The Wars of Alexander :: :: University of Virginia Library

When folk ere festid & fed fayn̄ wald þai here
Sum farand þing efter fode to fayn þare her[t],
Or þai ware fourmed on fold or þaire fadirs oþer.
Sum is leue to lythe þe lesing of Sayntis,
Þat lete þer lifis be lorne for oure lordis sake;
And sum has langing of lufe lays to herken,
How ledis for þaire lemmans has langor endured.
Sum couettis & has comforth to carpe & to lestyn
Of curtaissy of knyȝthode of craftis of armys,
Of kyngis at has conquirid & ouer-comyn̄ landis.
Sum of wirschip I-wis slike as þam̄ wyse lattis,
And sum of wanton̄ werkis þa þat ere wild-hedid;
Bot if þai wald on̄ many wyse a wondire ware it els;
For as þaire wittis ere with-in so þer will folowis.
And I forwith ȝow all ettillis to schewe
Of ane Emperoure þe aȝefullest þat euer armys hauntid,
Þat was þe athill Alexsandire as þe buke tellis,
Þat aȝte euyn as his awyn̄ all the werd ouire.
For he recouerd quills he regnyd þe regions all clene,
And all rialme & þe riches in-to þe rede est.
I sall rehers, & ȝe will, renkis rekyn ȝour tongis,
A remnant of his rialte & rist quen vs likis.

Oute in þe erth of Egipt enhabet vmquile
Þe wysest wees of the werd as I in writt fynd.
For þai þe mesure & þe mett of all þe mulde couthe,
Þe sise of all þe grete see & of þe grym̄ wawys;

Of þe ordere of þat odde home þat ouer þe aire hingis
Knew þe kynd, & þe curses of þe clere sternys,
Of Articus the aghill tre airis & oþire
Of þe fold & of þe firmament wele þe fete cuthe;
And Antarticus also þat all apon̄ turnys,
Þe pasage of þe planettis þe poyntis & þe sygnes.
Þai ware þe kiddest of þat craft knawyn in̄ þaire tyme,
And þe sotellest vndere son segis in̄ þaire lyfe.
Þus ware þai breued for þe best as þe buke tellis;
All þai lerid of þat lare þat it lere wald.
As wide as þe werd was went worde of þaire teching,
Of sorsery & slike werkis sleȝtis enogh.
And þe kyng of þat contre was a clerke noble,
Þe athelest ane of þe werd & Anec was hatten.
He was wyse enoȝe wirdis to reken,
When he þe heuyn beheld of lede[s] opon̄ lyfe;
Þe iapis of all gemetri gentilli he couth,
And wele as Aristotill þe artis all seuyn.
Þer preued neuer nane his prik for passing of witt,
Plato nor Piktagaras ne Prektane him seluen.
Emang his duykis on a day as he on̄ dese syttis,
Þan̄ was him bodword vnblyth broȝt to þe sale,
Þat Artaxenses was armed with þe men of his rewme,
Þe proude king of Persy to pase him agayn̄.
Þoȝe he þa sawis herd say ȝit samyd he na princis,
Ne ost ordand he nane of na kyd knyȝtis,
Bot airis euen furth him ane & entirs his chambre,
To knaw by his clergi þe come of his faa.
He takis a Boll of bras burneschid full clene,
And full he fillis it of the flode at fell fra þe heuen.
On hiȝt in his a hand haldis a wand,
And kenely be coniurisons callis to him spritis.
In-to þis water as he waitis was he ware sone

Of his enmys in þat Element ane endles nombre;
He saȝe þam̄ in þe hiȝe see sailand to-gedire,
Was neuer sene slike a some vnder þe son bemys.
Carrygis comand he knew keruand þe ithis,
Dromonds dryfes ouer þe depe with dukis & Erles,
Gales & grete schipis full of grym wapens,
And full of breneid bernes bargis a hundreth,
Of slik a naue is noy to here or to tell.
For all þe largenes of lenth at he luke myȝt,
Slik was þe multitude of mast so mekil & so thike,
Þat all him þoȝt bot he treis a hare wod it semyd.
At þe enteris of Egipt as Anec had beden,
Ware peris of his prouynce & princes of his cytes,
Was comandid of þaire kyng to kepe þa landis,
Þat nane aproche it to paire of Persy ne othire.
Þan was a wardan̄ ware oute in þe wale stremys
Of all þe naue & þe note I neuenyd be-fore;
Laȝt liȝtly his ledis & leuys his warde,
Comes to courte to þe kyng & on̄ kneys fallis,
Anec bi his awyn name he onane gretis,
Sais, “ȝare þe now ȝapely or ȝild vp þi rewme;
Artaxenses is at hand & has ane ost reryd,
And resyn vp with all his rewme to ride vs agayn̄;
For he him-self is on̄ þe se with siche a somme armed,
Þat any hathill vnder heuen̄ ware hardy to rekyn.
For þer is comyn̄ with him knyȝt[es] of landis dyuerse,
Segis of many syde oute of sere remys,
Þe perseyns & a pupill þat parthy is callid,
Men of Mesepotayme & of Mede bathe,
Of Syre & of Sychim a selle nounbre,
Of Capidos & Caldec kene men̄ of armes,
Fell feȝtand folke þat Faire we call,
Þe Arrabiens & all þa [of] þat origyne,
Bernys out of Batary batails arayed,
Aud oþire out of þe orient many od hundrethe.”

Þen Anec onane riȝt efter þire wordis,
A lowde laȝter he loȝe & to þe lede said,
“Haue þou na care,” quod þe kyng “bot kepe to þe marche,
As I have demyd þe to do & dred þou na ferryre;
For soth it is vnsemely slike sawis of a prynce.
I kan noȝt knaw at þou carpis as a knyȝt suld,
Bot as a frek at ware ferid & feynes riȝt nowe.
Ert þou noȝt hurtles & hale? lat noȝt þi hert faile.
For vertu vailes noȝt all if þou avaied worthe,
Emang þe multitude of men̄ quare mane ere togeder,
Bot þer aboute as þai ere blend with bignes of will.
If þai be folke bot a fa oft tydis þam þe better.
Or elis wate þou noȝt wele þe witles berne,
How it is comonly carped in contries a-boute,
Þat anelepy leon̄ þat ouer þe land rynnys,
Will make to fange to þe fliȝt & flay many hertis?”
With þat þe segge all him selfe silis to his chambre,
And in þe brasen boll full [of] blak watere
He shapis him of shire wax litill schipis many,
And ȝapely ȝarkid in his hand a ȝerd of a palme.
Þen con̄ he chater & enchant with all his chefe miȝtis,
A-vysid him in þe vessell & was avaied sone,
How þe powere out of Persy pellid doune his knyȝtis,
And how his land suld be lost withouten lett mare.
When he was ware of þis wathe how it worthe suld,
Þan wendis he wiȝtly furth & his wede changis,
Clede him all as a clerke & his croune shauys,
And with a bytand blade he his bered voydis.
Þen takis to him tresour & trusses in baggis,
As many Besandis on̄ his bake as he bere miȝt,
And oþire necessari notis as nedis to his craftis,
To sike salmary dangell as him self vyses.
He toke traimmes him with to tute in þe sternes,

Astralabus algate as his arte wald,
Quadrentis coruen all of quyte siluyre full quaynte,
Mustours & mekil quat mare þen a littill.
When he was graþed with his gere a gladen he waytis,
And passis furþe at a Posterne preualy alane,
Furþe on his fete withouten fole he passis his way,
Vn-wetandly to any wee þat wont in his wanes.
Þus airis he out of Egipte & his erde leuys,
Fled for ferd of his fais fere fra his kythis,
It was na bote him to bide ne batill to ȝelde;
For all his kyngdome he knew suld be kast vnder.
Fra þe partis of Persy he past bot a littill,
And euyn so þurȝe Ethyope & þar him̄ eft clethis,
All his liche in lyn claþe for ledis suld trowe
And all þe puple persayue a prophete he were.
Þen̄ metis he furthe to Messadon̄ full vn̄-mete gatis,
And quen he come to þat kith as þe chance tellis,
Oft with his instrumentis out he openly deuynes,
And noþer hild he it ne hid bot here qua sa likid.
Bot þan was methe for to mele þurȝe men of his burȝ,
Þat he by-hind him at hame withoute hede leuyd.
Slik care kindils in his curte quen þai þer kyng myssid,
Þat it ware tere any tonge of þar tene to reken;
Princes of his palas preses in-to chambre,
To laite þar lord at was lost with latis vn-blythe;
Kairis in-to closettis knyȝtis & Erlis,
Sekand þar souerayn̄ with many salt terys;
Barons & bachelers balefully gretis,
Swiers swemyle swouned ladys,
And many was þe bald berne at banned þar quile,
Þat euer he dured þat day vndede opon erthe.
Bot quen þai wist he was went & wald noȝt be foun,
Couth þai na bote þam̄ ebland how best for to wirke,
Bot silis to ser Sirraphis at sittis in his trone,

Þat was þar god alþire-graythist on̄ þe ground samen.
Him þai supplyed & soȝt & him ensence castis,
Honourd him with offyrings & elkend him fayre,
Þat he suld say þam̄ þe sothe & sorely þam teche
Queder þaire kyng was becomen̄ at þar care kyndils.
Þan sayd Syraphis him selfe he sayd þam þir wordis:
“Anec, ȝour athill kyng is out of his awyn land,
For Artaxenses aȝe is all him̄ ane foundid,
Þe proude kyng of Persee þat passes vs a-gaynes.
Full wele he wist, or he went quat suld worþe efter,
And all þe fourme of þe fare þat fall ȝow be-houys.
For all þe erth of Egipt fra end vn̄-to othire
Bees conquirid & ouercomyn clene alto-gedre.
Þe puple out of Perse is purvaid all samen;
Þe kyng is comand full kene with his kene ostis,
Þat sall oure renkis all rayme & oure rewme bathe,
And we be all at þare will þus is wirdis schapen.
Sen it is sett to be soo & slipe it ne may,
Ne schewid to be na noþire schap̄ ne we to schount nouthire,
Bot gefe þaim vp þe girdill vs gaynes noȝt ellis.
Bot seses, seris, of ȝour syte & soruȝes na mare;
For certayn̄,” quod Syraphis “my-selfe I it knawe,
Ȝour king sall in a noþire kithe kast out his elde,
And come a-gayn̄ eft ȝonge man ȝit to his rewme.
Þan̄ sall þat victoure ȝow venge on̄ ȝour vile fais,
And þe province of Persee purely distruye,
And gett agayn̄ his avyn̄ gronde at he forgais nowe,
And ane of þe oddist Emperours of þe werde worthe.”

When he þis talis had tald þen tuke þai be-lyfe,
And efter Anec on-ane ane ymage gert make;
Þe buke sais, of blake stane all þe bode ouyre,
With corone & with conyschantis as it a kynge were.
Quen it was perfite & piȝt a place þai it wayted,
And stallid him in a stoute stede & stiȝthed him faire.
Lordis lift him on̄ loft & lawe to him bowid,

In reuerence of þe riche kyng at had þer rewme gydid.
Quen he was semely vp set with septour in hand,
Þen ledis at ware lettird on̄ lawe at his feet
All þe sawis of þaire Syre as Siraphis tald,
Þare gan̄ þai graithly þam̄ graue in golden lettirs,
All þe wordis at he þaim werpid of þaire ware kynge.
Þare þai wrate þam I-wis as þe buke tellis,
Supposand þaim in sum tyme for sothe to be knawen,
And men to make of þam̄ mynd euer-mare efter.
Be þat þaire enmes þar erde was entird with-in,
Þe powere oute of Persee with many proude ostes;
Bot of þar batails to brefe it botis me na ferrire.
For all þai conquirid clene þis cithe at þaire will,
And Anec is all his ane ferre of his awyn̄ landis,
With-in þe merris of Messedoyn̄ þar na man̄ him knewe.
Bot will ȝe herken hende now sall ȝe here
How he kide him in þe courete & quayntid him with ladis.

Secundus passus Alexandri.

Syre, it be-tid on̄ a tyme þe text me recordis,
Þat þe mode kynge of Messedone with mekill nounbre,
Þat was sire Philip̄ þe fers farne out of toune,
For to feȝt with his fais out of fere landis.
Quen he was boune oute of burȝe & his bake turned,
As tite as Anec him amed out of his awyn kythe,
He paste vp to þe Palais & preualy entirs,
Þat he miȝt lend þare on loft & luke on þe qwene.
Sone as him selfe was in þe sale & saȝe hire with eȝe,
He beheld Olympadas þat honourable lady;
Hire bewte bitis in his brest & his bodi thrillis,
And drifes thurȝe his depe hert as he ware dartwondid.

Þe lede lawid in hire lofe as leme dose of gledis,
Put vp his hand to his hare & heldid it bot littill.
“Haile, modi qwene of Messidoyne” he maister-like said;
Þare deyned him na daynte ‘madame’ hire to call,
Be-cause he knew him a kyng he carpid on̄ þis wyse.
For if he come as A clerke with a croune schauyn,
And diȝt as a Doctour in drabland wedis,
Ȝit all þe erth of Egipt had he bene aire ouire.
Þan answars him̄ þe qwene with full myld speche,
“Haile, maister,” quod þat myld & made him to sytt
On a sege hire be-syde of silkyn clathis,
And þar hire spakid with his speche & spird of him̄ wordis.
Quen he was sete in his sete þat semely qwene
Ai of Egipt erd enquirid if he were,
Þoȝt him like of þat lede be langage & othire;
For-þi scho wetis if he wald wete hire to say.
“A! athel qwene,” quod Anec “ai be þou ioyed!
If þou a wirschipfull worde has werpid & spoken,
A riall roune þou me redis a reson̄ of blis,
Quen þou mynnys of þat marche & with þi mouth tellis.
For þare enhabetis in þat erd þat þou are sayd.
Þe wisest wees in̄ þis werd þe welken vndire.
For þai can̄ swyth of a sweuyn̄ all þe swepe tell,
Wheþire it be sele or soroȝe in a sete quile,
And þai can certifi & se by sygnes of þe heuyn̄,
Quat sall be-fall a-pon fold with-inen a fewe ȝerys.
Sum vndirstandis in a stounde þe steuen of þe briddis,
To say þe by þar sapience quat þar sange menys;
Sum can̄ þi consaile declare þofe þou it carpid neuire,
Þe poyntis of all þi preuates pertly can̄ schewe.
Sum can̄ þe brefe be-life þe birth of þine childire,
Be it hee, be [it] scho haly þare werdes.
And if I say it my-selfe slik sotellte I haue,

Sa clere a witt & sa clene my creatoure I lofe,
Þat all þe notis at I neuyn nobly I can̄,
As any prophet a-perte to proue ȝow þe sothe.”
Quen he þire sawis had sayd he in his sege lened,
In stody still as a stane & starid in hire face,
Beheld haterly þat hend þat had his hert percid,
With depe desire of delite ay on þat dere waytis.
Sone as hire selfe it sawe at he hire sa behaldis,
Þen scho talkis him to & titely him fraynes:
“Quare-on muse ȝe sa mekill, maister?” scho sayd;
“Ȝe behald me sa hogely quare-on̄ is ȝour mynd?”
“My frely fode,” quod þe freke “noȝt bot þe werdes
Of my gracious goddis þe grettest on erde.
Þai haue tald me be-for þis tyme þat now I trew fynd,
How I suld lenge in a land & loke on̄ a qwene.”
Þan out of his bosom̄ he brayd a blesand table
Of Euour & of othire þingis odly fourmed,
Of bras & of brynt gold & o[f] briȝt siluer,
Þat thre serclis sere in it selfe had.
In þe first compas I ken as me þe claus tellis,
Stude þe xij vndirstandings stoutly engrauen.
In þis oþir draȝt ware deuysid a dusan of bestis,
And semely sett was in þe thrid þe son̄ & þe mone.
Sethen he clekis out of a cas vij clere sternes
To tell him takens of þe tymes & talis of our werdis;
And vij stele-grauyn stanys & stoute oþire tway,
Þat wald for hurte or for harme any hathill kepe.
Þus as he tuke furth his toylis & his trammys schewis,
“If I sall lefe on þi lare” quod þe leue qwene,
“Say me þe day & þe same ȝere & þe selfe tyme
Of þe birth of þe bald kyng þat I best lufe.”
Þan answars Anec onane sayd, “is þar oȝt ellis
At ȝe wald, hend, of me here or at ȝoure hert willis?
For any cas þat is to com to knaw if þe likis,

I sall as namely ȝow neuyn̄ as it ware nowe done.”
“Þan will I,” quod þe wale qwene “ȝe wete me to say,
Quat me & Philip sall fall vs be-twene.
For, bow he fra þe bataill bernys me tell,
Þen will he wed anoþire wife & wayfe me for euer.”
“Nay, noȝt for ay,” quod þe freke “þar haue þai fals spoken;
Neuer þe latter, or oȝt lange sall lymp̄ as þou sayd.
Bot ȝit I fynd, for all his fare fleme he sall þe toþire,
And wild ȝour self to will nyll he so will he.”
Þan was a-wondird of his wordis þe worthe lady,
Be-soȝt sekirly þis sire if he safe vouchid,
Þat scho myȝt weterly wete þe will of all þingis,
Quatkyn poynt or plyte predestend hire were.
“Athill qwene,” quod Anec “as I am enfourmed,
Ane of þe grettist of oure godis of grace & of miȝt,
I fynd, or it be fere to fleschely þe knaw,
And efter in all aduersites is amed þe to help.”
Þan sayd Olympadas “now, honourable maister,
I be-seke þe, my sire if þou me say wald,
Quatkyn fygour on fold or fourme at he beris,
Þat demyd is or destaned þis dede for to worche.”
“Þat will I wele,” quod þe wee “& noȝt a word leȝe.
Þis myȝty god at I me[ne] is of a medill age,
Noȝt of ȝouth nor of eld nor ȝerris to many,
Bot euyn so be-twene twa & to [mekyll] of nouthire.
How he is merkid & made is mervaile to neuyn,
With—tachid in his for-top̄— twa tufe hornes;
A berd as a besom̄ with thyn bred haris,
A mouthe as a mastif hunde vn-metely to shaw.
Bot, dame, if he be þus diȝt drede þe neuer þe more,
Bot ȝe be buxsom & bayne & boune to his will.
Be nyȝter-tale he sall þe neȝe þis note to begyn̄,

And ȝe be merryd neuer þe mare bot mete him in sweuyn.”
“Now certayn̄, sire,” sayd þe qwene “selly me thinke.
Bot may I se þis be sothe at ȝe me say here,
Noȝt as a prophet ne a prest I prays sall þi selfe,
Bot rehers þe as hieȝe gode & hie þe for euire.”
With þat rysis vp þe renke & his rowme lefys,
Laȝt leue at þe qwene for a litill quile,
Gase him doune be þe grecis a-gayn̄ fra þe sale,
Furthe to make his maistryse & mose in his arte.

Þus passis he fra þe place to proue his sleȝtis,
Silis furth all him selfe þe cyte with-outen,
Drafe in-to a depe dissert & drewe vp herbis,
Þe chosest for inchantement at he chese couthe.
Quen he had gedird his grese & grune þaim esundire,
For Iapis of his gemetry þe ious out he wrengis,
Erne till exorȝise & ethis euer elike,
Þat it suld worthe as he wald & on̄ na way faile.
He clatird on̄ coniurisons & calid to him deuyls,
And all þe incheson̄ of his charme with þat þe chefe qwene
Þe same nyȝt in hire slep suld se with hire eȝen
Amon̄ hire awyn god in hire armes ligge,
And dreme at he didd hire swa & quen he done hadd,
Þan suld he say to hire-selfe sadly þire wordis,
“Now has þou, woman, I-wys with-in þi twa sydis
Consayued him at in all þi care þi cors sall defend.”
Þis ilk euyn ouer-ȝede & arly on̄ þe morne,
As arly as þe riche qwene was resyn fra slep̄e,
Þan efter Anec on̄-ane scho al aboute sendis,
Takis him betwene þam̄ twa tald him hire sweuyn.
“Ȝa,” quod he, “comly qwene I couthe, & þou wald
Preualy in þi palais lat me a place haue,
Make þe to se þe same gode & þi-selfe wakand,
Face to face all his fourme & his effecte clene.

Þis grete god full of grace sall glide to þi chambre,
In a dredfull deuys a dragons fourme,
And þan þe figour of a freke he sall take eftire,
And preualy in þat part a-pere ȝowe be-forne.”
Þan answars him þe swete quene & sone him it grantis,
“Sire, chese þe a chambre quare þe chefe þinkis,
Nowþire myne awen ne na nothire god lat þe noȝt spare,
Or any place at ȝow plece my palas with-in.
For may þou hald me þis hest as þou here tellis,
And profe þus in my presens as a propire sothe,
Þen sall I cherische þe with chere as þou my child were,
Loute þe louely & loue all my lyfe days.”
“Graunt mercy,” quod þe grete clerke to þe gude lady,
Thankis hire full thraly & þen forth wendis
To loke & layte him a loge quare he lenge myȝte,
And buske him a bedsted quare him best likid.
Qwen it was metyn to þe merke þat men ware to ryst,
And folke was on þaire firste slepe & it was furth euyns,
Þan Anec on̄ ane his artis he fandis,
And changid by enchantmentis his chere all to-gedire.
Þer worthid he by his wiche-craft in-to a wild dragon̄,
And to the ladi lere he lendid in haste,
Fliȝand in his fethire-hames & ferly fast sletis,
And in a braide, or he blan he þe bed entris.
Quen he was laide be-lyfe his liknes he changis,
Worthis agayn̄ to a wee fra a worme turnys.
Þen kisses he kenely þe quene & clappis in armes,
Langis sare to þe layke & on-loft worthis.
Quen he had wroȝt all his will hire wame þen he touches,
And with a renyst reryd þis reson he said,
“Þis concepcion with kyngis sal be callid here-efter

A verra victor a-vansid with all þe vayne werde.”
Þus be-gylid he this gude wyfe & makis hire to wene
It ware na gett of na gome bot of god ane.
Qwen þe day-raw rase he rysis be-lyfe,
Lendis a-lande fra þe loft & left hire with child.
Sone as hire bele gun bolne all hire blee changis,
So was scho ferd & a-friȝt a ferly ware ellis.
To be bonden with barne mekill bale to hire neȝehis,
For it & Philip hire fere o-ferrom was sybb.
Þan Anec hire awyn clerke scho on-ane callis,
“Lo, maister, slike a myschefe!” & mayn̄ly hire pleynes.
“I dred þat I nere dee bot ȝe me deme sone
Quat me is beste of þis case if euer þe kyng turne.”
“Be noȝt a-bayste,” quod þe berne “ne a-bleyd nothire,
Þare sall na chanche þe chefe þe charge of a pese.
For Amon̄ oure athill gode sall all-way þe helpe,
And kepe þe full careles if any cas fallis.”

Quat dose now þis diuinour bot to desert wendis,
Airis on all him̄ ane out of þe cite,
Ȝede him furthe eftirsons herbis to seche,
Reft þam vp be þe rotis & radly þam̄ stampis.
Þe Iuse for his gemetry þat Iogloure takis,
A[nd] sythen a brid of þe see him seluyn him fangis,
Clatirs to hyre coynte þingis kenely enchantis,
And [with] þe wose of þe wede hire wengis anoyntis;
And all þis demerlayke he did bot be þe deuyllis craftis,
How he myȝt compas & kast þe kynge to begyle.
He wroȝt a wondirfull wile & will ȝe now here
How he be-glouird þis gome & gilid him in̄ sweuyn?
Þis ilk Philip̄ þe fyrs þat in þe fiȝt lenges,
Þe same nyȝt in his slepe he saȝe, as him thoȝt,

Amon his awen god in armes with his qwene,
And make with hire market as [he] a man were.
And quen he wroȝt had his will þen witrely him metis,
Þat he bowes to hire belechiste & bigly it sewys,
And sethen asselis it him selfe semely & faire
With a rede golde rynge on þis aray grayuyn;
A lyons heuyd was on-loft louely coruyn̄;
Þe bounde of a briȝt son & a brande kene.
And þen he went furth his way sayd, “woman, þou hauys
Þi full defendoure on̄ fold now frely consa[u]yd.”
Als radly as þe riche kyng rase on̄ þe morne,
Riȝt in þe dawyng of day a diuinour he callis,
And as him dremyd ilke a dele þat doctour he tellis,
And fraynes him fast on þis fare how it be-fall suld.
“Phylip̄,” quod þe phylysofyre “þi fere is with childe,
And with no gett of na gome bot of god selfe.
And, gudman, [on] þe gold rynge þe thre grauen thyngis,
Þai ere þus mekill to mene as me my mynd tellis.
To þe lyon̄ hede,” quod þe lede “þen licken I, on̄ firs,
Þe birth þat scho bere sall als best it be-semys,
Þat chefe sall to a chiftan̄ & slike a chefe maister,
As to be halden heuydman of all þe hale werde.
Now sall I clerily declare þe course on̄ þe sonne;
Þat sygnyfys þe same man̄ þat sett is, be wird,
So many prouynce to pas þurȝe prowis of armys,
Þat he sall hit with his hede in-to þe heghe est.
Now of þis bytand brand berne, will ȝe here;
And all is bot þis hathill man̄ as I are sayd,
Þat sall sa fele men afray with fauchon̄ in hande,
And out of nounbre to neuyn of nacions wynn̄.”
Þan foundis Philip to þe fyȝt & þe fild entres,

And sone in delingis of dyntis a dragon̄ aperis,
Þat streȝt be-for him in þe stoure strikis doune his faas,
And all his enmys in þat erd he endid in a stounde.
When Phylyp̄ with his faire folke had þe fild won̄,
Þan̄ metis he him to Messadone þar metis him þe qwene,
Kyssis comly hire king & of his come ioys,
And how he fore scho him fraynes ferly ȝerne.
“Wele, graunt mercy,” quod þe kyng “my god, I him loue;
Bot how þat ȝe ga sa grete gud dame?” he sayd.
Þou has ragid,” quod þe renge “with vnryd gestis;
Now hafe I, lede, all to lange lengid fra hame.”
Þus to bre hire o bourde he breuys þire wordis;
“To quam has þou þe tane till tell m[e] þe sothe?
Outhire mete has mendid þe full mekill as may I noȝt trowe,
Or ane has stollen in my stede sen I was stad þare.”
Þus bayst he þe briȝt qwene þat all hire ble changid,
To skyre skarlet hewe skyftis hire face,
Hire chere at was chalke-quyte as any chaffe worthis;
So was scho schamed of þe schont þat hire þe schalk made.
“Nay, quod þe comly kyng “cache vp þine hert,
Þofe þou haue forfet, na force so has fele othire.
Þou has giltid, bot noȝt gretly it greuys me þe les;
For god has geten þe þis gett a-gaynes þi will;
All þat was done þe bedene was me be dreme schewyd,
I saȝe it surely as my-selfe slepe in my tentis,
And oure god all-to-gedire is ground of þe cause;
Of me worthis þe þe wite ne of na wee ellis.”

Þen tyd it anes on̄ a tym a lytill terme efter,
Þis dere kyng on̄ a day on̄ his dese syttis,
Had parreld him a proude feste of princes & dukis,

With maisterlingis of Messadone & many oþire noble[s].
Þus as he sat in his sete softly by his qwene,
In schene schemerand schroude all of schire stanes,
He kest vp his contenance & knyȝtly he lokes,
And gladis gudly his gestis as his degre wald.
Þan̄ Anec[t]anabus on-ane in alþire-mast ioy
Did on̄ him his dragon̄-hame & drafe thurȝe þe sale,
With slike a rowste & rerid þe romance it wittnes,
Þat nere had bernes for þat bere bene broȝt out of witt.
He was sa hatter & sa hoge quen he þe hall entird,
Lete sa lathely a late & sa loude cried,
Þat all þe fest was a-ferd & oþire folke bathe.
To þe chefe chaiare of þe qwene he chese him be-lyue,
And laide as hendly as a hunde his hede in hire arme,
Seþin kyssis he hire clene mouthe enclynes hire lawe,
And braydis furth with a brym̄ bere out at þe brade ȝatis.
Þen sayd Philip̄ to his fere & all his fre gestis,
“Ȝone selfe dragon̄ forsothe I saȝe with myne eȝen̄;
Quen I was stad in þe stoure he strenthid all myne oste,
And þar þe floure in þe filde I fangid þurȝe him selfe.”
Anoþire ferly þar fell within fewe days,
Þe king was sett in his sale with septer in hand;
Þen come þar-in a litill brid in-to his arme floȝe,
And þar hurkils & hydis as scho were hand-tame;
Fast scho flekirs about his fete & fleȝtirs aboute,
And þar it nestild in a noke as it a nest were,
Qwill scho had layd in his lap̄e a litill tyne egg,
And þan scho fangis hire fliȝt & floȝe away swyth.
Þis egg, or þe kyng wyst to þe erth fallis,
Brak, & so it wele burde & brast all e-soundir;
Þan wendis þar-out a litill worm & wald it eft enter,
And or scho hit in hire hede a hard deth suffirs.

Þan̄ was ser Philip̄ of þat fare ferly mekill sturbid,
Callis to him a kid clerke declaris to him þis wonder,
Besoȝt him quat it sygnified to tell him þe treuthe.
“Þat graunt I gudly,” quod þe gome & þus-gate he spekis:
“Sire, þere sall borne be a barne of þi blithe lady,
Þat driȝtyn efter þi day has destaned to regne,
Þe quilke sall walke all þe werd & wyn̄ it him selfe,
And hent sall a full hetire deth or he may hame couer.”
Þus he vndid him ilka dele & him þe dome reched,
Said it was sett to be so he saȝe by his artis.
And if ȝow likis of þis lare to lesten any forthire,
Sone sall I tell ȝow a text how it be-tid efter.

Tercius passus Alexandri.

Now it teȝt þe tyme at trauald þat qwene,
Quen scho suld bryng furth hire birth to þe werd.
Scho bidis many hard brayde baret enduris,
What of wandreth & wa as wemen dose all.
Thik schouris hire thrat tholid mekill soroȝe,
Many peralus pull grete payne suffirs,
Sa sare werkis hire þe wame & slik vn̄-wyn dreis,
Þat all scho dredis hire dede & doute for þe werst.
Þan efter Anectanabus scho on-ane clepis,
And he was boune at hire bode & bowes to hire chambre,
Gais him vp at þe grece & gretis him̄ faire,
Fand hire sett in a sege & soroȝe ay elike.
“A! Anec!” quod þe qwene “me arȝes of my-selfe;
I am all in aunter sa akis me þe wame,
Of werke well ne I wede & slike wa tholis,
Þat me ware dere to be dede & dure þus on lyfe.”
“Ȝa, wynnes ȝow vp,” quod þe we “& walkis a littill,

For þe aire nowe & þe elementis ere evyn in þis tyme
So trauailid out of temperoure & troubild of þat sone,
Þat makis þi grippis and þi gridis a grete dele þe kenere.”
Þan faris scho vp & farkis furth a fute or tway,
And sone sesis all hire syte in a sete quyle.
“Now bow þe doune,” quod þe berne & scho his bone fillis,
And syttand so in hire sege was softly delyuerd.
Bot now is meruaill to me of þis wondire,
Quen þis man fra his modire wambe on þe mold fell;
For all þe erd euyn ouer sa egirly schakis,
Þat teldis, templis, & touris tomble on hepis.
Þe liȝt lemand late laschis fra þe heuyn̄,
Thonere thrastis ware thra thristid þe welkyn,
Cloudis clenely to-clefe clatird vn-faire,
All blakenid a-boute & boris þe son̄.
Wild wedirs vp werpe & þe wynd ryse,
And all flames þe flode as it fire were,
Nowe briȝt, nowe blaa nowe on̄ blase efter,
And þan ouer-qwelmys in a qwirre & qwatis euer e-like.
Þan slike a derknes þar drafe & demyd þe skewys,
As blesenand as bale fyre & blake as þe hell,
Þat it was neuer bot as nyȝt fra þe none tyme
Till it to mydday was meten on̄ þe morne efter.
Gife þis ware mervale to myn̄ ȝet emang othire
Þen rekils it vnruydly & raynes doune stanys,
Fell fra þe fyrmament as a hand lyftyng,
And some as hoge as þi hede fra þe heuyn fallis.
Sa ferd was Philip̄ of þat fare þat his flesche trymblid,
For sere sygnes at he saȝe as selly ware ellis.
As wyde as all þe werd was þurȝe warnyng þai hadd,

Þat houre þat Olympadas was of hire son̄ liȝter.
Than lendis him vp̄ þe leue kyng his lady to vysite,
Quod þe man to his make “I am in many thoȝtis,
Þat þis frute sall haue na fostring ne be fed nouþire;
I ges it be noȝt of my gett bot of god fourmed;
Be many cause at I ken̄ I kan noȝt supose
It be consayued of my kynde ne come of my-selfe.
I saȝe so, in þe same tyme he seuyrd fra þi wambe,
Þe erd & all þe elementis so egirly schoutid.
And queþer ȝit, for any quat a quyle latt him kepe,
And norisch him as namely as he myne awyn warre,
Ȝit will þare make of him mynde & myn it here-eftire
Hathils, swilke a haly son̄ I hade in my tyme.
Anoþer barne,” quod þe berne “I of my blode haue,
Ane of my sede, I supose & sibbire of þe twa,
Þat I wan on myne oþire wyfe þat I wedd first.
Lat him as ayre, quen I am erþed enherit my landis,
And stall we him in stede of þis to stiȝtill my rewme,
For he is borne of my blode & a-bore nerre,
And fede we þis othire, þat folke quen we ere fay worthid,
May sitt & carpe, slike a knaue þaire last kyng hade.”
Þai did all as he demed & his domes plesed,
Cherest þai þis ȝonge child & chosely him kepid;
Þai ware as besy him a-boute birdis & ladis,
As he had bene þar hiȝe god for sa þai hopid all,
Þis barne, quen he borne was as me þe boke tellis,
Miȝt wele a-prefe for his a-port to any prince oute.
Bot of þe lyfe þat he liȝt off he like was to nane,
Nouþer of fetour ne of face to fadire ne to modyre;
Þe fax on his faire hede was ferly to schawe,
Large lyons lockis þat lange ere & scharpe;
With grete glesenand eȝen grymly he lokis,
Þat ware as blyckenand briȝt as blesand sternes,

Ȝit ware þai sett vn-samen̄ of serelypy hewys;
Þe tane to brene at a blisch as blak as a cole,
As any ȝare ȝeten gold ȝalow was þe tothire.
And he wald-eȝed was as þe writt schewys,
Ȝit it tellis me þis tale þe tethe in his hede
Was as bitand breme as any bare tuskis.
His steuyn stiffe was [&] steryn þat stonayd many,
And as a lyon he lete quen̄ he loude romys.
His fell fygoure & his fourme fully be-takend
Þe prowis & þe grete pryse þat he a-preuyd eftire,
His hardynes, his hyndelaike & his hetter myȝtis,
Þe wirschip̄ þat he wan̄ quen he wex eldire.
Þan̄ sembled his syb men̄ be sent of þam̄ all,
To consaile of þis kyng son̄ how þai him call suld,
And so him neuyned was þe name of his next frendis
Alexsandire þe athill be allirs a-corde.
Þan was he lede furthe be-lyfe to lere at þe scole,
As sone as to þat sapient him-self was of elde,
On-ane vn-to Arystotill þat was his awen maister,
And one of þe coronest clerkis þat euer knew letter.
Þan was he broȝt to a benke a boke in his hand,
And faste by his enfourme was fettild his place;
For it come noȝt a kyng son̄ ȝe knaw wele to sytt
Doune in margon̄ & molle emange othire schrewis.
Sone wex he witter & wyse & wonder wele leres,
Sped him in a schort space to spell & to rede,
And seþen to gramere he gase as þe gyse wald,
And þat has he all hale in a hand-quyle.
In foure or in fyfe ȝere he ferre was in lare
Þan othire at had bene þare seuynte wynter;
Þat he suld passe him in þat plite vnpussible semed,
Bot at god will at gaa furth qua may agayn stande?
In absens of Arystotill if any of his feris
Raged with him vnridly or rofe him with harme,
Him wald he kenely on̄ þe croune knok with his tablis,

Þat al to-brest wald þe bordis & þe blode folowe.
If any scolere in þe scole his skorne at him makis,
He skapis him̄ full skathely bot if he skyp̄ better.
Þus with his feris he faȝt as I fynd wreten̄,
As wele in̄ letter & in lare as any laike ellis.
Þus skilfull lange he scolaid & þe scole vsed,
Tille he was euyn of eld elleuyn wynter.
He had na pere in na place þat proued so his tyme,
For þe principalte of all þe pake he of a-prefe wynnys.
And qwen it teȝt to þe tyme of ten ȝere of age,
Þen was him kend of þe kynde & craft of bataile,
Wele & wiȝtly in were to welden a spere,
A[nd] preke on̄ a proude stede proudly enarmed.
Þat lare was him lefe to & lerid in a qwile
Was þar na lede to him̄ like with-in a fewe ȝeris.
So cheualus a chiftan̄ he cheuys in a stonde,
Þat in anters of armes all men he passes.
Quen Philip̄ see him sa fers in his first elde,
His hert & his hardynes hiȝely he lofed,
Comendid mekill his knyȝt-hede & him callid on̄ a day
Be-twene þam selfe on̄ a tyme & talkis þire wordis:
“Alexander,” quod þe kyng “I augirly prayse
Þi wirschip, þi worthines þi wit & þi strenth.
Es nane so teche of þi tyme to tryi now o lyfe.
How suld I, lede, for þi lofe bot lufe þe in hert?
Bot I am sary for sothe my son̄, at þi fourme
Is lickenand on̄ na lym̄ ne like to my selfe;
Oft storbis me þi statour & stingis me ȝerne,
Þat þi personale proporcion̄ sa party is to myne.”
Þis herd hire þe hend quene & heterly scho dredis,
Sent efter Anec & askis him be-lyue,
Be-knew him clene all þe case how þe kyng sayd,
And frayns him fast quat þe freke of hire fare thingis.
Þen con he calke & a-conte & kest on his fyngirs,
Lokis him vp to þe lifte & þe lady swares:
“Be noȝt a-friȝt,” quod þe freke “ne a-frayd nouþir,

It sall þe noy noȝt a neg nane of his thoȝtis.”
With þat he heuys vp [his] hede & to þe heuyn lokis,
Hedis heterly on hiȝe behelde on̄ a sterne,
Of þe quilke he hopid in his hert sumquat to knawe,
Quat euire he wald wete of his will all-to-gedire.
Quod Alexander to þis athill as he his arte fandis,
“Quat is þe planet or þe poynt ȝe purpose to seme?
Quat sterne is it at ȝe stody on̄ quare stekis it in heuyn?
May ȝe oȝt me in any maner to þat sterne schewe?”
“Þat can I wele,” quod þe clerke “ellis couthe I littill;
Noȝt bot sewe me, son̄ quen þe son̄ is to reste,
Quen it [is] dreuyn to þe derke & þe day fynyst,
And þou sall sothely se þe same with þine eȝen.”
“Is oȝt þi werid to þe wissid?” quod þe wee þan;
“For þat I couet to ken if þou me kythe wald.”
“Sire, sothely of myne awen̄ son̄ slayne mon̄ I worth,
So was me destaned to dye gane many winter.”
As tyte as Anec[tanabus] þis aunter had tald,
Þen [he] treyned doune fra þe toure to tute in þe sternes.
Þan̄ airis ser Alexander eftire his fadire,
Þat euer he kyndild of his kynde kend he bot litill.
Þus led he furthe his leue child late on̄ ane euen̄,
Sylis softely him selfe þe cite with-outen̄,
Boȝes him vp to a brenke as þe buke tellis,
To þe hiȝt of þe depe dike & to þe heuyn waytis.
“Alexander, athil son̄” quod Anec his syre,
“Loo! ȝonder behald ouer þi hede & se my hatter werdis;
Þe euyll sterne of Ercules how egirly it soroȝes,
And how þe mode Marcure makis sa mekill ioy;
Loo! ȝonder þe gentill Iubiter how Iolyle he schynes,
Þe domes of my destany drawis to me swythe.

