1 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 435 440 445 450 455 460 465 470 475 480 485 490 495 500 505 510 515 520 525 530 535 540 545 550 555 560 565 570 575 580 585 590 595 600 605 610 615 620 625 630 635 640 645 650 655 660 665 670 675 680 685 690 695 700 705 710 715 720 725 730 735 740 745 750 755 760 765 770 775 780 785 790 795 800 805 810 815 820 825 830 835 840 845 850 855 860 865 870 875 880 885 890 895 900 905 910 915 920 925 930 935 940 945 950 955 960 965 970 975 980 985 990 995 1000 1005 1010 1015 1020 1025 1030 1035 1040 1045 1050 1055 1060 1065 1070 1075 1080 1085 1090 1095 1100 1105 1110 1115 1120 1125 1130 1135 1140 1145 1150 1155 1160 1165 1170 1175 1180 1185 1190 1195 1200 1205 1210 1215 1220 1225 1230 1235 1240 1245 1250 1255 1260 1265 1270 1275 1280 1285 1290 1295 1300 1305 1310 1315 1320 1325 1330 1335 1340

[Prologue] In Tyberyus tyme,    the trewe emperour, Sire Sesar hymsulf,    seysed in Rome, Whyle Pylat was provost    undere that prince riche And Jewen justice also    in Judeus londis.1 Herodes, undere his emperie,    as heritage wolde, Kyng of Galilé was y-called    whan that Crist deyed; They Sesar sakles were,    that oft synne hatide, Throw Pylat pyned He was    and put on the Rode.2 A pyler pyght was doun    upon the playn erthe,3 His body bonden therto,    and beten with scourgis. Whyppes of quyrboyle    by-wente His white sides Til He al on rede blode ran,    as rayn in the strete.4 Suth stoked Hym on a stole    with styf mannes hondis, Blyndfelled Hym as a be    and boffetis Hym raghte:5 "Gif thou be prophete of pris,    prophecie!" they sayde, "Whiche berne here aboute    bolled Thee laste?" A thrange thornen croune    was thraste on His hed, Umbecasten Hym with a cry    and on a Croys slowen.6 For al the harme that He hadde,    hasted He noght On hem the vyleny to venge    that His veynys brosten,7 Bot ay taried on the tyme    gif they tourne wolde, Gaf hem space that Hym spilide,    they hit spedde lyte.8 Fourty wynter, as Y fynde,    and no fewere yyrys, Or princes presed in hem    that Hym to pyne wroght,9 Til hit tydde on a tyme    that Tytus of Rome That alle Gascoyne gate    and Gyan the noble [. . . .] [. . . .] Whyle noye noyet hym    in Neroes tyme, He hadde a malady unmeke    inmyddis the face:10 The lyppe lyth on a lumpe,    lyvered on the cheke; So a canker unclene    hit cloched togedres.11 Also his fadere of flesche    is ferly bytide: A bikere of waspen bees    bredde in his nose, Hyved upon his hed;    he hadde hem of youthe And Waspasian was caled    the waspene bees after. Was never syknes sorere    than this sire tholed, For in a liter he lay,    laser at Rome; Out of Galace was gon    to glade hym a stounde, For in that cuthe he was kyng    they he car tholede.12 Nas ther no leche upon lyve    this lordes couth helpe, Ne no grace growyng    to gayne here grym sores.13 [. . . .] [. . . .] Now was ther on Nathan,    Neymes sone, of Grece, That sought oft over the se    fram cyté to other, Knewe contreys fele,    kyngdomes manye, And was a marener myche    and a marchaunt bothe.14 Sensteus out of Surye    sent hym to Rome To the athel Emperour    - an eraunde fram the Jewes - Caled Nero by name    that hym to noye wroght, Of his tribute to telle,    that they withtake wolde. Nathan toward Nero    nome on his way Over the Grekys grounde    myd the grym ythes, An heye setteth the sayl    over the salt water, And with a dromound on the deep    dryveth on swythe.15 The wolcon wanned anon    and the water skeweth, Cloudes clateren on loude    as they cleve wolde.16 The racke myd a rede wynde    roos on the myddel And sone sette on the se    out of the south syde. Hit blewe on the brode se,    bolned up harde; Nathannys nave anon    on the north dryveth, So the wedour and the wynd    on the water metyn That alle hurtled on an hepe    that the helm gemyd.17 Nathan flatte for ferde    and ful under hacchys, Lete the wedour and the wynde    worche as hem lyked; The schip scher upon schore,    schot froward Rome Toward uncouth costes,    kayrande on the ythes,18 Rapis unradly    umbe ragged tourres. The brode sail at o brayd    to-bresteth a-twynne:19 That on ende of the sschip    was ay toward heven, That other doun in the deep,    as alle drenche wolde. Over wilde wawes he wende,    as alle walte scholde,20 Stroke stremes throw    yn stormes and wyndes; With mychel langour atte laste,    as our Lord wolde, Alle was born at a byr    to Burdewes havene.21 By that were bernes atte banke;    barouns and knyghtes And citezeins of the syght    selcouth hem thoght That ever barge other bot    or berne upon lyve Unpersched passed hadde:    the peryles were so many. They token hym to Titus,    for he the tonge couthe; And he fraynes how fer    the flode hadde hym y-ferked. "Sire, out of Surré,"    he seide, "Y am come, To Nero, sondisman sent,    the seignour of Rome, "Fram Sensteus, his serjant,    with certayn leteres, That is justise and juge    of the Jewen lawe. Me were lever at that londe    - lord, lene that Y were - Than alle the gold other good    that ever God made."22 The kyng into conseyl    calleth hym sone And saide: "Canste thou any cure    or craft upon erthe To softe the grete sore    that sitteth on my cheke? And Y schal thee redly rewarde    and to Rome sende."23 Nathan nyckes hym with nay,    sayde he non couthe: "Bot were thou, kyng, in that kuththé    ther that Crist deyed,24 Ther is a worldlich wif,    a womman ful clene, That hath softyng and salve    for eche sore out." "Telle me tyt," quod Titus,    "and thee schal tyde better, What medecyn is most    that that may useth, Whether gommes other graces,    or any goode drenches,25 Other chauntementes or charmes?    Y charge thee to say." "Nay, non of tho," quod Nathan,    "bot now wole Y telle: Ther was a lede in our londe,    while He lif hadde, Preved for a prophete    throw preysed dedes And born in Bethleem one by,    of a burde schene, "And ho a mayde unmarred    that never man touched, As clene as clef    ther cristalle of sprynges.26 Without hosebondes helpe    save the Holy Goste, A kyng and a knave child    ho conceyved at ere; "A taknyng of the Trinyté    touched hire hadde, Thre persones in o place    preved togedres: Eche grayn is o God    and o God bot alle, And alle thre ben bot one    as eldres us tellen. "The first is the Fadere    that fourmed was never, The secunde is the Sone    of His sede growyn, The thridde in Heven myd Hem    is the Holy Goste, Nether merked ne made    bot mene fram Hem passyth. "Alle ben they endeles,    and even of o myght And weren inwardly endeles    or the erthe bygan. As sone was the Sone    as the self Fadere, The heye Holy Goste    with Hem hadde They ever. "The secunde persone, the Sone,    sent was to erthe To take careynes kynde    of a clene mayde; And so unknowen He came    caytifes to helpe, And wroght wondres ynowe ay    tille He wo driede.27 "Wyne He wroght of water    at o word ene, Ten lasares at a logge    He leched at enys, Pyned myd the palsy    He putte hem to hele,28 And ded men fro the deth    ever ilke day rered. "Croked and cancred    He kevered hem alle, Both the dombe and the deve,    myd His dere wordes, Dide myracles many mo    than Y in mynde have; Nis no clerk with countours    couthe aluendel rekene.29 "Fyf thousand of folke,    is ferly to here, With two fisches He fedde    and fif berly loves, That eche freke hadde his fulle,    and yit ferre leved Of battes and of broken mete    bascketes twelve. "Ther suwed Hym of a sorte    seventy and twey To do what He dempte,    disciples were hoten. Hem to citees He sende    His sawes to preche, Ay by two and by two    til hy were a-twynne. "Hym suwed of another sorte    semeliche twelve, Pore men and noght prute,    aposteles were hoten, That of kaytefes He ches    His Churche to encresche, The outwale of this worlde,    and this were her names: "Peter, James, and Jon,    and Jacob the ferthe, And the fifthe of His felawys    Phelip was hoten; The sixte Symond was caled,    and the seveth eke Bertholomewe, that his bone    never breke nolde; "The eyght man was Mathu,    that is myche y-loved; Taddé and Tomas    - here ben ten even - And Andreu the elleveth,    that auntred hym myche Byfor princes to preche,    was Petrus brother. "The laste man was unlele    and luther of his dedis: Judas, that Jhesu Crist    to the Jewes solde. Suth hymsulf he slowe    for sorow of that dede; His body on a balwe-tree    to-breste on the myddel. "Whan Crist hadde heried Helle    and was to Heven passed, For that mansed man    Mathie they chossyn. Yit unbaptized were bothe    Barnabé and Poule, And noght knewen of Crist,    bot comen sone after.30 "The princes and the prelates,    agen the Paske tyme, Alle thei hadde Hym in hate    for His holy werkes. Hit was a doylful dede    whan they His deth caste; Throw Pilat pyned He was,    the provost of Rome. "And that worliche wif    that arst was y-nempned Hath His visage in hire veil    - Veronyk ho hatte - Peynted prively and playn    that no poynt wanteth; For love He left hit hire    til hire lyves ende. "Ther is no gome on this grounde    that is grym wounded, Meselry ne meschef    ne man upon erthe, That kneleth doun to that cloth    and on Crist leveth, Bot alle hapneth to helle    in an hand-whyle."31 "A, Rome renayed!" quod the kyng.    "The riche emperour, "Cesar, synful wrecche,    that sent hym fram Rome, Why nadde thy lycam be leyd    low under erthe32 Whan Pilat provost was made    suche a prince to jugge?" And or this wordes were    wonne to the ende,33 The cankere that the kyng hadde    clenly was heled, Without faute the face    of flesche and of hyde, As newe as the nebbe    that never was wemmyd. "A, corteys Crist!"    seide the kyng than. "Was never worke that Y wroght    worthy Thee to telle, Ne dede that Y have don,    bot Thy deth mened; Ne never sey Thee in sight,    Goddis Sone dere. "Bot now bayne me my bone,    blessed Lord, To stire Nero with noye    and newen his sorowe, And Y schal buske me boun    hem bale forto wyrche:34 To do the develes of dawe    and Thy deth venge! [Passus 1] "Telle me tit," quod Titus,    "what tokne He lafte To hem that knew Hym for Crist    and His crafte leved?" "Nempne the Trinyté by name,"    quod Nathan, "at thries, And thermyd baptemed be    in blessed water!" Forth they fetten a font    and foulled hym ther, Made hym Cristen kyng    that for Crist werred. Corrours into eche coste    than the cours nomen35 And alle his baronage broght    to Burdewes haven. Suth with the sondes-man    he sought unto Rome, The ferly and the faire cure    his fadere to schewe; And he, gronnand glad,    grete God thanked And, loude criande on Crist,    carped and saide: "Worthy, wemlese God,    in whom Y byleve, As Thou in Bethleem was born    of a bryght mayde, Sende me hele of my hurt,    and heyly Y afowe To be ded for Thy deth,    bot hit be dere yolden." That tyme Peter was pope    and preched in Rome The lawe and the lore    that our byleve asketh. Folowed fele of the folke    and to the fayth tourned, And Crist wroght for that wye    wondres ynow. Therof Waspasian was ware,    that the waspys hadde, Sone sendeth hym to    and he the sothe tolde36 Of Crist and the kerchef    that kevered the sike, As Nathan, Neymes sone, seide    that to Nero come.37 Than to consayl was called    the knyghtes of Rome And assenteden sone    to sende messageres: Twenti knyghtes were cud    the kerchef to fecche And asked trewes of the empererour    that erand to done. [. . . .] Ac, without tribute or trewes,    by tenfulle wayes38 The knyghtes with the kerchef    comen ful blyve; The pope gaf pardoun to hem    and passed theragens39 With processioun and pres    of princes and dukes. And whan the womman was ware    that the wede owede Of Seint Peter the pope,    ho platte to the grounde, Umbefelde his fete    and to the freke saide: "Of this kerchef and my cors    the kepyng