(322)
¶ Whan Marcus Regulus was, as I rede, [¶ De fideli|tate Marci Reguli.]
Line 2248
Venqwisshèd in a bataile of þe see
By hem of Cartage, hoom wiþ hem þey lede
This prisoner; and aftir, sent was he
By hem to Romë, his ownë contre,
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Sworn to retournë to Cartage ageyn,
As tullius And eek seint Austyn seyn.
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(323)
¶ The causë whi þey hym to Romë sente,
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Was for to do to Romayns hir message,
Wityng of hem, if þat þey wolde [wolde R, worde H.] Assente,
That, syn [sithin R.] ther werë Romayns in cartage
In prisoun, and Romayns hadde eek in cage
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Cartagiens, suffre hem at largë goo,
And þe Romayns go schulden [shulde R, schuld H.] [fre] also.
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(324)
¶ Whan Marcus doon hadde as þat he was bode,
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The senat axid hym what was his reed;
And he answerde, and seidë [seid H, seide R.] þus for gode:—
"Al þis, rede I, lat slepen, [slippen R.] & ben deed;
It may by no way sinke in-to myn heed,
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That to vs Romayns were it couenable,
Swiche an eschaungë; but [is but R.] vnprofitable.
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(325)
¶ "We Romayns þat þey han in prison loke,
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Ben but ȝonge froth, vnlernëd in batayle,
And othir feble folk with age I-broke,
Of whiche I am on; we may nat availe;
Of vs no losse is; but with-outen faile, [folio 40a]
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Ȝoure prisoners [prisoners R, prioners H.] ben myghty men and wyse,
And folk in armës preeuëd at deuyse."
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