 | The Buik of King Alexander the Conqueror |  |
Of the pitiouus parting of his men fra him, and þair lamentatiounis
Thir lamentatiounis first of ony man
For to rehears, King Tholome begane,
And with ane sair hart, sichand anis or twyis,
Said, “Alexander, in thy graife quhar thow lyis,
I dar weill say in this warld not was
Sa mekle vertew in sa litell space.”
For to rehears, King Tholome begane,
And with ane sair hart, sichand anis or twyis,
Said, “Alexander, in thy graife quhar thow lyis,
I dar weill say in this warld not was
Sa mekle vertew in sa litell space.”
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“[Quhat] waillis visdome or vertew,
Quhane tresoun may ane worthie prince vndo—
Allace that evir thow sould ly thair sa dume,
Quhilk all þis warld with wit micht not ouercum;
He quhilk þis warld all conqueist quhair he ȝeid,
Now lyis full law, þair will na man him dreid;
Quhair all this warld micht skantlie him suffice,
Now is content of sevin fut quhair he lyis;
He quhilk of men was quhylum maist michtie,
Now hes na man intill his cumpanie:
The quheill of Fortoun turnis rycht sone about,
To-nicht a lord, to-morne nan vill him doubt.”
Quhane tresoun may ane worthie prince vndo—
Allace that evir thow sould ly thair sa dume,
Quhilk all þis warld with wit micht not ouercum;
He quhilk þis warld all conqueist quhair he ȝeid,
Now lyis full law, þair will na man him dreid;
Quhair all this warld micht skantlie him suffice,
Now is content of sevin fut quhair he lyis;
He quhilk of men was quhylum maist michtie,
Now hes na man intill his cumpanie:
The quheill of Fortoun turnis rycht sone about,
To-nicht a lord, to-morne nan vill him doubt.”
“He quhilk all gold in warld had at biding,
Thair is not left to him ane small farding,
And ȝit not thane his libertie and fredome
Hes maid all this warld for to ouercum.”
Thair is not left to him ane small farding,
And ȝit not thane his libertie and fredome
Hes maid all this warld for to ouercum.”
“He that was wont to traill in clathis of gold,
Lyis now full law ouercoverit with þe mold—
Quhat profeittis ws our careoun cleith to-day,
And syne to-morne ly rottand in þe clay?”
Lyis now full law ouercoverit with þe mold—
Quhat profeittis ws our careoun cleith to-day,
And syne to-morne ly rottand in þe clay?”
“Was wont in gold paleice to duell at hame,
Lyis now hid in litill hirne of lame.
He was baith fair of hyid, hew, and fessioun,
Quhilk lyis now rottand lyik ane foull careoun.”
Lyis now hid in litill hirne of lame.
He was baith fair of hyid, hew, and fessioun,
Quhilk lyis now rottand lyik ane foull careoun.”
241
“Quha hade at lyiking mony ane fair ladie,
Now foull wormis lyis nerrest his bodie:
All warldlie fairnes failȝeis as ane flour,
All lust of man sall end within ane hour.”
Now foull wormis lyis nerrest his bodie:
All warldlie fairnes failȝeis as ane flour,
All lust of man sall end within ane hour.”
“Quha eitt best meit, denteis, spyce, and wyne,
Now is his bodie full of foull vermyne:
Quha eittis best meit, and lyik[is] maist lustie laidis,
His flesche is foullest eftir þat he dead is.”
Now is his bodie full of foull vermyne:
Quha eittis best meit, and lyik[is] maist lustie laidis,
His flesche is foullest eftir þat he dead is.”
“Quha wont was all þis warldlis welth to haife,
Now rottis in pulder, puirer nor his knaife;
Quhen lyife is out, thane is thair na remeid—
Bettir dog on lyife nor lyoun that is deid.
Quho wont was in word and deid to wirk,
Lyis now full still, ane word he may not speik;
And all this warld obeyit him, far and neir—
Thair will na boy now for his bidding steir.”
Now rottis in pulder, puirer nor his knaife;
Quhen lyife is out, thane is thair na remeid—
Bettir dog on lyife nor lyoun that is deid.
Quho wont was in word and deid to wirk,
Lyis now full still, ane word he may not speik;
And all this warld obeyit him, far and neir—
Thair will na boy now for his bidding steir.”
“His wit in logik and astronomie
Micht not fra dead ane hour saife his bodie,
And all that wit[t], clergie, and scieence,
May litill stand as now in his defence.”
Micht not fra dead ane hour saife his bodie,
And all that wit[t], clergie, and scieence,
May litill stand as now in his defence.”
“Olimpias, Candas, nor Phisomas,
Nor all the fair ladyis that euir was,
Nor all his micht, his fairnes, nor his force,
Micht not fra dead ane hour defend his cors.”
Nor all the fair ladyis that euir was,
Nor all his micht, his fairnes, nor his force,
Micht not fra dead ane hour defend his cors.”
“He flaw on heicht and saw þe warld sa round,
And saw the ferleis at þe seis ground,
And all þe warld ouertred with his meingȝe—
Now quhair he lyis, may nather heir nor sie.”
And saw the ferleis at þe seis ground,
And all þe warld ouertred with his meingȝe—
Now quhair he lyis, may nather heir nor sie.”
“Quhat vaillis it heir to mak conquesing
To men that hes ane sufficyent lefing,
To wyne ane name, quhilk is bot warldlie gloir,
And put in perrell saull and lyife thairfoir.”
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To wyne ane name, quhilk is bot warldlie gloir,
And put in perrell saull and lyife thairfoir.”
“Quhat profeittis it þis warldis guide to wine,
With great travell, with sorrow, and with sine,
And quhen that [w]e wald fainest haue guide cheir,
We ar remuffit richt suddantlie fra heir.”
With great travell, with sorrow, and with sine,
And quhen that [w]e wald fainest haue guide cheir,
We ar remuffit richt suddantlie fra heir.”
“Quha [was] redoubtit to þe warldis end,
And for his lettiris great tribute to him send,
Baith kingis, princeis, and lordis of hie curage,
Lyis rottand now, far puirer nor his peage.
[Be] mony takinis of his natiuitie
And at his ending now sen[e] haue we,
And how the craigis closit at his prayer,
It was lyik to godis he sould be deir.”
And for his lettiris great tribute to him send,
Baith kingis, princeis, and lordis of hie curage,
Lyis rottand now, far puirer nor his peage.
[Be] mony takinis of his natiuitie
And at his ending now sen[e] haue we,
And how the craigis closit at his prayer,
It was lyik to godis he sould be deir.”
