Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/179

XVII. ADORATION OF THE MAGI.

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.