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An Alliterative Romance
re-edited by
Walter W. Skeat
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
Extra Series, 47
1886
Unaltered Reprint produced with the permission of the
Early English Text Society
KRAUS REPRINT CO.
A U.S. Division of Kraus-Thomson Organization Limited
Printed in Germany
U\\t[ Mm\^ 4 ^l^mmhi
€xitn Series, No. xlvii.
1886.
BERLIN: ASHER & CO., 5, UNTER DEN LINDEN.
NEW YORK: C. SCRIBNER & CO.; LEYPOLDT & HOLT.
PHILADELPHIA : J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
SIu lMm[^ of '^li^xmxk\[:
AN
ALLITERATIVE ROMANCE
TRANSLATED CHIEFLY FROM THE
HISTOEIA ALEXANDRI MGNI DE PRELIIS.
RB-EDITED FROM MS. ASHMOLE 44, IN THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY, OXFORD,
AND MS. D. 4. 12, IN THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN:
REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, Litt.D., LL.D.,
BLEINGTOIf ATfD BOSWOBTH PEOFE330E OF AKGtO-SAXON,
AND FELLOW OF CHBIST'S COLLEGB, CAMBBIDQE.
LOKDON :
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY,
BY N. TRUBNER & CO., 57 & 59, LUDGATE EILL.
MDCCCLXXXVI.
1 *
(E)clr;x Series,
XLVII.
CLAY AND SONS, CHAUCKU I'KKSb, BCNCAY.
AZ
Sef, 2
CONTENTS.
Introdttction,
§ 1. The three fraf^monts in alliterative verse of the Eomanco of
Alexander. § 2. Fragments A and B belong to the same version :
Eragment C is hero printed. § 3. Stevenson's edition of MS.
Ashmole 44. § 4. A gap in the story in that MS. ; supjilied
from the Dublin ^IS. § 5. Plan of the present edition. § G.
Numbering of the lines. § 7. Description of MS. Ashmole 44 ;
discussion of the dialect. § 8. Description of the Dublin MS.
D. 4. 12 ; part 1 : Piers the Plowman. § 9. Part 2 : Alexander,
and other contents. § 10. Dialect of the poem further discussed.
§ 11. Both MSS. printed in full; results of comparing them.
§ 12. Method adopted by the translator of the Latin text. § 13.
Conjectures as to the date and dialect of the present version.
The Glossarial Index ix
The Wars of Alexander.
Passus I. Introduction. Anectanabus, king of Egj^pt, is master
of astronomy and magic. Egypt is invaded by Artaxerxes. By
making ships of wax, Anectanabus discovers that his fleet is
being defeated. He disguises himself, and flees to Macedonia.
The god Serapis prophesies the future defeat of the Persians.
The Egyptians raise to Anectanabus an image of black stone ... 1
Passus II. During the absence of Philip, Anectanabus visits queen
Olympias, and tolls her that the god Ammon will appear to her
in a dream. Anectanabus visits Olympias by night in the form
of a dragon. He causes Philip to see in a dream his queen
embraced by Ammon. A seer tells Philip that the queen's child
will conquer the world. He returns to Macedon, where Anec-
tanabus appears in a dragon's form at a feast. Omen of the bird
who laid an egg in Philip's lap ... ... ... ... ... 7
Passus III. Prodigies at the birth of Alexander. His appearance
described. His youth, how passed. Anectanabus predicts his
own death at the hands of his own son. The prediction is
accomplished when Alexander causes his death by drowning.
Olympias mourns over the fate of Anectanabus ... ... ... 17
Passus IV. A wild carnivorous horse is brought to Philip.
Alexander tames him, and sets out on his first expedition against
Nicholas, king of Peloponnesus. Nicholas insults Alexander,
who slays him, and returns home. Philip takes a second wife,
named Cleopatra. Alexander interferes, and Philip is reconciled
to Olympias ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 27
Passus V. Darius demands tribute from Philip, which Alexander
refuses. Pausanias rebels against Philip, and wounds him
mortally, Alexander appears, slays Pausanias, and buries Philip.
VI CONTENTS,
PAGB
Accession of Alexander, who addresses his army, and chooses old
and experienced soldiers to accompany him. He conquers Chal-
cedon, Italy, and Africa. lie shoots a huge hart, and offers
sacrifice to Amnion. He sees Serapis in a dream, who prophesies
that ho will be invincible. lie builds Alexandria 42
Passus VI. Alexander finds the black image of his father Anec-
tanabus. Ho attacks Tyre, but meets with a stout resistance.
The bishop of Jerusalem refuses him aid. The * foray of Gaders.'^
Deeds of Meleager and Sampson. Balaan of Tyre destroys
Alexander's siege-works. Alexander renews them, assaults and
takes TjTe, and kills Balaan ... ... 58
Passus VII. Alexander approaches Jerusalem. Jaudas the bishop,
and the inhabitants, receive him with great honour. Alexander
kneels to God, and visits Solomon's temple. The prophecy of
Daniel. Alexander grants Jaudas a boon. Darius scornfully
sends Alexander three playthings ... ... 78
Passus VIII. Darius sends Alexander an insulting letter. Alex-
ander likens him to a yelping cur that cannot bite, and sends
him a defiant letter in return. Darius says Alexander wants a
whipping, and again reproves him. The token of the glove full
of seeds. Olympias falls ill, and Alexander determines to return
to her 96
Passus IX. Alexander sends Darius a purse full of pepper. He
defeats Amonta in a three-days' battle, who flees to Darius.
Alexander goes to Sicilj^ and Phrygia, and praises Homer,
lleturning to Macedonia, he finds his mother healed. He sets
out for Persia, takes Abandra, comes to the Water of Winter,
and advances to Thebes, which is taken and burnt. The oracle
as to its rebuilding. Clytomachus fulfils it, and rebuilds the
city 114
Passus X. Alexander sends a summons to Athens, ^schylus
counsels the Athenians to resist him, but Demosthenes persuades
them to submit. Alexander forgives the Athenians. The Spar-
tans resist him, but in vain. Darius is alarmed. Alexander's
parable of the wolf and the sheep. He is healed of a fever
by Philip the physician. He crosses the Euphrates, destroying
the bridges behind him ... 132
Passus XI. Darius collects an army. Great battle. A Persian
wounds Alexander, who pardons him. Darius flees. Alexander
seizes Darius' treasure, wife, and children. Darius writes to
Alexander, warning him against over- confidence. Alexander
replies. Porus is unable to help Darius. Eodogars, mother of
Darius, advises him to submit. Lament of Darius 152
Passus XII. Alexander goes to Susa, and bids his men cut
branches and carry them. Ammon tells Alexander to visit the
camp of Darius. Ho crosses the river Granton alone, visits the
hostile camp, and abstracts three gold cups from the tables.
Anepo recognises him, and gives the alarm. He seizes a torch,
mounts his horse, and flees, crossing the Granton on the ice, and
escaping safely 166
1 ' (7(zrf?vs.' says M.Paul Meyer, 'is Gaza;' not Kedesh, as conjectured in the
note to 1. 1193.
Passus Xin. Decisive battle of the Granton (Granicus). Defeat
and flight of Darius. He writes to Alexander, -who bids him
submit. The Greeks find the tomb of Ninus, and free some
Persian prisoners. Darius sends to Porus for help. Two knights
lay a plot against Darius; they attack him, and ho falls ... 178
Fassus XIV. Alexander comes to Susa, and finds Darius wounded.
lie laments over him. Their last conversation. Death of Darius,
and accession of Alexander to the throne of Persia. Description
of the throne of Darius. Proclamation by Alexander. He
beheads the murderers of Darius, and weds Eoxana 190
Passus XV. Porus defies Alexander, who returns the defiance.
Porus assembles a great army, with unicorns, elephants, and
scythed chariots. Alexander frightens the elephants by a
stratagem. Porus takes to flight 206
Passus XVI. Alexander discovers the great wealth of India.
Letter to him from the queen of the Amazons, and his reply.
He makes a treaty with them ... ... ... 212
Passus XVII. Porus raises another army. "Want of water. A
knight offers water to Alexander, which he pours on the ground.
The army comes to a castle in a river. It is assailed by scorpions,
snakes, dragons, lions, boars, savages, mice, bats, and red birds.
They advance to Bactria, and the country of the Seres. Single
combat between Alexander and the gigantic Porus, who is slain 216
Passus XVIII. Alexander comes to the isle of Gymnosophists, who
ask him for immortality, which he cannot gfve them. He comes
to a dark desert, a hot river, and a dried lake. A monster slain.
Elephants, bearded women, amphibious people, and rhinoceroses.
Great storm of four winds. A cold valley, with sparks of fire.
They arrive at the Ganges. Letter of Alexander to Dindimus
the Brahman, with the parable of the lighted torch. Eeply of
Dindimus 223
Passus XIX. Eeply of Dindimus continued. Description of the
Hfe of the Brahmans. Their moderation, contentment, absti-
nence, truthfulness, love of peace, life in caves, and dislike of
play 231
Passus XX. The same continued. Dindimus accuses the Greeks,
and condemns the stories concerning the Grecian gods, and their
vain worship. The Greeks have as many gods as they have
limbs, and each god presides over a limb. Dindimus threatens
the Greeks with future torment ... ... ... ... ... 235
Passus XXI. Alexander reproves Dindimus, and accuses the
Brahmans, whom he condemns as miserable and foolish. Dindi-
mus replies, declaring that the Brahmans wisely despise gold and
riches. Alexander replies, and calls them wretched prisoners.
He rears a pillar of marble, to mark the end of his march ... 241
Passus XXII. Alexander and his host leave the Ganges. They
come to a wood full of giants, who are slain by them. An
uncouth monster appears, and is caught and burnt. Alexander
comes to the trees which wax and wane in a day. He and his
host climb a huge mountain, and are attacked by dragons,
dromedaries, and snakes. They are nine days in a dark valley.
They encounter a basilisk, which Alexander destroys by a
Via CONTENTS.
PADS
stratagem. Alexander ascends a cliff covered with diamonds,
and arrives at the house of the Sun ... ... ... 245
Passus XXTII. Alexander finds in the temple a god reclining on
a bed, who asks him if he wishes to learn his fate from the trees
of the Sun and Moon. lie replies in the affirmative, and, with
two companions, is guided through a wood to a tree bare of
leaves, on which sits a phoenix. The Sun-tree is like gold; the
Moon-tree like silver. The Sun-tree prophesies that Alexander
will not return home. The Moon-tree tells him he will die in
twenty months. He bewails his fate, and returns to his host,
lie erects two pillars of marble 251
Passus XXIV. He comes to the Precious Land, wherein dwells
queen Candace, who sends him presents. The wife of her son
Candoil is stolen by the king of Bebrik. Candoil goes to Alex-
ander for help, and is received by Ptolemy, who has been com-
manded to personate Alexander, who is himself disguised as
Antiochus. The pretended ' Antiochus ' rescues Candoil's wife,
and goes with Candoil to visit Candace, who receives him with
favour ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 257
Passus XXV. Candace calls Alexander by his true name, and
tells him he is in the power of a woman. Page of Alexander,
who is pacified by Candace. Caratros, another son of Candace,
says he must have Alexander's life. Candoil interferes, and the
brothers quarrel. Alexander pacifies them, and all are recon-
ciled. Candace dismisses Alexander. Ho consults an oracle,
and asks Serapis to say by whose hand he will die. Serapis will
not tell him. Alexander and his host come to the valley of
crowned snakes, who kill some of his men. He mounts Buce-
phalus, and has a great fight with griffins. The host cross the
river of reeds in barges. Account of a strange kind of sirens . . . 264
Passus XXVI. Alexander encloses twenty-two kings, including
Gog and Magog, within a mountain. He comes to the ocean at
the end of the world, turns westward, and reaches the Eed Sea.
He ascends into the air in an iron car raised by four griffins.
He descends into the sea in an air-tight glass vessel. The host
encounter various strange beasts. Death of Bucephalus, who is
buried in a costly tomb. Appearance of strange white birds.
Alexander conquers Babj^lon. He writes home to his mother
and Aristotle 270
Passus XXVII. Description of the great throne in Babylon,
inscribed with the names of all the countries conquered by
Alexander. \_End of the poem'] ... ... ... ... ... 275
The Story continued. Epitome of the remainder of the story,
taken from the Historia de Preliis ... ... ... ... ... 276
The Story of Alexander : A prose fragment from MS. Dublin
D. 4. 12 279
Notes 285
Notes on the " Story of Alexander " 317
Glossarial Index, and Index of Names 310
INTRODUCTION.
§ 1. Op tlie various Middle-English prose and verse translations
of the Eomance of Alexander the Great, only those which are in
alliterative verse will be here discussed. As to these, I have already-
explained, in my Preface to " Alexander and Dindimus," that there
are tliree such poems, all fragmentary, which I denote by the letters
A, B, and C. These poems are as follows :
A. A fragment preserved in MS. Greaves 60, in the Eodleian
Library, beginning — " Yee \ai lengen in londe • Lordes and oofer."
This was edited by me for the E. E. T. S. in 18G7, being printed in
the same volume with William of Palerne, pp. 177 — 218. It has
never been printed elsewhere.
B. A fragment preserved in MS. Bodley 2G4, beginning —
" Whan ])is weith at his wil * wed?<nng hadde." This was edited
by Mr. Stevenson for the Eoxburghe Club in 1849, and re-edited by
me, Avith numerous corrections, &c., for the E. E. T. S. in 1878,
Avith the title "Alexander and Dindimus."
C. A fragment preserved in MS. Ashmole 44, in the Bodleian
Library, of which a portion is also found in MS. Dublin D. 4. 12.
It begins — " When folk ere festid & fed • fayn Avald pai hert'," and
was also printed in 1849 by Mr. Stevenson, and in the same volume
as the last, but from the Ashmole MS. only, Avithout any con-
sultation of the Dublin MS. This fragment C is the one Avhich is
re-edit(id in the present volume, and to Avhich, for the sake of dis-
tinction, I have given the title of " The Wars of Alexander," because
it follows the Latin text entitled " Historia Alexandri Magni regis
Macedonie de preliis " more closely than either A or B does.
§ 2. With respect to fragments A and B, I must refer the reader
to the Preface to " Alexander and Dindimus " for fui ther information.
It is sufficient to say here that Dr. Trautmanu has shcAvn, from
X MR. STEVENSON 3 EDITION.
internal evidence, that these two fragments are by the same author,
and belong to a poem which, when complete, must have been of
very great length. Fragment C, here edited, is wholly independent
of these, in the sense that it was written by a different translates
"Whatever it has in common with them is due to their common
source. Accordingly, the remarks below refer to fragment C
exclusively.
§ 3. Of the two MSS. containing this fragment C, viz. MSS.
Ashmole 44, and Dublin D. 4. 12 — which will henceforth be called
simply the Ashmole and Dublin MSS. — the former is the more im-
portant, partly because it contains a much larger portion of the story,
and partly because it is more correctly written. It was printed by
Mr, Stevenson in full, and has thus become known, being frequently
cited by Dr. Morris and other writers, whilst it has also been
made use of by Matzner and Stratmann in their Middle-English
Dictionaries. ^Ir. Stevenson's text (like that of his edition of
fragment B) is by no means free from faults, and was doubtless
printed from an imperfect transcript, without due collation of the
proof-sheets with the MS. itself.^ Thus in 1. 15, he prints " forwart "
for " ioTwith," and " ettitlis " for " ettillis," though the latter word
is rightly given in the Glossary. In 1. 16, he has "o3efulle3t" for
" a^efullest," and so on. In some cases the errors are still more
sorious ; as in 1. 70, where " it semyd " is turned into " or myd," and
in 1. 417, where "sweuy?i" appears as "sodeyn." Nevertheless, the
transcription was, in general, well made, and a little more caution
would have given us a faithful text throughout, excepting in such
minute particulars as the use of ]> for th, & for and, and the mode of
expressing contractions. The chief defects of the edition, after all,
are due to the fact that the Dublin MS. was not consulted. Mr.
Stevenson does, indeed, mention it, but says that he only knew of it
through the kindness of Sir F. Madden, who had made a note that
it commenced with 1. 678 of the Ashmole text, and ended with 1.
3426.2
^ Such a collation would have detected the omission of two whole lines in
the transcript, viz. 4002* and 4733.
2 L. 3425 of the present edition. As it is always my endeavour to keep to
old numberings of lines, for the sake of reference, I must explain how this
THE GAP IN TDE ASHMOLE M3. XI
§ 4. It is surprising to find that Mr. Stevenson edited the
Ashmole text without ever discovering that there is a great gap in
the story. He prints 1. 723, which is the first line on leaf 13 of the
Ashmole MS. (as now numbered), as if it immediately followed L
722, which is the last line on the back of fol. 12. Yet 1. 722 forms
a part of a speech of Anectanabus, and 1. 723 a part of a speech of
Alexander; and, according to the Ashmole MS., Anectanabus drops
out of the romance in the middle of uttering a sentence, and is no
more heard of, whilst a king of Peloponnesus, by name Sir Nicholas,
jumps into the story without any introduction, and is at once found
in the midst of an angry parley with Alexander. A moderate
attention to the progress of the story shews us at once, that the
Ashmole MS. must, at this point, have lost one or more leaves, and
we now know that it has, in fact, lost just two leaves, or 122 lines.
The discovery of the precise state of the case was made by Mr.
Ilessels in 1874, after a careful examination of the Dublin MS., and
comparison of it with Stevenson's edition. He found that the very
passage required to fill up the gap occurs in full in that ^.IS., which,
notwithstanding its incompleteness at the beginning and end, supplies
this very material contribution to the continuity of the story. Even
now, the conclusion of the Romance is wanting, since the Ashmole
MS. has lost a few leaves at the end also. After making this
discovery, Mr. Hessels made a transcript of the entire MS., and
kindly consented to assist me in editing the Romance. Owing to
pressure of other work, he resigned to me the preparation of the
Notes and Glossary, and expressed the wish that my name alone
should appear upon the title-page ; but so much of the work was
done by us jointly, that it is best to describe more fully the method
of editing adopted by us.
§ 5. In the first place, a collation of Stevenson's edition with the
Ashmole MS. was made by Mr. George Parker ; and, as that
edition was printed without any punctuation, the punctuation was
difference arose. It was because it escaped my notice that 1. 3028 in Stevenson
is immediately followed by 1. 3030 ; so that, after following his numbering for
more than 3000 lines, I was thus, to my regret, thrown out. There are other
Blight differences further on, as explained at p. xiii, but the difEerence in the
numbering never amounts to more than one line.
Xll PLAN OF THE PRESENT EDITION.
added by myself. Meanwhile, the Dublin IMS. was transcribed by
Mr, Hessels, and both texts, thus prepared, were sent to press, and
printed in full. In general, the Ashmole text occupies the left-hand
page, and the Dublin text the right-hand page ; but, throughout tho
first 21 pages and the last 71 pages, the Ashmole text occupies both
pages, to save space. The word Ashmole or Dublin is printed at the
top of every page, to prevent ambiguity. The gap in the Ashmole MS.
is shewn by leaving a part of pp. 24 and 32 blank, as well as an entire
blank on pp. 26, 28, and 30 ; and further on, a gap in the Dublin MS.
is similarly shewn by leaving blank a part of pp. 197 and 201, and a
blank on p. 199. Considering that the exact reproduction of the
MSS. is, after all, the chief duty of editors, Mr. Hessels and myself
have paid very close attention to this point. The proof-sheets were
carefully compared with both j\ISS. by both of us separately, and we
venture to think that the texts are faithfully reproduced in the
minutest particular. Every tag and curl has been carefully watched,
and notice is given in the foot-notes whenever a word is miswritten,
or corrected, or supplied in the margin. The head-lines, side-notes,
and Xotes were prepared by me, and I accept the responsibility for
them, but they have had the great advantage of revision by Mr.
Hessels. As regards the Glossary, tlie shape in which it now
appears is due to myself; but it was chiefly prepared by Miss
Wilkinson, who has kindly assisted me on other occasions (par-
ticularly in the glossaries to my selections from Chaucer), and was
much augmented by Mr. Hessels, who added to it numerous words
and forms, chiefly from the Dublin MS., and also underwent the
great labour of verifying all the references, which will, we believe,
be found to be correct throughout. The preparation of this Glossarial
Index has occupied a long time, and has delayed the appearance of
the edition for some years ; but, now that Dr. Murray's Dictionary
is passing through the press, it seemed highly desirable to make the
references as full as possible.^ We also owe to Mr. Hessels the
transcript of the very brief prose "Story of Alexander," which is
^ Mr. Stevenson's Glossary, consisting of 12 pages, is rather a poor per-
formance, aiid contains several false forms. Havins:, for example, printed
"forwart" for " forwit/t" in 1. 15, his Glossary has '' Forwart, to promise."
NUMBERING OF THE LINKS. XUl
here printed for the first time, from the Dublin MS., at pp. 279 —
283.
§ 6. One great defect, in nearly all copies of poems in alliterative
metre, is caused by the liability of the scribe to lose his place, and to
miss one or more lines here and there. The Ashmole MS. is the
more carefully written of the two, but (in addition to the gap con-
tained in the lines numbered 733* to 844*), it misses ten other lines.
In order to avoid much deviation from Stevenson's numbering of the
lines, these extra lines are here denoted by asterisks, and are called
respectively, lines 1633*, 1766* 1767*, 2168*, 2538*, 2724*, 2842*
2980*, 3167*, and 3267*. The Dublin MS. (in addition to the gap
caused by the loss of leaf 40, 11. 3296—3356) has lost 30 lines, viz.
911, 1227, 1333, 1334, 1745, 1749, 1804, 1822, 1874—7, 2012,
2120—5, 2143, 2317, 2318, 2328, 2373, 2380, 2386, 2440,2519,
2721, and 2808. Unfortunately, I did not discover, till too late, that
Stevenson's printer missed counting a line after 1. 3028, so that from
that point to 1. 4733, the number of each line in this edition is one less
than in his. Here Stevenson misses a line which I have supplied,^ thus
bringing the numbering right. Unluckily, his printer again missed
counting a line after 1. 4933, so that from this point to the end the
number of each line in this edition is again one less than in his.
My last line (5677) is the one formerly caUed 5678.^ This will not
give much trouble to readers who refer to this volume for words
mentioned by Matzner and Stratraann, but it is best to explain how
the difference arose. An old numbering, even if faulty, should be
adhered to, where possible, for the sake of convenience of reference.
I shall describe the MSS. more particularly.
§ 7. Eespecting the Ashmole MS. 44, there is not much to be
said, Nothing is known of its history previously to its acquisition
by Ashmole. Mr. Stevenson dates it, no doubt correctly, at " the
middle of the fifteenth century," and says that " it is on paper,
written by a hand coarse, rough, and irregular, without any attempt
at neatness, and without much regard to accuracy. The errors into
which the scribe has fallen seem to indicate, in some instances, that
1 Stevenson also misses a line after 1. 4002, but I have called it 1. 4002*.
2 See also note 1 on p. 56, explaining why Stevenson's 1. 1098 disappears.
XIV DESCRIPTION OF THE ASHMOLE MS.
he was unable to read correctly the copy which he had before him,
while others would appear to shew that he wrote from dictation."
I have not observed any passages of the latter kind ; and I think
that the above description, though fairly indicating the general
condition of the MS., errs somewhat on the side of severity. I
should say that the scribe aimed at being both neat and regular,
though his success in attaining to these is not of the highest order.
Still it is a tolerably good MS., and I have seen many that are worse.
No doubt it abounds with singular errors, but the number of these
has been needlessly augmented in the former edition, as if it were
the editor who, in just a few instances, *' was unable to read
correctly the copy which he had before him ; " ^ though the general
carefulness and correctness of that edition may be admitted. The
MS. contains at present 97 leaves, wholly occupied with the
Romance, and is imperfect at the end. Each leaf contains about 60
lines, sometimes more, and sometimes less; and we thus see that
two leaves are missing after leaf 12, since the missing portion
amounts to 122 lines ; but the following leaf is numbered 13, as the
gap in the MS. seems" never to have been noticed. The MS. gives
us no further information of any kind, so that we are entirely
thrown back upon internal evidence. We may perhaps date it
about 1450, as already suggested, and I think we may also say that
it was probably written in the north of England. With reference to
this question of locality, Mr. Stevenson ventures to " hazard the
conjecture that this romance was written in one of the north-eastern
counties of the midland division of England, some district in which
the Anglian dialect had originally prevailed, untinctured, however, by
those peculiarities of vocabulary and construction which characterize
the language of ancient Northumbria." I would venture to say, on
the contrary, that the Northumbrian character of the dialect is very
strongly marked. If we apply, for instance, such dialectal tests as
are given in the Introduction to Morris and Skeat's Specimens of
1 Examples : " forwart " for " forwitA," 15 ; " sodeyn " for " sweuyw," 417 ;
"Anec" for "anes," 478; "Anec analey" (sic) for " Anecanabw*," scribal
error for " Anectanab?<x," 487 ; " se)' hevyn " for "seuyn heuyns," 1528 ; "to
v/itk'm" omitted, 1634; "odde" for "aid," 2176; "twine" for " turne,"
2276 ; "chose " for " tholid," 2329 ; " herde " for " parde," 2707.
DESCRIPTION OP THE DUBLIN M3. XV
English, Part IL, we easily find, in the Ashmole text, all the marks
of the N'orthumbrian dialect. It may suffice to instance the use of
the suffix -is in the first person singular of the indicative mood, as
in I ettillis (15) ; the use of -id or -yd for all persons of the preterite
indicative of weak verbs, as / neuenyd (76), he hauntid (16), \ai
lerid (36) ; the frequent^ loss of e in the infinitive mood or the
gerund, as in rehers (21), to hiaio {pi), flay (110); the use of sail
for shall (21), and of suld for sholde (100); present participles in
-and, as fe^tand (91), comand, heruand (63) ; the omission of i- or y-
as a prefix to past participles, as in fourmed (3) ; the preservation of
the final -en or -ijn of past participles of strong verbs, as in comyn
(85), coruen (129); the use of ]>ir iota these (262); the use of scho
for she (267) ; the use of thai, thair, and thaim (very common) ; the
use of hethen for he7ice (see Glossary); fra for from (139); at for
that (161); &c. But it will be convenient to defer any further
discussion of the dialect till after the Dublin MS. has been described.
§ 8. The Dublin MS. D. 4. 12 contains not only a portion of
Alexander, but also part of a copy of the A-text of Piers the
Plowman, and has already been partially described in a foot-note to
my edition of Piers Plowman (E. E. T. S.), part ii. p. vi; and
again, in my Notes to P. Plowman, p. 836. But I take the present
opportunity of giving a more minute account of it. It is a paper
MS., the size of each page being about 8f inches by 5|, and each
page containing about 30 lines or rather more. The first 26 leaves
contain an imperfect copy of the A-text of Piers Plowman, the
contents of which have been turned by the scribe into a Northumbrian
dialect. This copy shews a close connection with the curious copy
in the library of University CoUege, Oxford, denoted in my collation
of the A-text by the letter U, as the following selected readings from
it will shew.
Prologue, 1. 1. whan — sonne] as I south went. 2. into] in.
A — were] as I a scheepe were. 4. Wende — icydene] I went
wide. 9. leonede] lened me. 14. ima^et] entyred (sic).
32. flit — to] it is sene in.
^ The scribes often write an idle final e where it was not meant to be
sounded ; this is common, for example, in the MSS. of Barbour's Bruce.
XVI DESCRIPTION OF THE DUBLIN MS.
After 1. 54 of the Prologue it inserts 4 lines, though they do not
occur in U. Tliese are : —
P<'?'Sons with j^air pjvcurases ^p<?rmutyn {^air chirches,^
With al pe besynes of {jair body j^e better to haue.
Vicars on fele halue fandyn j^am to done,
Lede[r]e8 {^ai ben of lovedays & with {jb lawe mellyth.
The two last lines occur also in MS. Eawlinson Poet. 137, which
contains an A-text of P. Plowman of the same character.
After 1. 83 of the Prologue there are two more extra lines, also
not found in MS. U. These are : —
pan come \>er a king knyght?« hym led,
Conciens & \)e king into \ie halle went.
The former of these agrees with B. prol. 112.
After 1, 95 of the Prologue we find another insertion of 10 lines,
also not in MS. U; they resemble B. prol. 92—99, C. i. 90—94,
and are as follows : —
Suw scruis ]pe kyng & hys syluer tellis
Of wardis & of wardmut?s of wayues & sf raves.
Some sitt(s as synescallis & seruis other lordez,
And syttw j^er apon {^air acounte j^e pure to distroy,
And haldfs courtis in Cuntree like me/i of law.
For to take vntrewly ayains conscience.
Ye suffre your pa?'ochyng[s] spyl &c paire for eui?*, y
Holy kyrke ye distroy & pat is gret rewth,
^e serue god vn-dwelly (sic) it is dred at pe last
pat crist in hys consistoiy of 30W wol cwrse mony.
Line 100 of the Prologue runs thus : —
Talyours & tynkelers &; tollers both.
In Passus I, the following remarkable readings are worthy of
notice.
Instead of 11. 39 and 40, we find-
To shend f^i sory saule be war -with ^air wyles.
For 1. 93 — And ryde rapely to rensake pe realmes abowte. â–
For 1. 137 — And in plente of pes preche jjou it ofte.
The difficult word a-liri (A. viL 115) appears as qf-lery, shewing
the nature of the compound. On fol. 6 of the MS. we find that
Pass. i. 184 is immediately followed by Pass. viL 71, thus shewing
^—1 Not 'prouianses' and 'cherches/ as printed in Pref, to Text B, p. vi,
note.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DUBLIN M3. XVU
a transposition of the subject-matter closely resembling that in !MS. U
(see Pref. to text A. p. xx). On the back of fol. 8 is another trans-
position, where A. vii. 216 is immediately followed by A. i. 182
(over again), whence the text is continuous down to A. vii. 45.
Thus A. i. 182-4 occurs twice over, and the order of the subject-
matter is: A. prol. 1— i. 184; vii. 71—216; i. 182— vii. 45. On
fol. 13 occurs the passage printed in the Notes to P. Plowman,
p. 836. The text ceases at A. vii. 45, at the bottom of the back of
leaf 26, the rest of the poem having been lost before it was bound
up with the Alexander Romance, which has lost (probably) eleven
leaves 1 at the beginning.
§ 9. With the Alexander Piomance, the numbering of the folios
recommences. Fol. 1 begins with 1. 678 of the poem (see p. 23) ;
and, most fortunately, just 45 lines before the gap of two leaves
occurs in the other MS. It thus supplies the missing passage in
lines 723*— 844* (see pp. 25, 27, 29, 31, 33), and goes on without
a break to the end of leaf 39 (1. 3295, p. 197). Here leaf 40 is lost,
as shown by the blanks on pp. 197, 199, and 201 (lines 3296—3356).
Leaf 41 is the last of the poem ; at the end of Avhich the poem comes
to a sudden stop (1. 3425, p. 205), the rest having been torn away
before the MS. was last bound up. It may here be remarked that the
scribe is even more careless than the scribe of the Ashmole MS., and
repeatedly misses lines, viz. 911, 1227, 1333, 1334, 1745, 1749, 1804,
1822, 1874-7, 2012, 2120-5, 2143, 2317-8, 2328, 2373, 2380, 2386,
2440, 2519, 2721, and 2808. Leaf 42 is bound in upside down,
and has some names and numbers written upon it, evidently part of
some accounts. Among the names mentioned are : — T. Hagirston,
Eic. Hagirston, Magister Holborn, Eic. Barow, Job. "Watson de
goswyk, Willelmits Sanderson de bukton. Job. haH de bolsden, . .
de ancroft, . . de morpet. These obviously allude to a cluster of
places lying in that northern extremity of the county of Northum-
berland, which is so oddly considered os forming a part of the
county of Durham. In Pigot's County Atlas (1831) I here find
Haggerston, Goswick, Buckton, and Ancroft, and (within Nortlium-
1 The first 11 extant leaves contain 680 lines. The number of lines lost at
the beginning is about 677.
ALEXANDER. b
XVlll DESCRIPTION OF THE DUBLIN MS.
berland proper) Bosedon, now Bowsden, Howbum, and much further
south the well-known town of Morpeth. We are thus enabled to
connect the MS., beyond any doubt, with the county of Northum-
berland.
On leaf 43 are various scribblings, amongst which occurs " Dele-
atur de libro viuentium," which is quoted from P. Plowman, A. vii.
G8, but does not occur in the body of the MS. ; also — " Omnibus
07nmA non mea sompnia dicere possum " — " Explicit liber Amen quod
Cutlibertus Eme?'yson (1) " — and other trivial remarks. On the back
of leaf 43 is a tale in Latin, beginning — " [Narjracio. 'Legiiur in vita
heati remegii quod quidem miles anglic?<s valde probus & in SLctihus
niniis [MS. nimus] strenu[u]s ad divt'?'sa regna vadens propter acta
militaria exercenda & in omnihiis loczs sive ubiq?/e locorwm se viri-
liter gerens & victoria??z optinens & tr/umpha?is demum Tediit laboris
& i-euersus est vt repatn'aret ad proprza propter (?) probitatem sua»i
in sua patn'a enotescendam." And then the story goes on to tell how
this invincible English soldier, riding through a forest, lost his way,
wandered about for two days, being half famished, and finally met a
dwarf a cubit high, who demanded who he was. On describing
himself as an invincible but starving English soldier, the dwarf took
him to a hall and his horse to a stable, and provided for the wants
of both. Before parting, the dwarf addressed him, saying, " As you
claim to be invincible, you must now fight me or one still smaller
than me;" whereupon the soldier consented to wrestle, and was
thrown prostrate on the earth. And so the story ends, being nearly
illegible near its conclusion.
Leaf 44 merely contains four words ^ scribbled to try the pen,
but in the same hand as that which wrote out the Eomance. The
back of the leaf is blank.
Leaf 45 is blank on the front, but on the back begins the short
prose story printed at pp. 279—283. This occupies the rest of leaf
45, the whole of leaf 46, and the front of leaf 47. On the back of
leaf 47 are three lines of music and some scribbling ; and here the
MS. ends.
1 They begin with ornamental initials, and are merely long words in
alphabetical order, viz. Annunciaueruret. Beueuolencia. Circu?Hdederunt ; and
an illegible word beginning with D.
DIALECTAL FORMS. XIX
On a fly-leaf at the beginning are some accounts scribbled in
Latin, which commence thus : — "Lud«s specialis tent?/-s apid Petyng-
ton vndesimo die me?jsis septembris pe/- (?) Magisfram Toma[m]
castell p^io^e??^, E. Heryngton existe?jte seneschallo anno domiu'i
Milesimo qui?zgentesimo tercio," &c. This is interesting as contain-
ing an allusion to a play held at "Petyngton," -which maybe the
modern Pittington, at no groat distance from Durham, where there
is now a railway station; and as giving us the date 1503. This
again associates the MS. with the North of England, and leads us to
suppose that the main part of the MS. was written, as would also
otherwise appear, towards the close of the fifteenth century.
§ 10. The Dublin MS., like the otlaer, shews decided marks of a
Northumbrian dialect, as seen in the use of sail (688), of the pres.
part, in -aiid, as syl-and (698), of -es in the pres. pi. indie, as draio-es
(706), oi-yn in the pp. of strong verbs, as knaio-yn (719) ; &c. But
the remarks prefixed to Dr. Morris's second edition (1869) of the
Early English Alliterative Poems warn us how extremely difficult it is
to separate the pure Northumbrian dialect from the Midland dialect,
where it borders upon the Northumbrian; for the latter is often
marked by the use of Northumbrian forms. "We have, first of all,
to consider which of the MSS. probably gives the dialect more cor-
rectly ; and here I have very little hesitation in at once preferring
the Ashmole MS., which ought certainly to be most considered as
being at once the older, more correct, and more consistent MS. of the
two. If we compare, e. g., lines 678 — 722 (pp. 22 — 25), we find that
the Ashmole MS. steadily keeps to the Northumbrian forms where
the Dublin MS. varies from them. Examples are : ^ A. wald, 1 ).
wold (690) ; A. /m, D. from (694) ; A. waytis, D. watyn (700) ; A.
mon, D. must (707); A. slike, D. seiche (711). And a further col-
lation of paraUel passages will amply confirm these results. "We
even find, though rarely, in MS. A. such a clear mark of the
Northumbrian dialect as the use of at for to to denote the gerund ; as
in at grete, i. e. to weep (872), at drede, to dread (4294). It would
take a prolonged examination to enable me to speak decisively on
^ I here (and below) denote the Ashmole MS. by "A.," and the Dublin
MS. by "D."
XX BOTH MSS. PRINTED IN FULL.
lliis point ; but I am inclined to think that the translation of the
Alexander Eomance here printed was originally made in a pure
Northumbrian dialect, in some county lying between the Humber
and the Tweed ; and I think it will be found to exhibit this dialect
in a purer form than any other unrimed alliterative poem now ex-
tant,^ with the obvious exception of such as are in Lowland Scotch,
viz. Dunbar's poem of the Twa Maryit "Women and the Wedo, and
the Prophecies in MS. Kk. 1. 5 in the University Library, printed
in Beruardus de Cura rei familiaris, ed. Lumby, 1870 (E. E. T. S.).
§11. The method here adopted, of printing the two MSS. side
by side, as far as they go, not only gives fuller information than
could be shewn by a mere collation, but dispenses with a great deal
of explanation and emendation. It will be found, repeatedly, that
one MS. corrects the other; and the reader should compare them for
himself. It is sufficient to point out a few obvious instances ; there
are other instances which require more thought, and some where the
right reading is doubtful.
In D. 681, the alliteration fails; the line is corrupt, but is given
correctly in A. The contrary takes place in 1. 684. In 1. 687, A.
misses the necessary word is, which we have supplied. In A. 689,
the spelling toerid is due to the trilling of the r ; the word meant is
werd, i. e. weird, fate. In 692, D. misses me, supplied from A. ; on
the other hand, the reading gaiie in A. is false, as shown by the failure
of alliteration ; we must read done. In D. 710, read hyhynde for
hijlyue. In 711, the reading hym (D.) is better than he (A). The
latter half of 714 is right in D., but wrong in A. In A. 717, we
may read either angirhj or augirly ; but the latter is intended, as
shewn by the spelling awgardly in D., and by comparing all the
other passages ; see Augard, Augird, and Augirly in the Glossary.
We find, however, angirly elsewhere ; see Angrile in the same. It
is needless to multiply instances, as the comparison can so easily be
made. It is also worth while to add here, that further help is some-
times to be obtained by consulting the other alliterative translations
1 Tlie Ti-o)--book, as we have it, is West-Midland (pref. p. Iv) ; so are the
Alliterative Poems edited by Morris. The Morte Arthure abounds with
Jlidland forms.
METHOD OF TRANSLATION. Xxi
of the Romance, viz. fragment A (printed with William of Paleme)
and fragment C (printed as Alexander and Dindimus). Of these,
the former illustrates 11. 23—803*, and the latter 11. 4019—4714 ;
as noted at p. 285. For further examples of this, see the Notes.
§ 12. We come now to consider how the translater has performed
his task. He has given us but little of his own, the chief original
passage being the first 22 lines, which are introductory. He has
also divided his work into Passus, by way of affording intervals of
rest, and sometimes adds a few lines of his own at the beginnings
and ends of these, such as 11. 212, 213, 214, 523, 524, &c. At such
points, we may particularly observe that he uses such expressions as
Ipe text me recordis (214); as says me the text (741*, p. 27) ; as \e
buke sais (881) ; For all pe first [part] is in fittis (3473). The most
explicit passage is the following (11. 3472-3) : —
" pe lattir ende of his lyfe • me list ^ow to tett.
For att ])Q first is ia fittis * & folowand the lettir."
Here he expressly tells us that he has already arranged the preceding
part of the work in Passus, and that it was ** following the letter," i. e.
a more or less literal translation from the " text" which was before
him. It does not appear that he has adopted any single text ex-
clusively, but the main part of the narrative follows, with tolerable
fidelity, the Latin text known as the " Historia de Preliis." Of this
work, I fortunately possess an excellent black-letter copy, printed at
Strassburg in 1489,^ which has been of great help and service in
making out the true sense of several passages. In order to shew
how the translater has treated his original, I have quoted the whole
of the first Chapter of this work in the note to 1. 13, on p. 285. It
answers precisely to the translater's Primus Passus, 11. 23 — 211;
hnes 1 — 22 and 212, 213 being obviously additions to it. I have
also, in the note to 1. 722, quoted the whole of the Latin text
answering to the two missing leaves in the Ashmole MS. But, in
general, each Passus of the English version contains several chapters
of the Latin text ; thus Passus Secundus is equivalent to the second,
^ In my Notes to Alexander, fragment A (printed with William of
Paleme) and fragment B (Alexander and Dindimus), I have quoted a copy in
the University Library, printed in 1490.
XXll THE ALEXANDER ROMANCE.
tliird, fourth, and fifth chapters of the Latin, and ends at the same
point as the fifth chapter, lines 521-4 being additional ; seo note to
1. 214, p. 289. All the more important elucidations of the English
version, as obtained by help of the Latin text, are pointed out in the
Notes. But it is necessary to add that the " Historia de Preliis "
was not the sole text which our translater consulted, and it is
tolerably clear that another source was the Latin version of the
story of Alexander by Julius Valerius, as shewn in the Notes.
Some expressions can be explained by help of the Latin text, called
The Letter of Alexander to Aristotle (Epistola Alexandri ad Aris-
totelem). A copy of this is extant in MS. Cotton, Nero D. 8, fol.
169, and is printed in Narratiunculse Anglice Conscriptse, ed. Cock-
ayne, 1861, pp. 51—62; see notes to lines 3782, 3926, 3932, 3944.
For further information, I must refer the reader to my preface to
William of Palerne, &c., pp. xxxiv and xxxvi, and the notes to the
same, pp. 236 — 249 ; the preface to Alexander and Dindimus, and
the notes to the same ; and the notes to the present volume. The
development of the Story of Alexander is a most difficult problem,
and cannot be fully explained without long and patient research.
An excellent book on the subject has just appeared, written by
M. Paul Meyer, with the title " Alexandre le Grand dans la Lit-
terature Fran^aise du Moyen Age," published at Paris in 1886. It
is full of new information, drawn from manuscript sources, and is
the more important because many of the MSS. are still inedited. I
may here mention, for example, that M. Meyer tells us (p. 294)
that the English rimed version of King Alysaunder, as printed in
vol. i. of Weber's Metrical Romances, is chiefly taken from the
inedited Roman de Toute Chevalerie, by Eustace of Kent.
It is proper to add that there are some words and phrases which
point to the occasional use of sources which I have not found ; cf.
note to 1. 5268. Both MSS. are often corrupt, and are merely poor
copies of older MSS. The Dublin MS. is, usually, the more careless
of the two, but occasionally corrects the other ; and the fact that one
of the ]\ISS. is often correct where the other is obviously wrong, is
not a little curious. As regards proper names, the misspellings are
often of the most extraordinary character, and it is useless to guei-s
PROBABLE DATE OF TOE TRANSLATION. XXIU
at them without at any rate consulting the cliief Latin text; and
even in that they frequently assume the most singular forms. In
the English text, for example, the goddess Ceres becomes a god
named Serenon (4510), Bacchus appears as Bary (4506), Hercules
as Arculious (4068), and Cyrus as Cusys (3219).
§ 13. As to the date and dialect of the original composition,
nothing is really known. We can only conjecture that the original
Avas probably written in a pure Northumbrian dialect rather than in
"West-Midland (but even this may be wrong), and that the version
belongs to the former half or to the middle of the fifteenth century.
"When the barrenness of this period is complained of, as is not un-
frequently the case, we ought to remember that, in addition to the
poems by known authors, it is probable that such anonymous poems
as the Morte Arthure, the Troy-book, and the two versions^ of
Alexander belong to the same period, and compare favourably with
the poems by Chaucer's successors. I suspect that the dates usually
assigned to other alliterative poems are often too early ; and that, for
example, the date which I formerly suggested for the other fragments
of the Alexander Romance, viz. 1340-50, should be placed later.
At the same time, this is a point of extreme difficulty, as the MS.
copies are all of later date than the period of the original com-
positions, and there is no available evidence by which we can
correctly judge of the intervals to be assigned.
In the Glossarial Index, we have endeavoured to include every
form that occurs in both the MSS., as well as to furnish a complete
index of all the proper names. The poem seems to me to be of
unusual difficulty. Many of the words could only be correctly ex-
plained by collating both MSS. ; and others only by comparing the
original Latin. Several forms are thus ascertained to be corrupt or
inaccurate ; and, in consequence, in some passages where there is but
one MS. and no clearly corresponding passage in the original, it is
very difficult to be quite certain that the correct sense has been given.
"We consequently offer the explanations for what they are worth;
though they have cost a great expenditure of time and labour.
1 The former is that epic of tremendous length, of which fragments A and
B are short relics ; and the latter is the version here printed.
ERRATA AND CORRIGENDA.
(The more important corrections are marked with an asterisk.)
P. 9, 1. 281. The stop after 'thrid' should be raised, like the rest.
*P. 15, L 477. For the second jse, read na. See note on p. 290.
P. 18. 1. 554. Insert a hyphen in Thonerc-thrastis.
,, 1. 562. The same in bale-fyre.
'P. 19, 1. 580. For schoutid read schontid. See note on p. 290.
P. 20, 1. 606. Head The tane, to breue [i. e. describe], &c.
,, 1. 627. Insert a comma after wele.
P. 29, 1. 779*. Alter the slanting stroke to a raised full-stop, as in other lines.
P. 32, 1. 740. Insert a comma after he ; and transfer the marks of quotation so
as to precede hedirward instead of k.
P. 37, 1. 798. Read )jai [l^ar] wod. See note on p. 293.
•p. 48, 1. 988. Insert a hyphen in at-flee. See Atflee in the Glossary, and in
Murray's Dictionary.
p. 50, 11. 1009, 1110. Insert hyphens in topp-haris and here-wedis. See note
on p. 294.
"P. 60, 1. 1175. For wayne read wayue.
P. 72, 1. 1370. iTisert a comma after nere.
P. 91, 1. 1650. Insert a comma after &, and alter the stop after wald to a cornma.
See note on p. 298.
•p. 99, 1. 1767*. Insert a hyphen in ouer-sheet. See note, p. 298.
P. 101, footnotes 1 and 4. T/ic MS. has a stroke over the final n iii eughen,
dyden.
P. 109, footnote 1. The 3IS. has a tag to the final letter o/acoaunt.
P. 110, 1. 1970. For wella^ read wella^.
P. 124, footnote 1. The MS. has a stroke over the final n in layn.
P. 132, fourth side-note. For Alexander read Strasagoras. See note to 1.
2312, p. 302.
P. 147, 1. 2519. There should be a line of dots here, to shew that a line is
omitted.
*P. 164, 1. 2811. Insert [of] lefore my warke.
*P. 176, 1. 2995. Insert [in] after fettild, and add a semi-colon at the end of the
line. See the reading of the Dublin MS.
P. 180, footnotes 4 and 8. There is a stroke in the MS. over the n in the words
ont a7id spilken.
P. 185, 1. 3104. The stop at the end of the line should perhaps be a comma.
For wayne read wayue.
For bewenes read beweues.
Insert a comma after sottis. See note on p. 311.
Delete the commas after \>e. and lede.
Delete the comma at the end of the line.
Insert a comma at the end of the line.
Delete the comma after tccches. (See note, p. 312.)
The MS. has a stroke over the n in On.
P. 244, 1. 4658. Insert [in] after settis.
,, 1. 4665. Alter the stop at the end to a comma.
P. 247, fourth side-note. Becul — Alexander comes to trees full of fruit. (The
trees of the Sun and Moon appear at 1. 5003.)
P. 268, fifth side-note. For The snakes read Some beasts. See note to 1.
5433, p. 315.
,, 1. 5428. For wond read woud. See Woud in the Glossary.
•p. 329. ' Baisting ' means ' abasement, ' not ' boasting. ' It is put for ' baising '
(abasing), by confusion with ' baist ' (abased). Cf. 1. 466.
N.B. — A few other suggestions for amending the text will be found in the
Notes and Glossarial Index.
*p.
204,
3426. .
*p.
234,
4337. .
p.
236,
4417. -
*p.
241,
4590. .
•p.
242,
4606. :
^^
4620. :
p.
243,
4640. :
,,
footnote 1,
[Eomance of ^lexantier t!je (Great,]
[MS. Ashmole 44 ; ful. 1.]
w
Hen folk ere festi(J & fed' • fayn wald' bai here Afiei- meals,
men like to hear a
Su??i farand jjing* efter fode • to fayn fare liei[t], stoiy.
Or Jjai ware fo2«-med on fold! • or ))aire fadirs o\er.
Sum is leue to lythe • be lesing of Sayntis, 4 some like to hear
legends of saints,
\)ai lete fer lifis be lorne * for oure lordz6"^ sake ; otiiei-s lays of
And sum has langing^ of lufe • lays to herken,
How ledis for faire le»zmans • has langor endured'.
Sum couettis & has comforth • to carpe & to lestj-n 8
Of curtaissy of kny3thode • of cxaf tis of armys,
Of kyngis at has conquirid' • & oue?'-comyn landis. oti.ers stories of
•' ° ^ _ '' _ kings and
Sum of wirschip I-wis • slike as f am wyse latt?"*', conquerors.
And sum of wanton werkis • fa fat ere wild-liedidf ; 12
Bot if fai wald on many wyse • a wondire ware it els ;
For as faire wittis ere wit/i-in • so fer wiH folowis.
And I forwit/i 30w aH: * ettillis to schewe i «iii trj- and wii
you about tlie
Of ane Empe?-oure fe a3efullest • fat euer armys hauntid', most renowned
y>ai was fe athill Alexsandire • as fe buke tellis, 17 Alexander.
Jjat a3te euyn as his awyfi • aH the werd ouire.
For he recouerd quills he regnyd • f e regions aH clene,
And all rialme & f e riches • in-to f e rede est. 2U
I saH rehers, & 30 wiH, renkis • rekyn 302/?- tougis,
A remnant of his rialte • & rist quen vs likis.
In llie land of
Egvpt lived the
IT Oute in fe erth of Egipt • enhabet vmquile
]?e wysest wees of the wertl! • as I in writt fynd. 24 wTsest men.
For f ai f e mesure & f e mett • of aH f e mulde couthe,
)3e sise of aH f e grete see • & of f e gryni wawys ;
^ MS. lord! = loi^is perhajis.
ALEXANDER.
ANECTANABUS OF EGYPT.
[Ashmole.
They kneir tlie
courses of the
stars.
[Fol. 1 6.]
id the signs.
All men heard of
their lore.
Their king was
Aiiectauabus.
He knew all the
japes of
geometry.
As he sat one day
OM the dais,
news came that
Artaxerxes, king
of Persia, liad
invaded his land.
He fills a brazen
bowl with water,
ami invokes the
spirits.
Of fe ordere of ])at odde home • fat oue?- fe aire hingis
Knew Jjc kynd, & Jje curses • of pe clere sternys, 28
Of Articus the aghiii • tre^ airis & ojjire
Of f e fold? & of fe firmament • wele fe fete cuthe ;
And Antarticus also • Jjat all^ apon turnys,
)5e pasage of J^e planettw • J?e poynti's & }?e svgne.s. 32
)3ai ware Jie kiddest of fat craft • knawyn ill f aire tyme,
And fe sotellest vndere son * segis in faire lyfe.
Jjus ware f ai breued for fe best • as pe buke tellis ;
All fai lerid of fat^ lare â– pat it lere wald?. 36
As Avide as pe werd was * went worde of faire teching,
Of sorsery & slike werkis ' sle3tis enogh.
And pe kyng of fat centre • was a clerke noble,
j)e athelest ane of pe werct • & Anec was hatten.
He was wyse eno3e * wirdis to reken,
When he f e heuyn beheld! • of lede[s] opon lyfe ;
)?e iapis of ali gemetri • gentilli he couth,
And wele as Aristotill • fe artis art seuyn.
pe7- pveued neue?* nane his prik • for passing of witt,
Plato nor Piktagaras • ne Prektane him seluen.
Emang his duykis on a day • as he on dese syttis,
Jjafi was him bodword vnblyth • bro3t to pe sale, 48
pat Artaxenses was armed • with pe men of his rewme,
pe proude king^ of Persy • to pase him agayn.
Jjoje he fa sawis herd say • 3it samyd he na p?-/ncis,
Ne ost ordand he nane • of na kyd kny3tis, 52
Bot airis euen furth him ane • & entirs his chambre,
To knaw by his clergi • f e come of his faa.
He takis a Boll of bras • burneschid fuH clene,
And fuH he fiUis it of the flode • at feH fra fe heuew.
On hi3t ill his a hand* • haldis a wand', 57
And kenely be coniurisons • callis to him sprit?'**.
In-to pis water as he waiiis â– was he ware sone
40
44
So in MS. ; read athille • thre. * MS. repeats all.
^ MS. ' \!at o,' b}(t o is expuncted.
* MS. hand hand, the latter vnderVined.
Ashmole.] artaxerxes invadks egyi't. 3
Of his e?imys in pat Element • ane endles nombre ; 60 He sees hu
, 1 â– , â– ,â– -ili. J- enemies sailins
He saje fam in pe 11136 see • sailand to-gedire, [Foi. 2.]
"Was neuer sene slike a some â– vnJer pe son bemys.
Carrygis comand lie knew • keruand pe ithis,
Dromonds dryfes ouer pe depe • with dukis & Eiles, G-t
Gales & grete schipis • fuH of grym Avapens, He behoi.u a
And fuH of breneid bernes • bargis a hundreth,
Of slik a naue is noy • to here or to teH.
For all pe largenes of lenth • at he luke my5t, 68
Slik was pe multitude of mast • so mekil & so tliike, Tiie masts were
pat ati him Jjojt bot he treis • a hare wod it semyd. in a wood.
At pe enteris of Egipt • as Anec had beden,
Ware peris of his prouynce • & pn'nces of his cytes, 72
"Was comandid of ]3aire kyng • to kepe ])a landis,
J3at nane aproche it to paire • of Persy ne othiie.
pan was a wardan ware • oute in pe wale strerays One ofhis princes
Of all pe naue & pe note • I neueuyd be-fore ; 76 come,
La3t li3tly his ledis • & leuys his warde,
Comes to courte to pe kyng • & on kneys fall is,
Anec bi his awyn name • he onane gretis, and teiis
_, . , ., , . _ , Anectanabng.
Sais, " 3are pe now 3apely • or 3ud vp pi rewme ; 80
Artaxenses is at hand • & has ane ost reryd,
And resyn vp with aH his rewme • to lide vs agnyn ;
For he him-self is on be se * with siche a soiuHze armed', "Artaxerxes
_ comes Willi a
pat any hathill vnder heuen • ware hardy to rekyn. 84 great navy;
For per is comyn vfith him kny3t[es] ^ • of landis dyuerse,
Segis of many syde • oute of sere remys,
pe perseyns & a pupiil • pat parthy^ is callid', Persians and
Men of Mesepotayme • & of Mede bathe, 88
Of Syre & of Sychim • a selle nounbre.
Of Capidos & Caldec • kene men of armes, cappadoeians
and Clialdeans,
FeH fe3tand folke • pat Faire we caH, [Foi.2 6.]
pe Arrabiens & all pa • [of] pat origyne, 92
Bernys out of Batary • batails arayed*.
And o))ire out of pe orient • many od hundrethe."
' MS. knvjt. ^ MS. panthy.
B 2
and others of
the east."
ANECTANABUS FLEES.
[Aslimole.
The king langlis.
He reproves tlie
prince, and
accuses him of
cowardice.
" Will not a lion
put to flight man}'
liarts ? "
He makes little
ships of wax.
and sees how the
Persians are
defeating his own
men.
[Fol. 3.]
Then he disguises
himself as a
clerk,
and takes with
him all things
tliat he requires.
^ j)en Anec onane rijt â– efter fire wordis,
A lowde latter he 1036 • & to ])e lede said, 96
" Haue ])ou. na care," quod J)e kyng • " hot kene to fe
marche.
As I have demyd fe to do • & dxed )?ou na ferryre ;
For soth. it is vnsemelyi • slike sawis of a prynce.
I kan no3t knaw at fou carpis • as a kny^t sulcJ, 100
Bot as a frek at ware ferid • & feynes ri3t nowe.
Ert \)0U no3t hurtles & hale 1 • lat no3t ))i hert faile.
For vertu vailes no3t aH • if \)oi\ avaied worthe, 103
Emang< fe multitude 2 of men * quare mane ere togeder,
Bot ]>€>• aboute as J>ai ere blend ' with bignes of wiH.
If fai be folke bot a fa • oft tydis pam. pe better.
Or el is wate fou no3t wele • fe witles berne.
How it is comonly carped • in contries a-boute, 108
pat anelepy leon • pat ouer pe land rynnys,
WiH make to fange to pe fli3t • & flay many hert/s?"
'With pat pe segge' all him selfe * silis to his chambre,
And in pe brasen boH • fuH [of] blak watere 112
He shapis him of shire Avax • litiH schipis many,
And 3apely 3arkid in his hand • a 3erd of a palme.
Jjen con he chater & enchant • -with aH his chefe mi3t{^,
A-vj'sid him in pe vessett: â– & was avaied sone, 116
How pe powere out of Persy • pellid doune his kny3tzs,
And how his land suld be lost • vfithoxiten lett mare.
When he was ware of ]3is wathe • how it worthe sulcJ,
)3an wendis he wi3tly furth • & his wede chang?>,
Clede him aH as a clerke • & his croune shauys.
And with a bytand blade • he his bered voydis.
pen takis to him treso2<r ' & trusses in baggis,
As many Besandis on his bake • as he here mi3t,
And o])ire necessari not/5 • as nedis to his crafu's,
To sike salmary dangeH • as him self vyses.
He toke traimmes him with ' to tute in pe sternes,
' MS. vmsemel}'. " MS. multitudo.
' MS. 'gegge,' but the line is marked for correction.
120
124
Aslimole.] his subjects lament. 6
Astyalabus^ algate • as his arte walcf, 128
Quadrentd's^ coruen aH of quyte â– siluyre fuH quaynte,
Mustours & mekil quat • mare ])en a littiH.
"When he was gra])ed -with his gere â– a gladen he wayt/^,
And passis furbe at a Posterne • p?-eualy alane, 132 He slips out at a
. ... posteri. gate,
Furjje on his fete wit/iouten fole • be passis his way,
Vn-wetandly to any wee • fat wont in his Avanes.
)?us airis he out of Egipttf * & his erde leuys, and leaves Egypt.
Fled for ferd of his fais • fere fra his kythis, 136
It was na bote him to bide • ne batiH to ^elde ;
For all his kyngdome he knew • suld be kast vnder.
Fra pe partis of Pe?-sy * he past hot a littiH,
And eujni so |5ur3e Ethyope • & far him eft cletbis, 140
AH his hche in lyn clabe * for ledis suld trowe He clothes him-
' self as a prophet.
And all fe puple persayue • a prophete ^ he wer^.
\)en metis he furthe to Messadon ' fuH vn-mete gat/*', and goes to
And quen he come to fat kith • as fe chance tellis, 144
Oft with bis instrz^ment/*' out • he openly deuynes,
And nofer hil(J he it ne hid • bot here qua sa likid.
Bot fan was methe* for to mele • f ur3e me» of his burj,
])at he by-hind him at liame • wit//oute hede leuy(J. 148 [FoI. 3 6.]
Slik care kindils in his curte • quen f ai f er kyng myssid, His subjects miss
him, and lament.
pat it ware tere any tonge • of far tene to reken ;
Princes of his palas • preses in-to chambre,
To laite far lord at was lost • with latz's yn-blythe ; 152
Kairis in-to closettii- * knyjtw & Erlis, Knights and
Sekand far souerayn • wit/i many salt terys ; king.
Barons & bachelers • balefuDy gretiV,
Swiers swemyle • swouned ladys, 156
And many was f e bald berne • at banned far quile,
pat euer he dured fat day • vndede opon erthe.
Bot quen f ai wist he was went • & wald no^t be fou«, Finding he is
Couth f ai na bote fam ebland • how best for to wirke, ^°"^'
Bot sQis to ser Sirraphis • at sittf*' in his trone, 161 they ask couusei
' MS. Astralalus. « MS. In adr^nt<'«.
^ MS. pjvpletf. * or meche.
THE PROPHECY OF SERAPIS.
[Ashmole
of Serapis their
god.
Serapis says,
" Your king is
gone.
He knew the
Persians would
conquer.
[Fol. 4.]
Artaxerxes will
come and take the
kingdom.
But cease from
your sorrow.
Your king will
yet avenge you.
and regain the
kingdom."
They raise an
image of black
stone to
Anectanabus.
'j)ai was par god aljjire-gmythist • on pe ground samen.
Him fai supplyed & so3t • & him ensence casiis,
Honowrd him with offyrings • & elkend him fayr^, 164
j)at he suld say Jiam ]je sothe • & sorely Jiam teche
Quedcr faire kyng was becomen • at par care kjiidils.
)3an sayd Syraphis him selfe • he sayd fam pir word is :
" Anec, ^our athill kyng • is out of his awyn land', 168
For Artaxenses aje • is aH hiui ane foundid,
\)e proude kyng of Persee • pat passes vs a-gaynes.
FuH wele he wist, or he went • quat suld wor|)e eftcr.
And aH pe iourme of pe fare • pat fall 30W be-houys.
For aH pe erth of Egipt * fra end vn-to othire 173
Bees conquirid & ouercomyn • clene alto-gedre.
))e puple out of Pe/-se • is pttrvaid aH same« ;
\)e kyng is comand fuH kene • with his kene ostis, 176
pat saH oure renkw aH rayme • & oure rewme bathe,
And we be aH at fare wiH • J)us is wirdis schapen.
Sen it is sett to be soo • & slipe it ne may,
Ne schewid? to be na no])ire schap • ne we to schount
nouthire, 180
Bot gefe psihn vp pe girdiH • vs gaynes no3t eULs.
Bot seses, seris, of jowr syte • & sorujes na mare ;
For certayii," quod Syraphis • " my-selfe I it knaAve,
^our king* saH in a nopiie kithe • kast out his elde, 184
And come a-gayn eft 3onge man • 3it to his rewme.
)3an sail pat victoure 30\v venge • on 30;/?- vile fais.
And pe province of Pe?-see • purely distruye, 187
And gett agayn his avyn gronde • at he forgais nowe,
And ane of pe oddist Emperours • of pe werde worthe."
H When he J)is talis had tald! • fien tuke Jjai be-lyfe,
And ef ter Anec on-ane â– ane ymage gert make ;
\)e buke sais, of blake stane • aH pe bode ouyre, 192
With corone & with conyschanti^j • as it a kynge were.
Qnen it was perfite & pi3t • a place })ai it waytedi,
And stallid him in a stoute stede • & sti3thed him faire.
Lordis lift him on loft • & lawe to him bowicT, 196
Ashmole] philip leaves macedon. 7
In reuerence of )je riche kyng* • at had fer rewme gydicJ.
Que/i he was semely vp set • wt't^ septour in handf, At the feet of the
j)en ledis at ware lettird • on lawe at his feet^ the prophecy of
AH fe sawis of faire Syre • as Siraphis talcJ, 200 *"^""
jjare gan Jiai graithly J)am gmue • in golden lettirs,
AH ]je wordis at he )jai?M werpid • of J»aire ware kynge.
Jjare Jjai wrate fam I-wis • as J?e buke tellis,
Supposand faim in sum tyme • for sothe to be knawen,
And men to make of fam mynd ' ener-mave efter. 205
Be bat baire enmes bar erde • was entird with-in, Tiie Persians
, oJ . ' , attack them;
pe powere oute oi Pe?-see • with many proude ostes ;
Bot of ])ar batails to brefe • it botis mJ>na ferrire. 208
For aH fai conquirid clene • fis cithe at |)aire wiH, [Foi. 4 b.i
and conquer.
And Anec' is aH his ane • ferre of his awyii landis,
Wit/i-in ]je merris of Messedoyn • ])ar na man him knewe.
Bot will je herken hejide • now saH 2e here 212 i win teii you
more about
How he kide him in J^e courete • & quayntid him w/t/i Anectanabus.
lad is.
s
f ^ecunUus passus ^Uxandri
yre, it be-ti(J on a tyme • fe text me recordis,
Ipai J)e mode kynge of Messedone ' wi't/i mekifl
nounbre,
)3at was sire Philip be fers • fame out of toune, 216 KingPhiUp
leaves Maoedon
For to fe3t wi't^ his fais • out of fere landis. to fight hu foes.
Quen he was boune oute of bur^e • & his bake turned,
As tite as Anec him amecJ • out of bis awyn kythe,
He paste vp to \>e Palais • & preualy entirs, 220
\)at he mi3t lencJ fare on loft • & luke on fe qwene.
Sone as him selfe was in J)e sale • & saje hire wz't^ 630, Anectanabus
arrives, and
He beheld Olympadas • fat honowrable lady ; salutes queea
Olympias.
Hire bewte bitis in his brest • & his bodi thrillis, 224
And drifes thur3e his depe hert • as he ware dart-
wondid.
' MS. fortes; cf. 'at his feete ' in Alex. A. 570. ' MS. Anes.
3
ANECTANABUS AND 0LYMPIA3.
[Ashmole.
" Hail, queen !
he said.
He did not call
her madam.
Tlie queen
replies, " Hail,
master I "
She asks if he is
of Egypt.
[Fol. 5.]
" I am glad to
hear you speak of
Egypt.
There dwell the
wisest men of the
earth.
They can read
the stars, and
understand the
song of birds.
I myself have
J)e lede lavvid in hire lofo • as leme dose of gledis,
Put vp his hand to his hare • & heldid it hot littiH.
"Haile, modi qwene of Messidoyne " • he maister-like
said!-; 228
pare deyned him na daynte • ' madame ' hire to caH,
Be-cause he knew him a kyng • he carpid on Jjis wyse.
For if he come as A clerke • with a croune schauyn,
And di3t as a DoctoMr • in di-abland wedis, 232
3it aH ]je erth of Egipt • had he bene aire ouire.
]?an answars him pe qwene • -with fuH myld speche,
" Haile, maister," qiiod pat myld • & made him to sytt
On a sege hire be-syde • of silky n clathis, 236
And \iar hire spakid vfith his speche • & spird of him
wordis.
Quen he was sete in his sete * pat semely qwene
Ai of Egipt erd • enquirid if he were,
Jjojt him like of pat lede • be langage & othire ; 240
For-])i scho wetis if he wald * wete hire to say.
" A ! athel qwene," qwod! Anec • " ai be pou. ioyed !
If pon a wirschipfuH worde • has werpid & spoken,
A riatt roune pon me redis^ • a reson of blis, 244
Quen Jjou mynnys of pat marche • & with j^i mouth tellis.
For pare enhabetz^ in pat erd? • pat pon are say(J.
Jje wisest wees in fis werd • jie welken vndire.
For ])ai can swyth of a sweuyii • all pe swepe teH,. 248
Whejjire it be sele or soroje • in a sete quile,
And Jjai can certifi & se • by sygnes of pe heuyn,
Quat sail be-fall a-pon fold • with-inen a fewe jerys.
Sum vndirstandis in a stounde • pe steuen of pe briddis,
To say pe by par sapience • quat par sange menys ; 253
Sum can pi consaile declare • fofe pan it carpid neuire,
pe poyntis of all fi preuates • pertly can schewe.
Sum can pe brefe be-life • pe birth of pine childire, 256
Be it hee, be [it] scho • haly pare werdes.
And if I say it my-selfe • slik sotellte I haue,
' MS. redis a redis ; the tn-o latter wcrdt underlined.
Aslmiole.] the queen consults him. 9.
Sa clere a witt & sa clene • my creatoure I lofe,
' jjat all Jje noiis at I neuyn • nobly I can, 260
As any pj-ophet a-perte • to pj'oue 30W pe sotlie."
Quen he bire sawis had sayd • he ia his sege leued, He stares on
^ ' *' ° tlie queen's
In stoJy stiH as a stane • & starid in hire face, face.
Beheld haterly \>at hend • fat had his hert pe/'cii.]', 26-t
With depe desire of delite • ay on pat dere wayt/*'.
Sone as hire selfe it sawe • at he hire sa behald/^^ wiien she notices
j)en scho talkis him to • & titely him fraynes : iiim'ofwhat heis
" Quare-on muse 30 sa mekiH, Inaister ] " scho sayd^ ; 268
" 3e behald me sa hogely • quare-on is :our myndf ? "
" My frely fode," q^iiod be freke • " no3t hot fe werdes " i am thinking
of what my gods
Of my gracious goddis • )?e grettest on erde. 271 have foretold."
)3ai haue tal(J me be-for j^is tyme • pat now I trew fyntl*,
How I suld^ leuge in a land • & loke on a qwene."
Jjan out of his bosom he brayd • a blesaud table [FoI. 5 &.]
He takes out a
Of EuoM?* & of othire pingis • odly fourmed, table,
Of bras & of brynt golt? • & o[f] brijt sUue?-, 276
bat thre serclis sere • in it selfe hacJ. marked with
three circles.
In be first compas I ken • as me pe claus tellis, in the erst stood
the twelve ' under-
Stude pe xij vndirstandings • stoutly engrauen. standings;'
In ]7is opu' dra3t ware deuysid • a dusan of besti*^ 280 twelve si^n" /
And semely sett was in be thrid . be son & be mone. >" f'e third, the
sun and moon.