Þik & þrathly am I thret & thole mon̄ I sone
Þe slaȝter of myne awen son̄ as me was sett euer.”
Vnethis werped he þat worde þe writt me recordis,
Þat ne Alexander as sone was at him be-hind,
And on̄ þe bake with slike a bire he bare with his handis,
Þat doune he drafe to þe depest of þe dike bothom̄,
Sayd, “lo! vnhappeiste vndire heuyn þat þus on̄ hand takis
As be þe welken to wete quat suld come efter!
Þou has feyned þe for wyse & fals all-to-gedire,
Wele semys slike a sacchell to syeȝe þus of lyfe!”
Þan Anec, as him aȝt wele augirly granys,
Dryues vp a dede voyce & dymly he spekis,
“Wele was þis cas to me knawen & kyd many wynter,
Þat I suld dee slike a dethe be dome of my werdis.
Sayd I þe noȝt so my selfe here be-fore,
I suld be slayn̄ of my son as now sothe worthis?”

[_]

Asterisks have been used to indicate additional lines interpolated from the Dublin manuscript.

“What, and am I,” quod alexander “ane of þi childer?”
“Ȝha, son̄! als glad I my god I gat þe my seluen̄.”
Fro he had hym þis worde sayd he wakens no more,
Bot gaue a gremly grane & þe gast ȝheldez.
That oþer wy for hys werkez wepys eueryllyke,
So hard & so hertly þat neȝ hys hert brestes.
Þus plenys þis prouud knyght þe pyte of hys fader,
Cares hym downe into þe cafe þar as þe cors ligges,
Belife lyftes he on-lofte euen on hys shulders,
And beres hym forth vppon hys bake at þe brade ȝates.
Sone sayd þe whene, when sho hym see with syland teres;
“What haue ȝe done, my dere sonn̄?” & drowpys doun̄ in swone.
“Dame, now is þar none other to do bot deme it þi seluen̄,
For as þi foly was before so foloweth aftir.”

Than makes þis man̄ & hys moder menskfully & faire
Titely hys enterment as þai þat tyme vsed.
Þus shamesly of hys awne childe hym chevyd such end.
And her fynes a fytt & fayr when vs likez.

Quartus passus.

The same & þe selue tyme as says me þe text,
Fro þe cuntre of capadose come a kyd prince
To kyng philipp̄ þe fers & hym a fole bryngez;
A grett horse & a hoge a hegh & a wilde,
A store & a styf stede stalwortly bondyn̄;
His choll chaltird & chauelez in chynez of yren̄;
In rapes fast for ryfyng of bernes;
For other mete þan manysflesche mouthed he neuer.
Busifolen to þis blonk was breued þe name.
He hed so ferdfull a face as ony fyre lokez;
Bere als a boles heued a bryn on hys shulderr,
And toton owt of hys top̄ als tyndis of hornes.
The fayrnes of þis ilke fole when philip̄ avysed,
Þan says he to hys seruand to see to þis capyll,
And stighillys hym in som̄ stede a stable by hym one,
With lang lates of yren̄ þat he might lig in.
And all at wer dampned to þe deth & demyd at þe lawe,
Þai sall be broȝt fra þe bare þis blonk into stable,
To wery at hys awne wille & weyle of þe fattest.
Ȝit philip̄ of hys faire goddes hym fanges such a sware,
Yff ony berne wer so bald baron̄ or other,
Or wy þat myght þis wilde best worth for to ryde,
Was dewly aftir hys day destinate to regne.
When alexander was of elde awght ȝeres & foure,
Þan was he worthy & wight & wisely hed leryd
At arestotell all ouer þe artez all seuen̄,
And castor, ane oþer clerke þar at wer hys kyd maisteres.
So carez he in þe castell-ȝarde & commes on a day
By a wyndow als þis wild horse [was] warloked in bandez;

Lokes in at a lat sagh ly hym byforne
So mony menbres of men wer mervayle to tell.
Þar liggez lymmes of laddes leggez & harmes,
Tharmes thrist owt of thees banes & shuldres.
Som hanchyd of þe heued som þe handez etyn̄,
Som̄ þar riggez owt rytte & som þar ribbez rent.
Of þis wonder he hed & so he wele burd.
And hardly hys awne hand in at a hole puttes,
He layd owt a lang neke & hys hand likkys;
Faire faldes hys fete / & falles hym to þe erth,
Hendly haldes vp hys heued byheld in hys face,
On Alexander ay-whare euer elike wates.
Þen wist þe wy wele enogh hys wyll all-to-geder;
Brades vppe þe brade ȝate & þe barre entres,
On þe rige with hys right hande hym rodely strakez,
And he full frely & faire hym faunys & loutez.
Was neuer barslett in band more buxum to hys lord.
Þen was þis blonke to þis bern̄ for all his breme teches.
Þus lowtes þis lede on low & lowsys hys chynez,
Blyssis blythly hym abouute & a bridyll fyndez;
Grathez on þis gay gere & þen a gilt sadyll;
Ledes hym forth of þat loge & þen of-lofte lepys.
Than strenys he hys streropes & streȝt vp sittes;
Lad hym by þe loran̄ & hym þe lede wissez.
And he als rekyndly ran rolland hym vnder,
As he þe sadyll hed sewyd seuenten wynter.
Sone as philip̄ þe ferse hym on þis fole metes,
“Son̄,” he sayd, “now er þe sawes into þi seluen fyneshit,
Right as my graceux gode hase galet me before.
For þou must rewle all my realm̄ qwen I am raght hyne.”
Quod alexander als beliue “my awne athell fader,
I beseke þe my soueren þat þou my sete dresse
In a chosyn chariott as a chefe maister,
With folawand me a fair flete of fele men of armes.”

“Þat graunt I gladly,” quod þe gome with a gode wille,
“Frist of my faire foles fang þe a hundreth;
And syne sexty thowsand, my son̄ þou þi seluen wale
Of shillynges & of shire gold to shote in þi Cofyre;
Syne of my chefe chiftanes chese þe þe best,
Þe most proved of my princez in poyntez of were;
Wyes ne no wale wede want shall þe noþer,
And held on with a hale here þar hersound þou worth.”
Thys barne hym buskes as he bede & bade he no langre,
Bot grathes hym to þe gate with a gyn̄ noble.
Forth with eufestyus he ferd a freke þat he loued,
Þat was a fyne Philo[so]f[e]r a frend of hys awne.
Ȝitte takez he hym with-owte þe town̄ twelf tried childer,
Þat he hed Cosyn hym for chefe hys chevalry to lede;
And fair enformed þam of fight & fetez of armez
For ȝapest in hys awne yoke ȝarly to drawe;
Fers felons with hym fangez & florens enowe,
Full preciouse apparement hys person to cleth,
Comand kenely hys knyghtez to kepe to hys blonkez,
Þat no vnchaunce þaim achefe þat in þe chare ȝodez.
He prekys forth on hys play bot with a preuay menȝe,
Chaterand with hys chiftanes in hys child gere.
To poliponenses hase he passed a prouince vnk[n]awyn̄,
And so was strykyn or he styntyd in-to þe strange realm̄.
The kyng of þatt cuntree þat þe kyth weldyd,
Which was callyd nicholas & hym naytly metes,
Had rasyd vp a rode hoste & heldyd hym ayaynez
With bald baratours on bent hym batell to ȝelde.
He flonge ow[t] on a fers fole far from hys hoste,
Ayres to sir alexander & angrely franes:
“What is þi name, notesman̄ neuen me þe sothe;
And whyne ert þou & who & what makys þou here?”
Þe knyght, as he wele couth hym curtasly answers:
“Sir, kyng philip̄ þe ferse my fader was

And all þe marche of massydon̄ he manours clene;
And I hys heyre alexander als elders me callen̄.”
Þat oþer renishit r[e]nke hym rightes in þe sadyll,
Stranes owt hys sterops & sternly lokez;
With a sembland as a hye sir settes owt þe brest,
Sayd: “who am I þat am here as þou supposez?”
“Sir, þou art a kyng of þis kyth I ken wele my-seluen̄,
Bott neuer þe latter in þis lede if þou be lord here, haten̄,

Þof I þis wirschip̄ þe wayfe as wald þine astate,
Lat þou þi hert neuer þe hiȝere hale in-to pride.
For it was wont,” quod þe wee “as wyse men tellis,
Full hiȝe þingis ouer-heldis to held oþer-quile.
Slike as ere now broȝt a-bofe nowe þe bothum askis,
And slike at left ere on lawe ere lift to þe sternes.”
“Sa ma aydeus,” quod þat oþire man “þou tellis me treuthe,
Son̄ þis ensample of þi-selfe þou sais me, I trowe.
Vn-behalde þe wele on̄ ilk halfe & haue a gud eȝe,
Les on þine ane here-efterward þine ossyngis liȝt.”
Þan Alexander all in ire angrile spekis:
“Hy þe hethen-ward, þou hathill & houe þou na langire.
For na-þing as a-nente me þou has noȝt to mell,
Ne with þi domes me to dele dole vndire sonne.”
Now is ser Nicollas anoyed & nettild with ire,
As wrath as [a] waspe & wode of his mynde,
Reviles he þis oþire renke with vnrid speche:
“Behald,” quod he hedirward “& herken how I say;
Now be þe hert & þe hele of my hathill fadire,
And be þe god,” quod þe gome “þat gafe me þe saule,
A[ls] sprent [of] my spittyng a specke on̄ þi chere,
Þou sall be diȝt to þe deth & drepid of my handis.”

Quen he had spokin so, for spyte he spittis in his face,
Dispises him despetously dispersons him foule.
“Hent þe þare,” quod þe hatill “as þe to haue semes,
Cure, for þi kene carp̄e chache nowe a schame!”
Þan went him furthe Alexander & his ande takis,
Lete a-swage or he sware þe swelme of his angirs,
Be-seȝis him how he say wold or he his saȝe ȝeld,
And turnes him þen to þe tulke & talkis þire wordis:
“For þou has noȝtid me now Nicollas,” he sayd,
I swere þe, be my syre saule & by his selfe pite,
And be þe worthe wombe of my wale modre
Þat I was geten in of gode & graithely consayued,
Þou seis me, lede, or oȝt lange in þi lande armed,
And oþire recouyre me þi rewme or reche vp̄ þe girdill.”
Þan set þai þam slike a day to semble & to fiȝt,
And þar-to tuke vp þaire trouthis & twyned esondre.
Þen̄ ȝode him furthe þi[s] ȝong man̄ ȝapeli & swythe
In-to þe marche of Messedone & manly a-semblis
Of saudiours & sekir men a soume out of nounbre,
Þat was þe baldest & þe best breueyd in armes.
He parrails him a proude ost of princes & oþire,
Farkis to ser Philip & fangis his leue,
And þan̄ Bocifilas his blonke he bremely ascendis,
And bounes on̄ with his bataill out at þe brade ȝatis.
Þe same day at was sett þe sembling of bathe,
Aithire with a firs flote in þe fild metis.
Þe nounbre of ser Nicollas it noyes me to reken,
And Alexander was ane oste of augird many.
With þat þai tuke vp þaire trompes a-pon̄ þe twa sidis,
Braidis banars a-brade buskis to mete.
So kinlid þe clarons þat all þe cliffe rynges,

Þe holtis & þe haire heere & þe hillis scheuyn.
Ilk a hathill to hors hiȝis him be-lyue,
Stridis into stele-bowe stertis apon loft,
Has a helme on̄ his hede & honge on̄ his swyre
A schene schondirhand schild & a schaft hentis.
Quat of stamping of stedis & stering of bernes,
All dymed þe dale & þe dust ryses.
With slik a bront & a brusche þe bataill a-sembild,
As þe erth & all þe el[e]mentis at anes had wrestild.
Now aithire stoure on̄ þar stedis strikis to-gedire,
Spurnes out spakly with speris in hand,
Brekis in-to blasons bordren shildis,
Beris in-to briȝt stele bitand lances,
Sone in scheuerand schidis schaftis ere brosten,
Al to-spryngis in sprotis speris of syris,
Dryfuys doune duchepers & doykis of þar horses,
Fellis fay to þe fold many fresch knyȝtis.
Quat dose now þis Nichollas bot nymes him a spere,
Kest him on þis ȝong knyȝt to couire him a name;
And Alexander with anothire airis him agayne,
Girdis grymly to-gedire greuosly metis.
Sa sare was þe semble þire seggis be-twene,
Þat al to-wraiste þai þar wode & werpis in-sondire,
Al to-clatirs in̄-to cauels clene to þaire handis,
Þar left nouþire in þar hand þe lengthe of an ellyn̄.
Þen littid þai na langer bot laschid out swerdis,
Aithire a blesynand brand brait out of schethe,
Hewis on̄ hattirly had thurgh mailes,
Many starand stanes strikis of þaire helmes.
Þen Alexander in ane ire his arme vp-liftis,
Swythe swyngis out his swerde & his swayfe feches.
Þe noll of Nicollas þe kyng he fra þe nebb partis,
Þat doun he fell fra his fole & fynyst for euir.
Þus was him destand þat day as driȝten had shapid,

To hent him þe hiȝere hande of his athill fais.
Þare slike wirschip he wan̄ ware wonder to tell;
Had of þat hiȝe kyng þe hede fra þe shuldirs.
Þen was him geuyn vp þe ȝerde & ȝolden þe rewme,
And all at left was o lyfe lordis & othire,
Come to þat conquerour & on̄ knese fallis,
And in his mercy & meth mekely þaim put.
Þis renke & his rounsy þai reche vp a croune,
As gome at has þe garland & all þe gre wonn̄.
Þus with þe floure in þe fild he fangid his enmy,
And haldis on̄ with hale here hame to his fadire.
Þan̄ fyndis he Philip on̄ his flett with a fest huge
Had wed him anoþer wyfe & wayfid his quene;
Ane Cleopatras caled a grete kyngis doȝter,
And [laft] had Olympadas & openly for-saken̄.
“Fadire,” quod þis fell knyȝt quen he þis fest entirs,
“Þe palme here of my first price I pray þe resayfe,
Forthe to þe weding or I winde of my wale modire,
And kaire me to a-noþire kyng to couple hire to wyfe.
For þe to felsen ne to foloȝe fallis me na mare,
Ne here to duell with þi douce deynes me na langer,
Now þou mas þe slike a mangery & macchis changis,
And I to consaile vn-callid I can̄ noȝt þar-on.”
With þat þar carpis to þe kyng a knyȝt at þe table,
Ane lesias, a lede & on̄ loude speches:
“Cleopatras a knafe child con̄sayue sall & bere,
Þat demed is eftir þi deth duly to regne.”
Þan̄ Alexander at þis knyȝt angirs vnfaire,
Wynnes him̄ vp̄ a wardrere he walt in̄ his handis,
So hard him hittis on̄ þe hede his hernes out weltid,
And sa he lost has þe lyfe for his leþer wordis.
Þan was þe wale kyng wrath as wonder ware ellis,
Braydis him vp fra þe borde & a brand clekis,

Airid toward Alexander & ames him to strike.
Bot þan him failis þe feete or he first wenys,
He stakirs, he stumbils & stande he ne miȝt,
Bot ay fundirs & fallis as he ferde ware.
Þe faster forward him he faris þe faster he snapirs;
Quat was þe cause of þe case þat knawis oure lorde.
“Quat now,” quod athill Alexander “quat ailis þe to fall?
Has þou na force in þi fete ne fele of þi-selfe?
For a freke to be ferd or a-fraid outhire,
And þou þe gouernere of grece þat ware grete wondire!”
Þen tittis he doune in þat tene þe tablis ilkane,
Out of þe hall be [þe] hare halis he þe bride,
And so þe wee in his wreth wrekis his modire,
And Philip falne [was] sare seke & all þe fest strubled.
As sone as Alexander of angire he slakis,
He lendis o-loft to þe lede a litill days eftir,
Cairis vp with comfurth þe kyng for to vysite,
He comes to þe curten & carpis þis wordis:
“Philip,” quod þis ilke freke & forwith him̄ standis,
“Þof it vn-semely me sytt þe so for to call,
Noȝt as þi suget & þi son̄ my sawe I þe ȝeld,
Bot as a felaw or a frynde fallis to a-nothire.
Sire, latt þi wreth a-wai wende & with þi wyfe saȝtill,
And þe los of Lesias litill þou charge.
I did bot my deuire to drepe him, me thinke;
For it awe him noȝt sa openly slike ossing to make.
And ser, vnworthely þou wroȝt & þat þou wele knawis,
Quen þou was boune with a brand my bodi to schende.”
Þen rewis þe riche kyng of vnride werkis,
Blischis vp to þe berne & braste out at grete.
Þen airis him on̄ Alexander to his awen̄ modire;

“Bees not a-glopened, madame ne greued at my fadire;
If all ȝe synned him be-syde as ȝour selfe knawis,
Þar-of na we may þe wite it was godis will.”
With þat he fanges hire furthe to Philip hire ledis,
And he comly hire kist & cordis with hire faire,
Anes with Olympadas & þe tothire woydis,
And lofes hire lely to his lyfes ende.

Quintus passus Alexandri.

Sone eftir in a seson as þe buke sais,
Come driuand fra Darius þe deyne Empereure,
Heraudis on heȝe hors hendly a-rayed,
To ser Philip þe fers to feche þar trouage.
Litill kyngis þar come as þe clause tellis,
Liȝt doune at þe loge & þar blonkis leues,
Caires in-to þe curte to craue him þar dettis,
Touchis titly þar tale & tribute him askis.
“Ȝa, caires hame,” quod Alexander “a-gayn̄ to ȝour kithes,
And sais ȝour maister, he make na ma sandis;
For sen Philip had a fresche son̄ þat fast now encressis,
Þat bees noȝt suffird, I supose nane slike him to ȝeld.
For sais ȝour lord, þe lefe hen̄ þat laide hir first egg,
Hire bodi nowe with barante is barely consumed,
And is Darius so of his dett duly depryued;
And be þis titill, him tellis na tribute him fallis.”
Þen merualid þam̄ þe messangirs mekill of his speche,
His witt & his wisdome wonderly praysed.
Faire at ser Ph[ilip] þe fers fang þai þar leue,
And syne clene of all þe curte & cairis to þar landis.
To þe palais of þe proude kyng to persie þai went,
Dose þam in to Darius þar he on̄ dese syttis,
And telles him how his trouage is tynt al-to-gedire,

As Alexander awyn̄ mouth had þam̄ all enfourmed.

Þen messangirs to Messedoyne come in þe mene qwile
To Ph[ilip] þe fell kyng & freschly him tald,
Þat all þe erthe of Ermony Erles & princes,
Þat suld be suget to him-selfe wald seke him with armes.
And Alexander belyfe as athil man̄ suld,
Vndirfangid to feȝt for Ph[ilip] to wende,
Gedirs him a grete ost graithes him in plates,
And aires toward Ermony þat erd to distroy.
Þan was a man in Messadone in þe marche duellid,
A proued prince & a proude Pausanna was hatten̄,
A big berne & a bald in brenys to ryde,
Þe son̄ of ane Cerastis as þe buke witnes.
Þis freke all his franche of Ph[ilip] he haldis,
And was a suget to him-selfe & serues him aȝt;
Bot þan̄ he depely many day disired to haue þe quene,
And lyes vmlapped with hire lufe many lange wynter.
And by þat cause to þe kyng he kest slik a hate,
Þat he desiris his deth & diȝtis [him] þare-fore.
All þe folke of his affinite he freschly a-semblis,
And sekis furth with a hoge some a-saile him to ȝeld.
Quen̄ Ph[ilip] heris of þat fare gret ferly him̄ thinke[s],
Ferkis furth with a fewe folk him in þe fild metis,
Seis þe multitude sa mekill of men at he bringes,
Braidis on̄ his blonke toward þe burȝe & þaim þe bak shewis.
Þen schrikis schilli all þe schalkis & schoutis him at anes,
And Pausanna þe prince a-pon a proude stede
Sprengis out with a spere & spedis him eftir,
And þurgh þe bac in-to þe brest him beris to þe erd;

He heldes doun̄ in þe hey way & halfe deyde liggez,
All ware he wondirly wondid he wendis noȝt be-lyfe.
His men & all þe Messadones full mavnly ware stourbed,
Quat of doloure & dyn quen þai him dede hopid.
Pausanna þan for þe prowis slike a pride hentis,
Vnethes wist he for welth wirke quat he miȝt.
He prekis in-to þe palais to pull out þe quene,
Wenys to wild hire at will & away lede.
Þan comes Alexander in þat cas þe cronaclis tellis,
With a riall ost of many able princes,
Airand out of Ermony & had all þe erth won̄;
Sees slike a rottillyng in þe rewme & ridis al þe faster.
Þan̄ past vp þe proud quene in-to preue chambre,
Wayues out at wyndou & waytis a-boute,
Saȝe be þe sygnes & be sike as with hire son̄ comys,
And be þe alyens armes at he was all maister.
With þat scho haldis out hire hede & heȝe to him callis,
“Quare is þi werdes, my wale son̄ þou wan̄ of þi godis,
Þou suld be victour & venge & vencust neuire?
If þou haue any hert here help now þi modire.”
Sone as pausanna þe prince with-in þe palais heris
Þe comyng of þe kene knyȝt he caires him agaynes,
Presis out of þe palais with a pake armed,
And metes him in þe myd-fild with a mekill nounbre.
And Alexander be-lyue quen he on̄ him waites,
He swyngis out with a swerd & swappis him to dethe;
And þe renkis, all the route reches vp þaire wapen
Vn-to þis kid conquirour & cried eftir socure.
Þan̄ was þar ane in þe ost on̄ Alexander callis,
Sayd, “Ph[ilip] þi fadire is in þe fild drepid.”
And he halis furth on hede & halfe-dede him fyndis,
Brusches doune by þe berne & bitterly wepis.

“A! Alexander!” quod þe kyng “now am I at ane ende;”
A litill liftis vp his liddis & lokis in his face;
“Bot ȝit it gladis me,” quod þe gome “to ga þus to deth,
To se my slaare in my siȝt be sa sone ȝolden,
A! wele be þe, my wale son̄” & waged with his hede;
“Þou has baldly on̄ my bane & bremely me vengid.”
With þat he bloþirs in þe brest & þe breth stoppis,
And in a spedfull space so þe sprete ȝeldis.
And Alexander ay on̄-ane augirly he wepis,
And gretis for him as greuously as he him geten hade.
With barons & bachelers him broȝt to þe cite,
And erdis him in his awen erd as Emperoure fallis.
The day efter his deth drerely him wendis
Alexander his aire & syttis in his trone,
A clene croune on̄ his hede clustird with gemmes,
To se how him seme wald þe sete of his fadire.
He seis doune in þe sete with septer in hande,
Makis a crie þat all þe curte kniȝtis & erles
Suld put þaim in-to presens his precep to here.
And all comyn̄ at a kall & on̄ kneis heldis;
Þan blisches he to his baronage & breues þir wordis:
“Lo! maistirs of Messedone sa miȝty men̄ & noble,
Ȝe Traces & of Tessaloyne & ȝe þe trewe Grekis,
How likis ȝow nowe ȝour lege lord? lokis on̄ my fourme,
And letis all ferdschip at flee & fange vp ȝour hertis,
And aires for nane alyens quils Alexander lastis.
For with þe graunt of my god I gesse, or I dye,
Þat all the Barbare blode sall bowe to my-selfe.
Þare is na region̄ ne rewme ne renke vnder heuen,
Ne nouthire-quare na nacion̄ bot it sall my name loute.
For we of grece sall haue þe gree with grace ay to wild,
And anely be ouer þe werd honourd & praysed.

And quilk of all myne athill men̄ þat any armes wantis,
Lat pas in-to my palais & plates him delyuire,
And he at of his awen̄ has harnas him swythe,
And make him boune ilka berne to bataill to ride.”
Þan̄ answard him with [a] voice all his proud princes,
And Erles in his Empire þat ware in eld striken̄,
Hathils of hiȝe age Auncient kniȝtis,
Barons & bachelers & bryssid ware in Armes:
“Sire, we hafe farne to þe fiȝt & bene in fild preued
With ser Ph[ilip] ȝour fadire mony fele wynter,
And now vs failis all oure force & oure flesch waykis;
For be þe floure neuer sa fresche it fadis at þe last.
Sire, all þe ȝeris of oure ȝouthe es ȝare syne passid,
And we for-trauailid & terid þat now oure topp haris,
Al to heuy to be hildid in any here wedis,
Or any angwische of armes any mare suffire.
For-þi, lord, with ȝoure leue we lawe ȝow be-sechis
We may noȝt stand now in stede oure strenth is [to] febill.
Wale ȝow oþer werriouris þat wiȝt ere & ȝonger,
Slike as ere stife in a stoure strakis to thole.”
“Nay, be my croune,” quod þe king “my couatyng is elder
Þe sadnes of slike men̄ þan swyftnes of childir;
For barnes in þar bignes it baldis þam̄ mekill,
Oft with vnprouednes in presse to pas out of lyfe;
For-thi ouer-siȝt of alde men I anely me chese;
Be connynge & be consaile þai kyth ai þar werkis.”
Þe sleȝt of hys sapience þai selcuthely prayse,
And clene a-cordis to his carpe kniȝtis & othire.

Þen dose him furthe þis dere kyng a litill dais eftir,
Alexander with ane ost of many athill dukis,

Samed a vnsene somme to saile he begynnes
Ouer in-to ytaile þa yles to distruye.
In-to þe coste of Calodone he comes him ouer first,
And þar a cite he asailes & in sege lengis.
Bot wees wiȝtly with-in þe wallis ascendid,
Freschly fendid of & fersly with-stude.
“Ȝe Calodoyns,” quod þe kyng he callis fra withoute,
“Outhire macches ȝow mayn̄ly þerto or namely dies,
And fiȝtis fast with ȝour fais to ȝe fey worthe,
Or ȝefes ȝarely vp þe ȝerde & ȝeld me þe cite.”
So chaunses it þis chiftan or he a-cheued þine,
Þat fele he brenes of þa bernes & þe burȝe wynnes,
And caires so out of Calodone quen he it couerid had,
Ouer þe ythes in-to Italee & þat Ile entirs.
Þen̄ ware þai [redles of] rede all redd of his come,
Prays him all of þe pees & presandis him faire,
Sexti thousand þai him send of sekire besandis,
Of clere gold of þaire kist & coruns a hundrethe.
Þare tuke he tribute þat tyme þe titill recordis,
Out euyn in-to þe occident of all at þare duellid,
Of qwilke þe erde & þe erthe Europe was callid,
And ames þan̄ to Affrike & all at esse leues.
Þan raȝt he fra þa regions & remowed his ost,
Cachis in-to anoþire kythe & crossis ouer þe stremes,
Aires in-to Affrike with many athill prince[s],
Anoþer wing of þe werd & wynnes it be-lyfe,
Þat syde sodanly & sone þat ser he a-cheues.
For þar he fande bot fewe þat felly withstude,
Na ridars in þa regions ne rebell bot littill;
He laches it þe liȝtlyere as was þe les wonder.
Þan kaires he fra þo contres & kerue[s] ouer þe stremes,
Furthe to Frantites he ferd slike a ferre Ile,

Seches þar to a synagoge him-selfe & his princes,
Amon þar awen god at þai honoure myȝt.
And so to þe temple as he tiȝt with his tid Erles,
Þan̄ metis him myddis þe way was meruale to sene,
A hert with a huge hede þe hareest on̄ erthe,
Was to be-hald as a harow for-helid ouer þe tyndis;
And þan̄ comande him þe kyng kenely to schote,
Bot þar was na man̄ so nemyll þat him hit couthe.
“A! hilla, haile,” quod Alexander & him a narawe hent,
Droȝe, & at þe first draȝte him dreped for euire.
Fra þethen to þis ilk day þan is þat ilke place,
Þe stede þar þis stith man̄ strikis þis hert,
Sagittarius forsoth men̄ gafe it to name,
And will do for þat ilke werk ay qwen þe werd turnes.
Þen aires him on̄ ser Alexander till Amon̄ temple,
Offirs to his awen gode & honours him faire,
Geuys him garsons of gold & of gud stanes,
And hald hestes him to hete him hettirly besekis.
Þan passes he þethen with his princes to sich a place wendis,
Capho Resey we rede þe romaunce it callis;
And þar-in fyndis him þe freke fyftene Burghes,
And glidand to þe grete see xij grym̄ waters.
Of ilka bild, sais þe buke barred was þe ȝatis,
Stoken stifly with-out with staplis & cheynes.
Þare lengis him lefe þe kynge & logis all a neuen,
And sacrifyce þar efsones to many sere godis.
Þe same niȝt in his slepe Seraphis aperis,
Anothire of his grete godis in a grym fourme,
Cled in a comly clathe of castans hewes,
And silis euyn̄ to him-selfe & said him þir wordis:
“Alexander, athill kyng” & asperly spekis,
Toward a miȝti montayne him myntis with his fynger,

“May þou oȝt, lede, þe ȝonder lawe lyft on̄ þi schulder,
And stire it oute of þe stede & stable in a-nothire?”
“Nay, qua miȝt þat,” quod þe man̄ “for mede vndire heuen?”
“Sire, as ȝone ȝondire hiȝe hill sall ay hald his place,
So sall þi name fra now furth be mynned in mynde,
And ay to þe day of dome þi dedis be remenbrid.”
Þan Alexander belyue him askis a demaunde,
“I be-seche þe now, Syraphas if þou me say wald
Þe prophecy, or þou pas of all my playn̄ werdis,
How me is destayned to dye & quen my day fallis?”
“Sire, certayne,” quod Seraphis “as to my-selfe thinkis,
For any hathill vnder heuen I hald for þe better,
Withouten wa noȝt at wete þe wathe of his ende
Þen̄ know þe cas or it come & ay in care lenge.
Bot neuer-þe-les I sall þe neuen̄ sen̄ þou me now prays,
Þou sall be drechid of a drinke a draȝte of vnsele,
And all þi ȝeris ere ȝeten ȝare & þi ȝouthe fenyst,
Lange or þou haue meten̄ þe merke of þi mydill age.
Bot quen ne in quat time sal qwaite þe þis aunter,
Enquire me noȝt þat question̄ for I queth þe it neuer.
For outhire out of þe orient sall openly here-efter
Vndo þe dreȝt of þi days & þi ded tell.”
Þan̄ waynest him þis vayne god & voidis fra þe chambre.
Þe modi kyng on þe morne all monand he ryses;
Þe mast parti of his princes & of his proud ost
Hastis þam̄ in-to Ascoiloym & þar þai him bydis.
Þan callis he to him̄ carpentaris & comandis þaim swyþe

In mynde & in memory of him to make a cite,
And neuens it his awen̄ name þat neuer syne changid,
Bot Alexsander ay furth efter him-seluen̄.

