EN2 : Eufemius a riche emperour

Chapitres anglais des Gesta Romanorum

Outre le manuscrit avec le Bon Pécheur (Londres BL, MS Harley 7333, sigle A ou EN2), trois manuscrits conservent des chapitres anglais des Gesta Romanorum :

Londres BL, MS Additional 9066 ; 83 feuillets (foliotés de 5 à 87, les quatre premiers feuillets étant perdus), parchemin, 2°, seconde moitié du XV^e siècle, Gesta Romanorum : fol. 5^r-87^v (96 chapitres dont 45 issus des Gesta Romanorum, sigle B) ; Madden 1838, p. 269-503 (édition intégrale) ; Oesterley 1872, p. 239-240 (n° 137, avec index des chapitres) ; Herrtage 1879, p. xxviii (n° 32) ; Herbert 1910, p. 255-262
Cambridge UL, MS Kk.1.6 ; 247 feuillets, papier, 2° (275 x 195 mm), milieu du XV^e siècle, Gesta Romanorum : fol. 216^r-242^v (32 chapitres issus des Gesta Romanorum, sigle C) ; Madden 1838, p. xiii-xiv ; Hardwick / Luard 1858, III, p. 563-565 ; Oesterley 1872, p. 240-241 (n° 138, avec index des chapitres) ; Herrtage 1879, p. xxviii (n° 33) ; catalogue
Gloucester, Cathedral Library, MS 42 ; 398 feuillets (en trois parties), papier, 8°, Gesta Romanorum : p. 723-787 (20 chapitres issus des Gesta Romanorum, sigle D) ; Brewer 1954, p. 390-399 ; Sandred 1971 (édition intégrale)

L’édition princeps parut à Londres dans l’officine de Wynkyn de Worde sans date, probablement vers 1510. Nous l’avons dotée du sigle W1 (43 chapitres). Une réédition publiée vers 1525 est attestée par un fragment d’un feuillet, une autre datée de 1557 est complète. La sélection de Wynkyn fut révisée en 1577 par Richard Robinson, puis rééditée au moins 26 fois jusqu’en 1789, à partir de 1602 avec un chapitre supplémentaire à la fin (sigle W2, 44 chapitres). La plupart des éditions ne sont conservées que dans un seul exemplaire et au moins trois sont perdus. Elles sont de facture médiocre, avec de nombreuses erreurs de numérotation des chapitres par exemple. Elles ont toutes été numérisées Early English Books Online, mais souvent avec des feuillets oubliés, répétés ou permutés. Les numérisations permettent néanmoins de reconstituer avec quelque certitude l'aspect des originaux. Richard Robinson est aussi l'auteur d'une versification de six chapitres d'une édition latine publiée en 1577 (sigle R) .

Une autre traduction de 45 chapitres fut réalisée en 1703 par un anonyme signant B. P., peut-être pour Bartholomew Pratt (sigle P1). Pour 44 chapitres, il se servit d’une édition latine continentale de 1514 du recueil. Sa traduction fut augmentée vers 1720 de 13 chapitres issus du texte de Wynkyn et rééditée une fois (sigle P2, 58 chapitres). L´édition de 1703 est le seul témoin anglais Gesta Romanorum non numérisé. L'unique exemplaire connu se trouve à la British Library sous la cote G.17358. Son titre complet est cité par Francis Douce (1807, p. 361).

De nombreux chapitres furent traduits plusieurs fois. Nous avons transcrit le début de chaque chapitre traduit d’après A, B, C, W1 et W2 (96 chapitres) et renoncé à une transcription des chapitres issus de la tradition continentale représentée par R, P1 et P2 (49 chapitres). Nous avons donné la priorité à A pour les chapitres manuscrits et W1 pour les chapitres imprimés et transcrit doublement le début des chapitres attestés à la fois par un manuscrit et par une édition. Deux chapitres proviennent de l’Histoire des Sept Sages de Rome (HSS), deux autres de la seule tradition anglolatine (AL).

La casse est normalisée et la ponctuation modifiée, notamment au profit de points virgules au détriment des points. Quelques mots manquants sont tacitement complétés (par exemple : Jovinianus was] Jovinianus). Les nombres en romains sont écrits en toutes lettres (two] ij., thre] iij., four] iiij., fourth] iiij., five] v., hundred] C), les abréviations développées (scilicet] scil., shillings] ^s), la marque nasale omise dans certaines transcription (hem̅, in̅, man̅, men̅, on̅, woman̅), une erreur manifeste corrigée (fayre] fay). Un certain nombre de remplacements sont enfin effectués : ꝫ > and, ȝ > g/gh/j/y, ħ > h, i consonantique > j, o̅ > om/on, ꝑ > par, p’ > pro, ſ > s, þͭ > that, yͤ > the, u consonantique > v, v vocalique > u, u̅ > un, ꝯ > us, wiþ > with, y̅ > ym/yn.

Tableau Excel avec les chapitres anglais des Gesta Romanorum (1393 chapitres dans 4 manuscrits et 27 éditions anciennes)

Chapitres

Ch. 4/90 (Zwei Frauen entführt/Two Women Ravished) : In Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty emperour and a wyse named Edsenne, the whiche ordeyned for lawe that who somever ravished a mayde sholde be at her wyll, whether she wolde put hym to deth or that she wolde have hym to her husbande (W1/19).