Sethen he clekis out of a cas • vij clere sternes
To tell him takens of pe tymes • & talis of our werdis ;
And vij stele-grauyn stanys • & stoute ojjire tway, 284
j)at wald for hurte or for harme • any hathiU kepe.
bus as he tuke furth his toylis • & his trammys^ schewis, As he shews ws
implements,
" If I saH lefe on bi lare " • quod be leue qwene, the queen asks
him to tell her
" Say me pe day & pe same jere • & pe selfe tyme 288 when phUip wa«
Of pe birth of pe bald kyng • pat I best lufe."
J3an answars Anec onane • sayd, "is par 03t ellis
At je wald, hend, of me here * or at aoure hert wiUisI He says he can
-' â– ' tell her anything.
For any cas pat is to com^ • to knaw if pe likis, 292
' MS. I suld I suld ; the two latter n-ords underlined.
* MS. tranmys. ^ MS. coa.
10 DESCRIPTION OF AMMON. [Ashmole.
I s;iH as namely 30W neuyfi • as it ware nowe done."
"Then tell me " )?aii will I," quocl fe wale qwene • " 36 wete me to say,
to me and Quat me & Philip • sail fall vs be-tweue.
^' For, bow he fra J)e bataiH • bernys me teH, 296
J5en wili he wed ano])ire wife • & wayfe me for ener."
" He will not " '^Sij, nojt foi ay," qiiod \q freke • " bar haue fai fals
long have another
queen, but will Spoken J
return to you."
Is&uer fe latter, or 03t lange • sail lymp as \nu sayd.^
Bot 3it I fynd, for all his fare • fleme he saH fe to)?ire,
And wild 30i^r self to wiH • nyli he so wiH he." 301
)3an was a-wondird of his word/s * fe worthe lady,
[Foi. 6.] Be-so3t sekirly J)is sire • if he safe vouchicJ,
\)at scho my3t weterly wete • fe wiH of all |)ingis,
He continues, Quatkyn poynt or plyte • p?'edesten(J hire were. 305
"One of our " AthiH qwene," quod Anec • " as I am enfowrmed",
greatest gods will
descend to you." Ane of \q grettist of oure godis • of grace & of mi3t,
I fynd, or it be fere ' to^ fieschely |)e knaw, 308
And efter in all adue?*sites • is amed pe to help."
J)an sayd Olympadas • " now, honourable maister,
"In what form I be-seke be, my sire • if bou me say wald*,
wiUhecome?" ^ , ' .,, . , , .
Quatkyn fygowr on fold • or foMrme at he bens, 312
\)ai demyd is or destaned • fis dede for to worche."
" )3rtt will I wele," (]uod fe wee • "& no3t a word le3e.
"He is of middle Jjis my3ty god at I me[ne] • is of a mediH age,
No3t of 3outh nor of elct * nor 3erris to many, 316
Bot euyn so be-twene twa • & to [mekyll] of nouthire.
He has two horns How he is meikid & made • is mervaile to neuyn,
on iiis head, _
Wit/i — tachid m his for-top — • twa tufe^ homes ;
A bercJ as a besom • viiih thyn bred haris, 320
and a mouth like A mouthe as a mastif* hnnde • vn-metely to shaw.
Bot, dame, if he be fus dijt • drede fe neuer fe more,
Bot 36 be buxsom & bayne • & bou?ie to his wiH.
Be ny3ter-tale he satt J>e ne3e • fis note to begyii, 324
' Line 300 precedes 1. 299 in the MS., but they are marked
for transposition.
* MS. to \ie ; n-ith \>Q vnderUned.
^ haris i.iserted here, but sti-uck out. * MS. mastis.
Ashmole] the queen dreams of ammon. 11
And ^e he men-yd newer fe mare • bot mete him in Be not afraid."
sweuy«."
*' Now certayn, sii'<?," sayd jje qwene • " selly me tUinke. " if this turn out
Bot may I se ])is be sothe • at 30 me say here,
Kojt as a prophet ne a prcst • I p?'«ys saH ))i selfe, 328
Bot rehers be as hie^e goie • & hie be for euire." i win honour
tliee as a goJ."
With jjat rysis vp J>e renke â– & his rowme lefys,
Lait leiie at pe qwene • for a litiH: quile, Aneetanabus
takes his leave.
Gase him dcune be pe grecis • a-gayn fra fe sale, 332
Furthe to make his maistryse • & mose in his arte.
U pns passis he fra pe place • to proue his sle3tis, [Fui.e*]
Silis furth ail him selfe • pe cyte wiih-^ten,
Drafe i-n-to a depe dissert • & drewe vp herbis, 336 He goes into a
. desert, aiul picks
pe chosest tor mchantement • at he chese couthe. herbs.
Quen he had gedird his grese ' & grune paim esundire.
For lapis of his gemetry • pe ious out he wrengis.
Erne tiH exorcise • & ethis euei' elike, 340
\)at it suld? worthe as he waldf • & on na way faile.
He clatird on coniurisons • & calid to him deny Is, He begins to
And aH pe incheson of his charme • -with pat pe chefe tiiat the' queen
qwene
be same nyjt in hire slep • suld se wilJi hire ejen 344 may see Ammoi
_ . . in her sleep.
Amon hire awyn god • in hire armes ligge,
And dreme at he didd? hire swa • & quen he done hadd',
)3an suld he say to hire-selfe • sadly fiire wordis, 347
" Now has pon, woman, I-wys • wit/i-in fi twa sydis
Consayued him at in aH pi care • }ji cors satt defend."
)5is ilk euyn ouer-jede • & arly on be morne. Next morning
_ the queen tells
As arly as pe riche qwene • was resyn fra slepe, her dream.
)pan efter Anec^ on-ane • scho al aboute sendis, 352
Takis him betwene fam twa • tald him hire sweuyn.
"3a," quod he, " comly qwene • I couthe, & bcu wal(J He asks to be
allowed to have a
Preualy in )?i palais • lat me a place haue, room in the
Make pe to se pe same gode • & J)i-selfe wakancJ, 356
Face to face aH: his ioicrme â– & his effecte clene.
' MS. Anes.
5*
palace.
12
ANECTANABUS AS A DRAGON.
[Ashmole.
The queen
giants it.
[FoL 7.J
" If it turn out
true, I will
cherish thee as if
tliou wert my
child."
He chooses a
place for bimseir.
Neit night he
enchants himself
into the form of
a dragon,
and flies to the
He then becomes
a man again.
He prophesies
that her son will
conquer all the
world.
J3is grete god full of grace • saH glide to \>i chambr^,
In a dredfuH deuys • a dragons iourme,
And ]jan \>g figour of a freke • he saH take eftir^?, 360
And p?-eualy in pat part • a-pere ^owe be-forne."
)5an answars him fe swete quene • & sone him it
g7-antis,
" Sire, chese ])e a chambre • quare ]?e chefe pmkis,
NowJ)ire myne awen ne na nothire • god lat pe no3t spare,
Or any place at 30\v piece • my palas with-in. 365
For may pou hald me Jjis best • as pon here tellis,
And profe Jjus in my prt'sens • as a propire sothe,
|3en saH I cherische fe with chere • as pou my cbild were,
Loute \)G lonely & loue • all my lyfe days." 369
" Graunt mercy," quod pe grete clerke • to pe gude lady,
Thankis^ bire fuH tbraly • & pen fortb wendis
To loke & layte him a loge • quaie he lenge my3te,2 372
And buske him a bedsted • quare bim best likid.
Qwen it was metyn to pe merke • pat men ware to ryst,
And folke was on paire firste slepe • & it was furth
euyws,
)5an Anec on ane • his artis he fandis, 376
And changid by encbantmentis • bis chere aH to-gedire.
per worthid he by his wiche-craft ' in-to a wild dragon,
And to the ladi lere • he lendid in haste,
Fli3and in his fetbire-hames • & ferly fast slett^, 380
And in a braide, or he blan • he pe bed entris.
Quen he was^ laide be-lyfe • his liknes he change,
"Worthis agayn to a wee • fra a worme turnys.
pen kisses he kenely pe quene • & clappis in armes,
Langis sare to pe layke • & on-loft worthis. 385
Quen he had wro3t aH bis wiH • hire wame pew he
touches.
And with a renyst reryd ' pis reson he saidi, 387
" )5is concepcion wUh kyngi's • sal be callid here-efter
- MS. Thangis, altered to Thankis.
' MS. myites. ^ MS. he was he was, but corrected.
Aslimole.] philip's dream of the queex. 13
A verra victor a-vansi(J • \rith aH: pe vayne werde."
j)ns be-gylid he this gude wyfe • & makis hire to wene
It ware na gett of /la gome • hot of god ane.
Qwen be day-rav/^ rase • he rysis be-lyfe, 392 At daybreak he
leaves her.
Lendis a-lande fra Jje loft • & left hire with chiliJ,
Sone as hire bele gun bolne * aH hire blee changis,^
So was scho ferd & a-frijt • a ferly ware ellis. 395 CFo'- 7 6]
To be bonden -with barne • mekill bale to hire nejehis,
For it & Philip hire fere • o-ferrom was sybb.
ban Anec hire awyn clerke • scho on-ane callis, The qneen
laments, and asks
"Lo, maister, slike a myschefe!" • & maynly hire for advice.
pleynes.
" I dred fat I nere dee • hot 30 me deme sone 400
Quat me is beste of fis case • if euer |)e kyng tw^-ne."
"Be no2t a-bayste," q7iod be berne • " ne a-bleyd "Noharmsimii
come to you ;
nothire,
Jjare saH na chanche Jie chefe • fe charge of a pese.
For Amon oure athiH gode • saH ali-way ]ie helpe, 40-t Ammon wui aid
And kepe fe fuH careles * if any cas fallis."
IT Quat dose now bis diuinowr â €¢ hot to desert wendis, The enchanter
again goes to tlie
Airis on aH him ane • out of fe cite, desert, and pi^-ks
3ede him furthe eftirsons • herbis to seche, 408
Reft J)am2 vp be \>e rotzs • & radly fain stampis,
pe luse for his gemetry' • fat logloure takis,
Arndl sythen* a brid of be see • him seluyn him fangw, He anoints a sea-
^r , . . 1 , 1 . 7, ^ bird with their
Clatirs to hyre coynte fingis • kenely enchantis, 412 juice.
And [with] fe wose of fe wede • hire wengis anojutis ;
And all fis demerlayke he di(J • hot be fe deuylh's
craft 25,
How he myjt compas & kast • be kynge to begyle. Hear how he
beguiled Philip.
He wro3t a wondirfuH: wile • & wiH je now here 416
How he be-glouir(J fis gome • & gilid him in sweuy/i ]
)jis Uk Philip fe fyrs • fat in f e fi3t lenges, phiiip dreams
\)e same ny3t in his slepe • he sa3e, as him tho3t, that he sees ti.e
' MS. g changis (xic). * MS. him, copied from line above.
* MS. gremetry. â– * MS. cythen.
14 Alexander's success foretold. [Ashmole.
queen In Amoii liis awen god • in amies -wiih his qwene, 420
And make with hire market • as [he] a man were.
And quen he wrojt had his wiH • Jien witrely him metw,
\)at he bowes to hire belechiste • & bigly it sewys,
nniUi.at Ammon And sethen asselis it him selfe * semelj & faire 424
teals her with a
ring, Wilh a rede golde rynge • on Jjis aray g?*ayuyn ;
A lyons heuyd was on-loft • louely coruyn ;
[Foi. 8.] j)Q botuide of a brijt son • & a brande kene.
telling her she And pen he went furth his way • sayd, "woman, foil
has conceived her
defender. hauys 428
}5i fuH defendoure on foltP • now frely consa[u]yd."
Als radly as fe riche kyng^ • rase on pe morne,
Philip calls a Ei3t ia fe dawyng of day • a diuino«/r he callis, 431
And as him dremyd Like a dele • \>at doctour he tellis,
And fraynes him fast on J)is fare • how it be-faH suld'.
who tells him " Phylip," q«oc? pe phylysofyre • " Jji fere is with childe,
the queen is with
child, And With no gett of na gome • bot of god selfe.
And, gudman, [on] ]?e gold! rynge • ]>e thro graneii
thyuoisi 436
J5ai ere ))us mekiii to mene • as me my mynd tellis.
who will be To \>e lyon hede," qitod pe lede • " pen hcken I, on iirs^,
Jje birth pat scho here saH • als best it be-semys, 430
\)at chefe saH to a chiftan • & sHke a chefe maister.
As to be halden heuydman^ • of aH fie hale werde.
Xow satt I clerily declare • pe course on pe sonne ;
jiat sygnyfys pe^ same man • ])c<t sett is, be wird',
and will pass go many prouynce to pas • burae p?-owis of armys, 444
over all the world
to the far east; }?at he saH hit With his hede • in-to pe heglie est.
Now* of jjis bytaad brand • berne, wili 36 here ;
And aH is bot Jjis hathiH man • as I are sayJ, 447
with sword in j)at saH sa fels men afray * witJi fauchon in hande,
hand he will
conquer all. And out of nounbte to neuyn • of nacions -nynn."
)?an foundis Phdip to pe fy3t • & Jie fild entres,
' MS. y thyngfs {sic). " MS. lieu)-sdnian.
â– ' ma inserted, but strvck out.
^ MS. W Now ; n-ith W c.rj)hnciid.
Ashmole.] a dragon conquers philip's foes. 15
And sone in cleliiigi6' of dyntw â– a dragon aperis, a diason appears.
pat strejt be-for him in pe stoure • strike doune his piuiip's foes,
faas, 452
And all his enmys in fat erd • he endid in a stounde.
"When Phylyp with his faire folke • had pe fildf won,
pan. metis he him to Messadone • par metis him pe Piiiiip returns to
Maredon, and
qvvene, greets the queen.
Kyssis comly hire king^ • & of liis come ioys, 456
And how he fore scho him fraynes • ferly ^erne.
" Wele, gj-rtunt mercy," quod pe kyng* • " my god, I him [Foi. 8 1.]
loue ;
Bot how pat je ga sa'^ grete • gud darnel " he saycJ.
poxi has ragid," quod pe renge • " with vnryd gestis ; He enquires iiu\v
Now hafe I, lede, aH: to lange • lengid fra hame." 461
Jjus to bre hire o bourde • he breuys jjire Avordis ;
" To quam has po\x pe tane tiH • tell ni[e] pe sotlie 1
Outhire mete has mendid be full mekiH • as may I nojt a"^ of'*'-
condition.
trowe, 464
Or ane has stoUen in my stede • sen I was stad pa,Te."
pus bayst he pe bri3t qwene • pat aH hire ble changicV,
To skyre skarlet hewe • skyftz'*" hire face, The queer.
Hire chere at was chalke-quyte • as any chaffe^ worthis ;
So was scho schamed of pe schont • pat hire pe schalk
made. 469
" !N'ay, quod pe comly kyng ' " cache vp ])ine hert, Philip comforts
Jjofe pon haue forfet, na force ' so has fele othire.
pou. has giltid, bot no3t gretly ' it greuys me Jie les; 472
For god has geten pe J)is gett • a-gaynes |)i wiH ;
All pat was done Jje bedene â– was me be dreme schewyd?, telling her he h.is
seen all in a
I saje it surely as my-selfe • slepe in my tentw, dream.
And oure god aH-to-gedire • is ground of pe cause ; 476
Of me worthis pe pe^ Avite * ne of na wee ellis."
^ pen tyd it anes on a tym • a lytiH terme eiter, One day, at a
J)is dere kyng on a day • on his dese syttis, 479
Had pa?TeId him a proude feste • of princes & dukis,
' MS. repeats ga sa. ^ Or chasse. ' Head ii.a.
16
WONDERS SEEN AT THE FEAST.
[Ashmole.
he sits beside the
queen.
appears in a
[Fol. 9.]
dragon's form.
goes to the queen,
and salutes her.
Philip recognises
the dragon.
Soon after befell
another prodigy.
A bird comes.
who lays an egg
ill Pliilip's lap.
The egg falls,
and breaks ; a
serpent comes
uiil, and soon
dies.
With maisterlingis of Messadone • & many ofire
noble[s].
pns as he sat in his sete • softly by his qwene,
In schene schemerand schroude • aH of schire stanes,
He kest vp his contenance • & kny3tly he lokes, 484
And gladis gudly his gestis • as his degre walcf.
)3an Anec[t]anab«5 on-ane • in alj^ire-mast ioy
Did on him his dragon-hame • & drafe thurje fe sale,
AV/tA slike a rowste & rerid • pe romance it wittnes,
\)at nere had hemes for fat here • bene bro3t out of
Witt. 489
He was sa hatter & sa hoge • quera he fe haH entirct,
Lete sa lathely a late • & sa loude crie(J,
\)at aH ]3e fest was a-ferd! • & o))ire folke bathe. 492
To pe chefe chaiare of pe qwene • he chese him be-lyue,
And laide as hendly as a hunde • his hede in hire arme,
Qepin kyssis he hire clene mouthe • enclynes hire lawe,
And braydis furth w{t7i a brym here • out at pe brade
3at^s. 496
Jjen sayd Philip to his fere • & aH: his fre gestis,
" 3one selfe dragon forsothe • I sa3e with myne e3en ;
Qtien I was stad in pe stoure • he strenthid aH myne
oste, 499
And par pe floure in pe filde • I fangid jjur3e him selfe."
Ano|?ire ferly par fell • -within fewe days,
\)e king was sett in his sale " witli septer in han(J ;
}5en come par-in a litiH bricJ • in-to his arme £036,
And par hurkils & hydis • as scho were hand-tame ; 504
Fast scho flekirs about his fete • & fle3tirs aboute.
And par it nestild in a noke • as it a nest were,
Qwili scho had layd in his lape • a lititi tyne egg,
And ))an scho fangis hire fli3t ' & flo3e away swyth.
])\s egg, or Jje kyng wyst • to pe erth fallis, 509
Brak, & so it wele burde • & brast aH; e-soundir ;
J:an wendis far-out a litiH worm • & wald it eft enter.
And or scho hit in hire hede • a hard deth suffirs. 512
Ashmole.] the queen's travail draws near. 17
]?an was ser Philip of J)at iave ' ferly mekiH sturbicJ,
Callis to him a kid clerke • declaris to him Jjis wonder,
Besojt him quat it sygnifiecJ • to teH: him pe treuthe. [FoI. 9 6.]
"}?at graunt I gudly," quod \>q gome • & fus-gate he a seer says,
spekw : 516
" Sire, here saH borne be a barne • of bi blithe lady, "Yoar queen's
son shall conquer
J)at drijtyn efter bi day • has destaned to regne, aii the earth, au.i
_ . then die before
j)e quilke sail walke an fe were? • & wyn it him selfe, returning home."
And hent saU a full hetire deth^ • or he may hame
couer," 520
j)\xs he vndid him ilka dele'^ ' & hi?ft pe dome reched,
Said it was sett to be so • he sa^e by his artw.
And if 30W likis of ])is lare • to lesten any fortliire,
Sone saH I teH 30 w a text • how it be-tid' eiter. 524
If €txcim passus ^Uxandn.
N
ow it test be tyme * at traual(J bat qwene, The queen's time
-> ' '' J X > ^^ travail draws
Quen scho suld bryng furth • hire birth to fe weid. nigh.
Scho bidis many hard brayde • baret enduris,
What of wandreth & wa * as weme?i dose aH. 628
Thik schouris hire thrat • tholid mekiH 501036, she suflfers much.
Many peralus pull • grete payne suffirs,
Sa sare werkis hire pe wame • & slik vn-wyn dreis,
\)at all scho dredis hire dede • & doute for J>e werst. and expecu death
j?an efter Anectanab?<s ' scho on-ane clepis, 533
And he was boune at hire bode • & bowes to hire
chambre,
Gais hi??i vp at pe grece * & gTetis him faire, Anectanabus
comes and
Fand hire sett in a sege • & soro3e ay elike. 536 greets her.
" A ! Anec ! " qiiod be qwene * '* me ar3es of my-selfe ; The queen
laments.
I am ati in aunter • sa akis me pe wame.
Of werke weH ne I wede • & slike wa tholis, 539
pat me ware dere to be dede • &^ dure fus on lyfe." [FoI. 10.]
" 3a, Wynnes 30W vp," qiiod pe we • " & walkis a littiH, is inaurp'iXl."
' MS. derth ; sec 1. 512. " MS. ilka adele ; n-rongly.
^ Read than.
ALEXANDER. <-
he says.
18
ALEXANDER IS BORN.
[Ashmole.
She walks about.
At last she rests,
and Alexander
is born.
The earth
quakes.
There is lightning
and thunder.
The wind arises.
There is great
darkness.
Stones fall frc
the sky.
[Fol. 10 6.]
All the world
is warned.
For Jje aire nowe & fe elementz^ • er^ evyn in fis tyme
So trauailid out of temperoure • & troubild of pat sone,
\)at makis pi grippis and pi gridis • a grete dele pe
kenere." 544
]3an faris scho vp & farkis furtli â– a fute or tway,
And sone sesis aH hire syte • in a sete quyle.
" Now bow pQ doune/' qiiod pe berne • & scho his bone
fillis,
And syttand so in^ hire sege • was softly delyuerd. 548
Bot now is me^TiaiH; • to me ^ of pis wondire,
Queu J)is man fra his modire wambe • on pe mold feH ;
For all pe erd euyn ower • sa egirly schakis,
j)at teldis, templis, & touris • tomble on hepis. 552
pe lijt lemand late • laschis fra Jje heuyn,
Thonere thrastis ware thra • thristid pe welkyn,
Cloudis clenely to-clefe • clatird vn-faire,
All blakenid a-boute • & boris pe son. 556
"Wnd wedirs vp werpe • & fie wynd ryse,
And aH^ flames f>e flode • as it fire were,
Nowe brijt, nowe blaa • nowe on blase efter,
And fan ouer-qwelmys in a qwirre • & qwatis ener
e-like. 5G0
)3an slike a derknes"* par drafe • & demyd pe skewys,
As blesenand as bale fyre • & blake as pe heU,
\)at it was neuer bot as ny^t • fra pe none tyme
Till it to mydday was meten • oil Jje morne efter. 564
Gife fiis ware mervale to myn * ^et emang* othire
J2en rekils it vnruydly • & raynes doune stanys,
FeH fra pe fyrmament • as a hand lyftyng*,
And some as hoge as ))i hede • fra pe heuyn fallis. 568
Sa ferd was Philip of pat fare • pat his flesche
trymblid,
For sere sygnes at he sa3e • as selly ware ellis.
As wyde as aH pe werd was Jjurje • warnyng Jjai hadd,
' Added in the vmrg'ni. ^ MS. to me to me ; lut corrected.
^ a, in text; bid aWe in juargin. * MS. dreknes.
Aslimole.] Alexander's appearance. 19
Jjat^ houre fat Olympadas • was of hire son lifter. 572
Than lendis him vp fe leue kyng ' his lady to vysite,
Quod ]je man to his make • " I am in many thojtis, PiiiUp comforti
pat fis frute saH haue na fostring • ne be fed? non\iire ;
I ges it be no3t of my gett • bot of god fowrmed ; 576
Be many cause at I ken • I kan nojt supose
It be consayued of my kynde • ne come of my-selfe.
I sa^e so, in fe same tyme • he seuyrd fra pi wamhe,
j)e erd & all fe element ts • so egirly schoutid.^ 580
And queber ait, for any quat • a quyle latt him kepe, PhUip advise*
, -^ . that her son
And norisch him as namely • as he myne awyn wane, should be
3it will pave make of him mynde • & myn it here-eftire his own.
Hathils, s'wilke a haly son • I hade in my tyme. 584
Anofer barne," qicod fe berne • " I of my blode haue,
Ane of my sede, I supose • & sibbire of fe twa,
\)at I wan on myne ojjire wyfe • fat I wedd first. 587
Lat him as ayre, quen I am erbed â– enherit my landis, " '^^^ ^y fir^'
sou be nay lieir.
And staH we him in stede of pis • to sti^tiH my rewme,
For he is borne of my blode • & a-bore nerre,
And f ede we bis othire, fat ^ f olke • quen we ere fay worth id', and let this
other be well
May sitt & carpe, slike a kuaue • faire last kyng hade." taken care of."
Jjai did all as he demed • & his domes plesed, 593
Cherest fai fis 3onge chi](J • & chosely him kepid ;
bai ware as besy him a-boute • birdis & ladis. The ladies
cherish the
As he had bene ])ar hi3e godi • for sa fai hopid aH, 596 infant.
\)is barne, quen he borne was • as me fe boke tellis,
Mi3t wele a-prefe* for his a-port • to any prince oute.
Bot of f e lyfe fat he li3t off • he like was to nane.
Nouf er of ietour ne of face • to fadire ne to modyre ; [Foi. ii.]
J)e fax on his faire hede • was ferly to schawe, 601 His hair was
Large lyons lockis • fat lange ere & scharpe ;
With grete glesenand e3en • grymly he lokis,
\)at ware as blyckenand bri3t • as blesand sternes, 604 his eyes were
bright as stars.
' MS. \jat o ; but o is erjtuncted.
' MS. schoutij ; altered to schoutid. ^ Added in the margin.
* MS. a pere, altered to a prefe.
like lion's locks,
20
ALEXANDER GOES TO SCHOOL.
[Ashmole.
He wafl wall-
eyed.
His voice was as
a lion.
He is called
Alexander.
He goes to school.
Aristotle is his
master.
He is clever and
wise.
[Fol. 11 J.]
He learns more
ill five years
tlum others
in seventy.
If Aristotle
was away,
he would knock
his masters
on the crown.
9it ware fai sett vn-samen • of serelypy hewys ;
J?e tane to brene at a blisch • as blak as a cole,
As any 3are 3eten gold • 3alow was pe tothire.
And he waldl-e-^ed was • as Jje writt schewys, 608
3it it tellis me fis tale • fe tethe in his hede
Was as bitand breme ' as any bare tuskis.
His steuyn stiffe was [&] steryn • pat stonayd many,
And as a lyon he lete • quen he loude romys. 612
His feH fygoure & his foMrme • fully be-takend
j)e prowis & fe grete pryse * pat he a-preuyd eftire,
His hardynes, his hyndelaike • & his better my3ti6',
Jpe wirschip pat he wan • quen he wex eldire. 616
jjan sembled his syb men • be sent of jjaiii all,
To consaile of pis kyng son • how pai him caH suld,
And so him neuyned was pe name • of his next frendis
Alexsandire pe athiii • be allirs a-corde. 620
pan was he lede f urthe be-lyfe • to lere at pe scole,
As sone as to pat sapient • him-self was of elde,
On-ane vn-to ArystutiH • pat was his awen maister.
And one of pe coronest clerk^■s • pat ener knew letter.
J)an was he bro3t to a benke • a boke in his hand, 625
And faste by his enfo2<rme • was fettild! his place ;
For it come no3t a kyng son • 3e knaw wele to sytt
Doune in margoii & molle • emange othire schrewis.
Sone wex he witter & wyse • & wonder wele leres, 629
Sped him in a schort space * to speH & to rede,
And sepen to gramere he gase • as pe gyse walcP,
And pat has he all hale • in a hand-quyle. 632
In foure or in fyfe 3ere • he ferre was in lare
)?an othire at had bene pare ' seuynte wynte>- ;
Jjat he suld passe him in pat plite • vnpussible semed,
Bot at god wiH at gaa furth • qua may agayn stande ]
In absens of Arystotili • if any of his feris 637
Eaged with him vnridly • or rofe him with harme,
Him wald he kenely on pe croune • knok with his
tablis,
Ashmole.] Alexander has no peer. 21
Jjat al to-brest wald Jie bordis • & fe blode folowe. 640
If any scolere in pe scole • his skorne at him makis,
He skapis him fuH skathely • bot if he skyp better.
bus vriih his feris he fast • as I fynd wreten, He fights with
' -^ '^ _ his fellows.
As wele in letter & in. lare • as any laike eUis. 644
)3us skilfuH lange he scolaid • & fe scole vsed*,
Tille he was euyn of eld • elleuyn wynter.
He had na pere in na place • fat proued so his tyme, He has no peer.
For \)e prmcipalte of all jje pake • he of a-prefe wynnys.
And qvven it te3t to ];e tyme • of ten 3ere of age, 649
Jpen was him kend of fe kynde • & craft of bataile,
AVele & wi3tly in were • to welden a spere, He leams to
A[nd] preke on a proude stede • proudly enarmecJ. 652
\)at lare was him lefe to • & lerid in a qwile
"Was par na lede to him like • yrith-m a fewe ^eris.
So cheualus a chiftan • he cheuys in a stonde, He surpasses aii
pat in anters of armes * all men he passes. 650
Quen Philip see him sa fers • in his first elde,
His hert & his hardynes • hi3ely he lofed, Phiiip comraei.Js
Comendid mekiH: his kny3t-hede â– & hi??i callid on a day
Be-twene Jam selfe on a tyme • & talkis pive wordis :
" Alexander," qtiod ]>e kyng^ • "I augirly prayse 661
Jji wirschip, J)i worthines • fi wit & fi strenth.
Es nane so teche of fi tyme • to tryi now o lyfe. [F"'- i- ]
How suld I, lede, for J)i lofe • bot lufe fe in hert 1 664
Bot I am sary for sothe • my son, at bi foM?Tne " i am sorry,
my son,
Is lickenand on na lym ' ne like to my selfe ; that you are so
•^ unlike me."
Oft storbis me pi statowr • & stingis me 3eme,
\)at ])i personale proporcion • sa party is to myne." 668
j)is herd hire pe hend quene • & heterly scho dredis, The queen
1 • 1 ■1 1 consults
Sent efter Anec • & askis him be-lyue, Anecunabu^.
Be-knew him clene aH fe case • how jje kyng saycJ,
And frayns him fast qwat fe freke • of hire fare thingis.
j)en con he calke & a-conte • & kest on his fyngirs,
Lokis him vp to pe lifte • & pe lady s wares : 674
"Be no3t a-fri3t," q;<oc? pe freke • "ne a-frayd noujjj'r," He comtbrte her.
and observes the
stars.
Alexander asks
him wliat he
sees in the stars.
Aneetanabus
says he will
tell him at
night.
" I shall be slain
by my own son."
Alexander
follows his
father
to the edge
of a dyke.
Aneetanabus
says that his
own doom
approaclie?.
A.NECTANABU8 PREDICTS HIS OWN DEATH, [Ashmole.
It saH Jje noy nojt a neg* * nane of his thojt^'s." 676
With ])at he heuys vp [his] hede • & to fe heuyn lokis,
Hedis hete?-ly on hije • behelde on a sterne,
Of fe qnilke he hopid in his hert • sumquat to knawe,
Quat euire he wald wete • of ^ his wiH ati-to-gedire.
Quod Alexander to J>is athiH • as he his arte fandis,
" Quat is pe planet or fe poynt • ^e purpose to seme 1
Quat sterne is it at je stody on • quare stekis it in
heuyn ] 683
May 3e ojt me in any man«5r • to Jjat stej-ne schewe ] "
"})at can I wele," quod ])e clerke'^ • "ellis couthe I
littiH;
^Nojt hot sewe me, son • qnen pe son is to reste,
Quen it [is] dreuyn to J)e derke • <fe pe day fynyst,
And pon satt sothely se • pe same with fine e3en." 688
" Is 03t J)i werid to pe wissid 1 " • quod pe wee fan ;
'' For pat I couet to ken • if pon me kythe walcJ."
" Sire, sothely of myne awen son^ • slayue mon I worth,
So was me destaned to dye • gane many winter." 692
As tyte as Anec[tanabus] • pis aunter had talcJ,
J3en [he] treyned doune fra pe toure * to tute in pe sternes.
))an airis ser Alexander • eftire his fadire, 695
j)at euer he kyndild of his kynde • kend he hot litill.
J3us led he furthe his leue chil(} * late on ane euen,
Sylis softely him selfe • pe cite witA-outen,
Bo3es him vp to a brenke • as pe buke teUis,
To pe hi3t of pe depe dike • & to fe heuyn wayt«5. 700
" Alexa7ider, athil son " • quod Anec his syre,
" Loo ! 3onder behalcJ ouer J)i htde • & se my hatter
werdis ;
))e euyH sterne of Ercules • how egirly it sorojes, 703
And how pe mode Marcure • makis sa mekiH ioy ;
Loo ! 3onder pe gentiti lubiter • how lolyle he schynes,
J?e domes of my destany • drawls to me swythe.
' MS. of w his ; but w is expuncted.
^ Added in the margin.
Dublin] AND THAT HIS OWN SON WILL SLAY HIM. 23
Hedes liete?-ly on heght • belielJ on a-sterne, 678 [Foi. i.]
Of pQ whilke he hopyd in hys hert* • somqwatt to knaw,
What euer he wilnet for to ^yete • hys wille all to-geder.
Jjen sayd alexander to fis atlieH • as he by hym stonnde*',
"What^ is JJB planett or pe poynt^ • yhe p?<rposse^ to se?
Or what sterns at ye stody on • where stekys it in
heuen ?
^lay 36 oght in any maner me • to ):at me>-ke shewe ] " 684
" Jjat can I wele," quod J)is clerkc • " ellys couth I bott
lytyH ;
Noght bott shew ^ me now, sone • qwen fe soil is at rist^,
"When it is dryven to pe dirk • & pe day fynysliyt^,
And pn sail sorely fe same • see vfith fi eghen." 688
" Is oght \)i werd to pe wist*] " • quod pe wy l^an ;
" For pat I Couett to ken • if pn me kyth wold."
" Syr, sothly of myne awen son • slayn mon I Avorth,
So was [me] destinate to dy • done mony wyntcr." 692
Als tyte as anecfanabus ' fees aunters had tald,
Than turned he doufi from pe toure • to tote on pe sternes,
j)an ayres sir alexmider • aftir hys fader,
])at euer he come of hys kynde • knew [he] fuH lityH. 696
Jjus lede he forth is leue sonn • late on an euen,
Syland softly ]?aim selfe • pe cyte wzt/i-owte,
Bownes faim vp to a brenke ' as pe buke tellys.
To pe bight of pe bye dyke • & to fe heuen watyfi. 700
" Alexanc?er, atheH sonn " • qiioi anec hys fader,
" Beyond be-hald ouer my bed • & see my bote werdez ;
Jje ilke sterne of eicules • bowe egerly it sorowez,
And how pe mode of mercury • makys so mekyH Icy; 704
Lo ! how gentyH lubiter • how ioyfully he shynos,
jpe Domes of my destany â– drawes vnto [me] swyth.
' MS. proposse. " sic; read sevr.
24
ALEXANDER DROWNS ANECTANABUS.
[Ashmole.
J)ik & J)rathly am I thret • & thole mon I sone
pe sla3ter of myne awen son • as me was sett euer." 708
Vnethis werped he pat worde • fe writt me recordis,
Alexander pushes hat 116 AlexrtHt/e/' as sone * was at him be-hincJ,
liim into the
And on fe bake yvith slike a hire • he bare v^iih his
handis,
j)at doune he drafe to ]?e depest • of fe dike bothom, 712
Sayd, " lo ! vnhappeiste vndire heuyn • \)at fus on hand
takis
As be fe welken to wete • q^iai siild come efter !
j5ou has feyned fe for wyse • & fals aH-to-gedirc,
Wele semys slike a saccheH • to syeje pus of lyfe ! " 716
)?an Anec, as him ajt • wele augirly granys,
Dryues vp a dede voyce • & dymly he spekis,
*' Wele was pis cas to me knawen • & kyd many wynter,
\)at I suld dee slike a dethe • be dome of my werdis. 720
Did I not say so ? Sayd I pe no3t so • my selfe here be-fore,
I suld be slayn of my son as now sothe worthis 1" 722
dyke,
snyinff, " thou
art false in thy
predictions."
Ancctanabus
cries out,
'I knew it
vould be so.
Dublin.] THE QUEEN LAMENTS HIS DEATH. 25
Tliik & thraly am I thrett • & thole must I sone
Jpe slauughter of my awne sonn • al? me was sett ener." 708
Vnneth warpyd he fis word • pe writt me recoidez,
Jjat alexander als belyfe • was at hym bylyue,^
And on fe bak with suche a bir • hym bare -with hys
handez,
\)at Doun he drafe into J« dyppest* ■of pe dyke bothura ; 7 1 2 1^°^- 1 *0
Sayd : " lo ! vnhappyest vndir heuen • fat Jius on hand
take^
Als be welkyn to wete • what worth saH her-aftir !
Hase fenyd fe for wyse • & fals all to-geder,
"Wele semys suche a sacheH: • to sepe ]3us of lyfe ! " 716
)jan Anec, als hym awght â– wele awgarJly granes,
Dryvez yp a dede voyce • & dymly he spekes :
" "W'ele was )jis to me knawyn • & kyd mony %vynte?*,
That I suld dey such a dede^ • by^ dome of my werdw. 720
Sayd I J)e noght so â– my seK here beforne
I suld be slayn of my sonn • als now is soth worthen 1 " 722
""What, and am I," quod aHexander â– " ane of ))i Ton are my
chnderl" 723* '*°'"
" 3ha, son ! als glad I my god • I gat J?e my seluen." 72-1*
Fro he had h}Tn pis, worde sayd ' • he wakens no more^ Hie moritur
Bot gaue a gremly grane • & J)e gast jheldez.
That ober wy for hys werkez • wepys eueryUyke, Alexander
laments.
So hard & so hertly • fat nej hys hert brestes. 728*
Jjus plenys J)is prouud knyght • \>e pyte of hys fader,
Cares hym downe into fe cafe • \>ar as pe cors ligge*, and carries
Belife lyftes he on-lofte • euen on hys shulders, 731* body.
And beres hym forth vppon hys bake • at fe brade ^ates.
Sone sayd fe whene, when sho hym see • with syland teres ;
" "What haue 36 done, my dere sonn 1" • & drowpys doun
in swone.
"Dame, now is far none other to do â– bot deme it fi seluen, Aieiar.der
reproves the
For as fi foly was before • so foloweth aftir." 736* queen.
' read byhynde. * reritten above the lirie in MS.
' written above the line in MS.
Dublin.] A WILD horse is brought to philip. 27
Than makes J)is man & hys moder • menskfully & faire
Titely hys enterment* • as jjai Jjat tyme vsed.
)5us shamesly of hys awne childe • hym chevyd such end. so peruiied
Anectanabus.
And her fynes a fytt • & fayr when vs likez. 740*
©uartus pajsisus.
The same & be selue tyme • as says me fe text*, a prince
brings to
Fro \)e cuntre of capadose • come a kyd prmce Phiiip a wiw
To kyng philipp fe fers • & hym a fole bryngez ;
A grett horse & a hoge ' a hegh & a wilde, 744*
A store & a styf stede • stalwortly bondyn ;
His choH chaltird & chauelez • in chynez of yren ; [FoI. 2 ]
In rapes fast ' for ryfyng of bernes ;
For other mete ban manysflesche • mouthed he neue?*. 748* "ho fed upon
-r. • n 1 -111 1 1 human flesh
Busifolen to Jjis blonk • was breued fe name, only.
He hed so ferdfuH a face * as ony fyre lokez ;
Bare als a boles ^ heued • a bryn on hys shulderr,
And toton owt' of* hys top • als tyndw of homes. 752*
The faymes of pis ilke fole • when philip avysed, PhiUp puts
Jjan says he to hys seruand • to see to Jjis capyH, s^ie" *
And stighillys hym in som stede • a stable by hym one,
With lang laies of yren • fat he might lig in. 756*
And ali at wer dampned to fe deth • & demyd at J?e lawe, He is fed upon
)jai saH be brojt^ fra fe bare • fis blonk into stable.
To wery at hys awne wUle • & weyle' of fe fattest*. 759*
3it philip of hys faire goddes • hym fanges such a sware, The gods say
Yff ony berne wer so bald • baron or other,
Or wy pat myght pis wUde best* • worth for to ryde, sucked
Was dewly aftir hys day • destinate to regne. ^'"''^"
When alexander was of elde • awght 3eres & fours, 764*
}?an was he worthy & wight • & wisely hed leryd
At arestoteH aH ouer • pe artez aH seuen,
And castor, ane oper clerke par • at wer hys kyd maisteres. Alexander is
So carez he in pe castefrjarde & cowmes on a day 768* old'! ^^ "
By a wyndow als pis wild horse • [was] warloked in bandez ;
' Altered to boyles in later hand. ' MS. wele, corr. to weyle.
that whoever
tames the
horse will
Dublin.] ALEXANDER TAMES BUCEPHALUS. 29
Lokes in at a lat • sagh ly hym byforne He sees the
horse sur-
So mony menbres of men • wer mervayle to ten. rounded by
j)ar liggez lymmes of ladder • leggez & liarmes, 772* and arms.
Tharmes thrist owt of thees • banes & shiildres.
Som hanchyd of* pe heued â– som fe handez etyii,
Soin \)ar riggez owt rytte • & som \>ar ribbez rent*.
Of J)is wonder he bed • & so be wele buixJ. 776*
And bardly hys awne band • in at a bole putter, ^i'* ''0"«
He^ layd owt a lang neke * & bys band likkys; hand.
Faire faldes bys fete / & fallen' ^ bym^ to pe ertb,
Hendly baldes vp bys beued • bybeld in bys face, 780*
On Alexander ay-wbare • eue?* elike wates. [Foi. 2 6.]
]?en wist fe wy wele enogb • bys wyH aH-to-geder ;
Brade^ vppe be brade jate • & be barre entres. He goes to
^^ r ■> r » the horse,
On be rige with bys rigbt bande • bym rodely strakez, 784* and strokes
liim.
And be fuH frely «fe faire • bym faunys & loutez.
Was neuer barslett in band • more buxum to bys lord.
J)en was fis blonke to J)is bern * for aH bis breme tecbes.
}3us lowtes ])is lede on low • & lowsys bys cbynez, 788* He gets a
Blyssis blytbly bym abouute • & a bridyH fyndez ; saddle,
Gratbez on J»is gay gere • & fen a gilt sadyH ; him.™°"" '
Ledes bym fortb of pat loge • & ))en of-lofte lepys.
Tban strenys be bys streropes • & stre3t vp sittes ; 792*
Lad bym by )>e loran • & bym fe lede wissez.
And be als rekyndly ran • roUand bym vnder,
As be ]je sadyH bed sewyd • seuenten wynter.
Sone as pbilip pe ferse • bym on ])is fole mete*', 796* Phntpsees
_ . . 1 o -1 . Alexander,
" Son, he sayd, " now er pe sawes • into jji seluen fynesbit, and predicts
Eight as my graceux gode • base galet me before. be king after
For \oM must rewle aH my realfo. • qwen I am raght byne."
Q?iod dlexander als behue • " my awne atbeH fader, 800*
I beseke pe my soueren • fat Jjou my sete dresse
In a chosyn chariott * as a cbefe maister,
With folawand me a fair flete • of fele men of armes."
' MS. And, corr. to He. * MS. faldia. corrected.
' MS. hys fete, repeated, but itrvck out.
Dublin.] Alexander's first expedition. 31
*' )?at graunt I gladly," quod fe gome * with a gode wille,
" Frist* of my faire foles • fang be a hundreth : 805* Phiiipgivei
'' _ Alexander
And syne sexty thowsand, my son • jjou^ pi seluen wale men and
Of shillynges & of shire gold • to shote in fi Cofyre ;
Syne of my chefe chiftanes • chese fe fe^ best*,
\)e most proved of my princez • in poyntez of were ; 808*
"Wyes ne no wale wede * want shaH fe nofer,
And held on wz't/i a hale here • par hersound jjou worth." ^
Thys barne hym buskes as he bede • & bade he no langre^
Bot grathes hym to pe gate • with a gyn noble. 812*
Forth wi't^ eufestyws he ferd • a freke pat he loued, Alexander
)3at was a fyne Philo[so]f[e]r • a frend of hys awne. [Foi. s.]
3itte takez he hym wzt/«-owte pe town • tweLf tried childer, uiwanciTa
\)at he hed Cosyn hym for chefe • hys chevalry to lede ; ° *"'
And fair enformed fam of fight • & fetez of armez 817*
For 3apest in hys awne yoke • jarly to drawe ;
Fers felons with hym fangez • & florens enowe,
Full preciouse apparemenf ' hys person to cleth, 820*
Comand kenely hys knyghtez • to kepe to hys blonkez,
J3at no* vnchaunce faim achefe • pat in Jje chare 3odez.
He prekys forth on hys play • bot with a preuay men3e, with a smaii
Chaterand with hys chiftanes • in hys child gere. 824* jnTOdesthe
To poliponenses base he passed * a prouince vnk[n]awyfi, neius""
And so was strykyn or he styntyd • in-to pe strange realm.
The kyng of fatt cuntree • pat pe kyth weldyd,
Which was callyd nicholas • & hym naytly metes, 828* The king's
name was
Had rasyd vp a rode hoste • & heldyd hym ayaynez Nicholas.
With bald baratowrs on bent • hym batell to 3elde.
He flonge ow[t] on a fers fole • far from hys hoste,
Ayres to sir slexander • & angrely franes : 832* Nicholas
" What is fi name, notesman • neuen me pe sothe ; Alexander.
And whyne ert pon & who • & what makys pon here 1 "
)3e knyght, as he wele couth • hym cwrtasly answers :
" Sir, kyng phihp pe ferse • my fader was haten, 836^
' MS. ]}at, corr. to ];>ou. * MS. the, con: to \>e.
' MS. wroth. â– * ?critten above the line in MS.
38 NICHOLAS REVILES ALEXANDER. , [Aslimole.
[FoL IX] Jjof I fis ■mrschip fe wayfe • as wald fine astate,
Lat fou Jji hert neuer Jje hi3ere • Lale in-to pride. 724
For it was wont," ({itod pe wee • " as wyse men tellis,
FuH: hi3e fingis ouer-heldis • to held oper-qmle.
Slike as ere now brojt a-bofe • nowe fe botliu7?i askis,
And slike at left^ ere on la we • ere lift to fe stemes."
" Sa ma aydeus," qiiod fat ofire man * " fou tellis me
treuthe, 729
"Tike awe lest gofi bis ensample of bi-selfe • bou sais me, I trowe,
roar predictions
> of Vn-behalde pe wele on ilk balfe • & haue a gud eje,
Les on fine ane here-efterward • fine ossjngis lijt." 732
J3an Ales-cinder aH in ire • angrile spekis :
"Hy fe hethen-ward, fou hathiH • & houe fou na
langire.
For na-f ing as a-nente me • f on has no3t to meH,
Ife w/t/i fi domes me to dele • dole vndire sonne." 736
surNidMias Now^ is ser NicoUas anoyed • & nettild with ire,
m^L As wrath as [a] waspe • & wode of his mynde,
Eeviles he f is of ire renke • with vnrid speche : 739
" Behald," quod he hedirward? • " & herken how I say ;
Now be f e hert & f e hele • of my hathiH: fadir?,
And be f e god," qiiod f e gome • " fat gafe me f e saule,
AQs] sprent [of] my spittyng • a specke on fi chere,
J?ou saH be dijt to fe deth • & drepid of my handis." 74-4
' Indistinct ; see 1. 814.
* MS. XowJtA ; by confusion ivith line above.
takel
Dublin.] SIR Nicholas insults Alexander. 33
And ali pe marche of massydon • he manowr^ clene ;
And I hys heyre sdexander • als elders me caUen." Uamader
declares his
j?at o)»er renishit r[e]ake * hyni righted in fe sadyH", name.
Stranes owt hys sterops • & sternly lokez ; 840*
"With a sembland as a hye air * settes owt fe brest*,
Sayd : " who am I bat am here • as ]3ou supposez ] " "whoam
IP" asks
" Sir, pon art a kyng of fis kyth • I ken wele my-seluen, Nicholas.
Bott neuer fe latter in pis lede • if fou be lord here, 844* ki„^^*
j3of ^ I^ J)is worship Jje^ wafe • as wald jjine astate, 723
Lett Jjou fi hert neuer )>e hyer * hale to pe pride. 724
For it is wont/' quod pe wy • " as wise men tellys,
The hyest thyng rafesf • heldes oper while.
Suche as now is broght a-bowue • now pe bothom askefi,
And sich als laft^ now on loft^ • er lyft to pQ sternes,"
"So madeus,"'' qiiod. fis oper man • "pou meUys me pe
so the, 729
For J)is ensampyll of ))i-selfe • pon says me, I trowe.
Vmhede pe wele on ilke halfe • & haue a god Egeii,
Lest^ on |)i-seluen ane oper tyme • jjine asking li3t." 732
)3an alexa?j(ier aH in ire • angirly spekes :
" Hy pe hyneward, pon atheH • & hofe here no langer.
For noJ)[i]ng als anense me • pon hase lityft to melle,
Ne witA me noght hase to do • ne dele vnder pe souu." 736
'Now [is] sir Nicholas noyef • & netlett with iie,
Als wrath as a waspe • & wode owt of mynde,
Revylez he J)is other renke • -with vnrode speche :
" Byhald," he sayd, " hydeT-ward • & here qwat I say ; 740
Now by pe hert & pe heale • of my old fadir.
And be god," qwod pe gome â– " at gaue me pe saule,
Als sprent of Jji^ spyttyng^ • a speke of my^ face, 743
pan saH be dijt to the deth • and drepyd of my handes."
' MS. Of. » \>efollo7rs after I in MS.
' ^e jvritteii above the line in MS. â– * MS. ra|7e?.<t.
* or last. ° so in MS. ; read laft er on lawe.
' MS. madeus. altered to madyng, in later ink.
* so in MS. ; read of my, " read on J^i.
ALEXANDER. D
34
ALEXANDER CHALLENGES NICHOLAS.
[Ashmole.
He spits in
Alexander's face.
Alexander con-
trols Uia anger.
[Fol. 13 6.]
Tliey appoint
a day for
fighting.
Alexander
gathers a host.
Both annies are
very numerous.
Tlic clarions
resound.
'Qnen he had spokin so, for spyte • he spitU's in his face,
Dispises him despetously • dispersons him foule.
" Hent ))e fare," quod fe hatiti^ • " as fe to haue^ semes,
Cure, for J)i kene carpe • chache nowe a schame !" 748
}3an went him furthe Alexander ' & his ande takis,
Lete a-swage or he sware • pe swelme of his angirs,
Be-se3is hi?n how he say wol(J • or he his sa3e jeld, 751
And turnes him pen to fe tulke • & talkis fire wordis :
" For ])on has nojtid me now • Ificollas," he sayd,
I swere fe, be my syre saule • & by his selfe pite,
And be )?e worthe wombe • of my wale mod re
\)at I was geten in of gode ' & graithely consayuecf, 756
Jjou seis me, lede, or 03t lange • in pi lande armed.
And ofire recoiiyre me f>i rewme • or reche vp fe
girditl."
\)An set fai fam slike a day • to semble & to fi3t, 759
And par-io tuke vp faire trouthis • & twyned esondre.^
\)en 3ode him furthe ))i[s] 3ong man * ^apeli & swythe
In-to fe marche of Messedone * & manly a-semblis
Of saudiowrs & sekir men • a soume out of nounbre,
j)at was Ipe baldest & fe best • breueyd in armes. 764
He parrails him a proude ost • of princes & ofire,
Fark/s to ser 'Philip ' & fangis his leue,
And fan Bocifilas his blonke • he bremely ascendis.
And bounes on with his bataitt • out at fe brade ^aiis.
j)e same day at Avas sett* • fe sembling of bathe, 769
Aithire with a firs flote • in fe fild metis.
pe nounbre of ser Nicollas • it noyes me to reken,
And Alexander was ane oste • of augird many. 772
With fat fai tuke vp faire trompes * a-pon fe twa
sidis,
Braidis banars a-brade • buskis to mete.
So kinlid f e clarons • fat aH f e cliffe rynges,
' So in MS.
' MS. hame, with first stroke of m suhp^mcfed.
' MS. to semble & to (131, struch through, n-lth k twyned
esondre above. * Added in the margin.
Dablin.] their armies meet. 35
"Wlien he liad spokyn so, in spite • he spittes at hys face,
Dispysys hym dyspytussly • revylez hym foule.
" Hent Jjc Jja;--to," quod j^e atheH • " fat pe to liaue semes.
Cure, for pi kene carpyng • cache now a shame ! " 748
pan ayres hym forth alexander • & hys aynde takes.
To let swage or he sware • fe swelme of hys angre,
"VVysez hym how he say wald • or he auuswer 3heldes,
And twrnyd hym fen to jjis tulke • & talkez pir wordez :
" For J)ou hase ii03tyd me now • nicholas," he sayd, 753
*• I swere by my syre saule • & by hys sehien pyte,
And be pat worthi -wombe * of my wale moder
Jjat I was gettyn in of god • & gmthly consaued, 756
Thu sees me, lede, in pi land • or oght lang enarmed',
And oper recouer me fii realm • or reche me vppe [pe]
girdyH."
J3an sett J)ai faim on suche a day • to semble & to fight.
And par-to takez vpp par trewthez • & twynnon in-sonder.
))an 3ode hym furth J)is yong man • 3apely & swithe 761
Into pe marche of masydon • & manly assembles
Of sowiowrs & of syker men • a some owt of nownibre,
\)at wer pe baldest & pe best • breuet in armez. 764
He Apperels hym a prouud oste • of princez & oper, [FoI. 4.]
Ferkys to sire philip • & fonges hys leue,
And Jjan bucifolon hys blonk • he bremely assende^,
And bownez on yvith hys bateH • in at ]?e brade 3atez. 768
J3e same day pat was set* • pe semblyng of bath,
Ather w/t7i a fers flete * in pe felde metyn.
J3e nowmbre of sir nicholas • it neyt^ me to rekyn,
And alexander was ane osf • of awgerly mony. 772
With pat J)ai tukkyii vp ])air trompez • vpon pe two
sydez,
Bradez baners on brade • buskes to mete.
So knellyd pe clarions • pat aH: pe clyff rongcii,
• So in MS.
36
NICHOLAS ATTACKS ALEXANDER.
[Ashmole.
steeds stamp,
and dust rises.
[Fol. 14.]
Sliields are
broken.
Lances are
Eplintered.
Nicholas attacks
Alexander.
Their spears
break.
Tliey fight with
Bvvords.
Alexander
cleaves
Nicholas' head.
pe holtis & \)e haire heere^ • & Jje hillis scheuyn. 776
Ilk a hathm to hors • hijis him be-lyue,
Stridis i«to stele-bowe • sterh's apon loft,
Has a helme on his hede • & honge on his swyre
A .schene schondirhand schild • & a schaft hentis. 780
Quat of stamping of stedis • & stering of bernes,
AH dymed fe dale • & ]>e dust ryses.
With slik a bront & a brusche ' \>e bataiH a-sembild,
As fe erth & aH fe el[e]ment/6' • at anes had wrestilcf.
Now aithire stoure on \>ar stedis • strikis to-gedire, 785
Spurnes out spakly • -wiih speris in hand,
Brek^s in-to blasons • bordren^ shildis,
Beiis in-to bri3t stele • bitand lances, 788
Sone in scheuerand schidis ' schaftis ere brosten,
Al to-spry ng/s in sprotw^ ' speris of syris,
Dryfuys doune duchepe?*s • & doyk2s of par horses,
Fellis f;iy to pe fold • many fresch kny3tts. 792
Quat dose now Jiis Nichollas ' bot nymes him a spert-,
Kest him on pis jong knyjt • to couiri^ hiin a name ;
And Alexander with anothire • airis him agayne,
Girdis grymly to-gedire • greuosly vaetis. 796
Sa sare was pe semble • fire seggis be-twene,
pat al to-wraiste ]?ai par wode * & werpis in-sondiri?,
Al to-clatirs in-to cauels • clene to jjaire handis, 799
par left noufire in par hand • pe lengthe of an ellyn.
J?en littid fiai na langer • bot laschid out swerdis,
Aithire a blesynand? brand* • brait out of schethe,
Hewis on hattzVly • had thurgh mailes,
]\Iany starand stanes • strike of J)aire helmes. 804
J3en Alexa}ider in ane ire • his arme vp-lift/5,
Swythe swyngis out his swerde • & his swayfe feches.
pe noH of Nicollas pe kyng • he fra pe nebb partis,
pat dowi he feli fra his fole • & fynyst for euir. 808
)3us was him destand ])at day • as drijten had shapid',
' 7-ead haire wode.
MS. reijcats in sproti*.
* read broden.
Added in the margin.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER SLAYS HIM. 37
That \)e holtez of ])g lieer wode • & pe hillez slieueii. 776
like atlieU to hys hors • liyes hyni belyue,
Striden to stele-bowe • startyn vpon lofte,
Had helnies vpon hedes ful hey • & hynget vmby Jjar shwyre
A shemerand sheld • & ])air shaftez hynten. 780
What of stampyng of stedes • & strippyng* of baners,
AH demmyd f e dale • & fe duste risez.
With suche a bront & a broush • pe bateH assembled,
As j)e erth & aH fe elementes * at anez had wrystyllyd. 784
Now ather stoure on ]>ar stedes • striken to-gedi'r,
Sprenten owt spakly • vfith speres in hand,
Erochen both basynettes • & brouden sheldez,
Eeres in-to bright stele • bitand lancez, 788
Sone in-to sheue?-and shidez • shaftez to-brislefi,
AH to-sprongen into -sprotes • sperez of cipriss,
Dryvez dowue docesperes • and dukez of blonkez,
Felles fey to fe fold • many fers knyghtes. 792
What doys me now J)is nicholas • bott nymmez hyni a sper,
Kest hym on jjis yong knyght • to gett hym a name ;
And alexander with an ofer • ayers hym ayayns,
Eidyn grymly to-geder • & grysly metyn. 796
So [sar] was J)e semble • [fir] Seges by-twene,
J?at aH to-wrasted |)ai wod • & warpyd in-sonde?*,
AH claters in clyftez • clene to fair fistez,
Jjai lefte nofer in faire [hand] • fe lenth of ^ ane Elne. 800 [FoI. 4 6.J
Jjan let fai no langer • bot laughtyn owt swerdes,
ATpir a brade blysnand brand • brade forth of shethez,
Hewen on heterly • hadon forow malys,
Fele starand stanes • striken of fair helmes. 804
Than alG-s.ander in ire • hys arme vpp lyftes,
Swith swynnges vp hys swerd • & hys swaffe faches.
The nole of nicholas f e kyng • he fra [f e] nek partem,
That doiin he fel from hys fole • fynysliit for euer. 808
J3us was hym destinate fat day • as drijten hym shapyd,
' ivritten above tlit line in MS.
38
ALEXANDER RETURNS HOME,
[Ashmole.
[Fol. It 6.]
All submit to
Alexander.
Returning,
he finds Pliilip
has wedded
another wife.
Alexander
refuses to submit
to Philip any
longer.
One Lesiag,
a knight,
threatens
Alexander,
but loses his
life by
To hent hi?w fe hijere hande • of his athiH fais.
pare slike wirschip he waii • ware wonde?* to teH ;
Had of fat hije kyng^ • Jje hede fia ]?e shuldirs. 812
J3en was hiin geuyn vp pe jerde • & jolden fe rewme,
And aH at left was^ o lyfe • lordis & othire,
Come to pat conquerowr ' & on knese^ fallis,
And in his ine?-cy & meth ' mekely ))aim put. 816
Jjis renke & his rounsy • fai reche vp a croune,
As gome at has pe garland • & aH fe gre wonn.
)?us vfith pe lloure in pe fild • he fangid his enmy,
And haldis on vfitk hale here • hame to his fadirc. 820
)?an fyndis he Thilip oil his flett ' with a fest huge
Had wed hira anoper wyfe • & wayfid his queue ;
Ane Cleopatras caled^ * a grete kyngzs dorter,
And [laft] had Olympadas • & openly for-saken. 824
" Fadire," quod J)is feH knyjt • quen he fis fest entirs,
" ]pe palme here of my first price • I p?*«y pe resayfe,
Forthe to pe weding or I winde • of my wale modire,
And kairfi me to a-nof ire kyng* • to couple hire to wyfe.
For pe to felsen ne to folo3e * fallis me na mare, 829
Ne here to duett with ))i douce • deynes me na lange;-,
'Now pou. mas pe slike a mangery • & macchis chang/^-',
And I to* consaile vn-caUid * I can no3t par-on." 832
With pat par carpis^ to pe kyng • a knyjt at pe table,
Ane lesias, a lede • & on loude speches :
" Cleopatras a knafe child • consayue saH & here,
\)at denied is efttV ))i deth * duly to regne." 836
)5an Alexa?Z(:Zer at fis knyjt • angirs vnfaire,
"Wynnes him vp a wardrere • he wait in his handis,
So hard him hiitis on pe hede • his hemes out weltid,
And sa he lost has pe lyfe • for his lejjer wordis. 840
)3an was pe wale kyng •wrath * as wonder ware ellis,
Braydis him vp fra pe horde * & a brand clekis.
MS. repeats was. ' MS. ken knese, with ken struck out.
' MS. he caled ; but he is not manted.
^ Added in the niargin. * MS. crapis.
Dublin.] PHILIP TAKES ANOTHER WIFE. 39
To hynt hym pe oui?rhand • of hys athell foes.
\)ar suche a worship lie wan * war wonder to telle ; 811
|jan hed he of pe hye kyng • pe heued from J)e shulders. No/a pr?-
Than jjai gave hym vp \>e ^erd ' & yolden fe realme, nam aiex-
And aH pat left wer [o] liue • lordez & other, «"^"-
Comes to fe^ conquerow?' • & on knes fallen,
And on hys mercy & his might • mekely faim puttci-. 816
j)en J)us reuerently * pai rechen hym a crowns,
Als gome pat hase pe garland • & aH fe gree wonne.
j)\is with pe floure in pe feld • fongez he is enmy,
And heldes on with a hynde heyre • home to his fader. 820
Then fyndes he philip with his flete • at a feste hoge
Had weddit hym ane o\er wife • & waueschyd hys moder ;
Ane cleopatras was callyd • a grett kyngez doghter.
And laft [had] olympades * & opynly forsaken. 824
" Fadre," quod ))is fele child • when he pe fest entred,
"The palme here of my first pride • I pmy pe resaue,
Forth to pe weddyng wiH I wende • of my wale modre,
And caire me to ane opei- kyng • to cowpyH hir to wyfe.
For pe to filson ne to folow • falles me no more, 829
'Ne here to dwelle at ))i devyse • deynes me no lang^r.
Thou makes suche a mangery • & )5i mache changes,
And I to counseH: vncallyd • I can noght heron." 832
"With pat far carpes to pe kyng • A knyght at pe table,
Ane lesyas, a lede • & on lowde spekes :
" Cleopatras a knaflfe child • consaue sail & here.
That destinate is aftir fi day • dewly to regne." 836
):en Alexander at jjis atheli • angers vnfaire,
Wynnes hym vp a wardrerd • he weld in hys hande, [FoI. 5.]
So hard hym hitte on pe hede • his hemes owte weltyfi,
And so he lost hase hys lyfe • for his lether wordes. 810
Than [was] J)o wale kyng wrath • als wonder wer elles,
Brades vp fro pe burde • & a brande clekez,
' written above the line in M,^.
40
PHILIP ATTACKS ALEXANDER.
[Ashmole.
Philip attacks
Alexander,
[Fol. 15.]
but staggers and
stumbles.
Alexander
reproaches liim.
lie drags the
bride out of
the hall by he
hair.
Alexander offers
Philip his
friendship,
and asks him
to forego bis
anger.
The king begins
to weep.
Aiiid toward Alexmider ' & aines him to strike.
Lot pan him failis fe feete^ • or he first wenys, 844
He stakirs, he stumbils • & stande he ne mi3t,
Bot ay f uhdirs & failis • as he ferde ware.
Jpe faster forward him^ he faris • pe faster he snapirs ;
Quat was fe cause of ]>g case • fat knawis oure lorde.
"Quat now," quod athitt Alexanc?er • "qiiat^ ailis fe
tofaHl 849
Has pou. na force in ])i fete • ne fele of fi-selfe 1
For a freke to be ferd • or a-fraid outhire,
And pan fe goue?-nere of grece • Jjat ware grete
wondire ! " 852
J3en tittis he doune in fat tene • fe tablis ilkane,
Out of fe haH be [fe] hare • halis he fe bride,
And so fe wee in his wreth • wrekis his modire,
And Vhilip falne [was] sare seke • & aH fe fest strubled*.
As sone as AlexancZer • of angire he slakis,* 857
He lendis o-loft to fe lede • a litiH days eftaV,
Cairis vp wit/i comfurth • fe kyng for to vysite,
He comes to fe cur ten • & carpis fis word is : 860
" Philip," quod fis ilke freke • & forwit^ him standis,
" ])oi it vn-semely me sytt • fe so for to caU,
N'o3t as pi suget & fi son • my sawe I fe jeldl,
Bot as a felaw or a frynde • failis to a-nothire. 864
Sir?, latt fi wreth a-wai wende • & -witJi fi wyfe sa3tiH,
And fe los of Lesias • litiH pou charge.
I did bot my deuire • to drepe him, me^ thinke ; 867
For it awe him nojt sa openly • slike ossing to make.
And ser, vnworthely pou wro3t • & pat pou wele knawis,
Quen J)ou was boune Wit^ a brand * my bodi to
schende."
pen rewis fe riche kyng • of vnride werkis,
Blischis vp to fe berne • & braste out at grete. 872
J3cn airis him on Alexandei' • to his awen modire ;
MS. fete, altered to feete.
' quod.
' Added in the margin.
Head aslakes.
Dublin.] THEY ARE RECONCILED TO EACH OTHER. 41
Ayres toward alexander ' & aymes^ hym to smyte.
Bot he fayled fe fote ' or he first wenes, 844
He stakez, he stonibles • \iat stand he ne might,
Bott ay he fenders & falles * as he ferd wer.
The ferer forthward [ho fares] • J)e faster [he] snappers ;
AVhat was ]je cause of fis case • fat knawys our Lord. 848
" What now," qziod alexander ' " q'watt ayles fe to
falef
Hase fou no forse ne no fete â– ne fele to ])i seluefi 1
For on freke to be so ferd * or afrayd of e?-,
And fou fe gubernare of grece * fat is a grete wondre I" 852
Then titti's he doun in fat tene • fe tables ilkon,
Owt of f e halle by f e hare • hales he fe birde,
And so f e wye in his wrath • Avrekes hys modre,
And philip fallyn was seke ' & all f e fest stroblet. 856
So als byline als alexander * on angre aslakes,
He lendes on-lofte to fe lorcJ • a lityH dayes aftir,
Cares hym with comforth • f e kyng for to visitt,
Comes hym to f e cortyns • & carpez fees wordez : 860
" Pliilip," quod f is fele freke • & ior-with hym standez,
"poP it vnsemely me sitt • fe so for to calle,
Noght als a sogetf ne f i sonne • my saAv I f e yeld,
Bot als a felow or a frend • falles to an-other. 864
Sir, lat f i wrethes all wende • & wfith f i wyfe saghtyH,
And f e losse of sir lysyas • lityti f ou charge.
I dyd bot my deuer • to drepe hym, me thynke, 867
For it awght hym nojt so opynly • sike ossynges to make.
And vnworthly f ou wroght ' & fat f ou wele knawys,
"When f ou was bowne with a brande • my body to shende."
Then rewys hym f e riche kyng^ • of hys vnrode werkez,
Blisshes vpp to f e berne • & bristes owt to wepe. 872
Than ayres hym on sir alexander • to hys awne modre ;
' MS. aynes. » MS. Of.
42
DARIUS HERALDS COME TO PHILIP.
[Aslimole.
[Fol. 15 6.]
Pliilip and
Olympias are
reconciled.
" Bees not a-glopened, madame • ne greued at my fadir« ;
If aH ^e synned him be-syde â– as 30M?' selfe knawis,
\)a7'-oi na we may jje wite * it Avas godis wiH." 876
'With pat he fanges hirs furthe • to Fhihp hire ledis,
And he condy hire kist • & cordis -with hire faire,
Anes with Olympadas • & ]?e tothire woydis,
And lofes hire lely • to his lyfes ende. 880
Heralds come
from Darius to
Philip.
Tliey demand
tribute.
Alexander
refuses it.
saying that the
old hen is now
bai'ren.
The messengers
take their leave.
LFol. IC]
% ©uintus passus ^Itxandn.
Sone eftzV in a seson • as fe buke sais,
Come driuand fra Darius • pe deyne Empereure,
Heraudzs on he3e hors * hendly a-rayed*,
To ser Thilip fe fers • to feche par trouage. 884
LitiH kyngis par come • as pe clause tellis,
Li3t doune at pe loge • & par blonkis leues,
Caires in-to pe curte • to craue hi?n par dettis,
Touchis titly par tale • & tribute him askis. 88-8
" 3a, caires hame," ciuod Alexander ' " a-gayn to ^oiir
kithes,
And sais ^our maister, he make • na ma sandis ;
For sen Yhilijy had a fresehe son • pat fast now
encressis, 891
put bees nojt suffird, I supose • nane slike him to ^ekt.
For sais ^our lord, pe lefe heil • pat laide hir first egg,i
Hire bodi nowe -with barante"" is barely consumecJ,
And is Darhis so of his dett • duly depryued? ;
And be fis titill, him tellis • na tribute him fallis." 896
pen merualict Jjam pe messangirs • mekiH of his speche,
His witt & his wisdome • wonderly praysecJ.
Faire at ser Ph[i7z}:>] jre fers • fang^ pai par leue, 899
And syne clene of all pe curte • & cairis to par laudis.
