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AND HEREIN THE HISTORY OF A CERTAIN CHILD THAT BETROTHED HIMSELF TO THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY
THERE was in the old time a great lord, a prince duke or count, that was rich and powerful, having the governance of many lands. And he was the king's kinsman, and had to wife a most noble lady, the which was of good renown in that country because she led an holy life and was the friend of God. One son she bore him, and reared him in Christ l s brotherhood to the age of ten years; and he was a fair and well-spoken child, so that his father loved him well, as much and more than fathers are wont to love their sons. He made him to learn all scholarship, and his mother bred him in all piety; nor was there ever a day in which the boy said not the Hours of Our Lady if he could, for this he loved to do. And there was a chapel close against his father's house where this good child could serve the glorious Virgin: there he went with his schoolmaster each day to make his orisons.
Now there was in this chapel a most fair image of Saint Mary, that was of a woman's height,
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and so richly painted that it seemed no carven image but a living thing; and the child loved it. When he found himself alone there, as sometimes chanced, he would go to the feet of that Lady, and would pray to her with great devotion, and tell her all he did, and ask her love: and the day that he did not thus draw near her, there to say his prayers, he had neither joy nor good courage. Of a surety it became to him all his life and all his comfort thus to do, so that he wished to make of her his Mistress and his Queen, and to speak with her and she with him, as Mistress and servant may do: for so it is with children when they love. Thus it was that as he grew in age and understanding, he ever redoubled his ardour towards her: and he was her faithful servant and very loyal page, but none knew it, neither his parents nor his school- master, for he hid his devotion discreetly.
And it happened, that one day this child went alone to that chapel; and there he knelt down full gladly, and prayed devoutly and with all his heart that he might have Our Lady's grace and ever serve her. Then that dear and honoured Lady, because she knew him how constant he was and how desirous of her grace, and that he was yet a pure and clean virgin, the which she greatly loves, began to call the child by the mouth of her image. And she said,
"My sweet friend, doubt not. Because that you have warmly loved me, very surely all that you desire shall come to pass."
Now at this the child began to tremble, for
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he was frightened, hearing the image speak: he was not more than eleven years old. But presently for his encouragement, Our Lady spoke to him again; and now her voice was sweeter than honey, so that none might resist it.
And she said, "Have no fear, little brother, but rather let your heart be full of joy; for my Son has for my sake granted your prayer, that you should know me what I am, and therefore I may speak with you by the mouth of this image. And for this cause you must not doubt nor be afraid; neither of me nor of any other thing. For I love you more than I love myself, and surely I will protect you.”
"Hahay, most sweet Lady," said the child, "what is this that you have said? It is not possible that you love me more than you love yourself. Very surely I love you exceeding well; for I come every morning and evening to pray before your image without fail. But you love me not at all, for you speak to me never, though I have often asked it; neither do you show me such kindness as my father and mother have done, the which I have desired of you greatly."
When the Queen of Angels heard this child so loving and so ardent towards her, she was minded to test him, for she wished to have his love. Therefore said she, "Tell me the truth, in what manner and how greatly you do love me. Take care that you lie not; for if you do this, of a surety I shall know it well."
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“Lady," he said, "I love you more than I love my father or my mother or myself."
“My fairest friend," said she, "now I see that indeed you love me without fantasy; therefore I will have you to know that I have set my love upon you also, and so greatly that I am jealous to have you. Now look at me well, and consider whether I please you, that you may not make a bargain of which you will repent. Am I as fair and as queenly as you would that your sweetheart should be?"
Then the Mother of God did illuminate that image with her gracious presence, till it shone with so great a glory that no tongue could express it. And it was very old, for it had been in that place an hundred years, yet now it seemed to the child new-made and exceeding fair, for it shone with that light which dwells in the Empyrean Heaven, the which makes all things new.
And the Blessed Virgin spoke by its mouth and said to him, "Fair and dear boy, are you willing to take for yourself so sweet a woman-friend as this, that will be with you all your life to your comfort, and in death will stand by you to save your soul?"
"Hahay, Lady," said the child. "I ask no other Paradise."
"Draw near, then," said the image, "and give me your hand and your troth, in token that you will have no other espoused wife but me. For in you is that treasure of virginity which I greatly love. Therefore I do desire to preserve it; and to bring you, by this troth that we shall make,
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a clean maiden to Heaven, there to receive the crown that is laid up for them that will love me with a pure love. Verily that crown is exceeding fair, and great is the joy of those that shall wear it."
"Lady,” answered the child, "I shall do nought that can deface your love; and I promise you that I will love you while I live, and will take no other sweetheart, nor wed no other wife—no, not though I should lose my life for it."
“My friend," said she, "come now and kiss me; and I will give you my hand in troth.”
Then did the little boy draw near to the image, the which reached out her hand and gave it to him, and he kissed it three times, weeping because of the great joy that he had; for now his heart was filled with a marvellous happiness, being uplifted by the love divine. And when he had so done, Our Lady took her hand from him and said, "Fair sweet friend, now must you make good cheer, for I am your Bride that is duly affianced, and my love is always with you. Remember me ever, for now we may no longer talk together. I go my way, and do commend you to the care of God."
