• Wars of Alexander

  • 1 WHen folk ere festid & fed fayn wald þai here
  • 2 Sum farand þing efter fode to fayn þare her[t],
  • 3 Or þai ware fourmed on fold or þaire fadirs oþer.
  • 4 Sum is leue to lythe þe lesing of Sayntis,
  • 5 Þat lete þer lifis be lorne for oure lordis sake;
  • 6 And sum has langing of lufe lays to herken,
  • 7 How ledis for þaire lemmans has langor endured.
  • 8 Sum couettis & has comforth to carpe & to lestyn
  • 9 Of curtaissy of knyȝthode of craftis of armys,
  • 10 Of kyngis at has conquirid & ouer-comyn landis.
  • 11 Sum of wirschip I-wis slike as þam wyse lattis,
  • 12 And sum of wanton werkis þa þat ere wild-hedid;
  • 13 Bot if þai wald on many wyse, a wondire ware it els,
  • 14 For as þaire wittis ere with-in, so þer will folowis.
  • 15 And I forwith ȝow all ettillis to schewe
  • 16 Of ane Emperoure þe aȝefullest þat euer armys hauntid,
  • 17 Þat was þe athill Alexsandire as þe buke tellis,
  • 18 Þat aȝte euyn as his awyn all the werd ouire.
  • 19 For he recouerd quills he regnyd þe regions all clene,
  • 20 And all rialme & þe riches in-to þe rede est.
  • 21 I sall rehers, & ȝe will, renkis rekyn ȝour tongis,
  • 22 A remnant of his rialte & rist quen vs likis.
  • 23 Oute in þe erth of Egipt enhabet vmquile
  • 24 Þe wysest wees of þe werd as I in writt fynd.
  • 25 For þai þe mesure & þe mett of all þe mulde couthe,
  • 26 Þe sise of all þe grete see & of þe grym wawys;
  • 27 Of þe ordere of þat odde home þat ouer þe aire hingis
  • 28 Knew þe kynd, & þe curses of þe clere sternys,
  • 29 Of Articus be aghill tre airis & oþire
  • 30 Of þe fold & of þe firmament wele þe fete cuthe;
  • 31 And Antarticus also þat all apon turnys,
  • 32 Þe pasage of þe planettis þe poyntis & þe sygnes.
  • 33 Þai ware þe kiddest of þat craft knawyn in þaire tyme,
  • 34 And þe sotellest vndere son segis in þaire lyfe.
  • 35 Þus ware þai breued for þe best, as þe buke tellis;
  • 36 All þai lerid of þat lare þat it lere wald.
  • 37 As wide as þe werd was went worde of þaire teching,
  • 38 Of sorsery & slike werkis sleȝtis enogh.
  • 39 And þe kyng of þat contre was a clerke noble,
  • 40 Þe athelest ane of þe werd & Anec was hatten.
  • 41 He was wyse enoȝe wirdis to reken,
  • 42 When he þe heuyn beheld of lede[s] opon lyfe;
  • 43 Þe iapis of all gemetri gentilli he couth,
  • 44 And wele as Aristotill þe artis all seuyn.
  • 45 Þer preued neuer nane his prik for passing of witt,
  • 46 Plato nor Piktagaras ne Prektane him seluen.
  • 47 Emang his duykis on a day as he on dese syttis,
  • 48 Þan was him bodword vnblyth broȝt to þe sale,
  • 49 Þat Artaxenses was armed with þe men of his rewme,
  • 50 Þe proude king of Persy to pase him agayn.
  • 51 Þoȝe he þa sawis herd say ȝit samyd he na princis,
  • 52 Ne ost ordand he nane of na kyd knyȝtis,
  • 53 Bot airis euen furth him ane & entirs his chambre,
  • 54 To knaw by his clergi þe come of his faa.
  • 55 He takis a Boll of bras burneschid full clene,
  • 56 And full he fillis it of þe flode at fell fra þe heuen.
  • 57 On hiȝt in his a hand haldis a wand,
  • 58 And kenely be coniurisons callis to him spiritis.
  • 59 In-to þis water as he waitis was he ware sone
  • 60 Of his enmys in þat Element ane endles nombre;
  • 61 He saȝe þam in þe hiȝe see sailand to-gedire,
  • 62 Was neuer sene slike a some vnder þe son bemys.
  • 63 Carrygis comand he knew, keruand þe ithis,
  • 64 Dromonds dryfes ouer þe depe with dukis & Erles,
  • 65 Gales & grete schipis full of grym wapens,
  • 66 And full of breneid bernes bargis a hundreth;
  • 67 Of slik a naue is noy to here or to tell.
  • 68 For all be largenes of lenth at he luke myȝt,
  • 69 Slik was þe multitude of mast so mekil & so thike,
  • 70 Þat all him þoȝt bot he treis, a hare wod it semyd.
  • 71 At þe enteris of Egipt as Anec had beden,
  • 72 ware peris of his prouynce & princes of his cytes,
  • 73 Was comandid of þaire kyng to kepe þa landis,
  • 74 Þat nane aproche it to paire of Persy ne othire.
  • 75 Þan was a wardan ware oute in þe wale stremys
  • 76 Of all þe naue & þe note I neuenyd be-fore;
  • 77 Laȝt liȝtly his ledis & leuys his warde,
  • 78 Comes to courte to þe kyng & on kneys fallis,
  • 79 Anec bi his awyn name he onane gretis,
  • 80 Sais, 'ȝare þe now ȝapely or ȝild vp þi rewme;
  • 81 Artaxenses is at hand & has ane ost reryd,
  • 82 And resyn vp with all his rewme to ride vs agayn;
  • 83 For he him-self is on þe se with siche a somme armed,
  • 84 Þat any hathill vnder heuen ware hardy to rekyn.
  • 85 For þer is comyn with him knyȝt[es] of landis dyuerse,
  • 86 Segis of many syde oute of sere remys,
  • 87 Þe Perseyns & a pupill þat parthy is callid,
  • 88 Men of Mesepotayme & of Mede bathe,
  • 89 Of Syre & of Sychim a selle nounbre,
  • 90 Of Capidos & Caldec kene men of armes,
  • 91 Fell feȝtand folke þat Faire we call,
  • 92 Þe Arrabiens & all þa [of] þat origyne,
  • 93 Bernys out of Batary batails arayed,
  • 94 And oþire out of þe orient many od hundrethe.'
  • 95 Þen Anec onane riȝt efter þire wordis,
  • 96 A lowde laȝter he loȝe & to þe lede said,
  • 97 'Haue þou na care,' quod þe kyng, 'bot kepe to þe marche,
  • 98 As I haue demyd þe to do, and dred þou na ferryre;
  • 99 For soth, it is vnsemely slike sawis of a prynce.
  • 100 I kan noȝt knaw at þou carpis as a knyȝt suld,
  • 101 Bot as a frek at ware ferid & feynes riȝt nowe.
  • 102 Ert þou noȝt hurtles & hale? lat noȝt þi hert faile.
  • 103 For vertu vailes noȝt all if þou avaied worthe,
  • 104 Emange þe multitude of men quare mane ere togeder,
  • 105 Bot þer aboute as þai ere blend with bignes of will.
  • 106 If þai be folke bot a fa oft tydis þam þe better.
  • 107 Or elis wate þou noȝt wele þe witles berne,
  • 108 How it is commonly carped in contries a-boute,
  • 109 Þat anelepy leon þat ouer þe land rynnys,
  • 110 Will make to fange to þe fliȝt & flay many hertis?'
  • 111 With þat þe segge all him selfe silis to his chambre,
  • 112 And in þe brasen boll full [of] blak watere
  • 113 He shapis him of shire wax litill schipis many,
  • 114 And ȝapely ȝarkid in his hand a ȝerd of a palme.
  • 115 Þen con he chater & enchant with all his chefe miȝtis,
  • 116 Avysid him in þe vessell & was avaied sone,
  • 117 How þe powere out of Persy pellid doune his knyȝtis,
  • 118 And how his land suld be lost withouten lett mare.
  • 119 When he was ware of þis wathe how it worthe suld,
  • 120 Þan wendis he wiȝtly furth & his wede changis,
  • 121 Clede him all as a clerke & his croune shauys,
  • 122 And with a bytand blade he his bered voydis.
  • 123 Þen takis to him tresour & trusses in baggis,
  • 124 As many Besandis on his bake as he bere miȝt,
  • 125 And oþire necessari notis as nedis to his craftis,
  • 126 To sike salmary dangell as him self vyses.
  • 127 He toke traimmes him with to tute in þe sternes,
  • 128 Astrala[b]us algate as his arte wald,
  • 129 Quadrentis coruen all of quyte siluyre full quaynte,
  • 130 Mustours & mekil quat mare þen a littill.
  • 131 When he was graþed with his gere, a gladen he waytis,
  • 132 And passis furþe at a posterne preualy alane,
  • 133 Furþe on his fete withouten fole he passis his way,
  • 134 Vn-wetandly to any wee þat wont in his wanes.
  • 135 Þus airis he out of Egipte & his erde leuys,
  • 136 Fled for ferd of his fais fere fra his kythis,
  • 137 It was na bote him to bide ne batill to ȝelde;
  • 138 For all his kyngdome he knew suld be kast vnder.
  • 139 Fra þe partis of Persy he past bot a littill,
  • 140 And euyn so þurȝe Ethyope & þare him eft clethis,
  • 141 All his liche in lyn claþe for ledis suld trowe
  • 142 And all be puple persayue a prophete he were.
  • 143 Þen metis he furthe to Messadon full vn-mete gatis,
  • 144 And quen he come to þat kith as þe chance tellis,
  • 145 Oft with his instrumentis out he openly deuynes,
  • 146 And noþer hild he it ne hid, bot here qua sa likid.
  • 147 Bot þan was methe for to mele þurȝe men of his burȝ,
  • 148 Þat he by-hind him at hame withoute hede leuyd.
  • 149 Slik care kindils in his curte quen þai þer kyng myssid,
  • 150 Þat it ware tere any tonge of þar tene to reken;
  • 151 Princes of his palas preses in-to chambre,
  • 152 To laite þar lord at was lost with latis vn-blythe;
  • 153 Kairis into closettis knyȝtis & Erlis,
  • 154 Sekand þar souerayn with many salt terys;
  • 155 Barons & bachelers balefully gretis,
  • 156 Swiers swemyle swouned ladys,
  • 157 And many was þe bald berne at banned þar quile,
  • 158 Þat euer he dured þat day vndede opon erthe.
  • 159 Bot quen þai wist he was went & wald noȝt be foun,
  • 160 Couth þai na bote þam ebland how best for to wirke,
  • 161 Bot silis to ser Sirraphis at sittis in his trone,
  • 162 Þat was þar god alþire-graythist on þe ground samen.
  • 163 Him þai supplyed & soȝt & him ensence castis,
  • 164 Honourd him with offyrings & elkend him fayre,
  • 165 Þat he suld say þam þe sothe & sorely þam teche
  • 166 Queder þaire kyng was becomen at þar care kyndils.
  • 167 Þan sayd Syraphis him selfe he sayd þam þir wordis:
  • 168 Anec, ȝour athill kyng is out of his awyn land,
  • 169 For Artaxenses aȝe is all him ane foundid,
  • 170 Þe proude kyng of Persee þat passes vs a-gaynes.
  • 171 Full wele he wist, or he went quat suld worþe efter,
  • 172 And all þe fourme of þe fare þat fall ȝow be-houys.
  • 173 For all þe erth of Egipt fra end vn-to othire
  • 174 Bees conquirid & ouercomyn clene alto-gedre.
  • 175 Þe puple out of Perse is purvaid all samen;
  • 176 Þe kyng is comand full kene with his kene ostis,
  • 177 Þat sall oure renkis all rayme & oure rewme bathe,
  • 178 And we be all at þare will þus is wirdis schapen.
  • 179 Sen it is sett to be soo & slipe it ne may,
  • 180 Ne schewid to be na noþire schap ne we to schount nouthire,
  • 181 Bot gefe þaim vp þe girdill, vs gaynes noȝt ellis.
  • 182 Bot seses, seris, of ȝour syte & soruȝes na mare;
  • 183 For, certayn,' quod Syraphis, 'myselfe I it knawe,
  • 184 ȝour kyng sall in a noþire kithe kast out his elde,
  • 185 And come a-gayn eft ȝonge man ȝit to his rewme.
  • 186 Þan sall þat victoure ȝow venge on ȝour vile fais,
  • 187 And þe province of Persee purely distruye,
  • 188 And gett agayn his avyn gronde at he forgais nowe,
  • 189 And ane of þe oddist emperours of þe erde worthe.'
  • 190 When he þis talis had tald, þen tuke þai be-lyfe,
  • 191 And efter Anec on-ane ane ymage gert make;
  • 192 Þe buke sais, of blake stane all þe bode ouyre,
  • 193 With corone & with conyschantis as it a kynge were.
  • 194 Quen it was perfite & piȝt, a place þai it wayted,
  • 195 And stallid him in a stoute stede & stiȝthed him faire.
  • 196 Lordis lift him on loft & lawe to him bowid,
  • 197 In reuerence of þe riche kynge at had þer rewme gydid.
  • 198 Quen he was semely vp set with septour in hand,
  • 199 Þen ledis at ware lettird on lawe at his feet
  • 200 All þe sawis of þaire Syre as Siraphis tald,
  • 201 Þare gan þai graithly þam graue in golden lettirs,
  • 202 All þe wordis at he þaim werpid of þaire ware kynge.
  • 203 Þare þai wrate þam I-wis as þe buke tellis,
  • 204 Supposand þaim in sum tyme for sothe to be knawen,
  • 205 And men to make of þam mynd euer-mare efter.
  • 206 Be þat þaire enmes þar erde was entird with-in,
  • 207 Þe powere oute of Persee with many proude ostes;
  • 208 Bot of þar batails to brefe it botis me na ferrire.
  • 209 For all þai conquirid clene þis cithe at þaire will,
  • 210 And Anec is all his ane ferre of his awyn landis,
  • 211 With-in þe merris of Messedoyn þar na man him knewe.
  • 212 Bot will ȝe herken hende now sall ȝe here
  • 213 How he kide him in þe courete & quayntid him with ladis.
  • 214 Syre, it be-tid on a tyme þe text me recordis,
  • 215 Þat þe mode kynge of Messedone with mekill nounbre,
  • 216 Þat was Sire Philip þe fers farne out of toune,
  • 217 For to feȝt with his fais out of fere landis.
  • 218 Quen he was boune oute of burȝe & his bake turned,
  • 229 As tite as Anec him amed out of his awyn kythe,
  • 220 He paste vp to þe palais & preualy entirs,
  • 221 Þat he miȝt lend þare on loft & luke on þe qwene
  • 222 Sone as him selfe was in þe sale & saȝe hire with eȝe,
  • 223 He beheld Olympadas þat honourable lady;
  • 224 Hire bewte bitis in his brest & his bodi thrillis,
  • 225 And drifes thurȝe his depe hert as he ware dart-wondid.
  • 226 Þe lede lawid in hire lofe as leme dose of gledis,
  • 227 Put vp his hand to his hare & heldid it bot littill.
  • 228 'Haile, modi qwene of Messidoyne' he maister-like said;
  • 229 Þare deyned him na daynte 'madame' hire to call.
  • 230 Be-cause he knew him a kyng he carpid on þis wyse.
  • 231 For if he come as a clerke with a croune schauyn,
  • 232 And diȝt as a Doctour in drabland wedis,
  • 233 ȝit all þe erth of Egipt had he bene aire ouire.
  • 234 Þan answars him þe qwene with full myld speche,
  • 235 'Haile, maister,' quod þat myld & made him to sytt
  • 236 On a sege hire be-syde of silkyn clathis,
  • 237 And þar hire spakid with his speche & spird of him wordis.
  • 238 Quen he was sete in his sete, þat semely qwene
  • 239 Ai of Egipt erd enquirid if he were,
  • 240 Þoȝt him like of þat lede be langage & othire;
  • 241 For-þi scho wetis if he wald wete hire to say.
  • 242 'A! athel qwene,' quod Anec 'ai be þou ioyed!
  • 243 If þou a wirschipfull worde has werpid & spoken,
  • 244 A riall roune þou me redis a reson of blis,
  • 245 Quen þou mynnys of þat marche & with þi mouth tellis.
  • 246 For þare enhabetis in þat erd þat þou are sayd.
  • 247 Þe wisest wees in þis werd þe welken vndire.
  • 248 For þai can swyth of a sweuyn all þe swepe tell,
  • 249 Wheþire it be sele or soroȝe in a sete quile.
  • 250 And þai can certifi & se by sygnes of þe heuyn,
  • 251 Quat sall be-fall a-pon fold with-inen a fewe ȝerys.
  • 252 Sum vndirstandis in a stounde þe steuen of þe briddis,
  • 253 To say þe by þaire sapience quat þar sange menys;
  • 254 Sum can þi consaile declare, þofe þou it carpid neuire,
  • 255 Þe poyntis of all þi preuates pertly can schewe.
  • 256 Sum can þe brefe be-life þe birth of þine childire,
  • 257 Be it hee, be [it] scho haly þare werdes.
  • 258 And if I say it my-selfe slik sotellte I haue,
  • 259 Sa clere a witt & sa clene my creatoure I lofe,
  • 260 Þat all þe notis at I neuyn nobly I can,
  • 261 As any prophet a-perte to proue ȝow þe sothe.'
  • 262 Quen he þire sawis had sayd he in his sege lened,
  • 263 In stody still as a stane & starid in hire face,
  • 264 Beheld haterly þat hend þat had his hert percid,
  • 265 With depe desire of delite ay on þat dere waytis.
  • 266 Sone as hire selfe it sawe at he hire sa behaldis,
  • 267 Þen scho talkis him to & titely him fraynes:
  • 268 'Quare-on muse ȝe sa mekill, maistir?' scho sayd;
  • 269 'ȝe behald me sa hogely quare-on is ȝour mynd?'
  • 270 'My frely fode,' quod þe freke ‘noȝt bot þe werdes
  • 271 Of my gracious goddis þe grettest on erde.
  • 272 Þai haue tald me be-for þis tyme þat now I trew fynd,
  • 273 How I suld lenge in a land & loke on a qwene.'
  • 274 Þan out of his bosom he brayd a blesand table
  • 275 Of Euour & of othire þingis odly fourmed,
  • 276 Of bras & of brynt gold & o[f] briȝt siluer,
  • 277 Þat thre serclis sere in itselfe had.
  • 278 In þe first compas I ken as me þe claus tellis,
  • 279 Stude þe xij vndirstandings stoutly engrauen.
  • 280 In þis oþir draȝt ware deuysid a dusan of bestis,
  • 281 And semely sett was in þe thrid þe son & þe mone.
  • 282 Sethen he clekis out of a cas vij clere sternes
  • 283 To tell him takens of þe tymes & talis of our werdis;
  • 284 And vij stele-grauyn stanys & stoute oþire tway,
  • 285 Þat wald for hurte or for harme any hathill kepe.
  • 286 Þus as he tuke furth his toylis & his trammys schewis,
  • 287 'If I sall lefe on þi lare,' quod þe leue qwene,
  • 288 'Say me þe day & þe same ȝere & þe selfe tyme
  • 289 Of þe birth of þe bald kyng þat I best lufe.'
  • 290 Þan answars Anec onane sayd, 'Is þar oȝt ellis
  • 291 At ȝe wald, hend, of me here or at ȝoure hert willis?
  • 292 For any cas þat is to com to knaw if þe likis,
  • 293 I sall as namely ȝow neuyn as it ware nowe done.'
  • 294 'Þan will I,' quod þe wale qwene, 'ȝe wete me to say,
  • 295 Quat me & Philip sall fall vs be-twene.
  • 296 For, bow he fra þe bataill bernys me tell,
  • 297 Þen will he wed anoþire wife & wayfe me for euer.'
  • 298 'Nay, noȝt for ay,' quod þe freke 'þar haue þai fals spoken;
  • 299 Neuir þe latter, or oȝt lange sall lymp as þou sayd.
  • 300 Bot ȝit I fynd, for all his fare fleme he sall þe toþire,
  • 301 And wild ȝourself to will nyll he so will he.'
  • 302 Þan was a-wondird of his wordis þe worthe lady,
  • 303 Be-soȝt sekirly þis sire if he safe vouchid,
  • 304 Þat scho myȝt weterly wete þe will of all þingis,
  • 305 Quatkyn poynt or plyte predestend hire were.
  • 306 'Athill qwene,' quod Anec 'as I am enfourmed,
  • 307 Ane of þe grettist of oure godis of grace & of miȝt,
  • 308 I fynd, or it be fere to fleschely þe knaw,
  • 309 And efter in all aduersites is amed þe to help.'
  • 310 Þan sayd Olympadas 'now, honourable maister,
  • 311 I be-seke þe, my sire if þou me say wald,
  • 312 Quatkyn fygour on fold or fourme at he beris,
  • 313 Þat demyd is or destaned þis dede for to worche.'
  • 314 'Þat will I wele,' quod þe wee, '& noȝt a word leȝe.
  • 315 Þis miȝty god at I me[ne] is of a medill age,
  • 316 Noȝt of ȝouth nor of eld nor ȝerris to many,
  • 317 Bot euyn so be-twene twa & to [mekyll] of nouthire.
  • 318 How he is merkid & made is mervaile to neuyn,
  • 319 With — tachid in his for-top — twa tufe hornes;
  • 320 A berd as a besom with thyn bred haris,
  • 321 A mouthe as a mastif hunde vn-metely to shaw.
  • 322 Bot, dame, if he be þus diȝt drede þe neuer þe more,
  • 323 Bot ȝe be buxsom & bayne & boune to his will.
  • 324 Be nyȝter-tale he sall be neȝe þis note to begyn,
  • 325 And ȝe be merryd neuer þe mare bot mete him in sweuyn.'
  • 326 'Now certayn, sire,' sayd þe qwene 'selly me thinke.
  • 327 Bot may I se þis be sothe at ȝe me say here,
  • 328 Noȝt as a prophet ne a prest I prays sall þi selfe,
  • 329 Bot rehers þe as hieȝe gode & hie þe for euire.'
  • 330 With þat rysis vp þe renke & his rowme lefys,
  • 331 Laȝt leue at þe qwene for a litill quile,
  • 332 Gase him doune be þe grecis a-gayn fra þe sale,
  • 333 Furthe to make his maistryse & mose in his arte.
  • 334 Þus passis he fra þe place to proue his sleȝtis,
  • 335 Silis furth all him selfe þe cyte with-outen,
  • 336 Drafe in-to a depe dissert & drewe vp herbis,
  • 337 Þe chosest for inchantement at he chese couthe.
  • 338 Quen he had gedird his grese & grune þaim esundire,
  • 339 For Iapis of his gemetry þe ious out he wrengis,
  • 340 Erne till exorȝise & ethis euer elike,
  • 341 Þat it suld worthe as he wald & on na way faile.
  • 342 He clatird on coniurisons & calid to him deuyls,
  • 343 And all þe incheson of his charme with þat þe chefe qwene
  • 344 Þe same nyȝt in hire slep suld se with hire eȝen
  • 345 Amon hire awyn god in hire armes ligge,
  • 346 And dreme at he didd hire swa, & quen he done hadd,
  • 347 Þan suld he say to hire-selfe sadly þire wordis,
  • 348 'Now has þou, woman, I-wys with-in þi twa sydis
  • 349 Consayued him at in all þi care þi cors sall defend.'
  • 350 Þis ilk euyn ouer-ȝede & arly on þe morne,
  • 351 As arly as þe riche qwene was resyn fra slepe,
  • 352 Þan efter Anec on-ane scho al aboute sendis,
  • 353 Takis him betwene þam twa tald him hire sweuyn,
  • 354 'ȝa,' quod he, 'comly qwene I couthe, & þou wald
  • 355 Preualy in þi palais lat me a place haue,
  • 356 Make þe to se þe same gode & þi-selfe wakand,
  • 357 Face to face all his fourme & his effecte clene.
  • 358 Þis grete god full of grace sall glide to þi chambre,
  • 359 In a dredfull deuys a dragons fourme,
  • 360 And þan þe figour of a freke he sall take eftire,
  • 361 And preualy in þat part a-pere ȝowe be-forne.'
  • 362 Þan answars him þe swete quene & sone him it grantis,
  • 363 'Sire, chese þe a chambre quare þe chefe þinkis,
  • 364 Nowþire myne awen ne na nothire god lat þe noȝt spare,
  • 365 Or any place at ȝow plece my palas with-in.
  • 366 For may þou hald me þis hest as þou here tellis,
  • 367 And profe þus in my presens as a propire sothe,
  • 368 Þen sall I cherische þe with chere as þou my child were,
  • 369 Loute þe louely & loue all my lyfe days.'
  • 370 'Graunt mercy,' quod þe grete clerke to þe gude lady,
  • 371 Thankis hire full thraly & þen forth wendis
  • 372 To loke & layte him a loge quare he lenge myȝte,
  • 373 And buske him a bedsted quare him best likid.
  • 374 Qwen it was metyn to þe merke þat men ware to ryst,
  • 375 And folke was on þaire firste slepe & it was furth euyns,
  • 376 Þan Anec onane his artis he fandis,
  • 377 And changid by enchantmentis his chere all to-gedire.
  • 378 Þer worthid he by his wiche-craft in-to a wild dragon,
  • 379 And to þe ladi lere he lendid in haste,
  • 380 Fliȝand in his fethire-hames & ferly fast sletis,
  • 381 And in a braide, or he blan he þe bed entris.
  • 382 Quen he was laide be-lyfe, his liknes he changis,
  • 383 Worthis agayn to a wee fra a worme turnys.
  • 384 Þen kisses he kenely þe quene & clappis in armes,
  • 385 Langis sare to þe layke & on-loft worthis.
  • 386 Quen he had wroȝt all his will hire wame þen he touches,
  • 387 And with a renyst reryd þis reson he said,
  • 388 'Þis concepcion with kyngis sal be callid here-efter
  • 389 A verra victor a-vansid with all þe vayne werde.'
  • 390 Þus be-gylid he þis gude wyfe & makis hire to wene
  • 391 It ware na gett of na gome bot of god ane.
  • 392 Qwen þe day-raw rase he rysis be-lyfe,
  • 393 Lendis a-lande fra þe loft & left hire with child.
  • 394 Sone as hire bele gun bolne all hire blee changis,
  • 395 So was scho ferd & a-friȝt, a ferly ware ellis.
  • 396 To be bonden with barne mekill bale to hire neȝehis,
  • 397 For it & Philip hire fere o-ferrom was sybb.
  • 398 Þan Anec hire awyn clerke scho on-ane callis,
  • 399 'Lo, maistir, slike a myschefe!' & maynly hire pleynes.
  • 400 'I dred þat I nere dee, bot ȝe me deme sone
  • 401 Quat me is beste of þis case if euer þe kyng turne.'
  • 402 'Be noȝt a-bayste,' quod þe berne ‘ne a-bleyd nothire,
  • 403 Þare sall na chanche þe chefe þe charge of a pese,
  • 404 For Amon oure athill gode sall all-way þe helpe,
  • 405 And kepe þe full careles if any cas fallis.’
  • 406 Quat dose now þis diuinour bot to desert wendis,
  • 407 Airis on all him ane out of þe cite,
  • 408 ȝede him furthe eftirsons herbis to seche,
  • 409 Reft þam vp be þe rotis & radly þam stampis.
  • 410 Þe Iuse for his gemetry þat Iogloure takis,
  • 411 A[nd] sythen a brid of þe see him seluyn him fangis,
  • 412 Clatirs to hyre coynte þingis kenely enchantis,
  • 413 And [with] þe wose of þe wede hire wengis anoyntis;
  • 414 And all þis demerlayke he did bot be þe deuyllis craftis,
  • 415 How he myȝt compas & kast þe kynge to begyle.
  • 416 He wroȝt a wondirfull wile, & will ȝe now here
  • 417 How he be-glouird þis gome & gilid him in sweuyn?
  • 418 Þis ilk Philip þe fyrs þat in be fiȝt lenges,
  • 419 Þe same nyȝt in his slepe he saȝe, as him thoȝt,
  • 420 Amon his awen god in armes with his qwene,
  • 421 And make with hire market as [he] a man were.
  • 422 And quen he wroȝt had his will þen witrely him metis,
  • 423 Þat he bowes to hire belechiste & bigly it sewys,
  • 424 And sethen asselis it him selfe semely & faire
  • 425 With a rede golde rynge on þis aray grayuyn;
  • 426 A lyons heuyd was on-loft louely coruyn,
  • 427 Þe bounde of a briȝt son & a brande kene.
  • 428 And þen he went furth his way sayd, 'Woman, þou hauys
  • 429 Þi full defendoure on fold now frely consay[u]yd.'
  • 430 Als radly as þe riche kynge rase on þe morne,
  • 431 Riȝt in þe dawynge of day a diuinour he callis,
  • 432 And as him dremyd ilke a dele þat doctour he tellis,
  • 433 And fraynes him fast on þis fare how it be-fall suld.
  • 434 'Phylip,' quod þe phylysofyre, 'þi fere is with childe,
  • 435 And with no gett of na gome bot of god selfe.
  • 436 And, gudman, on þe gold rynge þe thre grauen thyngis,
  • 437 Þai ere þus mekill to mene as me my mind tellis.
  • 438 To þe lyon hede,' quod þe lede 'þen licken I, on first,
  • 439 Þe birth þat scho bere sall als best it be-semys,
  • 440 Þat chefe sall to a chiftan & slike a chefe maister,
  • 441 As to be halden heuydman of all þe hale werde.
  • 442 Now sall I clerily declare þe course on þe sonne;
  • 443 Þat sygnyfys þe same man þat sett is, be wird,
  • 444 So many prouynce to pas þurȝe prowis of armys,
  • 445 Þat he sall hit with his hede in-to þe heghe est.
  • 446 Now of þis bytand brand berne, will ȝe here;
  • 447 And all is bot þis hathill man as I are sayd,
  • 448 Þat sall sa fele men afray with fauchon in hande,
  • 449 And out of nounbre to neuyn of nacions wynn.'
  • 450 Þan foundis Philip to þe fyȝt & þe fild entres,
  • 451 And sone in delingis of dyntis a dragon aperis,
  • 452 Þat streȝt be-for him in þe stoure strikis doune his faas,
  • 453 And all his enmys in þat erd he endid in a stounde.
  • 454 When Phylyp with his faire folke had þe fild won,
  • 455 Þan metis he him to Messadone, þar metis him þe qwene,
  • 456 Kyssis comly hire king & of his come ioys,
  • 457 And how he fore scho him fraynes ferly[ly] ȝerne.
  • 458 'Wele, graunt mercy,' quod þe kyng, 'my god, I him loue;
  • 459 Bot how þat ȝe ga sa grete, gud dame?' he sayd.
  • 460 'Þou has ragid,' quod þe renge, 'with vnryd gestis;
  • 461 Now hafe I, lede, all to lange lengid fra hame.'
  • 462 Þus to bre hire o bourde he breuys þire wordis;
  • 463 'To quam has þou þe tane till tell m[e] þe sothe?
  • 464 Outhire mete has mendid þe full mekill, as may I noȝt trowe,
  • 465 Or ane has stollen in my stede sen I was stad þare.'
  • 466 Þus bayst he þe briȝt qwene þat all hire ble changid,
  • 467 To skyre skarlet hewe skyftis hire face,
  • 468 Hire chere at was chalke-quyte as any chaffe worthis;
  • 469 So was scho schamed of þe schont þat hire þe schalk made.
  • 470 'Nay,' quod þe comly kyng, 'cache vp þine hert,
  • 471 Þofe þou haue forfet, na force so has fele othire.
  • 472 Þou has giltid, bot noȝt gretly it greuys me þe les;
  • 473 For god has geten þe þis gett agaynes þi will.
  • 474 All þat was done þe bedene was me be dreme schewyd,
  • 475 I saȝe it surely as my-selfe slepe in my tentis,
  • 476 And oure god all-to-gedire is ground of þe cause;
  • 477 Of me worthis þe þe wite ne of na wee ellis.'
  • 478 Þen tyd it anes on a tym a lytill terme efter,
  • 479 Þis dere kyng on a day on his dese syttis,
  • 480 Had parreld him a proude feste of princes & dukis,
  • 481 With maistirlingis of Messadone & many oþire noble[s].
  • 482 Þus as he sat in his sete softly by his qwene,
  • 483 In schene schemerand schroude all of schire stanes,
  • 484 He kest vp his contenance & knyȝtly he lokes,
  • 485 And gladis gudly his gestis as his degre wald.
  • 486 Þan Ane[c]tanabus on-ane in alþire-mast ioy
  • 487 Did on him his dragon-hame & drafe thurȝe þe sale,
  • 488 With slike a rowste & rerid þe romance it wittnes,
  • 489 Þat nere had bernes for þat bere bene broȝt out of witt.
  • 490 He was sa hatter & sa hoge quen he þe hall entird,
  • 491 Lete sa lathely a late & sa loude cried,
  • 492 Þat all þe fest was a-ferd & oþire folke bathe.
  • 493 To þe chefe chaiare of þe qwene he chese him be-lyue,
  • 494 And laide as hendly as a hunde his hede in hire arme,
  • 495 Seþin kyssis he hire clene mouthe enclynes hire lawe,
  • 496 And braydis furth with a brym bere out at þe brade ȝatis.
  • 497 Þen sayd Philip to his fere & all his fre gestis
  • 498 'ȝone selfe dragon forsothe I saȝe with myne eȝen;
  • 499 Quen I was stad in þe stoure he strenthid all myne oste,
  • 500 And þar þe floure in þe filde I fangid þurȝe him selfe.'
  • 501 Anoþire ferly þar fell within fewe days,
  • 502 Þe king was sett in his sale with septir in hand;
  • 503 Þen come þar-in a litill brid in-to his arme floȝe,
  • 504 And þar hurkils & hydis as scho were hand-tame;
  • 505 Fast scho flekirs about his fete & fleȝtirs aboute,
  • 506 And þar it nestild in a noke as it a nest were,
  • 507 Qwill scho had layd in his lape a litill tyne egg,
  • 508 And þan scho fangis hire fliȝt & floȝe away swyth.
  • 509 Þis egg, or þe kyng wyst to be erth fallis,
  • 510 Brak, & so it wele burde & brast all e-soundir;
  • 511 Þan wendis þar-out a litill worm & wald it eft enter,
  • 512 And or scho hit in hire hede a hard deth suffirs.
  • 513 Þan was ser Philip of þat fare ferly mekill sturbid,
  • 514 Callis to him a kid clerke declaris to him þis wonder,
  • 515 Besoȝt him quat it sygnified to tell him þe treuthe.
  • 516 'Þat graunt I gudly,' quod þe gome & þus-gate he spekis:
  • 517 'Sire, þere sall borne be a barne of þi blithe lady,
  • 518 Þat driȝtyn efter þi day has destaned to regne,
  • 519 Þe quilke sall walke all þe werd & wyn it him selfe,
  • 520 And hent sall a full hetire deth or he may hame couer.'
  • 521 Þus he vndid him ilka dele & him þe dome reched,
  • 522 Said it was sett to be so he saȝe by his artis.
  • 523 And if ȝow likis of þis lare to lesten any forthire,
  • 524 Sone sall I tell ȝow a text how it be-tid efter.
  • 525 Now it teȝt þe tyme at trauald þat qwene,
  • 526 Quen scho suld bryng furth hire birth to þe werd.
  • 527 Scho bidis many hard brayde baret enduris,
  • 528 What of wandreth & wa as wemen dose all.
  • 529 Thik schouris hire thrat tholid mekill soroȝe,
  • 530 Many peralus pull grete payne suffirs,
  • 531 Sa sare werkis hire þe wame & slik vn-wyn dreis,
  • 532 Þat all scho dredis hire dede & doute for þe werst.
  • 533 Þan eftir Anectanabus scho on-ane clepis,
  • 534 And he was boune at hire bode & bowes to hire chambre,
  • 535 Gais him vp at þe grece & gretis him faire,
  • 536 Fand hire sett in a sege & soroȝe ay elike.
  • 537 A! Anec!' quod þe qwene, 'me arȝes of my-selfe;
  • 538 I am all in auntir sa akis me þe wame,
  • 539 Of werke well ne I wede & slike wa tholis,
  • 540 Þat me ware dere to be dede & dure þus on lyfe.'
  • 541 'ȝa, wynnes ȝow vp,' quod þe we '& walkis a littill,
  • 542 For þe aire nowe & þe elementis ere evyn in þis tyme
  • 543 So trauailid out of temperoure & troubild of þat sone,
  • 544 Þat makis þi grippis & þi gridis a grete dele be kenere.'
  • 545 Þan faris scho vp & farkis furth a fute or tway,
  • 546 And sone sesis all hire syte in a sete quyle.
  • 547 'Now bow þe doune,' quod þe berne & scho his bone fillis,
  • 548 And syttand so in hire sege was softly delyuerd.
  • 549 Bot now is meruaill to me of þis wondire,
  • 550 Quen þis man fra his modire wambe on þe mold fell;
  • 551 For all þe erd euyn ouer sa egirly schakis,
  • 552 Þat teldis, templis, & touris tomble on hepis.
  • 553 Þe liȝt lemand late laschis fra þe heuyn,
  • 554 Thonere thrastis ware thra thristid þe welkyn,
  • 555 Cloudis clenely to-clefe clatird vnfaire;
  • 556 All blakenid a-boute & boris þe son.
  • 557 Wild wedirs vp werpe & þe wynd ryse,
  • 558 And all flames þe flode as it fire were,
  • 559 Nowe briȝt, nowe blaa nowe on blase efter,
  • 560 And þan ouer-qwelmys in a qwirre & qwatis euer e-like.
  • 561 Þan slike a derknes þar drafe & demyd þe skewys,
  • 562 As blesenand as bale fyre & blake as þe hell,
  • 563 Þat it was neuer bot as nyȝt fra þe none tyme
  • 564 Till it to mydday was meten on þe morne efter.
  • 565 Gife þis ware mervale to myn ȝet emange othire
  • 566 Þen rekils it vnruydly & raynes doune stanys,
  • 567 Fell fra þe fyrmament as a hand lyftyng,
  • 568 And some as hoge as þi hede fra þe heuyn fallis.
  • 569 Sa ferd was Philip of þat fare þat his flesche trymblid,
  • 570 For sere sygnes at he saȝe as selly ware ellis.
  • 571 As wyde as all þe werd was þurȝe warnyng þai hadd,
  • 572 Þat houre þat Olympadas was of hire son liȝter.
  • 573 Than lendis him vp þe leue kyng his lady to vysite,
  • 574 Quod þe man to his make 'I am in many thoȝtis,
  • 575 Þat þis frute sall haue na fostring ne be fed nouþire;
  • 576 I ges it be noȝt of my gett bot of god fourmed;
  • 577 Be many cause at I ken I kan noȝt supose
  • 578 It be consayued of my kynde ne come of my-selfe.
  • 579 I saȝe so, in þe same tyme he seuyrd fra þi wambe,
  • 580 Þe erd & all þe elementis so egirly schoutid.
  • 581 And queþir ȝit, for any quat a quyle latt him kepe,
  • 582 And norisch him as namely as he myne awyn warre,
  • 583 ȝit will þare make of him mynde & myn it here-eftire
  • 584 Hathils, swilke a haly son I hade in my tyme.
  • 585 Anoþer barne,' quod þe berne 'I of my blode haue,
  • 586 Ane of my sede, I supose & sibbire of þe twa,
  • 587 Þat I wan on myne oþire wyfe þat I wedd first.
  • 588 Lat him as ayre, quen I am erþed, enherit my landis,
  • 589 And stall we him in stede of þis to stiȝtill my rewme,
  • 590 For he is borne of my blode & a-bore nerre,
  • 591 And fede we þis othire, þat folke quen we ere fay worthid,
  • 592 May sitt & carpe, slike a knaue þaire last kyng hade.'
  • 593 Þai did all as he demed & his domes plesed,
  • 594 Cherest þai þis ȝonge child & chosely him kepid;
  • 595 Þai ware as besy him a-boute birdis & ladis,
  • 596 As he had bene þar hiȝe god for sa þai hopid all,
  • 597 Þis barne, quen he borne was as me þe boke tellis,
  • 598 Miȝt wele a-prefe for his a-port to any prince oute.
  • 599 Bot of þe lyfe þat he liȝt off he like was to nane,
  • 600 Nouþer of fetour ne of face to fadire ne to modyre.
  • 601 Þe fax on his faire hede was ferly to schawe,
  • 602 Large lyons lockis þat lange ere & scharpe;
  • 603 With grete glesenand eȝen grymly he lokis,
  • 604 Þat ware as blyckenand briȝt as blesand sternes,
  • 605 ȝit ware þai sett vnsamen of serelypy hewys;
  • 606 Þe tane to brene at a blisch as blak as a cole,
  • 607 As any ȝare ȝeten gold ȝalow was þe tothire.
  • 608 And he wald-eȝed was as þe writt schewys,
  • 609 ȝit it tellis me þis tale þe tethe in his hede
  • 610 Was as bitand breme as any bare tuskis.
  • 611 His steuyn stiffe was [&] steryn þat stonayd many,
  • 612 And as a lyon he lete quen he loude romys.
  • 613 His fell fygoure & his fourme fully be-takend
  • 614 Þe prowis & þe grete pryse þat he a-preuyd eftire,
  • 615 His hardynes, his hyndelaike & his hetter myȝtis,
  • 616 Þe wirschip þat he wan quen he wex eldire.
  • 617 Þan sembled his syb men be sent of þam all,
  • 618 To consaile of þis kyng son how þai him call suld,
  • 619 And so him neuyned was þe name of his next frendis
  • 620 Alexsandire þe athill be allirs a-corde.
  • 621 Þan was he lede furthe be-lyfe to lere at þe scole,
  • 622 As sone as to þat sapient him-self was of elde,
  • 623 On-ane vn-to Arystotill þat was his awen maister,
  • 624 And one of þe coronest clerkis þat euer knew letter.
  • 625 Þan was he broȝt to a benke a boke in his hand,
  • 626 And faste by his enfourme was fettild his place;
  • 627 For it come noȝt a kyng son ȝe knaw wele to sytt
  • 628 Doune in margon & molle emange othire schrewis.
  • 629 Sone wex he witter & wyse & wondir wele leres,
  • 630 Sped him in a schort space to spell & to rede,
  • 631 And seþen to gramere he gase as þe gyse wald,
  • 632 And þat has he all hale in a hand-quyle.
  • 633 In foure or in fyfe ȝere he ferre was in lare
  • 634 Þan othire at had bene þare seuynte wynter;
  • 635 Þat he suld passe him in þat plite vnpussible semed,
  • 636 Bot at god will at gaa furth qua may agayn stande?
  • 637 In absens of Arystotill if any of his feris
  • 638 Raged with him vnridly or rofe him with harme,
  • 639 Him wald he kenely on þe croune knok with his tablis,
  • 640 Þat al to-brest wald þe bordis & þe blode folowe.
  • 641 If any scolere in þe scole his skorne at him makis,
  • 642 He skapis him full skathely bot if he skyp better.
  • 643 Þus with his feris he faȝ, as I fynd wreten,
  • 644 As wele in letter & in lare as any laike ellis.
  • 645 Þus skilfull lange he scolaid & þe scole vsed,
  • 646 Tille he was euyn of eld elleuyn wynter.
  • 647 He had na pere in na place þat proued so his tyme,
  • 648 For þe principalte of all þe pake he of a-prefe wynnys.
  • 649 And qwen it teȝt to þe tyme of ten ȝere of age,
  • 650 Þen was him kend of þe kynde & craft of bataile,
  • 651 Wele & wiȝtly in were to welden a spere,
  • 652 A[nd] preke on a proude stede proudly enarmed.
  • 653 Þat lare was him lefe to & lerid in a qwile
  • 654 Was þar na lede to him like with-in a fewe ȝeris.
  • 655 So cheualus a chiftan he cheuys in a stonde,
  • 656 Þat in anters of armes all men he passes.
  • 657 Quen Philip see him sa fers in his first elde,
  • 658 His hert & his hardynes hiȝely he lofed,
  • 659 Comendid mekill his knyȝt-hede, him callid on a day
  • 660 Be-twene þam selfe on a tyme & talkis þire wordis:
  • 661 'Alexsander,' quod þe kyng, 'I augirly prayse
  • 662 Þi wirschip, þi worthines þi wit & þi strenth.
  • 663 Es nane so teche of þi tyme to tryi now o lyfe.
  • 664 How suld I, lede, for þi lofe bot lufe þe in hert?
  • 665 Bot I am sary for sothe my son, at þi fourme
  • 666 Is lickenand on na lym ne like to my selfe;
  • 667 Oft storbis me þi statour & stingis me ȝerne,
  • 668 Þat þi personale proporcion sa party is to myne.'
  • 669 Þis herd hire þe hend quene & heterly scho dredis,
  • 670 Sent eftir Anec & askis him be-lyue,
  • 671 Be-knew him clene all þe case how þe kyng sayd,
  • 672 And frayns him fast quat þe freke of hire fare thingis.
  • 673 Þen con he calke & a-conte & kest on his fyngirs,
  • 674 Lokis him vp to þe lifte & þe lady swares:
  • 675 'Be noȝt a-friȝt,' quod þe freke, 'ne a-frayd nouþir;
  • 676 It sall þe noy noȝt a neg nane of his thoȝtis.'
  • 677 With þat he heuys vp [his] hede & to þe heuyn lokis.
  • 678 Hedis heterly on hiȝe behelde on a sterne,
  • 679 Of þe quilke he hopid in his hert sumquat to knawe,
  • 680 Quat euire he wald wete of his will all-to-gedire.
  • 681 Quod Alexander to þis athill as he his arte fandis,
  • 682 'Quat is þe planet or þe poynt ȝe purpose to seme?
  • 683 Quat sterne is it at ȝe stody on quare stekis it in heuyn?
  • 684 May ȝe oȝt me in any maner to þat sterne schewe?'
  • 685 'Þat can I wele,' quod þe clerke 'ellis couthe I littill;
  • 686 Noȝt bot sewe me, son quen þe son is to reste,
  • 687 Quen it [is] dreuyn to þe derke & þe day fynyst,
  • 688 And þou sall sothely se þe same with þine eȝen.'
  • 689 'Is oȝt þi werid to þe wissid?' quod þe wee þan;
  • 690 'For þat I couet to ken if þou me kythe wald.'
  • 691 'Sire, sothely of myne awen son slayne mon I worth,
  • 692 So was me destaned to dye gane many winter.'
  • 693 As tyte as Anec[tanabus] þis aunter had tald,
  • 694 Þen treyned doune fra þe toure to tute in þe sternes.
  • 695 Þan airis ser Alexander eftire his fadire,
  • 696 Þat euer he kyndild of his kynde kend he bot litill.
  • 697 Þus led he furthe his leue child late on ane euen,
  • 698 Sylis softely him selfe þe cite with-outen,
  • 699 Boȝes him vp to a brenke as þe buke tellis,
  • 700 To þe hiȝt of þe depe dike & to þe heuyn waytis.
  • 701 ‘Alexander, athil son,' quod Anec his syre,
  • 702 ‘Loo! ȝonde, behald ouer þi hede & se my hatter werdis;
  • 703 Þe euyll sterne of Ercules how egirly it soroȝes,
  • 704 And how þe mode Marcure makis sa mekill ioy;
  • 705 Loo! ȝonder þe gentill Iubite, how Iolyle he schynes,
  • 706 Þe domes of my destany drawis vnto [me] swyth.
  • 707 Þik & þrathly am I thret & thole mon I sone
  • 708 Þe slaȝter of myne awen son as me was sett euer.'
  • 709 Vnethis werped he þat worde þe writt me recordis,
  • 710 Þat ne Alexander as sone was at him be-hind,
  • 711 And on þe bake with slike a bire he bare with his handis,
  • 712 Þat doune he drafe to þe depest of þe dike bothom,
  • 713 Sayd, ‘lo! vnhappeiste vndire heuyn þat þus on hand takis
  • 714 As be þe welken to wete quat suld come efter!
  • 715 Þou has feyned þe for wyse & fals all-to-gedire,
  • 716 Wele semys slike a sacchell to syeȝe þus of lyfe!'
  • 717 Þan Anec, as him aȝt wele augirly granys,
  • 718 Dryues vp a dede voyce & dymly he spekis,
  • 719 ‘Wele was þis cas to me knawen & kyd many wynter,
  • 720 Þat I suld dee slike a dethe be dome of my werdis.
  • 721 Sayd I þe noȝt so my selfe here be-fore,
  • 722 I suld be slayn of my son as now sothe worthis?'
  • 723* 'What, and am I,' quod Alexander, 'ane of þi childer?'
  • 724* 'ȝha, son! als glad I my god I gat þe myseluen.'
  • 725* Fro he had hym þis worde sayd he wakens no more,
  • 726* Bot gaue a gremly grane & þe gast ȝheldez.
  • 727* That oþer wy for hys werkez wepys eueryllyke,
  • 728* So hard & so hertly þat neȝ hys hert brestes.
  • 729* Þus plenys þis prouud knyght þe pyte of hys fader,
  • 730* Cares hym downe into þe cafe þar as þe cors ligges,
  • 731* Belife lyftes he on-lofte euen on hys shulders,
  • 732* And beres hym forth vppon hys bake at þe brade ȝates.
  • 733* Sone sayd þe whene, when sho hym see with syland teres;
  • 734* 'What haue ȝe done, my dere sonn?' and drowpys doun in swone.
  • 735* 'Dame, now is þar none other to do bot deme it þi seluen,
  • 736* For as þi foly was before so foloweth aftir.'
  • 737* Than makes þis man & hys moder menskfully & faire
  • 738* Titely hys enterment, as þai þat tyme vsed.
  • 739* Þus shamesly of hys awne childe hym chevyd such end.
  • 740* And her fynes a fytt & fayr when vs likez.
  • 741* The same & þe selue tyme as says me þe text,
  • 742* Fro þe cuntre of capadose come a kyd prince
  • 743* To kyng philipp þe fers & hym a fole bryngez;
  • 744* A grett horse & a hoge a hegh & a wilde,
  • 745* A store & a styf stede stalwortly bondyn;
  • 746* His choll chaltird & chauelez in chynez of yren;
  • 747* In rapes fast for ryfyng of bernes;
  • 748* For other mete þan manysflesche mouthed he neuer.
  • 749* Busifolen to þis blonk was breued þe name.
  • 750* He hed so ferdfull a face as ony fyre lokez;
  • 751* Bere als a boles heued a bryn on hys shulderr,
  • 752* And toton owt of hys top als tyndis of hornes.
  • 753* The fayrnes of þis ilke fole when philip avysed,
  • 754* Þan says he to hys seruand to see to þis capyll,
  • 755* And stighillys hym in som stede a stable by hym one,
  • 756* With lang lates of yren þat he might lig in.