To pe palais of pe proude kyng • to pe?-sie fai went,
Dose fam in to Dar'uis • par he on dese syttis,
And telles him how his trouage • is tynt al-to-gedi?-e,
' MS. ' eje ', corrected to egg.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER REFUSES TRIBUTE. -13
" Beys noght aglopned, gude Dame * ne greued to my fadre,
Ak if pon haue synned hym bysyde • als pou fi-seluen says, [FoI s &.]
j3a;-fore no gome may J)e gylt • for it is goddes wille." 876
With fat fongez liir J)is freke • & to philip lede*',
And he opynly hir kyssitt • & cordes -with hir faire,
\)\is [he anes] with olimphades • & jjis other woydez,
And leues louely with l]ir • aH hys lyue days. 880
©utntus [Passus].
Sone aftir in a seson • als says me pe written,
Come dryvand from sir darius • Jie digne Empe/-oiir,
Harraldes on liye horsez • hendly arayede,
To sir philopp Jse fers • to fett fair truage. 884
Kengez Ipar come * als pe clause tellez,
Lightyd doun at pe loge • laftyn par bloukes,
Cairen fourth in-to pe courts • to c?'auen fair dett^,
Tochett titely pare tale • & trzl^ute hym asked. 888
" 3a, ayres hame," quod alexander ' " agayn to your
kythez,
And says jour maister, to me • he make no moo sondez ;
For seth philop had a fressh sonu • fat fast now en-
cresse[s],i ggi
That beys not sufFerd, I suppose • no suche to hym jeld.
And says yo?/r lord, f e leyue henne • pat lade hir frist Egge,
Hir body now with baraynte • is barely consumed,
And so is darius of hys dette * dewly depriued* ;
And be fis tale, hym telle * no t?*2ibute hym falles." 896
Than me/-valett fes messyngers • mykyH of hys speche,
Hys witt & hys wisdom ' f ai wonde?-ly p?-asen.
Faire at philip pe fers * fair leue f ai fangen,
And syne clene from fe courte • caires to fair landez. 900
To f e palass of f e prouude [king] • to pe/-se fai wenden,
And dyd faim to sir darius • fare he on dese sjttes,
And tald hym howe is truage • is tyntt aH-togedre,
' The lines 890 and 891 are written after line 892 in MS.
u
PHILIP INVADES ARMENIA.
[Aslunole.
Messengers come
to tell Philip
that the men of
Armenia have
revolted.
Philip invades
Armeiii.».
A Macedonian,
named Pausanias,
rebels against
Philip.
He liad long
loved the queen.
Philip goes cut
against him.
Philip flees.
Pausnniaa
pursues.
with
908
912
As Alexayidej' awyii mouth • bad J^am all enfowrmed. 904
IF J3en messangirs to Messedoyne • come in jje mene
qwile
To Ph[y7z^] J?e fen kyng • & frescfely liim taltl,
Jpat aH Jje erthe of Ermony • Erles & princes,
pat suld be suget to bim-selfe • wald seke bi
armes.
And Alexa??tfcr belyfe • as atbQ man sulJ,
Vndirfangid to fejt • for Pb[27<)9] to wende,
Gedirs bim a grete ost • graithes bim in plates,
And aires toward Ermony * fat erd to distroy.
J3an was a man in Messadone • in Jie marcbe duellid,
A p?-oued prince & a proude • Pausanna was batten,
A big berne & a bald • in brenys to ryde,
)?e son of ane Cerastis • as jie buke witnes. 916
)5is freke aH bis francbe • of Fh[nip] be baldis,
And was a suget to bim-selfe • & serues him ajt ;
Bot fan be depely many day • disired to bane fe queue,
And lyes vmlapped with bire lufe • many lange wynter.
And by ^ fat cause to fe kyng • he kest slik a hate, 921
j)at be desiris bis deth • & di^tis [him] fare-fore.
AH fe folke of his affinite • he frescbly a-semblis, 923
And sekis furth with a hoge some • a-saUe^ bi?n to jeld.
QuenPh[i7«^] beris of fat fare • gret ferly bim thinke[s],
Ferkis furth with a fewe folk • hi?n in f e fild metis,
Seis fe mzdtitude sa mekiH • of men at be bringes,
Braidis on his blonke toward f e burje • & f ai?M f e bak
shewis. 928
}5en scbrikis schilK aH f e scbalkis • & schoutis bi??z at
anes.
And Pausanna f e prince • a-pon a proude stede
Sprengis out with a spere • & spedis him eitir,
And f urgh f e bac in-to f e brest • him beris to f e erd? ; 932
' Inserted in the viargin.
h inserted before a-saile, lut siib^uncted.
Dublin.] PAUSANiAs pursues philip. 45
Als a.\ex[anJei-] awne mouth ' f»aim aH had enformed. 904
J)an inessyngers to masydon • come in \)Q meyne c[vvyle,
To philopp fe fen kyng • & felly hym toldyn,
))at aH Jie erth of ermony • Erelez^ & princez,
At suld be sogett to bym-seluen • wald seke hym with
armez. 908
And alexander als beliue • als atheli man suld,
Vnderfonged par pe feght • for philip his fader,
And ayers toward ermony • fat erth to distroy. 912
Then was a man in massidon • fat in fe marche dwellyd, [FoI. c]
A proved prince & a proude • pausana he heght,
A Bigg* berne & a bald • in brenes to ryde,
j)e Sonne of one sorastes • als says me fe text^. 916
This freke of all fe fraunches • of kyng philop haldes,
And was sogett to hym-seluen * & seruage hym awght"*.
Bot 3ett depely mony day • desirred he fe whene,
And leued vnlappyd with hir loue • mony lang wynter. 920
And be pat cause to pe kyng • he kest suche a hate,
pat he desired hys deyde • & dight hym pariore.
AH pe folke of hys afhnite • he fresly assemblez, 923
And sekez owt with a hoge some • a-sawte hym to yelde.
"When philip herd of J?is fare • grett ferly he thynkez,
Ferkez forth with a few folke • & hym in feld mete^,
Seys pe multitude so much * of me?j fat he brynge^^, 927
Brades toward pe burgh on hys blonk • & hys bak
shewys.
)3an scrikes shilly all pe shalkys'^ • & shote-s at onys,
And pausana pe prince ' vpofi a prouude stede
Sprynges forth wtth a spere • & spedes hym after,
And forow pe bake in-to pe brest • hym berez to pe erth. 932
' T7ie MS. has & baron after Erelez, but crossed throvgli and
erpvncted.
* all }pe is repeated here, but expnncted in MS.
46
ALEXANDER RETURNS.
[Ashmole.
[Fol. 10 6.]
Pausanias is
puffed up with
Ills success.
Alexander
returns with
an army.
The queen sees
Alexander
coining.
She implores his
help.
Pausanias goes
out against
Alexander,
Alexander is
told that his
father is mortally
wounded.
AH ware he wondirly wondid • he wendis nojt be-lyfe.
His men & aH pe Messadones • fuH mavnly ware
stourbed',
Qiiat of doloure & dyn • quen ))ai him dede hopid'.
Pausanna fan for pe prowis • slike a pride hentzs, 936
Vnethes wist he for welth • wiike quat he mijt.
He prekis in-to pe palais • to puH out pe quene,
Wenys to wild hii'e at wiH • & away lede. 939
)3an comes Ales.ande)- in put cas • pe cronaclis tellis,
Wz't/i a riall ost • of many able princes,
Airand out^ of Ermony • & had aH pQ erth won ;
Sees slike a rottillyng in pe rewme • & ridis al pe fastc?'.
Jjau past vp pe proud quene • in-to preue chambre, 944
Wayues out at wyndou • & wayt/s a-boute,
Sa^e be pe sygnes & be sike • as wit7i hire soil comys,
And be pe alyens armes • at he was aH maister.
'With pat scho haldi's out hire hede " & he3e to him
caUis, 948
" Quare is J)i werdes, my Avale son • pon wan of fi godis,
pon suld? be victoz^r & venge • & vencust^^ neuire 1
If pou haue^ any hert here • help now ])i modire."
Sone as pausanna pe prince • wiUi-in pe palais heris 952
pe comyng^ of pe kene kny3t • he caires him agaynes,
Presis out of pe palais • v/ith a* pake armed,
And metes him in pe myd-filJ. • Vfith a inekill nounbre.
And Alexancfer be-lyue • quen he on him waites, 956
He swyng/6^ out with a swerd • & swappis hbn to dethe j
And pe renkis, aH the route * reches vp J?aire wapen
Vn-to J)is kid conquirowr * & cried eitir socure.
)3an was par ane in pe ost • on Alexander callis, 960
Sayd, " 'Ph[ih'p'] J)i fadire • is in pe fild drepid'."
And he halis furth on hede • & halfe-dede hiwi fynlis,
Bi-usches doune by pe berne • & bitterly wepis.
' Inseited in the margin.
MS. haue hafe, aliered to haue.
MS. vencust/.'!.
* Above the line.
Dublin.] HE SLAYS PAUSANIAS. 47
He heldes doun in fe hey way • & halfe deyde liggez, 933*
And was so wonderly wound/t • lie wenyd noght to leve. 933
Hys men & ail fe masidons ' full fowly wer stoM?-blett,
What for doloure & dyne • when J)ai hyni dede hopefi.
Pausana for ]?ees prowes • slike a pride hentei", 93G
That vneth he^ wist for welth • what he wirke might*.
He prekes into fe palace • to puH owt fe whene,
Wenes to wilde hir at wiH • & away lede.
J3an comes euefi onon • fe cronacles telles, 940
Alexander -with ane oste * of mony able princez,
Ayrand owt of Ermony • hed aH ]:e erth wonne ; ?• victoria
Herd suche a rastelyng in J>e realm * & rydez pe faster.
Than passyd forth jje prouude whene • into a prevay chaiui"/-,
AVayfez vp a wjoidow • & wayte^' far-owt*, 945
Sees wele by signes * at hir sonne come,
And by Jie alyens armes • fat he was aH mayster.
With ])cit she haldez forth hir heued • & hegh to liym
calles: 948 [FoI.6 6.]
" Whare er ])i werdes, my wale sonn • fou wan of pi goddez,
Thu suld be victour to venge • & venkest neuer?
Yf foil haue ony hert her * help now pi moder."
Sone as pausana in pe place * fis tale herys, 952
And pe commyng of fis kene knyght • he carys hym ayayns,
Preses owt of pe palasse • with a pake enarmed,
And metes hym in pe myd-feld • with a much nowmbre.
Bot aXexander als belyfe • as he on hym wates, 956
He swyngez owt a sharpe swerde • & hym to deth swappys ;
And fen hys renkez aH in rowte • rechen vp far waypynncz
Vnto f is kyd conqueroti/* • & cryen aftir socoiir. 95!)
pien sayd fa?- an w/t/(-in fe ost • & on a\exa7ider calles,
Sayd : " philip f i fader • is in fe feld drepyd."
And he hyes fen fast forth • & halfe-deyde hym fyndez,
Brushys doun by f e berne • & bitteHy wepys.
' MS. hy, corrected to he.
48
[Fol. 17]
Philip is glad
to know of
Alexander's
success ;
Alexander
buries liiin.
He assumes
tlie crown.
and summons all
liis kiiiglits.
He addresses
them.
Dismiss all fear.
Every natirn
bhall serve me
THE DEATH OF KING PHILIP. [Ashmolc
" A ! A\exande7- ! " qitod pe kyng • *' now am I at^ ane
ende;" 964
A litiH liftis vp his liddis • & lokis in his face ;
" Bot jit it gladis me," qicod ]>e gome • " to ga fus to
deth,
To se my slaare in my sijt ' be sa sone jolden, 967
A ! wele be pe, my wale son " • & waged with his hede ;
"))ou has baldly on my bane • & bremely me vengid."
'With pat he bloj^irs in pe brest • & jje breth stoppits,
And in a spedfuH space • so fe sprete jeldis.
And Alexander ay oii-ane • augirly he wepis, 972
And gvet is for hi?^i as greuously • as he him geten hade.
With barons & bachelers • him brojt to fe cite,
And ef^is hi??i in his awen er(J • as Emperoure fallis.
The day efte?- his deth • drerely him wendis 976
Alexander his aire • & syttis in his trone,
A clene croune on his hede • clustird with ge»mies,
To se how him seme wal(J • pe sete of his fadire.
He seis doune in Jje sete • wiih septe;- in hande, 980
Mak/i- a crie pat aH pe cm-Le • kni3t«6- & erles
Sidd put p3iim in-to p?rsens • his precep to here.
And aU comyn at a kaH • & on kneis heldis ; 983
J5an blisches he to his baronage • & breues pir wordis :
" Lo ! maistirs of Messedone • sa mijty men & noble,
3e Traces & of Tessaloyne ' & ^e pe trewe Grekis,
How likis 30W nowe ^oicr lege lord? • lokis on my
fourme, 987
And letis aH ferdschip at flee • & fange vp 30?/?' hert/*'.
And aires for nane alyens • quils Alexander Isistis.
For with pe graunt of my god • I gesse, or I dye,
pat aH the Barbare blode • saH bowe to my-selfe.
)5are is na region ne rewme * ne reuke vnder heuen, 992
Ne nouthire-quare na nacion • bot it saH my name loute.
For we of grece saH haue pe gree • with grace ay to wiW,
And anely be ouer pe werd * lionoe/?*d! & p/vyyt-ed.
' Inserted at the end of the hue
Dublin.] ACCESSION of Alexander. 49
" Aa ! aloxamk)-, sonn ! " quod |)is atheH • " [now] am I
att on cnJe." 9G4
A lityH lyft<'6' hys lender • & lukes in liys face ;
"Bot 3ett me gladdfo-," <iuod })is gome ' " to byde J)us on
lyve,
To see my slaer in my sight • be so sone 3holden. 967
A ! wele be fou, wale son " • & wagged with hys heued ;
" For J)ou hase baldly on my bane • & bremely me venged."
'With fat he blothers in fe brest • & hys breth stoppys,
And in a spedfuH space • ])e spirit he 3eldez.
Bott Silexander euerelike • awgerdly jdejTiez, 972
And grettes for hyra als grefully • as he hym gett™ hed. Notemortfra
philippi, &e.
Wz't/i barons & -with bachelers • he bare hym to fe cyte,
And erdes hym in hys awne erth • as em^eroitr falles.
The day after hys deth • fen durely he^ Avendes 976
Alexander hys ayre • vppe in hys awne trone,
A clere croune on hys heued • clustird -with gemmys,
To se how he^ seme wald • fe sete of hys fader.
He sittej? doun in pat sete • with septo?/?- in hand, 980
IMakes a cry \)at aH pe courte • knyglitez & Erelez
Suld come & be p?-esent • hys p?-ecept< to here.
And aH fai come at hys calle • & on kneys heldz't,
J3an blyssez he vnto hys hemes • & breues pes wordez : 984
*'Lo ! maisterlynges of massydon • so myghty & so noble, [FoI.t.)
Ye tracez of thessalon • & ye trew grekez,
How likez now you your leege lord ] • loke on my forme,
And letter aH ferdshipys'^ flee • & fongez vpp your hertes,
And arghes for no aliens • whilse alexmider lefys. 989
For wn/i pe graunf of my god • I gesse, or I dye,
pat aH pe barberon blode • saH bow to my seluen.
Thare is no region ne realin • so riche vnder heuen, 992
Ne jioper-v/h.a.Te no nacion • bot saH my name lowte.
For we of grece sal haue pe gre • vrith grace ay to wold,
And only ou<?r aH pe werld • be hono?;;-d & prassed.
' read him. ' MS. frendsliipys.
ALEXAXUER. B
50
THE OLD KNIGHTS WISH TO STAY AT HOME. [AshlllOle.
Whoever wanta
arms, let him
take them."
AH the old
knights reply,
saying.
" Our strength
fails us.
Our heads cannot
bear the helmet.
We beseech you
to let us go.
Choose younger
â– Nay,-
lys the kin?,
' I want old men.
vho are waiy."
All praise his
choice.
[Fol.
And quilk of aH myne athiH men • pat any armes
wantzV, 99G
Lat pas in-to my palais • & plates him delyuire,
And he^ at of his awen has • harnas him swythe,
And make him boune ilka berne • to bataiH to ride."
))an answard him -with [a] voice • aH his proucJ princes,
And Erles in his Empire • ])at ware in eld striken, 1001
Hathils of hi3e age • Auncient kni3tis.
Barons & bachelers • & bryssid ware in Armes :
" Sire, we hafe fame to ))e fi3t • & bene in fild preued
Wit7i ser Ph[z7ip] 30 wr fadire • mony fele wynter, 1005
And now vs faQis aH oure force • & oure flesch waykis ;
For be fe floure neuer sa fresche • it fadis at pe last.
Sire, aH J)e 3eris of oure 3outhe • es 3are syne passid.
And we for-trauailid & terid • jiat now oure topp haris,
Al to heuy to be hildid • in any here wedis, 1010
Or any angwische of armes * any mare suffire.
For-fi, lord, wit/i 3oure leue • we lawe 30W be-sechis
We may no3t stand now in stede • oure strenth is [to]
febiH.
Wale 30W ojjer werriouris • fat wi3t ere & 3onger,
Slike as ere stife in a stoure • strakis to thole."
" Xay, be my croune," qiiod J)e king • " my couatyng is
elder 1016
J3e sadnes of slike men • fan swyftnes of childiV ;
For barnes in far bignes • it baldis f am mekiH,
Oft with vnprouednes in presse • to pas out of lyfe ;
For-thi ouer-si3t of aide men • I anely me chese ; 1020
Be connynge & be consaile • fai kyth ai jiar werkis."
Jje sle3t of hys^ sapience • fai selcuthely prayse.
And clene a-cordis to his carpe • 'kni^tis & othire.
H ]pen dose him furthe f is dere kyng • a litiH dais eft?/-,
Alexa??(ier with ane ost • of many athiH dukis, 1025
' Inserted at the end of the hue.
^ \>ar, altered to liys.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER PERSUADES THEM TO FIGHT. 51
And -wliilk of aH my atlieH men • any armowr -wantes, 996
Bot passe into my palasse â– & plate*^ liym delyver,
And he ]>at of liys awne liase • harnes hym swith,
And make hym bowne eutrylke berne • to bateil to wend."
j)cn answerd hym •with a voyce • aH liys prouude princez
And Ereles of hys Empire * fat wer in elde strykeu, 1001
Hatels^ of hegh age • & auancet knyghtez,
Barons & bachelers • fat bresyd wer in armys :
" Sir, we haue faren in-to feld^ • & ben in feld^ p?'euett
"With sir philip your fader • many fele wyntre, 1005
And now vs falez aH our force • & owr fleche wakens ;
For be fe floure neuer so freshe • it ftides at fe last^.
Sir, aH fe jeres of owr youth • bene ^are syne passyd, 1008
And we for-traveld & for-tyred • fat now owr topp horez,
AH to hevy to be hold • -witJi ony here wedes,
Or ony awnterez of armes " to any more suflfre.
For-fi, lorde, with your leve â– we loughly besekcs, 1012
We may noght stande yon in stede • our strenthez er to
feble.
Lat wale you other weriowrs • fat wight er & yonge,
Sike as styffe er in stowre â– strakez to dele."
"!Nay, by my Corone," quod fe kyng • "my covetyng is
helder 1016
The sadnesse of suche men • fen swyftnes of childer ;
For barnez in fair bignes • fat beldez f aim to mekyH,
Oft with vnp)-o[ued]nes3 in prese'* • passen owt of Hue ;
For-fi ouersight of aid mefr'' ' I anely me chese; 1020
By Connyng* & conseH • f ai kythen ay far Werkez." [FoI. 7 6.J
So f e sleght of hys sapience • f ai selcouthly prasen,
And clene acordes to hys carpyng^ • knyghtez & othre.^
Than dose hym furth f e derfe kyng^ • a lityH days aftir,
Alexander with ane ost • of mony atheH dukez, 1025
' So in MS. ' MS. repeats feM. ' MS. vnp;-one3.
â– * MS. p?v<rese, corrected to prese. ^ MS. aliueu.
^ MS. othree.
E 2
52
ALEXANDER WINS CHALCEDON.
[Ashmole.
He goes towards
Italy.
He assaults
Chalcedon,
He calls on its
warriors to fight
to the death.
or to yield at
He enters Italy.
The Romans give
him 60,000
besants.
He lays Europe
under tribute,
and goes to
Africa.
[Fol. 18 6.]
Samed a vnsene somme ' to saile he begynnes
Oner in-to ytaile • \>a, yles to distruye.
In-to J?e coste of Calodone ' he comes him ouer first,
And ])ar a cite he asailes • &i in sege lengis, 1029
Bot wees wi3tly wi't/i-in • fe wallis ascendi<J,
Freschly fendid of • & fersly w/t^-stude.
"3© Calodoyns," quod fe kyng • he callis fra vrith-
oute, 1032
" Outhire macches 30W maySly ferto • or namely dies,
And &^tis fast with -^our fais • to 30 fey worthe.
Or 3efes 3arely vp \)e ^evde • & 3eld me fe cite."
So chaunses it fis chiftan • or he a-cheued fine, 1036
j)at fele he brenes of j?a bernes • & fe bur3e Wynnes,
And caires so out of Calodone • qnen he it couend had',
Oner ]>e ythes in-to Italee • & fat lie entirs. 1039
pen ware Jjai^ [redles of] rede • ali redd of his come,
Prays him all of fe pees • & presandz's him faire,
Sexti thousand fai him send • of sekire besandfs,
Of clere gold of faire kist • & coruws a hundrethe.
J?are tuke he tribute pat tyme • fe titiU recordis, 1044
Out euyn in-to Jje Occident • of aH at fare duellicJ,
Of qwilke f e erde & fe erthe • Europe was callid,
And ames fan to Affrike • & aH at esse leues.
J)an ra3t he fra fa regions ' & remowed his ost, 1048
Cachis in-to an of ire kythe • & crossis ouer f e stremes,
Aires in-to Affrike • with many athill prince[s],
Anofer wing of f e werd • & wynnes it be-lyfe,
j)at syde sodanly & sone • fat ser he a-cheues. 1052
For far he fande bot fewe * fat felly wzt^stude,
Na ridars in f a' regions • ne rebeH: bot littiH ;
He laches it f e li3tlyere • as was f e les wonder.
J3an kaires he fra fo contres * & kerue[s] ouer fe
stremes, 1056
Furthe to Frantites he ferd • si ike a ferre He,
• Abore the line. ' MS. J^e.
^ MS. na, corrected to ]>&.
Dublin.} HE CONQUERS EUROPE AND AFRICA. 53
Sampnez ane vnsene some • to sayle he begynnez
Oure in-to Itale • pe ylez to distroy.
In-to fe cost of calydoii • he co7?imez on first, 1028
And par a cyte assalez • and in a sege lenges.
Bot wies wightly with-in ' fe wallez ascendyn,
Freshly defendyng^ of • & fersly w/t^-stondyn.
" Yhe calodons," quod \>e kyng ' and [calles] from -with-
owte, 1032
" Owther mache yow manly -^ \)arto ' or maynly dyez,
And feght fast with â– ^oner faes * to yhe faye worthen,
Or yevez 3arely vp fe 3erd ' and gefes me vp J)e cite."
So chauncez it fat chef tan • or he achevet fine, 1036
That fele he britens of fa bernez • & fe burgh wynnez.
)3en carez owt of calidon • when he it coMeryd hadde,
Owre fe ylez of ytale • & fa ylez entrees.
And fai wer redles of-ragthe' * of f is kengez commyng,
Prayed hym all for fe pease * & present hym faire, 1041
Sexty thousand hym sendes • of sekyr besandez,
Of clere gold of fair kystez * and corownez a hundreth.
Thare tuke he tribute fat tyme * as fe text recordez, 1044
Owt onon into f e occidenf • of aH fat far dwellyd.
Of f e whUke f e erth • of Ermony is callyd.
And amez hym toward aufrike • & all at ease leues.
Than raught he from f e regions • & rowmyd hys oste, 1048
Cachez into an-other kyth • & crosez ouer fe stremez,
Ayrez hym into aufrik • vriiJi mony athell princez,
An-other wynge of f e werld • Wynnes it belyue,
J5at syde sodanly & sone * fat sire hym achevys. 1052
For far he fand bott few * to fersly hym witTistonde,
Ne ryders in fat regions • ne rebellez bot lityH ;
And he f aim laught all f e lighter • as was les wondre.
)?en cairez he fro foes cuntrees • & kerues ouer fe
stremes, 1056
Forth to f rancides he fared • suche a ferme yle, [Foi. 8.]
' MS. maly, corrected by later hwnd to ma«ly.
* So in MS. ; both MSS. corruj,t.
54
He goes to the
temple of
Aminoo.
On the way he
sees a huge hart.
He draws a bow,
and shoots it ;
the place is still
called Sagittarius.
Alexander offers
to Ammon.
He comes to a
place with 15
towns.
ALEXANDER SHOOTS A HUGE HART.
[Ashmole.
He sees Serapis
ill a dream,
[Fol. 19.]
who asks if he
can move a
mountain.
■Seches \)ar to a synagoge • him-selfe & his princes,
Amon \)ar awen god • at fai honours myjt. 1059
And so to fe temple as he tijt • with his^ tidf Eries,
)3an metis him myddis fe way • was meruale to sene,
A hert vfith a huge hede • J)e hareest oil erthe,
Was to be-hald as a liarow • for-helid oner pe tyndis ;
And fan comande hvn pe kyng • kenely to schote, 1064
Bot par was na man so nemyH • Jiat him hit couthe.
" A ! hilla, haile," q^wd Alexander • & him a narawe
hent,
Dro3e, & at pe first drajte • hvn dreped for euire.
Fra Jjethen to jjis ilk day • fan is pat iike place, 1068
J3e stede par fis stith man • strik2s fis hert,
Sagittarius forsotli ' men gafe it to name,
And AviH do for pat ilke werk • ay qwen Jje werd ti^JTies.
pen aires him on ser Alexander • tiH Anion temple,
Offirs to his awen gode • & hono^trs him faire, 1073
Geuys lii?/i garsons of gold • & of gud stanes.
And hald hestes him to hete • hi//, hettirly besekis.
J3an passes he fethen -with his princes • to sicli a place
â– we7idis, 1076
Caplio Eesey we rede • pe romaunce it callis ;
And par-in fyndis hiwj Jje freke • fyftene Burghes,
And glidand to pe grete see • xij grym waters.
Of ilka bild?, sais pe buke • barred was pe ^atis, 1080
Stoken stifly wzt/«-out • -with staplis & cheynes.
pare lengis hiw lefe pe ^ kynge • & logis all a neue7^,
And sacrzfyce par efsones^ • to many sere godis.
pe same nijt in his slepe • Seraphis aperis, 1084
Anothire of his grete godis • in a grym fowrme,
Cled in a comly clathe • of castans hewes.
And sUis euyii to hi??i-selfe • & said hi??i pir wordis :
" Alexa72der, athiH kyng^" • & asperly spekis, 1088
Toward a mi3ti montayne * him mynt/5 -with his
fynger,
' At the end of the line. ' Bead eftsones.
Dublin.] HE SEES serapis i>f a dream. 55
Sekes ^ar to a synagoge • liym-selfe & liys princez,
Amone par awne god • pat jjai aJour mighten,
And so to hys tenipyH to-teghf • aU with hys tried Ereles.
Than met ))aim in niyd way • was mervale to see, 1061
Ane hert -with a hoge heued * Jje aughfulest on erth,
Was to behald as a harrow • foreheld ouer •with tyndez ;
And ))an Comandez Jiaim pQ kyng • kenely to shote, 1064
Bot par was no man so nemyil • pat hym hit couth.
*' A ! eueii hale ! " quod alexander • & an arow hyntes,
Drogh, and at pe frist draught * hym drepyd for euer.
Fro )?ine J)an vuto fis day • Jjan is pat ilke place, 1068
The stede par J)is styffe man • strikez ]}is herf ,
Sagittarius for soth. • men seggen it to name.
And witt do for ))at ilke deyd • ay to pe werld lasted.
Than ayrez hym on sir alexander • to pe amonez temple,
Offers to hys awne god • & honowrs hym faire, 1073
Gyffez hym garsons^ of gold • and other gude stauez.
And held hestez hym to hete • hete?-ly besekez.
Than passid he ])ine with hys princez • to siche a place
wended, 1076
Chaipho rosey we rede • pe romanys it telles ;
And parin fyndez pe freke • fyftene burges,
And glydand to pe grett see • twelfe gret waters.
Off ilke belde, says pe buke • barred was pe ^ates, 1080
Stoken styfly wit/iowte " -with barrez of yren.
Thare lengez pe leue kynge • & loges aH an euen,
And sacrified par eft-sones • to mony sere goddez.
The same nyght in hys slepe • serapys appered, 1084
An-other of hys grett goddez • & in a grymme forme,
Clede in a clath • of castanez colour,
And syles euen to hym-selfe • & sayd hym fees wordez :
" A ! alexander, ateH'* kynge " • and asperly spekys.
And toward a myghty mountane • hym myntyd wit/i hys
fynger, 1089
' MS. garfons. ' So in MS.
6
56
He answers,
" Nay."
Serapia pro-
phesies tliat
Alexander's name
shall enciure as
long as the
mountain.
Alexander asks
when his death
will come.
Scvapis says it is
better for him not
to know;
but he will be
poisoned while
still young.
Anotlier oracle
will tell Uiia
[Fol. 19 6.]
He calls liis
carpenters,
THE PROPHECY OF SERAPIS,
[Ashmole.
" May fou ojt, lede, fe 3onder la we • lyft on fi schulder,
And stire it cute of pe stede • & stable in a-nothire? "
*' Nay, qua mijt Ipat" qiiod ]?e man • " for mede vndire
heueVil" 1092
" Sire, as 3one 3ondire hi3e hiH • saH: ay hald his place.
So sail ])i name fra now furth * be mywned in mynde,
And ay to fe day of dome ' J;i dedis be remenbrid."
)5an AlexayuJe)- belyue • hbn askis a demaunde, 1096
" I be-secbe Jje now, Syraphas • if pon me say wald^
]3e prophecy, or foil pas • of aU my playn werdis, 1099
How me is destayned to dye • & quera my day fallis 1 "
" Sire, certayne," quod Seraphis • " as to my-selfe
1101
I hald for fe better,
\)Q wathe of his ende
& ay in care lenge. 1104
thinkw,
For any hathiH vnder heue?i
AVtt/iouten wa^ no3t at wete
]3en know ^ Jje cas or it come
Bot neue?--]3e-les I salt ]pe neuen • seii pou me now prays,
}?ou sail ■• be drechid of a drinke • a dra3te of vnsele.
And aH J)i 3eris ere 3eten 3are • & pi 3oathe fenyst,1107
Lange or pon. haue metefl pe merke • of Jji mydill age.
Bot quen ne in quat time • sal qwaite pe ))is aunte?*,
Enquire me no3t pat question • for I queth pe it neuer.
"For outhire out of pe orient • saH openly here-efter
V^ndo pe drejt of fi days * & fi ded teH." 1112
Jjail Avaynest him ))is vayne god • & voidis ira pe
chambre.
)5e modi kyng on pe morne " aH monand he ryses ;
\)e mast parti of his princes • & of his proud ost
Hastis fam in-to Ascoiloym • & par |)ai him bydis. 1116
J)an callis he to him carpentaris • & comaudz's pdim
swyjje
' After 1. 1097 the MS. has a half-line, viz. ' For any hathiH
VDdire heue?i.' This is really the former half of 1. 1102 below,
and is marked for omission in the MS. This accounts for the
omission of 1. 1098 in the numbering, which is made to agree
with Stevenson's edition.
' MS. to no^t at wete ; but either to, or at, mnst be omitted.
^ The w above the line. * MS. sail sal.
Dublin.] THAT ALEXANDER WILL PIE BY POISON. 5<
" May yon oght, lede, yond[e]r low • lift on ]>[ sliulder,
And stere it owt of one stede • & stablet in ane otlier ] "
" Kay, wlia my3t pat," quod pe mail, * " for mede vnder
heueii ? " 1092
" Sir, as yonder hye hille * saH hald ay hys place,
So saH fi name owt of nowmbre • be nomyn in-to mynde, [FoI. 8 a.]
And vnto ]?e day of dome • jji dedes be remenbryd."
Than alexa?zcZer als belyue * hym askys a demande, 1096
" I beseke J)e, sir serapys • yf jjou me say wald^
Jje p?-ophecy or pon passe ' of att my playne warden, 1099
How me is destanet to dye • & when my day fallez ] "
"Sir, certanly," quod seraphys • "als to my-seluen
thynkez, 1101
To ony atheH vnder heuen • I hald it for Jje bette?-,
With-owtyn wa no3t to witte • J?e wothe of hys ende
Ne knaw pe cause or it come • & ay in care lenge. 1104
Bot neuer-fe-lesse I saH pe neveii • sen pou me prayes,
Thu saH be drenchett ^\^ith a drinke • a draught of vnclene,
And aH pe yherez par • in fi youth fynyshytt,
Lange or po\i metyn haue pe merke • of jji medyH age,
Bott when ne in what age or tyme • saH falle ))is aweniur,
Inquire me noght J; is question • I queth it pe neuer. 1110
For other owt of pe orient " saH openly hereafter
Vnto 2 pe dro3t of fi days • & fi deth to^ teUe." 1112
)3an vanyshit J)is wayn god • & woydez from pe
chawmbre.
The mody kyng on pe morne • aH murnaud he risez,
pe moste party of hys princez • & of hys proude ostez
Bound to ascolon • and par hym abydez. 1116
Than callyd he to hys carpenters ' comand faim
swythe
' Line 1098 is omitted in the numbering ; see note on p. 56.
* So ; for Vndo. ' Better omitted.
58
and builds
Alexandi-ia.
ALEXANDER IN EGYPT.
[Ashmole.
In mynde & in memory of him • to make a cite,
And neuens it his awen name • fat neuer syne changid,
Bot Alexsande?' ay furth • efter him-seluen.^ 1120
He goes to
Egypt.
Tliere he finds a
black image.
He inquires wlio
ii is.
He is told it is
Anectanabus.
He weeps,
BHyiug, •' It is my
own father."
rfe g6e» to Syria.
Then to
Damascus.
[Fol. 20.]
He besieges
Tyre.
Now aiiis he furthe vfith his ost • to Egist he
thinkes ;
And clene art fe centre • que?* |>ai his come herd,
As he had bene a hi3e gode • pai 3ode hi??i a-gayn,
Eesaued hi??i with reuerence • & to ])ar rewme lede. 1124
pere entirs him ])at Emperoure • & in \>at erd findis
Of Anec his awen sire • ane ymage of sable,
A heme Avas of blake stane ' aH ^e body hewen
^Vith conyschance of a kynge • \/ith^ coron & sept ere.
)pan askis of jjara Alexander • as he far-oh lokis, 1129
Quat maner of mail apofi molcJ * it was made efter]
" Sire, Anectabus" • q2iod aH with a steuen,
" J2at all J)e erth of Egipte • enerid vmquile." 1132
W/t/i J?rtt fe fla)nmand flode * feH in his ejen,
" pat Anec," quod pis athil kyng • " was myne awen
fadire."
Jjan fallis he flat on pe fold • & J^e fete kyssis ;
On Jie stane qiiare it stode • stilly he mowrnes. 1136
Syne in-to Sirie with his seggis • he S03t at ))e gaynest,
And ))ai2 as barato?<rs bald • him bigly w«t/i-standis,
Set on him sadly • & sloje of his kni^t/s ;
Bot jet jarely are he jode • fai jald him fe regne. 1140
)3an drafe he sa to Damac • with dukis & princes,
And sone he sesyd aH \>at syde • & Sydoyne he takis,
And J)e?i trussis hi??i to Tyre • & pare his tenths sett^'s
Be-syde pe cite with a some • & in a sege lengys. 1144
}5are he lies w{t7i his ledis • lang or he foundes,
Before fe burje with his hemes • & mekiH bale suffirs.
* callid added in a later Jiand, at the end of the line,
" Inserted at the end of the line.
Dublin.] HE SEES anectanabus' image. 59
In mynde & memory of hym • to make ]>ar a cite,
And after his ^ awne name • J)«t neuer syne cliaungett,^
Alexander ay forth • after hym-selueS, 1120
Now ayers lie forth wit/i hys Ereles, • to cgip he
wendes ;
And clene all pe cuntree • when pai hys comyng harde,
Als he hed hen a hegh god • fai halden hym agayns,
Eesaved hym wz't/t reuerence • & to fair realm ledyfi.
Thare entrez hym Jje Emperour • and in jjat erth fyndez
Of anec hys a-wne syre • ane ymage of sabyH,
A berne was of blak stane • aH pe body euen 1127
'With conyshaunce of kyngez • coron and septw?' in hand.
Than askys he faim alexaiider • als he Jjar-on wates,
"What mane?- of man vpon mold • fat was merkyd after ?
" Sir, anec," quod aH men • w/t/i a steme steven,
"That Jje erth of egipt^ • enhered some tyme." 1132
With pat pe femand flode • flasshed in hys eghen, [FoI. a.]
" That anec," quod, pis atheH kyng • " my awne fadre
was."
)?an fallez he flatt on pe fold • & pe fote kyssez
Of pat stane pat stode • & stylly murnez. 1136
Syne into surry w?'t7i hys seggez • he soght pe ganest,
And fai as baratours bald â– hym bigly witAstandjoi,
Set vppon hym sadly • & slew of hys knyghtez ;
Bot jarle or he 3ode • fai 3olde hym vp pe realm. 1140
Than draue he so to Damask • with dokez & princez,
And sone he sesys aH pat syde • and sy[do]ne he takez,
And J?en he trussys hym to tyre • & par hys tentes settes
Besyde pe site with a somme • & in a sege lengez. 1144
jpair he lay with hys lede^ • lange or he fondytt*,
Before pe burgh with hys bernes • & muche bale suffred.
' MS. rayne ; rvrongly. 'MS. chaaungett.
i •
60
His men grow
weary, and
complain.
The strong forts
of Tyre.
ALEXANDER ATTACKS TYRE.
[Ashmole.
He builds a vast
tower.
His men a
famislied,
and nearly die of
liunger.
He sends tc
Jerusalem.
[Pol. 20 6.]
He demands help
and more men.
1152
1155
He tells them it ia
better to servo
Qreeks
Qiiat of ane, quat of ' ojjire • oft his oste pleynes,
For wele wist fai fain nane • to wyfi to pe cite, 1 1 48
It was sa stiffe & sa Strang* • & stalworthly wallid,
And 2 so Hedously lii3e • it was a huge wondir^,
Tildid fuH of turest/s • & toures of defence,
Batailid & bretagid • a-boute as a casteH.
j)t wawis of pe wild see • apoii J)e wallis betz'.s
J3e pure populande hurle' • passis it vmby,
It Avas enforced with sa fele • fludis & othire,
It semed neuer sege vnder son â– be saute it to wyfi.
)?an etils him air Alexander • & belyue makjs
Be-side J>e cite in ])e See ' to sett vp a loge,
A hi3e tilde as a toure • teldid on schippis,
])at mijt na jSTaue for fat note • ne3e to fe cite. 1 160
Quen he fis baisteH had bild • vp to }»e burje wallis,
And tijt him as tyme was • fe toune to assaiH,
Slik mischife in fe mene quile • emang* his men fallis,
For megire & for meteles • ware mej-vaile to here. 1164
par was Princes in poynt • to periscB. for euire,
All(3 in doute to be dede • dukis & erlis.
In fere to be faniyschist ' many fers kni3t/5.
For par is na wa in fe werd ' to fe wode hunger. 1168
J3an pleynis hi??i fe prou(J kyng • fe pete of his m in,
And sendis out his sandis-men • wit7i selid* lettirs,
To ien<salem to laudis • at fe iewes teches, 1171
\)a,t was fe bischop in fat bur3e • breuyd in fa dais ;
Him moneste as a maister • him'^ maynly to send'
Fresch folke for f e fi3t • & fode for his oste.
And all f e trouage fare to him • tittly to wayne,
pat he to Darius of dewe * was dangircJ to paye. 1176
And 3it comancJ he f is clerke • f e kyng* in his writtes,
For any richas him redis • rathere to thole
)?e mayntenance of fe Messedoyns • & of fe meri
Grekis,
' Inserted at the end of the line.
MS. And bai ; but fjai is better omitted.
'•cad perle.
Dublin.] HE MEETS WITH A STOUT RESISTANCE. 61
What of fing, wliatt of o\iir • ofte bys oste plenys,
For wele trowde J;ai |)an • none to wynne to pe cite, 114:8
It was so stifFe & so strange ' & so stalworthly wroglit,
And so hydusly bye * fat was A grett woudre,
Tyldet f uH of torrettes • & towrez of defencez,
Eateld & britagett • abowt as a casteH. 1152
The wawes of J?e wilde see • vpon ]?e walle betyil,
The pure populand perle • passyd it vmbe,
It was enforsed so wele * with flodez & other, 1155
Jjar semed neuer sege vnder Jje son • by sawte it to wynne.
Than eteUez bym sir alexander ' & als belyue makes
Besyde Jje cite in fe see • to sett vp a loge,
A bye tylde as a towre • tyldet of shippes,
Jjat might no navy for fat note • negb to fe haven. 11 GO
When he fis basteit bad byggyd • nere J>e burgh walles,
And tight hym as tyme was • fe burgh to assaylle,
Such mischefe in fe meynne tyme • vppon fe men fallez,
For megcr & for metelesse • wer mr.}-\e\l to telle. 1161:
Thare wer princez in pUte • to perisobe for euer,
AH in dowte to [be] dede • dukez & Ereles,
In fere to be famysbyd • mony ferce knyghtez,
For par is [na] wa in werld • to fe wod hunger. 1168
Than rewys hym fe prouude kyng • fe pyte of bys men,
And sendys forth sendesmen • with selett lettres, [FoI. 9 1.]
To leiusalem to lawdez • fat fe lewes tecbes, Epiatoia.
j)at of fat burgh was byshop • brevyd in fo dayes ; 1172
He monyshytt bym as a minister • bym manly to sende
Fresh folk for fe fight • & fode for fe folke,
And an fair truage • tyte to hym wayfe.
That he to Darius of dew • was dangert to pay. 1176
And jit co??imand he f is clerke • fe kyng in bys Avrittez,
For any richez be redes • rather to chese
The mayntenaunce of massidons • & of f e mony grekez.
62
THE BISHOP OF JERUSALEM REFUSES AID. [AshmolC.
The bishop of
Jerusalem says
lie will never go
against Darius.
Alexander is
wrath, and vows
to teach them
better.
He sends men
out on the
' foray of Gadirs.'
Meleager and
Sampson enter
[Fol. 21.]
the valley,
and take a great
number of cattle.
jjan jjaim^ of Persy to pay • or to plese authere. 1180
pan takis Jje biscliop ]je breue • & bu3es to a chambre,
Eesayued it v/ith reue?'ence • & redis it^ ouiie,
Gase him Jou?2 be degrece • a-gayne to fie sale,
Swiftly to Jje swiars • & jjam his sware jeldis : 1184
" Sirs, airis a gayfi to Alexander • & ail |)us^ him tellis,
])at me was done many day • depely to swere,
I^euer Persy to paire ' to pas \v/t/t myne armes
In damaging of Darius • durand his lyfe." 1188
Sone as fe wale kyng wist • he writhis hi?n vnfaire,
" Now be pat god," quod ]>g gome • " pat gatt me on
erthe,
I saH anes on f»e iewis • enioyne or I die, 1191
SaH ken fam quas comandment * to kcpe at Ipivii
faH."
^it for na torfar hi?n tid • Tyre wald he no^t lene,
Bot chese hi??i out a chiftane • & charge[s] hi»i belyue,
A mody man, ser ]\Ieliag«?' • a maister of his ^ oste,
To fande him furth with a flote • of fyue hundreth
kni^tis; 119G
A[nd] loynes him to losaphat • his iourmxy to^ take,
And aU pe pastours & J>e playnes • prestly to driue,
And bring in aH pe bestaiH • barayn & othire,
pat he mi3t se on any syde * pe cite of Gadirs. 1200
)5an mouys he on, ser Meliager • J)is mi3tifuH prince
Wit^ a soume of sekir men • & Sampson Jiaiu ledis,
A renke at in fa regions * had' redyn oft sythis.
And knew pe costis & fe kitthis • clene aH-to-gedire.
j5us 3ede Jjai furthe egirly • & entirs pe vaile, 1205
And alike a prai fam apreued? • as pyne were to reken,
Bryngis furthe, sayd pQ boke • besti's out of nounbre,^
And trottes oil toward Tyre • with taite at Jjaire hert/6\
Bot or ])ai meten ware a myle * J?e meris wit/i-outen.
' MS. \>a,\ein. ' Inserted at the end of the line. ' T\IS. {"
* MS. hio. * MS. to to ; with former to struck out.
* MS. mounbre.
Dublin.] THE "FORAY OF GADIRS." 63
J?eii faim of pe?'se to pay • or to please owder. 1180
Than takez pe Eisliop fe breue • & to cliawmbre bownes.
Eessaves it with reuerence • & redes it oner,
Gase hym downe be degrece • ayayn to pe sale,
Swythly to Jie swyers • & ]-aim j^e sware 3eldez : 1184
" Sirres, ayres agayn to alexa?2(?er • & aU jsas hym tellys, :Epistuia.
That me was done mony day • deply to swere,
Neuer perse to pare • ne passe witJi none armez
In damagj'ng of darius • endurand hys lyue." 1188
"When fe wale kyng wist • he wex wode wroth,
*' Il^ow by god," quod J)e grome • " \iat gatt me on
erth,
I sail seche lewres on )je lewes • enys ^ or I dye,
SaR kenne whoys coTwmaundement • J?at faim to kepe
faUez. 1192
3it for no torfer fat he tyde • tyre wald he noght leue,
Bot chesez hym owt a chiftane • & chargez hym belyuc,
A mody man, sir meliage?-, • a maister of hys oste,
To founde forth vfith a flete • of fyfe himdreth knyghtez ;
And iniones hym to losaphatt • hys lomay to make, 1197
And aH \>e pastowrs & fe playnes • prestly to - dryve,
Bot bring in all pes bestes • bareu & other,
])at he might see in ony syde • pe cite of Gaders. 1200
Than mefes on sire Meliager • J)is mightfuH prince
"VVyth a soume of syker men • & Sampson jjaim ledes,
A renke fat in fa regions " had rydyn oft sythez,
And knew fe costez & fe kythez • clene aH-to-gede?*. 1204
)3us hyed fai forth ege?-ly • & entird fe wale.
And suche a pray f aim p?'eved • als pyne wer to reken,
Bringez forth, als says fe buk * bestes owt of nowmbre, [Foi. lo.j
And trottes on toward tyre • -with ioy at fair hertt-s. 1208
Bot or fai metyn hed a myle • f e mers with-ouf,'^
' read enioine. ^ MS. Je.
^ MIS. were out.
64
DEEDS OF MELEAGER AND SAMPSON.
[Ashmole.
One Tb«osellus
withstands
Alexander's men.
Sir Melea^er
fights manfully.
So do Sampson
Caulus also
distinguishes
himself.
[FoL 21 i.]
Meleager retreats
in triumph,
with all the
cattle.
But his troubles
Beritinus attacks
him.
l)ar metis faim with a mekill flote ' fe maister of fe
playnes,
He fat was duke of fie^ droues â– & oi pe derfe billis,
Aiie Theosellus, a tulke • \>at tened jjam vnfaire. 1212
He girdis in viith^ a ging* • armed in plates,
Alto-bruntes oure bernes • & bratbly woundid,
Fellis fele at a fruscfi • fey to fe gronde,
And many renke at he roue • rase neuer efter. 1216
J3an was ser Meliager moued • & maynly debat/s,
Fling/s out on a fole • with a feH spere,
Gers many grete syre grane • & girdis Jjur^e mailli.^,
And many bernes at a braide â– in his brath endis. 1220
And Sampson on anothire side • seta's out belyue,
Bruschis f urth on a blonk • brymly he smyt/*^
'Betis on with a brande • broken was his Lance,
Hewis dou?i of Jja hirdis • hurti^^ |)am vn-faire. 1224
Arystes, ane athill man • ai elike fi3t/5,
Spirris out with a spere • & spedis his mi3t/>,
And noyed of fare note-men • at fe nete kepiJ,
And many bald, or he blan • bro3t out o-lyue. 1228
Caulus, anothire knijt • oii a kene stede,
On Theosellus in twa • his tymbre he brekis ;
And fan he dryfes to fe duke • as demys fe textis.
And with a swyng of a swerd • swappis of has hede. 1232
When he was drepid! & dede • at f e droues jemytJ,
\)e prekars of fe pastors ' & of fe proude landis,
AH fe folke of his affinite • at fresch ware vii-wondid',
\)at outhire fote had' or fole • to fe flijt foundid. 12-36
J3u3 Meliager with his men • fe menske has a-chevyd',
For f e fairere of \iar faes • & f e fild? wonfi ;
Easchis with rethere • & rydis bot a quyle,
]pat ne ne3is fam a-nothire note • as new as f e first, 1 240
\)a.re was a maister of f e marches • mi3tist of othire
Ane Beritin?i5, a berne • as f e buke teWis,
Cojne girdand out of Gadirs • out of fe grete cite,
' Inserted at the end of the line.
Dublin.] MELEAGER RECOVERS THE CATTLE. 6»1
j)ar mates faime a miclie fulke • fe maister of fe
playnes,
The duke of pe drafes • & of fe derfe fellys,
One teosellus a tulke • jjat tenyd Jiaim vnfaire. 1212
He girdes in with a gyfi • grathed in j^laythes,
AH to-brountes fes bernes • & wykydly Jjaim woundes,
Felles mony fey at a frush • fast to fe grunde,
And mony renke Jjat he oue?'-rade • rase neuer aftir. 121G
Than was sir nieliager amoved • & manly debates,
Flyngez forth on a fole • with a fele spere,
And beres mony grett syre • jjorow thike males, 1219
AH feH bernes at [a] brayde * whilse his breth lastez.
And Sampson on ane other syde • settez on belyue,
Brushes forth on a blonke • brathly lie smytez.
Betes on wa// a brande • for brokyn was hys launce,
Hewes doun on ]>e herdez • & liurtez Jiaim vnfaire. 1224
Then arestes, an atheH man * &^ ay elike feghtez,
Sparres forth w/t7( a spere * & spedci' hys mightez,
Mony bald or he blan • broght owt of lyfe. 1228
Than Caulus, an other knyght • on a ked stede,
On thoosellus in twa • hys tembre he brekys ;
And ]>en be dryffes to pe duke • als telly s me J)e texte,
Bot ^yith a swyng of a swerde • swappez of hys heued.
AVhen he was drepyd |)us & dede • & fe drawes jemyd,
J3e prekers of jje pasturs • & of ))e prouud Landez,
AH pe folk of hys affinite • ])at frehsse 2 wer vnwoundet,
\)at other fote bed or fole • to pe fly3t foundez. 1236
Thus meliager -with hys meii • jje menske \>ar acheuett,
Fellyd ])e feirare ^ of far foes • and ))e feld wonnez * ;
And rachen with fair route • & ryden bott a while,
Bot \iar neghyd faim ane oper note • als new as before ;
par was a maister of fe marche • fe myghtiest of other.
One beritinMs, a berne • als fe buke telles, 1242
Come girdand furth of gaders • owt of Jje grete cyte,
' Better omitted. * Sic. ' MS. feirliair. * Bead wonn.
ALEXANDER. K
66 SAMPSON IS SLAIN, [Ashmole.
■With pe selcuthest soume • pat semblid was euire. 1244
Slik a mynd vfi-to^ me * ware meruaiii to reken,
30,000 foes attack Thretti thousand in thede • of thra men of armes,
the Greeks,
Slike as was buskest on blonkes • in brenys & plat?s,
And othire folawand on fote • fele witA-oute?* nounbre.
Jje multitude was sa mekiH • as mynes vs pe writtf*^,
Of wees & of wild! horsis • & wapened prenys,
Sa stitlie a steuyn in pe stoure • of stedis & ellis,
As it was semand to si^t • as all pe soyle trymblidf. 1252
The Macedonians J5an Ware pe IMessedones amayd • quen J?a see^ sa many;
ire dismayed. • n i- t r t •
Sire Meuager [wasj m gret mynd • a man out to sende
To ser Alexatider belyue • faire allire maister, 1255
To come & help with his here • or jjai to hande ^ode.
None like to go on jjare was naue pat was glad! • pat message to gange,
a message to
Alexander, Bot ilka lathire & othire • to leue Jjaire frynde,
Fest par forward in-fere * pat fewe at pa,! ware,
To do as drijten wald deme • & dyi aH to-gedire; 1260
[Foi. 22 ] To telle paire torfere entyre • it taryed me swythe.
Sir Meieager kills Bot SO Jie mode Meliagg;' • & his men fejtis,
eii inus, ^^^ ^^^ Beritinws pe bald' • fai bretned to dethe,
And Sampson on )?is side • was slay J)ar-agaynys. 1264
bnt Sampson is Jjeu moumes aH pe Messedones • & maynten him ^erne,
]\Iakis par mane for pat man • & many othire noble,
Many Greeks are Yov maistris & mvnistris â– menere & grett/r, 1267
killed. "^ °
\)at was in morsels magged' • & martrid a hundreth.
And pat left ware on lyfe • bot a litiH me3ne,
Ware als malstrid^ & mased • & matid of paire strenthes,
Sa waike & so wyndles • & wery for-fo3ten, 1271
j)at J)ai were witi: in fis werd • qwat fai worths suld'.
Sir Meieager is Sire Meliager & othire maa • mayned were sare,
AH be-bled & to-brissid • pat ne'^e par breth fades,
)pai were sa feble & sa faynt • & fuH of pai/n-selfe,
pat all in fere was in iouriae • pe fild? for to 3eld!, 1276
Arestes goes to j^aii aires him forth Arestes • was augrily wondid',
tell Alexander. m i , 7 . i ._ »■ii-
10 Alexa?2aer onone • ])as auntirs hmi tellis,
' to added in margin. * see added in manjin. ^ Sic.
Dublin.] MELEAGER IS WOUNDED. C7
"With \)e selcouutest soume • pat semblyd was euer, 1244
With a mynd to rae • wer merveH to rekyn, [F"1- lo '-•]
A threti thouusand in thede • of thro men of amies,
Suche as wer on blonnkes • in brenys & platez,
And other folowand on fote • fele owt of nowmbre. 1248
The multitude was so much • as menys vs ])e writtez,
Of wyes & of wild hoi-se • & of wapenned bernes,
So styf a steuen in ))e stoure • of stedes & enmys,
As it was semand [to sijt] • as )»e son trembly d. 1252
)jen wer jje masydons ameved * when Jjai so mony seen ;
Sir meliager was in grete mynd • a man owt to send
To alexander als belyue • jjaire aller maister, 1255
To Come to help w/t/i hys heir • or fai to hand rydyii.
Bot par was nane J)at Avas made ' J)e message to fannge,
Bot ilke lede elike loth • to leven fair frendes,
And festned ))air forwardez in-fere • J)e few pat \)ar wer,
To do as drighten wald deme * & dye all to-geder; 12G0
To teH pair torfer in tere • it wald tary me to lang*.
Bot so pe mody meliager • & hys men foghten,
)3at Sir bertinus pe bald • pai brityned to dede,
And Sampson was of hys syde • slayn pa?--agayns. 12C4
Jpen m^/rned ail pe masydons • & meynyd hym swyth,
;Made grett mone for pis man ' & mony oper noble,
For maisters & ministers • meyner & gretter, 12G7
\)at wer in morsellys made • & martyred by hundrethis.
And pat left wer on-lyue • bot a lytett meynhe,
"Wer also maistrett & masyd • & mated of pair strennthes,
So wake & so wyndles • & wary for-fouughten,
pai pai wer wille in pe werld • qwat pai worth suld. 1272
Sir meliager & oper mo • mayned wer sare,
AH to-bled & to-brysed • pat nere pair breth fayled,
Thai wer so feble and so faynte * and fuH of paim-seluefi,
\)at aH in fere & in forme â– pe feld for to jeld. 1276
Than ayres hym forth aristes ' was augerdly woundett,
To alexancZer anone • pees aunters hym tulles,
68
BALAAN DESTROYS THE SIEGE-WORKS
[Ashmole.
Alexander rallies
Bome men round
him, and leaves
Tyre.
He lamenti the
loss of Sampson.
[Fol. 22 b.-\
Sir Balaan of
Tyre assails
Alexander's siege-
works.
and breaks them
down.
He destroys
Alexander's
towers, and
throws them into
the sea.
J3e morth of all fe Messedone[s] ' & oi pe many grekis,
Eekens him par resons • pat reuthe was to here, 1280
With pai fe semely kyng • chacches his bernes,
Sembhs iiim a huge soume • & fra pe sege wendis,
j)e toure of Tire & pe toune • fitly he leues,
And loynes him to losaphat • fuH ioyles he rydes. 1284
Ay he grett^ as he gase • for grefe of his 'kny^tis,
Ay he pleynys as he passes • pe pite of his erlis,
Ay he wepis as he wendis • for his wale princes,
And soueraynly for Sampson • he sorowis ay elike. 1288
"When he was tane f ra ward ^ Tyre • toward pe vaile,
Jpe werke at he wro3t had! • fat water whyt-in,
]pat he had! sett in Jje see • pe cite wtt/t-out,
J?ar-in he lefte had! a lede ' pe loge for to kepe. 1292
Bot pan ser Balaan, a heme • at in pe bur3e lengis,
Ane of Jje teranda of Tyre • atyres him^ belyue,
Buskes him in breneis • vfith big men of armes, 1295
With traumes & with tribochet/s * pe tild to asaile.
He bekirs out at pe bild • w/t/an pe burje-wallis.
And J)ai without in pe werke • wi3tly defendis,
Schot scharply betwene • schomes ' of dartis ;
Weris Avondirly wele* * werpis out stanes. 1300
Bot Balaa[n] in pe barmeken • sa bitterly fijtis,
AH to-combirs )»am clene * with cast of engynes.
Sone pe top of pe toure • he tiltis in-to Jje w&tir,
And aH pe tulkis in pe tilcJ • he term ens o lyue ; 1304
And |)an in hatis & in bargis • he bownes hhn swyth,
To pe bothu/ra of pe baistelt * he buskis hi??i w/t/t-out,
Bretens doun aH pe bild • & pe bernys quellis, 1307
Drenches hire in pe hije see • & drawis hire on hepis.
Quen it was smeten in smaH • with pe smert wajes,
Ilka gobet his gate • glidis fra othire.
pus'' pe strenth ilk stike^ ' was in a stounde wasteiJ,
^ MS. toward altered to fmward.
* MS. here inserts h, but it is struck out. ^ Read schoures.
* Added in the margin. * MS. \j\is, was.
® MS. stilk stike ; but stilk is struck out.
Dublin.] RAISED by Alexander against tyre. C9
The morte of aH pe masydons • & oi \)e mony grekez,
Rekens hym \>g resons • ])ut reutli Avas to here. 1280
'With fat ]je comle kynge • cliakez liys bernes,
Semblett Hym A Hoge soume • & fro fe seige wendys, [foi. n.]
The toure of tyre & ]?e towne • titely he levys,
And ioynes hym to losaphatt • full ioyles to ryde, 1284
Ay he gretes as he goys • ])e grefe of hys knyghtez,
Ay he plenys as he passez • fe pite of hys Ereles,
Ay he wepys as he wendes • for hys wale princes,
And soue?-andly for sampson • he sorows euejilyke. 1288
When he Avas iiirnji froAvard tyre • toAvard fe Avale,
The werk at he Avroght had • fe water Avithin,
pat he hed sett in \>e see • Jje cite Av/t7;oAvte,
Thare-in he left hed a lityHi • [Ipe] loge for to kepe. 1202
Bott \)en sir balaan, a heme â– pat in jje burgh lenged,
One of J)e tiraundez of tire • atired hym belyue,
Buskes hym in brenes • with big men of armes,
With traAvynns & trebgetes ^ • Jje toAATeto assaylle. 1296
He bekers owt at fe held • oucr fie brade walle,
And ])ai -within ^ fe Averk • Avightly defenden,
Shoton sharply bytAvene • SAvappyn OAvt^ dartez ;
Weres wondrely Avele ' warpyn oAvt' stanes. 1300
Bot balaan in )?e britage • so bitterly feghtez,
All to-combers faim clene • vfitJi cast of engynes.
Sone fe toppe of fe toure * he typys in fe Avater,
And aH J)e tulkez in ]je teld • he termys pe lyre ; 1304
Than in bargez & in botez • he boAvnes hym SA^yth,
To ]>e bothora of pe basteH • he buskez hym Avit/iOAAte,
Bretens doAvne aft fe belde • & jje bernes Avhelles,
Drenches hir in fe depe * & drawes hir on hepys, 1308
"When it Avas smytyn so in smaH • within pe smert waAvcs,
like gobett fro opei' • glydes * fast ))air Avay.
Thus J)is strenth ilke steke • in a stound Avastyd,
' Ifeadlede. * MS. trelget«. ^ MS. wtt/towt wit/^in.
* MS. gydcs, con; to g\ydes.
70
ALEXANDER COMES TO THE RESCUE.
[Aslimole.
Alexander
arrives at the
valley.
spurs Bucefalus,
[Fol. 23.]
and overthrows
all before him.
He draws his
sword, and leaves
no foe unslain
except the
captives.
He buries his own
dead.
He leaves Gadirs,
and returns to
Tyre.
He sees his siege-
worka destroyed.
And Balaa[n] bowis in-to pe burje • & barris to J)e ^atis.
l>e fis oHre kyng wit/j his kni3t[/s] • is comen in-to pe
vaile, 1313
Alexander vfith ane ost * his kni^t/s to help,
Fjndis a fewe of his folke • fejtand 3erne,
And ay a segge be him-selfe • sett aH a hundreth. 1316
Wij't/i pat Bucifalon his blonke • he brased^ in pe side,
Springis out with a spere ' spilKs at pe gaynest,
Itidis euen J)ur3e pe route * par rankest J)ai were.
Be rawe of par rabetis • he ruschid to pe erthe, 1320
He strikis aH fra par stedis • strejt him be-forne.
Was nana sa stiffe in pat stoure • mijt stand hi?n.
agayil ;
Quare althire-thickest was pe thrange • Jjurje pdim he
rynnes,
And makis a wai wyde enoje ' waynes to mete. 1324
He laschis out a lange swerde • quen his launce fades,
Threschis douw in a^ thrawe • many threuyn dukis,
Stirs him sa in a stonde • & his stithe erlis
\)at par was [na] berne on bent * bott bretened or
golden. 1328
j)e seggis on his awen side • pat he slayn fyndis,
He mas to g?-aue sum in grete • & snm in gray marble.
And pa pat laft ware o-lyue * he lokis par woundis.
And faire fangis his folke • & fra pe fild wendis. 1332
)3an bowes he to pe baistaH • & brymly it semblis,
Gedirs of ilk glode • grctt/r & smallire,
And prekis furth with his pray • & passes fraward
Gadirs,
And ti3t agayne toward Tyre • to t^rnien his sege. 1336
Quen he was dreuyn ouer pe dales ' & drewe to pe cite,
With pat he blisches to pe bur3e • & sees his bilJ
voidid?,
Als bare as a bast • his baisteH a-way.
But outhire burde or bate • hot pe brad^ wattiV, 1340
1 T7ie a is iU-formed. ' Added in the margin.
Dublin.] HE SOON returns to tyre. 71
And balaan bownes to fe burgh • & barres ))e ^atez. 1312
Be J?at owr kyiig v^ith liys knyghtez • was comen to fe
•wale,
Alexlander] with an hosts • hys atheH to help,
Fyndes a few of hys foike * feghtyng fuH 3arne,
And a sege by hym-self • sett to a hundreth. 1316
With ]>at bucifelon hys blonke • he brocliys in Jjb sydez,
Spryngez forth with a spere • spyllez at \ie ganest,
Eides euen ])orow J>e route • fare rankest ])ai Avere, [Foi. d 6.]
The rawes of )?air arayes • he rushes to \ie erth, 1320
He strikez aH: fair stedes • streght downe hym before,
Was none so styflfe in pe stoure • to stand hym ayayns ;
]3ar att fe thikest wer of thrange • thrugh faini he
rynnes,
And makez a way wyde enogli • waynez for to mete. 1324
He lashes owt a lang swerde • when hys launce wantes,
Thristez downe in a thraw • mony thryme dukes,
Stirrez hym so in a stound • he and hys styff" creles,
Jjat far ne was bern on fe benf • bot bryttynett or
golden. 1328
The segges of hys awne syde • aft at he slayn fyndez,
He makes to grave, some in grete • some in gray ma?-byli.
And fo fat left wer on lyue • he leches fair woundez,
And fair fangez he hys foIke • & fro fe feld t?/,?-nes. 1332 3* victoria
aleiandri.
Then prekes forth with hys pray • f us before gaders,
And tM?-nes agayn toward tyre • to terme hys seige. 1336
When he was dreven oner fe dales • & drew to f e cite,
Wit/i fat he blyshys to fe burgh • & seys hys beylde
woydett,
Also bare as ony baste • hys basteH aAvay,
Bout ony buske or borde • bot fe brode water. 1340
72
ALEXANDERS STRAXGE HREAM.
[Ashmole.
Alexander de-
spairs of takiii);
Tyie,
but dreams
that he has a ripe
grape
in his hand.
[Fol. 23 6.]
which yields
much wine.
A clerk tells him
that this predicts
his victory over
Tyre.
Alexander builds
np a larger tower
than before,
higher than the
walls of the town.
Jjan mo7/rnes aH fe Messadones * & maynly was
sturb[i](J.i
And Alexander also • was augrely greuytJ,
So ware fai troubild out of tone • quen Jjai faire til(J
niiste,
\)ai of J)e taking of Tire • trest J)ai na langire. 1344
And so him-selfe in his slepe • fe same ni^t efttV,
Him thojt he hacB in his hand • & held? of a vyne
A growen grape of a grype ' a grete & a rype, 1347
J?e quilke he flange 2 on fe flore • & wit/i his fete
tredis.
And quen he broken hatH Jje bery • als fe berne semes,
\)ar folowis out of fresche wyne * feetles to mete ;
So largely & so delauyly • of licoure, him thinkis,
Of ane rasyn to ryn • it was a ryfe wondire. 1352
jje kyng< callis him a clerke • kenely on ]je^ morne,
Als radly as he rase • to reche him his sweuyii.
" Sire, bees a-dred' neu^V a dele " • Jje diuinowr said,
" I vndire-take on my trouthe • Tire is J)ine aweii ; 1356
For fe bery at 30 brake sa • is J>e burje eue«.
J?ai saH be sesid \>e fuH sone • & to jji-selfe golden,
For J)ou saH eft aH on ernest • entire on fe wallis,
And foulire^ vndiV fi feete • wit/t-in a fewe days. 1 360
Now compas kenely fis kyng* • & cast;"* in his mynd
How he mijt cou;> in any cas ' to come to fe cite,
Deuynes depely on dais • dropis many wiles,
If he cuthe seke any sle3t • fat him se?-ue wale? ; 1364
And makt's to sett in fe see^ • ri3t in Jse same place,
j)ar as fe bild? at he bi[l]did • biggid wasse first,
To stable vp a grete strenthe • aH on store schipis,
HugiV be Jje halfe dele • & hijere fan fe tofire ; 1368
And fat he fiches & firmes • sa fast to J?e waH,
So nere vnethes at ane eld • mi3t narowly betwene.
And band hire, as fe buke sais • bigly to-gedire, 1371
* The i is illegible. ' MS. inserts of, hut it is struck out.
' Added in the murffin. * Head foule hire.
Dublin.] HE BUILDS NEW SIEGE-WORKS. 73
Than niwrnes aft fe masidons • & felly wer trublett,
And alexander was also • awgerdly grevyde,
So wer fai twrblett of fe towne • qwon fai far til'l
myssyd,
That of fe takyng of tire • tristed fai no lenger. 1344
And so hyni-selfe in hys slepo • fe same nyght after,
Hym toght ^ he had in hys hand • a held of a wyne,
A growen grope of a gripe • a grett & a rype, 1347
j)e whilke he flonge of fe floure • & witli hys fete
trede*" ;
And when he brokyn hed fe bery • als pe hern semys,
j)ar flowe owt of fresh wynne • flodez enowe ;
So largly & so delavy • of liquor hym thynkez,
Of ane raysyn to ryn • ])at was a gret wondre. 1352
J)e kynge callez a clerke • kenely on fe morne,
Als radly as euer he rose ' to rachen hym hys SAvevyn.
" Sir, beys dred neue?- a dele " • ])e devino2^r hym sayde,
" I vndertake it on my trewth • tyre is )ji nawne; 1356
For Jje bery Jjat fou brake • fat is pe burgh euen,
That shat be sesyd fe ful sone * & to fi-seluen jolden, [FoU 12.J
For ])on saH eft in ernest • enter fe waller,
And feH hir vnder fote • wi't/an a few days." 1360
Now Compas kenely fe kyng • & castes in hys mynd
How he couth in ony case • come to fe cyte,
Devynez deply on days â– dropes mony willes,
If he couht seke ony sleght • pat hym serue wald ; 1364
And makes to sett in pe see • right in pe same place,
Jjair as pe tild pat he bild • bigget was frist.
To stabill vp a strenth • att of store schippe^,
Hoger by pe halfe dele • & hyer fen patoper; 1368
And fat he feghys & fermes * so fast^ to fe waU,
So negh fat vnneth a nedyH • myght narowly bytwene.