“Ane angell into Ierusalem was sent,
And bad þe bischop be obedient,
And meit him with the haill processioun,
Baith men of kirk and commounis of the toune,
Quhilk come not throw his power nor his mycht—
This seimis he was ane send of God almycht.”
And bad þe bischop be obedient,
And meit him with the haill processioun,
Baith men of kirk and commounis of the toune,
Quhilk come not throw his power nor his mycht—
This seimis he was ane send of God almycht.”
“Quhat vaillis strenth of persoun or fairnes,
Or hie office, great lordschip and riches,
Nor all the welth þat natur hes heir wrocht,
Quhen in ane moment all þis turnis to nocht.”
Or hie office, great lordschip and riches,
Nor all the welth þat natur hes heir wrocht,
Quhen in ane moment all þis turnis to nocht.”
“It is not sa great pitie for to sie
Ane man of eild by cours of natur die,
Bot pitie is to sie ane croune degraid
Into the flour of bewtie and ȝouthead.”
Ane man of eild by cours of natur die,
Bot pitie is to sie ane croune degraid
Into the flour of bewtie and ȝouthead.”
“And namelie haifand sa great governall
As to be empriour of this warld all-haill,
And syne him-self beand sa kyndlie wyis,
And sa weill set in vertew and iustice.”
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And syne him-self beand sa kyndlie wyis,
And sa weill set in vertew and iustice.”
“The tinsell is not allanerlie þat he
In flour of ȝouthead fra his freindis die,
Bot for [pite] of weir and distrubillance,
Quhilk now sall ryis for falt of gouernance.”
In flour of ȝouthead fra his freindis die,
Bot for [pite] of weir and distrubillance,
Quhilk now sall ryis for falt of gouernance.”
“He was mair dred for his word or his bill
Nor all the kingis in earth, bayth guid and ill,
And mair wit could his persoun devyis
Nor all þe clarkis fra hyne to Paradyis.”
“Sen that we mone on force his dead indure,
Throw will of God and cours of nature,
Thair is na eardlie thing may ever lest—
Best is to leafe quhan that the play is best.”
“Sen it is sua that he is tane away,
And him for duile recover [we] no [m]ay,
I can not sie quhat is best to do þairfoir,
Bot hald him in perpetuall memoir,
And pray to Him quhilk well is of guidnes
To tak him in His mercie and His grace. Amen.”
Nor all the kingis in earth, bayth guid and ill,
And mair wit could his persoun devyis
Nor all þe clarkis fra hyne to Paradyis.”
“Sen that we mone on force his dead indure,
Throw will of God and cours of nature,
Thair is na eardlie thing may ever lest—
Best is to leafe quhan that the play is best.”
“Sen it is sua that he is tane away,
And him for duile recover [we] no [m]ay,
I can not sie quhat is best to do þairfoir,
Bot hald him in perpetuall memoir,
And pray to Him quhilk well is of guidnes
To tak him in His mercie and His grace. Amen.”
Than Aristotill, with all the lordis assent,
Fullfillit the poyntis of the testament,
And all the gold deliuerit quhar he bad,
Quhilk in his testament ordand he haid;
And syne wreit lettreis hame to Massedone,
And fra thyne passit all to Babiloine.
Thane Aristotill and all the lordis bedeine
Schuip to comfort Rosevein the queine,
Quhilk was with chyild, and at the falland fuit,
Sayand þat to mak sorrow was na buite,
And for to keip hir barne fra perischeing,
That oft befallis to wemen for murning,
For les ill war to tyne him, and na ma,
Nor tyine hir-self and syne hir barne alsua.
And quhen the word was cum to Massedone
That dead was Alexander into Babilone,
Thane Antepater, quhilk hade contriuit þe trane,
Quhan he þat hard, in hart was wonder fane,
And furthwith into Bartane schuip to pas,
For to speik with the King Pensionas,
Of quhome þe father Alexander had slane,
Quhen to King Philip he had wrocht þe trane:
Quhen Alexander was past in Hermenie,
He come vpone him with ane great meingȝe
In Massedone, for Queine Olimpias,
With quhome lang tyme in peramouris he was—
And ȝit not thane of him [he] held his land,
And was his man, and held him no cu[nnand];
And he come on him with ane great power,
And wondit him and left him lyand thair;
Bot Alexander syne come in suddantlie
To wrak his faþiris dead deliuerlie,
And slew his men, and chaist þame for that deid,
And gart King Philip slay him or he deid.
Fullfillit the poyntis of the testament,
And all the gold deliuerit quhar he bad,
Quhilk in his testament ordand he haid;
And syne wreit lettreis hame to Massedone,
And fra thyne passit all to Babiloine.
Thane Aristotill and all the lordis bedeine
Schuip to comfort Rosevein the queine,
Quhilk was with chyild, and at the falland fuit,
Sayand þat to mak sorrow was na buite,
And for to keip hir barne fra perischeing,
That oft befallis to wemen for murning,
For les ill war to tyne him, and na ma,
Nor tyine hir-self and syne hir barne alsua.
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That dead was Alexander into Babilone,
Thane Antepater, quhilk hade contriuit þe trane,
Quhan he þat hard, in hart was wonder fane,
And furthwith into Bartane schuip to pas,
For to speik with the King Pensionas,
Of quhome þe father Alexander had slane,
Quhen to King Philip he had wrocht þe trane:
Quhen Alexander was past in Hermenie,
He come vpone him with ane great meingȝe
In Massedone, for Queine Olimpias,
With quhome lang tyme in peramouris he was—
And ȝit not thane of him [he] held his land,
And was his man, and held him no cu[nnand];
And he come on him with ane great power,
And wondit him and left him lyand thair;
Bot Alexander syne come in suddantlie
To wrak his faþiris dead deliuerlie,
And slew his men, and chaist þame for that deid,
And gart King Philip slay him or he deid.
And be þe caus þat King Pensionas
The mother brother of Antepater was,
He loveit neuer King Alexander for-thy,
Bot set for his [wndoing] ithandlie;
And past to the ȝoung Pensionas
Quhen dead and e[r]dit Alexander was,
And kist als how þe queine þai wald vndo,
And schuip þe way how thay micht cum þarto;
And with ane power come into þe nicht,
And enterit in þe paleice with ane slicht,
And spuilȝeit it, and tuike þat þai wald haife,
And syne put fyir and brint vp all þe laife;
And syne gart tak the Queine Olimpias,
And cast hir ouer þe wallis of þat place,
And wald not thoill na man hir cors to ta,
To burie hir, but left hir lyand sua,
Quhill all hir freindis micht vpone hir rew—
Syne dogis raife hir and hir bainis gnew.
