The Monk's Tale
Folio 198v
19 of 23 folios
625
So manly was this Iulius of herte
And so wel loued estately honestee
That though his deedly woundes soore smerte
His mantel ouer his hipes cast he
For no man sholde seen his piuetee
630
And al he lay of dying in a traunce
And wist verrayly that deed was he
Of honeste yit hadde he rememberaunce
Lucan to the this storye I recommende
And to swetoun and to valerius also
635
That of this story wryten word and ende
How that thise Conquerours two
Fortune was first frende and sith a foo
No man truste vpon hir fauour longe
But haue hir in awaite for euer mo
640
Witnesse of al thise conquerours stronge
This riche Cresus whilom kyng of lide
Of which Cresus / Cirus soore him dradde
Yet was he caught amyddes al his pide
And to be brent men to the fyr him ladde
645
But swich a reyne doun fro the welkyn shadde
That slow the fyr and maad him to eschape
But to be war no grace yit he hadde
Til fortune on the galowes made him gape
Whan he escaped was he can nat stente
650
For to bigynne a new werre ageyn
He wende wel for that fortune him sente
Swich hap that he escaped thurgh the Reyne
That of his foos he myght no be slayn
And eke a sweuene vpon a nyght he mette
655
Of which he was so proude and eek so fayne
That in vengeance he al his herte sette
Upon atre he was and that him thought
Ther Iuppiter him wessh bothe bak and side
And phebus eek a fair towaille him broght
660
To drye him with and therfore wex his pride