  • 757* And all at wer dampned to þe deth & demyd at þe lawe,
  • 758* Þai sall be broȝt fra þe bare þis blonk into stable,
  • 759* To wery at hys awne wille & weyle of þe fattest.
  • 760* ȝit philip of hys faire goddes hym fanges suche a sware,
  • 761* Yff ony berne wer so bald baron or other,
  • 762* Or wy þat myght þis wilde best worth for to ryde,
  • 763* Was dewly aftir hys day destinate to regne.
  • 764* When alexander was of elde awght ȝeres & foure,
  • 765* Þan was he worthy & wight & wisely hed leryd
  • 766* At arestotell all ouer þe artez all seuen,
  • 767* And castor, ane oþer clerke þar at wer hys kyd maisteres.
  • 768* So carez he in þe castell-ȝarde & comes on a day
  • 769* By a wyndow als þis wild horse [was] warloked in bandez;
  • 770* Lokes in at a lat sagh ly hym byforne
  • 771* So mony menbres of men wer mervayle to tell.
  • 772* Þar liggez lymmes of laddes leggez & harmes,
  • 773* Tharmes thrist owt of thees banes & shuldres.
  • 774* Som hanchyd of þe heued som þe handez etyn,
  • 775* Som þar riggez owt rytte & som þar ribbez rent.
  • 776* Of þis wonder he hed & so he wele burd.
  • 777* And hardly hys awne hand in at a hole puttes,
  • 778* He layd owt a lang neke & hys hand likkys;
  • 779* Faire faldes hys fete & falles hym to þe erth,
  • 780* Hendly haldes vp hys heued byheld in hys face,
  • 781* On Alexander ay-whare euer elike wates.
  • 782* Þen wist þe wy wele enogh hys wyll all-to-geder;
  • 783* Brades vppe þe brade ȝate & þe barre entres,
  • 784* On þe rige with hys right hande hym rodely strakez,
  • 785* And he full frely & faire hym faunys & loutez.
  • 786* Was neuer barslett in band more buxum to hys lord
  • 787* Þen was þis blonke to þis bern for all his breme teches.
  • 788* Þus lowtes þis lede on low & lowsys hys chynez,
  • 789* Blyssis blythly hym abouute & a bridyll fyndez;
  • 790* Grathez on þis gay gere & þen a gilt sadyll;
  • 791* Ledes hym forth of þat loge & þen of-lofte lepys.
  • 792* Than strenys he hys streropes & streȝt vp sittes;
  • 793* Lad hym by þe loran & hym þe lede wissez.
  • 794* And he als rekyndly ran rolland hym vnder,
  • 795* As he þe sadyll hed sewyd seuenten wynter.
  • 796* Sone as philip þe ferse hym on þis fole metes,
  • 797* 'Son,' he sayd, 'now er þe sawes into þi seluen fyneshit,
  • 798* Right as my graceux gode hase galet me before.
  • 799* For þou must rewle all my realm qwen I am raght hyne.'
  • 800* Quod Alexander als beliue 'my awne athell fader,
  • 801* I beseke þe my soueren þat þou my sete dresse
  • 802* In a chosyn chariott as a chefe maister,
  • 803* With folawand me a fair flete of fele men of armes.'
  • 804* 'Þat graunt I gladly,' quod þe gome 'with a gode wille,
  • 805* Frist of my faire foles fang þe a hundreth,
  • 806* And syne sexty thowsand, my son þou þi seluen wale
  • 807* Of shillynges & of shire gold to shote in þi Cofyre.
  • 807a* Syne of my chefe chiftanes chese þe þe best,
  • 808* Þe most proved of my princez in poyntez of were;
  • 809* Wyes ne no wale wede want shall þe noþer,
  • 810* And held on with a hale here þar hersound þou worth.'
  • 811* Thys barne hym buskes as he bede & bade he no langre,
  • 812* Bot grathes hym to þe gate with a gyn noble.
  • 813* Forth with eufestyus he ferd a freke þat he loued,
  • 814* Þat was a fyne philo[so]f[e]r a frend of hys awne.
  • 815* ȝitte takez he hym with-owte þe town twelf tried childer,
  • 816* Þat he hed Cosyn hym for chefe hys cheualry to lede;
  • 817* And fair enformed þam of fight & fetez of armez
  • 818* For ȝapest in hys awne yoke ȝarly to drawe;
  • 819* Fers felons with hym fangez & florens enowe,
  • 820* Full preciouse apparement hys person to cleth,
  • 821* Comand kenely hys knyghtez to kepe to hys blonkez,
  • 822* Þat no vnchaunce þaim achefe þat in þe chare ȝodez.
  • 823* He prekys forth on hys play bot with a preuay menȝe,
  • 824* Chaterand with hys chiftanes in hys child gere.
  • 825* To poliponenses hase he passed a prouince vnk[n]awyn,
  • 826* And so was strykyn or he styntyd in-to þe strange realm.
  • 827* The kyng of þatt cuntree þat þe kyth weldyd,
  • 828* Which was callyd nicholas & hym naytly metes,
  • 829* Had rasyd vp a rode hoste & heldyd hym ayaynez
  • 830* With bald baratours on bent hym batell to ȝelde.
  • 831* He flonge ow[t] on a fers fole far from hys hoste,
  • 832* Ayres to sir alexander & angrely franes:
  • 833* 'What is þi name, notesman neuen me þe sothe;
  • 834* And whyne ert þou & who & what makys þou here?'
  • 835* Þe knyght, as he wele couth hym curtasly answers:
  • 836* 'Sir, kyng philip þe ferse my fader was haten,
  • 837* And all þe marche of massydon he manours clene;
  • 838* And I hys heyre alexander als elders me callen.'
  • 839* Þat oþer renishit r[e]nke hym rightes in þe sadyll,
  • 840* Stranes owt hys sterops & sternly lokez,
  • 841* With a sembland as a hye sir settes owt þe brest,
  • 842* Sayd: 'who am I þat am here as þou supposez?'
  • 843* 'Sir, þou art a kyng of þis kyth I ken wele my-seluen,
  • 844* Bott neuer þe latter in his lede if þou be lord here,
  • 723 Þof I þis wirschip þe wayfe as wald þine astate,
  • 724 Lat þou þi hert neuer þe hiȝere hale into pride.
  • 725 For it was wont,' quod þe wee 'as wyse men tellis,
  • 726 Full hiȝe þingis ouer-heldis to held oþer-quile.
  • 727 Slike as ere now broȝt a-bofe nowe þe bothum askis,
  • 728 And slike at left ere on lawe ere lift to þe sternes.'
  • 729 'Sa ma aydeus,' quod þat oþire man ‘þou tellis me treuthe,
  • 730 Son þis ensample of þi-selfe þou sais me, I trowe.
  • 731 Vn-behalde þe wele on ilk halfe & haue a gud eȝe,
  • 732 Les on þine ane here-efterward þine ossyngis liȝt.'
  • 733 Þan Alexander all in ire angrile spekis:
  • 734 'Hy þe hethen-ward, þou hathill & houe þou na langire.
  • 735 For na-þing as a-nent me þou has noȝt to mell,
  • 736 Ne with þi domes me to dele dole vndire sonne.'
  • 737 Now is ser Nicollas anoyed & nettild with ire,
  • 738 As wrath as [a] waspe & wode of his mynde,
  • 739 Reviles he þis oþire renke with vnrid speche:
  • 740 'Behald,' quod he hedirward '& herken how I say;
  • 741 Now be þe hert & þe hele of my hathill fadire,
  • 742 And be þe god,' quod þe gome 'þat gafe me þe saule,
  • 743 A[ls] sprent [of] my spittyng a specke on þi chere,
  • 744 Þou sall be diȝt to þe deth & drepid of my handis.'
  • 745 Quen he had spokin so, for spyte he spittis in his face,
  • 746 Dispises him despetously dispersons him foule.
  • 747 'Hent þe þare,' quod þe hatill 'as þe to haue semes,
  • 748 Cure, for þi kene carpe chache nowe a schame!'
  • 749 Þan went him furthe Alexander & his ande takis,
  • 750 Lete a-swage or he sware þe swelme of his angirs,
  • 751 Be-seȝis him how he say wold or he his saȝe ȝeld,
  • 752 And turnes him þen to þe tulke & talkis þire wordis:
  • 753 'For þou has noȝtid me now Nicollas,' he sayd,
  • 754 'I swere þe, be my syre saule & by his selfe pite,
  • 755 And be þe worthe wombe of my wale modre
  • 756 Þat I was geten in of gode & graithely consayued,
  • 757 Þou seis me, lede, or oȝt lange in þi lande armed,
  • 758 And oþire recouyre me þi rewme or reche vp þe girdill.'
  • 759 Þan set þai þam slike a day to semble & to fiȝt,
  • 760 And þar-to tuke vp þaire trouthis & twyned esondre.
  • 761 Þen ȝode him furthe þi[s] ȝong man ȝapeli & swythe
  • 762 In-to þe marche of Messedone & manly a-semblis
  • 763 Of saudiours & sekir men a soume out of nounbre,
  • 764 Þat was þe baldest & þe best breueyd in armes.
  • 765 He parrails him a proude ost of princes & oþire,
  • 766 Farkis to ser Philip & fangis his leue,
  • 767 And þan Bocifilas his blonke he bremely ascendis,
  • 768 And bounes on with his bataill out at þe brade ȝatis.
  • 769 Þe same day at was sett þe sembling of bathe,
  • 770 Aithire with a firs flote in þe fild metis.
  • 771 Þe nounbre of ser Nicollas it noyes me to reken,
  • 772 And Alexander was ane oste of augird many.
  • 773 With þat þai tuke vp þaire trompes a-pon þe twa sidis,
  • 774 Braidis banars a-brade buskis to mete.
  • 775 So knilid þe clarons þat all þe cliffe rynges,
  • 776 Þe holtis & þe haire heere & þe hillis scheuyn.
  • 777 Ilk a hathill to hors hiȝis him be-lyue,
  • 778 Stridis into stele-bowe stertis apon loft,
  • 779 Has a helme on his hede & honge on his swyre
  • 780 A schene schondirhand schild & a schaft hentis.
  • 781 Quat of stamping of stedis & stering of bernes,
  • 782 All dymed þe dale & þe dust ryses.
  • 783 With slik a bront & a brusche þe bataill a-sembild,
  • 784 As þe erth & all þe el[e]mentis at anes had wrestild.
  • 785 Now aithire stoure on þar stedes strikis to-gedire,
  • 786 Spurnes out spakly with speris in hand,
  • 787 Brekis in-to blasons bordren shildis,
  • 788 Beris in-to briȝt stele bitand lances,
  • 789 Sone in scheuerand schidis schaftis ere brosten,
  • 790 Al to-spryngis in sprotis speris of syris,
  • 791 Dryfuys doune duchepers & doykis of þar horses,
  • 792 Fellis fay to þe fold many fresch knyȝtis.
  • 793 Quat dose now þis Nichollas bot nymes him a spere,
  • 794 Kest him on þis ȝong knyȝt to couire him a name;
  • 795 And Alexander with anothire airis him agayne,
  • 796 Girdis grymly to-gedire greuosly metis.
  • 797 Sa sare was þe semble þire seggis be-twene,
  • 798 Þat al to-wraiste þai þar wode & werpis in-sondire,
  • 799 Al to-clatirs in-to cauels clene to þaire handis,
  • 800 Þar left nouþire in þar hand þe lengthe of an ellyn.
  • 801 Þen littid þai na langer bot laschid out swerdis,
  • 802 Aithire a blesynand brand brait out of schethe,
  • 803 Hewis on hattirly had thurgh mailes,
  • 804 Many starand stanes strikis of þaire helmes.
  • 805 Þen Alexander in ane ire his arme vpliftis,
  • 806 Swythe swyngis out his swerde & his swayfe feches.
  • 807 Þe noll of Nicollas þe kyng he fra þe nebb partis,
  • 808 Þat doun he fell fra his fole & fynyst for euir.
  • 809 Þus was him destand þat day as driȝten had shapid,
  • 810 To hent him þe hiȝere hande of his athill fais.
  • 811 Þare slike wirschip he wan ware wonder to tell;
  • 812 Had of þat hiȝe kynge þe hede fra þe shuldirs.
  • 813 Þen was him geuyn vp be ȝerde & ȝolden þe rewme,
  • 814 And all at left was o lyfe lordis & othire,
  • 815 Come to þat conquerour & on knese fallis,
  • 816 And in his mercy & meth mekely þaim put.
  • 817 Þis renke & his rounsy þai reche vp a croune,
  • 818 As gome at has þe garland & all þe gre wonn.
  • 819 Þus with þe floure in þe fild he fangid his enmy,
  • 820 And haldis on with hale here hame to his fadire.
  • 821 Þan fyndis he Philip on his flett with a fest huge
  • 822 Had wed him anoþer wyfe & wayfid his quene;
  • 823 Ane Cleopatras caled a grete kyngis doȝter,
  • 824 And had Olympadas & openly for-saken.
  • 825 ‘Fadire,' quod þis fell knyȝt quen he þis fest entirs,
  • 826 'Þe palme here of my first price I pray þe resayfe,
  • 827 Forthe to þe weding or I winde of my wale modire,
  • 828 And kaire me to a-noþire kynge to couple hire to wyfe.
  • 829 For þe to felsen ne to foloȝe fallis me na mare,
  • 830 Ne here to duell with þi douce deynes me na langer,
  • 831 Now þou mas þe slike a mangery & macchis changis,
  • 832 And I to consaile vn-callid I can noȝt þar-on.’
  • 833 With þat þar carpis to þe kyng a knyȝt at þe table,
  • 834 AneLesias, a lede & on loude speches:
  • 835 'Cleopatras a knafe child consayue sall & bere
  • 836 Þat demed is eftir þi deth duly to regne.'
  • 837 Þan Alexander at þis knyȝt angirs vnfaire,
  • 838 Wynnes him vp a wardrere he walt in his handis,
  • 839 So hard him hittis on þe hede his hernes out weltid,
  • 840 And sa he lost has þe lyfe for his leþer wordis.
  • 841 Þan was þe wale kyng wrath as wonder ware ellis,
  • 842 Braydis him vp fra þe borde & a brand clekis,
  • 843 Airid toward Alexander & ames him to strike.
  • 844 Bot þan him failis þe feete or he first wenys,
  • 845 He stakirs, he stumbil, & stande he ne miȝt,
  • 846 Bot ay fundirs & fallis as he ferde ware.
  • 847 Þe faster forward him he faris þe faster he snapirs;
  • 848 Quat was þe cause of þe case þat knawis oure lorde.
  • 849 'Quat now,' quod athill Alexander 'quat ailis þe to fall?
  • 850 Has þou na force in þi fete ne fele of þi-selfe?
  • 851 For a freke to be ferd or a-fraid outhire,
  • 852 And þou þe gouernere of grece þat ware grete wondire!'
  • 853 Þen tittis he doune in þat tene þe tablis ilkane,
  • 854 Out of þe hall be [þe] hare halis he þe bride,
  • 855 And so þe wee in his wreth wrekis his modire,
  • 856 And Philip falne sare seke & all þe fest strubled.
  • 857 As sone as Alexander of angire he slakis,
  • 858 He lendis o-loft to þe lede a litill days eftir,
  • 859 Cairis vp with comfurth þe kyng for to vysite,
  • 860 He comes to þe curten & carpis þis wordis:
  • 861 'Philip,' quod þis ilke freke & forwith him standis,
  • 862 'Þof it vn-semely me sytt þe so for to call,
  • 863 Noȝt as þi suget & þi son my sawe I þe ȝeld,
  • 864 Bot as a felaw or a frynde fallis to a-nothire.
  • 865 Sire, latt þi wreth a-wai wende & with þi wyfe saȝtill,
  • 866 And þe los of Lesias litill þou charge.
  • 867 I did bot my deuire to drepe him, me thinke;
  • 868 For it awe him noȝt sa openly slike ossing to make.
  • 869 And ser, vnworthely þou wroȝ, & þat þou wele knawis,
  • 870 Quen þou was boune with a brand my bodi to schende.'
  • 871 Þen rewis þe riche kyng of vnride werkis,
  • 872 Blischis vp to þe berne & braste out at grete.
  • 873 Þen airis him on Alexander to his awen modire;
  • 874 'Bees not a-glopened, madame ne greued at my fadire;
  • 875 If all ȝe synned him be-syde as ȝour selfe knawis,
  • 876 Þar-of na we may þe wite it was godis will.'
  • 877 With þat he fanges hire furthe to Philip hire ledis,
  • 878 And he comly hire kist & cordis with hire faire,
  • 879 Anes with Olympadas & þe tothire woydis,
  • 880 And lofes hire lely to his lyfes ende.
  • 881 Sone eftir in a seson as þe buke sais,
  • 882 Come driuand fra Darius þe deyne Empereure,
  • 883 Heraudis on heȝe hors hendly a-rayed,
  • 884 To ser Philip þe fers to feche þar trouage.
  • 885 Litill kyngis þar come as þe clause tellis,
  • 886 Liȝt doune at þe loge & þar blonkis leues,
  • 887 Caires in-to þe curte to craue him þar dettis,
  • 888 Touchis titly þar tale & tribute him askis.
  • 889 'ȝa, caires hame,' quod Alexander 'a-gayn to ȝoure kithes,
  • 890 And sais ȝour maister, he make na ma sandis;
  • 891 For sen Philip had a fresch son þat fast now encressis,
  • 892 Þat bees noȝt suffird, I supose nane slike him to ȝeld.
  • 893 For sais ȝour lord, þe lefe hen þat laide hire first egg,
  • 894 Hire bodi nowe with barante is barely consumed,
  • 895 And is Darius so of his dett duly depryued;
  • 896 And be þis titill, him tellis na tribute him fallis.'
  • 897 Þen merualid þam þe messangirs mekill of his speche,
  • 898 His witt & his wisdome wonderly praysed.
  • 899 Faire at ser Ph[ilip] þe fers fange þai þar leue,
  • 900 And syne clene of all þe curte & cairis to þar landis.
  • 901 To þe palais of þe proude kyng to persie þai went,
  • 902 Dose þam in to Darius þar he on dese syttis,
  • 903 And telles him how his trouage is tynt al-to-gedire,
  • 904 As Alexander awyn mouth had þam all enfourmed.
  • 905 Þen messangirs to Messedoyne come in þe mene qwile
  • 906 To Ph[ilip] þe fell kyng & freschly him tald,
  • 907 Þat all þe erthe of Ermony Erles & princes,
  • 908 Þat suld be suget to him-selfe wald seke him with armes.
  • 909 And Alexander belyfe as athil man suld,
  • 910 Vndirfangid to feȝt for Ph[ilip] to wende,
  • 911 Gedirs him a grete ost graithes him in plates,
  • 912 And aires toward Ermony þat erd to distroy.
  • 913 Þan was a man in Messadone in þe marche duellid,
  • 914 A proued prince & a proude Pausanna was hatten,
  • 915 A big berne & a bald in brenys to ryde,
  • 916 Þe son of ane Cerastis as þe buke witnes.
  • 917 Þis freke all his franche of Ph[ilip] he haldis,
  • 918 And was a suget to him-selfe & serues him aȝt;
  • 919 Bot þan he depely many day disired to haue þe quene,
  • 920 And lyes vmlapped with hire lufe many lange wynter.
  • 921 And by þat cause to þe kyng he kest slik a hate,
  • 922 Þat he desiris his deth & diȝtis [him] þare-fore.
  • 923 All þe folke of his affinite he freschly a-semblis,
  • 924 And sekis furth with a hoge some a-saile him to ȝeld.
  • 925 Quen Ph[ilip] heris of þat fare gret ferly him thinke[s],
  • 926 Ferkis furth with a fewe folk him in þe fild metis,
  • 927 Seis þe multitude sa mekill of men at he bringes,
  • 928 Braidis on his blonke toward þe burȝe & þaim þe bak shewis.
  • 929 Þen schrikis schilli all þe schalkis & schoutis him at anes,
  • 930 And Pausanna þe prince a-pon a proude stede
  • 931 Sprengis out with a spere & spedis him eftir,
  • 932 And þurgh þe bac in-to þe brest him beris to þe erd;
  • 933* He heldes doun in þe hey way & halfe-deyde he liggez,
  • 933 All ware he wondirly wondid he wendis noȝt be-lyfe.
  • 934 His men & all þe Messadones full maynly ware stourbed,
  • 935 Quat of doloure & dyn quen þai him dede hopid.
  • 936 Pausanna þan for þe prowis slike a pride hentis,
  • 937 Vnethes wist he for welth wirke quat he miȝt.
  • 938 He prekis in-to þe palais to pull out þe quene,
  • 939 Wenys to wild hire at will & away lede.
  • 940 Þan comes Alexander in þat cas þe cronaclis tellis,
  • 941 With a riall ost of many able princes,
  • 942 Airand out of Ermony & had all þe erth won;
  • 943 Sees slike a rottillyng in þe rewme & ridis al þe faster.
  • 944 Þan past vp þe proud quene in-to preue chambre,
  • 945 Wayues out at wyndou & waytis a-boute,
  • 946 Saȝe be þe sygnes & be sike as with hire son comys,
  • 947 And be þe alyens armes at he was all maister.
  • 948 With þat scho haldis out hire hede & heȝe to him callis,
  • 949 'Quare is þi werdes, my wale son þou wan of þi godis,
  • 950 Þou suld be victour & venge & vencust neuire?
  • 951 If þou haue any hert here help now þi modire.'
  • 952 Sone as pausanna þe prince with-in þe palais heris
  • 953 Þe comynge of þe kene knyȝt he caires him agaynes,
  • 954 Presis out of þe palais with a pake armed,
  • 955 And metes him in þe myd-fild with a mekill nounbre.
  • 956 And Alexander be-lyue quen he on him waites,
  • 957 He swyngis out with a swerd & swappis him to dethe;
  • 958 And þe renkis, all þe route reches vp þaire wapen
  • 959 Vn-to þis kid conquirour & cried eftir socure.
  • 960 Þan was þar ane in þe ost on Alexander callis,
  • 961 Sayd, 'Ph[ilip] þi fadire is in þe fild drepid.'
  • 962 And he halis furth on hede & halfe-dede him fyndis,
  • 963 Brusches doune by þe berne & bittirly wepis.
  • 964 ‘A! Alexander!’ quod þe kyng ‘now am I at ane ende;’
  • 965 A litill liftis vp his liddis & lokis in his face;
  • 966 'Bot ȝit it gladis me,' quod þe gome 'to ga þus to deth,
  • 967 To se my slaare in my siȝt be sa sone ȝolden,
  • 968 A! wele be þe, my wale son' & waged with his hede;
  • 969 'Þou has baldly on my bane & bremely me vengid.'
  • 970 With þat he bloþirs in þe brest & þe breth stoppis,
  • 971 And in a spedfull space so þe sprete ȝeldis.
  • 972 And Alexander ay on-ane augirly he wepis,
  • 973 And gretis for him as greuously as he him geten hade.
  • 974 With barons & bachelers him broȝt to þe cite,
  • 975 And erdis him in his awen erd as Emperoure fallis.
  • 976 Þe day efter his deth drerely him wendis
  • 977 Alexander his aire & syttis in his trone,
  • 978 A clene croune on his hede clustird with gemmes,
  • 979 To se how him seme wald þe sete of his fadire.
  • 980 He seis doune in þe sete with septir in hande,
  • 981 Makis a crie þat all þe curte kniȝtis & erles
  • 982 Suld put þaim in-to presens his precep to here.
  • 983 And all comyn at a kall & on kneis heldis;
  • 984 Þan blisches he to his baronage & breues þir wordis:
  • 985 'Lo! maistirs of Messedone sa miȝty men & noble,
  • 986 ȝe Traces & of Tessaloyne & ȝe þe trewe Grekis,
  • 987 How likis ȝow nowe ȝour lege lord? lokis on my fourme,
  • 988 And letis all ferdschip at flee & fange vp ȝour hertis,
  • 989 And aires for nane alyens quils Alexander lastis.
  • 990 For with þe graunt of my god I gesse, or I dye,
  • 991 Þat all þe Barbare blode sall bowe to my-selfe.
  • 992 Þare is na region ne rewme ne renke vnder heuen,
  • 993 Ne nouthire-quare na nacion bot it sall my name loute.
  • 994 For we of grece sall haue þe gree with grace ay to wild,
  • 995 And anely be ouer þe werd honourd & praysed.
  • 996 And quilk of all myne athill men þat any armes wantis,
  • 997 Lat pas in-to my palais & plates him delyuire,
  • 998 And he at of his awen has harnas him swythe,
  • 999 And make him boune ilka berne to bataill to ride.'
  • 1000 Þan answard him with [a] voice all his proud princes,
  • 1001 And Erles in his Empire þat ware in eld striken,
  • 1002 Hathils of hiȝe age Auncient kniȝtis,
  • 1003 Barons & bachelers & bryssid ware in Armes:
  • 1004 'Sire, we hafe farne to þe fiȝt & bene in fild preued
  • 1005 With ser Ph[ilip] ȝour fadire mony fele wynter,
  • 1006 And now vs failis all oure force & oure flesch waykis;
  • 1007 For be þe floure neuer sa fresche it fadis at þe last.
  • 1008 Sire, all þe ȝeris of oure ȝouthe es ȝare syne passid,
  • 1009 And we for-trauailid & terid þat now oure topp haris,
  • 1010 Al to heuy to be hildid in any here wedis,
  • 1011 Or any angwische of armes any mare suffire.
  • 1012 For-þi, lord, with ȝoure leue we lawe ȝow be-sechis
  • 1013 We may noȝt stand now in stede oure strenth is [to] febill.
  • 1014 Wale ȝow oþir werriouris þat wiȝt ere & ȝonger,
  • 1015 Slike as ere stife in a stoure strakis to thole.'
  • 1016 'Nay, be my croune,' quod þe king, 'my couatyng is elder
  • 1017 Þe sadnes of slike men þan swyftnes of childir;
  • 1018 For barnes in þar bignes it baldis þam mekill,
  • 1019 Oft with vnprouednes in presse to pas out of lyfe;
  • 1020 For-thi ouer-siȝt of alde men I anely me chese;
  • 1021 Be connynge & be consaile þai kyth ai þar werkis.'
  • 1022 Þe sleȝt of hys sapience þai selcuthely prayse,
  • 1023 And clene a-cordis to his carpe kniȝtis & othire.
  • 1024 Þen dose him furthe þis dere kyng a litill dais eftir,
  • 1025 Alexander with ane ost of many athill dukis,
  • 1026 Samed a vnsene somme to saile he begynnes
  • 1027 Ouer in-to ytaile þa yles to distruye.
  • 1028 In-to þe coste of Calodone he comes him ouer first,
  • 1029 And þar a cite he asailes & in sege lengis.
  • 1030 Bot wees wiȝtly with-in þe wallis ascendid,
  • 1031 Freschly fendid of & fersly with-stude.
  • 1032 'ȝe Calodoyns,' quod þe kyng he callis fra with-oute,
  • 1033 'Outhire macches ȝow maynly þerto or namely dies,
  • 1034 And fiȝtis fast with ȝour fais to ȝe fey worthe,
  • 1035 Or ȝefes ȝarely vp þe ȝerde & ȝeld me þe cite.'
  • 1036 So chaunses it þis chiftan or he a-cheued þine,
  • 1037 Þat fele he brenes of þa bernes & þe burȝe wynnes,
  • 1038 And caires so out of Calodone quen he it couerid had,
  • 1039 Ouer þe ythes in-to Italee & þat Ile entirs.
  • 1040 Þen ware þai [redles of] rede all redd of his come,
  • 1041 Prays him all of þe pees & presandis him faire,
  • 1042 Sexti thousand þai him send of sekire besandis,
  • 1043 Of clere gold of þaire kist & coruns a hundrethe.
  • 1044 Þare tuke he tribute þat tyme þe titill recordis,
  • 1045 Out euyn in-to þe occident of all at þare duellid,
  • 1046 Of qwilke þe erde & þe erthe Europe was callid,
  • 1047 And ames þan to Affrike & all at esse leues.
  • 1048 Þan raȝt he fra þa regions & remowed his ost,
  • 1049 Cachis in-to anoþire kythe & crossis ouer þe stremes,
  • 1050 Aires in-to Affrike with many athill prince[s],
  • 1051 Anoþer wing of þe werd & wynnes it be-lyfe,
  • 1052 Þat syde sodanly & sone þat ser he a-cheues.
  • 1053 For þar he fande bot fewe þat felly withstude,
  • 1054 Na ridars in þa regions ne rebell bot littill;
  • 1055 He laches it þe liȝtlyere as was þe les wonder.
  • 1056 Þan kaires he fra þo contres & kerue[s] ouer þe stremes,
  • 1057 Furthe to Frantites he ferd slike a ferre Ile,
  • 1058 Seches þar to a synagoge him-selfe & his princes,
  • 1059 Amon þar awen god at þai honoure myȝt.
  • 1060 And so to þe temple as he tiȝt with his tid Erles,
  • 1061 Þan metis him myddis þe way was meruale to sene,
  • 1062 A hert with a huge hede þe hareest on erthe,
  • 1063 Was to be-hald as a harow for-helid ouer þe tyndis;
  • 1064 And þan comande him þe kyng kenely to schote,
  • 1065 Bot þar was na man so nemyll þat him hit couthe.
  • 1066 'A! hilla, haile' quod Alexander & him a narawe hent,
  • 1067 Droȝe, & at þe first draȝte him dreped for euire.
  • 1068 Fra þethen to þis day þan is þat ilke place,
  • 1069 Þe stede þar þis stith man strikis þis hert,
  • 1070 Sagittarius forsoth men gafe it to name,
  • 1071 And will do for þat ilke werk ay qwen þe werd turnes.
  • 1072 Þen aires him on ser Alexander till Amon temple,
  • 1073 Offirs to his awen gode & honours him faire,
  • 1074 Geuys him garsons of gold & of gud stanes,
  • 1075 And hald hestes him to hete him hettirly besekis.
  • 1076 Þan passes he þethen with his princes to sich a place wendis,
  • 1077 Capho Resey we rede þe romaunce it callis;
  • 1078 And þar-in fyndis him þe freke fyftene Burghes,
  • 1079 And glidand to þe grete see xij grym waters.
  • 1080 Of ilka bild, sais þe buke barred was þe ȝatis,
  • 1081 Stoken stifly with-out with staplis & cheynes.
  • 1082 Þare lengis him lefe þe kynge & logis all a neuen,
  • 1083 And sacrifyce þar efsones to many sere godis.
  • 1084 Þe same niȝt in his slepe Seraphis aperis,
  • 1085 Anothire of his grete godis in a grym fourme,
  • 1086 Cled in a comly clathe of castans hewes,
  • 1087 And silis euyn to him-selfe & said him þir wordis:
  • 1088 Alexander, athill kynge' & asperly spekis,
  • 1089 Toward a miȝti montayne him myntis with his fynger,
  • 1090 'May þou oȝt, lede, þe ȝonder lawe lyft on þi schulder,
  • 1091 And stire it oute of þe stede & stable in a-nothire?'
  • 1092 'Nay, qua miȝt þat,' quod þe man 'for mede vndire heuen?'
  • 1093 'Sire, as ȝone ȝondire hiȝe hill sall ay hald his place,
  • 1094 So sall þi name fra now furth be mynned in mynde,
  • 1095 And ay to þe day of dome þi dedis be remenbrid.'
  • 1096 Þan Alexander belyue him askis a demaunde,
  • 1097 'I be-seche þe now, Syraphas if þou me say wald
  • 1099 Þe prophecy, or þou pas of all my playn werdis,
  • 1100 How me is destayned to dye & quen my day fallis?'
  • 1101 'Sire, certayne,' quod Seraphis 'as to my-selfe thinkis,
  • 1102 For any hathill vnder heuen I hald for þe better,
  • 1103 Withouten wa noȝt at wete þe wathe of his ende
  • 1104 Þen know þe cas or it come & ay in care lenge.
  • 1105 Bot neuer-þe-les I sall þe neuen sen þou me now prays,
  • 1106 Þou sall be drechid of a drinke a draȝt of vnsele,
  • 1107 And all þi ȝeris ere ȝeten ȝare & þi ȝouthe fenyst,
  • 1108 Lange or þou haue meten þe merke of þi mydill age.
  • 1109 Bot quen ne in quat time sal qwaite þe þis aunter,
  • 1110 Enquire me noȝt þat question for I queth þe it neuer.
  • 1111 For outhire out of þe orient sall openly here-efter
  • 1112 Vndo þe dreȝt of þi days & þi ded tell.'
  • 1113 Þan waynest him þis vayne god & voidis fra þe chambre.
  • 1114 Þe modi kyng on þe morne all monand he ryses;
  • 1115 Þe mast parti of his princes & of his proud ost
  • 1116 Hastis þam in-to Ascoiloym & þar þai him bydis.
  • 1117 Þan callis he to him carpentaris & comandis þaim swyþe
  • 1118 In mynde & in memory of him to make a cite,
  • 1119 And neuens it his awen name þat neuer syne changid,
  • 1120 Bot Alexsander ay furth efter him-seluen.
  • 1121 Now airis he furthe with his ost to Egist he thinkes;
  • 1122 And clene all þe contre quen þai his come herd,
  • 1123 As he had bene a hiȝe gode þai ȝode him a-gayn,
  • 1124 Resaued him with reuerence & to þar rewme lede.
  • 1125 Þere entirs him þat Emperoure & in þat erd findis
  • 1126 Of Anec his awen sire ane ymage of sable,
  • 1127 A berne was of blake stane all þe body hewen
  • 1128 With conyschance of a kynge with coron & septere.
  • 1129 Þan askis of þam Alexander as he þar-on lokis,
  • 1130 Quat maner of man apon mold it was made efter?
  • 1131 Sire Anectabus,' quod all with a steuen,
  • 1132 'Þat all þe erth of Egipte enerid vmquile.'
  • 1133 With þat þe flammand flode fell in his eȝen,
  • 1134 'Þat Anec,' quod þis athil kyng 'was myne awen fadire.'
  • 1135 Þan fallis he flat on þe fold & þe fete kyssis;
  • 1136 On þe stane quare it stode stilly he mournes.
  • 1137 Syne in-to Sirie with his seggis he soȝt at þe gaynest,
  • 1138 And þai as baratours bald him bigly with-standis,
  • 1139 Set on him sadly & sloȝe of his kniȝtis;
  • 1140 Bot ȝet ȝarely are he ȝode þai ȝald him þe regne.
  • 1141 Þan drafe he sa to Damac with dukis & princes,
  • 1142 And sone he sesyd all þat syde & Sydoyne he takis,
  • 1143 And þen trussis him to Tyre & þare his tentis settis
  • 1144 Be-syde þe cite with a some & in a sege lengys.
  • 1145 Þare he lies with his ledis lang or he foundes,
  • 1146 Before þe burȝe with his bernes & mekill bale suffirs.
  • 1147 Quat of ane, quat of oþire oft his oste pleynes,
  • 1148 For wele wist þai þam nane to wyn to þe cite,
  • 1149 It was sa stiffe & sa strang & stalworthly wallid,
  • 1150 And so hedously hiȝe it was a huge wondire,
  • 1151 Tildid full of turestis & toures of defence,
  • 1152 Batailid & bretagid a-boute as a castell.
  • 1153 Þe wawis of þe wild see apon þe wallis betis,
  • 1154 þe pure populande hurle passis it vmby,
  • 1155 It was enforced with sa fele fludis & othire,
  • 1156 It semed neuer sege vnder son be saute it to wyn.
  • 1157 Þan etils him sir Alexander & belyue makis
  • 1158 Be-side þe cite in þe See to sett vp a loge,
  • 1159 A hiȝe tilde as a toure teldid on schippis,
  • 1160 Þat miȝt na Naue for þat note neȝe to þe cite.
  • 1161 Quen he þis baistell had bild vp to þe burȝe wallis,
  • 1162 And tiȝt him as tyme was þe toune to assaill,
  • 1163 Slik mischife in þe mene quile emang his men fallis,
  • 1164 For megire & for meteles ware mervaile to here.
  • 1165 Þar was Princes in poynt to perisch for euire,
  • 1166 All in doute to be dede dukis & erlis,
  • 1167 In fere to be famyschist many fers kniȝtis,
  • 1168 For þar is na wa in þe werd to þe wode hunger.
  • 1169 Þan pleynis him þe proud kyng þe pete of his men,
  • 1170 And sendis out his sandis-men with selid lettirs,
  • 1171 To ierusalem to Iaudis at þe iewes teches,
  • 1172 Þat was be bischop in þat burȝe breuyd in þa dais;
  • 1173 Him moneste as a maister him maynly to send
  • 1174 Fresch folke for þe fiȝt & fode for his oste,
  • 1175 And all þe trouage þare to him tittly to wayne,
  • 1176 Þat he to Darius of dewe was dangird to paye.
  • 1177 And ȝit comand he þis clerke þe kyng in his writtes,
  • 1178 For any richas him redis rathere to thole
  • 1179 Þe mayntenance of þe Messedoyns & of þe meri Grekis,
  • 1180 Þan þaim of Persy to pay or to plese authere.
  • 1181 Þan takis þe bischop þe breue & buȝes to a chambre,
  • 1182 Resayued it with reuerence & redis it ouire,
  • 1183 Gase him doun be degrece a-gayne to þe sale,
  • 1184 Swiftly to þe swiars & þam his sware ȝeldis:
  • 1185 'Sirs, airis a gayn to Alexander & all þus him tellis,
  • 1186 Þat me was done many day depely to swere,
  • 1187 Neuer Persy to paire to pas with myne armes
  • 1188 In damaging of Darius durand his lyfe.'
  • 1189 Sone as þe wale kyng wist he writhis him vnfaire,
  • 1190 'Now be þat god,' quod be gome 'þat gatt me on erthe,
  • 1191 I sall anes on þe iewis enioyne or I die,
  • 1192 Sall ken þam quas comandment to kepe at þam fall.'
  • 1193 ȝit for na torfar him tid Tyre wald he noȝt leue,
  • 1194 Bot chese him out a chiftane & charge[s] him belyue,
  • 1195 A mody man, ser Meliager a maistir of his oste,
  • 1196 To fande him furth with a flote of fyue hundreth kniȝtis;
  • 1197 A[nd] Ioynes him to Iosaphat his iournay to take,
  • 1198 And all þe pastours & þe playnes prestly to driue,
  • 1199 And bring in all þe bestaill barayn & othire,
  • 1200 Þat he miȝt se on any syde þe cite of Gadirs.
  • 1201 Þan mouys he on, ser Meliager þis miȝtifull prince
  • 1202 With a soume of sekir men & Sampson þam ledis,
  • 1203 A renke at in þa regions had redyn oft sythis,
  • 1204 And knew þe costis & þe kitthis clene all-to-gedire.
  • 1205 Þus ȝede þai furthe egirly & entirs þe vaile,
  • 1206 And slike a prai þam apreued as pyne were to reken,
  • 1207 Bryngis furthe, sayd þe boke bestis out of nounbre,
  • 1208 And trottes on toward Tyre with taite at þaire hertis.
  • 1209 Bot or þai meten ware a myle þe meris with-outen,
  • 1210 Þar metis þaim with a mekill flote þe maistir of þe playnes,
  • 1211 He þat was duke of þe droues & of þe derfe hillis,
  • 1212 Ane Theosellus, a tulke þat tened þam vnfaire.
  • 1213 He girdis in with a ging armed in plates,
  • 1214 Alto-bruntes oure bernes & brathly woundid,
  • 1215 Fellis fele at a frusch fey to þe gronde,
  • 1216 And many renke at he roue rase neuer efter.
  • 1217 Þan was ser Meliager moued & maynly debatis,
  • 1218 Flingis out on a foie with a fell spere,
  • 1219 Gers many grete syre grane & girdis þurȝe maillis,
  • 1220 And many bernes at a braide in his brath endis.
  • 1221 And Sampson on anothire side setis out belyue,
  • 1222 Bruschis forth on a blonk brymly he smytis,
  • 1223 Betis on with a brande broken was his lance,
  • 1224 Hewis doun of þa hirdis hurtis þam vn-faire.
  • 1225 Arystes, ane athill man ai elike fiȝtis,
  • 1226 Spirris out with a spere & spedis his miȝtis,
  • 1227 And noyed of þare note-men at þe nete kepid,
  • 1228 And many bald, or he blan broȝt out o lyue.
  • 1229 Caulus, anothire kniȝt on a kene stede,
  • 1230 On Theosellus in twa his tymbre he brekis;
  • 1231 And þan he dryfes to þe duke as demys þe textis,
  • 1232 And with a swyng of a swerd swappis of hes hede.
  • 1233 When he was drepid & dede at þe droues ȝemyd,
  • 1234 Þe prekars of þe pastors & of þe proude landis,
  • 1235 All þe folke of his affinite at fresch ware vn-wondid,
  • 1236 Þat outhire fote had or fole to þe fliȝt foundid.
  • 1237 Þus Meliager with his men þe menske has a-chevyd,
  • 1238 For þe fairere of þar faes & þe fild wonn;
  • 1239 Raschis with rethere & rydis bot a quyle,
  • 1240 Þat ne neȝis þam a-nothire note as new as þe first.
  • 1241 Þare was a maistir of þe marches miȝtist of othire
  • 1242 Ane Beritinus, a berne as þe buke tellis,
  • 1243 Come girdand out of Gadirs out of þe grete cite,
  • 1244 With þe selcuthest soume þat semblid was euire.
  • 1245 Slik a mynd vn-to me ware meruaill to reken,
  • 1246 Thretti thousand in thede of thra men of armes,
  • 1247 Slike as was buskest on blonkes in brenys & platis,
  • 1248 And othire folawand on fote fele with-outen nounbre.
  • 1249 Þe multitude was sa mekill as mynes vs þe writtis,
  • 1250 Of wees & of wild horsis & wapened prenys,
  • 1251 Sa stithe a steuyn in þe stoure of stedis & ellis,
  • 1252 As it was semand to siȝt as all þe soyle trymblid.
  • 1253 Þan ware þe Messedones amayd quen þa see sa many;
  • 1254 Sire Meliager [was] in gret mynd a man out to sende
  • 1255 To Alexander belyue þaire allire maister,
  • 1256 To come & help with his here or þai to hande ȝode.
  • 1257 Þare was nane þat was glad þat message to gange,
  • 1258 Bot ilka lathire & othire to leue þaire frynde,
  • 1259 Fest þar forward in-fere þat fewe at þai ware,
  • 1260 To do as driȝten wald deme & dyi all to-gedire;
  • 1261 To tell þaire torfere entyre it taryed me swythe.
  • 1262 Bot so þe mode Meliager & his men feȝtis,
  • 1263 Þat ser Beritinus þe bald þai bretned to dethe,
  • 1264 And Sampson on þis side was slay þar-agaynys.
  • 1265 Þen mournes all þe Messedones & maynten him ȝerne,
  • 1266 Makis þar mane for þat man & many othire noble,
  • 1267 For maistris & mynistris menere & grettir,
  • 1268 Þat was in morsels magged & martrid a hundreth.
  • 1269 And þat left ware on lyfe bot a litill meȝne,
  • 1270 Ware als malstrid & mased & matid of þaire strenthes,
  • 1271 Sa waike & so wyndles & wery for-foȝten,
  • 1272 Þat þai were will in þis werd qwat þai worthe suld.
  • 1273 Sire Meliager & othire maa mayned were sare,
  • 1274 All be-bled & to-brissid þat neȝe þar breth failes,
  • 1275 Þai were sa feble & sa faynt & full of þaim-selfe,
  • 1276 Þat all in fere was in fourme þe fild for to ȝeld.
  • 1277 Þan aires him forth Arestes was augrily wondid,
  • 1278 To Alexander onone þas auntirs him tellis,
  • 1279 Þe morth of all þe Messedone[s] & of þe many grekis,
  • 1280 Rekens him þar resons þat reuthe was to here.
  • 1281 With þat þe semely kyng chacches his bernes,
  • 1282 Semblis him a huge soume & fra þe sege wendis,
  • 1283 Þe toure of Tire & þe toune titly he leues,
  • 1284 And Ioynes him to Iosaphat full ioyles he rydes.
  • 1285 Ay he gretis as he gase for grefe of his knyȝtis,
  • 1286 Ay he pleynys as he passes þe pite of his erlis,
  • 1287 Ay he wepis as he wendis for his wale princes,
  • 1288 And soueraynly for Sampson he sorowis ay elike.
  • 1289 When he was tane fraward Tyre toward þe vaile,
  • 1290 Þe werke at he wroȝt had þat water whyt-in,
  • 1291 Þat he had sett in þe see þe cite with-out,
  • 1292 Þar-in he lefte had a lede þe loge for to kepe.
  • 1293 Bot þan ser Balaan, a berne at in þe burȝe lengis,
  • 1294 Ane of þe terands of Tyre atyres him belyue,
  • 1295 Buskes him in breneis with big men of armes,
  • 1296 With traumes & with tribochetis þe tild to asaile.
  • 1297 He bekirs out at þe bild within þe burȝe-wallis,
  • 1298 And þai without in þe werke wiȝtly defendis,
  • 1299 Schot scharply betwene schomes of dartis;
  • 1300 Weris wondirly wele werpis out stanes.
  • 1301 Bot Balaa[n] in þe barmeken sa bitterly fiȝtis,
  • 1302 All to-combirs þam clene with cast of engynes.
  • 1303 Sone þe top of þe toure he tiltis in-to þe watir,
  • 1304 And all þe tulkis in þe tild he termens o lyue;
  • 1305 And þan in batis & in bargis he bownes him swyth,
  • 1306 To þe bothum of þe baistell he buskis him with-out,
  • 1307 Bretens doun all þe bild & þe bernys quellis,
  • 1308 Drenches hire in þe hiȝe see & drawis hire on hepis.
  • 1309 Quen it was smeten in small with þe smert waȝes,
  • 1310 Ilka gobet his gate glidis fra othire.
  • 1311 Þus þe strenth ilk stike was in a stounde wasted,
  • 1312 And Balaa[n] bowis in-to þe burȝe & barris to þe ȝatis.
  • 1313 Be þis oure kyng with his kniȝt[is] is comen in-to þe vaile,
  • 1314 Alexander with ane ost his kniȝtis to help,
  • 1315 Fyndis a fewe of his folke feȝtand ȝerne,
  • 1316 And ay a segge be him-selfe sett all a hundreth.
  • 1317 With þat Bucifalon his blonke he brased in þe side,
  • 1318 Springis out with a spere spillis at þe gaynest,
  • 1319 Ridis euen þurȝe þe route þar rankest þai were,
  • 1320 Be rawe of þaire rabetis he ruschid to þe erthe,
  • 1321 He strikis all fra þar stedis streȝt him be-forne.
  • 1322 Was nane sa stiffe in þat stoure miȝt stand him agayn;
  • 1323 Quare althire-thickest was þe thrange þurȝe þaim he rynnes,
  • 1324 And makis a wai wyde enoȝe waynes to mete.
  • 1325 He laschis out a lange swerde quen his launce failes,
  • 1326 Threschis doun in a thrawe many threuyn dukis,
  • 1327 Stirs him sa in a stonde & his stithe erlis,
  • 1328 Þat þar was [na] berne on bent bott bretened or ȝolden.
  • 1329 Þe seggis on his awen side þat he slayn fyndis,
  • 1330 He mas to graue sum in grete & sum in gray marble.
  • 1331 And þa þat laft ware o-lyue he lokis þar woundis,
  • 1332 And faire fangis his folke & fra þe fild wendis.
  • 1333 Þan bowes he to þe baistall & brymly it semblis,
  • 1334 Gedirs of ilk glode grettir & smallire,
  • 1335 And prekis furth with his pray & passes fraward Gadirs,
  • 1336 And tiȝt agayne toward Tyre to termen his sege.
  • 1337 Quen he was dreuyn ouer þe dales & drewe to þe cite,
  • 1338 With þat he blisches to þe burȝe & sees his bild voidid,
  • 1339 Als bare as a bast his baistell a-way,
  • 1340 But outhire burde or bate bot þe brade wattir,
  • 1341 Þan mournes all þe Messadones & maynly was sturb[i]d.
  • 1342 And Alexander also was augrely greuyd,
  • 1343 So ware þai troubild out of tone quen þai þaire tild miste,
  • 1344 Þat of þe taking of Tire trest þai na langire.
  • 1345 And so him-selfe in his slepe þe same niȝt eftir,
  • 1346 Him thoȝt he had in his hand & held of a vyne
  • 1347 A growen grape of a grype a grete & a rype,
  • 1348 Þe quilke he flange on þe flore & with his fete tredis.
  • 1349 And quen he broken had þe bery als þe berne semes,
  • 1350 Þar folowis out of fresche wyne feetles to mete;
  • 1351 So largely & so delauyly of licoure, him thinkis,
  • 1352 Of ane rasyn to ryn it was a ryfe wondire.
  • 1353 Þe kynge callis him a clerke kenely on þe morne,
  • 1354 Als radly as he rase to reche him his sweuyn.
  • 1355 'Sire, bees adred neuir a dele' þe diuinour said,
  • 1356 'I vndire-take on my trouthe Tire is þine awen;
  • 1357 For þe bery at ȝe brake sa is þe burȝe euen.
  • 1358 Þai sall be sesid þe full sone & to þi-selfe ȝolden,
  • 1359 For þou sall eft all on ernest entire on þe wallis,
  • 1360 And foulire vndir þi feete with-in a fewe days.'
  • 1361 Now compas kenely þis kynge & castis in his mynd
  • 1362 How he miȝt couir in any cas to come to þe cite,
  • 1363 Deuynes depely on dais dropis many wiles,
  • 1364 If he cuthe seke any sleȝt þat him serue wald;
  • 1365 And makis to sett in þe see riȝt in þe same place,
  • 1366 Þar as þe bild at he bi[l]did biggid wasse first,
  • 1367 To stable vp a grete strenthe all on store schipis,
  • 1368 Hugir be þe halfe dele & hiȝere þan þe toþire;
  • 1369 And þat he fiches & firmes sa fast to þe wall,
  • 1370 So nere vnethes at ane eld miȝt narowly betwene,
  • 1371 And band hire, as þe buke sais bigly to-gedire,
  • 1372 With þat scho flisch noþir fayle fyue score aunkirs.
  • 1373 Quen he had tiȝt vp þis tram & þis tild rerid,
  • 1374 Hit had of bradnes abofe to breue out of mesure;
  • 1375 And to hede be a huge thing hiȝere it semed
  • 1376 Þan was þe wallis, sais þe writt of þe wale touris.
  • 1377 Þan Alexander all his ane an-ane he ascendis,
  • 1378 Closid all in clere stele & in clene plates,
  • 1379 And monestis ilk modire son maynly & swyth,
  • 1380 Þat all be bowne at a brayd þe burȝe to assaile.