Y thee take."40 Than bygan the burne    biterly to wepe For the doylful deth    of his dere mayster, And longe stode in the stede    or he stynte myght, Whan he unclosed the clothe    that Cristes body touched. The wede fram the womman    he warp atte laste, Receyved hit myd reverence    and rennande teris. To the palace myd pres    they passed on swythe And ay held hit on hey    that alle byhold myght. Than twelf barouns bolde    the emperour bade wende, And the pope departe    fram the pople faste; Veronyk and the vail    Waspasian they broght, And Seint Peter the pope    presented bothe. Bot a ferly byfelle    forthmyd hem alle; In her temple bytidde    tenful thynges: The mahound and the mametes    to-mortled to peces And al to-crased as the cloth    throgh the kirke passed.41 Into the palice with the prente    than the pope yede; Knyghtes kepten the clothe    and on knees fallen. A flavour flambeth therfro;    they felleden hit alle: Was never odour ne eyr    upon erthe swetter.42 The kerchef clansed hitself    and so clere wexed Myght no lede on hit loke    for light that hit schewed. As hit aproched to the prince,    he put up his hed; For comfort of the cloth    he cried wel loude: "Lo, lordlynges, here:    the lyknesse of Crist, Of whom my botnyng Y bidde    for His bitter woundis." Than was wepyng and wo    and wryngyng of hondis With loude dyn and dit    for doil of Hym one. The pope availed the vaile,    and his visage touched,43 The body suth al aboute,    blessed hit thrye. The waspys wenten away    and alle the wo after: That er was laser-liche,    lyghtter was nevere.44 Than was pypyng and play,    departying of stryf; They yelden grace to God,    this two grete lordes. The kerchef carieth fram alle    and in the eyr hangyth, That the symple pople myght hit se    into soper-tyme.45 The Vernycle after Veronyk    Waspasian hit called, Garde hit gayly agysen    in gold and in selvere. Yit is the visage in the vail,    as Veronyk hym broght; The Romaynes hit holdeth at Rome,    and for a relyk hit holden. This whyle Nero hadde noye    and non nyghtes reste, For his tribute was withholde,    as Nathan told hadde. He commaundith knyghtes to come    consail to holde, Erles and alle men    the emperour aboute. Assembled the senatours    sone, upon haste, To jugge who jewes myght best    upon the Jewys take; And alle demeden by dome    tho dukes to wende That were cured throw Crist,    that they on Croys slowen.46 That on Waspasian was    of the wyes twey That the travail undertoke,    and Titus another, A bold burne on a blonke    and of his body comyn: No ferther sib to hymself    bot his sone dere:47 Crouned kynges bothe    and mychel Crist loved, That hadde hem geven of His grace    and here grem stroyed.48 Moste thei hadde hit in hert    here hestes to kepe And here forwardis to fulfille    that thei byfor made. Than was rotlyng in Rome,    robbyng of brynnyis, Schewyng of scharpe,    scheldes y-dressed. Laughte leve at that lord,    leften his sygne, A grete dragoun of gold,    and alle the gyng folwed.49 By that schippis were schred,    yschot on the depe, Takled and atired    on talterande ythes:50 Fresch water and wyn    wounden yn faste, And stof of alle maner store    that hem strengthe scholde.51 Ther were floynes aflot,    farcostes many, Cogges and crayers,    y-casteled alle;52 Galees of grete streyngthe    with golden fanes, Brayd on the brod se    aboute foure myle. They tyghten up tal-sail    whan the tide asked, Hadde byr at the bake    and the bonke lefte, Soughte over the se    with soudeours manye, And joyned up at port Jaf    in Judeis londys. Suree, Cesaris londe,    thou may seken ever; Ful mychel wo moun be wroghte    in thy wlonk tounnes.53 Cytees under Syone,    now is your sorow uppe: The deth of the dereworth Crist    dere schal be yolden. Now is, Bethleem, thy bost    y-broght to an ende; Jerusalem and Jerico,    for-juggyd wrecchys, Schal never kyng of your kynde    with croune be ynoyntid, Ne Jewe, for Jhesu sake,    jouke in you more. [Passus 2] They setten upon eche side    Surrie withyn, Brente ay at the bak    and ful bare laften; Was noght bot roryng and rich    in alle the riche tounnes And red laschyng lye    alle the londe overe; Token toun and tour,    teldes ful fele, Brosten gates of brass    and many borwe wonnen, Holy the hethen here    hewyn to grounde, Both in bent and in borwe,    that abide wolde. The Jewes to Jerusalem,    ther Josophus dwelde, Flowen as the foule doth    that faucoun wolde strike. A cité undere Syon    sett was ful noble With many toret and toure    that toun to defende. Princes and prelates    and poreil of the londe, Clerkes and comens    of contrees aboute Were schacked to that cité    sacrifice to make At Paske-tyme, as preched hem    prestes of the lawe.54 Many swykel at the sweng    to the swerd yede; or penyes passed non,    thogh he pay wolde, Bot diden alle to the dethe    and drowen hem after With engynes to Jerusalem    there Jewes were thykke. They sette sadly a sege    the cité alle aboute, Pighten pavelouns doun    of pallen webbes, With ropis of riche silk    raysen up swythe Grete tentis as a toun    of torkeys clothys. Choppyn over the cheventayns,    with charboklis foure,55 A gay egle of gold    on a gilde appul With grete dragouns grym    alle in gold wroghte, And lyk to lyouns also    lyande ther undere. Paled and paynted    the paveloun was umbe, Stoked ful of storijs,    stayned myd armys56 Of quaynte coloures to know,    kerneld alofte, An hundred stondyng on stage    in that stede one.57 Toured with torettes    was the tente thanne, Suth britaged aboute,    bright to byholde. Er alle the sege was sette    yit of the cité comyn Messengeres, were made    fram maistres of the lawe. To the chef cheventayn    they chosen here wey, Deden mekly by mouthe    here message attonys, Sayen: "The cité hath us sent    to serchen your wille, To here the cause of your comyng,    and what ye coveyte wolde." Waspasian no word    to the wyes schewed Bot sendeth sondismen agen,    twelve sikere knyghtes,58 Gaf hem charge to go    and the gomes telle That alle the cause of her come    was Crist forto venge: "Sayth, Y bidde hem be boun,    bischopes and other, Tomorow or mydday,    moder-naked alle, Up here gates to yelde,    with yerdes an hande,59 Eche whight in a white scherte    and no wede ellys, "Jewyse for Jhesu Crist    by juggement to take, And brynge Cayphas, that Crist    throgh conseil bytrayede. Or Y to the walles schal wende    and walten alle overe; Schal no ston upon ston    stonde by Y passe." This sondismen sadly    to the cité yede Ther the lordes of the londe    lent weren alle, Tit tolden here tale    and wondere towe made Of Crist and of Cayphas    and how they come scholde. And when the knyghtes of Crist    carpyn bygonn, The Jewes token alle twelf    without tale more, Here hondis bounden at here bak    with borden stavys And of flocken here fax,    and here faire berdis, Made hem naked as a nedel    to the nether hove, Here visage blecken with bleche,    and al the body after, Suth knyt with a corde    to eche knyghtes swere A chese, and charged hem    here chyventayn to bere: "Sayth, unbuxum we beth    his biddyng to yete, Ne noght dreden his dom:    his deth have we atled. He schal us fynde in the felde,    ne no ferre seke, Tomorowe pryme or hit passe,    and so your prince tellith." The burnes busken out of burwe,    bounden alle twelf, Agen message to make    fram the maister Jewes. Was never Waspasian so wrothe    as whan the wyes come That were scorned and schende    upon schame wyse.60 This knyghtes byfor the kyng    upon knees fallen And tolden the tale    as hit tid hadde: "Of thy manace ne thy myght    they maken bot lyte: Thus ben we tourned of our tyre    in tokne of the sothe61 "And bounden for our bolde speche;    the batail they willeth Tomorowe prime or hit passe.    They put hit no ferre. Hit schal be satled on thyself    the same that thou atlest; Thus han they certifiet thee    and sende thee this cheses." Wode wedande wroth    Waspasian was thanne, Layde wecche to the walle    and warned in haste That alle maner of men    in the morowe scholde Be sone after the sonne    assembled in the felde. He streyght up a standard    in a stoure wyse, Bild as a belfray    bretful of wepne; Whan oght fauted in the folke    that to the feld longed, Atte the belfray to be    botnyng to fynde.62 A dragoun was dressed,    drawyn alofte, Wyde-gapande, of gold,    gomes to swelwe, With arwes armed in the mouthe,    and also he hadde A fauchyn under his feet    with foure kene bladdys. Therof the poyntes were pight    in partyis foure Of this wlonfulle worlde    ther thei werre fondyn; In forbesyn to the folke    this fauchoun thay hengede That they hadde wonnen with swerd    al the world riche.63 A bal of brennande gold    the beste was on sette, His taille trayled theraboute    that tourne scholde he nevere Whan he was lifte upon lofte    ther the lord werred, Bot ay lokande on the londe    tille that al laughte were. Therby the cité myght se    no setlyng wolde rise Ne no treté of no trewes    bot the toun yelde, Or ride on the Romayns,    for they han her rede take Ther britned to be    or the burwe wynne. His wynges brad were abrode    boun forto flee, With belles bordored aboute    al of bright selvere, Redy, whan oughte runnen    to ryngen ful loude With eche a wap of the wynde    that to the wynges sprongyn. I-brytaged bigly aboute    the belfray was thanne64 With a tenful toure    that over the toun gawged. The batail by the brightnesse    burnes myght knowe Foure myle therfro,    so the feldes schonen. And on eche pomel were pyght    penseles hyghe65 Of selke and sendel    with selvere y-betyn: Hit glitered as gled fure,    ful of gold riche, Over al the cité to se,    as the sonne bemys. Byfor the foure gates    he formes to lenge Sixti thousand by somme    while the sege lasteth; Sette ward on the walles    that noght awey scaped, Sixe thousand in sercle    the cité alle aboute. Was noght while the nyght laste    bot nehyng of stedis, Strogelyng in stele wede,    and stuffyng of helmes, Armyng of olyfauntes    and other arwe bestes Agen the Cristen to come    with castels on bake. Waspasian in stele wede    and his wyes alle Weren dight forth by day    and drowen to the vale Of Josophat, ther Jhesu Crist    schal juggen alle thinges, Bigly batayled hym ther    to biden this other. The fanward Titus toke,    to telle upon ferste, With sixtene thousand soudiours    assyned for the nones; And as mony in the myd-ward    were merked to lenge66 Ther Waspasian was    with princes and dukes. And sixtene thousand in the thridde    with a thryvande knyght, Sire Sabyn of Surrie,    a siker man of armes, That prince was of Provynce    and michel peple ladde, Fourty hundred in helmes    and harnays to schewe. And ten thousand atte tail    at the tentis lafte, Hors and harnays    fram harmyng to kepe. By that bemys on the burwe    blowen ful loude, And baners beden hem forth.    