And band hir, as f e boke says • bigly to-ged^r,
» Sic in MS.
74
ALEXANDER ASSAULTS TYRE.
[Asiunole.
'With \)at scho flisch nofer fayle ^ • fyue score aunkirs.
Quen he had ti3t vp fis tram • & J)is tild rerid,
Hit had! of bradnes abofe • to breue out of mesure ;
And to hede be a huge thing • hi3ere it semed
]?an was |?e wallis, sais ]je writt • of fe wale touris. 1376
}?an Alexander aH his ane • an-ane he ascendis,
Closid aH in clere stele • & in clene plates,
And monestis ilk modire son • maynly & swytB,
pat all be bowne at a brayd • fe bur3e to assaile. 1 380
And aH j?e ost euyfi ouiV • he openly comandis
To be 2 radiy aH arayd? • & redy to fi3t ;
He assaults Tyre; And queu ]jai sa3e fat him-selfe^ • fe cite was entricV,
"Wan vp wi3tly on jje waHis ' ilk wee him eitir. 138i
Now tenelis vp taburs • and aH J^e toiin rengis,
Steryii steuyn vp strake • strakid par trumpis,
Blewe bemys of bras • bernes assemblis,
Se3es to on ilk syde • & a saute 3eldis. 1 388
)?are presis to with panes * peple w/t^outen ;
Archars yvith avows • of atter envemonde*
Schot/i' vp scharply • at shalkw on fe waHis,
Lasch at fain of loft • many lede flo3en, 1392
And jjai ?apely a-3ayne " & 3ildis Jjam swythe,
Bekire out of fe bur3e ' bald men many,
Kenely fai kast of • with kasti*- of stanys,
Driues davtis at oure dukis • dedly fam woundid*. 1396
J?an passe vp our^ princes ' prestly^ enarmedf,
In-to J?e baisteH a-bofe • bremely ascendid".
Sum with lances on-loft • & with lange swerdis,
With ax & with al blaster • & alkens wapen. 1400
Alexander ai elike • angrily fe3t{«,
Now a schaft, now a schild? • nowe a scheue hent^V,
Now a sparth, now a spere • & sped so his mi3t?V,
\)at it ware tere any tonge • to of his turnes rekyn. 1404
and close against
them.
He ascends the
tower,
and bids his meu
be ready.
drums and
trumpets sound.
Archers approach
the walls.
The besieged
defend them-
selves.
The Greeks
ascend tlie tower.
Alexander
performs
wonders.
' MS. flay fayle ; but flay is struch out.
Added in the viargln. ^ selfe added in the margin.
* Sic. ^ MS. inserts er, hut it is struck out.
Dublin.] HE PERFORMS WONDERS, 75
Lest she flecbett or faylett • with fyfe score ankers. 1372
"When he bed tight vp fis trarae • & fis teld reryd,
It bed of bradnes aboue • to breue owt of mesour ;
And to hede by boge jsing • begher it semyd
Than was [):e walles], as pe writte says • of fe wale tourez.
)jan a\exa?ider aH [his ane] • a-none he ascendez, 1377
Closed aft in clere stele • & in clene platez,
And monysbit iche moderson • manly & swythe,
pat sM be bowne at a brade * J?e burght to asayle. 1380
AH fe boste ^ euen ouer • opynly he comandes
3arly aH to be arraed • and redy to fight' ;
And when Jjat J)ai see fat hym-selfe • \>e cite was entird,
"Wynnen vpp vppo^ ]je walle * ilke wy byra after. 1384:
Now tynkyH vp taburnes ' fat aH fe towne ri?«ges,
Sterne stevyn vpon stroke * straked trompettes,
Blew bemes of brace * bernes assembled,
Sougbt to on ilk syde • & a saute jeldyfi, 1388
To p?-ese to with paves • a peple withowte ;
Arcbers with arowes • of attc'?' enuenmonyd '
Shoton vp sharply • at salkez on fe wallez,
Lashe at Jjaim on-lofte • in mony lowd showte, 1392
And J)ai jopely ayayn • jeldyn faim swythe,
Bekeryng forth of fe burgh • bald men many, [Foi. 12 6.]
Kenely fai kepe • with castyng of stanes,
Dryves dartez at owr dukez • deply Jjaim wounden. 1396
Than passyd vp of princez ' pristly enarmed,
Into fe basteH abowne • bremely ascenden,
Some with launcez on-lofte • & some with long swerdez,
'With ax & with awblester • & alken wapens. 1400
And alexander ay elik • awgerdly feghtez,
Now a shafte, now a shelde, * now a swerde hentez,
Now a spartb, now a spere • & sped so bys migbtez,
Jjat it wald tere ony tong • bys tournays to rekefi. 1404
* Better oste. ^ Sic. ' Read enuenomj d.
76
ALEXANDER ENTERS TYRE,
[Ashmole.
[Fol. 21 6.J
The Greeks are
bard pregsed.
The Greeks fight
very fiercely.
and destroy the
battlements of
Tyre.
Then Alexander
enters the breach,
slays Balaan,
and throws
him over the
wall.
[Fol. 25.]
The Greeks climb
up.
And fai wtty^-in on fe waH ' worthili wttA-stude,
Fersly defend! of • & fellid of his knyjtzV,
Thristis onir thikefald • many threuyn berne[s], 1407
And douTz bakward! Jjam bare * in-to fe bracJ wattzr.
With fat oure wees yfithont ' writhis fam vnfare,
"Went wode of Jjaire witt • & ■wrekis fam swytfi ;
For na wounde ne na wathe • wand fai na langiV,
Bot aH wirk/5 him fe wa • & wrake at he cuthe. 1412
Sum braidis to \iar bowis • bremely fai schut,
Quethirs out quarels • quikly be-twene ;
Strykis vp of fe stoure • stanes of engynes,
})at fe bretage a-boue • brast aH in soundire, 1416
Girdis ouiV garettis • with gomes to fe erthe,
Tilt torettzi' donn ' toures on hepis,
Spedely vfith sprygaldis • spilt faire braynes,
Many mi3tfuH man • marris on Jje wallis. 1420
And be fe kirnells ware kast * & kutt douw before,
Be Jjrtt pe baisteH & Jie bur3e • ware bathe elike hi^e,
And all oure werke withont ]>e wallis • weterly semed*,
Jje sidis of pe cite * to se to o femes, 1424
J?an Alexawc?er belyf ^ • on fam aH entris,
Bruschis in with a brand * on bernes a hundreth,
Thrang* thur^e a thousand • fare thikest f ai were,
"Wynnes worthly ouer fe wallis • with-in to fe cite. 1428
\)e first modire son he mett • of ire man outhire,
"Was Balaan f e bald berne • as f e boke tellis,
And hbn he setti*' on a saute • & slo^e him belyue, 1431
And werpid him out onir f e waH • in-to f e wild streme.
Sone as oure athils be-hind • sa3e far he entred,
His men & aH f e Messedones * maynly ascendis,
And f ai of Grece gredely • girdis vp eftire,
Thringis vp on a thraw • thousand's many. 1436
Sum stepis vp on sties • to f e stane wallis,
On ilka staffe of a staire^ • stike wald a cluster;
' MS. bely, altered to belyf in lata- fiand.
* MS. repeats staire.
Dublin.] AND SLATS SIR BALAAN. 77
And J)ai wz'tAin on fe watt • wightly withstondyn,
Derfley defenden of • & fellez of hys hemes,
Thraste ouer thikefald * mony thrifen knyghtez,
And doun bakeward J>ai bare • into fe brade water. 1408
"With fat oure wyes wztAowte • wrathen Jjaim vnfaire,
Went ne wode owt of pai' witte • & wrekes faim swyth ;
For no wa ne no wound ' waned fai no langer,
Bot aH wirkyd faim wa • & wrake at fai couth. 1412
Som braden to |)air bowes • & bremely shotyn,
Whirres owt quarels • whikly betwene ;
Strike vp of ]je stoure • stanes & ^ engynes,
\)ai fe britage abofe ' brast aH in sender, 1416
Girdes ouer garrates • wit/i gomes ^ to fe erth.
Typed torrettes doune • towxes on hepes,
Spedely with springaltez • spilten fair hemes.
Many mightyfuft man • merred on fe walles. 1420
And be fe kernels wer kesf • & cut ' doun before,
Be jjrtt ]?e basteH & Jje burgh • was bath elike hye.
And aH owre fe werke wzt/iowt • witterly semyd,
The sydes of fe cite * to se to on fernesse, 1424
Than alexander als belyue • on faim aH entres.
Brushes in ^yith a brannde • on hemes an hundreth,
Thrang forow a thousand • jiar as fai thikest wer,
Wynnes wightly ouer fe waH • within to fe cite. 1428
The frist moderson fat he mett • or other man other, [Foi. is.]
Was balaan fe bald heme * as fe buke tellez.
And hym he settes on a sawte • & slogh hym belyfe,
And wappyd* hym ouer fe walles • in-to fe wild stremes.
When fair hatels byhynde • saw far heued entre, 1433
Hys men & aH f e masydons • manly asceuden,
And f ai of grece gredely • girdes vp after,
Thronge vp on a thraw • thousandez mony. 1436
Some spettyn ^ vp on styes • to f e stane walles,
On ilke stafFe on a stare • steke wald a clostre :
8c written above the line ; read oi. * MS. cunes ; wrongly.
' MS. owt. * Read warp3'd. * Read steppyn.
78
some with
ladders,
and some
without.
THUS WAS TTEE TAKEN.
[^shmole.
And qua sa leddirs had? nane • as fe lyne telHs, 1439
Wald gett fam hald vfith \ar hend • & on-loft clyme.
Sa frejt ware far othire • fat fejt/*' Wit/iin,
For Balaan ]iar bald duke • fat bro3t was^ of 13-116,
\)ai an failis fain fe force • & so ferd wortlie,
J?at nothire wj't/i stafe ne w/t/i staue • w/t/istand fai na
langm 1441
Sire Alexa??c?er wit/t his athils • & his awen slc3t<'6^
Tims was Tyre
taken.
Alexander takes
nrid approaches
Jerusalem.
]?e toune of Tire fus he tuke • k othire twa burjes,
111 fe quilke fe siriens of fis sire • so many soro3es
had?,
As wald bot tary aH oure tale â– f aire tozwment to reken.
Sone as fis cite was sesid • & slayne vp & 3olden, 1449
)jen ridis furth fe riche kyng* • & remowed his ost,
Gais \\\m furth to Gasa • a-notliire grete cite,
And fat he sett/s on a saute • & sesis it be-lyue ; 1452
And que?z f is Gasa was geten • he g?-aythis him swyth;
And loynes him toward leriisalem • f e iewis to distroy ;
And 3e fat^ kepis of f is carpe • to knaw any ferr^,
Sone saH; I neue?i 30W fe note • fat is next eftiV. 145G
When the bishop
hears of his
approach.
he Is much
troubled.
[Fol. in, 6 ]
Septimus passus %\txandrl
A Is hastily as f ai her(J of • in f e haly cite,
And bodword! to f e bischop • bro3t of his come.
For AlQyiander a.-^e • almast he euen deis, 1459
For he had nite hi»z a neranJ? • no3t bot new time.
And now him f inke in his f 03t • him thurt no3t haue
carid
In all his mast niyst?V • nad he fat man faylic?,
When he for socure to f e cite • sent hi??i his lett/r ;
And he soyned him be his sorement • fat sare hi?r6 for-
think/5. 1464
' Added in the margin.
* MS. inserts kis : but it is struck out.
Dablin.] Alexander approaches Jerusalem. 79
And who so leddcjys couth lache • as jje line wittnes,
"VVald gett ])air hald with fair liand • & on-lofte wynne.
So fn3t wer |jase other folke • pat foghtefi wt'tMn, 1441
Fro 1 balaan jjaix bald duke • fat broght was of liue,
})at aH failez faim fe force • & so ferd worthen,
])at nowder with staflfe ne with staue • witAstode f»ai no
langer. 1444
Sir alexander with Jjoes athellys • & with hys awne
sleghtez
The toure of tire fus he tuke • and other ij burghez,
In jje whilke fe sariens of fis syre • so many sorowys
haddyn ;
AH wald hot tary owr tale • baire twrment to rekeii. 1448 0b8id[et]ia
tyre.
Sone als fis cite was sesyd • slayne vp & 3olden,
)?an rides forth fe riche kyng • & removes fe hoste,
Gase forth to gaza • ane othre grete cite,
And he settes on a sawte • and teses it beliue ; 1452
And when Jjis gaza was gettyn • he grathes hym swyth^
And ioynes hym toward lerwsalem • fe lewez to distroy ;
And 36 Jjat kepys of fis carpyng • to here any ferrer,
Sone saH I neuen Jjou fe note • fat now is next after.
Septimus passus.
Als hastely as fai herd of • in haly cits, 1457
And Bodword to fe bischop • was broght of hys come,
For alexawrfer aw • almost he dyes, 1459
And for he hed nekyd hym with nay • in a new tyme.
And now he fenkez in his thought • he turht ^ noght haue
cared
In aH hys maste mister • made he hym faylez,^
When he for socour to fe cite • send hym hys letirQ ;
And he soned hym by fis case • fat nowe hym for-
thynkez. 1464
' Bead For. " Head thurt. ' I?e.id nad he ]^e man fayled.
80
TUB BISHOP PROCLAIMS A FAST.
[Ashmole.
He had rather
liave been
forsworn than
have denied
Alexander
anything.
He addresses the
Jews,
•nd proclaims a
S days' fast-
All pray for help,
to be delivered
from Alexander's
vengeance.
An angel appears
to the bishop,
and comforts
[Fol. 26.]
" Array the city
«» if to receive a
victor.
" For me hacJ leuer," quod pe lede • " be lethirely for-
sworn
On as many lialidoms • as opens' & speris,
)?an anys haue greuyd ]jat gome • or warned him his
erand! 1467
j)at ener I warned him his will • wa is me Jjat stonde ! "
j)U3 was laudes of ioy • & iolite depryued! ;
And all fe iewis of ier^^salem • he loyntly a-sembles.
He said, " Alex.a7ider is at hand • & wiH vs aH cumbre,
And we ere dredles vndone • bot drijten vs help." 1472
Jjan bedis fe bischop aH fe bur3e • barnes & othire,
Athils of aH age • eldire & jongir^,
Comandis to ilka creatow?* • to crie ))ur3e f e stret/s,
To thre dais on a thrawe • be threpild to-gedire, 1476
Ilk a frek & ilka fante • to fast & to pray,
To ocupy par oures & orisons • & offire in par temple,
And catt vp with a clene voice • to pe kyng< of heiiyn,
To kepe J)am, at f>is conquiroure • encumbrid paiin
nemr. 1480
Now se3en fai to par Sinagog/6' • aH Jje cite ouire,
Ilka bodi par bedis • pat in pe bur3e lengis.
Putt jjam to prayris • & penaunce enduris,
j)e vengance of )jis victoure • to voide if fai mi3t. 1484
)je ni3t eftiV pe note * as^ tellis me pe writt/s,
Quen aH: pe cite was on-slepe • & sacrifis endid!,
In ane abite of pe aire • ane AungeU aperis
To laudas of iexusalem • & him with ioy gretis : 1 488
" I bringe pe bodword' of blis • ser bischop," he saidf,
" With salutzs of solas • I am sent fra pe trone,
Fra pe maister of man • pe mi3tfuH fadere,
)jat bedis pe no3t be^ a-bai-t • he has fi bone herd ; 1492
And I amonest pe to-morne • as I am enloynedl,
pat poM as radly as pon rise • aray att pe cite,
pe stretis & in aH stedis • stoutly & faire,
' MS. open ; altered to opens in later hand.
' MS. &. ' Added in the margin.
Dublin.] AN ANGEL APPEAKS TO THE BISHOP. 81
" For me lied leuer," quod. J>e lede * " bene letherly [FoI. is 6.]
forsworne
On aH J)e balydoms • us opyn are to nevyn,
Than onys haue greved ])is goine • or grocbed with bys
erand! 14G7
}5<(t euer I warned hym liys wille • wa is me bestound ! "
Thus was laudes of ioy • & iolyte dep>-euetf ;
And aH \>e lewes of leritsalem • he iontly assemblez.
And\ "alexa?2(ier is at hand • & wille vs aH combred,^
And we er vtte>-ly vndone • bot dryghten vs shelde." 1472
Than biddez J)e bischop ail fe burgh • hemes & ojier,
AtheHes of aH age • bath elder & yonger,
Comand iche creature * & cryed jjorow \ie stretes,
TiH thre days on a thraw * wer threpelytt to-geder, 147G
And ilke freke & euery faunt* • to fast & to pray,
To occupy in jjair orisons • & offers^ in ))e temple,
And caUe vp with kene cry • vnto pe kyiig' of heuen,
And kepe faim witA ))is conqueroJtr • he comber J)aim
nener. 1480
Thai soght to ))air sinagoge • aH pe cite oner ;
Iche body to ])air hedes ' at in j)e burgh lendes
Putten ]jaim to prayers * & pennance indurett,
)3e vengance of fis victor • to voyde if |)ai might. 1484
The thred nyght after |)is note • as neiien me \>q text*,
"When aH pe cite was slepe • & sacrifese endytt, appanoio
aageh
In ane habett of be ayre • an angeH apperes episcopo
leromo-
To laudes of levusalem • and hym with ioy grete*- : 1488 soiitano.
" I brynge fe bodworde of [blis] • sir bischop," he sayd,
" With salutez of solace • am send fro J)e trone,
Fro fe bye maister of mageste • & pat mightfull fadre,
A bydd&s pe noght* be abaysed • he base ))i bone herd ;
And I araonesh pe to-morne • als me was amoved, 1 193
j)at fou als radly as pou ryses • aray all ]?i cite,
The stretes & aH stede^ ' stoutly & faire,
' Read Said. ' Head combre. ^ Head offer.
ALEXANDER. G
82
THE BISHOP AKR-VTS THE CITY.
[Ashmole.
1496
and go to meet
Alexander,
the great
conqueror of tlie
world."
All the Jews
agree to receive
Alexander with
honour.
Then he arrays
the city to
receive Alexande
He puts up
a«ning3 to keep
off the sun's beat.
[Fol. 26 6]
He opens the
gales.
Jjat it be onest atl ouire • & open vp J)e jat^V
Lett ])an pe pupiH ilka poll • apareld be clene,
And al manere of men • in mylk-quyte clathis.
And pas, f>ou & pi prelat/s • & prest«« of fe temple,
Eaueste aH on a raw • as joure rewiH askis. 1500
And quen pis conquii'o?<r comes • caire him agaj'iies ;
For he mon ride fus & regne • ouire aH fe ronde werde
Jjii lordscliip in ilka lede • in-to his laste days,
And Jjen be^ dijt to pe deth • of drijtins ire." 1-504
H Sone pe derke ouire-drafe • & pe day spring/^',
Oave bischop bonnes him of bedf • & buskis on his wedis,
And Jien iogis aH pe iewis • & generaH caUis,
A-vaies palm his vision • how pe voice bedis ; 1508
Jjan consals him pe clergy ' dene aH-to-gedire,
And all pe cite asentis • sarazens & op ir,
To buwne furth vfitJi aH pe bur3e * & buske fain
belyue,
As him was said in his slepe • J)is souerayfi to mete. 1512
}3an rynnes he furtli in a rase * & arais aH pe cite,
Braidis ouire with bawdkyns • aH pe brade stretis,
'With tars & with tafeta • par he trede sulde, 1515
For pe erth to slike ane Emperoure • ware ouire feble.
He plyes ouire pe pauement • with ^ pallen webis,
Mas on hi3t ouire his hede • for hete of pe sone,
. Sylours of sendale • to sele ouire pe gati;!, 1519
And sa?wmes pabn on aithire side • with silken rapis,
And ]3en he caggis vp on cordis ' as curteyns it were,
Euen as pe esyngis jede ' ouire be pe costes,
All jje wawis wuA-oute • in webis of ynde,
Of bri3t blasand! blewe • browdeii with sternes. 1524
jpus atired he pe toune • & titely par-eitir
On ilka way wid open • werped he pe jatis ;
And qua so lukis fra with-ont • & with-in haldis,
It semyd as Jje cite to se • ane of pe seuyn^ heuyns. 1528
' MS. he. ' Added above the line.
* MS. seuyus ; n-ith final s ex^mncted.
Dublin.] THE JEWS receive Alexander with honour. 83
)3at it be bonest aH ou^r • & opyn vp J)e 3atc'S. 1496
Lett J)en ))i peple euerilke polle • aparaeld ^ be clene,
And aH maner of men • in niilke-wbitte clatbez.
Bott passe, ))6»n & J i pristez • & prelatez of |)e temple,
Reuest aH on raAve • as your rewle askez. 1500
And wben Jjis conquero^ir coniez • carez bym agayns ; [FoI. u]
For be must ryJe & reyiie • oner aH pe brede of pe werldn,
And be LonV of ilke lede • vnto hys last dayes,
And fen be digbt AMito [edetli • of drigbtenez ayre." 1504
Sone \)e dyrke ouer-drafe * & jje day springez,
Oure Bisbop bownes bym of bede • & buskes hys wedes,
And fen fat lew of all lewes • in generaH be clepys,
Says jjaim bys vision • & as fe voyce biddes ; 1508
Than councellys hym fe Clerge • clene aH-to-geder,
And all fe cety be assent • sariauntez & other,
To bowne bym forth with aH fe burgh * & buske hym
beliue.
As hym was sayd in hys slepe • fis souerand to njete.
Than rynnes forth in a rese • arayes aH fe cyte, 1513
Spredes oner with bawilkens • aH fe brode strete^,
"With riche clotbez of taffata • qwer he trede suld,
For fe erth to siclie ane emperour • wer aH to feble. 1516
He plyes oner fe payment • paUen webbes,
Makez on bight ouer f e heued • for bet ^ of fe son,
Silours of sendale • to syle ouer fe gatez, 1519
And sampnez faime on a\>er [side] • with sylkyn rapez.
And fan he cachez vp on cordez • als curtaynez it were,
Euen als f e esyng^s 3ode • ouer be f e costez,
AH fe wallez wi't/iowte * in webbez of Inde,
Of bright blysnand blew • browden w?t^ sternes. 1524-
Thus attyred he f is tonne • & titely far-after
Of ilke way wide hopyn • warpyd he f e ^atez ;
Att who so Avates fro \v/t7iowte • & within hedes,
It semyd as to se to • on of fe seuen heuens. 1528
' MS. aparaerld ; see I. 1552.
* The t u icritten aboce the line.
64
The bishop and
priests are richly
aiTayed.
Their garments
ai e covered with
gems.
The bishop wears
a golden mitre.
The rest are
dressed in n(
So rich a sight
Was nevei^eeen.
[Fol. 27.]
The citizens
follow in the
bishop's train.
all in robes white
113 3110W.
THE BISHOP WEARS HIS MITRE. [Ashmole.
Now passis furth fis prelate • vflth pre-tis of ))e temple,
Reueschid him rially • & Jjat in riche wedis,
AVi-'t/i erst ifei abite vndire aH • as I am in-fo/ij-mede,
Fulle of bridis & of bestis • of bise & of purpre ; 1532
And pat was garnest* full gay • with golden skirtis,
Store starand stanes • strekilland all ouire,
Saudid? fuH" of safirs * & ojjire sere ge?>imes,
And poudird with perry • was perro«r & othire. 1536
And sithen be castis on a Cape • of kastand hewes,
With riche rabies of gold! • railed bi fe^ hemmes,
A vestoure to vise on • of violet floures,
Wro3t fuH of wodwose • & o]>er wild bestis ; 1540
And fan him lii3til(J his hede • & had! on a Mitre,
Was forgid aH of fyne gold! " & fret f uH: of perrils,
Sti3t staffuii of stanes • pat stra3t out hemes,
As it ware sheme?-and shaftis • of fe shire soil. 1544
Docto2«-s & diuinoM?-s ■& othire dere maistris,
lustis of iewry • & iogis of pe lawe,
AVare tired aH in tonacles • of tarrayn webbis ;
J)ai were bret-full of bees • aH pe body ouire, 1548
And oper clientis & clerkis • as to fe kirke faUis,
Ware aU samen of a soyte • in surples of raynes,
j)at slike a si3t, I supose * Avas neuer sene eftire,
So parailed a procession • a person a-gaynes. 1552
j^ow bowis furth pe bischop • at Jje bur3e ^atis,
Wi't/i prestis & with prelatis • a pake out of nombre ;
And aH pe cite in sorts • felowis him efuV,
Quirris furth aU in quite * of qualite as aungels ; 1556
Maistirs, marchands, & Maire • mynistris & othire,
Worthi wedous & wenchis * & wyues of pe cite ;
Be ilka barne in pe burgh • as bla3t ere jjaire wedis
As any snyppandf snawe * pat in fie snape li3tzjf. 1560
j)a)' passis pe procession • a piple be-forne.
Of childire aft in chalk^ quyte • chosen out ahundreth,
With bellis & wtt^ baners • & blasand torchis,
' Jtead an. * Added in the margin. ' MS. shalk.
Dublin.] THE CITIZENS ARE DRESSED IN WHITE. 85
Xow passes J)is prelate • with prestez of ]?e temple,
Eeuest fully rially * & with ryclie wedes,
First ane habett* vnder all • as I am enfonned.
Fun of birdes & of bestes • of byse & of pw;-pnrre ; 1532
And fat was garneshed full gay • wj't/i gold skirtez,
Store starand stanes • strenklett aH oner,
Sawdett with saphirez • and o\)er sere gemmys,
And pouuderet vith perre * was purer Jjn?-i oper. 153G
Bot syne he kest on a Cape * of castans hewe,
With riche rybans of gold • raythely fe hem,
A vesture of vyce • of vyolet flourez, tfoI. ii 6.]
"SVroght fuH [of] wodwose * & o}er wylde bestes ; 1510
And fen he heghtlet on hys heued • a hoge fair myter,
"Was forgett aH [of] fyne gold • & frett fuH of perlez.
Slight staffuH of stanes • fat straughten owt hemes,
Als it wer shemerand shaftez • shott fro fe son. 1514
Doctowrs & deuynowrs • & olper dere maistres,
lustes of lewry • & lewes of fe lawe,
"Wer tjretf aH in tonacles * of tartaren webbys ;
And fai wer brightfuH of bleez • aH fe body oner, 1548
And ofer clerkez & Colettes • at to f e kirke longen,
"Wer aH sampnen in a sott • with surples of reynes,
That suche a sight, I suppose • was neuer sene aftir,
So paraeld a procession • ane person agayns. 1552
Now bownes furth fe bischop • at fe brode 3ates,
"With pristes & with prelatez • a pake owt of nowmbro ;
And aH J?e cite of sorte • sylez hym after,
"Whirrez forth aH in white • of qualite of angels ; 1556
Marchaundez, maister mair • myniste?* and ofer.
Worthy -wedous and wifes • & whenches of f e cite ;
Be ilke a barne in fe burgh • aH blaught is hys wedes
Als any snappand snaAV • fat in fe snape lighte-s. 15G0
Than passys f e procession * a peple beforne,
Of childer aH in chalke Avhite • chosjTi a hundreth,
Wit/i beUys & wtt^ banners ^ • & blesand torchez,
' Jtead fan, ' MS. bainers.
relics.
Tliey await
Alexander.
Alexander arrives,
and finds all
BQ THE JEWS RECEIVE ALEXANUEU. [AshOlole.
lustnimentis & ymagis • w/tA-in of fe JSrynstire ; 15G4
Children bear Su?7i wi:h sensours & so[»i] • with silu^ryn choynes,
Quare-of pe reke aromatike • rase to fe welken ;
Sa»t yvilh of \ig saynt-ware • many sere thingis,
With tablis & topoures • & tretice of pe lawe ; 15G8
Sum bolstirs of burnet • en-brouden with pe>iH,
Bare before pe bischop • his buke on to lig ;
otiiersbear Swu candilstickis of clere goklf • & of clene siluer,
caudle-sticks and
With releckis fuH: rially • fe richest on pe auutere. 1572
Jjus seyis all fe senile • pe cite wiih-oute,
Vn-to a stoneH steJe • sti-e3t on Jje temple,
Scopulus, by swn skiH • ]>& scripture it callis,
And jjare fe come of pe kynge • fis couent abidis. 1576
Sone Alexander with ane ost " of ^ many athille dukis,
Come p?-ekaml? toward J)e place • with princes & erlis,
liting lo receive Sees slike a multitude of men • in niilke-quite clatliis,
And ilk seg in a soyte • at selly h'vn thinkis. 1580
pan fyndis he in J;is oJ)ire flote • fanons and stolis,
I'ractisirs & premat/*' • & prestis of pe lawe,
Of dialiticus & decre • docto?(rs of aythir, 1583
Lathe chambirlayn & chaplayne • in chalk-quite wedis.
[Foi. 27 «.] And a-5 he waytis in a wra • fan was he ware sone
Of jje maister of ))at meneyhe • in-myddis jje piiple,
])at was pe bald bischop • a-bofe alle ^[e]^ iewis,
Was g?-a})id in a garment • of gold & of pu[r]pree. 1588
He sees the ^nd han he heues vp his e;e • be-haldis on his myter,
bl'^hnp In his
mit.e. Be-fore he saje of ^ fyne gold • forgid a i)late,
\)ar-u\ grauen pe grettest • of alt gods names,
with the title Jjis title, Tetragramaton • for so pe text tellis. 1592
Tetragrammaton. i-i • • a ^^^
With ))at comandis f;e kyng • his kny3t2*' ouire* ilkane,
Bathe beron & bachelere • & bald men of amies,
Na nere pat place to apj-oche • a payn of par lyuys,
Bot aH to hald fam be-hynd • heraud & othire. 1596
Thp king advances Jjan airis he furth aH hi;rt ane • to pis atliiH mene3e,
' Added in the margin. ' MS. \>.
' ITcre forgid is inserted, hut is underlined. * Read euirr.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER BOWS DOWN TO THE Bisnor, 87
Instrumentes & ymagez • within oi pe temple ; 15G4
Sora with censours & som ^ • with syluer cliynes,
Whar-of Jje reke of aromatyke • rase to fe welkeu ;
And of J)e sanctuary • niony sere fingez,
Wit/i tabels & tapers * & tretes of ]>& law ; 1568
Som bolsters of burnett • enbrowden with pe?'le,
Borne byfore fe bishop • hys boke on to lig ;
Som candelstyke of clene gold • & of good syluer,
With relikkez fully rially • pe richest of J>e Averld. 1572
Thus sejes aH ]5is semble • fe cite withowte,
Vnto a stonon stede * stre3t on ]?e temple,
Scopulus, be some skely • Ipe script?/?- it calles,
And par pe come of pe kyng • fis Couent abydez. 1576
Sone 2 Alexamler with an hoste * of many atheH dukez, [Foi. n.]
Come prekand to pe palace • with princez & Erelez,
Saugh suche a multitude of men * [in] mylke-white wede*-,
And ilke a sege in a sote • pat selly hym thynkez. 1580
Than fyndez he in a nother fleto • of fanons & stoles,
Practyf men in prevatez ' & pr^-stez of pe lawe,
Of DialeticMS and decre * doctours of at her,
Bath chamerlayn ^ & chapelayn • in chalke-Avhite wedf5.
And als he wa.tes in a wray • ]?en "was he war sone 1585
Off pe maiste?- of p:it meynje • in-myddez of pe peple,
That was pe bald bischop • abowne aH pe lewes,
Was grathed in a garment • of gold & of siluer, 1588
Than he heldei* vp on hegh • beheld on hys myter,
Before he se of fyne gold • forgett a playte,
An par-on grauen on pe grethesf • of all godez namez,
This title, tetragramaton • for so pe text wittnesse. 1592
With pat Comand pe kynge • hys knyghtez all,
Bath barouns & bachelers • bald men of armez,
"No nere pe place [to aproche] • vpon payn of fair lyfez,
Bot aH to hald faim byhynde • Jje lesse & pe more. 1596
Than ayres he forth aH hym one • to fis atheH meyn3c,
' MS. so, alt. to set ; but read so = sow.
' MS. Some. '•' MS. cliiimcz-nlii) n.
B8
LONG LIVK ALEXANDER !
[Ashmole.
and kneels to the
bishop.
Tlie lords kneel
to the king.
They cry, " Long
live Alexander !
Conqueror of all
the earth ! "
All womlcr »t
this greeting.
[Fol. 2S.]
Then Permeon
asks him why lie
knelt to tlie
bishop.
He replies th.it
he knelt to tlie
great God,
Bovvis him down of his Llonke • fe bischop be-forne,
And kneland! oil ]je caldf erth • lie knock is on bis brest,
And reue?-encez fis haly name • at he seis wreten. 1600
}jan J)e ietvis of ievu-salem ' lustis & othire,
Lordis & ladis • & be fe litiH childere,
Enclynes J?am to fe conquirozfr * & him on^ kneis gretw,
Kest vp a kene crie • & cavpis ])ir wordis. 1604
*' Ay niojt he lefe, ay mojt he lefe " • q?<od ilka man
twyse,
"Alexander, J)e athill aire • vndire Ipe heuyn,
Ay mojt he lefe, ay mo^t he lefe^ • j>e lege Empcj-oure,
}pe wildire of aH ])q -werde • & -vvorthist on erlhe, 1608
Ay mo3t he lef, ay mo3t he^ leue^" • q«od loude aH
at anys,
** OuiVcomere clene of ilka coste • & omVcomyn neu/r,
J3e gretest & fe glor/osest • fat euir god formed,
Erie or Emperoure • & any erdly prince." 1612
))are was comen wiiJi him kyngis • as ])q clause tellis,
Seneioi«-s out of Sireland' * was to him-sclfe 3olden,
And fai meruailed fam mekiH • as fe buke tellis, 1615
When ))ai it herd so be-herycV • & held it in wondire.
Jjan Permeon, a proude knijt â– a prince of his oste,
Aires to sir Alexander ' & askis at him swythe,
Syn him adoured aH men • eldire & 3ongtV, 1619
Qui he obeschid so lawe & bende • fe bischop of iewis ]
" Nay," qtiod J)e comly kynge • & fe kny3t swaiis,
" Kouthire haylsid I hi»i • ne hildid him nouthire,
Bot it was gode at I grete • pe goue?-noure of aH, 1623
Of q?iam in fe abite & ])e amies • he was aH clethid.
Eor in pe marche of Messedone * me myites on a tyme,
pat slike a segg in my slepe • me sodanly aperitif,
Euyn in slike a si??n'litude • & J)is same wedis.
For aH fe werd as pis wee • wendis now atirecJ. 1628
' Inserted in the margin.
Here the MS. wrongly inserts qnod.
^ land is above the line in MS.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER KNEELS TO THE GREAT GOD. 89
Bowes hj'in downe of hys blonke * fe bischopp before,
Kneland on ^ J?e cald erth • & knokez on hys briste,
And hersouns ]>at haly name • fat he bylield written.
ban aH be lewes of levusalem • Justice & ofer, 1601 Processio
ver»MS alex-
Lordez & lades • be Jje lityH sottez, andrum apud
Inclines faim to fis conquerowr • & hym on knees gret€5, '™*" *°*"
Kest vp a kene crye * & carpyd Jjees Avordes : 1601
" Ay mott he leue, ay mot he leue " * q?wd ilke a lede
twyse,
"Alexander, fe athelfullesf ' hayr vnder heven, 1606
Ay mot he leue, ay mott he leue • fis lege Emperowr,
The welder of aH Jje werld • & worthiest vnder wylde,
Ay mott he leue," qiiod f e Land • [loude all] at anes,
" Ouercommer clene of ilke coste * & ouercommyn neuer,
The grettesf & f e gloriesf • jjat euer god formec?,
EreH or ony Emperoi/r â– or erthlich prince ! " 1612
)3an Wer fair co??imon whit hym kyngez • als f e clause telles, [Foi. is 6.]
Senyours o\vt of Surry • wer to hym-selue golden,
And fai amervale fairae mekyH • as menys me fe writtfs,
When J)ai saw hym so herct^ • & heldyn it a wondre. 1616
Than Vermeon, a proude knyjf • a prince of hys hoste,
Ayres to sir alexander • and askys hym swith,
Sen hym adouret aH men • alder & yonger,
Why he obeyd & bowed so • to fe bischop of lewes 1
" Nay," q?<od fe comly kyng<3 • & fe knyjt swerez, 1621
" Nojjer haylsed I hym • ne held^'t hym nofer,
Bod it was god at I gret • fe gouemour of aH,
Of whome in fe habetf & fe armez • he was aH clelhyd.
For in fe marche of masydon • me menys on a tyme,
Suche a segh in my slepe • me sodenly apperedf, 1626
Euen in suche a sembland • & in fe same wedes,
For aH J)is werld as fis wy • wendes now attyred. 1628
' MS. of. ' MS. knyge.
90
ALEXANDER GOES TO THE TEMPLE.
[Ashmole.
And pen I mused ^ in my mynde • how at I my3t wyn
Anothire aneH of pe erth"'^ • pat Aysy we cali it,
And me thret to be thra' ' & for na ^ing turne,
Bot tire me titely parto ' & tristly to wende. 1632
And syne saje I na segg* • pat sa was araycP ;
And sekirly yone semys • pe same to se* to w/t/an,
)3e same gode at I in my slepe • sa3e in my days ; 1G35
And now I hope me, |)ur3e pe helpe^ • of pe haly fadirf,
Of qziam pe hered haly name • is ^ondir^ on hi3e wreten,
To do with Ddvius or I dyi • how so me dere thinke,
And pe pride of ail pe Persons * purely distroy.
And jit I sothely supose • quat so my sale hopis, 1640
})at saH faH apon fold • slik fyaunce I haue
In pe grace of grete god • at gyes aH pe sterne=',
])at it saH be in my will • & on na way faile." 1643
Now tas pe bischop pe berne • & to J>e bur3e wi^ndis, -
With sange & solempnite • him to jje cite ledis,
He was resayued, as I rede • wiiJi reuerence & loye,
As he ware duke of ilk douth • & dreuyn doun fra
heue??. 1647
j)a,n gas he furth with his gingw • to godis awen temple^
})at of sir Salamon pe sage • sett was & foundid,
And jjare he lythis of fare lare • as pe law walci ;
He offird in pat oratori • & hono^wd oure lorde.
And laudas of ier^^saleni • & aH pe iewis eft/r 1653
Bringis out a brade buko • & to pe berne reches,
Was plant full of prophasys • playnely aH ouire,
Of fe doctrine of DanieH ' & of his dere sawis.
pe lord^ lokis on pe lyne • & on a lefe fyndis 1656
how the Greeks How pe gomes out of grece • suld w/t/i faire grote mi3ti5
' Tfic d is ahovc the line in MS.
' MS. wercl erth ; hut werd is struck nut.
' MS. repeats to be thra ; partly vnderlined.
^ MS. fje ill same to to w ; altered to \>& same to se.
â– * Inserted in the mart/ in.
" of whom I once
dreumt.
Now I hope to
destroy all the
Persians."
[Fol. 28 6.]
Alexander is
royally received.
and goes to
Solomon's temple.
J.-iudas brings out
a book of Daniel's
prophecy.
Dublin.] THE pnoPHECY of daniel. • .91
And J)an 1 musyd in my mynde • how Jjctt I might wytinc,
Ane oper angle of fe erth • pat asy we calle,
And he me thrett to be tra ^ • & for no thyng turne,
Bot tyre me titely parto • & tristly to wend. 1632
And syne saw I no segh • pat so was atired ; 1633
And he- ho^jpyd pe helder fat f is was he * at he^ saw
fen, 1633*
For sekerly he semys so • to se withowte, 1634
The ' same god pat in my slope • I sawe in ]jo days ;
And now I hope, Jjorow help • of pe hye fadre, 1636
On whom pe holy name is jond * on liye written,
To do •with Darius, or I dye • how I some dere thynke,
And pe pride of aH pe pe?-sens • purely distroy.
Bot 3itte I sothly suppose * qwat so my saule finkez, 16-40
That sail be-falle vj)pon falde • slyke fiance I haue
In pe grace of pe grett god • fat gydez aH sternes.
That it saH in my will be • & in no Avays faille."
Xow takys fis Bishop pe heme • & to burgh ledes, 1644
"W/t/t sange & solempuite • with hym to cite wendes,
He was resaued, as I rede • with reuerence & loy,
As he wer duke of iclie dochre • & drevyn owt of
heuen.
]jan gays he forth with hys gyng • to godde^ awne temple, [Foi. le.]
That of sir salamon pe sage • sett was & fondyn, 1649
And par he lightez of par lare • & als pe lawe wald;
He offers in fat oratory • & honours owr Lorde.
And laudes of lerzte-al^m • fe lewes fadir, 1652 '
Bringes forth a brade buke • & to fe berne reches,
Was plantyd full of prophecyes • playnly aH oucr,
Of f e doctryne of danieU • & of hys dere sawes.
The lede lokys on a lefe " & in a lyne fyndes 1656 prophecia
How fat f e gomez owt of grece • suld with fair grett mightez
' Ifead thra. '^ Mead I ; twice.
» MS. Thame.
92
ALEXANDER REWARDS THE JEWS.
[Ashmole.
should destroy
Persia.
Alexander richly
rewards all.
and tells the
bishop to take all
be wants.
and to ask a boon.
[Tol. 29.]
The bishop asks
for leave to
abide in his
own religion,
and that the men
of Media and
Babylon should
become Jews.
Alexander grants
this.
and offers more.
Alexander leaves
a viceroy behind
bim.
j)c pupiH out of Persye ' purely distroy ;
And fat he hopis sail be he ' & hertly he ioyes.
J5an partis he to fa prelat/s • many proude giftz5, 1660
Was nane" sa pore in ]>at place * hot he his purse fillis,
Geues faffi garsons of gold • & of gud stanes,
Eife riches eno^e • robies & perles,
Besands to fe bischop • he bed out of nounbre, 1664
Eeches him of rede gold • ransons many,
Tas him to his tresory • talent hi?)i to shewe,
Bad hirn wale quat he Avakf • & wild him fe tofzV.
3it bedis he him, fe bald kyng • as fe buke tellis : 1668
♦' Sire, quat fou wiH in fis Averd • to wild & to haue,
Nojt hot aske it at^ Alexander ' quat \>on wiH apon
reson,
And I sail grant, or I ga • with a gud wiH."
)3an bowis douw fe bischop • & him a bone askis, 1672
" Sire, fis I depely disire • durst I it neuyn,
])at it be leuefuH vs oure lare • & oure law vse,
As oure fadirs has foloAvid • forw/t/i fis tyme ;
As of joure grete gudnes • at 36 grant wald 1676
To lat vs sitt be safe • hot for fis seuyn wynt?>,
But tribute or trouag • quils fe te?'me lastis,
j)a.n were we halden all fe hepe • to hi^e fe for emV.
And jit I wiH, be joure leue • a worde & na mare, 1680
pat jje men of Medi • man, be joure leue,
Lang aH in oure lawe • lely to-gedire.
And J)ai of Babilon bathe • & bede I na nothire."
Quod Alexander belyue • "all fis I graunt, 1684
And els any othire thing* • aske & be serued."
"Nay, now na mare," quod fe man • & mekly him
thanki(},
" Bot ay J)i lordschip & fi loue * quils my lyfe dures."
Now kasti's fis conquiro«<r ' to caire fra fe cite, 1688
And mas to bide in fe burje • a heme of his awyn,
A messagere to myn • on quat men of him said,
' MS. at it.
Dablin.] he grants the bishop a boon. 93
The peple owt of perse • purely distroy ;
And [Jjat] he hopys suld he he • & heterly he ioyes.
Than he partes to ])e prelates • mony prouude gyftes, ICGO
"Was now so pure in J)e place • bot he hys purse fillez,
Gyfez faim garisons of gold • & of god stanez,
Riche giftez enogh • bath rubies & perelez,
Besaundez to ]je bischopp • he badde owt of nowmbre,
Eechez hym of rede gold • raunsons mony, 1GG5
Takez hym to hys tresory • talentes hym shewya,
Bade hym wale qwat he walde • & wyld hym faes ofer.
3it biddez hym Jie bald kyng • als fe boke tellez : 16G8
*' Sir, qwat jjoa will in Jjis werld • to weld or to haue,
Nojt bot aske at alexander ' any thyng of reson,
And I saH graunte, or I gay • with a goode wille."
Than bowes downe owr bischop • & hym a bone askez,
" Sir, fis I depely des^Vre * durst I it neuen. 1673
jjat ^e wald latte vs oure lare • & owre lawez vse,
Als owr faders hase foloued • forew/t/i ))is tyme ;
And of yowr grett goodnesse • if je fis graunte wald 1676
To latt vs sitte & be safe • bot for pis seuen wynter,
'Withowte tribute or truage • wliils J)e terme laste.*,
\)en wer we halden aH" fe hepe • to pray for you for euer.
And 3itt I wille, be yowr leue • a worde & no more, 1680
J5at Jje men of mede " may, be yowr leue,
Lenge all in yotir^ lawe • lely to-geder.
And fai of babilon bath. • fan bid I none othre."
Quod alexander als belyue * "all ])is I graunt*, 1684
And ellys ony o]jer thyng ' aske & be serued." [Foi.wft.i
" I^Tay, no we no more," quod ])is man * & mekely hym
thank ez,
" Bot yowr lordship and youre loue • whiUe my ly ve lastes."
Kow kyst hym ])is conquero?/r • to care fro fe cite, 1688
And made to byde in fe burgh • a berne of hir awne,
A messynger to meyn on • qwat* men of hym sayd,
' Eead our.
9;t
DARIUS SEES A PICTURE OP ALEXANDER. [AshmoU.
Some of the
Syrians complui
of Alexander to
Darius.
[Fol. 29 6.]
Darius enquires
about Alexander,
and is shewn a
caricature of him.
Darius despises
Alexander,
and in disdain
sends him a ball
to play with,
a golden head-
piece,
and a hat made of
twigs.
Ane Ardromaci»5, a gome • as^ )je buke tellis.
pan bo wis to J)e biscliop • bis benyson to fang^, 1G92
Tak/6' liifly bis leue • & lendis on fortbere.
To Sere cites par be-syde • be so3t with bis bostis,
And fai frendly & faire • frely resayued bim.
))an of fe Siriens su?»me • in fe same tyme 1G9G
Folow fra fe fell kyng^ • as fals men siild,
Did ]?am to sir Daii«s • & depely jjam playnt,
Quat erroure of |)is Einperoure • & euiH fai suffird. 1G99
And he ' jjam faire vndir-fong* • & f raynes fam jeriie,
Askis fain of sir Alexander ' ali at be cutbe,
Batbe of bis statoure & bis strentb • if be ^ ware store ben,
His qualite, bis quantite • be quirys aH-to-gedire ;
And ))ai in parcbement bi»i payntid • bis person bi»i
sbewid, 1704
Ane amlaje, ane asaleny • ane ape of aH otbir<',
A willing, a wayryngle • a wawil-e3id sbrewe,
pe cait[if]este creato^i?- • |)at cried was euire.
And fan, as be lenes • & lokis on bis fo?<rme, 1708
His litillaike & bis licknes * be laytbly dispiced,
And tbre thing/,* of bis thede • be fojt hi»i sa febb^.
He dressis to hbn in dedeyne • & in dispite sendis :
First a baH, says J?e buke • fe barne with to play, 1712
A berne-pan es of a berne • of brend gold yeue??,
For bottre & for betbing^ • a Hatt made of twyggi*' ;
Sayd \>at was benere hvn to here • fan a brijt belme.
SI ike presandis out of Persy • be to fe prince sendis, 171G
His brefe with a brade sele • & biddis }mm^ ga
swythe.
And qua sa wili has to wete * howe it wortbis eitir,
Now sail I neuen vs here next • fe note of bis lett/r.
Inserted in the viarg'ui. * MS. repeats if he.
""' Itcadhvn.
Dublin] HE SENDS HIM THREE PLAYTHINGS. 95
And^ androiuaci«-', a man • as I am enformed.
pan bowys he to pe Bishop • hys benyson to funj^e, 1C92
Keches lufly liys leue • & londez on ferther.
To setez J»a/' bysyde • he soght with hys hostez,
And ))ai frendly & faire • & frely resaued hym.
Bot ])en of surriens a soume • in pe same tyme 1G9G
Flo wen from J)is feH kyng • as fals men suldyn,
Did faim to sir Darius • & depely faim plenyd,
"What errow?* of fis emperour • & ille Jjttt \m\ suffred.
And he jjaiin faire vnderfangez • & franez \>a\m ydvue,
Askez fiaim of sir alexander • aH fiat he couth, 1701
Bath of hys stature & hys strenth • if he wer sture-baned,
Hys qualite, hys quantite • enquirez aH-to-gedyr ;
And Jiai in perchemyii depayntyd • hys person hym
sweyd,
Ane amlaugh, ane aslyu • ane ape of aH other, 1705
A wirlyng, a warlow • a waugle-e^hed shrewe,
The catyfest creatur • \)at credylytt was euer.
And ))en \>e Lord, as he lenytt • & lokett on hys forme,
Hys litilayke & hys liknes • he loudly dispysez, 1709
And thro^ thyngez of hys thede • hym thoght so feble,
He dressyd to hym in dysdene • & dispite sendes :
Frist to 3 fe barne, says pe buke • a balle with to play,
A brayn-pan of a berne • of brent gold |)en, 1713
For hocoMr & for hethyng • a hat made of wiggez * ;
Sayd, ]>at was bener hym to bring • pen a bright helrae.
Suche pr^sandez owt of perse • he to pe prince wayfez,
Hys brefe with a brade scale • & byddes faim go
svvithe. 1717 •
And who sa wete wald ' how it worthed aftir,
Now saH: I neuen vs on next • fe note of hys letfve.
' Read Ane. = lirad tlire.
' to above the line in MS. â– * Itcad twiggcz.
9^ Darius' letter to Alexander. [Aslunole.
©ctauus passus %\txajidru
A letter: " CI ire dele Darius on dese ' fe digne Empe?-oure,
Aiexallder. ^ ]3e kyng^w/tAout compamson- of kyngis all otMre,
Of aH lordis fe lord • pat leues in ertlie,
Predicessowr of princes • & peree^ to fe sonn, 1723
\)e souerayne sire of my soyle • \>at sittis in my trone,
In fang wit/t my faire godis • pat I affie maste,
To Alexander, fat of aH • so angrily liim letes,
[F0I.SO.] Oure subiet & oure seruandf • J)us we oure-selfe write.
Tiiou art too For it is wayued vs to wete • fat wickidly Ipou. haues,
proud and vain. . <• • i i w tq
Jjur^e enmyte & enuy • elacton of pride, 1 < Hy
Ee vanyte & vayne gtori • fat in f i wayns kindKs,
Puruayd f e pletours • oure partis to ride.
For fou has samecJ, as men he' sais • a selly nounbre
Thy men are lada Of wrichis & wirlingM' • out of fe west endis, 1733
eves. ^^ laddis & of losengers • & of litiH theuys,
Slike sary sorojis as f i-selfe * to seke vs agaynes,
And wenes to wild aH fi wiH â– & fat worthis ful late,
\)G prouynce & principalte • of Persye la graunt'. 1737
Tiion art too For f ou crt fere al to faynt • oure force to ministere ;
weak to harm lu.
\)oi f ou had gedird all f e gomes • fat euire god {oitrmedf,
So, man, riued is oure rewme * fat f ou may re3t lycken.
\)e store strenthe of oure stoure • to sternes of f e heuew.
And slike a nekard as f i-selfe • a no3t of aH othire,
Is hot a madding to meH • yrith mare fan him-seluen.
Thonhadst Forthi is bettzV vnbynd • & of f e brathe leue, 1744
better submit to ^■, • t f • op
me at once. And feyne aH with f airnes • & layne at f ou may.
For mare menseke' is a man • to meke hi??i be tyme,
)3an eftir made to be meke • malegreue his chekis.
For aH fe gracious godis • & gudnes on erthe, 1748
)3at sanys sete & soile • & sustaynes f e erth,
Prayses ay f e Persyns * passing aH othire,
' Head pere. * Inserfrd in the maryln ; better omitted.
* So ; for niensUf.
The Persians are
ft mighty race.
Dublin.] "thy men are only thieves." 97
Octavus pasjJUS.
Syr Dere Darius on dese • ]>e digne Emp^ro?<r, 1720 ^^istoia
The kyng wtt/iowt comparison • of kyngez all ofer,
Of at lordes fe Lord • fat leues in erthe, [FoI. n
PredecessoMr of princez • & peir to ])e Son,
The soue?'ane syre of my sole * jjat sitt/s in myne trone,
In fange wiih my faire god ' jjat I aflfye maste, 1723
To klexander, J)at of ail • so augerdly hym letes,
Oure segef & our se'ruant^ • ))U3 owr-selfe writtez.
For it is wayfed vs to wete • ])ou haues wikedly, 1728
Thrugli enmyte & enuye • Elacion of pride,
Be vanyte & vaj'nglory • ]>ai in fii vaynes kyndeles^
Purvayd fe pletowrs • oure pa?-tez to ryde,
For fou hase sampned, als men sayn • a sellicli nownibrc
Off wrecliez"& of wyrlyngez • out of fe west ende, 1733
Off laddez & of losyngers • & of lityH thefez,
Siche sary sorowez as ))i-self • to seke vs agayns.
And wenys to weld at jji wille • fat worthez full late,
The prouince & fe principalite • of perse le graunt. 1737
Bot Jjou ert fere aH to faynte • oure force to wttAstonde ;
|)of 2 Jjou hade gederit ^ aH fe gomez • fat euer god formede,
So, man, ryfe is owr reme • fat f ou may wele lekyn
\)Q sture strenth of owr stoure • to f e sternez of heuen ;
And sike a neker als fi selfe ' ane noght of all ofer.
Is bot* a maddyng* to meH • w?t^ mare fen fi-sehie.
For-fi is better vnbende • & of f i brathe leue, 1744
For mare menske is a man • to meke hym be tyme,
Than after made to be meke • mawgre hys chekys.
For alt fe graciouse goddes • & goddesse on erth, 1748
Praysez ay fe persens * passyng aH ofer, 1750
' MS. souerent siz-uant ; the former rear d expiincted.
' MS. Of. 3 it tvrittni above the line. * MS. bod,
ALEXANDER. H
98
THOU THYSELF ART BUT A DWARF.
[Aslunole.
Tliou art a
and a giiib.
And for ))e oddiste ' ilka ost • lionoures oure name, 1751
arf And slike a dwinyng,^ a dwaje • & a dwerje as )?i-selfe,
A grub, a grege out of grace * ane erdf-growyii sorowe,
WiH couet 3it as a king • "with caytefes to lyte,
To couir at combrid aH ))e kyngi's • vndire fe cape of
heue?« !
Eijt as a flaw of feU snawe * ware fallyn of a ryft^, 1756
[Fo.so 6.] Of a wysti wonn wagfee * with pe wynd blawen,
So ^Yith a flote of Fresons * folowand fi lielis,
j)o\i sekis fraward Sichim • J)i-selfe wrothir-haile,
And leuys as a loreli • ]jus oure lande to entire, 1760
And maa ])i lepis & J)i laikts • & quat ]>e liste ellis,
As ratons or ruje myse • in a rowme chambre,
Aboute in beddis or in bernys • J)are baddis ere nane.
Bot I liaue wilily waited? • pi wiles & J)i castis, 1764
And quen ])ou hopis aH-Jji> hiest • to haue aH far wiH,
Hut I shall slay I sail jjs Sett ou a saute • & sla fe [with] my handis.
Thou thinkest to
do as thee list.
like rats or mice
For-J)i for pompe or for pride ' fi purpose a-vise, 1767
Turne ]je, trechoure, be-time • \)at ))ou na treson haue,
Return to thy And diawc a-gayfl to pi den • vndire fi dam wyng/s-.
Se quat I send to pe,^ son • J)i-selfe wit/i to laike,
A liatt & a hand-batt * & a herne-panne ; 1771
I send thee soine Slike presaudis to play with ' as pe?"tine.s to babbis.
playthings. ^ ^ "^ ^
For ai a child mot him chess • to child ire geris ;
For mestire & miserie • vnneth may fou forthe
jpine a wen caitefe cors * to clethe & to fede.
And supposis as a sott • to sese oure land^'.^t, 1776
And outhire darins to drepe • or dryfe fra his kythis !
Bot by Jje grace & fe gude • pat god gaue my fadire.
Our land is 80 So riued is J)e rede gold? • oure regions with-in,
it outshines tiie J3at qua sa had it on a hepe ' haly to-gedire, 1780
' MS. dwinnyg.
MS. yt, altrred to \iQ.
Dublin.] i send the three playthings." 99
And for }je oddest of ilke one oste • liono2/rs owr name.
And slyke a dvvynyng • a drawgh of ))i-selaen, 1752
A grob, a grig out of grece • ane erth-growen sorow,
Wytt couett ^itte as a kyng • wiih catyffez liteH,
To couer & to combre att pe kyngez • vnd^'r fe Cape of
heuen !
Itight as a flaw of fell snaw • fallen wer fro )>e drifte, 175G
Of a Avisti/s Avondyn wagh • •with fe wynd blayn,
So with a flote of fresons • folowand thi heles,
Thu sekys fraward sychini • ))i-selue with eueH haille,
And Leues as a loseH • owr land for to entre, 17G0 [roi. 17 1]
And make J)i lepys & ))i lakez • & qwat fou list ellys,
As ratons or ronke myce ' in a rowme cbaumbre,
About on bedded or in bernez * ])ar baddez er nane.
IJott I haue willyly Avayted • ])i wilez & fi castez, 17G4
And when pun bopys aH-J)ir eldest • to haue at \)on likez,
I saH fe sett on a sawte • & slaye fe with my handez, 17G6
And so saH, fole, for J)i folez • be fenyshit on dawes. 17G6*
For J)i pompe & pi piide • \i pwrpasse avyse,^ 1767
For yf Jjou shote ouer sheet • pou. shendes fi flayne. 1767*
Turne^ Jje, trecho?<r, be tyme • pat J)0U no treson hable, 1768
And [drawe] agayn to pi den • vnder |)i dame Avengez,
Se qwat I sende pe, son • Jji-selfe with to layke,
A hatt here & a hand-balle • & a herne-panne ; ^
Slike pj-esantes* to play with • as pertenys pe to haue. 1772
For ay a childe most hym chose • vnto childer gammez ;
For miste?' & for michefe • vneth may pon forth
Jjine awne catef cors • to cloth & to fede,
And jit supposes as A sott • to sesyn owr Landez, 1776
And Darius to drepe * & dryve owt of hys* kythes !
Bot be pe grace & pe goode • pat god gafe my fader,
So ryfe is pe rede gold * oure regions within,
At who so had it on a hepe • holy to-gedr^,^ 1780
' MS. to avyse ; but to is better omitted. ' MS. To me trronghj,
^ MS. payne, corrected to panne. ■* MS. p;rsanciez p?rsantr».
* lys, cor reeled to hys. ® JIS. to gredir.
n -2
100
ALEXANDER LIKENS DARIUS TO A CUR, [AsIuiIOle.
Return to
Mucedoii,
or thou shall be
hung like a thief.'
Alexander reads
the letter aloud.
and his men are
afraid.
He saya.
" Be not afraid of
Darius.
He is like a yelp-
intj cur, that
cannot bite.
We must get 1
gold."
He gives orders
It wald vs let, as I leue • fe li3t of J)e sou !
For-Jji bid? I J)e badricR • on bathe twa fine ejen,
And on fe plegg* & fe payn • & periH as folowis,
AH ])i vanyte to voids ' & ))i vayne pride, 1784
And mew agayn to JNIessedone • or any mare faH.
For be pe saule of my sire * bot if j?ou sone turne,
We sail J)e send! sike a soume • of segis en-armed*,
No3t as Philips fant • salle fare with ])i-selfe, 1788
Bot as a prince of p;-oued theues • pyne \ie to dede."
Als sone as his sandismen • to Jiis sire come,
J?ai present him ]?e playnt?6' • fe pistill him rechis.
And Ale-Kander belyue • be-fore aH his princes, 1792
To aH: his ost euyfi on • he openly declaris.
And quen his knijtis of )jis clause • Jie carpe vndirstode,
)3en ware pai fiekly a-frayd • of fe feH sa3es ;
And as sone^ as hiw-selfe sa3e • his seggis amoued', 1796
In bilding< of his bachelers • he breuys ])ire wordis :
" Quat now? my worthi werriouris • sa wi3t & sa noble,
Mi bernes & my baratours • J>e best vndire heue/i ;
Lettis nfeuire it bro3t be on brade • for vpbraide of
schame, 1800
3e doute for J)e indityngs * of Darius pistils.
I sett 30we ane ensample * 36 se it aH daye,
In thorps & in many thede • Ipar je furje ride,
At ilka cote a kene curre • as he fe chache wal(J ; 1804
Bot as bremely as he bales ^ • he bitis neu/?' pe fastiV.
Bot in sum, T suppose wele • pat sothe is pe leitir,
J3are as he tellis quyche a tu?2ne • of tresoure he hauys.
For-jji vs buse to be bigg* • & bataill him 3eld', 1808
))e grete garisons of gold ' saH gedire vp oure herteV."
Viit/i pat comands pe kyng • his kny3t/6' be-lyue,
J)e donesmen J?at fra Darius come • with pe derfe lettir,
pat ]iai suld titly J)am take • & by fe to3e throtis, 1812
And for jjaire souerayne sake • fam send to pe galawis,
' MS. inserts hiwt s ; bnt it is struclt out.
'^ The e \s above the line.
Dnblin.J that can bark, but cannot bite. 101
It wald hym lett, as I leue • \>g light of ]>e Son !
For-]3i bid I J>e badly • vppon payn of fi eghen,'
And on fe plight & payn • & pe/ie fat folows,
AH fi vanyte to voyde • & fi vayn pryde, 1784
And mefe ayayn to masydori • or ony mare falle.
For, be pe sawle of my sire • bot yf fou sone tume,
I saH send fe suche a sume • of segges enarmed, 1787
\)at noght as philip faunf • pan saH fare -wz't/t jji-seluen,
Bot as a prince reproued ' sail be pynyd to dede."
Als sone as euer hys sondesmeii • to Jiis syre co?)jmyn,
Thai present^ hym playnly • & J)«t pistiH hym rechys,
And alexander als byliue • before hys ateH^ princez, 1792
And to fe host euen ouer • it opynly declares. [FoI. is.]
And when Tpe knyghtez • of fis clause vnd(??-stonde.
Than wer fai felly ^ affrayed • of hys feU sawes;
And als sone as hym-selfe se • hys seges ameyved, 1796
In beldyng of hys bachelers ' he breues |)ees Avordes :
" What now ] my worthy weryours • so wight & so noble,
My bernes & my barotours • fe best vnder heuen ;
Lett neuei- it be broght on brade • for vmbrayd of
shame, 1800
Yhe dout^ for fe dityng^ • of darius pisteH.
I sett you an ensaumple * ye se it eu<?>'ilk;e day,
In thorpus & in mony thede • fare ye Jjorow ryden,^
1804
For yf he bremely bays ' he bitez neuer helder.
Bot in some way, I suppose wele • fat soght is hys le^^re,
Jjair as he tellez which tunne ^ • of treso2f r he base.
For-J»i vs [bus] to be big • & batele hym ^elde, 1808
pe grete garison of gold • saH geder vp owr hertes."
Wi't/t fat commandez f e kyng< • hys knyghtez belyfe,
J?a/-e Domesmen fat from darius come • with f e derfe le^^rez,
)jat fai suld titely faim take • & be to3e nekez, 1812
For fair souerend sake * faim send to f e galouse.
• MS. eughen. » So in MS. ' MS. fellyd.
* MS. dyden. * MS. tyxae.
102 ALEXANDER WRITES TO DARIUS. [Aslimolet
to hang the Jjati was fa iTiessangers a-maied • as luervale ware elHs,
With kene carefuH crie ' fis conquiro7<r fai saicJ : 1815
Tiiey beseech him " Alias ! Quat lake Ivse in vs lorJ • if it be joure wiH,
to be merciful.
Jjus causeles for cure kynge • encumbird to worthe ] "
" The sajes of ^our souerayn " • said fe kynge pen,
[Foi. 31 6.] " N"edis me to slike notis • as I had neuer etlicf,
He says It 19 \)at has 30W sent to my-selfe • nojt sa as hbn aje ; 18:20
because Darius t -ii i f t • .n i
calls him a thief. Loo ' litiH thefe in ilka lyne • his lettzr me caJlis.
"3a," qiiod Jjai, "comly kyng" • & on knes^ fallis,
"Jjase ditis endited to jowe * sir Darius hi?n seluyn,
Thpy remind him For he knew no2t of 70iir knijthede ' ne of Jo?<r kid
that it is Darius ^ J f }
who wrote the Strcntll \ 1821:
letter.
l^e wist no3t of joh?- worthenes * & wrate all fe baldire.
Bot wald je grant vs to gaa • & gefe vs ■^mir lefe,
}jen suld we bremely yMir bill • to Jje berne shewe."
}5en lete J)e lord fam allane * & went till his fest, 1828
He pardons them, Takis bain wi't/i hiw to liis tent ' & bam at esc makis.
and entertains
them. Sone as fai in his sale • were sett at fe table,
" Sire Alex«?2ffer, athiH kyng*" ' o^nod aH wj'tA a steujn,
"Comands wit// vs to caire • kni3t?'s a thousani?, 1832
And we sail surely oure sire • f»e send in J^aire handis."
" 3a, make we blis," (]xwd fe kyng • " blithe mote 3e
â– worthe,
For as for takynge of y^ur lord • saH na lede wynde."
He writes to To Darius ano))/r day * enditts he a pistiH, 1836
A crest clenly inclosidf • fat consayued JjIs wordis.
Alexa7i(fer, fe aire ' & eldest childe bathe
Of kyng YVilip fe fers • fe fendere of grece,
And als of Olimpades * \ai hojzwrable lady, 1840
" Aiex.inder to To be, Darius, on dese ' fus dite I my lett<>.
l),-iri us, who calls » ,, -r,
himself a con- Jjou priHce of all fs Pcrsyns • \ai peres to fe sonnc,
)3e conquiroi/r of ilka cost • callid of fi-selfe,
\Vtt/« all J)i gracious god is ' graithid in \\ trone, 1844
All fus I send to jowe I my '^ sawe • vndiV my sele wreten.
Sire, if we se w«t7i a suth • surely me tfiinke,
' MS. keies, altered to knes. ' ivritten above the line in MS.
Dublin.]
YOU CALL YOURSELF A CONQUEROR.
103
J5en wer fees messyngers araaced • as merveH wer ellez,
'With carfuH chere • to fe conqueroMr fai saydyn :
" Alas ! what lake lyes in vs • lord, be yowr lefe, 1816
Thus causles for owr kyng • encombred to worthe ] "
" The sawez of your soueren " • sayd ])e kyng pen,
" JSTedes me now to seche notes • as I neuer attelytt,
That he base sent to my-seluen • nogbt as he awghf ; 1820
Lo 1 ' lityH thefe ' in iche line • hys le^^re me caUes."
** j)is doyngez sir darius • indited you hym-seluen,
For he knew noght you?* knyghthode • ne your kyd
strenthez; 1824
N'e wist noght of" yowr worthiness • & wrote aH: pe balder.
Bot 36 wald graunt vs to go • & gyfe vs owr lyfez,
Than suld we bremely your blysse • vnto f»e berne shewe."
J3an lete fe Lord faim alon • & lathys paira to hys feste,
Takes \>Siim with hym to hys tent • & makez faim at ease.
Sone as )>ees sandesmen in sale • wer sett at ))e table,
" Sir alexander, ateH kyng " • quod aH with a stevyn,
" Comand with ys to care • knyghtez a thowsand, 1832
And we saH surely owi syre • jon send in pair handez."
"3a, make 36 blysse," qubi pe kynge • "blyth mote 30
worthe,
For pe lachynge of yowr Lorde • saH noght* a lede weynde."
Bot to Darius on pat oper day • indited he a pisteH, 1836
A httre clenly enclosyf ' pat consaued pees wordes.
" I, Alexander, ayr • & eldeste cMlde bothe
Of kyng philip pe ferse * pe fender of grece,
And als of olimphades • pat honorable ladye, 1840
To pe. Sir Darius, on dese • jius dite I my lettre.
j)ou. prince of aH Tpersens ' pat apperys to pe son,
The conqueroMr of ilke coste * callyd of pi-seluen,
With aH pi graciouse goddes • grathed in pi trone, 1844
AH pus I send pow to say • vnder my sealle wrytten.
Sir, yf we se pe sothe * surely me thynke,
[Fol. 18 6.1
EpU^o/a.
104 fortune's wheel turns swiftly. [Ai^bmole.
All men's lands Oiire facultes, 01X16 faire fees • oure fermes & our landis,
are but their own _
for a day. \ V 6 may no3t cnalang^ ))am ne clayme • ne call \ahn
oure awe/2, 1848
[Foi.82.] Hot all I deme it as det • & to a day borowicf.
For sen we riden on jje rime ' & on fe ringe seten
Fortune's wheel Of fe qwele of Fortouw, ))e quene • )jat swiftly cLang/*-,
Ofte pas we in pouert • fra plente of gudis, 1852
Fra mirthe in-to moztrnyng' • fra moz/rnyng in-to loye.
For now vs wantii's in a qwirre • as fe quele turnes ;
wiien we think to Queii we suppose in oure sele • to sit alpir heist,
Fortune drowns J?an fondis furth dame Fortou/i • to fe flode-jat^'s, 1856
Dra3es vp fe da??2me-borde • & drenchis vs euire.