Ch. 5/87 (Räubertochter/Pirat’s Daughter) : Antonius regnyd a wise emperour in the cite of Rome ; and as he went on a tyme by the see-syde, he sawe howe that pirati, scilicet thevis of the see, hadde taken the sone of a gret myghty man and brouzt him in to the prisone of the emperour, faste y-bounde (A/67). Somtyme there dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour named Antony, under whose reygne the rowers of the see had taken prysoner a myghty mannes sone of another region and broughte hym to the emperours pryson faste bounde (W1/34).
Ch. 7/97 (Bruderneid/Prodigal Son’s Child) : Somtyme there dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour, whiche was named Dunstane, in whose empyre dwelled a gentyll knyght, the whiche had two sones ; one of hys sayd sones wedded hym selfe astaynst his faders wyll to a comune woman of the bordell (W1/37).
Ch. 8/98 (Statuen bestehlen/Statues Robbed) : Donatus regnyd emperour in the cite of Rome ; and he dude to be sette in the temple thre ymagis, and on of hem hadde a finger rechinge to the peple, and in his fynger a rynge of golde, and an other ymage a berd of golde, and the thirde hadde a mantelle of purpure (A/68). There dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty emperour named Donat, whiche lete make thre ymages, of the which one helde out his hande streygt unto the people and hadde on his fynger a rynge of golde, the seconde ymage had a berde of golde, and the thyrde had a mantell of purple (W1/38).
Ch. 9/58 (Sohn stellt Vater nach/Son Plots Against Father) : Cesar was an emperoure, reignynge in the citee of Rome, the whiche weddide a faire semli damiselle, the whiche damiselle was the kynges dowter of Sirie, ande she browte forthe a faire sonne (A/50).
Ch. 10/59 (Ring der Vergessenheit/Girdle of Forgetfulness) : Freudericus was a emperoure regnyng in the citee of Rome, the whiche was longe with oute wyf and childe ; but at the laste, at counseil of lordes ande of wyse men, he weddide a faire damiselle ande dwelte with hir in an unknowen contree ande gete of hir a childe (A/51).
Ch. 11/93 (Giftnahrung/Poison Maiden) : Alexander the emperour was so stronge and myghty that none in his tyme myght overcome hym ; and this emperour hade Aristotil to his maister, that taught hym in alle wysedome and konnyng (B/22).
Ch. 14/60 (Vater oder Mutter folgen/Mother Left, To Rescue Father) : Protheus reignid an emperoure in the citee of Rome ; ande he ordeynide for a lawe that childerine shulde sustene here faderis in al maner of nede, scilicet yf that theye were of powere there to or richere than hir faderis (A/52).
Ch. 16/119 (Sarkophag/Sarcophagus) : A certain Roman emperor erected for himself a tomb ; as the labourers were digging, they found a coffin of gold bound with three hoops, with these words engraven : ‘I have spent, I have given, I have kept, I have had, I now have, I have lost, I am punished’ (W2/44).
Ch. 17/34 (Abibas/Five Services) : Eufemianus was a wise emperour reignynge in the citee of Rome ; the whiche emperour ordeynide a lawe that who so ever come to his yate ande gaf thre strokes at the yate, ande the porter openide the yate, he shulde come in to the emperour and have eny service that he wolde ask (A/28).
Ch. 20/56 (Redde/Birthday Prophecy Fulfilled) : Dolfinus was an emperour in the citee of Rome ; the which hadde a faire dowter, whom he moche lovide ; so in a certeyn daye, as he rode by a forest to hunte, he was asunderide fro alle his men, ande hadde utterly loste hem ; ande therefore withe a grete hevinesse he rode by him selfe (A/48). There dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour named Delfynus, whiche had no chylde save a doughter, a fayre creature and gretly beloved of ther father ; as this emperour walked on a daey on huntynge in the foreste, sodenly he rode forth of his waye and loste his men, wherfore he was gretly dysconforted (W1/42).
Ch. 30/53 (Triumph/Cockcrows) : Folliculus a wise emperoure, reignide in the citee of Rome ; the whiche ordeynide for a lawe that ifa woman dude avoutri undir hir husbonde, that the man shulde be departide fro hir, and ever aftir he shulde be redy with the emperour in bataile (A/45).
Ch. 45/50 (Schießen/Shooting at Father’s Corpse) : Polemius reignide a wys emperoure in the citee of Rome, ande he weddide a wyf of the kyngdome of Spayne ; the whiche woman bare in his tyme thre childerine (A/42).
Ch. 50/49 (Zaleucus/Zaleucus) : Sesar was a wise emperoure reignynge in the cetee of Rome ; and he ordeynide for a lawe that yf there were eny man that defoulide a virgine, he shulde lese bothe his yen ; this emperoure hade a sonne that he lovide moche (A/41).
Ch. 55/42 (Justitia – Pax/Four Heavenly Sisters) : Agios was a wyse emperour reignynge in the citee of Rome ; the whiche lorde hade four dowteris, of wiche one was clepide Mercy, the secounde Sothefastnesse, the thirde Ryghtwyssenes, and the fourth Pes (A/34).
