The Monk's Tale
Folio 196r
14 of 23 folios
For drede of this him thoght that he dyed
And wente his wey no lenger dorste he calle
The peple cryed and rombled vp and doun
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That with hise erys herde he how thei seide
Where is this fals tyrant this Neroun
For fere almost out of his wit he breide
And to hise goddes pitously he preyde
For socour but it myght noght bityde
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For drede of this him thoght that he deyde
And ran in to a gardeyn him to hide
And in this gardeyn foond he cherles tweye
That seten by a fyr greed and reed
And to thise cheerles two he gan to preye
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To sleen him and to girden of his heed
That to his body whan that he were deed
Were no despite ydoon for his defame
Him self he slow he koude no better reed
Of which fortune lough and hadde a game
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Was neuer Capitayn vnder a kyng
That regnes moore putte in subieccioun
Ne strenger was in feld of alle thing
As in his tyme ne gretter of renoun
Ne more pompous in high persumpcioun
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Than Oloferne which fortune ay kiste
So likerously and ladde him vp and doun
Til that his heed was of er that he wist
Nat oonly that this world had him in lawe
For lesynge of Rychesse or of libertee
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But made euery man renyen his lawe
Nabugodonosor was god seide he
Noon other god sholde adoured be
Agayns his heest no wight dorste trespace
Saue in bethulia a stronge Citee
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Where Eliachim a prest was of that place