[6-text p 272]
[6-text p 273]
Now fil it so that fortune leste no lengere
The hyghe pryde of nero to cheryce
For thow that he were strong ȝit was sche strengere
Sche thouȝte thus bi god I am to nyce
Line 3712
To sette a man that is fulfyld of vice
In high degre & emperour hym calle
By god out of his seete I wele hym tryce
Whan he lest wenyth / sonest schal he falle
Line 3716
The peple ros vp on hym on a nygh[t]
For his defaute & whan he it espyed
Out of his doris he hath a-non hym dygh[t]
A-loone & theere he wende a been alyed
Line 3720
He knokkede faste & ay the more he cryede
The fastere schettyn they the dorys alle
Tho wiste he weel he hadde hym self mys gyede
And wente his wey no lengere durste he calle
Line 3724
The peple cryede / & rumblede vp & doun
That with hise eris herde he how they seyde
Wheere is this false tyraunt this neroun
For fer almost out of his wit he broyde
Line 3728
And to hise goddis pitously he preyede
For socour but it myghte not be-tyde
For dreed of this hym thoughte he deyede
And ran in-to a gardyn hym to hyde
Line 3732
And in this gardyn fond he cherlys tweye
That seetyn by a fyr / greet & reed
And to these cherlys two he gan to preye [folio 359a]
To sleen hym & to gyrdyn of his heed
Line 3736
That to his body whan that he was deed
Weere no dispyt doon / for his defame
Hym selue he slow be coude no betere red
Of whiche fortune lough & hadde game
Line 3740
