And when the judge it saw, as saith the story, He bade to take him, and to hang him fast. But right anon a thousand people in thrast 3471 To save the knight, for ruth and for pitý, For knowen was the false iniquity. The people anon had súspect 3472 in this thing, By manner of the clerkë’s challengíng, That it was by th’ assent of Appius; They wistë well that he was lecherous. For which unto this Appius they gon, And cast him in a prison right anon, Where as he slew himself: and Claudius, That servant was unto this Appius, Was doomed for to hang upon a tree; But that Virginius, of his pitý, So prayed for him, that he was exil’d; And ellës certes had he been beguil’d; 3473 The remenant were hanged, more and less, That were consenting to this cursedness. 3474