Sextus passus Alexandri.

Now airis he furthe with his ost to Egist he thinkes;
And clene all þe contre quen þai his come herd,
As he had bene a hiȝe gode þai ȝode him a-gayn̄,
Resaued him with reuerence & to þar rewme lede.
Þere entirs him þat Emperoure & in þat erd findis
Of Anec his awen sire ane ymage of sable,
A berne was of blake stane all þe body hewen̄
With conyschance of a kynge with coron̄ & septere.
Þan askis of þam̄ Alexander as he þar-on̄ lokis,
Quat maner of man̄ apon̄ mold it was made efter?
“Sire, Anectabus” quod all with a steuen̄,
“Þat all þe erth of Egipte enerid vmquile.”
With þat þe flammand flode fell in his eȝen̄,
“Þat Anec,” quod þis athil kyng “was myne awen̄ fadire.”
Þan̄ fallis he flat on̄ þe fold & þe fete kyssis;
On̄ þe stane quare it stode stilly he mournes.
Syne in-to Sirie with his seggis he soȝt at þe gaynest,
And þai as baratours bald him bigly with-standis,
Set on̄ him sadly & sloȝe of his kniȝtis;
Bot ȝet ȝarely are he ȝode þai ȝald him þe regne.
Þan drafe he sa to Damac with dukis & princes,
And sone he sesyd all þat syde & Sydoyne he takis,
And þen trussis him to Tyre & þare his tentis settis
Be-syde þe cite with a som̄e & in a sege lengys.
Þare he lies with his ledis lang or he foundes,
Before þe burȝe with his bernes & mekill bale suffirs.

Quat of ane, quat of oþire oft his oste pleynes,
For wele wist þai þam̄ nane to wyn̄ to þe cite,
It was sa stiffe & sa strang & stalworthly wallid,
And so hedously hiȝe it was a huge wondire,
Tildid full of turestis & toures of defence,
Batailid & bretagid a-boute as a castell.
Þe wawis of þe wild see apon̄ þe wallis betis,
Þe pure populande hurle passis it vmby,
It was enforced with sa fele fludis & othire,
It semed neuer sege vnder son̄ be saute it to wyn̄.
Þan etils him sir Alexander & belyue makis
Be-side þe cite in þe See to sett vp a loge,
A hiȝe tilde as a toure teldid on̄ schippis,
Þat miȝt na Naue for þat note neȝe to þe cite.
Quen he þis baistell had bild vp̄ to þe burȝe wallis,
And tiȝt him as tyme was þe toune to assaill,
Slik mischife in þe mene quile emang his men fallis,
For megire & for meteles ware mervaile to here.
Þar was Princes in poynt to perisch for euire,
Alle in doute to be dede dukis & erlis,
In fere to be famyschist many fers kniȝtis,
For þar is na wa in þe werd to þe wode hunger.
Þan pleynis him þe proud kyng þe pete of his men̄,
And sendis out his sandis-men̄ with selid lettirs,
To ierusalem to Iaudis at þe iewes teches,
Þat was þe bischop̄ in þat burȝe breuyd in þa dais;
Him moneste as a maister him mayn̄ly to send
Fresch folke for þe fiȝt & fode for his oste,
And all þe trouage þare to him tittly to wayne,
Þat he to Darius of dewe was dangird to paye.
And ȝit comand he þis clerke þe kyng in his writtes,
For any richas him redis rathere to thole
Þe mayntenance of þe Messedoyns & of þe meri Grekis,

Þan̄ þaim of Persy to pay or to plese authere.
Þan̄ takis þe bischop þe breue & buȝes to a chambre,
Resayued it with reuerence & redis it ouire,
Gase him doun be degrece a-gayne to þe sale,
Swiftly to þe swiars & þam̄ his sware ȝeldis:
“Sirs, airis a-gayn̄ to Alexander & all þus him tellis,
Þat me was done many day depely to swere,
Neuer Persy to paire to pas with myne armes
In damaging of Darius durand his lyfe.”
Sone as þe wale kyng wist he writhis him vnfaire,
“Now be þat god,” quod þe gome “þat gatt me on erthe,
I sall anes on þe iewis enioyne or I die,
Sall ken̄ þam̄ quas comandment to kepe at þam fall.”
Ȝit for na torfar him tid Tyre wald he noȝt leue,
Bot chese him out a chiftane & charge[s] him belyue,
A mody man, ser Meliager a maister of his oste,
To fande him furth with a flote of fyue hundreth kniȝtis;
A[nd] Ioynes him to Iosaphat his iournay to take,
And all þe pastours & þe playnes prestly to driue,
And bring in all þe bestaill barayn̄ & othire,
Þat he miȝt se on̄ any syde þe cite of Gadirs.
Þan̄ mouys he on, ser Meliager þis miȝtifull prince
With a soume of sekir men & Sampson þam̄ ledis,
A renke at in þa regions had redyn̄ oft sythis,
And knew þe costis & þe kitthis clene all-to-gedire.
Þus ȝede þai furthe egirly & entirs þe vaile,
And slike a prai þam̄ apreued as pyne were to reken̄,
Bryngis furthe, sayd þe boke bestis out of nounbre,
And trottes on̄ toward Tyre with taite at þaire hertis.
Bot or þai meten̄ ware a myle þe meris with-outen,

Þar metis þaim̄ with a mekill flote þe maister of þe playnes,
He þat was duke of þe droues & of þe derfe hillis,
Ane Theosellus, a tulke þat tened þam̄ vnfaire.
He girdis in with a ging armed in plates,
Alto-bruntes oure bernes & brathly woundid,
Fellis fele at a frusch fey to þe gronde,
And many renke at he roue rase neuer efter.
Þan was ser Meliager moued & mayn̄ly debatis,
Flingis out on̄ a fole with a fell spere,
Gers many grete syre grane & girdis þurȝe maillis,
And many bernes at a braide in his brath endis.
And Sampson on̄ anothire side setis out belyue,
Bruschis furth on̄ a blonk brymly he smytis,
Betis on̄ with a brande broken was his lance,
Hewis doun of þa hirdis hurtis þam̄ vn-faire.
Arystes, ane athill man ai elike fiȝtis,
Spirris out with a spere & spedis his miȝtis,
And noyed of þare note-men at þe nete kepid,
And many bald, or he blan̄ broȝt out o-lyue.
Caulus, anothire kniȝt on̄ a kene stede,
On̄ Theosellus in twa his tymbre he brekis;
And þan he dryfes to þe duke as demys þe textis,
And with a swyng of a swerd swappis of hes hede.
When he was drepid & dede at þe droues ȝemyd,
Þe prekars of þe pastors & of þe proude landis,
All þe folke of his affinite at fresch ware vn̄-wondid,
Þat outhire fote had or fole to þe fliȝt foundid.
Þus Meliager with his men̄ þe menske has a-chevyd,
For þe fairere of þar faes & þe fild wonn̄;
Raschis with rethere & rydis bot a quyle,
Þat ne neȝis þam̄ a-nothire note as new as þe first.
Þare was a maister of þe marches miȝtist of othire
Ane Beritinus, a berne as þe buke tellis,
Come girdand out of Gadirs out of þe grete cite,

With þe selcuthest soume þat semblid was euire.
Slik a mynd vn̄-to me ware meruaill to reken̄,
Thretti thousand in thede of thra men of armes,
Slike as was buskest on blonkes in brenys & platis,
And othire folawand on̄ fote fele with-outen nounbre.
Þe multitude was sa mekill as mynes vs þe writtis,
Of wees & of wild horsis & wapened prenys,
Sa stithe a steuyn in þe stoure of stedis & ellis,
As it was semand to siȝt as all þe soyle trymblid.
Þan ware þe Messedones amayd quen þa see sa many;
Sire Meliager [was] in gret mynd a man out to sende
To ser Alexander belyue þaire allire maister,
To come & help with his here or þai to hande ȝode.
Þare was nane þat was glad þat message to gange,
Bot ilka lathire & othire to leue þaire frynde,
Fest þar forward in-fere þat fewe at þai ware,
To do as driȝten wald deme & dyi all to-gedire;
To telle þaire torfere entyre it taryed me swythe.
Bot so þe mode Meliager & his men feȝtis,
Þat ser Beritinus þe bald þai bretned to dethe,
And Sampson̄ on̄ þis side was slay þar-agaynys.
Þen̄ mournes all þe Messedones & maynten̄ him ȝerne,
Makis þar mane for þat man & many othire noble,
For maistris & mynistris menere & grettir,
Þat was in morsels magged & martrid a hundreth.
And þat left ware on̄ lyfe bot a litill meȝne,
Ware als malstrid & mased & matid of þaire strenthes,
Sa waike & so wyndles & wery for-foȝten̄,
Þat þai were will in þis werd qwat þai worthe suld.
Sire Meliager & othire maa mayned were sare,
All be-bled & to-brissid þat neȝe þar breth failes,
Þai were sa feble & sa faynt & full of þaim-selfe,
Þat all in fere was in fourme þe fild for to ȝeld.
Þan̄ aires him forth Arestes was augrily wondid,
To Alexander onone þas auntirs him̄ tellis,

Þe morth of all þe Messedone[s] & of þe many grekis,
Rekens him þar resons þat reuthe was to here.
With þat þe semely kyng chacches his bernes,
Semblis him a huge soume & fra þe sege wendis,
Þe toure of Tire & þe toune titly he leues,
And Ioynes him to Iosaphat full ioyles he rydes.
Ay he gretis as he gase for grefe of his knyȝtis,
Ay he pleynys as he passes þe pite of his erlis,
Ay he wepis as he wendis for his wale princes,
And soueraynly for Sampson̄ he sorowis ay elike.
When he was tane fraward Tyre toward þe vaile,
Þe werke at he wroȝt had þat water whyt-in,
Þat he had sett in þe see þe cite with-out,
Þar-in he lefte had a lede þe loge for to kepe.
Bot þan ser Balaan, a berne at in þe burȝe lengis,
Ane of þe terands of Tyre atyres him belyue,
Buskes him in breneis with big men̄ of armes,
With traumes & with tribochetis þe tild to asaile.
He bekirs out at þe bild within þe burȝe-wallis,
And þai without in þe werke wiȝtly defendis,
Schot scharply betwene schomes of dartis;
Weris wondirly wele werpis out stanes.
Bot Balaa[n] in þe barmeken̄ sa bitterly fiȝtis,
All to-combirs þam̄ clene with cast of engynes.
Sone þe top of þe toure he tiltis in-to þe watir,
And all þe tulkis in þe tild he termens o lyue;
And þan in batis & in bargis he bownes him swyth,
To þe bothum of þe baistell he buskis him with-out,
Bretens doun all þe bild & þe bernys quellis,
Drenches hire in þe hiȝe see & drawis hire on̄ hepis.
Quen it was smeten in small with þe smert waȝes,
Ilka gobet his gate glidis fra othire.
Þus þe strenth ilk stike was in a stounde wasted,

And Balaa[n] bowis in-to þe burȝe & barris to þe ȝatis.
Be þis oure kyng with his kniȝt[is] is comen in-to þe vaile,
Alexander with ane ost his kniȝtis to help̄,
Fyndis a fewe of his folke feȝtand ȝerne,
And ay a segge be him-selfe sett all a hundreth.
With þat Bucifalon his blonke he brased in þe side,
Springis out with a spere spillis at þe gaynest,
Ridis euen þurȝe þe route þar rankest þai were,
Be rawe of þar rabetis he ruschid to þe erthe,
He strikis all fra þar stedis streȝt him be-forne.
Was nane sa stiffe in þat stoure miȝt stand him agayn̄;
Quare althire-thickest was þe thrange þurȝe þaim he rynnes,
And makis a wai wyde enoȝe waynes to mete.
He laschis out a lange swerde quen his launce failes,
Threschis doun in a thrawe many threuyn dukis,
Stirs him sa in a stonde & his stithe erlis
Þat þar was [na] berne on bent bott bretened or ȝolden.
Þe seggis on̄ his awen side þat he slayn̄ fyndis,
He mas to graue sum in grete & sum in gray marble.
And þa þat laft ware o-lyue he lokis þar woundis,
And faire fangis his folke & fra þe fild wendis.
Þan bowes he to þe baistall & brymly it semblis,
Gedirs of ilk glode grettir & smallire,
And prekis furth with his pray & passes fraward Gadirs,
And tiȝt agayne toward Tyre to termen his sege.
Quen he was dreuyn ouer þe dales & drewe to þe cite,
With þat he blisches to þe burȝe & sees his bild voidid,
Als bare as a bast his baistell a-way,
But outhire burde or bate bot þe brade wattir,

Þan mournes all þe Messadones & maynly was sturb[i]d.
And Alexander also was augrely greuyd,
So ware þai troubild out of tone quen þai þaire tild miste,
Þat of þe taking of Tire trest þai na langire.
And so him-selfe in his slepe þe same niȝt eftir,
Him thoȝt he had in his hand & held of a vyne
A growen grape of a grype a grete & a rype,
Þe quilke he flange on̄ þe flore & with his fete tredis.
And quen he broken had þe bery als þe berne semes,
Þar folowis out of fresche wyne feetles to mete;
So largely & so delauyly of licoure, him thinkis,
Of ane rasyn to ryn̄ it was a ryfe wondire.
Þe kyng callis him a clerke kenely on̄ þe morne,
Als radly as he rase to reche him his sweuyn̄.
“Sire, bees a-dred neuir a dele” þe diuinour said,
“I vndire-take on my trouthe Tire is þine awen̄;
For þe bery at ȝe brake sa is þe burȝe euen.
Þai sall be sesid þe full sone & to þi-selfe ȝolden̄,
For þou sall eft all on̄ ernest entire on̄ þe wallis,
And foulire vndir þi feete with-in a fewe days.
Now compas kenely þis kyng & castis in his mynd
How he miȝt couir in any cas to come to þe cite,
Deuynes depely on dais dropis many wiles,
If he cuthe seke any sleȝt þat him serue wald;
And makis to sett in þe see riȝt in þe same place,
Þar as þe bild at he bi[l]did biggid wasse first,
To stable vp a grete strenthe all on store schipis,
Hugir be þe halfe dele & hiȝere þan̄ þe toþire;
And þat he fiches & firmes sa fast to þe wall,
So nere vnethes at ane eld miȝt narowly betwene,
And band hire, as þe buke sais bigly to-gedire,

With þat scho flisch noþer fayle fyue score aunkirs.
Quen he had tiȝt vp þis tram & þis tild rerid,
Hit had of bradnes abofe to breue out of mesure;
And to hede be a huge thing hiȝere it semed
Þan was þe wallis, sais þe writt of þe wale touris.
Þan Alexander all his ane an-ane he ascendis,
Closid all in clere stele & in clene plates,
And monestis ilk modire son̄ maynly & swyth,
Þat all be bowne at a brayd þe burȝe to assaile.
And all þe ost euyn̄ ouir he openly comandis
To be radly all arayd & redy to fiȝt;
And quen þai saȝe þat him-selfe þe cite was entrid,
Wan vp wiȝtly on þe wallis ilk wee him eftir.
Now tenelis vp taburs and all þe toūn rengis,
Steryn̄ steuyn vp̄ strake strakid þar trumpis,
Blewe bemys of bras bernes assemblis,
Seȝes to on̄ ilk syde & a saute ȝeldis.
Þare presis to with paues peple withouten̄;
Archars with arows of atter envemonde
Schotis vp scharply at shalkis on̄ þe wallis,
Lasch at þam̄ of loft many lede floȝen,
And þai ȝapely a-ȝayne & ȝildis þam swythe,
Bekire out of þe burȝe bald men many,
Kenely þai kast of with kastis of stanys,
Driues dartis at oure dukis dedly þam woundid.
Þan passe vp oure princes prestly enarmed,
In-to þe baistell a-bofe bremely ascendid,
Sum with lances on̄-loft & with lange swerdis,
With ax & with alblaster & alkens wapen̄.
Alexander ai elike augrily feȝtis,
Now a schaft, now a schild nowe a scheue hentis,
Now a sparth, now a spere & sped so his miȝtis,
Þat it ware tere any tonge to of his turnes rekyn̄.

And þai with-in on þe wall worthili with-stude,
Fersly defend of & fellid of his knyȝtis,
Thristis ouir thikefald many threuyn berne[s],
And doun bakward þam̄ bare in-to þe brad wattir.
With þat oure wees without writhis þam vnfare,
Went wode of þaire witt & wrekis þam̄ swyth;
For na wounde ne na wathe wand þai na langir,
Bot all wirkis him þe wa & wrake at he cuthe.
Sum braidis to þar bowis bremely þai schut,
Quethirs out quarels quikly be-twene;
Strykis vp of þe stoure stanes of engynes,
Þat þe bretage a-boue brast all in soundire,
Girdis ouir garettis with gomes to þe erthe,
Tilt torettis doun toures on̄ hepis,
Spedely with sprygaldis spilt þaire braynes,
Many miȝtfull man marris on̄ þe wallis.
And be þe kirnells ware kast & kutt doun before,
Be þat þe baistell & þe burȝe ware bathe elike hiȝe,
And all oure werke without þe wallis weterly semed,
Þe sidis of þe cite to se to o fernes,
Þan̄ Alexander belyf on̄ þam̄ all entris,
Bruschis in with a brand on bernes a hundreth,
Thrang thurȝe a thousand þare thikest þai were,
Wynnes worthly ouer þe wallis with-in to þe cite.
Þe first modire son̄ he mett oþire man̄ outhire,
Was Balaan þe bald berne as þe boke tellis,
And him he settis on̄ a saute & sloȝe him belyue,
And werpid him out ouir þe wall in-to þe wild streme.
Sone as oure athils be-hind saȝe þar he entred,
His men & all þe Messedones maynly ascendis,
And þai of Grece gredely girdis vp eftire,
Thringis vp on̄ a thraw thousandis many.
Sum stepis vp on sties to þe stane wallis,
On ilka staffe of a staire stike wald a cluster;

And qua sa leddirs had nane as þe lyne tellis,
Wald gett þam̄ hald with þar hend & on̄-loft clyme.
Sa freȝt ware þar othire þat feȝtis within̄,
For Balaan þar bald duke þat broȝt was of lyue,
Þat all failis þam̄ þe force & so ferd worthe,
Þat nothire with stafe ne with stane withstand þai na langir.
Sire Alexander with his athils & his awen̄ sleȝtis

Þe toune of Tire þus he tuke & othire twa burȝes,
In þe quilke þe siriens of þis sire so many soroȝes had,
As wald bot tary all oure tale þaire tourment to reken.
Sone as þis cite was sesid & slayne vp & ȝolden,
Þen ridis furth þe riche kyng & remowed his ost,
Gais him furth to Gasa a-nothire grete cite,
And þat he settis on a saute & sesis it be-lyue;
And quen þis Gasa was geten he graythis him swyth,
And Ioynes him toward Ierusalem þe iewis to distroy;
And ȝe þat kepis of þis carp̄e to knaw any ferre,
Sone sall I neuen ȝow þe note þat is next eftir.

Septimus passus Alexandri.

Als hastily as þai herd of in þe haly cite,
And bodword to þe bischop broȝt of his come,
For Alexander aȝe almast he euen deis,
For he had nite him a nerand noȝt bot o new time.
And now him þinke in his þoȝt him thurt noȝt haue carid
In all his mast mystir nad he þat man faylid,
When he for socure to þe cite sent him his lettir;
And he soyned him be his sorement þat sare him for-thinkis.

“For me had leuer,” quod þe lede “be lethirely forsworn̄
On̄ as many halidoms as opens & speris,
Þan̄ anys haue greuyd þat gome or warned him his erand!
Þat euer I warned him his will wa is me þat stonde!”
Þus was Iaudes of ioy & iolite depryued;
And all þe iewis of ierusalem he Ioyntly a-sembles.
He said, “Alexander is at hand & will vs all cumbre,
And we ere dredles vndone bot driȝten vs help.”
Þan bedis þe bischop̄ all þe burȝe barnes & othire,
Athils of all age eldire & ȝongire,
Comandis to ilka creatour to crie þurȝe þe stretis,
To thre dais on̄ a thrawe be threpild to-gedire,
Ilk a frek & ilka fante to fast & to pray,
To ocupy þar oures & orisons & offire in̄ þar temple,
And call vp with a clene voice to þe kyng of heuyn̄,
To kepe þam, at þis conquiroure encumbrid þaim neuir.
Now seȝen þai to þar Sinagogis all þe cite ouire,
Ilka bodi þar bedis þat in þe burȝe lengis,
Putt þam to prayris & penaunce enduris,
Þe vengance of þis victoure to voide if þai miȝt.
Þe niȝt eftir þe note as tellis me þe writtis,
Quen all þe cite was on-slepe & sacrifis endid,
In ane abite of þe aire ane Aungell aperis
To Iaudas of ierusalem & him with ioy gretis:
“I bringe þe bodword of blis ser bischop̄,” he said,
“With salutis of solas I am sent fra þe trone,
Fra þe maister of man̄ þe miȝtfull fadere,
Þat bedis þe noȝt be a-baist he has þi bone herd;
And I amonest þe to-morne as I am enIoyned,
Þat þou as radly as þou rise aray all þe cite,
Þe stretis & in all stedis stoutly & faire,

Þat it be onest all ouire & open̄ vp þe ȝatis.
Lett þan̄ þe pupill ilka poll apareld be clene,
And al manere of men in mylk-quyte clathis.
And pas, þou & þi prelatis & prestis of þe temple,
Raueste all on̄ a raw as ȝoure rewill askis.
And quen þis conquirour comes caire him agaynes;
For he mon̄ ride þus & regne ouire all þe ronde werde
Be lordschip in ilka lede in-to his laste days,
And þen be diȝt to þe deth of driȝtins ire.”

Sone þe derke ouire-drafe & þe day springis,
Oure bischop bounes him of bed & buskis on his wedis,
And þen iogis all þe iewis & generall callis,
A-vaies þaim his vision̄ how þe voice bedis;
Þan consals him þe clergy clene all-to-gedire,
And all þe cite asentis sarazens & oþir,
To buwne furth with all þe burȝe & buske þam̄ belyue,
As him was said in his slepe þis souerayn̄ to mete.
Þan rynnes he furth in a rase & arais all þe cite,
Braidis ouire with bawdkyns all þe brade stretis,
With tars & with tafeta þar he trede sulde,
For þe erth to slike ane Emperoure ware ouire feble.
He plyes ouire þe pauement with pallen webis,
Mas on hiȝt ouire his hede for hete of þe son̄e,
Sylours of sendale to sele ouire þe gatis,
And sammes þaim on̄ aithire side with silken rapis,
And þen he caggis vp on cordis as curteyns it were,
Euen as þe esyngis ȝede ouire be þe costes,
All þe wawis with-oute in webis of ynde,
Of briȝt blasand blewe browden̄ with sternes.
Þus atired he þe toune & titely þar-eftir
On ilka way wid open werped he þe ȝatis;
And qua so lukis fra with-out & with-in haldis,
It semyd as þe cite to se ane of þe seuyn̄ heuyns.

Now passis furth þis prelate with prestis of þe temple,
Reueschid him rially & þat in riche wedis,
With erst & abite vndire all as I am in-fourmede,
Fulle of bridis & of bestis of bise & of purpre;
And þat was garnest full gay with golden skirtis,
Store starand stanes strekilland all ouire,
Saudid full of safirs & oþire sere gemmes,
And poudird with perry was perrour & othire.
And sithen he castis on̄ a Cape of kastand hewes,
With riche rabies of gold railed bi þe hemmes,
A vestoure to vise on̄ of violet floures,
Wroȝt full of wodwose & oþer wild bestis;
And þan him hiȝtild his hede & had on a Mitre,
Was forgid all of fyne gold & fret full of perrils,
Stiȝt staffull of stanes þat straȝt out bemes,
As it ware shemerand shaftis of þe shire son̄.
Doctours & diuinours & othire dere maistris,
Iustis of iewry & iogis of þe lawe,
Ware tired all in tonacles of tarrayn̄ webbis;
Þai were bret-full of bees all þe body ouire,
And oþer clientis & clerkis as to þe kirke fallis,
Ware all samen of a soyte in surples of raynes,
Þat slike a siȝt, I supose was neuer sene eftire,
So parailed a procession̄ a person a-gaynes.
Now bowis furth þe bischop at þe burȝe ȝatis,
With prestis & with prelatis a pake out of nombre;
And all þe cite in sorte felowis him eftir,
Quirris furth all in quite of qualite as aungels;
Maistirs, marchands, & Maire mynistris & othire,
Worthi wedous & wenchis & wyues of þe cite;
Be ilka barne in þe burgh as blaȝt ere þaire wedis
As any snyppand snawe þat in þe snape liȝtis.
Þar passis þe procession̄ a piple be-forne,
Of childire all in chalk quyte chosen out a hundreth,
With bellis & with baners & blasand torchis,

Instrumentis & ymagis with-in of þe Mynstire;
Sum with sensours & so[m] with silueryn cheynes,
Quare-of þe reke aromatike rase to þe welken;
Sum with of þe saynt-ware many sere thingis,
With tablis & topoures & tretice of þe lawe;
Sum bolstirs of burnet en-brouden with perill,
Bare before þe bischop his buke on to lig;
Sum candilstickis of clere gold & of clene siluer,
With releckis full rially þe richest on þe auutere.
Þus seyis all þe semle þe cite with-oute,
Vn-to a stonen stede streȝt on þe temple,
Scopulus, by sum skill þe scripture it callis,
And þare þe come of þe kynge þis couent abidis.
Sone Alexander with ane ost of many athille dukis,
Come prekand toward þe place with princes & erlis,
Sees slike a multitude of men in milke-quite clathis,
And ilk seg in a soyte at selly him thinkis.
Þan fyndis he in þis oþire flote fanons and stolis,
Practisirs & prematis & prestis of þe lawe,
Of dialiticus & decre doctours of aythir,
Bathe chambirlayn & chaplayne in chalk-quite wedis.
And as he waytis in a wra þan was he ware sone
Of þe maister of þat meneyhe in-myddis þe puple,
Þat was þe bald bischop a-bofe alle þ[e] iewis,
Was graþid in a garment of gold & of pu[r]pree.
And þan he heues vp his eȝe be-haldis on his myter,
Be-fore he saȝe of fyne gold forgid a plate,
Þar-in grauen þe grettest of all gods names,
Þis title, Tetragramaton for so þe text tellis.
With þat comandis þe kyng his knyȝtis ouire ilkane,
Bathe beron̄ & bachelere & bald men of armes,
Na nere þat place to aproche a payn̄ of þar lyuys,
Bot all to hald þam̄ be-hynd heraud & othire.
Þan airis he furth all him ane to þis athill meneȝe,

Bowis him doun of his blonke þe bischop be-forne,
And kneland on̄ þe cald erth he knockis on̄ his brest,
And reuerencez þis haly name at he seis wreten̄.
Þan þe iewis of ierusalem Iustis & othire,
Lordis & ladis & be þe litill childere,
Enclynes þam to þe conquirour & him on̄ kneis gretis,
Kest vp a kene crie & carpis þir wordis.
“Ay moȝt he lefe, ay moȝt he lefe” quod ilka man twyse,
“Alexander, þe athill aire vndire þe heuyn̄,
Ay moȝt he lefe, ay moȝt he lefe þe lege Emperoure,
Þe wildire of all þe werde & worthist on̄ erthe,
Ay moȝt he lef, ay moȝt he leue” quod loude all at anys,
“Ouircomere clene of ilka coste & ouircomyn neuir,
Þe gretest & þe gloriosest þat euir god formed,
Erle or Emperoure & any erdly prince.”
Þare was comen with him kyngis as þe clause tellis,
Seneiours out of Sireland was to him-selfe ȝolden̄,
And þai meruailed þam mekill as þe buke tellis,
When þai it herd so be-heryd & held it in wondire.
Þan Permeon̄, a proude kniȝt a prince of his oste,
Aires to sir Alexander & askis at him swythe,
Syn him adoured all men eldire & ȝongir,
Qui he obeschid so lawe & bende þe bischop̄ of iewis?
“Nay,” quod þe comly kynge & þe knyȝt swaris,
“Nouthire haylsid I him ne hildid him nouthire,
Bot it was gode at I grete þe gouernoure of all,
Of quam in þe abite & þe armes he was all clethid.
For in þe marche of Messedone me mynes on a tyme,
Þat slike a segg in my slepe me sodanly aperid,
Euyn in slike a similitude & þis same wedis,
For all þe werd as þis wee wendis now atired.

And þen I mused in my mynde how at I myȝt wyn̄
Anothire anell of þe erth þat Aysy we call it,
And me thret to be thra & for na þing turne,
Bot tire me titely þarto & tristly to wende.
And syne saȝe I na segg þat sa was arayd;
And sekirly yone semys þe same to se to within̄,
Þe same gode at I in my slepe saȝe in my days;
And now I hope me, þurȝe þe helpe of þe haly fadire,
Of quam þe hered haly name is ȝondire on̄ hiȝe wreten,
To do with Darius or I dyi how so me dere thinke,
And þe pride of all þe Persens purely distroy.
And ȝit I sothely supose quat so my sale hopis,
Þat sall fall apon fold slik fyaunce I haue
In þe grace of grete god at gyes all þe sternes,
Þat it sall be in my will & on̄ na way faile.”
Now tas þe bischop̄ þe berne & to þe burȝe wendis,
With sange & solempnite him to þe cite ledis,
He was resayued, as I rede with reuerence & Ioye,
As he ware duke of ilk douth & dreuyn doun fra heuen.
Þan gas he furth with his gingis to godis awen temple,
Þat of sir Salamon þe sage sett was & foundid,
And þare he lythis of þare lare as þe law wald;
He offird in þat oratori & honourd oure lorde.
And Iaudas of ierusalem & all þe iewis eftir
Bringis out a brade buke & to þe berne reches,
Was plant full of prophasys playnely all ouire,
Of þe doctrine of Daniell & of his dere sawis.
Þe lord lokis on þe lyne & on̄ a lefe fyndis
How þe gomes out of grece suld with þaire grete miȝtis

Þe pupill out of Persye purely distroy;
And þat he hopis sall be he & hertly he ioyes.
Þan partis he to þa prelatis many proude giftis,
Was nane sa pore in þat place bot he his purse fillis,
Geues þam̄ garsons of gold & of gud stanes,
Rife riches enoȝe robies & perles,
Besands to þe bischop̄ he bed out of nounbre,
Reches him of rede gold ransons many,
Tas him to his tresory talent him to shewe,
Bad him wale quat he wald & wild him þe toþir.
Ȝit bedis he him, þe bald kyng as þe buke tellis:
“Sire, quat þou will in þis werd to wild & to haue,
Noȝt bot aske it at Alexander quat þou will apon reson̄,
And I sall grant, or I ga with a gud will.”
Þan bowis doun þe bischop & him a bone askis,
“Sire, þis I depely disire durst I it neuyn̄,
Þat it be leuefull vs oure lare & oure law vse,
As oure fadirs has folowid forwith þis tyme;
As of ȝoure grete gudnes at ȝe grant wald
To lat vs sitt be safe bot for þis seuyn wyntir,
But tribute or trouag quils þe terme lastis,
Þan were we halden all þe hepe to hiȝe þe for euir.
And ȝit I will, be ȝoure leue a worde & na mare,
Þat þe men of Medi man, be ȝoure leue,
Lang all in oure lawe lely to-gedire,
And þai of Babilon̄ bathe & bede I na nothire.”
Quod Alexander belyue “all þis I graunt,
And els any othire thing aske & be serued.”
“Nay, now na mare,” quod þe man & mekly him thankid,
“Bot ay þi lordschip̄ & þi loue quils my lyfe dures.”
Now kastis þis conquirour to caire fra þe cite,
And mas to bide in þe burȝe a berne of his awyn,
A messagere to myn on quat men̄ of him said,

Ane Ardromacius, a gome as þe buke tellis.
Þan bowis to þe bischop̄ his benyson to fang,
Takis lufly his leue & lendis on̄ forthere.
To Sere cites þar be-syde he soȝt with his hostis,
And þai frendly & faire frely resayued him.
Þan of þe Siriens summe in þe same tyme
Folow fra þe fell kyng as fals men suld,
Did þam to sir Darius & depely þam playnt,
Quat erroure of þis Emperoure & euill þai suffird.
And he þam faire vndir-fong & fraynes þam ȝerne,
Askis þam̄ of sir Alexander all at he cuthe,
Bathe of his statoure & his strenth if he ware store ben,
His qualite, his quantite he quirys all-to-gedire;
And þai in parchement him payntid his person him shewid,
Ane amlaȝe, ane asaleny ane ape of all othire,
A wirling, a wayryngle a wawil-eȝid shrewe,
Þe cait[if]este creatour þat cried was euire.
And þan, as he lenes & lokis on his fourme,
His litillaike & his licknes he laythly dispiced,
And thre thingis of his thede he þoȝt him sa feble,
He dressis to him in dedeyne & in dispite sendis:
First a ball, says þe buke þe barne with to play,
A herne-pan̄ es of a berne of brend gold yeuen,
For hottre & for hething a Hatt made of twyggis;
Sayd þat was benere him to bere þan a briȝt helme.
Slike presandis out of Persy he to þe prince sendis,
His brefe with a brade sele & biddis hum ga swythe.
And qua sa will has to wete howe it worthis eftir,
Now sall I neuen vs here next þe note of his lettir.

Octauus passus Alexandri.