Now blesse us our Lorde! [Passus 3] The Jewes assembled were sone    and of the cité come An hundred thousand on hors    with hamberkes atired, Without folke upon fot    at the foure gates That preset to the place    with pauyes on hande. Fyf and twenti olyfauntes,    defensable bestes, With brode castels on bak    out of burwe come; And on eche olyfaunte    armed men manye, Ay an hundred an hey,    an hundred withyn.67 Tho drowen dromedarius doun    develich thicke, An hundred and y-heled    with harnays of mayle, Eche beste with a big tour    ther bold men were ynne, Twenty, told by tale,    in eche tour evene. Cameles closed in stele    comen out thanne Faste toward the feld;    a ferlich nonbre Busked to batail,    and on bak hadde Ech on a toret of tre    with ten men of armes. Chares ful of chosen,    charged with wepne A wondere nonbre ther was,    whoso wite lyste. Many doughti that day,    that was adradde nevere, Were fond fey in the feld    er that fight endid. An olyfaunt y-armed    came out at the laste, Kevered myd a castel,    was craftily y-wroght, A tabernacle in the tour    atyred was riche, Pight as a paveloun    on pileres of selvere. A which of white selvere    was sett therynne On foure goions of gold    that hit fram grounde bare; A chosen chayre therby    on charbokeles twelfe, Betyn al with bright gold    with brennande sergis. The chekes of the chayre    were charbokles fyne, Covered myd a riche clothe,    ther Cayphas was sette. A plate of pulsched gold    was pight on his breste With many preciose perle    and pured stones. Lered men of the lawe    that loude couthe synge With sawters seten hym by    and the psalmys tolde Of doughty David the kyng    and other dere storijs: Of Josue, the noble Jewe,    and Judas the knyght. Cayphas of the kyst    kyppid a rolle And radde how the folke ran    throgh the rede water Whan Pharao and his ferde    were in the floode drouned; And myche of Moyses lawe    he mynned that tyme. Whan this faithles folke    to the feld comen And batayled after the bent    with many burne kene, For baneres that blased    and bestes y-armed Myght no man se throw the sonne    ne uneth the cité knowe. Waspasian dyvyseth    the vale alle aboute, That was with baneres overbrad    to the borwe wallis, To barouns and bold men    that hym aboute were Seith: "Lordlynges a londe,    lestenyth my speche: "Here nys king nother knyght    comen to this place, Baroun ne bachelere    ne burne that me folweth, That the cause of his come    nys Crist forto venge Upon the faithles folke    that Hym fayntly slowen. "Byholdeth the hethyng    and the harde woundes, The byndyng and the betyng,    that He on body hadde: Lat never this lawles ledis    laugh at His harmys That bought us fram bale    with blod of His herte. "Y quycke-clayme the querels    of alle quyk burnes And clayme of evereche kyng    - save of Crist one - That this peple to pyne,    no pité ne hadde: That preveth His Passioun,    whoso the Paas redeth.68 "Hit nedith noght at this note    of Nero to mynde, Ne to trete of no trewe    for tribute that he asketh: That querel Y quik-cleyme    whether he wilneth Of this rebel to Rome    bot resoun to have.69 "Bot more thing in our mynde    myneth us today: That by resoun to Rome    the realté fallyth, Bothe the myght and the mayn,    maistre or ellys, And lordschip of eche londe    that lithe under Heven. "Lat never this faithles folke    with fight of us wynne Hors ne harnays,    bot they hit hard byen, Plate, ne pesan,    ne pendauntes ende,70 While any lyme may laste,    or we the lif have. "For thei ben feynt at the fight,    fals of byleve, And wel wenen at a wap    alle they wold quelle.71 Nother grounded on God    ne on no grace tristen, Bot alle in storijs of stoure    and in strength one. "And we ben dight today    Drighten to serve: Hey Heven kyng    hede to His owne!" The ledes louten hym alle    and aloude sayde: "Today, that flethe any fote,    the Fende have his soule!"72 Bemes blowen anon,    blonkes to neye, Stedis stampen in the felde    undere stele wedes. Stithe men in stiropys    striden alofte; Knyghtes croysen hemself,    cacchen here helmys,73 With loude clarioun cry    and alle kyn pypys, Tymbris and tabourris    tonelande loude, Geven a schillande schout.    Schrynken the Jewes, As womman wepith and waylith    whan hire the water neyeth.74 Lacchen launces anon,    lepyn togedris, As fure out of flynt-ston    ferde hem bytwene. Doust drof upon lofte,    dymedyn alle aboute As thonder and thicke rayn    throbolande in skyes. Beren burnes throw,    brosten here launces;75 Knyghtes crosschen doun    to the cold erthe; Fought faste in the felde,    and ay the fals undere76 Doun swowande to swelt    without swar more. Tytus tourneth hym to,    tolles of the beste, For-justes the jolieste    with joynyng of werre. Suth with a bright bronde    he betith on harde Tille the brayn and the blod    on the bent ornen. Sought throgh another side    with a sore wepne, Bet on the broun stele    while the bladde laste, An hey breydeth the brond    and as a bore loketh,77 How hetterly doun,    hente whoso wolde! Alle brightned the bent    as bemys of sonne Of the gilden gere    and the goode stones; For schyveryng of scheldes    and schynyng of helmes Hit ferde, as alle the firmament    upon fure were. Waspasian in the vale    the fanward byholdeth, How the hethyn here    heldith to grounde; Cam with a fair ferde    the fals forto mete. As greved griffouns    girden in samen. Spakly here speres    on sprotes they yeden, Scheldes as schidwod    on scholdres to-cleven, Schoken out of schethes    that scharpe was y-grounde, And mallen metel    throgh unmylt hertes.78 Hewen on the hethen,    hurtlen togedre, For-schorne gild schroud,    schedered burnee. Baches woxen ablode    aboute in the vale, And goutes fram gold wede    as goteres they runne.79 Sire Sabyn setteth hym up    whan hit so yede, Rideth myd the rereward    and alle the route folweth, Kenely the castels    came to assayle That the bestes on here bake    out of burwe ladden. Atles on the olyfauntes    that orible were, Girdith out the guttes    with grounden speres: Rappis rispen forth    that rydders an hundred Scholde be busy to burie    that on a bent lafte.80 Castels clateren doun,    cameles brosten, Dromedaries to the deth    drowen ful swythe; The blode fomed hem fro    in flasches aboute That kne-depe in the dale    dascheden stedes. The burnes in the bretages    that above were For the doust and the dyn    - as alle doun yede Al for-stoppette in stele -    starke-blynde wexen Whan hurdighs and hard erthe    hurtled togedre, And under dromedaries    dyed in that stounde. Was non left upon lyve    that alofte standeth - Save an anlepy olyfaunt    at the grete gate Ther as Cayphas the clerke    in a castel rideth. He say the wrake on hem wende    and away tourneth With twelf maystres made    of Moyses lawe. An hundred helmed men    hien hem after, Er they of castel myght come,    caughten hem alle, Bounden the bischup    on a bycchyd wyse That the blode out barst    ilka band undere, And broghten to the berfray,    and alle the bew-clerkes Ther the standard stode,    and stadded hem ther. The beste and the britage    and alle the bright gere - Chaire and chaundelers    and charbokel stones, The rolles that they redde on,    and alle the riche bokes - They broghte myd the bischup,    thou hym bale thoughte.81 Anon the feythles folke    fayleden herte, Tourned toward the toun    and Tytus hem after: Fele of the fals ferde    in the felde lefte, An hundred in here helmes    myd his honde one. The fals Jewes in the felde    fallen so thicke As hail froward Heven,    hepe over other; So was the bent over-brad,    blody by-runne, With ded bodies aboute    alle the brod vale. Myght no stede doun stap    bot on stele wede, Or on burne, other on beste,    or on bright scheldes; So myche was the multitude    that on the molde lafte Ther so many were mart;    merevail were ellis. Yit were the Romayns as rest    as they fram Rome come, Unriven eche a renk    and noght a ryng brosten; Was no poynt perschid    of alle here pris armure: So Crist His knyghtes gan kepe    tille complyn tyme. An hundred thousand helmes    of the hethen syde Were fey fallen in the felde    or the fight ended, Save seven thousand of the somme,    that to the cité flowen, And wynnen with mychel wo    the walles withynne.82 Ledes lepen to anon,    louken the gates, Barren hem bigly    with boltes of yren, Brayden up brigges    with brouden chaynes And portecolis with pile    picchen to grounde. Thei wynnen up whyghtly    the walles to kepe, Frasche, unfounded folke,    and grete defence made; Tyeth into tourres    tonnes ful manye83 With grete stones of gret    and of gray marble. Kepten kenly with caste    the kernels alofte,84 Quarten out querels    with quarters attonys. That other folke at the fote    freschly assayled85 Tille eche dale with dewe    was donked aboute. Withdrowen hem fro the diche,    dukes and other - The caste was so kene    that come fram the walles - Comen forthe with the kyng    clene as they yede, Wanted noght o wye,    ne non that wem hadde. Princes to here pavelouns    passen on swythe, Unarmen hem as tyt    and alle the nyght resten86 With wacche umbe the walles    to many wyes sorowe; They wolle noght the hethen here    thus harmeles be lafte. [Passus 4] As rathe as the rede day    ros yn the schye, Bemes blowen on brode    burnes to ryse. The kyng comaundeth a-cry    that comsed was sone,87 The ded bodies on the bonke    bare forto make: To spoyle the spilt folke,    spare scholde none, Geten girdeles and gere,    gold and goode stones, Byes, broches bryght,    besauntes riche, Helmes hewen of gold,    hamberkes manye. Kesten ded upon ded,    was deil to byholde, Made wayes full wide    and to the walles comen; Assembleden at the cité    saut to bygynne, Folke ferlich thycke    at the foure gates. They broghten toures of tre    that they taken hadde88 Agen evereche gate,    garken hem hey; Bygonnen at the grettist    a garrite to rere, Groded up fro the grounde    on twelf grete postes. Hit was wonderlich wide,    wroght upon hyghte, Fyve hundred in frounte    to fighten at the walles. Hardy men upon hyghte    hyen at the grecys And bygonnen with bir    the borow to assayle. Quarels, flambande of fure,    flowen out harde, And arwes unarwely,    with attyr envenymyd, Taysen at the toures,    tachen on the Jewes; Throgh kernels cacchen here deth    many kene burnes.89 Brenten and beten doun    beldes full thycke, Brosten the britages    and the brode toures. By that was many bold burne    the burwe to assayle.90 The hole batail boun,    aboute the brode walles That were byg and brode    and bycchet to wynne, Wondere heye to byholde    with holwe diches undere, Heye-bonked above    upon bothe halves, Right wicked to wynne,    bot yif wyles helpe. Bowmen atte bonke    benden here gere, Schoten up scharply    to the schene walles With arwes and arblastes    and alle that harme myght, To affray the folke    that defence made. The Jewes werien the walles    with wyles ynowe, Hote playande picche    amonge the peple yeten: Brennande leed and brynston,    many barels fulle, Schoten schynande doun    right as schyre water. Waspasian wendeth fram the walles    wariande hem alle; Other busked were boun,    benden engynes,91 Kesten at the kernels    and clustred toures, And monye der daies worke    dongen to grounde. By that wrightes han wroght    a wonder stronge pale Alle aboute the burwe,    with bastiles manye, That no freke myght unfonge    withouten fele harmes, Ne no segge undere sonne    myght fram the cité passe. Suth dommyn the diches    with the ded corses, Crammen hit myd karayn    the kirnels alle under, That the stynk of the stewe    myght strike over the walles To cothe the corsed folke    that hem kepe scholde.92 The cors of the condit    that comen to toun Stoppen, evereche a streem,    ther any strande yede, With stockes and stones    and stynkande bestes, That they no water myght wynne    that weren enclosed. Waspasian tourneth to his tente    with Titus and other, Commaundeth consail anon    on Cayphas to sitte, What deth by dome    that he dey scholde With the lettered ledes    that they laughte hadde. Domesmen upon deyes    demeden swythe That ech freke were quyk-fleyn,    the felles of clene: Firste to be on a bent    with blonkes to-drawe, And suth honget on an hep    upon heye galwes,93 The feet to the firmament,    alle folke to byholden, With hony upon ech half    the hydeles anoynted; Corres and cattes    with claures ful scharpe Foure kagged and knyt    to Cayphases theyes; Twey apys at his armes    to angren hym more, That renten the rawe flesche    upon rede peces. So was he pyned fram prime    with persched sides Tille the sonne doun sett    in the someretyme. The lered men of the lawe    a litel bynythe Weren tourmented on a tre,    topsailes walten, Knyt to everech clerke    kene corres twey, That alle the cité myght se    the sorow that they dryven. The Jewes walten over the walles    for wo at that tyme, Seven hundred slow hemself    for sorow of here clerkes, Somme hent here heere    and fram the hed pulled, And somme doun for deil    daschen to grounde. The kyng lete drawen hem adoun    whan they dede were, Bade: "A bole-fure betyn    to brennen the corses, Kesten Cayphas theryn    and his clerkes alle, And brennen evereche bon    into browne askes. Suth wende to the walle    on the wynde syde, And alle abrod on the burwe    blowen the powdere: 'Ther is doust for your drynke!'    