Ch. 57/16 (Focus/Focus the Smith) : Appolanius regnyd in Rome, the whiche maade to be ordenyd as for a lawe that eche man sholde up peyne of dethe kepe the day of the burthe of the emperour as for a festfulle day (A/10). Somtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty emperoure named Apolloninus, whiche ordeyned for lawe that every man upon payne of deth sholde worshyp the daye of his natyvyte (W1/12).
Ch. 58/33 (Drei Wahrheiten, frei/Three Truths) : Lampadius reignede a wyse emperoure in the cite of Rome, and amonge al othere thinges he was mersyfulle ; ande for grete mercy he ordeynide for a lawe that yf ther were eny trespassoure ytake and browte afore the juge, that couthe seye thre trewe talis, so trew that no man myght ayene-seye hem, he shulde be i-savide, and have his eritage (A/27).
Ch. 59/29 (Jovinianus/Proud Emperor) : Jovinianus was regnyng a wys emperoure in the cite of Rome, and he was riche in possessions ; hit happid that he thought in a nyght, as he lay in his bed, whethir there be any God withoute me ? (A/23).
Ch. 60/40 (Spielball/Aglaes the Swift-footed) : Pompeius was a wyse emperoure reignyng in the cite of Rome, the wiche hade a faire dowter namede Aglaes, ande she hade two vertues over al othere maydens ; the fyrst was, she was faire in face and plesaunt to the ye of men ; the secounde was, sche was so wyght of fote, that no man myght rynne with hire by a grete space, but that she wolde come to the marke longe afore him (A/32).
Ch. 60/40 (Spielball/Aglaes the Swift-footed) : Somtyme there dwelled in Rome a wytty emperour named Pompey, whiche had a fayre doughter, whome men called Aglaes ; this doughter had many vertued above al other wymen of that empyre ; fyrste she was fayre and gracyous in the syghte of ever man ; she was also swyfte in rennynge that no man myght overtake her by grete space (W1/16).
Ch. 60/102 (Spielball/Atalanta) : Somtyme there dwelled in Rome a puyssaunte emperour, whyche had a doughter, a fayre creature, and was named Atlenta, whome dyverse and many knyghtes and other grete lordes desyred her to theyr wif (W1/1).
Ch. 61/3 (Socrates heiratet/Socrates Married) : Somtyme dwelled in Rome a worthy emperour, a wyse, whiche had a fayre doughter and ful gracyous in the syght of every man (W1/4).
Ch. 62/35 (Florentina/Facundia) : Mamertynus in the cite of Rome reignede, a wise man, in whose empire was a woman right fayre, whos name was Facondia, that to mannys eye was righte gentille ande lovesome (B/39).
Ch. 63/39 (Ariadne/Labyrinth) : Gardinus was a wyse emperoure in the citee of Rome ande hade grete possessione ; ande he hade a faire glorious dowter namede Eulopia ; he had also a faire gardine, that he lovide muche (A/31).
Ch. 64/51 (Hemd, drei Zoll/Shirt Made of Linen Three Inches Square) : Archilaus reignide a wise emperoure in the citee of Rome, a semly man ande of grete stature ; ande this emperour desiride gretly to have a sherte sotelyche i-made for his body ande wolde have it i-made by the hondis of a virgine unfoulide (A/43).
Ch. 66/15 (Waffen aufhängen/Bloody Shirt) : Fredericus was a wise emperour regnynge in the cite of Rome, the whiche hadde a faire douter, and whanne the emperour was in his dethe-bedde, he bequathe to his dowter alle his empire (A/9). There dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty emperoure named Frederyk, whiche had no chylderin save a doughter, to whome this emperour after his dyscesse bequethed all his empyre (W1/11).
Ch. 67/14 (Weiser folgt dem Narren/Wise Man Follows Fool) : Folliculus was a wise emperour, regnyd in the cite of Rome ; he was mercifulle and rightwis in his werkis, and he made a worthi tour in the est, in the whiche he put alle his tresour and precius jewelis (A/8). Somtyme in Rome dwelled an emperour named Folliculus, that whiche was ryghtewyse, mercyfull and ryghfull in all his werkes ; this emperour builded in the eest a noble cyte where he put al his tresoure and precyous stones and ryches to be kept (W1/10).
Ch. 68/53 (Hähne/Cockcrows) : Pelliculus regned in Rome, the which made a law that if a vontry under here husband, if he myght lawfully prove it, he sholde be departyd fro her and afterwarde be redy in every batayle of the emperour (C/16)
Ch. 70/76 (Drei Fragen Andronicus/Three Tasks) : Antonyus in the citee of Rome reignede, a man right wise, that hade a faire doughtir, that hight Jerabelle and was desirede of many ; neverthelesse she made a vowe to Gode that she shulde never take husbonde, but yf he myght do thre thynges (B/35).
Ch. 71/12 (Lahmer und Blinder/Lame Man Carried By Blind Man) : Pompeius was a wise emperour regnynge in the cite of Rome, and he lete make a proclamacione thorgh alle his empire that he wold make a gret generalle feste and that alle poore and riche shuld come to that feste, for they shuld not only be wele y-fed, but also that thei shuld have many faire giftis (A/6). In Rome dwelled somtyme an emperoure named Pomper, whiche above all other thynges was mercyful ; this emperour lete crye thorought al his empyre a grete feest, and that poore and ryche sholde come to this feest (W1/9).