For-fi a we fat lias wit • ]jofe lie wele suffir,
So sadly in soueraynete • he set neuire his hope 1859
For pn'de of na p?-o[s]pe?-ite • ne prise at him folewis,
To oUe ay on his vndireling • for ouerdaike a quyle.
Let no man For any sele vndire son • a sott I him liaM,
despise his
smaller neigh- Jjat ay has deyne & dispite ' at dedis of litiH,
bour.
Sen oft J?e haue?2lest here • is houe« to fe sternes, 18G4
And he pat graithist is of gndis * gird aH to poudire.
Ye dishonour For-bi a depe dishonoure • ae do to joure name,
your name in _ _
reviung me. Anc empe/'oure pat on ertli • is euyn to 30ure-selfe,
To me sa litiH & sa lawe • slike lett/rs to sende, 1868
And presand out of Persy • hot for a pure hetliyng^.
For fc/u enherest/s ali ))is erlh • & euens to pe son,
You call yourself And calHs be kyng of ilka kithe • vndir be cape of lieue;?,
king of all men, r J o r 1
asifyouwere And parto sittis, as pon sais • in sege as ane AungeH,
immortal,
To-gedire with ]ji grete^ gods • and on a gilt trone. 1873
Bot syn gostid godesses & gods "ere graythid neuir to dye,
Bot ai sail last furth. elike • ofi-lyue ouire^ mare,
pai naue no wiH: to my notis • ne Avilnyng^ to haue,
No dole ne no daliance • of dedely bernes. 1877
1 know myself to Bot I knaw I am coruptible • & caire jow agaynes,
be mortal, and y ^ ^
attack you. Als With a dedly duke • to do my bataiH ;
' MS. 7-epcats wjt/t grete. * Head euire.
Dublin.] REVILING ME, YOU DISHONOUR YOURSELF. 105
Our facultez or faire fej-s • owr fermez & owre golden,
"We may noght chalynge paim ne clame • ne calle J?aim our
awne, 1848
Bot an I derne as defct * vnto a day borowed.
For yfF we ryde on pi reme • & on fi renke settyn
Off fe Avhele of forton & fe whene * f>at whistely chaungez,
Of[t] passe we in-to pouerte • fro plente of godez, 1852
Fro mirthe into m«?-nyng • fro mz<?-nyng into Toy.
For now vs vante^s in a Avhirre * as J)e whele channgez ;
When we supposye in ho^vTe-selfe • to sitte att-far lieldest*,
J3en fonndez doun dame forton • to fe flode-3ates, 1856
Drawez vp pe dame-borde ' & drenchez vs for ener.
For-Jji a wye J)at base witte • of fe whele sofre,
So^ sodandly in hys souerente * to sett neron^ hys hope
For pride of no prosperite • ne prise at hym folowez, 1860
To olle ay on bys vnderlinges • for oue>-layke a while.
For ony ceyle vnder beven • a sot I hym balde,
])at ay base dene & dispyte • of dedes of lityH,
Sjon oft fe ba?lokst her • is heuen to fe ste?'nes, 1864
And be pat^ gretbest was of goddez • gird aH to-geder.
For-fii a depe disHonor • ybe do to your Name, [FoI. i9.]
Ane Emp^rour fat on fis erth • is euen to your-seluen,
To me so lityH & so lawe • sucli lettres to wayfe, 1868
And presenter owt of perse • bot for a pure betbinge.
For pou. inheretes aH pis werld • & euens vnto pe sun,
And calles pe kyng of ilke kyth • vnder pe cape of heuen,
And parto sitter as pan says • in sege as an angeH, 1872
To-gedre with J)i grett goddez • on a gilt trone.
1876
I knaw I am corruptible • & caire )30w agayns,
Als a dedlich duk • to do my batett;
' MS. So cloys he so sodandly ; of irhich doys he is snhjjtt noted.
' So ill My. ; for iixincr on. ' MS. \>, n-'ith ht above the line.
106
[Fol. 32 6.]
If I win, great
will be my
honour.
You speak of the
plenty of your
golJ.
This makes us
bold to hope to
win it.
I will explain
what the phiy-
things mean.
The ball is the
world, which
shall be mine.
The hollow hat
shews that all
shall give way to
me.
The headpiece
shews I shall be
head."
" D.uius t) Sir
J'rianius.
[Fol. 33.]
WE HOPE TO TAKE FROM YOU YOUR GOLD. [Ashmole.
Bet J)of ^ povL J)e victor a-vaile • na vaunte saH arise,
Ne lose, bot as a litill thefe • 30W limpid to encumbre.
Bot chance it me, J)at am a cbilde • pe cheue?- to wotthe,
So fat be geuyn me fe gree • grete glorie is myn awefi.
For fan sail spring vp fe speche * & sprede out' of
mynd, 1884
How I haue conquired a kyng ' \>e kidest of fe were}.
Bot a tale 30 me tald • I trow be na faile.
Of fe ryfenes of J)e rede gold • ^oui' region wit/t-ifi,
Quilke plente is in Persy • of perett & of ellis, 1888
))e so??2me of silaer & of siche * & of sere stanes,
psive-with oure wittes has fou wele • & oure will sharpid,
And blid -with fi besands • fe bataiH to jeld, 1891
Made vs corageous & kene • 3oure clere gold to wyn,
And put a-way oure pouert • ^e plede vs to hald".
Bot as touchand J>e trufils • fat ^e to me sent, 1894
\)e herne-pan, fe hand-baH • fe hatt made of twiggis,
jjare has \>on pvophesid ape?-t * & playnely vs scbewid,
And faire affirmed vs before • fat saH fall eitir. 1897
For by f e baH, sir, I breue * aH f e brode werd,
J3e erthe at to myne enpire • enterely bees 3olden.
And be f e hat, fat is holewe • be-for f e heued bowed,
I constru fat ilka kyng' • saH clyne to my-selfe. 1901
)3an hope I by fe hernepan • fat fe hede couirs,
Our'r-comers^ to be callid • & ouire-oomen neuire.
'Now fou, fe grettest vndtV god • graithis me trouage,
With siti. f is dignites be-dene â– fat I diuined haue."
Jjis brefe bedis f aim him here • & besands f am rechis ;
And eftiV armes aH his ost • & airis on eitir forthire.
Sire Darius for fe ditis • nere died he for angire, 1908
To twa of f e derrest of his dukis • ditis he f is pistill :
" I, f e corou?mest kyng • of kyng/o* aH othire.
To fe, sir Tpriraiis, a prince • of Persy e fe grettest, 1911
And als to ser Antagoyne • myn awen athiH dukis,
' MS. Bot jrou ]>o{ ; but )>ou is vnderlined.
' Intc'ted in the margin. ' Bead Ouir-comPr.
Dublin.] I WILL tell you what the playthings mean." 107
Lot if pon Jje victo?<r availe • no vaunt saH par rise, 1880
No lose, bof of a lityH thef • enlympyd you to combre.
Bot chaunce it me, pat I am childe • pe cheuer to worth,
So pat if be^ gefyn me pe gre • grete glory is my awne.
For fan salt springe vp pe speche • & sprede owt of
mynde, 188-t
How at I haue Conquired a king' • pe kyddest of pe world.
Bot one tale ^e me tald • I trowe be no fable,
Of pe refuse of rede gold • your regions witAin,
"Which plente is in perse * of perle & of ellys, 1888
\)e some of siluer So of siche ' & of sere stones,
Jjrtr-wit^ owr willes er replete • & our wittes sharped,
And baldi't vs wit/i fi besaundcz • pe bateH to byd,
Made vs coragiouse & kene • ])i clere gold to Wynne, 1892
And put away our pouerte • yhe pledyn vs to hald.
Bot as tochand pe trufels " fat je to me send,
\)e h^rne-payn, pe hand-balle • pe hat made of twygge*,
Jjair base pon prophecied apert • & playnly vs schewed,
And fair enformed vs before • pat falle saH after, 1897
For be pe bale, sir, I breue • aH pe brode werld,
The erth fat to myne empire • entirely is jholden. 1899
And be pe hatte, fat is hol^s^ • & before fe heued' bojet,
I Constrew fat iche kyng • saH incline to my-seluen.
)3an hope I, be f e harnepanne • fat f e heuetJ Couers,
Oue?-commer to be callyd • & ouercomyfi nener.
Now fe gretest vnder god • gyfes me tniage, 1904
^>Vith aH far dignitez be-dene • fat deuised I Haue."
THys brefe he biddez f aim Bere ' & besaundf^ f aim reches ; [Foi. lo 6.]
And aftyr armes hys oste • & ayres on forther.
Sir darius for fis detes ' nere dyes for sorow, 1908
And to two f e derrest of hys dukes • ditez he fis pisteH :
" I, Coroundesf kyng • of kyngez aH of er, Ep/»/o/a.
To f e, si'r Priamus, a prince • of f e gretest* perse.
And also to f e, sir antigon • myne awne atheH dukes, 1912
' be, n-ritten abore the line. * Read hulow,
' MS. lieueiid ; but sec I. 1902.
9 •
Since Alexander
invades my lands,
I charge you to
Take this boaster.
that I may
scourge liim and
send liim to his
mother.
108 DARIUS SAYS ALEXANDER WANTS A WHIPPING. [Ashmole.
\)e souerajTiest of my seniowie • my saroparis^ hatten,
Se here I send 30W my seele • -with salntis of ioye.
Fra Alexander J>e kyng • as I am in-foMrmed?,
Is entrid with oure enmys • an endles nounbre, 1916
])e Anglies of Asie • & has Jam aH stroye(J,
For-Jji of life & o lym * my lege men I charge
To prestli 30W apparaiH • & pas Jiam agaynes,
'With all Jje hathils & pe heris * & fe hi^e maistris 1920
])at ^e may semble in fe sidis • saudiowrs & othire.
J5en chese 30W f urth my chiftanes ' & me J>e child take,
Laches me fis losengere • & ledis me him hedire,
j)at I may him skelp with a skorge • & fien 2 of ^ skire
porpure 1924
A side slauyn him sewe • & send him to his modire ;
For now he proches for pride • & propurly he wedis,
For-))i him bose to be bett * as a barne fallis.
For it^ aje no3t slik ane AsalcJ * nane ahletus to off
werres, 1928
Bot at fe bowlis as a brode • or with a baH playe."
Jjire princes, sone as fe pistill • was put fam in hand^,
)jan part fai ]:e proucf sele • ]>e printe fai adhouredi,
Vn-lappis li3tly pe lefe • & fe line redes, 1932
And jjus-gate agynwarcB • Jiai graithicJ him anothire.
"To jje kiddest kyng to a-count • of kjngis aH othire,
Sire Dari, with pi dere godis • drised on Jji trone,
Gouernoure of ilk a gome • & god all J)i-selfe, 1935
pi satrapairs, J)i seniours • w?"t7i seruage obescheii :
Sire, wetis it wele, 30ure worthines • & wenys it na
langire,
pat fis child, with his chiftans • pat ^e charge vs to take,
Has reden aH oure regions • & raymed oure landis, 1940
Departid aH oure prouynco • & purely it wastiJ.
And we J»an lift vp a lite • & lent him a-gayne,
Ferd furth with a flote • & him in pe fyld metis; 1943
' Bead satroparis ; see 1. 1937.
' MS. f^en ]ie ; hit \>e is struck out.
' Inserted in the margin. * Written above the line in MS.
He is only fit to
play at bowls."
A letter.
" Sir Priamtis to
Darius.
Tliis child, as you
c.ill him,
has wasted our
lands.
[Fol. S3 6.]
Dublin.] LETTER FROM SIR PRIAMUS TO DARIUS. 109
The soueranest of* my senory • my satj-apers halden,
Se here I send Jiou my sealle * with salute*' of Toy.
For a.lexandf<T the kynge • as I am informed,
Is entred with owr enmys ' ane endles nowmbre, 1916
In pe anglez of asy • & base faim ail stroyde,
For-])! on life & on lymez • my legemen I charge
To pristly jjou apperale • & passe hym agayns,
"With all ]>e hatellys & fe herez • & fe hye maisters 1920
l)at 36 may assemble on ))ai sydez ' saugeours & o\ier.
Chesse ])ou forth chiftanez • & me ]jis childe takes,
Laches me })is losynger • & lede^f me hym heder,
And [I] saH hym skelp with a scow?'ge • & pen in skyre
pwrpure 1924
A syde slauyn hym insew • & send hym hys modre ;
For now he prokes for pride • & p[ro]prely wodez,
For-Jji he must be bett • as a bame faUes.
Bot it aught noght suche brolle • in none armez of
werez, 1928
Bot at fe bulez as a brode • or with a bale to play."
\)ire princez, when fis pisteH • was putt faim in hand,
Jjai departyd pe prowde sealle • pe printe ]jai hono?«-,
And vnlappyd lightly pe leffe • & pe lines redyn, 1932
And Jjus agaynward • J)[a]i grathed hym one ojier.
" To pe kyng to acount^^ • of all kyngez on erth, i^^toia.
Sir Dary with fi dere goddez • dressyd in trone,
Gouernowr^ of ilke grome • & god aH Jii-seluen, 1936
\)i satropers, fi senyowrs • with seruyce obidiews :
Sir, wetes it your worthynes ' & wenys no langer,
\)at J)is childe witli hys chiftanys • ^e charge vs to take,
He base riden aH your regions • & raymet owr landez, 1940
Desperset aH our prouince • & purely distroyde.
And we fen liften vp a lite • & rydyn hym ayayns,
Ferd forth with a folke • & hym in pe feld metyfi ; 1943 [FoI.m.]
' MS. acoaunt. ' MS. Geuf7'no?/r.
110 DARIUS AGAIN REPROVES ALEXANDER, [Aahmnlft.
We fled before Bot 80116 We ted him J)e bake * & besely ^ we shapidi
Out of |)e handis vn-hewjn • of oure liatill ^ f ais.
We beseeoi. your And iiow haly && jjc hepe • at 36^ joure help callis,
Vn-to joure mekiH maieste • we mekely beseke,
pat vs ^onr lege & ^oure lele men • it likid 30W to
forthire, 1948
Or fan oure wirschip at-wynde • & wastid be )je regme."
As radly as ]>e riche kyng • had red ou/r J)is pistiH,
Darivis i.ears tiiat Be Jjrtt niBvis in A^ ^Messangeie • & maynly him tellis,
approaches. pat Alexander was at hand • & had his ost loygid' 1952
A-pofi fe streme of Struma* • ]>ot strekis fur^e his landis.
He is grieved. Sire Dariws for fia ditis • was depely a-greuyd*,
Callis him his consail • a clause he him end it/*",
^las a brefe at a braide • & it in brathe sendis, 1956
A letter. To Alexande}' as be-lyue • & aH fus him grett:s.
" Darius to hie f u J g^y jy^^- j,g ^j . ^ ^j^^.f^ Empgroure,
servant Alex- ' r J r J
«nJe'- pe kyng of kyng;'*' I am callicJ • & conquirowr bathe,
Of all lordis J)e lord • a-lose^ jjurje ))e werd, 196'0
And ane of jje souerayne sires • vndzr \ie vij sternes,
To fe, my seruand, I send * & suthely fou knawes,
And wete fou wele j!ur3e aH jie werde • is wirschip
oure name.''
Fur aH fe gracious gods • at ))e ground visitis, 1964
AH ere done me to doute • ducsses'^ & othire.
How pouidst thou How burde be ban be sa bald! • for blod in bi heuecJ,
be so bold? "^ '^ r >
To moue Jjus omV fe mountey[n]s ' & oxiir jie many
watM-s 1967
With slike a aoumme oiizV fe see • a saute vs to ^e\&,
Or any maistrie to make • my maieste a-gayne 1
[Foi. 34.1 For weUa''^ wide ware pe wele • wete jjou na nothire,
Tbou hadst Bathe bi glorie & bi gmce • bi gladnes in erthe, 1971
enough to do to . .
keep Macedonia. Mi3t Jjou ]je marches of Messedoyne • mayntene fi-selfe,
And gouerne bot fine awen gronde ' agaynes oure^ AviH.
' MS. & hi besely. » Mead hathill.
' Inserted in the viargUi. * The u is above the line.
* Read alosed. * MS. narao.
' So (or ducsscs) in MS. ® Inserted in the margin.
Cablin.] kspeciallt for his audacitv. Ill
Bot sone wer bidden Jiaim fe bake * & besely echapyn 1944
Owt of handez to pe swerde • mony of owr athelles.
And we now haly aH: ])e hepe • J)at ^e yow?' helpe callyn,
Vnto yowr mykle mageste • we mekely besekyu,
Jjrtt vs you?" lege & yowr lele men • it liked 30U to
forther, 1948
For owr worship is weynd • & wasted is owr remes."
And als radely as fe ryche kyng • had red ouer )>e pisteH,
Be J)flt mefys in a messy nger • & manyly hym tellys,
pat alexander was at hand • & hed an hoste logefc 1952
Vppon J)e streme of streunia • pat straughit Jorow ]>e land.
Jjen sir dary for Jjoe dedes ' was deply agrevyd,
Callys hys counseH * a clause he inditez,
Makez a breue in a brayde • & in a breth sendee, 1956
To alexander als belyue • & aH Jus hym gteies.
"I, Sir Dary fe digne • & derfe Emperour, Epis/o/a
The king of kyngez am called • & conquerowr bath, *"â– "â–
Of aW Lordes Lord • lowsed forow pe werld, 19G0
And one of pe souerenest syres * vndir fe seuen sternes,
To \)e, my siVuand, I send • & sothly I kuaw,
And wete pon wele aH fe werld • worshippys my name.
For aH fe gracieux goddez • fat ]?e ground VLseteii, 1964
AH er vndir my obedience • dredles I telle.
How durst pon be so bald • for blode in pi heued,
To mefe pits oner peea montannez • & J)es mony waters
With syke a soume for to seke • a sawt vs to 3elde, 1968
Or ony maistre to make • my mageste ayayns ?
For wele wyde wer |5i wele • wete pon none other,
Both J)i glory & grace • J)i gladnesse in erth, 1971
Might pon ))e marche of masidon • mayntene fi-seluen,
And gouern pine awen grund * agayns owr wyH.
112
THE TOKEN OP THE GLOVE FULL OF SEEDS.
[Ashmole.
before my hate
kindles apon thy
bead.
As a token,
I send thee my
glove, full of
seeds.
If thou canst
count them, then
count my men.
They are nnmber-
The messengers
bring tlie letter
and the seeds.
[Fol. 34 6.]
Alexander bites
the seeds, and
says,
" They may oe
many, but they
are soft."*
For-|)i ware hettir vnLynde • or Jjou bale suffirc,
Remowe agayne to pi rewme * & rew of ]ji -werk?*.
For certayne, uyf my seniourie ' ne I my-selfe nouthire,
AH: \>e werd my3t a Avedowe • wele pafi be calliiP. 1977
For-fi tume fe be-time • or any tene worthe,
Or at fe hate of my hert • a-poii pi hede kindiH,
Lend agayii to fi lande • noAve quen ])on leue hauys,
)5at I mete pe in my malicoly • my meth be to littitt".
For-])i to keii Tpe to knaw • my kyndnes here-eft//-, 1982
Bath my grace & my glori • & my grete strenthe,
Loo here a gloue fuH: of graynes • I graythe ]>e to take,
Of jje chesses of a chesboH • chosen for pe nanys. 1985
For may ])oii sowme me ])ue sedis • surely Jjou trowe,
\)on mi3t a-count aH oure knijtz'^ • & oure kyd ostis ;
And fou truches pa\m to teH • jjen tidis \iq na no])/r,
Dot move a-gayn to Messedone * & meve^ J)e na forthir.?.
Fyne, fole, of pi fare * & fange to J)i kythis ; 1990
For J^is sede I J)e send • vnsowmyd bees neuire.
So ere we of all folke * folke to be nombrid,
Or any wee to a-counte ' vndire fe clere sternys." 1993
Now aires furth his athiH men ' to A\e.yiander wend/«, .
Yn-to fe strerae of struma • stre3t with fa lettiVs,
And he fam redis in a rese • & reches to^ ]je sedis,
Tastis \am vndire his tuthe ' & talkis ])ir wordis : 1997
" Here I se," <\uod fis sire • " be J)ire ilke cornes,
}pat ))e pupiH out of Persy • ere passandly many,^
Bot Jram semes to be softe • as fir sedis prouys ; 2000
For-J)i how fele be aH fe flute • it forces bot littiH."
Be fis was men of Messedone • fra his modire come/i,
And said \ai semely was seke • & semed to die ;
And he pe waest of J)e wer(J • wald worth hire to visite,
Bot 3it to Dary, or he went • he* di3t Jjus a lettiV. 2005
' MS. me, altered to meve. ' Added in margin.
' MS. meke many ; but meke is strvck out.
* MS. his, altered to he.
Dublin.] Alexander's mother falls ill. 113
For-)?! it wer better vnbenden * or |)ou bale suffre,
Eeinefe agayn to pi realm ' or fou sail it rewe.
For ce?'tan, yf my senory • & my-selue ne wer, 1976
AH \)e werld might albido^ ' wele feu be called.
¥oT-pi turne Jje be-tyme • or ony tene worth,
Or Jje hate of my hert • on fi heued kyndle.
Lend Agayn to pi Land • WiH I Leue gefe pe, 1980 [Po1.20 6.i
Lest pon mete with my malicoly • ];i might be to lityH.
For-J)i to ken pe to knawe * my kyngdome her-after,
Both my glory & my grace • & my grete strenth,
Lo, her a glofe full of granes • I grath pe to rekyn, 1984
OflF Jje chefest of ^ chessebollez • chosyn for pe nonest.
For and pou. may soume pees sedes • seurly pon leue,
Thu may acount^ aH owr knyghtez • & owr kyd ostez;
And yf J>ou thynkes faim to tell • jjen tydez pe none oper,
To mefe agayn to masidon • & meH pe no forther. 1989
Fyne, fole, of jji fare • and fange to fi kythes ;
For as ];is sede pat I send • vnsoumed is euer,
So ben we of ait* frekes • & folkez vnnowmyrd, 1992
Or ony weght to acount • vnder jje clere welkyn."
Now ayres forth fees messyngers • & to alexander wendyn,
Vnto pe streme of struma • streght with fis le^^res,
And jjaim redes on a rase he • & rechez to pe sedes, 1996
Caster jjaim vnder his tothe ' & talkys fees wordes :
"Here I see," quod fis siVe • "be pir selue cornes,
jjat pe peple out of perse • er passandly mony,
Bot faim semys to be softe • as fees sedis p?-euez ; 2000
And fen how fele be aH fe flote ' it forcez bot lityH."
Be fat was men of masidon • fro hys moder co??uuyn,
And fat semely was seke ' & semyd to die ;
And he fe woest of f e werld • wald for hix to visytt, 2004
Bot 3it to Darius or he di3t • he ditez suche a pistyH.
' Jlead a wido. ' MS. oft. ' MS. acoaunt; see I. 199.3.
* Here follows ben we of all fo, crossed throvgli.
ALEXANDER.
114
ALEXANDER SEXDS DARIUS SOME PEPPER. [Aslimole.
A letter.
" Alexaii ler to
D.irius.
I find I must
go home for the
present.
It is not for thy
boasts, but my
mother is ill.
I shall soon
return, with fresh
men.
TFol. 35.;
I send you a
purse, full of
sharp pepper.
A'
Alexander returns
home.
In Arabia he is
attai-ked by Duke
Konus passus ^Uxandri.
lexsaundere pe athiH • aire oute [of] grece,
j)e son of Ph[i7//)] \ie fers * & of his faire lady,
Honoured Olimpadas • ]>e oddest vndire heuyn, 2008
To fe, ser Dari, on J)i dese • J)is dities I write.
For I am sent, be pe sure • many sere letters,
And namly now on newe time • fra myne awen kitfi,
Out of Jie raarche of Messadone * fat mekill me greups,
AH o]>er wais to wirke • & my will likis. 2013
Bot I warne Jje, or I wyn(J • & will at fou knaw,
j)at for na drede I wit/i-draw • ne doute of \)i pride.
For baisting of J)i bobance • ne of pi breme wordis, 2016
Bot for to se pat is seke • my semely modire.
Bot wete J?ou wele )5is, I-wis • wit7«-in a wale time,
Fra pat I fraist baue pat faire * of my fayre lady,
I saH pe seke with a sowme • of seggis enarmed, 2020
Ane ost to noy Jjus to neuyn • aH of new knyjt/^.
And for pe sake of Jji sede • pou. sent Wit7i fi le^^re,
Loo, here a purse f uH of pepire • my powere to ken,
To se J)i-selfe a si??iilitudfe • how all Jii soft grayns 2024
Sail vndire-put be aH pe pake • vn-to pir peper-cornes."
J3is pistill to Persyns * he with his pept'r takis.
Partis prestly J)am to • many proude giitis, 2027
And fai haue la3t fam par leue • & pe lett/r fangis,
And passis on to Persy • Jje princes to schewe.
)3an Alexander belyue ' with his athiH dukis,
Rais him radly to ride * & remowis his ost ; 2031
Fra pe streme of struma he strejtts ' & stiH moz/mes,
And mevis hi?n toward Messedone • his modi'r to visit.
He aires J)ur3e Arabie • & armed par he findis
A duke of Darys pe kyng* • pat drafe him agayne,
A pere out of Persy • & prince of his ost, 2036
A maiste/- man in Jja marches â– Amont was hatten.
He ginlis him with a ging< • pe grekis he asailes.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER IS ATTACKED BY AMONTA. 115
Nonus Passus.
" I, 9Xes.ander, eldest • ayr out of grece, "E^istoia.
}pQ son of Philip Jje fers • & of liys faire lady,
Honored olimphades • f>e oddest vnder lieueii, 2008
To J>e, &ir darius, on J)i dese * jjis ditez 1 write.
For I am send, be fe sure • mony sere lettves,
And nomely now on new tyme • fro my awne kitlies.
AH ojjer-wyse to wirke • ]:en my wiUe liked. 2013
Bot fis I werne, or I wende • & will at \o\x knaw,
)5at for no drede 1 W2t7*draw • jje dow of ))i pryde,^
For basyng ne for bobas • ne for breme wordes, 2016
Bot for to Se \at is Seke • my awne Semelycli Modr^. [FoI. 21.]
Bot wete jjou wele )jis, I-wisse " in a wale tyme,
Fra Jjrtt I fraysted haue J)e f;ire • of my faire lady,
I saH: J)e seche \fiih a soume 'of seggez enarmed, 2020
One oste to ney vs to newyn • & all of new knyglitez.
And for jje sake of fi sede • ])ou send \iiih ]p\ writte,
Lo, here a purse full of piper • my power to ken,
To se ))i-selfe a similitude • how aH fees softe graiies 2024
So vnder-put [be] aH \& pake • of fis pete cornez."
Thys pistyH to ))e persens • he with ])is peper takys,
Partes pristly to faim • mony proude gyftez,
And fai haue laughten fair leue • & fe \etti&z fangett, 2028
And passyd vnto perse • fe prince it to shewe.
Then alexancfer • w/t7i hys ateH Dukez,
Eachez hym radly to ride • & remevez hys ostez ,
Fro fe streme of struma • he moved & stilly mui-wf^z, 2032
And mefez on toward masydon • hys moder to viset*.
He ayers toward araby • & armyd ])ar he fyndez
A duke of Darius fe kyng • fat drafe hym agayns,
A Pere owt of perse • & prince of hys hoste, 2036
A maister man of f e marche • amonta was callyd.
He girdez in wiih a gyn • fe grekes ussaylez,
' MS. proyde, or p^ryde (like per in pip<?r, 1. 202a) ; read ji^-yde.
1 2
THE BATTLE LASTS FOR THREE DATS,
[Ashmole.
They fight all
The battle lasts
fur tliree days.
Horses wade in
blood ap to the
[Fol. 35 6.]
The snn is
et-iipsed.
At last the
Greeks prevail,
and the Persians
give way.
Amonta flees
to Darius,
and finds
him perusing
Alexander's
last letter.
riie 1
repeat the story
u( the seeds.
With Alexander all day • asperly fe3tiSj
!Marres of fe ^lessedons • mi3tfuH kni^tis, 2040
Dingis doura of pe diikis ' deris pam vn-faire,
Fra morne to fe mirke nijt • maynly fia cocken,
Sejes doura on aythire side • segis out of nounbre. 2043
Begynnys sone in pe gray day • as any gleme spring/s,
And so to sett of fe son * sesid fai neuire.
}5us thre dais out a thraw • fai threp ay elike ;
So lange, sais me fe lyne • lastid j?e bataili, 2047
Sike secures Avere of blude • of schondirhe(J bernes,
j)at foles ferd in fe flosches • to Jje fetelakis ;
Sa store & stithe was fe stoure • ]>e story me tellis,
\)at for soro3e of fe si3t • fe^ soii^ on fe heue?i
Kest away his clerete * & his clippis suffirs, 2052
For bale to blische on fe blode • at on fe bent flojes.
'With ])at oure gomes out of grece • gedirs vp fa?* hert/V,
Fey fallis in fe fild' • fele of fire othir^,
])o pouwere of Persy • iii partis many 2056
Sejes sidlings dou?i * slayn of faire blonkis.
And quen fe duke of ser Darys • fa dedis be-haldts,
Amonta fe mi3tfiiH' * his men fan he fang?5, 2059
And vneth limpid him fe lee • fe lyne me recordis,
Fra his faes w/t/i a fewe • fe filde to de-voide.
And slike a pas, sais f e prose • to Persy he ridis,
pat 3it fe^ selfe sandismen • he in fe sale fyndis, 2063
J?at fra fe streme of stroma • were apon stedis wysid
Fra Alexander & his ost ' with his athiH pistiH.
And 3it ser dary on his dese • fa dities a-visis,
Held f e letter in his loue • & at f e ledis fraynes,
Quat he said of fe sedis • fat he^ bim-selfe sent. 2068
And fai swiftly hiw swarcJ • & swyth f MS him tellis :
" pe kyng hiw ka3t," qiiod fe kni3t{s " & on f e comes
hitis,
And wele he geses be f e graynes • joure gomes ere fele,
' MS. of the ; of bciriff added in the margin, hit smeared ovt.
• Added in the margin.
Bublin.] AMONTA FLEES TO DARIUS. 117
And with alexander aH fe day • asperly feghtez,
Marres of ]>e masidons • miffhtfuH knyglitez, 20'iO
Dynges downe of jje dukez • deres faini vnfaire,
Fro morne vnto mirke nyglit • manly fai feghtyD,
Slew downe on ather syde • seges owt of nowmbre.
Began in |?e gray day • when Ipe gleme spronge, 20-i4:
And so to pe sett of pe son • sessyd fai neuer.
j)us iij dayes in a thraw • Jjai tlirepyd eue?-elike ;
So lang, says Jie line • lastyd pe bateli,
Slyke showrez of shire blode • of shende?-et bernes, 2048
J3at folez faired in flosshez • to pe fete-lakez ;
So sture & styff was pe stoure • pe story me telles,
])at for sorow of pat fight* • pe son of heueii
Lost base is clarite • & hys clepys sufers, 2052
For bale to Blissh on blod • pat on pe bent flowes. [foi. 21 6]
With pat OAvr gomes owt of grece • gerdyn vp fair hertes,
And fellyd fele in pe feld • f eyle of |)is oper,
p)e power owt of perse • in parteez mony 2056
Sweyd sleghtly downe • slayn of fair blonkes.
And -when sir Darius duke^ • fis dedes bihaldyn,
Amonta pe mightfuH • hys men fen he fannges,
And vneth limpyd hym pe lyfe ' pe line me recordes, 2060
And fro hys faes vfith A few folke • pe feld he deuodes.
And suche a passe, fen says f e prose â– to perse he rydez,
j)at 3it f e some sendesman * he in f e sale fyndez,
At fro f e streme of strema • was on stedes wysett* 2064
Fro alexander & hys hoste • wi't/i hys atheH pistyH,
And ^itt sir darius on f e dese • on f is dytes awysez,
Held f is le^^e in hys loue • & at f e ledes franes,
What he sayd of faes sedes • fat he f aim send bed. 2068
And fai^ swyftly hym sware • & sothly hym tald :
"The kyng faim kacht,"^ quod pe knyghtes • "& on fe
kirnels bote,
And wele he gessed be f e grcnies • your gomes er softe,
' JIS. ye duke ; but ye is siihpuncfed.
' MS. i^a'i hym, but liym is snhjjintctcd. ^ MS. katht.
118 DARIU3 FIND3 THE PEPPER SHARP. [Ashmole.
Bot a thing, he said, he sa3e • fat solast hi7?i maste, 2072
j)ai ware hot soft, he suposed ' for so |je sede proued."
Darius tastes the jjaii pullis him vp pe piouds kyng • & on jje pepire tastiV,
pepper, and Amis ^ . , . ■•■,■■, ^ • n- p
it sharp. Said, as it tuke hi»i hy Jjc tonge • *' his tuikis ere lewe,
Bot, be his kni^tis as kene • as me fis comes shewis, 2076
AH J)e werd war to waike • his wrothe^ to withstand."'^
JQe mody man Amonta • |)an meHs ])ir wordis,
[Foi.36.] " 3is, he ledis bot a Hte • lorJ, with 3oure lefe ; 2079
)5are is' bot fewe at him folo3es • bot fe3tand hemes,
Bot mare fersere in feld • feH: neuire of modire,
Amonta siys, FoF I my-sclfe wt't/i a sowme • set \iaim agayns,
" I attacked tlie
Greeks with a With of \>e Persyns proude • a pake out of nounbre,
Felire fan his folke • be fuH fyue thousam?, 2084
And 3it ys feH all to ferre ' J>e fayntiV to worthe ;
For fai haue hedid of oure hathils • & a hepe wonndid,
Fey falne to J)e fold • many fers erlis,
They beat us. Bet dou^ oure bachelei's • my ban/r to-rased, 2088
And a selly somme • slayne of my kni3t?'s.
For three days Quethire days^ thre J)ur3e-out " thraly we fo3ten,
we ougi icin, jy^^^^ dixitis & dve^B ' delt & taken,
and at last we And lit be lawest at be last ' vs limpid to bee, 2092
gave way.
And vnethis sauyd I mj'^-selfe * vn-slayn of par handis.
Bot treuly, ser," quod fe duke • " gret tresore me thinke
As for Aiexan ler. At Alexander jje athiH • for of * aH ware he maister,
prouder." ' A-vanced with fe victore • & vengid on his faes, 2096
Was neuire fe he3are of a ha we • his hert fuH of pride.
For mekely ilka modire son • his awen men & othiie,
Als wele fe pure Persens • as fe grete grekis,
AH fe douth at was dede ' be-dene he comands 2100
To gedire fam vp ilka gome • & fam in g?-auys Hgg."
Alexander goes Now Alexander & his ost • armed on ridis,
And sone Cecile he • with his seggis entricJ,
' MS. to wiohe, altered to wrothe to in the margin.
* MS. hb;t^ stand. ^ Added in the marrjin.
* Of added above the line, indistinctly ivritten ; it is
hardly wanted.
to Sicily.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER GOES TO SICILY. 119
Bot on^ thynge, he sayd,^ he sawgh • fat solast liym
mekyH, 2072
Thai wer bot softe, he supposyd • for so fe sede preved."
j)en pullys hym vp J)e prouude gome' • & on Jje pcper tastez,
Sayd, als it toke hym be fe tong â– " hys tulkes wer feH,
For, be hys knyglitez als kene • as me |je corne shewys,
AH pe werld is to wake • hys wrotlie to wit-stande." 2077
The worthy man amonta * jpan mellys pir wordes,
Sayd, " he lodes bot a lityH • lord, be your lefe ;
Thai er bot few at hym folows • of feghtand bernes, 2080
Bot more forcer on a feld • felle neuer of moder.
For I my-selfe with a soume • set hym agayns,
"With ])e p(??-sens prouiide * a pake out of nowmbre.
Mo fen hys awne meyn3e • be full fyue thousand, 2084 Victoria con-
And 3it vs fell aH be fere • fe faynter to worth ; ducm darij'.'
For fai he'' hedit of owr athellys • & a [hepe] woundftf,
And fey fallyn in fe feld • mony ferce Erelez,
Betyn Done owr Bachelers ' my Barons aH distroyd, 2088 [Foi. 22,]
And a selly soume of my knyghte[s] • in fe feld slayne.
Whefer thre^ days out-forow • thraly we fey ten,
Drafe dyntes derfe • deltyn & token,
And 3it fe law est at fe last • vs limpyd to be, 2092
Bot vnneth saued I my-selue • vnslayne of fair handes.
Bot trewly, sir," q?/od fe duke • " grete tresour me thynke
At alexander fe atheH * for aH was he maiste?',
Auancyd wiih wictory • & vengyd on hys enmys, 209 G
"Was neuer fe helder of a haw • [his] hert full of pride.
For mekely ilke moderson • hys awne men & othre,
Als wele fe pure persens • as fe prouude grckez,
AH fe doghty be-dene • fat was dede he Co???mandez 2100
To geder f aim vp ilke grome • & f aim in graue bring."
Now alexander & hys oste • armyd on he rydez,
And sone into cesyH • he vfith hys segez enters, 2103
' MS. ony, corrected to on.
* he sayd repeated; but once ecrpinicted.
^ Aboce the line in MS. * Head haue.
* The r is above the line in MS.
1
120
ALEXANDERS PRAISE OF HOMER.
[Ashmole.
[Fol. 36 6 :
On the top of a
cliff he finds
Persepolis.
He goes to
rhrygia.
and sees
Scamander.
'Happy are all,'
he says, " who :
honoured
by that odd
cleric. Homer."
In Macedonia, he
finds his mother
He returns
towards Persia.
[Fd. S7.:
j)ar sere citis of J)a sidis * to him-selfe sweren, 2104
And saudio?/rs him to sewe • seuyntene thousancJ.
)3an 3ede he ouire in-to ane lie * Yssanna was hatton,
And fat was japely him jeuyn • & golden be-lyue.
pan vp he ctame to a cliffe • fat to pe cloudis semecJ,
j)e Tori of Xare to taken • fe tretis it callis, 2109
pSLve fand he tildid on fe top • & tild^ vp a cite,
)pe proud! 3 toun of Persopole • & to fe place he ne3es.
J5are sa3e he selcuthis sere • as fe buke sais, 2112
])e muses of musike & Jje merke • how it was made first.
pan aires he in-to Asie • & ai as he fonndis,
Ail |)e citis of fa sidis • he sesis f am clene,
So fares he furth* to Frigie • a-nofire faire lie, 2116
And ane far of his aid gods • he honourd in a temple.
]pan ferd he furth to a Flum * was fyue cubet26' bracJ,
Scamandra fe slire* flode * fe scriptour it callis.
"Kow happy be jee," quod fe hathiH • "aH in hert
beris 2120
pe honouris of fat odd clerke • Homore fe grete."
" MekiH dere," qrtodl ane Doctonez^s • "of 30W I deme saH,
And he of f e takyng of Troi * tald aH: his lyue."
•' N"ay, I wald more worth," quod f e [wee] • " a wyse
man disc[i]ple, 2124
Jjaii f e hono?<r fat Acheles • ajt aH his time."
pSLVi moves he hi??i to Messedone • w/t7t his mony princes,
Amendid of hire malidy • his modire he fyndis,
A litill dais with hire lengis • & of hire lyfe ioyes, 2128
And graythes him fan with his gere • & a-gayn fondis.
He passes on to-ward Persy • & pi^t dou?z his tentzs
Besyd a burje at fe buke * Abandra men^ callis.
)5ai faH on freschly • fe folke of fe cite, 2132
And barris bremely at a burje • f e foure bracJ ^atia.
Jjan takis fe kyng his kni^tis • vmlapis f e wallis,
' MS. Top, altered to Tor.
' MS. do tild ; 7vith do underlined. ' MS. peiTOude,
* MS. he fui'th he; with second he struck out.
* Bead skire. * Added in the margin.
Dublin.] HE RETURNS TOWARDS PERSIA. 1^1
Thare sere citez of fai sydez • to hym-selfe was joldyn,
And saugeours hym to sewe • seuentene thousand.
)3an 3ode he ouer into an He • Yssanna was haten,
And fat was japely hym jefen • & yolden belyfe. 2107
Than vp he clam to a clyfFe ' fat to pe clowdez semyd,
pe towre of taure to token • fe tretes it calles ;
})ar fand he tembret on fe top * & tyldit vp a cyte,
The proud towne of persipoH * & to fe place goys.
\)ar saw he selcouthez sere • as sayn me Jie written, 2112
The musys of musik & Jiar merke • how it was made frisf.
J?an ayrez he into asy • & ay as he fonndez,
AH: ))e citez of fo sydez • he sesez Jam ilkon,
So fares he forth to frige * an-other fair yle, 2116
And one of hys olde goddes • honours in a temple.
}3en faryd he forth to a flume • fyue cubettes of brede,
Scamandra fe skyr flode • fe scripture it neues. 2119
Then mefes home to masidon * with hys mony princez,
And mendyd of hir maledy • [his] moder he fyndez,
A lite dayes -with hir he lenges • & of hir lyve ioys, 2128
And grathes hym Jian with hys gynge • & agayn fonndez. [FoI. 22 *.]
He passed on toward? perse * & pyth doun hys tentes
Besyde a burgh fat fe buke • bandara calles.
J5en fell to faim freshly • fe folke of Jje cite, 2132
And barred bremely at a brush * fe foure brod jates.
Then caches fe kyng hys knyghtez • vmbelappes J>e wallez,
122
HE COMES TO "THE WATER OF WINTER." [AshlUOle.
He attacks
Abandr.i.
The men of it
say they only
sliut their gates
fur fear of
Darius.
He frightens
thera,
and they give up
tlie keys.
He comes to the
Water of Winter.
Hia men say,
" our liorses are
dying."
He reproves
tliem, saying
tliey can get
new horses :
[Fol. 37 6.]
and bids them
advance.
Settzs vp-on a saute ' oil sidis eno3e ;
Bot, for pe cite was vnsure • fe seggis wt't^in 2136
Mi3t no3t fe braidis a-bide • of bernes enarmed.
))an cries aH to pe kyng • " ser conquiroz<r," fai said :
"Ne steke we no3t oure stiff ^atis ' ^our strenthe to
defend,
Bot for dred of ser Dary • fe derfe Emperoure, 2140
Lest, had we haldit to -^our heste • he had! vs eft wastid,"
" ^a, werpis jjam vp," quod pe wee • " & wyde open settziJ,
If at 36 shap 30W to shount * vnschent of oure handz's.
For quen I done haue -with Dary • & my dede fenyschid,
l3an saH: I tell 30W my tale • how it sail tide eftzr."
So baiste J)am pe bald kyng • with his breme wordis,
])at |?ai vn3arked him pe 3atis " & 3ald him pe keys.
j)e huT^G ])us of 1 abrandra • he with his men takis, 2148
To take & leue quat hbn list • & lendis on forthire.
)3en wyndis he to A wath toufl • was "Wyothy batten,
And come so to Caldipol • anofer kid cite,
So to the watt/- of wintzV • as it pe writte callis. 2152
)3are nere was fey for defaute • enfamyschist his ost,
Kni3tis kest vp a crie • & kenely J>am menes :
" Loo, oure foles ere in fere • fodeles to dye ; " 2155
)pai pleyne more pe pou?>te • & pe pite of par horsis
)3an pe 501036 of jjam-selfe • by pe seuynt paj'te,
"Quat ailes 30W'?" quod Alexander • to his aihiH
dnkis,
" Mi barons & my baratorus • pe biggest in erth,
]pat has pe angwisch of armes • ay to now suffird ; 2160
Quethire euire 3oure hertw, I hope • for horsys abat/s 1
May vs no3t limp, if any life ' lenge in oure^ hreatis,
To couer be cas at a cleke • courserzV a thousand! 1
And vs demecf be pe dome • to die of pe wercJ, 2164
pan standis in stede no3t of a stra * all pe store stedis.
For-Jji I rede," quod pe renke' • "we ride on forthire,
' Added in the margin. ' Miswritten oire in MS.
â– ' MS. kenke.
Dublin.] HIS men lament the loss of their horses. 123
And sett^"^ vp a sawte • to fe towne sydes ;
But for pe cite was vnsure • J)e segez within 2136
Might noght pe barettes abyde • of seggez enarmed.
j)en callyd Jiai to pe kyng • " s^V Conqueroz^r," & sayd :
" "\Ye steke noght ow jates • your strenth to defende,
Bot for pe drede of sir dary • pe devfe Emperour, 2140
Lest, hed we heldi't to your best* • he bed vs eft wastyd."
" 5a, warpez faim vp," quod pe wye^ • " & wyde opyn sette*",
For when I done haue with Darius • & my dede fenyshyd,
Than saH I tell you my tale • how it saH tyde after," 2145
So babyst Jjaim pe bald kyng< • wz't/i hys breme wordez,
That )?ai vn3arked hym pe yatez • & yeld hym pe kees.
Thus pe burght of bandra • he with hys bernes takes, 2148
To lache & lefe qwat hym lyst • & leudez on forjjer,
J?an wendes he to a wale towne • was worthyly haldyn,
And Come so to cadypolez • ane oper kyd cite,
So to pe water of wynter • als it jje writte calles. 2152
Thare negh was fey for defaute • eufamyshyd hys oste,
Knyghtez kest vp a cry • & kenely faim meane ;
Sayd : " lo, oure folez bene in fere • for fodeles to dye ; "
Plenys more pe pertj • & pety of f-air blonkez 2156
]5an of pe sorow of Jjaim selfe • be pe seuent dele.
" What aylez you nowe 1 " q?/od alexander • to hys atheH
Dukez,
" My barons & my baratours • biggest on erth,
That base pe angers of armes • ay to now sofferd ; 2160
Whejjer euer your herte*' • for horse-fleshez abaytez 1
May we noght lympe, if ony lyfe • leng in our brestes.
To couer be case at a cleke • coursours a thouusand ]
And yf vs demyd be pe dome • to dye all at ones, 2164
)pan standee in stede noght of A stra • aH our styflfe stedf5.
For-J)i2 I rede," quod pe renke • "We rydyn on ForJ>e/', [Foi. 23.]
1 MS. wyez. * The i above the line in MS.
1 C ♦
124
HE CONSULTS AN ORACLE.
[Ashmole.
And pas to sum othire place • fare plente is in,
j)at we may fange at Jje fuH • ]pe fude at vs wantw.
2168
They goon find
plenty of forage.
At Tergarontes,
lie goes to
Apollo's temple.
Zacora tells him
to come again
another day.
The oracle
calls him
" Hercules."
Alexander says
the oracle is
He next comes to
Thebes.
The Thebans
oppose him.
Jjan prekis he forth -with his princes • to slike a playn^
"wendzV,
Luctus it hijt, fe letterure • & pe line pus it callis ;
Jjare his forrayouris fand ' fe f ulth of vitaiH,
Bathe to^ berne & to blonk • bide quen him HkicJ. 2172
When he was fuH fare & fedcJ • he flittis with his ost,
To Tergarontes he teje * fare ti3t was a mynstre ;
He pi3t dou?i his pauilion • & passis to fe temple.
Sire Appoline to adoure • & othire aid! goddis, 2176
To offire in fat oritorie • with honoMr he wyndis,
And su?n of fam^ at^ spire • how he spede suld.
Bot sone ane 3acora him saicJ * a semely summe,
J5an was nan honowr of answaringts * bot on a-nofere
bide. 2180
)5an dose him furth f e dere king • &, on f e day eftire.
He se3is to f e Synagog^ • & sacrif[is]e makzs,
And Appoline als beliue • him aykewordly swaris, 2183 ^
' Sire Ercules f e Emperoure ' • he euire in ane callis. ^
))an Alexmider att in ire • angrily spekis :
"Now fynd I vvele," quod f e freke • "fat fals ere f i wordis, -
'Now f ou neuyws me a new name • at I neuire hi3t ;
And f ou a god," quod f e gome ' " fat is grete ioye ! "
Jjan sekis he furth with a somme • & to A cite wyndis,
J3e toun Thebea • f e tretis it callis,
And fare he biddis aH f e bur3e • fat foure bald kni3tw
Suld be lett with him lencJ • & lenge in his weris. 2192
)3en tened f e Thebees folke • & tynd to f e 3atis,
And to wit/i-stand! his strenthe * ste3id to f e waUis,
Bad him bow on be-lyue • & bide fare na laingire ; 2195
For if he di(J, wzt/iouteii dome • f e deth f ai him hijt.
]3an fangis him vp f e fell kyng* • a fuyH feyned la3t{r,
' MS. ap laj'Fi. ' Added in the margin.
3 J/ter at, to is n-rongly added above the line.
Dublin.] HE LAYS SIEGE TO THEBES. 125
And passe we to som o\>er place • where plente is in,
Thare we may fang at fe fuH; • J)e fode at vs wantes, 21 G8
And bath our folk & owt folez • fyH ))aire wambes." 2168*
Then prekys he forth w/t/i hys princez • to suche a place
wendes,
Luctus it fe leftve * & J)e line calles ;
Thare as hys saugeours hase fondyn • pe fulth of fe vitale,
Bath to bern & to blonke • byde whils he liked. 2172
When he was fuUe ])ar & fed • he flittes hys ostez,.
To tergarontes he ti3t' • par telde was a mynster ;
Py3t doun hys pauvQons • & passyd to fe temple,
Sir appolyn to adoure • & oper aide goddez, 217G
To offre in pat oratory * with honoitr in he wendes,
And of som sperete to spire • how he spede suld.
Bott on 3acora hym sayd • a semlych Nonii,^ 2179
\)ar was none oper answer * bot ane oper day to abyde.
J3an drafe h}Tn for[th] pe dere kyng • &, on pe day after.
He soght into Jie sinagoge • & sacrifice makez.
And appolyne als belyue • hym aiikwardly answers,
' Sir ercules fis emperour' • hym euer onon clepys. 2184
Than alexarider aH in ire • angerly spekys :
" Now fynde I wele," quod pe freke • " pat false er jji wordes,
For Jjou nevens a new name • pat I neuer hight ;
And J)ou a god," quod pe gome • " pat is grete Icy ! " 2188
Then sekys he forth with a soume • & to a cyte wendes,
J3at like towne bight tebea • pe tretez so it calles,
And par he biddez aH pe burgh • fat foure bald knyghtez
Suld be lett with hym wende • & in hys werys lenge. 2192
Jjen tenyd pe tebe folke • & tit to pe ^atez,
And wMstode his strenth • & strode to pe walles.
Bad hym buske on belyue • & abyde par no langer; 2195
For if he dyd, wtt^owtyn dowte • pe dede })ai hight hym.
Jjan fangez vp pe fele kyng • a ful fenyd laughter,
• So in MS.
126 THE THEBANS DEFEND THEIR CITY. [Ashmole.
Alexander says, Said, " je of Tebet ere tried • be tethiest on erth,
"YeThebans ^^ i, . , . .
boast to be brave. Of atl J)e seggis vnder SOU • pat titi3ens natt ;
Mast liije je ere hersidf • & lierid of ^oure strenthe. 2200
And nowe sa 3ape men as 30 • )?e 3atis hase stolcen,
And me & pe pruddest of my princes • proferne vs werrc ;
And at 30 so wiH, I-wis ' wondire me thinke, 2203
For pus walcJ neii^r at 36 wro3t ' jje wirscip of armes.
It contraries knijtliede • 30 knaw Avele 30«;--selfe,
yet ye shut yonr- To any ■wi3t "werriours • ill wallis jsam to close,
selves up behind t^ i ^ â– ^ â– o ^
walls." For he pat kid' is & kene • & couett2A' a name,
WiH fe3t fersely in CM â– his famen agayns." 2208
)?an Alexander be-liue • aH a-boute pe cite,
^lakis foure thousand! • with flanes & bo wis,
He orders a grand Biddls bam to bend vp ' brathlv with arowis
assault, -^ f J
To vvonde pe wees wzt/t-in â– Jiat on Jje wallis houys. 2212
And twa thousand be tale • he titely comaundis,
Of wele buskid bern??s • in brenys & platis,
AH J)e sidis of pe cite • pat sechus had biggid.
And Amjihion, an atliiH kempe • onane to distruy. 221 G
and bids his men A full thousand he faugid • to fire be foure jat/s,
fire the city.
And thre thousand of thra men • to thraw with engynes.
Him-selfe of slingis & slike • a-semblis a me[n]3e, 2219
To heede & help of his hyne • if any harme lympid?,
Now ere his seggis aU sett • & pe saute ne3is,
Were wakens be-twene • werbild' in trompis ;
The attack begins. Oure pepiH wiih payns • pressis to w/t7;out,
Halis vp hemp cordis • hurled out arowis ; 2224
[Foi. sa i.] Othire athils of armos • Albast?*^ bendis,
Quirys out quarrels • quappid thur3e mayles.
The Greeks Suw With gu?znes of Jjc grekis • girdis vp stanes,
of g°iuis. To tene pe Tebis folke • pat on pe touris fejtjA- ; 2228
Sum braide ouir pe barrers • in blasand? wede,
The city in fired. And faire fest on a fire • all pe foure 3atis ;
Dublin] THE CITT OP THEBES IS SET ON FIRE. 127
Sayd, " 3e of tebe er t?-iVst • & thethiest on erth,
Off aH pe seges vnder sun • pat citesyns er called ;
Most heyly ye be auancett • & higlit in herf.^ 2200
^nd now so 3ope men as 36 • 3ates Hase stoken, [FoI. 1st.]
Me & my proudest^ of my princez • 30 do p?-ofre were ;
And pat 36 so wiH, I-wys • wondre me thynke, 2203
For ))us wald neuer Jjat 30 wroglit • worschip of airnes.
It contrarys knyghthod • ye knawe wele yo?/?--seluen,
To anv wight wereo?rr • in walles hym to cloe.
For lie pat kyd is & kene • & couates hj'^m a name,
WiH fersly feglit in pe feld • liys fayraen ayayns." 2208
And alexander als belyfe • aH vmbe pe cyte,
Mase iiij M/l/ie^ to fonde • with flanes & bowes,
Byddes fame to bend vp • & brathly witli arowez
To wound pe Avyes witJiin • pat on pe wallez hoved. 2212
And two tliouusand be tale • he tytely Co?»mandez,
Of wele busked bernes • in brenes & in plates,
AH pe sydes of pe cite • Jjat sichus had bigged,
And amphion, pe atheH kemp • anone to distroye. 2216
And iiij Mille"^ he fonge • to f3Te pe iiij 3atcs,
Bot thre M/l/e^ of thra men • to thraw witA engynez.
Hym-self with slengers & slyke • he somned^ a men3e,
To heyd & to help hys hynes • if any harme limpyd. 21:20
Now er is seges aH sett • & pe saute neghed,
Were wakned be-twene • werblet trompez ;
Our peple with pavyce • presen to withowf,
Halez vp hemp cordez • hurlett owt arows; 2224
Oper athells of* armes • alblastrez benden,
"Whirres owt qwarels • wappyd thrugh males.
Som with gunnez of" Jje grekys • gyrdyn vp stones,
To tene pe tebef folke • pat on pe toure tighten ; 2228
Som bradyn ourf? pe barres * in blysnand wedes,
And faire fest on a fyre • aH pe foure 3ate3 ;
' Catchword — in hert; rvrongly.
' Read thousand, rvhich is intended by thi* contraction for
T.at, viille. ' Or soumed.
THEBES IS BURNT TO THE GROUND.
[Ashmole.
TJiey yield.
One Sicistru3 is
glad to see
Tliebes on ftre.
One Htsmon is
Surry to see it.
and begs
Alexander to
shew mercy.
The king is
wratli, and
destroys the city.
One Clytomaclius,
a Theban, follows
Lis host.
[FoL 89.]
An oracle says,
the man who is to
rebuild Thebes
will thric« con-
quer in wrestling.
AH ]?e biiTje at a braide • was on a bale kyndilcJ, 2231
And pSL^ pat sounde ware vnslayn • als sottes fam 3eldis.
J3an witA-out in oure ost • as fe buke tellis,
A Sire, at Sicistrus • was callid be name,
A meri man, a Messangere • fat maynly was ioyd
To se fe cite be sa sone • sindiJ to brandis. 2236
Anothre hathiH vndire hand • pat Hismon was^ callitJ,
Ane a maistre of musike * ^a man of fe cite,'
Aires to ser Alexaiide?' • & in bis hert wepis, 2239
As qua sai, " prince, of oure place • su??i pete fou haue."
Jjan lokis fe lord to pe lede • said, " lettrid berne,
Quare-to feynys pou. fis fare • for-wM myne e3en ] "
" Sire conquiroMr," (luod pe clerke • **30urecorage to bend*,
And in ridding of oure riche toun • ^our reutb for
to cali." 2244
]3an was J?e wale kyng wratli • & wijtly comaundis
To bete in-to J»e bare erth • aH pe bur^e-walles ;
And quen all kynd was on colis • & kast apon hepis,
J3an airis be on with his ost • mare honour to wynn.
A lentLU man full ioyles • io/irnau? him eitir, 2249
Folo^es fare fare • ai on fote as Jjai ride,
A sege at of J?e same tonn ' sire was & maistre,
Ane callid was Cletoraacus • to crie eftiV socure, 2252
His ledis at left ware o-lyue • a lite of Jje cite.
jjan askid at sire Appoline • al'* ■with a steuen,
" If euire it worthe sail to wee ' quen pe werd stancJ,
Oure bu[r]3e agayn for to bigg* • pat bretted is to no3t]"
)5an gales faire god • a-gayn & pus spekis : 2257
" pe tulke pat tiUd ^our tonn ' saH field vp & rere,
SaH thre times haue pe thra • of snm threuyn gome
Of were ore of wristilling* • for fus has wirid shapen.
And quen pat wi^sch^p is won " witAin a wale time,
))an sail he sett vp him-selfe • pe cite as be-forne."
' MS. &]}&, n-ith first a vnderltned.
* MS. was was ; the second was vnderlined.
*— ' Substituted in MS. for " & in his art wepis ; " see next line.
* Written above the line.
Dublin.] THEBES IS TO BE REBUILT. 129
pat aH J)e burgli at a brayJe • was on a blasse kyndlett,
And Jjo fat snnde wer vnslayne • as seges Jjaim aolden.
Than was v^itJiowf in pe ost • als pe buke tellys, 2233
A syre, pat sicistreus ^ • was seget to name,
A mery man, a niessyngere • pat manly was loynef^ [Foi. 24.1
To see pe cite be so sone • shend/t to brandes. 223G
Ane-ojjer atheH vnder hand • pat Hisman was callyd,
One maister of musike • a man of pe cite,
Ayrez hym to Alexander ' & in hys hert wepys, 2239
Als wha sa, " Prince, of your place • som pite 3e haue."
Then lokys pe lord to |je led • sayd, "le^^red beme,
Whare to fenys pon J)is fare • for-wM my eghen I see ] "
" Sir Conquero?<r," quod pis clerk * " your' corage to byiido,
And in riddyng of our riche towne • your reuth for to
caUe." 2244
Than was pe wale kyng wroght • & wittily Co??<mande»'
To bete into pe bare erth • aH pe burgh walles ;
And when aH kyndlett was on colez • & castyn vppoii hepys,
Than ayrez he on wit/i hys ost • more worship to wyn. 2248
A gentilman fuH ioyles • fen iornays hym after,
Folows pe folke ay on fote • as pe faire rydefi,
A sege of pe same cite • pat syre was & maiste?',
That callyd was clytomacws • to cry after soco7ir, 2252
Hys ledes pat left wer on-lyue • a lyte of pe cite.
Then askyd fai at sir Apolyn • aH with a stevyn,
*' Yf it worth saH to wy • Avhil fie world stande*', 2255
Oure burgh ayayn to be held • pat brytynd is to nogfet ? "
Than galez par god faim ayayn • & pus-gates he spekes :
" The tulke pat teld mon your town • saH teld vp & rerre,
SaH thre tymez haue pe tro • of some kynne gamez
Off were or of wristylyng • for so base werdez shapyn. 2260
And when pat worship is won • within a wale tyme,
Than saH he sett vp [him] selfe • pe cite als beforne."
' Or sicistfrus. * Head loyed.
^ MS. pore.
ALEXANDER. K
130
ALEXANDER HOLDS GAMES AT CORINTH. [AshmOle.
Alexander goes
tu Corinth,
and holds some
games.
Clytomachus
asks to be allowed
to wrestle :
and throws 1
uun thrice.
He is crowned,
and they ask hi
name.
[Fol. S9 6.]
ITe says it i
City-less.
"Once I had a
city, but now
have none."
^us answars |)am j^aire aid goJe • & osscs on )}is wyse,
And jjai als fayne, aH pe flote ' as foweH of pe day. 2264
j)an aires on ser Alexander • with his athiH princes,
To \)e casteH of Corynthi • he comes -with his ost,
'With Jje Pers of fa partese ' to play on ]>e toures,
As aH ])G sires of pa. sidis • him-selfe had! required. 2268
)?e multitude ware sa miche * of men for to rekefi,
pat jjare was semhild' & sett ' fat sijt to be-hald.
Q,uod Alexander bilyue • to aH at^ fare stode,
"Quat gome saH fis gammen * begin apon first?" 2272
}5an comes forth Cletomacus • & to f e kyng swaris,
)pe tulke out of Thebie • I tald 30W be-forne,
*' If it 30ure mekiH maieste • mijt any thinge plese, 2275
I wald to wacken 30ure welth^ • now wirstiH a turne."
\)a,n mas fe prince hi??i a place • & prestly hi?7i matches,^
And he him girdes to fe gi'ounde • & fe gree Wynnes.
" Now faithly," quod fe feH kyng • " faH fe so thrise,
])o\i sail be crouned, or I caire • for kiddest of f e gamen."
)2an 3ede he* eftsones to * & his eue?i kastis, 2281
Thring/s to fe thrid time • & fe thra wynnys.
And fan comandis him f e kyng • a coroune oii hede,
As for f e prise of fe play • putfuH of stanes ; 2284
]3an bad him beddels belyue : • * breue vs f i name.' ^
" Sirres, by my sothe," qtiod f e segge • *' Sitiles I hi3t."
" Qwi so, my worthe werstillare ] " ' fe wale kyng said*,
" How tidis it f e & tou[n]les • f i^ toname is callidi" 2288
" Mi louely lorde," quod f e lede • & law him declines,
" Be-for 3e come slike a kyng • & f e croune werrid*,
I had a cite ''' my-selfe • & segges I- no we ;
And sethen 30 a3t f is enpire • I am it aH priued." 2292
pan trowid trewly fe kyng • fat Theby he menycJ,
And beddels & bailyfs • he bad on brad crie,
' Added in the margin. ' MS. welah, altered to weltb,
^ MS. maches, altered to matches.
■• MS. he to ; with to struclt out.
* MS. name name ; the first struck out.
^ MS. yx ton ; ton struck out.
'' MS. a li a cite ; with a h struck out.
Dublin.]
CLYTOMACHUS IS THRICE VICTORIOUS.
131
Thus answers faim fis old god * & ossus on j)is wyse,
And ))ai als fayne, aH fie flote • als foule is on morne. 22G4
Than Ayrez hym on sir Alexander • with hys atheH Piincez,
To \)e casteH of corinthy • he commys with hys ostez,
With fe peres of ))ai pa/'tez • to play on \)e towrez,
Als aH ]ie syrea of pat sydez • hem-selfe hed required. 22G8
The multitude Wher to muche • oF men for to reken,
That wer par semblyd & set • pat feght to be-hold.
Quod alexander als belyue • to aH pat par stodyn :
"Whaf gome saH ])is gamen • begyn vpon first*]" 2272
Then commes furth ClytoraaczAS * & to fe kyng sweres,
The tulke owt of tebe • I tald you beforne ;
" If it your mekytt mageste • might* any thyng please,
I wald to wakyii oure welth • now wrastyH a turne." 2276
jjen makes pe prince hym a place • & prestly hym machcs,
And he hym grydes to pe grund ' & J?e gre wynnez.
" Now fathfully, quod pe feyle kyng* • " jjus faH pou. thrisse,
Thu saH be crownyd, or I go • for kyddest of gamme."
jjen jode he eftsons to • & hys euen caster, 2281
Thrynges to pe thryd tyme • & pe thro Wynnes,
And Jjen Comm&ndes pe kyng* • a croune on heued,
Als for pe fee of pe play • pi3t-fuH of stanes ; 2284
Then byde hym bedels belyfe : * ' breue vs ])i name.'
" Sirs, be my soght," quod pe seghe • "siteles^ I hyght*,"
*' Whi so, my worthy wristiller 1" ' pe wale kyng sayd,
*' How tydes it pe at tounles • pi to-name is called? " 2288
** My louely Lord," quod pe lede • & law he declynes,
" Before ^e Come suche • & pe crowne wered,
I hed a cyte my-self • & seges enowe ;
And syne ^e aught )>is empyre • & I am dep^vued." 2292
Then trowyd trewly pe kyng • at tebet he neuynd,
And Bedels & bail3ai3 • he bad a-none crye,
' I. e. city-less ; so also town-less in line 2288.
[Fol. 21 6.]
132
CLYTOMACHUS REBUILDS THEBES.
[Ashmole.
Alexander
grants him to
rebuild Tliebea.
He goes to
Platsa.
Diana's
prophetess
welcomes
Alexander,
and tells
Strasagoras lie
will lose his
lands.
And so it
happened.
Alexander comes
to Athens.
[Fol. 40.]
Be-fore his pupiH apert * fe powere him grauntis
To sett his cite vp agayn • & of hi?;i-selfe haldeS. 2296
j)an passis he to a proude toun • Platea was hatten,
jjare was sti3til(J ane Strasageras • fat was a^ stiffe prince,
Duse hi?M in with his dukis • to Dyanaas temple,
And fand a pure prophetas • aparaild in vailes. 2300
And scho, as sone as scho him sa3e • said him fir wordzs :
" Welcom we, at all pe werd • sail wyn -vfith fi handz6\"
)je secund? day before pe son * he at fe cite wildid,
In-to fe temple he turned • tythandes to herkeii ; 2304
" Quat ware pi wiH, ser, to wete V ' pe womail frayned ;
" j)ou lesis aH fi lordschip • wzt/an a lite dais."
"Quat, & has pon ossed to Alexander ' pis ayndainwirdes,
And me pm ill] vn-ably • fine abet fou weris." 2308
" 'Naj, tene ^ow nojt, for treuly • fus tide bose it nede."
And so it worthid, for in a wi-ath • pe wale kyng swyth
Him of his principalete pnued • & fan f e prince fondis
Onane to Athenas • & on f e athiH playntes ; 2312
And f ai said, soure suld him sowe • bot he f e cite 3el(J.
And Alexander with his ostes • aires on forthire,
Ateynes him to-ward fe termes • & of par tene heres.
And slike a word he f aim wayues • be writ fra him-self.
And qua so wiH has to wete • how it worthid eftzV,
Here sail I teH fam at loues ' to here forthire. 2318
A letter.
" Alexander to
tlie men of
Athens.
©fcimus passus ^ItxandrL
" T Alexander, pe aire • & eldest childe hatten
X Of kyng Thilip pe fers • fat fest am in grece,
And of fe queue Olimpades • fe oddest vnde?- heue?z,
To aH 30W of Athenes • f us etiH I my sa3es. 2322
Fra fat my fadere was fey • & fame out lyue.
And I was sett in his sege • with septoztr to regne,
Sethen Avent I with my werriowrs • in-to f e west endes,
' Added in the viargin.
Dublin.} ALEXANDER COMES TO ATHENS. 133
Before hys peple so pert* ' & hym fe power grauntez
To set hys cite vp agayn • & of hym-self hald. 2296
J?an passys he to a prouud touu • platea was haten,
j)ar Avas stijlet^ one strasagera • fat Avas a styffe Prince,
Dose hym in with hys Dukes * to Dicnas^ temple,
And fand a pure p?-ophett ' apparelt in wales. 2300
And als sons as sho hym see • sho sayd fees wordes :
" Welcom, wye, fat f e werld • saH wynne with \)i handes."
pe secund day before fe sun • he fat cite weLdif, [Foi. 25.]
To fe temple he tight • tithanndez to herkefl. 2304
"What is^ fi witt," q?/od [the] woman, ''sir, to witt • &
how f ou me franes ;
For fou lossez aH f i Lordschips • within a lityH dayes."
" "What & hase f u ossed to alexrmder ' pus aydom wordes,
And me fusl vnahly • fine habet fou werys." 2308
"K'ay, tene fe noght, for trewly • fus tyde bus it nede5."
And so it worthed, for in a wrath * f e wale kyng swyth
Hym of hys principalite depriues • & fen f e Prince fondes
Anone vnto athens & on • of fe atheH Pianette*' ;^ 2312
And f ai sayd, saire suld he sike * hot he f e cite 3elde.
And alexander with hys ost * fen ayres on ferf er,
Attellys hym toward fe terme • & of f e tene heres, 2315
And such a word he f aim wayffez • be writte fro hym-selueii.
Decimus ^assus*
I alexander, ayre • & heldest child both Ypistoia.
Off kyng philip f e fers * fat fessit am in grece, 2320
And of f e whene olimphades • f e oddest vnder hevyn.
To all you of atthenys • fus atthiH I my sawes.
Fro fat my fader was fey • & fallyn out of lyve,
And I was sett in hys sege • with septowr in hand, 2324
Syne went I with my weryowrs • in-to f e west ende,
' Head Dianas. * Written above the line in MS.
