Hard hattes þay hent and on hors lepes;
Cler claryoun crak cryed on lofte.
By þat, watz alle on a hepe hurlande swyþ[e], [MS., M. swyþee.]
Folȝande þat oþer flote, and fonde hem bilyve,
Line 1212
Overtok hem as tyd, tult hem of sadeles,
Tyl uche prynce hade his per put to þe grounde.
And þer watz þe kyng kaȝt wyth Calde prynces,
And alle hise gentyle forjusted on Jerico playnes,
Line 1216
And presented wern as presoneres to þe prynce rychest,
Nabigodenozar, noble in his chayer;
And he þe faynest freke þat he his fo hade,
And speke spitously hem to, and spylt þerafter.
Line 1220
Þe kynges sunnes in his syȝt he slow everuch one,
And holkked out his auen yȝen heterly boþe,
And bede þe burne to be broȝt to Babyloyn þe ryche,
And þere in doungoun be don to dreȝe þer his wyrdes. [folio 78a]
Now se, so þe Soveray[n] set hatz his wrake; [MS. soveray; M. soueray[n].]
Line 1225
Nas hit not for Nabugo ne his noble nauþer,
Þat oþer depryved watz of pryde with paynes stronge,
Bot for his beryng so badde agayn his blyþe Lorde;
Line 1228
For hade þe Fader ben his frende þat hym bifore keped,
Ne never trespast to him in teche of mysseleve,
To C[a]lde wer alle calde, and kythes of Ynde— [MS., M. to Colde wer al Calde (see note); Fi. suggests to-corven (!) for to Colde.]
Ȝet take Torkye hem wyth, her tene hade ben little.
Line 1232
Ȝet nolde never Nabugo þis ilke note leve,
Er he hade t[yrv]ed þis toun and torne hit to grounde. [MS., M., E. tuyred; G. tyrued: E. torne[d].]
He joyned unto Jerusalem a gentyle duc þenne,
His name watz Nabuzardan, to noye þe Jues;
Line 1236
He watz mayster of his men and myȝty himselven,
