The Story of England by Robert Manning of Brunne, A.D. 1338. Edited from mss. at Lambeth Palace and the Inner Temple, by Frederick J. Furnivall |
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De consilio Sapientum Ciuitatis. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De consilio Sapientum Ciuitatis.
Þe wyseste men of þat citeConseilled hem how best myght be.
Mykel þey dredde þer god to tyne,
& slaughtre of þe folk, þe pyne;
Þey saide, “þe pes were better to haue,
“Our toun & oure godes to saue,
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“& lese oure godes, & tyne our lyf.”
Þey toke a man of honour,
& sent hym to þe Emperour,
To wite at hym wheþer þat he ches
To haue þe werre oþer þe pees.
Þenperour seide, als he þought,
“Werre to haue wylny nought,
“Ne y ne ȝerne nought of ȝoure,
“Bot þat Rome haue his honoure;
“Ne y ne wilne wyþ no man fight,
“So þat Rome mot haue his right.”
Þey graunted alle at his auis,
And sworen þe pees in boþe partys.
| The Story of England | |