' So in MS. ; bid cornij?tbj.
134
I luve conqueied
all Europe.
All who resist
we destroy.
The Thebans
resisted in vain.
Send me ten
philosophers ;
I ask no more,
except that ye do
homage."
[Fol. 40 6.]
One ^schylus
recommends
them not to listen
to him.
One Demosthi
is next
consulted.
He recommends
the n to submit.
^SCHTLUS SPEAKS AGAINST ALEXANDER. [Ashmole.
And ay •with-ont any arraes • \)ahn aH at anys golden,
AH Europe to myn enpire • enterely psiim geujn,
Enyn to ])e Occiane • oiit of aid' Eome. 2328
Qua fat vs rekinly resayues • na riddour fai tholid,
And all at otliire wais wro3t ' we wast Jsara for euire.
And now ira ])e marohe of Messedone • I meued opon late
Jjurje Jje anglis here of Afle • wit^ myne athiH dukis,
And so pe Thebies fani tijt • ]>e towi to defende, 2333
And I far pompe^ & faire pride • to poudire declinet?.
To 30W now write I on jjis Avise • fat, wald je' me sencJ
Ten fyne Pliilisofo?/?-s3 • to fand with my wittes, 2336
^oure bulges ne 30?/?- bri3t bees • bidd I fan nothiro,
Bot at je knaw me for kyng • & caH me 30?//- Ion?.
For & 3e nyk now to myn empire • ^our nekis for^ to bowe,
)5an bos 30W bigger* to be • fen aH my bald princes,
Or laite anothire ladis-man * a-losed mare of ctrentR
)3an I my-selfe or my seggi's • be f e seuent dele."
)3ire athils of Atenes • fzr augardf clerkis 2343
J)an reuerenst fai fe riche seele • & red ouer f e pistiH,
Syne kest vp a crie • whh a kene voice at anys,
Sura in comending of his carpe • & on dene it spitid.
A Filisphire fan on first ' before fe folke risis,
Ane Eschilus in erde * & ernstly he spekis, 2348
\)e douth & aH dininowrs • be-dene he comaundis,
\)at fai suld corde be na cas • vn-to fe king?*' hest?6\
With fat aH same?z on a sopp • semblis fe pupitt,
A doctozir, ane Domystyne • fai derely beseke 2352
To consaHe f ai?n als in f e cause • & ken fam f e best.
And he rekinly rase • & rekyns fire wordis :
" I be-seke 30W now, my citi3ens . if fat 30 safe voiuhe,
Bot sobirly a sete quile • my sa3es for to here. 2356
Sirs, if 36 fele 30W so fers • his force to wtt/i-stand',
Aires agaynes him -with armes * admitts no3t his sa3e3.
And if ^ 3e fynde 36 be to faynt ' fulfiUis his wiH,
' MS. ponpe. ' Added in the'margln.
' so is ivritfen above the line. * MS. bigg(.9.
^ MS. inserts fy, struck out.
Dublin.] DEMOSTHENES GIVES HIS ADVICE. 135
And fai w<t7/owtyn arrays • faim aH at onys jeldyil,
AH europe to my empyre • ente;-ly fai gevefi. 2327
Who Jjttt rekenly vs resaued • no raddo?<r tholett,
And ati fat other-wyse -wroghf • we Avastyd for eu^r.
And now fro \>e marche of massydoil • I niefed on late
Torow pe anglez of asy • with myne atheH Dutez, 2332
And so J?e tebes J>aim tyjt • fe touii to defende,
That I )?air pompe & J)air pride • to powder haue declined.
And now writte I on J)is wise • fat, wold 30 rae send
Teni fyne .philosophirs • to fond vriih my wittez, 2336
Your burghes ne jour bryght bees • bidde I none o]ier,
Bot fat 36 knaw me for your kyng* • & calle me yowr Lord. [FoI. 25 6.]
For nyk yhe to myne empyre • joirr nekkys for to bowe,
J)an bus you bigger to be • fan ali my bald Princes, 2340
Ofer lates ane ofer lodesman * alosed more of strenth
Then I niy-self & my seges • be f e seuynt* dele."
j3oes athels of athens • f es awgerd Clerkez
J3en reuerensf f ai f e riche seale • & red ouer f e pisteH,
Syne kestyn vp a clene voyce • & cried aH at onys, 2345
Some in Co?umendyng of hys carpyng • & som in dyspysyng.
Than A philisofre ^ on f e frisf • before fat folke ryses,
Ane Esculus in fat erde * & egirly spekes, 2348
Jje^ Doughty & aH DyuynoM?-s • be-dene he Co??imandez,
j)at f ai suld acord be no case ' to f e kyngez heste.
"With fat al sampnes in a sopp " assempbles f e peple,
A Doctowr, ane Domestyn * fai derly besekyn 2352
To CounseH faim in fat cause * & ken faim f e best*.
And he fan rakenly rose • & rekens fees wordes :
" I Beseke you now, my citesyns • if fat 3e saue woche,
Bot soberly a seta qwyle • my sawys for to herkyn." 2356
And sayd, " if 30 feyle you so ferce • hys force to wit/istond,
Ayres ayayns hym with armes • admitted noght hys sawes.
And if yhe fynd 30 faynf • fulfyH fan hys wylle,
' MS, Then. ' MS. phUipofre. ^ MS. 36.
1 1
136
DEMOSTHENES COUNSELS THE ATHENIANS [Ashmole.
because Alex-
ander always
wins.
" Did he not
conquer Tyre ?
[Fol. 41.]
andTliebes?
and tlie people of
Peloponesus ?
Te are angry
because of
Strasagoras' fate.
But lie deserved
it.
Alexanler is
known to be
courteous."
The Athenians
Vn-to his mekiH maieste * mekely 30W bowe. 2360
For Sexes in sum time * surmountid all kyngw,
3 it li3t be law at pe last • for all bis letbire prid.
Bot Alexander with bis armee • in alkin rewmys
Has bappend 3it ai hedire-to • J)e berre of bis faes ; 2364
Vnnombirable ere fe not/s • to neue« of bis weres,
And 3it betid nemr fe time • fat euire tuke be scbame.
Ware no3t fe tulkis out of Tire • Tpe tidiest on ertb, 2367
\)e kiddest kni3ti6' to a-count • vnder fe cape of beuen,
Quat batbe for corage & kene • & connyng in amies 1
Loke quare it prof et fiam a peese * all ))aire proud strentb.
Was no3t pe Thebes jjar-to * fe threyest^ of othire,
\}e worthiest wees of fe werd • & of witt clerest, 2372
Fra J»at jiaire cites ware sett * fe sotelest of weres ?
Quat seruyd aH Jiai sapient • or sle3t'^ of bataH]
Of Poliponenses fe pupiH • with J)is prince fo3ten,
And pat Jjam letbirly con like • by fe latti'r ende, 2376
For par pe kyng of faire kythe • was killid dowi & heded,
His renkis raymed aH pe route • & all pe rewme 3olde?i,
Wate 36 no3t wele ])ur3e aH pe wercJ • how wirdv's with
him cheues 1 2379
Hase be no3t cites butt saute • sesyd out of nounbre 1
And for Strasagirs Jie strange â– he of his strentb priue(J,
3e meue al fus malicoly • his maieste a-gayne. 2382
J?are do 30 no3t ^our deuire • pat dare I wele proue,
It was pe gilt aH of pe gome • & no3t of pe gud lord".
Ne bad be trispast him to • I take it on my trouthe,
Had neuire his cite ne bis soile ' be sesid fra him
nouthire.
For pe auaurat ser Alexander ' is aH pe werd famyd
For ane of pe curtast kyng • fat em'r croune wericJ, 2388
And wete 30 wele at sHk a we * at is ^ wyse balden,
He wald neuire suprise • no sege vnd/r heuen."
W/t/i pat aH of Atenenys • fis aunceant maistiV,
' MS. tlieyest ; ivitli a third e above y.
* MS. select ; ulUrcd to slejt. ^ Added in the margin.
Dublin.]
TO SUBMIT TO ALEXANDER.
137
Vnto his mekyH mageste • mekely you bowes. 2360
For sexes in som tyme • sirmountyd aH kyngez,
3it lijt he la\re at pe last • for att hys lethir pride.
Bot alexander with hys armes * in alkyn realmes
Hase happynd ay jit^ hyder • to J»e hyer of hys foes ;
VnnoAvmerable er ]je notez * to nevyn of fe weres, 2365
And jitt betyd neuer fe tyme • pat ener toke he shame.
Wer noght j)e tulkez of tire • pe t?7'esf of pe werld,
J3e kyddesf knyghtez to acounf • vnder pe cope of heuen,
"What bath ^ of corage & kene ' & co?myng of armez 1
Loke quar it profett J)am a pese • all fair proude strenth.
Wer noght pe tebettes parto ' pe tithiest of oper,
The worthiest* wyes of pe werld • & of witte cleresf, 2372
[Fol. 26.]
"What seruyd 3itte aH par sapience • & sleghtes of were 1
Of poliponenses pe peple • with fis prince feghteu,
And fat faim lederly con like • 3it at pe latter ende, 2376
For par pe kyng of pe kyth • was kyllyd downe & heued,
Hys renkes raymet* att pe route * & hys realme joldefi.
"Wayte je noght wele forow aH pe werld * how aH thyng
withhymgoysl 2379
And for strasagera pe Strang ' he of hys strenth pn'ues,
3it 36 make you malicoly • hys mageste ayayns.
l)arto yhe do not your Dinoiir'^ ' I dar it wele prefe,
It was pe gilt of gome * not of pe gode Lord. 2384
For had he noght trasped hym vnto • I take on my saule,
And for J?e graunt of pe sir alexander • is aH fe werld famed
For one of pe cwrtasesf kyng* • pat ener crowne weryd,
And wete ^e wele pat suche.a wye • pat is so wyse haldyn,
He wald nener sussprise • no sege vnder heven." 23,90
"With pat aH fise athenez • & fa auancef maisters,
' MS. hag ];e after bath, bi/t it is struck out.
' MS. D'myiour.
138
THE ATHENIANS bO HOMAGE,
[Ashmole.
commend
Demosthenes,
and send a crown
to Alexaadw.
[Fol. il «.]
Tlie Athenian
messen
arrive.
Alexander tlianks
them.
He learns about
jEschylus and
Demosthenes.
A letter.
" Alexander to
the men of
Athens.
I do not attempt -
to enter Athens
forcibly.
And clene aH fe clergy • comensure & othire, 2392
)3is diuinoMr Domestyne ' bedene pai comendid,
A-cordis paim to his consaile * & kendly it prased.
Jjan amed J)ai to ser Alexander • onane for to send!
A croune att of clere gold ' clustrid with gemmes, 2396
Of fyfty ponde with pe payse * as pe prose ^ tellis,
Jjis tresoure tire ))ai him to * & tribute him hetes.
Now eve pe sandismen^ • sett on Ipaire horsis,
A lentiH man Jjat loweH • enioyned was to kepe, 2400
\}at w&a full sekirly & s6ft * aH in silke falden ;
Bot clerkis to pe conquiroMr • caired with ])&b7i many.
)pan mo vis furth pe raessagere • of mylis^ bot fewe,
pat fai nere li3t as belyue* • at Jie 'kyngis tent/;?, 2404
Knelid doun befor fe kjiig • & hiw pe eroime rechid!,
And jerely tribute him to geue • ^apely him hetis.
Jjan takis fe gudman pe gifte • & gretly fam J^ankis,
And vndirstandis in a stound • how it stude dene, 2408
Of J)e eging" of Eschilus • pat ertid his feris,
pat J)ai wit/t-sitt suld his sa3es ' & serue no3t his pistitt.
pe dities of Domestiane • so did he bathe,
pat comaundid & his^ comandmentzV • to kepo in att
•wyse, 2412
3it neuire-])e-lattz> to pa, ledis • a lettiV he foM?-med',
In presidine with his awen^ prince * reportand pa
wordis :
IT " I, kyng 'Philip son pe fers • & his faire ladis,
Honoured Olimpades • pat I obesche maste, 2416
I kepe neuire king to be callidi ' ne cache me pat name,
TiH att pe barbarine blude * a-bovve to pe grekis.
I etift nemr Athenes * with armes for to entre, 2419
Bot 30W to question enquere • & qwete with my witt/s.'^
I purpose ay out of repreue • 30ure persons to leue,
And 3e pe contrari clene ' 30ure concience it opence.
' MS. pr<7rose. ' MS. sandisment.
' MS. mylid, altered to mylis. * MS. bely, altered to belyue.
* Added in Hie margin. " MS. awent, altered to awen.
^ MS. band/«, altered to miiis.
Dublin.] Alexander's letter to them. 139
Ami Clene aH pe clerge • commenso7cr & ofer, 2392
Thys Diuinour domestyn • by-dene ]?ai commendyn,
Acorde )?aim to hys counseH • & kenly it prasen.
Then araeyd ))aim to sir a.\exa7ider * anone for to send
A Crowne aH of clene gold • cliistred with gemmys, 2396
Of fifty pound was ]>& passe ' as ))e prose tellys,
Thys tresoMr tire )3ai hym to • & tribute hym highten.
Now er pe sandesnien in sute • sett on par blonkez,
A gentilman pat loweH • inioneyd was to kepe, 2400
))at was fuH sarkenly & full soft • aH in sylke falden ;
Bot clerkes to Jje conqueroMr • cayred wiih faim none.
Then mefifyd forth pe messyngers • myles bot a few,
And lijt aH belyue • at pe lorded tentes, 2404
Knele downe before pe kyng* • & hym pe crowne raughten,
And 3erly tn'bute hym to gyf • 3apely hym highten.
Than tase J^e godman fair giftez • & gretly faim thankee,
And vnde?-stondes in a stound • how it stode clene, 2408
And of pe eggyng of EscuLus* pat ertyd hys foes, [Fo;.m&.]
To wz'tAsitte hys sawe • & serue noght hys pistyH.
The dytes of domestyn * & so dyd of both,
\)at CounseUyd hys Commaundment^ • to kepe on aH
wyse. 2412
Yit neuer-fe-leter to fo ledes • a letter he enfonned,
In p?-esydenG6 hys Awne prince • reportand pes wordes :
" I, kyng Philipp son pe feroe • & hys fayre ladys,
Honowrd olymphades • pat I obey most*, 2416
I kepe neuer kyng to be called * ne cache me pat name,
To 1 aH pe barberon blude • bowe to pe grekys,
I attellyd neuer athens ' vfith armes to entre, 2419
Bot you questions to enquire • to wete with my written.
And purposed ay out* of reproue • yo?«' persens to leue,
Bot 36 pe contrary clene • in your conscience doys shew.
' £etter Til. •
11*,
140 ALEXANDER GOES TO SPARTA. [Aslunole.
Whoever opposes Bot quilk as first of jow foimd/s • a fete vs acrayne,
me will suffer.
Sail neui?' deuoide my dedeyne • ne my derfe ire. 2424
And 36 at wickid eve within • ay wickidly je thinke ;
For as fe gj-ayne is in ]?e grape • growis ]je frutw.
[Foi.42.] \)e Tebies tulkid^ vs with tene • a-tired Jam in armes,
3it rad for all faire rebelte ' resayued fai Jjaire medis.
Ve reprove me And for Strasagera fe stoilte * ^e stithli me blamed,
strasagora«. J?are as he gilt me agayns • & I him gradid haue, 2430
I wrate to 30W at me to wayne • be ten wyse clerkt^ ;
5e kest out comau?idm6nU6' • 30 knew no3t my strenth.
I mi3t a-coupe of fat cause • if I it kythe wald! ; 2433
I forgive you." Bot I for-geue 30W all pe gilt • & greues me na mare.
ror-])i bees glad now, aH J?e gingis • ^e satt na gref haue,
\)e diuinow?'^ domestyne * for 30 his domes held." 2436
Ti.e Athenians Fra fai cousayued had ]je clause ' & const?*Med fe lettiV,
j?ai ware pe meriest modirsons • on mome mi3t3 ryse.
IT Now fonndis furth pe feH kyng • & flittw with his ostes,
Alexander goes to Lendis hijn to Lacedoyne • a litiH fra be cite, 2440
Lafedtemon.
Wtt^-out fe burje on a banke • he bUd/s his tent^V,
And pave him-selfe wit^ a sowme * in a sege le[n]gis.
J3e ledis out of Lacedone • belyue p&m asemble, 2443
They agree to Said, " bow we neuzV to his bode * for bale apon erth,
resist him. -»-r i .1 t t • i i-i
Ise lat vs neuir be sa lethire • at we like worthe
To )jam of Ateynes • it is oure opyn schame ;
For J»ai ware baist of his host " bredid for no3t ;
Bot be we kni3tly & kene ' cure corage to schew." 2448
They.icfendtiie Wit^ J?at Jjai 3arkid to J?e 3at/s • & 3ode to J»e wallis.
Sum in lopons, sum in lesserantis • sum loyned aH in
platw*
A grayne of pe grete see ' paim aboute glidis ;
For-J)i buskis })am pQ burgK • a bataiH wit7«-out*, 2452
They prepare Preses furth at postemes • in-to be porte wyndis,
their navy. ^ j r j
Schalkis scott in-to shipis • an in shire mailes ;
Archars with arows • with attrid barbis,
Sic; perhuptfor tukkid. ' MS. duino«r,
' Added in the margin.
Dublin.] THE SPARTANS RESIST HIM. HI
Bot whilke of yow as foundes frist* • on fote vs agayns,
SaH neuer voyde my dysdane • ne my derfe Ire. 241^4
And 36 at thynkys wykkydly • & wyrkys agayns ;
For as Jie grane is of ])e grase * & \)ar growez fe frute. .
The tebette* tulkyd^ vs with tene • atyred Jjaim in armys,
3itt for aH jjair riallte • resaued fai Jjair mede. 2428
And for strasagera fe stouf • je styfly me blame,
Thar as he giltyd me ayayns • I hym gradi't haue,
I wrate to you me to wafe ' ten wise clerkez ;
Yhe kest out Cowmandmentes • & knew noght my strenth.
I might* a-coup you of fat cause * & I it kyth wald ; 2433
Bot I forgyfe you aH fe gilf • & grefez me no more.
For-Jji beys glade now, all fe pake • je salt no grefe sofre.
The Diuynour Domestyil • for je hys domes halden." 2436
And fro fai consaued hed pe clause • & construed ))e pistyH,
Thai wer fe meriest modersons • fat might on morne rise,
Now founder he furth fe fele kyng • & flitter hys ostez,
2440
"Without fe burgh on a bank • beld^t he hys tentez,
And \!ar hym-self with a soume • in a sege lenge,?.
))e 2 ledf?5 out of lacydon • belyfe faim assembled,
Sayd : " bow we neuer to hys body • for bale vppon erthe,'
Ne letf vs neue?' be so lethir • fat we leke worthen 2445 [Foi.i?.]
To fise out [of] athens • for it wer opyn* shame ;
For fai wer basyf for hys beste • & ferd for noght* ;
Bot be we knyghtly & kene • oure corage to shew." 2448
"With fat f ai ^arken to 3ates • & ^oden to f e walles,
Some in lompons & in lesseiuuntez • som loned iu
platez.
A grayne of f e grete see • glad faim all vmbe ;
For-fi buskys faime f e burgesse * a batale withowt', 2452
Pressen forth at posternes • vnto a place wenden,
Shalkez shotten into shippez • all in shire malys,
Arches with arows • Wit^ atterd barbes,
' Perhaps for tukkyd. » MS. To fe.
' MS. erthd. * MS. orpyn.
142
ALEXANDER ATTACKS SPARTA.
[Ashmole.
"Alexander to
the men of
Laced semou.
Resist me, and
get you a name."
[Foi.42i.] Gais ))am in-to galays • & grathis Jjam be-forne. 2456
Bowes hemes in-to bargis • with basinettiV on heued,
Sparrethis spetous to spend • & speris in band/s,
)3ai crosse oui> toward pe kyng* • as kyndmen suld,
Wt't/i as feyle on fe flode' • as fojten with-in. 24G0
)3e, lord him lokis on pe ledis • & a litiH smyles,
letter. And Sent twa vndiV his seele • pir sajes in a pistiH.
IT " I, ^hilij) son jje fell kyng • as I first sayd,
And als of Olimpades • I auely 30W rede, 2464
pat fe end of 30ure eldirs • enterely je be-balJ,'^
And roomes no3t at' pe ray[n]bowe • pat recbe ^e ne'
may,
And pe powere of pe Persens • so truly ^e traist*. 2467
Lat se now, getis 30W a name " & naytis ^our stre[n]the ;'
Bot bowis first fra ^our bargis • & blythly )jai??i wayfe,
For, fest I aH on a fire ' pe foly is joure awen,"
Ledis out of Lacedane • quen psd pe lettiV redd, 2471
Were drery,.bot for aH: fie dole • pa, di3t .paun to fi3t.. • ,
With pat pe kyng & his kni3tis • vm-clappis pe cite,
Setti's all pe gailis on gledis • & girdis dou/i pe wallis ;
J5e citi3ens & seriantis • at vne-slayne ware
Bowis fam to J)is barato;«- • bodis & lyuys. 2476
" 3e knaw wele," quod pe conquiio?ir • " my comyng
was esye ;
Bot for 36 fangid me no3t faire • fired is ^our schippis,
3owr bur3e is bretind & 30«r hemes • I bed 30W
my-selfe, 2479
3e suld no3t stody ne stem • pe sternes for to handiti.
For he pat steppis on a stee • queii pe staues failis,
}pan iantis him festing* to his fete • & faH him be-houes ;
So, ri3t as Sexis was slayn • su?n time with jowr eldirs,
[Foi. IS] So ettild 30 ser Alexander • bot Jjare 30ure ame failes."
Quen he pis sa3e had fam said • pe cite he fam grauntid*,
Fondis furth with his folke ' par fraunches pam leues. .
' Added in the vwrgln. ' be added in margin.
' Above the line.
The assault
begins.
They yield.
" Now you have
lost your sliips
and your wulls
are broken.
Never handle the
stars."
Dublin.] HE IS agatn victorious. 143
Gone faira into galays • & grathen pairn Jiarforne. 2456
Bowyn bernes into bargez • with Basynettes on heued,^
Sparthys spitous to spend • & speres in handes,
)5ai crossyn oue?' toward \>e kyng^ • als kene men shulden,
'With als fele on \>e flode • as foughten wtt/iin. 2460
J3e lord hym lokez on fe lede^f • & a lityll Smylez,
And Send faim vnder hys sealle • J)is saughez in a pistyH,
" Myself, pliilipp pe feH: kyngez [son] • as I first sayd, «pt«^o/a.
& als of olimphades • I only you rede, 2464
J3at pe ende of your elders * enterly ^q holden,
And rooues' noght at fe ra}Tie-bowe • \iat reche je ne
may,
And J)e power of pe?-syens • so purely 36 trasten.
Letter" se, ne»2mys yow a name • & naytes your strenthe ;
Bot bowes first fra yoz<r bargez • & blytbly pam woydez.
For fest I al in a fyre • fe foly is your awne."
The lede^ owt of lacidon • when ))ai J)e le^^res herd, 2471
"War drery, bot [for] all pe dole • J)ai dight paim to fight.
With ])at \)e kyng & hys knyghtes ' vmbelappes fe cite,
Sett all )je Galays on glede** • brynt doun fe wallez ;
The cetyners & pe sergeante^ • aH J>at vnslayne weryfl
Bowes fan to fe baratowr • both bode*^ & lyfez. 2476
" 3e knowe wele," q«od pe conquero?<r • " my Commyng [FoI. 27 s.]
was full easy ;
Bot for 3 je f onge me not fair * nowe fyryd er jour shippez,
Your borgfe es bryttynyd & yowr berne[s] • I byd you my-
seluen,
3e suld nott study ne stem • J>e sternes to byholde. 2480
For he Jiat steppys on a stegh • when )>e stoure faylez,
j)en fallys hym \ie festyng* of hys fete • & falle hym byhofys ;
So ryght as sixes was slayne * some tyme \fith jour aldours,
Als ettled 30 Sir A[lexander]. • bot ])ar jour kast faylyd."
When he ))is sagh hed faim sayd • Jje Cyte he ])am grauntyd,
Fonder forth wi't^ hys folke • fair frauchez faim lefys.
' MS. heuend. ' Or roonea.
' Above the line in MS.
Hi PARIUS 18 FRIGHTENED. [Aflhmole.
He goes to Sicily, jjis souerayfi vriiJi his seggis • pnr^e Sycile^ he wyrdis,
Darius is
friglitened.
" I threatened
him as a thief;
he aghts lilie a
warrior.
I sent liiin
playthings.
We must no
longer despise
God helps liim.'
[Fol. *^ 6.]
Orlathar,
Darius' brother,
says :
•' Your majesty
•hould do aa lie
doe*.
Jjojt to ride & to rayme • fe regions of barbres. 2488
J3aa was ser Darius dred • & se?Mbled derf ostisV,
His kni^tis, his consaiH • & carpis fire wordis,
Said:"lo! myseris,nowmayse ' ^our-seUewiih pur e-^en,
How Alexander in his armes • aH-Avay encreses, 2492
In valoz^r & in victori • & vertues so noble ;
)5are as I thret him as a thefe • thedis to dispoyle,
Now werrays he fuH worthily • as wi3t man suld, 2495
Copstreynes with his contenance • kni3tw to hhn bow.
J5e mare I spek him dispite • & in my speche hindire,
\)e hi3er6 I here him enhansed • & hersude his name.
A baH & a hernepan * I to fe barne sent,
For burde & for bobance • Jje bab vfiih to play. 2500
Him fat I countid bot a knaue • may now be cald
maist/r ;
For quare he fondis on fold • dame fortune hhn folo3e[s].
For-])i2 vs haue bos in hert • fe hele of oure pupiH,
And for na pompe ne na pride • his person dispice, 2504
For his lose, for aH his litillaike • is loued Jiurje pe
were?.
And fe mare I myn oure maieste • ]>e mare it abatiV,
)3e grace of pe grete god^ • I ges, wiH liim help,
Of prise fe hije prouynce • vn-to fis prince leues. 2508
Quen we hope althire-hi3e3t • to hery him with ^ armes,
)5an am I redd aH oure rewme • be reft vs for euire."
Sone as ser Dary tLU his dukis • deuysid had pir wordis,
Jjan answars him ane Oriathire • ane of his awen
brethire, 2512
" )jou has Jjis gome out of grece • so gretly e[n]hansici',
j)ai we Elanda suld leue • & he J)is land^s entre.
Bot wald pur maieste J»e maners • of fis man sewe,
3e mi3t 30ure rewme haue in ryst • & othire rewmes wyfl.
* MS. Sytile. ' ^i added in the margin.
' Added in the margin.
Dublin.] HE ADDRESSES HIS KNIGHTS. 145
Thys 80u«*ayne wiiJi hys seneo?/rs • tliroglie secyH he
wende«,
thoght to ryde & to rarae • jje regions of Barbers. 2488
\)en was sir darius a-drede • & derfly ])an sembles
Hys knyghte.s & hys CounseH ' & carped J)es wordes,
Sayd : " airys, nowe may 36 se • yoMr-self with your eey,
How A[lexander] in hys annys • alway encreses, 2492
In valou?' & victory • & ve?'tus so noble ;
})ar as I thratt [him] as a thefe ' thedes to dispoyle,
Nowe warreys he f utt worthily ^ • als wi3t ^ man suld,
Constraynes with hys conten«nce • knyghtes to bowe.
J3e more I speke hym dispite • & in my speche endered,
The heyar I here hym enhaunsyd • & hersud hys name.
A baH & a brayne-pan • I to jje beme send,
For burde & for bobance • ]je bab with to play. 2500
Hym ))at I Counte hot a knaffe • may now be callyd
[maister] ;
For whar he ffoundez apon fold • dame fortoune hym sewes,
For-thi vs hafe buse in hert • fe heyle of our peple, 2503
And for no pompe ne no pryde • hys pe?-son to dispyse,
For hys loyse, ffor all hys hattellayke • is losyt ]3orow fe
werld.
And J>e more I meng our maieste * fe more it debatec',^
The grace of pe grete god • I gesse, wele hym helper, [FoI. 28.]
Of pn's fe hegh provyuce • vnto Jiis prince lefys. 2508
When we hope aH fe heldest • to herye hym with armes,
)jen am I raddest aH our realme • be raymed from vs first."
Sone as sir Dary to hys dukez • devysed base fees wordez,
Jjen answers hym oryather • on of hys awne brether, 2512
" Now base J>is gome oute of grece • so gretly enhaunsed,
And we fe lande shuld leve • & he ))e landes entre.
Bot wald ^our maieste fe maners ' of )?is man sewe, 2515
3e myght jour realme haue in rist * & other landes wynne.
• MS. worth tly. « MS. v,ith.
* Catchnord — J:e grace.
ALEXANDER. L
146
He helps him-
self."
Another says.
" he is of a lion's
kin."
" How so ? "
says Darius.
" Sir, I once went
to Philip's
court.
ALEXANDERS PARABLE
[Ashmole.
He heard that
many would come
to attack the
Greeks, and
remarked that
one wolf can
worry many
sheep."
Alexander has
200,000 men.
For Alexander aH-ways * or any of his erles, 2517
'Naytis liiin-selfe in ilke nede ' & so his name rysis."
"Quat sail I take of him my temes • tittire ])an he myne]"
" Sire, on my pereH, " quod a prince • " he passes all othire ;
pe wee wirkis ali be witt • he worthis |?e betUV ; 2521
For-J)i of pe lion, as I leue • la3t is his birthe."
" Quat knawis pou pat 1 " qzwd fe kyng • & \)en f e kni3t
swaris :
"Sire, I was sent on a sand * my-seH on a time, 2524
To Philip his fadere • to feclie oure trouage ;
Jjare had I si3t of fe segg • his sapient I herde.
For-)ji plese it to jom?* person • 30ure princes a-semble?,
Of Mede of Mesopotane • ])e men of Itaile, 2528
\)e pupiH of Appolomados * fe panthis folke,
And ma ]>at houes to ^our best • a hundreth & fifti.
Lat vs gedire \)us oure gomes • oure gods wiH vs help ;
And quen he sesse vs sike a sowme • sare will he drede,
5a, bot a wolfe, quod a wee • wiH were many
flokkis,! 2533
And so fe grace of fe grekis • ouire-gos pe barbers."
Be ))is ser Ph[27/p] son pe fers • of fe3tand? folk
Had semblidf ane vnsene sowme • as Jje buke sais,
Twa C. mVe in thede • all: 2 of threuen krn^tis.
Eidis furth in aray • removis his tentz's ; 2538
2538*
[Fol. i4.]
He bathes in ,
cold river.
and has a fever.
Vn-to a watere he wendis • as fe buke tellis,
\)at wzt/i J)a marchesmen • Mociafi was batten; 2540
It was clerire pan cristaH • & cole as a cliiH ;
)5are-in couet oure kyng * his cors for to bathe.
Viith pat fan wan of his wede • & weschid hbn aH ouire,
Quare-J>ur3e he bent slike a barme • at batzVly him
greue(J. 2544
)5is chele eftir chaufing • enchafis so his hemes,
)3at be was fallen in a feuire • or he first wend.
' MS. flolkis, i. e. flokkis. * Added in the margin.
Dublin.] OF the wolf and the sheep, 147-
For A[lexander] always • or ony of hys "hemes, 2517
'Nates hym-self in ony nede • & so hys name rysys."
" Sir, on my pereH," quod a prince • " lie passes all oJ>er ;
J3e wee wyrches aH with witte • & worthes ay fe better ;
For-J)i of fe lyon, as I lefe • laght he hys byrth." 2522
** What knawez ]>ou ])at1 " quod J)e kyng • & Jien fe knyght
answers :
" Sir, I was send on a sond • my-self on a tyrae, 2524
To philip hys fader • to feche hys trowage ;
j)ar hed I syght of Jje segge • hys sapiens I herd.
For-jji pies it yow?«' p(??'son * ^our princes assembles,
Off niedy & of mesopothany • pe men of ytalle, 2528
The peple of appolomados • fe pe^-anthez folkez,
And mo fen hewen^ to yoiw heystez ' a hundreth & fyfty.
Let vs gedir to vs our gomez • our goddes wyll vs help ;
And Avhen he seys vs suche a sowme • sore AvyH he drede.
3a, hot jjen a wolfe, quod fe we • wyll wery mony
flokkez, 2533
And so jjc grace of fe grekez ' ouergose pe barbves."
By )jis sir philip son \ie fers • of fightand bernes
Had semblyd hym a sowme vnsene • & Jius says pe text,
Two hundreth thousand in thede • aH of thro knyghtez.
Kydez furth in aray • remewys hys tenter, 2538 [FoI. 28 6.]
And thoght to loge ])ar & rest* • & ease hym fat
nyght. 2538*
VntiH a water he wendes • as fe writt shewys,
J3at with J)e marche-meii * of Mocian es haldyn ; 2540
Clerar fen cnstall • & cold as a chyH ;
And f aHn couett fe kyng* • hys Cors to be bathyd,
"With fat fai wan of hys wedez • & wessh hym all ouer,
"Whar-forow he h}Tit suche a harme • frtt hetterly hym
grefyd. 2544
The chele after chawfyng * enchafys so hys harmes,
j)at he was fallen in a feu^r • or he lest wende.
' Sic ; read liouen.
H3
ALEXANDER IS HEALED OF A
FE\'ER [Ashmole.
His men are
Borry.
Alexander <^end3
for a pliysician
named Philip,
who says he will
eoou heal bim.
Parmeon hates
Philip,
and tells
Alexander not
to trust him.
But Alexander
drinks.
[Fol. 41 6.]
Philip says he is
guiltless.
Alexander is
fish-whole.
Alexander
thanks Philip,
jjan moMJTied all fe Messedons • as meruaiH ware ellis.
}3ai saje him so to be seke • said ilkane to othire : 2548
" Be ))is disese to ser Darie • & his dukis knawen,
He saH vs sett on a-saute • & surely eD[c]ounbre."
If fai were sary & so • na seUy me thingke,
For ay fe hele of fe hede • helpis all fe menbris. 2552
|)an callis to him fe conquiroMr • a clerke of his awen,
Ane Philip, his fesisiane ' his fare to behalcJ ;
Of al manere of medcyne • man fat maste couthe,
A jonge berdles barne • as fe buke tellis, 2556
Said : " lat li3tly my lord • for in a litiH stonde
My-self with a serop • saH saue 30W be-lyue."
J3an permeon \)e proude • a prince of his ost,
j)at held J)e erth of Ermonye • & enmyte hadcJ 2560
Vn-to fis clerke of fe kyngjs • & be no cause els
Bot for ]je lede was loued • & with J)e lord chereschest ;
J3an ames he to ser Alexaiider • on ane slike a pistiH :
" Kepis 30W," qiiod he, " conquirojo* • & caches nojt his
drenke; 2564
For Darius eftir his deth • his dojter has him hijt.
And 30W to sla be som slejt • to sese him his landis."
3it was fe berne nojt a bene • baist of his word/s,
He asurid him so sadly • ))e serep he takis, 2568
\)e licor in his awen looue • J)e letter in J?e tothire,
And into Phili[pi]s face • fast ^ he behaldw.
He bad him dred neuire a dele • & it drink swyth, 2571
And fan Jje pistill of fe prince * he put him in hand.
J3e leche lokid ouire fe lynes • " my lording*," he saidf,
" I am nojt gilty of fis gUe • be att fe grete gods ! "
As fast was he fysche-hale • & Philip he callis,
Halsis him fuH hertly â– & of his hele thankis, 2576
Said, " wele knew fou my kynd • lufe fi concience.
First suposid I of \>i serop • syne sesid fe fe lettm
" Mi louely lord!, be ^our leue • lattes him a-pere,
J3e tulk at sike a trayne • has touchid to my-selfe." 2580
' MS. face face fast.
Dublin.] BY PHILIP THE PHYSICIAN. 149
jjen murnyd all pe massydons ' as mwyeU. wer ellez.
"When fai hym sawe so be seke • sayd ichone to ojier :
** Be ])is disease to s/j* Dary • & to hys dukez knawyfi.
He sail vs sett oa a-saute • & surely vs Combre."
Yflf J)ai wer sory & so • no selly me thynke, 2551
For ay jje heylh of ]?e hede • helpis att J;e membrys.
Jjen callys to bym fe Conquerour • a clerke of hys Awne,
On philipp, hys fysycyan • hys fare to byholde ;
Oflf all maner of medycine • man fat most kowth,
A 3ong berdles ' bern • as ])e buke tellys, 2556
Sayd : " letes lyghtly my lord • for in a lytyH stounde
My-self with a Syrope ' shall safe you bylyfe."
)jen was \)ai' permeon fe prouud • a prince of hzs hoste,
j)at held \>q erth of Ermony • & enmyte hed 2560
Vnto Jjis Clerke of J)e kengez • & be no cause ellez
Bqt for J)e lede was lofed • & wit/i fe lord cheryst ;
\)en says he to si> A[]exander] • anone suche a pystyll :
" Kepys you," quod he, " Conquerowr • & kachez nott hys
drynkez; 2564
For Darius after hys deth • hys doghter base hym hyght,
And you to sla by som slyght • to seyse hym hys landez."
Yitt was J)e bern not a beyne • bassyd of hys wordez,
He assuryd hym so sadly • fe syroppe he fangez, 2568
Jje licowr in hys Awne lofe • jje letter in J)e tolper,
And into philipp face • fast he byholdes. [Foi. 29.1
He bad hym drede neuer a dele • bot drynke it Swyth,
And ])en pe pistyH of fe prince • he put hym in hand.
The leche lukyd ouer J)e lynes • " my lordyng," he sayd,
" I ne am noght gylty of fis • by all J)e godes owte ! "
Als fast was he fyssh-hole • & philip he clepys,
Halsys hym fuH hertly • & of hys heylle thankez, 2576
Sayd, " wele knew J)ou my kynde • fi conscience I lofe.
First suppyd of fi syroppe ' syne sesyd pe my letter,
" My lofely Lord, be 3oyr leffe • lettes hym apere, 2579
The tulke \)at suche a trayne • has attachyd to my-seluen."
' The d is above the line.
150
ALEXANDER BRIDGES THE EUPHRATES.
[Ashmole.
who suggests
tliat Permeon
should be sent for
and beheaded.
Alexander wins
Media and
Armenia,
and makes a
bri<lge over
the Euplirates.
His men fear to
cross.
He sends over
lads and grooms
and then crosses
himself.
The rivers Tigris
and Euphrates.
ITol. 45.]
He cuts the
cables in two.
He says, " We
cannot now flee.
We will never
return till we
conquer."
J)an eftiV ser Permes liis prince * pres'ly he sendis,
And fare fe trechoure was taiie • & for his t?-ayne
hedi(J.
)3an mouys he fuith wi't/i his men • & Medy he wynnys
Enterly to his empire • & Ermonye fe mare. 2584
Till a dissert fan he drafe • was dry & na watere,
j)\iT^e Adriac till Eufraten • & ames fare his tent/5,
And mas a brig* ouire fe bowrne • of Barges' with
cheynes ;
Comandis his kni3tw ouire to caire " & ])ar fai vncachid^
hertis. 2588
)5ai sa3e f e streme so stife • it stonaid f am att,
For ferd fe festing^ suld faile • & fai in fe flode droune.
j)an mas he laddis ouire to len^ • & lokars of bestis, 259 1
And monestis fam ilk modire-soii • him maynly to teH.
3it was his bara tours a-baist • & fen fe heme writhis,
Faudis him first on be-fore • & all folojes eftiV.
)?an passid fare out of Paradese • twa proude FIu??zmes,
Ipurje Medy & Messopotane • fai move, as I fynd, 2596
And so to" Babilon fai bowe • ane is fe bowrne of Tygre,
pG tothire is Eufrates fuU euera • & ry?mes so to Sylus.
pan cutis* f e kyng in to f e cablis * & to his km-^Us sais :
" Lo ! f of vs fan now to flee ' we may na ferryre
wend? ; 2600
Jjare I rede," qjiod fe kyng • "oure bakis nemV to
tume,
And if we did, wzt/^-outen dome • to die aH at anes;
For he fat folowid has ai fe floure • & he at flecJ
neuire.
Bees li3t & laches 30W a lose • it is a lord gamen. 2604
For I make a-vow at Messedone • we saH na mare see,
Tin att fe barbres vs bow • fan may we blith turne."
• MS. Bargos. * MS. cachid, with vn above.
' In the margin. * MS. tutis.
Dublin.] HE CUTS off his means of retreat. 151
}?en afte?- for permeon liys prince ' prestely he sendee,
And par Jje trechowr was tane • & for hys trayne hated.
\)en mevys he forth -with hys men • & medy he wynnez
Enterly to hys empyre * & Ermonye fe more. 2584
To a deserte fen he drof • was dry & no waterez,
Throgh andriake to eufraten • & settes par hys tenies,^
And askez a brigg ouer fe burne • of bargez viiih
chynez ;
Co?)niiandes hys knyghtez ouer to carye * fai hed kokell
hertes, 2588
Seghen pe streme be so styff • fai stoned pe helder,
For lest pe festynyng' had fay 1yd • & Jjaim pe flude drenchyd.
|3en makys laddes oner to lend • & lokers of bested, 2591
And monyshyd fen iche mode?-son • faim manly to sewe.
3itt wer hys baratours abaist • & fen pe bern wrothed,
Foundez first on before • & all folows after.
\)ar passys owt of paradyse • twa brade flomes,
Throgh medy & mesopothany • fai mouen, as I fynd, 2596
And so to babyloyne fai bowe • fat is f e burne of tigre,
j)at oper is eufrates fuH euen • rynnez so to Nilus. fgj^yg .
J5en Cuttes f e kyng in two hys cablys • & to hys knyj7//tes
" Lo ! fof vs fallys no we to flee • we may no ferre wend;
Jjarfore I breke," quod pe heme • " our bakkez neuer to
tome, 2601
And if we did, wit/iowtyn dome • to dye all at ones ;
For he fat f olows base f e floure • & he flees neuer. [Foi. 29 6.]
Be light & lachys fou lose • it is a lordez gamme. 2604
For I make a-wowe fat massydoyn • shaU see vs no more,
TyU all f e barbrens vs bowe • fen^ may we blyth bee."
' I£e)'e follon'x — And {^e knyghtez of {jc coste as )>ai f e case
Beghen ; but this is I. 2641, out of place.
" Above the line in MS.
1 2
152
DARIUS COLI-ECTS AN ARMY.
[Asliinole.
Darius collects
an array.
Alexander meets
him.
Trumpets are
blown.
Knights charge.
There is hard
fighting.
Darius is grieved
to see liis men
beaten.
One Persian
warrior is told he
may mairy
Darius' dai
if he slays
Alexander.
'hter
2616
2619
Fntrecimus passus ^Uxandri.
Now has ser Darie J>e derfe ' of dukis & princes
Heued vp a hoge est • & fyue hundreth knijtzs
Ere chosen to chif tans • & chargid ^aim to lede ; 2609
Trott/s him on to Tigre^ • & fare his tentis settts ;
)pan mett J)ai on j^e o))ire morne • -with a meklH nombre,
Sire Alexander Ipe hathiH • armed on blonkis. 2612
J5e miJtitude ware to me ' meruaile to rekeii,
}3at sawmed was on ai\)ir side • many sadd thousand.
Now ere J>e baners out-bred • & fe bate ne3is,
Blew bemys of bras • buskis to-gedire,
pe crie of )?e clarions • pe cloudis it pej'syd ;
For J)e dewt^ of pe dyn • daunced stedis.
Bathe fe twa batails • bremely assemblis,
And aithire segg vfiih his sowme • so3t vn-to^ othire.
Kni3t;'5 on cursoi«-s • kest fan in fewtire,
Taches in-to targeti's • tamed Jiaire brenys.
|5are was stomling of stedis • sticking* of erles,
Sharpe schudering of schote • schering of mailes, 2621
So stalworthly -within a stond • sterid paim fe grekis,
\)at of fe barb[r]yne blod • aH fe fild liowis.
Sone as ser Darie fe deth • of his douth sees,
])G pite of fie Persens • him prickis in his saule, 2628
Sees his meneje so niynesch • & his men fangid,
A few fat fresch ware vndefoulid * & to fe fli3t
toM?-nes.
3it Avas ane of his ost • ane odd man of strentfe,
A burly berne & a bald • as fe buke tellis, 2632
A segg at he ensurid had? * to sese him his dojtzV,
If he mi3t sla •with any slejt • fe senioMr of grece.
He cled him aH in clene stele • a conyschaunce ouire,
j)at made was & merkid • on fe messedone armes, 2636
Aires him to scr Alexander ' in aH-f zV-mast puple,
MS. Tirgre, cor reefed to Tigre.
' vn in the margin.
* Bead dowt.
Publin.] ' ALEXANDER ATTACKS HIM. 15^
[SEntiecimus Passus.]
Howe hafys sir Dary fe derf • of dukez & pnncez
Hefyd vp a hoge hoste • of fyfe C knyghtez 2608
Er chosyn for chyftanes ' & chargett ]jaim to lede ;
Trottes on to tygre • & far hys teiites seites ;
Jjen mette Jjai on \>e tojjs?' morne • with a muclie nombre,
Sir Alexander & hys atheH men • armed on ])ar blonkez.
The multitude to me • wer merveH to Eeken, 2613
|)e[r] sammed was on pat oper syde • mony sad hundreth.
Nowe er pes bane/'s oute brade • & fe bates neghez,
Blew hemes of brase • & buskyn to-gedre, 2616
)5e cry of pe Clarions • the clodez it persyd ;
And for doute of pe dynne * dauncen sted65.
Both pe two batels • bremly assemble,
And seggez with hys soumez • soght vnto oper. 2620
Knytes on fair coursours • kestyn in fewtre,
Tachyng into targettes • tamyd fair brynnes.
j^ar was stomblyng of stedes • stykkyng of Erles,
Sharpe shoderyng of shote • sheryng of malys, 2624
So stalwartly in a stounde • steryn faim pe grekez,
\)at of Jje Barbren blode • all pe bent flowez.
Sone as sir Dary pe deth. • of hys doghty hedys,
The pite of pe persyens • hym pnkkez in hys sawle, 2628
Seys hys meyn3e so amenyst ' & hys men fonged,
A ffew fat fresh wer vndefowled • to f e flyght tumes.
5yt was on wer of hys oste • an odde man of Strenth,
A borely heme & a bald • als fe buke teUys, 2632
A segge fat he sured hed • to seyse hym hys doghter,
Yf he myght slae with ony sleght • f e seneour of grece.
He clad hym all in clene stele • a Conyscaunce ouer,
\)at mad was & markyd • on massidons armes, 2636
Kay res hym to sir Alexander] • in all fe most prese,*
' Catchn-ord — as he.
154
A PERSIAN WOUNDS ALEXANDER.
[Ashmole.
He comes
behind the king.
and wounds him
ill tlie liead.
Alexander asks
why he hit liiin ;
the Persian being
dressed as a
Macedonian.
" I am no
Macedonia
I did this to
gain Darius'
daughter."
[Fol. 46.]
••Wlatsliall be
done to him ? "
says the king.
" Lei liini be
hung or burnt,"
answer his
counsellors.
" Nay, lie only
did as lip was
told to do,"
replies the king.
As he a hathiH ware of his * behind! him he stelis,
A bri3t brynnand brand â– he braidis out of shethe,
And pur^e-out Jje helme in-to f e hede • he hurt hi??i a
littiH. 2640
And fe kni3tzs of oure cost • as fai fe cas sa^e,
]jan fange ])ai fis ilk freke * & be-fore fe kyng hrjngis.
" Quat nowl my worthi werreowrsl" * jse wale kyng
said,
He wend wele at he ware * a wee of his aweii, 2644
" Qui has J)OU brest so my brayn • & ^vith a brand
wondid
^our sekire seruant in same • aH were I sire callid,
AH ware I halden as for hede • ^our helpere at nede 1 "
" ^ay, hope ^e neuire," qicod fe hathit • " ser hije
empe?'oure, 2648
Me any Messedone to be • fou ames of fine awen,
Bot of cruell kind ' comen of barbres.
And )jis I did for ser Darii^s • his do^tir me hi3t, 2651
And cordid on Jiis condicion • to couple hire to wyfe,
And he went out of fe werd * to wild? all his regne,
To hew J)i hede fra fi hals • & anys it him shewe."
)3an caUis oure kyng him his kn.i^tis'^ • })aire consaile to
frayn,
" Quat saH be done him for J)is dede ] " ' & J:ai bedene
sware, 2656
SiiJW, at he hangid suld be hije ' snm Jjb hede priued!,
8nm bedis in a bale-fire * brin him to poudire.
" Quat has he fauted ? " quod \>e frek ' ** Jjof he him
forced haue
pe charges 2 of his chiftan • chefely to fin 1 2660
He fat him demes to fe dede • he dampnes hi??i-selfe,
And dibits him his awen dome • & fat dare I proue.
For demed I any of my douth * se?- darye to spiH, 2663
As 36 fis gentiH man enioyne • suld him be iug'd fen."
' The first i above the line,
' MS. Changs, n-ith stroke above ^s.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER PARDONS HIM. 155
As he an atheH war of hys • b[e]hynd hym he stelez, [Foi. so.]
A bryght brynnand brand * he brade owt of sheth,
And Jjorow J)e hehne into jjc heued • he hurt hym a
lytyH. 2640
And fe knjghies of fe coste * as ])ai fe case sawgh,
pQii fange fai pis ilke freke • & byfore fe kyng brynggez.
" What nowe 1 my worthi werayowr " • fe wale kyng
sayd,
He wend fat witterly it were • a wee of hys awne, 2644
" Why base f ou bryssyd so my brane • & wit^ a swerd
woundet
Your sekir sej-uand in same • aH wer I sir clepyd,
AH wer I haldyn for hede • ^our helpar at nede ] "
" Nay, hope neue?-^," qiiod pe atheH • "sir hegh Emperoure,
Me ony massydoii to be • pan myssys of fi Awne, 2649
Bot of ]5e crueH kynde • Comen of j^e barbrys.
And pus I dyd, for sir Darius • hys doghter hyght me.
And cordytt vnder pis condicion • to coupill hir to wyfe,
And qwen he went of pis warld ' to weld all hys realrae,
To hewe pi hede from pi halse * & onys it hym shewe."
Now kyng Alexander callys pen hys knjgJiies • pair counsell
to frayne,
** What suld be done hym for pis dede" • & pai by dome ^
sone, 2656
Some, pat he hanged suld be • & some pe hede pershed,^
Some hydes in a bale-fyre * hym bryn all to poudre.
" What hase he fautyd?" quod pe freke • " pof he hym
forsyd hafe
The charge of hys chiftane • chefely to fylle 1 2660
He pat hym demys to be dede • he dampnes hym-seluen.
And dytes hys awne dome • & pat dar I p7rfe.
For demyd I ony of my doghty ' sir dary to spyH, 2663
As he is * genteH-man enjoyne • suld hym-self be iugged pen."
1 ?
MS. ncreuer. * Read bcden. ^ MS. prishyd.
* Rr.ad je this.
[56
ALEXANDER TAKES DARIUs' TREASURE, [Ashniole.
yvitli his hele,
He dismisBes tiie He lat{s fe Versjn in pesse • j
Persian in peace, -tr t -ix c ^ • - ^ o c i •
MekiH lor nis mayn strenth • & for his mijt praysed.
Darius assembles
bis men,
bat takes (
flight.
Alexander takes
Batran,
and finds Daiins'
treasure, and his
wife and
children.
A Persian prince
snys he has
served Darius for
naught,
[Fol. 46 6.]
and ofTers to
deliver up
Darius.
Alexander
refuses.
A letter.
" Darius' satraps
to their lord
As sone as Darye fe derfe • of fis dede heris, 2667
\)at he was^ sauyd vnslayne * he semblis his kny^tis,
Vp to a ini3ti montayne • his men ])aire he schewis,
And? gessis him wele fare to degrayd • |)e grekis maisttr.
J3an fandis he furth in-to fe fild? • & fled als beliue,
And Alexander with his ost * him asperly folowedf 2672
Eijt to j)e bu[r]3e of Batran • & bildid fare his tentiW,
Mas hi??z glad^ with his ginge • & to his godis offii"s.
j)e cite fan he assailid • & sesid on fe morne, 2675
WitA all fe buries \iare a-boute * & busked fare his sete.
pSLve fand he tresoztr vntalcJ • & als f e trew spouse
Of ser Dary, bath his dame • & aH his dere childire.
Now dose hi»i fra Darius • a dereworth prince,
Aires to se?' Alexandei- ' adoures him lawe, 2680
" I haue erdid with joure enmy • ser emperoure," he said*,
" As soiet serued haue I fat sire • many sere wynt/r ;
And all my trauaill I tint * for tuke I no gudes.
Eot wald it now ^our worthines * to wend w/t7i
my-selfe, 2684
A ten M/l/e vs take * of tulkis enarmed,
I saU 30W hete in joure hand • to haue at joure wiH
Sire Dary, with f e mast dole • of his derfe erles."
" Nay, leue, lat ane," quod f e lord • " fen leue I^ no
straungers, 2688
j)at fo?i be Willi in fi witt • to werray fine awen,
Ne tell fou me nojt fat tale • I trow no3t f i wordis."
Be f is ser Dary fro his diikis ' deuysid his pistiH :
\)e kyng of kyngs was calHd • & clere god bathe, 2692
Jjus, vndirstand I, was f e stile • & sti3t in f are-ef ttV : *
" ^our satrapaires, 3o^/r seruant • with seruand obeschen ;
' III the margin.
'•' MS. ginge glad, 7vith ginge struck through.
MS. leue )>* ; ivith y altered to I. * or estir.
Dublin.] TOGETHER WITH DARIUS* WIFE AND CHILDREN, 157
He latte* pe persen in pes • pas with hys heyle,
Mekyll for hys mayne^ strenth • & for hys myght doys
pmyss.
Als sone as sir Dary ])e derfe • of ))is deJe herys, 26G7
l)at he was saflfed so vnslayne • he semhles hys kncghtez,
Vp tyll a maghty^ mountane • hys men far he schewez,
And gessys hym ^itt degrad • fe grekyn maister. 2670
]jen foundez he forth in-to pe feld • & fled als belyfe,
And A[lexander] with hys hoste • hym asperly folows
Eight to J>e burgh of batran • & byggyd far hys tentes, [Foi. so 6.]
And makez hym glad with hys geng • & to hys goddez offers.
Jje Cyte pan he assay 1yd • & sesyd it vppon fe morne,
With all fe burghes par aboute • & buskett par hys sete.^
par fand tresowr* vntalde • & pe trew spouse 2677
0[f] sir Dary, both hys dame • & hys dere chelder.
Now doys hym on from Darius • a darworth prince,
Kayres hym to alexan£?er ' & adours hym lowe, 2680
" I haue erdyd with jour enmite • sir empe?-our," he sayd,
" As sugett seruyd pat syre • mony sere wynter ;
And all my traveU I tynt • for tuke I no gudez.
Bot wald now yowr worthynes • to wende with m}'-
seluen, 2684
And ten thouusand vs lake • of tulkez ennarmed,
I shaU you hete hym in jour hand • to haue at yo?/r wille
Sir Dary, witt pe most dele • of hys derfe Erles."
" "Na, leyfe, lett be," quod pe lord ' " par leuyn pe no lede,
Jjat pan be willy in ]?i witte * to werre fine awne, 2689
Na tell pon me not pat tale • I trowe noght fi wordez."
By fis sir Dary fro hys dukez • devyse[d] hath a pistyH :
The kyng of kyngez he hym cald • & clere god both, 2692
)jus, vnderstandyng I, was pe style • &styght in far-after :
" 3our satrapers, yowr soueraynte â– with seruise obeysshyng ;
' MS. maynte. * So in MS. ' MS. fete.
* MS. tiiresour.
158
DARIUS WRITES TO ALEXANDER,
[Ashmole.
Alexander has
deleuted us.
Helpi
A letter.
" Darius to
Alexander.
Thou Ukenest
tliy lowness tn
my height.
Thou lackest
wings.
[Fol. 47.]
I have heard of
thy kindness to
my kin.
This will not
make me thy
Iriend.
Work tliem harm,
if thou wilt."
Sire, we haue wayued to 30W wriths * 3it write we fe
same.
How J)is maistiV of Messedone • has on oure marcliis
entrid, 2696
Brynd vp oure biggingis • bretted oure knijtis.
And we ouire-sett be to sare • to suffire any langire.
ror-]ji ^our dignite bydene • we drerily be-seke,
A gayns ])e force of oure faa • vs forthire a quile." 2700
Queii he had red aH: fe rawis • for rancour he swellis.
And out ofi-ane to AleKande^- • aH Jjus he writis.
" I, Dary, ^vith pe dignite • fe diademe of Persee,
Of aH fe kyngts fe kyng • fat corouned was euire, 2704
To J)e, my seruand, I say • as me was sent late,
How J)i lawnes & p'l litillaike • ]:ou lickyns to my lii3t.
Bot parde, Jji prouidence * inpossible it semes,
A heuy As to be houyn • vp to fe sternes, 2708
A thing threuyn is & thike • & |)arnes f e wyngis,
And fautis fe fethirhames • & fe tti3t-loomes.
For-J)i J)i mynd neu^V ]>& mare • lat raounte in-to pride
For chance of na cheuahy • jrot ]>uu. a-cheued base. 2712
For vertu ne no victori • ne vant noght J>i-selfe ;
He fat enhansisi him to he3e * fe heldire he declynes.
I haue herd of Jji hendlaike • of heraudis & of othire,
Of pi noblay now newe time • a-nentes my modire.
Bathe to my Avyfe & to my barnes • quat bounte pon
shewis, 2717
Quat curtassy & kyndlaike • I ken alto-gedire.
Bot surely aH J?e seson • fat fou f am so pleses,
\)o\i fangis me neuire to f i frynd * fyne quen fe likis.
And if f ou Avirke fai?^ aU f e wa • & wrak at fou may,
J3e mare vnfryndschip parioie • fall sail fe neuire ;
For-fi to put fam to pyne • I pray fe no3t Avande, 2723
For myn angire on fine arrogance â– saH at f e last kindiH."
MS. ens enhansis ; with ens exjJiincted.
Dublin.] BIDDING HIM NOT TO PRESUME. 159
Sir, we haue send to you written • jitt writte we J)e
How fis luaiste?- oute of massidoyne • our marches hath
enteryd, 2G96
Brynt vp our biggenges • bryttynd our kneghtez,
And we ouersett be so sore • to suffre ouy lenger.
For Avhi your dignite bedene ' we derely besekyn,
Ayayne \ie force of our foes • vs furthers a while." 2700
When he had rekkend all ]je rawes • for rankowr he swellez,
And oute anone to A [lexander] • aH Jjus he writtez : ^pistoia.
*' I, Dary, w/t/( )je dignite - ]5e dyademe of pers,
Of an kyngez kyng • \int Crouned was euer, 2704
To J)e, ray se/-uand, I say • als me was sent late,
How \)o\x^ loAvnys in )?i lityllake ' \ion likens to my hert.
Bot pa?-dej J)i p7-ouydens ^ • inpossible it semys,
A hevy asse to heff • on hye to ]?e sternes, 2708 [Fol si.]
A thyng fat thryffyn is and thyke • & fames ' wengez,
And fawtes bath fe fethirhames • & fe flyght-lomes.
For-fi mynd neuer fe more • to mounte fe to pryde
For chaunce of no chevallry • fat fou chefyd base. 2712
For vertew ne victory • avaunte noglit fi-selfe ;
He fat enhaunses hym to hygh • f e lawer he declines.
I haue herd 3it of f i hynlake • at harhalde* & at of 6?*,
0[f] fi noblay nowe anew • anence my awyn modre. 271G
Both to my bird & my barnes • qwat bou?jte f ou schewys,
What cM?-tasy & hyndlake • I ken aH-to-geder.
Bot surly all f e seson • f ou f aim so pies,
\)on fonnge*' me neuerto fi frend • fyne if fou likez. 2720
)pe more frendship f arfore • fall shall f e neuer ;
For-fi put faim to pyne • I pray fe nogh[t] wonnd, 2723
For my angre on f i arrogaunce • sail at f e last kyndyH ;
Jjarfor do fou fi best • god forbyd fou* spare." 2724*
' Head yi. * MS. pe^'uydens. 3 jjg jarnes.
* MS. f;an, altered to \>o\i.
160
ALEXANDER WRITES TO DARIUS.
[^shmole.
A letter.
" Alexander to
Darius.
The ifods hale
â–¼auity.
I apply this to
thee.
who »o boastest.
Thou upbraidest
Die foi- shewing
kindness.
[Fol. 47 6 ]
I did it not 10
please lliee, but of
my own bounty.
Let this letter be
Alexander writes
to nis princes.
The letter.
" Aleiander
Quen hei hadf lokid ouir fe lines • he la3es at his wordis,
And ditis agayn to ser Dary • pis dete pat folo3es :
IT " I, Alexander, pe eldest • & all myne ane
Of.kyng Ph[ilip] & his fere • fat frely lady, 2728
Honourd Olimpades • pat anely me fostercT,
To pe kyng of Persy • pis prolouge 1 write :
Sire, vanite & vayne-glori • & vices of pride
J)a ere pe gaudis, as I gesse • pat all gods hatis, 2732
And ilka dedly douth • pai driffe pam to punescfi,
|5at has drijten of vndedlynes • drajen pai??i to name.
Jjis si/?wlitude to pi-selfe • I say aU-to-gedire,
\)at a-suris so in pi surquitry • & sesis neuire-mare 27 3G
To host ne to blasfeme • blyn will pou nouthire.
Bot for pi gold & pi gudis • a god pou pe makis,
\)on vp-braydis me for pe beute * pat I pi blod schewi<l,
As to pi modire I mene • & to pi mery childir, 2740
Jjare mas pou pe to malicole * & meenes for litiH.
I wrojt it nopire for pi will • ne for pi^ wale tlirete.
If I kid pain curtassy • it come fra my-selfe,
Haly of oiu-e awen hert • & of oure hynd the wis ; 2744
Ne we prid vs for na prouwis • predestayned we ere,
Oure gods gayn vs pare-to • pat gretly pou spises.
Latt now pis lettie be pe last • & loke to pi-selfe, 2747
For sekire & on my surement • I seke^ jow agayus."
jjis brefe he bedis pam to here • pat brojt him pe topire.
And takis pam of his tresoui-e * & twynnes with pai»i
faire. 2750
Quen pai to Pe?-sy ware past • a pistill he enfowrmes,
Wrate a writt of his will • so sendis to his princes,
His s«ruand25 & his seneschaU^ * out of sere rewmes.
And pus comandis he pam clene • pe kyng his stile.
IT " I, Alexander, pat as aire • avaunced is in grece,
pe son of Ph[ilip] pe fers • as I first tale?, 2756
And als of Olimpades • myne honM?-able modire,
• Above the line.
* MS. se slk, blotted, and altered to seke in the margin.
Dublin.] HE ALSO writes to his own prixces. 161
"When hie lukyd oner |)e lynes • he smyllys at hys wordes,
And dyte^' ayayn to sir Dary • ]je deteys J)'«t folows :
"I, A[lexander], Jje eldest • & aH my one Epw<o/a.
Of kyng philip & liys fere • pat frehch lady, 2728
Honord Olymphades • pat only me fosterd,
To Jje kyng owte of pej-sye • J)is prolong I Avritte :
Sir, vanyte & vaneglory • & vicys of pride
J3es er fie gawdes, I ges • ])at fees goddejj hatez, 2732
And iche dedly do • pai dreffe pahn to ponysh,
pat hase dryghten of vndediynes • drawyn Jjaim onone.
)3is si??ii'litude of fi-self • I say a^-to-geder,
])at assurys so pi surquidry * & seses neuer more 273G
To host &. to blasfleme^ • blyn wyll pou. nowjjer.
Bot for })i gold & ))i gudez • a god pou. pe makys,
Jjou vpbardez- me for pe bewte • pat I fi blude schewyd,
As to J)i moder I mene * & to p\ mery childer, 2740
j3ou makys pe to malycole • & menys pe for lityH. [FoI. si 6.]
I wroght it nowder for fi wille • ne for f)i wale thoghf.
Yff I kyd fjaim ony c^rtasy • it Come of my-seluen,
Holy of owr awne lierf * & of our hend thewys ; 2744
!Na we p?7'de vs for no prowez • predestinate vs here,
Our goddei' gyffyn vs par-to • pat grettly pow dispysys.
L'itt nowe ]jis lettt^r be last* • & luke to ])i-seluen,
For sekerly w^it//oute suremenf • I seche pe agayns." 2748
)pis brefe he bidde*^ ))aiin here • pat broght hym pe toper,
Takys psun. of hys tresour • & twynnys with faim faire.
When fai to persye was past* • a pistyll he enformes,
AVrote a writte of hys wille • & wafed to hys Princez,
Hys seruandes & hys senescals ' oute of sere lander, 2753
And Jjus Comandes he paim clene • pe kyng in hys style.
" I, A[lexander], pat as heyr • av«unsyd am in grece,
pe son of philipp pe fers • as I first told, 2756
And also of Olympades * my honorable lady,
' Head blasfeme. '•' Head vpl radez.
ALEXANDER. M
162
to l)i9 princes,
peers,
e;irl3>
knights.andlorJs.
S^nd skins
of beasts to
Alexaiuiriu,
and send the furs
on to tlie
Euphrates on
camels."
Nnstanda
of Darius,
a duke
wiites.
" Nostanda
to liis lord.
It errieves me to
Two of our chief
princes liave
perished in battle.
I scarce escaped.
ALEXANDER SENDS FOR SKINS AND FURS. [Aslimole.
jjus send I to my satraparis • my princes & my dukes,
My pers out of ^ siphagoyne • salut/** & grace,
Of |)e sele of Surry • my seggis & myfa erles, 27GO
My knijtis out of Capados • & all my kid lordis,
})e ledis out of Laudace • & all J)e landis out-by.
I comantJ 30W on jje clere faitlie • |;at 36 my croune a^e,
)3at belyue to Alysaundire • fat is myn awen cite, 2764
j)at ilkane of 30W send be yowr-selfe • of sere slayu bcstw,
Of fresch & of fyne wro3t • fellis a thousand,
Sum grayne to be ne])ire gloues • graythid to my kni3< /.-•,
Sum pured! pelloure depurid • to put in oure wedis, 2768
Lat kest ]jam apoii camels • pat in jjat kith lengis.
And aires with J)ai?« to Eufrateu • ]jis erand haues in
myndf."
))an was a man, as me mynes • in fie morne-qwile,
Was of ser Daris a duke • Jje derfe Emperoure, 2772
Ane Jjflt Nostanda was namecJ • & a noble prince,
pat certified his souerane * \iir sa3es in a pistiH :
IT " Sire Dari, duke of ilk a douth • & dri3ten jji-selfe,
j)e grete gtorius god ' graythid in Jji^ trone, 2776
Nostanday, to ^our nobilnes • \>at ay my nek bowis.
With seruage to 3our senwrie • my-selfe I comancK
It semed no3t 30ure seruand • sire, vndistreyned
Vn-to 30ur mekill maieste • Jjis mater to write, 2780
Bot I am depely distressid • J)is dede for to wirke.
And made Jjis myscheffe to myn • malegrefe my chekis.
For wete it wele 3owr worthines • fat of our wale^ princes
Twa of fe tethiest ere tint • & termync? of lyue, 2784
J3at lost was now fe last day • a litiH fra Tygre,
In batail apon bent filif • in-bland vfith fe grekis.
pare was I gird to fe gron(J • & greuously wounditJ,
Vnnethe it cheuyd me fat chance* • to chape to fe fli3t^;
And ofire many of oure men • mi3tfutt' kni3tw, 2789
' MS. oft.
faes crossed throvgh.
' ' )3i ' blotted in MS.
* MS. can chance ; can struck out,
* MS. fil3t.
Dlll)lill.] NOSTANDA WRITES TO DARIUS. 163
}?U3 send I to my satrapars • salutez of grace,
My peres oute of prynphagoyne • my princez & my dukez,
Of J)e seneour of surry • my seggez & my erlez, 27G0
My knyt^s oute of Capadoce • & all my kyd Lordez,
The ledei- oute of Landace • & all fe Landes vmbe.
I cowjmand you on fe Clere fayth • fat 30 my crowne awe,
Jjat als belyfe to alexaunde?' • vnto my awne Cyte, 2764
Ilk one send be )jaim-self ' of sere slayn bestes,
Off fresh & of fyne slayn ' fellys a thouusand,
Some grayne to be grathyd " to my bernez byhofe,
Some puryd i>e\our & depuryd • to put in our wedes, 27G8
Aiid cast fiaira vppon camels • fat in fat kyth lenges.
And karys with faim to eufraten • )is erand haue in
mynd."
)3e[n] was a man, as me of menys • in f e morne-while,
Was of sir Daryus a duke * fe derf emperoure, 2772
One fat Nostandy was namyd • a noble Prince, [Foi. s2.]
J3at certyfyed hys souerente • fees sawez in a pistUl :
" Syre^ Dary, duke of iche douth^ • drightyn fi-seluen, EpiVo/a.
The grete glorius god • grathyd in fi trone, 2776
Nostandy, to your nobelnes * & ay my neke bo we,
'With seruage to your senyoMry • my-seluen I Comaund.
It semyd not your seruand • [syre], vndistreynyd
Vnto your mekyll mageste • fees mate?*ys to writte, 2780
Bot I am depely distryssyd • f is dede for to wirke.
