Bot what may þat help or a-vaille,
Line 5112
When of mete ys defaut?
Honger wynnes hit atte firste saut.
Þer ys no castel so strong idight, [It is . . . . . stalworth dight.]
Þat honger ne wynneþ wyþouten fight;
Line 5116
Wyþouten wepen or armour,
Honger ȝeldeþ castel & tour.
God castel dredes no power,
Emperour, kyng, ne kayser,
Line 5120
Ne oþer help me haue [men haf.] at nede;
Bot of honger ys al þe drede.
Þer force haþ mad manye assayes, [has mad of assais.]
Honger hit wynnes byn fewe [in fo.] dayes.
Line 5124
Þre dayes þey were in þat turment,
Þat honger had þeym ner al schent.
¶ Rex misit Androchio pro Misericordia & Auxilio.
Cassibolan had sorewe in wold,
How he mighte ascape þat hold:
Line 5128
On alle halue he saw Romayns
Redy for to do þeym payns;
He hadde no force wyþ hem to fyght,
& honger hadde ouer [nere (ses homes mate, Wace, i. 224, l. 4789).] [Petyt folio 31a:2] reft þer myght;
Line 5132
Mykel he dredde Iulius Cesar, [Lambeth folio 22b:2]
& more þe honger þat þey had þar.
He moste chese on of tweye: [of þe tuo þan had he weie.]
ȝelde hym to Cesar, or for honger deye.
Line 5136
Two dayes & two nyghtes til ende
Wold he noman biseke ne sende;
¶ Þe þrydde, he þoughte how best myght be,
& sende his sonde til Androche:—
Line 5140
