The Petworth ms. of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[Holofernes.]

Was neuere Captayne vnder a kinge [¶ De Olyferno./] Þat regneþ more putte in subiectioun Ne strenger was in feelde of al þinge As in his tyme ne gretter of renoun Line 3744 Ne more pompous in high presumpcioun Than olyferne which that fortune ay kest So lycorously and lad hym vp and doun Til þat his hede was of er þat he wist Line 3748

[6-text p 274] Line 3748

Not oonly þat this world haþ of hym awe ffor lesinge of Richesse and of liberte But he made euery man renaye his lawe Nabugodonosor was lord saide he. Line 3752 Noon oþer god shulde honoured be [folio 255b] Aȝeinst his heest no wiȝt dar trespace Saue in Betulia a stronge Cite Wher Eliachym a preest was of þat place Line 3756

But take kepe of þe deth of Olyferne Amydde þe hooste he dronke lay al nyȝt Wiþ Inne his tente large as is a beerne And ȝit for al his pompe and al his myȝt Line 3760 Iudith a womman as he lay vpriȝt. Sclepinge his hede of smote and fro his tent fful prively she stale from euery wiȝt . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 3764