And syne ouerred and stroyit all þe land,
For Philip ȝit ȝoung was, and not ryidand,
Nor was not cumin to perfectioun,
Nor was not ȝit resauit to þe croune—
All this mater it war ouer teir to tell,
Nor great profeit is not heir lang to duell.
The mother brother of Antepater was,
He loveit neuer King Alexander for-thy,
Bot set for his [wndoing] ithandlie;
And past to the ȝoung Pensionas
Quhen dead and e[r]dit Alexander was,
And kist als how þe queine þai wald vndo,
And schuip þe way how thay micht cum þarto;
And with ane power come into þe nicht,
And enterit in þe paleice with ane slicht,
And spuilȝeit it, and tuike þat þai wald haife,
And syne put fyir and brint vp all þe laife;
And syne gart tak the Queine Olimpias,
And cast hir ouer þe wallis of þat place,
And wald not thoill na man hir cors to ta,
To burie hir, but left hir lyand sua,
Quhill all hir freindis micht vpone hir rew—
Syne dogis raife hir and hir bainis gnew.
And syne ouerred and stroyit all þe land,
For Philip ȝit ȝoung was, and not ryidand,
245
Nor was not ȝit resauit to þe croune—
All this mater it war ouer teir to tell,
Nor great profeit is not heir lang to duell.
Bot speik we now of Rosenein the queine,
Quhilk in disease and great dolour hes beine,
Quhilk bair hir fair and weill—hir tyme hes past,
And into Perse scho passit at þe last,
Quhilk, as men said, ane barne to him scho bair,
Quhilk in this buike I speik of hir na mair.
Bot, as wreittin is in the testament,
Syne come discord, distrublance, and torment
Amangis the dusperis, princeis, and þe lordis—
It war ill to rehears all þar discordis.
Quhilk in disease and great dolour hes beine,
Quhilk bair hir fair and weill—hir tyme hes past,
And into Perse scho passit at þe last,
Quhilk, as men said, ane barne to him scho bair,
Quhilk in this buike I speik of hir na mair.
Bot, as wreittin is in the testament,
Syne come discord, distrublance, and torment
Amangis the dusperis, princeis, and þe lordis—
It war ill to rehears all þar discordis.
Syne Arestotill, with all þe princeis haill,
Schuip thame till ardand for the gouernall
And the menteining of þe great impyir,
And quha sould be þair richteous lord and syir.
Thane Arestotill, quhilk was executour,
Said Tholome sould be thair governour
Quhill Aleor war cumin till his eild,
The quhilk was of great ȝouthhead, bot ane chyild;
And all þe [princis] tane to purpois h[e]s
To send letteris to fetche Queine Candas,
And that scho sould hir ȝoung sone with hir bring,
For [he] sould be thair empriour and king,
And that scho come with sic powar and force,
With-out perrell that scho mycht bring hir cors,
Quhill he war enterit anis in þair keiping—
Syne sould thay ordane for his governing.
The queine resauit þe letteris with blythnes,
And vther lettiris wreittin sone scho hes
Wntill hir eldest sone, Cande[o]lus,
Sayand till him, “Deir sone, it standeth thus:
Sen we haue tint our lord and governour,
Quhilk of þis warld was king and empriour,
And he left intill his testament
That Tholomie sould haue þe goverment
Quhill that his sone, thy brother, come till age,
And for till governe wit haue and knawlege,
And Arestotill to be at his teitching,
In quhome he traistit maist of ony thing,
And biddis me bring the chyild to Babilone;
Quhairfoir, to haue thy counsall thairvpone,
Thairfoir, deir sone, quhen þow [þis] pistill sie,
In guidlie hais[t] thow cum to Tars to me,
And bring with the ten thowsand men of weir,
The best thow hes, weill boidin in thair geir,
To lead thy brother Alior and me
To Babilone, þair for to crovnit be.”
Schuip thame till ardand for the gouernall
And the menteining of þe great impyir,
And quha sould be þair richteous lord and syir.
Thane Arestotill, quhilk was executour,
Said Tholome sould be thair governour
Quhill Aleor war cumin till his eild,
The quhilk was of great ȝouthhead, bot ane chyild;
And all þe [princis] tane to purpois h[e]s
To send letteris to fetche Queine Candas,
And that scho sould hir ȝoung sone with hir bring,
For [he] sould be thair empriour and king,
And that scho come with sic powar and force,
With-out perrell that scho mycht bring hir cors,
Quhill he war enterit anis in þair keiping—
Syne sould thay ordane for his governing.
The queine resauit þe letteris with blythnes,
And vther lettiris wreittin sone scho hes
Wntill hir eldest sone, Cande[o]lus,
Sayand till him, “Deir sone, it standeth thus:
Sen we haue tint our lord and governour,
Quhilk of þis warld was king and empriour,
And he left intill his testament
That Tholomie sould haue þe goverment
Quhill that his sone, thy brother, come till age,
And for till governe wit haue and knawlege,
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In quhome he traistit maist of ony thing,
And biddis me bring the chyild to Babilone;
Quhairfoir, to haue thy counsall thairvpone,
Thairfoir, deir sone, quhen þow [þis] pistill sie,
In guidlie hais[t] thow cum to Tars to me,
And bring with the ten thowsand men of weir,
The best thow hes, weill boidin in thair geir,
To lead thy brother Alior and me
To Babilone, þair for to crovnit be.”
To Candeolus [the] letteris present war,
The quhilk furthwith gaderit ane great power
Of Middill Iynd, quhilk was his motheris land,
Thocht scho in Tars was commounlie duelland,
And wnto Tars he cvmis with blyithnes,
Quhair baith his brother and his moþir was;
And sone þair lordis of counsall callit thay,
And ordand thame for to pas on thair way,
And ordand hir cubikill ritchelie,
Quhar Alexander and scho was wont to ly,
The quhilk ran on [four-and-twenty] quheillis of bras,
Quhilk all of christell and of beriall was,
The quhilkis was worth of thowsandis mony scoir—
The properteis I haue ȝow tauld befoir.
With [four-and-twenty] oliphantis it was led,
And thair was of gold [ane] staitlie bed,
Wpone the quhilk sat Prince Alior
In ritche array, and his mother him before,
And mony a ritche iovell him besyid,
With mony worthie knycht of man of pryid,
That trumpit vp and passit furth a pas.
