Page 489
[6-text p 273]
[6-text p 274]
[Holofernes.]
¶ Was neuere a capitayn vndyr a kyng [Olifern]
That regnys mo pute in subieccioun
Ne strongere was in feeld [[d later]] of alle thyng
As in his tyme ne grettere of renoun
Line 3744
Ne moore pompous in high presumpcioun
Than oloferne whiche fortune ay kyste
So licorously & ladde hym vp & doun
Til that his hed was of or that he wyste
Line 3748
Nat only that this world hadde hym in awe
For lesynge of rychesse or liberte
But made euery man reneye his lawe
Nabugodonosor was god seyde hee
Line 3752
Noon othir god schulde adowred bee
A-geyn this heste no whigh dar trespace
Saue in Bethulia a strong cete
Where Eliachym a prest was of that place
Line 3756
But tak keep of the deth of Oloferne
A-mydde his ost / he dronke lay a nyght
With-inne his tente / as large as is a berne
And ȝit for al his pompe & al his myght
Line 3760
Iudith a woman as he lay vp-right
Slepynge his heed of smot / & from his tente
Ful priuyly sche stal from euery wight
And with his heed / vn-to hire towr sche wente
Line 3764