Early English versions of the Gesta Romanorum / edited by Sidney J.H. Herrtage

Second Version. 19.Cambr. MS. Kk. 1. 6.

[leaf 232, back]

Darius regned in Rome a fuƚƚ wise man þat had a Cite wele walled In þe whiche A Belle hanged in the myddes / & as oft as he sholde go to þe bataile or out of þe Cite to take his pray / the belle sholde be rong̘ of a mayde / It byfeƚƚ with in A short tyme þat dragons & venem[e]s bestes venemyd̛ men̄ & þus þei dyed oft, Wherfor the Cite was nye distroyed̛, þat nerehand aƚƚ perisshed. The wise men of þe Cite with counceile & assent went to the Emperour & seyde / "Sir, what shaƚƚ we do? Beholde how our goodes be distroyed & the Cite brought to noght, & we Are in poynt to be loste for þe dragon̛ & þe venomes wormes / lorde, helpe vs, or ellys sey vs some goode counceiƚƚ, or ellys we shole perisshe" / The Emperour seyde / "how mow we diffende vs?" / Than one of hem seyde, "herith my counceiƚƚ, & ye shuƚƚ not ouerþink it / Sir, þer is A lyon̄ in your palys; [leaf 233] sit vp a crosse & hang þe lyon̄ / And

whan þe dragon̄ & the venomes bestes shuƚƚ se þe lyon̄ on þe crosse, for fere þei shuƚƚ not noye vs." Than seyde þe Emperour, "þis plesyth me well," & so thei did þe lyon̄ on the crosse / And whan þe venomes bestes saw þe lyon̄ on þe crosse thei come no more to þe Cite, but fled for fere.