Ch. 72/85 (Weinfässer/Wine Casks) : Calepodinus in Rome reignede, that toke a maidene to wyf, that conseivede and brought forthe a faire childe ; the childe wexede and was put to scole (B/21). There dwelled in Rome somtyme a myghty emperour named Calopodu, whiche wedded a fayr lady to his wyfe ; they were not longe togyder, but that this empresse conceyved and bare hym a sone, a goodly chylde and a fayre, and set hym to scole (W1/33).
Ch. 73/17 (Hundert Groschen/Hundred Shillings) : Lenoppus was a wise emperour and regnyde in Rome, and among alle othir vertuys he was mercifulle, and for grete pyte he maade a lawe that every man that were blinde shulde have an hundred shillings (A/11). Somtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty emperoure, whyche amonge all other vertues loved best mercy, wherfore he ordeyned a lawe that every blynde man sholde have an hundred shilling by yere of his tresoure (W1/13).
Ch. 74/5 (Narrenapfel/Golden Ball For Fool) : Somtyme there reygned in the cyte of Rome a myghty emperour and a wyse namen Frederyk, whiche had onely but one sone, whome he loved moche (W1/5).
Ch. 75/52 (Drei Witwen/Three Widows) : Saturninus was a wys emperoure reigning in the citee of Rome ; the which hade thre dowteris that he marijde unto thre dukes with grete joye and withe grete powere ; ande withe in thre yere the thre dukis were dede, ande thre wodewis were i-left bihinde (A/44).
Ch. 77/75 (Schön und hässlich/Fair and Ugly) : Domyciane reignede in the citee of Rome, that was a wise man and hade many possessions ; this emperour had two doughtirs, one faire, anothere blake ; he dide crie thurghe his empire that who so wolde wedde his faire doughtir, shulde no thyng have withe her, but her fairenesse (B/34). In Rome somtyme dwelled a myghty emperour named Domicyan, whiche had two dougthers, of whom one was passynge fayre, and that other foule and ougly to beholde, wherfore he lete crye thrughe all his empyre that what man wolde have his fayre dougther to wyfe sholde have no thynge with her, but her fayrenesse (W1/27).
Ch. 81/69 (Gregorius/Romance of Gregory) : Eufemius was a riche emperour in the citee of Rome ; ande he hade a sone and a dowter ; ande as the emperoure rode in a certeyne day by the foreste, he harde melodye of the harpe, and he leyde goode ere ther to (A/61).
Ch. 83/45 (Eber ohne Herz/Boar Without a Heart) : Cesar was a wise emperoure regnynge in the citee of Rome ; the wiche hade a forest, in the whiche he made to be plontide and sette many vynis ande trees (A/37).
Ch. 85/43 (Goldene Angel/Golden Fishhook) : Theodosius reignede a wyse emperoure in the citee of Rome, the whiche lovide afore al othir thinges the melody of the harpe ; hit happenide on a certeyne day, as he rode in huntinge, that he harde the soune of a swete harpe, ande hit was so swete to his hert that he thowte that he was ravishide in him selfe (A/35). Somtyme in Rome dwelled a myghty emperour, and a wyse, named Theodose, whiche above all thynge loved best melody of harpe and huntynge (W1/17).
Ch. 86/11 (Kerkergespräch/Prison Talk) : Betoldus regnyd a wis emperoure in the cyte of Rome, the whiche ordeyned for a lawe that every woman that tooke an other man than hire husbonde, that thei shuld be put to perpetuelle prisone (A/5). There regned somtyme in the cyte of Rome a myghty emperour, and a wyse, named Betoldde, whiche ordeyned a lawe that what woman were taken in an outry her husbonde beynge alyve, that she sholde be cast in to perpetuell pryson (W1/8).
Ch. 87/19 (Narben zeigen/Scars Shown) : Agyos was a wyse emperoure in the cite of Rome and lovide wele bataille, the whiche had a knyght with him ynamede Gerinaldus, a strong man and a myghty ; in the felde he was a lyone, and in halle he was a lambe (A/13). Somtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty stronge and a bataylous emperoure named Agias, whiche had with hym a knyght, whome men called Gerarde, whiche was a doughty warryour (W1/15).
Ch. 91/64 (Der Faulste/Laziest) : Polemius was an emperoure in the cetee of Rome, the whiche hadde thre sonnes that he moche lovide ; so as this emperoure laye in a certeyne nyght in his bedde, he thowte to dispose his empire, and he thought to yeve his kyngdome to the slowest of his sones (A/56). Somtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour named Pelennus, whiche had thre sones, whome he loved moche ; it befelle upon a daye, whan the emperour laye upon his bedde, he bethought hym to whiche of his sones he myght gyve his realme after he dyscesse (W1/21).
Ch. 99/8 (Kröte und Schlange/Toad and Serpent) : Lucius was a wise emperour, regnyd in the cite of Rome, yn the hous of whom ther was a nobille knyght, the whiche knyght, as he rode or yede in a certeyne day in ernndis of the emperoure, he sawe afer a serpent and a toode fighte to-geder (A/2).
