But natheless some clerkës her excuse By one, that hightë Nessus, that it maked; Be as he may, I will not her accuse; But on his back this shirt he wore all naked, Till that his flesh was for the venom blaked. And when he saw none other remedy, In hotë coals he hath himselfë raked, For with no venom deigned he to die.
Thus starf this worthy mighty Hercules. Lo, who may trust on Fortune any throw? For him that followeth all this world of pres, Ere he be ware, is often laid full low; Full wise is he that can himselfë know. Beware, for when that Fortune list to glose Then waiteth she her man to overthrow, By such a way as he would least suppose.
The mighty throne, the precious treasór, The glorious sceptre, and royal majesty, That had the king Nabuchodonosor With tongue unnethës may described be. He twice won Jerusalem the citý, The vessels of the temple he with him lad; At Babylonë was his sov’reign see, In which his glory and delight he had.
The fairest children of the blood royál Of Israel he did do geld anon, And maked each of them to be his thrall. Amongës others Daniel was one, That was the wisest child of every one; For he the dreamës of the king expounded, Where in Chaldaea clerkë was there none That wistë to what fine his dreamës sounded.
This proudë king let make a statue of gold Sixty cubitës long, and seven in bread’, To which imagë bothë young and old Commanded he to lout, and have in dread, Or in a furnace, full of flamës red, He should be burnt that wouldë not obey: But never would assentë to that deed Daniel, nor his youngë fellows tway.
This king of kingës proud was and elate; He ween’d that God, that sits in majesty, Mightë him not bereave of his estate; But suddenly he lost his dignity, And like a beast he seemed for to be, And ate hay as an ox, and lay thereout In rain, with wildë beastës walked he, Till certain time was y-come about.