(374)
¶ "We Romayns kepen riȝtës of bataile
Line 2612
As trewëly as þe rightës of pees;
Our custume is, no children to assayle;
Thogh we þe toun hadde wonnë, doutëlees
Ther schulde no childe amongës al [amonge all R, among as H.] þe prees
Line 2616
ffor vs han greued be; we armës bere
A-geyn the armëd men, hem for to dere,
Line 2618
(375)
¶ "And naght a-geyn children vndéfensable.
Line 2619
In þat in þe is, þi myght hastow do,
Thorgh wicked tresoun, false and déceyuable,
Thi citee to destroyen and for-doo;
But I, Romayn, agree me nat þerto;
Line 2623
By vertu of armés wole I it wynne,
ffor al þe myght of men þat ben þerinne."
Line 2625
(376)
¶ The duke comaundeth, [comaunded R.] schortly for to seyn,
Line 2626
His handës hym be-hindë to be bounde,
And bad þe children lede hym hoom a-geyn
To hir fadres; whiche, whan þat þey han founde
So greet iusticë in þis duke habounde,
Line 2630
The senat clept, and þis vnto hem tolde;
The hertës gan to change, of yonge & olde;
Line 2632
(377)
¶ All þey seiden, of hyë [hye R, hy H.] gentillesse, [folio 45b]
Line 2633
Groundid vppon iustice, did he þis,
And also of a chiualrous prowesse;
Thei seiden, "it to vs most sitting is
Oure ȝatës opne, & offre vs to ben his;
Line 2637
Is non so good, as lat vs mollifie
Our hertës stoutë [stout H, and stonde R.] to his genterie,
Line 2639
