n gan the cursed wretch aloud to cry,
Accusing highest _Ioue_ and gods ingrate,
8 And eke blaspheming heauen bitterly,
As authour of vniustice, there to let him dye.
4 intemperate > more temperate _1590_
1 "Nay, nay, you greedy Tantalus," quoth he,
2 "Abide the fortune of your present fate,
Abide > Endure; await the issue of
3 And, to all that live in high degree,
degree > social station
4 Example be of mind intemperate,
5 To teach them how to use their present state."
6 Then began the cursed wretch aloud to cry,
7 Accusing highest Jove and gods ingrate,
ingrate > unfriendly; unpleasant
8 And eke blaspheming heaven bitterly,
eke > also
9 As author of injustice, there to let him die.
207.61
He lookt a little further, and espyde
2 Another wretch, whose carkasse deepe was drent
Within the riuer, which the same did hyde:
4 But both his hands most filthy feculent,
Aboue the water were on high extent,
6 And faynd to wash themselues incessantly;
Yet nothing cleaner were for such intent,
8 But rather fowler seemed to the eye;
So lost his labour vaine and idle industry.
1 He looked a little further, and espied
2 Another wretch, whose carcase deep was drenched
drenched > immersed
3 Within the river, which the same did hide:
4 But both his hands, most filthy feculent,
feculent > {Covered with faecal matter: SU}
5 Above the water were on high extent,
extent > extended
6 And fained to wash themselves incessantly;
fained > were anxious, _hence:_ tried; _or:_ feigned
7 Yet nothing cleaner were for such intent,
nothing > not at all
8 But rather fouller seemed to the eye;
9 So lost his labour vain and idle industry.
vain > futile
idle > unavailing, empty
207.62
The knight him calling, asked who he was,
2 Who lifting vp his head, him answerd thus:
I _Pilate_ am the falsest Iudge, alas,
4 And most vniust, that by vnrighteous
And wicked doome, to Iewes despiteous
6 Deliuered vp the Lord of life to die,
And did acquite a murdrer felonous;
8 The whiles my hands I washt in puritie,
The whiles my soule was soyld with foule iniquitie.
1 The knight, him calling, asked who he was,
2 Who, lifting up his head, him answered thus:
3 "I Pilate am, the falsest judge, alas,
Pilate > (See _Matt._ 27.11-24)
4 And most unjust, that by unrighteo
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