In the meanwhile, the emperor of Rome, Constance’s father, hearing of the tragic news of the death of the Christians, sends an army to Syria to revenge their deaths. As the Romans return to Rome, they spy the vessel steered by Constance. Not recognizing Constance, they take her to Rome, but because she has lost her memory and does not recognize her homeland, she lives in obscurity.
The grief-stricken King Alla makes a pilgrimage to Rome to seek penance. While in the company of the noble senator, he sees a child who bears a strong resemblance to Constance. He soon after learns of the circumstances of Constance’s arrival and, going to her dwelling place, repudiates the false messages and convinces her of his love for both her and their son. After their joyous reunion, Constance, miraculously regaining her memory, kneels before the emperor and confesses that she is his daughter. Alla and Constance return to Northumberland, but within a year, Alla is dead. Constance and her son return to Rome, where the child, upon the death of his grandfather, becomes the emperor.
After the Man of Law had finished, the Host proclaims the tale a first class story and turns to the Priest for a tale, but the Priest is offended by the Host’s swearing. The Host then refers to the Priest in a slightly satiric tone, calling him a “Johnny” and a “Lollard.” The Skipper interrupts, saying that he has a tale to tell but that his tale won’t be about philosophy. The content of this epilogue sounds as though the next tale will therefore be the Shipman’s, but Chaucer abandoned this idea.
