Was never capitain under a king, That regnës more put in subjectioún, Nor stronger was in field of allë thing As in his time, nor greater of renown, Nor more pompous in high presumptioún, Than Holofernes , whom Fortúne aye kiss’d So lik’rously, and led him up and down, Till that his head was off ere that he wist.
Not only that this world had of him awe, For losing of richéss and liberty; But he made every man reny his law. Nabuchodónosór was God, said he; None other Goddë should honoúred be. Against his hest there dare no wight trespace, Save in Bethulia, a strong citý, Where Eliáchim priest was of that place.
But take keep of the death of Holofern; Amid his host he drunken lay at night Within his tentë, large as is a bern; And yet, for all his pomp and all his might, Judith, a woman, as he lay upright Sleeping, his head off smote, and from his tent Full privily she stole from every wight, And with his head unto her town she went.
What needeth it of king Antiochus To tell his high and royal majesty, His great pride, and his workës venomous? For such another was there none as he; Readë what that he was in Maccabee. And read the proudë wordës that he said, And why he fell from his prosperity, And in an hill how wretchedly he died.
Fortúne him had enhanced so in pride, That verily he ween’d he might attain Unto the starrës upon every side, And in a balance weighen each mountáin, And all the floodës of the sea restrain. And Goddë’s people had he most in hate; Them would he slay in torment and in pain, Weening that God might not his pride abate.
And for that Nicanor and Timothee With Jewës werë vanquish’d mightily, Unto the Jewës such an hate had he, That he bade graith his car full hastily, And swore and saidë full dispiteously, Unto Jerusalem he would eftsoon, To wreak his ire on it full cruelly But of his purpose was he let full soon.