  • 1381 And all þe ost euyn ouir he openly comandis
  • 1382 To be radly all arayd & redy to fiȝt;
  • 1383 And quen þai saȝe þat him-selfe þe cite was entrid,
  • 1384 Wan vp wiȝtly on þe wallis ilk wee him eftir.
  • 1385 Now tenelis vp taburs & all þe toun rengis,
  • 1386 Steryn steuyn vp strake strakid þar trumpis,
  • 1387 Blewe bemys of bras bernes assemblis,
  • 1388 Seȝes to on ilk syde & a saute ȝeldis.
  • 1389 Þare presis to with paues peple withouten;
  • 1390 Archars with arows of atter envemonde
  • 1391 Schotis vp scharply at shalkis on þe wallis,
  • 1392 Lasch at þam of loft many lede floȝen,
  • 1393 And þai ȝapely a-ȝayne ȝildis þam swythe,
  • 1394 Bekire out of þe burȝe bald men many,
  • 1395 Kenely þai kast of with kastis of stanys,
  • 1396 Driues dartis at oure dukis dedly þam woundid.
  • 1397 Þan passe vp oure princes prestly enarmed,
  • 1398 In-to þe baistell a-bofe bremely ascendid,
  • 1399 Sum with lances on-loft & with lange swerdis,
  • 1400 With ax & with alblaster & alkens wapen.
  • 1401 Alexander ai elike augrily feȝtis,
  • 1402 Now a schaft, now a schild nowe a scheue hentis,
  • 1403 Now a sparth, now a spere & sped so his miȝtis,
  • 1404 Þat it ware tere any tonge to of his turnes rekyn.
  • 1405 And þai with-in on þe wall worthili with-stude,
  • 1406 Fersly defend of & fellid of his knyȝtis,
  • 1407 Thristis ouir thikefald many threuyn berne[s],
  • 1408 And doun bakward þam bare into þe brad wattir.
  • 1409 With þat oure wees without writhis þam vnfare,
  • 1410 Went wode of þaire witt & wrekis þam swyth;
  • 1411 For na wounde ne na wathe wand þai na langir,
  • 1412 Bot all wirkis him þe wa & wrake at he cuthe.
  • 1413 Sum braidis to þar bowis bremely þai schut,
  • 1414 Quethirs out quarels quikly be-twene;
  • 1415 Strykis vp of þe stoure stanes of engynes,
  • 1416 Þat þe bretage a-boue brast all in soundire,
  • 1417 Girdis ouir garettis with gomes to þe erthe,
  • 1418 Tilt torettis doun toures on hepis,
  • 1419 Spedely with sprygaldis spilt þaire braynes,
  • 1420 Many miȝtfull man marris on þe wallis.
  • 1421 And be þe kirnells ware kast & kutt doun before,
  • 1422 Be þat þe baistell & þe burȝe ware bathe elike hiȝe,
  • 1423 And all oure werke without þe wallis weterly semed,
  • 1424 Þe sidis of þe cite to se to o fernes,
  • 1425 Þan Alexander belyf on þam all entris,
  • 1426 Bruschis in with a brand on bernes a hundreth,
  • 1427 Thrang thurȝe a thousand þare thikest þai were,
  • 1428 Wynnes worthly ouer þe wallis with-in to þe cite.
  • 1429 Þe first modire son he mett oþire man outhire,
  • 1430 Was Balaan þe bald bern, as þe boke tellis,
  • 1431 And him he settis on a saute & sloȝe him belyue,
  • 1432 And werpid him out ouir þe wall in-to þe wild streme.
  • 1433 Sone as oure athils be-hind saȝe þar he entred,
  • 1434 His men & all þe Messedones maynly ascendis,
  • 1435 And þai of Grece gredely girdis vp eftire,
  • 1436 Thringis vp on a thraw thousandis many.
  • 1437 Sum stepis vp on sties to þe stane wallis,
  • 1438 On ilka staffe of a staire stike wald a cluster;
  • 1439 And qua sa leddirs had nane as þe lyne tellis,
  • 1440 Wald gett þam hald with þar hend & on-loft clyme.
  • 1441 Sa freȝt ware þar othire þat feȝtis within,
  • 1442 For Balaan þar bald duke þat broȝt was of lyue,
  • 1443 Þat all failis þam þe force & so ferd worthe,
  • 1444 Þat nothire with stafe ne with stane withstand þai na langir.
  • 1445 Sire Alexander with his athils & his awen sleȝtis
  • 1446 Þe toune of Tire þus he tuke & othire twa burȝes,
  • 1447 In þe quilke þe siriens of þis sire so many soroȝes had,
  • 1448 As wald bot tary all oure tale þaire tourment to reken.
  • 1449 Sone as þis cite was sesid & slayne vp & ȝolden,
  • 1450 Þen ridis furth þe riche kynge & remowed his ost,
  • 1451 Gais him furth to Gasa a-nothire grete cite,
  • 1452 And þat he settis on a saute & sesis it be-lyue;
  • 1453 And quen þis Gasa was geten he graythis him swyth,
  • 1454 And Ioynes him toward Ierusalem þe iewis to distroy;
  • 1455 And ȝe þat kepis of þis carpe to knaw any ferre,
  • 1456 Sone sall I neuen ȝow þe note þat is next eftir.
  • 1457 Als hastily as þai herd of in þe haly cite,
  • 1458 And bodword to þe bischop broȝt of his come,
  • 1459 For Alexander aȝe almast he euen deis,
  • 1460 For he had nite him a nerand noȝt bot o new time.
  • 1461 And now him þinke in his þoȝt him thurt noȝt haue carid
  • 1462 In all his mast mystir nad he þat man faylid,
  • 1463 When he for socure to þe cite sent him his lettir;
  • 1464 And he soyned him be his sorement þat sare him for-thinkis.
  • 1465 'For me had leuer,' quod þe lede 'be lethirely for-sworn
  • 1466 On as many halidoms as opens & speris,
  • 1467 Þan anys haue greuyd þat gome or warned him his erand!
  • 1468 Þat euer I warned him his will wa is me þat stonde!'
  • 1469 Þus was Iaudes of ioy & iolite depryued;
  • 1470 And all þe iewis of ierusalem he Ioyntly a-sembles.
  • 1471 He said, 'Alexander is at hand & will vs all cumbre,
  • 1472 And we ere dredles vndone bot driȝten vs help.'
  • 1473 Þan bedis þe bischop all þe burȝe barnes & othire,
  • 1474 Athils of all age eldire & ȝongire,
  • 1475 Comandis to ilka creatour to crie þurȝe þe stretis,
  • 1476 To thre dais on a thrawe be threpild to-gedire,
  • 1477 Ilk a frek & ilka fante to fast & to pray,
  • 1478 To ocupy þar oures & orisons & offire in þaire temple,
  • 1479 And call vp with a clene voice to þe kyng of heuyn,
  • 1480 To kepe þam, at þis conquiroure encumbrid þaim neuir.
  • 1481 Now seȝen þai to þar Sinagogis all þe cite ouire,
  • 1482 Ilka bodi þar bedis þat in þe burȝe lengis,
  • 1483 Putt þam to prayris & penaunce enduris,
  • 1484 Þe vengance of þis victoure to voide if þai miȝt.
  • 1485 Þe niȝt eftir þe note as tellis me þe writtis,
  • 1486 Quen all þe cite was on-slepe and sacrifis endid,
  • 1487 In ane abite of þe aire ane Aungell aperis
  • 1488 To Iaudas of ierusalem & him with ioy gretis:
  • 1489 'I bringe þe bodword of blis ser bischop,' he said,
  • 1490 'With salutis of solas I am sent fra þe trone,
  • 1491 Fra þe maister of man þe miȝtfull fadere,
  • 1492 Þat bedis þe noȝt be a-baist he has þi bone herd;
  • 1493 And I amonest þe to-morne as I am enIoyned,
  • 1494 Þat þou as radly as þou rise aray all þe cite,
  • 1495 Þe stretis & in all stedis stoutly & faire,
  • 1496 Þat it be onest all ouire & open vp þe ȝatis.
  • 1497 Lett þan þe pupill ilka poll apareld be clene,
  • 1498 And al manere of men in mylk-quyte clathis.
  • 1499 And pas, þou & þi prelatis & prestis of þe temple,
  • 1500 Raueste all on a raw as ȝoure rewill askis.
  • 1501 And quen þis conquirour comes caire him agaynes;
  • 1502 For he mon ride þus & regne ouire all þe ronde werde
  • 1503 Be lordschip in ilka lede in-to his laste days,
  • 1504 And þen be diȝt to þe deth of driȝtins ire.'
  • 1505 Sone þe derke ouire-drafe & þe day springis,
  • 1506 Oure bischop bounes him of bed & buskis on his wedis,
  • 1507 And þen iogis all þe iewis & generall callis,
  • 1508 A-vaies þaim his vision how þe voice bedis;
  • 1509 Þan consals him þe clergy clene all-to-gedire,
  • 1510 And all þe cite asentis sarazens & oþir,
  • 1511 To buwne furth with all þe burȝe & buske þam belyue,
  • 1512 As him was said in his slepe þis souerayn to mete.
  • 1513 Þan rynnes he furth in a rase & arais all þe cite,
  • 1514 Braidis ouire with bawdkyns all þe brade stretis,
  • 1515 With tars & with tafeta þare he trede sulde,
  • 1516 For þe erth to slike ane Emperoure ware ouire feble.
  • 1517 He plyes ouire þe pauement with pallen webis,
  • 1518 Mas on hiȝt ouire his hede for hete of þe sone,
  • 1519 Sylours of sendale to sele ouire þe gatis,
  • 1520 And sammes þaim on aithire side with silken rapis,
  • 1521 And þen he caggis vp on cordis as curteyns it were,
  • 1522 Euen as þe esyngis ȝede ouire be þe costes,
  • 1523 All þe wawis with-oute in webis of ynde,
  • 1524 Of briȝt blasand blewe browden with sternes.
  • 1525 Þus atired he þe toune & titely þar-eftir
  • 1526 On ilka way wid open werped he þe ȝatis;
  • 1527 And qua so lukis fra with-out & with-in haldis,
  • 1528 It semyd as þe cite to se ane of þe seuyn heuyns.
  • 1529 Now passis furth þis prelate with prestis of þe temple,
  • 1530 Reueschid him rially & þat in riche wedis,
  • 1531 With erst & abite vndire all as I am in-fourmede,
  • 1532 Full of bridis & of bestis of bise & of purpre;
  • 1533 And þat was garnest full gay with golden skirtis,
  • 1534 Store starand stanes strekilland all ouire,
  • 1535 Saudid full of safirs & oþire sere gemmes,
  • 1536 And poudird with perry was perrour & othire.
  • 1537 And sithen he castis on a Cape of kastand hewes,
  • 1538 With riche rabies of gold railed bi þe hemmes,
  • 1539 A vestoure to vise on of violet floures,
  • 1540 Wroȝt full of wodwose & oþir wild bestis;
  • 1541 And þan him hiȝtild his hede & had on a Mitre,
  • 1542 Was forgid all of fyne gold & fret full of perrils,
  • 1543 Stiȝt staffull of stanes þat straȝt out bemes,
  • 1544 As it ware shemerand shaftis of þe shire son.
  • 1545 Doctours & diuinours & othire dere maistris,
  • 1546 Iustis of iewry & iogis of þe lawe,
  • 1547 Ware tired all in tonacles of tarrayn webbis;
  • 1548 Þai were bret-full of bees all þe body ouire,
  • 1549 And oþer clientis & clerkis as to þe kirke fallis,
  • 1550 Ware all samen of a soyte in surples of raynes,
  • 1551 Þat slike a siȝt, I supose was neuer sene eftire,
  • 1552 So parailed a procession a person a-gaynes.
  • 1553 Now bowis furth þe bischop at þe burȝe ȝatis,
  • 1554 With prestis & with prelatis a pake out of nombre;
  • 1555 And all þe cite in sorte felowis him eftir,
  • 1556 Quirris furth all in quite of qualite as aungels;
  • 1557 Maistirs, marchands, & Maire mynistris & othire,
  • 1558 Worthi wedous & wenchis & wyues of þe cite;
  • 1559 Be ilka barne in þe burgh as blaȝt ere þaire wedis
  • 1560 As any snyppand snawe þat in þe snape liȝtis.
  • 1561 Þar passis þe procession a piple be-forne,
  • 1562 Of childire all in chalk quyte chosen out a hundreth,
  • 1563 With bellis & with baners & blasand torchis,
  • 1564 Instrumentis & ymagis within of þe Mynstire;
  • 1565 Sum with sensours & so[m] with silueryn cheynes,
  • 1566 Quare-of þe reke aromatike rase to þe welken;
  • 1567 Sum with of þe sayn-tware many sere thingis,
  • 1568 With tablis & topoures & tretice of þe lawe;
  • 1569 Sum bolstirs of burnet en-brouden with perill,
  • 1570 Bare before þe bischop his buke on to lig;
  • 1571 Sum candilstickis of clere gold & of clene siluer,
  • 1572 With releckis full rially þe richest on þe auutere.
  • 1573 Þus seyis all þe semle þe cite with-oute,
  • 1574 Vn-to a stonen stede streȝt on be temple,
  • 1575 Scopulus, by sum skill þe scripture it callis,
  • 1576 And þare þe come of þe kynge þis couent abidis.
  • 1577 Sone Alexander with ane ost of many athille dukis,
  • 1578 Come prekand toward þe place with princes & erlis,
  • 1579 Sees slike a multitude of men in milke-quite clathis,
  • 1580 And ilk seg in a soyte at selly him thinkis.
  • 1581 Þan fyndis he in þis oþire flote fanons & stolis,
  • 1582 Practisirs & prematis & prestis of þe lawe,
  • 1583 Of dialiticus & decre doctours of aythir,
  • 1584 Bathe chambirlayn & chaplayne in chalke-quite wedis.
  • 1585 And as he waytis in a wra þan was he ware sone
  • 1586 Of þe maister of þat meneyhe in-myddis þe puple,
  • 1587 Þat was þe bald bischop a-bofe all þ[e] iewis,
  • 1588 Was graþid in a garment of gold & of pu[r]pree.
  • 1589 And þan he heues vp his eȝe be-haldis on his myter,
  • 1590 Be-fore he saȝe of fine gold forgid a plate,
  • 1591 Þar-in grauen þe grettest of all gods names,
  • 1592 Þis title, Tetragramaton for so þe text tellis.
  • 1593 With þat comandis þe kyng his knyȝtis ouire ilkane,
  • 1594 Bathe beron & bachelere & bald men of armes,
  • 1595 Na nere þat place to aproche a payn of þar lyuys,
  • 1596 Bot all to hald þam be-hynd heraud & othire.
  • 1597 Þan airis he furth all him ane to þis athill meneȝe,
  • 1598 Bowis him doun of his blonke þe bischop be-forne,
  • 1599 And kneland on þe cald erth he knockis on his brest,
  • 1600 And reuerencez þis haly name at he seis wreten.
  • 1601 Þan þe iewis of ierusalem Iustis & othire,
  • 1602 Lordis & ladis be þe litill childere,
  • 1603 Enclynes þam to þe conquirour & him on kneis gretis,
  • 1604 Kest vp a kene crie & carpis þir wordis.
  • 1605 'Ay moȝt he lefe, ay moȝt he lefe' quod ilka man twyse,
  • 1606 'Alexander, þe athill aire vndire þe heuyn,
  • 1607 Ay moȝt he lefe, ay moȝt he lefe þe lege Emperoure,
  • 1608 Þe wildire of all þe werde & worthist on erthe,
  • 1609 Ay moȝt he lef, ay moȝt he leue' quod loude all at anys,
  • 1610 'Ouircomere clene of ilka coste & ouircomyn neuir,
  • 1611 Þe gretest & þe gloriosest þat euir god formed,
  • 1612 Erle or Emperoure or any erdly prince.'
  • 1613 Þare was comen with him kyngis as þe clause tellis,
  • 1614 Seneiours out of Sireland was to him-selfe ȝolden,
  • 1615 And þai meruailed þam mekill as þe buke tellis,
  • 1616 When þai it herd so be-heryd & held it in wondire.
  • 1617 Þan Permeon, a proude kniȝt a prince of his oste,
  • 1618 Aires to sir Alexander & askis at him swythe,
  • 1619 Syn him adoured all men eldire & ȝongir,
  • 1620 Qui he obeschid so lawe & bende þe bischop of iewis?
  • 1621 'Nay,' quod þe comly kynge & þe knyȝt swaris,
  • 1622 Nouthire haylsid I him ne hildid him nouthire,
  • 1623 Bot it was gode at I grete þe gouernoure of all,
  • 1624 Of quam in þe abite & þe armes he was all clethid.
  • 1625 'For in be marche of Messedone me mynes on a tyme,
  • 1626 Þat slike a segg in my slepe me sodanly aperid,
  • 1627 Euyn in slike a similitude & þis same wedis,
  • 1628 For all þe werd as þis wee wendis now atired.
  • 1629 And þen I mused in my mynde how at I myȝt wyn
  • 1630 Anothire anell of þe erth þat Aysy we call it,
  • 1631 And me thret to be thra & for na þing turne,
  • 1632 Bot tire me titely þarto & tristly to wende.
  • 1633 And syne saȝe I na segg þat sa was arayd;
  • 1633* And he hoppyd þe helder þat þis was he at he saw þen,
  • 1634 And sekirly yone semys þe same to se to within,
  • 1635 Þe same gode at in my slepe saȝe in my days;
  • 1636 And now I hope me, þurȝe þe helpe of þe haly fadire,
  • 1637 Of quam þe hered haly name is ȝondire on hiȝe wreten,
  • 1638 To do with Darius or I dyi how so me dere thinke,
  • 1639 And þe pride of all þe Persens purely distroy.
  • 1640 And ȝit I sothely supose quat so my sale hopis,
  • 1641 Þat sall fall apon fold slik fyaunce I haue
  • 1642 In þe grace of grete god at gyes all þe sternes,
  • 1643 Þat it sall be in my will & on na way faile.'
  • 1644 Now tas þe bishop þe berne & to þe burȝe wendis,
  • 1645 With sange & solempnite him to þe cite ledis,
  • 1646 He was resayued, as I rede with reuerence & Ioye
  • 1647 As he ware duke of ilk douth & dreuyn doun fra heuen.
  • 1648 Þan gas he furth with his gingis to godis awen temple,
  • 1649 Þat of sir Salamon þe sage sett was & foundid,
  • 1650 And þare he lythis of þare lare [&] as þe law wald;
  • 1651 He offird in þat oratori & honourd oure lorde.
  • 1652 And Iaudas of ierusalem & all þe iewis eftir
  • 1653 Bringis out a brade buke & to þe berne reches,
  • 1654 Was plant full of prophasys playnely all ouire,
  • 1655 Of þe doctrine of Daniell & of his dere sawis.
  • 1656 Þe lord lokis on þe lyne & on a lefe fyndis
  • 1657 How þe gomes out of grece suld with þaire grete miȝtis
  • 1658 Þe pupill out of Persye purely distroy;
  • 1659 And þat he hopis sall be he & hertly he ioyes.
  • 1660 Þan partis he to þa prelatis many proude giftis,
  • 1661 Was nane sa pore in þat place bot he his purse fillis,
  • 1662 Geues þam garsons of gold & of gud stanes,
  • 1663 Rife riches enoȝe robies & perles,
  • 1664 Besands to þe bischop he bed out of nounbre,
  • 1665 Reches him of rede gold ransons many,
  • 1666 Tas him to his tresory talent him to shewe,
  • 1667 Bad him wale quat he wald & wild him þe toþir.
  • 1668 ȝit bedis he him, þe bald kyng as þe buke tellis:
  • 1669 'Sire, quat þou will in þis werd to wild & to haue,
  • 1670 Noȝt bot aske it at Alexander quat þou will apon reson,
  • 1671 And I sall grant, or I ga with a gud will.'
  • 1672 Þan bowis doun þe bischop & him a bone askis,
  • 1673 'Sire, þis I depely disire durst I it neuyn,
  • 1674 Þat it be leuefull vs oure lare & oure law vse,
  • 1675 As oure fadirs has folowid forwith þis tyme;
  • 1676 As of ȝoure grete gudnes at ȝe grant wald
  • 1677 To lat vs sitt be safe bot for þis seuyn wyntir,
  • 1678 But tribute or trouag quils þe terme lastis,
  • 1679 Þan were we halden all þe hepe to hiȝe þe for euir.
  • 1680 And ȝit I will, be ȝoure leue a worde & na mare,
  • 1681 Þat þe men of Medi man, be ȝoure leue,
  • 1682 Lang all in oure lawe lely to-gedire,
  • 1683 And þai of Babilon bathe & bede I na nothire.'
  • 1684 Quod Alexander belyue 'all þis I graunt,
  • 1685 And els any othire thinge aske & be serued.'
  • 1686 'Nay, now na mare,' quod þe man, & mekly him thankid,
  • 1687 'Bot ay þi lordschip & þi loue quils my lyfe dures.'
  • 1688 Now kastis þis conquirour to caire fra þe cite,
  • 1689 And mas to bide in þe burȝe a berne of his awyn,
  • 1690 A messagere to myn on quat men of him said,
  • 1691 Ane Ardromacius, a gome as þe buke tellis.
  • 1692 Þan bowis to þe bischop his benyson to fang,
  • 1693 Takis lufly his leue & lendis on forthere.
  • 1694 To Sere cites þar be-syde he soȝt with his hostis,
  • 1695 And þai frendly & faire frely resayued him.
  • 1696 Þan of þe Siriens summe in þe same tyme
  • 1697 Flow fra þe fell kyng as fals men suld,
  • 1698 Did þam to sir Darius & depely þam playnt,
  • 1699 Quat erroure of þis Emperoure & euill þai suffird.
  • 1700 And he þam faire vndir-fong & fraynes þam ȝerne,
  • 1701 Askis þam of sir Alexander all at he cuthe,
  • 1702 Bathe of his statoure & his strenth if he ware store ben,
  • 1703 His qualite, his quantite he quirys all-to-gedire;
  • 1704 And þai in parchement him payntid his person him shewid,
  • 1705 Ane amlaȝe, ane asaleny ane ape of all othire,
  • 1706 A wirling, a wayryngle a wawil-eȝid shrewe,
  • 1707 Þe cait[if]este creatour þat cried was euire.
  • 1708 And þan, as he lenes & lokis on his fourme,
  • 1709 His litillaike & his licknes he laythly dispiced,
  • 1710 And thre thingis of his thede, he þoȝt him sa feble,
  • 1711 He dressis to him in dedeyne & in dispite sendis:
  • 1712 First a ball, says þe buke þe barne with to play,
  • 1713 A herne-pan es of a berne of brend gold yeuen,
  • 1714 For hottre & for hething a Hatt made of twyggis;
  • 1715 Sayd þat was benere him to bere þan a briȝt helme.
  • 1716 Slike presandis out of Persy he to þe prince sendis,
  • 1717 His brefe with a brade sele & biddis hum ga swythe.
  • 1718 And qua sa will has to wete howe it worthis eftir,
  • 1719 Now sall I neuen vs here next þe note of his lettir.
  • 1720 'Sire dere Darius on dese þe digne Emperoure,
  • 1721 Þe kynge without comparrison of kyngis all othire,
  • 1722 Of all lordis þe lord þat leues in erthe,
  • 1723 Predicessour of princes & peree to þe sonn,
  • 1724 þe souerayne sire of my soyle þat sittis in my trone,
  • 1725 In fang with my faire godis þat I affie maste,
  • 1726 To Alexander, þat of all so augrily him letes,
  • 1727 Oure subiet & oure seruand þus we oure-selfe write.
  • 1728 For it is wayued vs to wete þat wickidly þou haues,
  • 1729 Þurȝe enmyte & enuy elacion of pride,
  • 1730 Be vanyte & vayne glori þat in þi wayns kindlis,
  • 1731 Puruayd þe pletours oure partis to ride.
  • 1732 For þou has samed, as men he sais a selly nounbre
  • 1733 Of wrichis & wirlingis out of þe west endis,
  • 1734 Of laddis & of losengers & of litill theuys,
  • 1735 Slike sary soroȝis as þi-selfe to seke vs agaynes,
  • 1736 And wenes to wild all þi will & þat worthis ful late,
  • 1737 Þe prouynce & principalte of Persye la graunt.
  • 1738 For þou ert fere al to faynt oure force to ministere;
  • 1739 Þof þou had gedird all þe gomes þat euire god fourmed,
  • 1740 So, man, riued is oure rewme þat þou may reȝt lycken
  • 1741 Þe store strenthe of oure stoure to sternes of þe heuen.
  • 1742 And slike a nekard as þi-selfe a noȝt of all othire,
  • 1743 Is bot a maddinge to mell with mare þan him-seluen.
  • 1744 'Forthi is bettir vnbynd & of þe brathe leue,
  • 1745 And feyne all with fairnes & fayne at þou may.
  • 1746 For mare menseke is a man to meke him be tyme,
  • 1747 Þan eftir made to be meke malegreue his chekis.
  • 1748 For all þe gracious godis & gudnes on erthe,
  • 1749 Þat sanys sete & soile & sustaynes þe erth,
  • 1750 Prayses ay þe Persyns passing all othire,
  • 1751 And for þe oddiste of ilka ost honoures oure name.
  • 1752 And slike a dwinyng, a dwaȝe & a dwerȝe as þi-selfe,
  • 1753 A grub, a grege out of grace ane erd-growyn sorowe,
  • 1754 Will couet ȝit as a kyng with caytefes to lyte,
  • 1755 To couir at combrid all þe kyngis vndire þe cape of heuen!
  • 1756 Riȝt as a flaw of fell snawe ware fallyn of a ryft,
  • 1757 Of a wysti wonn waghe with þe wynd blawen,
  • 1758 So with a flote of Fresons folowand þi helis,
  • 1759 Þou sekis fraward Sichim þi-selfe wrothir-haile,
  • 1760 And leuys as a lorell þus oure lande to entire,
  • 1761 And maa þi lepis & þi laikis & quat þe liste ellis,
  • 1762 As ratons or ruȝe myse in a rowme chambre,
  • 1763 Aboute in beddis or in bernys þare baddis ere nane.
  • 1764 Bot I haue wilily waited þi wiles & þi castis,
  • 1765 And quen þou hopis all-þir hiest to haue all þar will,
  • 1766 I sall þe sett on a saute & sla þe [with] my handis.
  • 1766* And so sall, fole, for þi folez be fenyshit on dawes.
  • 1767 ‘For-þi for pompe or for pride þi purpose a-vise,
  • 1767* For yf þou shote ouer sheet þou shendes þi flayne.
  • 1768 Turne þe, trechoure, be-time þat þou na treson haue,
  • 1769 And drawe a-gayn to þi den vndire þi dam wyngis.
  • 1770 Se quat I send to þe, son þi-selfe with to laike,
  • 1771 A hatt & a hand-ball & a herne-panne;
  • 1772 Slike presandis to play with as pertines to babbis.
  • 1773 For ai a child mot him chese to childire geris;
  • 1774 For mestire & miserie vnneth may þou forthe
  • 1775 Þine awen caitefe cors to clethe & to fede,
  • 1776 And supposis as a sott to sese oure landis,
  • 1777 And outhire darius to drepe or dryfe fra his kythis!
  • 1778 Bot by þe grace & þe gude þat god gaue my fadire,
  • 1779 So riued is þe rede gold oure regions with-in,
  • 1780 Þat qua sa had it on a hepe haly to-gedire,
  • 1781 It wald vs let, as I leue þe liȝt of þe son!
  • 1782 For-þi bid I þe badrich on bathe twa þine eȝen,
  • 1783 And on þe plegg & þe payn & perill as folowis,
  • 1784 All þi vanyte to voide & þi vayne pride,
  • 1785 And mew agayn to Messedone or any mare fall.
  • 1786 For be þe saule of my sire bot if þou sone turne,
  • 1787 We sall þe send sike a soume of segis en-armed,
  • 1788 Noȝt as Philips fant sall fare with þi-selfe,
  • 1789 Bot as a prince of proued theues pyne þe to dede.'
  • 1790 Als sone as his sandismen to þis sire come,
  • 1791 Þai present him þe playntis þe pistill him rechis,
  • 1792 And Alexander belyue be-fore all his princes,
  • 1793 To all his ost euyn on he openly declaris.
  • 1794 And quen his kniȝtis of þis clause þe carpe vndirstode,
  • 1795 Þen ware þai frekly a-frayd of þe fell saȝes;
  • 1796 And as sone as him-selfe saȝe his seggis amoued,
  • 1797 In bilding of his bachelers he breuys þire wordis:
  • 1798 'Quat now? my worthi werriouris sa wiȝt & sa noble,
  • 1799 Mi bernes & my baratours þe best vndire heuen;
  • 1800 Lettis neuire it broȝt be on brade for vpbraide of schame,
  • 1801 ȝe doute for þe indityngs of Darius pistils.
  • 1802 I sett ȝowe ane ensample ȝe se it all daye,
  • 1803 In thorps & in many thede þar ȝe þurȝe ride,
  • 1804 At ilka cote a kene curre as he þe chache wald;
  • 1805 Bot as bremely as he baies he bitis neuir þe fastir.
  • 1806 Bot in sum, I suppose wele þat sothe is þe lettir,
  • 1807 Þare as he tellis quyche a tunne of tresoure he hauys.
  • 1808 For-þi vs buse to be bigg & bataill him ȝeld,
  • 1809 Þe grete garisons of gold sall gedire vp oure hertis.'
  • 1810 With þat commands þe kyng his knyȝtis be-lyue,
  • 1811 Þe donesmen þat fra Darius come with þe derfe lettir,
  • 1812 Þat þai suld titly þam take & by þe toȝe throtis,
  • 1813 And for þaire souerayne sake þam send to þe galawis.
  • 1814 Þan was þa messangers a-maied as meruale ware ellis,
  • 1815 With kene carefull crie þis conquirour þai said:
  • 1816 'Allas! quat lake lyse in vs lord if it be ȝoure will,
  • 1817 Þus causeles for oure kynge encumbird to worthe?'
  • 1818 'The saȝes of ȝour souerayn' said þe kynge þen,
  • 1819 'Nedis me to slike notis as I had neuir etlid,
  • 1820 Þat has ȝow sent to my-selfe noȝt sa as him aȝe;
  • 1821 Loo 'litill thefe' in ilka lyne his lettir me callis'
  • 1822 'ȝa,' quod þai, 'comly kyng' & on knes fallis,
  • 1823 'Þase ditis endited to ȝowe sir Darius him-seluyn,
  • 1824 For he knew noȝt of ȝour kniȝthede ne of ȝour kid strenth;
  • 1825 Ne wist noȝt of ȝour worthenes & wrate all þe baldire.
  • 1826 Bot wald ȝe grant vs to gaa & gefe vs ȝour lefe,
  • 1827 Þen suld we bremely ȝour bill to þe berne shewe.'
  • 1828 Þen lete þe lord þam allane & went till his fest,
  • 1829 Takis þam with him to his tent & þam at ese makis.
  • 1830 Sone as þai in his sale were sett at þe table,
  • 1831 'Sire Alexander, athill kynge,' quod all with a steuyn,
  • 1832 'Comands with vs to caire kniȝtis a thousand,
  • 1833 And we sall surely oure sire þe send in þaire handis.'
  • 1834 'ȝa, make we blis,' quod þe kyng 'blithe mote ȝe worthe,
  • 1835 For as for takynge of ȝour lord sall na lede wynde.'
  • 1836 To Darius anoþir day enditis he a pistill,
  • 1837 A crest clenly inclosid þat consayued þis wordis.
  • 1838 ‘Alexander, þe aire & eldest childe bathe
  • 1839 Of kyng Philip þe fers þe fendere of grece,
  • 1840 And als of Olimpades þat honourable lady,
  • 1841 To þe, Darius, on dese þus dite I my lettir.
  • 1842 Þou prince of all þe Persyns þat peres to þe sonne,
  • 1843 Þe conquirour of ilka cost callid of þi-selfe,
  • 1844 With all þi gracious godis graithid in þi trone,
  • 1845 All þus I send to ȝowe my sawe vndir my sele wreten.
  • 1846 Sire, if we se with a suth surely me thinke,
  • 1847 Oure facultes, oure faire fees oure fermes & our landis,
  • 1848 We may noȝt chalang þam ne clayme ne call þaim oure awen,
  • 1849 Bot all I deme it as det & to a day borowid.
  • 1850 For sen we riden on þe rime & on þe ringe seten
  • 1851 Of þe qwele of Fortoun þe quene þat swiftly changis,
  • 1852 Ofte pas we in pouert fra plente of gudis,
  • 1853 Fra mirthe in-to mournynge fra mournyng in-to Ioye.
  • 1854 For now vs wantis in a qwirre as þe quele turnes;
  • 1855 Quen we suppose in oure sele to sit alþir heist,
  • 1856 Þan fondis furth dame Fortoun to þe flode-ȝatis,
  • 1857 Draȝes vp þe damme-borde & drenchis vs euire.
  • 1858 For-þi a we þat has wit þofe he wele suffir,
  • 1859 So sadly in soueraynete he set neuire his hope
  • 1860 For pride of na pro[s]perite ne prise at him folewis,
  • 1861 To olle ay on his vndireling for ouer-laike a quyle.
  • 1862 For any sele vndire son a sott I him hald,
  • 1863 Þat ay has deyne & dispite at dedis of litill,
  • 1864 Sen oft þe hauenlest here is houen to þe sternes,
  • 1865 And he þat graithist is of gudis gird all to poudire.
  • 1866 For-þi a depe dishonoure ȝe do to ȝoure name,
  • 1867 Ane emperoure þat on erth is euyn to ȝoure-selfe,
  • 1868 To me sa litill & sa lawe slike lettirs to sende,
  • 1869 And presand out of Persy bot for a pure hethyng.
  • 1870 For þou enherestis all þis erth & euens to þe son,
  • 1871 And callis þe kyng of ilka kithe vndir þe cape of heuen,
  • 1872 And þarto sittis, as þou sais in sege as ane Aungell,
  • 1873 To-gedire with þi grete gods and on a gilt trone.
  • 1874 Bot syn gostid godesses & gods ere graythid neuir to dye,
  • 1875 Bot ai sall last furth elike on-lyue ouire mare,
  • 1876 Þai naue no will to my notis ne wilnyng to haue,
  • 1877 No dole ne no daliance of dedely bernes.
  • 1878 Bot I knaw I am coruptible & caire ȝow agaynes,
  • 1879 Als with a dedly duke to do my bataill;
  • 1880 Bot þof þou be victor a-vaile na vaunte sall arise,
  • 1881 Ne lose, bot as a litill thefe ȝow limpid to encumbre.
  • 1882 Bot chance it me, þat am a childe þe cheuer to worthe,
  • 1883 So þat be geuyn me þe gree grete glorie is myn awen.
  • 1884 For þan sall spring vp þe speche & sprede out of mynd,
  • 1885 How I haue conquired a kyng þe kidest of þe werd.
  • 1886 Bot a tale ȝe me tald I trow be na faile,
  • 1887 Of þe ryfenes of þe rede gold ȝour region with-in,
  • 1888 Quilke plente is in Persy of perell & of ellis,
  • 1889 Þe somme of siluer & of siche & of sere stanes,
  • 1890 Þare-with oure wittes has þou wele & oure will sharpid,
  • 1891 And blid with þi besands þe bataill to ȝeld,
  • 1892 Made vs corageous & kene ȝoure clere gold to wyn,
  • 1893 And put a-way oure pouert ȝe plede vs to hald.
  • 1894 Bot as touchand þe trufils þat ȝe to me sent,
  • 1895 Þe herne-pan, þe hand-ball þe hatt made of twiggis,
  • 1896 Þare has þou prophesid apert & playnely vs schewid,
  • 1897 And faire affirmed vs before þat sall fall eftir.
  • 1898 For by þe ball, sir, I breue all þe brode werd,
  • 1899 Þe erthe at to myne enpire enterely bees ȝolden.
  • 1900 And be þe hat þat is holewe be-for þe heued bowed,
  • 1901 I constru þat ilka kyng sall clyne to my-selfe.
  • 1902 Þan hope I by þe hernepan þat þe hede couirs,
  • 1903 Ouir-comers to be callid & ouire-comen neuire.
  • 1904 Now þou, þe grettest vndir god graithis me trouage,
  • 1905 With all þis dignites be-dene þat I diuined haue.'
  • 1906 Þis brefe bedis þaim bere & besands þam rechis;
  • 1907 And eftir armes all his ost & airis on eftir forthire.
  • 1908 Sire Darius for þe ditis nere died he for angire,
  • 1909 To twa of þe derrest of his dukis ditis he þis pistill:
  • 1910 'I, þe corounnest kyng of kyngis all othire,
  • 1911 To þe, sir primus, a prince of Persye þe grettest,
  • 1912 And als to ser Antagoyne myn awen athill dukis,
  • 1913 Þe soueraynest of my seniourie my saroparis hatten,
  • 1914 Se here I send ȝow my seele with salutis of ioye.
  • 1915 Fra Alexander þe kyng as I am in-fourmed,
  • 1916 Is entrid with oure enmys an endles nounbre,
  • 1917 Þe Anglies of Asie & has þam all stroyed,
  • 1918 For-þi of life & o lym my lege men I charge
  • 1919 To prestli ȝow apparaill & pas þam agaynes,
  • 1920 With all þe hathils & þe heris & þe hiȝe maistris
  • 1921 Þat ȝe may semble in þe sidis saudiours & othire.
  • 1922 Þen chese ȝow furth my chiftanes & me þe child take,
  • 1923 Laches me þis losengere & ledis me him hedire,
  • 1924 Þat I may him skelp with a skorge & þen of skire porpure
  • 1925 A side slauyn him sewe & send him to his modire;
  • 1926 For now he proches for pride & propurly he wedis,
  • 1927 For-þi him bose to be bett as a barne fallis.
  • 1928 For it aȝe noȝt slik ane Asald nane abletus to off werres,
  • 1929 Bot at þe bowlis as a brode or with a ball playe.'
  • 1930 Þire princes, sone as þe pistill was put þam in hand,
  • 1931 Þan part þai þe proud sele þe printe þai adhoured,
  • 1932 Vn-lappis liȝtly þe lefe & þe line redes,
  • 1933 And þus-gate agynward þai graithid him anothire.
  • 1934 'To þe kiddest kyng to a-count of kyngis all othire,
  • 1935 Sire Dari, with þi dere godis drised on þi trone,
  • 1936 Gouernoure of ilk a gome & god all þi-selfe,
  • 1937 Þi satrapairs, þi seniours with seruage obeschen:
  • 1938 Sire, wetis it wele, ȝoure worthines & wenys it na langire,
  • 1939 Þat þis child, with his chiftans ȝe charge vs to take,
  • 1940 Has reden all oure regions & raymed oure landis,
  • 1941 Departid all oure prouynce & purely it wastid.
  • 1942 And we þan lift vp a lite & lent him a-gayne,
  • 1943 Ferd furth with a flote & him in þe fyld metis;
  • 1944 Bot sone we bed him þe bake & besely we shapid
  • 1945 Out of þe handis vn-hewyn of oure hatill fais.
  • 1946 And now haly all þe hepe at ȝe ȝoure help callis,
  • 1947 Vn-to ȝoure mekill maieste we mekely beseke,
  • 1948 Þat vs ȝour lege & ȝoure lele men it likid ȝow to forthire,
  • 1949 Or þan oure wirschip at-wynde & wastid be þe regme.'
  • 1950 As radly as þe riche kyng had red ouir þis pistill,
  • 1951 Be þat mevis in A Messangere & maynly him tellis,
  • 1952 Þat Alexander was at hand & had his ost loygid
  • 1953 A-pon þe streme of Struma þat strekis þurȝe his landis.
  • 1954 Sire Darius for þa ditis was depely a-greuyd,
  • 1955 Callis him his consail a clause he him enditis,
  • 1956 Mas a brefe at a braide & it in brathe sendis,
  • 1957 To Alexander as be-lyue & all þus him gretes.
  • 1958 'I, sir Dari, þe deyne & derfe Emperoure,
  • 1959 Þe kyng of kyngis I am callid & conquirour bathe,
  • 1960 Of all lordis þe lord a-lose þurȝe þe werd,
  • 1961 And ane of þe souerayne sires vndir þe vij sternes,
  • 1962 To þe, my seruand, I send & suthely þou knawes,
  • 1963 And wete þou wele þurȝe all þe werde is wirschip oure name.
  • 1964 For all þe gracious gods at þe ground visitis,
  • 1965 All ere done me to doute ducsses & othire.
  • 1966 How burde þe þan be sa bald for blod in þi heued,
  • 1967 To moue þus ouir þe mountey[n]s & ouir þe many watirs
  • 1968 With slike a soumme ouir þe see a saute vs to ȝeld,
  • 1969 Or any maistrie to make my maieste a-gayne?
  • 1970 For wella wide ware þe wele wete þou na nothire,
  • 1971 Bathe þi glorie & þi grace þi gladnes in erthe,
  • 1972 Miȝt þou þe marches of Messedoyne mayntene þi-selfe,
  • 1973 And gouerne bot þine awen gronde agaynes oure will.
  • 1974 For-þi ware bettir vnbynde or þou bale suffire
  • 1975 Remowe agayne to þi rewme & rew of þi werkis.
  • 1976 For certayne, nyf my seniourie ne I my-selfe nouthire,
  • 1977 All þe werd myȝt a wedowe wele þan be callid.
  • 1978 For-þi turne þe be-time or any tene worthe,
  • 1979 Or at þe hate of my hert apon þi hede kindill.
  • 1980 Lend agayn to þi lande nowe quen þou leue hauys,
  • 1981 Þat I mete þe in my malicoly my meth be to littill.
  • 1982 For-þi to ken þe to knaw my kyndnes here-eftir,
  • 1983 Bath my grace & my glori & my grete strenthe,
  • 1984 Loo here a gloue full of graynes I graythe þe to take,
  • 1985 Of þe chesses of a chesboll chosen for þe nanys.
  • 1986 For may þou sowme me þire sedis surely þou trowe,
  • 1987 Þou miȝt a-count all oure kniȝtis & oure kyd ostis;
  • 1988 And þou truches þaim to tell þen tidis þe na noþir,
  • 1989 Bot move a-gayn to Messedone & meve þe na forthire.
  • 1990 Fyne, fole, of þi fare & fange to þi kythis;
  • 1991 For þis sede I þe send vnsowmyd bees neuire.
  • 1992 So ere we of all folke to be nombrid,
  • 1993 Or any wee to a-counte vndire þe clere sternys.'
  • 1994 Now aires furth his athill men to Alexander wendis,
  • 1995 Vn-to þe streme of struma streȝt with þa lettirs,
  • 1996 And he þam redis in a rese & reches to þe sedis,
  • 1997 Tastis þam vndire his tuthe & talkis þir wordis:
  • 1998 'Here I se,' quod þis sire 'be þire ilke cornes,
  • 1999 Þat þe pupill out of Persy ere passandly many,
  • 2000 Bot þam semes to be softe as þir sedis prouys:
  • 2001 For-þi how fele be all þe flote it forces bot littill.'
  • 2002 Be þis was men of Messedone fra his modire comen,
  • 2003 And said þat semely was seke & semed to die;
  • 2004 And he þe waest of þe werd wald worth hire to visite,
  • 2005 Bot ȝit to Dary, or he went he diȝt þus a lettir.
  • 2006 ‘Alexsaundere þe athill aire oute [of] grece,
  • 2007 Þe son of Ph[ilip] þe fers & of his faire lady,
  • 2008 Honoured Olimpadas þe oddest vndire heuyn,
  • 2009 To þe, ser Dari, on þi dese þis dities I write.
  • 2010 For I am sent, be þe sure many sere letters,
  • 2011 And namly now on newe time fra myne awen kith,
  • 2012 Out of þe marche of Messadone þat mekill me greues,
  • 2013 All oþir wais to wirke & my will likis.
  • 2014 Bot I warne þe, or I wynd & will at þou knaw,
  • 2015 Þat for na drede I with-draw ne doute of þi pride,
  • 2016 For baisting of þi bobance ne of þi breme wordis,
  • 2017 Bot for to se þat is seke my semely modire.
  • 2018 Bot wete þou wele þis, I-wis with-in a wale time,
  • 2019 Fra þat I fraist haue þat faire of my fayre lady,
  • 2020 I sall þe seke with a sowme of seggis enarmed,
  • 2021 Ane ost to noy þus to neuyn all of new knyȝtis.
  • 2022 And for þe sake of þi sede þou sent with þi lettre,
  • 2023 Loo, here a purse full of pepire my powere to ken,
  • 2024 To se þi-selfe a similitude how all þi soft grayns
  • 2025 Sall vndire-put be all þe pake vn-to þir peper-cornes.'
  • 2026 Þis pistill to Persyns he with his pepir takis,
  • 2027 Partis prestly þam to many proude giftis,
  • 2028 And þai haue laȝt þam þar leue & þe lettir fangis,
  • 2029 And passis on to Persy þe princes to schewe.
  • 2030 Þan Alexander belyue with his athill dukis,
  • 2031 Rais him radly to ride & remowis his ost;
  • 2032 Fra þe streme of struma he streȝtis & still mournes,
  • 2033 And mevis him toward Messedone his modir to visit.
  • 2034 He aires þurȝe Arabie & armed þar he findis
  • 2035 A duke of Darys þe kyng þat drafe him agayne,
  • 2036 A pere out of Persy & prince of his ost,
  • 2037 A maister man in þa marches Amont was hatten.
  • 2038 He girdis him with a ging þe grekis he asailes,
  • 2039 With Alexander all day asperly feȝtis,
  • 2040 Marres of þe Messedons miȝtfull kniȝtis,
  • 2041 Dingis doun of þe dukis deris þam vn-faire,
  • 2042 Fra morne to þe mirke niȝt maynly þa cocken,
  • 2043 Seȝes doun on aythire side segis out of nounbre.
  • 2044 Begynnys sone in þe gray day as any gleme springis,
  • 2045 And so to sett of þe son sesid þai neuire.
  • 2046 Þus thre dais out a thraw þai threp ay elike;
  • 2047 So lange, sais me þe lyne lastid þe bataill,
  • 2048 Sike scoures were of blude of schondirhed bernes,
  • 2049 Þat foles ferd in þe flosches to þe fetelakis;
  • 2050 Sa store & stithe was þe stoure þe story me tellis,
  • 2051 Þat for soroȝe of þe siȝt þe son on þe heuen
  • 2052 Kest away his clerete & his clippis suffirs,
  • 2053 For bale to blische on þe blode at on þe bent floȝes.
  • 2054 With þat oure gomes out of grece gedirs vp þar hertis,
  • 2055 Fey fallis in þe fild fele of þire othire,
  • 2056 Þe pouwere of Persy in partis many
  • 2057 Seȝes sidlings doun slayn of þaire blonkis.
  • 2058 And quen þe duke of ser Darys þa dedis be-haldis,
  • 2059 Amonta þe miȝtfull his men þan he fangis,
  • 2060 And vneth limpid him þe lee þe lyne me recordis,
  • 2061 Fra his faes with a fewe þe filde to de-voide.
  • 2062 And slike a pas, sais þe prose to Persy he ridis,
  • 2063 Þat ȝit þe selfe sandismen he in þe sale fyndis,
  • 2064 Þat fra þe streme of struma were apon stedis wysid
  • 2065 Fra Alexander & his ost with his athill pistill.
  • 2066 And ȝit ser dary on his dese þa dities a-visis,
  • 2067 Held þe lettir in his loue & at þe ledis fraynes,
  • 2068 Quat he said of þe sedis þat he him-selfe sent.
  • 2069 And þai swiftly him sward & swyth þus him tellis:
  • 2070 'Þe kyng him kaȝt,' quod þe kniȝtis '& on þe cornes bitis,
  • 2071 And wele he geses be þe graynes ȝoure gomes erefele,
  • 2072 Bot a thing, he said, he saȝe þat solast him maste,
  • 2073 Þat ware bot soft, he suposed for so þe sede proued.'
  • 2074 Þan pullis him vp þe proude kyng & on þe pepire tastis,
  • 2075 Said, as it tuke him by þe tonge 'his tulkis ere fewe,
  • 2076 Bot, be his kniȝtis as kene as me þis cornes shewis,
  • 2077 All þe werd war to waike his wrothe to with-stand.'
  • 2078 Þe mody man Amonta þan melis þir wordis,
  • 2079 'ȝis, he ledis bot a lite lord, with ȝoure lefe;
  • 2080 Þare is bot fewe at him foloȝes bot feȝtand bernes,
  • 2081 Bot mare fersere in feld fell neuire of modire.
  • 2082 For I my-selfe with a sowme set þaim agayns,
  • 2083 With of þe Persyns proude a pake out of nounbre,
  • 2084 Felire þan his folke be full fyue thousand,
  • 2085 And ȝit vs fell all to ferre þe fayntir to worthe;
  • 2086 For þai haue hedid of oure hathils & a hepe woundid,
  • 2087 Fey falne to þe fold many fers erlis,
  • 2088 Bet doun oure bachelers my banir to-rased,
  • 2089 And a selly somme slayne of my kniȝtis.
  • 2090 Quethire days thre þurȝe-out thraly we foȝten,
  • 2091 Derfe dintis & dreȝe delt & taken,
  • 2092 And ȝit þe lawest at þe last vs limpid to bee,
  • 2093 And vnethis sauyd I my-selfe vnslayn of þar handis.
  • 2094 Bot treuly, ser,' quod þe duke 'gret tresore me thinke
  • 2095 At Alexander þe athill for of all ware he maister,
  • 2096 A-vanced with þe victore & vengid on his faes,
  • 2097 Was neuire þe heȝare of a hawe his hert full of pride.
  • 2098 For mekely ilka modire son his awen men & othire,
  • 2099 Als wele þe pure Persens as þe grete grekis,
  • 2100 All þe douth at was dede be-dene he comands
  • 2101 To gedire þam vp ilka gome & þam in grauys ligg.'
  • 2102 Now Alexander & his ost armed on ridis,
  • 2103 And sone Cecile he with his seggis entrid,
  • 2104 Þar sere citis of þa sidis to him-selfe sweren,
  • 2105 And saudiours him to sewe seuyntene thousand.
  • 2106 Þan ȝede he ouire in-to ane Ile Yssanna was hatten,
  • 2107 And þat was ȝapely him ȝeuyn & ȝolden be-lyue.
  • 2108 Þan vp he clame to a cliffe þat to þe cloudis semed,
  • 2109 Þe Tor of Tare to taken þe tretis it callis,
  • 2110 Þare fand he tildid on þe top & tild vp a cite,
  • 2111 Þe proud toun of Persopole & to þe place he neȝes.
