Þat pitous is; but þei han cruel deþ
Often whos cruelte cruelly sleth. [sleth R, fleth H.]
Line 3003
(430)
Whilom þer was a tyraunt dispitouse, [¶ Refert Ho|rosius quali|ter quidam artifex subti|lis puniebatur per artem propriam.]
Line 3004
Þat so delited him in cruelte,
Þat of no þing was he so désirous.
Now shope it so, a man þat to pyte
ffo was, and frende vnto iniquite,
Line 3008
A sotel werkeman in craft of metal,
Wrought in þis wyse as I yow tellë [telle R, tel H.] shal.
Line 3010
(431)
His lorde þe king he þoughtë [þought H, thought to R.] plese and glade, [R. has in margin: "Nota, de crudel, itate cujusdam artificis subtilis, et qualiter per artem suam propriam puniebatur; et hoc refert Horosius."]
Line 3011
And craftëly he made a bol [craftely . . . bole R (bull), craftly . . . bol H.] of bras,
And in þe syde of it he slily made
A litel wyket, þat ordeynëd was
To réceyue hem þat stode in deþës case,
Line 3015
Vndir þe which men shulden sharpe fire make,
Tho folk to deþë [dethe R, deþ H.] for to brenne & bake.
Line 3017
(432)
And ȝit more-ouer, þe kyng for to meve
Line 3018
The lesse vnto pitee, it made was so
By sotil art [craft R.] þe dampnëd folk to greve
Þat whan to crye, hem cómpellyd [compelled hem R.] hir woo,
Hir woys was lyke a bolës euer-mo,
Line 3022
And nothyng lyke a mannys voise in soun,
As þe scripturë maketh mencïoun.
Line 3024
(433)
¶ But our lord god, of pite þe auctour, [folio 52b]
Line 3025
Displesid with þis cruel ordinaunce,
Swich rewarde shape vnto this [this R, his H.] losengeour,
Þat it abatid al his countenaunce;
And for to preue his fendely purueaunce,
Line 3029
How sharp it was, & coudë folk distreyne,
The first he was þat entryd in þat peyne.
Line 3031