The quhilk furthwith gaderit ane great power
Of Middill Iynd, quhilk was his motheris land,
Thocht scho in Tars was commounlie duelland,
And wnto Tars he cvmis with blyithnes,
Quhair baith his brother and his moþir was;
And sone þair lordis of counsall callit thay,
And ordand thame for to pas on thair way,
And ordand hir cubikill ritchelie,
Quhar Alexander and scho was wont to ly,
The quhilk ran on [four-and-twenty] quheillis of bras,
Quhilk all of christell and of beriall was,
The quhilkis was worth of thowsandis mony scoir—
The properteis I haue ȝow tauld befoir.
With [four-and-twenty] oliphantis it was led,
And thair was of gold [ane] staitlie bed,
Wpone the quhilk sat Prince Alior
In ritche array, and his mother him before,
And mony a ritche iovell him besyid,
With mony worthie knycht of man of pryid,
That trumpit vp and passit furth a pas.
In that cubikill mony fair ladie was;
It was ouerbundin with bandis of gold [OMITTED]
“And all his foirfait to þ[i] maiestie;
Thus, and ȝe wald pas hither, and ane hoist,
Ȝe sall revenge ȝow, and be worth ȝour coist.
Thus may ȝe weill on thame revengeit be,
For ȝe haue haill þe hartis of that cuntre,
And thay are heatit for ȝour father dead,
For all guide men hes thame at mortall fead.”
It was ouerbundin with bandis of gold [OMITTED]
“And all his foirfait to þ[i] maiestie;
Thus, and ȝe wald pas hither, and ane hoist,
Ȝe sall revenge ȝow, and be worth ȝour coist.
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For ȝe haue haill þe hartis of that cuntre,
And thay are heatit for ȝour father dead,
For all guide men hes thame at mortall fead.”
The king was thair, and that weill tuik in hart,
And furthwith sendis his pistill in all pairt,
And sumoundis all the princeis, far and neir,
To pas to the crovning of his vncle deir;
And quhen the lordis thus-gait semblit was,
Thay ordand first to pas þair Perdicas,
The quhilk was ordand vndir Philippone
To governe all þe landis of Massedone
Quhill that the barne war cumin to knawlege,
The quhilk was ȝit bot of ane tender age,
And he sould all þe governance espy,
Thair duelling and þair deidis haillely,
And that with him ȝoung Philippone, þat is tender,
Quhilk brother was to gude King Alexander—
Bot [nocht] borne to the Queine Olimpias,
Bot to þe last queine, Cleopatras.
And furthwith sendis his pistill in all pairt,
And sumoundis all the princeis, far and neir,
To pas to the crovning of his vncle deir;
And quhen the lordis thus-gait semblit was,
Thay ordand first to pas þair Perdicas,
The quhilk was ordand vndir Philippone
To governe all þe landis of Massedone
Quhill that the barne war cumin to knawlege,
The quhilk was ȝit bot of ane tender age,
And he sould all þe governance espy,
Thair duelling and þair deidis haillely,
And that with him ȝoung Philippone, þat is tender,
Quhilk brother was to gude King Alexander—
Bot [nocht] borne to the Queine Olimpias,
Bot to þe last queine, Cleopatras.
Thane Perdicas in [all] haist maid him boune
To Massedone to pas with Philippone,
And with thame tuik he a few meingȝe,
Quhill thay the maner of the land sould sie.
Sa was the father of Cleopatras
The brother of Senescall Ionas,
Quhilk Alexander intill his ȝounger age
Hade slane, for the dispyit of þe mariage—
For scho was dochter to the King Gowlas,
Quhilk King of Pincerne in tha tymeis was,
Quhilk Arestotill hade charge in testament
For to fulfill that mareage or he stent.
Thane Arestotill that mareage for to ma
Gaue commissioun to Perdicas alsua,
And baid him not move na maner of faid
Till ony man of Alexanderis dead,
And gar men trow þa[t] for na caus come he
Bot onlie for to marie Tholome
With the fair ladie Cleopatras,
Quhilk King Philipis secund spowsall was
(And left him [a]ir intill his testament,
For dreid of Godis rychtteous iugment—
Suppois King Philip maid him air him till,
Percaice it was in force and not fre will,
And wist weill þat ȝoung Philip was haill
His propir barne and his sone naturall—
For all law sayis, as I haue hard discriue,
Tha[t] natural proceidis adoptyve.)
Thus with that ladie Cleopatras,
Quhilk Philippone of Greiceis mother was,
The day was set þe mareage for to mak,
With all þe linage, for þe ladyis saik,
Of Ionas slauchter for to stensche the faid
Of all þe dusperis þat was at his dead,
For he was of þe greatest kine in Greice,
Baith Ionas brother dochtir and his neice.
Thane Antepater was duelland in Britane,
And held him thair, and come not hame agane,
In cumpanie with ȝoung Pensionas,
Fra thay had slane the Queine Olimpias.
To Massedone to pas with Philippone,
And with thame tuik he a few meingȝe,
Quhill thay the maner of the land sould sie.
Sa was the father of Cleopatras
The brother of Senescall Ionas,
Quhilk Alexander intill his ȝounger age
Hade slane, for the dispyit of þe mariage—
For scho was dochter to the King Gowlas,
Quhilk King of Pincerne in tha tymeis was,
Quhilk Arestotill hade charge in testament
For to fulfill that mareage or he stent.
Thane Arestotill that mareage for to ma
Gaue commissioun to Perdicas alsua,
And baid him not move na maner of faid
Till ony man of Alexanderis dead,
And gar men trow þa[t] for na caus come he
Bot onlie for to marie Tholome
With the fair ladie Cleopatras,
Quhilk King Philipis secund spowsall was
248
For dreid of Godis rychtteous iugment—
Suppois King Philip maid him air him till,
Percaice it was in force and not fre will,
And wist weill þat ȝoung Philip was haill
His propir barne and his sone naturall—
For all law sayis, as I haue hard discriue,
Tha[t] natural proceidis adoptyve.)
Thus with that ladie Cleopatras,
Quhilk Philippone of Greiceis mother was,
The day was set þe mareage for to mak,
With all þe linage, for þe ladyis saik,
Of Ionas slauchter for to stensche the faid
Of all þe dusperis þat was at his dead,
For he was of þe greatest kine in Greice,
Baith Ionas brother dochtir and his neice.
Thane Antepater was duelland in Britane,
And held him thair, and come not hame agane,
In cumpanie with ȝoung Pensionas,
Fra thay had slane the Queine Olimpias.
Thus Perdicas hes done his charge weill,
And all þe poyntis fulfillit euirie deill,
And Philippone enterit to King Gowlas,
Quhilk father was to Cleopatras.