adoun to hem crieth, And bidde hem bible of that broth    for the bischop soule." Thus ended coursed Cayphas    and his clerkes twelf, Al to-brused myd bestes,    brent at the laste, In tokne of tresoun    and trey that they wroght, Whan Crist throw here conseil    was cacched to deth. By that was the day don:    dymmed the skyes, Merked montayns    and mores aboute, Foules fallen to fote    and here fethres rysten, The nyght-wacche to the walle    and waytes to blowe.94 Bryght fures aboute betyn    abrode in the oste; The kyng and his consail    carpen togedre, Chosen chyventayns out    and chiden no more, Bot charged the chek-wecche    and to chambre wenten, Kynges and knyghtes,    to cacchen hem reste. Waspasian lyth in his logge,    litel he slepith, Bot walwyth and wyndith    and waltreth aboute, Ofte tourneth for tene    and on the toun thynketh. Whan schadewes and schire day    scheden attwynne, Leverockes upon lofte    lyfteth here stevenes; Burnes busken hem out of bedde    with bemes full loude Bothe blowyng on bent    and on the burwe walles.95 Waspasian bounys of bedde,    busked hym fayre Fram the face to the fourche    in fyne gold clothes. Suth putteth the prince    over his pallen wedes A brynye, browded thicke,    with a brestplate: The grate of gray steel    and of gold riche. Therover he casteth a cote,    colour of his armys; A grete girdel of gold    without gere othere Layth umbe his lendis    with lacchetes ynow. A bryght burnesched swerd    he belteth alofte, Of pure polisched gold    the pomel and the hulte. A brod schynande scheld    on scholdire he hongith, Bocklyd myd bright gold,    above at the necke. The glowes of gray steel,    that were with gold hemmyd, Hanleth harnays    and his hors asketh.96 The gold-hewen helme    haspeth he blyve, With viser and avental    devysed for the nones. A croune of clene gold    was closed upon lofte, Rybaunde umbe the rounde helm,    ful of riche stones, Pyght prudely with perles    into the pure corners, And so with saphyres sett    the sydes aboute. He strideth on a stif stede    and striketh over the bente Light as a lyoun    were loused out of cheyne. His segges sewen hym alle,    and echon sayth to other: "This is a comlich kyng    knyghtes to lede!" He boweth to the barres,    or he bide wolde, And bet on with the brond    that all the bras rynges: "Cometh, caytifes, forth,    ye that Crist slowen, Knoweth Hym for your kyng,    or ye cacche more. "Wayteth doun fro the walle,    what wo his on hande: May ye fecche you no fode    thogh ye fey worthe! And thogh ye waterles wede,    wynne ye hit never, O droppe thogh ye dey scholde    daies in your lyve!97 "The pale that I pight have,    passe hit who myght, That is so byg on the bonke    and hath the burowe closed, Fourty to defenden    agens fyve hundred - Thogh ye were etnes ech on    in scholde ye tourne! "And more manschyp were hit mercy to byseche Than metles marre    there no myght helpys." Was non that warpith a word,    bot waytes here poyntes Gif any stertis on stray    with stones hem to kylle.98 Than, wroth as a wode bore,    he wendeth his bridul: "Gif ye as dogges wol dey,    the devel have that recche! And or I wende fro this walle,    ye schul wordes schewe; And efte spakloker speke    or Y your speche owene!"99 By that a Jewe, Josophus,    the gentyl clerke, Hadde wroght a wondere wyle    whan hem water fayled: Made wedes of wolle    in wete forto plunge,100 Water-waschen as they were,    and on the walle hengen. The wedes dropeden doun,    and dryen yerne. Rich rises hem fro;    the Romayns byholden, Wenden wel here wedes    hadde wasschyng so ryve That no wye in the wone    water schold fayle. Bot Waspasian the wile    wel ynow knewe, Loude lawghthe therat    and lordlynges byddis: "No burne abasched be,    thogh they this bost make; Hit beth bot wyles of werre,    for water hem fayleth." Than was nothyng bot note    newe to bygynne, Assaylen on eche a side    the cité by halves, Merken myd manglouns    ful unmete dyntes. And myche of masouns note    they marden that tyme.101 Therof was Josophus ware,    that myche of werre couthe, And sette on the walle side    sakkes myd chaf, Agens the streyngthe of the stroke    ther the stones hytte, That alle dered noght a dyghs    bot grete dyt made. The Romayns runne to anon    and on roddes knytte Sithes for the sackes,    that selly were kene, Raghten to the ropis,    rent hem in sondere, That alle dasschande doun    into the diche flatten. Bot Josophus the gynful    here engynes alle Brente with brennande oyle    and myche bale wroght. Waspasian wounded was ther    wonderlich sore Throw the hard of the hele    with an hande-darte That boot throw the bote    and the bone nayled Of the frytted fote    in the folis syde.102 Sone assembled hym to    many sadde hundred That wolden wrecken the wounde,    other wo habiden. They braydyn to the barres,    bekered yerne, Fought right felly,    foyned with speres, Jokken Jewes throgh.    Engynes by thanne Were manye bent at the bonke    and to the burwe threwen. Ther were selcouthes sen,    as segges mowe here: A burne with a balwe ston    was the brayn clove, The gretter pese of the panne    the pyble forth striketh, That hit flow into the feld,    a forlong or more;103 A womman, bounden with a barn,    was on the bely hytte With a ston of a stayre,    as the storyj telleth, That the barn out brayde    fram the body clene And was born up as a bal    over the burwe walles; Burnes were brayned    and brosed to deth; Wymmen wide open    walte undere stones; Frosletes fro the ferst    to the flor thrylled; And many toret doun tilte    the Temple aboute. The cité had ben seised    myd saut at that tyme Nad the folke be so fers    that the Fende served,104 That kilden on the Cristen,    and kepten the walles With arwes and arblastes    and archelers manye, With speres and spryngoldes    sponnen out hard, Dryven dartes adoun,    geven depe woundes, That manye renke out of Rome    by restyng of sonne Was mychel levere a leche    than layke myd his toles.105 Waspasian stynteth of the stoure,    steweth his burnes That were forbeten and bled    undere bryght yren; Tyen to here tentis    myd tene that they hadde, Al wery of that werk    and wounded ful sore. Helmes and hamberkes    hadden of sone, Leches by torchelight    loken here hurtes, Waschen woundes with wyn    and with wolle stoppen, With oyle and orisoun,    ordeyned in charme. Suth evereche a segge    to the soper yede; Thogh they wounded were    was no wo nempned Bot daunsyng and no deil    with dynnyng of pipis And the nakerer noyse    alle the nyght-tyme. Whan the derk was doun    and the day sprongen, Sone after the sonne    sembled the grete, Comen forth with the kyng    conseil to here, Alle the knyghthod clene    that for Crist werred. Waspasian waiteth a-wide,    his wyes byholdeth That were freschere to fight    than at the furst tyme, Prayeth princes on ernest    and alle the peple after That eche wye of that werre    schold his wille specke: "For or this toun be tak,    and this toures heye, Michel torfere and tene    us tides on hande."106 They tourned alle to Titus    and hym the tale graunten Of the cité and the sege    to seyn for hem alle. Than Titus tourneth hem to    and talkyng bygynneth: "Thus to layke with this lese folke    us lympis the worse,107 For they ben fele of defence,    ferce men and noble, And this toured toun    is tenful to wynne. "The worst wrecche in the wone    may on walle lygge, Strike doun with a ston    and stuny many knyghtes, Whan we schul hone and byholde    and litel harme wirche, And ay the lothe of the layk    light on usselve.108 "Now mowe they ferke no ferre    here fode forto wynne; Wolde we stynt of our strif,    whyle they here store marden?109 We scholde with hunger hem honte,    to hoke out of toun, Without weme or wounde    or any wo elles. "For ther as fayleth the fode    ther is feynt strengthe, And ther as hunger is hote,    hertes ben feble." Alle assenteden to the sawe    that to the sege longed, Apaied as the prince    and the peple wolde. To the kyng were called    constables thanne, Marchals and masers,    men that he tristith; He chargeth hem chefly    for chaunce that may falle, With wacche of waled men    the walles to kepe: "For we wol hunten at the hart    this hethes aboute, And hure racches renne    amonge this rowe bonkes,110 Ride to the rever    and rere up the foules, Se faucouns fle,    fele of the beste." Ech segge to the solas    that hymself lyked, Princes out of pavelouns    presen on stedes, Torneien, trifflyn    and on the toun wayten. This lyf they ledde longe:    oure Lord gyve us grace! [Passus 5] In Rome Nero hath now    mychel noye wroght: To deth pyned the pope    and mychel peple quelled,111 Petre, apostlen prince,    and Seint Poule bothe, Senek and the senatours;    and alle the cité fured; His modire and his mylde wif    murdred to dethe; Combred Cristen fele,    that on Crist leved. The Romayns resen anon,    whan they this rewthe seyen, To quelle the emperour quyk    that hem unquemed hadde.112 They pressed to his paleys,    porayle and other, To brytten the bold kyng    in his burwe riche; The cité and the senatours,    assented hem bothe, Non other dede was to doun:    they han his dome yolden. Than flowe that freke,    frendles, alone, Out at a privé posterne,    and alle the peple folwed. With a tronchoun of tre,    toke he no more Of alle the glowande gold    that he on grounde hadde. On that tronchoun with his teth    he toggeth and byteth, Tille hit was piked at the poynt    as a prikkes ende. Than abideth that burne    and biterlych speketh To alle the wyes that ther were    wordes aloude: "Tourneth, traytours, agen!    Schal never the tale rise Of no karl by the coppe,    how he his kyng quelde." Hymself he stryketh myd that staf,    streght to the hert, That the colke to-clef,    and the kyng deyed. Six monthe after, and no more,    this myschef bytydde, That Waspasian was went    to werry on the Jewes; Foure mettyn myle out of Rome    to mynden forevere, That erst was emperour of alle    thus ended in sorow. The grete togedres gan,    geten hem another, On Gabba, a gome    that mychel grem hadde Throgh Othis Lucyus, a lord    that hym longe hated. And at the last that lord    out of lyf hym broght: Amydde the market of Rome    they metten togedres; Othis fallith hym fey,    gaf hym fale woundes That foure monthes and more    hadde mayntened the croune; And tho deyed the duke    and diademe lefte. And whan that Gabba was gon    and to grounde broght, Othis entrith on ernest    and emperour was made; That man in his majesté    was monthes bot thre, Than he yeldeth Sathanas the soule    and hymself quelled.113 The Romayns raisen a renk    Rome forto kepe, A knyght that Vitel was calde,    and hym the croune raughte . . .114 [. . . .] Bot for Sire Sabyn's sake,    a segge that was noble, Waspasian brother of blode,    that he brytned hadde . . . [. . . .] Waspasian upon Vitel    to vengen his brother Sent out of Surrie    segges to Rome . . . [. . . .] That as naked as an nedul    the newe emperour, For Sire Sabyns sake,    alle the cité drowe; Suth gored the gome    that his guttes alle As a boweled beste    into his breche felle. Doun yermande he yede    and yeldeth the soule, And they kayght the cors    and kast into Tybre. Seven monthes this segge    hadde septre on hande, And thus loste he the lyf    for his luther dedes. Another segge was to seke    that septre schold have, For alle this grete ben gon    and never agayn tournen. Now of the cité and of the sege    wolle Y sey more, How this comelich kyng,    that for Crist werreth, Hath holden yn the hethen men    this other half wynter, That never burne of the burwe    so bold was to passe. As he to dyner on a day    with dukes was sette, Comen renkes fram Rome,    rapande swythe,115 In bruneys and in bryght wede    and with bodeworde newe, Louten alle to the lord,    and lettres hym raughten; Sayn: "Comelich kyng!    