University of Virginia Library

Cassibel rex.

Cassibel was glad inou þo he adde þe maistrie
Vaire he þonkede is gode folc & gret corteisie
Of ȝiftes delde among hom euere as hii worþe were
So þat ioye & murþe inou among hom was þere
Ac þer was among hom deol inou vor nennin ibroȝt
Þat þe emperour þe wounde ȝef þat he miȝte hele noȝt
He lai uorpined in þe wounde & toward þe deþe drou
& deide þe vifte day mid sorwe & deol inou
At þe norþ ȝate of londone hii birede þis gode kniȝt
& burede wiþ him in is cheste þat swerd þat was so briȝt
Þat he wan of þe emperour wiþ onour inou
Þat rede deþ was icluped warewiþ he him slou
Ibured it was uorþ wiþ him as in tokninge
Of is prowesse þat he it wan of an so heie kinge
Cassibel þis gode king him gan euere vnderstonde
Þat þe emperour þoȝte ȝut worrie in is londe
Þe vif tounes of þe vif pors he let walli aboute
& so gode kniȝtes dude þer þat he nadde þer of no doute
Stakes of ire monion he piȝte in temese grounde
Aboue ssarpe & kene inou bineþe grete & rounde
Þat ȝif þer eni ssipes come ar me iwar were
Hii ssolde piche hom þoru out & adrenche so þere
Her was quointise inou he let also arere
Vpe þe water stronge hous þat hii vnwarned nere
& of þe ȝonge folc of þe lond þerinne dude inowe
To be prest to kepe hor fon wenne hii þuder drowe
Iulius þe emperour wiþ strong poer inou
Tuo ȝer after þe bataile to engelond aȝen drou
& þoȝte to sle al þat folc & winne þe kinedom
Ac he caste ambesas þo he to londe com