King Alla go To feast, and shortly, if I shall not lie, Constance’s son went in his company.
Some men would say, at réquest of Constance This senator had led this child to feast: I may not tellen every circumstance, Be as be may, there was he at the least: But sooth is this, that at his mother’s hest Before Allá, during the meatë’s space, The child stood, looking in the kingë’s face.
This Alla king had of this child great wonder, And to the senator he said anon, “Whose is that fairë child that standeth yonder?” “I n’ot,” quoth he, “by God and by Saint John; A mother he hath, but father hath he none, That I of wot:” and shortly in a stound He told to Alla how this child was found.
“But God wot,” quoth this senator also, “So virtuous a liver in all my life I never saw, as she, nor heard of mo’ Of worldly woman, maiden, widow or wife: I dare well say she haddë lever a knife Throughout her breast, than be a woman wick’, There is no man could bring her to that prick.