Thane was þe chyild of Massedone þe king,
Intill his awin guide service governing;
And quhen all thingis thus weill accordit was,
Thane of þe mareage set thay day and place,
And tuike his leife at ladyis euirilkone, [OMITTED]
And tauld his charge and þair ansuering,
Quhilk pleisit mekle þe lordis and þe king.
Thane tauld he all þe maner to þe king
Of thair devyis and of þair purpoising,
And how ȝoung Philippone sould crownit be,
And als the mareage maid of Tholomie,
And at þe soverane King of Babilone
Behuifeit vpone his head to set a croune;
And throw sic maner sould he get ane wyill
The cruell trator subtelie to begyill,
And gart men trow þat þai sould cum for na thing
Bot onlie for the mareage and crovning,
Thane send thay letteris for King Tholomie,
And out of Igypt brochte a great meinȝe,
Of Pers, of Iynd, of Cartage, and Candas,,
Of Babilone and mony a mychttie place.
And all þe poyntis fulfillit euirie deill,
And Philippone enterit to King Gowlas,
Quhilk father was to Cleopatras.
Thane was þe chyild of Massedone þe king,
Intill his awin guide service governing;
And quhen all thingis thus weill accordit was,
Thane of þe mareage set thay day and place,
And tuike his leife at ladyis euirilkone, [OMITTED]
And tauld his charge and þair ansuering,
Quhilk pleisit mekle þe lordis and þe king.
Thane tauld he all þe maner to þe king
Of thair devyis and of þair purpoising,
And how ȝoung Philippone sould crownit be,
And als the mareage maid of Tholomie,
And at þe soverane King of Babilone
Behuifeit vpone his head to set a croune;
And throw sic maner sould he get ane wyill
The cruell trator subtelie to begyill,
249
Bot onlie for the mareage and crovning,
Thane send thay letteris for King Tholomie,
And out of Igypt brochte a great meinȝe,
Of Pers, of Iynd, of Cartage, and Candas,,
Of Babilone and mony a mychttie place.
All thus the michtie King of Babilone
Hes tane þe way to pas in Massedone,
At his fair emeis crowning for to be,
And als þe mareage of King Tholomie.
Quhen thay war semblit and numerit in battaill,
Thay war of men thre hundreth thowsand haill,
And furth þai past in Greice and Massedoine,
And ordand for to croune King Philippone,
Als for the mareage of King Tholomie,
And that thay baith vpone ane day sould be.
Thane gart thay cume the worthe King Gowlas,
With him his dochter Cleopatras,
And all thay semblit in-to Massedone,
And thair thay gaue King Philippone þe croune,
Syne maid the mareage of King Tholomie—
Sic mirth thay maid that it was ioy to sie.
And thocht thay maid thame for to croun a king,
Thair hart was mair vpone ane vþer thing;
Bot Antepater was passit into Britane,
And thocht nocht to cum in Massedone agane;
Quhen that he hard Alexander had a sone,
He was sa wa he wist not quhar to wone,
And held him ay with King Pensionas
Of Britane, quhilk his covsing german was—
Thay hade sic dreid of worthe Tholomie,
Thay durst not duell at hame in thair countre,
For thay hade euir ane dreid and ane dispair
That at þe last it sould not fall þame fair,
For thair sall neuir tratour of na croune
Cum till he honour, wirschip, nor renoun.
Hes tane þe way to pas in Massedone,
At his fair emeis crowning for to be,
And als þe mareage of King Tholomie.
Quhen thay war semblit and numerit in battaill,
Thay war of men thre hundreth thowsand haill,
And furth þai past in Greice and Massedoine,
And ordand for to croune King Philippone,
Als for the mareage of King Tholomie,
And that thay baith vpone ane day sould be.
Thane gart thay cume the worthe King Gowlas,
With him his dochter Cleopatras,
And all thay semblit in-to Massedone,
And thair thay gaue King Philippone þe croune,
Syne maid the mareage of King Tholomie—
Sic mirth thay maid that it was ioy to sie.
And thocht thay maid thame for to croun a king,
Thair hart was mair vpone ane vþer thing;
Bot Antepater was passit into Britane,
And thocht nocht to cum in Massedone agane;
Quhen that he hard Alexander had a sone,
He was sa wa he wist not quhar to wone,
And held him ay with King Pensionas
Of Britane, quhilk his covsing german was—
Thay hade sic dreid of worthe Tholomie,
Thay durst not duell at hame in thair countre,
For thay hade euir ane dreid and ane dispair
That at þe last it sould not fall þame fair,
For thair sall neuir tratour of na croune
Cum till he honour, wirschip, nor renoun.
Thus quhen the king hade bein in Massedone,
And crovnit hade the ȝoung King Philippon,
And maid the mareage of King Tholomie,
He gart men [trow] he wald in his countrie,
And thocht to visie ȝoung Pensionas
Or ony word was cumin to his place;
And furth thay past into guide array,
And ceisit neuir, naþer nicht nor day,
With euir alyik ryidand and baitand,
Quhill thay war cumine into Britane land,
And or men wist þat he thair cummand was,
Thair was a battell set befoir þe place;
And all þe countrie þai set wacche and waird,
And set thair battell, reirgaird and vangaird,
And laid þe sage clos to þe toun aboutt,
For thair the tratouris war, withouttin doubt.
And not for-thy it was ane strang citie,
Ȝit war thay red, as tratouris ay will be,
And quhen thay wist it was King Aleor,
Thane war thay mekle fearder thane befoir—
Becaus thair tressoun was sa oppin kend,
Thay hade nather hap nor grace þame to defend.
Bot thay quhilk had thair graith ay reddie boun,
Within schort space on force þai wane the toune,
And all the tratouris sone in handis tane—
All that consentand war, thair schaipit nane—
And maid ane informatioun or thay ȝeid
Of all that war consentand of þat deid,
Baith of his grand-dame, Queine Olimpias,
And of his faþir, all was in that place;
And quhen þe tratouris war in handis tane,
Na harme not skaith thay did to vþeris nane.
And crovnit hade the ȝoung King Philippon,
And maid the mareage of King Tholomie,
He gart men [trow] he wald in his countrie,
250
Or ony word was cumin to his place;
And furth thay past into guide array,
And ceisit neuir, naþer nicht nor day,
With euir alyik ryidand and baitand,
Quhill thay war cumine into Britane land,
And or men wist þat he thair cummand was,
Thair was a battell set befoir þe place;
And all þe countrie þai set wacche and waird,
And set thair battell, reirgaird and vangaird,
And laid þe sage clos to þe toun aboutt,
For thair the tratouris war, withouttin doubt.