“Sire dere Darius on dese þe digne Emperoure,
Þe kyng without comparrison of kyngis all othire,
Of all lordis þe lord þat leues in erthe,
Predicessour of princes & peree to þe sonn̄,
Þe souerayne sire of my soyle þat sittis in my trone,
In fang with my faire godis þat I affie maste,
To Alexander, þat of all so augrily him letes,
Oure subiet & oure seruand þus we oure-selfe write.
For it is wayued vs to wete þat wickidly þou haues,
Þurȝe enmyte & enuy elacion of pride,
Be vanyte & vayne glori þat in þi wayns kindlis,
Puruayd þe pletours oure partis to ride.
For þou has samed, as men he sais a selly nounbre
Of wrichis & wirlingis out of þe west endis,
Of laddis & of losengers & of litill theuys,
Slike sary soroȝis as þi-selfe to seke vs agaynes,
And wenes to wild all þi will & þat worthis ful late,
Þe prouynce & principalte of Persye la graunt.
For þou ert fere al to faynt oure force to ministere;
Þof þou had gedird all þe gomes þat euire god fourmed,
So, man, riued is oure rewme þat þou may reȝt lycken
Þe store strenthe of oure stoure to sternes of þe heuen.
And slike a nekard as þi-selfe a noȝt of all othire,
Is bot a madding to mell with mare þan him-seluen.
Forthi is bettir vnbynd & of þe brathe leue,
And feyne all with fairnes & fayne at þou may.
For mare menseke is a man to meke him be tyme,
Þan eftir made to be meke malegreue his chekis.
For all þe gracious godis & gudnes on̄ erthe,
Þat sanys sete & soile & sustaynes þe erth,
Prayses ay þe Persyns passing all othire,

And for þe oddiste of ilka ost honoures oure name.
And slike a dwinyng, a dwaȝe & a dwerȝe as þi-selfe,
A grub, a grege out of grace ane erd-growyn̄ sorowe,
Will couet ȝit as a king with caytefes to lyte,
To couir at combrid all þe kyngis vndire þe cape of heuen!
Riȝt as a flaw of fell snawe ware fallyn̄ of a ryft,
Of a wysti wonn̄ waghe with þe wynd blawen,
So with a flote of Fresons folowand þi helis,
Þou sekis fraward Sichim þi-selfe wrothir-haile,
And leuys as a lorell þus oure lande to entire,
And maa þi lepis & þi laikis & quat þe liste ellis,
As ratons or ruȝe myse in a rowme chambre,
Aboute in beddis or in bernys þare baddis ere nane.
Bot I haue wilily waited þi wiles & þi castis,
And quen þou hopis all-þir hiest to haue all þar will,
I sall þe sett on̄ a saute & sla þe [with] my handis.
And so sall, fole, for þi folez be fenyshit on dawes.
For-þi for pompe or for pride þi purpose a-vise,
For yf þou shote ouer sheet þou shendes þi flayne.
Turne þe, trechoure, be-time þat þou na treson haue,
And drawe a-gayn̄ to þi den̄ vndire þi dam wyngis.
Se quat I send to þe, son̄ þi-selfe with to laike,
A hatt & a hand-ball & a herne-panne;
Slike presandis to play with as pertines to babbis.
For ai a child mot him chese to childire geris;
For mestire & miserie vnneth may þou forthe
Þine awen caitefe cors to clethe & to fede,
And supposis as a sott to sese oure landis,
And outhire darius to drepe or dryfe fra his kythis!
Bot by þe grace & þe gude þat god gaue my fadire,
So riued is þe rede gold oure regions with-in,
Þat qua sa had it on a hepe haly to-gedire,

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It wald vs let, as I leue þe liȝt of þe son̄!
For-þi bid I þe badrich on bathe twa þine eȝen,
And on̄ þe plegg & þe payn̄ & perill as folowis,
All þi vanyte to voide & þi vayne pride,
And mew agayn̄ to Messedone or any mare fall.
For be þe saule of my sire bot if þou sone turne,
We sall þe send sike a soume of segis en-armed,
Noȝt as Philips fant salle fare with þi-selfe,
Bot as a prince of proued theues pyne þe to dede.”
Als sone as his sandismen to þis sire come,
Þai present him þe playntis þe pistill him rechis,
And Alexander belyue be-fore all his princes,
To all his ost euyn̄ on̄ he openly declaris.
And quen his kniȝtis of þis clause þe carpe vndirstode,
Þen ware þai frekly a-frayd of þe fell saȝes;
And as sone as him-selfe saȝe his seggis amoued,
In bilding of his bachelers he breuys þire wordis:
“Quat now? my worthi werriouris sa wiȝt & sa noble,
Mi bernes & my baratours þe best vndire heuen;
Lettis neuire it broȝt be on̄ brade for vpbraide of schame,
Ȝe doute for þe indityngs of Darius pistils.
I sett ȝowe ane ensample ȝe se it all daye,
In thorps & in many thede þar ȝe þurȝe ride,
At ilka cote a kene curre as he þe chache wald;
Bot as bremely as he baies he bitis neuir þe fastir.
Bot in sum̄, I suppose wele þat sothe is þe lettir,
Þare as he tellis quyche a tunne of tresoure he hauys.
For-þi vs buse to be bigg & bataill him ȝeld,
Þe grete garisons of gold sall gedire vp oure hertis.”
With þat comands þe kyng his knyȝtis be-lyue,
Þe donesmen þat fra Darius come with þe derfe lettir,
Þat þai suld titly þam take & by þe toȝe throtis,
And for þaire souerayne sake þam send to þe galawis.

102

Þan was þa messangers a-maied as mervale ware ellis,
With kene carefull crie þis conquirour þai said:
“Allas! quat lake lyse in vs lord if it be ȝoure will,
Þus causeles for oure kynge encumbird to worthe?”
“The saȝes of ȝour souerayn̄” said þe kynge þen̄,
“Nedis me to slike notis as I had neuer etlid,
Þat has ȝow sent to my-selfe noȝt sa as him aȝe;
Loo ‘litill thefe’ in ilka lyne his lettir me callis.”
“Ȝa,” quod þai, “comly kyng” & on̄ knes fallis,
“Þase ditis endited to ȝowe sir Darius him seluyn̄,
For he knew noȝt of ȝour kniȝthede ne of ȝour kid strenth;
Ne wist noȝt of ȝour worthenes & wrate all þe baldire.
Bot wald ȝe grant vs to gaa & gefe vs ȝour lefe,
Þen suld we bremely ȝour bill to þe berne shewe.”
Þen lete þe lord þam̄ allane & went till his fest,
Takis þam̄ with him to his tent & þam̄ at ese makis.
Sone as þai in his sale were sett at þe table,
“Sire Alexander, athill kyng” quod all with a steuyn̄,
“Comands with vs to caire kniȝtis a thousand,
And we sall surely oure sire þe send in þaire handis.”
“Ȝa, make we blis,” quod þe kyng “blithe mote ȝe worthe,
For as for takynge of ȝour lord sall na lede wynde.”
To Darius anoþir day enditis he a pistill,
A crest clenly inclosid þat consayued þis wordis.
Alexander, þe aire & eldest childe bathe
Of kyng Philip þe fers þe fendere of grece,
And als of Olimpades þat honurable lady,
To þe, Darius, on̄ dese þus dite I my lettir.
Þou prince of all þe Persyns þat peres to þe sonne,
Þe conquirour of ilka cost callid of þi-selfe,
With all þi gracious godis graithid in̄ þi trone,
All þus I send to ȝowe I my sawe vndir my sele wreten̄.
Sire, if we se with a suth surely me thinke,

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Oure facultes, oure faire fees oure fermes & our landis,
We may noȝt chalang þam̄ ne clayme ne call þaim oure awen,
Bot all I deme it as det & to a day borowid.
For sen we riden on þe rime & on̄ þe ringe seten̄
Of þe qwele of Fortoun, þe quene þat swiftly changis,
Ofte pas we in pouert fra plente of gudis,
Fra mirthe in-to mournyng fra mournyng in-to Ioye.
For now vs wantis in a qwirre as þe quele turnes;
Quen̄ we suppose in oure sele to sit alþir heist,
Þan̄ fondis furth dame Fortoun to þe flode-ȝatis,
Draȝes vp þe damme-borde & drenchis vs euire.
For-þi a we þat has wit þofe he wele suffir,
So sadly in soueraynete he set neuire his hope
For pride of na pro[s]perite ne prise at him̄ folewis,
To olle ay on̄ his vndireling for ouer-laike a quyle.
For any sele vndire son a sott I him hald,
Þat ay has deyne & dispite at dedis of litill,
Sen oft þe hauenlest here is houen to þe sternes,
And he þat graithist is of gudis gird all to poudire.
For-þi a depe dishonoure ȝe do to ȝoure name,
Ane emperoure þat on̄ erth is euyn̄ to ȝoure-selfe,
To me sa litill & sa lawe slike lettirs to sende,
And presand out of Persy bot for a pure hethyng.
For þou enherestis all þis erth & euens to þe son̄,
And callis þe kyng of ilka kithe vndir þe cape of heuen,
And þarto sittis, as þou sais in sege as ane Aungell,
To-gedire with þi grete gods and on̄ a gilt trone.
Bot syn gostid godesses & gods ere graythid neuir to dye,
Bot ai sall last furth elike on̄-lyue ouire mare,
Þai naue no will to my notis ne wilnyng to haue,
No dole ne no daliance of dedely bernes.
Bot I knaw I am coruptible & caire ȝow agaynes,
Als with a dedly duke to do my bataill;

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Bot þof þou þe victor a-vaile na vaunte sall arise,
Ne lose, bot as a litill thefe ȝow limpid to encumbre.
Bot chance it me, þat am a childe þe cheuer to worthe,
So þat be geuyn me þe gree grete glorie is myn awen̄.
For þan sall spring vp þe speche & sprede out of mynd,
How I haue conquired a kyng þe kidest of þe werd.
Bot a tale ȝe me tald I trow be na faile,
Of þe ryfenes of þe rede gold ȝour region̄ with-in̄,
Quilke plente is in Persy of perell & of ellis,
Þe somme of siluer & of siche & of sere stanes,
Þare-with oure wittes has þou wele & oure will sharpid,
And blid with þi besands þe bataill to ȝeld,
Made vs corageous & kene ȝoure clere gold to wyn̄,
And put a-way oure pouert ȝe plede vs to hald.
Bot as touchand þe trufils þat ȝe to me sent,
Þe herne-pan, þe hand-ball þe hatt made of twiggis,
Þare has þou prophesid apert & playnely vs schewid,
And faire affirmed vs before þat sall fall eftir.
For by þe ball, sir, I breue all þe brode werd,
Þe erthe at to myne enpire enterely bees ȝolden.
And be þe hat, þat is holewe be-for þe heued bowed,
I constru þat ilka kyng sall clyne to my-selfe.
Þan hope I by þe hernepan̄ þat þe hede couirs,
Ouir-comers to be callid & ouire-comen neuire.
Now þou, þe grettest vndir god graithis me trouage,
With all þis dignites be-dene þat I diuined haue.”
Þis brefe bedis þaim him bere & besands þam rechis;
And eftir armes all his ost & airis on̄ eftir forthire.
Sire Darius for þe ditis nere died he for angire,
To twa of þe derrest of his dukis ditis he þis pistill:
“I, þe corounnest kyng of kyngis all othire,
To þe, sir primus, a prince of Persye þe grettest,
And als to ser Antagoyne myn̄ awen̄ athill dukis,

108

Þe soueraynest of my seniourie my saroparis hatten,
Se here I send ȝow my seele with salutis of ioye.
Fra Alexander þe kyng as I am in-fourmed,
Is entrid with oure enmys an̄ endles nounbre,
Þe Anglies of Asie & has þam̄ all stroyed,
For-þi of life & o lym my lege men I charge
To prestli ȝow apparaill & pas þam agaynes,
With all þe hathils & þe heris & þe hiȝe maistris
Þat ȝe may semble in þe sidis saudiours & othire.
Þen chese ȝow furth my chiftanes & me þe child take,
Laches me þis losengere & ledis me him hedire,
Þat I may him skelp with a skorge & þen of skire porpure
A side slauyn him̄ sewe & send him to his modire;
For now he proches for pride & propurly he wedis,
For-þi him bose to be bett as a barne fallis.
For it aȝe noȝt slik ane Asald nane abletus to off werres,
Bot at þe bowlis as a brode or with a ball playe.”
Þire princes, sone as þe pistill was put þam̄ in hand,
Þan part þai þe proud sele þe printe þai adhoured,
Vn-lappis liȝtly þe lefe & þe line redes,
And þus-gate agynward þai graithid him anothire.
“To þe kiddest kyng to a-count of kyngis all othire,
Sire Dari, with þi dere godis drised on̄ þi trone,
Gouernoure of ilk a gome & god all þi-selfe,
Þi satrapairs, þi seniours with seruage obeschen̄:
Sire, wetis it wele, ȝoure worthines & wenys it na langire,
Þat þis child, with his chiftans þat ȝe charge vs to take,
Has reden all oure regions & raymed oure landis,
Departid all oure prouynce & purely it wastid.
And we þan lift vp a lite & lent him a-gayne,
Ferd furth with a flote & him in þe fyld metis;

110

Bot sone we bed him þe bake & besely we shapid
Out of þe handis vn-hewyn̄ of oure hatill fais.
And now haly all þe hepe at ȝe ȝoure help callis,
Vn-to ȝoure mekill maieste we mekely beseke,
Þat vs ȝour lege & ȝoure lele men̄ it likid ȝow to forthire,
Or þan̄ oure wirschip̄ at-wynde & wastid be þe regme.”
As radly as þe riche kyng had red ouir þis pistill,
Be þat mevis in A Messangere & maynly him tellis,
Þat Alexander was at hand & had his ost loygid
A-pon̄ þe streme of Struma þat strekis þurȝe his landis.
Sire Darius for þa ditis was depely a-greuyd,
Callis him his consail a clause he him enditis,
Mas a brefe at a braide & it in brathe sendis,
To Alexander as be-lyue & all þus him gretes.

“I, sir Dari, þe deyne & derfe Emperoure,
Þe kyng of kyngis I am callid & conquirour bathe,
Of all lordis þe lord a-lose þurȝe þe werd,
And ane of þe souerayne sires vndir þe vij sternes,
To þe, my seruand, I send & suthely þou knawes,
And wete þou wele þurȝe all þe werde is wirschip oure name.
For all þe gracious gods at þe ground visitis,
All ere done me to doute ducsses & othire.
How burde þe þan be sa bald for blod in þi heued,
To moue þus ouir þe mountey[n]s & ouir þe many watirs
With slike a soumme ouir þe see a saute vs to ȝeld,
Or any maistrie to make my maieste a-gayne?
For wella wide ware þe wele wete þou na nothire,
Bathe þi glorie & þi grace þi gladnes in erthe,
Miȝt þou þe marches of Messedoyne mayntene þi-selfe,
And gouerne bot þine awen̄ gronde agaynes oure will.

112

For-þi ware bettir vnbynde or þou bale suffire,
Remowe agayne to þi rewme & rew of þi werkis.
For certayne, nyf my seniourie ne I my-selfe nouthire,
All þe werd myȝt a wedowe wele þan̄ be callid.
For-þi turne þe be-time or any tene worthe,
Or at þe hate of my hert a-pon̄ þi hede kindill.
Lend agayn̄ to þi lande nowe quen þou leue hauys,
Þat I mete þe in my malicoly my meth be to littill.
For-þi to ken̄ þe to knaw my kyndnes here-eftir,
Bath my grace & my glori & my grete strenthe,
Loo here a gloue full of graynes I graythe þe to take,
Of þe chesses of a chesboll chosen for þe nanys.
For may þou sowme me þire sedis surely þou trowe,
Þou miȝt a-count all oure kniȝtis & oure kyd ostis;
And þou truches þaim to tell þen tidis þe na noþir,
Bot move a-gayn̄ to Messedone & meve þe na forthire.
Fyne, fole, of þi fare & fange to þi kythis;
For þis sede I þe send vnsowmyd bees neuire.
So ere we of all folke folke to be nombrid,
Or any wee to a-counte vndire þe clere sternys.”
Now aires furth his athill men̄ to Alexander wendis,
Vn-to þe streme of struma streȝt with þa lettirs,
And he þam̄ redis in a rese & reches to þe sedis,
Tastis þam̄ vndire his tuthe & talkis þir wordis:
“Here I se,” quod þis sire “be þire ilke cornes,
Þat þe pupill out of Persy ere passandly many,
Bot þam̄ semes to be softe as þir sedis prouys;
For-þi how fele be all þe flote it forces bot littill.”
Be þis was men̄ of Messedone fra his modire comen,
And said þat semely was seke & semed to die;
And he þe waest of þe werd wald worth hire to visite,
Bot ȝit to Dary, or he went he diȝt þus a lettir.

114

Nonus passus Alexandri.

“Alexsaundere þe athill aire oute [of] grece,
Þe son̄ of Ph[ilip] þe fers & of his faire lady,
Honoured Olimpadas þe oddest vndire heuyn,
To þe, ser Dari, on̄ þi dese þis dities I write.
For I am sent, be þe sure many sere letters,
And namly now on newe time fra myne awen̄ kith,
Out of þe marche of Messadone þat mekill me greues,
All oþer wais to wirke & my will likis.
Bot I warne þe, or I wynd & will at þou knaw,
Þat for na drede I with-draw ne doute of þi pride,
For baisting of þi bobance ne of þi breme wordis,
Bot for to se þat is seke my semely modire.
Bot wete þou wele þis, I-wis with-in a wale time,
Fra þat I fraist haue þat faire of my fayre lady,
I sall þe seke with a sowme of seggis enarmed,
Ane ost to noy þus to neuyn̄ all of new knyȝtis.
And for þe sake of þi sede þou sent with þi lettre,
Loo, here a purse full of pepire my powere to ken̄,
To se þi-selfe a similitude how all þi soft grayns
Sall vndire-put be all þe pake vn-to þir peper-cornes.”
Þis pistill to Persyns he with his pepir takis,
Partis prestly þam to many proude giftis,
And þai haue laȝt þam þar leue & þe lettir fangis,
And passis on̄ to Persy þe princes to schewe.
Þan Alexander belyue with his athill dukis,
Rais him radly to ride & remowis his ost;
Fra þe streme of struma he streȝtis & still mournes,
And mevis him toward Messedone his modir to visit.
He aires þurȝe Arabie & armed þar he findis
A duke of Darys þe kyng þat drafe him agayne,
A pere out of Persy & prince of his ost,
A maister man in þa marches Amont was hatten.
He girdis him with a ging þe grekis he asailes,

116

With Alexander all day asperly feȝtis,
Marres of þe Messedons miȝtfull kniȝtis,
Dingis doun of þe dukis deris þam vn-faire,
Fra morne to þe mirke niȝt maynly þa cocken̄,
Seȝes doun on̄ aythire side segis out of nounbre.
Begynnys sone in þe gray day as any gleme springis,
And so to sett of þe son̄ sesid þai neuire.
Þus thre dais out a thraw þai threp̄ ay elike;
So lange, sais me þe lyne lastid þe bataill,
Sike scoures were of blude of schondirhed bernes,
Þat foles ferd in þe flosches to þe fetelakis;
Sa store & stithe was þe stoure þe story me tellis,
Þat for soroȝe of þe siȝt þe son̄ on̄ þe heuen
Kest away his clerete & his clippis suffirs,
For bale to blische on̄ þe blode at on þe bent floȝes.
With þat oure gomes out of grece gedirs vp þar hertis,
Fey fallis in þe fild fele of þire othire,
Þe pouwere of Persy in̄ partis many
Seȝes sidlings doun slayn̄ of þaire blonkis.
And quen þe duke of ser Darys þa dedis be-haldis,
Amonta þe miȝtfull his men þan̄ he fangis,
And vneth limpid him þe lee þe lyne me recordis,
Fra his faes with a fewe þe filde to de-voide.
And slike a pas, sais þe prose to Persy he ridis,
Þat ȝit þe selfe sandismen he in þe sale fyndis,
Þat fra þe streme of struma were apon stedis wysid
Fra Alexander & his ost with his athill pistill.
And ȝit ser dary on̄ his dese þa dities a-visis,
Held þe lettir in his loue & at þe ledis fraynes,
Quat he said of þe sedis þat he him-selfe sent.
And þai swiftly him sward & swyth þus him tellis:
“Þe kyng him kaȝt,” quod þe kniȝtis “& on þe cornes bitis,
And wele he geses be þe graynes ȝoure gomes ere fele,

118

Bot a thing, he said, he saȝe þat solast him maste,
Þai ware bot soft, he suposed for so þe sede proued.”
Þan pullis him vp þe proude kyng & on̄ þe pepire tastis,
Said, as it tuke him by þe tonge “his tulkis ere fewe,
Bot, be his kniȝtis as kene as me þis cornes shewis,
All þe werd war to waike his wrothe to with-stand.”
Þe mody man̄ Amonta þan melis þir wordis,
“Ȝis, he ledis bot a lite lord, with ȝoure lefe;
Þare is bot fewe at him foloȝes bot feȝtand bernes,
Bot mare fersere in feld fell neuire of modire.
For I my-selfe with a sowme set þaim agayns,
With of þe Persyns proude a pake out of nounbre,
Felire þan̄ his folke be full fyue thousand,
And ȝit vs fell all to ferre þe fayntir to worthe;
For þai haue hedid of oure hathils & a hepe woundid,
Fey falne to þe fold many fers erlis,
Bet doun oure bachelers my banir to-rased,
And a selly somme slayne of my kniȝtis.
Quethire days thre þurȝe-out thraly we foȝten̄,
Derfe dintis & dreȝe delt & taken̄,
And ȝit þe lawest at þe last vs limpid to bee,
And vnethis sauyd I my-selfe vn-slayn̄ of þar handis.
Bot treuly, ser,” quod þe duke “gret tresore me thinke
At Alexander þe athill for of all ware he maister,
A-vanced with þe victore & vengid on̄ his faes,
Was neuire þe heȝare of a hawe his hert full of pride.
For mekely ilka modire son̄ his awen men̄ & othire,
Als wele þe pure Persens as þe grete grekis,
All þe douth at was dede be-dene he comands
To gedire þam̄ vp ilka gome & þam in grauys ligg.”
Now Alexander & his ost armed on̄ ridis,
And sone Cecile he with his seggis entrid,

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Þar sere citis of þa sidis to him-selfe sweren,
And saudiours him to sewe seuyntene thousand.
Þan ȝede he ouire in-to ane Ile Yssanna was hatten̄,
And þat was ȝapely him ȝeuyn & ȝolden be-lyue.
Þan vp he clame to a cliffe þat to þe cloudis semed,
Þe Tor of Tare to taken þe tretis it callis,
Þare fand he tildid on̄ þe top & tild vp a cite,
Þe proud toun̄ of Persopole & to þe place he neȝes.
Þare saȝe he selcuthis sere as þe buke sais,
Þe muses of musike & þe merke how it was made first.
Þan aires he in-to Asie & ai as he fonndis,
All þe citis of þa sidis he sesis þam clene,
So fares he furth to Frigie a-noþire faire Ile,
And ane þar of his ald gods he honourd in a temple.
Þan ferd he furth to a Flum was fyue cubetis brad,
Scamandra þe slire flode þe scriptour it callis.
“Now happy be ȝee,” quod þe hathill “all in hert beris
Þe honouris of þat odd clerke Homore þe grete.”
“Mekill dere,” quod ane Doctoneus “of ȝow I deme sall,
And he of þe takyng of Troi tald all his lyue.”
“Nay, I wald more worth,” quod þe [wee] “a wyse man disc[i]ple,
Þan̄ þe honour þat Acheles aȝt all his time.”
Þan̄ moves he him to Messedone with his mony princes,
Amendid of hire malidy his modire he fyndis,
A litill dais with hire lengis & of hire lyfe ioyes,
And graythes him þan with his gere & a-gayn fondis.
He passes on̄ to-ward Persy & piȝt doun his tentis
Besyd a burȝe at þe buke Abandra men̄ callis.
Þai fall on freschly þe folke of þe cite,
And barris bremely at a burȝe þe foure brad ȝatis.
Þan takis þe kyng his kniȝtis vmlapis þe wallis,

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Settis vp-on a saute on̄ sidis enoȝe;
Bot, for þe cite was vnsure þe seggis within̄
Miȝt noȝt þe braidis a-bide of bernes enarmed.
Þan cries all to þe kyng “ser conquirour,” þai said:
“Ne steke we noȝt oure stiff ȝatis ȝour strenthe to defend,
Bot for dred of ser Dary þe derfe Emperoure,
Lest, had we haldit to ȝour heste he had vs eft wastid.”
“Ȝa, werpis þam vp,” quod þe wee “& wyde open settis,
If at ȝe shap ȝow to shount vnschent of oure handis.
For quen I done haue with Dary & my dede fenyschid,
Þan sall I tell ȝow my tale how it sall tide eftir.”
So baiste þam þe bald kyng with his breme wordis,
Þat þai vnȝarked him þe ȝatis & ȝald him̄ þe keys.
Þe burȝe þus of abrandra he with his men takis,
To take & leue quat him list & lendis on̄ forthire.
Þen wyndis he to A wath toun̄ was Wyothy hatten̄,
And come so to Caldipol anoþer kid cite,
So to the watir of wintir as it þe writte callis.
Þare nere was fey for defaute enfamyschist his ost,
Kniȝtis kest vp a crie & kenely þam̄ menes:
“Loo, oure foles ere in fere fodeles to dye;”
Þai pleyne more þe pouirte & þe pite of þar horsis
Þan̄ þe soroȝe of þam̄-selfe by þe seuynt parte.
“Quat ailes ȝow?” quod Alexander to his athill dukis,
“Mi barons & my baratorus þe biggest in erth,
Þat has þe angwisch of armes ay to now suffird;
Quethire euire ȝoure hertis, I hope for horsys abatis?
May vs noȝt limp, if any life lenge in̄ oure brestis,
To couer be cas at a cleke courseris a thousand?
And vs demed be þe dome to die of þe werd,
Þan standis in stede noȝt of a stra all þe store stedis.
For-þi I rede,” quod þe renke “we ride on̄ forthire,

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And pas to sum othire place þare plente is in,
Þat we may fange at þe full þe fude at vs wantis.”
And bath our folk & owr folex fyll þaire wambes.”
Þan̄ prekis he furth with his princes to slike a playn̄ wendis,
Luctus it hiȝt, þe letterure & þe line þus it callis;
Þare his forrayouris fand þe fulth of vitaill,
Bathe to berne & to blonk bide quen̄ him likid.
When he was full þare & fedd he flittis with his ost,
To Tergarontes he teȝe þare tiȝt was a mynstre;
He piȝt doun his pauilion̄ & passis to þe temple,
Sire Appoline to adoure & othire ald goddis,
To offire in̄ þat oritorie with honour he wyndis,
And sum of þam̄ at spire how he spede suld.
Bot sone ane ȝacora him said a semely summe,
Þan was nan̄ honour of answaringis bot on a-noþere bide.
Þan dose him furth þe dere king &, on̄ þe day eftire,
He seȝis to þe Synagog & sacrif[is]e makis,
And Appoline als beliue him aykewordly swaris,
‘Sire Ercules þe Emperoure’ he euire in ane callis.
Þan̄ Alexander all in ire angrily spekis:
“Now fynd I wele,” quod þe freke “þat fals ere þi wordis,
Now þou neuyns me a new name at I neuire hiȝt;
And þou a god,” quod þe gome “þat is grete ioye!”
Þan̄ sekis he furth with a somme & to A cite wyndis,
Þe toun Thebea þe tretis it callis,
And þare he biddis all þe burȝe þat foure bald kniȝtis
Suld be lett with him lend & lenge in his weris.
Þen tened þe Thebees folke & tynd to þe ȝatis,
And to with-stand his strenthe steȝid to þe wallis,
Bad him bow on̄ be-lyue & bide þare na laingire;
For if he did, withouten̄ dome þe deth þai him hiȝt.
Þan fangis him vp þe fell kyng a fuyll feyned laȝtir,

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Said, “ȝe of Tebet ere tried þe tethiest on̄ erth,
Of all þe seggis vnder son̄ þat citiȝens hatt;
Mast hiȝe ȝe ere hersid & herid of ȝoure strenthe.
And nowe sa ȝape men̄ as ȝe þe ȝatis hase stoken,
And me & þe pruddest of my princes proferne vs werre;
And at ȝe so will, I-wis wondire me thinke,
For þus wald neuer at ȝe wroȝt þe wirscip̄ of armes.
It contraries kniȝthede ȝe knaw wele ȝour-selfe,
To any wiȝt werriours in wallis þam to close.
For he þat kid is & kene & couettis a name,
Will feȝt fersely in fild his famen agayns.”
Þan Alexander be-liue all a-boute þe cite,
Makis foure thousand with flanes & bowis,
Biddis þam to bend vp brathly with arowis
To wonde þe wees with-in þat on þe wallis houys.
And twa thousand be tale he titely comaundis,
Of wele buskid bernns in brenys & platis,
All þe sidis of þe cite þat sechus had biggid,
And Amphion, an̄ athill kempe onane to distruy.
A full thousand he fangid to fire þe foure ȝatis,
And thre thousand of thra men̄ to thraw with engynes.
Him-selfe of slingis & slike a-semblis a me[n]ȝe,
To heede & help of his hyne if any harme lympid.
Now ere his seggis all sett & þe saute neȝis,
Were wakens be-twene werbild in trompis;
Oure pepill with payn̄s pressis to without,
Halis vp hemp̄ cordis hurled out arowis;
Othire athils of armes Albastis bendis,
Quirys out quarrels quappid thurȝe mayles.
Sum with gunnes of þe grekis girdis vp̄ stanes,
To tene þe Tebis folke þat on̄ þe touris feȝtis;
Sum braide ouir þe barrers in blasand wede,
And faire fest on a fire all þe foure ȝatis;

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All þe burȝe at a braide was on a bale kyndild,
And þa þat sounde ware vnslayn̄ als sottes þam̄ ȝeldis.
Þan with-out in oure ost as þe buke tellis,
A Sire, at Sicistrus was callid be name,
A meri man, a Messangere þat maynly was ioyd
To se þe cite be sa sone sindid to brandis.
Anothre hathill vndire hand þat Hismon was callid,
Ane a maistre of musike a man of þe cite,
Aires to ser Alexander & in his hert wepis,
As qua sai, “prince, of oure place sum pete þou haue.”
Þan lokis þe lord to þe lede said, “lettrid berne,
Quare-to feynys þou þis fare for-with myne eȝen?”
“Sire conquirour,” quod þe clerke “ȝoure corage to bend,
And in ridding of oure riche toun ȝour reuth for to call.”
Þan was þe wale kyng wrath & wiȝtly comaundis
To bete in-to þe bare erth all þe burȝe-walles;
And quen all kynd was on̄ colis & kast apon hepis,
Þan airis he on with his ost mare honour to wynn̄.
A Ientill man̄ full ioyles iournais him eftir,
Foloȝes þare fare ai on̄ fote as þai ride,
A sege at of þe same toun sire was & maistre,
Ane callid was Cletomacus to crie eftir socure,
His ledis at left ware o-lyue a lite of þe cite.
Þan askid at sire Appoline al with a steuen,
“If euire it worthe sall to wee quen þe werd stand,
Oure bu[r]ȝe agayn̄ for to bigg þat bretted is to noȝt?”
Þan gales þaire god a-gayn̄ & þus spekis:
“Þe tulke þat tilld ȝour toun sall tield vp & rere,
Sall thre times haue þe thra of sum threuyn̄ gome
Of were ore of wristilling for þus has wirid shapen̄.
And quen þat wirschip is won̄ within a wale time,
Þan sall he sett vp him-selfe þe cite as be-forne.”

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Þus answars þam̄ þaire ald gode & osses on̄ þis wyse,
And þai als fayne, all þe flote as fowell of þe day.
Þan aires on ser Alexander with his athill princes,
To þe castell of Corynthi he comes with his ost,
With þe Pers of þa partese to play on þe toures,
As all þe sires of þa sidis him-selfe had required.
Þe multitude ware sa miche of men for to reken̄,
Þat þare was sembild & sett þat siȝt to be-hald.
Quod Alexander bilyue to all at þare stode,
“Quat gome sall þis gammen̄ begin apon first?”
Þan comes forth Cletomacus & to þe kyng swaris,
Þe tulke out of Thebie I tald ȝow be-forne,
“If it ȝoure mekill maieste miȝt any thinge plese,
I wald to wacken ȝoure welth now wirstill a turne.”
Þan mas þe prince him a place & prestly him matches,
And he him girdes to þe grounde & þe gree wynnes.
“Now faithly,” quod þe fell kyng “fall þe so thrise,
Þou sall be crouned, or I caire for kiddest of þe gamen̄.”
Þan ȝede he eftsones to & his euen kastis,
Thringis to þe thrid time & þe thra wynnys.
And þan comandis him þe kyng a coroune on̄ hede,
As for þe prise of þe play putfull of stanes;
Þan bad him beddels belyue: ‘breue vs þi name.’
“Sirres, by my sothe,” quod þe segge “Sitiles I hiȝt.”
“Qwi so, my worthe werstillare?” þe wale kyng said,
“How tidis it þe & tou[n]les þi toname is callid?”
“Mi louely lorde,” quod þe lede & law him declines,
“Be-for ȝe come slike a kyng & þe croune werrid,
I had a cite my-selfe & segges I-nowe;
And sethen ȝe aȝt þis enpire I am it all priued.”
Þan trowid trewly þe kyng þat Theby he menyd,
And beddels & bailyfs he bad on brad crie,

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Be-fore his pupill apert þe powere him grauntis
To sett his cite vp agayn̄ & of him-selfe halden̄.
Þan̄ passis he to a proude toun̄ Platea was hatten̄,
Þare was stiȝtild ane Strasageras þat was a stiffe prince,
Duse him in with his dukis to Dyanaas temple,
And fand a pure prophetas aparaild in̄ vailes.
And scho, as sone as scho him saȝe said him þir wordis:
“Welcom̄ we, at all þe werd sall wyn̄ with þi handis.”
Þe secund day before þe son̄ he at þe cite wildid,
In-to þe temple he turned tythandis to herken̄;
“Quat ware þi will, ser, to wete?” þe woman̄ frayned;
“Þou lesis all þi lordschip̄ within a lite dais.”
“Quat, & has þou ossed to Alexander þis ayndain wirdes,
And me þus ill? vn-ably þine abet þou weris.”
“Nay, tene ȝow noȝt, for treuly þus tide bose it nede.”
And so it worthid, for in a wrath þe wale kyng swyth
Him of his principalete priued & þan̄ þe prince fondis
Onane to Athenas & on̄ þe athill playntes;
And þai said, soure suld him sowe bot he þe cite ȝeld.
And Alexander with his ostes aires on forthire,
Ateynes him to-ward þe termes & of þar tene heres,
And slike a word he þaim wayues be writ fra him-self.
And qua so will has to wete how it worthid eftir,
Here sall I tell þam̄ at loues to here forthire.

Decimus passus Alexandri.

