And þer he wast wyth werre þe wones of þorpes. [MS. wyth with.]
He herȝed up alle Israel, and hent of þe beste, [MS. isrl, with usual abbrev. for e attached to 1; M. Israel.]
And þe gentylest of Judee in Jerusalem biseged, [MS. jrlem; M. Ierusalem (so also 1235, 1432).]
Line 1180
Umbewalt alle þe walles wyth wyȝes ful stronge,
At uche a dor a doȝty duk, and dutte hem wythinne;
For þe borȝ watz so bygge b[a]tayled alofte, [MS., M. baytayled.]
And stoffed wythinne wyth stout men to stalle hem þeroute.
Line 1184
Þenne watz þe sege sette þe cete aboute,
Skete skarmoch skelt, much skaþe lached;
At uch brugge a berfray on basteles wyse,
Þat seven syþe uch a day asayled þe ȝates; [folio 77b]
Trwe tulkkes in toures teveled wythinne, [M. 1 teneled, M. 2 teueled.] [NED. prints atwappene (see note).]
Line 1189
In bigge brutage of borde, bulde on þe walles;
Þay feȝt and þay fende of, and fylter togeder
Til two ȝer overtorned, ȝet tok þay hit never.
Line 1192
At þe laste upon longe, þo ledes wythinne
Faste fayled hem þe fode, enfaminied monie;
Þe hote hunger wythinne hert hem wel sarre
Þen any dunt of þat douthe þat dowelled þeroute.
Line 1196
Þenne wern þo rowtes redles in þo ryche wones;
Fro þat mete watz myst, megre þay wexen,
And þay stoken so strayt þat þay ne stray myȝt
A fote fro þat forselet to forray no goudes.
Line 1200
Þenne þe kyng of þe kyth a counsayl hym takes,
Wyth þe best of his burnes a blench for to make:
Þay stel out on a stylle nyȝt er any steven rysed,
And harde hurles þurȝ þe oste, er enmies hit wyste.
Line 1204
Bot er þay atwappe ne moȝt þe wach wythoute,
Hiȝe skelt watz þe askry þe skewes anunder;
Loude alarom upon launde lulted watz þenne;
Ryche, ruþed of her rest, ran to her wedes,
Line 1208