The knyghthod of Rome, Throgh the senatours assent    and alle the cité ellis, Han chosen thee for chyventayn,    here chef lord to worthe,116 And riche emperour of Rome.    Thus redeth this lettres." The lord unlappeth the lef,    this lettres byholdeth, Overloketh ech a lyne    to the last ende. Bordes born were doun,    and the burne riseth, Calleth consail anon    and kytheth this speche: "Ye ben burnes of my blod,    that Y best wolde, My sone is next to myself,    and other sib manye: Sire Sabyn of Surrie,    a segge that Y triste, And other frendes fele    that me fayth owen. "Now is me bodeword broght    of blys froward Rome, To be lord over that lond    as this lettres speketh. Sire Sabyn of Surrie,    sey thee byhovyth How Y myght savy myself    and I so wroght; "For Y have heylych heyght    here forto lenge Tille I this toured toun    have taken at my wille And me the gates ben get    and golden the keyes, And suth houshed on hem    that this hold kepyn, "Brosten and betyn doun    this britages heye That never ston in that stede    stond upon othere. Kythe thy consail, sire knyght,"    this kyng to hym sayde, "For Y wol worche by thy witt    gif worschip may folowe!" Than seith Sire Sabyn anon:    "Semelich lord, We ben wyes thee with,    thy worschup to further, Of longe tyme bylafte,    and ledes thyn owen; That we doun is thy dede,    may no man demen elles. "The dom demed was ther:    who doth by another Schal be soferayn hymself,    sein in the werke.117 For as fers is the freke    atte ferre ende, That of fleis the fel    as he that foot holdeth. "Bytake Tytus, thy sone,    this toun forto kepe, And to the doughti duke    Domyssian, his brother. Here I holde up myn honde    myd hem forto lenge With alle the here that I have    while my herte lasteth. "And thou schalt ride to Rome    and receyve the croune, In honour emperour to be    as thyn eure schapith. So may the covenaunt be kept    that thou to Crist made: Thyself dest, that thy soudiours    by thyn assent worchen."118 Than with a liouns lote    he lifte up his eyen, To Titus tourneth anon,    and hym the tale schewed. And as Sire Sabyn hadde seid,    he hym sone granteth, With his brother and the burnes,    as he hym blesse wolde:119 "I wol tarie at this toun    til I hit taken have, Made weys throw the walles    for wenes and cartes, Oure bothere heste to holde,    gif me hap tydith,120 Or here be to-hewen,    or I hennes passe." A boke on a brode scheld    was broght on to swere: Alle burnes boden to the honde    and barouns hit kyssen, To be leel to that lord    that hem lede scholde, Sire Titus, the trewe kyng,    tille they the toun hadde. Fayn as the foul of day    was the freke thanne, Kysseth knyghtes anon    with carful wordes: "My wele and my worschup    ye weldeth to kepe, For the tresour of my treuth    upon this toun hengyth: "I nold this toun were untake,    ne this toures heye,121 For alle the glowande golde    upon grounde riche, Ne no ston in the stede    stondande alofte, Bot alle overtourned and tilt,    Temple and other." Thus laccheth he leeve    at his ledes alle, Wende wepande away    and on the walles loketh, Praieth God, as he gooth,    hem grace forto sende To hold that they byhot han    and never here hertis chaunge.122 Now is Waspasian went    over the wale stremys Even entred into Rome    and emperour maked. And Titus for the tydyng    hath take so mychel joye That in his synwys soudeynly    a syknesse is fallen. The freke for the fayndom    of the fadere blysse, With a cramp and a colde    caught was so hard That the fyngres and feet,    fustes and joyntes Was lythy as a leke    and lost han here strengthe. He croked agens kynde    and as a crepel woxen,123 And whan they sey hym so,    many segge wepyth; They sente to the cité    and soughten a leche That couthe kevere the kyng,    and condit delyveryn. Whan they the cyté hadde sought    with seggys aboute, Fynde couthe they no freke    that on the feet couthe, Save the self Josophus    that surgyan was noble, And he graunteth to go    with a goode wylle. Whan he was comen to the kyng    and the cause wyste How the segge so sodeynly    in syknesse is fallen, Tille he have complet his cure    condit he asketh For what burne of the burwe    that he brynge wolde. The kyng was glad alle to graunte    that the gome wylned, And he ferkith hym forth,    fettes ful blyve A man to the mody kyng    that he moste hated, And yn bryngeth the burne    to his beddes syde. Whan Tytus saw that segge    sodeynly with eyen, His herte in an hote yre    so hetterly riseth That the blode bygan with the hete    to brede in the vaynes, And the synwes resorte     in here self kynde.124 Feet and alle the fetoures    as they byfore were, Comyn in here owen kynd,    and the kyng ryseth, Thonketh God of His grace    and the goode leche Of alle save that his enemy    was yn on hym broght. Than sayth Josophus:    "This segge hath thee holpyn, And here hath be thy bote,    thogh thou hym bale wolde; Therfor graunte hym thy grace    agen his goode dede, And be frende with thy foman    that frendschup hath served!" The kyng saghtles with the segge    that hym saved hadde, And ther graunted hym grace    to go where he wolde. With Josophus he made joye    and jewels hym raughte: Besauntes, byes of gold,    broches and ryngys. Bot alle forsaketh the segge    and to the cité yede With condit as he come;    he kepith no more. And Tytus segyth the toun    ther tene is on hande For hard hunger and hote    that hem is bylompyn. Now of the tene in the toun    were tore forto telle What moryne and meschef    for mete is byfalle; For fourty dayes byfor    they no fode hadde: Nother fisch ne flesch    freke on to byte, Bred, browet ne brothe,    ne beste upon lyve, Wyn ne water to drynke    bot wope of hemself. Olde scheldes and schone    scharply they eten; That liflode for ladies    was luther to chewe. Fellen doun for defaute    flatte to the grounde, Ded as a dore-nayl,    eche day many hundred. Wo wakned thycke:    as wolves they ferde; The wyght waried on the woke    alle his wombe-fille.125 On Marie, a myld wyf,    for meschef of foode, Hire owen barn that ho bare    ho brad on the gledis,126 Rostyth rigge and rib    with rewful wordes, Sayth, "Sone, upon eche side    our sorow is alofte: "Batail aboute the borwe    our bodies to quelle, Withyn hunger so hote    that negh our herte brestyth. Therfor yeld that I thee gaf,    and agen tourne And entre ther thou cam out,"    and etyth a schouldere. The smel roos of the rost    right into the strete, That fele fastyng folke    felden the savere; Doun thei daschen the dore:    dey scholde the berde127 That mete yn this meschef    hadde from men layned. Than saith that worthi wif,    in a wode hunger, "Myn owen barn have I brad    and the bones gnawen; Yit have I saved you som,"    and forth a side feccheth Of the barn that ho bare -    and alle hire blode chaungeth. Away they went for wo,    wepyng ech one And sayn: "Alas! In this lif    how longe schul we dwelle? Yit beter were at o brayde    in batail to deye Than thus in langur to lyve    and lengthen our fyne." Than they demeden a dom    that deil was to hure: To voiden alle by vile deth    that vitelys destruyed - Wymmen and weyke folke    that weren of olde age, That myght noght stonde in stede    bot her stor mardyn -128 After to touche of trewe,    to trete with the lord. Bot Titus graunteth noght for gile    that the gomes thenke, For he is wise that is war    or hym wo hape, And with falsede afere    is fairest to dele.129 To worchyn undere the wal    wayes they casten, Whan Tytus nold no trewe    to the toun graunte; With mynours and masouns    myne they bygonne, Grobben faste on the grounde,    and God gyve us joye! [Passus 6] As Tytus after a tyme    umbe the toun redeth Wyth sixty speres of the sege,    segges a fewe, Alle outwith the ost,    out of a kave Up a buschment brake,    alle of bright hedis, Fyf hundred fightyng men,    and fellen hem aboute In jepouns and jambers.    Jewes they were, Hadde wroght hem a wey    and the wal myned. And Titus tourneth hem to    without tale more. Schaftes schedred were sone    and scheldes y-threlled, And many schalke throw-schot    with the scharpe ende, Brunyes and bright wede    blody by-runne; And many segge at that saute    soughte to the grounde, Hacchen upon hard steel    with an hetter wylle, That the fure out flewe    as of flynt-stonys: Of the helm and the hed    hewen at-tonys, The stompe undere stede feet    in the steel leveth. The yong duk Domycian    of the dyn herde And issed out of the ost    with eghte hundred speres, Fel on the fals folke,    umbe-feldes hem sone, As bestes bretnes hem alle    and hath his brother holpen. Than Titus toward his tentis    tourneth hym sone, Maketh mynours and men    the myne forto stoppe; After profreth pes    for pyté that he hadde Whan he wist of here wo    that were withyn stoken. Bot Jon the jenfulle,    that the Jewes ladde, An other Symond, of his assent,    forsoken the profre, Sayn lever in that lif    lengen hem were, Than any renke out of Rome    rejoyced here sorowe.130 Sale in the cité    was cesed by thanne; Was noght for besauntes to bye    that men bite myght: For a ferthyng-worth of fode    floryns an hundred Princes profren in the toun    to pay in the fuste. Bot alle was boteles bale,    for whoso bred hadde Nold a gobet have gyven    for goode upon erthe.131 Wymmen falwed faste    and here face chaungen, Feynte and fallen doun    that so faire were, Swounen, swallen as swyn,    and som swart wexen, Som lene on to loke    as lanterne-hornes.132 The morayne was so myche    that no man couthe telle Where to burie in the burwe    the bodies that were ded, Bot wenten with hem to the walle    and walten hem overe; Into the depe of the diche    the ded doun fallen. Whan Titus told was the tale,    to trewe God he vouched That he propfred hem pes    and grete pité hadde. Tho praied he Josophus to preche,     the peple to enforme Forto save hemself    and the cité yelde. Bot Jon forsoke the sawe    so forto wyrche, With Symond, that other segge    that the cyté ladde. Myche peple for the prechyng    at the posterne gatis Tyen out of the toun    and Tytus bysecheth To forgyve hem the gult    that they to God wroght; And he graunteth hem grace    and gaylers bytaught. Bot whan they metten with mete,    unmyghty they were Any fode to defye,    so faynt was here strengthe. Ful the gottes of gold    ilka gome hadde: Lest fomen fongen hem schold,    here floreyns they eten.133 Whan hit was broght up abrode    and the bourd aspyed, Withouten leve of that lord,    ledes hem slowen, Goren evereche a gome    and the gold taken, Fayner of the floreyns    than of the frekes alle. Ay were the gates unget    tille two yeres ende, So longe they sought hit by sege    or they the cité hadde; Eleven hundred thousand Jewes    in the menewhyle Swalten while the sweng last    by swerd and by hunger. Now Titus conseil hath take    the toun to assayle, To wynne hit on eche wyse    of warwolves handes, Never pyté ne pees    profre