“I Alexander, þe aire & eldest childe hatten̄
Of kyng Philip þe fers þat fest am̄ in̄ grece,
And of þe quene Olimpades þe oddest vnder heuen,
To all ȝow of Athenes þus etill I my saȝes.
Fra þat my fadere was fey & farne out o lyue,
And I was sett in his sege with septour to regne,
Sethen went I with my werriours in-to þe west endes,

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And ay with-out any armes þaim all at anys ȝolden,
All Europe to myn̄ enpire enterely þaim geuyn̄,
Euyn to þe Occiane out of ald Rome.
Qua þat vs rekinly resayues na riddour þai tholid,
And all at othire wais wroȝt we wast þam̄ for euire.
And now fra þe marche of Messedone I meued opon late
Þurȝe þe anglis here of Afle with myne athill dukis,
And so þe Thebies þam tiȝt þe toun to defende,
And I þar pompe & þaire pride to poudire declined.
To ȝow now write I on̄ þis wise þat, wald ȝe me send
Ten fyne Philisofours to fand with my wittes,
Ȝoure burȝes ne ȝour briȝt bees bidd I þan̄ nothire,
Bot at ȝe knaw me for kyng & call me ȝour lord.
For & ȝe nyk now to myn̄ empire ȝour nekis for to bowe,
Þan bos ȝow bigger to be þen all my bald princes,
Or laite anothire ladis-man̄ a-losed mare of strenth
Þan I my-selfe or my seggis be þe seuent dele.”
Þire athils of Atenes þir augard clerkis
Þan reuerenst þai þe riche seele & red ouer þe pistill,
Syne kest vp a crie with a kene voice at anys,
Sum̄ in comending of his carpe & on̄ clene it spitid.
A Filisphire þan on̄ first before þe folke risis,
Ane Eschilus in erde & ernstly he spekis,
Þe douth & all diuinours be-dene he comaundis,
Þat þai suld corde be na cas vn-to þe kingis hestis.
With þat all samen on a sopp̄ semblis þe pupill,
A doctour, ane Domystyne þai derely beseke
To consaile þaim als in̄ þe cause & ken þam þe best.
And he rekinly rase & rekyns þire wordis:
“I be-seke ȝow now, my citiȝens if þat ȝe safe vouche,
Bot sobirly a sete quile my saȝes for to here.
Sirs, if ȝe fele ȝow so fers his force to with-stand,
Aires agaynes him with armes admitts noȝt his saȝes.
And if ȝe fynde ȝe be to faynt fulfillis his will,

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Vn-to his mekill maieste mekely ȝow bowe.
For Sexes in sum time surmountid all kyngis,
Ȝit liȝt he law at þe last for all his lethire prid.
Bot Alexander with his armee in alkin rewmys
Has happend ȝit ai hedire-to þe herre of his faes;
Vnnombirable ere þe notis to neuen of his weres,
And ȝit betid neuir þe time þat euire tuke he schame.
Ware noȝt þe tulkis out of Tire þe tidiest on̄ erth,
Þe kiddest kniȝtis to a-count vnder þe cape of heuen,
Quat bathe for corage & kene & connyng in armes?
Loke quare it profet þam̄ a peese all þaire proud strenth.
Was noȝt þe Thebes þar-to þe threyest of othire,
Þe worthiest wees of þe werd & of witt clerest,
Fra þat þaire cites ware sett þe sotelest of weres?
Quat seruyd all þai sapient or sleȝt of batall?
Of Poliponenses þe pupill with þis prince foȝten̄,
And þat þam̄ lethirly con like by þe lattir ende,
For þar þe kyng of þaire kythe was killid doun & heded,
His renkis raymed all þe route & all þe rewme ȝolden.
Wate ȝe noȝt wele þurȝe all þe werd how wirdis with him cheues?
Hase he noȝt cites butt saute sesyd out of nounbre?
And for Strasagirs þe strang he of his strenth priued,
Ȝe meue al þus malicoly his maieste a-gayne.
Þare do ȝe noȝt ȝour deuire þat dare I wele proue,
It was þe gilt all of þe gome & noȝt of þe gud lord.
Ne had he trispast him to I take it on̄ my trouthe,
Had neuire his cite ne his soile be sesid fra him nouthire.
For þe auaunt ser Alexander is all þe werd famyd
For ane of þe curtast kyng þat euir croune werid,
And wete ȝe wele at slik a we at is wyse halden̄,
He wald neuire suprise no sege vndir heuen̄.”
With þat all of Atenenys þis aunceant maistir,

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And clene all þe clergy comensure & othire,
Þis diuinour Domestyne bedene þai comendid,
A-cordis þaim to his consaile & kendly it prased.
Þan amed þai to ser Alexander onane for to send
A croune all of clere gold clustrid with gemmes,
Of fyfty ponde with þe payse as þe prose tellis,
Þis tresoure tire þai him to & tribute him hetes.
Now ere þe sandismen sett on̄ þaire horsis,
A Ientill man þat Iowell enioyned was to kepe,
Þat was full sekirly & soft all in silke falden̄;
Bot clerkis to þe conquirour caired with þaim many.
Þan movis furth þe messagere of mylis bot fewe,
Þat þai nere liȝt as belyue at þe kyngis tentis,
Knelid doun befor þe kyng & him þe croune rechid,
And ȝerely tribute him to geue ȝapely him hetis.
Þan takis þe gudman þe gifte & gretly þam̄ þankis,
And vndirstandis in a stound how it stude clene,
Of þe eging of Eschilus þat ertid his feris,
Þat þai with-sitt suld his saȝes & serue noȝt his pistill.
Þe dities of Domestiane so did he bathe,
Þat comaundid & his comandmentis to kepe in all wyse,
Ȝit neuire-þe-lattir to þa ledis a lettir he fourmed,
In presidine with his awen prince reportand þa wordis:

“I, kyng Philip son̄ þe fers & his faire ladis,
Honoured Olimpades þat I obesche maste,
I kepe neuire king to be callid ne cache me þat name,
Till all þe barbarine blude a-bowe to þe grekis.
I etill neuir Athenes with armes for to entre,
Bot ȝow to question̄ enquere & qwete with my wittis.
I purpose ay out of repreue ȝoure persons to leue,
And ȝe þe contrari clene ȝoure concience it opence.

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Bot quilk as first of ȝow foundis a fote vs agayne,
Sall neuir deuoide my dedeyne ne my derfe ire.
And ȝe at wickid ere within̄ ay wickidly ȝe thinke;
For as þe grayne is in þe grape growis þe frutis.
Þe Tebies tulkid vs with tene a-tired þam̄ in armes,
Ȝit rad for all þaire rebelte resayued þai þaire medis.
And for Strasagera þe stoute ȝe stithli me blamed,
Þare as he gilt me agayns & I him gradid haue,
I wrate to ȝow at me to wayue be ten̄ wyse clerkis;
Ȝe kest out comaundmentis ȝe knew noȝt my strenth.
I miȝt a-coupe of þat cause if I it kythe wald;
Bot I for-geue ȝow all þe gilt & greues me na mare.
For-þi bees glad now, all þe gingis ȝe sall na gref haue,
Þe diuinour domestyne for ȝe his domes held.”
Fra þai consayued had þe clause & construed þe lettir,
Þai ware þe meriest modirsons on morne miȝt ryse.

Now fonndis furth þe fell kyng & flittis with his ostes,
Lendis him to Lacedoyne a litill fra þe cite,
With-out þe burȝe on̄ a banke he bildis his tentis,
And þare him-selfe with a somme in a sege le[n]gis.
Þe ledis out of Lacedone belyue þam asemble,
Said, “bow we neuir to his bode for bale apon erth,
Ne lat vs neuir be sa lethire at we like worthe
To þam of Ateynes it is oure opyn schame;
For þai ware baist of his bost bredid for noȝt;
Bot be we kniȝtly & kene oure corage to schew.”
With þat þai ȝarkid to þe ȝatis & ȝode to þe wallis,
Sum in Iopons, sum in Iesserantis sum Ioyned all in platis.
A grayne of þe grete see þaim aboute glidis;
For-þi buskis þam̄ þe burgh a bataill with-out,
Preses furth at posternes in-to þe porte wyndis,
Schalkis scott in-to shipis all in shire mailes;
Archars with arows with attrid barbis,

142

Gais þam in-to galays & grathis þam be-forne.
Bowes bernes in-to bargis with basinettis on̄ heued,
Sparrethis spetous to spend & speris in handis,
Þai crosse ouir toward þe kyng as kyndmen suld,
With as feyle on̄ þe flode as foȝten with-in.
Þe lord him lokis on̄ þe ledis & a litill smyles,
And sent twa vndir his seele þir saȝes in a pistill.

“I, Philip son̄ þe fell kyng as I first sayd,
And als of Olimpades I anely ȝow rede,
Þat þe end of ȝoure eldirs enterely ȝe be-hald,
And roomes noȝt at þe ray[n]bowe þat reche ȝe ne may,
And þe powere of þe Persens so truly ȝe traist.
Lat se now, getis ȝow a name & naytis ȝour stre[n]the;
Bot bowis first fra ȝour bargis & blythly þaim wayfe,
For, fest I all on a fire þe foly is ȝoure awen̄.”
Ledis out of Lacedone quen þai þe lettir redd,
Were drery, bot for all þe dole þa diȝt þaim to fiȝt.
With þat þe kyng & his kniȝtis vm-clappis þe cite,
Settis all þe gailis on gledis & girdis doun þe wallis;
Þe citiȝens & seriantis at vne-slayne ware
Bowis þam to þis baratour bodis & lyuys.
“Ȝe knaw wele,” quod þe conquirour “my comyng was esye;
Bot for ȝe fangid me noȝt faire fired is ȝour schippis,
Ȝour burȝe is bretind & ȝour bernes I bed ȝow my-selfe,
Ȝe suld noȝt stody ne stem̄ þe sternes for to handill.
For he þat steppis on a stee quen̄ þe staues failis,
Þan fautis him festing to his fete & fall him be-houes;
So, riȝt as Sexis was slayn̄ sum time with ȝour eldirs,
So ettild ȝe ser Alexander bot þare ȝoure ame failes.”
Quen he þis saȝe had þam said þe cite he þam grauntid,
Fondis furth with his folke þar fraunches þam̄ leues.

144

Þis souerayn̄ with his seggis þurȝe Sycile he wyndis,
Þoȝt to ride & to rayme þe regions of barbres.
Þan was ser Darius dred & sembled derf ostis,
His kniȝtis, his consaill & carpis þire wordis,
Said: “lo! my seris, now may se ȝour-selfe with ȝour eȝen̄,
How Alexander in his armes all-way encreses,
In valour & in victori & vertues so noble;
Þare as I thret him as a thefe thedis to dispoyle,
Now werrays he full worthily as wiȝt man suld,
Constreynes with his contenance kniȝtis to him bow.
Þe mare I spek him dispite & in my speche hindire,
Þe hiȝere I here him enhansed & hersude his name.
A ball & a hern̄epan̄ I to þe barne sent,
For burde & for bobance þe bab with to play.
Him þat I countid bot a knaue may now be cald maistir;
For quare he fondis on fold dame fortune him foloȝe[s].
For-þi vs haue bos in hert þe hele of oure pupill,
And for na pompe ne na pride his person dispice,
For his lose, for all his litillaike is loued þurȝe þe werd.
And þe mare I myn oure maieste þe mare it abatis,
Þe grace of þe grete god I ges, will him help,
Of prise þe hiȝe prouynce vn-to þis prince leues.
Quen we hope althire-hiȝest to hery him with armes,
Þan am I redd all oure rewme be reft vs for euire.”
Sone as ser Dary till his dukis deuysid had þir wordis,
Þan answars him ane Oriathire ane of his awen brethire,
“Þou has þis gome out of grece so gretly e[n]hansid,
Þat we Elanda suld leue & he þis landis entre.
Bot wald ȝour maieste þe maners of þis man sewe,
Ȝe miȝt ȝoure rewme haue in̄ ryst & othire rewmes wyn̄.

146

For Alexander all-ways or any of his erles,
Naytis him-selfe in ilke nede & so his name rysis.”
“Quat sall I take of him̄ my temes tittire þan he myne?”
“Sire, on my perell,” quod a prince “he passes all othire;
Þe wee wirkis all be witt he worthis þe bettir;
For-þi of þe lion̄, as I leue laȝt is his birthe.”
“Quat knawis þou þat?” quod þe kyng & þen þe kniȝt swaris:
“Sire, I was sent on a sand my-sell on̄ a time,
To Philip his fadere to feche oure trouage;
Þare had I siȝt of þe segg his sapient I herde.
For-þi plese it to ȝour person ȝoure princes a-sembles,
Of Mede of Mesopotane þe men of Itaile,
Þe pupill of Appolomados þe panthis folke,
And ma þat houes to ȝour hest a hundreth & fifti.
Lat vs gedire þus oure gomes oure gods will vs help;
And quen he sesse vs sike a sowme sare will he drede.
Ȝa, bot a wolfe, quod a wee will were many flokkis,
And so þe grace of þe grekis ouire-gos þe barbers.”
Be þis ser Ph[ilip] son̄ þe fers of feȝtand folk
Had semblid ane vn̄sene sowme as þe buke sais,
Twa C. Mille in thede all of threuen kniȝtis.
Ridis furth in̄ aray removis his tentis;
And thought to loge þar & rest & ease hym þat nyght.
Vn-to a watere he wendis as þe buke tellis,
Þat with þa marchesmen Mocian̄ was hatten̄;
It was clerire þan cristall & cole as a chill;
Þare-in couet oure kyng his cors for to bathe.
With þat þan wan of his wede & weschid him all ouire,
Quare-þurȝe he hent slike a harme at hatirly him greued.
Þis chele eftir chaufing enchafis so his hernes,
Þat he was fallen in a feuire or he first wend.

148

Þan mourned all þe Messedons as meruaill ware ellis.
Þai saȝe him so to be seke said ilkane to othire:
“Be þis disese to ser Darie & his dukis knawen̄,
He sall vs sett on̄ a-saute & surely en[c]ounbre.”
If þai were sary & so na selly me thingke,
For ay þe hele of þe hede helpis all þe menbris.
Þan callis to him þe conquirour a clerke of his awen̄,
Ane Philip, his fesisiane his fare to behald;
Of al manere of medcyne man þat maste couthe,
A ȝonge berdles barne as þe buke tellis,
Said: “lat liȝtly my lord for in a litill stonde
My-self with a serop̄ sall saue ȝow be-lyue.”
Þan permeon̄ þe proude a prince of his ost,
Þat held þe erth of Ermonye & enmyte hadd
Vn-to þis clerke of þe kyngis & be no cause els
Bot for þe lede was loued & with þe lord chereschest;
Þan ames he to ser Alexander on ane slike a pistill:
“Kepis ȝow,” quod he, “conquirour & caches noȝt his drenke;
For Darius eftir his deth his doȝter has him hiȝt,
And ȝow to sla be som̄ sleȝt to sese him his landis.”
Ȝit was þe berne noȝt a bene baist of his wordis,
He asurid him so sadly þe serep he takis,
Þe licor in his awen looue þe lettir in þe tothire,
And in-to Phili[pi]s face fast he behaldis.
He bad him dred neuire a dele & it drink swyth,
And þan þe pistill of þe prince he put him in hand.
Þe leche lokid ouire þe lynes “my lording,” he said,
“I am noȝt gilty of þis gile be all þe grete gods!”
As fast was he fysche-hale & Philip̄ he callis,
Halsis him full hertly & of his hele thankis,
Said, “wele knew þou my kynd lufe þi concience,
First suposid I of þi serop syne sesid þe þe lettir.
“Mi louely lord, be ȝour leue lattes him a-pere,
Þe tulk at sike a trayne has touchid to my-selfe.”

150

Þan eftir ser Permes his prince prestly he sendis,
And þare þe trechoure was tane & for his trayne hedid.
Þan̄ mouys he furth with his men̄ & Medy he wynnys
Enterly to his empire & Ermonye þe mare.
Till a dissert þan he drafe was dry & na watere,
Þurȝe Adriac till Eufraten & ames þare his tentis,
And mas a brig ouire þe bourne of Barges with cheynes;
Comandis his kniȝtis ouire to caire & þar þai vncachid hertis.
Þai saȝe þe streme so stife it stonaid þam all,
For ferd þe festing suld faile & þai in þe flode droune.
Þan mas he laddis ouire to lend & lokars of bestis,
And monestis þam ilk modire-son̄ him maynly to tell.
Ȝit was his baratours a-baist & þen þe berne writhis,
Fandis him first on be-fore & all foloȝes eftir.
Þan passid þare out of Paradese twa proude Flummes,
Þurȝe Medy & Messopotane þai move, as I fynd,
And so to Babilon̄ þai bowe ane is þe bourne of Tygre,
Þe tothire is Eufrates full euen & rynnes so to Sylus.
Þan cutis þe kyng in to þe cablis & to his kniȝtis sais:
“Lo! þof vs fall now to flee we may na ferryre wend;
Þare I rede,” quod þe kyng “oure bakis neuir to turne,
And if we did, with-outen dome to die all at anes;
For he þat folowid has ai þe floure & he at fled neuire.
Bees liȝt & laches ȝow a lose it is a lord gamen.
For I make a-vow at Messedone we sall na mare see,
Till all þe barbres vs bow þan̄ may we blith turne.”

152

Undecimus passus Alexandri.

Now has ser Darie þe derfe of dukis & princes
Heued vp a hoge ost & fyue hundreth kniȝtis
Ere chosen to chiftans & chargid þaim to lede;
Trottis him on̄ to Tigre & þare his tentis settis;
Þan̄ mett þai on þe oþire morne with a mekill nombre,
Sire Alexander þe hathill armed on̄ blonkis.
Þe multitude ware to me meruaile to reken̄,
Þat sammed was on̄ aiþir side many sadd thousand.
Now ere þe baners out-bred & þe bate neȝis,
Blew bemys of bras buskis to-gedire,
Þe crie of þe clarions þe cloudis it persyd;
For þe dewt of þe dyn daunced stedis.
Bathe þe twa batails bremely assemblis,
And aithire segg with his sowme soȝt vn-to othire.
Kniȝtis on̄ cursours kest þan in fewtire,
Taches in-to targetis tamed þaire brenys.
Þare was stomling of stedis sticking of erles,
Sharpe schudering of schote schering of mailes,
So stalworthly within a stond sterid þaim þe grekis,
Þat of þe barb[r]yne blod all þe fild flowis.
Sone as ser Darie þe deth of his douth sees,
Þe pite of þe Persens him prickis in his saule,
Sees his meneȝe so mynesch & his men fangid,
A few þat fresch ware vndefoulid & to þe fliȝt tournes.
Ȝit was ane of his ost ane odd man̄ of strenth,
A burly berne & a bald as þe buke tellis,
A segg at he ensurid had to sese him his doȝtir,
If he miȝt sla with any sleȝt þe seniour of grece.
He cled him all in clene stele a conyschaunce ouire,
Þat made was & merkid on̄ þe messedone armes,
Aires him to ser Alexander in all-þir-mast puple,

154

As he a hathill ware of his behind him he stelis,
A briȝt brynnand brand he braidis out of shethe,
And þurȝe-out þe helme in-to þe hede he hurt him a littill.
And þe kniȝtis of oure cost as þai þe cas saȝe,
Þan fange þai þis ilk freke & be-fore þe kyng bryngis.
“Quat now? my worthi werreours?” þe wale kyng said,
He wend wele at he ware a wee of his awen̄,
“Qui has þou brest so my brayn̄ & with a brand wondid
Ȝour sekire seruant in same all were I sire callid,
All ware I halden as for hede ȝour helpere at nede?”
“Nay, hope ȝe neuire,” quod þe hathif “ser hiȝe emperoure,
Me any Messedone to be þou ames of þine awen̄,
Bot of cruell kind comen of barbres.
And þis I did for ser Darius his doȝtir me hiȝt,
And cordid on̄ þis condicion to couple hire to wyfe,
And he went out of þe werd to wild all his regne,
To hew þi hede fra þi hals & anys it him shewe.”
Þan̄ callis oure kyng him his kniȝtis þaire consaile to frayn̄,
“Quat sall be done him for þis dede?” & þai bedene sware,
Sum, at he hangid suld be hiȝe sum þe hede priued,
Sum bedis in a bale-fire brin him to poudire.
“Quat has he fauted?” quod þe frek “þof he him forced haue
Þe charges of his chiftan chefely to fill?
He þat him demes to þe dede he dampnes him-selfe,
And diȝtis him his awen dome & þat dare I proue.
For demed I any of my douth ser darye to spill,
As ȝe þis gentill man enioyne suld him be iugid þen̄.”

156

He latis þe Persyn in pesse pas with his hele,
Mekill for his mayn̄ strenth & for his miȝt praysed.
As sone as Darye þe derfe of þis dede heris,
Þat he was sauyd vnslayne he semblis his knyȝtis,
Vp to a miȝti montayne his men þaire he schewis,
And gessis him wele þare to degrayd þe grekis maistir.
Þan̄ fandis he furth in-to þe fild & fled als beliue,
And Alexander with his ost him asperly folowed
Riȝt to þe bu[r]ȝe of Batran & bildid þare his tentis,
Mas him glad with his ginge & to his godis offirs.
Þe cite þan he assailid & sesid on̄ þe morne,
With all þe burȝes þare a-boute & busked þare his sete.
Þare fand he tresour vntald & als þe trew spouse
Of ser Dary, bath his dame & all his dere childire.
Now dose him fra Darius a dereworth prince,
Aires to ser Alexander adoures him lawe,
“I haue erdid with ȝoure enmy ser emperoure,” he said,
“As soiet serued haue I þat sire many sere wyntir;
And all my trauaill I tint for tuke I no gudes.
Bot wald it now ȝour worthines to wend with my-selfe,
A ten Mille vs take of tulkis enarmed,
I sall ȝow hete in ȝoure hand to haue at ȝoure will
Sire Dary, with þe mast dole of his derfe erles.”
“Nay, leue, lat ane,” quod þe lord “þen leue I no straungers,
Þat þou be willi in þi witt to werray þine awen̄,
Ne tell þou me noȝt þat tale I trow noȝt þi wordis.”
Be þis ser Dary fro his dukis deuysid his pistill:
Þe kyng of kyngs was callid & clere god bathe,
Þus, vndirstand I, was þe stile & stiȝt in þare-eftir:
“Ȝour satrapaires, ȝour seruant with seruand obeschen;

158

Sire, we haue wayued to ȝow writtis ȝit write we þe same,
How þis maistir of Messedone has on oure marchis entrid,
Brynd vp oure biggingis bretted oure kniȝtis,
And we ouire-sett be to sare to suffire any langire.
For-þi ȝour dignite bydene we drerily be-seke,
A-gayns þe force of oure faa vs forthire a quile.”
Quen̄ he had red all þe rawis for rancour he swellis,
And out on̄-ane to Alexander all þus he writis.
“I, Dary, with þe dignite þe diademe of Persee,
Of all þe kyngis þe kyng þat corouned was euire,
To þe, my seruand, I say as me was sent late,
How þi lawnes & þi litillaike þou lickyns to my hiȝt.
Bot parde, þi prouidence inpossible it semes,
A heuy As to be houyn vp to þe sternes,
A thing threuyn̄ is & thike & þarnes þe wyngis,
And fautis þe fethirhames & þe fliȝt-loomes.
For-þi þi mynd neuir þe mare lat mounte in-to pride
For chance of na cheualry þat þou a-cheued hase.
For vertu ne no victori ne vant noght þi-selfe;
He þat enhansis him to heȝe þe heldire he declynes.
I haue herd of þi hendlaike of heraudis & of othire,
Of þi noblay now o newe time a-nentes my modire.
Bathe to my wyfe & to my barnes quat bounte þou shewis,
Quat curtassy & kyndlaike I ken alto-gedire.
Bot surely all þe seson̄ þat þou þam̄ so pleses,
Þou fangis me neuire to þi frynd fyne quen þe likis.
And if þou wirke þaim all þe wa & wrak at þou may,
Þe mare vnfryndschip þarfore fall sall þe neuire;
For-þi to put þam to pyne I pray þe noȝt wande,
For myn̄ angire on þine arrogance sall at þe last kindill.”
Þarfor do þou þi best god forbyd þou spare.”

160

Quen he had lokid ouir þe lines he laȝes at his wordis,
And ditis agayn to ser Dary þis dete þat foloȝes:

“I, Alexander, þe eldest & all myne ane
Of kyng Ph[ilip] & his fere þat frely lady,
Honourd Olimpades þat anely me fosterd,
To þe kyng of Persy þis prolouge I write:
Sire, vanite & vayne-glori & vices of pride
Þa ere þe gaudis, as I gesse þat all gods hatis,
And ilka dedly douth þai driffe þam̄ to punesch,
Þat has driȝten of vndedlynes draȝen þaim to name.
Þis similitude to þi-selfe I say all-to-gedire,
Þat a-suris so in þi surquitry & sesis neuire-mare
To bost ne to blasfeme blyn will þou nouthire.
Bot for þi gold & þi gudis a god þou þe makis,
Þou vp-braydis me for þe beute þat I þi blod schewid,
As to þi modire I mene & to þi mery childir,
Þare mas þou þe to malicole & meenes for litill.
I wroȝt it noþire for þi will ne for þi wale threte.
If I kid þam̄ curtassy it come fra my-selfe,
Haly of oure awen̄ hert & of oure hynd thewis;
Ne we prid vs for na prouwis predestayned we ere,
Oure gods gayn̄ vs þare-to þat gretly þou spises.
Latt now þis lettre be þe last & loke to þi-selfe,
For sekire & on̄ my surement I seke ȝow agayn̄s.”
Þis brefe he bedis þam to bere þat broȝt him þe toþire,
And takis þam̄ of his tresoure & twynnes with þaim faire.
Quen þai to Persy ware past a pistill he enfourmes,
Wrate a writt of his will so sendis to his princes,
His seruandis & his seneschalls out of sere rewmes,
And þus comandis he þam clene þe kyng his stile.

“I, Alexander, þat as aire avaunced is in grece,
Þe son̄ of Ph[ilip] þe fers as I first tald,
And als of Olimpades myne honurable modire,

162

Þus send I to my satraparis my princes & my dukes,
My pers out of siphagoyne salutis & grace,
Of þe sele of Surry my seggis & myn̄ erles,
My kniȝtis out of Capados & all my kid lordis,
Þe ledis out of Landace & all þe landis out-by.
I comand ȝow on̄ þe clere faithe þat ȝe my croune aȝe,
Þat belyue to Alysaundire þat is myn̄ awen cite,
Þat ilkane of ȝow send be your-selfe of sere slayn̄ bestis,
Of fresch & of fyne wroȝt fellis a thousand,
Sum grayne to be neþire gloues graythid to my kniȝtis,
Sum pured pelloure depurid to put in oure wedis,
Lat kest þam̄ apon̄ camels þat in þat kith lengis,
And aires with þaim to Eufraten þis erand haues in mynd.”
Þan was a man̄, as me mynes in þe morne-qwile,
Was of ser Daris a duke þe derfe Emperoure,
Ane þat Nostanda was named & a noble prince,
Þat certified his souerane þir saȝes in a pistill:

“Sire Dari, duke of ilk a douth & driȝten þi-selfe,
Þe grete glorius god graythid in þi trone,
Nostanday, to ȝour nobilnes þat ay my nek bowis,
With seruage to ȝour senurie my-selfe I comand.
It semed noȝt ȝoure seruand sire, vndistreyned
Vn-to ȝour mekill maieste þis mater to write,
Bot I am depely distressid þis dede for to wirke,
And made þis myscheffe to myn̄ malegrefe my chekis.
For wete it wele ȝour worthines þat of our wale princes
Twa of þe tethiest ere tint & termynd of lyue,
Þat lost was now þe last day a litill fra Tygre,
In batail apon̄ bent fild in-bland with þe grekis.
Þare was I gird to þe grond & greuously woundid,
Vnnethe it cheuyd me þat chance to chape to þe fliȝt;
And oþire many of oure men̄ miȝtfull kniȝtis,

164

And erlis of all ȝour empire enterely deuydid,
Ȝoure lore & ȝour legaunce lethirly forsaken,
Aires þaim to ser Alexander & on-ane ȝeldis.
And he þaim faire vndirfange enfeffid þaim belyue,
In palais, in prouince in principall regnes.”
Þen to Nostanda on̄ next þus notis he a lettir,
Þat he suld semple him a sowme & set þaim agaynes.
Anothire pistill lete he pas to Porrus of ynde,
To come & helpe with his here & he him þus swaris:

“I, Porrus, þat possessid am þe partyse of yynde,
And am þe coron̄ be kynd of clene all þat Iles,
Sire Dary, with þi dyademe drest on̄ þi trone,
To þe þat salutis I send þe sele of myn̄ armes.
Þou prayes vn-to my person̄ my powere to sempble,
And ȝow enforce with my folke ȝour faes to withstand;
And I am boun̄ at ȝour bode & buxsom̄ was euire,
To heȝe & to help̄ ȝour hest quen I my hele lastis.
Bot now a langour me lettis þat I laȝt haue,
Slike a seknes for-sothe is on̄ my-selfe halden̄,
Þat I ne may streyne me ne stere for stondis so hard,
Bot lyse in langwysches & lokis quen̄ my lyfe endis.
And as warysche I my warke þat I am in wonden̄,
As me is wa for þi woȝe & þi wrange bathe,
I may noȝt ryde ȝow to reschow my reuthe is þe mare.
Bot I sall leue & be lechid for-þi be liȝt-hertid;
And I be couird of my coth care for na grekis,
Amay þe for na Messedoynes ne men̄ vndire heuen;
For I sall hele all in hast & hale to ȝoure kythis
With ten legions at þe last & all of lele knyȝtis.”
Be þis Rodogars þe riche þat renewid lady,
Þe dere dame of Dari of þis dede heris,
Þat hire awen child with Alexander amed eft to feȝt,
And sorowis selcuthly sare & sendis him a pistill;

166

“To kyng dary þe derfe þe derrest of my childire,
Rodogoras þe riche quene” þis rauth scho him writis:
“Bald baratour on bent borne of my bosom̄,
Here send I þe, my swete salutis & ioy.
Þou has heuyd vp þi huge ost as I haue herd tell,
Samed all þi saudiours & semblid þi pupill,
And etils to ser Alexander eft to assaill.
Wete þou wele it is noȝt worthe ware þe be tyme;
For had þou gedird all þe gomes I gesse, of þe werd,
Ȝit to with-stand him a stonde þi strenthe ware to littill.
For godis prouidence apert ay prestly him helpis,
Sauys & sustenes him-selfe & socurs him euire.
For-þi hoo with þi hautes & þine vnhemed wittis,
A-vaile of þi vanite & of þi vayne pride,
Obey þe to þe baratour þe best I con̄ rede;
Magnifie him with þi mouthe & meke þi hert,
For any hathill vndire heuen̄ þat at he ne hade may,
Mare sekire it ware him to forsake þen sewe any forthire;
In pese & in pacience possede at he miȝt,
[Þan] Be excludit out of his erd & euire-mare duell.”
Sir Dary for þoo dytez was deply disessyd;
Quen he þis rawis had rede he rewfully wepid,
His eldirs & his ancestris als he remembris;
Þoȝt how pride þaim depriued: & here a passe ende.

Duodecimus passus Alexandri.

Þen aires him on ser Alexander furth with his princes,
To þe cite-ward of Susys him-selfe he aproches.
Þare-in ser Darius duellid with his derfe ostis,
So neȝe he come to þa cliffis he kend ouire þe cite.
With þat comaunds he he[s] kniȝtis to cutt doune belyue

168

Bowis of buskis & of braunches of bolis & of lindes,
And bynde to þaire hors feete of bobis of herbis,
Bath to Meeris & to mulis & all maner of bestis.
Þe popill out of Persy þat slike a pake saȝe,
Beheld on̄ he to þe hillis & heterly was stroub[l]id;
Þai ware so woundird of þat werke & wetirly it semed
As all þe grond & þe greues had glid þaim agayns.
So neȝe þe cite he soȝt & sett vp his tentis,
Þat thre days to þat thede him̄ tharne & na mare.
Said: “let ane dryue to Dary & bede him dryffe sone,
Or put him to my powere & plede we na langire.”
Þe same niȝt in his slepe him soda[n]ly a-perid
Amon̄, his awen̄ god in aung[e]ls wyse,
In a mery mantill of mervailous hewis,
Meuand as a Messedone in Marcure fourme;
Said: “vn-to Susys my son̄ na sandisman þou send,
Bot fange my fygour to þe fast & fand furth þi-selfe,
Clethe þe with my conyschaunce & for na care drede,
I hete þe haly my help na harme sall þou suffire.”
Þan slade he sliȝly a-way & he fra slepe ryse,
A breme blasand blis in his brist rysys.
He knew his kniȝtis þat cas & þai him clene redd,
Þat he suld graythe him to ga as him his god chargis.
Þan callis to him þis conquirour ane of his kid prince[s],
Emynelaus, þat his erlis & his ost ledes,
Hend & hardy of his hand a huge man of strenthe,
And þare-to lede lelist to his lord leuand of lyue.
He bad him boun̄ him belyue & on̄ a blonk worth,
Anoþire foole with him fange & founde with himselfe.
Strad vp him-selfe on a stede in starand wedis,
And on a cursoure þe kniȝt with a collt foloȝes.
To þe grete flode of Granton̄ to-gedire þai ride,
Þai fand it forsen þaim be-fore a fote-thike yse.

170

Þat is þe streme of Strama with many steds clepid,
And ȝit þe pure propure name in percynne tonge.
Þan̄ Alexander belyue his wedes he changis,
Þis renke with his Ronsees he ridis ouire & leuys.
“A! lat me lend with ȝow, lord” þe lede him besekis,
“For drede þat angire or a-ventour or any slike fall.”
“Nay, houe þou here,” quod þe kyng “vn-to my hame-come.
He þat I saw in my slepe sall be my sekire helpe.”
With þat he braides on̄ þe blonke & broches him in̄ þe syd,
Bowis him to-ward þe burȝe as briȝt as ane aungell.

Þis reuere at I first rede be rewle of his kynde,
As wele in seson̄ of Somere as in þe sad wintre,
And þat is neuer bot on̄ niȝtis so naytely it fresys,
Till any powere to pas or preke on̄ with stedis.
Ȝit has þe floum̄, as I fynd a forelange obrede,
And euire-ilke mornyng it meltis for miȝt of þe son̄;
With slike a reryd þan it rynnes þe romance it witnes,
Þat qua so tuke it in þat tyme tint ware for euire.
Be þis enproched him oure prince vn-to þe proude cite,
Band his blonke at a barrere with-out þe burȝe ȝatis.
Þe Persyns of his passag was passyngly wondird,
And gesses him to be gode for glori of his wedis.
“Quat dones man ert þou?” quod Dary & drafe him agayne.
“Sire Alexander,” quod þis athill “has all þus me sent,
Bedis buske þe to batell quat bade makis þou here?
Outhire ȝare þe ȝapely þar-to or till his ȝokke bowe.”
“Qweþire þu be he?” quod þe hathill “so hately þou spekis,
Þou melis noȝt as a minister a messangere bowis;
Þou carpis euyn as a kyng þat closid ware in pride.
Bot I am dred neuire a dele of all þi bald saȝes.

172

Bot for þi souerayne sake þat sent þe þus hedire,
Ȝit sall þou sit with my-selfe & soupe or þou wynde.”
He raȝt him þan be þe arme & reuerence him makis,
And to his palais a-pert with princes him̄ ledis,
Þare aires him in ser Alexander & all þus he thinkis,
“Þis ilke bar-bryn berne grete beute me schewys,
Þat here þus hyndly be þe hand ledis to his Innes;
Þis hame with help of my god I haue sall he[r]eftir.”
So silis he furth with þe sire in-to a somere-hall,
Þare sesonde was a soper þe sotelest vndire heuen.
Sire Darius drawis to þe dese & oþir dere princes,
Settis þis sire with him-selfe lete serue þaim to-gedire.
Þat bild was all of brynt gold as þe buke tellis,
With þe bath, þe bordis & þe benkes beten̄ of þat ilke.
Þe wessell to vyse on̄ was verraly þe same,
And all þe sale of a sute set full of stanes.
Þe popill of Persy opon þis prince waitis,
Þe litillaike of his like lathely þat þai spyse;
Bot þe wisedome & þe worthenes & of þe wale thewis
Þat in þat cors was enclosed kend þai full litill.
Butlers full besyly broȝt vp þe wyne,
In grete gobletis of gold graythid full of ȝymmes;
And Alexander belyue as he had ay dronken̄,
With þat he clekis vp þe coupe & putis in his bosom̄.
Anoþire boll was him broȝt & bathe he deuoydid,
And ȝit he threw to þe thrid & thrast in̄ þare-eftir.
Sone as þe clientis þat knew at of þe coupe serued,
Þai knele doun before þe kyng & him þe cas tald.
Þan has ser Dary dedeyne & derfely he lokes,
Rysys him vp renysch & reȝt in̄ his sete,
“Quat faris þou with,” quod he, “frynde? a fon̄ þe besemes;
Quy voydis þou my vessell? it is a vile schame.”