Ch. 101/4 (Freude ohne Ende/Gauterus) : Some tyme there was a man that heght Gauterus, that sought a place ande a state where he myght alle wey joye ande have no disese in his fleshe ne in his herte ; ande this sought he longe in goynge aboute (B/46).
Ch. 102/7 (Wachsbild/Wax Image) : Felician regnyd emperour in the cyte of Rome, in the empeire of whom ther was a knyght that hadde weddid a yong dameselle to wife (A/1).
Ch. 104/112 (Androclus/Two Princes Born of a She-Bear) : Anceline reignede in the citee of Rome, that toke a faire maidene to wyfe ; and thei livede to-gedre longe tyme, and she conseivede not, wherfore the lordes of the empire were mekelle desolate (B/17).
Ch. 105/13 (Rügenglocke/Bell of Justice) : Adrian regnyd emperour in the cite of Rome, the whiche witheinne a litille while hadde lost his sight, and he ordeyned for a lawe that ther shuld be hongyd a belle in the myddis of the cite, and eche man that hadde eny cause that shuld be shewid sholde ryng thilke belle (A/7).
Ch. 107/9 (Percute hic/Percute Hic) : Deoclician was the emperour in the cite of Rome, in the empire of whom was a philosophre, callid Lenoppus, the whiche had bi his crafte sette up an ymage, whiche put out an hond with a fynger, and up on the finger was wretyn wordis ‘percute hic’, that is to sey, smyte here (A/3). Dyooclesyan in the cyte of Rome, in whose empyre dwelled a noble phylosopher, the whiche sette up by his crafte an ymage in the myddes of the cyte or Rome, the whiche ymage or figure streyght out his arme an dhis formest fynger, where upon stode his poyse wryten in latyn ‘percute hin’ (W1/6).
Ch. 110/30 (Eustachius, Placidus/Wife and Two Children Lost) : Averios was a wise emperoure regnyng in the cite of Rome, and he let crye a grete feste, and who so ever wolde come to that feste and gete victory in tournement, he shulde have his doughter to wyfe aftir his decesse (A/24).
Ch. 112/61 (Vater heilen, Mutter nicht/Father Cured, Not Stepmother) : Gorgonius was an emperoure regnynge in the cite of Rome ; ande he hade weddide to wyf a yonge gentilwoman, the whiche conseyvide ande browte forthe a faire sone (A/53). In Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty emperour named Gorgony, whiche had wedded a gentyll damoysell and a fayre to his wyfe ; this yonge lady within due processe conceyved and bare him a sone, a fayre chylde and an amyable (W1/24).
Ch. 113/62 (Turnier/Princess Seduced But Avenged) : Onias was an emperoure in the cetee of Rome ; ande he hadde a faire douter that was muche like to him selfe, ande the whiche he muche lovide (A/54).
Ch. 116/63 (Stiefkind und rechtes Kind/Son and Stepson) : Clipodius was a wyse emperour regnynge in the citee of Rome, ande his possessione was moche ; the wiche weddide the dowter of a kynge callide kinge Assireorum, and she was faire ande glorious in syght ande browte forthe a faire sone, but she dide in hir childebede (A/55). Somtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour and a ryche named Lypodyus, whiche toke to his wyfe a fayre virgyn and a gentyll and was that kynge of Assyryens doughter (W1/20).
Ch. 117/57 (Untreue gegen Erretter/Ravisher Preferred To Rescuer) : Damascenus was awyse emperoure reignyng in the cete of Rome ; the whiche ordeynide for a lawe that yf eny man deliveride a virgine fro the honde of hir ravisshere, it shulde be in the wille of him that deliveride hir for to wedde hir, yf him luste (A/49). There dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty emperour named Sauracinus, whiche ordeyned for lawe that who so ever ravysshed a vyrgyn sholde dye and if she were rescued, that he that rescued her sholde have her to wyfe yf him lyst (W1/43).
Ch. 119/83 (Ingratus und Guido/Grateful Beasts, Ungrateful Man) : Ciclades regnyde a wise emperour in the citee of Rome, and over alle thingis he was mercifulle ; and it happid, as he went onys by a forest, ther mette with him a poore man (A/65). In Rome there dwelled somtyme a myghty emperour and a mercyfull named Ebolydes ; it fortuned on a daye that this emperour walked unto the foreste where as he mette sodeynly with a poore man (W1/31).
Ch. 120/54 (Jonathas, drei Wunschdinge/Jonathas) : Godfridus regnide a wise emperour in the cetee of Rome, and he hade childerine that he lovide moche ; ande when he laye on his dethe-bed, he callide to him his eldest sonne (A/46).
Ch. 121/23 (Nachtigall töten/Nightingale Killed) : Caclides was a wys emperoure regnyng in the cite of Rome, in the empire of whom there were two knyghtis, oon was olde, and that othir was yong ; the olde man had weddid to wif a yong damyselle, and the yong knyght had weddid an olde woman, and bothe thes men duellide in oo cite, ny to-gidre (A/17).
Ch. 124/20 (Halb geritten/Father Sheltered) : Adrianus regned a wys emperoure in the cite of Rome, the which ordeinede for the lawe that every knyght, aftir that he myght no more use armys for feblenesse, he shulde be put oute of the empire ; and ife that he myght be founde within the empire, aftir that he were impotent, he shulde be ded withoute pite (A/14).
