Here begynnethe the boke calledde Iohn bochas descriuinge the falle of princis princessis [and] other nobles tra[n]slated i[n]to englissh by Iohn ludgate mo[n]ke of the monastery of seint edmu[n]des Bury ...

Bochas here cōmendeth Theodorus with other two philosophers for their pacience notably·

••Euynge a prys to philosophers thre Bochas cōmendeth with great diligence Howe eche of theym was in his cuntre Souereynly by vertuous excellence Of olde commendyd for their pacyence Which may be set and crowned in his stall As Emperesse amonge vertues all

Monge ceciliens first theodorus For pacience had in great reuerence Amonge grekes the storye telleth thus Artaxerses for his magnyficence By force of vertue grounded in pacience Bycause he was vertuous and wys For sufferaunce gate him a souerein prys

Amonge romayns put in remembraunce Sceuola both philosopher and knight For his marcyall harde stronge constaunce Whan that he helde amyd the flame light Hande and fynges amonge the colys bright Tyll the Ioyntes fallynge here and yondre From the wrest departyd were asondre

First theodorus borne in the famous Ile By pacyens great peynes endurynge Cheef philosophere called of cecile With cheynes bounde vpon the grounde lyenge On his bodye layde gaddes rede brennynge Suffringe his peyne list it nat refuse By kynge Ierome the tyraunte ciracuse

For comon profyte suffred all his peyne Longe tyme afore lyinge in prison Which by assent of mo than one or tweyne Was the moste cheef by cōspyracion To bringe the tyraunt to his destruction For no peyn that he might endure The coniuracion he wold nat discure

Rather he chase in mischeef for to dye Than by name openly declare Of him that slough the tyraunt sothly to seye Thought of right no man shulde spare For comon profyte helth and welfare To sle a tyraunt demynge for the best All a region for to set at reste

For which tytle he list suffre deth All his torment toke moost paciently Theodorus tyll he yeldyd vp the breth Grutchyd nat with noyse nor loude crye Amyd whose herte rotyd was feythfully Comon profyte bochas write the same Amonge Ceciliens to gete him a name

Grekes also commende aboue the sterres Anexerses and greatly magnefye Cause that he to stynte mortall werres Lyst nat spare to acquyte his partye In rebukynge manly the tyrannye Of N••cocreon tyraunt full mortall Regnynge in Cypre in his estate royall

Spared nouther for deth ne drede Him to rebuke by vertuous langage The tyraunt had cut of his hede His tunge in hast but he with stronge corage Sayde he shulde haue none auauntage Of that membre which with all his might Had tolde him trouth in the peples sight

Of his manace set but lytyll tale But of his tunge of stronge corage Chewyd it all on peces smale Of manly hert thought it no damage Spitte it oute into the visage Of the tyraunte gate so the victorye To put his name euermore in memorie

And Sceuola egall to these tweyne For comon profite by iust comparison Put him in prees dyd his besy peyne To sle procemia enmye to rome toun For to accomplissh his entencion Toke a stronge darte right passyngly tenhaunte With all his might cast at the tyraunte

Of his me••ke cause he dyd fayle To sle his enmye after his entente Which in Tuskan by many stronge batayle Geyns romayns with his knightys went This Sceuola his owne hande brente Cause that he fayled of his arte To sle porcenna with castynge of his darte

To declare the force of his manhede Put him silf auenged for to be As I haue tolde in cooles rede His hande he brent for loue of his cyte Only to aquyte his magnanymyte Of feruente loue his cite to auayle To sle the tyraunte cause that he dyd fayle

Thus for to put the marcyall suffraunce Of these noble philosophers thre Imperpetuall mynde and remembraunce Howe they them quyt ech lyke his degre For then pure partye vnto the comonte Cause all their ioy and inwarde delite Was for auayle to the comon profyte

First theodorus put him silf in prees For Ceciliens to dye in prison And for grekes noble artaxerses His tonge torne felt great passion And Sceuola for Romayns and their toun Suffred his hande by short auysement Of very trouth in coles to be brent

A martyrdom it was in their manere Of their corage to haue so great constaunce Were so stable of herte body and chere For comon profyte of face and countenaunce Vnto the deth without variaunce Gate the tryumphe by souereyn excellence With laurer crownyd for their pacience

Lyke as phebus passeth the lytell sterre Hyest vp raysed in his mydday spere So this vertue in trouble pees and werre Called pacience moost fresshly doth appere Amonge vertues to shewe his bemys clere For pacience knyt with humylyte Where they abyde may none erroure be

Tyrauntys hertis thys vertue doth appese Modefyeth their cruell fell wodenesse Rage of lyons who list lyue in ease Of folke prostrat his malice doth represse All oure Ioye gan firste with mekenesse For of Iuda the hardy stronge lyon A maydens mekenes fro heuene brought do••n

In batayle and mighty stronge sheltrons A vyce with sufferaunce wynneth the victorye Pacience venquisshith chaumpions Lownesse in vertue by many olde historye And mekenesse {per}petuell of memorye All to conclude grounde on reson A maydyns mekenesse wrought oure redempcion