nathelees, ther was greet moorning
Among the peple, and seyn, ‘they can not gesse
That she hath doon so greet a wikkednesse.
620. _So in_ E.; _rest_ Bereth. 621. _All_ moorning (mornyng);
Tyrwhitt _has_ murmuring; _see note_.
For they han seyn hir ever so vertuous,
And loving Hermengild right as her lyf.’ 625
Of this bar witnesse everich in that hous
Save he that Hermengild slow with his knyf.
This gentil king hath caught a gret motyf (530)
Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere
Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere. 630