Ch. 128/28 (Totensiegel/Dead Man’s Seal) : Andronicus was a wise emperoure regnying in the cite of Rome, yn the empire of whom were twey men namede Pirius and Plebeius ; and this Pirius hadde a certein porcione of londe beside the londe of Plebeius, the which lond Plebeius gretly desirede (A/22).
Ch. 129/41 (Freundesprobe/Friendship Tested) : Domicianus reignede a wise emperour in the cetee of Rome, and in his empyere was a gentil knight, the whiche hade only a sonne, that he moche lovide (A/33).
Ch. 130/22 (Freundliche Worte/Soft Words) : Ancelmus was a wise emperoure regnyng in the cite of Rome, the which edifiede in the ende of his empire a passing faire castelle and sette there a stiwarde, commaundyng to him up peyne of dethe for to kepe wele that castelle (A/16).
Ch. 131/74 (Den Armen das Reich/Lordship Given To Churls) : Fulgencius reignede in the citee of Rome, the whiche in merveillous maner lovede his peple, in so mekelle that he made to be criede thurghe alle his empire, that alle men shulde come of every nacione at a certayne day to his paleys (B/33). Somtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour, whiche was named Fulgencius, whiche governed his people and loved them so moche that he made to proclame thrughe out all nacyions that who somever wolde come to hym, ryche or poore, att a certayne day sholde have theyr petycyon, what somever it were (W1/26).
Ch. 132/26 (Aussatz vorgespiegelt/Leprosy Induced) : Bononius was regning a wise emperoure in the cite of Rome, but in alle his tyme he lay as he were seke ; and therfore he sent messangers in to divers contres for to wete, ife there were any lechis that myght hele him, that he myght be brought unto him (A/20).
Ch. 134/10 (In Waffen begraben/Arms From the Tomb) : Tytus was a wyse emperour, regnyd in the cite of Rome, and he made a lawe that every ded knyght shulde be buried in his armour and armys, and iffe ony man weere so hardy for to spoyle him of his armys after that he were y-buriede, he shulde lese his life with oute ony ayenst-stondynge (A/4).
Ch. 134/10 (In Waffen begraben/Arms From the Tomb) : Somtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour named Tytus, a wyse man and dyscrete, whiche ordeyned in his dayes suche a lawe that what knygyt dyed in his empyre sholde be buryed in his armure, and who somever presumed to spoyle ony knyghtes armure after he were dede, he sholde dye without ony withstondynge or saynge saynge (W1/7).
Ch. 139/65 (Basilisk/Basilisk) : Alexandir was a myghti emperoure in the citee of Rome, the whiche bisegide a citee of the kynges of Egipte ; in tyme of whiche besegeing he loste many knyghtes ande men of his hoste ; ande that withe owtin wounde, he knew not howe, but sodenly every day they fille downe dede (A/57). There dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty emperour named Alexander, the whiche besyeged a cyte of the kynges of Egypte with a grete hoost (W1/22).
Ch. 140/66 (Drei Urteile/Sentence Irrevocable) : Eraclius was a wise emperoure reignynge in the citee of Rome ; ande he ordeynide for a lawe that yf enye dome were yeve to eny trespassoure, hit shulde stonde with owte mercy (A/58).
Ch. 141/67 (Schlange und Milch/Serpent and Milk) : Fulgencius was a wise emperoure reignyng in the citee of Rome ; in the empire of whome there was a knyght namide Sedechias ; ande this knyght weddide a fair woman of the kynrede of Levi, but she was fon and biter ; ande in hir house dwelte a serpente of longe tyme in his cave (A/59).
Ch. 168/38 (Honig/Unicorn) : Pwas was an emperoure reignyng in the citee of Rome, and among al othere thinges he lovide wel huntinge ; ande as he rode in a certene tyme by a forest, he saw a man rynne afore him, with al the myght of his bodye, and an unycorne rynnynge aftir him, wher thorowe the man was gretly a-dredde, that for fere he felle in to a gret diche (A/30).
Ch. 171/55 (Egypten und Baldach/Two Friends) : Eulopius was a gode emperoure in the citee of Rome, the whiche lovide moste passingli love ande pes ; ande therfor wher so ever he knewe that eny discorde or unrest was regnynge, he labouride to make reformacione of pes (A/47).
Ch. 189/47 (Gnade/Foster-child Carried Off By a Wolf) : Polemius was a wise emperoure reignyng in the citee of Rome ; the whiche ordeynide for a lawe that yf any norisshe tooke eny childe to be norishede, yf the childe dide or were lepre in defaute of the noryshe, she shulde be dede (A/39).
Ch. 189/71 (Gnade/Foster-child Carried Off By Eagle) : Solemius was a wise emperoure reignynge in the sitee of Rome, the wiche weddide to wyve the dowter of the kyng of Tunyke ; and the womman was faire and gentill in shape ; ande she conseyvide and bare a faire sone (A/62). In Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty emperour namen Folemus, whiche had wedded the kynges doughter of Duchelonde, a fayre lady and gentyll, whiche within shorte tyme was conceyved and bare a sone (W1/25).
