That all þe peple of grece there-of shold speke
how Creon was of Thebes serued
As he þat hade full wele his deth deserued
Line 964
And right anone with-out more abode
His baner he desplayeth and forth rode
To Thebes ward and all his ost beside
Ne nere Athenes wold he go ne ride
Line 968
Ne take his ese fully half a day
But onward on his way that nyght he lay
And sent anone to ypolita þe quene
And Emely hir yonge suster shene
Line 972
Vn-to Athenes þere for to dwell
And forthe he rode there is no more to telle
The rede statute of Mars with spere and targe
So shineth in his white baner large
Line 976
That all the feldes gliteren vp and doun
And by his baner born was his penoun
Of gold full riche in which there was ybete
The manatour which þat he wan in Crete
Line 980
Thus rideth this duk this noble conquerour
And in his ost of chiualrye þe flour
Till þat he came to Thebes and alight
ffeir in a felde there as he thought to fight
Line 984
But shortly for to speke of this thing
With Creon which was of Thebes kyng
He faught and slewe him manly as a knight
In plein batell and put his folk to flight
Line 988
And by assent he wan þe Cite after
And rent adoun spar wall and rafter
And to the ladies he restored hath ageyn
The bones of her housbondes þat were sleyn
Line 992
To do obsequies as was tho the gyse
But it were all to long for to deuyse
The grete clamour and þe grete weymentyng
That the ladies made at the brennyng
Line 996
Of the bodies and the grete honour