174

“Sire, it is þe custum,” quod þe kniȝt “in oure kyngis fest,
Þat, be it ane, be it oþire þat þai of drinke,
Þe gestis sall haue þe goblettis & þaim gud þinke,
To wild & wende with a-way & wirke quat þaim likes;
Bot sen þis vse is here vn-honourable here I þam̄ leue;”
Braidis þaim furth withouten bade þe butlers þaim yeldis.
“Now sothely,” quod þan̄ ilk a segge softly to-gedire,
“Þis maner at he melis of is menskefull & noble.”
Þan was þare ane proude pere a prince at þe table,
Anepo, þat on̄ Alexander all-way be-haldis,
Þan mynes him anes in Messedone he had þe man sene,
Quen he was sent to his syre to feche þaire trouage.
His vertuse & his vysage his voise he remenbris,
His fourme & his fetoure his figoure a-vysis,
He studis & he stuynes he stemes with-in,
“Is þis noȝt Philip son̄ þe firs þe fedare of grece?”
With þat he sleȝly vp soȝt & his sete leuys,
Droȝe him̄ euyn̄ to ser Dary þare he on̄ dese bydis,
Said, “surely, ser, þis sandisman þat sittis ȝow be-forne
Is Alexander him awen self or all myn̄ ame faillis.”
Sone þis gouernour of grece is of þis gaude ware,
He torkans with & vndire-tuke he touched of him-selfe,
Herd a nyngkiling of his name & naytis him to ryse,
Buskis him vp at a braide & fra þe burde rysys.
He tas a torche fra a tulke þat by þe table standis,
Felly fangis it in his fist & to his fole wyndis,
Fyndis him faire him before þare he him feste hade,
Raȝt him radly þe reyne & on̄ his rige worthis.
With þat he brochis his blonke þat þe blode fames,
Sparis out spacly as sparke out of gledes.

176

Be þe liȝt at he led laches he þe way,
And fandis fast to þe fliȝt with a fers will.
Þe pepill of þe palais quen þai his passe saȝe,
Rusches vp in a res rynnes in-to chambres,
Sum araies þaim in̄ ringis & sum in̄ row brenys,
Some in stalwart stuffe & some in stele plates
With hard hattis on þaire hedis hied to þaire horsis,
Prekis eftir þe prince prestly enarmed.
Bot now was niȝt on̄ þam̄ neȝed þat noyd þaim sare.
Sone ware þai willid fra þe way þe wod was so thike,
Sum on̄ buȝes & on̄ brerys blemysched þe face,
Sum ware dreuyn̄ doun in dikis sum in depe myrys;
Bot Alexander at myn̄ ame þaire aȝe is a-schapid,
Ay trottis him to þe trod-gate as him þe torche wyssis.
Sire Dary as a drery man̄ duellis at hame,
With princes in̄ his palais all pense he sittis,
Þe baldnes of þis baratour he besyly remembris,
Þat skapid so sone skatheles fra all his schathill dukis.
Þan̄ was an̄ ymage within as I am enfourmede,
Of Sexeres þat sum-quyle þat cite had to welde,
Forgid all of fyne gold & fettild his seete
Vndire þe souerayne sege þare sett ere þe lawis.
And sodanly þat semylacre as tellis þe textis,
It all to-paschis in-to peces & to poudire dryuys.
Þan was þe wale kyng waa & wepand he said:
“Þis be-takens trombling of my tild & tene of my regne.”
And Alexander all þat quile asperly rydis
To þe grete flode of Granton̄ & it on̄ a glace fyndis.
Or he was soȝt to þe side ȝit sondird þe qweryns,
His hors it hunyschist for euire & he with hard schapid.
Þan̄ aires he with Emynelows euen to his princes,
And derfly on̄ þe toþir day a douth he assembles,

178

Twa hundreth thousand on̄ a throm̄ all of threuen kniȝtis,
Cairis him vp to a cliffe & comfurthis his hostis;
“Sall neuir þe Persyns pake be pere to þe grekis,
And if þai ma ware be many mayes noȝt ȝour hertis;
Full many flees may fell bot a fewe waspis.”
And all þe company clene comendid his wittis.

Terciusdecimus passus Alexandri.

Be þis ser Dary was diȝt whit his dere erles,
Heuyd vp a huge ost & hast him to ryde,
His ginge & all his garysons in glyssynand wedis,
Gaes him on̄ to granton̄ & graithes þare his tentis.
His stoure was so stalworthe & store & strange to a-byde,
He had of men̄ out of mynde many mayn̄ hundreth,
Þat sike a siȝt & a sowme of seggis enarmed
Was neuer sene, I suppose sen̄ þe sege of troy.
Þe chiftayne had chariotis chosen for þe nanes,
Ten thousand be tale tried for þe were.
And þai ware sett aþire side full of sythe-bladis,
Kene keruand as knyfes & cursers þam drowe.
Þe next day be þe none new note ryses,
Aithire freke with his folke in þe fild metis,
And bald bernes on̄ bent banars vnfaldis,
Put pennons on̄ pollis payntid of siluir.
Alexander as belyue is armed vp clene,
Bounes him to his blonke þe best vndire heuen,
Þat was þe blonk Bucifal as þe buke tellis,
A foole worth fyfty of þe firste þat in þe flode drouned.
He spynnes him out a grete space fra he[s] peris all,
Couers him full clenly & closed in̄ his gere.

180

Þe powere out of Persy quen̄ þay þe prince saȝe,
Frayed was of his fourme so ferdfull him semed.

Now ere þe batails boune with braggins in trumpis,
Þe breme bemen blaste beres to þe welken̄.
Alexander allþire first on̄ þaim all he settis,
And aithire ward at a wap̄p wiȝtly inIoynes.
Archars & all men̄ asperly fiȝtis,
Þare was Iusting o Ioy Iopons a-tamed;
Siles doun on̄ aithire side selcuth kniȝtis,
Sum darid, sum dede sum depe wondid.
So fell fliȝt was of flanys as I fynd wreten̄,
Of arrows & of all quat þat all þe aire blindid;
Hogere on̄ to be-hald þan̄ of haile-stanes,
And all þe fild full of folke fyue mile large.
Als sone as þe son̄ vp soȝt þe slaȝtere begynnes,
And so to þe son̄-sett slakid þai neuire.
Be þat þe barbryne blode be-gan̄ to discende,
Þe proudest of þe Persyns past out of lyue.
Sone as ser Dary it deuysid & seȝis his foke faile,
With þat he bedis þam þe bake & bidis na langir;
Þen quen̄ þai fange to ȝe fliȝt was furth in with euyn,
And mirke out of mesure na man þaim a-pered.
For-þi þe chariotis in þe chace choppid þaim to deth,
Þe cartis þat I carpid of with þe kene sythis,
Þare fell as fele þam̄ before of fotemen̄ & othire,
As risonis in a ranke fild quen riders it spillen̄.
Sire Dary dryue in þe derke & his douth folows,
Gaes him on to grantun vn-to þe grete burne,
Fand it frosen him before as fell for þe time,
Past him on̄ with his pers a pake out of nombre.
His folke fellis all þe flode a forelange o brede,
Þe streme fra þe a strande streȝt to þat othire.
Sone fra him-self was at þe side it sonders behind,

182

And all at lent ware on-loft loste þar þe swete.
Þus many deed þat day as þe buke tellis,
Of pollis out of Persye withouten þe grekis,
Thre hundreth Mille thra men̄ þat tharned þaire lyues,
With þe fooles & þe folke þat þe flode drouned.
Þis senioure out of Susys to his cite wendis,
Fallis doun on̄ his face flat in̄ þe sale,
“Wa is me!” quod he, “wriche wa is me vnhappy!”
Siȝis selcuthely sare & sadly he wepys,
“I þat was straȝt to þe sternes am streken now to grond,
Now craton̄, now caitefe now am I kast vndire,
Þat had of the Orient all ouire homage vmqwile.
Wist any we quat him suld worth þis werd wald he leue,
Full sympill in a seteqwile seke to þe cloudes,
And þai at mast ere of miȝt smyten all to poudire.”
With þat reufully he rase & renkis out he sendis,
To Alexander belyue & all slike a pistill.

“I, drery kynge on̄ my dese Darius of Persy,
To Alexander þat Aire þat all has to wild,
Þe lege lord of my lyfe to lose or to saue,
Þus send I to my souerayne salutis & ioy.
So wyde is þe wisdom̄ þat wonne[s] in ȝour saule,
Þat wele ȝe wate, of all men at I worthid here before,
Of all þe notis þat ere now & quat on̄ next sewes.
For-þi ȝour werke ay be witt ȝe wirke vn̄reproued.
Sire, I knawlage me a creatour & come of a woman,
Heues noȝt ȝour hert vp to hiȝe take hede to ȝour end;
It limps noȝt all-way þe last to licken̄ with þe first,
Quat suld a kniȝt mare to kepe bot conquire his enmy?
Was noȝt Sexes him-selfe þe souereynest in erth,
And cheued him of cheualry chekis out of nombre?
Ȝit for his will out of worde was won̄ in-to pride,

184

In þe lede here of Elanda lithirly he feyned.
Þinke þat allanely of god þis ouirlaike þou haues,
For-þi haue mercy on̄ þi men̄ þi meche we beseke,
Als of ȝoure grete gudnes to grant vs oure modire,
Oure bride, oure barnes out of bande for besandis enoȝe,
For all þe feete at oure fadirs in þe fold hade,
In Battri & in þis bild þe burȝe of Elanda,
Þe maistri & þe maieste of Mede & of Persy,
With all þe Iolyte & Ioy þat Iubiter vs lenes.”
Þe seggis at fra Susses was sent with þe pistill
Aires to ser Alexander onone hit him reches;
And he dos on̄ before his ost openly to rede,
And all his kniȝtis for þe carpe ware kenely reioysed.
Þen̄ was ane Permeon̄, a pere a prince of his oste,
Enclynes him doun to þe kyng said: “kid emperoure,
Resayue þis risches, I rede þat ȝow þis renke bedis,
And lyuers him his ladis & all his lele childire.”
Þan̄ Alexander belyue þa hathels he callis,
Þe berne at broȝt him þe brefe said: “bowis to ȝour lord,
And say, me wondirs, I-wisse if he it wete wald,
For any mede a-pon̄ mold his meneyhe to lyuire?
If he be fallen̄ vndire fote & his folke streyned,
And vencust of oure violence quat vailis him his hestis?
His person & his prouynce he put it in my will,
And ȝeld him vndire my ȝoke þan̄ ȝerne I na mare.
And if [he] grant him noȝt de-grayd bot for þe gre threpis,
Bid buske him eft to þe bent vs bataill to ȝeld.”
Þus monest he þe messangers þaire maistir to say,
Geuys þam̄ giftis full gude & lete þam̄ ga swyth.
And þan comands he his kniȝtis þe corses vp to gedire,

186

Of all þe douth at was dede & diȝt þam in graues.
And at wondid was, I-wis as þe writt tellis,
To serche þaire saluys & þar saris with surgens noble.
At þe grete flode of Granton̄ now graythis he his tentis,
Honoured þare his ald gods & offirs þam̄ nouches;
Þare fand he palais vp piȝt & many proud hames,
Sum-quile of Sexes ware sett þe sire of þo landis.
Þa bildis he bedis þam̄ to brin sone of his bone rewis,
And bad na beren̄ be sa bald a brand for to kyndill.
Þare was a brade bent fild was beried full of kniȝtis,
Of ald peres out of Persy prince & dukes.
Þe Messedones in þe mold mynes to þe graues,
Fand coupis all of clene gold & costious stanes,
Þe sepulture of a sire þat of Surre was kyng.
Him was þe name Ninus was in a noke fonden̄,
Was of ane athill amatist & all within grauen̄,
Plantid full of palmetres & many proud fowles,
And slike a clerete it kest þu[r]ȝe kynd of it-selfe,
Þai miȝt haue kend without þe kist þe corps all-to-gedire.
Þare was a tenefull toure & tulkis in-closid;
Sum ware þe handis of hewen̄ & sum wondid hoȝes,
Sum þe eȝen, sum þe eres & egirly cries
On Alexander eftir help̄ & he þam all liuers.
He wepis on̄ þam̄ for wa said, “wa is me, my childire!”
And ilkane of his talentis he takis ten thousand.
Þus ware þai diȝt of ser Dary for he dedeyne hade,
þat þai ware comen doun of kyngis & be no cause ellis.
Be now þe douth of ser Daris þe derfe messangere
Fra Alexander agayn̄ his answare him broȝt;
And he þan girdis out to grete eft graythis him to fyȝt,

188

To þe honoryd here out of ynde þus ordans a pistill.
“þat þe sceptoure & þe soile sesid am of Persy,
To Porrus vndire my present plesance & ioy.
First wrate I to ȝour worthines ȝit write I þe same,
To help vs at þire hathill men̄ þat haue wald my regne,
And, be ȝe sure, þe same way is to ȝour-self ettild.
For he þat werrais vs with þe wildare of grece,
Is wrawid & wrathfull of will & wode as a lyon̄,
As wawes of þe wild see when̄ wynd þaim distrobles;
And if I sande men̄ & sammen seggis out of nombre,
And cokke with þe conquirour till I be cald drepid,
Ȝit me is better on̄ þe bent in bataile be slayne,
Þan se þe lose of my ledis & ay leue in̄ sorowe.
For-þi ȝoure lordschip as legeman I lawly be-seke,
As I þat am in angwisch myne askyng to fill;
Ten schilling of my trew gold a man̄ þat is armed,
And fyue to a fote-man faithely I hete.
Ȝit sall I ordane to ȝour ane quare-euire oure ost liggis,
A ix score of new geere of nurtrid maydens.
Bucifalon þe bald stede sall bathe be oure awen̄,
And þe armes of Alexander & all þe pilage.”

Now flees þar fra þe fell kynge a fone of his kniȝtes,
To Alexander beliue & all þus him tald,
How þat ser Dary with his dukis eft drissis him to fiȝt,
Had prayd eftir powere to Porrus of ynde.
Þan ordans him þis honorable with his ost flitis,
Agayn̄ þe Persyns king him ordans to ride,
For þe name of an̄ Emperoure ne wald he neuire fange,
Or þen þat souerayne ware slayne or ȝild him his regne.
Sone as þe kyng of þat kith of his come herys,
Þan̄ was he ferly a-friȝt & his folke bathe.
Than kest þam twa of his kniȝtis him causeles to spill,

190

Þai trowid þan of Alexander to adill þaim a mede;
Þire traitours on̄ þis trechoure trowthis has strakid,
Lendis þaim on-loft to þe lorde laȝt out swerdis.
“Quat sall I dreȝe,” quod ser Dary “my dere-worth childire?
First cald I ȝow my clyentis þat now I call lordis,
Semes ȝow noȝt it suffice my sorowe with-out,
Þat as a bitand brand me brettens with-in,
And slaa ȝe me þus sudanly? þe se[n]ioure of grece,
He will me wreke on ȝoure werke wers þan of thefes!”
Þar meuyd þaim na mercy bot maynly him woundid,
Þat doun he hildis all to-hewyn þaire handis be-twene.
Þan dryfes furthe þa dones men & halfe dede him leuys,
Famand out of fresch blod & here a fitt end.

Quartusdecimus passus Alexandri.

Quen Alexander of þis athill þis auntir hadd herd,
How he was diȝt of his douth & to þe dede woundid,
He streȝt him to struma & ouire þe streme ridis,
Soȝt him in Sussys him-selfe with his ost.
Þe pepill out of Persy quen þai oure prince see,
Þan ȝode þai furthe & vn-ȝarkid þe ȝatis of þe cite,
Resayues him full rially with reuerence & ioy,
Said: “welcum be þou, werraiour þat all þe erd loutis!”
Sone as þir weried wiȝtis was ware of hes come,
Þat sloȝe so þaire souerayne þat neuire sake hadd,
Þai heȝe þaim to holes & hyrnes & hydis þaim belyue,
Þoȝt, or þai wist of his will þai wald noȝt apere.
Þan gase he vp be degrece the grecen maistir,
Passis in-to þe palais a paradyce semed,
Was on̄ þe make of þat mote noȝt mervalled a litill,

192

Þat compast was of Cusys þat kynge was of Persy.
Þe flore vndire þe fote fynely was paued,
Couerd all of cristall & oþire clere stanes.
Ȝit ware þe wawes of þe wanes wroȝt, as I rede,
Polischid all of pure gold & of plate werkis.
And þat was streken full of sternys & of sere gemmys,
With briȝt blasynand bees as bemes of þe son̄.
Þe hathill hedis vp-on̄ heȝe & hogely he wondirs,
Þat euire suld emperoure in erth slike ane herde wild.
Quen he had ferlyd his fill apon̄ þat faire hame,
Þurȝe-out þe sale þan he soȝt in-to þe selfe chambre,
Þare quare þe lord in lay with laythely woundis,
Girdid out as gutars in grete gill-stremes,
Ȝit was þare lyfe in his like litill if it semed,
At ilk blast of his breth þe blode fra him glidis,
Sire Alexander him avysis & authly him thinke;
Þe pure pete of his payn̄ persid his hert.
Þan nymes he fra his awyn neke an̄ emperoures mantill,
And þat he couirs ouire þe kyng & clappis him in armes,
With grym̄ gretyng & gro & grysely terys;
Bad: “comfurth þe, ser conquirour & of þi care ryse,
Don aȝayne þe dignite þe diademe of Pers,
And all þe riȝtis of þi rewme resayue as before.
My pure powarfull gods I prestly pauoure,
Þine empire & þine erytage enterely þe to ȝeld;
Suld neuir na gome be to glade þofe he grete ware,
Of his neȝbour noy enentis him-selfe,
Quen fortune foundis him fra & him þe fete schewis,
And all þe welth him at-wendis & þe werd changis.
Brynge furth þi banes, & with my brand I sall þi dede venge.”
Þis saȝe sobband he said & þe segge wakyns,

194

Hyndely hildis him vp & his hand kyssis,
Þe brest & þe bare necke & breues þire wordis:

“A! Alexander, athill son̄” & augrily granys,
“Þe depe distruccion of ȝour dome has many day bene knawyn̄,
Þat all þe welth of þe werld worthis at þe last
To cayrayne & corupcion clene all-to-gedire.
Þe warnes of þi wale gode þat wist all before,
And fully feld all þe fare þat fall suld on erthe;
On̄ þis maner made he man þurȝe his miȝt first,
Suld noȝt be foun in him fast ne ferme ne stable,
Bot houande here a hand-qwile & hingand in payse,
Now in leuell, now on-loft now on̄ lawe vndire.
All werdly þing, I-wis þurȝe þe will of oure lord,
In-to þe contrare clene is at a clamp turned.
For had he worȝt ay to wees welth & na nothire,
So grete had bene vayn̄ glorie glotony & pride,
Suld nane haue gessid þat grace come of god, bot of þaim-selfe;
So fra þe makare o mold suld many man̄ haue erryd.
And had he shapyn Ay to shalkez shendship̄ & illys,
So feyle had bene þe frelettis foloȝand oure kynd,
We had bene drawen all bedene in-to disspaire clene,
And of þe godness of god noȝt a grew traisted.
For-þi he wald of his will his werkis to be changand,
Þat, quen a hathill ware ouire hiȝe in happ & in welthe,
Þat he knew noȝt his creatour bi-cause of his pride,
In-to þe dike of debonerte droune bud him nede.
Þis was his will at it worthid wene þou na nothire,
Þe gome his god at for-gatt for any grace here,
His welth to wite all a-way & wickidnes apere,
To ken þe caytefe to knaw qua caused him on̄ first.
Þe same ensampill of my-selfe now is betid, þou sees;

196

So grete I grew of my gods & gold in my cofirs,
Þat kindly gods creatoure I kend noȝt my-selfe,
Bot for his feloȝe & his fere faithly me leued,
Þus prosperite & pride so purely me blyndid,
I couthe noȝt se fra my sege to þe soile vndire,
Þat at me failed þan to fynd fast at myn̄ eȝen.
Be þe myrrour now of meknes I may a myle knawe,
If any hathill be so hard with vnhapp̄ woundid,
So at he hopis him no helpe of þe heȝe fadire,
Þan liftis oure lord him on̄-loft his langour he breggis,
In-hanses him in hand-quile & heues him to welthis
So heȝe, þat he for vn-hele seȝes noȝt his driȝten̄.
Lat þan him knaw his creatour in kindling of ioy,
Þat he þat lawene has a lede may lyft, if him thinke,
And he þat bringis him on-loft breten all to poudire.
Þi saule, son̄, in-to surquitery lat seke neuire þe hiȝhare,
For gre þe graunt ere of god & noȝt of þi grete strenthis.
If all þe limp as þe list loke to þine ende,
For die þe bose, quen̄ all is done & ay þi day scortis.

Me þink my lyfe as to þe lenȝth is like to þis werke,
Þat þis coppis opon kell-wyse knytt in þe woȝes,
With þe lest winde of þe werd þat þe werd touches,
Þe note anentis ilk ane & all to noȝt worthis.
Lo! so þe quele of qwistsumnes my qualite has changid!
I, þat was ȝustirday so ȝape & ȝemed all þe werld,
To day am dreuyn̄ all to dust to dolour & paynes,
Has noȝt o maistri so meche as miȝt of my-selfe.
My dere son̄,” quod Daryus “it drawes nere þe tyme;
My banes, on my benyson̄ bery with þi hand,
With þe proued princes out of Pers & with þe proude grekis,
And þe maistirlings of Messedoyne ȝe me to mold bring.

198

Lat þan oure kyng-domes a-corde & cock we na langir,
Bot ay perpetuall pes oure partys betwene.
Vn-to ȝoure mekill maieste my modire I comande,
Rodogarus þe riall & rewis on my bride;
My doȝtir Rosan þe riche resayues to ȝour spouse,
It comys wele of hiȝe kyn̄ kyngis to descend.
Tak tent to þat at I tell be tendire of my kniȝtis.”
And with þis speke at he spake þe sprete he ȝeldis.
Þan was his body enbawmed &, as he bede, grauen̄.
Þis bald baratoure him bare & as a barne gretis,
So did þe pepill out of Persy bot for his pite mare
Þan for þe dethe of Dary be dowble of þe twa.
And Alexander belyue as he was enterid,
He meues agayn̄ to þe mote & on̄ þe morne eftir,
Vp to þe souerayne sege with Septour he wyndis,
Þat Cusus þe conquirour of clere gold maked.
Þe mody men of Messedone þe maistirs of Persy
Þan put þam̄ in-to presens as þe prose tellis;
Sire Darius awen̄ dyademe þai did on̄ his hede,
A coron̄, ane þe costious þat euire kyng weryd,
On þe propurest of proiecte þat euire prince bere.
Þe massy werke was þe menest made of þe noble,
Þe pride þar-of for to proue it pyned any cristen̄;
It gaue so glorius a gleme of gold & of stanes,
Þat as þe loge for þe liȝt lemed as of heuen.
Þe sete þare him-selfe satte in soyte with þe croune,
Þat was lift a-pon̄ loft on̄ oþire litill segis,
Seuyn cubet of clere gold was countid þe hiȝt.
And vij degrece was þar grayd for gate vp of kingis,
And þai ware Ientilly Ioyned in a Ioyly wyse.
Þe first an̄ athil Amatast as I am̄ infourmed,
And of a Smeth [s]maragadane Smyten was þe toþir;
Þe thrid of a Topas a-tyred & trelest & grauen;
Þe ferd degre a Granate a gracious gemme;
Þe fyfte was of ane Adomant all-to-gedire makid;
Þe sext of gletirand gold gayle was forgid;

200

Þe ouirmast, all of þe erth with-out oþire werkis,
Apon̄ þis wyse ware þai grayd & for grete cause.
Þe first was of an̄ Amatist þat all chaye demes
Riche, said þe romance & ronkenes of wynes,
Lattis na dronkynnes þam̄ dere þat douth at it beris.
Þe same wyse mon̄ a wee waite to him-selfe,
A kniȝt at couettis to clym̄ to kyngs astate,
Him bus haue warnes him with of wit & of mynde,
Þat he wirke noȝt on̄ þe wethire halfe for wathe apon̄ erth.
Þe s[e]cunde was of Smaragdone þat ay þe siȝt kepis;
Quat berne as beris it him on̄ it briȝtens his eȝen̄.
So bus a kyng to consaile haue a clere hert,
To se at syttis him to se & sagely to wirke.
Þe thrid was a Topas, I trow at to þe trone lengis;
Þat is so clere of his kind þe clause me recordis,
Þat qua-sum-euire in þat ilk his ymage behaldis,
Þe face is to þe fold-ward þe fete to þe firment.
So comes it wele for a kyng to knaw till his end,
How ay þe top to þe taa is turned at þe last.
Quen̄ fortune festis him he fendis beliue,
And all his dignite bedene driues in-to poudire.
Þe ferd was a granate, I gesse goules althire fynest;
Is nane so redy, as I rede of all þe riche stanes;
Slike color aȝe a kyng wele in conyschance to bere,
Þat he schape to na schauadry þat schend suld his fame.
Þe fift was all of adomant as þe buke tellis;
Þat is he þat is so hard þat hurt may nane tole;
Is nothire stele ne na stane so stife it may perce,
And growis out of þe grete see in graynes & in cragis.
If any Naue to it neȝe þat naylid is with iryn̄,
Þen̄ cleuys it ay to þe clife carryg & othyre;

202

Bot blode of body, sais þe buke bees it neuire percid,
Or þe natour of anothire thing þat nedis noȝt to reken̄.
Þat same kynd suld a kyng of his craft vse,
So stable & so stedfast to stand in his werkes,
Þat for na prayere ne pres ne plesaunce on̄ erthe,
Out of þe rake of riȝtwysnes ren̄ suld he neuire.
Þe Sext was of gold graciously hewen̄,
Of all metals o mold þe maistir & þe syre;
Þe same cure is a kyng be kind of his leggis,
To gy & gouerne his gomes þe grettest he is makid.
Þe seuynt vp to þe sege was of þe selfe erth,
Þat is na mare for to mene as me my mynd tellis,
Bot ilka kyng suld him knaw cried of þe soile,
And to þe same sustenance sodanly to worthe.
Þus sett oure syre in his sete with septoure in hand,
In pelour & in pall & proud men̄ him by.
Þan̄ lete he lettres belyue with ledis out to send,
Þurȝe all þe prouynce of pers promicid þis werkis.
“Þe kyng with-outen̄ compere of kyngis all othire,
Of all þe lordis now þe lord þat lefis apon̄ erth,
Sire Alexander, athill son̄ of Amon̄ his driȝten̄,
And als of Olimpades anyly consayued,
To þe souerayns & þe Senescalls þe sires & þe maistris,
And all þe pers out of persy princes & dukis,
Þe Iustis & þe gentils & Iugemen̄ of lawe,
Bathe citiȝens & seriant salutis of grace.
Syn it lokid has þe largenes of þe lord of heuen,
Þat me þis diademe of Dary demed is & graunted,
And to be here þus enhansid in his hiȝe trone,
Ȝe sall be glad of my degre & gretly reioyd,
And ordans aiquare ouire all honourable princes,
Gouernours & gardens of all þe grete burȝes,
As was in Darius days to deme men þe riȝt,

204

And clene all þe clientis to kepe þaire demayndes.
Ilk a pepill his possession̄ in pes moȝt he broweke,
Armoure & actons y latt all þat be kepid,
Caires þam̄ to castells & in kinge houses,
And none so bald, ere I bide to bere þam̄ na mare.
And fra þis marche to Messedone quils I am maistir here,
Þe passage in aithire part sall playn̄ be & open̄,
Þe comers out of aithire coste to caire vndistrobbed,
With message & Marchandise & al manire of nedis.”

Now is his pistils all past & pese he comandis;
“Quilke of my fryndis ere þe folke þat my faa sloȝe,
Þat was þe drepars of Dary now doo þam a-pere,
Þat þai may weld for þis werke wirschip to mede.
My mekill miȝtfull gods I mayn̄ly ȝow swere,
And on̄ þe lay at I leue & be my lufed modire,
Þe worthe wage þaim wayne þat þai haue wele serued.”
Þan̄ all þe pepill out of Persy pouret out to wepe;
Bathe Besan̄ & Anabras as þe buke tellis,
Þat ware þe banes of his body baldly þam̄ shawis;
Said: “we to-hewid him [with] oure handis hiȝe emperoure.”
Þai wend wele þaim to wyn̄ a waryson̄ for euire.
Þan̄ bad he bernes þaim to bynd & bringe þaim be-lyue
Vn-to þe gudmans graue & hewe of þaire hedis.
“Allas, my lord,” quod þa ledis “& ȝe so late swore,
To ȝour worthi gods, ȝour wale dame we suld no waa suffire!”
“Siris, as ȝe worthi ware, I-wisse I wate wele I hiȝt,
And bot ȝour harmes were vnhid I held noȝt myne athis.
For sen I wan̄ in-to þe werld my witt has bene aye,
Quen treid was a trechory þe tulkis to be hedid.”
Þan̄ he did þaim to deth as driȝten him praysed,

206

Þe prouynce piȝt is in pes & princes ere maked,
An ald derling of Darius was duke made of pers,
Request of þe rials ane of his riche vncles.
Oure emperoure, quen þis was endid erly on̄ þe morne,
With all þa alyens him by & ancient lordis,
He gase a-gayne to de-grece vp to þe gilt trone,
Dobbed in his diademe & diȝt as be-fore;
As Dary demed, or he deid his doȝtir he comandes,
Mad Rosan̄ þe riche radly to apere,
Hire hede vn-helid was on̄ hiȝe & hild all in trissis,
Vm̄-by-clappid with a coronacle of costious stanes;
As þe manere of þat marche was he wedd hire to wyfe,
And in þe sege with him-selfe to sitt he hir makis,
Comands hire as a conquyres of knyȝtis to be louted,
And all þe pepill out of Persy was passandly ioyed.
Þai gone agraythen̄ vp þaire gods on gilten segis,
Sayed: “þou ert duke of ilk dome & driȝtin þi-selfe!”
Þan was he fraid in his flesche bad, “feyne of ȝour wordis!
I am a coruptible kyng & of clay fourmed!”
Þan̄ out onone to Aristotil & to his awen modire
Of all his weris & his welth he wrate alto-gedire;
And aȝt daies all bedene he dites in his pistill,
For reuerence of Rosan to revell & halowe.
Al be þe metire bot mene þus mekill haue I ioyned;
Forthi, lordis, be ȝour leue list ȝow to suffire.
Now will I tary for a time & tempire my wittis;
And he þat stiȝe to þe sternes stiȝtill vs in̄ heuen!

Quintusdecimus passus Alexandri.

Lordis, will ȝe me lithe & lestin a stonde,
Now sall I kithe vs a carpe of a kyng riche,
Of þe auntours of ser Alexander þat aire was of grece,
How all þe werd at his will he wan̄ or he deid.

207

Þe lattir ende of his lyfe me list ȝow to tell.
For all þe first is in fittis & folowand þe lettir,
And he þat made ȝow þis mirth oft mynes his saule,
Þat driȝtin̄ deyne him to dele a dele of his blis.
Sone as ser Dary was deid & done out of lyue,
And Alexander as aire had all for to wild,
Resayued to his riche quene Rosan his doȝtir,
And was þe croune be-kend of clene all þus ends,
He gedird him a grete ost & graythid him to ride,
A powere of þe Persens & of þe prowde grekis,
Þe Messedones & all men he [maynly] comandis
On kyng Porrus to preke & prese him with armes.
Now gase he furthe with his ging þe gaynest in-to ynde.
Þare many daies be dissert he dryfes with his ost,
Be hiȝe hillis & howis & be holuȝe doūnes,
Be wast & be wildirnes & be watirles bournes.
Sone was he wery of þe way so was his wale kniȝtis;
Menyd þaim þe Messedones emang þaim-selfe,
Þai said, it miȝt be sufficient þe sesyng of Persy,
And him þat trouage on̄ tyme has tane of oure eldirs.
“Quat suld we fonde any ferre now faylis oure strent[h]is;
Þis erd of ynde is ilk dele enhabet with bestis,
And he bet willis all þe werd be weris him to loute,
His flesche is fostard & fedd be fiȝt & by sternes.
And were his person̄ in pes bot for a pure tyme,
Þan suld he faile as a freke at þe fode wantis.
Bot lat vs leue him at longe & lende to oure hames,
And pas quedire as him plese with þe proud barbres.”
Sone as oure kyng of his kniȝtis þis carpe vndirestondis,
He mas to stand all þe stoure & standis vp in þe myddis,
“Bald baratours on bent blythly me heris,

208

All þe pepill out of Persy ere put in my will;
All ware rebell in arest now is þe rewme ȝold,
And I your kyng as ȝe knaw with croune & with septour.
And now ȝe leue me þus liȝtly bot for a litill pyne,
To caire a-gayne to ȝour kithid I can̄ noȝt þare-on̄.
Knaw ȝe noȝt how in ȝour care I cu[m]furth ȝow anys,
Quene ȝe dout so þe dites of Darus in his pistill?
Eft quen we ferd in-to fild & with oure faes mett,
I was þe first ȝow before þat þe fild entrid,
Soȝt in-to Sussys my-selfe for ȝoure hele,
In þe habet of Amon oure allirs driȝten,
Put my person̄ in plegg & perils a hundreth,
And in-to tourment on̄-tald me tuke for ȝour sake.
Bot wetis it wele with-out wene I wene in my saule,
As I ȝit haue hediretoward heried all my faes,
So sall I gete hus ay þe gree with my gud helpe,
And for na tene at may betide turne sall I neuire,
If ȝe will lend in-to ȝour landis loke at ȝour hertis!
Bot me to do slike a dede driȝtin it schilde!
I sall neuire graithe me to grece gase quen ȝow likis,
Or mare wirschip I haue won̄ for wathe vndire heuen.”
Quen he þis reson̄ had redd þan̄ rewid his princes,
And of forge[f]nes of þaire gilt his grace þai be-seke.
Kniȝtis callis him on̄ kneys said: “kid emperoure,
All oure life & oure lose is lent in ȝour handis,
Oure-selfe & oure seruage is surely ȝoure awen̄,
Ai at ȝoure beding to be oure bodi & oure gudis,
Quare-euer ȝe wend in all þe werd in watir or in erthe,
Ay mekely at ȝour mandment ȝour maieste to folowe.
If we suld die all-bedene at an̄ day tyme,
We sall neuer spise ȝow ne sporne in speche ne in dede,
Ne neuire ȝour rialte renay bot rede to sewe,

209

Quils any blast of oure breth in̄ oure brest lengis.”
Þan ȝede he furth in-to ynde & in þase Iles weres;
Quen̄ all þe iolite of giugne & Iulus was endid,
And messangers a-pon̄ þe marche him metis belyue,
Fra kyng Porrus þe proude þis pistill him broȝt.

