Tofore him cam, and be a sleyhte He hath upon his heved on heyhte 2570 Tuo large hornes set of bras, As he which al a flatour was, And goth rampende as a leoun And caste hise hornes up and doun, And bad men ben of good espeir, For as the homes percen their, He seith, withoute resistence, So wiste he wel of his science That Benedab is desconfit. Whan Sedechie upon this plit 2580 Hath told this tale to his lord, Anon ther were of his acord Prophetes false manye mo To bere up oil, and alle tho Affermen that which he hath told, Wherof the king Achab was bold And yaf hem yiftes al aboute. But Josaphat was in gret doute, (2600*) And hield fantosme al that he herde, Preiende Achab, hou so it ferde, 2590 If ther were eny other man, The which of prophecie can, To hiere him speke er that thei gon. Quod Achab thanne, ‘Ther is on,[1155] [Sidenote: =P. iii. 173=] A brothell, which Micheas hihte; Bot he ne comth noght in my sihte, For he hath longe in prison lein. Him liketh nevere yit to sein[1156] A goodly word to mi plesance; And natheles at thin instance 2600 He schal come oute, and thanne he may Seie as he seide many day; For yit he seide nevere wel.’ Tho Josaphat began somdel To gladen him in hope of trouthe, And bad withouten eny slouthe That men him scholden fette anon. And thei that weren for him gon, Whan that thei comen wher he was,[1157] Thei tolden unto Micheas 2610 The manere hou that Sedechie Declared hath his prophecie; And therupon thei preie him faire That he wol seie no contraire, Wherof the king mai be desplesed, For so schal every man ben esed, And he mai helpe himselve also. Micheas upon trouthe tho His herte sette, and to hem seith,[1158] Al that belongeth to his feith 2620 And of non other feigned thing, That wol he telle unto his king,[1159] Als fer as god hath yove him grace. Thus cam this prophete into place [Sidenote: =P. iii. 174=] Wher he the kinges wille herde; And he therto anon ansuerde, And seide unto him in this wise: ‘Mi liege lord, for mi servise, Which trewe hath stonden evere yit, Thou hast me with prisone aquit: 2630 Bot for al that I schal noght glose Of trouthe als fer as I suppose; And as touchende of this bataille,[1160] Thou schalt noght of the sothe faile. For if it like thee to hiere, As I am tauht in that matiere, Thou miht it understonde sone;[1161] Bot what is afterward to done Avise thee, for this I sih. I was tofor the throne on hih, 2640 Wher al the world me thoghte stod,[1162]