| | She wolde do no synne be no way | |
| | And for despit he compassid in his thought | |
| | To make here on shamful deth to day | |
| 495 | He waytith whan the Constabyl is a way | |
| | And priuely on a nyght he crepte | |
| | In hermegildis chambir whylis she slepte | |
| | Wery forwakid in her orisons | |
| | Slepith hermegilde and Constaunce also | |
| 500 | This knyght thorough sathans temptacions | |
| | Al softly is to the bed y goo | |
| | And kutte the throte of hermegild a twoo | |
| | And leyde the blody knyf be dame Custaunce | |
| | And wente his wey there god yeue him mischance | |
| 505 | Sone aftir comyth the Constabyl hom ayeen | |
| | And eke alla that was kyng of the lond | |
| | And saw his wyf dispitously sleyn | |
| | For whom he wepte and wrong his hond | |
| | And in the bed the blody knyf he fonde | |
| 510 | Be dame Custaunce allas what might she say | |
| | For verray wo her wit was al a way | |
| | To kyng alla was told al this myschaunce | |
| | And the tyme and where and eke the wyse | |
| | That in a ship was founde this Custaunce | |
| 515 | As here before ye me haue herd deuyse | |
| | The kyngis herte of pyte gan aryse | |
| | When he saw the benigne creature | |
| | Falle in disese and in mysauenture | |
| | For as the lomb toward his deth is brought | |
| 520 | So stant this Innocent a fore the kyng | |
