University of Virginia Library

Cassibel rex.

Me slou þat al þe erþe aboute stod as in flode
Ar þe bataile were ido al of rede blode
Nenny þe kinges broþer & þe erl of kent al so
Mid al þe poer of kent & mid londreis þer to
Abated hom to þulke ost þat þe emperor Inne was
So þat nenny isey þe emperour bicas
Anon he willede in is herte wiþ a so hei man to fiȝte
He asailede him & drou is suerd & smot mid al is miȝte
Ac þe emperour mid is suerd þen stroc hente inou
& adrou is suerd an hei & to grounde harde slou
& smot nenny þoru þe helm somdel toward þe braine
& suþþe toward þulke stude he smot mid more maine
To abbe icloue him al þat heued ac nennin is sseld nom
& dude bituene þat þe stroc so dep þer inne ne com
Þat þe emperour ne miȝte it out drawe mid al is mayn
Nennyn caste is owe swerd awei anon wel vain
& nom þat suerd to him þat so noble was & riche
Vor þer nas in al þe world suerd him iliche
Vor þer non wiþ him iwonded þat euere keueri miȝte
Þer vore it was rede deþ icluped & mid riȝte
Þo nennyn adde þis gode suerd aboute he smot to grounde
Ech man þat he þer wiþ smot he ȝef deþes wounde
Þe romeins leie sone adoun he made ampti place
& þe brutons arise vaste so þat þoru godes grace
Hii adde þe maistrie of veld þe romeins flowe bliue
Ac mony was þe moder child þat arst was ibroȝt of liue
Þe emperour & is poer to schipe flowe vaste
& to france flowe aȝen somdel hii were agaste
Hor folc hii lore in þe se þoru tempest monion
Wat in bataile wat in þe se & hore hors nei echon