Page 101 - DENG405_BRITISH_POETRY

British Poetry

Notes Constance, Hermengyld and her husband came upon a blind Christian, who identified her without
his eyes. Although Hermengild feared that her husband would reproach her for attempting the
conversion, this miracle converted him too to Christianity.
The warden was not the lord of the castle. Instead, it was Alla, the king of Northumberland. A
young knight, influenced by Satan, fell in love with Constance, but she would not return her favors.
In an attempt to exact revenge upon her, he broke into the bedchamber where Constance and Dame
Hermengyld slept, slit Hermengyld’s throat and placed the knife beside Constance. Soon after the
warden came home with Alla and found his wife murdered. Taking her before King Alla, who was
told all the circumstances of Constance’s arrival in Northumberland, the false knight (who killed
Hermengyld) insisted that Constance had done the murder.
The people spoke out on her behalf, unable to believe that Constance had done the crime; and this
provoked the king to inquire further into the circumstances of what had happened. Constance fell
to her knees and prayed, looking around her for help. “Now hastily do fecche a book”, King Alla
commanded, deciding that, if the knight swore on the book that Constance was responsible, he
would think carefully about his decision. A book was brought, and, the knight swore on it that
Constance was guilty - at that time, a hand struck him down on the neck-bone, and he fell down like
a stone, both of his eyes bursting out of his face.
Witnessing this miracle, the king–“and many another in that place”–was converted to Christianity.,
and decided to take Constance for his wife. But, who was upset about this wedding but Donegild,
the knight’s mother? She thought her heart had broken in two. In the meantime, the couple were
wedded, and Constance gave birth to a boy, named Mauricius, while Alla was away in Scotland
fighting. A messenger, taking the news to the king, was forestalled by the queen who insisted he
stayed with her that night, and, while he was asleep, replaced his letters with forged ones. Her
letters claimed that Constance’s baby was foul and wicked; and when Alla wrote back that he vowed
to love the child regardless, Donegild replaced his letter with an order to banish Constance and her
child from the land on the same boat from which they came.
(III) When Alla returned home, he learned what had happened and murdered his mother for her
cruelty, and for being a traitor. But Constance had already set sail, and washed up in another heathen
land, where the warden’s steward came on board her ship, telling her that he would be her lover
whether she liked it or not. Her child cried, and Constance cried also; but the Virgin Mary came to
her aid, and, in the struggle that ensued, the steward fell overboard and drowned in the sea.
Returning to Syria, the emperor of Rome had sent an army, hearing of the slaughter of Christians by
the sultaness, and, having burnt, slain and avenged themselves on the heathen people, this army
was now returning homeward to Rome. The senator in charge of the army met Constance in her
ship, and, not knowing who she was, brought her home to Rome, where she stayed for a “longe
tyme”.
King Alla, having slain his mother, had come to Rome to receive his penance and seek Christ’s
forgiveness for the wickedness he had performed. The rumor spread through Rome of how Alla
was to come in pilgrimage, and this senator came to do him reverence. Constance’s son went in the
entourage of the senator to feast with King Alla.
The child stood at the feast, looking into the king’s face; Alla then asked the senator whose the child
was. “A mooder he hath”, replied the senator, “but fader hath he noon”, and told him the story of
how the child was found. Remembering Constance’s face, and seeing the resemblance in her child’s
face, Alla sped from the table as soon as he could, debating with himself about the hallucination he
thought he was having. But afterwards, the senator sent for Constance, and, when Alla saw his
wife, he wept, because it had come true. Constance stood as dumb as a tree, stiff with emotion,
when she remembered his unkindness: which he soon explained had not been of his doing. When
all was explained, they kissed a hundred times, and were blissfully happy.

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