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Whilom ther was an irous potestat, |
| As seith Senek, that, durynge his estaat, |
| 355 | Upon a day out ryden knyghtes two, |
| And as Fortune wolde that it were so, |
| That oon of hem cam hoom, that oother noght. |
| Anon the knyght bifore the juge is broght, |
| That seyde thus, 'Thou hast thy felawe slayn, |
| 360 | For which I deme thee to the deeth, certayn.' |
| And to another knyght comanded he, |
| 'Go lede hym to the deeth, I charge thee.' |
| And happed, as they wente by the weye |
| Toward the place ther he sholde deye, |
| 365 | The knyght cam which men wenden had be deed. |
| Thanne thoughte they it were the beste reed |
| To lede hem bothe to the juge agayn. |
| They seiden, 'Lord, the knyght ne hath nat slayn |
| His felawe; heere he standeth hool alyve.' |
| 370 | 'Ye shul be deed,' quod he, 'so moot I thryve! |
| That is to seyn, bothe oon, and two, and thre!' |
| And to the firste knyght right thus spak he, |
| 'I dampned thee; thou most algate be deed. |
| And thou also most nedes lese thyn heed, |
| 375 | For thou art cause why thy felawe deyth.' |
| And to the thridde knyght right thus he seith, |
| 'Thou hast nat doon that I comanded thee.' |
| And thus he dide doon sleen hem alle thre. |
|
| For once there was an ireful potentate, |
| As Seneca says and while he ruled the state, |
| 355 | Upon a day out riding went knights two, |
| And as Dame Fortune willed it, it was so |
| That one of them came home, and one did not. |
| Anon that knight before the judge was brought, |
| Who said thus: 'Sir, you have your fellow slain, |
| 360 | For which I doom you to the death, amain.' |
| And to another knight commanded he, |
| 'Go lead him to his death, so I charge ye.' |
| It happened, as they went along their way, |
| Toward the place where he must die that day, |
| 365 | They met the knight that men had thought was dead |
| Then thought they, it were best not go ahead, |
| And so led both unto the judge again. |
| They said: 'O lord, this knight, he has not slain |
| His fellow; for he stands here sound, alive.' |
| 370 | 'You shall die then,' he cried, 'so may I thrive! |
| That is to say, you shall all die, all three!' |
| And then to the first knight 'twas thus said he: |
| 'I doomed you, and therefore you must be dead. |
| And you, also, must needs now lose your head, |
| 375 | Since you're the causing of your fellow's end.' |
| And then on the third knight did he descend: |
| 'You have not done what I ordained should be!' |
| And thus he did away with all the three. |
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