hete; that is to seyn, alle the poeples in the south. But yit ne
20
mighte nat al his hye power torne the woodnesse of this wikked
Nero. [Allas!] it is a grevous fortune, as ofte as wikked swerd
is ioigned to cruel venim; that is to seyn, venimous crueltee to
lordshippe.'
Me. VI. 2. C. let; A. letee (!). 3. C. crwel. // C. whylom; A. somtyme. 5. C. lette (wrongly); A. let. 6. C. conseyued; A. conceiued. 7. A. half. // C. wecte; A. wette. 9. A. ȝitte neuertheles. 11. A. hidde. 12. C. sceptre; A. ceptre. 15. C. vii. tyryones (sic); A. the seuene triones; Ed. the Septentrions. 16. A. parties. 18. C. Ed. scorklith; A. scorchith. 19-21. A. om. But yit ... Nero; Ed. retains it, omitting hye. // For Allas ... it is, A. has—But ne how greuous fortune is; C. om. a bef. greuous, but Ed. retains it. C. repeats it is. 22. C. crwel; crwelte.
Prose VII.
Tum ego, scis, inquam.
Thanne seyde I thus: 'Thou wost wel thy-self that the coveitise