hem more, Ne gome that he gete may    to no grace taken; Armen hem as-tyt    alle for the werre, Tyen even to the toun    with trompis and pypys, With nakerers and grete noyce    neghen the walles Ther many styf man and stoure    stondith alofte. Sire Sabyn of Surrye    on a syde yede; The yong duke Domycian    drow to another. Fiftene thousand fyghtyng men    ilka freke hadde, With many maner of engyne    and mynours ynowe. Tytus at the toun gate,    with ten thousand helmes, Merketh mynours at the wal    where they myne scholde, On ech side for the assaute    setteth engynes And bold brenyed men    in belfrayes heye. Was noght bot dyn and dyt    as alle deye scholde, So eche lyvande lyf    layeth on other; At eche kernel was cry    and quasschyng of wepne, And many burne atte brayd    brayned to deth. Sire Sabyn of Surrye,    whyle the saute laste, Leyth a ladder to the wal    and alofte clymyth, Wendeth wyghtly theron    - thogh hym wo happned - And up stondith for ston    or for steel-ware.134 Syx he slow on the wal,    Sire Sabyn alone; The seveth hitteth on hym    an unhende dynte That the brayn out brast    at both nosethrylles. And Sabyn, ded of the dynt,    into the diche falleth. Than Tytus wepyth for wo    and warieth the tyme, Syth he the lede hath lost    that he love scholde: "For now is a duke ded    the doughtiest Y trowe That ever stede bystrode    or any steel wered." Than Tytus on the same side    setteth an engyne, A sowe wroght for the werre,    and to the wal dryveth That alle overwalte ther hit went,    and wyes an hundred Were ded of that dynt    and in the diche lyghten.135 Than Tytus heveth up the honde    and Heven Kyng thonketh,136 That they the dukes deth    han so dere boughte; The Jewes preien the pees     - this was the Paske-evene - And to the comelich kyng    the keyes out raughten.137 "Nay, traytours," quod Tytus,    "now take hem yourselfen, For schal no ward on the wal    us the way lette: We han geten us a gate    agenes your wille; That schal ben satled soure    on youre sory kynde!" Or the gates were yete    - al the yeres tyme -138 Over the cyté were seyn    selcouthe thynges. A bryght brennyng swerd    over the burwe henged Without hond other helpe    save of Heven one. Armed men in the ayere    upon ost-wyse, Over the cyté were seyn    sundrede tymes. A calf agen kynde    calved in the Temple And eued an ewe-lombe    at the offryng-tyme. A wye on the wal    cried wondere heye: "Voys fram est, voys fram west,    voys fram the foure wyndis," And sayd: "Wo, wo, wo    worth on you bothe, Jerusalem, the Jewen toun,    and the joly Temple!" The same tyme the toun    was taken and wonnen Yit sayth the wye on the walle    another word more: "Wo to this worldly wone    and wo to myselve!" And deyd, whan he don hadde,    throw dynt of a slynge. And than the vilayns devysed hem    and vengaunce hit helde, And wyten her wo    the wronge that they wroghte Whan they brutned in the burwe    the byschup, Seint Jame; Noght wolde acounte hit for Crist,    the care that they hadde.139 Bot up yeden here gates,    and yelden hem alle Without brunee and bright wede,    in here bare chertes; Fram none tille the merke nyght    never ne cesed, Bot evere man after man    mercy bysought. Tytus into the toun    taketh his wey: Myght no man stande on the stret    for stynke of ded corses. The peple in the pavyment    was pité to byholde That were enfamyned and defeted    whan hem fode wanted. Was noght on ladies lafte    bot the lene bones That were fleschy byfore    and fayre on to loke; Burges with balies    as barels or that tyme No gretter than a grehounde    to grype on the medil.140 Tytus tarieth noght for that,    bot to the Temple wendith That was rayled the roof    with rebies grete; With perles and peritotes    alle the place ferde As glowande gled-fure    that on gold flikreth. The dores ful of dyemauntes    dryven were thicke And made merveylous lye    with margeri-perles; Derst no candel be kende    whan clerkes scholde rise - So were they lemaunde lyght    and as a lampe schonen. The Romayns wayten on the werke,    warien the tyme That ever so precious a place    scholde perische for synne. Out the tresour to take    Tytus commaundyth: "Doun bete the bilde,    brenne hit into grounde." Ther was plenté in the place    of precious stonys: Grete gaddes of gold    whoso grype lyste, Platis, pecis of peys,    pulisched vessel, Bassynes of brend gold    and other bryght gere; Pelours, masly made    of metalles fele, In copper craftly cast    and in clene selvere; Peynted with pure gold    alle the place over. The Romayns renten hem doun    and to Rome ledyn. Whan they the cyté han sought    upon the same wyse, Telle couthe no tonge    the tresours that they founden: Jewels for joly men    and jemewes riche; Floreyns of fyne gold    ther no freke wanted; Riche peloure and pane    princes to were; Besantes, bies of gold,    broches, and rynges, Clene clothes of selke    many carte-fulle - Wele wanteth no wye,    bot wale what hym lyketh. Now masouns and mynours    han the molde soughte, With pykeyse and ponsone    persched the walles: Hewen throw hard ston,    hurled hem to grounde That alle derkned the diche    for doust of the poudere. So they wroughten at the wal    alle the woke tyme, Tille the cyté was serched    and sought al aboute, Maden wast at a wappe    ther the walle stode, Bothe in Temple and in tour    alle the toun over. Nas no ston in the stede    stondande alofte, Morter ne mude-walle    bot alle to mulle fallen: Nother tymbre ne tre,    Temple ne other, Bot doun betyn and brent    into blake erthe. And whan the Temple was overtilt,    Tytus commaundys In plowes to putte    and alle the place erye; Suth they sow hit with salt,    and seiden this wordes: "Now is this stalwourthe stede    distroied forevere." Tytus suth sett hym    on a sete riche, Alle the Jewes to jugge    as justise hymself. Criours callen hem forth    as hy that Crist slowen, And beden Pilat apere,    that provost was thanne. Pilat proffrith hym forth,    apered at the barre, And he frayneth the freke    alle with faire wordis, Whan Crist of dawe was don    and to the deth yede, Of the hethyng that He hadde    and the hard woundis. Than melys the man    and the matere tolde, How alle the ded was don    whan He deth tholed; For thritty penyes in a poke    His postel Hym solde: So was He bargayned and bought,    and as a beste quelled. "Now corsed be he," quod the kyng,    "that the acate made; He wexe marchaunte amys,    that the money fenged To sille so precyous a prince    for penyes so fewe They eche a ferthyng had fourmed    floryns an hundred. "Bot I schal marchaundise make    in mynde of that other, That schal be hethyng to hem    or I hennes passe: Alle that here bodyes wol by    or bargaynes make,141 By lowere pris forto passe,    than they the Prophete solde." He made in the myddis of the ost    a market to crye, Alle that cheffare wolde chepe    chepis to have;142 Ay for a peny of pris,    whoso pay wolde, Thrytty Jewes in a throm    throngen in ropis. So were they bargayned and bought    and broght out of londe, Never suth on that syde    cam segge of hem after; Ne non that leved in here lawe    scholde in that londe dwelle, That tormented trewe God.    Thus Titus commaundyth. Josophus, the gentile clerke,    ajorned was to Rome: Ther of this mater and mo    he made fayre bokes. And Pilat to prisoun was put    to pynen forevere, At Vienne, ther venjaunce    and vile deth he tholed. The wye that hym warded    wente on a tyme Hymself fedyng with frut    and feffyt hym with a pere. And forto paren his pere,    he praieth hym yerne Of a knyf, and the kempe    kest hym a trenchour. And with the same he schef    hymself to the herte, And so the kaytif, as his kynde,    corsedlich deied.143 [. . . .] [. . . .] Whan alle was demed and don    they drowen up tentis, Trossen here tresour    and trompen up the sege, Wenten syngyng away    and han here wille forthred, And hom riden to Rome.    Now rede ous oure Lord! Hic terminatur bellum Judaicum apud Jerusalem.144

(see note); (t-note) (see note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (see note) (see note) bound; beaten; (t-note) pliable leather beset; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note) If; prophet of worth; (see note) man; struck You; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (see note) I find; years; (t-note) (t-note) Until it befell; Titus; (see note); (t-note) Who; Gascony ruled; Guienne; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) trouble harassed; Nero's; (t-note) (t-note) lip lay; clotted; cheek father; is marvelously afflicted; (t-note) hive of wasp-bees bred; (t-note) Hived; them since youth; (t-note) [he] was called Vespasian; (see note) sickness; this man suffered litter; diseased (t-note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) Cestius; Syria; (see note); (t-note) noble; errand came to trouble they would hold back; (see note) went amid the fierce waves On high set the sail; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) sky waned; grew dark; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) storm; red wind rose; (see note); (t-note) soon set upon the sea swelled; (t-note) Nathan's ship soon; (t-note) (see note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) one end; [the] heavens as [if] all would drown; (t-note) Struck through streams; (t-note) great wretchedness (t-note) men at the shore thought [it a] marvel; (t-note) [a] barge or boat or man alive Unperished; perils could speak the language asks; far; carried; (t-note) Syria [as a] messenger; leader; (t-note) Cestius, his officer judge of the Jewish law; (t-note) (t-note) called him (i.e., Nathan); (see note) (see note) (t-note) worldly wife; very pure; (t-note) healing and salve quickly; you will do greatest enchantments those; (t-note) man in our land; was alive; (see note) Proved [to be] a prophet Bethlehem; fair maiden she; (i.e., a virgin); (see note) (see note); (t-note) a male child she; ear; (see note) token; had touched her; (see note); (t-note) one; acknowledged together part is one God as [our] elders tell us third; with Them appointed; conjointly; (see note) endless (i.e., immortal); equally; (see note); (t-note) before; (t-note) quickly high; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) with one word alone; (see note); (t-note) lepers; lodge; leeched (healed) at once; (see note) (see note); (t-note) dead; death; raised; (see note); (t-note) Crook-backed and cancered; cured; (see note) mute; deaf; with; (see note) more miracles; I know of; (t-note) (see note) Five; [it] is wondrous to hear; (see note); (t-note) barley loaves; (t-note) each man; yet lived long; (see note) pieces [of bread]; meat; (t-note) sowed; one group seventy-two; (see note); (t-note) He deemed; were called; (t-note) He sent them; teachings Always; until they were apart; (t-note) twelve goodly [men]; (see note); (t-note) not proud; were called caitiffs; chose; increase; (see note); (t-note) outcasts; these; their; (t-note) fourth fifth of His fellowship; (t-note) sixth; seventh; (t-note) whose bones would never; (t-note) eighth; much-loved here are [an] even ten eleventh; adventured; (t-note) Before; [and who] was; (t-note) disloyal; wicked in his deeds (see note); (t-note) slew; deed; (see note) gallows-tree burst in; (see note) harrowed; (see note); (t-note) To replace that accursed; chose; (see note) (see note) at the time of Passover (t-note) woeful deed; plotted Through Pilate tortured honorable; first was named; (see note); (t-note) face on; she's called; (see note) Painted; missing no detail; (t-note) it [to] her until her life's man on this earth; (t-note) [By] illness or mischief or man's [work] Who kneels; believes (t-note) Ah; traitorous; (t-note) him (i.e., Pilate) judge (t-note) cancer; was fully healed Without scarring face; blemished Ah, courteous; (t-note) to