  • 2112 Þare saȝe he selcuthis sere as þe buke sais,
  • 2113 Þe muses of musike & þe merke how it was made first.
  • 2114 Þan aires he in-to Asie & ai as he fonndis,
  • 2115 All þe citis of þa sidis he sesis þam clene,
  • 2116 So fares he furth to Frigie a-noþire faire Ile,
  • 2117 And ane þar of his ald gods he honourd in a temple.
  • 2118 Þan ferd he furth to a Flum was fyue cubetis brad,
  • 2119 Scamandra þe slire flode þe scriptour it callis.
  • 2120 'Now happy be ȝee,' quod þe hathill 'all in hert beris
  • 2121 Þe honouris of þat odd clerke Homore þe grete.'
  • 2122 'Mekill dere,' quod ane Doctoneus 'of ȝow I deme sall,
  • 2123 And he of þe takyng of Troi tald all his lyue.'
  • 2124 'Nay, I wald more worth,' quod þe [wee] 'a wyse man disc[i]ple,
  • 2125 Þan þe honour þat Acheles aȝt all his time.'
  • 2126 Þan moves he him to Messedone with his mony princes,
  • 2127 Amendid of hire malidy his modire he fyndis,
  • 2128 A litill dais with hire lengis & of hire lyfe ioyes,
  • 2129 And graythes him þan with his gere & a-gayn fondis.
  • 2130 He passes on to-ward Persy & piȝt doun his tentis
  • 2131 Besyd a burȝe at þe buke Abandra men callis.
  • 2132 Þai fall on freschly þe folke of þe cite,
  • 2133 And barris bremely at a burȝe þe foure brad ȝatis.
  • 2134 Þan takis þe kyng his kniȝtis vmlapis þe wallis,
  • 2135 Settis vp-on a saute on sidis enoȝe;
  • 2136 Bot, for þe cite was vnsure þe seggis within
  • 2137 Miȝt noȝt þe braidis a-bide of bernes enarmed.
  • 2138 Þan cries all to þe kyng 'ser conquirour,' þai said:
  • 2139 'Ne steke we noȝt oure stiff ȝatis ȝour strenthe to defend,
  • 2140 Bot for dred of ser Dary þe derfe Emperoure,
  • 2141 Lest, had we haldit to ȝour heste he had vs eft wastid.'
  • 2142 'ȝa, werpis þam vp,' quod þe wee '& wyde open settis,
  • 2143 If at ȝe shap ȝow to shount vnschent of oure handis.
  • 2144 For quen I done haue with Dary & my dede fenyschid,
  • 2145 Þan sall I tell ȝow my tale how it sall tide eftir.'
  • 2146 So baiste þam þe bald kyng with his breme wordis,
  • 2147 Þat þai vnȝarked him þe ȝatis & ȝald him þe keys.
  • 2148 Þe burȝe þus of abrandra he with his men takis,
  • 2149 To take & leue quat him list & lendis on forthire.
  • 2150 Þen wyndis he to A wath toun was Wyothy hatten,
  • 2151 And come so to Caldipol anoþir kid cite,
  • 2152 So to þe watir of wintir as it þe writte callis.
  • 2153 Þare nere was fey for defaute enfamyschist his ost,
  • 2154 Kniȝtis kest vp a crie & kenely þam menes:
  • 2155 ‘Loo, oure foles ere in fere fodeles to dye;'
  • 2156 Þai pleyne more þe pouirte & þe pite of þar horsis
  • 2157 Þan þe soroȝe of þam-selfe by þe seuynt parte.
  • 2158 'Quat ailes ȝow?' quod Alexander to his athill dukis,
  • 2159 'Mi barons & my baratorus þe biggest in erth,
  • 2160 Þat has þe angwisch of armes ay to now suffird;
  • 2161 Quethire euire ȝoure hertis, I hope for horsys abatis?
  • 2162 May vs noȝt limp, if any life lenge in oure brestis,
  • 2163 To couer be cas at a cleke courseris a thousand?
  • 2164 And vs demed be þe dome to die of þe werd,
  • 2165 Þan standis in stede noȝt of a stra all þe store stedis.
  • 2166 For-þi I rede,' quod þe renke 'we ride on forthire,
  • 2167 And pas to sum othire place þare plente is in,
  • 2168 Þat we may fange at þe full þe fude at vs wantis,
  • 2168* And bath our folk & owr folez fyll þaire wambes.'
  • 2169 Þan prekis he furth with his princes to slike a playn wendis,
  • 2170 Luctus it hiȝt, þe letterure & þe line þus it callis;
  • 2171 Þare his forrayouris fand þe fulth of vitaill,
  • 2172 Bathe to berne & to blonk bide quen him likid.
  • 2173 When he was full þare & fedd he flittis with his ost,
  • 2174 To Tergarontes he teȝe þare tiȝt was a mynstre;
  • 2175 He piȝt doun his pauilion & passis to þe temple,
  • 2176 Sire Appoline to adoure & othire ald goddis,
  • 2177 To offire in þat oritorie with honour he wyndis,
  • 2178 And sum of þam at spire how he spede suld.
  • 2179 Bot sone ane ȝacora him said a semely summe,
  • 2180 Þan was nan honour of answaringis bot on an-oþere bide.
  • 2181 Þan dose him furth þe dere king &, on þe day eftire,
  • 2182 He seȝis to þe Synagog & sacrif[is]e makis,
  • 2183 And Appoline als beliue him aykewordly swaris,
  • 2184 'Sire Ercules þe Emperoure' he euire in ane callis.
  • 2185 Þan Alexander all in ire angrily spekis:
  • 2186 'Now fynd I wele,' quod þe freke 'þat fals ere þi wordis,
  • 2187 Now þou neuyns me a new name at I neuire hiȝt;
  • 2188 And þou a god,' quod þe gome 'þat is grete ioye!'
  • 2189 Þan sekis he furth with a somme & to A cite wyndis,
  • 2190 Þe toun Thebea þe tretis it callis,
  • 2191 And þare he biddis all þe burȝe þat foure bald kniȝtis
  • 2192 Suld be lett with him lend & lenge in his weris.
  • 2193 Þen tened þe Thebees folke & tynd to þe ȝatis,
  • 2194 And to with-stand his strenthe steȝid to þe wallis,
  • 2195 Bad him bow on be-lyue & bide þare na laingire;
  • 2196 For if he did, withouten dome þe deth þai him hiȝt.
  • 2197 Þan fangis him vp þe fell kyng a fuyll feyned laȝtir,
  • 2198 Said, 'ȝe of Tebet ere tried þe tethiest on erth,
  • 2199 Of all þe seggis vndir son þat citizens hatt;
  • 2200 Mast hiȝe ȝe ere hersid & herid of ȝoure strenthe.
  • 2201 And nowe sa ȝape men as ȝe þe ȝatis hase stoken,
  • 2202 And me & þe pruddest of my princes proferne vs werre;
  • 2203 And at ȝe so will, I-wis wondire me thinke,
  • 2204 For þus wald neuer at ȝe wroȝt þe wirscip of armes.
  • 2205 It contraries kniȝthede ȝe knaw wele ȝour-selfe,
  • 2206 To any wiȝt werriours in wallis þam to close.
  • 2207 For he þat kid is & kene & couettis a name,
  • 2208 Will feȝt fersely in fild his famen agayns.'
  • 2209 Þan Alexander be-liue all a-boute þe cite,
  • 2210 Makis foure thousand with flanes & bowis,
  • 2211 Biddis þam to bend vp brathly with arowis
  • 2212 To wonde þe wees with-in þat on þe wallis houys.
  • 2213 And twa thousand be tale he titely comaundis,
  • 2214 Of wele buskid bernns in brenys & platis,
  • 2215 All þe sidis of þe cite þat sechus had biggid,
  • 2216 And Amphion, an athill kempe onane to distruy.
  • 2217 A full thousand he fangid to fire þe foure ȝatis,
  • 2218 And thre thousand of thra men to thraw with engynes.
  • 2219 Him-selfe of slingis & slike a-semblis a me[n]ȝe,
  • 2220 To heede & help of his hyne if any harme lympid.
  • 2221 Now ere his seggis all sett & þe saute neȝis,
  • 2222 Were wakens be-twene werbild in trompis;
  • 2223 Oure pepill with payns pressis to without,
  • 2224 Halis vp hemp cordis hurled out arowis;
  • 2225 Othire athils of armes Albastis bendis,
  • 2226 Quirys out quarrels quappid thurȝe mayles.
  • 2227 Sum with gunnes of þe grekis girdis vp stanes,
  • 2228 To tene þe Tebis folke þat on þe touris feȝtis;
  • 2229 Sum braide ouir þe barrers in blasand wede,
  • 2230 And faire fest on a fire all þe foure ȝatis;
  • 2231 All þe burȝe at a braide was on a bale kyndild,
  • 2232 And þa þat sounde ware vnslayn als sottes þam ȝeldis.
  • 2233 Þan with-out in oure ost as þe buke tellis,
  • 2234 A Sire, at Sicistrus was callid be name,
  • 2235 A meri man, a Messangere þat maynly was ioyd
  • 2236 To se þe cite be sa sone sindid to brandis.
  • 2237 Anothre hathill vndire hand þat Hismon was callid,
  • 2238 Ane a maistre of musike a man of þe cite,
  • 2239 Aires to ser Alexander & in his hert wepis,
  • 2240 As qua sai, 'prince, of oure place sum pete þou haue.'
  • 2241 Þan lokis þe lord to þe lede said, ‘lettrid berne,
  • 2242 Quare-to feynys þou þis fare for-with myne eȝen?'
  • 2243 'Sire conquirour,' quod þe clerke 'ȝoure corage to bend,
  • 2244 And in ridding of oure riche toun ȝour reuth for to call.'
  • 2245 Þan was þe wale kyng wrath & wiȝtly comaundis
  • 2246 To bete in-to þe bare erth all þe burȝe-walles;
  • 2247 And quen all kynd was on colis & kast a-pon hepis,
  • 2248 Þan airis he on with his ost mare honour to wynn.
  • 2249 A Ientill man full ioyles iournais him eftir,
  • 2250 Foloȝes þare fare ai on fote as þai ride,
  • 2251 A sege at of þe same toun sire was & maistre,
  • 2252 Ane callid was Cletomacus to crie eftir socure,
  • 2253 His ledis at left ware o-lyue a lite of þe cite.
  • 2254 Þan askid at sire Appoline al with a steuen,
  • 2255 'If euire it worthe sall to wee quen þe werd stand,
  • 2256 Oure bu[r]ȝe agayn for to bigg þat bretted is to noȝt?'
  • 2257 Þan gales þaire god a-gayn & þus spekis:
  • 2258 'Þe tulke þat tilld ȝour toun sall tield vp & rere,
  • 2259 Sall thre times haue þe thra of sum threuyn gome
  • 2260 Of were ore of wristilling for þus has wirid shapen.
  • 2261 And quen þat wirschip is won within a wale time,
  • 2262 Þan sall he sett vp him-selfe þe cite as be-forne.'
  • 2263 Þus answars þam þaire ald gode & osses on þis wyse,
  • 2264 And þai als fayne, all þe flote as fowell of þe day.
  • 2265 Þan aires on ser Alexander with his athill princes,
  • 2266 To þe castell of Corynthi he comes with his ost,
  • 2267 With þe Pers of þa partese to play on þe toures,
  • 2268 As all þe sires of þa sidis him-selfe had required.
  • 2269 Þe multitude ware sa miche of men for to reken,
  • 2270 Þat þare was sembild & sett þat siȝt to be-hald.
  • 2271 Quod Alexander bilyue to all at þare stode,
  • 2272 'Quat gome sall þis gammen begin apon first?'
  • 2273 Þan comes forth Cletomacus & to þe kyng swaris,
  • 2274 Þe tulke out of Thebie I tald ȝow be-forne,
  • 2275 'If it ȝoure mekill maieste miȝt any thinge plese,
  • 2276 I wald to wacken ȝoure welth now wirstill a turne.'
  • 2277 Þan mas þe prince him a place & prestly him matches,
  • 2278 And he him girdes to þe grounde & þe gree wynnes.
  • 2279 'Now faithly,' quod þe fell kyng 'fall þe so thrise,
  • 2280 Þou sall be crouned, or I caire for kiddest of þe gamen.'
  • 2281 Þan ȝede he eftsones to & his euen kastis,
  • 2282 Thringis to þe thrid time & þe thra wynnys.
  • 2283 And þan comandis him þe kyng a coroune on hede,
  • 2284 As for þe prise of þe play putfull of stanes;
  • 2285 Þan bad him beddels belyue: 'breue vs þi name.'
  • 2286 'Sirres, by my sothe,' quod þe segge 'Sitiles I hiȝt.'
  • 2287 'Qwi so, my worthe werstillare?' þe wale kyng said,
  • 2288 'How tidis it þe & tou[n]les þi toname is callid?'
  • 2289 'Mi louely lorde,' quod þe lede & law him declines,
  • 2290 'Be-for ȝe come slike a kyng & þe croune werrid,
  • 2291 I had a cite my-selfe & seggis I-nowe;
  • 2292 And sethen ȝe aȝt þis enpire I am it all priued.'
  • 2293 Þan trowid trewly þe kyng þat Theby he menyd,
  • 2294 And beddels & bailyfs he bad on brad crie,
  • 2295 Be-fore his pupill apert þe powere him grauntis
  • 2296 To sett his cite vp agayn & of him-selfe halden.
  • 2297 Þan passis he to a proude toun Platea was hatten,
  • 2298 Þare was stiȝtild ane Strasageras þat was a stiffe prince,
  • 2299 Duse him in with his dukis to Dyanaas temple,
  • 2300 And fand a pure prophetas aparaild in vailes.
  • 2301 And scho, as sone as scho him saȝe said him þir wordis:
  • 2302 'Welcom we, at all þe werd sall wyn with þi handis.'
  • 2303 Þe secund day before þe son he at þe cite wildid,
  • 2304 In-to þe temple he turned tythandis to herken;
  • 2305 'Quat ware þi will, ser, to wete?' þe woman frayned;
  • 2306 'Þou lesis all þi lordschip within a lite dais.'
  • 2307 'Quat, & has þou ossed to Alexander þis ayndain wirdes,
  • 2308 And me þus ill? vn-ably þine abet þou weris.'
  • 2309 Nay, tene ȝow noȝt, for treuly þus tide bose it nede.'
  • 2310 And so it worthid, for in a wrath þe wale kyng swyth
  • 2311 Him of his principalete priued & þan þe prince fondis
  • 2312 Onane to Athenas & on þe athill playntes;
  • 2313 And þai said, soure suld him sowe bot he þe cite ȝeld.
  • 2314 And Alexander with his ostes aires on forthire,
  • 2315 Ateynes him to-ward þe termes & of þar tene heres,
  • 2316 And slike a word he þaim wayues be writ fra him-self.
  • 2317 And qua so will has to wete how it worthid eftir,
  • 2318 Here sall I tell þam at loues to here forthire.
  • 2319 'I Alexander, þe aire & eldest childe hatten
  • 2320 Of kyng Philip þe fers þat fest am in grece,
  • 2321 And of þe quene Olimpades þe oddest vnder heuen,
  • 2322 To all ȝow of Athenes þus etill I my saȝes.
  • 2323 Fra þat my fadere was fey & farne out o lyue,
  • 2324 And I was sett in his sege with septour to regne,
  • 2325 Sethen went I with my werriours in-to þe west endes,
  • 2326 And ay with-out any armes þaim all at anys ȝolden,
  • 2327 All Europe to myn enpire enterely þaim geuyn,
  • 2328 Euyn to þe Occiane out of ald Rome.
  • 2329 Qua þat vs rekinly resayues na riddour þai tholid,
  • 2330 And all at othire wais wroȝt we wast þam for euire.
  • 2331 And now fra þe marche of Messedone I meued opon late
  • 2332 Þurȝe þe anglis here of Afle with myne athill dukis,
  • 2333 And so þe Thebies þam tiȝt þe toun to defende,
  • 2334 And I þar pompe & þaire pride to poudire declined.
  • 2335 To ȝow now write I on þis wise þat, wald ȝe me send
  • 2336 Ten fyne Philisofours to fand with my wittes,
  • 2337 ȝoure burȝes ne ȝour briȝt bees bidd I þan nothire,
  • 2338 Bot at ȝe knaw me for kyng & call me ȝour lord.
  • 2339 For & ȝe nyk now to myn empire ȝour nekis for to bowe,
  • 2340 Þan bos ȝow bigger to be þen all my bald princes,
  • 2341 Or laite anothire ladis-man a-losed mare of strenth
  • 2342 Þan I my-selfe or my seggis be þe seuent dele.'
  • 2343 Þire athils of Atenes þire augard clerkis
  • 2344 Þan reuerenst þai þe riche seele & red ouer þe pistill,
  • 2345 Syne kest vp a crie with a kene voice at anys,
  • 2346 Sum in comendinge of his carpe & sum clene it spitid.
  • 2347 A Filisphire þan on first before þe folke risis,
  • 2348 Ane Eschilus in erde & ernstly he spekis,
  • 2349 Þe douth & all diuinours be-dene he comaundis,
  • 2350 Þat þai suld corde be na cas vn-to þe kingis hestis.
  • 2351 With þat all samen on a sopp semblis þe pupill,
  • 2352 A doctour, ane Domystyne þai derely beseke
  • 2353 To consaile þaim als in þe cause & ken þam þe best.
  • 2354 And he rekinly rase & rekyns þire wordis:
  • 2355 'I be-seke ȝow now, my citiȝens if þat ȝe safe vouche,
  • 2356 Bot sobirly a sete quile my saȝes for to here.
  • 2357 Sirs, if ȝe fele ȝow so fers his force to with-stand,
  • 2358 Aires agaynes him with armes admitts noȝt his saȝes.
  • 2359 And if ȝe fynde ȝe be to faynt fulfillis his will,
  • 2360 Vn-to his mekill maieste mekely ȝow bowe.
  • 2361 For Sexes in sum time surmountid all kyngis,
  • 2362 ȝit liȝt he law at þe last for all his lethire prid.
  • 2363 Bot Alexander with his armee in alkin rewmys
  • 2364 Has happend ȝit ai hedire-to þe herre of his faes;
  • 2365 Vnnombirable ere þe notis to neuen of his weres,
  • 2366 And ȝit betid neuir þe time þat euire tuke he schame.
  • 2367 Ware noȝt þe tulkis out of Tire þe tidiest on erth,
  • 2368 Þe kiddest kniȝtis to a-count vnder þe cape of heuen,
  • 2369 Quat bathe for corage & kene & connyng in armes?
  • 2370 Loke quare it profet þam a peese all þaire proud strenth.
  • 2371 Was noȝt þe Thebes þar-to þe threyest of othire,
  • 2372 Þe worthiest wees of þe werd & of witt clerest,
  • 2373 Fra þat þaire cites ware sett þe sotelest of weres?
  • 2374 Quat seruyd all þai sapient or sleȝt of batall?
  • 2375 Of Poliponenses þe pupill with þis prince foȝten,
  • 2376 And þat þam lethirly con like by þe lattir ende,
  • 2377 For þar þe kyng of þaire kythe was killid doun & heded,
  • 2378 His renkis raymed all þe route & all þe rewme ȝolden.
  • 2379 Wate ȝe noȝt wele þurȝe all þe werd how wirdis with him cheues?
  • 2380 Hase he noȝt cites butt saute sesyd out of nounbre?
  • 2381 And for Strasagirs þe strang he of his strenth priued,
  • 2382 ȝe meue al þus malicoly his maieste a-gayne.
  • 2383 Þare do ȝe noȝt ȝour deuire þat dare I wele proue,
  • 2384 It was þe gilt all of þe gome & noȝt of þe gud lord.
  • 2385 Ne had he trispast him to I take it on my trouthe,
  • 2386 Had neuire his cite ne his soile be sesid fra him nouthire.
  • 2387 For þe auaunt ser Alexander is all þe werd famyd
  • 2388 For ane of þe curtast kyng þat euir croune werid,
  • 2389 And wete ȝe wele at slik a we at is wyse halden,
  • 2390 He wald neuire suprise no sege vndir heuen.'
  • 2391 With þat all of Atenenys þis aunceant maistir,
  • 2392 And clene all þe clergy comensure & othire,
  • 2393 Þis diuinour Domestyne bedene þai comendid,
  • 2394 A-cordis þaim to his consaile & kendly it prased.
  • 2395 Þan amed þai to ser Alexander onane for to send
  • 2396 A croune all of clere gold clustrid with gemmes,
  • 2397 Of fyfty ponde with þe payse as þe prose tellis,
  • 2398 Þis tresoure tire þai him to & tribute him hetes.
  • 2399 Now ere þe sandismen sett on þaire horsis,
  • 2400 A Ientill man þat Iowell enioyned was to kepe,
  • 2401 Þat was full sekirly & soft all in silke falden;
  • 2402 Bot clerkis to þe conquirour caired with þaim many.
  • 2403 Þan movis furth þe messagere of mylis bot fewe,
  • 2404 Þat þai nere liȝt as belyue at þe kyngis tentis,
  • 2405 Knelid doun befor þe kyng & him þe croune rechid,
  • 2406 And ȝerely tribute him to geue ȝapely him hetis.
  • 2407 Þan takis þe gudman þe gifte & gretly þam thankis,
  • 2408 And vndirstandis in a stound how it stude clene,
  • 2409 Of þe eging of Eschilus þat ertid his feris,
  • 2410 Þat þai with-sitt suld his saȝes & serue noȝt his pistill.
  • 2411 Þe dities of Domestiane so did he bathe,
  • 2412 Þat comaundid & his comandmentis to kepe in all wyse,
  • 2413 ȝit neuire-þe-lattir to þa ledis a lettir he fourmed,
  • 2414 In presidine with his awen prince reportand þa wordis:
  • 2415 'I, kyng Philip son þe fers & his faire ladis,
  • 2416 Honoured Olimpades þat I obesche maste,
  • 2417 I kepe neuire king to be callid ne cache me þat name,
  • 2418 Till all þe barbarine blude a-bowe to þe grekis.
  • 2419 I etill neuir Athenes with armes for to entre,
  • 2420 Bot ȝow to question enquere & qwete with my wittis.
  • 2421 I purpose ay out of repreue ȝoure persons to leue,
  • 2422 And ȝe þe contrari clene ȝoure concience it opence.
  • 2423 Bot quilk as first of ȝow foundis a fote vs agayne,
  • 2424 Sall neuir deuoide my dedeyne ne my derfe ire.
  • 2425 And ȝe at wickid ere within ay wickidly ȝe thinke;
  • 2426 For as þe grayne is in þe grape growis þe frutis.
  • 2427 Þe Tebies tulkid vs with tene a-tired þam in armes,
  • 2428 ȝit rad for all þaire rebelte resayued þai þaire medis.
  • 2429 And for Strasagera þe stoute ȝe stithli me blamed,
  • 2430 Þare as he gilt me agayns & I him gradid haue,
  • 2431 I wrate to ȝow me to wayue be ten wyse clerkis;
  • 2432 ȝe kest out comaundmentis ȝe knew noȝt my strenth.
  • 2433 I miȝt a-coupe of þat cause if I it kythe wald;
  • 2434 Bot I for-geue ȝow all þe gilt & greues me na mare.
  • 2435 For-þi bees glad now, all þe gingis ȝe sall na gref haue,
  • 2436 Þe diuinour domestyne for ȝe his domes held.'
  • 2437 Fra þai consayued had þe clause & construed þe lettir,
  • 2438 Þai ware þe meriest modirsons on morne miȝt ryse.
  • 2439 Now fonndis furth þe fell kyng & flittis with his ostes,
  • 2440 Lendis him to Lacedoyne a litill fra þe cite,
  • 2441 With-out þe burȝe on a banke he bildis his tentis,
  • 2442 And þare him-selfe with a somme in a sege le[n]gis.
  • 2443 Þe ledis out of Lacedone belyue þam asemble,
  • 2444 Said, 'bow we neuir to his bode for bale apon erth,
  • 2445 Ne lat vs neuir be sa lethire at we like worthe
  • 2446 To þam of Ateynes it is oure opyn schame;
  • 2447 For þai ware baist of his bost bredid for noȝt;
  • 2448 Bot be we kniȝtly & kene oure corage to schew.'
  • 2449 With þat þai ȝarkid to þe ȝatis & ȝode to þe wallis,
  • 2450 Sum in Iopons, sum in Iesserantis sum Ioyned all in platis.
  • 2451 A grayne of þe grete see þaim aboute glidis;
  • 2452 For-þi buskis þam þe burgh a bataill with-out,
  • 2453 Preses furth at posternes in-to þe porte wyndis,
  • 2454 Schalkis scott into shipis all in shire mailes;
  • 2455 Archars with arows with attrid barbis,
  • 2456 Gais þam in-to galays & grathis þam be-forne.
  • 2457 Bowes bernes in-to bargis with basinettis on heued,
  • 2458 Sparrethis spetous to spend & speris in handis,
  • 2459 Þai crosse ouir toward þe kynge as kyndmen suld,
  • 2460 With as feyle on þe flode as foȝten with-in.
  • 2461 Þe lord him lokis on þe ledis & a litill smyles,
  • 2462 And sent twa vndir his seele þir saȝes in a pistill.
  • 2463 'I, Philip son þe fell kyng as I first sayd,
  • 2464 And als of Olimpades I anely ȝow rede,
  • 2465 Þat þe end of ȝoure eldirs enterely ȝe be-hald,
  • 2466 And roomes noȝt at þe ray[n]bowe þat reche ȝe ne may,
  • 2467 And þe powere of þe Persens so truly ȝe traist.
  • 2468 Lat se now, getis ȝow a name & naytis ȝour stre[n]the;
  • 2469 Bot bowis first fra ȝour bargis & blythly þaim wayfe,
  • 2470 For, fest I all on a fire þe foly is ȝoure awen.'
  • 2471 Ledis out of Lacedone quen þai þe lettir redd,
  • 2472 Were drery, bot for all þe dole þa diȝt þaim to fiȝt.
  • 2473 With þat þe kyng & his kniȝtis vm-clappis þe cite,
  • 2474 Settis all þe gailis on gledis & girdis doun þe wallis;
  • 2475 Þe citizens & seriantis at vneslayne ware
  • 2476 Bowis þam to þis baratour bodis & lyuys.
  • 2477 'ȝe knaw wele,' quod þe conquirour 'my comyng was esye;
  • 2478 Bot for ȝe fangid me noȝt faire fired is ȝour schippis,
  • 2479 ȝour burȝe is bretind & ȝour bernes I bed ȝow my-selfe,
  • 2480 ȝe suld noȝt stody ne stem þe sternes for to handill.
  • 2481 For he þat steppis on a stee quen þe staues failis,
  • 2482 Þan fautis him festing to his fete & fall him be-houes;
  • 2483 So, riȝt as Sexis was slayn sum time with ȝour eldirs,
  • 2484 So ettild ȝe ser Alexander bot þare ȝoure ame failes.'
  • 2485 Quen he þis saȝe had þam said þe cite he þam grauntid,
  • 2486 Fondis furth with his folke þar fraunches þam leues.
  • 2487 Þis souerayn with his seggis þurȝe Sycile he wyndis,
  • 2488 Þoȝt to ride & to rayme þe regions of barbres.
  • 2489 Þan was ser Darius dred & sembled derf ostis,
  • 2490 His kniȝtis, his consaill & carpis þire wordis,
  • 2491 Said: 'lo! my seris, now may se ȝour-selfe with ȝour eȝen,
  • 2492 How Alexander in his armes all-way encreses,
  • 2493 In valour & in victori & vertues so noble;
  • 2494 Þare as I thret him as a thefe thedis to dispoyle,
  • 2495 Now werrays he full worthily as wiȝt man suld,
  • 2496 Constreynes with his contenance kniȝtis to him bow.
  • 2497 Þe mare I spek him dispite & in my speche hindire,
  • 2498 Þe hiȝere I here him enhansed & hersude his name.
  • 2499 A ball & a hernepan I to þe barne sent,
  • 2500 For burde & for bobance þe bab with to play.
  • 2501 Him þat I countid bot a knaue may now be cald maistir;
  • 2502 For quare he fondis on fold dame fortune him foloȝe[s].
  • 2503 For-þi vs haue bos in hert þe hele of oure pupill,
  • 2504 And for na pompe ne na pride his person dispice,
  • 2505 For his lose, for all his litillaike is loued þurȝe be werd.
  • 2506 And þe mare I myn oure maieste þe mare it abatis,
  • 2507 Þe grace of þe grete god I ges, will him help,
  • 2508 Of prise þe hiȝe prouynce vn-to þis prince leues.
  • 2509 Quen we hope althire-hiȝest to hery him with armes,
  • 2510 Þan am I redd all oure rewme be reft vs for euire.'
  • 2511 Sone as ser Dary till his dukis deuysid had þir wordis,
  • 2512 Þan answars him ane Oriathire ane of his awen brethire,
  • 2513 'Þou has þis gome out of grece so gretly e[n]hansid,
  • 2514 Þat we Elanda suld leue & he þis landis entre.
  • 2515 Bot wald ȝour maieste þe maners of þis man sewe,
  • 2516 ȝe miȝt ȝoure rewme haue in ryst & othire rewmes wyn.
  • 2517 For Alexander all-ways or any of his erles,
  • 2518 Naytis him-selfe in ilke nede & so his name rysis.'
  • 2519 'Quat sall I take of him my temes tittire þan he myne?'
  • 2520 'Sire, on my perell,' quod a prince 'he passes all othire;
  • 2521 Þe wee wirkis all be witt he worthis þe bettir;
  • 2522 For-þi of þe lion, as I leue laȝt is his birthe.'
  • 2523 'Quat knawis þou þat?' quod þe kyng & þen þe kniȝt swaris:
  • 2524 'Sire, I was sent on a sand my-sell on a time,
  • 2525 To Philip his fadere to feche oure trouage;
  • 2526 Þare had I siȝt of þe segg his sapient I herde.
  • 2527 For-þi plese it to ȝour person ȝoure princes a-sembles,
  • 2528 Of Mede of Mesopotane þe men of Itaile,
  • 2529 Þe pupill of Appolomados þe panthis folke,
  • 2530 And ma þat houes to ȝour hest a hundreth & fifti.
  • 2531 Lat vs gedire þus oure gomes oure gods will vs help;
  • 2532 And quen he sesse vs sike a sowme sare will he drede.
  • 2533 ȝa, bot a wolfe, quod a wee will were many flokkis,
  • 2534 And so þe grace of þe grekis ouire-gos þe barbers.'
  • 2535 Be þis ser Ph[ilip] son þe fers of feȝtand folk
  • 2536 Had semblid ane vnsene sowme as þe buke sais,
  • 2537 Twa C. Mille in thede all of threuen kniȝtis.
  • 2538 Ridis furth in aray removis his tentis;
  • 2538* And thoght to loge þar & rest & ease hym þat nyght.
  • 2539 Vn-to a watere he wendis as þe buke tellis,
  • 2540 Þat with þa marchesmen Mocian was hatten;
  • 2541 It was clerire þan cristall & cole as a chill;
  • 2542 Þare-in couet oure kyng his cors for to bathe.
  • 2543 With þat þan wan of his wede & weschid him all ouire,
  • 2544 Quare-þurȝe he hent slike a harme at hatirly him greued.
  • 2545 Þis chele eftir chaufing enchafis so his hernes,
  • 2546 Þat he was fallen in a feuire or he first wend.
  • 2547 Þan mourned all þe Messedons as meruaill ware ellis.
  • 2548 Þai saȝe him so to be seke said ilkane to othire:
  • 2549 'Be þis disese to ser Darie & his dukis knawen,
  • 2550 He sall vs sett on a-saute & surely en[c]oumbre.'
  • 2551 If þai were sary & so na selly me thingke,
  • 2552 For ay þe hele of þe hede helpis all þe menbris.
  • 2553 Þan callis to him þe conquirour a clerke of his awen,
  • 2554 Ane Philip, his fesisiane his fare to behald;
  • 2555 Of al manere of medcyne man þat maste couthe,
  • 2556 A ȝonge berdles barne as þe buke tellis,
  • 2557 Said: 'lat liȝtly my lord for in a litill stonde
  • 2558 My-self with a serop sall saue ȝow be-lyue.'
  • 2559 Þan permeon þe proude a prince of his ost,
  • 2560 Þat held þe erth of Ermonye & enmyte hadd
  • 2561 Vn-to þis clerke of þe kyngis & be no cause els
  • 2562 Bot for þe lede was loued & with þe lord chereschest;
  • 2563 Þan ames he to ser Alexander on ane slike a pistill:
  • 2564 'Kepis ȝow,' quod he, 'conquirour & caches noȝt his drenke;
  • 2565 For Darius eftir his deth his doȝter has him hiȝt,
  • 2566 And ȝow to sla be som sleȝt to sese him his landis.'
  • 2567 ȝit was þe berne noȝt a bene baist of his wordis,
  • 2568 He asurid him so sadly þe serep he takis,
  • 2569 Þe licor in his awen looue þe lettir in þe tothire,
  • 2570 And into Phili[pi]s face fast he behaldis.
  • 2571 He bad him dred neuire a dele & it drink swyth,
  • 2572 And þan þe pistill of þe prince he put him in hand.
  • 2573 Þe leche lokid ouire þe lynes 'my lordinge,' he said,
  • 2574 'I am noȝt gilty of þis gile be all þe grete gods!'
  • 2575 As fast was he fysch-hale & Philip he callis,
  • 2576 Halsis him full hertly & of his hele thankis,
  • 2577 Said, 'wele knew þou my kynd lufe þi concience,
  • 2578 First suposid I of þi serop syne sesid þe þe lettir.'
  • 2579 'Mi louely lord, be ȝour leue lattes him a-pere,
  • 2580 Þe tulk at sike a trayne has touchid to my-selfe.'
  • 2581 Þan eftir ser Permes his prince prestly he sendis,
  • 2582 And þare þe trechoure was tane & for his trayne hedid.
  • 2583 Þan mouys he furth with his men & Medy he wynnys
  • 2584 Enterly to his empire & Ermonye þe mare.
  • 2585 Till a dissert þan he drafe was dry & na watere,
  • 2586 Þurȝe Adriac till Eufraten & ames þare his tentis,
  • 2587 And mas a brig ouire þe bourne of Barges with cheynes;
  • 2588 Comandis his kniȝtis ouire to caire & þar þai vncachid hertis.
  • 2589 Þai saȝe þe streme so stife it stonaid þam all,
  • 2590 For ferd þe festing suld faile & þai in þe flode droune.
  • 2591 Þan mas he laddis ouire to lend & lokars of bestis,
  • 2592 And monestis þam ilk modire-son him maynly to tell.
  • 2593 ȝit was his baratours a-baist & þen þe berne writhis,
  • 2594 Fandis him first on be-fore & all foloȝes eftir.
  • 2595 Þan passid þare out of Paradese twa proude Flummes,
  • 2596 Þurȝe Medy & Messopotane þai move, as I fynd,
  • 2597 And so to Babilon þai bowe ane is þe bourne of Tygre,
  • 2598 Þe tothire is Eufrates full euen & rynnes so to Sylus.
  • 2599 Þan cutis þe kyng in to þe cablis & to his kniȝtis sais:
  • 2600 'Lo! þof vs fall now to flee we may na ferryre wend;
  • 2601 Þare I rede,' quod be kyng 'oure bakis neuir to turne,
  • 2602 And if we did, with-outen dome to die all at anes;
  • 2603 For he þat folowid has ai þe floure & he at fled neuire.
  • 2604 Bees liȝt & laches ȝow a lose it is a lord gamen.
  • 2605 For I make a-vow at Messedone we sall na mare see,
  • 2606 Till all þe barbres vs bow þan may we blith turne.'
  • 2607 Now has ser Darie þe derfe of dukis & princes
  • 2608 Heued vp a hoge ost & fyue hundreth kniȝtis
  • 2609 Ere chosen to chiftans & chargid þaim to lede;
  • 2610 Trottis him on to Tigre & þare his tentis settis;
  • 2611 Þan mett þai on þe oþire morne with a mekill nombre,
  • 2612 Sire Alexander þe hathill armed on blonkis.
  • 2613 Þe multitude ware to me meruaile to reken,
  • 2614 Þat sammed was on aiþir side many sadd thousand.
  • 2615 Now ere þe baners out-bred & þe bate neȝis,
  • 2616 Blew bemys of bras buskis to-gedire,
  • 2617 Þe crie of þe clarions þe cloudis it persyd;
  • 2618 For þe dewt of þe dyn daunced stedis.
  • 2619 Bathe þe twa batails bremely assemblis,
  • 2620 And aithire segg with his sowme soȝt vn-to othire.
  • 2621 Kniȝtis on cursours kest þan in fewtire,
  • 2622 Taches in-to targetis tamed þaire brenys.
  • 2623 Þare was stomling of stedis sticking of erles,
  • 2624 Sharpe schudering of schote schering of mailes,
  • 2625 So stalworthly within a stond sterid þaim þe grekis,
  • 2626 Þat of þe barb[r]yne blod all þe fild flowis.
  • 2627 Sone as ser Darie þe deth of his douth sees,
  • 2628 Þe pite of þe Persens him prickis in his saule,
  • 2629 Sees his meneȝe so mynesch & his men fangid,
  • 2630 A few þat fresch ware vndefoulid & to þe fliȝt tournes.
  • 2631 ȝit was ane of his os, ane odd man of strenth,
  • 2632 A burly berne & a bald as þe buke tellis,
  • 2633 A segg at he ensurid had to sese him his doȝtir,
  • 2634 If he miȝt sla with any sleȝt þe seniour of grece.
  • 2635 He cled him all in clene stele a conyschaunce ouire,
  • 2636 Þat made was & merkid on messedone armes,
  • 2637 Aires him to ser Alexander in all-þir-mast puple,
  • 2638 As he a hathill ware of his behind him he stelis,
  • 2639 A briȝt brynnand brand he braidis out of shethe,
  • 2640 And þurȝe-out þe helme into þe hede he hurt him a littill.
  • 2641 And þe kniȝtis of oure cost as þai þe cas saȝe,
  • 2642 Þan fange þai þis ilk freke & be-fore þe kyng bryngis.
  • 2643 'Quat now? my worthi werreours?' þe wale kyng said,
  • 2644 He wend wele at he ware a wee of his awen,
  • 2645 'Qui has þou brest so my brayn & with a brand wondid
  • 2646 ȝour sekire seruant in same all were I sire callid,
  • 2647 All ware I halden as for hede ȝour helpere at nede?'
  • 2648 'Nay, hope ȝe neuire,' quod þe hathil 'ser hiȝe emperoure,
  • 2649 Me any Messedone to be þou ames of þine awen,
  • 2650 Bot of cruell kind comen of barbres.
  • 2651 And þis I did for ser Darius his doȝtir me hiȝt,
  • 2652 And cordid on þis condicion to couple hire to wyfe,
  • 2653 And he went out of þe werd to wild all his regne,
  • 2654 To hew þi hede fra þi hals & anys it him shewe.'
  • 2655 Þan callis oure kyng him his kniȝtis þaire consaile to frayn,
  • 2656 'Quat sall be done him for þis dede?' & þai bedene sware,
  • 2657 Sum, at he hangid suld be hiȝe sum þe hede priued,
  • 2658 Sum bedis in a bale-fire brin him to poudire.
  • 2659 'Quat has he fauted?' quod þe frek 'þof he him forced haue
  • 2660 Þe charges of his chiftan chefely to fill?
  • 2661 He þat him demes to þe dede he dampnes him-selfe,
  • 2662 And diȝtis him his awen dome & þat dare I proue.
  • 2663 For demed I any of my douth ser darye to spill,
  • 2664 As ȝe þis gentill man enioyne suld him be iugid þen.'
  • 2665 He latis þe Persyn in pesse pas with his hele,
  • 2666 Mekill for his mayn strenth & for his miȝt praysed.
  • 2667 As sone as Darye þe derfe of þis dede heris,
  • 2668 Þat he was sauyd vnslayne he semblis his knyȝtis,
  • 2669 Vp to a miȝti montayne his men þaire he schewis,
  • 2670 And gessis him wele þare to degrayd þe grekis maistir.
  • 2671 Þan fandis he furth in-to þe fild & fled als beliue,
  • 2672 And Alexander with his ost him asperly folowed
  • 2673 Riȝt to þe bu[r]ȝe of Batran & bildid þare his tentis,
  • 2674 Mas him glad with his ginge & to his godis offirs.
  • 2675 Þe cite þan he assailid & sesid on þe morne,
  • 2676 With all þe burȝes þare a-boute & busked þare his sete.
  • 2677 Þare fand he tresour vntald & als þe trew spouse
  • 2678 Of ser Dary, bath his dame & all his dere childire.
  • 2679 Now dose him fra Darius a dereworth prince,
  • 2680 Aires to ser Alexander adoures him lawe,
  • 2681 'I haue erdid with ȝoure enmy ser emperoure,' he said,
  • 2682 'As soiet serued haue I þat sire many sere wyntir;
  • 2683 And all my trauaill I tint for tuke I no gudes.
  • 2684 Bot wald it now ȝour worthines to wend with my-selfe,
  • 2685 A ten Mille vs take of tulkis enarmed,
  • 2686 I sall ȝow hete in ȝoure hand to haue at ȝoure will
  • 2687 Sire Dary, with þe mast dole of his derfe erles.'
  • 2688 'Nay, leue, lat ane,' quod þe lord 'þen leue I no straungers,
  • 2689 Þat þou be willi in þi witt to werray þine awen,
  • 2690 Ne tell þou me noȝt þat tale I trow noȝt þi wordis.'
  • 2691 Be þis ser Dary fro his dukis deuysid his pistill:
  • 2692 Þe kyng of kyngs was callid & clere god bathe,
  • 2693 Þus, vndirstand I, was þe stile & stiȝt in þare-eftir:
  • 2694 'ȝour satrapaires, ȝour seruant with seruand obeschen;
  • 2695 Sire, we haue wayued to ȝow writtis ȝit write we þe same,
  • 2696 How þis maistir of Messedone has on oure marchis entrid,
  • 2697 brynd vp oure biggingis bretted oure kniȝtis,
  • 2698 And we ouire-sett be to sare to suffire any langire.
  • 2699 For-þi ȝour dignite bydene we drerily be-seke,
  • 2700 A-gayns þe force of oure faa vs forthire a quile.'
  • 2701 Quen he had red all þe rawis for rancour he swellis,
  • 2702 And out on-ane to Alexander all þus he writis.
  • 2703 'I Dary, with þe dignite þe diademe of Persee,
  • 2704 Of all þe kyngis þe kyng þat corouned was euire,
  • 2705 To þe, my seruand, I say as me was sent late,
  • 2706 How þi lawnes & þi litillaike þou lickyns to my hiȝt.
  • 2707 Bot parde, þi prouidence inpossible it semes,
  • 2708 A heuy As to be houyn vp to þe sternes,
  • 2709 A thing threuyn is & thike & þarnes þe wyngis,
  • 2710 And fautis þe fethirhames & þe fliȝt-loomes.
  • 2711 For-þi þi mynd neuir þe mare lat mounte in-to pride
  • 2712 For chance of na cheualry þat þou a-cheued hase.
  • 2713 For vertu ne no victori ne vant noght þi-selfe;
  • 2714 He þat enhansis him to heȝe þe heldire he declynes.
  • 2715 I haue herd of þi hendlaike of heraudis & of othire,
  • 2716 Of þi noblay now o newe time a-nentes my modire.
  • 2717 Bathe to my wyfe & to my barnes quat bounte þou shewis,
  • 2718 Quat curtassy & kyndlaike I ken alto-gedire.
  • 2719 Bot surely all þe seson þat þou þam so pleses,
  • 2720 Þou fangis me neuire to þi frynd fyne quen þe likis.
  • 2721 And if þou wirke þaim all þe wa & wrak at þou may,
  • 2722 Þe mare vnfryndschip þarfore fall sall þe neuire;
  • 2723 For-þi to put þam to pyne I pray þe noȝt wande,
  • 2724 For myn angire on þine arrogance sall at þe last kindill.'
  • 2724* Þarfor do þou þi best god forbyd þou spare.'
  • 2725 Quen he had lokid ouir þe lines he laȝes at his wordis,
  • 2726 And ditis agayn to ser Dary þis dete þat foloȝes:
  • 2727 'I, Alexander, þe eldest & all myne ane
  • 2728 Of kyng Philip & his fere þat frely lady,
  • 2729 Honourd Olimpades þat anely me fosterd,
  • 2730 To þe kyng of Persy þis prolouge I write:
  • 2731 Sire, vanite & vayne-glori & vices of pride,
  • 2732 Þa ere þe gaudis as I gesse þat all gods hatis,
  • 2733 And ilka dedly douth þai driffe þam to punesch,
  • 2734 Þat has driȝten of vndedlynes draȝen þaim to name.
  • 2735 Þis similitude to þi-selfe I say all-to-gedire,
  • 2736 Þat a-suris so in þi surquitry & sesis neuire-mare
  • 2737 To bost ne to blasfeme blyn will þou nouthire.
  • 2738 Bot for þi gold & þi gudis a god þou þe makis,
  • 2739 Þou vp-braydis me for þe beute þat I þi blod schewid,
  • 2740 As to þi modire I mene & to þi mery childir,
  • 2741 Þare mas þou þe to malicole & meenes for litill.
  • 2742 I wroȝt it noþire for þi will ne for þi wale threte.
  • 2743 If I kid þam curtassy it come fra my-selfe,
  • 2744 Haly of oure awen hert & of oure hynd thewis;
  • 2745 Ne we prid vs for na prouwis predestayned we ere,
  • 2746 Oure gods gayn vs þare-to þat gretly þou spises.
  • 2747 Latt now þis lettre be þe last & loke to þi-selfe,
  • 2748 For sekire & on my surement I seke ȝow agayns.'
  • 2749 Þis brefe he bedis þam to bere þat broȝt him þe toþire,
  • 2750 And takis þam of his tresoure & twynnes with þaim faire.
  • 2751 Quen þai to Persy ware past a pistill he enfourmes,
  • 2752 Wrate a writt of his will so sendis to his princes,
  • 2753 His seruandis & his seneschalls out of sere rewmes,
  • 2754 And þus comandis he þam clene þe kyng his stile.
  • 2755 'I, Alexander, þat as aire avaunced is in grece,
  • 2756 Þe son of Ph[ilip] þe fers as I first tald,
  • 2757 And als of Olimpades myne honourable modire,
  • 2758 Þus send I to my satraparis my princes & my dukes,
  • 2759 My pers out of siphagoyne salutis & grace,
  • 2760 Of þe sele of Surry my seggis & myn erles,
  • 2761 My kniȝtis out of Capodos & all my kid lordis,
  • 2762 Þe ledis out of Landace & all þe landis out-by.
  • 2763 I comand ȝow on þe clere faithe þat ȝe my croune aȝe,
  • 2764 Þat belyue to Alysaundire þat is myn awen cite,
  • 2765 Þat ilkane of ȝow send be ȝour-selfe of sere slayn bestis,
  • 2766 Of fresch & of fyne wroȝt fellis a thousand,
  • 2767 Sum grayne to be neþire gloues graythid to my kniȝtis,
  • 2768 Sum pured pelloure depurid to put in oure wedis,
  • 2769 Lat kest þam apon camels þat in þat kith lengis,
  • 2770 And aires with þaim to Eufraten þis erand haues in mynd.'
  • 2771 Þan was a man, as me mynes in þe morne-qwile,
  • 2772 Was of ser Daris a duke þe derfe Emperoure,
  • 2773 Ane þat Nostanda was named & a noble prince,
  • 2774 Þat certified his souerane þir saȝes in a pistill:
  • 2775 'Sire Dari, duke of ilk a douth & driȝten þi-selfe,
  • 2776 Þe grete glorius god graythid in þi trone,
  • 2777 Nostanday, to ȝour nobilnes þat ay my nek bowis,
  • 2778 With seruage to ȝour senurie my-selfe I comand.
  • 2779 It semed noȝt ȝoure seruand sire, vndistreyned
  • 2780 Vn-to ȝour mekill maieste þis matir to write,
  • 2781 Bot I am depely distressid þis dede for to wirke,
  • 2782 And made þis myscheffe to myn malegrefe my chekis.
  • 2783 For wete it wele ȝour worthines þat of oure wale princes
  • 2784 Twa of þe tethiest ere tint & termynd of lyue,
  • 2785 Þat lost was now þe last day a litill fra Tygre,
  • 2786 In batail apon bent fild in-bland with þe grekis.
  • 2787 Þare was I gird to þe grond & greuously woundid,
  • 2788 Vnnethe it cheuyd me þat chance to chape to þe fliȝt;
  • 2789 And oþire many of oure men miȝtfull kniȝtis,
  • 2790 And erlis of all ȝour empire enterely deuydid,
  • 2791 ȝoure lore & ȝour legaunce lethirly forsaken,
  • 2792 Aires þaim to ser Alexander & on-ane ȝeldis.
  • 2793 And he þaim faire vndirfange enfeffid þaim belyue,
  • 2794 In palais, in prouince in principall regnes.'
  • 2795 Þen to Nostanda on next þus notis he a lettir,
  • 2796 Þat he suld semple him a sowme & set þaim agaynes.
  • 2797 Anothire pistill lete he pas to Porrus of Ynde,
  • 2798 To come & helpe with his here & he him þus swaris:
  • 2799 'I, Porrus, þat possessid am þe partyse of yynde,
  • 2800 And am þe coron be kynd of clene all þat Iles,
  • 2801 Sire Dary, with þi dyademe drest on þi trone,
  • 2802 To þe þat salutis I send þe sele of myn armes.
  • 2803 Þou prayes vn-to my person my powere to sempble,
  • 2804 And ȝow enforce with my folke ȝour faes to withstand;
  • 2805 And I am boun at ȝour bode & buxsom was euire,
  • 2806 To heȝe & to help ȝour hest quen I my hele lastis.
  • 2807 Bot now a langour me lettis þat I laȝt haue,
  • 2808 Slike a seknes for-sothe is on my-selfe halden,
  • 2809 Þat I ne may streyne me ne stere for stondis so hard,
  • 2810 Bot lyse in langwysches & lokis quen my lyfe endis.
  • 2811 And as warysche I my warke þat I am wonden,
  • 2812 As me is wa for þi woȝe & þi wrange bathe,
  • 2813 I may noȝt ryde ȝow to reschow my reuthe is þe mare.
  • 2814 Bot I sall leue & be lechid for-þi be liȝt-hertid;
  • 2815 And I be couird of my coth care for na grekis,
  • 2816 Amay þe for na Messedoynes ne men vndire heuen;
  • 2817 For I sall hele all in hast & hale to ȝoure kythis
  • 2818 With ten legions at þe last & all of lele knyȝtis.'
