[Sidenote: [CRUELTY OF LEONTIUS.]] [Sidenote: =P. iii. 202=] Of crualte I rede thus: Whan the tirant Leoncius [Sidenote: Hic loquitur contra illos, qui tirannica potestate principatum obtinentes in[1247] iniquitatis sue malicia gloriantur. Et narrat exemplum,[1248] qualiter Leoncius tirannus pium Iustinianum non solum a solio imperatorie maiestatis fraudulenter expulit, set vt ipse inhabilis ad regnum in[1249] aspectu plebis efficeretur, naso et labris abscisis, ipsum tirannice mutulauit. Deus tamen, qui super omnia pius est, Tiberio superueniente vna cum adiutorio Terbellis Bulgarie Regis, Iustinianum interfecto Leoncio ad imperium restitui misericorditer procurauit.] Was to thempire of Rome arrived, Fro which he hath with strengthe prived[1250] 3270 The pietous Justinian,[1251] As he which was a cruel man, His nase of and his lippes bothe He kutte, for he wolde him lothe Unto the poeple and make unable. Bot he which is al merciable,[1252] The hihe god, ordeigneth so, That he withinne a time also, Whan he was strengest in his ire,[1253] Was schoven out of his empire. 3280 Tiberius the pouer hadde, And Rome after his will he ladde, And for Leonce in such a wise Ordeigneth, that he tok juise Of nase and lippes bothe tuo, For that he dede an other so, Which more worthi was than he. Lo, which a fall hath crualte, And Pite was set up ayein: For after that the bokes sein, 3290 Therbellis king of Bulgarie With helpe of his chivalerie Justinian hath unprisoned And to thempire ayein coroned.