The Monk's Tale
Folio 194r
10 of 23 folios
305
Hire riche array / ne myght nat to be told
As wel in vessel as in clothyng
She was al clad in perrey and in gold
And eke she lafte noght for non huntyng
To haue of Sondry tonges ful knowyng
310
Whan that she leiser hadde and for to entende
To lerne bookes was al hir lykyng
How she in vertue myght hir lyf despende
And shortly of this storie for to trete
So doghti was hir housbond and eke she
315
That thei conquered many regnes grete
In thorient with many a fayre Citee
Apertenant vnto the Magestee
Of Rome and with stronge hond helde hem ful faste
Ne neuer myght hir foomen doon hem flee
320
Ay whil that Onedakes dayes laste
Hire batailles who so list hem for to rede
Agayn Sapor the kyng and other mo
And how that al this processe fil in dede
Whi she conquered and what title ther to
325
And aftyr of hir meschief and hir wo
How that she was / biseged and I take
Lat hym vnto my master Petrak go
That write ynow of this I vndertake
Whanne Onedake was dede she myghtily
330
The regnes heelde and with hir propre hond
Agayns hir foos she faught so cruelly
That ther nas kyng ne prince in al that lond
That he nas glad yif he that grace foond
That she ne wolde vpon his lond werreye
335
With hir thei made alliance bi bond
To ben in pees and let hir ryde and pleye
The Emperour of Rome Claudius
Ne him biforn the Romayn Galyen