Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

32 ///. JOHN LYDGATE.; ! ;;,Which pitously ageyn the mone gape.For non of hem shortly myght eskape, j i8oBut dede echon as thei han desenied,Saue o^m excepte, the which was res^rued,By Tydeus, of intenciown,To the kyng to make relaciown,How his knyghtes han on her io?/nie spedde, 1185Eut-rich of hem his lyf left for a wed[de],And at the metyng how they han hem bornTo tellen alhe sured was & swornTo Tydeus, ful lowly on his kne.How trouth with litylmultitude hath euere in the fynvictory of falshede.By which ensample 3e opynly may se 1190Ageyn trouth falshed hath no myght,Fy on querilis nat grounded vpon ri:tWith-oute which ^ may be no victoyre,Therfor ech man ha this in memoyre.That gret pouer, shortly to conclude, 1195Plente of good, nor moch multitude,Sclcight or engyne, fors or felonye.Am to feble to holden Chanp^rtyeAgeyns trouth, who that list take hedeFor at the ende falshede may not spede 1200Tcndure long ;5e shul fynde it thus.Record I take of worthy Tydeus,Which with his hand, thorgh trouthes excellence,Fyfiy knyghtes slogh in his dyfFenceBut on except, as I late ^ tolde,1 205Sworn, and assured with his honde \^holde,'MS. ' woch.'2So i,j 'Pj.j^ j^iss . ^j. . j^y^