weren don by the emperor [Nero]. He leet brenne the citee of
Rome, and made sleen the senatoures. And he, cruel, whylom
slew [his brother]; and he was maked moist with the blood of
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his moder; that is to seyn, he leet sleen and slitten the body of
his moder, to seen wher he was conceived; and he loked on every
halve up-on her colde dede body, ne no tere ne wette his face, but
he was so hard-herted that he mighte ben [domes-man] or Iuge of
hir dede beautee. And natheles, yit governede this Nero by
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