Note 382 — How King Malin was slayne by his brother King Mempricius, the yeare before Christ, 1009.

When Manlius had thus endid quite his tale, He vanishte out of sight as did the reste; And I perceiued straight a persone pale, Whose throte was torne and blodied all his breste: “Shall I” (quoth he) “for audience make requeste, No sure it nedes not, straunge it semes to thee, What he that beares this rentid corps should bee. “Wherefore I deeme thou canst not chuse but bide, And here my tale as others erste before; Sith by so straunge a meanes thou seest I dyde, With rentid throte and breste, thou musist more; Marke well (quoth he) my ratling voyce therefore:” And therwithall this tale he gan to tell, Which I recite, though nothing nere so well. ed. 1575.