his mayster, to chesen on what deeth he wolde deyen. [Antonius]
comaundede that knightes slowen with hir swerdes Papinian
his familier, which Papinian hadde ben longe tyme ful mighty
amonges hem of the court. And yit, certes, they wolden bothe
han renounced hir power; of whiche two [Senek] enforcede him
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to yeven to Nero his richesses, and also to han gon in-to
solitarie exil. [But whan] the grete weighte, that is to seyn, of
lordes power or of fortune, draweth hem that shullen falle,
neither of hem ne mighte do that he wolde. What thing is