XII.

[Sidenote: Daniel in his prophecies tells of the destruction of the Jews.] Danyel i{n} his dialokeȝ de-vysed su{m} tyme, As ȝet is proued ex-presse i{n} his p{ro}fecies, Hov þe gentryse of Iuise & Ih{e}r{usa}l{e}m þe ryche Watȝ disstryed wyth distres, & drawen to þe erþe, 1160 [Sidenote: For their unfaithfulness in following other gods, God allowed the heathen to destroy them, in the reign of Zedekiah, who practised idolatry.] For þat folke i{n} her fayth watȝ fou{n}den vntrwe, Þat haden hyȝt þe hyȝe god to halde of hy{m} eu{er}; & he hem halȝed for his & help at her nede In mukel meschefes mony, þat meruayl [is] to here; 1164 & þay forloyne her fayth & folȝed oþ{er} goddes, & þat wakned his wrath & wrast hit so hyȝe, Þat he fylsened þe faythful i{n} þe falce lawe To for-fare þe falce i{n} þe faythe trwe; 1168 Hit watȝ sen i{n} þat syþe þat ȝedechyas[59] re{n}gned, I{n} Iuda, þat iustised þe iuyne ky{n}ges. He sete on Salamones solie, on solemne wyse, Bot of leaute he watȝ lat to his lorde hende; 1172 He vsed abominaciones of idolatrye, & lette lyȝt bi þe lawe þat he watȝ lege tylle; For-þi oure fader vpon folde a foman hy{m} wakned,

[Headnote: NEBUCHADNEZZAR BESIEGES JERUSALEM.]

[Sidenote: Nebuchadnezzar becomes his foe.] Nabigo-de-noȝar nuyed hy{m} swyþe. 1176 He pur-sued i{n} to palastyn w{i}t{h} proude men mony, & þer he wast wyth[60] werre þe wones of þorpes. He herȝed vp alle isr{ae}l & hent of þe beste, [Sidenote: He besieges Jerusalem, and surrounds the walls.] & þe gentylest of Iudee i{n} I{e}r{usa}l{e}m biseged, 1180 Vmbe-walt alle þe walles wyth wyȝes ful stronge, At vche a dor a doȝty duk, & dutte hem wyth-i{n}ne; [Sidenote: The city is stuffed full of men.] For þe borȝ watȝ so bygge baytayled alofte, & stoffed wyth-i{n}ne w{i}t{h} stout men to stalle hem þ{er}-oute. 1184 Þe{n}ne watȝ þe sege sette þe Cete aboute, [Sidenote: Brisk is the skirmish.] Skete skarmoch skelt, much skaþe lached; At vch brugge a berfray on basteles wyse, [Sidenote: [Fol. 73b.]] [Sidenote: Seven times a day are the gates assailed.] Þat seuen syþe vch a day asayled þe ȝates, 1188 Trwe tulkkes i{n} to{ur}es teueled wyth-i{n}ne, In bigge brutage of borde, bulde on þe walles; [Sidenote: For two years the fight goes on, yet the city is not taken.] Þay feȝt & þay fende of, & fylt{er} togeder Til two ȝer ou{er}-torned, ȝet tok þay hit neu{er}. 1192 [Sidenote: The folk within are in want of food.] At þe laste vpon longe, þo ledes wyth-i{n}ne, Faste fayled hem þe fode, enfaminied monie; Þe hote hunger wyth-i{n}ne hert hem wel sarre, Þen any dunt of þat douthe þat dowelled þ{er}-oute. 1196 Þe{n}ne wern þo rowtes redles i{n} þo ryche wones, [Sidenote: Meager they become.] Fro þat mete watȝ myst, megre þay wexen, [Sidenote: For so shut up are they that escape seems impossible.] & þay stoken so strayt, þ{a}t þay ne stray myȝt A fote fro þat forselet to forray no goudes. 1200 Þe{n}ne þe ky{n}g of þe kyth a cou{n}sayl hy{m} takes, Wyth þe best of his burnes, a blench forto make; [Sidenote: But on a quiet night they steal out, and rush through the host.] Þay stel out on a stylle nyȝt er any steuen rysed, & harde hurles þurȝ þe oste, er enmies hit wyste, 1204 Bot er þay at-wappe ne moȝt þe wach wyth-oute, [Sidenote: They are discovered by the enemy.] Hiȝe skelt watȝ þe askry þe skewes an-vnder, [Sidenote: A loud alarm is given.] Loude alarom vpon lau{n}de lulted watȝ þe{n}ne; Ryche, ruþed of her rest, ran to here wedes, 1208 Hard hattes þay hent & on hors lepes; Cler claryou{n} crak cryed onlofte. [Sidenote: They are pursued and overtaken.] By þat watȝ alle on a hepe hurlande swyþee, Folȝande þat oþ{er} flote, & fonde hem bilyue, 1212 Ou{er}-tok hem, as tyd, tult hem of sadeles, Tyl vche prynce hade his per put to þe grou{n}de;

[Headnote: THE KING OF JUDAH IS MADE PRISONER.]