And not for-thy it was ane strang citie,
Ȝit war thay red, as tratouris ay will be,
And quhen thay wist it was King Aleor,
Thane war thay mekle fearder thane befoir—
Becaus thair tressoun was sa oppin kend,
Thay hade nather hap nor grace þame to defend.
Bot thay quhilk had thair graith ay reddie boun,
Within schort space on force þai wane the toune,
And all the tratouris sone in handis tane—
All that consentand war, thair schaipit nane—
And maid ane informatioun or thay ȝeid
Of all that war consentand of þat deid,
Baith of his grand-dame, Queine Olimpias,
And of his faþir, all was in that place;
And quhen þe tratouris war in handis tane,
Na harme not skaith thay did to vþeris nane.
And sone thay festinit ȝoung Pensionas,
With all that slew Queine Olimpias,
And syne the tratouris of the kingis dead
Wer all seisit and fetterit in þat steid;
And syne past to þe citie of Massedone,
The quhilk but maisteris lang tyme left allone,
And set ane perliament in þe samyne place.
And thair was faltit King Pensionas,
And all the tratouris quhilkis war in þat steid,
That airt or pairt was of his guide-moþeris dead,
And thair keipit þe tratouris of þe croune,
To led and be iudgeit into Babilone,
And syne thay send for Cleopatras,
And syne eftir hir father, King Gowlas,
And left thame till his eme as governouris.
To governe him in wirschip and honouris.
And thair thay feastit [fiftene] dayis haill,
With halking, hunting, iusting, and revell,
And syne with haill battell thane purpoisit thay
To pas to Babilone þe neirest way,
And to set ane perliament suddantlie,
Quhar all the land was semblit halelie—
The quhilkis with bettir will semblit was
That thay hade brocht þe tratouris to that place
For to be iugeit into Babilone,
To pleis þe pepill and lordis of the toune,
For sen thair could na vþer sic remaid,
Bot onlie skaith for skaith and dead for dead,
Ȝit wald it do men great consolatioun
To sie tha tratouris tak pvnisioun
Into þe place quhair thay hade done þair deid,
And eftir tha[y] deservit to tak þair meid.
The perliament set was on thre moneth and mair,
That all men that desyirit to be thair
Sould haife laser anewuch and advyising
To cum and sie revengiance for the king,
And als the great and hard punitioun
That aw to be for cryme againis þe croune,
To gar men dreid for to commit sic thing
Againis thair lord of natur or thair king.
With all that slew Queine Olimpias,
And syne the tratouris of the kingis dead
Wer all seisit and fetterit in þat steid;
And syne past to þe citie of Massedone,
The quhilk but maisteris lang tyme left allone,
And set ane perliament in þe samyne place.
And thair was faltit King Pensionas,
And all the tratouris quhilkis war in þat steid,
That airt or pairt was of his guide-moþeris dead,
And thair keipit þe tratouris of þe croune,
To led and be iudgeit into Babilone,
251
And syne eftir hir father, King Gowlas,
And left thame till his eme as governouris.
To governe him in wirschip and honouris.
And thair thay feastit [fiftene] dayis haill,
With halking, hunting, iusting, and revell,
And syne with haill battell thane purpoisit thay
To pas to Babilone þe neirest way,
And to set ane perliament suddantlie,
Quhar all the land was semblit halelie—
The quhilkis with bettir will semblit was
That thay hade brocht þe tratouris to that place
For to be iugeit into Babilone,
To pleis þe pepill and lordis of the toune,
For sen thair could na vþer sic remaid,
Bot onlie skaith for skaith and dead for dead,
Ȝit wald it do men great consolatioun
To sie tha tratouris tak pvnisioun
Into þe place quhair thay hade done þair deid,
And eftir tha[y] deservit to tak þair meid.
The perliament set was on thre moneth and mair,
That all men that desyirit to be thair
Sould haife laser anewuch and advyising
To cum and sie revengiance for the king,
And als the great and hard punitioun
That aw to be for cryme againis þe croune,
To gar men dreid for to commit sic thing
Againis thair lord of natur or thair king.
The lordis semblit into perliament,
And tuike to counsall quhat iudgment
Thair sould be done þat did this great tresoun,
Quhilkis micht not haue ouer hard punitioun.
The king was set with septour, suord in hand,
And croun[e] on head, his duspeiris followand,
And all the lordis and folk of þat cuntray
War semblit þair, þair iugement for to sie.
Thair war the tratouris brocht in audience,
To sie quhat wald thay say for þar defence,
Bot schortlie thay hade nathing for to say—
For dreid of dead þar wit was sa away.
And tuike to counsall quhat iudgment
Thair sould be done þat did this great tresoun,
Quhilkis micht not haue ouer hard punitioun.
The king was set with septour, suord in hand,
And croun[e] on head, his duspeiris followand,
And all the lordis and folk of þat cuntray
War semblit þair, þair iugement for to sie.
Thair war the tratouris brocht in audience,
To sie quhat wald thay say for þar defence,
Bot schortlie thay hade nathing for to say—
For dreid of dead þar wit was sa away.
252
Bot, as men said, the principall caus was
For the slauchter of King Pensionas,
King of Britane, quhilk raisit all þe faid,
For Alexander him slew and put to daid,
First for the slauchter of King Philippone,
His father, quhilk was King of Massedone,
And wald haue reveist als his mother deir,
And ȝit his father leifand haill and feir.
Thus Antepater was his sister sone,
In housald with him quhen the deid was done;
Bot all was tresoun the end and begyning,
For thay held all thair landis of þe king,
And all for wrangus caus it begane—
He held of him and was his leige man,
And first he wald haue tane his wyife him fra,
And syne with treasoune schuip him-self to sla;
Syne maid the ta slauchter the totheris daid,
And in this maner rissin was all the faid,
Throw quhilk four kingis daid ar and a queine—
Quhilk bettir war sic loue hade neuir beine,
For oftymeis wrangous love againis þe law
Garris monie ane guide man to þair ending draw,
Bot namlie of forceing and adultre
Garris mekle sorrow happin commounlie,
And oftymeis bringis sorrow quhair was ioy,
As befoir happinit in the tyme of Troy,
And als in mony vther auld storyis,
Quhilkis, and men wald, micht learne thame to be wyise.
For the slauchter of King Pensionas,
King of Britane, quhilk raisit all þe faid,
For Alexander him slew and put to daid,
First for the slauchter of King Philippone,
His father, quhilk was King of Massedone,
And wald haue reveist als his mother deir,
And ȝit his father leifand haill and feir.
