For in the sterres / clerer than is glas
Is writen god woot who so koude it rede
The deeth of euery man / withouten drede
Line 196
In sterres many a wynter / ther biforn [¶ Ceptra Phorenei fratrum fratrum discordia Thebe ¶ fflammam Phetontis Deucalionis Aque ¶ In stellis Priami / species Audacia Turni ¶ Sensus Vlixeus Herculeus que vigor.]
Was writen the deeth / of Ector / Achilles
Of Pompei Iulius / er they were born
The strif of Thebes / and of Ercules
Line 200
Of Sampson / Turnus / and of Socrates
The deeth / but mennes wittes ben so dulle
That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle
Line 203
¶ This Sowdan / for his priuee conseil sente [folio 55b]
And shortly / of this matiere for to pace
He hath to hem / declared his entente
And seyde hem certein / but he myghte haue grace
Line 207
To han Custance / with-Inne a litel space
He nas but deed / and charged hem in hye
To shapen for his lyf / som remedye
Line 210
¶ Diuerse men / diuerse thynges seyden
They argumenten / casten vp and doun
Many a subtil resoun / forth they leyden
They speken of / Magyk and Abusion
Line 214
But finally / as in conclusion
They kan nat seen / in that noon auantag
Ne in noon oother wey saue mariage
Line 217
Thanne sawe they ther-Inne swich difficultee
By wey of reson / for to speke al playn
By cause / that ther was swich diuersitee
Bitwene hir bothe lawes / that they sayn
Line 221
They trowe / þat no cristene prince wolde fayn
Wedden his child / vnder oure lawes sweete
That vs were taught by Mahoun oure prophete
Line 224