[Sidenote: Their king is made prisoner.] & þer watȝ þe ky{n}g kaȝt wyth calde pry{n}ces, & alle hise gentyle for-iusted on ierico playnes, 1216 [Sidenote: His chief men are presented as prisoners to Nebuchadnezzar.] & presented wern as presoneres to þe prynce rychest, Nabigo-de-noȝar noble i{n} his chayer, & he þe faynest freke þat he his fo hade, & speke spito{us}ly hem to & spylt þ{er}aft{er}. 1220 [Sidenote: His sons are slain.] Þe ky{n}g{es} su{n}nes i{n} his syȝt he slow eu{er} vch one, [Sidenote: His own eyes are put out.] & holkked out his auen yȝen het{er}ly boþe [Sidenote: He is placed in a dungeon in Babylon.] & bede þe burne to be broȝt to babyloyn þe ryche, [Sidenote: [Fol. 74a.]] & þere i{n} dongou{n} be don to dreȝe þ{er} his wyrdes. 1224 Now se, so þe sou{er}ay[n] set hatȝ his wrake; Nas hit not for nabugo ne his noble nauþ{er}, Þat oþ{er} depryued watȝ of pryde with paynes stronge, [Sidenote: All for his “bad bearing” against the Lord, who might otherwise have been his friend.] Bot for his bery{n}g so badde agayn his blyþe lorde; 1228 For hade þe fader ben his frende þat hy{m} bifore keped, Ne neu{er} trespast to him i{n} teche of mysseleue. To Colde wer alle Calde & kythes of ynde, Ȝet take torkye hem wyth her tene hade ben little; 1232 [Sidenote: Nebuchadnezzar ceased not until he had destroyed Jerusalem.] Ȝet nolde neu{er} nabugo þis ilke note leue, Er he hade tuyred þis tou{n} & torne hit to grou{n}de; He ioyned vnto I{e}r{usa}l{e}m a gentyle duc þe{n}ne, [Sidenote: Nebuzaradan was “chief of the chivalry.”] His name watȝ nabu-ȝardan, to noye þe iues; 1236 He watȝ mayster of his men & myȝty hi{m} seluen, Þe chef of his cheualrye his chekkes to make, He brek þe bareres as bylyue, & þe burȝ aft{er}, & enteres i{n} ful ernestly, i{n} yre of his hert. 1240 What! þe maysterry watȝ mene, þe me{n} wern away, [Sidenote: The best men were taken out of the city.] Þe best boȝed wyth þe burne þat þe borȝ ȝemed; & þo þat byden wer so[61] biten with þe bale hunger, Þat on wyf hade ben worþe þe welgest fo{ur}re; 1244 [Sidenote: Nevertheless Nebuzaradan spared not those left.] Nabiȝardan noȝt for-þy nolde not spare, Bot bede al to þe bronde vnder bare egge. Þay slowen of swettest semlych burdes, [Sidenote: Brains of bairns were spilt.] Baþed barnes i{n} blod & her brayn spylled; 1248 [Sidenote: Priests pressed to death.] Prestes & prelates þay presed to deþe, [Sidenote: Wives and wenches foully killed.] Wyues & wenches her wombes tocoruen, Þat her boweles out-borst aboute þe diches, [Sidenote: All that escaped the sword were taken to Babylon, and were made to drag the cart or milk the kine.] & al watȝ carfully kylde þat þay cach myȝt, 1252 & alle [þat] swypped vnswolȝed of þe sworde kene, Þay wer cagged & kaȝt on capeles al bare, Festned fettres to her fete vnder fole wombes, & broþely broȝt to babyloyn þer bale to suffer, 1256 To sytte i{n} seruage & syte; þat su{m}tyme wer ge{n}tyle, Now ar chau{n}ged to chorles & charged wyth werkkes, Boþe to cayre at þe kart & þe kuy mylke, [Sidenote: [Fol. 74b.]] Þat su{m}tyme sete i{n} her sale syres & burdes. 1260

[Headnote: NEBUZARDAN PILLAGES THE TEMPLE.]

