148 THE KNIGHTES TALE.
With iren tough ; and, for to make it strong, Every piler the temple to susteene Was tonne greet, of ireri bright and schene. Ther saugh I first the derke-ymaginyng Of felonye, and al the compassyng \ The cruel ire, as reed as eny gleede ; The pikepurs, and eek the pale drede; The smylere with .the knyf under the cloke; The schepne brennyng with the blake smoke ; The tresoun of the murtheryng in the bed ; The open werre, with woundes al bi-bled ; Contek with bloody knyf, and scharp manace. Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place. The sleere of himself j/et saugh I there, His herte-blood hath bathed al his here \ The nayl y-dryven in the-schode a-nyght.; The colde deth, with mouth gapyng upright. Amyddes of the temple sat meschaunce, With disconfort and sory contenaunce. Pet saugh I woodnesse laughying in his rage ; Armed complaint, outhees, and fiers outrage. The caroigne in the bussh, with throte y-corve : A thousand slain, and not of qualme y-storve ; . The tiraunt, with the prey by force y-raft \ The toun destroied, ther was no thyng laft. yet sawgh I brent the schippes hoppesteres ; The hunte strangled with the wilde beres : The sowe freten the child right in the cradel j The cook i-skalded, for al his longe ladel. Nought was foryeten by the infortune of Marte ; The cartere over-ryden with his carte, Under the whel ful lowe he lay adoun. Ther were also of Martes divisioun, The barbour, and the bocher; and the smyth That forgeth scharpe swerdes on his stith. And al above depeynted in a tour Saw I conquest sittyng in gret honour,