¶ 'O god,' seide þe meister þo,
'Gret mishap is come vs to: [C line 8703]
Our lif y telle y-lore.
In Aufrik we ben, wiþ-outen lesing,
Upon Arguus lond þe king:
Line 5
Worsse man nas neuer bore.
Al þat leueþ in godes lawe
A wile hem hongen & to-drawe:
His oþ he haþ y-swore.
Al for-soþe, we beþ dede,
Line 10
Boute god vs helpe at our nede,
Þat was of Marie bore.'
¶ Heraud seide, 'whas is þis cite?
Distrued it is, so þenkeþ me:
Her haþ be strong bataile.'
Þe maroner seide, 'y þe telle
For soþe, sire, lye i nelle:
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Wiþouten eni faile,
Hit is þemerailes Parsan:
In þis world nis þer worsse man
Cristene men to asaile.'
Þe Sarazins come wiþ þis,
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& nemeþ Heraud & alle his,
And distrueþ is vitaile.
¶ Þai nomen Heraud & al is man,
And brouȝte hem before Parsan,
Þat was of gret power.
He let hem caste in prisoun
Stinkande & þerk, wel fer adoun, [folio 169b:a]
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For þai cristen were.
Lite þai ete & dronke, ywis: [C line 10793]
Vnneþe her lif sostened is;
To god he made his prayere.
For Reynbroun him was ful wo,
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For he neste whider he was go:
He made reuly chere.
