The Monk's Tale
Folio 198r
18 of 23 folios
Bi strenth of hond or elles bi tretee
590
And vnto Rome made hem tributarye
And sith of Rome the Emperour was he
Til that fortune weex his aduersarie
O myghti Cesar that in Thessalye
Ageyn Pompeus fader thin in lawe
595
That of thorient hadde al chyualrye
As fer as that day bygynneth dawe
Thow thurgh thi knyghthode hast hem take and slawe
Saue few folk that with Pompeus fleedde
Thurgh which thow puttest al thorient in awe
600
Thank fortune that so wel the spedde
But now a litel while I wol be waille
This pompeus this noble gouernour
Of Rome which that fligh al this bataille
I sey oon of his men a fals traitour
605
His heed of smoot to wynnen him fauour
Of Iulius and him the heed he broght
Allas pompey of thorient conquerour
That fortune vnto swich a fyn the brought
To Rome agayn repaireth Iulius
610
With his triumphe lauriat ful hie
But on a tyme Brutus Cassius
That euer had of hie estat enuye
Ful piuely hath maad conspiracie
Agayns this Iulius in subtil wise
615
And caste the place in which he shold dye
With boydekyns as I shal yow deuyse
This Iulius to the Capitolie wente
Vpon a day as he was wonte to goon
An in the Capitole anon him hente
620
This fals brutus and his other foon
And stiked him with boydekyns anou
With many a wounde and thus thei let him lie
But neuer grounte he at no stroke but oon
Or elles at two but yif his storie lye