23
Now that that had happened in the Holy Cytee touching Stratonice scaped not the kyng in no kynde, but manye that retorneden acuseden hem and reherceden here doynges; wherfore the kyng was grevously troubled and sompnede Combabe fro the werk or it was finissched. Othere men seyn not sooth, that whan Stratonice fayled of hir purpos, sche hir self wroot lettres to hir housbond and acused Combabe, blamynge him of assayinge _hir. Right as men of Grece seyn of Steneboye and of Fedre Cnossien, right so seyn Assuriens of Stratonice.The story of Joseph and his master’s wife (Genesis39) would be in this instance a parallel more apt. And with both compare the scorning of Ishtar by Gilgamesh in the Epic (Schrader-Zimmern, p. 571 sq.). Now to me, I ne beleve not that Steneboye dide no suche thing, ne Fedre nouther, if Fedre trewely lovede Ypolite. But lat tho thinges worth (go) right as thei weren.This sentence parodies Herodotus 2, 28: ταῦτα μέν νυν ἔστω ὡς ἔστι τε καὶ ὡς ἀρχὴν ἐγένετο, and similar transitions.
24
Whan the tidinges were come to the Holy Cytee, and Combabe lernede the acusaccioun, he wente boldely, for because he had laft his answere-at home. And at arryvinge, anon the kyng bond him and kepte him in prisoun; and after, whan his frendes there weren that there weren beforn, whan Combabe was sent forth, he ladde him in presence and began for to blamen him, reprevinge him of avowtrie and vileinye; and in sore bitternesse of herte he putte him in remembraunce of feythe and frendschipe, seyinge that Combabe didde three fold wrong be cause he was avowtrer and brak feyth and synned ayeyns the goddesse in whoos servys that he so wroughte. And manye stode forth and made witnessing that thei sanghen hem companye togider openly. And atte laste alle demeden that Combabe scholde dye right anon, for his dedis disserveden dethe.