Ch. 193/18 (Sieben Jahre treu/Seven Years’ Troth) : Polemus was a wise emperour regnynge in the cite of Rome, the whiche hadde a passying faire doghter callyd Aglaes ; ther was a knyght in the palis that hyely lovid this faire may ; and in a certeyne day, this knyght hadde a speche with hire and shewid to hire the love of his herte that he hadde to hireward (A/12). In Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty emperour named Pylomius, whiche had no chylde, but a doughter, a fayre mayde and a gracyous in the syght of every man, and was named Aglaes (W1/14).
Ch. 194/46 (Bratfisch/Plaice, Three Petitions) : Alexandir was a wyse emperoure reignynge in the citee of Roome ; his possessioune was moche, ande amonge al other vertues that he hadde, he was large of his mete (A/38). Somtyme there dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour of grete lyvelode named Alexsander, the whiche above all vertues loved largesse (W1/35).
Ch. 195/48 (Fleischpfand/Pound of Flesh) : Selestinus reignide a wyse emperoure in Rome, ande he hade a faire dowter ; ande in his tyme ther was a knyghte that lovide this dowter, but he thowte in him selfe that he dud al in veyne, fore he thowght as for sothe that the emperoure wolde not late him to have hir, for he was unworthi ther to (A/40).
Ch. 196/1 (Baumerbe/Tree Legacy) : There dwelled somtyme in Rome myghty emperour and a wyse named Ancelme, whiche bare in his armes a shelde of sylver with fyve reed rosys ; this emperour had thre sones, whome he loved moche (W1/2).
Ch. 200/81 (Drache durch Löwen entfernt/Crucified Lion) : Darius reignede in the citee of Rome, a fulle wise man, that hade a citee wele wallede, in the whiche was a belle hangede in the myddes ; and as ofte as he shulde go to bataile or out of the citee to take his pray, the belle shulde be rongene of a maidene (B/18). There dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty emperour named Darmes, whiche had a myghty stronge cyte and well a stronge walled aboute and a belle hangynge in the myddes of the cyte, and whan so ever this emperour wente to batayle without the cyte, this belle sholde be ronge (W1/29).
Ch. 212/44 (Stricke/Cords) : Solemius was emperoure in the citte of Rome, the whiche hadde a dowter that was faire ande glorious to the syte of men ; ande he lovide hir so muche that he ordeynide to kepe hir nyght and day with five armede knyghtes ; and he ordeynide a gret master, sotil and connynge in many crafftes ande artes, for to enforme and for to theche the knightes the best maner wher by thei myght kepe the mayde (A/36). There dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour and a wyse man, whiche was named Polemus, whiche had no childe save a doughter, whome he loved soo moche that dayly and nyghtlye he ordeyned her for to be kept with armed knyghtes (W1/18).
Ch. 216/68 (Löwenhochzeit/Lion and Emperor) : Archilaus regnid emperoure in the citee of Rome, the whiche in his age wedde a yonge gentil damiselle to wyfe ; ande he lovide hir moche, ande she hatide him ayene ande lovide anothere with alle hir herte by wey of luste and of fleshelye lykynge ; ande ofte tymes this knyght synnyde with hir (A/60). A myghty emperoure somtyme dwelled in Rome named Archelaus, the whiche in his solde age wedded a yonge and a gentylle lady, whome a yonge knyght loved and had to do with her, as ofte tymes as hym lysted (W1/23).
Ch. 217/94 (Sohn zerfleischt sich/Son Tears Himself) : Flosculus reignede in Rome, that hade a sone that was wode, that dyverse daies rent his membres ; the fadir sawe that and yafe hym venyme and hade lever slee him softly than he shulde so rente hym selfe dyverse daies (B/23).
Ch. 243/36 (Götter wählen/Choice of Gods) : Mardonius was a wyse emperour regninge in the citee of Rome, yn the londe of whome ther was a philesophere, to whome weere i-putte thre sonys of a grete kynge, to be enformide ande tawte wel and wyselye (A/29).
Ch. 249/100 (Hildegarde/Chaste Empress) : Merelaus regnyd a wise emperour ; and he had weddide to wife the kyngys dowter of Hungery, the whiche was a faire woman, and fulle of werkis of mercy (A/69). In Rome there dwelled somtyme a myghty emperour named Menaly, the whiche had wedded the kynges doughter of Hungry, a fayr lady and gracious in all her werkes, and specially she was merciful (W1/40).
Ch. 250/82 (Asyl, Nachtigall/Refuge in Palace For Escaped Prisoners) : Menelaus reignede in the citee of Rome, that was right mercifulle ; therfore he made a law that yf a mysdoer were take and put into prisone, yf he myght ascape and flee to the paleys, he shulde have refute withe out any contradiccione (B/19). There dwelled somtyme in the cyte of Rome a myghty emperoure and a mercyfull whiche was named Menalaye, whiche ordeyned suche a lawe that what mysdoer were taken and brought in to pryson, yf he myght escape and come to the emperours palays, he sholde be there safe for all maner felons, tresons or trespasses that he had done in his lyfe tyme (W1/30).
