The child's body is taken to a neighboring abbey. Later, they are drawn by wild horses and hanged. The provost of the city is called upon seeing the child, he bids all the Jews to be fettered, bound, and confined.
The Christian people gather around in astonishment. As the widow nears the place, the child's voice breaks forth singing O Alma Redemptoris. Then Jesus himself puts in her thoughts the direction to the alley where the child had been murdered and the pit where his body was cast away. Yet everyone lies to her, saying they know nothing of the child. The boy's mother, a poor widow, goes house to house, inquiring of the Jews the whereabouts of her son. One day, as the child walks through the ghetto singing O Alma Redemptoris, the murderer grasps the child, slits his throat, and tosses his body into a cesspool. The Jews, conspiring to rid themselves of this boy, hire a murderer. At about this time, Satan whispers to the Jews that this boy is a disgrace to them and that he sings to spite Jewish holy laws.
Every day, the child walks along the Jewish street, boldly and clearly singing the song. Learning that the song is in praise of the Virgin Mary, the child decides to learn the entire song so that, on Christmas day, he can pay reverence to Christ's mother.
In very little time, he memorizes the first verse. Day after day, he draws near and listens carefully as the other students sing. One of the young Christian pupils hears the older children singing O Alma Redemptoris. Because a school for young Christian children is at the far end of the street through the ghetto where the Jews are isolated, the children are free to walk through the street to and from school. In a Christian town in Asia, one fourth of the area is occupied by Jews. She extols Mary, the mother of Jesus and the "whitest Lily-flower." This hymn acts as a preview of the tale to follow.
In her prologue, the Prioress offers a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary. The Sovereignty of Marriage versus the Wife's Obedience.
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