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Forsothe it bifelde, that oon of the puple schette an arewe in to vncerteyn, and smoot the kyng of Israel bitwixe the necke and the schuldris. And he seide to his charietere, Turne thin hond, and lede me out of the scheltrun; for Y am woundid.

And there he was woundide of archeris, and seide to hise children, `Lede ye me out of the batel, for Y am woundid greetli.

and Y seide, My God, Y am confoundid and aschamed to reise my face to thee, for oure wickidnessis ben multiplied `on myn heed, and oure trespassis encreessiden `til to heuene,

and alle prouyncis that ben vndur his lordschip, knowen, that whether a man ether a womman not clepid entrith in to the ynnere halle of the kyng, he schal be slayn anoon with outen ony tariyng, no but in hap the kyng holdith forth the goldun yerde `to hym for `the signe of merci, and he mai lyue so; therfor hou mai Y entre to the kyng, which am not clepid to hym now bi thritti daies?

And whanne the kyng turnede ayen fro the gardyn `biset with wode, and hadde entrid in to the place of feeste he foond that Aaman felde doun on the bed, wherynne Hester lai. And the king seide, `Also he wole oppresse the queen, while Y am present, in myn hows. The word was not yit goon out of the kyngis mouth, and anoon thei hiliden his face.

Whether Y am the see, ethir a whal, for thou hast cumpassid me with prisoun?

Y haue synned; A! thou kepere of men, what schal Y do to thee? Whi hast thou set me contrarie to thee, and Y am maad greuouse to my silf?

Hou greet am Y, that Y answere to hym, and speke bi my wordis with hym?

Yhe, thouy Y am symple, my soule schal not knowe this same thing; and it schal anoye me of my lijf.

Whanne Y seie, Y schal not speke so; Y chaunge my face, and Y am turmentid with sorewe.

Sotheli if Y am also thus wickid, whi haue Y trauelid in veyn?

Thouy Y am waischun as with watris of snow, and thouy myn hondis schynen as moost cleene,

For thou seidist, My word is cleene, and Y am cleene in thi siyt.

And to me is an herte, as and to you, and Y am not lowere than ye; for who knowith not these thingis, whiche ye knowen?

He that is scorned of his frend, as Y am, schal inwardli clepe God, and God schal here hym; for the symplenesse of a iust man is scorned.

Euene with youre kunnyng also Y kan, and Y am not lowere than ye.

Who is he that is demed with me? Come he; whi am Y stille, and am wastid?

But what schal Y do? If Y speke, my sorewe restith not; and if Y am stille, it goith not awei fro me.

Y thilke riche man and famouse sum tyme, am al to brokun sudeynli; `he helde my nol; he hath broke me, and hath set me as in to a signe.

And therfor Y am disturblid of his face, and Y biholdynge hym am anguyschid for drede.