Nyȝt neȝed ryȝt now w{i}t{h} nyes fol mony, [Sidenote: Before another day dawned, Daniel’s words were fulfilled.] For daȝed neu{er} an oþ{er} day þat ilk derk aft{er}, Er dalt were þat ilk dome þat danyel deuysed, 1756 [Sidenote: The feast lasts till the sun falls.] Þe solace of þe solempneté i{n} þat sale dured Of þat farand fest, tyl fayled þe su{n}ne; [Sidenote: The skies become dark.] Þe{n}ne blykned[90] þe ble of þe bryȝt skwes, Mo{ur}kenes þe mery weder, & þe myst dryues 1760 Þorȝ þe lyst of þe lyfte, bi þe loȝ medoes; [Sidenote: Each noble hies home to his supper.] Vche haþel to his home hyȝes ful fast, Seten at her sop{er} & songen þ{er}-aft{er}, Þen fou{n}deȝ vch a felaȝschyp fyrre at forþ naȝtes. 1764 [Sidenote: Belshazzar is carried to bed, but never rises from it, for his foes are seeking to destroy his land, and are assembled suddenly.] Baltaȝar to his bedd with blysse watȝ caryed, [Sidenote: [Fol. 81b.]] Reche þe rest as hy{m} lyst, he ros neu{er} þer-aft{er}; For his foes i{n} þe felde i{n} flokkes ful grete Þat longe hade layted þat lede his londes to strye, 1768 Now ar þay sodenly assembled at þe self tyme, Of hem wyst no wyȝe þat i{n} þat won dowelled. [Headnote: DARIUS LAYS SIEGE TO BABYLON.] [Sidenote: The enemy is Darius, leader of the Medes.] Hit watȝ þe dere daryus þe duk of þise medes, Þe prowde prynce of perce & porros of ynde, 1772 [Sidenote: He has legions of armed men.] W{i}t{h} mony a legiou{n} ful large, w{i}t{h} ledes of armes, Þat now hatȝ spyed a space to spoyle caldeeȝ. [Sidenote: Under cover of the darkness, they cross the river.] Þay þrongen þeder i{n} þe þest{er} on þrawen hepes, Asscaped ou{er} þe skyre watt{er}es & scaþed þe walles, 1776 [Sidenote: By means of ladders they get upon the walls, and within an hour enter the city, without disturbing any of the watch.] Lyfte laddres ful longe & vpon lofte wonen, Stelen stylly þe tou{n} er any steue{n} rysed, W{i}t{h}-i{n}ne an oure of þe nyȝt[91] an entré þay hade; Ȝet afrayed þay no freke, fyrre þay passen, 1780 & to þe palays pry{n}cipal þay aproched ful stylle; [Sidenote: They run into the palace, and raise a great cry.] Þe{n}ne ran þay i{n} on a res, on rowtes ful grete, Blastes out of bryȝt brasse brestes so hyȝe, Ascry scarred on þe scue þat scomfyted mony. 1784 [Sidenote: Men are slain in their beds.] Segges slepande were slayne er þay slyppe myȝt, Vche ho{us} heyred watȝ, w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne a honde-whyle; [Headnote: BELSHAZZAR IS BEATEN TO DEATH.]