And made f is mischeflf to mene • mawgre ^ my chekez.
For wete it wele jom?" worthynes • fat of our wale princez
Two of fe tithiest er tynt • & te?-myd of lyfe, 2784
J5at lost wer nowe f e last day • a lityll fro tygre.
In batell on bent feld • in-bland -with f e grekez.
par was I girde to fe ground * & greuously woundit,
Vnneth me chefyd in fat chaunce • to chape to f e flyght ;
And of^T mony of owr men • mightfuH knygJites, 278'J
' Tlie e is abore the line in MS.
* MS. Syre duke of a DaiT iche douth ; vith a ahare the line,
^ MS. niawg/Yt.
M 2
164
Alexander
receives Ihe men
who forsake .you,'
" Porus, king of
India, to Darius.
[Fol. 18 6.]
I am ready to
serve you.
But I am now
sick.
I am sorry for
you.
I shall soon
recover.
and will then
help jou."
Rodogars,
mother of
Darius, writes.
LETTER FROM PORUS TO DARIUS.
[Ashmole.
And erlis of all ^our empire * • enterely deuydid,
3oure lore & ^our legaunce • lethirly forsaken,^
Aires J)aim to ser Alexander ' & on-ane 3eldis. 2792
And lie faim faire vndirfange • enfeffid Jjaiw belyue,
' In palais, in prouince • in principall regnes."
|5en to Nostanda on next * ])ns notis he a letttV, 2795
\)at he suld semple him a sowme • & set fai/Ji agaynes.
Anotiiire pistill lete lie pas * to Tonus of ynde,
To come & helpe yrith his here • & he^ him ])us swaii^ :
IT " I, Porr?/s, \>ai possessid am • \)e pa?-tyse of yynde,
And am \)e coron be kyn(J • of clene aH fat lies, 2800
Sire Dary, -with Jji dyademe * drest on \)i trone,
To Jje^ J)at salutw I send * fe sele of myn armes.
\)on prayes vn-to my person • my powere to sempble,
And 30W enforce wit/t my folke • ^our faes to 'withstand',
And I am boun at ^our bode * & buxsom was euire,
To heje & to help -^our hest • quen I my hele lastis.
Bot now a langowr me lettis ' J)at I la3t haue,
Slike a seknes for-sothe * is on my-selfe halden, 2808
J3at I ne may streyne me ne stere • for stondis so hard,
Bot lyse in langwysches & lokis • quen my lyfe* endis.
And as warysche I my warke • \)at I am in wonden,
As me is wa for jji wo3e • & J)i wrange bathe, 2812
I may no3t ryde 30W to reschow • my reuthe is pe mare.
Bot I sail leue & be lechid • for-fi be li3t-hertid ;
And I be couird of my coth • care for na grekis, 2815
Amay fe for na Messedoynes • ne men vndire heuen ;
For I sail hele aH in hast • & hale to 30ure kythis
With ten legions at Jje last • & aH of lele kny3tw."
Be ])is Rodogars pe riche ' fat renewid lady,
\)e dere dame of Dari • of fis dede heris, 2820
J3at hire awen child! with Alexander • amed eft to fe3t.
And sorowis selcuthly sare • & sendt's him a pistill ;
' MS. emperir^'.
* MS. saken forsaken ; with saken struck out.
In the viargln. * MS. lefe, corrected to lyfe.
Dublin.] LETTER TO DARIUS FROM HIS MOTHER. 165
And erls of our empire • enterely distroed,
j)ai ofer jour legeance * lethirly forsakyn,
Karyn faim to sir A[lexander] • & onone jelden, 2792
And lie ])aiin fair vnderfongez • & feffys ]>aim in Land/?s,
In palacys, in prouynce • & principal! regnes."
Then, to Nostady on next • notez he a letter, ^pUtoia.
\)at he suld semble hym a sowme • & sett fam agayns.
A-nofer pistell lete he passe • to porrus of Inde, 2797
To Come & help with hys heer • & he hym pus annswers :
" I, Porrus, fat possessyd am • \)e partyes of Inde,
And am J?e crowne by kend • clene of all )je yles, 2800
Sir Dary, yfith \)i diademe • dressyd in fi trone,
To fe with salutes I send • fe sealle of my Armez.
You pray vnto my person • my power to assemble,
And you enforce vfith my folke • ^our foes to wtt/istond ;
I am bowne at J)i bode • & buxme was euer, 2805
To hye & to helpe at ^our best • whils my hele Lastes. [FoI. 32 ».]
Bott nowe a langor me lettes • \)at I laght haue,
2808
\)at I may strene me ne stirre • for stoundes Jjat I haue,
Bott lyse & lukes lang* • when my lyfe ende**.
And as euer I warysh of werk • fat I am woundit in,
As me es wo for Jji wogh • & Jji wTange both, 2812
I may not ryde you to rescew • f e reuth is fe more.
Bott I shall lefe & be lightyd • Ipaiiore be je light ;
And be I coue?*ed of my cothe • kare for no grekys,
Eemefe you for no massydons • ne man vppon erth ; 2816
For I sail hele all in hast • & hye to your kythez
With ten legions at fe lest ' & all of lele knyghtes."
Be Jjat Eodogors fe ryche • fe reuerent Lady,
The dere dame of Dary • of fis dede herys, 2820
J?at hir Awne Childe ^\'ith A[lexander] • etlyd 3itte to fight,
And sorows selkouthly sore • & sendes hym a pistyH ;
166
DARIUS IS ADVISED TO SURRENDER,
[Ashmole.
"To king Darius,
my son, greeting.
[Fol. 49.]
Though thou
shouldst gather
all men against
Alexander, it
were in vain.
It will be better
to do so."
H " To kyng^ dary'^ Jje derfe • fe derrest of my childire,
Eodogoras ]>e riche quene " * Jjis rauth scho hhn writis :
" Bald hsLTSitour on bent • borne of my bosom, 2825
Here send I Jie, my swete • salutt.s & ioy.
)3ou has heuyd vp J)i huge est ' as I haue herd teH,
Samed all Jji saudiouvs • & semblidf \ii pupiH, 2828
And etils to ser Alexander • eft to assaiii.
Wete fou wele it is no^t worthe • ware fe be tyme ;
For hadf pon gedird all fe gomes • I gesse, of J)e werd*,
3it to wit/i-stand him a stonde • pi strenthe ware to littiH.
For godis prouidence apert • ay prestly him helpis, 2833
Sauys & sustenes hi?n-selfe ' & socurs him euire.
For-J>i hoo wtt/i fi hautes • & pine vnhemed wittiV,
A-vaile of pi vanite • & of pi vayne pride, 2836
Obey pe to pe baratoyr • pe best I con rede ;
Magnifie him with J»i mouthe • & meke J)i hert,
For any hathill vndire heuen * pat at he ne hade may,
Mare sekire it ware hiw to forsake • pen sewe any
forthire ; 2840
In pese & in pacience • possede at he mi3t^,
[)5an] Be excludit out of his erd • & euire-mare dueH,"
Darins weeps. Quen he pis rawis had rede * he rewfully wepid,
His eldirs & his ancestris • als he remembris ; 2844
}303t how pride pa,\7n dep/iued : * & here a passe ende.
Alexander goes to
He bids his men
cut brjuches
©uoUecimus passus ^Itxandri.
ken aires him on ser Alexander • furth wtt^ his
-â– princes,
To pe cite-ward of Stisys • him-selfe he aproches.
J5are-in ser Darius duellicf • -with his derfe ostis, 2848
So neje he come to pa cliffis • he kend ouire pe cite.
With pat comaunds he he[s] kni3t?'5 * to cutt doune
belyue
' MS. kynd, corrected to kyng. ' MS, 1 dary.
Dublin.] DARIUS laments his loss of glory. 167
*' To kyng Dary ]5e derf • \>e derrest of hir childer,
Rodogors fe riche whene " • fus rathe scho hym written :
" Bald barato?<r on bent • bcrne of my-seluen, 2825
Here send I fe, my swete • salutes of loy.
j)on base hefyd vpp \>i hoge hoste • as I haue late herd',
Sammyd all J>i sougeours • & semblyd fi peple, 2828
And ettlys fe sir Alexander ' efte to assayle.
Bott -wete fou wele it is not worth • & were ye be tyme ;
For bed fou gedderyd all fe gomez • I gesse, in fe werld,
To wMstond hym a stoure • J)i strenth wer to lityH. 2832
For goddes prouydence a-pert • ay prestly hym helpys,
Saffys & socoars hym-self • & sustayns hym euer.
For-J)i hoo with ))i hatness • & ]ji vn-hemmyd witter,
Avale of fi vanyte • & of ))i vayn p?7de, 2836
Obey ye to ])is barato?<r • fe best T can rede ;
!Magnyfye hym wit^ fi mouth • & mekyn fi herf,
For ony hatell vnder heuen • for power J)ai haue may, [Foi.ss.]
More sekir fai wer to forsake • & sewe ony forjjer; 2840
In pease & in pacience • possede pat he myght*,
Jjen be exclud oute of hys erth • & neuer in ease dwell."
Sir Dary for ]300 dytez • was deply diseassyd ; 2842 *
When he Jjoo rawez had redde • rewfully he wepys,
Hys alders & hys auncesters • als he remenbrys ; 2844
Thoght how pn'de faim depr^ffyd • & here a passe endes.
©uotiecimus^ Passus ^[lexandri.]
Fastf* kayrez hym on sir A[lexander] • -with hys athell
princez,
To fe cyte-ward of susys • hym-self he aprochecJ.
j)ar as sir Dary in dwellyd • -with hys derfe hostes, 2848
So negh he CJome fe clyffe • he kend ouer fe cyte.
'With pat he Commajides hys knytes ' to cutte downe
be-lyffe 2850
1 5
MS. Vndecimus.
ALEXANDER CHALLENGES DARIUS.
[Ashmole.
of trees, and
fasten them to
their horses.
The Persians are
astonished.
[Fol. 49 6.]
He challenges
Darius.
That night he
sees his god
Ammon in a
dream, who says
" Send no
messenger,
but go thyself."
Alexander rises,
He makes one of
his princes go
with him.
The pair ride to
the flood of
Gran ton.
Bowis of buskis & of braunches • of bolis & of ]indes,
And bynde to faire hors feete • of bobis of herbis, 2852
Bath to Meeris & to mulis • & all maner of bestis.
j)e popiH Dut of Persy • fat slike a pake sa^e,
Beheld on he to fe hillis • & heterly was stroub[l]i(J ;
)5ai ware so woundird of \>at werke • & wetMy it
semed? 2856
As all JjB gi-oncP & Jre greues • hacJ gli(J ];ahn agayns.
So ne3e Tpe cite he so3t • & sett vp his tent/^,
pai thre days to fat thede ' him tharne & na marc.
Said : " let ane dryue to^ Dary • & bede him dryffe sone,
Or put him to my powere • & plede we na langire."
]?e same n^t in his slepe • him soda[n]ly a-pericF 2862
Amon, his awen god • in aung[e]ls wyse,
In a mery inantiH • of mervailoiis he wis,
Meuand as a Messedone ^ • in Marcure fowrme ; 2865
Said : " vn-to Susys my son • na sandisman fou send,
Bot fange my fygoz^r to fe fast • & fand furth fi-selfe,
Clethe ]>e vfith my conyschaunce • & for na care drede,
I hete fe haly my help • na harme saH pou suffire."
J3an slade he slijly a-way • & he fra slepe ryse,
A breme blasand blis • in his brist rysys. 2871
He knew his 'kni'^iis fat cas • & f ai him clene redcf,
\)at he' suld graythe him to ga' • as him his god chargis.
)5an callis to him f is conquiro?/r • ane of his kid prince[8],
Emynelaus, fat his erlis • & his ost^ ledes, 2875
Hend & hardy of his hand • a huge man of strenthe,
And fare-to lede lelist to his lord • leuand of lyue.
He bad him boufi him belyue • & on a blonk worth,
Anof ire foole -with him fange • & founde with himselfe.
Strad vp him-selfe on a stede • in starand wedis, 2880
And on a cursoure fe kni3t • with* a collt folojes.
To f e grete flode of Granton * to-gedire f ai ride,
J?ai fand it forsen faim be-fore • a fote-thike yse. 2883
' MS. & to ; n-ith & siibpvncted. ' MS. Messedono.
' In the margin. * MS. on w/tA ; on being strucTi throvgh.
Dablin.] Alexander rides to darius' camp. 1691
J3e bowes & fe bobbez & braunches • of bulesse & of lyndez,
And bynd vnto Jsair blonnkez fete • of buskez & erbes,
Both to merys & to mulez • & all maner of bo.st/»s.
The peple oute of persye • fat suche a pake soghen, 2854
By held on high to fie hyllez • & hett^rly war stoe^rbed ;
J3ai wer son wondde?-ytt of j^at werke • fat witterly fawi
serayd
As aH fe ground & fe gi-avez • had gane faiin ayayns.
So negh fe Cyte he fame soght* • & sett vp hys tenter,
\)at thre days to fat thede • he tharnyd & no more. 2859
Sayd : " latt on dryfe to sir Dary • latt drysse hym to feghf,
Or put hym to my power • & plete we no lenger."
j)e same nyght in hys slepe ' to hym sodanly aperyd 2862 8S"Sota
. , -, â– 1 Bompniunt
Amoyn, hys awne god • in angels wyse, Aiexandri.
In A mery mantyll • of mervalous hewys,
Meuand as a massydon • in mercurius forme ;
And sayd : " vnto Susys • no Sondesman fou wafe, 2866
Bott fonge fi figowr to fe fast • & fonde furth f i-seluen,
Cleth fe with my Conysaunce • & for no care dred,
I hete f e holy my help • no harme sail fou hynte."
J5e[n] slode he slyghtly away * when he fra slepe rysys, [FoI.ss*.]
A breme blasand blysse • in hys hert kyndels. 2871
Be-knewe hys kny^^tes of hys case * & f ai hym clene redyn,
))at he shuld grath hym to go * as hys god chargyd.
)jen callys to hym f e conqueroMr * one of hys kyd princez,
Emenylaus, fat hys Erlez • & hys hoste ledes, 2875
Hende & hardy of hys hand • & hoge man of strenth,
And f arto lelyst to hys lord • of aH led^^ oute.
He bad hym bowne hym belyfe • & on a blonke worth,
Anof er fole with hym fange • & found wit^ hym-selfe. 2879
Strode hym-self vp on a stede • in a starand wede,
And on a cou[r]sour f e knjght • with a colt folowd.
To fe grete flode of gratuw • to-geder fai ryddyn, 2883
And fyndyn it frosyn f aim byfore ' a fute-thyke ysyd.
170
ACCOUNT OF THE FREEZING RIVER.
[Ashmole.
Alexander crosses
it alone.
[Fol. 50.]
He bids bis
friend wait for
kira.
Tills river
always froze
at night,
even in summer,
and melted at
morn,
and then could
not be crossed.
The Persians
wonder.
D.irius asks who
be is.
and thinks it
mast be Alex-
ander himself,
]jat is J)e streme of Strama • wiiJi many steds clepid,
And jit Jje pure p?-opure name • in percynne tonge.
Jpan Alexandei' belyue • his wedes he changis, 2886
])is renke -with his Ronsees * he ridis ouire & leuys.
" A ! lat me lend with 30W, lord " • J)e lede' him besekis,
" For drede fat angire or a-ventowr • or any slike faH."
" Nay, houe ))ou here," quod |)e kyng • " vn-to my
hame-come. 2890
He fat I saw in my slepe • saH be my sekire helpe."
With J?at he braides on fe blonke • & broches him in
Jje syd,
Bowis him to-ward fe burje • as brijt as ane aungeti.
H pis reuere at I first rede • be rewle of his kynde,
As wele in seson of Somere • as in fe sad wintre, 2895
And fat is neuer hot on nijtis • so naytely it fresys,
TiH any powere to pas • or preke on -with stedis.
3it has fe floum, as I fyndf • a forelange obrede, 2898
And euire-ilke mornyng* it meliis ' for mijt of fe son ;
With slike a reryd fan it ryjmes^ • fe romance it witnes,
j)c(t qua so tuke it in fat tyme • tint Avare for euire.
Be f is enproched him oure prince • vn-to f e proude cii-e,
Band his blonke at a barrere • wit/i-out f e burje ^atis.
\)e Persyns of his passag • was passyngly wondird, 2904
And gesses him to be gode • for glori of his wedis.
"Quat dones man ert fou]" qtiod Dary • & drafe him
agayne.
" Sire Alexander" qicod f is athiH • " has all f us me sent,
Bedis buske f e to bateH • quat bade vaakis f ou here ]
Outhire jare fe japely far-to • or tiH his jokke bowe."
" Qwef ire f u be he 1 " quod f e hathili • " so hately f ou
spekis, 2910
Jjou melis nojt as a minister * a messangere bowis ;
])oi\ carpis euyn as a^ kyng* • fat closid ware in pride.
Bot I am dred neuire a dele • of all fi bald sa^es. 2913
MS. bede.
■■^ MS. remes, corrected to r)-«nes.
In the margin.
Dublin.] DARIUS •wonders who his guest is. 171
Thj-s is J?e streme of Struma • Avit/i mony stedes clepytl,
And 3it pure p?-opre name • in persyens tounge.
Then. A[lexander] als belyfe • hys abytt cliaungez, 288G
Thys renke with hys rounsej • he lydes ouer & lefys.
" Na ! latt me lend vritJi fe, lord " • pe lede hym hysekys,
" Lest anger or aventur • or ony suche falle."
*' Nay hofe pan here," quod pe athyll • " vnto my agayn-
Come; 2890
He pat I seght in my slepe • shall me sekir helpe."
'WitJi pat he brades on hys blonnke • & brochez hym in pe
sjdes,
Bowys hym on toward pe burgh • als bright as an angeH.
Thys reu<?r pat I first rede of • be rewle of hys kynde,
Als wele in seasun of somer • as in fe sad wynter, 2895
And pat is neuer bott of nyghtys • so nataly it fresys,
To ony power on to passe • or preke vfith a stede.
3it base pe flode, as I fynd • a furelenth of brede, 2898 es-'Sofa
And eue?-ilke mornyng it melies • for myght of pe son ; aque de
'With suche a rerde J)en it rynnys • pe Eomayns it wittncs, **'^'™*
])at who tuke it in pat tyme • war tennyd for euer. 2901
Be fis aprochyd hym pe Prince * vnto pe prouude Cite, [FoI. si.]
band hys blonnke at a barre • w/t7;oute pe brode ^atez.
The pe?'syens of hys passage ' wer pa?sandly wounde?yd,
And gessyn hym all to be god • for glory of hys gere.
" What domesman art pon 1 " quod Dary • & drofe hym
ayayns. 2906
" Sir A[lexander]," quod ))is athell • " base all |)us me send,
Byddes pe to batell buske • what bode mase pou here]
Ouder jare Jje 3apely parto ' or to his 3okke bowe,"
" "Wheder Jjou be he 1 " pe hathell sayd, • " so hetterly pan
spekez, 2910
j3ou melies noght as a messenger • a mynyster bowez ;
j)o\i Carpys likar to A kyng • pat Closyd wer in pride.
Bot I am dred neuer a dele • of all fi derfe sawez, 2913
1 3 •
172 ALEXANDER SUPS WITH DARIUS. [Ashmole.
Bot for J)i souerayne sake • pat sent Jje fus hedire,
andaskshim to ^it Sail J)ou sit With my-selfe â– & soupe or ))ou wynde."
He ra3t hira fan be J)e anne • & reuerence^ lii?n makis,
And to his pnlais a-p^rt * yfith princes him ledis,
pare aires him in ser Alexander • & aH fus he thinkz^,
" j)is ilke bar-bryn heme " grete beute me schewys, 2919
[Foi. 50 6.] pat here J)us hyndly be }»e hand • ledis to his Innes ;
}jis hame with help of my god * I haue saH he[r]-
eftm"
Alexander goes to So silis hs furth With be sire • in-to a somere-haH, 2923
sup with D.irius.
pare sesonde was a soper • Jie sotelest vndire heue/i.
Sire Darius drawis to fe dese • & o]>ir dere princes,
Settis fis sire with him-selfe • lete serue faim to-gedire.
The hall was all pat bild was aH of brynt gold • as pe buke tellis, 2926
"Wt't/i fe bath, J>e bordis & pe benkes • betefi of pat ilke.
pe wesseH to vyse on • was verraly fe same,
And att pe sale of a^ sute • set full of stanes.
Tiie Persians pe popiH of 'Pevsj ' opon j>is prince waitis, 2930
think Alexander i,, , ^-I'l-i
a mean-looking pe litillaike of his like • lathely pat Jjai spyse ;
Bot pe wisedome & pe worthenes • & of J^e wale thewis
pat in pat cors was enclosed • kend f>ai fuH litiH.
Butlers fuH besyly • bro3t vp pe wyne,
In grete gobletz's of gold ' graythid f uH of jymmes ;
When Alexander And Alexander belyue ' as he^ had ay dronken, 2936
drinks, he seeretcs ■,-,■,■. o ..•I'-i _
tiie gold cup; viith pat he clekis vp pe coupe • & putis in his bosom.
Anofire boH was him bro3t * & bathe he deuoydid,
this hedi.es thrice. And 3it he thrcw to pe thrid • & thrast in paTe-eitir.
Sone as pe* clientis pat knew • at of pe coupe seruecF,
Jpai knele dou?i before pe kyng* • & him pe cas tald.
)pan has ser Dary dedeyne • & derfely he lokes, 2942
Eysys him vp renysch • & re3t in his sete,
Darius reproves " Quat faris pOM With," quod he, "fryndel • a fon pe
him.
Quy voydis pou. my vesseH ? * it is a vile schame."
' MS. reucrcence. ' MS. same a ; rcith same struck through.
^ III the margin. * MS. as a \>e.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER SECRETES A GOLD CUP. 173
3itt for ])i souerand sake • fat send J>e J)us hyder, 2914
Jjou shall sitt wi't/i my-self • & soupe or fou wende."
He raght hym by J)e right harme • & reu^rens hym makys,
And to hys palays full pert • with princez hym ledes,
Jjar kayres hym on Sir A[lexander] • & aU Jjns he thynkez,
" J3us ilke barbercn heme • grete bewte me schewez, 2919
\)at here J)us hyndly be hand * base lede me to Innes ;
Thys home ^ with helpe of my goddez * I hafe sail her-
after,"
So sylez forth witJi fis Sire • into a somer-halle, 2922
Thar sesund was a soper * fe sotellest vnder heuen.
Sir Darius drawys to fe deyse • & o\)er dere princez,
Setter fis sire with hym-selfe • lete seme faim to-geden
\)at belde was all of brynt gold ' as fe buke tellys, 29 2 G
With both ])e burdez & Jje benche • betyn of jje same.
The vessell to vyse on • veraly of fe same,
And all \>e sale of a sute • sett full of Stanes.
The peple oute of persey • apon fe prince waytyn, 2930
J3e lityllayke of hys lyth * lothly Jjai spysyfi ;
Bot Jje wysdome & J)e worthines • of hys Avale thewe^
Jjat in Jjat cors was closyd ' knew fai full lytyH.
Botlers full besely • broght vp fe wynez, 2934
In grete goblettes of gold • grathyd f uUe of gemmys ; [ToI. si 6.]
And A[lexander] als belyfe * as he hed onys drunkyn,
"With fat he clyght vp a cupe • & cromys in hys bosom.
Anojjer boll was hym broght • & both he devoydecJ,^ 2938
And 3itt he threwe' to fe thryde • & thristyn Jjar-after.
Sone as fe clyentez it knew • fat of fe cope seruecJ,
)5ai knele downe bifore fe kyng • & hym fe case taldyii.
J)en base sir Dary disdayne • & darfly he lukes, 2942
Eerys hym vpp & remevys • in hys sete riche,
"What farys with" quod he, "frendel • a fonne fou be-
semys ;
Whi woyde5 fou my veseall 1 • it is a vyle schame."
' MS. holme ; but marked for correction.
» MS. dovoydedf. ' T/ie h is above the line in MS
174
ANEPO RECOGNISES ALEXANDER
[Ashmole.
Alexaniler says
it is the custom
of Macedonia to
do so.
Some of tliem
One Anepo takes
note of him,
and remembers
that lie has seen
him before.
He leaves liis
seat,
and tells Darius.
Alexander
perceives li
danger,
mounts hi
Lorse,
" Sire, it is fe custuj/i," q^iiod J>e kni3t • " in oure kyngis
fest, 2946
pat, be it ane, be it opire â– \)at )jai of driiike,
pe gestis sail liaue ]je goblettz'^ • & \ia,im gud Jjinke,
To wild & weiide with a-way • & wirke quat p&im likes ;
Bot sen fis vse is here vu-liono?</"able * here I ))am
leue ; "
Braidis Jjai/u furth Av/t/muten bade • fe butlers ])a\i>i
yeldi-.-. 2951
" Now sotliely," quod Jsafi ilk a segge • softly to-gedire,
" jjis mane/- at be melis of • is menskefutt & noble."
J3an was ])are ane proude pere • a prince at fe table,
Anepo, ])at on Alexander ' aH-way be-baldis,
J?an mynes hi?» anes in Messedone • he had Jje man
sene, 295G
Quen he was sent to his syre • to feche faire trouage.
His vertuse & his vysage • his voise he remenbris.
His fowrme & his fetoure ^ ' his figoure a-vysis.
He studis & he stuynes • he stemes with-in, 2960
" Is J)is no3t 'Ph.ihp son pe firs • pe fedare of grece 1 "
"W I'th \)at he sle3ly vp so^t • & his sete leuys,
Dro3e him euyn to ser Dary • pave he on dese bydis.
Said, " surely, ser, jjis sandisman • pat sittis 30W be-forne
Is Alexander him awen self • or aH myil ame faillis."
Sone J)is gouernowr of grece ' is of fis gaude ware,
He torkans \vit?i & vndire-tuke • he touched of hi?n-selfe,
Herd a nyngkiling of his name ' & naytw him to ryse,
Buskis him vp at a braide • & fra pe burde rysys. 2969
He tas a torche fia a tulke • pat by pe table standis,
Felly fangis it in 2 his fist • & to his fole Avyndis,
Fyndis him faire him before • fare he him feste hade,
Ea3t him radly pe reyne • & on his rige worthis. 2973
'With pat he brochis his blonke • pat pe blode fames,
Sparis out spacly • as sparke out of gledes.
' MS. fetuor^.
' MS. 1 ir ; the 1 beinr; an imjjerfect h, due to hisfollon-ing.
Dublin.] Alexander makes his escape. 175
" Sir, it is our ccstorae," qtiod fe knyt • " in our kyngez
fest^, 29 4 G
j)at, be it one, be it o\)er ' \>at fai of drynkyn.
The gestes sail haue fe goblettez • & fai gude thynke.
To wyld & wynd away • & werke what faim likez; 2949
Bot sen \>e vse is here vn-lionorable • here I j^ani lefe ; "
Brades fam forth w/t/i-owtyn bode • fe butler fuiiu
^eldes.
*' Nowe, sir," qwod eue?'ilke segge • softly to ojie?-,
" jjis maner ]>at he mellys of • is menskefull & noble."
Then was Ipar one, a prouude • prince at J)e tabyll, 2954
Anepo, fat on Alexander • alway byholdes,
)5en menys onys in massydon • he had pe man knawyn,
"When he was sent be hys sire â– to sese J^air truage.
Hys ve?-tuez & hys visage • hys voyce he remenbris, 2958
Hys forme & hys facion • hys fygure he visys,
He stodes & he staddes wi'tA • & stempmys hym wiUtin,
"Es noght J)is philyp son \>e fers • fennder^ of grecel"
^y^th J?«t he shyllghly vp slayde • & hys sete left^, 29 G 2
Droght hym euen to SiV Dary • \)ar he on deyse bydes,
" }3at surely sir, fis sondesman • fat sittes yow aforne
Is A[lexander] hym-self • or all my ame falys."
Sone as fis gouernowr of grece • apon fis gaud ^ wates,
He torkys vfit/i & vndertuke * it tochyd of hym-self*, 29G7
Harde a nyckyng* of hys name • & natys hym to ryse, [Foi. ss.j
Buskys hym vp at brade • & fro fe borde voyde^.
He takys a torche fro a tulke • fat be f e buide stande-s,
Felly fange it in hys fyst* • & to hys fole wendes, 2971
Fyndes hym fairs hym bifore • far as he hym fest* had,
Kaght hym radly fe reyne • & on hys rigge ascendf';*.
"With fat he brochez hys blonnke • fat f e blode folows,
Sparrys oute sarply^ • as* sparke doys on gledes. 2975
' MS, founder, altered to fennder. ^ MS. gauyd.
^ SU- ; for ^^ac]y. ' MS. &.
17G
THE IMAGE OF XERXES FALLS DOWN.
[Aslimole.
and rides away.
AUruBUailerhim.
[Fol. 51 ft.]
Night comei.
Many lose their
way.
Alexanrler
escapes.
Dnriug mourns
at home.
There was an
iniai^e of Xerxes,
which suddenly
fell to pieces.
Tliis is a bad
omen.
Alexander rides
to the liver, and
crosses the ice.
He returns safely.
Be fie lijt at lie led • laches he pe way, 2976 â–
And fandz5 fast to \)g &\^t †¢ with a fers wiH.
Jje pepiH of ]je palais * ciuen |)ai his passe saje,
Rusches vp in a res • rynnes in-to chambres,
Sum araies faim in ringis • & su??i in row brenys,
2980*
With hard hatti's on f»aire hedis • hied to faire horsis,
Prekis eftiV fe prince • prestly enarmed.^
Bot now was nijt on J)am nejed? • J)at noyd ])ai»i sare.
Sone ware pai willid fra pe way • J>e wod was so thikc, •
Sum on bu3es & on brerys • blemysched \)e face, 2985
Sum ware dreuyn dowi in dikis ' su?n in depe myrys ;
Bot Alexa«cfer at myii ame • ))aire a3e is a-schapid,
Ay trottw him to fe trod-gate • as him pe torche wyssis.
Sire Dary as a drery man ' duellis^ at hame, 2989
With princes iii his palais • aH pense he sitiis,
J3e baldnes of ))is baratour • he besyly remembris,
pat skapid so sone skatheles * fra all his schathill duk/5.
))an was an yinage w/t/an • as I am enfowrmede, 2993
Of Sexeres fat su??i-quyle • \>at cite had to welde,^
Forgid aH of fyne gold? • & fettilcJ his seete
Vndire J>e souerayne sege • |)are sett ere fe lawis. 2996
And sodanly J>at semylacre • as tellis J)e textis,
It all to-paschis in-to peces • & to poudire dryuys.
Jjan was fe wale kyng waa * & wepand he said! :
")3is be-takens trombling of my tiU • & tene of^ my
regne." 3000
And Alexander all pat quile • aspe?-ly rydis
To fe grete flode of Granton • & it on a glace fyudis. ^
Or he was sojt to fe side • 3it sondird Jje qwcryns, 3003
His hors it hunyschist for euire • & he with hard
schapitJ.
)jan aires he with Emynelows • eue« to his princes,
And derfly on pe tojjz'r day • a douth he assembles,
' MS. enr euarmed ; Tvith enr struck through.
' The e above the line. ^ MS. 3 welde. ■• In the margin.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER CROSSES THE ICE. 177
By |)e light fat he lied • lacchys on hys way,
An<l fonndez fast to flyght • vfith a fers wilJe.
The peple of fe palays • wlien |jai hym passe si^Ii, 2978
J3ai russhyn vp in a reys • rynnyn into chaumbres,
Some arays |jaim in rynggez • some in rawe brenys,
Some in stalwart stuffe • & some in stele plates 2980*
With hard hattes on jjair heddez * hyen to fair blonnkez,
Pnlckyn after |je prince • prestly ennarmed. 2982
Bot J)en was nyght on fiaim negh • fat noyed Jiaim sore.
Sone wer })ai welt fro )-aire way • fe wod was so thykko,
Some of bowez & of breres • blemyst j>e face,
Some wer drefyn into dykez • some depe mires; 2986
Bot A[lexander] at my ayme • \)ar augerly eschapys,
And ay trotes on J)e troyde-gate • als hym fe torche vysys.
Sir Dary as a drery man • dwelland in hys trone,
"With princez in hys palays • aH pensey he sitt^s, 2990
The baldnes of Jiis hardtoiir • he belyfe remenbris,
jjat scapett so sone scliatlieles * fro all hys scliateH diikez.
})en was ane yniage within • as I am enformed,
Ofl' serexies frtt some-while • pe Cyte hed to wi;kl, 2994
Forgyd all of fyne gold • & feteld in hys sete,^
And vnde?" ))at souerent segge • y-sett war fair Liwez.
And sodanly fat symylacre • as says me fe text*,
AH to-paschys into peces • & into poAvder dry fez. 2998
J)en was fe wale kyng woo • & wepand he sayd :
"Jjis betokyns trnblyng* of my teld • & tene to my [Foi.sDt.]
realme."
And A[lexander] fe while ' asperly ryde."?
To fe grete flude of grantum • & it as glas fyndes. 3002
And be he soght to fe syde • jitt sounderd f e qwernes,
Hys hors it honyshyd for euer • & he with hard
schapyd.
))en kayres he with Emenylaus • euen to hys princez,
And derfly of fat ofer day • of doghty he assemblez,
' MS. fete.
ALEXANDER. N
178 DARIUS HAS SCYTHE-ARMED CHARIOTS, [AshmolC.
Twa hundreth thousand on a throin • aH of threuen
kn'i^tis, 3007
Caiiis him vp to a cliffe • & comfurthis his hostz'sj
" Sail neuzV pe Persyns pake • be pare to pe grekis,
And if Jjai ma ware be many • mayes nojt ^our hertis ;
[Foi. 52.] FuH many flees may feli • bot a fewe waspis."
And aH pe company clene • comendid! his wiitis. 3012
He assemble!
2UO,000 men,
and encoui'f
them.
En-ciustiecimug; passus ^Uxa7idri
Darius and his
men come to the
river.
B
His host is
innumerable.
He has 10,000
chariots,
armed with
scytlie-blades.
e J)is ser Dary was di3t • whit his deve erles,
Heuyd vp a huge ost • & hast him to ryde,
His ginge & aH his garysons • in glyssynand wedis, 3015
Gaes him on to granton ' & graithes fare his tentw.
His stoure Avas so stalworthe & store • & strange to
a-byde,
He had' of nieii out of mynde * many mayii hundreth,
\)at sike a si3t & a sowme^ • of seggis enarmed
"Was neut;?* sene, I suppose ' sen pe sege of troy. 3020
\)e chiftayne had chariotis • chosen for pe nanes,
Ten thousand be tale ' tried for pe were.
And Jjai Avare sett afire side * fuH of sythe-bladis,
Kene keruand as knyfes • & cursers fam drowe. 3024
j?e next day be pe none • new note ryses,
Aithire freke with his folke • in pe fild met?^,
And bald hemes on bent • banars vnfaldis,
Put pennons on pollis • payntid of siluw-. 3028
Alexander mounts Ales.ande)- as belyue • is armed vp clene,
ucepiaus, gounes hi??i to his blonke • pe best vndire heue?^,
pat was pe blonk Bucifat • as pe buke tellis,
A foole worth 2 fyfty of pe firste * fat in pe flode
drouned. 3032
He spynnes him out a grete space • fra he[s] peris aH,
Couers him fuH clenly • & closed in his g«re.
' The me abore the line.
* MS. w'dh, altered to worth in the margin.
Lublin.^ ALEXANDER MOUNTS BUCEPHALUS. 179
Twa c M in a thrume • all of trefe knyte^, 3007
Cayrez hym vp to a Clyff ' & comforthez hys hostcz ;
** Sail neuer pe persiens pakke • be pere to ])e grekez,
And ))of fai war mo be mony • mayse nott* in berths ; 3010
Full fele fleys may nott felle • bott a few wasspez."
And all ]>e Company clene • Comendyd fan hys \fittes.
[Eertiustiecimus pajssug.]
By Jjis sir Dary was dighf • vriih hys derfe Eiloz,
Hefyd vp a hoge hoste • & hastyd hym to rydc, 3011
Hys genge & hys garysou * in glasynand wedt'6%
Gose hym to g?T<ntum • & giathcz vp hys tentcd*.
Hys stouve was stalwort & sture • & Strang* to abyde,
He bed of men for to mynd * mony mayne hundreth,
)5at suche a sight & a some • of scggez enarmcd
Was neue>- [senc], I suppoysc • sen pc seyge of troye. 3020
The Chyftanys bed cliaiiottr'if • chosyn for ))c nonest*,
A Ten thouusand be tale • t>v'ed for \>g were.
And ))oo wer sett on athcr sydc • full of sytbe-blade^,
Kene keruand as knyfiei- • & coursours J»aim dmwys, 3024
The next day be fe none • new note rysys,
Ather freke yvith hys folkc • in \)G feld metyn,
And bald bernez on bent • banc>'ys vnfaldyn,
Puttyn penons on pollcz • payntyd with syluer. 3028
A[lexander] als belyfe • cs armyd vp Clene,
Bownez hym on hys blonnke • )je best vnder heucfi,
pat was fe bald bucyfaH • as J>e buke tellez,
A fole worth fyfty of fat • at in fe flnde drownyd, 3032
He spedes hym on a grete space • fro hys pers aH,
Coue?-ys hym full clenly • & closys hym in hys gere. [FoI.sc]
180
A GREAT AND DECISIVE BATTLE.
[Ashmole.
The Persians are
tVighteiied.
Tlie battle begins.
[Fol. 52 6.]
There is hard
figliting.
A great flight of
arrows.
The armies cover
five miles of
ground.
Tlie Persians
give way.
Darkness comes.
Tlie scyDie-
cliariots destroy
tl>e flying host.
Darius goes (
the frozen river,
and crosses it.
The ice gives w.^y,
J3e poweiT out of Persy * quefl \>a,y J;e prince saje,
Frayed was of his foMrme • so ferdfuH him semed. 3036
IT Now ere fe batails boune • -with braggins in truwpis,
j)e breuie bemen blaste • beres to Jie welken.
Alexander aHjjire first • on faim alP he setttV,
And aithire ward^ at a wapp • wi^tly inloynes.
Arcliars & aH men • asperly &^tis,
]?are was lusting o loy • lopons a-tamedf ;
Siles doun on aithire side • selcuth knijtis,
Sum daiid, su?n dede • su?n depe wondid.
So feH 2 flijt was of flanys • as I fynd wreten,
Of arrows & of all quat • fat aH ))e aire blindidi ;
Ilogere on to be-hald • fan of ^ haile-stanes.
And aH fe fild f uH of fdlke • fyue mile large.
Als sorie as fe son vp sojt ' pe slajtere begynnes,
And so to Jje son-sett • slakid fai neuire.
Be fat fe barbryne blode • be-gan to discende,
\)e proudest of fe Persy ns • past out* of lyue.
Sone as ser Dary it deuysid? • & sejis his foke faile,
With fat he bedis fam^ fe bake • & bidis na lang/r ;
J3en quen f ai^ fange to je fli3t • was furth in Wit/i euy??,
And mirke out* of mesure • na man faiw a-pered. 305G
For-f i f e chariotzs in, f e chace • choppid f ai/?i to deth,
\)G cariis fat I carpid of ' with f e kene sythis,
pare feH as fele f am before • of fotemen & othire,
As risonis' in a ranke fild • quen riders it spillen.^ 3060
Sire Dary dryue in f e derke • & his douth folows,
Gaes him on to grantun • vn-to fe grete burne,
Fand it frosen him before • as feH for f e time,
Past him on with his pers • a pake out of nombre. 3064
His folke feUis aH f e flode • a forelange o brede,
)je streme fra f e a strande • street to fat othire.
Sone fra bim-self was at fe side • it sonders behind,
3040
3044
3048
3052
' In the margin. * MS. feUe fells. ' MS. oei-f.
* MS. oiit. * MS. >am |;aiw. * MS. {^aiw.
' Or risoms, or risoins. * MS. spilkeii.
Dablin.] darius flees over the frozen river. 181
The power of persee • when |)ai pe prince see,
"Was ferly frayd of liys forme • so ferdfull he serayd. 3036
Nowe er pe batels bowne • with braggyng of trompettf^,
The brerae beeme blast • beryd to pe welk3'^n.
A[lexander] all-pai' first • on faini all setter,
And ayther ward at a wappe • wigh[t]ly enioynez. 3040 es"Sota
Archers & all men • asperly shotyn, Darium &
y)ar was lustyng of loy • lopons attamyd ; ^^'*'
Seghen downe on ather syde * semelych knytes,
Some dasyd, some dede • some depe woundytt. 3044
So feH flyght was of flonys • as I fynd writtyn,
Of arows & of alblastres • \iai aU ))e Ayre blyndyd ;
Huger to byhalde • fen fe hayle-stormes,
And all \q feld full of folke • fyfe myle large. 3048
Als sone as fe son hup soght* * fe slaghter begynnys,
And to sett was \e same • sesytt fai neue?-.
Be J)rtt \e barbaryn blode * began to desend,^
The proudest of ))e persyens • passyd owte of lyfe. 3052
Sone as mr Dary devysyd • & sawe hys doghty falle,
'With }fai he biddes jram fe bake • & bydes no langer ;
J5en qwen ])ai fange to J)e flyght • was nerehand euen, 3055
And merke wit/^owte mesur * na man myght J)am folow.
For-fi J>e charlottes in J)e chase • chopyd faim to deth,
The cartes fat I Carpyd of • with fe kene sythez,
J3ai feH all fey faim byfore " wit/i fotemen & ofer, 3059
As ressynnys in a ranke feld • Avhen men ouer rydes.
Sir Pary dryfys in fe dirke • & hys doghty folows,
Goys hym on to grantum • vnto fe grete bume,
Fande it frosyn hym byfore • as fell for J>e tyme, 3063
Passys ouer wi't^ hys perys • a pak oute of nowmbre.
Hys floke fyllys at^ fe flud • a furelonge of brede,
The streme fra fat one strande • streght vnto fat of er.
Sone fra hym-self was at fe syde • it sounde?-ytt byhynd,
" MS. defend. ' Read al.
183
DARIUS GOES TO SUSA.
[Ashmole.
and many
Persians are
lost,
[Fol. 53.]
to tlic number of
30U,000.
Daiiua goes to
Susa, and
laments.
•' Now am I cast
down ! "
He writes a letter
to Alexander.
" I, Darius, salute
Alexander.
Be not too proud.
Xerxes was
pruud, and failed.
And aH at lent ware on-loft • loste Ipar fe swete. 3068
J)us many deed \)at day • as fe buke teUis,
Of pollis out of Persye • wet/iouten Jse grekis,
Thre hundreth M/lZe thra men • \i>ti tliarned^ faire lyues,
With J?e fool-s & f)e folke • fat j?e flode drouned. 3072
j)is senioure out of Susys • to his cite wendis,
Fallis dou?i on his face • flat in J)e sale,
" Wa is me ! " quod he, " wriche • \va is me vnhappy ! "
Sijis selcuthely sare • & sadly he wepys, 3076
"I J)at was strajt to J)e sternes^ • am strekeu now to
grondf,
N'ow craton, now caitefe • now am I kast vndirc,
\)at had of the Orient all ouire • homage vmqwile.
Wist any we quat hi??i suld worth • fis Averd wald ho
leue, 308a
Full sympiH in a seteqwile ' seke to J)e cloudes,
And fai at mast ere of mi3t • smyten aH to poudive."
Wit/i^ j,(ft reufully he rase • & renkw out lie sendis,
To Alexander belyue • & all slike a pistiH. 3081:
If " I, drery kynge on ray dese • Darius of Pe?-sy,
To Alexander ])at Aire • pat all has to wild,
)3e lege lord of my lyfe * to lose or to saue,
)5us send I to my soue?-ayne • salute's & ioy. 3088
So wyde is Jje wisdom • fat wonne[s] in ^our saule,
\)ai wele ^e wate, of aH men • at I worthid here before,
Of aH jje notis fat ere now • & quat on next sewes.
For-fi ^our werke ay be vvitt • je wirke vnreprouedf.
Sire, I knawlage me a creatoi<r * & come of a woman,
Heues no3t ^our hert vp to hi^e • take hede to i^oiir end;
It limps no3t aH-way fe last • to licken wit7i fe first,
Quat suld a kni3t mare to kepe • hot conquire his
e«my 1 3096
Was nojt Sexes hi)M-selfe * fe souereynest in erth,
And cheued him of cheualry • chekis out of nombre 1
3it for his wiH out of Avorde ' was Avon in-to pride,
' MS. thrarned. ' MS. stremes. ' MS. \:at wiUi ; \>at sti uck out.
Dublin] DARIUS writes to Alexander. 183
And all pat lent wer on-lofte • lost haue fe swete. 3068 [FoI. M&.]
|3us mony deyd j?is day • as demys me written,
Off polles oute of pe?-sye • w/t/ioute pe prouude grekys,
Thre C MzUe^ of throo • Jjat tharnyd paiv lyfez,
^y^th Jje folez & Jje folke • Jjat pe fliide drynched. 3072
\)[s seneour vnto susys • liys awne cyte wended,
Fallys downe on hys face * flatt in Jje sale,
" Wo is me ! " quod pe wreche • " wo is me vnhappyn ! "
Sighez selkouthly sore • & sadly he wepys, 3076
" I fat was straught to pe sternes • am strykyn nowe to
ground,
Nowe a crathan & a knafFe • nowe am I kest vnder,
J3at had of the Orient all ouer • homage vmwhile.
Wist ony wee qwat hym suld worth • ))is werld wald he
lefe, 3080
FuU symple in a sete-while * sekyn to pe clodes,
And Jjai pat most er of myght * meltyn all to powder."
Vlith pat he rewfully rose • & renkes oute he sendee,
To A[lexander] als hylyfe • & all suche a PistyH. 3084
" I, drery Kyng on my dese • Darius of Perys, Ypistoia.
To A[lexander] fie heyr * pat all hase to weld,
pe leyge lord of my lyfe • to lese or to safe,
l3us send I to my soueren • salutes of Joy. 3088
So wyde is pe wisdome * pat wonnys in your saule,
j)at wele 36 wate of all pat was • & worth here hyfore,
Off all pe notes pat er nowe • & what on next sewys.
For-fi 36 wirke euer by witte • ye werke vnreprefytt^. 3092
Sir, I knalegh me a creatur • & Comyn of A woman,
Hefys nott your hert to hye • bott hede*- to your ende ;
It lympys nott allway pe last • be lykkynd to pe first",
Quatt suld a knyght more Couett • fen conquer hys fucsl
Was not Seryxes hym-self • pe soueranest on ground, 3097
And chefyd hym nott of cheualry • chekez oute of nombre ]
3itt for hys wiH oute of warde • was wonne into p77de,
' I. e. Three hundred thousand,
1 I*
184
ALEXANDERS MEN REJOICE.
[Ashmole.
[Fol. 53 6.J
Remember that
victory is from
Gud.
Restore my
relatives, and
take my wealth.'
The letter is
taken to
Alexander,
whose men
rejoice.
Permeon advises
him to .iccept
Darius' offer.
Alexander says,
" How can
Darius expect
anything of me
Let hira own
himself beaten.
He bids the
<orpse3 to be
buried.
3108
3111
In \)e lede here of Elanda • lithirly he feyned. 3100
jpinke ])at allanely of god • jsis ouirlaike \)on haues,
For- J3i haue mercy on ]?i men * J)i meche we ' beseke,
Als of 30ure grete gudnes • to grant vs oure modire,
Oure bride, oure barnes out of bande • for besandis eno3e,'
For all fe feele^ at oure fadirs ' in J)e fold^ hade, 3105
In Battri & in ])is bild • fe bur3e of Elanda,
j)e maistri & J»e maieste * of Mede & of Fersfy
Wit/i all jje lolyte &^ loy • fat lubiter vs lenes.
\)e seggis at fra Susses • was sent -witJi ))e pistiH
Aires to se?* Alexander • onone hit° him reches ;
And he dos on before his ost • openly to rede,
And all his kni3t2S for fe carpe • ware kenely reioysed.
j)en was ane Permeon, a pere • a prince of his oste,
Enclynes him douu to J?e kyng • said : " kid emp<??-oure,
Eesayue ])is risches, I rede ' pat 30W J^is renke bedis,
And lyuers him his ladis • & aH his lele childire." 3116
Joaii Alexander belyue • fa liathels lie callis,
]pe berne at bro3t'' him fe brefe • said : "bowis to 30Mr
lorcJ,
And say,^ me wondirs, I-wisse • if he it wete walcJ,
For any mede a-pon moltJ • his meneyhe to lyuircl 3120
If he be fallen vndire fote * & his folke streyned,
And vencust of oure violence • quat vailis him his hestiV ?
His person & his p?'ouynce • he put it in my wiH, 3123
And 3eld him vn'liie my 3oke • fan 3erne I na mare.
And if [he] grant him no3t de-grayd • hot for J>e gre
threpis,
Bid buske him eft to J>e bent • vs bataill to 3eld."
J?us monest he fe messangers * faire maistiV to say,
Geuys fam gxiiis fuH gude • & lete fam ga swyth. 3128
And fan comands he his kni3tz5 • fe corses vp to
gedire,
' MS. de. * MS. fadirs feete ; 9vit7i fadirs strvck out,
' MS. fuld, corrected to fold. ♦ MS. & oi ; oi struck out,
* MS. it bit. * MS. borjt. '^ Jn the margin.
pablin.] Alexander requires darius to submit. I8a
In Jie lede of Elanda • lytliiily he fynyd. 3100
Thynke liowe only of god • jjis ouerlake fou foi\<;es. [FoI. st.j
For-J)i haue mercy of J)i man • fi myght we besekyn,
All of pi grete gudeuesse • to graunt vs our moder,
Our birde, our barnez oute of bandes • for besaundes cuoghe.
For all J)e feetez \>at our fadir • in ]>e molde^ byddyn, 3105
In baltrye & in |)is beld • fe burgh of elanda,
The maistre & J?e maieste • of medy & of perse,
Wzt/i all pe lolyte & loy • pat lubiter vs lennys." 3108
]je segges J>c<t fra susys • was sent w?t7t J)is pistiH
Caryn faini to A[lexander] • onone & it hym raghten ;
And he doys one before hys hostez * it opynly to rede,
And all pe knyghtes for pe carpe • wer clenly reioysyd.
)3en was one permeon, a pere • A prince of hys hcste, 3113
Enclynes downe byfore pe kyng • sayd : " kyd Emperour,
Resaue, I rede, fis rechez • fis renkez pat pon byddes,
And leuejys hym hys lade« • & aH hys leue childer."
pen A[lexander] als belyfc • Jiis atheH he clepys, 3117
J?e hemes pat broght liym pe breve * sayd : " bowys to
your Lord,
And says, me wonderys, I-wysse • yf he it wene suld.
For ony mede vppon uiolde • hys meynjey to delyve?-]
Yff he be fallyn vnder fote • & hys folke strenyd, 3121
And vencust of our vyolence • what valys hym hys heeste« ?
Hys person & hys prouynce • Ifet put in my "wyH,
And 3ifif hym vndir in joke • I jarne hym no mare.
And yff he graunt hym nott degradyd ' bott for pe gree
threpys, 3125
Byd hym buske hym eft to pe bent & bateli vs jeld."
}jus mouyshest he J»is messyngers • ]?air maister at say,
Gyffys pSLim gyftes fuU gude • & hyddes ))aim go swyth.
And ))en commaundez he hys knygJites ' pe corsez vp to
gcdder, 3129
' Head folde.
186
He offers to the
gods.
He bids his
men not to burn
any building.
Tlie Greeks find
an old eepulciire,
tliat ofNinus,
made of anietliyst.
They next find
a prison, witli
in;iinied men in
it, who are set
free.
Tliey were
maimed by
Darius.
Darius writes I
king Porus of
India.
THE GREEKS FIND NINUS' SEPULCHRE. [Aslimole.
Of all ])e douth at was dede * & di3t fam in graues.
And at wondid was, I-wis * as fe writt tellis, 3131
To serche Jjaire saluys & far saris • -with surgens noble.
At J)e grete flode of Granton • now graythis he his
tentzs,
Honoured fare his aid ' gods • & offirs J)am nouche? ;
jjare fand he palais vp pijt • & many proud hames,
Su??i-quile of Sexes ware sett * \)e sire of ])o landis, 3136
)3a bildis he bedis fam to brin • sone of his bone rewis,
And bad na bereii be sa bald • a brand for to kyndiH.
]?are was a brade bent fildf • was beried fuH of kni^t/s,
Of aid peres out of Pe?*sy • prince & dukes. 3140
))e Messedones in J)e mold! * mynes to Jje g/-aues,
Fand coupis all of clene geld • & costious stanes,
\)e sepulture of a sire * J)«t of Surre was kyng.
llim was J)e name Ninws • was in a noke fonden, 3144
Was of ane athiH amatist • & aH witZ/in^ grauen,
Plantid fuH of palmetres • & many proud fowles,
And slike a clerete it kest • )'u[r]3e kyud of it-selfe,
J3ai3 mi3t haue kentJ w/t7<out fe kist • \ie corps aH-
to-gedire. 3148
)5are was a tenefuH toure • & tulkis in-closid ;
Sum ware jje handis of hewen • & sum wondid hojes,
Sum fe e3en, su??i \)e eres • & egirly cries
On Alexander eftzV help • & he fam all liners. 3152
He wepis on J)am for wa • said, "wa is me, my
childire !"
And ilkane of his talentis • he takis ten thousand.
j)ns ware Jjai di3t of ser Dary • for he dedeyne hade,
J)at ]3ai^ ware come7i douw of kyng?« • & be no cause
ellis. 3156
Be now fe douth of ser Daris ' fe derfe messangere
Fra Alexander agayn • his answare him bro3t ;
And he fan girdis out to grete • eft graythis hhn to fy3t,
MS. h aid.
' with is in tTie margin.
MS. \at, corrected to J>ai.
MS. \>\
Dublin.] ALEXANDER FREES SOME PRISONERS. 187.
Of aH fe doghty ]jot was dede • & dight J)aim in grafys.
And aH pat woundytt was, I-wysse • as pe writte tellys,
He gart seke ))air sarys, & faim salue • with sui«-gers^ noble.
At pQ flude of g?'antu»i • uowe grathez he hys tenter, 3133
Hono?/;'s hys olde godde^ • & offers faira ouchez ;
]5air fande he palays vp pight^ • & raony prouude homez, [FoI. 37 6.]
Some- while of Serxes was set • Jje syre of ])air landez.
jjose heldes he byddes Jjaira brya • & syne of hys bode rewys,
And bad no berne be so bald • a brand for to kyndyH,
j)ar was a brode bent feld • Avas fuH of beryd kyngez,
Off olde perys oute of pers • of Princcz & Dukez. 3140
The massydoyns in pe mold ' mynyn into pe grafez,
Founde coupes aH of clene gold • & costyous stonez,
pe sepultwyre of a syre • of Snrry was crownyd,
Hym was pe name I^inus • was in a noke found en, 3144
"Was of ane athyH amatysf • & aH w/t/nn grafen,
Plantyd all v/ith palmetres • & niony prouude fowlez.
And suche a clarett^ it kesf • Jjorow kynde of hym-seluen,
Men myght^ haue kend w/t/ioute kysf • pe cors all-
to-geder. 3148
par was a tenefuU toure • & tulkez inclosyd ;
Some was pe liarmes of heven • & some pe lygez wantyd,
Some pe hoghez, some pe eres • & egerly cryden
On ^[lexander] after help • & he fiaira aH delyuerys.
lie wepys on fiaim for woo • sayd : " woo is me, my
childer!" 3153
And ichone of hys talented; • he takys ten thouusand.
J3us war fai dyght of Sir Dary • for he disdayne he(J,
}?at fiai war comyn of kyngez • c% be no cause ellez. 3156
Be J)en pe Doghty of s<r Darius ' ourderf messengers
Fro Alexander] ayayn • hys Answer hase broghtyn ;
And he J)en gyrdes oute to grete • & grathez hym to fyghf,
' Head surgens. * Ifead clartee.
188
DARIUS ASKS PORUS HELP.
" Darius to
Porus.
Come and help
[Fol. 54 6,]
[Aslmiole.
To ])e honoryd here out of ynde ' Jius orJans a pistiH.
" j)ai Jje sceptOure & ])e soile • sesid am of Persy,
To 'Pomis vndire my p?-esent • plesance & ioy.
First wrate I to ^oitr worthines • ^it write I \)e same,
To help vs at fire hathiH men • Jjat haue^ wald my
regne, 3164
And, be je sure, fe same way • is to joztr-self ettild.
For he pat werrais vs with ' pe wildare of grece,
For Alexander is Is wrawid & wrathfuH of wiH • & wode as a lyofi,3167
wroth as a lion.
It is better for me
to die tlian
to live in sorrow.
I promise ten
sliillings to a
well-armed
soldier, five (o
foot-soldier.
Tou sliall have
the spoil."
Alexander is
informed of this,
and prepares to
attack Darius
again.
Darius is
frightened.
Two of his own
knights lay a
plot tu kill him.
And if I sande men & sa??zmera • seggis out of nombre,
And cokke witJi pe conquiroz^r • tiH I be cald drepid,
3it me is better on jje bent • in bataile be slayne,
J3an se pe lose of my ledis * & ay leue in sorowe.
For-J)i 3oure lordschip as legeman • I lawly be-seke,
As I pat am in angwisch • myne askyng to fiH ; 3173
Ten schilling of my trew gold • a man pat is armed,
And fyue to a fote-man • failhely I hete.
3it sail I ordane to -^our ane * quare-euire oure ost liggis,
A ix score of new geere * of nurtrid maydens. 3177
Bucifalon pe bald stede * saH bathe be oure awefi,
And pe amies of Alexander • & all fe pilage."
H Now flees parfra, pe felt kynge • a fone of his kni^tes,
To Alexanc?er beliue • & aH jjus him tald, 3181
How pat ser Dary with his dukis * eft drissfe him to
fi^t,
Had prayd efttr powere • to 'Poivus of ynde.
J;an ordans him fis honorable • wz't/t his ost Qitis, 3184
Agayn pe Persyns king • him ordans to ride,
For pe name of an Emperoure • ne wald he neuire fange,
Or fen pat souerayne ware slayne • or 3ild him his regne.^
Sone as pe kyng of pat kith * of his come herys, 3188
)5an was he ferly a-fri3t • & his folke bathe.
Than kest f am twa of his kni^tts • him causeles to spiH,
' };at haue in the margin. * MS. rege, altered to regne.
Dublin.] ALEXANDER AGAIN PREPARES TO ATTACK. 189
To J)e honoM/-d heere oute of Inde • fiis Ordayns he a pis*yH.
" That ])e septowr & \>e soyle • sesyd am of pers, 31 Gl
To porrus vnder my prynt • plesaunce & loy.
First wrote I to your worthynes • jitt write I \)e same,
To help vs Anest fees athell men • pat hery wald onre
realme, SlG-t
And, be ^e sure, Jje same way • is to your-selfe etteld.
And he Jjrtt werrys vs • is pe weldar of grece,
Es wrawyd & Avrathfull of wiH • & wode as a lyofi, 3167
As wawes of Jje Avild see * wheii wynd faim dis-
trobles; 3167* [F..1.38.]
And fof I sowme & sa?nme • seggez oute of nombre, 3168
And cok with Jiis conquerowr • tyll I be cold drepyd,
3itt is me better on fe bent • in bateH to fayle,
)3en see Jje losse of my ledes • & ay lefe in sorow.
For-J)i your lordship as lege man • I lofely beseclip, 3172
As I Jjat am in angres • my askyns fullfyH ;
Ten schelyng of my trew gold ' a tulke fat is arniyd.
And fyfe to A foteman • faythfully I hete. 3175
3itt shall I ordayne to your one • whar-euer our hoste liggez,
Nyne score of new gere • of nortwjTyd may dens.
Bucyfall fe bald stede * sail als be your awne, 3178
With fe armez of Sir A[lexander] • & all fe ofer pelage."
No we fleen fai fro fis feH kyng< • a some of hys knygfites,
To A[Iexander] als belyfe • als J)us hym tol(J,
How \)at Sir Dary^ with hys dukez • dressyd faim to
fyghf, 3182
Had send after power • to porrus of Inde.
pen ordayns hym fis honorable • & with hys hoste flyttes,
Ayayns fe p^rsyen Prince • he pwrpose to ryde,
For pe name of empe?-our • wald he neuer fonnge, 3186
Or Jjat soueren wer slayn • & seysyd to hym fe realme.
Sone as fe kyng of pat kyth • of hys Come herys,
pen was he ferly affrayd • & hys folke both. 3189
And J?en kest two of hys "knjghtes ' to causles hym spyH,
' he added here, but struclt out.
190
TWO PERSIAN KNIGHTS ATTACK DARIUS. [Ashmole.
D.inus asks why
they attack him,
and says that
Alexander will
avenge him.
Tliey woimJ
him, and he falls.
)5ai trowid fan of Alexander ' to adiH ])ahn a mede ;
\)ive traitours on J)is trechoure • trowthis has strakid,
Lendis pabn on-loft to Jje lorde • lajt out swerdis. 3193
"Quat sail I dre3e," quod ser Dary • "my deie-worth
childire 1
First cald I 30W my clyent/s • \)at now I caH lordis,
Semes jow nojt it suffice • my sorowe w<t7i-out, 3196
]y(t as a bitand brand • me brettens w/t/t-in,
And slaa ^e me J)us sudanly? • jje se[n]iot<re of grece,
He^ wiH me wreke on joure werke • wers )?an of thefes !"
}5ar2 meuyd jjaim^ na meroy • bot maynly liim woundid,
)?at dou?? he hildis aH to-hewyn • faire handis be-twene.
|?an dryfes furthe ]?a dones men • & halfe dede hi?;; leuys,
Famand^ out of fresch blotlf • & here a fitt end'. 3203
When Alexander
hears that
Darius is
wounded,
he goes to Susa.
The Persians
welcome hin: ;
but some hide
themselves.
He goes to the
palace.
a
(!^uartustif cimus passus '^UxandrL
uen Alexaiider of fiis athiH • J)is auntzV haddf herdi,
How he was di3t of his douth • & to jje dede
woundid,
He stre3t him to st^vmia • & ouire Jje streme ridis,
So3t him in Sussys • him-selfe with his ost.
j)e pepill out of Pe?-sy • quen fai oure prince see, 3208
}3an :,ode )jai furthe & vn-3arkid • \ie jat;.? of ]>e cite,
Eesayues him fuH: rially • w?'t7i reue?-ence & ioy,
Said : " welcmn be jjou, werraioMr • fat aH fe erd! lout2i; !"
Sone as ])ir weried wi^iis ' was ware of hes come, 3212
\)at slo3e so faire sou??-ayne * fat neuire sake hadd,
}pai he3e fai??? to holes & hyrnes • & hydis fai?/i belyne,
}503t, or fai wist of his wiH • fai wald no3t apere.
)3an gase he vp be degrece • the grecen maistu*, 3216
Passis in-to fe palais â– a pa?-adyce semed,
Was on fe make of fat mote • no3t^ mervalled a litiH,
MS. 36. ' MS. I^ai. ^ MS. >ai him.
* Famend, altered to Faniand.
* Here follon-s we. stnick thvovgh.
Dublin.] DARIUS is very sorely wounded. 101
jjam afterward of Alexander] • attelland a mede;
)3ees tratoiirs on J?at tricliory • trouthez han stroken,
Lenden faim on-loft to ];e lord • laghtyn cute swerde«. 3193
"What sail I dre," quod sir Dary • "my dere worthy
childerl
First cald I yow my clyentes • fat now I calle 'Lories,
Semys you nott it shuld suffyce • my sorow now wit/ioute,
pat as a bytand brand • me bytes wzt/an, 3197
And sla 36 me ))us sodonly ? • fe senyour of grece,
He will me wreke on your werke * wers fen of theflfes ! "
par mevyd faim no mei'cj • bott manly hym woundit, 3200 [Foi. ss 6.]
pat downe he heldes aH to-hewyu • fair handes bytwene.
]5en dryfen forth f oo Domesmeu ' & halfdede hym lefes,
Fomand oute of freche blode • & here a fytt ende?. 3203
©uartustifcimus^ Passus ^[lexandri].
ft[u]lieil A[lexander] of fis atheH • fis aunt?/rs had herd,
How he was djght of hys doughty • & to fe deth
â– \vound?'t,
He straght hym on to struma * ouer fe streme rjdes,
Soght on to susys • hym-self w/t/i hys hostez,
pe peple oute of persye * when fai f is Prince see, 3208
Jpen 3ode fai furth & vnjarkyd • fe jates of f e Cyte,
Eesaved hym full ryally • wit7i reuerence enogh,
Sayd : " welcom be f ou, weryour ' fat all f e werld loutes ! "
Sone as fees warryd Avightez • was war of hys come, 3212
pat Sloghen so fair sou^?-enf • fat neue?- faim gilt made,
J3ai hyen faim to holez • & hyden faim belyfe,
)5oght, or fai wist of hys wyH • f ai wald not apere,
]?en goyse he vp be degrees • fe greken maister, 321 G
Passyd vnto f e palacys • fat paradyse semyd,
Was in niakke of fat mote • noj77(t mervaylled a lytyH,
* MS. Duodecimus.
192
ALEXANDER EXTERS 8DSA,
[Ashmole.
Tlie floor is
fliirly paved
Tlie walls are of
pure gold.
[Fol. 55 6]
Alexander
wonders.
He finds Darius
aove wounded.
He pities liin
He embraces him,
and weeps over
him.
" Be comforte 1 ;
be king of Persia
once more.
Let me avenpe
tliy murder."
)Jrtt compast was of Ciisys • Jjat kynge was of Fersy.
j)e Acre vndire J)e fote • fynely was paued, 3220
Couerd aH of cristaH • & ofire clere stanes.
3it ware pe wawes of \)e Avanes ' wro3t, as I rede,
Polischid aH of pure gold ^ • & of plate werk/s.
And fat was strekeii fuH of sternys • & of sere
ge??imj's, 3224
With bri3t blasynand! bees * as bemes of \>e sou.
j)e hathiH hedis vp-on heje • & hogely he wondirs,
pat euire suld eniperoure in erth • slike ane herde wild.
Queu he had feriyd his fiH • apon pat faire hanie, 3228
jjui-je-out pe sale )jan he sojt • in-to pe selfe chambr^.
pare quare pe lord in lay • w/t/t laythely woundis,
Girdid out as gutars â– in grete giU-stremes,
3it was pare lyfe in his like ' litiH if it semed, 3232
At ilk blast of his breth • pe blode fra him glidis,
Sire Alexa7uh7' him avysis • & authly him thinke ;
pe pure pete of his payii • persid his hert .
jjan nymes he fra his awyn neke • an emperoures
mantiH, 3236
And pat he^ couirs ouire pe kyng • & clappis him in
armes,
Wit^ grph gretyng & gro ' & grysely terys ;
Bad : " comfurth pe, ser conquirowr • & of pi care ryse,
Don ajayne pe dignite • pe diademe of Pers, 3240
And aH pe li^tis of pi rewme * resayue as before.
My pure powarfuR gods * I prestly pauoure,
)pine empire & pine erytage • enterely pe to jeltl ; 3243
Suld neu^r na gome be to glade • pofe he grete ware,
Of his nejbowr noy • enentts him-selfe,
Quen fortune foundis him fra • & him pe fete scheAvis,
And aH pe welth him at-wendis • & pe werd changis.
Brynge furth pi banes, & with my brand • I saH pi
dede venge." â– 3248
ph saje sobband he said ' & pe segge Avakyns,
' MS. gold gold, but corrected. ' In the viarg'm.
Dublin.] HE FiNps darius wounded. 193
Jjat Compast was of Susys • fat kyng was of pers.
)je flore vnder fute • fynely was pafvyd, 3220
Coiiered aH of c?'/staH • & oper clere stonez.
3itt wer J)e wallez of jje wane • wroght, as I rede,
Polyshyd all of pure gold • & of plate werkes.
And pat was strengkyllyd full of sternez • & strykyfi wit//
gemmys, 3224
With bright blasenand beys • as bemys of ]>e sonne.
})e hatheH hedes vp on higlit • & hugely he wounderez,
Jjat euer suld Emperour in erth • suche a place welde.
Qwen he had farlyd hys fyll • on J)ees fair homez, 3228
T[h]rogh-oute J)e sale jian he soght^ • vnto fe self chaunihre, [Foi.£9.]
j)ar as J>e lord in lay • ^yith lothlyche wounde*',
Gyrrdand oute as gutters • in grete gyUe-stormez,
3itt was par lyfe in hys lyre • lytyll yf it semyd, 3232
Att Iche blast of hys breth • fe blode fro hym i^eites,
Sir Alexander] on hym avysys • & trewly hym thynkez ;
J3e pure pite of hys payn • pe^-syd hys hert*.
J3en nymmez he fro hys awne neke • ane empero^/rs
manteH, 3230
And J)at he Couerys ouer fe kyng* • & clepys hym in
harmez,
'With greme gretyng & grone • & gryslyche terys ;
Bad : " comforth ])e, siV conquerour • & of pi care ryse,
J3u dose ayayn ])i dignite • fe dyademe of pers, 3240
And pe rightez of my realms • resayve als before.
My pure powerfull goddes • prestly adoure,
Jpine empyre & ])i herytage • f»e purely to ^eld ;
Suld neuer no gome be glad • fiof he grett wer, 3244
Off hys neghburs noye • anentes hym-seluen.
