[6-text p 272] , [6-text p 273]
Now fil it so / that ffortune liste no lenger
The hye pryde of Nero to cherice
ffor though þat he was strong yet was she strenger
She thoughte thus / by god I am to nyce
Line 3712
To sette a man / that is fulfild of vice
In heigh degree / and Emperour hym calle
By god / out of his sete / I wol hym trice
Whan he leest weneth / sonnest shal he falle
Line 3716
The peple roos vp-on hym on a nyght
ffor his defaute / and whan he it espied
Out of hise dores / anon he hath hym dight
Allone / and ther he wende han ben allied
Line 3720
He knokked faste / and ay the moore he cried
The fastere shette they / the dores alle
ffor drede of this / hym thoughte þat he dyed
And wente his wey / no lenger dorste he calle
Line 3724
The peple cride / and rombled vp and doun
That with his erys / herde he / how they seyde
Where is this false tiraunt this Neroun
ffor fere / almoost out of his wit he breyde [folio 178b]
And to hise goddes / pitously he preyd
ffor socour / but it myghte nat bityde
ffor drede of this / hym thoughte þat he deyde
And ran in-to a gardyn hym to hyde
Line 3732
And in this gardyn / foond he cherles tweye
That seten by a fyr / greet and reed
And to thise cherles two / he gan to preye
To sleen hym / and to girden of his heed
Line 3736
That to his body / whan þat he were deed
Were no despit ydoon / for his defame
Hym self he slow / he koude no bettre reed
Of which / ffortune lough / and hadde a game
Line 3740