  • 2819 Be þis Rodogars þe riche þat renewid lady,
  • 2820 Þe dere dame of Dari of þis dede heris,
  • 2821 Þat hire awen child with Alexander amed eft to feȝt,
  • 2822 And sorowis selcuthly sare & sendis him a pistill;
  • 2823 'To kyng dary þe derfe þe derrest of my childire,
  • 2824 Rodogoras þe riche quene' þis rauth scho him writis:
  • 2825 'Bald baratour on bent borne of my bosom,
  • 2826 Here send I þe, my swete salutis & ioy.
  • 2827 Þou has heuyd vp þi huge ost as I haue herd tell,
  • 2828 Samed all þi saudiours & semblid þi pupill,
  • 2829 And etils to ser Alexander eft to assail.
  • 2830 Wete þou wele it is noȝt worthe ware þe be tyme;
  • 2831 For had þou gedird all þe gomes I gesse, of þe werd,
  • 2832 ȝit to with-stand him a stonde þi strenthe ware to littill.
  • 2833 For godis prouidence apert ay prestly him helpis,
  • 2834 Sauys & sustenes him-selfe & socurs him euire.
  • 2835 For-þi hoo with þi hautes & þine vnhemed wittis,
  • 2836 A-vaile of þi vanite & of þi vayne pride,
  • 2837 Obey þe to þe baratour þe best I con rede;
  • 2838 Magnifie him with þi mouthe & meke þi hert,
  • 2839 For any hathill vndire heuen þat at he ne hade may,
  • 2840 Mare sekire it ware him to forsake þen sewe any forthire;
  • 2841 In pese & in pacience possede at he miȝt,
  • 2842 [Þan] Be excludit out of his erd & euire-mare duell.'
  • 2842* Sir Dary for þoo dytez was deply diseassyd;
  • 2843 Quen he þis rawis had rede he rewfully wepid,
  • 2844 His eldirs & his ancestris als he remembris;
  • 2845 Þoȝt how pride þaim depriued: & here a passe ende.
  • 2846 Þen aires him on ser Alexander furth with his princes,
  • 2847 To þe cite-ward of Susys him-selfe he aproches.
  • 2848 Þare-in ser Darius duellid with his derfe ostis,
  • 2849 So neȝe he come to þa cliffis he kend ouire þe cite.
  • 2850 With þat comaunds he he[s] kniȝtis to cutt doune belyue
  • 2851 Bowis of buskis & of braunches of bolis & of lindes,
  • 2852 And bynde to þaire hors feete of bobis of herbis,
  • 2853 Bath to Meeris & to mulis & all maner of bestis.
  • 2854 Þe popill out of Persy þat slike a pake saȝe,
  • 2855 Beheld on he to þe hillis & heterly was stroubid;
  • 2856 Þai ware so woundird of þat werke & wetirly it semed
  • 2857 As all þe grond & þe greues had glid þaim agayns.
  • 2858 So neȝe þe cite he soȝt & sett vp his tentis,
  • 2859 Þat thre days to þat thede him tharne & na mare.
  • 2860 Said: 'let ane dryue to Dary & bede him dryffe sone,
  • 2861 Or put him to my powere & plede we na langire.'
  • 2862 Þe same niȝt in his slepe him soda[n]ly a-perid
  • 2863 Amon, his awen god in aung[e]ls wyse,
  • 2864 In a mery mantill of mervailous hewis,
  • 2865 Meuand as a Messedone in Marcure fourme;
  • 2866 Said: ‘vn-to Susys my son na sandisman þou send,
  • 2867 Bot fange my fygour to þe fast & fand furth þi-selfe,
  • 2868 Clethe þe with my conyschaunce & for na care drede,
  • 2869 I hete þe haly my help na harme sall þou suffire.'
  • 2870 Þan slade he sliȝly a-way & he fra slepe ryse,
  • 2871 A breme blasand blis in his brist rysys.
  • 2872 He knew his kniȝtis þat cas & þai him clene redd,
  • 2873 Þat he suld graythe him to ga as him his god chargis.
  • 2874 Þan callis to him þis conquirour ane of his kid prince[s],
  • 2875 Emynelaus, þat his erlis & his ost ledes,
  • 2876 Hend & hardy of his hand a huge man of strenthe,
  • 2877 And þare-to lede lelist to his lord leuand of lyue.
  • 2878 He bad him boun him belyue & on a blonk worth,
  • 2879 Anoþire foole with him fange & founde with himselfe.
  • 2880 Strad vp him-selfe on a stede in starand wedis,
  • 2881 And on a cursoure þe kniȝt with a collt foloȝes.
  • 2882 To þe grete flode of Granton to-gedire þai ride,
  • 2883 Þai fand it forsen þaim be-fore a fote-thike yse.
  • 2884 Þat is þe streme of Strama with many steds clepid,
  • 2885 And ȝit þe pure propure name in percynne tonge.
  • 2886 Þan Alexander belyue his wedes he changis,
  • 2887 Þis renke with his Ronsees he ridis ouire & leuys.
  • 2888 'A! lat me lend with ȝow, lord' þe lede him besekis,
  • 2889 'For drede þat angire or a-ventour or any slike fall.'
  • 2890 Nay, houe þou here,' quod þe kyng 'vn-to my hame-come.
  • 2891 He þat I saw in my slepe sall be my sekire helpe.'
  • 2892 With þat he braides on þe blonke & broches him in þe syd,
  • 2893 Bowis him to-ward þe burȝe as briȝt as ane aungell.
  • 2894 Þis reuere at I first rede be rewle of his kynde,
  • 2895 As wele in seson of Somere as in þe sad wintre,
  • 2896 And þat is neuir bot on niȝtis so naytely it fresys,
  • 2897 Till any powere to pas or preke on with stedis.
  • 2898 ȝit has þe floum, as I fynd a forelange obrede,
  • 2899 And euire-ilke mornynge it meltis for miȝt of þe son;
  • 2900 With slike a reryd þan it rynnes þe romance it witnes,
  • 2901 Þat qua so tuke it in þat tyme tint ware for euire.
  • 2902 Be þis enproched him oure prince vn-to þe proude cite,
  • 2903 Band his blonke at a barrere with-out þe burȝe ȝatis.
  • 2904 Þe Persyns of his passag was passyngly wondird,
  • 2905 And gesses him to be gode for glori of his wedis.
  • 2906 'Quat dones man ert þou?' quod Dary & drafe him agayne.
  • 2907 'Sire Alexander,' quod þis athill 'has all þus me sent,
  • 2908 Bedis buske þe to batell; quat bade makis þou here?
  • 2909 Outhire ȝare þe ȝapely þar-to or till his ȝokke bowe.'
  • 2910 'Qweþire þu be he?' quod þe hathill 'so hately þou spekis,
  • 2911 Þou melis noȝt as a ministir a messangere bowis;
  • 2912 Þou carpis euyn as a kyng þat closid ware in pride.
  • 2913 Bot I am dred neuire a dele of all þi bald saȝes.
  • 2914 Bot for þi souerayne sake þat sent þe þus hedire,
  • 2915 ȝit sall þou sit with my-selfe & soupe or þou wynde.'
  • 2916 He raȝt him þan be þe arme & reuerence him makis,
  • 2917 And to his palais a-pert with princes him ledis,
  • 2918 Þare aires him in ser Alexander & all þus he thinkis,
  • 2919 'Þis ilke bar-bryn berne grete beute me schewys,
  • 2920 Þat here þus hyndly be þe hand ledis to his Innes;
  • 2921 Þis hame with help of my god I haue sall he[r]-eftir.'
  • 2922 So silis he furth with þe sire in-to a somere hall,
  • 2923 Þare sesonde was a soper þe sotelest vndire heuen.
  • 2924 Sire Darius drawis to þe dese & oþir dere princes,
  • 2925 Settis þis sire with him-selfe lete serue þaim to-gedire.
  • 2926 Þat bild was all of brynt gold as þe buke tellis,
  • 2927 With þe bath, þe bordis & þe benkes beten of þat ilke.
  • 2928 Þe wessell to vyse on was verraly þe same,
  • 2929 And all þe sale of a sute set full of stanes.
  • 2930 Þe popill of Persy opon þis prince waitis,
  • 2931 Þe litillaike of his like lathely þat þai spyse;
  • 2932 Bot þe wisedome & þe worthenes & of þe wale thewis
  • 2933 Þat in þat cors was enclosed kend þai full litill.
  • 2934 Butlers full besyly broȝt vp þe wyne,
  • 2935 In grete gobletis of gold graythid full of ȝymmes;
  • 2936 And Alexander belyue as he had ay dronken,
  • 2937 With þat he clekis vp þe coupe & putis in his bosom.
  • 2938 Anoþire boll was him broȝt & bathe he deuoydid,
  • 2939 And ȝit he threw to þe thrid & thrast in þare-eftir.
  • 2940 Sone as þe clientis þat knew at of þe coupe serued,
  • 2941 Þai knele doun before þe kyng & him þe cas tald.
  • 2942 Þan has ser Dary dedeyne & derfely he lokes,
  • 2943 Rysys him vp renysch & reȝt in his sete,
  • 2944 'Quat faris þou with,' quod he, 'frynde? a fon þe besemes;
  • 2945 Quy voydis þou my vessell? it is a vile schame.'
  • 2946 'Sire, it is þe custum,' quod þe kniȝt 'in oure kyngis fest,
  • 2947 Þat, be it ane, be it oþire þat þai of drinke,
  • 2948 Þe gestis sall haue þe goblettis & þaim gud þinke,
  • 2949 To wild & wende with a-way & wirke quat þaim likes;
  • 2950 Bot sen þis vse is here vn-honourable here I þam leue;'
  • 2951 Braidis þaim furth withouten bade þe butlers þaim yeldis.
  • 2952 'Now sothely,' quod þan ilk a segge softly to-gedire,
  • 2953 'Þis maner at he melis of is menskefull & noble.'
  • 2954 Þan was þare ane proude pere a prince at þe table,
  • 2955 Anepo, þat on Alexander all-way be-haldis,
  • 2956 Þan mynes him anes in Messedone he had þe man sene,
  • 2957 Quen he was sent to his syre to feche þaire trouage.
  • 2958 His vertuse & his vysage his voise he remenbris,
  • 2959 His fourme & his fetoure his fygoure a-vysis,
  • 2960 He studis & he stuynes he stemes with-in,
  • 2961 'Is þis noȝt Philip son þe firs þe fedare of grece?'
  • 2962 With þat he sleȝly vp soȝt & his sete leuys,
  • 2963 Droȝe him euyn to ser Dary þare he on dese bydis,
  • 2964 Said, 'Surely, ser, þis sandisman þat sittis ȝow be-forne
  • 2965 Is Alexander him awen self or all myn ame faillis.'
  • 2966 Sone þis gouernour of grece is of þis gaude ware,
  • 2967 He torkans with & vndire-tuke he touched of him-selfe,
  • 2968 Herd a nyngkiling of his name & naytis him to ryse,
  • 2969 Buskis him vp at a braide & fra þe burde rysys.
  • 2970 He tas a torche fra a tulke þat by þe table standis,
  • 2971 Felly fangis it in his fist & to his fole wyndis,
  • 2972 Fyndis him faire him before þare he him feste hade,
  • 2973 Raȝt him radly þe reyne & on his rige worthis.
  • 2974 With þat he brochis his blonke þat þe blode fames,
  • 2975 Sparis out spacly as sparke out of gledes.
  • 2976 Be þe liȝt at he led laches he þe way,
  • 2977 And fandis fast to þe fliȝt with a fers will.
  • 2978 Þe pepill of þe palais quen þai his passe saȝe,
  • 2979 Rusches vp in a res rynnes in-to chambres,
  • 2980 Sum araies þaim in ringis & sum in row brenys,
  • 2980* Some in stalwart stuffe & some in stele plates
  • 2981 With hard hattis on þaire hedis hied to þaire horsis,
  • 2982 Prekis eftir þe prince prestly enarmed.
  • 2983 Bot now was niȝt on þam neȝed þat noyd þaim sare.
  • 2984 Sone ware þai willid fra þe way þe wod was so thike,
  • 2985 Sum on buȝes & on brerys blemysched þe face,
  • 2986 Sum ware dreuyn doun in dikis sum in depe myrys;
  • 2987 Bot Alexander at myn ame þaire aȝe is a-schapid,
  • 2988 Ay trottis him to þe trod-gate as him þe torche wyssis.
  • 2989 Sire Dary as a drery man duellis at hame,
  • 2990 With princes in his palais all pense he sittis,
  • 2991 Þe baldnes of þis baratour he besyly remembris,
  • 2992 Þat skapid so sone skatheles fra all his schathill dukis.
  • 2993 Þan was an ymage within as I am enfourmede,
  • 2994 Of Sexeres þat sum-quyle þat cite had to welde,
  • 2995 Forgid all of fyne gold & fettild his seete
  • 2996 Vndire þe souerayne sege þare sett ere þe lawis.
  • 2997 And sodanly þat semylacre as tellis þe textis,
  • 2998 It all to-paschis in-to peces & to poudire dryuys.
  • 2999 Þan was þe wale kyng waa & wepand he said:
  • 3000 'Þis be-takens trombling of my tild & tene of my regne.'
  • 3001 And Alexander all þat quile asperly rydis
  • 3002 To þe grete flode of Granton & it on a glace fyndis.
  • 3003 Or he was soȝt to þe side ȝit sondird þe qweryns,
  • 3004 His hors it hunyschist for euire & he with hard schapid.
  • 3005 Þan aires he with Emynelows euen to his princes,
  • 3006 And derfly on þe toþir day a douth he assembles,
  • 3007 Twa hundreth thousand on a throm all of threuen kniȝtis,
  • 3008 Cairis him vp to a cliffe & comfurthis his hostis;
  • 3009 'Sall neuir þe Persyns pake be pere to þe grekis,
  • 3010 And if þai ma ware be many mayes noȝt ȝour hertis;
  • 3011 Full many flees may fell bot a fewe waspis.'
  • 3012 And all þe company clene comendid his wittis.
  • 3013 Be þis ser Dary was diȝt whit his dere erles,
  • 3014 Heuyd vp a huge ost & hast him to ryde,
  • 3015 His ginge & all his garysons in glyssynand wedis,
  • 3016 Gaes him on to granton & graithes þare his tentis.
  • 3017 His stoure was so stalworthe & store & strange to a-byde,
  • 3018 He had of men out of mynde many mayn hundreth,
  • 3019 Þat sike a siȝt & a sowme of seggis enarmed
  • 3020 Was neuir sene, I suppose sen þe sege of troy.
  • 3021 Þe chiftayne had chariotis chosen for þe nanes,
  • 3022 Ten thousand be tale tried for þe were.
  • 3023 And þai ware sett aþire side full of sythe-bladis,
  • 3024 Kene keruand as knyfes & cursers þam drowe.
  • 3025 Þe next day be þe none new note ryses,
  • 3026 Aithire freke with his folke in þe fild metis,
  • 3027 And bald bernes on bent banars vnfaldis,
  • 3028 Put pennons on pollis payntid of siluir.
  • 3029 Alexander as belyue is armed vp clene,
  • 3030 Bounes him to his blonke þe best vndire heuen,
  • 3031 Þat was þe blonk Bucifal as þe buke tellis,
  • 3032 A foole worth fyfty of þe firste þat in þe flode drouned.
  • 3033 He spynnes him out a grete space fra he[s] peris all,
  • 3034 Couers him full clenly & closed in his gere.
  • 3035 Þe powere out of Persy quen þay þe prince saȝe,
  • 3036 Frayed was of his fourme so ferdfull him semed.
  • 3037 Now ere þe batails boune with braggins in trumpis,
  • 3038 Þe breme bemen blaste beres to þe welken.
  • 3039 Alexander allþire first on þaim all he settis,
  • 3040 And aithire ward at a wapp wiȝtly inIoynes.
  • 3041 Archars & all men asperly fiȝtis,
  • 3042 Þare was Iusting o Ioy Iopons a-tamed;
  • 3043 Siles doun on aithire side selcuth kniȝtis,
  • 3044 Sum darid, sum dede sum depe wondid.
  • 3045 So fell fliȝt was of flanys as I fynd wreten,
  • 3046 Of arrows & of all quat þat all þe aire blindid;
  • 3047 Hogere on to be-hald þan of haile-stanes,
  • 3048 And all þe fild full of folke fyue mile large.
  • 3049 Als sone as þe son vp soȝt þe slaȝtere begynnes,
  • 3050 And so to þe son-sett slakid þai neuire.
  • 3051 Be þat þe barbryne blode be-gan to discende,
  • 3052 Þe proudest of þe Persyns past out of lyue.
  • 3053 Sone as ser Dary it deuysid & seȝis his foke faile,
  • 3054 With þat he bedis þam þe bake & bidis na langir;
  • 3055 Þen quen þai fange to þe fliȝt was furth in with euyn,
  • 3056 And mirke out of mesure na man þaim a-pered.
  • 3057 For-þi þe chariotis in þe chace choppid þaim to deth,
  • 3058 Þe cartis þat I carpid of with þe kene sythis,
  • 3059 Þare fell as fele þam before of fotemen & othire,
  • 3060 As risonis in a ranke fild quen riders it spillen.
  • 3061 Sire Dary dryue in þe derke & his douth folows,
  • 3062 Gaes him on to grantun vn-to þe grete burne,
  • 3063 Fand it frosen him before as fell for þe time,
  • 3064 Past him on with his pers a pake out of nombre.
  • 3065 His folke fellis all þe flode a forelange o brede,
  • 3066 Þe streme fra þe a strande streȝt to þat othire.
  • 3067 Sone fra him-self was at þe side it sonders behind,
  • 3068 And all at lent ware on loft loste þar þe swete.
  • 3069 Þus many deed þat day as þe buke tellis,
  • 3070 Of pollis out of Persye withouten þe grekis,
  • 3071 Thre hundreth Mille thra men þat tharned þaire lyues,
  • 3072 With þe fooles & þe folke þat þe flode drouned.
  • 3073 Þis senioure out of Susys to his cite wendis,
  • 3074 Fallis doun on his face flat in þe sale.
  • 3075 'Wa is me,' quod he, 'wriche, wa is me vnhappy!'
  • 3076 Siȝis selcuthely sare & sadly he wepys,
  • 3077 'I þat was straȝt to þe sternes am streken now to grond,
  • 3078 Now craton, now caitefe now am I kast vndire,
  • 3079 Þat had of þe Orient all ouire homage vmqwile.
  • 3080 Wist any we quat him suld worth þis werd wald he leue,
  • 3081 Full sympill in a seteqwile seke to þe cloudes,
  • 3082 And þai at mast ere of miȝt smyten all to poudire.'
  • 3083 With þat reufully he rase & renkis out he sendis,
  • 3084 To Alexander belyue & all slike a pistill.
  • 3085 'I drery kynge on my dese Darius of Persy,
  • 3086 To Alexander þat Aire þat all has to wild,
  • 3087 Þe lege lord of my lyfe to lose or to saue,
  • 3088 Þus send I to my souerayne salutis & ioy.
  • 3089 So wyde is þe wisdom þat wonne[s] in ȝour saule,
  • 3090 Þat wele ȝe wate, of all men at I worthid here before,
  • 3091 Of all be notis þat ere now & quat on next sewes.
  • 3092 For-þi ȝour werke ay be witt ȝe wirke vnreproued.
  • 3093 Sire, I knawlage me a creatour & come of a woman,
  • 3094 Heues noȝt ȝour hert vp to hiȝe take hede to ȝour end;
  • 3095 It limps noȝt all-way þe last to licken with þe first,
  • 3096 Quat suld a kniȝt mare to kepe bot conquire his enmy?
  • 3097 Was noȝt Sexes him-selfe þe soueraynest in erth,
  • 3098 And cheued him of cheualry chekis out of nombre?
  • 3099 ȝit for his will out of worde was won in-to pride,
  • 3100 In þe lede here of Elanda lithirly he feyned.
  • 3101 Þinke þat allanely of god þis ouirlaike þou haues,
  • 3102 For-þi haue mercy on þi men þi methe we beseke,
  • 3103 Als of ȝoure grete gudnes to grant vs oure modire,
  • 3104 Oure bride, oure barnes out of bande for besandis enoȝe,
  • 3105 For all þe feete at oure fadirs in þe fold hade,
  • 3106 In Battri & in þis bild þe burȝe of Elanda,
  • 3107 Þe maistri & þe maieste of Mede & of Persy,
  • 3108 With all þe Iolyte & Ioy þat Iubiter vs lenes.'
  • 3109 Þe seggis at fra Susses was sent with þe pistill
  • 3110 Aires to ser Alexander onone it him reches;
  • 3111 And he dos on before his ost openly to rede,
  • 3112 And all his kniȝtis for þe carpe ware kenely reioysed.
  • 3113 Þen was ane Permeon, a pere a prince of his oste,
  • 3114 Enclynes him doun to þe kyng said: 'kid emperoure,
  • 3115 Resayue þis risches, I rede þat ȝow þis renke bedis,
  • 3116 And lyuers him his ladis & all his lele childire.'
  • 3117 Þan Alexander belyue þa hathels he callis,
  • 3118 Þe berne at broȝt him þe brefe said, 'bowis to ȝour lord,
  • 3119 And say, me wondirs, I-wisse if he it wete wald,
  • 3120 For any mede a-pon mold his meneyhe to lyuire?
  • 3121 If he be fallen vndire fote & his folke streyned,
  • 3122 And vencust of oure violence quat vailis him his hestis?
  • 3123 His person & his prouynce he put it in my will,
  • 3124 And ȝeld him vndire my ȝoke þan ȝerne I na mare.
  • 3125 And if [he] grant him noȝt de-grayd bot for þe gre threpis,
  • 3126 Bid buske him eft to þe bent vs bataill to ȝeld.'
  • 3127 Þus monest he þe messangers þaire maistir to say,
  • 3128 Geuys þam giftis full gude & lete þam ga swyth.
  • 3129 And þan comands he his kniȝtis þe corses vp to gedire,
  • 3130 Of all þe douth at was dede & diȝt þam in graues.
  • 3131 And at wondid was, I-wis as þe writt tellis,
  • 3132 To serche þaire saluys & þar saris with surgens noble.
  • 3133 At þe grete flode of Granton now graythis he his tentis,
  • 3134 Honoured þare his ald gods & offirs þam nouches;
  • 3135 Þare fand he palais vp piȝt & many proud hames,
  • 3136 Sum-quile of Sexes ware sett þe sire of þo landis.
  • 3137 Þa bildis he bedis þam to brin sone of his bone rewis,
  • 3138 And bad na beren be sa bald a brand for to kyndill.
  • 3139 Þare was a brade bent fild was beried full of kniȝtis,
  • 3140 Of ald peres out of Persy prince & dukes.
  • 3141 Þe Messedones in þe mold mynes to be graues,
  • 3142 Fand coupis all of clene gold & costious stanes,
  • 3143 Þe sepulture of a sire þat of Surre was kyng.
  • 3144 Him was þe name Ninus was in a noke fonden,
  • 3145 Was of ane athill amatist & all within grauen,
  • 3146 Plantid full of palmetres & many proud fowles,
  • 3147 And slike a clerete it kest þu[r]ȝe kynd of it-selfe,
  • 3148 Þai miȝt haue kend without þe kist þe corps all-to-gedire.
  • 3149 Þare was a tenefull toure & tulkis in-closid;
  • 3150 Sum ware þe handis of hewen & sum wondid hoȝes,
  • 3151 Sum þe eȝen, sum þe eres & egirly cries
  • 3152 On Alexander eftir help & he þam all liuers.
  • 3153 He wepis on þam for wa said, 'wa is me, my childire!'
  • 3154 And ilkane of his talentis he takis ten thousand.
  • 3155 Þus ware þai diȝt of ser Dary for he dedeyne hade,
  • 3156 Þat þai ware comen doun of kyngis & be no cause ellis.
  • 3157 Be now þe douth of ser Daris þe derfe messangere
  • 3158 Fra Alexander agayn his answare him broȝt;
  • 3159 And he þan girdis out to grete eft graythis him to fyȝt,
  • 3160 To þe honoryd here out of ynde þus ordans a pistill.
  • 3161 'Þat þe sceptoure & þe soile sesid am of Persy,
  • 3162 To Porrus vndire my present plesance & ioy.
  • 3163 First wrate I to ȝour worthines ȝit write I þe same,
  • 3164 To help vs at þire hathill men þat haue wald my regne,
  • 3165 And, be ȝe sure, þe same way is to ȝour-self ettild.
  • 3166 For he þat werrais vs with þe wildare of grece,
  • 3167 Is wrawid & wrathful of will & wode as a lyon,
  • 3167* As wawes of þe wild see when wynd þaim distrobles;
  • 3168 And if I sande men & sammen seggis out of nombre,
  • 3169 And cokke with þe conquirour till I be cald drepid,
  • 3170 ȝit me is bettir on þe bent in bataile be slayne,
  • 3171 Þan se þe lose of my ledis & ay leue in sorowe.
  • 3172 For-þi ȝoure lordschip as legeman I lawly be-seke,
  • 3173 As I þat am in angwisch myne askyng to fill;
  • 3174 Ten schilling of my trew gold a man þat is armed,
  • 3175 And fyue to a fote-man faithely I hete.
  • 3176 ȝit sall I ordane to ȝour ane quare-euire oure ost liggis,
  • 3177 A ix score of new geere of nurtrid maydens.
  • 3178 Bucifalon þe bald stede sall bathe be oure awen,
  • 3179 And þe armes of Alexander & all þe pilage.'
  • 3180 Now flees þar fra þe fell kynge a fone of his kniȝtes,
  • 3181 To Alexander beliue & all þus him tald,
  • 3182 How þat ser Dary with his dukis eft drissis him to fiȝt,
  • 3183 Had prayd eftir powere to Porrus of ynde.
  • 3184 Þan ordans him þis honorable with his ost flitis,
  • 3185 Agayn þe Persyns king him ordans to ride,
  • 3186 For þe name of an Emperoure ne wald he neuire fange,
  • 3187 Or þen þat souerayne ware slayne or ȝild him his regne.
  • 3188 Sone as þe kyng of þat kith of his come herys,
  • 3189 Þan was he ferly a-friȝt & his folke bathe.
  • 3190 Than kest þam twa of his kniȝtis him causeles to spill,
  • 3191 Þai trowid þan of Alexander to adill þaim a mede;
  • 3192 Þire traitours on þis trechoure trowthis has strakid,
  • 3193 Lendis þaim on-loft to þe lorde laȝt out swerdis.
  • 3194 'Quat sall I dreȝe,' quod ser Dary 'my derew-orth childire?
  • 3195 First cald I ȝow my clyentis þat now I call lordis,
  • 3196 Semes ȝow noȝt it suffice my sorowe with-out,
  • 3197 Þat as a bitand brand me brettens with-in,
  • 3198 And slaa ȝe me þus sudanly? þe se[n]ioure of grece,
  • 3199 He will me wreke on ȝoure werke wers þan of thefes!'
  • 3200 Þar meuyd þaim na mercy bot maynly him woundid,
  • 3201 Þat doun he hildis all to-hewyn þaire handis be-twene.
  • 3202 Þan dryfes furthe þa dones men & halfe dede him leuys,
  • 3203 Famand out of fresch blod & here a fitt end.
  • 3204 Quen Alexander of þis athill þis auntir hadd herd,
  • 3205 How he was diȝt of his douth & to þe dede woundid,
  • 3206 He streȝt him to struma & ouire þe streme ridis,
  • 3207 Soȝt him in Sussys him-selfe with his ost.
  • 3208 Þe pepill out of Persy quen þai oure prince see,
  • 3209 Þan ȝode þai furthe & vn-ȝarkid þe ȝatis of þe cite,
  • 3210 Resayues him full rially with reuerence & ioy,
  • 3211 Said: 'welcum be þou, werraiour þat all þe erd loutis!'
  • 3212 Sone as þir weried wiȝtis was ware of hes come,
  • 3213 Þat sloȝe so þaire souerayne þat neuire sake hadd,
  • 3214 Þai heȝe þaim to holes & hyrnes & hydis þaim belyue,
  • 3215 Þoȝt, or þai wist of his will þai wald noȝt apere.
  • 3216 Þan gase he vp be degrece þe grecen maistir,
  • 3217 Passis in-to þe palais a paradyce semed,
  • 3218 Was on þe make of þat mote noȝt mervalled a litill,
  • 3219 Þat compast was of Cusys þat kynge was of Persy.
  • 3220 Þe flore vndire þe fote fynely was paued,
  • 3221 Couerd all of cristall & oþire clere stanes.
  • 3222 ȝit ware þe wawes of þe wanes wroȝt, as I rede,
  • 3223 Polischid all of pure gold & of plate werkis.
  • 3224 And þat was streken full of sternys & of sere gemmys,
  • 3225 With briȝt blasynand bees as bemes of þe son.
  • 3226 Þe hathill hedis vp-on heȝe & hogely he wondirs,
  • 3227 Þat euire suld emperoure in erth slike ane herde wild.
  • 3228 Quen he had ferlyd his fill apon þat faire hame,
  • 3229 Þurȝe-out þe sale þan he soȝt in-to þe selfe chambre,
  • 3230 Þare quare þe lord in lay with laythely woundis,
  • 3231 Girdid out as gutars in grete gill-stremes,
  • 3232 ȝit was þare lyfe in his like litill if it semed,
  • 3233 At ilk blast of his breth þe blode fra him glidis,
  • 3234 Sire Alexander him avysis & authly him thinke;
  • 3235 Þe pure pete of his payn persid his hert.
  • 3236 Þan nymes he fra his awyn neke an emperoures mantill,
  • 3237 And þat he couirs ouire þe kyng & clappis him in armes,
  • 3238 With grym gretyng & gro & grysely terys;
  • 3239 Bad: 'comfurth þe, ser conquirour & of þi care ryse,
  • 3240 Don aȝayne þe dignite þe diademe of Pers,
  • 3241 And all þe riȝtis of þi rewme resayue as before.
  • 3242 My pure powarfull gods I prestly pauoure,
  • 3243 Þine empire & þine erytage enterely þe to ȝeld;
  • 3244 Suld neuir na gome be to glade þofe he grete ware,
  • 3245 Of his neȝbour noy enentes him-selfe,
  • 3246 Quen fortune foundis him fra & him þe fete schewis,
  • 3247 And all þe welth him at-wendis & þe werd changis.
  • 3248 Brynge furth þi banes, & with my brand I sall þi dede venge.'
  • 3249 Þis saȝe sobband he said & þe segge wakyns,
  • 3250 Hyndely hildis him vp & his hand kyssis,
  • 3251 Þe brest & þe bare necke & breues þire wordis:
  • 3252 'A! Alexander, athill son' & augrily granys,
  • 3253 'Þe depe distruccion of ȝour dome has many day bene knawyn,
  • 3254 Þat all þe welth of þe werld worthis at þe last
  • 3255 To cayrayne & corupcion clene all-to-gedire.
  • 3256 Þe warnes of þi wale gode þat wist all before,
  • 3257 And fully feld all þe fare þat fall suld on erthe;
  • 3258 On þis maner made he man þurȝe his miȝt first,
  • 3259 Suld noȝt be foun in him fast ne ferme ne stable,
  • 3260 Bot houande here a hand-qwile & hingand in payse,
  • 3261 Now in leuell, now on-loft now on lawe vndire.
  • 3262 All werdly þing, I-wis þurȝe will of oure lord,
  • 3263 In-to þe contrare clene is at a clamp turned.
  • 3264 For had he worȝt ay to wees welth & na nothire,
  • 3265 So grete had bene vayn glorie glotony & pride,
  • 3266 Suld nane haue gessid þat grace come of god, bot of þaim-selfe;
  • 3267 So fra þe makare o mold suld many man haue erryd.
  • 3267* And had he shapyn Ay to shalkez shendship & illys,
  • 3268 So feyle had bene þe frelettis foloȝand oure kynd,
  • 3269 We had bene drawen all bedene in-to disspaire clene,
  • 3270 And of þe godnes of god noȝt a grew traisted.
  • 3271 For-þi he wald of his will his werkis to be changand,
  • 3272 Þat quen a hathill ware ouire hiȝe in happ & in welthe,
  • 3273 Þat he knew noȝt his creatour bi-cause of his pride,
  • 3274 In-to þe dike of debonerte droune bud him nede.
  • 3275 Þis was his will at it worthid wene þou na nothire,
  • 3276 Þe gome his god at for-gatt for any grace here,
  • 3277 His welth to wite all a-way & wickidnes apere,
  • 3278 To ken þe caytefe to knaw qua caused him on first.
  • 3279 Þe same ensampill of my-selfe now is betid, þu sees;
  • 3280 So grete I grew of my gods & gold in my cofirs,
  • 3281 Þat kindly gods creatoure I kend noȝt my-selfe,
  • 3282 Bot for his feloȝe & his fere faithly me leued,
  • 3283 Þus prosperite & pride so purely me blyndid,
  • 3284 I couthe noȝt se fra my sege to þe soile vndire,
  • 3285 Þat at me failed þan to fynd fast at myn eȝen.
  • 3286 Be þe myrrour now of meknes I may a myle knawe,
  • 3287 If any hathill be so hard with vnhapp woundid,
  • 3288 So at he hopis him no helpe of þe heȝe fadire,
  • 3289 Þan liftis oure lord him on-loft his langour he breggis,
  • 3290 In-hanses him in hand-quile & heues him to welthis
  • 3291 So heȝe, þat he for vn-hele seȝes noȝt his driȝten.
  • 3292 Lat þan him knaw his creatour in kindling of ioy,
  • 3293 Þat he þat lawene has a lede may lyft, if him thinke,
  • 3294 And he þat bringis him on-loft breten all to poudire.
  • 3295 Þi saule, son, in-to surquitery lat seke neuire þe hiȝhare,
  • 3296 For gre þe graunt ere of god & noȝt of þi grete strenthis.
  • 3297 If all þe limp as þe list loke to þine ende,
  • 3298 For die þe bose, quen all is done & ay þi day scortis.
  • 3299 Me þink my lyfe as to þe lenȝth is like to þis werke,
  • 3300 Þat þis coppis opon kell-wyse knytt in þe woȝes,
  • 3301 With þe lest winde of þe werd þat þe werd touches,
  • 3302 Þe note anentes ilk ane & all to noȝt worthis.
  • 3303 Lo! so þe quele of qwistsunnes my qualite has changid!
  • 3304 I, þat was ȝustirday so ȝape & ȝemed all þe werld,
  • 3305 To day am dreuyn all to dust to dolour & paynes,
  • 3306 Has noȝt o maistri so meche as miȝt of my-selfe.
  • 3307 My dere son,' quod Daryus, 'it drawes nere þe tyme;
  • 3308 My banes, on my benyson bery with þi hand,
  • 3309 With þe proued princes out of Pers & with þe proude grekis,
  • 3310 And þe maistirlings of Messedoyne ȝe me to mold bring.
  • 3311 Lat þan oure kyng-domes a-corde & cock we na langir,
  • 3312 Bot ay perpetuall pes oure partys betwene.
  • 3313 Vn-to ȝoure mekill maieste my modire I comande,
  • 3314 Rodogarus þe riall & rewis on my bride;
  • 3315 My doȝtir Rosan þe riche resayues to ȝour spouse,
  • 3316 It comys wele of hiȝe kyn kyngis to descend.
  • 3317 Tak tent to þat at I tell be tendire of my kniȝtis.'
  • 3318 And with þis speke at he spake þe sprete he ȝeldis.
  • 3319 Þan was his body enbawmed &, as he bede, grauen.
  • 3320 Þis bald baratoure him bare & as a barne gretis,
  • 3321 So did þe pepill out of Persy bot for his pite mare
  • 3322 Þan for þe dethe of Dary be dowble of þe twa.
  • 3323 And Alexander belyue as he was enterid,
  • 3324 He meues agayn to þe mote & on þe morne eftir,
  • 3325 Vp to þe souerayne sege with Septour he wyndis,
  • 3326 Þat Cusus þe conquirour of clere gold maked.
  • 3327 Þe mody men of Messedone þe maistirs of Persy
  • 3328 Þan put þam in-to presen, as þe prose tellis;
  • 3329 Sire Darius awen dyademe þai did on his hede,
  • 3330 A coron, ane þe costious þat euire kyng weryd,
  • 3331 On þe propurest of proiecte þat euire prince bere.
  • 3332 Þe massy werke was þe menest made of þe noble,
  • 3333 Þe pride þar-of for to proue it pyned any cristen;
  • 3334 It gaue so glorius a gleme of gold & of stanes,
  • 3335 Þat as þe loge for þe liȝt lemed as of heuen.
  • 3336 Þe sete þare him-selfe satte in soyte with þe croune,
  • 3337 Þat was lift a-pon loft on oþire litill segis,
  • 3338 Seuyn cubet of clere gold was countid þe hiȝt.
  • 3339 And vij degrece was þar grayd for gate vp of kingis,
  • 3340 And þai ware Ientilly Ioyned in a Ioyly wyse.
  • 3341 Þe first an athil Amatast as I am infourmed,
  • 3342 And of a Smeth [s]maragadane Smyten was þe toþir;
  • 3343 Þe thrid of a Topas a-tyred & trelest & grauen;
  • 3344 Þe ferd degre a Granate a gracious gemme;
  • 3345 Þe fyfte was of ane Adomant all-to-gedire makid;
  • 3346 Þe sext of gletirand gold gayle was forgid;
  • 3347 Þe ouirmast, all of þe erth with-out oþire werkis,
  • 3348 Apon þis wyse ware þai grayd & for grete cause.
  • 3349 Þe first was of an Amatist þat all chaye demes
  • 3350 Riche, said þe romance & ronkenes of wynes,
  • 3351 Lattis na dronkynnes þam dere þat douth at it beris.
  • 3352 Þe same wyse mon a wee waite to him-selfe,
  • 3353 A kniȝt at couettis to clym to kyngs astate,
  • 3354 Him bus haue warnes him with of wit & of mynde,
  • 3355 Þat he wirke noȝt on þe wethire halfe for wathe apon erth.
  • 3356 Þe s[e]cunde was of Smaragdone þat ay þe siȝt kepis;
  • 3357 Quat berne as beris it him on it briȝtens his eȝen.
  • 3358 So bus a kyng to consaile haue a clere hert,
  • 3359 To se at syttis him to se & sagely to wirke.
  • 3360 Þe thrid was a Topas, I trow at to þe trone lengis;
  • 3361 Þat is so clere of his kind þe clause me recordis,
  • 3362 Þat qua-sum-euire in þat ilk his ymage behaldis,
  • 3363 Þe face is to þe fold-ward þe fete to þe firment.
  • 3364 So comes it wele for a kyng to knaw till his end,
  • 3365 How ay þe top to þe taa is turned at þe last.
  • 3366 Quen fortune festis him he fendis beliue,
  • 3367 And all his dignite bedene driues in-to poudire.
  • 3368 Þe ferd was a granate, I gesse goules althire fynest;
  • 3369 Is nane so redy, as I rede of all þe riche stanes;
  • 3370 Slike color aȝe a kyng wele in conyschance to bere,
  • 3371 Þat he schape to na schauadry þat schend suld his fame.
  • 3372 Þe fift was all of adomant as þe buke tellis;
  • 3373 Þat is he þat is so hard þat hurt may nane tole;
  • 3374 Is nothire stele ne na stane so stife it may perce,
  • 3375 And growis out of þe grete see in graynes & in cragis.
  • 3376 If any Naue to it neȝe þat naylid is with iryn,
  • 3377 Þen cleuys it ay to þe clife carryg & othyre;
  • 3378 Bot blode of body, sais þe buke bees it neuire percid,
  • 3379 Or þe natour of anothire thing þat nedis noȝt to reken.
  • 3380 Þat same kynd suld a kyng of his craft vse,
  • 3381 So stable & so stedfast to stand in his werkes,
  • 3382 Þat for na prayere ne pres ne plesaunce on erthe,
  • 3383 Out of þe rake of riȝtwysnes ren suld he neuire.
  • 3384 Þe Sext was of gold graciously hewen,
  • 3385 Of all metals o mold þe maistir & þe syre;
  • 3386 Þe same cure is a kyng be kind of his leggis,
  • 3387 To gy & gouerne his gomes þe grettest he is makid.
  • 3388 Þe seuynt vp to þe sege was of þe selfe erth,
  • 3389 Þat is na mare for to mene as me my mynd tellis,
  • 3390 Bot ilka kyng suld him knaw cried of þe soile,
  • 3391 And to þe same sustenance sodanly to worthe.
  • 3392 Þus sett oure syre in his sete with septoure in hand,
  • 3393 In pelour & in pall & proud men him by.
  • 3394 Þan lete he lettres belyue with ledis out to send,
  • 3395 Þurȝe all þe prouynce of pers promicid þis werkis.
  • 3396 'Þe kyng with-outen compere of kyngis all othire,
  • 3397 Of all þe lordis now þe lord þat lefis apon erth,
  • 3398 Sire Alexander, athill son of Amon his driȝten,
  • 3399 And als of Olimpades anyly consayued,
  • 3400 To þe souerayns & þe Senescalls þe sires & þe maistris,
  • 3401 And all þe pers out of persy princes & dukis,
  • 3402 Þe Iustis & þe gentils & Iugemen of lawe,
  • 3403 Bathe citiȝens & seriant salutis of grace.
  • 3404 Syn it lokid has þe largenes of þe lord of heuen,
  • 3405 Þat me þis diademe of Dary demed is & graunted,
  • 3406 And to be here þus enhansid in his hiȝe trone,
  • 3407 ȝe sall be glad of my degre & gretly reioyd,
  • 3408 And ordans aiquare ouire all honourable princes,
  • 3409 Gouernours & gardens of all þe grete burȝes,
  • 3410 As was in Darius days to deme men þe riȝt,
  • 3411 And clene all þe clientis to kepe þaire demayndes.
  • 3412 Ilk a pepill his possession in pes moȝt he broweke,
  • 3413 Armoure & actons y latt all þat be kepid,
  • 3414 Caires þam to castells & in kinge houses,
  • 3415 And none so bald, ere I bide to bere þam na mare.
  • 3416 And fra þis marche to Messedone quils I am maistir here,
  • 3417 Þe passage in aithire part sall playn be & open,
  • 3418 Þe comers out of aithire coste to caire vndistrobbed,
  • 3419 With message & marchandise & al manire nedis.'
  • 3420 Now is his pistils all past & pese he comandis;
  • 3421 'Quilke of my fryndis ere þe folke þat my faa sloȝe,
  • 3422 Þat was þe drepars of Dary now doo þam a-pere,
  • 3423 Þat þai may weld for þis werke wirschip to mede.
  • 3424 My mekill miȝtfull gods I maynly ȝow swere,
  • 3425 And on þe lay at I leue & be my lufed modire,
  • 3426 Þe worthe wage þaim wayne þat þai haue wele serued.'
  • 3427 Þan all þe pepill out of Persy pouret out to wepe;
  • 3428 Bathe Besan & Anabras as þe buke tellis,
  • 3429 Þat ware þe banes of his body baldly þam shawis;
  • 3430 Said: 'we to-hewid him [with] oure handis hiȝe emperoure.'
  • 3431 Þai wend wele þaim to wyn a waryson for euire.
  • 3432 Þan bad he bernes þaim to bynd & bringe þaim be-lyue
  • 3433 Vn-to þe gudmans graue & hewe of þaire hedis.
  • 3434 'Allas, my lord,' quod þa ledis '& ȝe so late swore,
  • 3435 To ȝour worthi gods, ȝour wale dame we suld no waa suffire!'
  • 3436 'Siris, as ȝe worthi ware, I-wisse I wate wele I hiȝt,
  • 3437 And bot ȝour harmes were vnhid I held noȝt myne athis.
  • 3438 For sen I wan in-to þe werld my witt has bene aye,
  • 3439 Quen treid was a trechory þe tulkis to be hedid.'
  • 3440 Þan he did þaim to deth as driȝten him praysed,
  • 3441 Þe prouynce piȝt is in pes & princes ere maked,
  • 3442 An ald derling of Darius was duke made of pers,
  • 3443 Request of þe rials ane of his riche vncles.
  • 3444 Oure emperoure, quen þis was endid erly on þe morne,
  • 3445 With all þa alyens him by & ancient lordis,
  • 3446 He gase a-gayne to de-grece vp to þe gilt trone,
  • 3447 Dobbed in his diademe & diȝt as be-fore;
  • 3448 As Dary demed, or he deid his doȝtir he comandes,
  • 3449 Mad Rosan þe riche radly to apere,
  • 3450 Hire hede vn-helid was on hiȝe & hild all in trissis,
  • 3451 Vm-by-clappid with a coronacle of costious stanes;
  • 3452 As þe manere of þat marche was he wedd hire to wyfe,
  • 3453 And in þe sege with him-selfe to sitt he hir makis,
  • 3454 Comands hire as a conquyres of knyȝtis to be louted,
  • 3455 And all þe pepill out of Persy was passandly ioyed.
  • 3456 Þai gone agraythen vp þaire gods on gilten segis,
  • 3457 Sayed: 'þou ert duke of ilk dome & driȝtin þi-selfe!'
  • 3458 Þan was he fraid in his flesche bad, 'feyne of ȝoure wordis!
  • 3459 I am a coruptible kyng & of clay fourmed!'
  • 3460 Þan out onone to Aristotil & to his awen modire
  • 3461 Of all his weris & his welth he wrate alto-gedire;
  • 3462 And aȝt daies all bedene he dites in his pistill,
  • 3463 For reuerence of Rosan to revell & halowe.
  • 3464 Al be þe metire bot mene þus mekill haue I ioyned;
  • 3465 Forthi, lordis, be ȝour leue list ȝow to suffire.
  • 3466 Now will I tary for a time & tempire my wittis;
  • 3467 And he þat stiȝe to þe sternes stiȝtill vs in heuen!
  • 3468 Lordis, will ȝe me lithe & lestin a stonde,
  • 3469 Now sall I kithe vs a carpe of a kyng riche,
  • 3470 Of þe auntours of ser Alexander þat aire was of grece,
  • 3471 How all þe werd at his will he wan or he deid.
  • 3472 Þe lattir ende of his lyfe me list ȝow to tell.
  • 3473 For all þe first is in fittis & folowand þe lettir,
  • 3474 And he þat made ȝow þis mirth oft mynes his saule,
  • 3475 Þat driȝtin deyne him to dele a dele of his blis.
  • 3476 Sone as ser Dary was deid & done out of lyue,
  • 3477 And Alexander as aire had all for to wild,
  • 3478 Resayued to his riche quene Rosan his doȝtir,
  • 3479 And was þe croune be-kend of clene all þus ends,
  • 3480 He gedird him a grete ost & graythid him to ride,
  • 3481 A powere of þe Persens & of þe prowde grekis,
  • 3482 Þe Messedones & all men he [maynly] comandis
  • 3483 On kyng Porrus to preke & prese him with armes.
  • 3484 Now gase he furthe with his ging þe gaynest in-to ynde.
  • 3485 Þare many daies be dissert he dryfes with his ost,
  • 3486 Be hiȝe hillis & howis & be holuȝe dounes,
  • 3487 Be wast & be wildirnes & watirles bournes.
  • 3488 Sone was he wery of þe way so was his wale kniȝtis;
  • 3489 Menyd þaim þe Messedones emang þaim-selfe,
  • 3490 Þai said, it miȝt be sufficient þe sesyng of Persy,
  • 3491 And him þat trouage on tyme has tane of oure eldirs.
  • 3492 'Quat suld we fonde any ferre? Now faylis oure strent[h]is;
  • 3493 Þis erd of ynde is ilk dele enhabet with bestis,
  • 3494 And he bet willis all þe werd be weris him to loute,
  • 3495 His flesche is fostard & fedd be fiȝt & by sternes.
  • 3496 And were his person in pes bot for a pure tyme,
  • 3497 Þan suld he faile as a freke at þe fode wantis.
  • 3498 Bot lat vs leue him at longe & lende to oure hames,
  • 3499 And pas quedire as him plese with þe proud barbres.'
  • 3500 Sone as oure kyng of his kniȝtis þis carpe vndire-stondis,
  • 3501 He mas to stand all þe stoure & standis vp in þe myddis,
  • 3502 'Bald baratours on bent blythly me heris,
  • 3503 All þe pepill out of Persy ere put in my will;
  • 3504 All ware rebell in arest now is þe rewme ȝold,
  • 3505 And I your kyng as ȝe knaw with croune & with septour.
  • 3506 And now ȝe leue me þus liȝtly bot for a litill pyne,
  • 3507 To caire a-gayne to ȝour kithid I can noȝt þare-on.
  • 3508 Knaw ȝe noȝt how in ȝour care I cu[m]furth ȝow anys,
  • 3509 Quene ȝe dout so þe dites of Darus in his pistill?
  • 3510 Eft quen we ferd in-to fild & with oure faes mett,
  • 3511 I was þe first ȝow before þat þe fild entrid,
  • 3512 Soȝt in-to Sussys my-selfe for ȝoure hele,
  • 3513 In þe habet of Amon oure allirs driȝten,
  • 3514 Put my person in plegg & perils a hundreth,
  • 3515 And in-to tourment on-tald me tuke for ȝour sake.
  • 3516 'Bot wetis it wele with-out wene I wene in my saule,
  • 3517 As I ȝit haue hediretoward heried all my faes,
  • 3518 So sall I gete hus ay þe gree with my gud helpe,
  • 3519 And for na tene at may betide turne sall I neuire,
  • 3520 If ȝe will lend in-to ȝour landis loke at ȝour hertis!
  • 3521 Bot me to do slike a dede driȝtin it schilde!
  • 3522 I sall neuire graithe me to grece, gase quen ȝow likis,
  • 3523 Or mare wirschip I haue won for wathe vndire heuen.'
  • 3524 Quen he þis reson had redd þan rewid his princes,
  • 3525 And of forge[f]nes of þaire gilt his grace þai be-seke.
  • 3526 Kniȝtis callis him on kneys, said: 'kid emperoure,
  • 3527 All oure life & oure lose is lent in ȝour handis,
  • 3528 Oure-selfe & oure seruage is surely ȝoure awen,
  • 3529 Ai at ȝoure beding to be oure bodi & oure gudis,
  • 3530 Quare-euer ȝe wend in all þe werd in water or in erthe,
  • 3531 Ay mekely at ȝour mandment ȝour maieste to folowe.
  • 3532 If we suld die all-bedene at an day tyme,
  • 3533 We sall neuir spise ȝow ne sporne in speche ne in dede,
  • 3534 Ne neuire ȝour rialte renay bot rede to sewe,
  • 3535 Quils any blast of oure breth in oure brest lengis.'
  • 3536 Þan ȝede he furth in-to ynde & in þase Iles weres;
  • 3537 Quen all þe iolite of giugne & Iulus was endid,
  • 3538 And messangers a-pon þe marche him metis belyue,
  • 3539 Fra kyng Porrus þe proude þis pistill him broȝt.
