Stepe stayred stones of his stoute throne. 1396 Þe{n}ne watȝ alle þe halle flor hiled w{i}t{h} knyȝtes, & barou{n}es at þe side-bordes bounet ay-where, For non watȝ dressed vpon dece bot þe dere seluen, & his clere concubynes i{n} cloþes ful bryȝt. 1400 [Sidenote: When all are seated, service begins.] When alle segges were þ{er} set, þe{n} seruyse bygy{n}nes, [Sidenote: Trumpets sound everywhere.] Sturnen trumpen strake steuen i{n} halle, Aywhere by þe wowes wrasten krakkes, [Sidenote: [Fol. 76b.]] & brode baneres þer-bi blusnande of gold; 1404 [Sidenote: Bread is served upon silver dishes.] Burnes berande þe[70] bredes vpon brode skeles, Þat were of sylu{er}en syȝt & se{er}ved[71] þ{er}-wyth, Lyfte logges þer-ou{er} & on lofte coruen, Pared out of paper & poynted of golde,[72] 1408 Broþe baboynes abof, besttes an-vnder, Foles i{n} foler flakerande bi-twene, & al i{n} asure & ynde enaumayld ryche, [Sidenote: All sorts of musical instruments are heard in the hall.] & al on blonkken bak bere hit on honde. 1412 & ay þe nakeryn noyse, notes of pipes, Ty{m}bres & tabornes, tulket amo{n}g, Sy{m}bales & soneteȝ sware þe noyse, & bougou{n}ȝ busch bat{er}ed so þikke; 1416 So watȝ serued fele syþe þe sale alle aboute, [Sidenote: The king, surrounded by his loves, drinks copiously of wine.] W{i}t{h} solace at þe sere course, bifore þe self lorde, Þer þe lede & alle his loue lenged at þe table. [Sidenote: It gets into his head and stupifies him.] So faste þay weȝed to hi{m} wyne, hit warmed his hert 1420 & breyþed vppe i{n} to his brayn & blemyst his my{n}de, & al waykned his wyt, & wel neȝe he foles, For he wayteȝ onwyde, his wenches he byholdes, & his bolde baronage, aboute bi þe woȝes; 1424 [Sidenote: A cursed thought takes possession of him.] Þe{n}ne a dotage ful depe drof to his hert, & a caytif cou{n}sayl he caȝt bi hy{m} seluen. [Headnote: BELSHAZZAR BRINGS OUT THE SACRED VESSELS TO DECK THE FESTIVE HALL.]