“I, Porrus, þat as principall possessid am̄ in̄ ynde,
To þis michare out of Messedone þis mandment I write.
Þou, Alexander, þou Ape þou Amlaȝe out of grece,
Þou litill thefe, þou losangere þou lurkare in cites,
Sen þou ert destayned to die & dedely þi-selfe,
Þat agayn̄ driȝtin of vnde[d]lynes quat may þi dede vaile?
Madding marrid has þi mode & þi mynd changid.
Sen god has sent þe with to see & ȝit þi witt failes,
I hope þou wenes at we be like to þire lethire Persyn̄s,
Þat þou þi lordschip̄ to loute has now on̄ late strayned.
And for þou fellid has in fiȝt a fiȝt at was sympull,
Now muses þou to þi miserie my maieste to bowe.
If gomes be gouerners of gods þan mai þi gesse worth;
And if þe land here on lawe be lickned to þe heuen,
Þe ministracion of men̄ to me were to febill.
All driȝtens & dewessis ere dute of my name;
Ane ser Denys, a duke gane many wintire,
He bed vs bataill on̄ bent & þe back turned.
And or þat Sexes him-selfe sesid was in Persy,
At þe marche of Messedone made vs trouage.
Bot for þe partise ere vn-prophetable vs plese þaim na langir,
Ai wald þe wise haue wale soile mare þan̄ a wast lee.
Caire agayn̄ to þi kith caiteffe, I bidd,
Here na lordschip̄ þe limpis quat list þe disyre.”

Sone as þis clause to oure kyng [was] comyn & deliuere,
Be-fore his bachelers on̄ brade he bedis it to rede.

210

His tulkis of þis titill quen þai þe tenour herd,
Þan ware þai sory of þa sawes & selly frayed.
“Quat now, my worthe werrayouris?” þe wale kyng sayd,
“For Porrus pistill, I pray ne for his proud wordis,
No for na manas he mas mayes noȝt ȝoure hertis.
Did noȝt ser Dary to vs write his pistill with pride,
And all þe berbrens bernes in bestis þam affyed,
As lebards, lesards, & lenxis lions & tigris?”
With comfurth of his contenance his knyȝtis he gladis,
And þan̄ to Porrus apart þis pistill he writis.

“I, þat þe kyng am of kyng[s] & crouned of lordis,
Þe eldist child of Amon̄ þat all has to wild,
And honourd Olimpades with him ane geten̄,
To þe oddest aire out of ynde þis answare I make.
I-wis, oure wittis with þi wordis þou has wele scharpid,
And made vs bald with þi bost þe bataill to ȝeld.
Oure boundis ere barrayne & bare & þine full of welth;
Þe kenir is oure corage ȝoure kyng-dome to wyn̄,
To put away oure pouerte & pas to ȝoure hiȝtes.
And ga noȝt, as ȝe gude ware agayn̄ ȝow to fiȝt,
Bot a berne full of bost a barbrene prince,
Wenand me & all þe werd to waike to ȝow-selfe.”
Quen̄ Porrus with his preue men þis pistill had redd,
Þan was he wondirly wrathe & wiȝtly asembles
Þe kniȝtis & þe captayns of all þe coste by,
His champions, his chiftans his cheualry to-gedire.
He feris him a faire flote was fed for þe nanes,
Of vnicornes, of olyfauntis & wondirfulle bestis,
As ilkane vsyd with in ynde vmquile with to fiȝte,
And aires agayne Alexander with armes him̄ to mete.
Þe powere of sir Porrus was passandly many;
A stour stiffe vndire stele þe strangest of þe werde
Of sithid chariotis him sued a selcuth nom̄bre,
At þe fewist, as I find a fouretene thousand;

211

With-outen bachelers on̄ blonkis & bowmen on̄ fote,
Foure hundreth Olyfants in-fere folowid him enarmi[d],
With ilkane bunden on his bake a borden̄ castell,
And thretty tulkis in ilk toure tired in̄ platis.
Oure mey-he out of Messedone quen þai so many saȝe,
Þan ware þai storbet of þat stoure so was þe stythe Persyns.
All þe athils of sir Alexander was arȝed in þaire hertis
To mache with sike a multitude of men & of bestis.
Þan was þir chiftans chosen cheualous kniȝtis
Þat buskid ware on bathe halfe þe bataill to rewle.
With þat þai tuke vp þe trumpis be thretty at anes,
A-grydis grymly to-gedir þe grekes & barbres.
Sire Alexander was armed & askis his stede
Þat was þe bald bocifalon̄ & on̄ his bake worthes;
Mare þan a stanecast at a count be-fore his kniȝtis all
He standis vp in his stereps in starand maylis.
Þe men out of Medy he mas, & of Pers,
To enverom̄ alle þe vaward of all þe vile yndes,
And he was graythid [with] a ging of grekis kniȝtis
And maistres out [of] Messedone þis meyhe to helpe.
Þe pepill out of Persye ware petusly woundid
Of Olifauntis ouir all with horrible hurtis;
All at vnweried a-way wynnes in þe stoundis
Durst neuir his face to his faes eft on̄ fold bide.
Sire Alexander him a-visis & ames in his wittis
How he miȝt bring it a-boute þire bestis to devoide;
And mas to beete all of bras as bernes it ware,
And full of glorand gledis þaim to þe gorge fillis;
Ane instrument all of iren̄ þare ymage to bere,
Was compast on̄ carte-wise & cursoures þaim dreȝe.
Þire Olifantis of ynde quen þai þare-on waite,
Þai wend þai ware wees & wyndis þaim agayn̄
To drepe þaim as þaire first did disclosid þai þe chaviles,

212

And sone was snaypid on þe snowte with þe snart hetis.
With þat þai fonge to þe fliȝt be fifty at anes,
Of ilkan̄ athill ware þai aȝed þat any armes werid.
Sone as ser Porrus of þe poynte & o þe plite waytis,
Þan was he tangid with tene & turbled vnfaire.
Þan preses in þe Persyns & of þe proud Medis
With arowis & with othire armes agayn̄ all þe yndis,
Tolls of þe tirantis & termynd o lyue,
Seȝes doun on aithire side a sowme out of nounbre,
Thretti dais on̄ a throm̄ þai threpid euire elike,
So lange at þe lest way as lastid þe bataill.
Þare was þe Medis martird & many of Perses
Gorred & gais þurȝe & grysely woundid.
Oure mody kyng of Messedone þe myschefe be-haldis,
Seis þaim faile so ethfully & felly was greued.
Apon̄ þe bald bucifelon̄ brant vp he sittis,
Springis out a spere sperid all þe platis.
Þe brest of þe bataill he baldly a-prochid,
Girdis doun of þe grettis & þe gree wynnys.
His awen men of Messedone maynly þai feȝt,
So did his gomes out [of] grece & gate a grete name.
Sone discendid þare doun þe duȝtiest of ynde,
And Porrus prekis fra þe place & þe playn̄ voidis,
His ledis at left ware o lyue lendis him eftire.
And Alexander in þat angle all þe niȝt logis,
Offirs all his old gods his honour þam̄ thankis,
As wele þe ynde as his awen̄ he graue þaim all.

Sextus Decimus [passus] Alexandri.

Þe secund day with a saute a cite he takis,
Þe proddest ane at Porrus possessour was euire.
He past in-to his palais & in þe place findis
Þat semed no synfull saule þe selcuthe to trowe.

213

First fand he þare of fyne gold a foure hundreth postis,
With crafti coronals & clene coruen of þe same.
Be-twene þe pelers was piȝt with precious leuys,
Gilden wynes with grapis of gracious stanes.
Sum were of cristall clere clustrid to-gedire;
Sum made ware of Margarits þe mast of þe werd;
Sum was smeth smaragdyns & oþire small gemmes,
And new nychometis nemellus endentid,
Þat ware as semely quen̄ þai ware samen,
And all pargestis of plate as pure as þe noble.
Þe Messedons in þam̄ merkid with þaire mekill brandis,
And þe thinnest was a nynche thicke quen þai ware þurȝe persed;
And þo ware strenkild with stanes as sterne o þe heuyn̄,
With charbokl[e]s on̄ þe champ & with chefe perles.
Smeten̄ was smaragdans in-to þe smeth werkis,
And athill amytists als in aungels licknes;
Of Euor & of Olifants was ordand þe ȝatis,
With barrers of ane Ebyn̄-tree bonden with cheynes.
Þe Ebyn̄, as þe buke sais brin will neuir,
And growis in þe Iles of ynde as Isodry tellis.
Þe solers was of Sypirs all of a soyte makid;
And Symolacres in þe sale was sett vp-on̄ trones
All of glittirand gold as gomes it were,
Discheualer with chaplets of changand hewes;
And ilka tulke a tabernacle tildid was ouire,
And þat was grauen all grayd of gilden platis,
Flamband all in filour & fewlis en-blanchid,
Mekely merkid & made of all manere of kyndis;
And þa ware proudly depaynt þe pennes & þe wingis,
Of all colours to a-counte as þai ere cled here;
Of fethirhame & all fare as feetely enjoyned,
As þai ware shapen o þe schell to schew to oure eȝen̄.
Bet was all of brent gold þe billis & þe chauyls,
And, quen̄ as Porrus con̄ plese in presens of lordis,

214

Þai made as mery meledy & musik þai sanng
As in þe moneths of Mai or mydsomere euyn̄!
Þare fand he vessale of value to vyse out of nombre,
Gurds & Goblets of gold althire-finest,
Coupis all of cristall & oþire clere gemmes;
Þai fande bot a fewe dele forged of siluir.
Þan rade he fra þa regions & remewid his hostis;
To þe ȝatis of Caspy he come & sett doun his tentis,
A lande, as þe buke tellis a large & a noble,
All sauand bot serpentis & oþire sere bestis.
To þe mode qwene of Amazoyne þan makis him þis pistill.
“I, þat þe kyng am of kyngs & kiddist of lordis,
Alexander, athil child of Amon oure driȝtin,
To Calistride þe conquirese comfurth & ioye!
Oure weris & oure wirschips & of oure wale notis,
How we haue done ser Dary & drepid his kniȝtis,
Couerd all his kyngdoms & conquirid his landis,
I leue it to ȝour ladyschip þis lange noȝt vnknawen̄.
With Porrus in þe playn̄ fild proued haue my strenthis,
And oþire fele, þat ware to faynt oure force to withstand.
For-þi ȝour landis, if ȝow list to leuire fra oure handis,
Tas tite vn-to ȝour tresory & trebute vs pays.”
Þan̄ writis agayne þe wale quene & on̄ þis wyse spekis:
“I, Calistride, þe conquirese þat kepis all þis endis,
With þe mery mai[d]ons of Amazoyne þe miȝtist in erthe,
And othire birdis ebland þe biggist in erthe,
To þe modi kyng of Messedone message of blisse.
Ȝoure saule sa full of sapient sedis & floures,
Þat all þe present is apert puttis þou in mynde,
And has of cases þat ere to come a knawlage in dole.
For-þi oure soile or þou seke vmse þe be tyme,

215

Quat tene & torfare may tide & tent to þine ende.
Þare werraid neuir with vs na wee þat wirschip̄ achewid,
Þat he ne was heried in hast or had a heȝe schame.
For ilka lered man of lyue him so lethir haldis,
If he þat for distruccion doun in-to þe depe fallis.
Bot oure werkis & of oure wonynge-stede if ȝe wald knawe,
I sal declare ȝow þe cas clene by þire writtis.
Oure inhabetting, ser, is in an̄ Ilee & amed as a sercle,
With rynand all aboute oure erd an̄ endles wattre.
And we ere of females at þe fewis foure & xx Mille,
And twa hundreth þar-to & all of tried ladis.
A preue planke is at a place to pas & to entre,
Oure bernes bildis noȝt vs by bot ouir þe bourne wyndis.
Bot ȝet be-ȝonde ilka ȝere make we vs festis,
And thretti dais all be-dene oure delitis hauntis.
If any consaue þar a knaf þan kepis him his modire
Vij ȝere with-in oure-selfe & sendis him his fadir.
And be scho lyuir of a lasse scho lengis in oure burȝe,
And is oure thewis of oure thede thryfandly enfourmed.
Quen we to feȝt with oure faes fares out of wanes,
A hundreth thousand I hope we be on̄ horses enarmed,
Þa leues in oure lede oure lithis to defend.
Quen we repaire with þe palme þan prayses vs oure feris.
And, buske ȝe to oure bondsward vs bataill to ȝeld,
Ȝet sall we maynly on̄ þe marche mete ȝow in armes.
To lithe vs all if þou limpes na louyng þou gettis,
For þou wynnes noȝt bot wemen þare-of na worde rysis.
Bot & god graunt vs þe gree grete glorie haue we þan̄,
For þe athelist emperoure we wan̄ euen at oure will.
Be noȝt to sturten with þi sturte to stryue vs a-gayn̄,
For many leres may þe limpe slik as þou noȝt wenes!”

216

Quen he had lokid ouir þe lyne he laȝes at hire wordis,
And to þat lady belyme þis lettre he writis.

“I, Alexander, þat am aire of Amon̄ him-selfe,
To þe maistres out of Amazoyne many-fald ioyes!
Thre partys of þe proud werde I playnly haue won̄,
Affrike & Asye and Europ̄ þat othire.
Ȝit was neuire man a-pon̄ mold oure miȝtis to withstand,
And feȝt with vs in þe fild; ȝow fallis þe same.
Bot be-cause we lufe ȝour comyng we consall ȝow blyth
To pas out with ȝour paramours & pere vs be-forne.
On Amon̄ oure athill sire an athe I ȝow make,
Of vs to suffire na sare to sauely to wende,
Bathe oure gold ȝow to gefe & of oure gud kniȝtis,
To mary to ȝoure maidens & make þam a-vaunced.”
Sone as þai wist of his will þai wiȝtly him sente
Ten vncorsayd coltis þe clennest of þe werd,
And as mony to amend of milk-quyte stedis,
Of mony & of mekill quat mayn̄ giftis.
Dame Calistride þe conquiris comes with hire ladis,
Mas hire pes with oure prince & pas to hire landis.

Decimus septimus passus Alexandri.

Þen come a sande to þis sire in þe same tyme,
Þat kyng porrus þe proud with pers out of ynde
Was in þe bonds of Batriane & eft had assemblid
Anoþire ost of odmen him eft on̄ to ride.
As hastely as he it herd his ostis he flittis,
And athils harnest on̄ hors a hundreth & fyfti
Was chosene to chiftans & all of chefe dukes,
Ordand of oure emperoure his ostis to lede.
Þus pas he furthe with his princes ser Porrus to mete,
In August eftir Iuli as þe boke tellis.

217

All ware þai swollen of þe swete & sweltid on̄ þe son̄;
Sum in þaire harnais for hete was honest for euire.
Þai went be waldis & be wastis þar watirs ware nane,
And armed bud þam̄ all bee for angwischis o bestis,
As colwers & for coltris & crabbid snakis,
And oþire warlaȝes wild þat in þe wod duelled.
As ai stremand sternes stared all þaire wedis,
Of gai glitirand gold glesenyd þaire schildis.
Þai droȝe furth be dissert & drinkles þai spill,
Was nouthire waldis in þar walke ne watir to fynde.
A kniȝt þat zephall was callid fand in a cole schade
A litill drysnyng of dewe was droppid fra þe heuen,
Þat it was in a holoȝe stane & in his helme fillis,
And bringis it to oure bald kyng to brigge with his hetis.
Þan Alexander to þis athill all þus he spekis,
“Þis solayne sope if I sup̄ quethire sustene it may
Þe menbris of þe Messedones & of þe many Persens,
Or I my-selfe sall be serued & þai sitt with nyfils?”
“Sire, ȝe sall first be refreschid” faythly he sayd.
“Quat? & ȝe perisch?” quod þe prince “& pas out o lyue?
Queþir euir me list þan to lefe with langour & sorowe?”
And hilds it doun out of þe helme befor his athils all.
Þan̄ slike a comfurth þam enclosed for his kynd wordis,
As all þe watir of þe werd ware in þaire wambs hellid.
Þan ferd þai furth till a fflode & findis all þe strandis
Full of Redis, as I rede rughere þan thornes.
His folke fell to it fast & freschely þai drynke,
Bot was na renke at to it ran̄ at euire rase eftire.
It was so keruand & kene! þan was his kniȝtis stroubid
Mare for þe bale of þaire bestis & brist of þaim-selfe.
For with his florantis olifants him folowed a thousand,
Of sithid chariotis & soo & sextene hundreth,
With coȝrres & with clene floure camels and mules,
And out of nounbre of nowte at nedid to his ostis,

218

Thre C Mille in thede of thra men̄ of armes.
Be now þai ware so neȝe tane þat þai for nede supposid,
Sum of his awen̄ vryn̄ & sum on̄ Iren̄ lickid,
Þat it was sorowe any segge þe siȝt to be-hald!
Þan aires him on ser Alexander with angwischis & payne,
Ay foloȝe furth by þe flumme at I first tald,
And at þe aȝtand houre I ame, of þe day,
Þan comes þaim to a castell was closid in þe borne.
It was a mervalous mote made all of redis,
And foure forlange, I finde þe flode was o brede.
A fewe within þe forslet of folke þare a-perid,
Waiteand out at wyndows to wondire on his ostis.
Sire Alexander bad his men aske þaim of ynde,
And frayne quare þai find miȝt any fresch watir;
And þai þan̄ hent in þaire hedis & hidd þam belyue.
And he felly with flane flingis at þe wallis,
Ȝit for na spell at he spirid spek wald þai neuire.
And þan comandis he his kniȝt[is] kenely to swymme,
And þai all bare, saue þe breke with brandis in̄ hand,
Þan thringis in on a throw thretty & seuyn.
Als fast as þai þe forthing-dole had of þe flode past,
Þan girds þare vp fra þe ground & grymly þaim woundis
Of Seeles & of see-Bules a swyth grete nounbre,
Droȝe þam̄ doun in-to þe depe & drouned þam̄ for euire.
Þan̄ ȝede he þine with his erles & egirly him thristis;
Lebards lendis þaim agaynes leons & beres;
Dragons & dromondaris & of þir derfe Tigirs
Fra morne to þe mirke niȝt þaim maynly assailed.
Þus raȝt he fra þis reuir be many ruȝe waies
To it was meten to þe mere to myd-ouir-vndorne.
Þan come he streke on̄ a staunke þe store me tellis,
Was neuir na hony in na hyue vndire heuen swettir.
A foure furelange or fyue it was of full brede,
Umby-thorned with a thike wod thre mile a-boute,

219

Was all of þe Rede ryse as I redd first;
And þat he cuttis doun clene & kindils in fyris.
He gert tild vp his tentis be þat terne syde,
Þoȝt þare a longe quile to lie & lachen his esee.
Þe mone ouir þe montayns meryly it schynes
Or he miȝt drinke any drope & þen his dole neȝes.
Þan comes þare-out creuesses of manykins hewis,
Scorpions þaim to scere & scalid neddirs,
And þai so large & so laith & so lowd schrikis,
Þat all þe soile of þa sidis of þe sound ryngis.
Dragons dryfes doun o driȝt fra þe derfe hillis,
With kene carefull crie and crestis on þaire hedis,
Grisely gapand & grim̄ with gilden brestis,
And flawmes feruent as fyre floȝe fra þaire eȝen;
Þai drewe toward oure douth with dedly blastis.
Sir Alexander & his ost was arȝed vnfaire,
Was þare na freke in þe fild þat faithly he leued
To be deuowrid & devoidid & vencuste for euire.
Þe kyng þan comfurthid his kniȝtis all if he care þoled:
“Mi bald baratours,” he bad “a-baste noȝt ȝoure hertis;
Seis ensampill at my-selfe & seke ȝe na ferre,
Bot hedis haly to my hand & harmes þar-eftire.”
A brand & a briȝt schild bremely he hentis,
Feȝtis freschely & fast with þa fell bestis,
Dasches dragons doun geuys þaim depe woundis,
Slaes of þa serpentis many sadd hundreth.
Þan bildid of his bachelers & braidis to þaire wapen̄;
If þai ware mased & amayd maynely þaim feȝt.
Ȝit was þar twenti þat time tangid to dede,
And þat þe comliest kniȝtis at þe kyng ledis;
Of athill archars als as þe buke tellis,
A-boute a thretty in þat thede tharned þaire lyfes.
Þus many deid of his douth as þe boke tellis,
And him limpis all þe loose be þe lattire end.
Now comes a company of Crabbe-fische as calues gret,

220

Meuand of þis marras oure men to assaill,
With backis, as þe buke sais biggir & hardere
Þan ony comon cogill-stane or cocatryse scales.
Quen̄ kniȝtis of oure conquirours kest at þam lances,
Was nane so wele-stelid poynt at þam̄ perse miȝte.
Bot gomes with þaire greues in twa in þe gledis spurned,
And all at left ware o lyue in-to þe loȝe entirs.
Be þai had fyneschid þis fiȝt was ferre in with euyn̄,
Foure houres full farne & þe fifte neghes.
And leons quyte as lylly lent þam̄ agayn̄,
Of bodis biggire þan bules berand vnfaire.
Oure kniȝtis at þe first come clenly þaim sloȝe,
Alto-bretind þaim on̄ bent & broȝt þaim on̄ fliȝt.
Wild berys in þe wast fra þe wodd comes,
With ilka tenefull tothe as tyndis of harowis,
A cubete lenth, sais þe clause cald was þe lest.
Þai seke out be sundres sexti to-gedire,
With wild men̄ of þe wast & women e-bland,
With sex handis, & soo sett out of kynd.
Þai held in hettirly & hurtis of his kniȝtis;
And þai with brandis & bowis bremely þaim woundis,
Sloȝe of þa sauagyus a sowme out of nombre,
And many scopid into þe scoghe without scath mare.
Sire Alexander & his ost angwisch enduris,
Was waik, as na wondre was & wery for-foȝten̄.
And þam he bedis at a braide to beet vp þe stank,
With-out his ost ouir all horrible fires.
Þan come a beste of a busche with a blak heued,
Mad & merkid as a Meere þe mast of þe werd,
Fere fersere þan an olifant as we find written̄,
Stayrand on to þe staunke þe stour to asaill.
Þis breme best bare as þe buke tellis,
Before forne in þe fronte thre fell tyndis,

221

Hedous horns & hoge & hiȝt in þaire tonge
Adanttrocay with all men̄ as I am enfourmed.
Before scho drank of þis dam his douth sho assaild,
And oure kyng with his carpe his kniȝtis he gladis.
Aȝt & tuenti men̄ of armes onone scho delyuird,
Bernes was diȝt þe deth with dintis enoghe.
Þan mys out of þis marras as any mayn̄ foxes
Come furth, & fedd þaim in-fere of þe ded corses.
All at was bitten of þa best was at a brunt dede,
Bot ȝit þai noyed bot a nykid to nane þat was ermed.
Þan floȝe þar by þe firmament of þa foule Backes,
Als store & as stalword as þire sedill dowis
With mekill maȝten teeth as it of men̄ ware;
And at vn-armed was þai asperly wondid,
Of sum þai nyppid fra þe nebb þe nose be þe eȝen,
Of sum þai ete of þaire eris euen by þe rotis,
Sum þai luggid of þe lippis þe lire fra þe chekis,
Bot þar bitis, as þe buke sais blemest na kniȝtis.
Þan come a fliȝtir in of fowls as fast as it dawid,
To vise on as vowtres as vermeon̄ hewid,
Þaire boukis & þar bathire fete was of blak sable,
And did bot plaid by þe pepill & fed þaim on fyschis.
Quen̄ he had voidid þis vermyn̄ & vencust þat of ynde,
Out of þis perlaous place he past with his ost
In-to the boundis of Bactry þar bildid he his tentis.
Þare reches was of redde gold & many riche gemes;
And clene all þat contre qwen þai his come wist,
Þai mett him full manerly & mekely resayued
With presentes of pirre & many proude giftes,
And thretti dayis in þat thede he tholes & abidis.
A sertane folke was in þat soile þat Serres ere callid,
And all þe lyndis in þat land with leves as wolle.
And so þire Serres, at I said þaim in þe Somere gedirs,
And makis þaim wedis þar-of to were for wintris blastis.

222

Þire baratours bawers ere bremly reioyed
Of þe conquest of þire cocatrices & of þa kene bestis;
And now he caire[s] fra þat kithe & comes in a stounde
Quare Porrus with his powere on̄ a playn̄ lengis.
Sire Alexander & his ost caires þaim a-gayne
With brade baners & briȝt & bragging of troumpis.
Apon þe bald bocifalon̄ before his men̄ all
He flingis out a forelange his feris to assaile.
Þe Persens putt þaim in pres & þe proude grekis;
Þe Medis & þe Messedons maynely þai feȝt,
Þai swey doun as swiftly þa swart men of ynde,
As euire did corne in a croft be-fore a kene sithe.
Quen sir Porrus saȝe his princes in þe prese faile,
Þan aires he out be-for his ost on̄ Alexander callis:
“It comes,” he said, “to na kyng ne kidd emperoure
To latt his pepill þus pas & perisch in ydill;
It fallis mare faire him þe fiȝt to fynesch him-selfe.
Forþi lat stedill all oure stoure & stedd þam̄ esoundire,
Þi semble o þe taa syde & myne on̄ þe tothire;
Lat vs twa termyn þe taite be-twene vs alane.
If I be vencust in þe vaile & voidid of my lyfe,
Lat all my seggis & soile be to þi-selfe ȝolden̄;
And if þou failis in þe fild & I þe floure wynn̄,
Latt þan̄ þine erlis & þine erd myne empire obeyi.”
Thus porrus in his hiȝe pride to oure kyng spekis,
For he was litill & laghe him laythly dispices.
For quen̄ he wan̄ to wax þe writt me recordis,
Thre cubettis fra þe croune doun his cors had a lenghte.
Þe person̄ of ser Porrus past him þat hiȝt twyse,
He feetis him forth in his force & in his faire hiȝte.
Bot þe prowis & þe prouidens & of þe pure thewis
Þat lurkis with-in þis lede full litill he kennes.
Now is þe partise in pes & þai þe place dele;
Aithire kyng with his cause encontres on̄ othire.

223

Sire Porrus with a proude swerd him on̄ þe pan̄ strikis
So snelle at he snatirs with nere snaypid him for euire.
Þan kastis vp a kene crie þe kniȝtis out of ynde,
For he was dased of þe dint & half dede him semyd.
Porrus, as a prince suld persayued þar latis,
Turnes him toward his tulkis & titely rehetis.
Sire Alexander him avises & his aande takis,
As bald barratour & breme his brand vp he liftis,
With bathe his handis in-to þe brayne his basenet he cleuys,
And he fallis doun fey & fynes in þat stound.
Þe pepill of ser Porrus quen þai [him] pas saȝe,
With all manere of men maynly þai fiȝt.
“A! wriches!” quod þe wale kyng & wisely he spekis,
“Eftir þe deth of ȝour duke quat deynes ȝowe to stryue?
Wete ȝe wele,” quod þe wee “be werrayours laȝes,
Þat quen̄ þe gouernoure is gane þan̄ is gomes wastid.”
“Sire, it is better for to bate & on̄ þe bent faile,
Þan se þis rewthe on̄ ȝour renkis & reft be ȝour gudis.”
“Sirs, blynes of ȝour bataile & bowes to ȝoure landis;
Ȝoure fermes & ȝoure fraunches I frely ȝow grant;
For ȝe haue cockid for ȝour kyng ȝe sall no care suffire!”
And þan callid him on̄ knese & kest doun þaire armes.
Þai come to þis conquirour comend him as driȝtin,
Þan sett he sales vp of silke & sacrifece makis.
Sire Porrus, as him wele fell he proudely enteris,
And all þe fey in̄ þe fild & here a fitt ende.

Decimus octauus passus Alexandri.

Þan aires he furth with his erlis & entris an̄ Ile,
Quare þir Exidraces as Ermets inhabet in caues,
A progenie of pore men̄ þat neuir pride hauntis,
And ȝit þe gentill genosophis þam̄ in þe gest callis.
Is þare na bost þaim ebland ne bataills vsyd,

224

Nouthire cites in to sytt cellis, nor na tounes,
Bot crepis in-to creuesse & craggis on̄ hillis,
And ay is naked [as] a nedill as natour þam̄ schapis.
Þe kyng of þat contre quen he þe come heres
Of þis prince & his parray þis pistill he him sendis.
“We, corruptible creatours & cald as be-fore,
To þe mode man̄ of Messedone all þus-gate I write.
Sire, it is sayd to oure-selfe with sere mens tongis,
How þou comes in-to oure kith-ward to cumbre vs with care,
And þat Vs wondres, I-wis for wyn̄ may ȝe nouthire
Nouthire gold ne na gude at euer gode fourmed.
Sen at we Ioy nouthire gemmes ne Iuwels in cofirs,
Pelour, pirre, ne perle ne na proude wedis,
Ne sauand bot to sustene with oure awen̄ sary craftis,
Quat in þis time may ȝe take if ȝe oure termes entre?
If ȝe will seke in-to oure soile & sett vs agayne,
Oure simpilnes & oure sobirte forsake sall we neuire.”
Quen he had lokid ouire þe lefe a lettre he in-dities,
Þat he aproched all with pes & in na plite ellis.
Quen he was entrid þar erde & sees þaim all nakid,
And won̄ as it ware wildirnes in wastis & greues,
Darke in dennes vndire dounes & in derne holis,
And bath þar bridis & þar barnes with bestes on̄ þe fellis,
Þan Alexander at þam̄ askis & all him a-wondres:
“Haue ȝe na houses ne na hames ne holis in to bery?”
And þar þai schewid him in schurrys to schellis & to caues,
Said, “here we ilka day duell deuyse how ȝow likis.”
Quen he þaire simpilnes sees he soroȝes in his hert,
Pleynes of þaire pouerte & profurs þaim full faire,
“Quat euire ȝe will in all þe werd or I wend, askis,
And I sall gladly ȝow geue with a gud will.”

225

“Sire, neuire to dee,” quod þai þan̄ “bot euire dure o lyue,
Þat we desire ȝow bedene & þan do vs na mare.”
“Be driȝtin, sirs, I am a duke dedelike my-selfe,
Forþi vnde[d]lynes to dele I dowe be na ways.”
“Now sen̄ it worthis,” quod þa wees “wriche, for to die,
Quarto hiȝis þou fra half to halfe & all þis harme wirkis?”
“Sire, be my croune,” quod þe kyng “þe cause at I haue
Is purly gods prouidens predestayned it is before.
Ȝe se, wele seldom̄ is þe see with him-selfe turbild
Bot with þir walowand windis; my will ware to rifte,
Bot a-noþir gast, & noȝt my gast þar-of my gast lettis;”
And wendis a-way with þat word & wemles þaim leuys.
Þe secund day with vp son̄ he with his sowme neȝes,
Quare þire Imagis ere þat Arculious had in an̄ Ile rerid.
Þe tane was all athill gold of siluir þe tothire,
Twelfe cubettis fra þe topp̄ doun & twa was þe brede.
He made his pepill þaim to perse to proue þam̄ with-in,
Quethire þai ware hologhe or hale & hale he þam̄ fyndis,
Saȝe þaim thike þurȝe-out & aithire thrill stoppis,
And fillis þam̄ florentis a fyftene hundreth.
Þan̄ drafe he þine with his dukis in a deyne entris,
A wilsom̄ wast & wild & wondirly colde,
As mirke as any mydniȝt quen̄ þe mone failes,
Þat vnnethes ken may a kniȝt to se to his fere.
Fifty days be desert he foundis with his folke,
Till he come blesenand on̄ a brym was welland hate,
And on̄ þe ferre halfe of þe bourne was wemen on̄ hors,
Þat frely faire ware of face bot foule ware clethid.
Sum beris all of brent gold brandis in þaire handis,
Sum bataill-axes & with bowes all of briȝt siluir,
For brase is nane with þa bonds ne no bige Iren̄;
Ne neuire na berne þam̄ ebland as þe buke tellis.

226

Þan̄ wald his pepill & his princes haue past ouir þe bourne,
And miȝt noȝt for þe morsure & maynyng of bestis,
It was so borely & brade & bred full of ydres,
Of dragons & of othire deuyls & doukand neddirs.
Þan caires furth oure conquirour with his kid ostis,
Lede þam̄ be þe left side of þe lande of ynde,
Sone was he dreuyn̄ with his dukis in-to a dryi meere,
Was full of gladen & of gale & of grete redis.
Þan snyȝes þar, out of þat snyth hill as with a snayles pas,
A burly best with a bake as bedell as a saȝe,
Kene tethe as a knyfe a cowdrife breste,
Of sembalaunce as a see-bule & sloȝe him twa kniȝtis.
Wald þar na brande in him bite ne no bigge launce,
Bot alto-maukid hire with maces & mellis of Iren̄.
A twenti dais ouire ten with torfare þai ride;
To þe formast forest of ynde oure folke all aprochid.
Euyn̄ at þe flode of Eumare oure emperoure logis,
And at þe xj houre I ame, as it ware,
Of Olifants out of þe ways an̄ endles nounbre
Come with a carefull crie oure kniȝtis to assaill.
A-pon̄ þe bald Bucifalon̄ he bremely ascendis,
Bedis of his swiers ga swyth & swyne with þaim take.
Þai ware a-baiste all belyue as þe buke tellis,
Þat durst na berne on̄ þe bent a-bide bot him-selfe.
“Be noȝt a-baist, my bachelars” þe bald kyng sayd,
“For with þe sweling of þe swyne we sall þaim all voide.”
And so þai did al bedene & sum oure douth sloȝe,
Tuke out þe tuskis & þe tethe & ternen of þe skinnes.
Þat oþer dai be desert þam̄ destaned to ride,
Be þe wild ynde woddis & wemen̄ þai faund
With bare hedes as a barne & berdis to þe pappis,

227

And had na hattir þam to hele bot hidis of bestis.
His seggis sesid of þam sum & to him-selfe broȝt,
And he þan̄ askid þam̄ of ynde & at þam̄ enquires,
Quat was þaire viaunce in þa vales “ser, venyson̄,” þai said,
“Slike as we haunt in þar holis with hunting in tymes.”
Þen ferd þai furth all in fere & to fild comys,
Euyn̄ to þe heued of Eumaure as I first rekend.
Þare fand þai bernys & bridis & all bale-nakid,
At was resild as a resch & roghe as a bere.
Ȝit was þe custom̄ of þar kinde as þe clause tellis,
Als wele to bide in þe bourne as on̄ þe brade lande.
Onone as þai on̄ Alexander & on̄ his ost waites,
Þai flee as fast in-to flode & to þe founce plangid.
Þan ferd þai furthe be þe frithis fiftene dais.
And sa þai willid in-to a wod was full [of] wild bestis,
Rynoceros, as I rede þe romance þam callis;
And þai assembild on̄ oure seggis bot þai ware sone drepid.
Þan̄ sexti days with his seggis he soȝt be disert,
Till he was won̄ in-to a werd all of wast fildis,
Quare nouthire holtis was ne hilles ne no hiȝe [h]eggis,
Bot all as planir & as playn̄ as a playn̄ table.
Euen̄ at þe elleuynt houre or euynsange tyme,
Quen he had tild vp̄ his tentis turbils þe welken̄;
Þe semblant sorowis of þe soile & þe son̄ wadis,
Þe werd wannes at a wap̄ & þe wedire gloumes.
Þan fell a fliȝt & a fire betwene þe foure wyndis,
Aquiloun & Affrike & ewrus þe thrid,
Vulturnus þe violent þat voidis doun þe leuys,
Þe south & of all sydis sadly þai mete,
A breme blast on̄ þe bent as þe buke tellis,
Þat all þaire tents it to-terid & turned doun þe hallis;
Þar pauylyon̄s of pirre þaire payntid clathis

228

It alto-schatird, & to-scailed þam̄ in sondire.
Þan̄ was kniȝtis of þe case kenely affraid,
And ilka segge be him-selfe said vn-to othire,
“Þe writhe of þe wale god I wate, on̄ vs liȝtis,
For oure founding ouire his forbod so ferre to þe est.”
Þan comforthis þaim þe conquirour & carpis on̄ þis wyse,
Bad, “baise ȝow noȝt, my baratours ne batis noȝt ȝour hertis,
It is na greme of oure gode ne grefe at vs fallis,
Bot þe entring of þe equinox it euire elike-dele kyndils.”
Sone as þe wedire wex wele & þe wynde pesid,
As, be þe bale neuir so breme it blynnes at þe last,
Þan ferd þai forth fra fild to fild & freschly assemblis
All at was sperpolid on þe spene & spilt with þe blastis.