[Sidenote: Nebuzaradan burst open the temple, and slew those therein.] & ȝet nabuȝardan nyl neu{er} stynt, Er he to þe tempple tee wyth his tulkkes alle; Betes on þe barers, brestes vp þe ȝates, Slouen alle at a slyp þat serued þer-i{n}ne, 1264 [Sidenote: Priests, pulled by the poll, were slain along with deacons, clerks, and maidens.] Pulden prestes bi þe polle & plat of her hedes, Diȝten dekenes to deþe, dungen dou{n} clerkkes, & alle þe maydenes of þe mu{n}st{er} maȝtyly hokyllen Wyth þe swayf of þe sworde þat swolȝed he{m} alle. 1268 [Sidenote: The enemy pillages the temple of its pillars of brass, and the golden candlestick from off the altar.] Þe{n}ne ran þay to þe relykes as robbors wylde, & pyled alle þe apparement þat pented to þe kyrke, Þe pure pyleres [o]f bras po{ur}trayd i{n} golde, & þe chef chau{n}deler charged with þe lyȝt, 1272 Þat ber þe lamp vpon lofte, þat lemed eu{er} more, Bifore þ[e] sancta s{an}c{t}or{um} þer selcouth watȝ ofte. Þay caȝt away þat condelstik, & þe crowne als, Þat þe aut{er} hade vpon, of aþel golde ryche; 1276 [Sidenote: Goblets, basins, golden dishes, all are taken by Nebuzaradan, and hampered together.] Þe gredirne & þe goblot{es} garnyst of sylu{er}, Þe bases of þe bryȝt postes & bassynes so schyre; Dere disches of golde & dubleres fayre, Þe vyoles & þe vesselment of v{er}tuo{us} stones. 1280 Now hatȝ nabuȝardan nome{n} alle þyse noble þy{n}ges, & pyled þat p{re}cio{us} place & pakked þose godes; Þe golde of þe gaȝafylace to swyþe gret nou{m}bre, Wyth alle þe vrnmentes of þat ho{us}, he hamppred to-geder. 1284 Alle he spoyled spito{us}ly i{n} a sped whyle, [Sidenote: Solomon had made them with much labour.] Þat salomon so mony a sadde ȝer soȝt to make, Wyth alle þe coyntyse þat he cowþe clene to wyrke; De-uised he þe vesselment, þe vestures clene, 1288 Wyth slyȝt of his ciences, his sou{er}ayn to loue, Þe ho{us} & þe ano{ur}nementes he hyȝtled to-gedere. Now hatȝ nabuȝardan nu{m}ne{n}d[62] hit al samen, [Sidenote: The temple he beats down, and returns to Babylon.] & syþen bet dou{n} þe burȝ & brend hit i{n} askes; 1292 Þe{n}ne wyth legiou{n}es of ledes ou{er} londes he rydes, Herȝeȝ of Israel þe hyrne aboute. Wyth charged chariotes þe cheftayn he fynde[ȝ], [Sidenote: [Fol. 75a.]] [Sidenote: Presents the prisoners to the king, among whom were Daniel and his three companions.] Bike{n}nes þe catel to þe ky{n}g, þat he caȝt hade, 1296 P{re}sented him þe p{r}isoneres i{n} pray þat þay token, Moni a worþly wyȝe whil her worlde laste, Moni semly syre son{e}, & swyþe rych maydenes, Þe pruddest of þe p{ro}uince, & p{ro}phetes childer, 1300 As Ananie & aȝarie & als Miȝael, & dere daniel also, þat watȝ deuine noble, With moni a modey moder chylde mo þe{n} i{n}-noghe.

[Headnote: NEBUCHADNEZZAR IS PLEASED WITH THE SPOIL.]

[Sidenote: Nebuchadnezzar has great joy, because his enemies are slain.] & nabugo-de-noȝar makes much ioye, 1304 Nov he þe ky{n}g hatȝ c{on}quest & þe kyth wu{n}nen, & dreped alle þe doȝtyest & derrest i{n} armes, & þe lederes of her lawe layd to þe grou{n}de, & þe pryce of þe p{ro}fecie p{r}isoners maked; 1308

[Headnote: HE PRIZES GREATLY THE SACRED JEWELRY.]

