Incypyt the Stacyons of Rome.
[Cott. Calig. A. ii. leaf 83, and Lambeth 306, leaf 152, back. The text, to line 553, is that of the Cotton MS.: the readings of the Lambeth MS. are in the notes.]
He þat wyll hys sowlë [wolle be his soullis] leche,
Lysteneth to me, and y woll ȝou teche.
Pardon ys þe sowlë [sowelys] bote,
At gretë Rome þer ys þe Rote:
Line 4
Pardon, yn frensh a worde hit ys, [Pardon, A worde in trouthe is]
Forȝeuënesse of synnes y-wys.
The [A] Duches of troye þat sum tyme [whilom there] was,
To Rome she come with grete pres; [moche solace.]
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Of hyr came Romyrus [Remus] & Romulus
Of whom Rome ys cleped ȝyt y-wys: [clepyd thus]
Hethen hit was, & cristened [Rome was hethene, and crystene] nowȝt
Tyll petyr and paule hadde hit bowȝt,
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Wyth golde, syluere, ne [Neydur with syluer, neydur] with good,
But with her flesh & [and with] her blode,
For þer þey suffrede bothë dethe, [to be dede]
Here sowles to savë fro þe qweþe. [to save her soule from the qweede. L. omits the next eight lines.]
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In Rome Y shall ȝou steuene
And honþred kyrkes fowrty and seuen;
Chapelles þer ben many mo,
Tenne þowsand & fyfe; also
Line 20
A-bowte þe wall, to & fowrty,
Grete towres þre hondredde & syxty,
Fowr & twenty gret ȝates þer be
Pryncypall ouur oþur, y tell þe.
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