Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/179



Herode. As a lord in ryalté in non regyon so ryche, And rulere of alle remys, I ryde in ryal aray; Ther is no lord of lond in lordchep to me lyche, Non lofflyere, non lofsumere,—evyr lestyng is my lay: Of bewté and of boldnes I bere evermore the belle; Of mayn and of myght I master every man; I dynge with my dowtynes the devyl down to helle, ffor bothe of hevyn and of herthe I am kynge sertayn.

I am the comelyeste kynge clad in gleteringe golde, ȝa, and the semelyeste syre that may bestryde a stede; I welde att my wylle alle wyghtes upon molde,— ȝa, and wurthely I am wrappyd in a wurthy wede. ȝe knyghtes so comely, bothe curteys and kene, To my paleys wyl I passe, fulle prest I ȝow plyth; ȝe dukys so dowty, ffolwe me be-dene Onto my ryal paleys, the wey lyth ful ryght.

Wyghtly fro my stede I skyppe down in hast,— To myn heyȝ hallys I haste me in my way; ȝe mynstrelle of myrthe, blowe up a good blast, Whylle I go to chawmere and chaunge myn array. Primus Rex. Heyl be the kynges tweyne, fferre rydyng out of ȝour regne! Me thynkyth be ȝour presentes seyne, ȝe sekyn oure Savyour.