[Sidenote: Great was his wonder when he saw the sacred jewelry.] Bot þe ioy of þe iuelrye so gentyle & ryche, When hit watȝ schewed hy{m} so schene, scharp watȝ his wonder, Of such vessel auayed þat vayled so huge, Neu{er} ȝet nas nabugo-de-noȝar er þe{n}ne. 1312 [Sidenote: He praises the God of Israel.] He sesed hem w{i}t{h} solemneté, þe sou{er}ayn he praysed, þat watȝ aþel ou{er} alle, israel dryȝtyn; [Sidenote: Such vessels never before came to Chaldea.] Such god, such gomes, such gay vesselles Comen neu{er} out of kyth, to Caldee reames. 1316 [Sidenote: They are thrust into the treasury.] He trussed hem i{n} his tresorye i{n} a tryed place Rekenly wyth reu{er}ens, as he ryȝt hade; & þ{er} he wroȝt as þe wyse, as ȝe may wyt here-aft{er}, For hade he let of hem lyȝt, hy{m} moȝt haf lu{m}pen worse. 1320 Þat ryche i{n} gret rialté rengned his lyue, [Sidenote: Nebuchadnezzar reigns as emperor of all the earth, through the “doom of Daniel,” who gave him good counsel.] As {con}quero{ur} of vche a cost he cayser watȝ hatte, Emp{er}o{ur} of alle þe erþe & also þe saudan, & als þe god of þe grou{n}de watȝ grauen his name 1324 & al þurȝ dome of daniel, fro[63] he deuised hade, Þat alle goudes com of god, & gef hit hy{m} bi samples, Þat he ful clanly bi-cnv[64] his carp bi þe laste, & ofte hit mekned his my{n}de, his mayst{er}ful werkkes. 1328 Bot al drawes to dyȝe w{i}t{h} doel vp[o]n ende; Bi[65] a haþel neu{er} so hyȝe he heldes to grou{n}de, [Sidenote: Nebuchadnezzar dies and is buried.] & so nabugo-de-noȝar as he nedes moste; [Sidenote: [Fol. 75b.]] For alle his empire so hiȝe i{n} erþe is he g{ra}uen. 1332 [Sidenote: Belshazzar succeeds him.] Bot þe{n}n þe bolde baltaȝar, þat watȝ his barn aldest, He watȝ stalled i{n} his stud, & stabled þe rengne; [Sidenote: He holds himself the biggest in heaven or on earth.] I{n} þe burȝ of babiloyne þe biggest he trawed, Þat nauþ{er} i{n} heuen ne no[66] erþe hade no pere; 1336 For he bigan i{n} alle þe glori þat hy{m} þe gome lafte, Nabugo-de-Noȝar, þat watȝ his noble fader; So kene a ky{n}g i{n} Caldee com neu{er} er þe{n}ne. [Sidenote: He honours not God, but worships false phantoms.] Bot hono{ur}ed he not hy{m} þat in heuen wonies, 1340 Bot fals fantu{m}mes of fendes, formed with handes Wyth tool out of harde tre, & telded on lofte, & of stokkes & stones, he stoute goddes callȝ When þay ar gilde al with golde & gered wyth sylu{er}, 1344 & þere he kneles & calleȝ, & clepes after help. [Sidenote: He promises them rewards if good fortune befal.] &[67] þay reden hi{m} ryȝt rewarde he hem hetes, & if þay gruchen hi{m} his grace to gremen his hert, [Sidenote: If they vex him he knocks them in pieces.] He cleches to a gret klubbe & knokkes hem to peces; 1348 Þ{us} in pryde & oliprau{n}ce his Empyre he haldes, In lust & i{n} lecherye, & loþelych werkkes; [Sidenote: He has a wife, and many concubines.] & hade a wyf forto welde, a worþelych quene, & mony a le{m}man, neu{er} þe lat{er}, þat ladis wer called. 1352 In þe clernes of his {con}cubines & curio{us} wedeȝ, [Sidenote: The mind of the king was fixed upon new meats and other vain things.] In noty{n}g of nwe metes & of nice gettes, Al watȝ þe mynde of þat man, o{n} misschapen þi{n}ges, Til þe lorde of þe lyfte liste hit abate. 1356

[Sidenote 59: MS. _ȝedethyas_.] [Sidenote 60: MS. _wyth with_.] [Sidenote 61: The MS. reads _fo._] [Sidenote 62: _nummen_ (?).] [Sidenote 63: _for_ (?).] [Sidenote 64: Looks like bicuv{er} in MS.] [Sidenote 65: _be_ (?).] [Sidenote 66: _on_ (?).] [Sidenote 67: _An_ (?).]

[Headnote: BELSHAZZAR PROCLAIMS A FEAST, TO WHICH KINGS AND EMPERORS ARE INVITED.]