Thus Antepater was his sister sone,
In housald with him quhen the deid was done;
Bot all was tresoun the end and begyning,
For thay held all thair landis of þe king,
And all for wrangus caus it begane—
He held of him and was his leige man,
And first he wald haue tane his wyife him fra,
And syne with treasoune schuip him-self to sla;
Syne maid the ta slauchter the totheris daid,
And in this maner rissin was all the faid,
Throw quhilk four kingis daid ar and a queine—
Quhilk bettir war sic loue hade neuir beine,
For oftymeis wrangous love againis þe law
Garris monie ane guide man to þair ending draw,
Bot namlie of forceing and adultre
Garris mekle sorrow happin commounlie,
And oftymeis bringis sorrow quhair was ioy,
As befoir happinit in the tyme of Troy,
And als in mony vther auld storyis,
Quhilkis, and men wald, micht learne thame to be wyise.
Thane ordainit thay that thir tratouris sould be
First naikit set vpone ane piller hie,
And men of armis for to keip thame vnder,
That evirie man micht cum and on thame wonder,
And syne the father to be tane of force,
And his four memberis cupplit to four hors,
The starkest men micht find of all þe laife,
Syne ilk-ane hors ane ryider on him haife,
And syne ilkane fra vther fast to dryife;
Quhen that is done, the bodie hing and draw
Throwout the toune, quhilk euirie man micht saw,
Syne be þe hals the bodie hingit sould be,
That euirie man thair fill sould on him sie;
The head syne set vpone ane stalk to pyne,
And all the bodie brint in pulder fyne,
And ane of his memberis hing in Babilone,
The thre in Igipt, Pers, and Massedone.
And for his tuo soneis thair ordand was
Alhaill within ane mekle ox of bras,
And syne ane greit [fire v]nder to mak
Quhill it war het, and syne the tratouris tak,
And on a goife naikit þame set on heicht,
Quhill all þe warld þair wonder on þame mycht,
And syne eftir to tak thame naikit doune,
And vpone traillis draw þame throw þe toune,
And syne, ane memor of thai crueel daid,
Quhen-euir that ox war glowand in a gleid,
To tak thame baith and cast thame naikit thair,
Quhill thay war brint in pulder, les and mair,
That all micht þe vengeance on þame sie,
That thay war puneischit for thair crueltie;
The fatheris bodie in the samyne wyis tane
And castin in, and brint, bayth flesche and bane;
The powder syne be tane and cloisit weill,
And in a caip of laid, bundin with steill,
And syne with cheingȝeis festinit sickerlie,
And hangit hie vp till ane pillarie,
And into great lettres wreittin into brais
That heir the prince of tratouris memor was.
All this was done eftir þe iugment,
Of quhilk the pepill was sa weill content
That thir tratouris gat sic pvnitioun;
Syne all þe warld gaue þame thair malesoun—
Quharfoir great folie is to vndertak
Againis a prince a tressoun for to mak,
For all first thay ar cursit of thair deid,
And eftir syne waryit with all leid,
And evir salbe vnto þe day of Dome,
Quhen ony man that treasoun will resume.
And heir I giue thame my hartlie malesoun,
Quha-euir consentis to do a prince treasoun,
It is not onlie skaith in ane degre,
Bot tinsell, baith in realme and commyntie.
First naikit set vpone ane piller hie,
And men of armis for to keip thame vnder,
That evirie man micht cum and on thame wonder,
And syne the father to be tane of force,
And his four memberis cupplit to four hors,
The starkest men micht find of all þe laife,
Syne ilk-ane hors ane ryider on him haife,
And syne ilkane fra vther fast to dryife;
Quhen that is done, the bodie hing and draw
Throwout the toune, quhilk euirie man micht saw,
253
That euirie man thair fill sould on him sie;
The head syne set vpone ane stalk to pyne,
And all the bodie brint in pulder fyne,
And ane of his memberis hing in Babilone,
The thre in Igipt, Pers, and Massedone.
And for his tuo soneis thair ordand was
Alhaill within ane mekle ox of bras,
And syne ane greit [fire v]nder to mak
Quhill it war het, and syne the tratouris tak,
And on a goife naikit þame set on heicht,
Quhill all þe warld þair wonder on þame mycht,
And syne eftir to tak thame naikit doune,
And vpone traillis draw þame throw þe toune,
And syne, ane memor of thai crueel daid,
Quhen-euir that ox war glowand in a gleid,
To tak thame baith and cast thame naikit thair,
Quhill thay war brint in pulder, les and mair,
That all micht þe vengeance on þame sie,
That thay war puneischit for thair crueltie;
The fatheris bodie in the samyne wyis tane
And castin in, and brint, bayth flesche and bane;
The powder syne be tane and cloisit weill,
And in a caip of laid, bundin with steill,
And syne with cheingȝeis festinit sickerlie,
And hangit hie vp till ane pillarie,
And into great lettres wreittin into brais
That heir the prince of tratouris memor was.
All this was done eftir þe iugment,
Of quhilk the pepill was sa weill content
That thir tratouris gat sic pvnitioun;
Syne all þe warld gaue þame thair malesoun—
Quharfoir great folie is to vndertak
Againis a prince a tressoun for to mak,
For all first thay ar cursit of thair deid,
And eftir syne waryit with all leid,
And evir salbe vnto þe day of Dome,
Quhen ony man that treasoun will resume.
And heir I giue thame my hartlie malesoun,
Quha-euir consentis to do a prince treasoun,
254
Bot tinsell, baith in realme and commyntie.
The king was ȝoung, and of a tender age,
And was all governit be his baronage,
The princeis and the lordis halelie,
Quhilkis of the impyir held the seingȝorie.
Thay semblit syne to mak þair ordinance,
Quha of the king sould haue the governance:
Thane Arestotill brocht furth the testament,
Quhil[k] ordainit Tholome to haue the government,
As governour and tutour of the chyild,
Quhill he war cumin to his perfyit eild.
The laife murmourand and thocht great dishonour
That he allane sould be maid governour—
Not thane thay durst not speik it oppinlie,
Bot sone amang thame rais ane great invy,
Bot thay wald not lat with that it was swa,
Bot held it clois and na langage wald ma,
Quhill eftirward in Ynd thair rais discord,
And schupe thame for to tak þe steir on hand,
Sayand thay hade great resoun to that land,
For thay war richteous airis to King Porrus,
Quhilk in battell he hade ouerthrowin thus,
Wrangouslie, and be na way of richt,
Be fortoun, force, maistre, and great micht,
Off quhilkis great God hes tane punitioun—
Thairfoir thay wald mak thame to haue þe croun.