  • 3540 'I, Porrus, þat as principall possessid am in ynde,
  • 3541 To þis michare out of Messedone þis mandment I write.
  • 3542 Þou, Alexander, þou Ape þou Amlaȝe out of grece,
  • 3543 Þou litill thefe, þou losangere þou lurkare in cites,
  • 3544 Sen þou ert destayned to die & dedely þi-selfe,
  • 3545 Þat agayn driȝtin of vnde[d]lynes quat may þi dede vaile?
  • 3546 Madding marrid has þi mode & þi mynd changid.
  • 3547 Sen god has sent þe with to see & ȝit þi witt failes,
  • 3548 I hope þou wenes at we be like to þire lethire Persyns,
  • 3549 Þat þou þi lordschip to loute has now on late strayned,
  • 3550 And for þou fellid has in fiȝt a fiȝt at was sympull,
  • 3551 Now muses þou to þi miserie my maieste to bowe.
  • 3552 If gomes be gouerners of gods þan mai þi gesse worth;
  • 3553 And if þe land here on lawe be lickned to þe heuen,
  • 3554 Þe ministracion of men to me were to febill.
  • 3555 All driȝtens & dewessis ere dute of my name;
  • 3556 Ane ser Denys, a duke gane many wintire,
  • 3557 He bed vs bataill on bent & þe back turned.
  • 3558 And or þat Sexes him-selfe sesid was in Persy,
  • 3559 At þe marche of Messedone made vs trouage.
  • 3560 Bot for þe partise ere vn-prophetable vs plese þaim na langir,
  • 3561 Ai wald þe wise haue wale soile mare þan a wast lee.
  • 3562 Caire agayn to þi kith caiteffe, I bidd,
  • 3563 Here na lordschip þe limpis quat list þe disyre.'
  • 3564 Sone as þis clause to oure kyng [was] comyn & deliuere,
  • 3565 Be-fore his bachelers on brade he bedis it to rede.
  • 3566 His tulkis of þis titill quen þai þe tenour herd,
  • 3567 Þan ware þai sory of þa sawes & selly frayed.
  • 3568 'Quat now, my worthe werrayouris?' þe wale kyng sayd,
  • 3569 'For Porrus pistill, I pray ne for his proud wordis,
  • 3570 No for na manas he mas mayes noȝt ȝoure hertis.
  • 3571 Did noȝt ser Dary to vs write his pistill with pride,
  • 3572 And all þe berbrens bernes in bestis þam affyed,
  • 3573 As lebards, lesards, & lenxis lions & tigris?'
  • 3574 With comfurth of his contenance his knyȝtis he gladis,
  • 3575 And þan to Porrus apart þis pistill he writis.
  • 3576 'I, þat þe kyng am of kyng[s] & crouned of lordis,
  • 3577 Þe eldist child of Amon þat all has to wild,
  • 3578 And honourd Olimpades with him ane geten,
  • 3579 To þe oddest aire out of ynde þis answare I make.
  • 3580 I-wis, oure wittis with þi wordis þou has wele scharpid,
  • 3581 And made vs bald with þi bost þe bataill to ȝeld.
  • 3582 Oure boundis ere barrayne & bare & þine full of welth;
  • 3583 Þe kenir is oure corage ȝoure kyng-dome to wyn,
  • 3584 To put away oure pouerte & pas to ȝoure hiȝtes.
  • 3585 And ga noȝt, as ȝe gude ware agayn ȝow to fiȝt,
  • 3586 Bot a berne full of bost a barbrene prince,
  • 3587 Wenand me & all þe werd to waike to ȝow-selfe.'
  • 3588 Quen Porrus with his preue men þis pistill had redd,
  • 3589 Þan was he wondirly wrathe & wiȝtly asembles
  • 3590 Þe kniȝtis & þe captayns of all þe coste by,
  • 3591 His champions, his chiftans his cheualry to-gedire.
  • 3592 He feris him a faire flote was fed for þe nanes,
  • 3593 Of vnicornes, of olyfauntis & wondirfulle bestis,
  • 3594 As ilkane vsyd with in ynde vmquile with to fiȝte,
  • 3595 And aires agayne Alexander with armes him to mete.
  • 3596 Þe powere of sir Porrus was passandly many;
  • 3597 A stour stiffe vndire stele þe strangest of þe werde
  • 3598 Of sithid chariotis him sued a selcuth nombre,
  • 3599 At þe fewist, as I find a fouretene thousand;
  • 3600 With-outen bachelers on blonkis & bowmen on fote,
  • 3601 Foure hundreth Olyfants in-fere folowid him enarmi[d],
  • 3602 With ilkane bunden on his bake a borden castell,
  • 3603 And thretty tulkis in ilk toure tired in platis.
  • 3604 Oure mey-he out of Messedone quen þai so many saȝe,
  • 3605 Þan ware þai storbet of þat stoure so was þe stythe Persyns.
  • 3606 All þe athils of sir Alexander was arȝed in þaire hertis
  • 3607 To mache with sike a multitude of men & of bestis.
  • 3608 Þan was þir chiftans chosen cheualous kniȝtis
  • 3609 Þat buskid ware on bathe halfe þe bataill to rewle.
  • 3610 With þat þai tuke vp þe trumpis be thretty at anes,
  • 3611 A-grydis grymly to-gedir þe grekes & barbres.
  • 3612 Sire Alexander was armed & askis his stede
  • 3613 Þat was þe bald bocifalon & on his bake worthes;
  • 3614 Mare þan a stanecast at a count be-fore his kniȝtis all
  • 3615 He standis vp in his stereps in starand maylis.
  • 3616 Þe men out of Medy he mas, & of Pers,
  • 3617 To enverom alle þe vaward of all þe vile yndes,
  • 3618 And he was graythid [with] a ging of grekis kniȝtis
  • 3619 And maistres out [of] Messedone þis meyhe to helpe.
  • 3620 Þe pepill out of Persye ware petusly woundid
  • 3621 Of Olifauntis ouir all with horrible hurtis;
  • 3622 All at vnweried a-way wynnes in þe stoundis
  • 3623 Durst neuir his face to his faes eft on fold bide.
  • 3624 Sire Alexander him a-visis & ames in his wittis
  • 3625 How he miȝt bring it a-boute þire bestis to devoide;
  • 3626 And mas to beete all of bras as bernes it ware,
  • 3627 And full of glorand gledis þaim to þe gorge fillis;
  • 3628 Ane instrument all of iren þare ymage to bere,
  • 3629 Was compast on carte-wise & cursoures þaim dreȝe.
  • 3630 Þire Olifantis of ynde quen þai þare-on waite,
  • 3631 Þai wend þai ware wees & wyndis þaim agayn
  • 3632 To drepe þaim as þaire first did disclosid þai þe chaviles,
  • 3633 And sone was snaypid on þe snowte with þe snart hetis.
  • 3634 With þat þai fonge to þe fliȝt be fifty at anes,
  • 3635 Of ilkan athill ware þai aȝed þat any armes werid.
  • 3636 Sone as ser Porrus of þe poynte & o þe plite waytis,
  • 3637 Þan was he tangid with tene & turbled vnfaire.
  • 3638 Þan preses in be Persyns & of þe proud Medis
  • 3639 With arowis & with othire armes agayn all þe yndis,
  • 3640 Tolls of þe tirantis & termynd o lyue,
  • 3641 Seȝes doun on aithire side a sowme out of nounbre,
  • 3642 Thretti dais on a throm þai threpid euire elike,
  • 3643 So lange at þe lest way as lastid þe bataill.
  • 3644 Þare was þe Medis martird & many of Perses
  • 3645 Gorred & gais þurȝe & grysely woundid.
  • 3646 Oure mody kyng of Messedone þe myschefe be-haldis,
  • 3647 Seis þaim faile so ethfully & felly was greued.
  • 3648 Apon þe bald bucifelon brant vp he sittis,
  • 3649 Springis out a spere sperid all þe platis.
  • 3650 Þe brest of þe bataill he baldly a-prochid,
  • 3651 Girdis doun of þe grettis & þe gree wynnys.
  • 3652 His awen men of Messedone maynly þai feȝt,
  • 3653 So did his gomes out [of] grece & gate a grete name.
  • 3654 Sone discendid þare doun þe duȝtiest of ynde,
  • 3655 And Porrus prekis fra þe place & þe playn voidis,
  • 3656 His ledis at left ware o lyue lendis him eftire.
  • 3657 And Alexander in þat angle all þe niȝt logis,
  • 3658 Offirs all his old gods his honour þam thankis,
  • 3659 As wele þe ynde as his awen he graue þaim all.
  • 3660 Þe secund day with a saute a cite he takis,
  • 3661 Þe proddest ane at Porrus possessour was euire.
  • 3662 He past in-to his palais & in þe place findis
  • 3663 Þat semed no synfull saule þe selcuthe to trowe.
  • 3664 First fand he þare of fyne gold a foure hundreth postis,
  • 3665 With crafti coronals & clene coruen of þe same.
  • 3666 Be-twene þe pelers was piȝt with precious leuys,
  • 3667 Gilden wynes with grapis of gracious stanes.
  • 3668 Sum were of cristall clere clustrid to-gedire;
  • 3669 Sum made ware of Margarits þe mast of þe werd;
  • 3670 Sum was smeth smaragdyns & oþire small gemmes,
  • 3671 And new nychometis nemellus endentid,
  • 3672 Þat ware as semely quen þai ware samen,
  • 3673 And all pargestis of plate as pure as þe noble.
  • 3674 Þe Messedons in þam merkid with þaire mekill brandis,
  • 3675 And þe thinnest was a nynche thicke quen þai ware þurȝe persed;
  • 3676 And þo ware strenkild with stanes as sterne o þe heuyn,
  • 3677 With charbokl[e]s on þe champ & with chefe perles.
  • 3678 Smeten was smaragdans in-to þe smeth werkis,
  • 3679 And athill amytists als in aungels licknes;
  • 3680 Of Euor & of Olifants was ordand þe ȝatis,
  • 3681 With barrers of ane Ebyn-tree bonden with cheynes.
  • 3682 Þe Ebyn, as þe buke sais brin will neuir,
  • 3683 And growis in þe Iles of ynde as Isodry tellis.
  • 3684 Þe solers was of Sypirs all of a soyte makid;
  • 3685 And Symolacres in þe sale was sett vp-on trones
  • 3686 All of glittirand gold as gomes it were,
  • 3687 Discheualer with chaplets of changand hewes;
  • 3688 And ilka tulke a tabernacle tildid was ouire,
  • 3689 And þat was grauen all grayd of gilden platis,
  • 3690 Flamband all in filour & fewlis en-blanchid,
  • 3691 Mekely merkid & made of all manere kyndis;
  • 3692 And þa ware proudly depaynt þe pennes & þe wingis,
  • 3693 Of all colours to acounte as þai ere cled here;
  • 3694 Of fethirhame & all fare as feetely enioyned,
  • 3695 As þai ware shapen o þe schell to schew to oure eȝen.
  • 3696 Bet was all of brent gold þe billis & þe chauyls,
  • 3697 And, quen as Porrus con plese in presens of lordis,
  • 3698 Þai made as mery melody & musik þai sanng
  • 3699 As in þe moneths of Mai or mydsomere euyn!
  • 3700 Þare fand he vessale of value to vyse out of nombre,
  • 3701 Gurds & Goblets of gold althire-finest,
  • 3702 Coupis all of cristall & oþire clere gemmes;
  • 3703 Þai fande bot a fewe dele forged of siluir.
  • 3704 Þan rade he fra þa regions & remewid his hostis;
  • 3705 To þe ȝatis of Caspy he come & sett doun his tentis,
  • 3706 A lande, as þe buke tellis a large & a noble,
  • 3707 All sauand bot serpentis & oþire sere bestis.
  • 3708 To þe mode qwene of Amazoyne þan makis him þis pistill.
  • 3709 'I, þat þe kyng am of kyngs & kiddist of lordis,
  • 3710 Alexander, athil child of Amon oure driȝtin,
  • 3711 To Calistride þe conquirese comfurth & ioye!
  • 3712 Oure weris & oure wirschips & of oure wale notis,
  • 3713 How we haue done ser Dary & drepid his kniȝtis,
  • 3714 Couerd all his kyngdoms & conquirid his landis,
  • 3715 I leue it to ȝour ladyschip þis lange noȝt vnknawen.
  • 3716 With Porrus in þe playn fild proued haue my strenthis,
  • 3717 And oþire fele, þat ware to faynt oure force to with-stand.
  • 3718 For-þi ȝour landis, if ȝow list to leuire fra oure handis,
  • 3719 Tas tite vn-to ȝour tresory & trebute vs pays.'
  • 3720 Þan writis agayne þe wale quene & on þis wyse spekis:
  • 3721 'I, Calistride, þe conquirese þat kepis all þis endis,
  • 3722 With þe mery mai[d]ons of Amazoyne þe miȝtist in erthe,
  • 3723 And othire birdis ebland þe biggist in erthe,
  • 3724 To þe modi kyng of Messedone message of blisse.
  • 3725 ȝoure saule sa full of sapient sedis & floures,
  • 3726 Þat all þe present is apert puttis þou in mynde,
  • 3727 And has of cases þat ere to come a knawlage in dole.
  • 3728 For-þi oure soile or þou seke vmse þe be tyme,
  • 3729 Quat tene & torfare may tide & tent to þine ende.
  • 3730 Þare werraid neuir with vs na wee þat wirschip achewid,
  • 3731 Þat he ne was heried in hast or had a heȝe schame.
  • 3732 For ilka lered man of lyue him so lethir haldis,
  • 3733 If he þat for distruccion doun in-to þe depe fallis.
  • 3734 Bot oure werkis & of oure wonynge-stede if ȝe wald knawe,
  • 3735 I sal declare ȝow þe cas clene by þire writtis.
  • 3736 Oure inhabetting, ser, is in an Ilee & amed as a sercle,
  • 3737 With rynand all aboute oure erd an endles wattre.
  • 3738 And we ere of females at þe fewis foure & xx Mille,
  • 3739 And twa hundreth þar-to & all of tried ladis.
  • 3740 A preue planke is at a place to pas & to entre,
  • 3741 Oure bernes bildis noȝt vs by bot ouir þe bourne wyndis.
  • 3742 Bot ȝet be-ȝonde ilka ȝere make we vs festis,
  • 3743 And thretti dais all be-dene oure delitis hauntis.
  • 3744 If any consaue þar a knaf þan kepis him his modire
  • 3745 Vij ȝere with-in oure-selfe & sendis him his fadir.
  • 3746 And be scho lyuir of a lasse scho lengis in oure burȝe,
  • 3747 And is oure thewis of oure thede thryfandly enfourmed.
  • 3748 Quen we to feȝt with oure faes fares out of wanes,
  • 3749 A hundreth thousand I hope we be on horses enarmed,
  • 3750 Þa leues in oure lede oure lithis to defend.
  • 3751 Quen we repaire with þe palme þan prayses vs oure feris.
  • 3752 And, buske ȝe to oure bondsward vs bataill to ȝeld,
  • 3753 ȝet sall we maynly on þe marche mete ȝow in armes.
  • 3754 To lithe vs all if þou limpes na louyng þou gettis,
  • 3755 For þou wynnes noȝt bot wemen þare-of na worde rysis.
  • 3756 Bot & god graunt vs þe gree grete glorie haue we þan,
  • 3757 For þe athelist emperoure we wan euen at oure will.
  • 3758 Be noȝt to sturten with þi sturte to stryue vs a-gayn,
  • 3759 For many leres may þe limpe slik as þou noȝt wenes!'
  • 3760 Quen he had lokid ouir þe lyne he laȝes at hire wordis,
  • 3761 And to þat lady belyme þis lettre he writis.
  • 3762 'I, Alexander, þat am aire of Amon him-selfe,
  • 3763 To þe maistres out of Amazoyne many-fald ioyes!
  • 3764 Thre partys of þe proud werde I playnly haue won,
  • 3765 Affrike & Asye and Europ þat othire.
  • 3766 ȝit was neuire man a-pon mold oure miȝtis to with-stand,
  • 3767 And feȝt with vs in þe fild; ȝow fallis þe same.
  • 3768 Bot be-cause we lufe ȝour comyng we consall ȝow blyth
  • 3769 To pas out with ȝour paramours & pere vs be-forne.
  • 3770 On Amon oure athill sire an athe I ȝow make,
  • 3771 Of vs to suffire na sare to sauely to wende,
  • 3772 Bathe oure gold ȝow to gefe & of oure gud kniȝtis,
  • 3773 To mary to ȝoure maidens & make þam a-vaunced.'
  • 3774 Sone as þai wist of his will þai wiȝtly him sente
  • 3775 Ten vncorsayd coltis þe clennest of þe werd,
  • 3776 And as mony to amend of milk-quyte stedis,
  • 3777 Of mony & of mekill quat mayn giftis.
  • 3778 Dame Calistride þe conquiris comes with hire ladis,
  • 3779 Mas hire pes with oure prince & pas to hire landis.
  • 3780 Þen come a sande to þis sire in þe same tyme,
  • 3781 Þat kyng porrus þe proud with pers out of ynde
  • 3782 Was in þe bonds of Batriane & eft had assemblid
  • 3783 Anoþire ost of odmen him eft on to ride.
  • 3784 As hastely as he it herd his ostis he flittis,
  • 3785 And athils harnest on hors a hundreth & fyfti
  • 3786 Was chosene to chiftans & all of chefe dukes,
  • 3787 Ordand of oure emperoure his ostis to lede.
  • 3788 Þus pas he furthe with his princes ser Porrus to mete,
  • 3789 In August eftir Iuli as be boke tellis.
  • 3790 All ware þai swollen of þe swete & sweltid on þe son;
  • 3791 Sum in þaire harnais for hete was honest for euire.
  • 3792 Þai went be waldis & be wastis þar watirs ware nane,
  • 3793 And armed bud þam all bee for angwischis o bestis,
  • 3794 As colwers & for coltris & crabbid snakis,
  • 3795 And oþire warlaȝes wild þat in þe wod duelled.
  • 3796 As ai stremand sternes stared all þaire wedis,
  • 3797 Of gai glitirand gold glesenyd þaire schildis.
  • 3798 Þai droȝe furth be dissert & drinkles þai spill,
  • 3799 Was nouthire waldis in þar walke ne watir to fynde.
  • 3800 A kniȝt þat zephall was callid fand in a cole schade
  • 3801 A litill drysnyng of dewe was droppid fra þe heuen,
  • 3802 Þat it was in a holoȝe stane & in his helme fillis,
  • 3803 And bringis it to oure bald kyng to brigge with his hetis.
  • 3804 Þan Alexander to þis athill all þus he spekis,
  • 3805 'Þis solayne sope if I sup quethire sustene it may
  • 3806 Þe menbris of þe Messedones & of þe many Persens,
  • 3807 Or I my-selfe sall be serued & þai sitt with nyfils?'
  • 3808 'Sire, ȝe sall first be refreschid' faythly he sayd.
  • 3809 'Quat? & ȝe perisch?' quod þe prince '& pas out o lyue?
  • 3810 Queþir euire me list þan to lefe with langour & sorowe?'
  • 3811 And hilds it doun out of þe helme befor his athils all.
  • 3812 Þan slike a comfurth þam enclosed for his kynd wordis,
  • 3813 As all þe watir of þe werd ware in þaire wambs hellid.
  • 3814 Þan ferd þai furth till a flode & findis all þe strandis
  • 3815 Full of Redis, as I rede rughere þan thornes.
  • 3816 His folke fell to it fast & freschely þai drynke,
  • 3817 Bot was na renke at to it ran at euire rase eftire.
  • 3818 It was so keruand & kene! Þan was his kniȝtis stroubid
  • 3819 Mare for þe bale of þaire bestis & brist of þaim-selfe.
  • 3820 For with his florantis olifants him folowed a thousand,
  • 3821 Of sithid chariotis & soo & sextene hundreth,
  • 3822 With coȝrres & with clene floure camels and mules,
  • 3823 And out of nounbre of nowte at nedid to his ostis,
  • 3824 Thre C Mille in thede of thra men of armes.
  • 3825 Be now þai ware so neȝe tane þat þai for nede supposid,
  • 3826 Sum of his awen vryn & sum on Iren lickid,
  • 3827 Þat it was sorowe any segge þe siȝt to be-hald!
  • 3828 Þan aires him on ser Alexander with angwischis & payne,
  • 3829 Ay foloȝe furth by þe flumme at I first tald,
  • 3830 And at þe aȝtand houre I ame, of þe day,
  • 3831 Þan comes þaim to a castell was closid in þe borne.
  • 3832 It was a mervalous mote made all of redis,
  • 3833 And foure forlange, I finde þe flode was o brede.
  • 3834 A fewe within þe forslet of folke þare a-perid,
  • 3835 Waiteand out at wyndows to wondire on his ostis.
  • 3836 Sire Alexander bad his men aske þaim of ynde,
  • 3837 And frayne quare þai find miȝt any fresch watir;
  • 3838 And þai þan hent in þaire hedis & hidd þam belyue.
  • 3839 And he felly with flane flingis at þe wallis,
  • 3840 ȝit for na spell at he spirid spek wald þai neuire.
  • 3841 And þan comandis he his kniȝt[is] kenely to swymme,
  • 3842 And þai all bare, saue þe breke with brandis in hand,
  • 3843 Þan thringis in on a throw thretty & seuyn.
  • 3844 Als fast as þai þe forthing-dole had of þe flode past,
  • 3845 Þan girds þare vp fra þe ground & grymly þaim woundis
  • 3846 Of Seeles & of see-Bules a swyth nounbre,
  • 3847 Droȝe þam doun in-to þe depe & drouned þam for euire.
  • 3848 Þan ȝede he þine with his erles & egirly him thristis;
  • 3849 Lebards lendis þaim agaynes leons & beres;
  • 3850 Dragons & dromondaris & of þir derfe Tigirs
  • 3851 Fra morne to þe mirke niȝt þaim maynly assailed.
  • 3852 Þus raȝt he fra þis reuir be many ruȝe waies
  • 3853 To it was meten to þe mere to myd-ouir-vndorne.
  • 3854 Þan come he streke on a staunke þe store me tellis,
  • 3855 Was neuir na hony in na hyue vndire heuen swettir.
  • 3856 A foure furelange or fyue it was of full brede,
  • 3857 Umby-thorned with a thike wod thre mile a-boute,
  • 3858 Was all of þe Rede ryse as I redd first;
  • 3859 And þat he cuttis doun clene & kindils in fyris.
  • 3860 He gert tild vp his tentis be þat terne syde,
  • 3861 Þoȝt þare a longe quile to lie & lachen his esee.
  • 3862 Þe mone ouir þe montayns meryly it schynes
  • 3863 Or he miȝt drinke any drope & þen his dole neȝes.
  • 3864 Þan comes þare-out creuesses of manykins hewis,
  • 3865 Scorpions þaim to scere & scalid neddirs,
  • 3866 And þai so large & so laith & so lowd schrikis,
  • 3867 Þat all þe soile of þa sidis of þe sound ryngis.
  • 3868 Dragons dryfes doun o driȝt fra þe derfe hillis,
  • 3869 With kene carefull crie & crestis on þaire hedis,
  • 3870 Grisely gapand & grim with gilden brestis,
  • 3871 And flawmes feruent as fyre floȝe fra þaire eȝen;
  • 3872 Þai drewe toward oure douth with dedly blastis.
  • 3873 Sir Alexander & his ost was arȝed vnfaire,
  • 3874 Was þare na freke in þe fild þat faithly he leued
  • 3875 To be deuowrid & devoidid & vencuste for euire.
  • 3876 Þe kyng þan comfurthid his kniȝtis all if he care þoled:
  • 3877 'Mi bald baratours,' he bad 'a-baste noȝt ȝoure hertis;
  • 3878 Seis ensampill at my-selfe & seke ȝe na ferre,
  • 3879 Bot hedis haly to my hand & harmes þar-eftire.'
  • 3880 A brand & a briȝt schild bremely he hentis,
  • 3881 Feȝtis freschely & fast with þa fell bestis,
  • 3882 Dasches dragons doun geuys þaim depe woundis,
  • 3883 Slaes of þa serpentis many sadd hundreth.
  • 3884 Þan bildid of his bachelers & braidis to þaire wapen;
  • 3885 If þai ware mased & amayd maynly þaim feȝt.
  • 3886 ȝit was þar twenti þat time tangid to dede,
  • 3887 And þat þe comliest kniȝtis at þe kyng ledis;
  • 3888 Of athill archars als as þe buke tellis,
  • 3889 A-boute a thretty in þat thede tharned þaire lyfes.
  • 3890 Þus many deid of his douth as þe boke tellis,
  • 3891 And him limpis all þe loose be þe lattire end.
  • 3892 Now comes a company of Crabbe-fische as calues gret,
  • 3893 Meuand of þis marras oure men to assaill,
  • 3894 With backis, as þe buke sais biggir & hardere
  • 3895 Þan ony comon cogill-stane or cocatryse scales.
  • 3896 Quen kniȝtis of oure conquirours kest at þam lances,
  • 3897 Was nane so wele-stelid poynt at þam perse miȝte.
  • 3898 Bot gomes with þaire greues in twa in þe gledis spurned,
  • 3899 And all at left ware o lyue in-to þe loȝe entirs.
  • 3900 Be þai had fyneschid þis fiȝt was ferre in with euyn,
  • 3901 Foure houres full farne & þe fifte neghes.
  • 3902 And leons quyte as lylly lent þam agayn,
  • 3903 Of bodis biggire þan bules berand vnfaire.
  • 3904 Oure kniȝtis at þe first come clenly þaim sloȝe,
  • 3905 Alto bretind þaim on bent & broȝt þaim on fliȝt.
  • 3906 Wild berys in þe wast fra þe wodd comes,
  • 3907 With ilka tenefull tothe as tyndis of harowis.
  • 3908 A cubete lenth, sais þe clause cald was þe lest.
  • 3909 Þai seke out be sundres sexti to-gedire,
  • 3910 With wild men of þe wast & women e-bland,
  • 3911 With sex handis, & soo sett out of kynd.
  • 3912 Þai held in hettirly & hurtis of his kniȝtis;
  • 3913 And þai with brandis & bowis bremely þaim woundis,
  • 3914 Sloȝe of þa sauagyus a sowme out of nombre,
  • 3915 And many scopid into þe scoghe without scath mare.
  • 3916 Sire Alexander & his ost angwisch enduris,
  • 3917 Was waik, as na wondire was & wery for-foȝten.
  • 3918 And þam he bedis at a braide to beet vp þe stank,
  • 3919 With-out his ost ouir all horrible fires.
  • 3920 Þan come a beste of a busche with a blak heued,
  • 3921 Mad & merkid as a Meere þe mast of þe werd,
  • 3922 Fere fersere þan an olifant as we find written,
  • 3923 Stayrand on to þe staunke þe stour to asaill.
  • 3924 Þis breme best bare as þe buke tellis,
  • 3925 Before forne in þe fronte thre fell tyndis,
  • 3926 Hedous horns & hoge & hiȝt in þaire tonge
  • 3927 Adanttrocay with all men as I am enfourmed.
  • 3928 Before scho drank of þis dam his douth sho assaild,
  • 3929 And oure kyng with his carpe his kniȝtis he gladis.
  • 3930 Aȝt & tuenti men of armes onone scho delyuird,
  • 3931 Bernes was diȝt þe deth with dintis enoghe.
  • 3932 Þan mys out of þis marras as any mayn foxes
  • 3933 Come furth, & fedd þaim in-fere of þe ded corses.
  • 3934 All at was bitten of þa best was at a brunt dede,
  • 3935 Bot ȝit þai noyed bot a nykid to nane þat was ermed.
  • 3936 Þan floȝe þar by þe firmament of þa foule Backes,
  • 3937 Als store & as stalword as þire sedill dowis
  • 3938 With mekill maȝten teeth as it of men ware;
  • 3939 And at vn-armed was þai asperly wondid,
  • 3940 Of sum þai nyppid fra þe nebb þe nose be þe eȝen,
  • 3941 Of sum þai ete of þaire eris euen by þe rotis,
  • 3942 Sum þai luggid of þe lippis þe lire fra þe chekis,
  • 3943 Bot þar bitis, as þe buke sais blemest na kniȝtis.
  • 3944 Þan come a fliȝtir in of fowls as fast as it dawid,
  • 3945 To vise on as vowtres as vermeon hewid,
  • 3946 Þaire boukis & þar bathire fete was of blak sable,
  • 3947 And did bot plaid by þe pepill & fed þaim on fyschis.
  • 3948 Quen he had voidid þis vermyn & vencust þat of ynde,
  • 3949 Out of þis perlaous place he past with his ost
  • 3950 In-to þe boundis of Bactry þar bildid he his tentis.
  • 3951 Þare reches was of redde gold & many riche gemes;
  • 3952 And clene all þat contre qwen þai his come wist,
  • 3953 Þai mett him full manerly & mekely resayued
  • 3954 With presentis of pirre & many proude giftes,
  • 3955 And thretti dayis in þat thede he tholes & abidis.
  • 3956 A sertane folke was in þat soile þat Serres ere callid,
  • 3957 And all þe lyndis in þat land with leves as wolle.
  • 3958 And so þire Serres, at I said þaim in þe somere gedirs,
  • 3959 And makis þaim wedis þar-of to were for wintris blastis.
  • 3960 Þire baratours bawers ere bremly reioyed
  • 3961 Of þe conquest of þire cocatrices & of þa kene bestis;
  • 3962 And now he caire[s] fra þat kithe & comes in a stounde
  • 3963 Quare Porrus with his powere on a playn lengis.
  • 3964 Sire Alexander & his ost caires þaim a-gayne
  • 3965 With brade baners & briȝt & bragging of troumpis.
  • 3966 Apon þe bald bocifalon before his men all
  • 3967 He flingis out a forelange his feris to assaile.
  • 3968 Þe Persens putt þaim in pres & þe proude grekis;
  • 3969 Þe Medis & þe Messedons maynely þai feȝt,
  • 3970 Þai swey doun as swiftly þa swart men of ynde,
  • 3971 As euire did corne in a croft be-fore a kene sithe.
  • 3972 Quen sir Porrus saȝe his princes in þe prese faile,
  • 3973 Þan aires he out be-for his ost on Alexander callis:
  • 3974 'It comes,' he said, 'to na kyng ne kidd emperoure
  • 3975 To latt his pepill þus pas & perisch in ydill;
  • 3976 It fallis mare faire him þe fiȝt to fynesch him-selfe.
  • 3977 Forþi lat stedill all oure stoure & stedd þam esoundire,
  • 3978 Þi semble o þe taa syde & myne on þe tothire;
  • 3979 Lat vs twa termyn þe taite be-twene vs alane.
  • 3980 If I be vencust in þe vaile & voidid of my lyfe,
  • 3981 Lat all my seggis & soile be to þi-selfe ȝolden;
  • 3982 And if þou failis in þe fild & I þe floure wynn,
  • 3983 Latt þan þine erlis & þine erd myne empire obeyi.'
  • 3984 Þus porrus in his hiȝe pride to oure kyng spekis,
  • 3985 For he was litill & laghe him laythly dispices.
  • 3986 For quen he wan to wax þe writt me recordis,
  • 3987 Thre cubettis fra þe croune doun his cors had o lenghte.
  • 3988 Þe person of ser Porrus past him þat hiȝt twyse,
  • 3989 He feetis him forth in his force & in his faire hiȝte.
  • 3990 Bot þe prowis & þe prouidens & of þe pure thewis
  • 3991 Þat lurkis with-in þis lede full litill he kennes.
  • 3992 Now is þe partise in pes & þai þe place dele;
  • 3993 Aithire kyng with his cause encontres on othire.
  • 3994 Sire Porrus with a proude swerd him on þe pan strikis
  • 3995 So snelle at he snatirs with nere snaypid him for euire.
  • 3996 Þan kastis vp a kene crie þe kniȝtis out of ynde,
  • 3997 For he was dased of þe dint & half dede him semyd.
  • 3998 Porrus, as a prince suld persayued þar latis,
  • 3999 Turnes him toward his tulkis & titely rehetis.
  • 4000 Sire Alexander him avises & his aande takis,
  • 4001 As bald barratour & breme his brand vp he liftis,
  • 4002 With bathe his handis in-to þe brayne his basenet he cleuys,
  • 4002* And he fallis doun fey & fynes in þat stound.
  • 4003 Þe pepill of ser Porrus quen þai [him] pas saȝe,
  • 4004 With all manere of men maynly þai fiȝt.
  • 4005 'A! wriches!' quod þe wale kyng & wisely he spekis,
  • 4006 'Eftir þe deth of ȝour duke quat deynes ȝowe to stryue?
  • 4007 Wete ȝe wele,' quod þe wee 'be werrayours laȝes,
  • 4008 Þat quen þe gouernoure is gane þan is þe gomes wastid.'
  • 4009 'Sire, it is bettir for to bate & on þe bent faile,
  • 4010 Þan se þis rewthe on ȝour renkis & reft be ȝour gudis.'
  • 4011 'Sirs, blynes of ȝour bataile & bowes to ȝoure landis;
  • 4012 ȝoure fermes & ȝoure fraunches I frely ȝow grant;
  • 4013 For ȝe haue cockid for ȝour kyng ȝe sall no care suffire!'
  • 4014 And þan callid him on knese & kest doun þaire armes.
  • 4015 Þai come to þis conquirour comend him as driȝtin,
  • 4016 Þan sett he sales vp of silke & sacrifece makis.
  • 4017 Sire Porrus, as him wele fell he proudely enteris,
  • 4018 And all þe fey in þe fild & here a fitt ende.
  • 4019 Þan aires he furth with his erlis & entris an Ile
  • 4020 Quare þir Exidraces as Ermets inhabet in caues,
  • 4021 A progenie of pore men þat neuire pride hauntis,
  • 4022 And ȝit þe gentill genosophis þam þe gest callis.
  • 4023 Is þare na bost þaim ebland ne bataills vsyd,
  • 4024 Nouthire cites in to sytt cellis, nor na tounes,
  • 4025 Bot crepis in-to creuesse & craggis on hillis,
  • 4026 And ay is naked [as] a nedill as natour þam schapis.
  • 4027 Þe kyng of þat contre quen he þe come heres
  • 4028 Of þis prince & his parray þis pistill he him sendis.
  • 4029 'We, corruptible creatours & cald as be-fore,
  • 4030 To þe mode man of Messedone all þus-gate I write.
  • 4031 Sire, it is sayd to oure-selfe with sere mens tongis,
  • 4032 How þou comes in-to oure kith-ward to cumbre vs with care,
  • 4033 And þat Vs wondres, I-wis for wyn may ȝe nouthire
  • 4034 Nouthire gold ne na gude at euir gode fourmed.
  • 4035 Sen at we Ioy nouthire gemmes ne Iuwels in cofirs,
  • 4036 Pelour, pirre, ne perle ne na proude wedis,
  • 4037 Ne sauand bot to sustene with oure awen sary craftis,
  • 4038 Quat in þis time may ȝe take if ȝe oure termes entre?
  • 4039 If ȝe will seke in-to oure soile & sett vs agayne,
  • 4040 Oure simpilnes & oure sobirte forsake sall we neuire.'
  • 4041 Quen he had lokid ouire þe lefe a lettre he in-dities,
  • 4042 Þat he aproched all with pes & in na plite ellis.
  • 4043 Quen he was entrid þar erde & sees þaim all nakid,
  • 4044 And won as it ware wildirnes in wastis & greues,
  • 4045 Darke in dennes vndire dounes & in derne holis,
  • 4046 And bath þar bridis & þar barnes with bestes on þe fellis,
  • 4047 Þan Alexander at þam askis & all him a-wondres:
  • 4048 'Haue ȝe na houses ne na hames ne holis in to bery?'
  • 4049 And þar þai schewid him in schurrys to schellis & to caues,
  • 4050 Said, 'here we ilka day duell deuyse how ȝow likis.'
  • 4051 Quen he þaire simpilnes sees he soroȝes in his hert,
  • 4052 Pleynes of þaire pouerte & profurs þaim full faire,
  • 4053 'Quat euire ȝe will in all þe werd or I wend, askis,
  • 4054 And I sall gladly ȝow geue with a gud will.'
  • 4055 'Sire, neuire to dee,' quod þai þan 'bot euire dure o lyue,
  • 4056 Þat we desire ȝow bedene & þan do vs na mare.'
  • 4057 'Be driȝtin, sirs, I am a duke dedelike my-selfe,
  • 4058 Forþi vnde[d]lynes to dele I dowe be na ways.'
  • 4059 'Now sen it worthis,' quod þa wees 'wriche, for to die,
  • 4060 Quarto hiȝis þou fra half to halfe & all þis harme wirkis?'
  • 4061 'Sire, be my croune,' quod þe kyng 'þe cause at I haue
  • 4062 Is purly gods prouidens predestayned it is before.
  • 4063 ȝe se, wele seldom is þe see with him-selfe turbild
  • 4064 Bot with þir walowand windis; my will ware to rifte,
  • 4065 Bot a-noþir gast, & noȝt my gast þar-of my gast lettis;'
  • 4066 And wendis a-way with þat word & wemles þaim leuys.
  • 4067 Þe secund day with vp son he with his sowme neȝes,
  • 4068 Quare þire Imagis ere þat Arculious had in an Ile rerid.
  • 4069 Þe tane was all athill gold of siluir þe tothire,
  • 4070 Twelfe cubettis fra þe topp doun & twa was þe brede.
  • 4071 He made his pepill þaim to perse to proue þam with-in,
  • 4072 Quethire þai ware hologhe or hale & hale he þam fyndis,
  • 4073 Saȝe þaim thike þurȝe-out & aithire thrill stoppis,
  • 4074 And fillis þam florentis a fyftene hundreth.
  • 4075 Þan drafe he þine with his dukis in a deyne entris,
  • 4076 A wilsom wast & wild & wondirly colde,
  • 4077 As mirke as any mydniȝt quen þe mone failes,
  • 4078 Þat vnnethes ken may a kniȝt to se to his fere.
  • 4079 Fifty days be desert he foundis with his folke,
  • 4080 Till he come blesenand on a brym was welland hate,
  • 4081 And on þe ferre halfe of þe bourne was wemen on hors,
  • 4082 Þat frely faire ware of face bot foule ware clethid.
  • 4083 Sum beris all of brent gold brandis in þaire handis,
  • 4084 Sum bataill-axes & with bowes all of briȝt siluir,
  • 4085 For brase is nane with þa bonds ne no bige Iren;
  • 4086 Ne neuire na berne þam ebland as þe buke tellis.
  • 4087 Þan wald his pepill & his princes haue past ouir þe bourne,
  • 4088 And miȝt noȝt for þe morsure & maynyng of bestis,
  • 4089 It was so borely & brade & bred full of ydres,
  • 4090 Of dragons & of othire deuyls & doukand neddirs.
  • 4091 Þan caires furth oure conquirour with his kid ostis,
  • 4092 Lede þam be þe left side of þe lande of ynde,
  • 4093 Sone was he dreuyn with his dukis into a dryi meere,
  • 4094 Was full of gladen & of gale & of grete redis.
  • 4095 Þan snyȝes þar, out of þat snyth hill as with a snayles pas,
  • 4096 A burly best with a bake as bedell as a saȝe,
  • 4097 Kene tethe as a knyfe a cowdrife breste,
  • 4098 Of sembalaunce as a see-bule & sloȝe him twa kniȝtis.
  • 4099 Wald þar na brande in him bite ne no bigge launce,
  • 4100 Bot alto-maukid hire with maces & mellis of Iren.
  • 4101 A twenti dais ouire ten with torfare þai ride;
  • 4102 To þe formast forest of ynde oure folke all aprochid.
  • 4103 Euyn at þe flode of Enmare oure emperoure logis,
  • 4104 And at þe xj houre I ame, as it ware,
  • 4105 Of Olifants out of þe ways an endles nounbre
  • 4106 Come with a carefull crie oure kniȝtis to assaill.
  • 4107 A-pon þe bald Bucifalon he bremely ascendis,
  • 4108 Bedis of his swiers ga swyth & swyne with þaim take.
  • 4109 Þai ware a-baiste all belyue as þe buke tellis,
  • 4110 Þat durst na berne on þe bent a-bide bot him-selfe.
  • 4111 'Be noȝt a-baist, my bachelars' þe bald kyng sayd,
  • 4112 'For with þe sweling of þe swyne we sall þaim all voide.’
  • 4113 And so þai did al bedene & sum oure douth sloȝe,
  • 4114 Tuke out þe tuskis & þe tethe & ternen of þe skinnes.
  • 4115 Þat oþir dai be desert þam destaned to ride,
  • 4116 Be þe wild ynde woddis & wemen þai faund
  • 4117 With bare hedes as a barne & berdis to þe pappis,
  • 4118 And had na hattir þam to hele bot hidis of bestis.
  • 4119 His seggis sesid of þam sum & to him-selfe broȝt,
  • 4120 And he þan askid þam of ynde & at þam enquires,
  • 4121 Quat was þaire viaunce in þa vales. 'ser, venyson,' þai said,
  • 4122 'Slike as we haunt in þar holis with hunting in tymes.'
  • 4123 Þen ferd þai furth all in fere & to fild comys,
  • 4124 Euyn to þe heued of Enmaure as I first rekend.
  • 4125 Þare fand þai bernys & bridis & all bale-nakid,
  • 4126 At was resild as a resch & roghe as a bere.
  • 4127 ȝit was þe custom of þar kinde as þe clause tellis,
  • 4128 Als wele to bide in þe bourne as on þe brade lande.
  • 4129 Onone as þai on Alexander & on his ost waites,
  • 4130 Þai flee as fast in-to flode & to þe founce plangid.
  • 4131 Þan ferd þai furthe be þe frithis fiftene dais,
  • 4132 And sa þai willid in-to a wod was full [of] wild bestis,
  • 4133 Rynoceros, as I rede þe romance þam callis;
  • 4134 And þai assembild on oure seggis bot þai ware sone drepid.
  • 4135 Þan sexti days with his seggis he soȝt be disert,
  • 4136 Till he was won in-to a werd all of wast fildis,
  • 4137 Quare nouthire holtis was ne hilles ne no hiȝe [h]eggis,
  • 4138 Bot all as planir & as playn as a playn table.
  • 4139 Euen at þe elleuynt houre or euynsange tyme,
  • 4140 Quen he had tild vp his tentis turbils þe welken;
  • 4141 Þe semblant sorowis of þe soile & þe son wadis,
  • 4142 Þe werd wannes at a wap & þe wedire gloumes.
  • 4143 Þan fell a fliȝt & a fire betwene þe foure wyndis,
  • 4144 Aquiloun & Affrike & ewrus þe thrid,
  • 4145 Vulturnus þe violent þat voidis doun þe leuys,
  • 4146 Þe south & of all sydis sadly þai mete,
  • 4147 A breme blast on þe bent as þe buke tellis,
  • 4148 Þat all þaire tents it to-terid & turned doun þe hallis;
  • 4149 þar pauylyons of pirre þaire payntid clathis
  • 4150 It alto-schatird, & to-scailed þam in sondire.
  • 4151 Þan was kniȝtis of þe case kenely affraid,
  • 4152 And ilka segge be him-selfe said vn-to othire,
  • 4153 'Þe writhe of þe wale god I wate, on vs liȝtis,
  • 4154 For oure founding ouire his forbod so ferre to þe est.'
  • 4155 Þan comforthis þaim þe conquirour & carpis on þis wyse,
  • 4156 Bad, 'baise ȝow noȝt, my baratours ne batis noȝt ȝour hertis,
  • 4157 It is na greme of oure gode ne grefe at vs fallis,
  • 4158 Bot þe entring of þe equinox it euire elike-dele kyndils.'
  • 4159 Sone as þe wedire wex wele & þe wynde pesid,
  • 4160 As, be þe bale neuir so breme it blynnes at þe last,
  • 4161 Þan ferd þai forth fra fild to fild & freschly assemblis
  • 4162 All at was sperpolid on þe spene & spilt with þe blastis.
  • 4163 Þan fandis he furth, as I fynd fyue & twenti days,
  • 4164 Come to a velans vale þare was a vile cheele,
  • 4165 Quare flaggis of þe fell snawe fell fra þe heuen,
  • 4166 Þat was a-brade, sais þe buke as battis ere of woll.
  • 4167 Þan bett he many briȝt fire & lest it blin nold,
  • 4168 And made his folk with þaire feete as flores it to trede;
  • 4169 Þe hete was þam a hoge helpe & hettirly it voidis,
  • 4170 And ȝit was perischist, or he past a part of his kniȝtis.
  • 4171 Þan vmby-clappis þaim a cloude & couirs all ouire,
  • 4172 As any pynaund pik þe planetis it hidis,
  • 4173 And þat so thestir & so thik a thre dais eftir,
  • 4174 Þai saȝe na leme of þe lyft ne liȝt of þe son.
  • 4175 Þan fell þar fra þe firmament as it ware fell sparkis,
  • 4176 Ropand doun o rede fire þan any rayn thikire;
  • 4177 Þaire cabons & þaire couertours it kindils on a lowe,
  • 4178 And all þar pauillions of pall it to poudire wastis.
  • 4179 It tinds on tend lowe trappour of stede,
  • 4180 And many costious costis consumes in-to askis,
  • 4181 Bages & baners it blemyschid & swellis,
  • 4182 And quare it neȝes on þe nakid it noyis for euire.
  • 4183 Þan knelis doun oure conquirour & callis on his driȝtins,
  • 4184 Giffe þam siluir & so & sens at þaim castis.
  • 4185 Vnneth his prayere was past quen purid all þe cloudis,
  • 4186 And stint was all þe stikill stormes in a stand-quile.
  • 4187 Þen rade he in aray remowis his ostis,
  • 4188 To þe grete flode of Gangem & graythid þar his tents.
  • 4189 His bernes blischis ouir þe bourne & on þe banke saȝe
  • 4190 Quare thre wees in a wraa welk þaim allane.
  • 4191 Sire Alexander bad an athil aske þem of ynde,
  • 4192 Quase þai were, quethin þai were & of quat kind.
  • 4193 And þai him swiftly swarid with a swete steuyn,
  • 4194 'We ere bald Bragmenys þat neuir bale thoȝt.'
  • 4195 Þan list þe lord on his lyfe haue with þa ledis spoken,
  • 4196 Miȝt he haue won ouir þe water for wounding of bestis,
  • 4197 As see-bule & serpentis & soukand locerhes,
  • 4198 Bathe eddirs & ascres & atterand wormes.
  • 4199 Þire Cocatricesse in creuessis þar kindiles þai brede,
  • 4200 Scorpions many score scautand neddirs;
  • 4201 And all-way bot in angwisch as þe buk sais,
  • 4202 And saue þe Iolite of Iuly þai Iowke in þa strandis.
  • 4203 Quen he persayued be na poynt at he pas miȝt,
  • 4204 Þan was he sary in þat sithe & sadly he pleyned,
  • 4205 Callid to his carpentars & of his kid wriȝtis,
  • 4206 Bad make him boun at a braide a barge all of redis.
  • 4207 Quen it was done at his diuyse & draȝen ouer with hidis,
  • 4208 Pared & parreld at his pay pickid & taloghid,
  • 4209 Þan bowes þarin a bachelere to bragmeyn he wendis,
  • 4210 To þe souereayn sire of þe soile & sesid him þis pistill.
  • 4211 'I, þat kyng am of kyngis & crouned of lordis,
  • 4212 Alexander þe aire of Amone oure driȝtin,
  • 4213 And of þe quene Olimpades þat I am of sprongen,
  • 4214 To þe, ser Dindyn, on þi dese dities of Ioye.
  • 4215 Sen we chapid out of childhede & cheued to eldire,
  • 4216 Þat we cuthe any-gates gesse betwyx gud & ill,
  • 4217 Syne was oure will ay with witt to warisch oure saule,
  • 4218 And kest out all vnclennes & clene it deuoidid;
  • 4219 For þe philisophour in his fourme vs feetly declares,
  • 4220 Þat saȝe with-outen sapience it seldoum aproues.
  • 4221 And it is wayued vs to wete & warned now late,
  • 4222 Þat all oure leuyng & oure laȝes ȝe wetirly dispice,
  • 4223 And ȝour manars fra all othire mens so mekill ere deffirrid,
  • 4224 Þat nouthire in see ne in soile seke ȝe na helpe.
  • 4225 Bott deyned it ȝour doctryne bedene vs to write,
  • 4226 ȝoure customes & ȝoure conscience & of ȝour clene thewis,
  • 4227 We miȝt sum connynge per cas chach of ȝoure wordis,
  • 4228 And ȝour lare of a leke suld neuire þe les worth.
  • 4229 Slike similitude of science is sett, as of kynde,
  • 4230 As of a blesand brand or of a briȝt candill.
  • 4231 For many liȝtis of a liȝt is liȝtid othire-quile,
  • 4232 And ȝit þe liȝt at þam liȝtis is liȝtid as before.'
  • 4233 Quen he had waytid ouer þis writtis his mynd he remembris,
  • 4234 And be þe same sandisman him send sike anothire.
  • 4235 'I, ser Dindimus, a duke þat neuire deere wroȝt,
  • 4236 Blith berne on my benke þe Bragmeyns maistir,
  • 4237 To þe modi kynge of Messedone þis maundment I write.
  • 4238 Sire Alexander, þe athill at all þe werd loutis,
  • 4239 Sire, þe tenour of þi titill I trow, be na mare,
  • 4240 Bot anly wisdom & witt þou willis in þi saule.
  • 4241 And bettir it is to þine a-bofe þan buschels of siluir,
  • 4242 And mare passand of prisse þan all þi proude rewmes.
  • 4243 Sen ȝe discrecion disire we depely ȝow pray;
  • 4244 For a kyng with-outen cunnyng he can noȝt distreyne
  • 4245 His subiectis, to be subi[e]ctis as subiectis aȝe,
  • 4246 Bot subiectis till his subiectis his subiectis him makis.
  • 4247 Þou prayes vs to þi person a pistill to write
  • 4248 Of all oure lefyng & oure laȝes & oure land techis;
  • 4249 Quare-of þe proces to preue vnpossible it were,
  • 4250 And if we did it to dome it dose ȝow na gude.
  • 4251 For þi tent is all on terrandry & tourment of armes,
  • 4252 In bost & in bobans in bataills & stryuys,
  • 4253 A craft till oure condicions at cordis bot litill;
  • 4254 For simpilnes & surquitry a-sewis noȝt to-gedire.
  • 4255 Bot leue ȝe noȝt we be to heȝe ne hauten of will
  • 4256 To steryn or to sturtyn or sterid to enuy;
  • 4257 A partie of oure propertes & of oure pure thewis
  • 4258 ȝit sall I send ȝow to say sen ȝe me soȝt haue.