Ch. 251/84 (Sohn an Feindestochter/Whale, Three Caskiets) : Ancelmus regnyd emperour in the cite of Rome, and he weddid to wife the kynges doghter of Jerusalem, the whiche was a faire woman and long dwelte in his company, but she never conceyvid ne brought forthe frute, and therof were lordis gretly heveid and sory (A/66). Somtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour, whiche was named Anselme, whiche wedded the kynges doughter of Jerusalem, a fayre lady and a gracyous in the syght of every man, but she was longe tyme with the emperour, or she was conceyved with chylde (W1/32).
Ch. 256/2 (Straußei/Ostrich Chick) : In Rome dwelled a noble emperoure named Dyoclesyan, whiche above alle worldly goodes loved the vertue of charyte, wherfore he desyred gretly to knowe, what foule loved her byrdes best to this entente (W1/3).
Ch. 273/21 (Lear/Lear) : Theodosius regned a wys emperoure in the cite of Rome, and myghti he was of power, the which emperoure had thre doughters ; so hit likede to this emperoure to knowe which of his doughters lovide him best (A/15).
Ch. 274/24 (Feuerlärm, Trunk/Fire-alarms) : Antonius was a wise emperoure regnyng in the cite of Rome, the which ordeynede for a law that what tyme there was any fyre in that cite, there shulde be a bidelle y-ordeined for to avaite hit and to make an highe proclamacione in the cite (A/18).
Ch. 275/27 (Schachspiel, Reichsteilung/Chess, Realm Divided) : Antonius was a wys emperoure regnyng in the cite of Rome, the which usid moche to play with houndis ; and aftir that pley, alle the day aftir he wolde use the chesse (A/21).
Ch. 276/77 (Brunnen gegen Trunkenheit/Well Water Cures Drunkenness) : Somtyme there dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour named Andromyke, whiche above all thynge loved melody ; this emperour had with in his castel a well of suche vertue that soo ever were dronken and dranke of that water of this well sholde be contynent fresche agayn and be delyvered from all maner of dronkenesse (W1/28).
Ch. 277/78 (Nach Reichtum heiraten/Vengeance Deferred For Thirty Years) : Theobaldus regnyde emperoure in the cite of Rome ; and he ordenyd for a lawe that no man in payne of dethe sholde wedde ony woman for hire fairnesse, but for hire richesse (A/63).
Ch. 279/80 (Frau nach der Reinigung/Serpents Suckled) : Olimpus was an emperour in the cite of Rome, the whiche weddid a mayde ; and aftir that she conceivide with him and brought forthe a childe (A/64).
Ch. 281/95 (Bad im Blut des Geliebten/Bath of Blood) : Promius reignede in Rome, that hade a faire wyfe ; the whiche, whan she stode ones in a wyndowe of the castelle, she saw two knyghtes in a medow undir the castelle to-gedre ; the one knyght was right faire, in so mekelle that the lady was takene in his love (B/24).
Ch. 282/99 (Feuer und Wasser bewahren/Fire and Water Ready) : Vomias reignede in Rome, that toke a faire maidene to wyfe, the whiche conseivede, and brought forthe a faire sone ; wise men come to the emperour, for to have his sone to norisshe (B/27). In Rome there dwelled somtyme a myghty emperour named Evas, whiche had a yonge lady to his wyfe, on whome he hadde begoten a fayre sone (W1/39).
Ch. 283/101 (Fridolin/Fridolin) : Lamartinus regnyd emperour in the cite of Rome ; and he helde in howsehold with him the sone of his brothir, whom he moche lovide, and the name of that childe was Fulgencius, and every day he mynystrid to the emperour of drynke (A/70). In Rome somtyme there dwelled a myghty emperour named Martyn, whiche for love kept with hym his broders sone, whome men called Fulgencius ; with this Martyn dwelled also a knyght that was stuarde of his empyre (W1/41).
Ch. HSS2/32 (Hund/Dog and Serpent) : Cesar the emperoure was a wyse man reigninge in the cete of Roome ; in whos empire was a knyght namede Folliculus, the whiche knight lovide over al thinges in the worlde justing ande tornement (A/26).
Ch. HSS12/31 (Gevattern/Three Gallants Entrapped) : Plebeius was emperoure regning in the cite of Rome ; the whiche ordeynide for a lawe that wacchemen shulde eche nyght go aboute the cete and visite eche house, that there was no misgovernayle there in, wher by the cite myght peril or harme, and that there were no manslauter ne sodeyne dethe in eny house (A/25).
Ch. AL1/25 (Drei Fragen Andronicus/Seven Riddles) : Andronicus was emperoure of Rome and regnede there mighty in power, and he had with him a knyght namede Temecius, the which was rightwis and good ; nevertheles by enemys he was accusede grevously to the emperoure, the which myght yeve noo sentence ayenst him (A/19).
Ch. AL2/96 (Ø/Fountain That Revives the Dead) : Lenyncius reignede in Rome, the whiche as he rode by a forest, mette withe a poore man, and seide to hym : ‘Fro whens comest thou, and what art thou?’ He saide : ‘I come fro the next citee and am your man’ (B/25). There dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty emperour named Lemicius, whiche on a daye rode in dysporte to a foreste where as he met sodeynly with a poore man, to whome he sayd thus : ‘Frende, whens comest thou, and who arte thou ?’ ‘My lorde’, quod he, ‘I came fro the nexte cyte and your man I am’ (W1/36).