And was all governit be his baronage,
The princeis and the lordis halelie,
Quhilkis of the impyir held the seingȝorie.
Thay semblit syne to mak þair ordinance,
Quha of the king sould haue the governance:
Thane Arestotill brocht furth the testament,
Quhil[k] ordainit Tholome to haue the government,
As governour and tutour of the chyild,
Quhill he war cumin to his perfyit eild.
The laife murmourand and thocht great dishonour
That he allane sould be maid governour—
Not thane thay durst not speik it oppinlie,
Bot sone amang thame rais ane great invy,
Bot thay wald not lat with that it was swa,
Bot held it clois and na langage wald ma,
Quhill eftirward in Ynd thair rais discord,
And schupe thame for to tak þe steir on hand,
Sayand thay hade great resoun to that land,
For thay war richteous airis to King Porrus,
Quhilk in battell he hade ouerthrowin thus,
Wrangouslie, and be na way of richt,
Be fortoun, force, maistre, and great micht,
Off quhilkis great God hes tane punitioun—
Thairfoir thay wald mak thame to haue þe croun.
To Rome alsua thay send to ask tribut—
Thay ansurit thame and said i[t] was na bute,
Sayand thay wald na trebut to thame send,
For quhy thair fortoun fast was at ane end.
Thay send also to Granaid and to Spainȝe,
In Tarta[r]y, France, and Almanȝe:
Quhen that thay hard that daid was Alexander,
And that his airis war ȝoung of age and tender,
And þat þe lordis war in discentioun,
The warld wald not be governit be ane croune,
And evirie land drew to þair awin governance,
And shuipe to leife be þair awin ordinance,
And cheisit thame kingis ilkane in thair cuntry,
Be quhome þame lyikit best to governit be—
And thus the warld rais in divisioun,
And wald not be all governit be ane croune,
Quhill eftirwart that Iulius Sesar come,
The quhilk gart monie realmeis obey to Rome.
Thay ansurit thame and said i[t] was na bute,
Sayand thay wald na trebut to thame send,
For quhy thair fortoun fast was at ane end.
Thay send also to Granaid and to Spainȝe,
In Tarta[r]y, France, and Almanȝe:
Quhen that thay hard that daid was Alexander,
And that his airis war ȝoung of age and tender,
And þat þe lordis war in discentioun,
The warld wald not be governit be ane croune,
And evirie land drew to þair awin governance,
And shuipe to leife be þair awin ordinance,
255
Be quhome þame lyikit best to governit be—
And thus the warld rais in divisioun,
And wald not be all governit be ane croune,
Quhill eftirwart that Iulius Sesar come,
The quhilk gart monie realmeis obey to Rome.
Bot þair was neuir nane þat hade sa haill
As Alexander the saige imperiall,
The quhilk was send be Hevinlie destanie,
Of wickit men a punischer to be,
For first and formest he was kyndlie wyis,
And hade his hart to vertew and iustice,
For he set neuir for vndoing of men,
Bot first into him-self the falt begane.
As Alexander the saige imperiall,
The quhilk was send be Hevinlie destanie,
Of wickit men a punischer to be,
For first and formest he was kyndlie wyis,
And hade his hart to vertew and iustice,
For he set neuir for vndoing of men,
Bot first into him-self the falt begane.
This buke is not compyillit allanerlie
For kingis and princeis and lordis þat ar mychttie,
Bot till all men that richteouslie wald life,
It sall thame g[u]id teitcheing and exampill gife,
To governe thame with vertew and iustice—
That is to say, and thay wald fane be wyis,
For trewlie, man þat desyiris na wit,
In all his lyife sall neuir cum to it,
Nor in a thrawin hart and ill-willie
Sall neuir wisdome entir, veralie;
Thus, quha that wisdome covettis for to win,
[At] God and guidwill first it mon begine.
For kingis and princeis and lordis þat ar mychttie,
Bot till all men that richteouslie wald life,
It sall thame g[u]id teitcheing and exampill gife,
To governe thame with vertew and iustice—
That is to say, and thay wald fane be wyis,
For trewlie, man þat desyiris na wit,
In all his lyife sall neuir cum to it,
Nor in a thrawin hart and ill-willie
Sall neuir wisdome entir, veralie;
Thus, quha that wisdome covettis for to win,
[At] God and guidwill first it mon begine.
Now is our buike brocht fastlie till ane end—
Lovit be þe Lord the drop of grace me send,
The quhilk I askit at þe beginyng
To grant me grace to mak ane fair ending,
Quhan I the making vndertaikin hade,
For to fulfill the hecht that I haife maid,
And at þe instance of the worthie lord,
As in the Prolog we haue maid record,
Quhair I maid promeis for to do my best
Quhill hand and pen and toung and eine micht lest—
For suithfastlie thair mycht na guide be done
Bot giue the grace cum fra the Hevin abone,
As I haue maid ane protestatioun
Befoir my awin excusatioun,
The quhilk I will agane eftir rehears,
And with my awin hand wreittis in this vers:
How I prayit all that sould the readeris be,
For thair gentrice thay sould assonȝe me
Gife ony falt be fundit in this dyit,
Or in the maner of spelling that I wreit,
Or gife my langage be not lyik the laife,
For mekle neid and skantnes that I haife
Of mother toung, quhilk garris me seik and borrow
At wyiser men, that hes maid buike affoirrow.
Lovit be þe Lord the drop of grace me send,
The quhilk I askit at þe beginyng
To grant me grace to mak ane fair ending,
Quhan I the making vndertaikin hade,
For to fulfill the hecht that I haife maid,
And at þe instance of the worthie lord,
As in the Prolog we haue maid record,
Quhair I maid promeis for to do my best
Quhill hand and pen and toung and eine micht lest—
For suithfastlie thair mycht na guide be done
Bot giue the grace cum fra the Hevin abone,
As I haue maid ane protestatioun
256
The quhilk I will agane eftir rehears,
And with my awin hand wreittis in this vers:
How I prayit all that sould the readeris be,
For thair gentrice thay sould assonȝe me
Gife ony falt be fundit in this dyit,
Or in the maner of spelling that I wreit,
Or gife my langage be not lyik the laife,
For mekle neid and skantnes that I haife
Of mother toung, quhilk garris me seik and borrow
At wyiser men, that hes maid buike affoirrow.
| The Buik of King Alexander the Conqueror | |