When fortune f undes hym. fro • & hym pe fete schewys.
And all J)e welthe^ pat he weldes • & pe werld chaungez,
Bryng fforth pi banes, & with a brand • pi bale shall I
venge." 3248
)jis sagh sobband he sayd • & so pe segge wakyns,
' MS. wethche.
ALEXANDER. O
194
Darius kisses
Alexander's
â– Ah! Alexander
All turns at last
to corruption.
[Fol. 56.]
God made man
unstable,
Had He given
men prosperity
only,
none would
acknowledge His
power.
DARIUS KISSES ALEXANDER'S HAND, [Ashmole.
Ilyndely hildis him vp • & his hand kyssis,
j)e brest & fe bare necke • & breues fire wordis : 3251
IT "A! Alexa7ide7', athiH son" • & angrily granys,
"pe depe distruccion of ^our dome • has many day
bene^ knawyn,
j)at aH pe welth of pe werld? • worth is at J?e lasf
To cayrayne & corupcjon * clene aH-to-gedire.
])e warnes of pi wale gode • fat wist aH before, 3256
And fully feld att pe fare • pat faH suld on erthe ;
On J)is maner made he man * |)ur3e his mijt first,
Suld nojt be fou?? in hi?7i fast • ne ferme ne stable,
Bot houande here a hand-qwile • & hingand in payse,
Now in leueH, now on-loft * now on lawe vndire. 32G1
AH werdly ping, I-wis • fur^e pe wiH of oure lord,
In-to pe contrare clene • is at a clamp turned?.
For had he worjt^ ay to wees • welth & na nothire,
So grete had bene vayn glorie ' glotony & pride, 3265
Suld nane haue gessid pat grace • come of god, bot of
]jai??i-selfe ;
So fra pe makare o mold? • suld many man haue erryd.
So feyle had bene pe frelett/s • folo3and oure kynd, 3268
We should all We had bene drawen aH bedene • in-to disspaire clene,
And of pe godness of god • no3t a grew^ traisted.
For-Jji he wald of his wiH * his werkis to be changand,
pat, quen a hathiH ware ouire hije • in happ & in
welthe, 3272
God's will is that j)at he knew nojt his creatowr • bi-cause of his pride,
pride should in i i i i •
iiave a fall, In-to pe dike of debonerte • droune bud him nede,
J3is was his AviH at it worthid ' wene pon na nothire,
J?e gome his god at for-gatt • for any grace here, 3276
His welth to wite all a-way * & wickidnes apere.
To ken pe caytefe to knaw • qua caused him on first.
This has now hap- j)e Same ensampiH of my-selfe • noAv is betid, po\x sees ;
peiied to myself,
' In the margin. ' For wrojt.
' Here follons st, standing alone.
Dublin.] DARIUS laments his past pride. 195
Hendly halsys hym vmbe ' & hys hande kyssys,
pe brest & on Jje bare neke • & brevys pees wordez :
" A ! Alexander, athyll son " • and augerdly gronys, 3252
"Jje depe distruccion of J)i dome • base mony day ben
knawen,
All fe welth of J)is werld ' waystes be fe last*
To caryon & corrupcion • clene all-to-geder.
The wyssyng* of jje wale god • pat wist aH before, 3256
And fully fele aH pe fare • pat falle shuld on erth ;
On Jjis mane?- made he man • |)orow hys myght first^,
Suld not be funde in hym fastnes * ne ferme be ne stabyH,
Bot hofand here an hand-while * & hyngand on payse, 3260
Now in loueH, nowe on-loff • nowe in law vnder.
AH wordly ]j[i]ng', I-wys • ]?orow wyH of pat Lord*, [FoI. 39 6.]
Into pe con* ray elene • is at a clampe twrnyd.
For bed he wroght ay to wees • welth & none oper, 3264
So grete had beil vaneglory • glotony & Pride,
Suld nane haue gessyd Jjaim grace ' of god, bott of faim-
seluen ;
So from pe maker of man • myght mony haue erryd. 3267
And had he shapyn Ay to shalkez • shendship & illys, 3267*
So fele had ben pe frekes • folowand our kyn(J, 3268
We had ben drawyn all bedene • into dispare clene,
And on pe gudnes of god • noght a dele traistytf.
For-])! he wald of hys will • alt warkys to be chaunged,
l)at, when on athyH was so wele • in happe & in heyle, 3272
J3at he knew not hys creatour • be-cause of hys pryde,
Into Jje Dyche of deboneHe • drench must hym nede.
)3is was hys wille pat it shuld )>us worth * wete J)ou no noper,
The gome pat hys god forgatt • for ony grace here, 3276
Hys welth to wyte away • & wrychednes to apere,
To ken pe catyflf to knaw • who causyd hym on first*.
pe sampyH of my A^vne self* ' ))0u seys nowe betyd ;
196
LET EACH MAN LOOK TO HIS END.
[Ashmole.
Pride blinded me.
If a man be
cast down,
he shall be
exalted.
Let man
acknowledge his
Let not pride
puff thee up.
Look to thine
end.
My life is like i
cob-web, soon
blown away.
I, who yesterday
ruled all the
world, am now
driven down to
dust.
Bury me with
the princes of
Persia.
So grete I grew of my gods • & gold in my cofirs, 3280
pat kindly gods creatoure • I kend no3t my-selfe,
Bot for his felo3e & his fere * faithly me leued,
)5us prosperite & pride • so purely me blyndid,
I couthe nojt se fra my sege • to fe soile vndire, 3284
pat at me failed fan to fynd • fast at myn ejen.
Be J)e myrrowr now of meknes • I may a myle knawe,
If any hathiU be so hard! • with vnhapp woundid,
So at he hopis him no helpe • of fa he3e fadirt;, 3288
|3an liftis oure lord him on-loft • his langoi^r he breggis,
In-hanses him in hand-quile • & heues him to welthis
So heje, fat he for vn-hele • sejes no3t his dri3ten.
Lat fan him knaAv his creatour • in kindling of ioy, 3292
pat he fat lawene has a lede • may lyft, if him thinke,
And he fat bring/s him on-loft • breten aH to poudire.
J5i saule, son, in-to snrquiteTj • lat seke neuire fe
hi3hare,
For gre fe graunf ere^ of g0(J • & no3t2 of fi grete
strenthis. 329 G
If all f e limp as f e list • loke to fine ende,
For die f e bose, quen aH is done • & ay f i day scort/s.
IT Me fink 3 my lyfe as to fe lenjth • is like to f is werk^,
pat f is coppis opon keH-wyse * knytt in f e W03es, 3300
With f e lest winde of f e werd • fat f e werd touches,
pe note anentis ilk ane • & aH to no3t worthis.
Lo ! so f e quele of qwistsumnes • my qualite has changid !
I, fat was 3ustirday so 3ape • & 3emed aH f e werld, 3304
To day am dreuyii aU to dust • to dolour & paynes.
Has no3t o maistri so meche • as mi3t of my-selfe.
My dere son," quod Darjus ' " it drawes nere f e tyme ;
My banes, on my benyson • bery with f i hand, 3308
With f e proued princes out of Pers * • & witli f e proude
grekis,
And f e maistMings of Messedoyne ' je me to mold bring.
Head
Added in the margin.
* MS. Ferers.
MS. Me ymk me.
Dublin.] all worldly glory fades. 197
So grete I grew of my gudez • & gold in my coffers, 3280
}jat kendly goddes creature • I knew nott my-seluen,
Bott for hys felow & hys fere • faythfully me made,
Jpus prosperite & pn'de ^ • propyrly me blyndyd,
I kouth noght see fro my seyge * to fe sette vnder, 3284
j)at at me faylyd to fynd ' fast at my eeyn.
Be fe myrrow[r] of mekenes * I may a myle knaw,
Yff ouy hatheH be so hard • v/ith vnhappe woundzt,
So fat lie hopys hym no help • of fe hye fader, 3288
j)en lyftes fe kyng hym on-loff • hys langor abreggez,
Enhaunses hym in hand-while • & hefys hym on-loff
So he, \>at ere^ for vnsele • segh nott hys Dryghtyn. 3291
Lete pen hym know hys creature • in kyndyllyng of loy,
\)at he laghtnes may lede • & lyft when hym thynkez.
And pat brynges hym abowe • bryttynd all to powder,
Jji sawle, sir, into Surquydry • latt sech neuer Jje
heyere, 3295
[Leaf 40 is lost.]
MS. i>roridc. ' For ere, read he.
198
ALEXANDER SUCCEEDS DARIUS.
[Aslunole.
us fight no
longe
I commend to you
my motlier and
daughter.
[Fol. 57.]
Be kind to ray
Darius dies and
is buried.
Alexander
mounts the
throne.
Darius' crown is
put on iiis liead.
The crown shines
gloriously.
The throne is of
gold.
Il lias seven
steps ;
1. of amethyst.
2. of smaragdui
3. ot topaz.
4. of garnet.
[Fol. 57 6.1
5. of adamant.
6. of gold.
■Lat fan cure kyng-domes a-corde • & cock we na laiigu-,
Bot ay pe?'petuall pes • cure pa?'tys betwene. 3312
Vn-to pure mekiH maieste â– my modire I comande,
Eodogarus fe riaU • & rewis on my bride ;
'My dojti'r Rosan Jje riclie • resayues to pur spouse,
It comys wele of hije kyn • kyng/s to descend. 3316
Tak tent to ]>at at I teH • be tendire of my knijtj'.s."
And with ))is speke at lie spake • ]?e sprete he jeldis.
J3an was his body enbawmed • &, as he bede, g?-auen,
}3is bald baratoure him bare • & as a barne gveiis, 3320
So did fe pepiH out of Persy • bot for his pite mare
]3an for )je dethe of Dary • be dowble of fe twa.
And Alexander belyue • as he was enterid,
He meues agayn to fe mote • ifc on ))e morne eft/r, 3324
Vp to pe souej-ayne sege â– with Septowr he wyndis,
pat Cusus J)e conquirowr • of clere gold maked.
pe mody men of Messedone ' J^e maist/rs of 'Persy
pan put J)am in-to presens • as jje prose tellis ; 3328
Sire Darius awefl dyademe ' ])ai did on his hede,
A coron, ane fe costious • pat euire kyng weryd,
On Jie propurest of proiecte • pat euire prince here.
pe massy werke was pe menest • made of pe noble. 3332
pe pride par-oi for to proue • it pyned any cristen ;
It gaue so glorius a gleme ' of gold & of stanes,
pat as J)e loge for pe lijt • lemed as of heue??. 3335
pe sets fare him-selfe satte • in soyte vfith pe croune,
pat was lift a-pon loft • on ofire litiH segis,
Seuyn cubet of clere gold • was countid pe hi3t.
And vij degrece was par grayd • for gate vp of king/s,
And fai ware lentilly loyned • in a loyly wyse. 3340
pe first an athil Amatast * as I am infowj'med,
And of a Smeth [sjmaragadane * Smyten was Jje top ir ;
pe thrid of a Topas a-tyred • & trelest & grauen ;
pe ferdf degre a Granate • a gracious gemme ; 3344
pe fyfte was of ane Adomant ' ati-to-geSire makid ;
pe sext of gleti'rand gold • gayle was forgid ;
200
DESCRIPTION OF DARIUS THRONE.
[Ashmole.
1. The amethyst
guards men
against
drunkenness.
A king must
be of Bote- mind.
2. The smaragJiu
protects the
ei!;ht; a king
must see clearly.
3. The topaz
reflects an
inverted image.
A king must
remember how
all tilings are
subverted.
J3e ouirmast, aH of pe erth * wtt/i-out oj^ire werk/s,
Apon )ji3 wyse ware fai grayd ' & for grete cause. 3348
])e first was of an Amatist • pat aH chaye denies
Eiche, said pe romance • & ronkenes of wynes,
Latt/s na dronkynnes^ fam dere • pat douth at it beris.
\)e same wyse men a wee • waite to him-selfe, 3352
A kni3t at couetti^' to clym • to kyngs astate,
Him bus haue warnes hi?« with ■of wit & of mynde,
])at he wirke no^t on pe wethire halfe • for wathe apon
erth. 3355
\)e s[e]cunde was of Smaragdone • pat ay pe si3t kepis ;
Quat berne as beris it him on • it bri3tens his e3en.
So bus a kyng to consaile • haue a^ clere hert,
To se at syttis him to se • & sagely to wirke. 3359
\)G thrid was a Topas, I trow • at to pe trone lengis ;
])at is so clere of his kind • pQ clause me recordis,
pat qua-sum-euire in pat ilk • his ymage behaldzV,
\)e face is to pe fold-ward • pe fete to pe firment.
So comes it wele for a kyng • to knaw tiH his end, 3364
How ay pe top to pe taa • is turned at pe last.
Quen fortune festis him ' he fendis beliue,
And aH his dignite bedene • driues in-to poudire. 3367
pe fere! was a granate, I gesse • goules althire fynest ;
gems ; Is uauc SO redy, as I rede • of aH pe riche stanes ;
a king must be of SHkc color a3e a kyng wele • in conyschance to here,
pat he schape to na schauadry • pat schend suld his fame.
pe fift was all of adoma?2t * as pe buke tellis ; 3372
pat is he pat is so hard • Jsat hurt may nane tole ;'
Is nothire stele ne na stane * so stife it may perce,
And growis out of pe grete see • in graynes & in cragis.
If any I^aue* to it ne3e • pat naylid is wit^ iryn, 3376
It attracts ships. Jjefi cleuys it ay to pe clife * carryg & othyre ;
4. The garnet is
tlie brightest of
pure fame.
5. The adamani
is very hard.
[Fol. 58.]
MS. droBcj'nnes, altered to dronkynnes. * MS. ai.
^ MS. thole tole ; 7vith thole xtrvck out.
* MS. aue, altered to Naue in, the vtargin.
Dublin.] THE MEANING OF THE GEMS ON IT. 201
What berne pat berys it bym on • it brigbtyns hys sygbf . [FoI- *i ; ?«"/
So buse a kyng to consayve • hafe a clere berf,
To se fat sittes bym to see • & sagely to wircbe. 3359
The tbryd was a topas, I trowe * pat to ]?e trone longyd ;
\)at is So clere of hys kynde • Jje clause it recorder,
\)at who-someuer in pat ilke • hys vysage bebaldes,
\)e face is to pe foldward • pe fete into pe welkyn.
So comys it wele to a kyng • to knaw to hys ende, 3364
Howe ay pe topp to pe toes • is twrnyd at pe lasf,
When fortoune fraystes frely bym in-fere * be fyndes bym
belyfe,
And all hys dignite bedene • dryfys into Powder. 3367
The fourte was a granate • pat glowys all par fynest* ;
Is none so rede, as I rede • of all pe rycbe stones ;
Suche colour aghf a kyng wele • in countenawnce to here,
j)ai be shope to no cheualdre ' pat shend shuld hys name.
The fyft was all of Adamant* • as pe buke tellys; 3372
Jjat is he pat is so hard • pat hurt may no tule ;
Is noper stele nor no stone • so styflF may it perce,
And growys out of pe grate see • in granes & in Craggez.
YflF ony navy to it negh • pat nalyd is wt't/i Irne, 3376
}jen clefys it ay to pe clyff • carrak & ope?- ;
2a-
ALEXANDER S PROCLAMATION.
[Ashmole.
A king should 1
Bteadfast.
6. The gold is
the chief of
metals ;
a king should be
chief.
7. The earth
reminds a king
that he is of
earth.
Alexander sends
out a letter.
" Alexander to
tlie chiefs and
princes of Persia
sends greeting.
[Fol. 58 *.]
Since the diadem
of Darius is
granted me,
let all be
a-lministered ;
before.
Bot bloJe of body, sais fe buke • bees it neuire
percid,^
Or J)e natour of anothire tiling • pat nedis no3t to rekeii.
pat same kynd suld a kyng • of liis craft vse, 3380
So stable & so stedfast • to stand in bis werkes,
pat for na prayere ne pres • ne plesaunce on erthe,
Out of pe rake of ri3t\vysnes * ren suld he neuire.
pe Sext was of gold • graciously bewen, 338 i
Of an metals o mold? • Jje maistir & fe syre ;
pe same cure is a kyng • be kind of his leggis,
To gy & gouenie- his gomes * pe grettest he is makid.
pe seuynt vp to fie sege • was of pe selfe erth, 3388
pat is na mare for to mene • as me my mynd tellis,
Bot ilka kyng suld hbn knaw • cried of pe soile,
And to pe same sustenance • sodanly to worthe. 3391
)5us sett oure syre in his sete ' with septoure in hand,
In pelowr & in paH • & proud men him by.
pah lete he left res belyue • wtt/j ledis out to send,
)2ur3e all pe p?'ouynce of pers^ • promicid })is Averk?'6".
" pe kyng AV«t7j-outen compere * of kyngis all othire,
Of all pe lordis now pe lord * fat lefts apoii erth, 3397
Sire Alexander, athiH son ' of Amon his dri3ten,
And als of Olimpades • anyly consayued,
To pe souerayns & pe Senescalls • pe sires & pe maistris.
And all pe pers out of persy • princes & duk/6% 3401
pe lustis & pe gentils • & lugemen of lawe,
Bathe citi3ens & seriant • salutw of grace.
Syn it lokid has pe largenes • of pe lord of heue?i, 3404
pat me J)is diademe of Dary • demed is & graunted,
And to be^ here |)us enhansid? * in his hi3e trone,
3e sail be glad of my degre • & gretly reioyd,
And ordans aiquare ouire aH • honoz<rable princes, 3408
Gouerno?<rs & gardens * of all pe grete bur3es,
As was in Darius days • to deme men pe ri3t,
' MS. lansed, altered to perc'ni. * MS. gounfre.
* MS. perers. ■• I'l the margin.
Dublin.] ALL LAWS ARE TO CONTINUE IN FORCE. 203
"\V/t7iowte bloJe of body, says fe buke • beys it newer
pe7-syd,
Or Jie nature of a-no])er tbyng • Jiat nedes noght to rekyn.
The same kynd shiild a kyng' " of hys craft vse, 3380
So stabyll & so stedfasf • to stond in hys werkez,
j)at for no prayer ne preese • ue plesaunce^ on erth,
Oute of \>e rakke of rightwyssnes • rynne shuld he neuer.
The sext degree was of gold ' graciously hewyn, 3384
Off all J)e metallys of mold • fe maister & pe syre ;
The same cure is a kyng • be kend of hys leigez,
To gye & goueryne hys gomes * pe grettest is he grathyd.
The Seuente vp to ])e sege • was of pe self erth, 3388
\)at is no more for to mene • as me ]je writte tellys,
Bot euerilke kyng shuld hym knawe • create of fe soyle,
And to Jje same substance • sodanly to worth. 3391
)3us sett our Syre in hys sete • with septowr in hand, [Foi. .ii *.]
In pelour & in palle • & prouude men hym vmbe.
])en lete he lette?*ys belyfe • -with ledes oute to send,
Jjorow a'J )?e prouynce of pers • pronou??sand fiees wordez :
" The kyng w/t7;owtyn compere • of kyngez aH ojjer,
Of all lordes nowe lord • fat lefyn vppon erth, 3397
Sir A[lexander], athyll son • of anion hys diightyii,
And also of Olympades ' only consaved,
To pe soue?*ayns & senescallez, * ]?e syrez & pe maisterys,
And an fe peres oute of pers • princez & dukez, 3401
])e iustice & pe gentyles ' fe iuggez of pe lawe,
Both cyte3eyns & sergeantez • salute** of grace.
Seth lukkyd hath pe largenes • of fe lord of heuen, 3104
])at me JjIs Diademe of Dary • demyd is & grauntyd,
And to be here ]jus inhaunsyd * in hys hye trone,
3e shall be glad of my degree • & gretly reiossecJ,
And ordayns ouer all & ay • honorable princez, 3408
Gouernowrs & gardens • of all my grete burghez,
As was in Darius days • to deme men pe right',
â– MS. plesaaunce.
204
ALEXANDER SENDS FOR DARIUS' MURDERERS. [Ashmole.
Let all armour be
put away.
Let the Iiigliroad
be free."
He next bids the
slayers of Darius
to come to him,
promising tliem
their reward
I?esan and
Anabras present
tliemselves.
[Fol. 59.]
He commands
them to be
beheaded,
as that is
the right reward
of traitors.
And clene all fe clients • to kepe f aire demayndes.
Ilk a pep ill his possession^ • in pes mo3t he broweke,
Armoure & actons • y latt all fat be kepid,^ 3413
Caires Jjam to castells • & in kinge houses,
And none so bald', ere I bide • to here fam na mare.
And fra fis marche to Messedone • quils I am maist/r
here, 3416
j)e passage in aithire pa?-t • sail playn be & open,
j)e comers out of aithire costs ' to caire vndistrobbed,
With message & Marchandise • & al manire of nedis."
H ^NTovv is his pistils aH past* • & pese he comandis ; 3420
" Quilke of my fryndis ere jje folke ' fat my faa slo3e,
pat was fe drepars of Dary • now doo fam a-pere,
})at fai may weld for fis werke ' wirschip to mede.
My mekill mi3tfuH; gods * I maynly 30W swere, 3424
And on fe lay at I leue • & be my lufed modire,^
)3e worthe wage Jjai/n wayne • fat fai haue wele scrued."
)5an all fe pepiH out of Pe/"sy • pouret out to wej^e ;
Bathe Besan & Anabras • as fe buke tellis, 3428
):at ware fe banes of his body • baldly fam shawis ;
Said : " we to-hewid him [with] oure handis • hi3o
empe?-oure."
Jpai wend wele fai??i to wyn • a waryson for euire. 3431
)pan bad' he bernes ])ai??i to bynd • & bringe faim be-lyue
Vn-to fe gudmans graue • & hewe of f aire hedis.
" Alias, my lord," quod fa ledis • " & 30 so late swore,
To ^oiir worthi gods, ^our wale dame • we suld no waa
suffire 1 " 3435
" Siris, as 36 worthi ware, I-wisse * I wate wele I hijt,
And hot 30Mr harmes were vnhid • I held no3t myne
atliis.
For sen I wan in-to f e werld • my witt has bene aye,
Quen treid was a trechory • fe tulkis to be hedid."
]5an he did fai»i to deth • as dri3ten hi?n praysed, 3440
' MS. posseciion, altered to possession. * MS. kepis.
' Here the Dublin MS. ends.
Dal)Iin.3 he beheads them for their treachery. 205
And clene all our clientes • to kepe pair demaunde^f,
Iche peple fair possession • in pease myght pai broke,
Armors & actons • lat aH J?at be kepyd, 3413
Cayrez jjairn to castellys • & to kyngez housez.
And none so bold, or I byd * to bere })aim no more.
And fro fis marche to massydoyne * whil I am maister
here, 3416
The passage shall in ather parte * plane be & opyii,
J5e Comers oute of athir coste • to cayre vndistourbletf,
"WitJi message & -with merchaundyse • & all man^^r of nede^."
H"owe er hys pistellys forth past^ • & pease he Co??zmandez ;
"Which of my frende^ er Jte folke • fat my foe slogh,
j)at wer J)e drepers of sir Dary • nowe doys faim apere,
)5at J)ai may weld for fair werk • worship & mede.
My mekyll myghtfuU goddes ' I maynly you swere, 3424
And on fe lay fat I lefe • & be my lofyd moder,
[Here ends the fragment in the Dublin MS.]
206
ALEXANDER WEDS ROXANA.
[Aslimole.
Tlie land is at
peace.
Alexatiiler agnii
mounts the Rilt
tlirone.
nnil bids Uoxana
tome to him,
wliom he weds,
and makes
empress.
The Persians call
liim a god ; at
which he
alarmed.
[Fol. 59 6.]
He keeps an
eight-days' feast
in honour of
Roxana.
pe prouynce pijt is in pes ' & princes ere maked,
An^ aid derling^ of Darius • was duke made of pers,
Request of pe rials • ane of liis riclie \Ticles. 3443
Oure emperoure, quen Jiis was endid • erly oil pe morne,
'With all pa, alyens him by • & ancient lordis,
He gase a-gayne to de-grece • vp to pe gilt trone,
Dobbed in his diadenie • & di3t as be-fore ; 3447
As Dary demed, or he deid • his dojtiV he comandes,
Mad Rosaii Jjs riche • radly to apere,
Hire hede vn-helid was on hi3e • & hild aH in trissis,
Vra-by-clappid witJi a coronacle ' of costious stanes ;
As pe nianere of pat marche was • he wedd hire to wyfo,
And in pe sege vfitJi hiwi-selfe • to sitt he hir makzi^
Comands hire as a conquyres • of knyjt/s to be louted,
And all l^e pepill out of Persy • was passandly ioyed.
J?ai gone agraytheii vp pSLive gods * on gilten segis, 3456
Sayed : " pou. ert duke of ilk dome • & dri3tin ))i-selfe ! "
j)an was he fraid in his flesche • bad, " feyne of y)ifr
wordis !
I am a coruptible kyng • & of clay fourmed' ! "
)?an out onone to Aristotil • & to his awen modire 3460
Of all his weris & his welth • he wrate alto-gedir^ ;
And a3t dales aH bedene • he dites in his pistiH,
For reuerence of Eosan • to reveH & halo we. 3463
Al be pe metire hot mene ' pus mekiH haue I ioyned ;
Forthi, lordis, be ^our leue • list 30W to suffire.
Now will I tary for a time • & tempire my wittis ;
And he pat sti3e to pe sternes • sti3tiH vs in heue?i !
I will now lell
you more about
Alexander.
(J^utntuiStiecimus passus ^Uxandri.
Lordis, wiH 3e me lithe * & lestin a stonde, 3468
Now sail I kithe vs a carpe • of a kyng riche,
Of pe auntowrs of ser Alexa??(fer • pat aire was of grcce,
How all pe werd at his will • he Avan or he deid.
' MS. And. * MS. derlingjs.
Ashmole.] he keeps his wedding-feast. 207
J3e latt/r ende of liis lyfe • me list ^ow to teH. 3472
For aH pe first is in fittis • & folowand Jte lettiV, ri.e first part
And he fat made 90W J)is mirth • oft mynes his saule, ii,e original.
})at dri3tin deyne him to dele • a dele of his blis.
Sone as ser Dary was deid • & done out of lyue, 3476
And A\ex.ander as^ aire • had aH for to Avild, when he had
1 1 . 1 married Roxana,
Kesayued to his nche quene • Eosan his do-^tir,
And was pe croune be-kcndf • of clene all pus ends,
He gedird him a grete ost • & graythid him to ride,
A powere of pe Pe?'sens • & of J)e prowde grekis, 3481
Jje Messedones & all men • he [maynly] comandis lie proceeds to
/-\ 1 -r-. . TO 1 . . •■attack Porus,
On kyng roYriis to preke • & prese mm with armes.
Now gase he furthe with his ging* • pe gaynest in-to and advances tc
ynde. 3484 ^"'''"'
Jjare many daies be dissert • he dryfes with his ost, iie comes to a
Be hi3e hillis & howis • & be holu3e doiines.
Be wast & be wildirnes • & be wat«?-les hournes. 3487 [Foi.eo.]
Sone was he wery of pe way • so was his wale kni3t/i? ;
Menyd pai7n pe Messedones • emang^ |)ai»i-selfe, The Greeks
)3ai said, it mi3t be sufficient ' pe sesyng* of Persy,
And him pat^ trouage on tyme • has tane of oure eldii-s.
" Quat suld we fonde any ferre • now faylis oure •in<' ask wi.y ti.ey
_, - . are to go furtlier.
strent[h]iV; 3492
jjis erd? of ynde is ilk dele • enhabet with bestis,
And he bet willis all pe werd • be weris hhn to loute.
His flesche is fostard & fedd • be fi3t & by stemes. " Alexander lives
And were his person in pes • hot for a pure tyme, 349G
J3an suld he faile as a freke • at J?e fode wantw.
Bot lat vs leue him at longe • & lende to cure hames, but let ua go
. , , . 1 • 1 11 home in peace."
And pas quedire as hvn plese • wit^ pe proud barbres."
Sone as oure kyng of his kni3ti's • J)Is carpe vndire-
stond/s, 3500
He mas to stand all pe stoure • & standis vp in pe myddis, Alexander
._,,,, 11,, harangues tliem.
"Jsala baratowrs on bent • blythly me hens, "Hear me!
1 MS. as ar ; tvith ar struck out.
* MS. pat se ; ivith se struck out.
203
ALEXANDER ENCOURAGES HIS MEN.
[Ashmole.
I am your
king.
Ye lightly leave
Did not I comfort
you when Darius
threatened?
I have been in i
hundred perils.
I will never turn
iny back,
though ye mny
do so."
His princes and
knights beg liis
forgiveness.
and promise in
future to follotr
him even to
death.
All Jje pepill out of Pe?-sy • ere put in my wiH ;
All ware rebeH in arest • now is fe rewme^ 3old, 3504
And I jour kyng as 36 knaw • w/t/i croune & w/t^ septowy.
And now ^e leue me \tLS li3tly * bot for a litiH pyne,
To caire a-gayne to 30Mr kitliid^ • I can no3t ])are-on.
Knaw 36 no3t how in -^our care • I cu[m]furtli 30W anys,
Quene 30 dout so fe dites • of Darus in his pistiH ]
Eft quen we ferd in-to fild • & ^\iih oure faes mett,
I was J)e first 30W before • fat ])e fild' entrid,
So3t in-to Sussys • my-selfe for^ ^owre hele, 3512
In Jje habet of Anion * oure** allirs dri3ten,
Put my pe?-son in plegg^ • & perils a hundreth,
And in-to towj-ment on-tald • me tuke for 30^/- sake.
Bot wetis it wele wzt/i-out Avene • I wene in my saule,
As I 3it haue hediretoward * heried all my faes, 3517
So sail I gete hus ay \q gree • \fiih. my gud helpe,
And for na tene at may betide • iiirnQ sail I neuire,
If 36 will lend in-to 30wr landis • loke at ■^our hert;'o- !
Bot me to do slike a dede • dri3tin it schilde ! 3521
I sail neuire graithe me to grece • gase que« 30W likis,
Or mare wirschip I haue won • for wathe vndire
heuen." 3523
Quen he fis reson ha(J red(J * J)an rewid his princes,
And of forge[f]nes of ftaire gilt • his grace fai be-seke.
Kni3tz'A' callis* hi?n on kneys • said : *'kid emperoure,
All oure life & oure lose • is lent in 302/r handis,
Oure-selfe & oure semage • is surely 30ure awen, 3528
Ai at 3oure beding to be • oure bodi & oure gud is,
Quare-euer 3e wend in aH ])e werd • in wat?'r or m erthe,
Ay mekely at ^our mandment • T^our maieste to folowe.
If we suld die aH-bedeue • at an day tyme, 3532
We sail neuer spise 30W ne sporne * in speche ne in dede,
Ne neuire 30Mr rialte renay • bot rede to seM'e,
' MS. rewe, altered to rewme. ' Or kichid,
' MS. 00, corrected to for. * MS. a oun? ; n-ith a expuncted,
* B4;ad fallis.
Ashmole.] porus threatens Alexander. 209
Quils any blast of oure brctli • in oure brest leng/s."
Jpan 3eJe lie furtli iu-to ynde • & in pase lies weres ;
Quefi all pe iolite of giugne • & lulus was endid, 3537 June and Juiy
And messangers a-poil fe marclie • him metis belyuo,
Fra kyng^ Porr?« fe proiide • fis pistill him bro^t. a letter comes
IF " I, FovTiis, pat as principaH . possessid am in ynde, ' ""
To jiis micharc out of Messedone • ])is mandment I write.
j)ou, Alexaufler, poii Ape • pou. Amlaje out of grece,
jjou. litiH thefe, pan losangere • jjou lui-kare in cites,
Sen J)ou ert destayned to die • & dedely fi-selfe, 3544
Jpcit^ agayil drijtin of vnde[d]lynes • qicat may J)i dede
vailel 3545
Madding marrid has pi mode • & J)i mynd changid. [FoI. 6i.]
"Madness hiis
Sen god has sent pe \vith to see • & 3it J)i witt failes, possessed tiue.
I hope bou wenes at we be like ' to bire lethirt; Persyfis, Thou tiunkest we
•^ _ ^ _ '' are like the
\)at pou p\ lordschip to loute • has now on late strayned. Persians.
And for pow fellid has in fi3t • a fi3t at was sympuH,^
Now muses pow to f)i miserie * my maicste to bowe. 3551
If gomes be goucmers of gods • fan mai p'\ gesse Avorth ;
And if pQ land' here on lawe • be lick?zed to pa heue?<,
J?e ministracion of men • to me were to febiH.
All dri3tens & dewessis • ere dute of my name ; ah lords are
Ane se?" Denys, a duke * gane many wintire, 3556 i conquerTd'sir
He bed vs bataill on bent • & Jje back turned. *"^*"
And or pat Sexes him-selfe • sesid was in Persy,
At fe marche of Messedone • made vs trouage.
Bot for Jre^ pa?-tise ere vn-prophe table • vs plese paXm
na lang/r, 3560
Ai wald? pQ wise haue wale soile • mare fan a wast lee.
Caire agayn to bi kith • caitefFe, I bidd, Return to thy
_ ... countiy."
Here na lordschip pe limpis • quat list fe disyre.
IT Sone as fis clause to oure kyng • [was] comyn &
deliuere,* 3564
Be-fore his bachelers on brade • he bedis it to rede.
1 Read As; the usual idiom. • MS. s)'mplill<?.
' In the margin, ^ Bead deliuered.
ALEXANDER. P
210 ALEXANDER DEFIES HIM. [Ashmole.
Alexander's men His tulkis of fis titiH " quen Jiai pe tenour herd,
are afraid.
pan ware fai sory of fa sawes • & selly frayed.
" Quat now, my wortlie werrayouris ] " • J>e wale kyng
sayd, 3568
Alexander com- " For 'PoYTus pistill, I pray * ne for his proud wordis,
forts them. ^
No for na manas he mas • mayes no3t joure hert/6\
Did nojt ser Dary to vs write • his pistill with pride,
And all fe berbrens bernes • in bestis pam affyed,
As lebards, lesards, & lenxis • lions & tigris]" 3573
He writes to 'With comfurth of his contenance • his knyjtis he prladis,
Porus. _ J) O >
[Foi. 61 6.] And ))an to Tornis apart • jjis pistill he writis.
IT " I, fat^ pe kyng am of kyng[s] • & crouned of lordis,
j)e eldist child of Amoii • jjat aU has to wild!, 3577
And hono?<rd Olimpades • ^vlth him ane geten.
To fe oddest aire out of ynde • jjis answare I make,
"Thou hast made I-wis, oure witt/^^ witJi )?i wordis • poll has wele scharpid,
us bolder to
fight." And made vs bald with pi host • pe bataill to 3el(J. 3581
Oure boundis ere barrayne & bare • & ])ine f uH of welth ;
J3e ken/r is oure corage • ^oure kyng-dome to wyii.
To put away oure pouerte • & pas to joure hi3tes.
And ga no3t, as 30 gude ware • agayii 30W to fi3t, 3585
Bot a berne f uH of host • a barbrene prince,
"Wenand me & all pe werd • to waike to 30W-selfe."
Porns is wrath, Quefi Porr«s With his preue men • fis pistill had redd,
and assembles iiis ])Sin was he wondirly wrathe • & wi3tly asembles 3589
])e kni3t/s & pa captayns • of all Jje coste by.
His champions, his chiftans • his cheualry to-gedire.
He feris him a faire flote * was fed' for pe nanes,
also his unico ns Qf vuicomes, of olyfauntis • & wondirfulle besti.s, 3593
and elephants,
As ilkane vsyd with m ynde * vmquue with to n3te.
And aires agayne Alexa?ic?er * with armes him to mete.
j)G powere of sir Fotvus ' was passandly many ;
and his scythed A stou)' stiffe vndire stele • pe strangest of Jje werde
Of sithid chariotzs him sued • a selcuth^nombre, 3598
At pe fewist, as I find • a fouretene thousand ;
' MS. ^t at.
chariots.
Ashmole.] porus has elephants with castles. 211
Wit^-outen bachelers on blonk;'^ • & boAvmen on fote,
Foure hundreth Olyfants in-fere • folowid him enarmirj], He ''ad 4no
•' _ elephants,
'With ilkane bunden on liis bake • a borden casteH, each bearing a
And thretty tulkis in ilk toure • tired in platis. 3603
Oure mey-he^ out of Messedone * quew pai so many sa3e, • [Foi. 62.]
Jjan ware |5ai storbet of pat stoure • so was fe stythe
Persyns.
AH be athils of sir Alexcmder ' was ar^ed in faire hertis Tiie Greeks are
dismayej.
To mache with sike a multitude • of men & of best/*'.
J?an was pir cliiftans chosen • cheualous kni3t/s 3608
\)at buskid ware on bathe halfe • fe bataiH to rewle.
With pat Jjai tuke vp pe trumpis • be thretty at ancs,
A-grydis grymly to-gedir • pe grekes & barbies.
Sire Alexander was armed • & askis his stede 30 12 Alexander mounts
Bucephalus.
l)at was pe bald bocifalon • & oii his bake worthes ;
Mare fan a stanecast at a count • be-fore ^ his kni^t*;? uH
He standis vp in his stereps • in starand maylis.
Jje men out of Medy • he mas, & of Pers, 3616
To enverom alle pe vaward • of aH fie vile yndes,
And he was graythid [with] a ging' • of grekis kni3t«s
And maistres out [of] Messedone • pis meyhe^ to helpe.
be pepiH out of Persye • ware petusly woundid 3620 The Persians are
* ^ ^ •> . . wounded by the
Of Olifaunt/s onir aH • with horrible hurt/s ; elephants.
AU. at vnwerie(J a-way • wynnes in pe stoundis
Durst neuir his face to his faes • eft on fold bide.
Sire Alexander hirn a-visis • & ames in his witt/s 3624
How he mi3t bring it a-boute • fire best/s to devoide ;
And mas to beete aH of bras • as bernes it ware, Alexander makes
brazen men,
And fuU of gloranc$ gledis ' f aim to J?e gorge lillis ; aiied with flre-
Ane instrwment aH of iren • fare ymage to here, 3628
"Was compast on carte-wise • & cursoures f aim dre3e.
hire Olifantts of ynde • quen bai fare-on waite, The elephants
' ./-!// attack these,
J3ai wend fai ware wees • & wyndis faim agayfi
To drepe paim as faire first did • disclosid fai fo
chaviles, 3632
' MS. be before. ' Head meyiihe.
P 2
212
PORUS TAKES TO FLIGHT.
[Ashmole.
The Persians and )3an preses in fe Persyns
Medes attack the ttt-i? • c -i.!. ii, •
Indians. WitA arowis & With othire armes
[Foi. 62 6.1 And sone was snaypid on fie snowte • with Jje snart hetis.
and take to flight. With ])at fai fonge to \)e fli3t • be fifty at anes,
Of ilkafi athill ware fai a3ed • fat any armes werid.
Sone as ser Porrw^ of ))e poynte • tfe o Jje plite wayt^'s,
jjan was he tangid with tene • & turbled vnfaire. 3G37
& of pe proud Medis
agayn all )je yndis,
Tolls of J)e tirant/s * & termynd o lyue, 3640
Se3es dou?i on aithire side • a sowme out of nounbre,
Thretti dais on a throm • Jjai threpid euire elike,
So lange at jie lest way • as lastid Jje bataiH.
)3are Avas \)e Medis martird • & many of Perses 3644
Gorred & gais ' purje • & grysely woundid.
Oure mody kyng of Messedone • fe myscbefe be-hald(5,
Seis pahn faile so etlifuUy • & feUy was greued.
Apon fe bald bucifeloii • brant vp be sitt2^, 3648
Spring/s out a spere • sperid aH fe platis.
J?e brest of ])e batailt • be baldly a-prochid,
Girdis doura of Ipe grettis • & fe gree wynnys.
with his Greeks. His awen men of Messedone • maynly Jjai fe^t, 3652
So did bis gomes out [of] grece • & gate a grete name.
Sone discendid fare dou?z • fe du3tiest of ynde,
And Porrz^s prekis fra fe place • & fe playn voidis,
His ledis at left ware o lyue • lendis him eftire. 3656
And Alexander in fat angle • aH fe ni3t logis,
Offirs all his old gods • his honour fam thankiV,
As wele fe ynde as his ^ awen • he graue faiw aU.
Alexander comes
to the rescue
Porus takes to
flight.
^extus ©ecimus [passus] ^Itxandn.
[Fol. 63.]
Alexander takes
"Ke secuTzd^ day w/t7i a saute • a cite he takis, 3660
the chief city of ^ j)e proddest ane at Vomts • possessor?- was'* euire.
He past in-to his palais • & in fe place findis
Jjat semed no synfull saule • fe selcuthe to trowe.
» Jtead girt (struck)? cf. 1. 3G51. « MS. he,
'â– ' MS. scdu. â– * In the margin.
Ashmole.] the great wealth of ixdia. 213
First fand lie bare of fyne gold • a foure liundretli postis, He finds 4oo
pillars of gold,
'With crafti coronals & clene • corue?i of f e same. 3665
Be-twene pe pelers was pi3t • with precious leuys,
Gilden wynes Vfith in-apis â– of gracious stanes. and golden vines,
•' ^ '^ ° _ , with grapes of
Sum "were of cristaH clere • clustrid to-gedire ; 3668 pearu
Sum made ware^ of Margarits • fe mast of fe werd ;
Sum was smeth smaragdyns * & op'vce smaH gemmes, and other gems.
And new nychomet^'s • nemellus endentid,
\)at ware as semely • quen fai ware samen, 3672
And all pargestz's of plate • as pure as fe noble.
})e Messedons in f»am merkid • with faire mekill brandis,
And fe thinnest was a nynclie tbicke • quen fai ware The thinnest
plate of gold on
Jjurje persed ; 3675 the walls was an
And J)o ware strenkild w/t7i stanes • as sterne o pe beuyfi,
'With charbokl[e]s on fe champ • & with chefe pe7'les.
Smeten was smaragdans • in-to f e smeth werkis, .
And athill amytists als • in aungels licknes ; Tiiere were
amethysts,
Of Euor & of Olifants • was ordand fe jatis, 3680 gates of ivory,
With barrers of ane Ebyn-tree " bonden with cheynes. and bars of ebony.
j)e Ebyii, as fe buke sais • brin will neui'r,
And growis in fe lies of ynde • as Isodry tellis.
J3e solers was of Sypirs * all of a soyte makid ; 3684 The chambers
. , „ , . , were of cypress.
And ttymolacres m pe sale • was sett vp-on trones
AH of glittw-and gold • as gomes it were, There were
Discheualer with chaplets • of changand hewes ; thrones of gold.
And ilka tulke a tabernacle • tildid Avas ouire, 3688
And pat was g?-aue?z aH grayd • of gilden platis,
riamband all in filozir • & fewlis en-blanchid*, Also birds,
Mekely merkid & made • of aH manere of kyndis ; ' [Foi.ess.]
And J»a ware proudly depaynt • pe pennes & pe wingis, '" '
Of all colowrs to a-counte • as pai ere cled here ; 3693 witfc biUaof gon,
Of fethirhame & aH fare • as feetely enjoyned,
As fai ware shapen o pe scheH • to schew to oure e3en.
Bet was all of brent gold • pe billis & pe chauyls, 3696
And, quen as Porrz^s con plese • in prcsens of lordis,
' MS. wade w: but corrected.
2U
THE QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS.
[Ashmole.
wlikh sang by
magic art.
Also cups of golJ,
with but few of
silver.
Alexander comes
to the Caspian
gates.
and writes to the
queen of the
Amazons.
•' I suppose you
know we have
conquered Darius.
Therefore pay i
tribute."
The queen replies:
[Ful. 64.]
"Thou knowest
tlie future.
)3ai made as mery melody • & musik fai saung*
As in fe moneths of Mai • or mydsomere euyfl !
J3are fand he vessale of value • to vyse out of nombrc,
Gurds & Goblets • of gold althire-finest, 3701
Coupis all of cristali • & ofire clere ge?ttmes ;
))ai fande hot a fewe dele * forged of silu/r.
);an rade he fra fa regions • & remewid his hostz*' ;
To fe 3atis of Caspy he come * & sett dou?z his tentw,
A lande, as fie buke tellis • a large & a noble, 3706
All sauand bot se?'pentw • & ofire sere besti's.
To fe mode qwene of Amazoyne ' J5an makt's hi?^ fis
pistiH.
*' I, fat fe kyng^ am of kyngs • & kiddist of lordis,
Alexande?', athil child • of Amon oure dri3tin, 3710
To Calistride J)e conquirese • comfurth & ioye !
Oure weris & oure wirschips • & of oure wale notis,
How we^ haue done se?" Dary " & drepid his kni^t/s,
Couerd all his kyngdoms • & conquirid his landw,
I leue it to ^our ladyschip * fis lange nojt vnknawen.
With Porrws in fe playn fild • proued haue my
strenthis, 3716
And ofire felc, fat ware to faynt • oure force to with-
stand/.
For-fi 30?«- landis, if 30W list • to leuire fra oure handis,
Tas tite vn-to 30m?- tresory • & trebute vs pays." 3719
)3an writis agayne fe wale queue • & on f is wyse spekis :
" I, Calistride, fe conquirese ' fat kepis all f is endis,
"With fe mery mai[d]o?is2 of Amazoyne • fe mi3tist in
erthe, 3722
And othire birdis ebland' • f e biggist in erthe,
To f e modi kyng of Messedone • message of blisse.
3oure saule sa full of sapient • sedis & floures,
\)at all fe present is apert • putt«> fou in mynde, 3726
And has of cases fat ere to come • a knawlage in dole.
For-f i oure soile or fou seke • vmse f e be tyme,
' MS. h we. * MS. maios.
Aslimole.] their letter to Alexander. 215
Quat tene & torfare may tide • & tent to Jiine ende.
J?are werraid nemr yvith vs na wee • b«t •\virschip aii that war with
^ us are disgraced.
achewid, 3730
pat he ne was hcried in hast • or had a 11036 scliame.
For ilka lered man of lyue • him so lethir haldis,
If ho pat for distrucc/on douu • in-to pe depe fallis.
Bot cure werk/s & of oure wonynge-stede • if 39 wald
knawe, 3734
I sal declare 30W pe cas • clene by pire Avritt/;?.
Oure inhabetting, ser, is in an lies * & amed as a sercle, v^e live in an
isl.ind,
'With rynand all aboute oure erd' • ail ciidles Avattre.
ti
And we ere of females at be fewis * foure & xx Mille,^ 21,000 of us at
least.
And twa hundreth \iar-to ' & all of tried ladis. 3739
A preue planke is at a place • to pas & to entre, There is a secret
bridge.
Oure hemes bildis no3t vs by • bot ou^V fte boi^'ne
wyndis.
Bot 3et be-3onde ilka 3ere • make we vs festis, 3742
And thretti dais all be-dene • oure delit/*^ haunt /6\
If any consaue bar a knaf • pan kepis him his modire if any of ns have
T7--' • o 1 T T • n 1 a son, he is sent
Vij 3ere wit/;-in oure-selfe • & sendis him his fadir. to his father wiien
And be scho lyuz'?- of a lasse • scho leng/s in oure bur3e, but we keep the
And is oure thewis of oure thede • thryfandly ^" ^'
enfo2/rmed. 3747
Quen we to fe3t w{t7i oure faes • fares out of wanes,
A hundreth thousand I hope Ave be • on horses enarmed, we can raise an
1 • 11 Ti- 1^1 o.-^^ aimy of 100,000.
pa leues m oure lede • oure lithis to defend. 3 / 50
Quen we repaire with J?e palme • pan prayses vs oure feris.
And, buske 30 to oure bondsward • vs bataiH to 3eld,
3et sail we maynly on pe marche • mete 30W in 2 armes. [FoI.ws.]
To lithe vs aH if pou limpes • na louyng pou gettis,
For pou Wynnes no3t bot wemen • pare-of na Avorde rysis, if you beat us,
Bot & god' graunt vs pe gree • grete glorie haue we pan, you wiu win no
glory ;
For pe athelist emperoure Ave AA'aii • euen at oure Avitt. and otiierwise,
Be n03t to sturtew AA-/t7i pi sturte • to stryue vs a-gayn, graced."
For many leres may pe Umpe â– slik as pou no3t Avenes!"
' I. e. thousand. * In the margin.
1 6
216
Alexander laughs,
and writes back.
PORUS RAISES A NEW ARMY.
[Aslimole.
But if you will
come to me,
I grant a safe
conduct."
Tliey send him
presents.
Quen he liad lokid onir jje lyne • he la3es at hire wordis,
And to J»at lady belyme^ • J) is lettre he writz5. 3761
IF " I, Alexande)', )?«t am aire • of Amon him-selfe,
To ]>e maistres out of Ainazoyne • many-fald ioyes !
Thre partys of fe proud werde • I playnly haue won,
Affrike & Asye • and Europ ]?at othire. 3765
3it Avas neuire man a-pon mold * oure mijtis to witJi-
stand',
And fe3t with vs in^ J)e fdd' ; • 30W fallis J>e same. .
Bot be-cause we lufe ^oitr comyng • Ave consall 30W blyth
To pas out wit/i ^oiir pa?'amours • & pere vs be-forne.
On Amoii oure athill sire • an athe I 30W make, 3770
Of vs to suffire na sare • to sauely to Avende,
Bathe oure gold 30W to gefe • & of oure gud kui^tis,
To mary to joure maidens • & make fam a-vaunced."
Sone as fai wist of his wiH • pai Avi3tly him sente 3774
Ten vncorsayd coltw • fe clennest of ]>& werd,
And as mony to amend • of milk-quyte stedis,
Of mony & of mekill quat • mayn giftis. 3777
Dame Calistride fe conquiris * comes 'with hire ladis,
Mas hire pes v/ith oure prince • & pas to hire land?5.
[Fol. 65.]
News comes tliat
Porus has raised
another army.
Alexander goes I
meet him.
^ ©ccimus Septimus passus ^Itxandrl
"l^en come a sande to fis sire
Jie same tyme,
\)at kyng porrws pe proud • with pers out of ynde
"Was in pe bonds of Batn'ane • & eft^ had assemblid
Anopire ost of odmen • hi??z eft on to ride. 3783
As hastely as he it herd • his ostis he fiitt/5,
And athils harnest on hors • a hundreth & fyfti
"Was chosene* to chiftans • & all of chefe^ dukes^
Ordand of oure emperoure • his ostis to lede. 3787
j)us pas he furthe with his princes * ser Fonus to mete,
In August eftjV lult • as pe boke tellis.
' Bead belyiie. ^ In the margin. ' MS. oft or ost.
'' MS. chodens. * MS. cliede, altered to chefe.
Ashmole.] great want of water. 217
Att wart' bai swollen of be swete • &sweltid on be son: some ofiiu men
' ^ , J. . die of heat.
SvLjn in faire harnais for hete • was honest for euire.
)jai went be waldis & be wast/s • ])ar watzVs ware nana,
And armed bud bain aH bee • for angwischis o bestis, Thoy meet with
•* bnakes.
As colwers & for coltris * & crabbid snakis, 3791
And opiie warla3es wild * pat in fe wod duelled.
As ai stremand sternes • stared all Jjaire wedis,
Of gai glit/rand gold • glesenyd Jiaire scbildis.
bai droje furth be dissert • & drinkles bai spiH, 3798 Tiieyhaveno
â– ' ' ^ water.
Was nouthire waldis in par walke • ne wat«V to fynde.
A kniit bat zephall was callid • fand in a cole schade a knight brings
water to AJei-
A litiH drysnyng^ of dewe • was droppid fra Jje heuen, ander.
|jat it was in a holo3e stane • & in bis belme fiUis,
And bringzs it to cure bald kyng • to brigge vfiili his heiis.
]jan Alexancfer to ]?is athill • aU jjus he spekis, 3804
" Jjis sola\Tie sope if I sup * quethire sustene it may Alexander refuses
to drink,
))e menbris of Jje Messedones • & of ]?e many Persens,
Or I my-selfe sail be serued • & fai sitt wz't/i nyfils 1 "
*' Sire, ^e sail first be refreschid " • faythly he sayd.
" Quat ] & 36 pej-ischl " (]iiod fe prince • " & pas out o
lyue ] 3809
QuefiV euir me list fan to lefe * wi't/i langowr & sorowe ? " [Foi. 65 6.]
And hilds it doura out of be helme • befor his athils aU. and pours it out
on the ground.
)5an slike a comfurth fam enclosed • for his kynd word/*^,
As ali ))e watzV of fe werd • ware in j^aire wambs hellid.
]?an ferd Jiai furth tiH a filode • & findis aH fe strand/s xiieycometo
stteaius full of
FuH of Eedis, as I rede • rughere ]-an thornes. 3815 reeds.
His f olke feH to it fast • & freschely fai drynke,
Bo.t was na^ renke at to it ran • at euire rase eftire.
It was so keruand & kene ! • fan was his kni3tw stroubid
Mare for fe bale of Jjaire best/*" • & ^ brist of faim-selfe.
For wt't/i his florant/s olifants •him folowed a thousand, The elephants
Of sithid charioti's & soo • & sextene hundreth, 3821 water.
"Wi't/i co3rres' & vfiih clene floure * camels and mules,
And out of nounbre of nowte • at nedid to his o&iis,
' MS. r na. * Put for than, ' Sic.
218 THE CASTLE IN THE RIVER. [Ashmole.
Thre C 'Mille^ in tliede • of tlira men of armes.
All are in great Be HOW fai Avare SO ne3e tane • fat jjai for nede supposid,
Su??i of Ms aweil vryil • & sum on Iren lickid, 3826
J?at it Avas sorowe any segge • fe si3t to be-liald !
J?an aires him on ser Alexander • yvith angwiscliis & payne,
Ay folo3e furth by fe flu?nme ' at I first tald,
And at fe a3tand lioure • I ame, of fe day, 3830
Tiiey eome to a jjan conies bai»i to a castell • was closid in j^e borne.
castle in a river.
It was a mervalous mote • made an of redis,
And foure forlange, I finde • j^e flode was o brede.
A fewe w/t/an fe forslet • of folke pare a-perid, 3834
Waiteand out at wyndows ' to wondire on his osiis.
Tiiemeninitwiu Sire Alexander bad his men • aske \>-dhn of ynde,
And frayne quare fai find mi3t • any fresch Avat/r ;
[Foi. 66.] And fai ]jan hent in faire hed/s • & hidd \>nm. belyue.
And he felly wM flane • flingzs at pe wallis, 3839
3it for na spell at he spirid • spek wald Jjai neuire.
And j^aii comandzs he his kni3t[/6'] • kenely to swy??ime,
Thirty-seven And fai aH bare, saue fe breke • -with brandt's in hand,
knights begin to ooio
Bwim, J?an thring/s in on a throw * thretty & seuyn. 3843
Als fast as fai pe forthing-dole • had of \>e flode past,
J2an girds fare vp fra fe ground • & grymly fai;^ Avoundis
but are drowned Of Seeles & of see-Cules • a SAA^yth grete nounbre,
by seals. _
Dro3e fain donn in-to fe depe * & drouned f am for euire.
Jjaii 3ede he fine ^v^th his erles- • & egirly liim thrist/s ;
Lebards lendis fai??i agaynes • Icons & beres ; 3849
Theannyisat- Dragous & dromondaris * & of pir derfe Tigirs
tacked by dragons .
and tigers. J'ra morne to f e mirke ni3t • f ai??z maynly assailed.
J5us ra3t he fra f is reutr • be many ru3e waies 3852
To it AA-as meten to f e mere • to niyd-outV-vndorne.
ban come he streke oil a staunke • f e store me tellis.
They find a pool "VVas neuzV na hony in na hyue • vndire heuen SAvettiV*.
A foure furelange or fyue • it Avas of fuH brede, 3856
Umby-thorned^ with a thike AA'od • thre mile a-boute,
' I.e. Three hundred thousand.
' MS. el erles, but corrected. ' MS. Umhy-thonred.
Ashmole.] scorpions, snakes, and dragons. 219
Was aH of pe Eede ryse • as I redd first ;
And \)at he cutlis donn clene • & kindils in fyris.
He gert tild vp his tcntis • be bat terne syde, 3860 They pitch their
. . tents.
j)03t )jare a longe quile to lie • & lachen his esee.
J3e mone onir fe montayns * meryly it schynes
Or he mi3t drinke any drope • & )jen his dole ne3es.
Jpan comes fare-out creuesses • of manykins hewis, 3864
Scorpions \iawi to scere • & scalid neddirs, scorpions and
snakes appear.
And Jiai so large & so laith • & so lowd schrik;^,
])ot all fe soile of fa sidis • of fe sound ryng/*\ [FoI. ce 6.]
Dragons dryfes douM o drijt • fra be derfe hillis, 3868 and crested
^ J ? r ' ^ dragons
'With kene carefuH crie * and crestw on faire hedis,
Grisely gapand & grim • vfith gilden bresti.9,
And flawmes feruent as f3T:e • floje fra faire e3en ; with flaming eyes.
Jpai drewe toward oure douth • with dedly blastts. 3872
Bir AlexMider & his ost • was ar3ed vnfaire, Alexander com-
â– ' forts his men.
Was fare na freke in f e fild • fat faithly he leued
To be deuowrid & devoid id • & vencuste for euire.
J2e kyng fan comfurthid his kni3t/s • all if he care f oled :
" Mi bald havatours," he bad' • " a-basto no3t 30ure hertis;
Seis ensampill at my-selfe * & seke 36 na feiTe,^ 3878
Bot hedis haly to my hand • & harmes fa?--eftire,"
A brand & a bri3t schild • bremely he hentzs, He seizes a sword
and shield,
re3tzs freschely & fast • wt't/i fa feH best/if,
Dasches dragons doun ' geuys \)avn depe wound/i',
Slaes of ba serpent/s ' many sadd hundreth. 3883 and slays hun-
' ^ _ dreds of serpents.
j)an bildid of his bachelers • & braidis to_f aire wapen ;
If f ai ware mased & amayd • maynely f aim fe3t.
3it was bar twenti bat time • tangid to dede, Twenty of his
J- OOQT bestkniglits
And fat fe comliest kni3t/s • at f e kyng ledis ; 3887 perish.
Of athili archars als • as f e buke tellis,
A-boute a thretty in fat thede • tharned f aire lyfes.
}5us many deid of his douth • as fe boke^ telHs,
And him limpis all fe loose • be fe lattire end. 3891
Now comes a company of Crabbe-fische • as calues gret,
' MS. ferrre. « MS. beke.
1 6 •
Great crabs
appear.
220
LIONS, â– WILD BOARS, AND SAVAGES.
[Ashmole.
[Fol. 67.]
No lances "could
pierce them.
Lions next
appear ;
and then wild
boars.
together with
savages having
Bix hands each.
Alexander lights
fires all round the
pool.
A black-headed
beast appears.
[Fol. 67 6.]
IMeuand of )?is marras • cure men to assaiH,
'With backis, as fe buke sais • bigg/r & hardere
])an ony comon cogiH-stane • or cocatryse scales. 3895
Queii kny^tis of oure conquiro2n*s * kest at fam lances,
"Was nane so Avele-stelid poynt • at Jjam perse mi3te.
Bot gomes with jjaire greues in twa • in fe gledis spz«'ned,
And aH at left ware o lyue • in-to fe^ 1036 entirs. 3899
Be fai had fyneschid fis fi3t • was ferre in with euyn,
Foure houres full fame • & f»e fifts 2 negbes.
And leons quyte as lylly * lent jjaiu agayn,
Of bodis biggire J'an bules • berand vnfaire.
Oure kni3ti6' at ]!g first come^ • clenly \ixim slo3e,
Alto bretind ]?ai?n on bent • & bro3t J»ai??i on fli3t.
Wild berys in * f e wast • fra ]3e wodd comes,
'With ilka tenef ull tothe • as tyndis of ^ harowis.
A cubete lenth, sais fe clause • cald was fe lest.
J?ai seke out be sundres ' sexti to-gedire,
With wild men of fe wast • & women e-bland,
With sex liandis, & soo • sett out of kynd.
}?ai held in liettirly • & hmtis of his kni3tis ;
And fiai with brandis & bowis • bremely J»aim woundt's,
Slo3e of fa sauagpis • a sowme out of nombre,
And many scopid into J)e scoghe • wit7<out scath mare.
Sire Alexander & his ost ' angwisch enduris, 3916
"Was walk, as na wondre was • & wery for-fo3ten.
And fam he bedis at a braide • to beet vp J>e stank.
W/t/i-out his ost onir all • horrible fires. 3919
pan come a beste of a busche • with a blak heued,
Mad & merkid as a ]\Ieere • Jje mast of J)e werd.
Fere fersere J)an an olifant * as we find written,
Stayrand on to pe staunke^ • J?e stotir to asaiH.
J?is breme best bare • as^ fe buke tellis,
Before forne in fe fronts • thre fell tyndis,
3903
3907
3911
3923
' MS. to, trifh in and ]>e in tJie margin.
â– ^ MS. fijte, (iltcrcd to fifte. ' Ms. cl come.
'' In the margin. ^ MS. 1 of.
Ucre follons to J:e stauk, struck out. '' MS. as as.
Aslimole.] mice, bats, akd red birds. 221
Hedous horns & lioge • & hijt in fjaire tonge having three
Adanttrocay with aH meii • as I am enfownned.^ 3927
Before scho drank of yis dam • his douth sho assaild,
And oure kyng with his carpe • his knijtw he gladis,
Ajt & tuenti men of armes • onone scho delyuird, The beast slays
' •' ' 28 men.
Bemes was oijt fe deth • with dint/s enoghe. 3931
jjan mys out of Jiis marras * as any mayfi foxes ^ Then appear mice
&3 larg6 AS foxes â–
Come furth, & fedd faim in-fere • of fe ded corses.
AH at was bitten of fa best • was at a bru?2t dede,
Bot jit J)ai noyed hot a nykid • to nane f>at was ermed.
Jjan floje \ar by Jie firmament • of J)a foule Backes, also bats as large
Als store & as stalword • as fire sediil dowis 3937
Wzt/i mekiH majten teeth • as it of men ware ;
And at vn-armed' was • Jjai aspe?-ly wondid,
Of su??i Jjai nyppid fra fe nebb • fe nose be fe ejen,
Of su??i bai ete of baire eris • eiien by be rotis, 3941 who bit the
' * ' soldiers.
Sum Jjai luggid of fe lippis • fe lire fra fe chekis,
Bot \ar bit/5, as J:e buke sais • blemest na knijtz's.
)5an come a flijt/r in of fowls ' as fast as it dawid, Next come birds
. _ 1 . -i cM\ir- ofa red colour.
To Vise on as vowtres • as vermeon hewid, 39 iO
Jjaire boukis & \ar bathire fete * was of blak sable.
And did bot plaid by fe pepiH * & fed bai?/i on fyschis. tat they only
. _D o-i devour fishes.
Quen he had voidid fis vermyn • & vencust fat of ynde,
Out of bis peJ-laOUS"* place • he past with his OSt 3949 Alexander comes
to Bactria.
In-to the boundis of Bactry • far bildid he his tentiV. [FoI. es.]
)5are reches was of redde gold • & many riche gemes ;
And clene all f c^t contre • qwen f ai his come wist,
}?ai mett \i\m full manerly • & mekely resayued 3953
WitA presenter of pirre • & many proude giftes,
And thretti day is in fat thede • he tholes & abidis.
A sertane folke was in fat soile • fat Serres ere callid. They meet with
And aU fe Ijiidis in fat land • wit/i leves^ as wolle. whose tr^shave
And so fire Serres, at I said • f ai??i in f e Somere gedirs, woorcsiik).
And makis f aim wedis f a?--of • to were for wintris blast/s.
' MS. in enfowrmed. * MS. faxes. ' vn in the marqin.
* S'tc ; read pez-alous. * MS. levys, altered to leves.
222
PORUS CHALLENGES ALEMNDER.
[Asmnole.
They find Porus.
They attack his
Indians.
Sir Porus chal-
lenges Alexander
to single combat.
[Fol. 68 6.]
Alexander was
but a small man,
only three cubits
high.
Porus was at
least six cubits
in height.
Jjire baratoMJ's bawers • ere bi ;mly reioyed 39G0
Of \>e conquest of ])ive cocatrices • & of fa kene bestis ;
And now he caire[s] fra fat kithe • & comes in a stounde
Quare Porn/5 -with his poAvere • oil a playn lengis.
Sire AlexandeJ- & his ost • caires^ jpaim a-gayne^ 39G4
With brade^ baners & bri3t • & bragging o4trourapis.
Apon fe bald bocifalon • before his men ali
He flingzs out a forelange • his feris to assaile.
pG Persens putt \ia\m in pres ' & fe proude grekis ; 39G8
J5e Medis & fe Messedons * maynely fai fejt,
J3ai swey dou?i as swiftly • fa swart men of ynde,
As euire did corne in a croft • be-fore a kene sithe.
Quen sir Vovnis sa^e his }<rinces * in f e prese faile, 3972
J3an aires he out be-for his ost ' on Alexander callis :
" It comes," he said, " to na kyng< • ne kidd empe?'Oure
To latt his pepill fus pas • & perisch in ydiH ;
It fallis mare faire him f e xl3t • to fynesch hi??i-selfe.
Forfi lat stedili aH oure stoure • & stedd f am esoundire,
])i semble o fe taa syde • & myne on fe tothire ; 3978
Lat vs twa termyn fe taite • be-twene vs alane.
If I be vencust in fe vaile • & voidid of my lyfe,
Lat aH; my seggis & soile • be to f i-selfe 3olden ;
And if jjou fliilis in f e fild • & I fe floure Avynn, 3982
Latt fan fine erlis & fine erd • myne empire obeyi."
Thus -poTTiis in his hi^e pride • to oure kyng< spekis,
For he was litiH & laghe • hbn laythly dispices.
For quen he wan to wax • fe writt me recordis, 3986
Thre cubett/s fra f e croune doun ' his cors had a lenghte.
J)e person of ser Vorrtis • past him fat hi3t twyse,
He feetis him forth in his force • & in his faire hi3te.
Bot f e prowis & f e prouidens • & of f e pure thewis
])at liirkis with-m f is lede • full litiH he kennes. 3991
KoAv is fe partise in pes • & fai fe place dele ;
Aithire kyng' with his cause • encontres on othire.
MS. a cay res.
MS. a gjn gayne ; corrected.
MS. brade brade : corrected.
Ashmole.] Alexander slays porus. 223
Sire Porr?<i- with a proude swerd * him on Jje paii strikis Porus strikes
So snelle at he snatirs whh • nere snaypid hivi for euire. helmet severely.
])an kastis vp a kene crie • pe ^ni^tis out of ynde, 3996
For he was dased of J)e dint • & half dede him semyd.
ToiTus, as a prince suld ' persayued \)ar latis,
Turnes him toward his tulk/s • & titely rehetw.
Sire Alexander him avises ' & his aande takis, 4000 Alexander siays
As bald barrato?(?- & breme • his brand vp he liitis,
'With bathe his handis in-to ]je brayne • his basenet he
cleuys, 4002
And he fallis dowi fey * & fynes in fat stound. 4002*
\)e pepill of ser Vovtus ' quen fai [him] pas sa3e, 4003 The Indians con-
'Witk aH manere of men • maynly fai &^t.
" A ! wriches ! " quod ])e wale kyng • & wisely he spek?*",
" Eft/r ])G deth of -^our duke • quat deynes 30we to stryue 1 Alexander re-
proves them ;
Wete je Avele," qiiod ]>& wee • " be werrayowrs la3es,
J5at quen Jie gouemoure is gane ' pan is ])e gomes wastid?." [FoI. 69.]
" Sire, it is bette?- for to bate • & on ]je bent faile, 4009
))an se fis rewthe on ■^oiir'^ renkis • & reft be -^oiir ' gudis."
" Sirs, blynes of iour bataile • & bowes to aoure landis ; but grants them
â– ' -^ â– ' ' their liberty for
3oure fermes & 3oure fraunches • I frely 30W grant ; their bravery.
For 3e haue cockid for 30wr kyng • ^e sail no care suffire ! "
And fan callid him on knese • & kest doun paire armes.
)5ai come to fis conquiroz<?* • comend' him as dri3tin,
)5an sett he sales vp of ^ silke * & sacrifece makis. 40 IG
Sire Porrw^, as hi/?i wele feH: • he proudely enteris, Poros is buried.
And att fe fey in jje filfJ • & here a fitt ende.
©fcimus octauus passus ^Uxandri.
P
an aires he furth. with his erlis • & entris an He, Alexander come*
C^uare pr l>xidraces as Lrmets • inhabet in caues, Gymnosophists.
A progenie of pore men • J)«t neuir pride haunt/s,
And 3it Jje gentill genosophis • fain in fe gest callis.
Is fare na best J:ai?« ebland • ne bataills vsyd, 4023
' Head our. * In the mar/jbi.
224
THE GYMNOSOPHISTS.
[Ashmole.
They live in caves,
and go naked.
They write to
Alexander.
[Fol. 69 6.]
" We have no
gems or jewels.
What can ye win
fiom us ? "
Alexander finds
them living
miserably in
caves.
and asks if they
have no houses.
He is sorry for
their poverty,
and offers them
wliatever they
like to ask.
Nouthire cites in to sytt • cellis, nor na tonnes, 4024
Bot crepis in-to creuesse • & craggis on hillis,
And ay is naked [as] a nediH â– as natowr fam schapis.
))e kyng 
