I may expect from earth, but that so much Grace shines in thee or ever thou art dead. I was the root of that malignant plant 908 Which overshadows all the Christian world, So that good fruit is seldom gathered from it; But if Douay and Ghent, and Lille and Bruges Had power, soon vengeance would be taken on it; And this I pray of Him who judges all. Hugh Capet was I called upon the earth; From me were born the Louises and Philips, 909 By whom in later days has France been governed. I was the son of a Parisian butcher, 910 What time the ancient kings had perished all, 911 Excepting one, contrite in cloth of gray. I found me grasping in my hands the rein Of the realm’s government, and so great power Of new acquest, and so with friends abounding, That to the widowed diadem promoted The head of mine own offspring was, from whom 912