Charles Cowden Clarke

“ This divine creature travelled back to Rome, where she found her friends living and well. All her adventures had come to an end. And, weeping before her father's knees, with tender and sad thoughts, she returned thanks to God for her deliverance. Thus they lived in virtue and deeds of alms-giving, till they were separated for ever in this life. And now fare you well; my tale is over; and may He who protected Constance, keep all here, and send them gladness after sorrow. ”

“ To this end he moved a young knight, dwelling near the castle, to love her with a foul and dishonest affection; which, when he found had no avail, (for no temptation could bring her to sin and shame,) the villainous heart of the youth, through spite and disappointment, compassed his thought to make her die a felon's death. Watching therefore his opportunity, while the constable was away, he crept privately by night to Hermegild's chamber, who, with Constance had both fallen asleep, weary with long waking and prayer. ”

“ And now to make a conclusion to my tale, this child, Maurice, was afterwards anointed Emperor by the Pope, and did high honour to the Christian church:—but my story is especially of Constance.
King Alla after due time returned to England with his sweet and holy wife, where they lived together in peace and happiness, although, alas! but for a short, though blissful season: happiness in this world is ever fleeting, and so it was with Alla and Constance; for, at the end of a year, death removed him from her; and she, in grief and heaviness at his loss, returned to the land of her birth. ”

“ Too certainly does sudden woe succeed to worldly bliss: the end of the joy of our labour is sprinkled with bitterness, and grief follows in the train of mirth. For your security's sake, therefore, attend to this advice:—in the day of gladness think upon, and provide against the evil which comes up behind.
Shortly to describe this event:—the Sultan and every Christian were murdered at table, the Lady Constance alone being spared. The old Sultaness, with her friends, compassed this cursed deed, that she herself might rule the kingdom uncontrolled. ”

“ The constable and Dame Hermegild, his wife, with all the inhabitants of that country, were Pagans; but Hermegild had a deep affection for Constance; and Constance, so long and so earnestly prayed, with tears and bitterness, that Dame Hermegild was converted through her grace. No Christian dared to dwell in that country; the believers were compelled to fly before their Pagan conquerors; and the Christianity of Ancient Britain took refuge in the strongholds of the Welsh mountains. Yet were not the Christian Britons so exiled but that some few remained who secretly worshipped Jesus ”

“ Time is ever on the wane, and steals away from us, both while we sleep, and during our waking hours of negligence—as the mountain stream never returns from the plain to its source. Sir Man of Law, since you have consented to submit to my judgment, now tell your tale according to agreement:—abide by the summons, and you will at least have acquitted yourself of your duty.' 'Mine host,' said he, 'I have no intention to break my covenant:—duty is a debt, and I cheerfully perform my best—I can say no more: for the law by which man restrains his fellow, he himself should abide by. ”

“ For often by certain means, which to us appear dark, he accomplishes certain ends, that our ignorance and short sight cannot detect. She was preserved by a miracle, she was fed by a miracle, and so was she driven about the wide sea; till, at last, she was thrown ashore under a castle, far up on the coast of Northumberland, and her vessel remained so fixed in the sand that the flood-tide could not move it.
The constable of the castle came down to view the wreck, and having searched it over, found this solitary and woe-worn woman, together with the treasure she had brought away. ”

“ Her little child lay weeping on her arm:—'Peace, peace, little son,' said she, 'I will not harm you: 'with that she took her kerchief from her head and laid it over its little eyes, lulling the babe in her arm against her bosom; and, casting her eyes up to heaven, 'O, Mother!' she continued, 'blessed Virgin Mary! true it is that through a woman's tempting, mankind was lost, and doomed to perdition, for which error the flesh of thy Son was torn upon the cross: thy blessed eyes witnessed his torment; then is there no comparison between thine and any woe man may sustain. ”

“ After the lapse of some months, the King, being compelled to march against his old enemies the Scots, committed his wife, who was in expectation of presenting him with a child, to the protection of a bishop and his friend the constable. The meek and humble Constance in due course of time, and while her lord was still away, brought into the world a son and heir, who was christened Maurice. And the constable despatched a messenger with a letter to the King, informing him of the event. ”

“ He brought her home, however, with him to Rome, and placed her, with the little Maurice, under the care of his wife; who, though her aunt, was as ignorant of the quality of her guest as the senator himself. After she had resided for some time in this manner, gladding the hearts of all around by her gentleness and good works, King Alla, her husband, came to Rome, for the purpose of doing penance, and to obtain pardon for the unholy deed of having slain his mother. ”

“ In Syria, in former days, there dwelt a company of rich merchants, who exported far and near their cloth-of-gold, rich satins, and spicery: their merchandise was so rare and excellent, that all were eager to deal and barter with them. Now it happened that some of these traders turned their course towards Rome, and remained there as long as suited their pleasure and convenience. During their stay they heard of little but the great renown of the Emperor's daughter, the Lady Constance. The common talk of every one was ”

“ Every man assented, and swore to live and die with her. Each one also promised to exert himself to strengthen her cause by every influence in his power. This compact being settled, she thus explained the enterprise she had taken in hand.—'First, we will feign to embrace Christianity—a little cold water will not harm us. ”