Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Hooper.djvu/435



fable is very well told by Gower, but with some variations.

[The letters printed in Italics are to be pronounced as separate syllables; the acute mark denotes the emphasis.]

Ere Rom-e came to the creánce Of Christ-es faith, it fell perchance Cæsar, which then was emperour, Him list-e for to do honóur Untó the temple Apollinis; And made an image upon this, The which was cleped Apolló, Was none so rich in Rom-e tho.
 * Of plate of gold, a beard he had,

The which his breast all over spradde.
 * Of gold also, withouten fail,

His mantle was of large entayle, Be-set with perrey all about. Forth right he stretched his finger out, Upon the which he had a ring— To see it, was a rich-e thing, A fine carbuncle for the nones, Most precious of all stones.
 * And fell that time in Rom-e thus,

There was a clerk, one Lucius, A courtier, a famous man; Of every wit somewhat he can, Out-take that him lacketh rule, His own estate to guide and rule; How so it stood of his speaking, He was not wise in his doing; But every riot-e at last Must need-es fall, and may not last. After the need of his desert, So fell this clerk-e in povérte,