  • 4259 Sire, we þe Bragmeyns blode birdis & othire,
  • 4260 A lowly lyfe in oure land we lede, & a clene.
  • 4261 All ydolatris in oure Ile ere vttirly devoidid,
  • 4262 & to na syn vndire son a-sent we vs neuire.
  • 4263 All þat ouire mesure is to mekill emell we declyne,
  • 4264 And nouthire couet we na corne bot þat vs kind leues,
  • 4265 Þat is þe filling of fode þat ilk flesch askis,
  • 4266 And þar-to suffirand oure-selfe & sobire as a mayden.
  • 4267 Hald we no hors for na harow ne na horned stottis,
  • 4268 Ne nauthire sondire we þe soile ne na sede sawis,
  • 4269 Seke we neuire no sustinance to saue with oure lyuys.
  • 4270 Set we na saynes in þe see ne sese we na fischis,
  • 4271 Ne nouthire hunt we ne hauke ne hent we na foules,
  • 4272 Bot sike as growis on þe gronde with-outen gomes werke.
  • 4273 And þat we fede vs with in-fere & fillis full oure tables,
  • 4274 A dayntefull diete þat damage vs neuire.
  • 4275 Haue we no cures of courte ne na cointe sewes,
  • 4276 Swanes ne na swete thing to swell oure wames.
  • 4277 All superfluyte of soule & surfet vs wlattis,
  • 4278 To pegge vs as a peny hoge þat praysis noȝt oure laȝes.
  • 4279 Forþi failis vs all infirmit[e]s of ffeuyre & of ells,
  • 4280 Ne for na febill at we fele na fysyke vs nedis.
  • 4281 Vs mistris neuire na medcyne for malidy on erthe,
  • 4282 Bot ay as fresche & as fere a[s] fisch quen he plays.
  • 4283 Oure lord has lemett vs elike þe lenthe of oure days,
  • 4284 For þar leues na lede in oure lande langire þan othire.
  • 4285 If he be sexti ȝere of sowme þat a segge lastis,
  • 4286 His successoure has bot þe same & þan þe saule ȝeldis.
  • 4287 We chaufe vs at na Chymmneys for chelis of wintir,
  • 4288 Ne comes na clathis on oure corps for na cald wyndis.
  • 4289 We bede noȝt to blemysch oure blode with bodely dissires.
  • 4290 Perseuerance of pacience & pes we reserue;
  • 4291 Oure inward enmys ilkane we inwardly drepis,
  • 4292 Þat is to say, all þe syn at solp may þe saule,
  • 4293 As surfet, surquidry, & slawth þe seuyn all bedene;
  • 4294 So þat oure werraours without vs worthis noȝt at drede.
  • 4295 For wele sonere is a cite sesid, or a castell,
  • 4296 Þat segid is on bath sidis [than] segid is with-out.
  • 4297 And þou wirkis bot on þa witerward & worthis þaim ouire,
  • 4298 And suffirs so within þi flesche þe faes of þe saule.
  • 4299 And we sitt all-way so sure be sand & be wattir,
  • 4300 Þat na supowell vndire son seke we vs neuire,
  • 4301 Ne schroude to scheld with oure schap bot þe schire banes,
  • 4302 And with þe braunches of þe bowis þat beris vs oure fodis.
  • 4303 Haue we na deliteable drinke of diuerse wynes,
  • 4304 Bot watir of a wale well or of a wild bourne.
  • 4305 And þat sullepe sire at sett all þe werde,
  • 4306 In him we lely beleue & in na laȝe ellis.
  • 4307 In all oure diȝans on daies þat duke we comend,
  • 4308 Wele wenand in anothire werd to won ay o-lyue.
  • 4309 And quat as pertenys to na profe vs plese noȝt at lesten,
  • 4310 Ne mekills mellis noȝt oure mouth bot mesure oure wordis.
  • 4311 Quen as we speke any spech we speke ai þe treuth,
  • 4312 And þan is still as a stane & stirs it na ferryn.
  • 4313 Riches ne no rede gold rose we þam nouthire,
  • 4314 Bot ay voide of enuy & of vayne thoȝtis.
  • 4315 Is þar na berne vs eblande biggir þan anothire,
  • 4316 Of land ne of lor[d]schip bot all elike simple.
  • 4317 Þe pouert of oure persons for plente we hald,
  • 4318 Þe quilke is part vs, all þe pake be parcells euyn.
  • 4319 Is þar na brag in oure bondis ne bering of armes,
  • 4320 B[o]t ay perpetuall pes piȝt in oure landis.
  • 4321 Ne nouthire Iugement ne Iayll ne Iustice of aire;
  • 4322 For dose na douth þar no dere to dome to be callid.
  • 4323 Ne custome in oure contre contraris oure laȝes,
  • 4324 Is þar na mercy ne methe in oure marche vsyd;
  • 4325 And I sall quethe þe forqui & quat is þe cause:
  • 4326 Þar dose na modirson o-mys na mercy to craue,
  • 4327 For auyrice & errogaunce & all we devoide,
  • 4328 And to na licherous lustes leeue ve oure membris,
  • 4329 A-vowtri ne na vayne glorie ne na vice hauntis,
  • 4330 Ne neuire to-pliȝt worth a pere to-ponyscht be-fore.
  • 4331 Fynd we na faute in na freke þat vs emange duellis,
  • 4332 For ay on reson & on riȝt rewelle we oure-selfe.
  • 4333 Ne seȝes na segge of oure sede sodanly of lyue,
  • 4334 For þe aire within oure habitacle is ai vn-corumpid.
  • 4335 Nouthire to toly ne to taunde transmitte we na vebbis,
  • 4336 To vermylion ne violett ne variant littis.
  • 4337 Oure paramours vs to plese ne pride þaim bewenes,
  • 4338 Nouthire ffurrers, filetts, ne frengs ne frettis of perle.
  • 4339 Is þam na surcote of silke ne serkis of raynes,
  • 4340 Ne kirtils of camlyn bot as þam kynd leues.
  • 4341 Ne neȝe we neuire þaim on niȝt to naite for na luste,
  • 4342 Bot for to sustayne oure sede & syn ay to voide.
  • 4343 Make we na salues for na sares ne na somir-bathis,
  • 4344 Bot with þe wale dewe & with þe warme son.
  • 4345 Howe durst any be so bald to blemysche for schame
  • 4346 Þe hand-werke of þat hiȝe gode þat all oure happe haues?
  • 4347 List vs na lordschips lache of ledis as oure-selfe,
  • 4348 For all oure libertes elike ere lante vs & paysed;
  • 4349 And to sett him in-to seruitute a syn vs it thinke,
  • 4350 Þat god has fourmed to be free & to his face licknud.
  • 4351 Make we na vessall of virre ne of na clere siluir,
  • 4352 Ne store staned strenthis ne na stithe hames,
  • 4353 Manere mynstre, ne mote ne marbryn werkis,
  • 4354 Bot duells here in disolatis in dennes & in cauys;
  • 4355 Ne nouthire housing we haue ay quils we here duell,
  • 4356 Bot at is fetid of flesch & of na fraunche piers;
  • 4357 Þat is þe carions kistis þat couers þe saule,
  • 4358 A full faynt forcelett & of fen makid.
  • 4359 We ere na sailers on þe see to sell ne to byi;
  • 4360 Ne rede we neuire na retorik ne rial to speke;
  • 4361 Bot certis in all simpilnes sett we oure wordis,
  • 4362 Þat latis neuire lesing in oure lippis spring.
  • 4363 Ne foloȝe we na ficesyens ne philisophour scolis,
  • 4364 As sophistri & slik thing to sott with þe pepill.
  • 4365 It is bot wiles & wrenkis at þai with dele,
  • 4366 And all þare fete & þar fare in falshede it endis.
  • 4367 Lufe we no laike in oure lede ne laȝand mirthis,
  • 4368 Bot quen vs pleses to play we passe & we rede
  • 4369 Of þe actis of oure auncestours & of þar athill thewis;
  • 4370 And quen we gamen suld & glade we grete & we pleyn.
  • 4371 And othire sertis wee see þat solace oure hertis;
  • 4372 First, þe faire firmament fichid full of sterres,
  • 4373 Þe rede son, quen he ryses & rynnys in his sercle,
  • 4374 Þat all þe land with his leme lewis & cleres;
  • 4375 Þe playn purperyn see full of prode fischis,
  • 4376 For tide ne for tempest it touchis noȝt oure kythis,
  • 4377 Ne neuire sondres oure soile bot sesis at þe brinkis.
  • 4378 Anothire mirthe is in May þat vs maste ioyes,
  • 4379 Þe faire floryscht filds of floures & of herbys,
  • 4380 Quare-of þe breth as of bawme blawis in oure noose,
  • 4381 Þat ilk sensitife saule mast souorly delyte,
  • 4382 As in þe woddis for to walke vndire wale schawis,
  • 4383 Quen all is lokin ouire with leuys as it ware littill heuen.
  • 4384 Þan haue we liking to lithe þe late of þe foules,
  • 4385 Þe swoȝing of þe swift wynde & of þe swete wellis.
  • 4386 Þe kind of þire customs we kepe euire-mare,
  • 4387 Þe quilk, I hope, ser, þe to hald vnhalesom it ware.
  • 4388 If þou will chalang þaim be chaunce chese if þe likis,
  • 4389 For here is written all þi will & we na writh serue.
  • 4390 As þe tenour of ȝour titill is oure techis haue we schawid,
  • 4391 Oure dedis & of oure disciplyne a dele of þaim aythir;
  • 4392 And of þi lare a litill-quat likis me to write,
  • 4393 For þe sothe of oure solitude will serue þe stille aftir.
  • 4394 Sire, ȝe haue laȝt now on late within a lite ȝeres
  • 4395 All Europ & Asie & Auffrik þe mare;
  • 4396 Þat seising burde sufficiant þofe soȝt ȝe na ferre.
  • 4397 Bot ay mekill wald haue mare as many man spellis;
  • 4398 Þe son, for sake of ȝour syn sesys his liȝt,
  • 4399 Be-cause of ȝoure couatise to clym to his bounds.
  • 4400 And ȝe with wodnes of weris all þe werde fretis,
  • 4401 And ȝit for-feȝtils ȝoure face all fasting it semes.
  • 4402 A-nothire laȝe is in ȝoure lande at oure lord hatis,
  • 4403 As, slaa ȝoure sonnes in sacrifice & othire synnys many,
  • 4404 To sawe emang þir simpill men sedis of debate,
  • 4405 And make a terant of a tulke þat neuire tene thoȝt.
  • 4406 Þe soile ne þe foure sees suffice ȝowe nouthire,
  • 4407 Bot if ȝe miȝt ken þe costis of þe clere heuen.
  • 4408 ȝoure giltis growis of ȝour gods or god geue þam sorowe,
  • 4409 For many modirson þai marre miȝt ellis haue bene safe.
  • 4410 A-vise ȝow now be Venus quat vertous him foloȝes,
  • 4411 Þe Iusule of Iupiter & of his Iapis als,
  • 4412 Dame Proserpyne, a prophetese of ȝoure praysid laȝes;
  • 4413 Latis þis be witnes of my wordis & waitis now þar tetchis.
  • 4414 Venus was a-vowtrere & many vice hauntid,
  • 4415 And Iupiter a Iettoure þat Iapid many ladis;
  • 4416 Dame proserpine in preue place playd as hire likid.
  • 4417 Loo, sary sottis slike a sowme of synnars ȝe lufe!
  • 4418 ȝe lett men of þar libertes at þam oure lord grauntid,
  • 4419 Thryngis þam in-to thraldom & of þaire thede spoiles.
  • 4420 Vn-iust is ȝour Iugementis so is ȝoure Iugis all;
  • 4421 Þe dedis of ȝour domesmen ȝe for dere halde.
  • 4422 Is þare na renke in ȝoure rewme þat othire rewill kepis,
  • 4423 Bot "þus me þinke" & "so me þinke" & threpis it is lawe!
  • 4424 Þus fra þe rote of riȝtwisnes rauyst ere ȝe clene,
  • 4425 And to þe way of wickidnes be warlaȝes gidid.
  • 4426 ȝe hald na wee of þe werd of witt worthe a myte,
  • 4427 Bot he can practise & paynt & polisch his wordis.
  • 4428 For all ȝoure wisdom, I-wis is wroken to ȝour tongis,
  • 4429 And all þe sauour of ȝoure sauls is sattild in ȝour mouthis.
  • 4430 ȝoure grete garisons of gold vngastly ȝe spende
  • 4431 In bigging of burgis & bilding of toures;
  • 4432 And quen ȝe sitt in ȝoure sale with syris & dukis,
  • 4433 Þan haue ȝee seggis ȝow to serue sowmes enogh.
  • 4434 Þan as a Mare at a moghe ȝoure mawis ȝe fill,
  • 4435 With bakin mete & with briddis bolnes ȝoure paunches,
  • 4436 Stuffis so ȝour stomake with stullis & of wynes,
  • 4437 Þat vnethis haldis, be ȝe hoo þe hide of ȝow hale!
  • 4438 Quat dewis ȝow þan þire diatis & all þis dere fode,
  • 4439 ȝoure sowping in vnseson ȝoure surfete of drinkis,
  • 4440 Bot settis ȝow in-to sekenes of sere-lepy kyndis,
  • 4441 And gers ȝow die or ȝoure day many dreȝe wyntir?
  • 4442 Þan ȝe couett & craue castels & rewmes,
  • 4443 And thristis eftir all thingis at in ȝoure thoȝt rynnes,
  • 4444 Iaspre, Iuwels, & gemmes & Iettand perle:
  • 4445 And all sall leue ȝow at þe laste & in-to laire worth!
  • 4446 And maydese ȝit, for all ȝour molle þat modire ws cried,
  • 4447 Þat fourmed þe flode & þe flynt & þe faire lyndis.
  • 4448 And, as I brefe it in þis bull þe bragmeyns takens
  • 4449 Surmontis all ȝour sapientis & oure assemy thewis.
  • 4450 And oþir werkis of wast is wroȝt in ȝoure landis,
  • 4451 As, graffis garnyscht of gold & gilten tombis,
  • 4452 Thurghis to thrawyn in quen ȝe þraa worthe,
  • 4453 Sum of siluir, sum of sipirs sum of sere gemmes.
  • 4454 Þus make ȝe vessels in vayne to ȝoure foule corses,
  • 4455 To crom in ȝoure cariouns þat kind ȝow defendis,
  • 4456 Þat ilk slymand slugh quen ȝe ere slide hyne,
  • 4457 And will noȝt suffire þe erth to haue at him fallis.
  • 4458 For iolite of Iupitir ȝe ioyen vp templis,
  • 4459 With Imagis of ȝoure ydolatry all within payntid;
  • 4460 Symolacris vp sett of Seropis & othir,
  • 4461 And slees in-to þe sacrifis many sere bestis.
  • 4462 Quen ȝe haue tildid vp-on [top] ȝour trouthles gods,
  • 4463 Sum of gold, sum of glas sum of gray marbill,
  • 4464 Sum of latoun & of lede & sum of liȝt siluir,
  • 4465 And sum ere tiffid all of tree & sum of tyn pured,
  • 4466 Þan fall ȝe flatt on þe fold with fees þaim adoures,
  • 4467 Bath Amon & Appolyne & asskis at þam welthys.
  • 4468 Of any gud at ȝe geet a gift ye þam offirre,
  • 4469 A quantite of all-quat of quike & of ellis;
  • 4470 ȝe latt as þai miȝt all leth at ony lede wald,
  • 4471 And þai may send ȝow bot vnsele & noȝt oþir godis.
  • 4472 Þus ȝe comende þaim on knees as cocards suld,
  • 4473 Þat nouthire siȝt has ne saule bot of segge werke;
  • 4474 ȝe haue na sauour, I suppose how þat þe kyng of heuen
  • 4475 He has na hert vs to here ne no hathill ellis
  • 4476 For calues ne for kidis blode ne for na crispe wethris,
  • 4477 Bot an[l]y for oure orisons & for na noþire giftis.
  • 4478 God seȝis oure saȝes for his son at in him-selfe duellis;
  • 4479 For sekire god is þe son þat all oure sede loues.
  • 4480 And sothly, by þe same son we ere him all like,
  • 4481 And all he sustayned of þat son þat any saule wildis.
  • 4482 Forþi vnhappy we ȝow hald þat in ȝoure hertis leues
  • 4483 ȝoure kind with slike a conquirour to comen or to euen.
  • 4484 And othire harlotry ȝe hant þat heris þe goste,
  • 4485 Of fornicacion & filth & many foule synnes,
  • 4486 Maumentry, & manslatir mosardry & pride,
  • 4487 Þat dose ȝow dompe to þe devill quen he ere dede hethen.
  • 4488 And we þe contrari clene kepis all oure lyue,
  • 4489 Þat we may bowe to þat blis þat neuir sall haue ende.
  • 4490 ȝe gronde ȝow noȝt on a god þat all of glett fourmed,
  • 4491 Þat note newid all of noȝt þat neuire sall haue ende,
  • 4492 Bot oþire many do ȝe menske ere him na mare sibbe
  • 4493 Þan was þe flesch of þe fysch to þe faire me[m]bree.
  • 4494 Ilk lede þat liȝt is of ȝour lede ȝe call þe litill werde,
  • 4495 And gesse wele as many gods as growis in him membris;
  • 4496 Ilk a parcele of his person a-proprid is a-pert driȝtin,
  • 4497 And euire-ilk lym, it awne lust eftir as him list craues!
  • 4498 For marcure was manslaȝt a mammlere of wordis,
  • 4499 ȝe graith him to be gouenoure & god of þe tonge.
  • 4500 And Arcules has aythire arme in his awen warde,
  • 4501 For þe xij wondirfull werkis he wroȝt with his handis.
  • 4502 Mars for his maisterris & for his many weris,
  • 4503 Him brefe ȝe for his baratris þe breste to defend.
  • 4504 Dame Iuno was a iettir & ioyned full of iree,
  • 4505 For-þi scho hedis to þe hert & has it to ȝeme.
  • 4506 Bary he was brayne-wode for bebbing of wynes,
  • 4507 Forþi [þe] swire & þe swalow þat swiere he kepis.
  • 4508 Cupido has þe custodi & cure of þe mawe,
  • 4509 For he was couatus & cursid vnclene of him-selfe.
  • 4510 Serenon is sustenour & sire of þe wambe,
  • 4511 For hem was quartirs of qwete vmqwile out of nombre.
  • 4512 Dame venus þe a-v[er]ous for vices opon niȝtis,
  • 4513 Is possessour & principale of all þe preue menbris.
  • 4514 Þus ilk cantell of ȝoure cors ȝe call þam driȝtins,
  • 4515 Deu[i]dis it in-to duesses & oþire deuels many.
  • 4516 Of ilk gobet of þat glett ȝe a god make,
  • 4517 And leues noȝt as mekill as a lym ȝour liches on to stand.
  • 4518 ȝe haue na hoping in þat hathill at on hiȝe sittis,
  • 4519 How he ȝoure nase & ȝoure nebb & all of noȝt cried,
  • 4520 Bot þinkis on þir othir thefis & þam as thrall seruys,
  • 4521 And sacrifice to ilk a segge a sere-lepy gifte.
  • 4522 To Mars in his mynstir at maynteines þe weris,
  • 4523 ȝe bringe him a wild bare for his wale dedis.
  • 4524 Þe carcas of a fatt kid þat carayne is worthe,
  • 4525 Þat bring ȝe to ser bacus to bere vp his drinke.
  • 4526 And Iupiter þat Ioglour sum Iape bos haue;
  • 4527 A bullok or a fell bule is broȝt to his temple.
  • 4528 And Iuno þe Ientill for ioy of his pride,
  • 4529 ȝe presand hire a pakoke with pennes of an Aungell.
  • 4530 Minerua was a maistres of many kingis werkis,
  • 4531 A ratland niȝt ravyn is him to rent ȝolden.
  • 4532 To Venus þe vowtriere may noȝt ells a-vaile,
  • 4533 Bot ilk moneth to mede & mi[l]ke-quite doufe.
  • 4534 Appollo with a quite swan is paid him to tende;
  • 4535 A manere of corne to mercure þat we þi muld call.
  • 4536 And Serenon is sone serued þat sees to þe paunche;
  • 4537 Haue he a boll full of bran bedis he na mare.
  • 4538 And Ercules as emperoure emyddis all he standis;
  • 4539 And for he preuyd ay þe prise in prowis of armes,
  • 4540 He has a hatt on his hede hiȝtild o floures,
  • 4541 Of palme & of peruyk & othire proud blossoms.
  • 4542 Þe kirke of cupido is clenly a-rayed,
  • 4543 Þe stallis & in all stedis strowid with Rose.
  • 4544 Lo, to so many mayned gods ȝour menbris ȝe dele,
  • 4545 And will noȝt knaw ȝour creatour at ȝow of clay fourmed.
  • 4546 Þire deme ȝe for ȝour driȝtins þat drepis þe saule;
  • 4547 For þai may sende ȝow na sele bot sla ȝow within.
  • 4548 As many of þat feleschip as ȝe trow & adoures,
  • 4549 As many turmentis & tene ȝow tidis in hell.
  • 4550 A-vise ȝow now quat velany & vices þai ȝow teche:
  • 4551 Ane leris ȝow to be licherus & leris ȝow to syn;
  • 4552 Ane, to be grindand gluttis & glorand dronkin;
  • 4553 And ane, to bragg & to bost & bate with þe pepill.
  • 4554 If ȝe be herd of ȝour happ vnhappe þai ȝow ken;
  • 4555 Forþi bot harlotry or harme is at ȝe here craue;
  • 4556 And if ȝe hede to ȝour hestis ȝour hert is a-meued,
  • 4557 So queþir þai here or els-quat it hurtis ay þe saule.
  • 4558 ȝour doctours ere ȝoure duesses þaire ditis alegis,
  • 4559 How þat þai hampire in ȝour here with many hard payn.
  • 4560 Þai cause all vnkindnes & corperall lustis,
  • 4561 As surquitry & sacrilag & othire sere tecches;
  • 4562 Constrene ȝow in-to cauatise to clame all þe werd,
  • 4563 To rayme & to robry to rayme men þaire godis,
  • 4564 Wailaway to wriches & wa is ȝow in erthe;
  • 4565 Herefore ȝe hinge mon in hell quen ȝe ere hethen passed!'
  • 4566 Þan was þe kyng of his carpe crabbid vnfaire,
  • 4567 For he was spetous of speche & spised his driȝtins;
  • 4568 Quen he had lokid on þe lyne he lappid it to-gedire,
  • 4569 And notid to him a-nothire new þat now next fologhes.
  • 4570 Þe kynge crouned of kyngis o lordis all othire,
  • 4571 Ser Alexander þe athelest of Amons childire,
  • 4572 And of þe quene Olimpades þat I was of geten,
  • 4573 To þe best of bragmeyns blissing & hele!
  • 4574 Sire, þe his sothe at ȝe say of all seggis oute
  • 4575 ȝe may be sett be ȝow-selfe for syn doo ȝe neuire!
  • 4576 Bot sothely slike a simpilnes as me my saule demys,
  • 4577 It comes bot of acustoumes & of na clene thewes.
  • 4578 And owþir ȝe gesse at ȝe be gods for ȝoure gud werkis,
  • 4579 Or deynes with oure driȝtins for þat we þam dere hald.
  • 4580 ȝe say ȝe sawe neuire soile ne na citis biggis;
  • 4581 How suld ȝe telle withouten toles or any tild rere?
  • 4582 Is þer non Instrumentis of Iren in all þat Ile founden,
  • 4583 Ne nakin metall of to make messelyne ne othire.
  • 4584 For-quy as bestis on þe bent ȝe growe on þe greuys,
  • 4585 Refete ȝow with refuse of rotis & of herbys;
  • 4586 Þe same wyse dose a wolfe þat wantis of his pray;
  • 4587 Quen he has faute of his flesch he fallis to þe soile!
  • 4588 Lo, if me list in-to ȝoure land with all my ledis entre,
  • 4589 Quat wisdom at ȝour wricchidnes or witt miȝt I lere?
  • 4590 Þe, lede, is litill to loue þat leuys ay in sorowe,
  • 4591 Bot mekill mare he is menskid þat in a mene duellis.
  • 4592 Ware þai so wyse þat has waes qua ware so wide praysed
  • 4593 As þa þat lepros ere & lame þat neuire of leth knewe?
  • 4594 If I ȝoure parties aproche & piȝt vp my tentis,
  • 4595 If I it miȝt, as I ne may for missyng of schipis,
  • 4596 Þare suld my folk for defaute be famyscht for euire,
  • 4597 And worthe in a wale quile to wricchis as ȝour-selfe!
  • 4598 ȝe say ȝour women has na wedis þe werd with to plese,
  • 4599 Garlands ne no gay gere to glyffe in ȝour eȝen,
  • 4600 Silke of Sipris, ne say ne saffrond kellis;
  • 4601 For-quy þare is nane to gete now neuyn I þe cause!
  • 4602 Adultery on all wise als ȝe deuoyde,
  • 4603 Ethchewis ay þat caffare as castite wald;
  • 4604 If ȝe na will haue to þat werk it wondres me littill;
  • 4605 How suld ȝe nayte euir þat note þat neȝes neuir þe fode?
  • 4606 Slik lust is lang on þe leuir & likand spices,
  • 4607 Mast cherischid & encheson of chasteand metis;
  • 4608 And ȝe bot fede ȝow with frute at flays noȝt ȝoure hongir,
  • 4609 For-þi neuire ailes ȝow þat apetite þir artis with to dele.
  • 4610 Is þar na lare in ȝoure land labour of scolis,
  • 4611 Fesike, ne no philosofy ne no fourme ellis,
  • 4612 Piromancie, ne poisei ne practyse of lawe,
  • 4613 Ne neuire na mercy ȝow emell as mynes me ȝour pistill;
  • 4614 All þis condicions I call bot comon of bestis,
  • 4615 Þat has no sent in þaire saule ne sauour in na gude.
  • 4616 Bot we þat fourmed is & fast & has a fre will
  • 4617 Differris as in oure fraunches fere fra ȝoure kynde.
  • 4618 It ware no possible poynt to paise in my witt,
  • 4619 Þat all miȝt ay be eftir ane with-outen any chaunge.
  • 4620 For eftir baret or bale blis vs aperis
  • 4621 And eftir wele comys wa for so þe werd askis.
  • 4622 Ouir wild is many ways wraiste as þe wedire skiftis;
  • 4623 For a clere cloudless day mas a clene mynde;
  • 4624 Quen it is briȝt all a-bowte it blithis oure hertis.
  • 4625 And be þar gold in oure gate or any gud stanes,
  • 4626 We do bot foules it with our fete vs fayns it na more,
  • 4627 And quen it walows & wannes all oure thestres,
  • 4628 ȝet ere we toghid to & fra be turnyng of eldris.
  • 4629 For quilk a frek is bot a fant þan is he first simple,
  • 4630 And quen he preues fra þat prike þan is he proud-lokid,
  • 4631 Metis on þe medill merke & þare his mynd stablis.
  • 4632 Mekill variaunce of vertus enveronis oure saules,
  • 4633 For we ere fetid full faire & has oure fyue wittis.
  • 4634 Ane, oure siȝt with to see & sauour at þe nasee,
  • 4635 And ane to tast & to touche & þen oure twa eris.
  • 4636 Of all þe frutis on þe fold we fange at oure will,
  • 4637 Bath venyson & volatile & variand fisches.
  • 4638 If ȝe refrene ȝow þar-fra it falis bot of pride
  • 4639 Or ellis ȝow writhis with ȝour wele for ȝe na welth haue!
  • 4640 Be many opynion I prefe þat pure is ȝoure tecches,
  • 4641 Mare fonden opon foly þan ficchid on reson.'
  • 4642 Sone as þe kyng of þe kith þe clause had devysid,
  • 4643 He settis him doun full sobirly & sendis him anothire.
  • 4644 'I, sir Dyndyn þe derrest at duells in þis Ile,
  • 4645 Þe best of þe bragmeyns of bounte & of thewis,
  • 4646 To Alexander, þat aire þat erles all þe werd,
  • 4647 Þe souerayne sire of all þe soile salus & ioye.
  • 4648 Sire, we erd noȝt in elementis as euirmare to duell,
  • 4649 Bot as qua pas a pilgrymage fra Parysch to rome;
  • 4650 To othire hames vs hiȝe quen we ere hethen voided,
  • 4651 And in þe cites of syn þan sitt we na langire.
  • 4652 Vse we nane Epocrise ne ire, ne no theftis,
  • 4653 Ne nothire gesse we vs gods ne grym at oure driȝtin.
  • 4654 For many seerties we seet þat sysed all þe werde,
  • 4655 And wroȝt þe will of ilk we to wale as him likid.
  • 4656 And he þat wayues ay þe werst & wirkis þe bettir,
  • 4657 Þat gome is gods gud frend & god neuire þe hildire.
  • 4658 And þis similitude þat oure sede þou settis my pistill,
  • 4659 Þe same ensampill, as me semes in-to ȝoure-self touches.
  • 4660 For so þe qwele of qwistounes ȝoure qualite encreses,
  • 4661 Þat noþir gesse ȝe gouernour no god bot ȝour-selfe!
  • 4662 ȝe brixsill our benignite oure bonerte repreues,
  • 4663 And beris a-pon vs blasfeme þat neuire bale thoȝt.
  • 4664 All be we suggets in oure-selfe & simpill oure latis,
  • 4665 Voide & vacand of vices as virgyns it ware.
  • 4666 Neuir-þe-les of a laȝe hald we vs driȝtins.
  • 4667 It is ȝoure-selfe & noȝt oure-self þat ai þe self hantis;
  • 4668 Aboundance of Auoure ȝow all has englaymed,
  • 4669 For ȝe bot fage ay þe flesche & felsen it wele.
  • 4670 ȝe bide no besynes of bedis bot to þe body clethe.
  • 4671 Els ȝe may cast ȝow to be coynt ȝe count for na ferrir.
  • 4672 With soft serkis of silke ȝoure sidis vm-loke,
  • 4673 Doubeletis of damaske & sum of dere tars,
  • 4674 With ilka fingire on ȝoure fist fillid full of ryngis,
  • 4675 Schard al of shire gold as it a schryne were.
  • 4676 Quat profetis ȝow þis paraile & all þis proud iettis?
  • 4677 For nouthire saues it þe saule ne ȝour-selfe fedis.
  • 4678 Bot we, þat knawis wele & ken þe kynd of þe noble,
  • 4679 Quen we ere drinkeles & dry we draw to þe bourne;
  • 4680 And be þar gold in oure gate or any gud stanes,
  • 4681 We do bot foulis it with oure fete vs faynes it na more.
  • 4682 For nouthire purgis it oure pliȝt ne priues it oure hungir,
  • 4683 Ne nouþir salues it oure sares ne sesis it oure thrist.
  • 4684 For folowid it slike a fraunchis at it vs fede wald,
  • 4685 Þe cursed laike o couatis ware clene with it drenchid.
  • 4686 ȝe vise ȝow þar-of vessel for vanyte & pride;
  • 4687 As gud ware crestyns of clathe þe caryon to serue.
  • 4688 I se na godlaik in gold bot grefe to þe saule,
  • 4689 For þe fastir it fallis on a freke þe fastir he couettis.'
  • 4690 Sire Alexander all at ese avisis him on þis pistill,
  • 4691 And wayues to him a-noþire writt at on þis wyse spellis.
  • 4692 'Hiȝe kyng with-out comparison of kyngis all oþire,
  • 4693 Of all lordis þe lord þat leues vndire heuen,
  • 4694 Sire Alexander, þe aire of Amon oure driȝtin,
  • 4695 To þe, ser Dyndyn on þi dese þis dities I write.
  • 4696 In slike a side of þe soile ȝour-selfe is in-closid,
  • 4697 May wele na wee, if he wald wyn to ȝour kithis.
  • 4698 Forþi enhabete ȝe in angwysch at ȝoure vnthankis;
  • 4699 And all ȝoure lefing & ȝoure lare at ȝe so loude prayse,
  • 4700 It comis bot of a kyndnes & of na clene thewys.
  • 4701 And als ȝe fonde may na forþire to hiȝen ȝoure name,
  • 4702 Bot pyned þar in a parroke inparked as bestis,
  • 4703 Þus pere to þir presons þat ay in payn lengis,
  • 4704 And he þat seȝis to vs sage ȝe bot a sott call.
  • 4705 Be þe grace of my god miȝt I ȝour grond entre,
  • 4706 I suld ȝow ken to be kniȝtis & clethe ȝow with armes'
  • 4707 Þan piȝt oure prince in þat place a pelare of marble,
  • 4708 Quare-on a tulke with a toile þis titill vp he wrate,
  • 4709 Sum langage on latine & lettres of ynde,
  • 4710 Sum was graithid o grew þat þus to-gedire spekis:
  • 4711 'I, Philip son þe fell kyng þe fondere of grece,
  • 4712 Sire Alexander þe athill þ[a]t aȝe all þe barbres
  • 4713 Eftir þe day & þe dethe of Dary & of Porrus,
  • 4714 Þus fere I foloȝed haue my faes;' & here a fitt end.
  • 4715 Now gase he fra gangan and all his ging eftir,
  • 4716 Fondis forth with his folke & a fild entris,
  • 4717 Vmfaldin with a faire wod florischst out ouire
  • 4718 Of Appils & almands & all manere of frutis.
  • 4719 All þe chiere of þe champe was chargid with floures,
  • 4720 Acrea, sais oure autour þat angill is hatten.
  • 4721 ȝit wont men in þa woddis as þe buke tellis,
  • 4722 Of Ioynttours as Ieants in Iopons of hidis,
  • 4723 And þai ware fedd all of frute & of na fode ellis,
  • 4724 Of grapis & of gernets & othire gude spices,
  • 4725 Of sike as growis in þe grewis I tald of before.
  • 4726 Þai ware as rughe as a resche þe bake & þe sidis;
  • 4727 Quen þai persayued of oure prince & slik a pake Armed,
  • 4728 Þan stode þai glorand on his gome with grisely mawis.
  • 4729 And he mas heraud & heres to hant for þe nanes,
  • 4730 And sett vp a scharp schoute at all þe schaw ryngis.
  • 4731 And þai for skere of þe skrike in-to þe schaw fledd,
  • 4732 For þai hadd herd neuire of how ne of mans noyse;
  • 4733 And sex hundreth was slane & sesid with oure kniȝtis,
  • 4734 And foure and threti, as I flode was in þe fild drepid,
  • 4735 And iiij score on þis side & seuen at was armed
  • 4736 Was with þe churles in þe chace choppid to deth.
  • 4737 Þus thre daies in þat thede thurgh-out þai lengid,
  • 4738 And dietis þam with damysens & oþir dere frute.
  • 4739 Þan ferd he furth to a flumme & sett þare his tentis,
  • 4740 And newly eftir þe none or nere þare-aboute,
  • 4741 Þare coms a bonde of a brenke & breed þaim vnfaire;
  • 4742 A burly best & a bigg was as a man shapen,
  • 4743 Vmquile he groned as a galt with grysely latis,
  • 4744 Vmquile he noys as a nowte as an ox quen he lawes,
  • 4745 ȝarmand & ȝerand a ȝoten him semed;
  • 4746 And was as bristils as a bare all þe body ouire;
  • 4747 Dom as a dore-nayle & defe was he bathe,
  • 4748 With laith leggis & lange & twa laue eres;
  • 4749 A heuy hede & a hoge as it a hors ware,
  • 4750 And large was his odd lome þe lenthe of a ȝerde.
  • 4751 With þat comands oure kyng his kniȝtis him to take,
  • 4752 And þai a-saillid him sone bot he na segge dredis,
  • 4753 For nouthire fondis he to flee ne na fens made,
  • 4754 Bot stude & stared as a stott & stirred he na forthire.
  • 4755 Þan callis to him þe conquirour a comly mayden,
  • 4756 Bad hire be broȝt be-fore þe best & bare to be nakid.
  • 4757 And he be-held on þat hend & hissis as a neddire,
  • 4758 He wald haue strangild hire streȝt ne had stiffe men bene;
  • 4759 He wald haue schowid on þat schene had noȝt men halden,
  • 4760 And to þe prince pauelion prestly him lede.
  • 4761 Quen þe had ferlied his fill on his foule schapp,
  • 4762 He gers þaim bynde him at a braid & brent him to poudire.
  • 4763 Þen rade he fra þat reuir & remowid his ost
  • 4764 In-till a brade bent fild & bildid vp his tentis.
  • 4765 Þare fande he lindis on þat lande þe lenthe of a spere,
  • 4766 And þai ware frett full of frute þe fairest of þe werde.
  • 4767 It ware to tere any tong to tell of þa trees kinde,
  • 4768 For þai wald sett with þe son & with þe son rise.
  • 4769 Fra morewane to þe mydday merely þai spring,
  • 4770 And þan discende þai doun as þe day passis.
  • 4771 Lo, þis was a wondirfull werk bot gods awen will,
  • 4772 Þat þai suld wax soo & wane within a wale time.
  • 4773 For, fra it droȝe to þe derke ay till it dawid eftir,
  • 4774 It was bot vacant & voide as vanite it were.
  • 4775 Þe kyng in his caban with his kniȝtis he ligis,
  • 4776 Tutand out of his tents & þe trees waitis.
  • 4777 A bad a berne of a bobb bring him a nappill;
  • 4778 Þan bowis furth a bachelere his bedinge to fill;
  • 4779 And he was sodanly sesid & slane with a sprete.
  • 4780 With þat enverrouns all þe vale a voice fra þe heuen,
  • 4781 Said, 'quaso fangis o þis frute bees fey in a stounde!'
  • 4782 ȝit bred þar briddis in þa braunches at blith was & tame,
  • 4783 And if a man had þaim hent or with his hand touchid,
  • 4784 Þan floȝe þar flawmes out of fire before & be-hind,
  • 4785 And quare it liȝt on his like it lichid him for euire.
  • 4786 Now bowis furth þis baratour & bidis na langire,
  • 4787 Vp at a maȝte mountane he myns with his ost,
  • 4788 And viij daies be-dene þe driȝe was, & mare,
  • 4789 Or he miȝt couire to þe copp fra þe caue vndire.
  • 4790 Quen he was comen to þe crest his kniȝtis wald haue esid;
  • 4791 And namely a new note neghis on hand,
  • 4792 Of dragons & of dromondaris & of diuerse neddirs,
  • 4793 Of liones & of leopards & othire laith bestis.
  • 4794 Þare was hurling on hiȝe as it in hell ware,
  • 4795 Quat of wrestling of wormes & wonding of kniȝtis.
  • 4796 As gotis out of guttars in golanand wedres,
  • 4797 So voidis doun þe vemon be vermyns schaftis.
  • 4798 At oþir time of oure tulkis was tangid to dede,
  • 4799 And slayn with þa serpents a sowme out of noimbre.
  • 4800 So hard þai hampird oure heere & herid oure erles,
  • 4801 Vnneth it chansid þaim þe cheke þe cheffire to worthe.
  • 4802 Quen he sckonfet & skerrid all þa skathill fendis,
  • 4803 Þen metis he doun of þe mounte in-to a mirk vale,
  • 4804 A drere dale & a depe a dym & a thestir.
  • 4805 Miȝ[t] þare na saule vndire son see to a-nothire;
  • 4806 Þai ware vmbe-thonrid in þat thede with slike a thike cloude,
  • 4807 Þat þai miȝt fele it with þaire fiste as flabband webbis;
  • 4808 With all þe bothom full of bournes briȝt as þe siluire,
  • 4809 And bery-bobis on þe braes brethand as mirre.
  • 4810 Þus drafe þai furth in derknes a neȝen daies euen,
  • 4811 So lang þaim lackis at þe last þe liȝt of þe son.
  • 4812 Þan come þai blesnand till a barme of a brent lawe,
  • 4813 Neȝe throtild with þe thik aire & thrange in þare andes.
  • 4814 Þai labourde vp a-gayn þe lift an elleuen dais,
  • 4815 & quen þai couert to þe crest þen clerid þe welkyn;
  • 4816 Þe schaftis of þe schire son schirkind þe cloudis,
  • 4817 And gods glorious gleme glent þam e-maunge.
  • 4818 Þan past þai doun fra þat pike in-to a playn launde,
  • 4819 Quare all þe gronde was of gols & growen full of Impis,
  • 4820 A cubete lenth, sais þe clause cald was þe maste,
  • 4821 Quare-of þe feloure & þe frute as fygis it sawourd.
  • 4822 Þare fand þai Revers, as I rede ricchest of þe werd,
  • 4823 Þof it ware Ioly Iurdan or Iacobs well;
  • 4824 Was neuir no mede ne no milke so mild vndire heuen,
  • 4825 Ne cliffe of cristall so clere at euire god fourmed.
  • 4826 A hundreth daies & a halfe he held be þa playnes,
  • 4827 Till he was comen till a cliffe at to þe cloudis semed,
  • 4828 Þat was so staire & so stepe þe store me tellis,
  • 4829 Miȝt þar no wee bot with wyngis win to þe topp.
  • 4830 ȝit fand he clouen þurȝe þe clynt twa crasid gatis,
  • 4831 Ane to þe noke of þe north a-nothire to þe est.
  • 4832 Sire Alexander him a-vises & all him a-wondres,
  • 4833 And trowid it was wroȝt of na lede werkis.
  • 4834 With þat stairis he forth þe stye þat streȝt to þe est,
  • 4835 And seuen dais with his men he soȝt be þa costis.
  • 4836 And on þe aȝtent day eftire þe prime,
  • 4837 A Basilisk in a browe breis þaim vn-faire,
  • 4838 A straȝtiil & a stithe worme stinkand of elde,
  • 4839 And is so bittir & so breme & bicchid in him-selfe,
  • 4840 Þat with þe stinke & þe strenth he stroyes noȝt allane,
  • 4841 Bot quat he settis on his siȝt he slaes in a stonde.
  • 4842 He vemons in þe vaward valiant kniȝtis,
  • 4843 Maistirs out of Messedone of Mede & of Persee;
  • 4844 Þai seȝe doun sodanly slane of þaire blonkis,
  • 4845 To step & to stand-dede & in þe strete liggis.
  • 4846 With þat areris all þe route & radly þai said,
  • 4847 'Þe writh of þe wale god vs of þe wai lettis.'
  • 4848 Þe kyng to knaw of þat case vp to þe cliffe wendis,
  • 4849 Saȝe quare þe same serpent slepit in a roke.
  • 4850 Þan mas he bonds in a braide at sall na pepill pas,
  • 4851 In bole & in balan buskes he his fotes,
  • 4852 A blason as a berne-dure þat all þe body schildis,
  • 4853 And fiches in a fyne glas on þe fere side.
  • 4854 Þe sc[h]rewe in þe schewere his schadow be-haldis,
  • 4855 And so þe slaȝtir of his siȝt in-to him-selfe entris.
  • 4856 Þan cals oure kyng him his kniȝtis & comandis him to bryn,
  • 4857 And þai as sone as þai him saȝe him for his sleȝt thankis.
  • 4858 Sone as þis balefull best was broȝt out o lyfe,
  • 4859 Þan ridis furth oure riche kyng & remowis his ost.
  • 4860 And of þis way at he went sone worthis him a nende,
  • 4861 So at he flitt may na ferre ne his folke nouthire.
  • 4862 Þare was so hedous & so hoge hillis þam beforn,
  • 4863 Cloȝes at was cloude he clynterand torres,
  • 4864 Rochis & rogh stanes rokkis vnfaire,
  • 4865 Scutis to þe scharpe schew sckerres a hundreth.
  • 4866 Þan ȝaris he him ȝapely & a-ȝayne turnes,
  • 4867 And past in-to þe proud playn I proued to ȝow first,
  • 4868 Þat all was brett-full of bowis & blossoms so swete,
  • 4869 Þat bawme ne braunche o aloes bettir was neuire.
  • 4870 Fra þens oure note men be northe nymes þaim þe way,
  • 4871 And þat þan fonde all þe flote fiftene dayis.
  • 4872 And þai croke ouire crosse to cache þaim anothire,
  • 4873 Þat led þam to þe left hand & þat a lange quile;
  • 4874 And þus þai dryfe furth þe driȝt of daies foure score,
  • 4875 Till at þai come till a cliffe as þe clause tellis,
  • 4876 Ane egge þat was all ouire of Adamand stanes,
  • 4877 With, hingand in þe rughe roches rede gold cheynes.
  • 4878 Þan was þare graythed of degreces for gomes vp to wynde,
  • 4879 Twa thousand be tale & fyue trew hundrethe.
  • 4880 And þai ware sett so in soute of safers fyne,
  • 4881 Þat of þe noblay to neuen it neyd any cristen.
  • 4882 Þare logis þe leue kyng late on an euen,
  • 4883 Vndire þis maȝte mountayne & on þe morne eftir,
  • 4884 Þare setts he furth of sere gods a selle nounbre,
  • 4885 Þat he honours & his ost & offirs ilk ane.
  • 4886 Syne tas he with him titly his twelue tried prince[s],
  • 4887 Gas him vp be degreces to þe grete lawe,
  • 4888 Trenes to þe topward þat touched to þe cloudis,
  • 4889 Þat he miȝt lend þar o-loft & waite eftir wondirs.
  • 4890 Vp-on þe cop of þe cliffe a closure he fyndis,
  • 4891 A palais, ane of þe precioussest & proudest in erth,
  • 4892 A bild, as þe buke sais with twa brade ȝatis,
  • 4893 And seuenty wyndows beside of serelepis werkes.
  • 4894 Þe ȝatis ware of ȝeten gold ȝarkid of platis,
  • 4895 Þe windows on þe selfe wyse as þe writ schews;
  • 4896 And þai ware coruen full clene & clustrid with gemmes,
  • 4897 Stiȝt staffull of stanes stagis & othire.
  • 4898 ȝit was a mynstir on þe mounte of metall as þe nobill,
  • 4899 Vmbe-gildid with a garden of golden vynes,
  • 4900 Was chatrid full of chefe frute of charbocle stanes,
  • 4901 With-outen mesure emaunge of margrite grete.
  • 4902 Þis hame at houes on þis hill was in þe hiȝe est,
  • 4903 Forthi ȝit hedirto it hat þe hous of þe son.
  • 4904 It was so precious a place & proudly a-tired,
  • 4905 Þare was na place it a pere bot paradyse selfe.
  • 4906 Þen aires furth ser Alexander in-to þis athill temple,
  • 4907 With Caulus & with cleopas & othire kidd princes,
  • 4908 And fand a berne in a bedd bawnand alane,
  • 4909 Ane of þe graciousest gomes þat euire god fourmed.
  • 4910 All lemed of his letere þe loge as of heuen,
  • 4911 For it was gayly begane with golden webbis.
  • 4912 A blewe bleaut o-bofe brad him al ouire,
  • 4913 Was browde all with brent gold full of briȝt aungels.
  • 4914 Þe testre trased full of trones with trimballand wingis;
  • 4915 Þe silloure full of Seraphens & othire sere halows,
  • 4916 With curtyns all of clene silke & coddis of þe same,
  • 4917 With cumly knottis & with koyntis & knopis of perle.
  • 4918 It ware to tere me to tell þe tirement to-gedire,
  • 4919 Or a nany clerke þe cost to de-vise;
  • 4920 And he þat ristis in þat rowme þe romance it tellis,
  • 4921 Was ane of þe borliest bernes þat euire body hade,
  • 4922 With fell face as þe fire & ferly faire schapen,
  • 4923 Balgh brade in þe brest & on þe bely sklendire.
  • 4924 His cheuelere as chauele for changing of eld,
  • 4925 And as blaȝt was his berd as any briȝt snaw.
  • 4926 Sone as oure prince with his peris his person avyses,
  • 4927 He gesse him wele to be god & of na gome kind.
  • 4928 He knelis doun with his kniȝtis on þe cald erthe,
  • 4929 With haile him hailsis on heȝe & oþir hend wordis.
  • 4930 Þe renke within þe redell þan raxsils his armes,
  • 4931 Rymed him full renyschly & rekind þir wordis:
  • 4932 'Haile, Alexander!' quod þis athill 'at all þe erth weldis,
  • 4933 Þou ert welcum, I-wis & all þi wale princes.
  • 4934 Sire, þou sall see with þi siȝt slike signes, or þou passe,
  • 4935 As neuire segge vndire son saȝe bot þine ane.
  • 4936 And þou sall here apon happis or þou hethen founde,
  • 4937 Þat neuire hathill vndire heuen herd bot þi-selfe.'
  • 4938 'A! A! happy haly here man' quod þis hathill þan,
  • 4939 How þat þou neuynes my name & þou me neuire kend?'
  • 4940 'ȝis, sothly, ser,' saied þe segge 'þi-selfe & þi werkis,
  • 4941 Or any drope of þi delume drechet had þe erd.
  • 4942 List þe noȝt loke on þe lindis þat leuys euire mare,
  • 4943 Þat has þe surname of þe son & of þe mone alls;
  • 4944 Þat is to mene, bot of þe mone & miȝt has to speke,
  • 4945 And tell þe trewly all þe text quat tide sall here-eftir?'
  • 4946 'ȝis, by my croune,' quod þe kyng & kyndly was ioyed,
  • 4947 'Þis word I wald, be ȝour will noȝt all þe werd leuir!'
  • 4948 'Ser, waite at þou be wemles for woman touching,
  • 4949 Þan may ȝe leuely on þam loke & lesten ȝour wirdis.
  • 4950 For be ȝe pure of þat pliȝt ȝe may þis place entre,
  • 4951 Þat is þe sette of þat sire þat sett all þe werd.'
  • 4952 'Ser, I am clene of þat craft I knaw wele my-selfe,
  • 4953 Be þou oure gide to þe greuys apon gods name.'
  • 4954 With þat bownes him þat berne & fra his bed ryses,
  • 4955 Cled all in clene gold kirtill & mantill,
  • 4956 A grym grisely gome with grete gray lokis;
  • 4957 Al glitered þe ground for glori of his wedis.
  • 4958 'Sirs, ȝe þat will has to wend ȝour wapens deuoidis,
  • 4959 Nymes of ȝour nethirgloue & nakens ȝoure leggis,
  • 4960 Pesan, pancere, & platis all to ȝoure preue clathis,
  • 4961 Iopon & iesserand & radly me folows!'
  • 4962 Þe kyng at his comaundment with his kniȝtis him spoilis,
  • 4963 Puttis of to þe selfe serke senture & othire,
  • 4964 Takis with him ser telomew an of his princes,
  • 4965 And Antiet, an athill duke & eftir him wendis.
  • 4966 Þai ferd furth all in fere þir foure all to-gedire;
  • 4967 Þe lede at was þar ladisman þe lord & his kniȝtis
  • 4968 Went þurȝe a wale wode was wondire of to tell,
  • 4969 As it ware hiȝtild in þat hill with handis of aungels.
