Her battles, whoso list them for to read, Against Sapor the king, and other mo’, And how that all this process fell in deed, Why she conquér’d, and what title thereto, And after of her mischief and her woe, How that she was besieged and y-take, Let him unto my master Petrarch go, That writes enough of this, I undertake.
When Odenate was dead, she mightily The regnë held, and with her proper hand Against her foes she fought so cruelly, That there n’as king nor prince in all that land, That was not glad, if be that gracë fand That she would not upon his land warray; With her they maden álliánce by bond, To be in peace, and let her ride and play.
The emperor of Romë, Claudius, Nor, him before, the Roman Gallien, Durstë never be so courageoús, Nor no Armenian, nor Egyptien, Nor Syrian, nor no Arabien, Within the fieldë durstë with her fight, Lest that she would them with her handës slén, Or with her meinie puttë them to flight.
In kingës’ habit went her sonës two, As heirës of their father’s regnës all; And Herëmanno and Timolaó Their namës were, as Persians them call But aye Fortúne hath in her honey gall; This mighty queenë may no while endure; Fortune out of her regnë made her fall To wretchedness and to misádventúre.
Aurelian, when that the governánce Of Romë came into his handës tway, He shope upon this queen to do vengeánce; And with his legións he took his way Toward Zenobie, and, shortly for to say, He made her flee, and at the last her hent, And fetter’d her, and eke her children tway, And won the land, and home to Rome he went.
Amongës other thingës that he wan, Her car, that was with gold wrought and pierrie, This greatë Roman, this Aurelian Hath with him led, for that men should it see. Before in his triumphë walked she With giltë chains upon her neck hangíng; Crowned she was, as after her degree, And full of pierrie charged her clothíng.