(470)
¶ "And aduocat ne sente I non to yow,
Line 3284
But my-self put in prees, & for yow faght;
My woundës beren good witnesse y-now
That I sooth seye; and, lest ye leeue it naght,
I schal yow schewe what harmë haue I [I haue R.] caght,
Line 3288
The doute out of youre hertë for to dryue."
He nakid hym, and schewëd hym as blyue.
Line 3290
(471)
¶ Of whiche, Cesar ful sorë was aschamed,
Line 3291
And in his hertë sorwe made, and moone;
He heeld hym selfen worthy to be blamed.
"My freend," [frend R, feend H.] he seidë, "let me now allone;
Aduócat wole I be in my persone
Line 3295
ffor þe; I am wel holden to do soo."
And þus, þis knyght, his deth he saued fro.
Line 3297
(472)
¶ He dredde hym, if he naddë þus y-wroght
Line 3298
The peple hym wolde han [wolde hym haue R.] for a proude man deemed,
And vngentil, and þat he cowdë noght,
As that it scholde eeke haue vnto hym seemed,
Thanke hem þat worþy [worthy R, worþ H.] werë to be qwemed;
Line 3302
"What princë," quoth he, "peyneth hym naght wynne
His knyghtës [knyghtes R, knyghes H.] loue, his loue is to hem þynne." [folio 57b]
(473)
¶ Out of pitee, growith mercy and springiþ,
Line 3305
ffor piteelés man cán do no mercy;
What prince hem lakkith, naght aright he kyngeth;
And, for þat þei ben neghëboures so nygh,
To pitee, mercy ioynë now wole I.
Line 3309
Excellent prince haue in hem good sauour,
And ellës al in waast [all in veyne R, in waast H.] is your labour.
Line 3311