tell You; (t-note) deed; death lamented; (t-note) see; God's dear Son promote my petition; (t-note) stir; trouble; renew (t-note) To slay these devils quick; token He left believed Name; at once therewith be baptized fetched a font-stone; followed who fought for Christ; (see note) Bordeaux's messenger (i.e., Nathan); went; (t-note) marvel; show (i.e., Vespasian), groaning gladly crying; shouted unblemished pure woman; (t-note) wholly I avow; (see note); (t-note) unless; requited (avenged) [At] that time; (see note) our faith preaches Many folk followed [him]; (t-note) man wonders enough aware; wasps (t-note) cloth that cured the sick (t-note) Then to council were [they] quickly agreed appointed; fetch; (see note); (t-note) permission; do; (t-note) (t-note) returned very quickly (t-note) and [a] crowd; (t-note) aware who; owned she fell flat; (t-note) Embraced his feet; man Then began the man doleful death; dear teacher place before he might stop unwrapped; (t-note) cloth; took at last; (t-note) running tears with [the] crowd; quickly; (t-note) always; high ordered to go people [to] Vespasian; (t-note) marvel happened before them all their temple difficult things occurred (see note) palace; veil then; went worshiped (t-note) purified; grew so bright man; showed (i.e., Vespasian); head lords, hear healing I ask hands; (see note) noise; clamor; grief then; thrice (t-note) (t-note) piping (music); (t-note) gave thanks; these; (t-note) hangs in the air; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) Vernicle; (see note); (t-note) Had it arrayed beautifully Still [today]; face; veil relic; (t-note) Meanwhile; trouble withheld; (t-note) council; (t-note) Earls quickly, in haste judge; [the] judgment; (see note) one; two men Who the work (see note) Crowned; much their words to keep; (see note) their promises; (t-note) rattling; rubbing of mailcoats; (see note); (t-note) Showing of swords, shields [They] took leave of; lifting insignia; (see note) gathering followed; (t-note) By then; rigged, issued wine hoisted in quickly (see note) (see note) Galleys; pennants Scattered; broad sea; four miles; (t-note) the top sail; (see note); (t-note) wind at their backs; bank soldiers Jaffa in Judaea's lands; (see note); (t-note) Syria, Caesar's land; seek (t-note) Mt. Zion; here; (t-note) dearly shall be avenged; (t-note) boast condemned wretches lineage; anointed Nor; rest; again; (t-note) beset; [trapping] Syria Burned always; left everything bare; (t-note) roaring and smoke; (see note); (t-note) red rushing (i.e., fire) that spread Took; very many houses Broke [down]; towns won Utterly; hewn field; town, whoever would stay where; (see note); (t-note) as do the fowl that the falcon; (see note) city turrets and towers; (see note) poor people commoners of countries; (t-note) Had flocked; (t-note) (see note) crafty; went pennies (ransom) drew them [siege] engines; thick resolutely set a siege Set pavilions; [made] of pall cloth; (see note) raised up quickly [made] of turkish cloth; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) gilded apple; (see note) (t-note) lying underneath them; (t-note) Palisaded; about (t-note) crenelated; (t-note) (t-note) Towered with turrets Then barricaded Before; siege masters of law chief chieftain; made their way their message at once; (see note) Said; (t-note) hear; (t-note) men showed Gave them; men; (t-note) their coming; avenge; (t-note) be ready before; stark-naked; (see note); (t-note) (see note) man; no other clothes; (t-note) Jews; (t-note) betrayed; (t-note) go and throw [them] stand by [the time] I leave These messengers resolutely; went Where; were all dwelling Quickly; made a great row Caiaphas; (the Jews); (see note) began shouting took; more talk; (t-note) Their hands; wooden tore off their hair; beards; (t-note) lowest reaches; (see note); (t-note) blacken with blacking; (t-note) Then knit; knight's neck A [piece of] cheese; (see note) we are unwilling; to follow dread; judgment; planned field; farther seek prime (dawn) men hastened; bound Return; Jewish leaders angry; men came (t-note) These had happened (t-note) battle farther settled; planned have; certified [to]; (t-note) Raging mad [with] anger; (t-note) Put watches; advised morning soon; sun erected; headquarters; stern way; (see note) Built; full to the brim with weapons; (see note); (t-note) A dragon [banner] was prepared; (see note) Wide-gaping; [as if] men to swallow; (t-note) arrows falchion; keen blades; (see note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) burnished; beast; (t-note) tail lifted; where; warred ever looking; taken; (t-note) settlement; (t-note) treaty or no truce; yield Before; counsel taken; (t-note) to be slain or the town [to] win; (t-note) extended; ready; (t-note) Ready, if anyone ran away; (t-note) gust; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) troubling tower; gauged battlefield; men; (t-note) fields shone (t-note) silk and cendal; beaten glowing fire; (see note) sun beams Before; sets to remain; (see note) sum; siege; (t-note) watch; no one escaped; (t-note) circle neighing of steeds Struggling into steel armor; (t-note) elephants; slow beasts; (t-note) Against; castles on [their] backs all his men; (t-note) arrayed; came to the valley where; judge; (see note); (t-note) Strongly battled; (t-note) vanguard (see note); (t-note) (t-note) Where valiant trusty Who; many people led harnesses; (t-note) in the rear; tents (t-note) trumpets in the town banners bade them; (t-note) soon; (see note) halberks attired not counting men on foot pressed; with shields elephants; beasts; (see note) broad castles; town (t-note) dromedaries; devilishly covered; mailed harnesses; (t-note) beast; tower, where; in Camels enclosed in steel came [in] an amazing number Armed for battle Each one a wooden tower; (see note) Chariots; weapons number; desired [to] know brave men; who were afraid found dead; before (t-note) Covered; (t-note) was attired richly; (t-note) Set; pillars A chest; (see note); (t-note) pivots chair; carbuncles; (t-note) Beaten; burning candles; (t-note) sides; (t-note) where; sitting; (t-note) polished; set pearls and noble Learned; could sing; (see note) psalters sat beside him brave; dear stories; (see note) Joshua; Judas Maccabeus; (see note); (t-note) chest took a roll; (see note) read; (i.e., Red Sea); (t-note) army; drowned he related [at] that time came field; keen men blazed; (t-note) hardly; (t-note) observes; (see note); (t-note) overspread; town walls; (t-note) Lords of land, hear There is neither king nor; (see note); (t-note) bachelor (petty knight); man; (t-note) coming is not to avenge; (see note); (t-note) deceitfully Look [to] the scorning beating; (t-note) Let; these lawless men evil; heart I renounce; living men; (t-note) except; alone (see note); (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) [one] more; we remember; (t-note) supreme rule falls; (see note); (t-note) strength, master or not; (see note); (t-note) lord; lies; (t-note) (t-note) (see note) limb faint; belief; (t-note) (t-note) Neither; trusting stories of battle; (see note); (t-note) are called; [the] Lord High Heaven's; [takes] heed; (t-note) men bow Trumpets; horses [begin] to neigh Steeds; field; steel clothes; (t-note) Strong; striding up on high clarion; all kinds [of] pipes; (see note); (t-note) Timbrels and drums intoning; (see note) Gave a resounding; (t-note) (t-note) Took lances; leapt; (t-note) fire; [it] fared between them dust drove; dimmed jostling in the skies; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) crash swooning to die; word toils with the best; (t-note) Fights the strongest; (t-note) Then; sword; beats brain; field runs; (t-note) flank [of the army]; (t-note) Beat; blade lasts (see note) Hews fiercely; receive [it] field; beams; (see note) Off the golden gear shivering of shields; (t-note) went, as [if]; sky was on fire; (t-note) vanguard sees; (see note); (t-note) there were holding ground [He] came; strong force; (t-note) angered; [they] strike together; (t-note) (see note) (see note) (t-note) (t-note) (see note) went; (t-note) Rides; rout their backs; town led [He] takes aim; horrible Tears out the guts; (see note) (t-note) clatter; camels burst [open] are driven quickly foamed from them; pools; (t-note) dashed steeds; (t-note) men; wooden towers; (see note) dust; went Completely locked; grew; (t-note) hurdighs; (see note) died in that place; (t-note) alive, who stands upright; (see note) Except one single elephant; (t-note) (t-note) sees the destruction masters; (t-note) go after them Before Bound; in [such a] bitter way; (t-note) burst out under each bond; (t-note) fine clerks (scholars); (t-note) Where; placed them there wooden tower (see note) read from; (t-note) failed [in their] hearts Titus [came] after them Many; army; field [were] left; (t-note) helms with his hand alone fall from; heaping over each other field covered over; (see note) broad valley steed; step; steel clothing man, or on beast high; number; earth dead; (see note); (t-note) well-rested Unharmed; man; broken; (t-note) pierced; prize armor until compline time; (see note) helms (i.e., soldiers); (see note) dead; before; (t-note) (t-note) Men leap; lock; (see note) Bar them strongly; iron Raise up the drawbridges [the] portcullis with pins drops; (see note); (t-note) bravely; to defend [These] fresh, untried (t-note) grit; (see note) (see note) Hurling bolts; crossbows at once; (see note); (t-note) Until; made wet They withdrew; ditch [For] the casting; (t-note) Came; [as] unharmed; went Lacking; one man; injury; (t-note) their; quickly watch around; men's heathen; be left; (t-note) Soon; rose in the sky; (t-note) Trumpets blow aloud to wake the men; (t-note) field to make bare loot; dead (spilled); (t-note) Gathering belts Bracelets; byzants; (see note) hauberks; (t-note) [They] cast dead; grievous pathways; (t-note) to begin [the] assault marvelously thick (see note) Against every; placed them high Began; watchtower to raise; (see note) Built; (t-note) (t-note) hew at the stairs; (t-note) with [a] rush; city Bolts, flaming with fire arrows swiftly; poisoned; (see note); (t-note) Aiming; attacking [They] burnt; buildings; (t-note) Burst the galleries; broad whole battle raging difficult; (t-note) hollow trenches beneath High-banked; (t-note) without strategies at the bank bend their gear Shoot; fair walls; (see note) arrows and crossbows; (see note) terrify defend; wiles enough Hot boiling pitch; cast; (see note); (t-note) Burning lead and brimstone; (t-note) Shoot shining; bright cursing them all Cast; crenelations and clustered many dear days' work falls By then; palisade; (see note) around the town, with towers; (see note) encircle; many; (t-note) man under [the] sun; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) course of the canal; (t-note) current went; (t-note) sticks; stinking [dead] beasts retires council; sit [in judgment] death by judgment; die; (t-note) the scribes; had captured (t-note) (t-note) to the sky (i.e., by the feet) honey; hideless; (t-note) Dogs and cats; claws caught and latched; thighs; (t-note) Two apiece; to torment rent; into red pieces pained from prime; pierced Until the sun set; (t-note) learned; beneath; (t-note) tormented; turned upside-down; (see note); (t-note) Tied; two keen dogs suffered hurl [themselves] slew themselves grabbed their hair; (t-note) sorrow dashed; (t-note) Build a bale-fire; burn; (t-note) Cast; (t-note) Burn every bone; ashes; (t-note) Then go; (t-note) across; town blow; soot; (t-note) powder; (t-note) imbibe; (see note); (t-note) cursed; (t-note) mangled by beasts, burned return for; trouble; (see note); (t-note) put to death; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) Darkened; moors; (t-note) (t-note) fires; army (host); (t-note) speak together Choose chieftains; quarrel; (see note) check-watch to get their rest lies in his lodging, he sleeps