And presently the child's schoolmaster came to the chapel, and found him kneeling before the image of Saint Mary; and he saw that he had been crying. But the child told him nought of what had chanced, neither then nor afterward, but kept all that had happened very closely. And he was of good cheer, as his Sweetheart
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had bidden him to be, returning often to her Virgin's chapel, that he might be with her image that he loved. In this was all his joy, for though he never heard her voice again, he knew that there she was with him.
But his father, that was a very valiant lord, more apt in the exercise of arms than in the making of orisons, marvelled greatly where his son went so often; for he would never ride to hawking nor to the tournament, though he was a brave and graceful child, but would be always about his secret business, that was, though they knew it not, the service of his heavenly Friend. And his father was displeased at it, for he would have his son expert in chivalry and deeds of war. Therefore when he was gone fifteen years, and kept still these habits of devotion, going little abroad and refusing himself to all feasting and merriment, for that he had an inner and a secret joy, it came into the thoughts of that seigneur his father that it were best that the boy be married as quickly as might be, for then his wife would shame him from his foolishness. So he did send and let make great search, with intent to find some fair and discreet maiden of good lineage; and at last he discovered one, that was damoiselle at the court of the king. So there would he go with the child, that the marriage might take place without delay.
But when the boy heard of it he was full of grief and fear; for he knew that he might not do this thing, because he had given his troth to an heavenly Bride. And indeed, for the love
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that he had of her, he was most firmly determined against it, and so did he say; but his father was set upon the marriage, and would not hear him. Therefore, when the day of departure came, the child, that knew not how else he might keep his loyalty, hid himself in secret; and great search was made for him through the demesne, but at the last he was discovered. Then did his father curse him and threaten him, for now he was exceeding wrath. And he took the boy and brought him by force to the king's palace, and to the damoiselle whom he should wed; for which cause many laughed and mocked, to see so unwilling a bridegroom brought to church. And there was great company of knights and ladies assembled for the marriage; and these came with the child and his parents to the chapel where the wedding should be. There was also the damoiselle, and she was exceeding fair of body, young and gay. And the bishop and his clerks were there, that should say the nuptial Mass.
Then said the bishop: "Fair friend, tell me truly, will you have this woman to be your wife?"
"Of a surety, sir," said the child, "I will not. For nothing in the whole world will I wed any woman, for, indeed, I had rather lose my life than do it."
"Believe it not," said the father. "He is but ashamed before his sweetheart, whom he sees here so fair and debonnair. It is the way of children; therefore take no heed of his words."
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And he took the boy, who would have withdrawn himself, and by force he pushed him forward, so that he should stand by his bride. Then the child, seeing that they would use violence with him, and being in great terror for fear that they should make him to break his troth, struggled against his father and against those that helped him : for now the knights and ladies of that meinie laid their hands on him to restrain him, with laughter and mocking. And so greatly did he struggle that at last he broke from them, and escaped out of their hands, and ran away.
Then the father cried out exceeding wrathful, "Take him quickly; let him not go, he is mad."
And a great rout went after the boy to wit, all the wedding guests and serving-men that were about them. But he ran quickly, so that he won out of the chapel, and to the stairway that went from it into the palace-yard. And because of the haste he was in, coming to the descent of the stairs he miscounted one, and missing the step he fell from top to bottom a great way: and there he lay upon the paving, for he had broken his neck. And when the company that went after him came to the foot of the stair, there did they find his body lying. Then those knights and ladies, squires and damoiselles, seeing this thing, began to cry and make great moan, so that some were near to swooning of it; for indeed this was most piteous end to marriage feast. And what shall
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I say to you of his mother? Too long were it to tell all her grief and pain, the which was so great that she longed only to die, thus to be with her child again: for he was her only son.
But whilst all endured this anguish, standing about the body of the child, their grief was on a sudden turned to amazement: for they saw in the sky great light, as it were of many suns, and in it a rich company that came toward them, so full of splendour that no tongue could describe it. Then also did they hear about them a sweet and most melodious chanting, and none might say who made it, for no minstrels could they see. And all their sorrow went from them when that light and that music drew near, for this was that heavenly melody which is heard before the Throne of God, the which puts out the thought of earthly grief.
And from out of the midst of the light there came presently a lady, most exceeding fair: and it was seen that she was whiter than a lily flower, as was said, "Sicut lilium inter spinas, sic arnica mea inter filias," for this was the Mother of the King of Heaven. And so great was the shining of her purity that no man could endure to look upon it: for the which reason all lowered their eyes and gazed upon the ground, fearing lest they might be blinded. And whilst they so stood, much astonished and full of dread, that sweet and holy Lady came from amongst her train, and went to the body of the child where it lay. And she took him by the hand and raised him up;
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and at once he opened his eyes and smiled upon her, for he still lived.
Then said the Blessed Virgin: "Fair brother, here is your bride; therefore make ready for your nuptial feast. For I am come in quest of your soul, the which you did long since betroth to me; and I pray you that you will give it to me quickly, that I may go hence."
Then the child did heave a sigh, and his soul left him, the which the Mother of God received in her arms, and carried with great joy to Paradise; and it was crowned with the crown of virginity.
Good is it therefore to keep with constancy the vows we have made to that Lady; and ever to observe her law, that is the perfect law of purity. For by this miracle we do know that she keepeth her troth with her lovers; yea, even to the end of the world!