  • 4970 For þare ware tacchid vp trees þe triest of þe werd,
  • 4971 A hundreth fote to þe hede þe hiȝt was & mare,
  • 4972 Lyke oleues out of lebany & lores so grene,
  • 4973 With sichomures & sipresses & sedrisse e-blande.
  • 4974 Þare trekild doun of þa teres of iemmes,
  • 4975 Boyland out of þe barke bawme & mirre,
  • 4976 Of scence & of othire salue as sechis out of wellis,
  • 4977 Þat rase neuire of aromitike sike rekils in erth.
  • 4978 Þai fande a ferly faire tre quare-on na frute groued,
  • 4979 Was void of all hire verdure & vacant of leues,
  • 4980 A hundreth fote & a halfe it had of leȝt large,
  • 4981 With-outen bark ouþir bast full of bare pirnes.
  • 4982 Þar bade a brid on a boghe a-bofe in þe topp,
  • 4983 Was of a port of a paa with sike a proude crest,
  • 4984 With bathe þe chekis & þe chauyls as a chykin brid,
  • 4985 And all gilden was hire gorg with golden fethirs,
  • 4986 All hire hames be-hind was hewid as a purpure.
  • 4987 And all þe body & þe brest & on þe bely vndire
  • 4988 Was finely florischt & faire with frekild pennys,
  • 4989 Of gold graynes & of goules full of gray mascles.
  • 4990 Þan waitis on hire þe wale kyng & wondire him thinke,
  • 4991 Was in þe figure of hire fourme noȝt ferlid a littill.
  • 4992 'Quat loke ȝe?' quod þe ladisman 'do lendis on forthire,
  • 4993 ȝone is a fereles foule a Fenix we calle.'
  • 4994 Þan bowe þa forthe all ebland & to þire treis comes,
  • 4995 Þe plants of þe proud son & of þe pale mone.
  • 4996 'Behalds now,' quod þis hare man 'to þir haly bowis,
  • 4997 And quat þou will of þaim to wete wis in þi saghe.
  • 4998 Appose þaim all in preuate bot make na playn wordis,
  • 4999 And þou may swythe haue a sware at swike sall þe neuire.
  • 5000 Þan may þou gesse in þi gast it is a gude sprete
  • 5001 Þat sends þe sike asouerance & sees to þi thoȝtis.'
  • 5002 Þire boles was, as þe boke sayes borly & hiȝe,
  • 5003 Þe lind of þe liȝt son louely clethid,
  • 5004 With feylour as of fine gold þat ferly faire lemes,
  • 5005 Þat oþir loken ouire with leues as it ware liȝt siluir.
  • 5006 Þan Alexander at þis athill askis a demande,
  • 5007 'In quatkyn maner of lede sall me þir treis sware?'
  • 5008 'Sothly, ser, þe son-tree' said þe segge þan,
  • 5009 'Entris in with yndoyes & endis in greke;
  • 5010 And mast-quat ay þe mone-tree þurȝe miȝt of hire kynde,
  • 5011 Quen it kithis vs any carpe þe contrarie spekis;
  • 5012 For scho begynes all in grew & endis in ynde,
  • 5013 And þus be twinlepi tongis tell þai oure wirdis.'
  • 5014 Þan knelis doun þe conquirour vn-to þe cald erthe,
  • 5015 And aithire bole eftir bole blithly he kissis,
  • 5016 And þoȝt if he suld with þe thra of all þe thedes wete,
  • 5017 If he suld move agayn to Messedon quare his modire duellid.
  • 5018 Þan schogs hire þe son-tree & schoke hire schire leues,
  • 5019 And with a sweȝand swoȝe þis sware scho him ȝeldis:
  • 5020 'Sire, þou ert lele of ilk lede þe lorde & þe fadire;
  • 5021 Bot þi sire soile in na side see sall þou neuire.
  • 5022 For þi modire nor ȝit Messedon þou seȝis þaim na mare.'
  • 5023 Þan list him lithe of his lyfe & of his last ende:
  • 5024 'So maideux,' quod þe mone-tree 'þi meere bees na langir
  • 5025 Bot out þis anlepi ȝere & aftir viij monethis;
  • 5026 Þan sall he duale þe with a drinke at þou full dere traistis.'
  • 5027 Þan makis he mournyng & mane & in his mynd thinkis,
  • 5028 Qua suld þat trecherous trayne of treson him wirke.
  • 5029 He said, 'hende haly tree' & halsid hire in armes,
  • 5030 'Quat person sall do me depresse I pray þe me tell?'
  • 5031 'Sire, sothely,' said þe son-tree 'if I þe sothe neuened,
  • 5032 Qua suld þe wite out of þe werd & þe þi werdis dele,
  • 5033 Þan suld þou slaa þe same segge & so my sawis faile;
  • 5034 And þat may worthe be na wai for ay my wordis standis.'
  • 5035 Þan lokid on him his ladisman said, 'lefe of þi wordis,
  • 5036 For writhing of þire wale treeis & willne þaim na mare.
  • 5037 Bot graythe þe, gome, on gods behalue and a-gayn turne,
  • 5038 For ouire þe lemetis of þire lindis may no lede founde.'
  • 5039 Þen bownes agayn þe bald kyng baldly he wepis,
  • 5040 Þat he so skitly suld skifte & fra his skars terme.
  • 5041 So did his princes, sais þe prose for pete of him-selfe,
  • 5042 With ȝedire ȝoskingis & ȝerre ȝett out to grete.
  • 5043 Þan bedis þaim þe barotour on bathe þaire eȝen twa,
  • 5044 Þat þai suld neuire þis note to nane of his ost neuyn,
  • 5045 Quat þai beheld in þe hill & herd with þaire eres;
  • 5046 And he þan styntis of his stoure & steris his hert.
  • 5047 'If ȝe will gange,' quod þis gide 'a-gayn to ȝoure kniȝtis,
  • 5048 Moves ȝow to þe nethire-ward next I it hald.'
  • 5049 Þan passis he to þis proud place & oure kynge leues,
  • 5050 And he gose doun be grece a-gayn to his tentis.
  • 5051 Þar logis he fra þe late niȝt till efte þe liȝt schewis,
  • 5052 With sare sighingis & sadd for sake of his wirdis;
  • 5053 Costreynes him with his contenance to with his kniȝtis play,
  • 5054 Bot þat bot sprang of þe splene þe sprite was vn-esid.
  • 5055 Sone as þe day-rawe rase he risis vp belyue,
  • 5056 Riches him radly to ride & remows his ost,
  • 5057 Driues on with his dukis day eftir othire,
  • 5058 Till he was meten to þe meere quare he þe monte entird,
  • 5059 Þat was þe proud playn fild I proued ȝow be-fore,
  • 5060 Quare all þe face of þe fild was of fyne goules.
  • 5061 Þare piȝt he doun his pauylions & with his princes bidis,
  • 5062 And þe driȝt of a day he duellis in þa costis.
  • 5063 Betwene þa styes in a stound þat strekis þurȝe þe mountis
  • 5064 He mas twa pylars doun to pynche all of playn marble,
  • 5065 And tacchis vp of treed gold a pelare in þe myddis,
  • 5066 With a prolouge in þat plate on aithire post writen.
  • 5067 'I, Alexander þe athill eftire þe date
  • 5068 Of þe prince & Persye & Porrus þire pilars en-haunsid.
  • 5069 Qua list þis lymit ouir-lende lene to þe left hand,
  • 5070 For þe rake on þe riȝt hand þat may na man passe.'
  • 5071 Þis titill was of twa tongis tane out & grauen,
  • 5072 Of Ebru & of yndoys & of þire ald lettres,
  • 5073 Of latine & of othire lare & leues out of grece,
  • 5074 Proudly prikid all in prose; & here a pas endis.
  • 5075 Now strekis he furth with his stour & steris with his tentis,
  • 5076 He leuys all þe march-gats I neuend ȝow before,
  • 5077 And nymmes a-nothire on þe north þe next to his kith,
  • 5078 Þat to þe marche of Messedone was him mast qweme.
  • 5079 Sone was he lent in a lande a large & a noble,
  • 5080 Preciosa, þe precious þe prose þus it callis;
  • 5081 And clene all þat contre quen þai his come wist,
  • 5082 With sike as provid in þa partis presentis him faire,
  • 5083 Sum fellis of fischis ferly to tell,
  • 5084 Was like as of lepards & lions skynnes;
  • 5085 Sum with lions on lyue & lamprays sloȝis,
  • 5086 Þat sex cubettis clere was of clene lenghe.
  • 5087 Þar was a cite in þat side asisid all with gemmes,
  • 5088 With-outen lyme or laire a lady it kepid,
  • 5089 A worthi wedow & a wlonk with thre wale childire,
  • 5090 Þat qwene Candace þe clere was callid in þa bonds.
  • 5091 Now sall I sothely of hire sons say ȝow þe names;
  • 5092 Þe first wos Candoyle callid a kniȝt althire-fairest;
  • 5093 Þe medilmast of þe men was Marcipy hatten;
  • 5094 Þe thrid Caraptus is cald þat kepid all hire landis.
  • 5095 Sone as þe kyng of hire knew a clause he hire writis,
  • 5096 An Image all of athill gold of Amon hire sendis;
  • 5097 To mete him in þe montayns þat mild he be-sechis,
  • 5098 Þat þai miȝt sacrif[is]e samme þar to his sere driȝtins.
  • 5099 Sone as þis princes of pris þis pistill had deuysid,
  • 5100 Þan sendis scho to him sandis-men with selid lettris,
  • 5101 With tribute & trouage & many tried giftis,
  • 5102 And þire þe wordis of hire write at on þese wyse spekis.
  • 5103 'To þe kiddist kyng of kyngs all othire,
  • 5104 Sire Alexander þe athilest of Amons strinds,
  • 5105 I, Candace þe conquires coround of Mede,
  • 5106 To ȝour honoure with obeyaunce me ane I comaunde.
  • 5107 For it was purveid a-pert of þe kyng of heuen,
  • 5108 Pre-desteyned of his prouydence & of his pure miȝt,
  • 5109 Þat ȝe suld pas in-to Pers & prese it with armes.
  • 5110 Itale, Egipt, & ynde & all þire Iles ouire,
  • 5111 ȝour wirschip & ȝour worthenes [in] all þe werd sprong,
  • 5112 ȝour curtassy, ȝour kniȝthede & all ȝoure clene thewis.
  • 5113 And þat with men of þe mold noȝt melid vs alane,
  • 5114 Bot driȝtins & duesses ȝour dedis declaris.
  • 5115 Forþi like it to ȝour lordschip & lathis noȝt my sawis.
  • 5116 We at ere voide ay of vice & vacant of syn,
  • 5117 Quat suld we moue in-to þe montts? þat mystirs bot litill,
  • 5118 Outhire Appole to adoure or any othire driȝtins.
  • 5119 Bot sen it syttis noȝt to oure simpilnes ȝour saȝe to with-stande,
  • 5120 Ne noþir to mele ne to mote ȝoure maieste a-gayn,
  • 5121 ȝit sall I send ȝow fra my soile a sertan of giftis,
  • 5122 For reuerence of ȝour rialte & of ȝoure rosid werkis.
  • 5123 I drysse ȝow here a diademe ȝoure druits to were,
  • 5124 Þe gaiest gift vndire god of gold & of stanes,
  • 5125 And to ȝow selfe of þe same o serelepy hewis,
  • 5126 A hundreth in a hale heere hiȝtild with crestis,
  • 5127 And twa hundret & ten be tale at þe leste,
  • 5128 Of rekanthes of rede gold railed of gemmes,
  • 5129 With pellicans & pape-ioyes polischt & grauen,
  • 5130 With cambs & with coronacles all of clene perle,
  • 5131 Thretti goblettis of gold þe grattest in þe worde,
  • 5132 Fyue hundreth all of euyn elde of Ethyops childire,
  • 5133 Rynoseros, a roghe best with raggid tyndis.
  • 5134 An aȝte to ȝour empire I fra myn erd wayue,
  • 5135 Berrers of ane Ebyn-tree & brilles a thousand,
  • 5136 Foure hundreth Olifants in fere þis fardill to bere,
  • 5137 And thretti hundreth of my thede þat threuen ere & tame.
  • 5138 I presand ȝow, of panters full of proud mascles,
  • 5139 Foure hundreth fellis ȝit to fee at fynely ere tewid.'
  • 5140 Of lepards & of lionesses þis lady him sendis,
  • 5141 A purtrayour in preuate scho prays with þam to pas,
  • 5142 And his personele proporcions in perchemen hire bring.
  • 5143 All was done as scho demed & he hire dere thankis,
  • 5144 And graithis hire giftis agayn þe gaiest vndire heuen.
  • 5145 Þe payntour presentis his aport & shoo was proud þen,
  • 5146 For scho had depely many day desyrid him to see.
  • 5147 Þen wendis furth hire dere son a litill dais eftir,
  • 5148 Þat was ser Candoile þe kene þat was hire kidd aire,
  • 5149 His wife & his women & with his wale feres,
  • 5150 Out of þe cite þai soȝt to solace þar hertis;
  • 5151 Þe kyng of Bebrike þe bald him on þe bent metis,
  • 5152 With a company clene of kniȝtis enarmed,
  • 5153 Maynes many of his men & him his make refis,
  • 5154 For he þat lady had loued many lange wintire.
  • 5155 He gers a berne on a blonke hire bremely to cast
  • 5156 Before a bald bachelere on a bigg stede;
  • 5157 Scho gaffe skirmand skrikis at all þe skowis range,
  • 5158 It miȝt a persid any hert to here how scho wepid.
  • 5159 Þan was ser Candoile in þat cas kenely distourbid,
  • 5160 Aires on as bely[ue] to Alexander tentis,
  • 5161 Thoȝt he wald sewe to þat sire & seke him of grace,
  • 5162 If he wald helpe with his heere þat hend to reschowe.
  • 5163 Be he þe pauylion a-prochid it past with-in euen,
  • 5164 And sone þe wacche-men with-out quen þai him þare sawe,
  • 5165 Þai tuke him, & to Telomew titte þai him ledd,
  • 5166 Þe mast praysed of þe pers bot þe prince selfe.
  • 5167 'Quat dons man ert þou?' quod þe duke '& quat dos þou here,
  • 5168 Quat is þe cause of þi come? do kith vs þi name.'
  • 5169 'Sirs, Candaces son þe conquires & Candoile I hiȝt;'
  • 5170 And clene tald him [of his] care þe cause all-to-gedire.
  • 5171 Þan trines on ser Telomew & fra his tent wyndis,
  • 5172 Comands ser Candoile to kepe in a kniȝtis warde,
  • 5173 Cairys in-to a cabayne quare þe kyng liggis,
  • 5174 Fand him slowmand on slepe & sleely him rayses,
  • 5175 And tellis him of þat tithandis þe tale how itt standis,
  • 5176 How þar was comyn slike a kniȝt to craue him of help,
  • 5177 Þe son of Candace þe quene þe kepare of Mede;
  • 5178 And how þe Bebrik kyng had him his wyfe refid.
  • 5179 'ȝa, aire a-gayn,' quod Alexander 'in-to þine awen tent;
  • 5180 Do on þi hede a dyademe þe derrest at I haue,
  • 5181 A croun all of clene gold & a kyngis mantill,
  • 5182 A-seȝee þe doun in my sege as þou my-selfe ware;
  • 5183 Lat com a-boute þe my kniȝtis & call ye my name,
  • 5184 With liȝt lions latis as a lord suld;
  • 5185 Say þi-selfe is my-selfe & þan my-selfe call,
  • 5186 As I ware Antioc þat athill non aghe of me þou stand,
  • 5187 And I sall hiȝe to þi hest as [I] þi hathill ware.
  • 5188 Quen I com to þi call & knele þe before,
  • 5189 Þou sall declare me þe cas of Candals auntir,
  • 5190 Befor his person apert ilk poynt as he touchid.
  • 5191 Be noȝt a-baist quen I bow ne bede me noȝt to ryse,
  • 5192 Bot lat þi semblance be sadd quen þou þi saȝe ȝildis;
  • 5193 And sai þan, 'Antioc, myn athill' quen þou has all tald,
  • 5194 'Latt se þi witt in þis werke' & wysely me rede.'
  • 5195 Þan trines furth ser Telomew & tyris him belyue;
  • 5196 In emperouris aparell his person he clethis.
  • 5197 And Alexander as belyue in antioks name,
  • 5198 Quen he was callid, with a kniȝt he coms in a stounde.
  • 5199 Þan tellis to him ser Telomew þe tale all-to-gedire,
  • 5200 Be-fore ser Candale þe kene his consaile him askis.
  • 5201 'Ware it ȝour will,' quod þe wee 'wale emperoure,
  • 5202 Þan wald I fare with þis freke his fere to reskowe,
  • 5203 And bid þe Bebrike on bathe twa his eȝen,
  • 5204 Withouten bade to þis briȝt his brid to restore;
  • 5205 And say þat sire, on þi be-half bot he hire sone ȝeld,
  • 5206 We sall his cite & him-selfe synge in-to poudire!'
  • 5207 With þat inclynes þe kniȝt & kyndly him loues,
  • 5208 Said, 'antiok, of all men ay be þou Ioyed;
  • 5209 It semes þe, for þi sapience to sit in a trone,
  • 5210 And to be cled as a kyng with croune & with septir!'
  • 5211 Þan aires him furth ser Alexander as Antiok it ware,
  • 5212 Cairis on with candoile & caȝt him his leue,
  • 5213 Soȝt furth þe same niȝt & to þe cite wan,
  • 5214 Quare þe Bebrik kyng with þe bird lengis.
  • 5215 Sone þe wacchis on þe wallis þam wiȝtly ascryes,
  • 5216 Qua þai ware, & of quethen & quat was þar errande.
  • 5217 'It is ser Candoile,' quod þe kynge 'is comyn for his spouse;
  • 5218 And I am messangere made þat mild to delyuire.
  • 5219 'Þe maistir out of Messedone ȝow maynly enjoynes,
  • 5220 If ȝe ȝoure cite will saue to sese him his brid.'
  • 5221 Þan was þe burgaige a-baiste & brest vp þe ȝatis,
  • 5222 Of þe palais of þe proud kyng his paramour him tuke.
  • 5223 Sire Candoile to oure conquirour carpis þire wordis,
  • 5224 And adoures him for his athill dede & Antiok him calls.
  • 5225 'I pray þe, prince, with me pas to my praysid modire,
  • 5226 Þat þou may merote haue & menske & mede for þi werkis.'
  • 5227 Þan was oure kyng of þat carpe kyndly reioyed,
  • 5228 For him had list on hire to loke many lang wintir.
  • 5229 He said, 'aire we to Alexander & askis him his leue,
  • 5230 And I sall fayn with þe found & felsyn þi will.'
  • 5231 Þan trines he to ser Telomew at in his trone sittis,
  • 5232 Laȝt his leue at þe lede as he his lorde ware.
  • 5233 Þis kid he for a coyntise & kest slike a wile,
  • 5234 Lest he ware knawyn for þe kyng þe kniȝt for to blinde.
  • 5235 Þan caires he furthe with Candoile vp at a cliffe wyndis,
  • 5236 A hidous hill & a hiȝe þat to þe heuen semed,
  • 5237 Was loken all in lange lindis like to þe cedres,
  • 5238 Growand full of gernetts & gracious frutes.
  • 5239 Þare fand þai bery-buskis & braunches with grapis,
  • 5240 Þat vnnethes bere miȝt a berin a bole on his schuldire.
  • 5241 With hesils hild of hodere cloud lang þa appills,
  • 5242 And all þe woddis full of wolfes & of wild apis.
  • 5243 Þai bow vp to a banke & þe burgh neȝes;
  • 5244 And Candace þe conquires quen scho þe cas heris,
  • 5245 How bathe hire barne & his brid was broȝt hame sond,
  • 5246 Þan was scho glad in hire gast & gretly reioysed.
  • 5247 In-to a chambre scho chese & changid hire wedis;
  • 5248 A Robe all of rede gold & þan a riche mantill,
  • 5249 A croune & a corecheffe clustert with gemmes,
  • 5250 And [cam] doun of hire closere with kniȝtis him to mete.
  • 5251 A grete gate be degrece agayn þaim scho foundis;
  • 5252 'Kys me, ser Candoile!' & clappis him in armes,
  • 5253 Said, welcum be þou, wale son & þou, my wale doȝtir!
  • 5254 And I am glad of ȝoure gest as gode geffe me ioye.'
  • 5255 Sire Alexander hire a-vises & all his hert liȝtis,
  • 5256 Him þoȝt hire like at a loke his lady his modire.
  • 5257 Scho was so faire & so fresche as faucon hire semed,
  • 5258 An elfe out of an-othire erde or ellis an Aungell.
  • 5259 Hire palais was full precious þof it parades ware,
  • 5260 Plied ouir with pure gold all þe plate-rofes,
  • 5261 And þat was ioyned full of gemes & of ioly stanes,
  • 5262 With breme blasenand bemes briȝt as þe son.
  • 5263 Þe kyng with dame Candace þe castell he entres,
  • 5264 Silis in with þat semely in-to a somere-hall,
  • 5265 A strenthe, was stiȝtild all of stagis þe stithest of þe werd,
  • 5266 Was nane so comly a close vndire þe can[o]pe of heuen,
  • 5267 Þe bild was all of brent gold þe beddis of þe same,
  • 5268 Piȝt full of pentests & oþire proude stanes,
  • 5269 Of Onycles & orfrays & orient perles,
  • 5270 And with þire precious piers of paradise stremes,
  • 5271 Bathe þe benkis & þe bordis bett of þe noble,
  • 5272 Smeten full of smaragdins & oþir small gemmes,
  • 5273 Of Acats & of Amatistis & adamants fyne,
  • 5274 Calcidoynes & crisopaces & oþir clere bees.
  • 5275 Þe pilars ware of purfire polischt & hewen,
  • 5276 With gomes grouelings of gold graythid for þe nanes,
  • 5277 Fondand on all foure on fote & on handis,
  • 5278 Buskid vndire þe baisens to bere vp þe postis.
  • 5279 Þare ran a reuire, as I rede vndire þat riche hame,
  • 5280 Was neuir na cristall so clere as was þa clere strandis.
  • 5281 Þe kyng & Candace þe quene & Candeile hire aire,
  • 5282 Þe same day in þe sale was serued to-gedire.
  • 5283 Scho sesis him on þe secunde day [& sone] with him laches,
  • 5284 Raȝt him by þe riȝt hand & raikis to a chambre,
  • 5285 Was parraillid all of plate-gold pariet & oþire,
  • 5286 With stoute starand stanes þat stremed as þe son.
  • 5287 Was þar na leuyand lede ne lyfe bot þam ane.
  • 5288 And þan scho laches him be-lyfe & ledis him forthire,
  • 5289 In-to a clochere with a kay þe clennest of þe werde,
  • 5290 Was sammed all of sipris & seder-tables.
  • 5291 Þis selere was be sorsry selcuthely foundid,
  • 5292 Made for a mervall to meeue with engine;
  • 5293 Twenti tamed Olifants turned it a-boute,
  • 5294 Quirland all on queles quen þe quene entres.
  • 5295 Quen þai ware sett þar in samen on silkin webbis,
  • 5296 Sone begynnes it to gaa & gretly he wondres.
  • 5297 'Ware slike a wondire in oure marche of Messedone,' he said,
  • 5298 'It ware a daynte to deme for any duke oute!'
  • 5299 Þan answars him þis athill quene & Alexander him callid,
  • 5300 'Mekill grettir it ware to ȝow of grece & to gomes here.'
  • 5301 Þan stemes he with þe stoute kyng & stiggis with his name;
  • 5302 His chere out of chere hew it changis in-to pale,
  • 5303 Þan has þat hende him by þe hand & hent vp a laȝtir.
  • 5304 In to A preue parlour þai passe bathe to-gedire,
  • 5305 And þar in perchement depayntid his person scho schewid.
  • 5306 Said, 'se þi-selfe a sampill þat I þe sothe neuyn!'
  • 5307 As fast as he on þis figour festid his siȝt,
  • 5308 All falowis his face & his flesche trimblis;
  • 5309 'Qui fadis so þi faire hew?' said þe faire lady
  • 5310 'Þe werreour of all þe werd & wastour of ynde,
  • 5311 Þou þat has brettend on þe bent þe barbrins folke,
  • 5312 Þe pepill out of Panty þe Persens & þe Medis.
  • 5313 Loo, now, þe here withouten hiȝt in-to my handis sesed,
  • 5314 Bot in a womans ward for all þi wale dedis!
  • 5315 Ser, wete it wele ȝoure worthenes þat for na wele here
  • 5316 Suld neuire no hathill vndire heuen [be] to hiȝe losed;
  • 5317 For all þe welthe of þe werd ware it a wee grantid,
  • 5318 It witis a-way at a wapp as þe wynd turnes.'
  • 5319 Þan chawfis him þat chiftane & with him-selfe chidis,
  • 5320 All if he spared to spek his sprete he rehetis.
  • 5321 As any terand for tene he with his tethe gnaistes,
  • 5322 And hitterly on ilk side his heued he declines.
  • 5323 'Qui colkins þou, ser conquirour & crabbis so þi saule,
  • 5324 Quat may þi vertu now a-vaile & all þine vayn pride?'
  • 5325 'I swete,' quod þe swete kyng 'þat I na swerd haue,
  • 5326 For I na wapen haue, I-wis my writh with to venge!'
  • 5327 'Now, bald baratour on bent if þou a brand hade,
  • 5328 Quat prowis miȝt þi person a-preue in þis stounde?'
  • 5329 For I vnwarly,' quod þe kyng 'am to ȝoure will taken,
  • 5330 I suld þe slaa þare þou sittis & þan my-selfe eftir!'
  • 5331 Now, be my croun,' quod þe quene 'as kniȝtly þou swaris;
  • 5332 Bot neuir-þe-lattir ȝit be 1iȝt & lete of þi sorowe.
  • 5333 For þou has broȝt my son wife of bebricans handis,
  • 5334 And I sall surely þe saue vnsesid of þe berbrens.
  • 5335 For ware it knawen of þi come þai walld þi cors schind,
  • 5336 For opressing of þe gud prince Porrus of Ynde.
  • 5337 And Caratros my kid son has couplid him to wyfe
  • 5338 Þe doȝtir of þis dere kynge þat þou to dethe broȝt.'
  • 5339 With þat scho sesis þis sire & to þe sale ledes,
  • 5340 Sendis eftir hire sons & sobirly þam tretis
  • 5341 Þis athill of ser Alexander as þai were all halden,
  • 5342 At þai suld menske him & mirthe & make him at esee.
  • 5343 'I knaw it wele,' quod Caratros 'my comly modire,
  • 5344 Þat he my brothirs brid has out of bands leuird,
  • 5345 & how þe kyng, be þat cause has to þis kith sent;
  • 5346 Bot my wyfe will ga wode for wa bot I þis wee spill.
  • 5347 Ne ware he a messangere & ȝit mare for ȝoure-selfe,
  • 5348 Sure suld him sowe for his sake at him has sent hedire.
  • 5349 So sall his maistir, & I may be my dire saule,
  • 5350 For he þe fadire of my fere has in þe feld drepid.'
  • 5351 'A!' quod þis lade, 'leue son if we þis lede sloȝe,
  • 5352 Suld we vs nymme any name oȝt bot of sorowe?'
  • 5353 'ȝa, Cartros,' quod Candoile 'þis kniȝt has me saued,
  • 5354 And I sal lede him on lyue vn-to his lord tentis.'
  • 5355 'Quat baitis þou me so, my brothire with þi breme wordis,
  • 5356 List ye we stryfe in þis stede & strike aithire oþir?'
  • 5357 'Þat kepe I noȝt,' quod Candoile 'ȝit for na cas neuend,
  • 5358 Bot if þe langis to þat laike lo me here redy!'
  • 5359 Þan callis Candace þe kniȝt in consaille him takis,
  • 5360 Sees hire sons wald him sla & radly scho pleynes;
  • 5361 'Lord Alexander, þine are quare is þi wittis?
  • 5362 I prai þe for þi prouidence pesse now my childire.'
  • 5363 Þan bows þis baratour þire brethire to stere,
  • 5364 Fand caratros & candoile at knyfes to-drawen,
  • 5365 Bad, 'blyns, bernes of ȝoure brathe & of ȝour breme wordis;
  • 5366 ȝe fare bot with folite, quare ere ȝoure fyue wittis?'
  • 5367 Þan carps he to ser Caratros & kythis on þis wyse,
  • 5368 'Ser, if þou lessen my life na lowere þou wynnes.
  • 5369 For Alexander of his awen has many athill kniȝtis
  • 5370 Þat ere mare sekire at a-say þan slike seuen houndreth.
  • 5371 For if I ware fallen fey him forced bot littill.
  • 5372 For ware I a tresour to þat tulk trowe wele þi-selfe,
  • 5373 Þat me so sodanly þat sire had noȝt sent hedire,
  • 5374 With-outen wees me to warde nay, wene þou þat neuir.
  • 5375 Bot if þe list on þat lede loke with þine eȝen,
  • 5376 Sire Alexander þe athill þine aldfadire bane,
  • 5377 Þe thare bot graunt me to geue quat guds as I craue,
  • 5378 And I sall prestly þat prince present in-to þi handis.'
  • 5379 Þan ware þire brethire full blithe, þus ware þai bath pesed,
  • 5380 And Candoile callis to þe king & kindly him thankis,
  • 5381 'Had I ȝow ay with me here happy ware I þan,
  • 5382 Þan wald I wene with ȝour witt to wast all my fais.'
  • 5383 With þat scho kende him a croun clustrid with gemmes,
  • 5384 With Amatists & Adamands & an athill mantill,
  • 5385 Sterind & stiȝt full of stanes sithin stelis to him cussis,
  • 5386 With othire preuates him plesis bad pas on with hele.
  • 5387 Nowe aires furth oure conquirour & candoile him gidis,
  • 5388 Driues furth all þe dai till doun was þe son,
  • 5389 And so þai come till a caue was out of course hoge,
  • 5390 Be-twene twa hillis in a hope & herberd all niȝt.
  • 5391 'Sire,' quod candoile þe kene & to þe kynge said,
  • 5392 'All spritis in þis spelonk here speke þai to-gedire,
  • 5393 Here is þaire comon consaile;' & þis þe kyng heris,
  • 5394 Makis he gracis to his goddis & þan þe grofe entres.
  • 5395 Quen he was doun in þe depe he saȝe a dym cloude
  • 5396 Full of starand sternes & stiȝtild in þe myddest
  • 5397 A grete grysely god on a gay trone,
  • 5398 Þat liȝt lemand eȝen as lanterns he had.
  • 5399 Oure mode kyng was so maied myndles him semed:
  • 5400 'Haile, Alexander þe hende' quod þat hiȝe driȝtin.
  • 5401 'Sire, qua ere ȝe?' said oure ser 'Synches I hiȝt;
  • 5402 And to my powere vndire-putt is all þe playn werd.
  • 5403 For þi name a cite has þou sesid bot þou settis me na temple.'
  • 5404 'Sire, if I miȝt merke to Messedone a Maistir I þe hiȝte;
  • 5405 Sall nane be like it in na lede;''nay, lange noȝt þar-eftir!
  • 5406 Þou sall neuir loke on þat land ga lawere & be-hald.'
  • 5407 Þan kend him quare anothire cloude was full of briȝt sternes,
  • 5408 And quare a-nothire grym god was graythid on a sege.
  • 5409 'Sire, quat ert þou,' said þe segge 'ser Sirapis, I-wis;
  • 5410 Þe grond & þe begininge of all þe godis oute.'
  • 5411 'Now I be-seke þe, Serapis,' said oure kyng þan,
  • 5412 'Quat segge is sett me to slaa þe sothe þou me tell.'
  • 5413 'Sire, I haue neuend þe or now þat, ware þat note knawen
  • 5414 Till any douth of quat dome þen died I for sorowe.
  • 5415 Þou has a blisfull burȝe biggid to þi name,
  • 5416 Quare many bernes sall debate & bald emperouris,
  • 5417 Þare sall þi berynes be bildid & þi body grauen.'
  • 5418 Þan come vp oure kidd kyng & fra þe kniȝt partis,
  • 5419 Þus kaires he fro candele bad, 'kepe wele him driȝtin.'
  • 5420 Moues him on to his meny & on þe morne eftir
  • 5421 Þan dryues he furth with his dukis in-to a deyne entris,
  • 5422 A vale full of vermyn & all of vile neddirs.
  • 5423 And þai ware crokid & coynnt with corouns on hede,
  • 5424 As it smytten [ware] all of smythis of smaragdens fine.
  • 5425 ȝit ware þai pasturde of pepir as þe prose tellis,
  • 5426 Of gyloffre & of gingere els ioyed þaim na fodis.
  • 5427 For all ouire couerd was þe coue claggid with spices,
  • 5428 Þat makis þire wormes so wele & wond in þaire kyndis,
  • 5429 Þat ilka twelmonth a turne þai turnay to-gedire,
  • 5430 Ilkane mellis with his make & so þare many dies.
  • 5431 Þan pas þai thethen till a place of perlious bestis,
  • 5432 With clouen clees, sais þe clause as kynd of þe hoggs.
  • 5433 Þai ware thike & threuen wele thre foote o brede,
  • 5434 Quare-with þai faȝt with in-fere & fellid of his kniȝtis,
  • 5435 Þai ware so brefe at a blisch borely & grym.
  • 5436 On ilka best a bares hede full of breme tuskis,
  • 5437 Þus ware þai fourmed all be-fore & farand be-hynde
  • 5438 Like as it ware lepards & lions with tailis.
  • 5439 ȝit was þar gedird out of gripis & griffons emange,
  • 5440 Þat felly flappid at þe faces of þe fell erles,
  • 5441 And euir ilka best was so bigge of body & of wyng,
  • 5442 Þat he miȝt bere away a blonke & a kniȝt armed.
  • 5443 Þe kyng was on his couresere to comforth his dukis,
  • 5444 On þe bald bucifalon eblande þaim he rydis,
  • 5445 Prekis fra place in-to place bad, 'plukis vp ȝour hertis,’
  • 5446 And cherischest his chiftans with chelous wordis.
  • 5447 He baldis of his bachelers & his bowmen he cheris,
  • 5448 To flay with flanes of þe fowlis & þe fell bestis.
  • 5449 And it was done at his dome; with-drewe þai na langir,
  • 5450 Bath archere & alblastis & all þaim a-sailed.
  • 5451 Þe bataile on bathe halfis brymly begynnys,
  • 5452 Oure seggis & þe Synagyns semblid vnfaire;
  • 5453 Gripis gripis of oure gomes out of gilt sadils,
  • 5454 Tuk þam in þaire talons & titt fra þaire blonkis.
  • 5455 Bot ȝit oure kyng with his kniȝtis so kenely defendis,
  • 5456 And with his ginge out of grece þat he þe gree wynnes.
  • 5457 Bot ȝit was herid of his here twa hundreth & ouire,
  • 5458 Þus gafe vp þe gaste with gold on þai heles.
  • 5459 Þan ferd he furth till a flode & þat a ferly hoge,
  • 5460 Twenti forelang & ferre it had of full breede,
  • 5461 And all þe strands of þe streme stode full of stith reedis,
  • 5462 Quare-of he beds at a braid him bargis to make.
  • 5463 Quen it was hewyn at his hest with heggis ouire-folden,
  • 5464 Þan entirs in of his erles & ouire þe ee passis.
  • 5465 And all þat kith of oure kyng quen þai his come wist,
  • 5466 Þai perid to him with presands þe proudis of þat land.
  • 5467 Sum spends on him of spon[ges] a sparles nounbre,
  • 5468 Of mirre & of mekill quat milke-quite
  • 5469 Sum men muscles him mett & with so mekill schellis,
  • 5470 Þat sex pond miȝt of paise haue ni of watre.
  • 5471 Sum of seelis of þe see sendis to him cotis,
  • 5472 Sum bees at ware blode-rede & borely wormes
  • 5473 As large as a mans lege & lamprays of weȝt
  • 5474 Twa hundreth pond ay a pece & past it be fifty.
  • 5475 ȝit was þar wonand in þis water as women it semed,
  • 5476 Þat ferly faire ware of face with haare to þaire heelis.
  • 5477 Ouire-stride þar any strange man or be þir strandis sailed,
  • 5478 Þai droȝe þam doun in-to þe depe & drowned þaim for euire,
  • 5479 Or els þai tillid þaim to þe trees as þe buke tellis,
  • 5480 And gert þaim laike with þaim so lange till þaim þe life wantis.
  • 5481 Oure men tuke of þaim twa was ten foote of hiȝt,
  • 5482 Als blaȝt as any briȝt snaw & as biche sons tothed.
  • 5483 Þan aires furth ser Alexander & with his arte closis
  • 5484 Of terands of þir tartaryns twa & twenti kyngs.
  • 5485 He stekis þam vp with þar stoures in a straite lawe,
  • 5486 And I sall neuen ȝow þar names if ȝe þaim neuire herd.
  • 5487 Gogg & magogg þe grete he with þir gomes pyndis,
  • 5488 Agekany & Anafrage & Almade bathe,
  • 5489 Sire Camour & ser Cacany with all þar kidd ostis,
  • 5490 And ane ser Clambert þe kene was kyng of þer ostis;
  • 5491 Gamarody þe goblyn a-nothire gryn sire,
  • 5492 Marthyney þe miȝtfull & Magen his fere,
  • 5493 Appedanere, Olaathere & Alane þe grete,
  • 5494 And ane ser naþy onone he in þe nabb speris.
  • 5495 He lockis in ane ser limy with a laith mey[n]he,
  • 5496 And raryfey, a riche ray he in þe roche stoppis,
  • 5497 Sire Filies, a fell kyng with all his fers kniȝtis,
  • 5498 And ane ser Bedwyn þe bald with many briȝt helmes.
  • 5499 Arteneus ane athill kemp als-so he in-parkis,
  • 5500 And ane ser Tarbyn, a tulke with many toore thousandis;
  • 5501 Sire Saltary, a-nothire sire now is þe sowme reckend.
  • 5502 All þire he closis in þat cliffe & cairis on forthire
  • 5503 To þe occyan at þe erthes ende & þar in an Ilee he heres
  • 5504 A grete glauir & a glaam of grekin tongis.
  • 5505 Þan bad he kniȝtis þaim vnclethe & to þat kithe swym,
  • 5506 Bot all at come in-to þat cole crabbis has þaim drenchid.
  • 5507 Þan sewis furth þat souerayn ay by þa salt strandis
  • 5508 Toward þe settynge of þe son in seson of wintir;
  • 5509 Sexti dais with his sowme sadly he ridis,
  • 5510 Raȝt on to þe reede See & rerid þare his tentis.
  • 5511 Þare was a miȝti montayne at to þe mone semed,
  • 5512 He gessis it gaynir to god þan to þe grounde vndire,
  • 5513 And slike a fonned fantasy þan fell in his hert,
  • 5514 How þat he liftid miȝt be fra þe lawe vn-to þe liȝt sternes.
  • 5515 Þan made he smythis to gaa smert & smethe him a chaiere
  • 5516 Of blake iren & of bigge & bynde it with cheynes,
  • 5517 A sekire sege in to sitt & sett him on-loft.
  • 5518 And foure Griffons full grym he in þat graythe festes;
  • 5519 He makis to hinge ouir þaire hede in hokis of iren
  • 5520 Flesch on ferrom þaim fra at þai miȝt noȝt to reches,
  • 5521 To make þaim freke to þe fliȝt þat fode for to wyn,
  • 5522 For þai ware fastand be-fore halden for þe nanes.
  • 5523 Now is he won þurȝe þar wingis vp to þe wale cloudis;
  • 5524 So hiȝe to heuen þai him hale in a hand-quile,
  • 5525 Midil-erth bot as a mylnestane na mare to him semed,
  • 5526 And all þe watir of þe werd bot as a wrethen neddire.
  • 5527 Þe vertu of þe verray god envirounis him swythe,
  • 5528 And þan þai fell on a fild as ferre fra his ost
  • 5529 As any freke miȝt founde in fiftene daies,
  • 5530 And he vnhurt with mekill vnhome he to his ost wynes.
  • 5531 A-nothire wondirfull witt ȝit worthid in his hert,
  • 5532 How he miȝt seke doun sounde into þe see bothom,
  • 5533 To see quat selcuthe is seet in þe salt watir,
  • 5534 How many kind of creatours þat in þe cole duellis.
  • 5535 Þan gert he gomes for to gang & grayth him a tonn
  • 5536 Of grene glitterand glas with gerrethis of iren,
  • 5537 Þat he miȝt sitt in him-selfe & with his seȝt persee
  • 5538 Ane & othire & all þing at outwith it lengid.
  • 5539 Sone was it blawen at a braide & broȝt him be-forne,
  • 5540 All boun as he badd & bunden with cheynes.
  • 5541 Þan of his bald bachelers þe biggist out callis,
  • 5542 And raȝt to þaim þire rekenthis to rewle & to hald.
  • 5543 He makis a conand with his kniȝtis & kend þaim þe time,
  • 5544 How lange him likid fra þe lande to leng in þe depe,
  • 5545 In at a wicket he went & wynly it speris;
  • 5546 Princes pointid it with pik & he þe plunge entres.
  • 5547 Þare saȝe he figours of fischis & fourmes diuerse,
  • 5548 Þat kend he neuir so many kindis ne of so qwaynt hewis.
  • 5549 Sum ferd all on foure feete & farand as bestis,
  • 5550 Bot quen þai blischt on þis berne þan bade þai na langir.
  • 5551 And oþir sellis he saȝe at sai wald he neuir,
  • 5552 Þat ware vnlikly to leue to any man wittis.
  • 5553 Sone so þe setnes was gane þat him-selfe made,
  • 5554 Þai dreȝe him vp to þe drye & he na dere sufird.
  • 5555 Þan raikis he by þe reede see & rides ay þe sannd,
  • 5556 Ferly ferre with his folke & ficchid his tentis,
  • 5557 Þare fande he bestis on þe brym with bemes as sawis,
  • 5558 Þat ware as bitand breme as bladis of swerdis.
  • 5559 Þai sett in a sadd sowme & sailid his kniȝtis,
  • 5560 Porris doun of his princes & persys þar schildis,
  • 5561 ȝit fellid his folke of þaim fey foure score hundreth,
  • 5562 And foure hundreth, & ferre be fifti, þai drepid.
  • 5563 Þan driues he þethin with his dukis in-to desert landis,
  • 5564 Is riȝt between þe reede see & Arrabie costis,
  • 5565 A wilsom wast & a wild & wons full of neddirs,
  • 5566 And þai ware hedously hoge & horned as Tupis.
  • 5567 Þai turred doun of his tulkis & with þar tyndis sloȝe;
  • 5568 Bot þe dreȝest deele of þaim died of his dukis handis.
  • 5569 Þan past he to a-noþir place & piȝt doun his tentis,
  • 5570 And fand a bataill of bestis as breme as þe first.
  • 5571 Þai ware of figour & of fourme as fendis of hell,
  • 5572 With heuy hedis & hoge as horses it were.
  • 5573 And þai ware tacchid full of tethe as tyndis ere of harows,
  • 5574 And fell flammes as of fire floȝe fra þaire mouthes.
  • 5575 A selly sowme of his seggis was slane or he wist,
  • 5576 And he þan hertis his here biddis, 'hewis on, my childire;'
  • 5577 And ferly ferd of his folke was in þe fild strangild.
  • 5578 Bot all þe dreȝe of þa deuels þai drenchid or þai past.
  • 5579 Þan fondis he furth with his folke in-to a fild entris,
  • 5580 And þar he logis with his lordis & lengis for a quile.
  • 5581 For slike a fell infirmite was in his hors bunden,
  • 5582 Bucifalon þe bald stede þat he for bale dies.
  • 5583 Þe berne blischis on his blonke & seȝes his breth faile,
  • 5584 Sighis selcuthly sare & sadli he wepis,
  • 5585 For he had standen him in stede in stouris full hard,
  • 5586 Won him wirschip in were fra many wathe saued.
  • 5587 Þe kynge to þis carion he castis his eȝen,
  • 5588 Said, 'fare wele, my faire foole þou failid me neuire!
  • 5589 Sall now þi flesch here be freten with fowlis & with wormes,
  • 5590 Þat has so doȝtyly done? nay, driȝtin for-bede!'
  • 5591 Þan bilds he þare a berynes þis beste in-to ligg,
  • 5592 Of schene schemerand gold as it a schrine ware,
  • 5593 A tombe as a tabernacle & tildis vp a cite
  • 5594 In reuerence of þat riche stede & eftir him it callis.
  • 5595 Þan ridis he to a Reuere a ruyde & a hoge,
  • 5596 Detiraty þe depe þe men þare it callis;
  • 5597 Fyue thousand Olifants in feree þa frithmen him broȝt,
  • 5598 A hundreth Mille heuy chargis ware hewen for þe were.
  • 5599 Þan pas he to a proude place a palas of ioye,
  • 5600 Of Sexis, at sum time was senyour of Persy.
  • 5601 Þar fand he garettis all of gold & gildin chaumbres,
  • 5602 And many a miracle in þe mote þat miche ware to reken.
  • 5603 Þare fand þai bridis in þa bilds borely & quite,
  • 5604 Of feþir fresch as any fame as ere þir fedill dowfis,
  • 5605 Þat see wald of a sekeman or any sorow ailid,
  • 5606 Queþir he suld warisch of þat waa or of þe werd turne.
  • 5607 For if þai blithly vp blenkid & blischt on his face,
  • 5608 Þan suld he couir of his care men knew by þe takens;
  • 5609 And if þai chaungid opon chaunce his chere to be-hold,
  • 5610 With-outen doute he was dede þan durid he na langir.
  • 5611 Now bowis furth þis baratour & Babiloyn he wynnys,
  • 5612 Brettenes þe bald kyng & bringis him of lyue,
  • 5613 Ane Nabizanda was named & a noble kniȝt,
  • 5614 Was ane þe proudest of his pirs & prince of his ward.
  • 5615 He lengis in lithis & in lee to his lyues ende,
  • 5616 A seuen monethis in sonde & sende out a pistill
  • 5617 To his modire in-to Messedone & to his maistir als
  • 5618 Of his auntours, of his angwisch & of his athill werkis,
  • 5619 And Aristotill be-lyue him anothire writis.
  • 5620 'To þe kyng of kyngis,' quod þis clerke 'comande I myselfe.
  • 5621 Sire, quen I waitid on ȝour werkis I wex all affraid
  • 5622 Sum grayne of godhede, I gesse was growen ȝow within;
  • 5623 For þou has said þat neuir did segge ne saȝe bot þine ane;
  • 5624 ȝit miȝt neuir, I lofe oure lorde my lege, ȝow with-stande;
  • 5625 Sire, blissid be all þe bachelers at þe in bales helpid!'
  • 5626 And now fynes here a fitt & folows a-nothire.
  • 5627 Oure bold kyng in Babiloun nowe bildis vp a trone,
  • 5628 Þe postis with all þe apurtynance as pure as þe noble,
  • 5629 Þat was so wondirly wroȝt of werkis diuerse,
  • 5630 Þat slike a sege vndire son was neuire sene eftir.
  • 5631 So grete garisons of gold þe grekis in broȝt,
  • 5632 Þe Medis & þe Messedons many horsis chargid,
  • 5633 Þat þai out of ynde & els-quare with olifants lede;
  • 5634 It wald haue wlated any wee þat welth to be-hald.
  • 5635 Twelfe cubettis fra þe cald erth he castis it on hiȝt,
  • 5636 And xij degreces all of gold for gate vp of lordis;
  • 5637 And twyse sex Semylacris sesid he þar-vndire,
  • 5638 Þat held on hiȝe with þaire handis all þir heuy werke.
  • 5639 And þar was grauyn in þos gomes with grekin letteris,
  • 5640 And titild in þe tried names of his twelfe princes.
  • 5641 With ilk a statute þat þar stude stoutely enarmed,
  • 5642 And euir-ilk a person a prince payntid was eftir.
  • 5643 All þe sete of þe sege was smaragdyns fyne,
  • 5644 Off tried topaces & trewe tyrid was þe wawes,
  • 5645 A tabernacle ouir þe trone tildid vp on loft,
  • 5646 And þan with stanes of ilka state wall þe stoure clustrid.
  • 5647 A charbocle as a chasse was in þe chefe boll,
  • 5648 Þat brynt in bely-blind niȝt as briȝt as þe son,
  • 5649 With Imagis vndire in ilka nend & Impid in þe names
  • 5650 Of all þe prouynces & þe places þat he was prince ouire.
  • 5651 And þai ware visid all in versis in variant lettirs,
  • 5652 Sum in latens lare sum langage of grece,
  • 5653 Assisid all of sex foote & sett in betwene,
  • 5654 Ay thre paire on a plate qware a poynt ristis.
  • 5655 Now sall I neuyn ȝow þe names note ȝe þe wordis;
  • 5656 Þe pepill out of Panthi is plant in first,
  • 5657 Pruto, Picard, & Pers and Pamphalie bathe,
  • 5658 Portingale & Paiters it paies me trouage,
  • 5659 Arrabe & Artoyes and Assie þe mare,
  • 5660 Abbeon & Aufrike and Acres anothire,
  • 5661 Effosym & Ethiops þire ebrues folke;
  • 5662 All Ermony & Ewrope enterely me serues,
  • 5663 Ingland, Itaile, & Yndee & Ireland costis,
  • 5664 Meede & Mesopotayme & Massedoyne eke;
  • 5665 Turke, Tuscane, & Troy and Tartary clene,
  • 5666 Surre, Sysyll, & Saarde & Syres all ouire;
  • 5667 Gyane, Garnad, & Grece & Gascoyne I haue,
  • 5668 Baxe, Bayon, & Burdeux & Bretayn þe graunt,
  • 5669 Capidos, & Calde þe Canony pepill,
  • 5670 Russe, Romayn & Ramys a rent þai vs ȝeld.
  • 5671 All Calabree & Corwaile oure coroun obien,
  • 5672 Bathe naples & Norway þire Nauernes all,
  • 5673 Þe beeris out of Hungry & out of haythen Spayn,
  • 5674 Frigie, Flandres, & Fraunce & Femony vs loutis,
  • 5675 Ascalioun, & Arcagee all of vs haldis;
  • 5676 Tiree, & Tasse, & Tessale oure tributars ere,
  • 5677 Poliponens, & Pentapol & Palestyne þe riche.
4 are
4 at
94 ay
1 blo
1 bur
2 cal
1 dam
4 egg
3 fro
5 get
1 gro
4 hap
2 hoo
2 kid
5 mon
58 or
1 paa
3 rad
2 syt
3 wap
2 wro