Walter William Skeat

“ Incipit Legenda Cleopatrie, Martiris, Egipti regine.
After the deeth of Tholomee the king, 580
That al Egipte hadde in his governing,
Regned his quene Cleopataras;
Til on a tyme befel ther swiche a cas,
That out of Rome was sent a senatour,
For to conqueren regnes and honour 585
Unto the toun of Rome, as was usaunce,
To have the world unto her obeisaunce;
And, sooth to seye, Antonius was his name.
So fil hit, as Fortune him oghte a shame (10)
Whan he was fallen in prosperitee, 590
Rebel unto the toun of Rome is he. ”

“ With pottes ful of lym they goon to-gider; (70)
And thus the longe day in fight they spende 650
Til, at the laste, as every thing hath ende,
Antony is shent, and put him to the flighte,
And al his folk to-go, that best go mighte.
⁠Fleeth eek the queen, with al her purpre sail,
For strokes, which that wente as thikke as hail; 655
No wonder was, she mighte hit nat endure. ”

“ And this is storial sooth, hit is no fable.
⁠Now, er I finde a man thus trewe and stable,
And wol for love his deeth so freely take,
I pray god lat our hedes never ake! 705
Explicit Legenda Cleopatrie, martiris.
N.B.—Readings not marked with any letter are from F. (Fairfax MS.)
580. deth. 582. queene. 583. swich. 586. tovne. 587. worlde. C. vn-to; T. vnder; rest at. 589. oght. 591. tovne. 594. wold. 595. which. 597. fulle. 598. F. (only) this; rest his. gret. 599. swich. 600. laas. 601. F. Alle; C. Tn. Al. 602. worlde; noo. 603. C. there nas to hym no thyng so dewe ”