little wallows and turns and tosses turns for sadness (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) rises; hastened; (see note) fork (crotch); (t-note) clothes made of pall; (t-note) coat of mail, braided thick The lance-seat; (t-note) puts on a coat, [the] color; (t-note) wide belt; gear about his loins; lashes enough he belts above pure refined; hilt; (t-note) broad shining shield Buckled; (t-note) (see note) (t-note) helm he buckles quickly visor; aventail; (see note); (t-note) Ribboned about Set proudly strong steed; field loosed out of confinement men all saw him; (t-note) goodly barriers, before he would stop beat; sword so that; (see note); (t-note) wretches; slew before you get more [guilt] (t-note) (see note) (t-note) (t-note) palisade; set; (see note) bank; town; (t-note) against; (t-note) giants; you go [again]; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (see note) By that time; Josephus; (see note); (t-note) marvelous stratagem Water-soaked dripped; quickly; (t-note) Stink Know; their clothes; plentiful man; place can lack water trick; (t-note) laughs man be weak; boast It is only troubles; (t-note) [They] assail aware; war knew sacks of chaff strike where; hit harmed not a bit; noise; (t-note) on poles attached Scythes; were very sharp Cut at; (t-note) dashing; ditch flattened crafty Burned; burning; woe; (t-note) very badly heel That bit; boot avenge; or woe endure; (t-note) rushed; barriers, engaged quickly; (t-note) fiercely, thrust; (see note); (t-note) Battered; Siege engines by then; (t-note) bank; town pregnant; child; (t-note) stone from a siege-ladder; (see note); (t-note) child [was] flung out borne; town walls; (t-note) Men; brained and bruised thrown Fortifications; ground fell Who killed; kept arrows; crossbows; catapults; (see note); (t-note) missiles thrown; (see note) Drive; cause deep wounds; (see note) a man; setting of the sun; (t-note) (t-note) battle, stows; men wounded; iron Retire; their tents with sadness weary; very badly took off soon Physicians; looked [to] their hurts wool bandaged [them] prescribed charms Then every man; supper went woe named dancing; grief; dinning; (see note) drummers' noise; (see note) day dawned; (t-note) sun assembled the great [men]; (t-note) hear pure; warred looks all-around; men more ready; (see note) (t-note) man; war; (t-note) (t-note) opportunity grant; (t-note) siege; speak turns to them (t-note) are hard; fierce towered; difficult place; wait on the wall [And]; stun (t-note) hunt, to proceed; (t-note) injury or wound; (t-note) where food is short; (see note) strong; feeble; (see note) saying; siege; (t-note) Contented mace-bearers; trusted; (see note); (t-note) charged them chiefly; (t-note) a watch of chosen (see note) river and raise; birds; (see note); (t-note) See falcons fly; fall; (t-note) man [goes] to the solace; (t-note) press on horses Joust, loiter; (t-note) life; [for a] long [time]; (t-note) evil prince of the Apostles; (t-note) Seneca; burned; (see note) mother; mild; murdered; (see note); (t-note) Harassed many; believed rose; evil saw; (t-note) (see note) palace, poor people slay; rich burrow; (t-note) both [of] them assented have; doom given flew; man (i.e., Nero), friendless poor toilet; (t-note) staff of wood glowing teeth he tugged; bit; (see note) Until; sharpened; (t-note) man; bitterly people Turn; arise churl; cup; killed strikes; straight; (t-note) core was cleft; died happened war upon measured miles; (t-note) before great [men] (i.e., aristocracy); go; (t-note) Galba, a man; trouble; (see note) Otho; (see note); (t-note) lord (i.e., Otho); (t-note) Amid; came together; (t-note) felled him mortally; deadly Who [for]; (t-note) then died; crown left; (t-note) brought (i.e., buried); (t-note) entered [Rome]; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) raised a man; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) Sabinus' sake, a man who; (see note); (t-note) had killed avenge; (t-note) Syria; men; (t-note) needle; (see note); (t-note) drew him (i.e., Vitellius); (t-note) Then gored the man; (see note); (t-note) breeches; (t-note) screaming he went; yields; (t-note) corpse; Tiber River; (t-note) man; scepter; (t-note) terrible deeds to [be] sought great [men] were gone city (i.e., Jerusalem); siege warred Has held in; (t-note) man of the town; (t-note) dinner garb; message; (t-note) Bowed; gave him letters; (t-note) Saying also (t-note) So read these letters leaf; beheld Carefully read each line Tables; man made this speech are men of my blood nearest; many other relations man; trust many, who owe me loyalty message; bliss from; (t-note) these; (t-note) you must say save; if I did this; (t-note) solemnly vowed; remain towered; (t-note) been given and yielded; (see note) then Burst; beaten; high fortifications; (t-note) place stand Pronounce; (t-note) work; wit, if honor Honored honor For a long time; your own men What we do; claim else; (t-note) judgment made; does; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) fierce; man at the far end; (see note) flays off the skin; (t-note) Commit brave; Domitian; (see note) with them to remain all the forces your fortune (destiny) promise; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) remain; (t-note) paths; wagons; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) hewn, before I hence; (t-note) book; shield; swear men stretched toward; (t-note) loyal; them should lead until Glad; day-bird; man (Vespasian); (see note) prosperity; honor; you control troth; town hangs glowing; (t-note) stone in the place; (t-note) tilled, Temple and all he takes leave from his men; (t-note) Goes weeping; looked (t-note) (t-note) wild sea; (t-note) And so entered news; taken so much joy; (t-note) sinews; sickness man; joyousness fists Were weak as a leaf (t-note) saw him so [beset]; men wept; (t-note) physician; (t-note) could cure; safe conduct; (t-note) men could; who could walk; (t-note) Except; surgeon accepted; (t-note) case knew man Until; safe-conduct whichever man; town man desired goes forth, fetches very quickly moody; he (i.e., Titus); (see note) man to his bedside with [his] eyes; (see note) hot anger so quickly rose (t-note) (t-note) features proper nature Thanked; physician has helped you deliverer; harm for his good deed your enemy reconciles; (t-note) wherever he wanted; (t-note) gave Bezants, bracelets went he keeps nothing more besieges; where woe; (t-note) befallen hardship; difficult; (t-note) mortality; for [lack of] food (t-note) man; bite Bread, soup; beast alive but what they wept shields and shoes soon they ate food; hard Fell down from starvation; (t-note) door-nail; (see note) Woe stirred up thickly; became; (see note) (t-note) One; (see note) (t-note) Roasted side around the town; kill almost our hearts burst; (t-note) give back what I gave you enter where; eats; (t-note) rose; roast; (t-note) many starving folk smelled the savor; (t-note) meat; hidden; (t-note) crazed hunger; (see note) child; roasted [she] fetches; (t-note) she bore; their woe, weeping; (t-note) endure one blow in battle to die languish to live; end; (t-note) (see note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (see note) (see note) mine; plot; (t-note) would not a truce miners; mine they began; (see note) Digging; (t-note) around; rides; (t-note) siege, and a few men away from the army; cave an ambush broke; helms fell about them; (t-note) tunics and greaves; (see note) themselves; undermined turns toward them broken; pierced men shot through; (t-note) Armor; gear run with blood; (t-note) men at that assault [They] hack; [such] a savage; (t-note) sparks fly about; (see note); (t-note) Off; head [are] hewn at once stump; horse hooves; remains noise heard issued; (t-note) Fell upon; surrounds them beasts slaughters; (t-note) turns quickly Orders; (t-note) Afterwards [he] offers peace knew of their woe; trapped crafty, who; led; (see note) Simon; forsook the offer; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) Selling; ceased; (t-note) nothing; bezants to buy farthing's worth; florins; (see note) offer; pay in hand (fist) (t-note) (t-note) blanched; their faces Faint (t-note) (t-note) mortality; thick bury; town went; threw them; (t-note) (t-note) vowed offered them peace; (t-note) begged; (see note); (t-note) themselves; yield; (t-note) forsook the message man who led the city Many; secret gates Came guilt [to] jailers sent met; food, powerless digest guts; each person had; (t-note) it was discovered; trick men slay them; (t-note) Butcher each person; (t-note) Happier; (t-note) Always; un-gotten until; (see note) siege, before; (t-note) (see note) Died; fighting (t-note) nor peace [to] offer them again Nor quickly; battle; (t-note) trumpets and pipes drummers; noise come near Where many strong went each man had; (t-note) miners enough Orders; (t-note) assault he sets siege engines armored; high fortifications; (t-note) noise and blows living life lays corner; crashing of weapons; (see note) men in a moment [are] brained; (t-note) while the assault lasts Lays; climbs; (see note) (t-note) (t-note) Six he slew seventh hits; a hideous blow brain burst out; nostrils; (see note) dead from the blow weeps; curses the moment; (t-note) Since; man has lost bravest I believe rode a horse; armor wore sets; (t-note) siege engine; war; drives (t-note) have so dearly (see note) (t-note) guard from your wall; (t-note) have seized for ourselves a gate; (t-note) settled sorely; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) marvelous burning; hung; (t-note) hand or help; alone; (t-note) air like an army several against its nature; (see note) gave birth [to] a baby lamb; (t-note) man; cried loudly; (see note) A voice from east; (t-note) fall on you both; (see note) (t-note) Yet says the man; (t-note) place; (t-note) died; blow from; (t-note) (t-note) (see note) go; [they] yield themselves; (t-note) in their bare shirts; (see note) morning to dark; ceased sought mercy; (t-note) makes his way corpses; (t-note) street famished; (t-note) nothing; lean fair to look upon (see note) tarries; goes shingled chrysolites; looked glowing burning coals; flickers; (t-note) diamonds marvelously light; pearls Needed no; kindled; (t-note) brilliantly alight; shone; (t-note) search; dread perish for [its] sin; (t-note) treasure; (see note) Raze the building, burn bars; for whoever wanted to grab them pieces of weight, polished vessels; (t-note) Basins of burnished; (see note) Pillars, sturdily; (t-note) copper; silver; (t-note) (t-note) tore them down; took searched No tongue could tell; (t-note) rich double rings; (t-note) no man lacked; (t-note) fur and fabric; wear; (t-note) Bezants, bracelets silk Wealth; man; chooses; (t-note) have searched the earth; (see note) picks and punches pierced Hacked; (t-note) darkened; dust made; that week's time Until; (t-note) Made waste with one blow where; (t-note) tower Was no stone; place standing; (see note) mud-brick wall; earth; (see note); (t-note) Neither timber That wasn't razed and burned; (see note) overthrown; (t-note) plowed up Then they sowed; these; (t-note) strong place destroyed; (see note) then set himself; seat (t-note) Criers; they who Christ slew; (t-note) order Pilate [to] appear proffers; appeared at court; (see note) he (i.e., Titus) asks the man day was done; went Of the scorn; (t-note) remembers deed; suffered pennies; bag His apostle beast killed bargain made; (t-note) merchant amiss; took sell [Even if]; farthing; (see note); (t-note) memory price midst; host (army); (t-note) Ever in a crowd bound [that] land man of them; (t-note) lived under Who ordered; (see note); (t-note) matter; books was put to [be in] pain; (t-note) where; suffered; (see note); (t-note) man; guarded provided; pear peel; eagerly man cast [to] him stabs (t-note) (t-note) said and done; folded; (t-note) Pack; trumpet; siege have their will furthered ride home; guide us may; (see note)