1177[Qualiter corpus predicte defuncte super litus apud Ephesim quidam medicus nomine Cerymon cum aliquibus suis discipulis inuenit; quod in hospicium suum portans et extra cistam ponens, spiraculo vite in ea adhuc inuento, ipsam plene sanitati restituit.]

1178 Bot now to mi matiere ayein,

1179I telle as olde bokes sein,

1180This dede corps of which ye knowe

1181With wynd and water was forthrowe

1182Now hier, now ther, til ate laste

1183At Ephesim the See upcaste

1184The cofre and al that was therinne.

1185Of gret merveile now beginne

1186Mai hiere who that sitteth stille;

1187That god wol save mai noght spille.

1188Riht as the corps was throwe alonde,

1189Ther cam walkende upon the stronde

1190A worthi clerc, a Surgien,

1191And ek a gret Phisicien,

1192Of al that lond the wisest on,

1193Which hihte Maister Cerymon;

1194Ther were of his disciples some.

1195This Maister to the Cofre is come,

1196He peiseth ther was somwhat in,

1197And bad hem here it to his In,

1198And goth himselve forth withal.

1199Al that schal falle, falle schal;

1200They comen hom and tarie noght;

1201This Cofre is into chambre broght,

1202Which that thei finde faste stoke,

1203Bot thei with craft it have unloke.

1204Thei loken in, where as thei founde

1205A bodi ded, which was bewounde

1206In cloth of gold, as I seide er,

1207The tresor ek thei founden ther

1208Forth with the lettre, which thei rede.

1209And tho thei token betre hiede;

1210Unsowed was the bodi sone,

1211And he, which knew what is to done,

1212This noble clerk, with alle haste

1213Began the veines forto taste,

1214And sih hire Age was of youthe,

1215And with the craftes whiche he couthe

1216He soghte and fond a signe of lif.

1217With that this worthi kinges wif

1218Honestely thei token oute,

1219And maden fyres al aboute;

1220Thei leide hire on a couche softe,

1221And with a scheete warmed ofte

1222Hire colde brest began to hete,

1223Hire herte also to flacke and bete.

1224This Maister hath hire every joignt

1225With certein oile and balsme enoignt,

1226And putte a liqueur in hire mouth,

1227Which is to fewe clerkes couth,

1228So that sche coevereth ate laste:

1229And ferst hire yhen up sche caste,

1230And whan sche more of strengthe cawhte

1231Hire Armes bothe forth sche strawhte,

1232Hield up hire hond and pitously

1233Sche spak and seide, "Ha, wher am I?

1234Where is my lord, what world is this?"

1235As sche that wot noght hou it is.

1236Bot Cerymon the worthi leche

1237Ansuerde anon upon hire speche

1238And seith, "Ma dame, yee ben hiere,

1239Where yee be sauf, as yee schal hiere

1240Hierafterward; forthi as nou

1241Mi conseil is, conforteth you:

1242For trusteth wel withoute faile,

1243Ther is nothing which schal you faile,

1244That oghte of reson to be do."

1245Thus passen thei a day or tuo;

1246Thei speke of noght as for an ende,

1247Til sche began somdiel amende,

1248And wiste hireselven what sche mente.