Þan fandis he furth, as I fynd fyue & twenti days,
Come to a velans vale þare was a vile cheele,
Quare flaggis of þe fell snawe fell fra þe heuen,
Þat was a-brade, sais þe buke as battis ere of woll.
Þan bett he many briȝt fire & lest it blin nold,
And made his folk with þaire feete as flores it to trede;
Þe hete was þam̄ a hoge helpe & hettirly it voidis,
And ȝit was perischist, or he past a part of his kniȝtis.
Þan̄ vmby-clappis þaim a cloude & couirs all ouire,
As any pynaund pik þe planetis it hidis,
And þat so thestir & so thik a thre dais eftir,
Þai saȝe na leme of þe lyft ne liȝt of þe son̄.
Þan fell þar fra þe firmament as it ware fell sparkis,
Ropand doun o rede fire þan̄ any rayn̄ thikire;
Þaire cabons & þar couertours it kindils on̄ a lowe,
And all þar pauillions of pall it to poudire wastis.
It tinds on tend lowe trappour of stede,
And many costious costis consumes in-to askis,
Bages & baners it blemyschid & swellis,
And quare it neȝes on̄ þe nakid it noyis for euire.

229

Þan knelis doun oure conquirour & callis on̄ his driȝtins,
Giffe þam̄ siluir & so & sens at þaim castis.
Vnneth his prayer was past quen purid all þe cloudis,
And stint was all þe stikill stormes in a stand-quile.
Þen rade he in aray remowis his ostis,
To þe grete flode of Gangem & graythid þar his tents.
His bernes blischis ouir þe bourne & on̄ þe banke saȝe
Quare thre wees in a wraa welk þaim allane.
Sire Alexander bad an̄ athil aske þem̄ of ynde,
Quase þai ware, quethin þai were & of quat kind.
And þai him swiftly swarid with a swete steuyn̄,
“We ere bald Bragmenys þat neuir bale thoȝt.”
Þan list þe lord on̄ his lyfe haue with þat ledis spoken,
Miȝt he haue won̄ ouir þe watir for wounding of bestis,
As see-bule & serpentis & soukand locerhes,
Bathe eddirs & ascres & atterand wormes.
Þire Cocatricesse in creuessis þar kindiles þai brede,
Scorpions many score scautand neddirs;
And all-way bot in angwisch as þe buk sais,
And saue þe Iolite of Iuly þai Iowke in þa strandis.
Quen̄ he persayued be na poynt at he pas miȝt,
Þan was he sary in þat sithe & sadly he pleyned,
Callid to his carpentars & of his kid wriȝtis,
Bad make him boun at a braide a barge all of redis.
Quen it was done at his diuyse & draȝen ouer with hidis,
Pared & parreld at his pay pickid & taloghid,
Þan̄ bowes þarin a bachelere to bragmeyn he wendis,
To þe souereayn̄ sire of þe soile & sesid him þis pistill.

“I, þat kyng am of kyngis & crouned of lordis,
Alexander þe aire of Amone oure driȝtin,
And of þe quene Olimpades þat I am of sprongen̄,
To þe, ser Dindyn̄, on̄ þi dese dities of Ioye.
Sen we chapid out of childhede & cheued to eldire,

230

Þat we cuthe any-gates gesse betwyx gud & ill,
Syne was oure will ay with witt to warisch oure saule,
And kest out all vnclennes & clene it deuoidid;
For þe philisophour in his fourme vs feetly declares,
Þat saȝe with-outen sapience it seldoum aproues.
And it is wayued vs to wete & warned now late,
Þat all oure leuyng & oure laȝes ȝe wetirly dispice,
And ȝour manars fra all othire mens so mekill ere deffirrid,
Þat nouthire in see ne in soile seke ȝe na helpe.
Bott deyned it ȝour doctryne bedene vs to write,
Ȝoure customes & ȝoure conscience & of ȝour clene thewis,
We miȝt sum connynge per cas chach of ȝoure wordis,
And ȝour lare of a leke suld neuire þe les worth.
Slike similitude of science is sett, as of kynde,
As of a blesand brand or of a briȝt candill.
For many liȝtis of a liȝt is liȝtid othire-quile,
And ȝit þe liȝt at þam̄ liȝtis is liȝtid as before.”
Quen̄ he had waytid ouer þis writtis his mynd he remembris,
And be þe same sandisman̄ him send sike anothire.

“I, ser Dindimus, a duke þat neuire deere wroȝt,
Blith berne on my benke þe Bragmeyns maistir,
To þe modi kynge of Messedone þis maundment I write.
Sire Alexander, þe athill at all þe werd loutis,
Sire, þe tenour of þi titill I trow, be na mare,
Bot anly wisdom̄ & witt þou willis in þi saule.
And bettir it is to þine a-bofe þan̄ buschels of siluir,
And mare passand of prisse þan̄ all þi proude rewmes.
Sen ȝe discrecion disire we depely ȝow pray;
For a kyng with-outen cunnyng he can noȝt distreyne
His subiectis, & to be subi[e]ctis as subiectis aȝe,
Bot subiectis till his subiectis his subiectis him makis.

231

Þou prayes vs to þi person a pistill to write
Of all oure lefyng & oure laȝes & oure land techis;
Quare-of þe proces to preue vnpossible it were,
And if we did it to dome it dose ȝow na gude.
For þi tent is all on terrandry & tourment of armes,
In bost & in bobans in bataills & stryuys,
A craft till oure condicions at a-cordis bot litill;
For simpilnes & surquitry a-sewis noȝt to-gedire.
Bot leue ȝe noȝt we be to heȝe ne hauten of will
To steryn̄ or to sturtyn̄ or sterid to enuy;
A partie of oure propertes & of oure pure thewis
Ȝit sall I send ȝow to say sen ȝe me soȝt haue.

Decimus Nonus passus Alexandri.

Sire, we þe Bragmeyns blode birdis & othire,
A lowly lyfe in oure land we lede, and a clene.
All ydolatris in oure Ile ere vttirly devoidid,
& to na syn̄ vndire son̄ a-sent we vs neuire.
All þat ouire mesure is to mekill emell we declyne,
And nouthire couet we na corne bot þat vs kind leues,
Þat is þe filling of fode þat ilk flesch askis,
And þar-to suffirand oure-selfe & sobire as a mayden̄.
Hald we no hors for na harow ne na horned stottis,
Ne nauthire sondire we þe soile ne na sede sawis,
Seke we neuire no sustinance to saue with oure lyuys.
Set we na saynes in þe see ne sese we na fischis,
Ne nouthire hunt we ne hauke ne hent we na foules,
Bot sike as growis on̄ þe gronde with-outen gomes werke.
And þat we fede vs with in-fere & fillis full oure tables,
A dayntefull diete þat damage vs neuire.

232

Haue we no cures of courte ne na cointe sewes,
Swanes ne na swete thing to swell oure wames.
All superfluyte of soule & surfet vs wlattis,
To pegge vs as a peny hoge þat praysis noȝt oure laȝes.
Forþi failis vs all infirmit[e]s of ffeuyre & of ells,
Ne for na febill at we fele na fysyke vs nedis.
Vs mistris neuire na medcyne for malidy on̄ erthe,
Bot ay as fresche & as fere a[s] fisch quen he plays.
Oure lord has lemett vs elike þe lenthe of oure days,
For þar leues na lede in oure lande langire þan othire.
If he be sexti ȝere of sowme þat a segge lastis,
His successoure has bot þe same & þan þe saule ȝeldis.
We chaufe vs at na Chymmneys for chelis of wintir,
Ne comes na clathis on̄ oure corps for na cald wyndis.
We bede noȝt to blemysch oure blode with bodely dissires.
Perseuerance of pacience & pes we reserue;
Oure inward enmys ilkane we inwardly drepis,
Þat is to say, all þe syn̄ at solp may þe saule,
As surfet, surquidry, & slawth þe seuyn̄ all bedene;
So þat oure werraours without vs worthis noȝt at drede.
For wele sonere is a cite sesid, or a castell,
Þat segid is on̄ bath sidis [than] þat segid is with-out.
And þou wirkis bot on̄ þa witerward & worthis þaim ouire,
And suffirs so within þi flesche þe faes of þe saule.
And we sitt all-way so sure be sand & be wattir,
Þat na supowell vndire son̄ seke we vs neuire,
Ne schroude to scheld with oure schap bot þe schire banes,
And with þe braunches of þe bowis þat beris vs oure fodis.
Haue we na deliteable drinke of diuerse wynes,

233

Bot watir of a wale well or of a wild bourne.
And þat sullepe sire at sett all þe werde,
In him we lely beleue & in na laȝe ellis.
In all oure diȝans on̄ daies þat duke we comend,
Wele wenand in anothire werd to won̄ ay o-lyue.
And quat as pertenys to na profe vs plese noȝt at lesten̄,
Ne mekills mellis noȝt oure mouth bot mesure oure wordis.
Quen as we speke any spech we speke ai þe treuth,
And þan is still as a stane & stirs it na ferryn̄.
Riches ne no rede gold rose we þam nouthire,
Bot ay voide of enuy & of vayne thoȝtis.
Is þar na berne vs eblande biggir þan anothire,
Of land ne of lor[d]schip̄ bot all elike simple.
Þe pouert of oure person̄s for plente we hald,
Þe quilke is part vs, all þe pake be parcells euyn̄.
Is þar na brag in oure bondis ne bering of armes,
B[o]t ay perpetuall pes piȝt in̄ oure landis.
Ne nouthire Iugement ne Iayll ne Iustice of aire;
For dose na douth þar no dere to dome to be callid.
Ne custome in oure contre contraris oure laȝes,
Is þar na mercy ne methe in oure marche vsyd;
And I sall quethe þe forqui & quat is þe cause:
Þar dose na modirson̄ o-mys na mercy to craue,
For auyrice & errogaunce & all we devoide,
And to na licherous lustes leeue ve oure membris,
A-vowtri ne na vayne glorie ne na vice hauntis,
Ne neuire to-pliȝt worth a perle to-ponyscht be-fore.
Fynd we na faute in na freke þat vs emange duellis,
For ay on̄ reson & on̄ riȝt rewelle we oure-selfe.
Ne seȝes na segge of oure sede sodanly of lyue,
For þe aire within oure habitacle is ai vn̄-corumpid.
Nouthire to toly ne to taunde transmitte we na vebbis,
To vermylion̄ ne violett ne variant littis.

234

Oure paramours vs to plese ne pride þaim bewenes,
Nouthire ffurrers, filetts, ne frengs ne frettis of perle.
Is þam̄ na surcote of silke ne serkis of raynes,
Ne kirtils of camlyn̄ bot as þam̄ kynd leues.
Ne neȝe we neuire þaim on̄ niȝt to naite for na luste,
Bot for to sustayne oure sede & syn̄ ay to voide.
Make we na salues for na sares ne na somir-bathis,
Bot with þe wale dewe & with þe warme son̄.
Howe durst any be so bald to blemysche for schame
Þe hand-werke of þat hiȝe gode þat all oure happ̄e haues?
List vs na lordschips lache of ledis as oure-selfe,
For all oure libertes elike ere lante vs & paysed;
And to sett him in-to seruitute a syn̄ vs it thinke,
Þat god has fourmed to be free & to his face licknud.
Make we na vessall of virre ne of na clere siluir,
Ne store staned strenthis ne na stithe hames,
Manere mynstre, ne mote ne marbryn̄ werkis,
Bot duells here in disolatis in dennes & in cauys;
Ne nouthire housing we haue ay quils we here duell,
Bot at is fetid of flesch & of na fraunche piers;
Þat is þe carions kistis þat couers þe saule,
A full faynt forcelett & of fen̄ makid.
We ere na sailers on̄ þe see to sell ne to byi;
Ne rede we neuire na retorik ne rial to speke;
Bot certis in all simpilnes sett we oure wordis,
Þat latis neuire lesing in oure lippis spring.
Ne foloȝe we na ficesyens ne philisophour scolis,
As sophistri & slik thing to sott with þe pepill.
It is bot wiles & wrenkis at þai with dele,
And all þare fete & þar fare in falshede it endis.
Lufe we no laike in oure lede ne laȝand mirthis,
Bot quen̄ vs pleses to play we passe & we rede
Of þe actis of oure auncestours & of þar athill thewis;
And quen̄ we gamen suld & glade we grete & we pleyn̄.

235

And othire sertis wee see þat solace oure hertis;
First, þe faire firmament fichid full of sterres,
Þe rede son̄, quen̄ he ryses & rynnys in his sercle,
Þat all þe land with his leme lewis & cleres;
Þe playne purperyn̄ see full of prode fischis,
For tide ne for tempest it touchis noȝt oure kythis,
Ne neuire sondres oure soile bot sesis at þe brinkis.

Vicesimus passus Alexandri.

Anothire mirthe is in May þat vs maste ioyes,
Þe faire floryscht filds of floures & of herbys,
Quare-of þe breth as of bawme blawis in oure noose,
Þat ilk sensitife saule mast souorly delyte,
As in þe woddis for to walke vndire wale schawis,
Quen̄ all is lokin̄ ouire with leuys as it ware littill heuen.
Þan̄ haue we liking to lithe þe late of þe foules,
Þe swoȝing of þe swift wynde & of þe swete wellis.
Þe kind of þire customs we kepe euire-mare,
Þe quilk, I hope, ser, þe to hald vnhalesom̄ it ware.
If þou will chalang þaim be chaunce chese if þe likis,
For here is written̄ all þi will & we na writh serue.
As þe tenour of ȝour titill is oure techis haue we schawid,
Oure dedis & of oure disciplyne a dele of þaim aythir;
And of þi lare a litill-quat likis me to write,
For þe sothe of oure solitude will serue þe stille aftir.
Sire, ȝe haue laȝt now on̄ late within̄ a lite ȝeres
All Europ & Asie & Auffrik þe mare;
Þat seising burde sufficiant þofe soȝt ȝe na ferre.
Bot ay mekill wald haue mare as many man spellis;
Þe son̄, for sake of ȝour syn̄ sesys his liȝt,
Be-cause of ȝoure couatise to clym̄ to his bounds.

236

And ȝe with wodnes of weris all þe werde fretis,
And ȝit for-feȝtils ȝoure face all fasting it semes.
A-nothire laȝe is in ȝoure lande at oure lord hatis,
As, slaa ȝoure son̄nes in sacrifice & othire synnys many,
To sawe emang þir simpill men̄ sedis of debate,
And make a terant of a tulke þat neuire tene thoȝt.
Þe soile ne þe foure sees suffice ȝowe nouthire,
Bot if ȝe miȝt ken̄ þe costis of þe clere heuen.
Ȝoure giltis growis of ȝour gods or god geue þam̄ sorowe,
For many modirson̄ þai marre miȝt ellis haue bene safe.
A-vise ȝow now be Venus quat vertous him foloȝes,
Þe Iusule of Iupitir & of his Iapis als,
Dame Proserpyne, a prophetese of ȝoure praysid laȝes;
Latis þis be witnes of my wordis & waitis now þar tetchis.
Venus was a-vowtrere & many vice hauntid,
And Iupitir a Iettoure þat Iapid many ladis;
Dame proserpine in preue place playd as hire likid.
Loo, sary sottis slike a sowme of synnars ȝe lufe!
Ȝe lett men̄ of þar libertes at þam̄ oure lord grauntid,
Thryngis þam̄ in-to thraldom̄ of thaire þede spoiles.
Vn-iust is ȝour Iugementis so is ȝoure Iugis all;
Þe dedis of ȝour domesmen ȝe for dere halde.
Is þare na renke in ȝoure rewme þat othire rewill kepis,
Bot “þus me þinke” & “so me þinke” & threpis it is lawe!
Þus fra þe rote of riȝtwisnes rauyst ere ȝe clene,
And to þe way of wickidnes be warlaȝes gidid.
Ȝe hald na wee of þe werd of witt worthe a myte,
Bot he can̄ practise & paynt & polisch his wordis.
For all ȝoure wisdom̄, I-wis is wroken̄ to ȝour tongis,
And all þe sauour of ȝoure sauls is sattild in ȝour mouthis.
Ȝoure grete garisons of gold vngastly ȝe spende

237

In bigging of burgis & bilding of toures;
And quen ȝe sitt in ȝoure sale with syris & dukis,
Þan haue ȝee seggis ȝow to serue sowmes enogh.
Þan̄ as a Mare at a moghe ȝoure mawis ȝe fill,
With bakin mete & with briddis bolnes ȝoure paunches,
Stuffis so ȝour stomake with stullis & of wynes,
Þat vnethis haldis, be ȝe hoo þe hide of ȝow hale!
Quat dewis ȝow þan þire diatis & all þis dere fode,
Ȝoure sowping in vnseson̄ ȝoure surfete of drinkis,
Bot settis ȝow in-to sekenes of sere-lepy kyndis,
And gers ȝow die or ȝoure day many dreȝe wyntir?
Þan ȝe couett & craue castels & rewmes,
And thristis eftir all thingis at in ȝoure thoȝt rynnes,
Iaspre, Iuwels, & gemmes & Iettand perle:
And all sall leue ȝow at þe laste & in-to laire worth!
And maydese ȝit, for all your molle þat modire ws cried,
Þat fourmed þe flode & þe flynt & þe faire lyndis.
And, as I brefe it in þis bull þe bragmeyns takens
Surmontis all ȝour sapientis & oure assemy thewis.
And oþir werkis of wast is wroȝt in ȝoure landis,
As, graffis garnyscht of gold & gilten tombis,
Thurghis to thrawyn in quen ȝe þraa worthe,
Sum of siluir, sum of sipirs sum of sere gemmes.
Þus make ȝe vessels in vayn̄e to ȝoure foule corses,
To crom̄ in ȝoure cariouns þat kind ȝow defendis,
Þat ilk slymand slugh quen ȝe ere slide hyne,
And will noȝt suffire þe erth to haue at him fallis.
For iolite of Iupitir ȝe ioyen̄ vp templis,
With Imagis of ȝoure ydolatry all within payntid;
Symolacris vp sett of Seropis & othir,
And slees in-to þe sacrifis many sere bestis.
Quen ȝe haue tildid vp-on̄ [top] ȝour trouthles gods,
Sum of gold, sum of glas sum of gray marbill,
Sum of latoun & of lede & sum of liȝt siluir,
And sum ere tiffid all of tree & sum of tyn̄ pured,

238

Þan fall ȝe flatt on̄ þe fold with fees þaim adoures,
Bath Amon & Appolyne & asskis at þam welthys;
Of any gud at ȝe geet a gift ye þam offirre,
A quantite of all-quat of quike & of ellis;
Ȝe latt as þai miȝt all leth at ony lede wald,
And þai may send ȝow bot vnsele & noȝt oþir godis.
Þus ȝe comende þaim on knees as cocards suld,
Þat nouthire siȝt has ne saule bot of segge werke;
Ȝe haue na sauour, I suppose how þat þe kyn̄g of heuen
He has na hert vs to here ne no hathill ellis
For calues ne for kidis blode ne for na crispe wethris,
Bot an[l]y for oure orisons & for na noþire giftis.
God seȝis oure saȝes for his son̄ at in him-selfe duellis;
For sekire god is þe son̄ þat all oure sede loues.
And sothly, by þe same son̄ we ere him all like,
And all he sustayned of þat son̄ þat any saule wildis.
Forþi vnhappy we ȝow hald þat in ȝoure hertis leues
Ȝoure kind with slike a conquirour to comen or to euen.
And othire harlotry ȝe hant þat heris þe goste,
Of fornicacion̄ & filth & many foule synnes,
Maumentry, & manslatir mosardry & pride,
Þat dose ȝow dompe to þe devill quen he ere dede hethen.
And we þe contrari clene kepis all oure lyue,
Þat we may bowe to þat blis þat neuir sall haue ende.
Ȝe gronde ȝow noȝt on a god þat all of glett fourmed,
Þat note newid all of noȝt þat neuire sall haue ende,
Bot oþire many do ȝe menske ere him na mare sibbe
Þan was þe flesch of þe fysch to þe faire me[m]bree.
Ilk lede þat liȝt is of ȝour lede ȝe call þe litill werde,
And gesse wele as many gods as growis in him membris;
Ilk a parcele of his person̄ a-proprid is a-pert driȝtin,
And euire-ilk lym, it awne lust eftir as him list craues!

239

For marcure was manslaȝt a mammlere of wordis,
Ȝe graith him to be gouenoure & god of þe tonge.
And Arcules has aythire arme in his awen warde,
For þe xij wondirfull werkis he wroȝt with his handis.
Mars for his maisterris & for his many weris,
Him brefe ȝe for his baratris þe breste to defend.
Dame Iuno was a iettir & ioyned full of iree,
For-þi scho hedis to þe hert & has it to ȝeme.
Bary he was brayne-wode for bebbing of wynes,
Forþi [þe] swire & þe swalow þat swiere he kepis.
Cupido has þe custodi & cure of þe mawe,
For he was couatus & cursid vnclene of him-selfe.
Serenon is sustenour & sire of þe wambe,
For hem was quartirs of qwete vmqwile out of nombre.
Dame venus þe a-v[er]ous for vices opon̄ niȝtis,
Is possessour & principale of all þe preue menbris.
Þus ilk cantell of ȝoure cors ȝe call þam̄ driȝtins,
Deu[i]dis it in-to duesses & oþire deuels many.
Of ilk gobet of þat glett ȝe a god make,
And leues noȝt as mekill as a lym̄ ȝour liches on̄ to stand.
Ȝe haue na hoping in þat hathill at on̄ hiȝe sittis,
How he ȝoure nase & ȝoure nebb & all of noȝt cried,
Bot þinkis on þir othir thefis & þam̄ as thrall seruys,
And sacrifice to ilk a segge a sere-lepy gifte.
To Mars in his mynstir at maynteines þe weris,
Ȝe bringe him a wild bare for his wale dedis.
Þe carcas of a fatt kid þat carayne is worthe,
Þat bring ȝe to ser bacus to bere vp his drinke.
And Iupitir þat Ioglour sum Iape bos haue;
A bullok or a fell bule is broȝt to his temple.
And Iuno þe Ientill for ioy of his pride,
Ȝe presand hire a pakoke with pennes of an̄ Aungell.

240

Minerua was a maistres of many kingis werkis,
A ratland niȝt ravyn̄ is him to rent ȝolden̄.
To Venus þe vowtriere may noȝt ells a-vaile,
Bot ilk moneth to mede & mi[l]ke-quite doufe.
Appollo with a quite swan is paid him to tende;
A manere of corne to mercure þat we þi muld call.
And Serenon is sone serued þat sees to þe paunche;
Haue he a boll full of bran̄ bedis he na mare.
And Ercules as emperoure emyddis all he standis;
And for he preuyd ay þe prise in̄ prowis of armes,
He has a hatt on̄ his hede hiȝtild o floures,
Of palme & of peruyk & othire proud blossoms.
Þe kirke of cupido is clenly a-rayed,
Þe stallis & in̄ all stedis strowid with Rose.
Lo, to so many mayned gods ȝour menbris ȝe dele,
And will noȝt knaw ȝour creatour at ȝow of clay fourmed.
Þire deme ȝe for ȝour driȝtins þat drepis þe saule;
For þai may sende ȝow na sele bot sla ȝow within.
As many of þat feleschip̄ as ȝe trow & adoures,
As many turmentis & tene ȝow tidis in hell.
A-vise ȝow now quat velany & vices þai ȝow teche:
Ane leris ȝow to be licherus & leris ȝow to syn̄;
Ane, to be grindand gluttis & glorand dronkin;
And ane, to bragg & to bost & bate with þe pepill.
If ȝe be herd of ȝour happ vn-happe þai ȝow ken̄;
Forþi bot harlotry or harme is at ȝe here craue;
And if ȝe hede to ȝour hestis ȝour hert is a-meued,
So queþir þai here or els-quat it hurtis ay þe saule.
Ȝour doctours ere ȝoure duesses þaire ditis alegis,
How þat þai hampire in ȝour here with many hard payn̄.
Þai cause all vnkindnes & corperall lustis,

241

As surquitry & sacrilag & othire sere tecches;
Constrene ȝow in̄-to cauatise to clame all þe werd,
To rayme & to robry to rayme men̄ þaire godis,
Wailaway to wriches & wa is ȝow in erthe;
Herefore ȝe hinge mon̄ in hell quen̄ ȝe ere hethen passed!”
Þan was þe kyng of his carpe crabbid vnfaire,
For he was spetous of speche & spised his driȝtins;
Quen̄ he had lokid on̄ þe lyne he lappid it to-gedire,
And notid to him a-nothire new þat now next fologhes.

Vicesimus primus passus Alexandri.

“Þe kynge crouned of kyngis o lordis all othire,
Ser Alexander þe athelest of Amon̄s childire,
And of þe quene Olimpades þat I was of geten̄,
To þe best of bragmeyns blissing & hele!
Sire, be þis sothe at ȝe say of all seggis oute
Ȝe may be sett be ȝow-selfe for syn doo ȝe neuire!
Bot sothely slike a simpilnes as me my saule demys,
It comes bot of acustoumes & of na clene thewes.
And owþir ȝe gesse at ȝe be gods for ȝoure gud werkis,
Or deynes with oure driȝtins for þat we þam̄ dere hald.
Ȝe say ȝe sawe neuire soile ne na citis biggis;
How suld ȝe telle withouten̄ toles or any tild rere?
Is þer non̄ Instrumentis of Iren̄ in all þat Ile founden,
Ne nakin̄ metall of to make messelyne ne othire.
For-quy as bestis on̄ þe bent ȝe growe on̄ þe greuys,
Refete ȝow with refuse of rotis & of herbys;
Þe same wyse dose a wolfe þat wantis of his pray;
Quen he has faute of his flesch he fallis to þe soile!
Lo, if me list in-to ȝoure land with all my ledis entre,
Quat wisdom̄ at ȝour wricchidnes or witt miȝt I lere?
Þe, lede, is litill to loue þat leuys ay in sorowe,
Bot mekill mare he is menskid þat in a mene duellis.

242

Ware þai so wyse þat has waes qua ware so wide praysed
As þa þat lepros ere & lame þat neuire of leth knewe?
If I ȝoure parties aproche & piȝt vp my tentis,
If I it miȝt, as I ne may for missyng of schipis,
Þare suld my folk for defaute be famyscht for euire,
And worthe in a wale quile to wricchis as ȝour-selfe!
Ȝe say ȝour women̄ has na wedis þe werd with to plese,
Garlands ne no gay gere to glyffe in̄ ȝour eȝen̄,
Silke of Sipris, ne say ne saffrond kellis;
For-quy þare is nane to gete now neuyn̄ I þe cause!
Adultery on̄ all wise als ȝe deuoyde,
Echchewis ay þat caffare as castite wald;
If ȝe na will haue to þat werk it wondres me littill;
How suld ȝe nayte euir þat note þat neȝes neuir þe fode?
Slik lust is lang on̄ þe leuir & likand spices,
Mast cherischid & encheson̄ of chasteand metis;
And ȝe bot fede ȝow with frute at flays noȝt ȝoure hongir,
For-þi neuire ailes ȝow þat apetite þir artis with to dele.
Is þar na lare in̄ ȝoure land labour of scolis,
Fesike, ne no philosofy ne no fourme ellis,
Piromancie, ne poisei ne practyse of lawe,
Ne neuire na mercy ȝow emell as mynes me ȝour pistill;
All þis condicions I call bot comon̄ of bestis,
Þat has no sent in þaire saule ne sauour in na gude.
Bot we þat fourmed is & fast & has a fre will
Differris as in̄ oure fraunches fere fra ȝoure kynde.
It ware no possible poynt to paise in̄ my witt,
Þat all miȝt ay be eftir ane with-outen any chaunge.
For eftir baret or bale blis vs aperis
And eftir wele comys wa for so þe werd askis.

243

Ouir wild is many ways wraiste as þe wedire skiftis;
For a clere cloudles day mas a clene mynde;
Quen it is briȝt all a-bowte it blithis oure hertis.
And be þar gold in oure gate or any gud stanes,
We do bot foules it with oure fete vs fayns it na more,
And quen it walows & wannes all oure thestres,
Ȝet ere we toghid to & fra be turnyng of eldris.
For quilk a frek is bot a fan̄t þan is he first simple,
And quen he preues fra þat prike þan̄ is he proud-lokid,
Metis on̄ þe medill merke & þare his mynd stablis.
Mekill variaunce of vertus enveronis oure saules,
For we ere fetid full faire & has oure fyue wittis.
Ane, oure siȝt with to see & sauour at þe nasee,
And ane to tast & to touche & þen oure twa eris.
Of all þe frutis on̄ þe fold we fange at oure will,
Bath venyson̄ & volatile & variand fisches.
If ȝe refreyne ȝow þar-fra it falis bot of pride
Or ellis ȝow writhis with ȝour wele for ȝe na welth haue!
Be many opynion I prefe þat pure is ȝoure tecches,
Mare fonden opon̄ foly þan ficchid on̄ reson̄.”
Sone as þe kyng of þe kith þe clause had devysid,
He settis him doun full sobirly & sendis him anothire.

“I, sir Dyndyn̄ þe derrest at duells in þis Ile,
Þe best of þe bragmeyns of bounte & of thewis,
To Alexander, þat aire þat erles all þe werd,
Þe souerayne sire of all þe soile salus & ioye.
Sire, we erd noȝt in elementis as euirmare to duell,
Bot as qua pas a pilgrymage fra Parysch to rome;
To othire hames vs hiȝe quen we ere hethen voided,
And in þe cites of syn̄ þan̄ sitt we na langire.
Vse we nane Epocrise ne ire, ne no theftis,
Ne nothire gesse we vs gods ne grym̄ at oure driȝtin̄.
For many seerties we seet þat sysed all þe werde,
And wroȝt þe will of ilk we to wale as him likid.

244

And he þat wayues ay þe werst & wirkis þe bettir,
Þat gome is gods gud frend & god neuire þe hildire.
And þis similitude þat oure sede þou settis my pistill,
Þe same ensampill, as me semes in-to ȝoure-self touches,
For so þe qwele of qwistounes ȝoure qualite encreses,
Þat noþir gesse ȝe gouernour no god bot ȝour-selfe!
Ȝe brixsill our benignite oure bonerte repreues,
And beris a-pon̄ vs blasfeme þat neuire bale thoȝt.
All be we suggets in oure-selfe & simpill oure latis,
Voide & vacand of vices as virgyns it ware.
Neuir-þe-les of a laȝe hald we vs driȝtins.
It is ȝoure-selfe & noȝt oure-self þat ai þe self hantis;
Aboundance of Auoure ȝow all has englaymed,
For ȝe bot fage ay þe flesche & felsen it wele.
Ȝe bide no besynes of bedis bot to þe body clethe,
Els ȝe may cast ȝow to be coynt ȝe count for na ferrir.
With soft serkis of silke ȝoure sidis vm̄-loke,
Doubeletis of damaske & sum of dere tars,
With ilka fingire on ȝoure fist fillid full of ryngis,
Schard al of shire gold as it a schryne were.
Quat profetis ȝow þis paraile & all þis proud iettis?
For nouthire saues it þe saule ne ȝour-selfe fedis.
Bot we, þat knawis wele & ken þe kynd of þe noble,
Quen we ere drinkeles & dry we draw to þe bourne;
And be þar gold in oure gate or any gud stanes,
We do bot foulis it with oure fete vs faynes it na more.
For nouthire purgis it oure pliȝt ne priues it oure hungir,
Ne nouþir salues it oure sares ne sesis it oure thrist.
For folowid it slike a fraunchis at it vs fede wald,
Þe cursed laike o couatis ware clene with it drenchid.
Ȝe vise ȝow þar-of vessell for vanyte & pride;
As gud ware crestyns of clathe þe caryon̄ to serue.

245

I se na godlaik in gold bot grefe to þe saule,
For þe fastir it fallis on̄ a freke þe fastir he couettis.”
Sire Alexander all at ese avisis him on̄ þis pistill,
And wayues to him a-noþire writt at on̄ þis wyse spellis.

“Hiȝe kyng with-out comparison̄ of kyngis all oþire,
Of all lordis þe lord þat leues vndire heuen,
Sire Alexander, þe aire of Amon oure driȝtin̄,
To þe, ser Dyndyn on̄ þi dese þis dities I write.
In slike a side of þe soile ȝour-selfe is in-closid,
May wele na wee, if he wald wyn̄ to ȝour kithis.
Forþi enhabete ȝe in angwysch at ȝoure vnthankis;
And all ȝoure lefing & ȝoure lare at ȝe so loude prayse,
It comis bot of a kyndnes & of na clene thewys.
And als ȝe fonde may na forþire to hiȝen̄ ȝoure name,
Bot pyned þar in a parroke inparkid as bestis,
Þus pere to þir preson̄s þat ay in payn̄ lengis,
And he þat seȝis to vs sage ȝe bot a sott call.
Be þe grace of my god miȝt I ȝour grond entre,
I suld ȝow ken to be kniȝtis & clethe ȝow with armes.”
Þan piȝt oure prince in þat place a pelare of marble,
Quare-on̄ a tulke with a toile þis titill vp he wrate,
Sum langage on̄ latine & lettres of ynde,
Sum was graithid o grew þat þus to-gedire spekis:
“I, Philip̄ son̄ þe fell kyng þe fondere of grece,
Sire Alexander þe athill þ[a]t aȝe all þe barbres
Eftir þe day & þe dethe of Dary & of Porrus,
Þus fere I foloȝed haue my faes;” & here a fitt end.

Vicesimus secundus passus Alexandri.

Now gase he fra gangan̄ and all his ging eftir,
Fondis forth with his folke & a fild entris,

246

Vmfaldin with a faire wod florischt out ouire
Of Appils & almands & all manere of frutis.
All þe chiere of þe champe was chargid with floures,
Acrea, sais oure autour þat angill is hatten̄.
Ȝit wont men̄ in þa woddis as þe buke tellis,
Of Ioynttours as Ieants in Iopons of hidis,
And þai ware fedd all of frute & of na fode ellis,
Of grapis & of gernets & othire gude spices,
Of sike as growis in̄ þe grewis I tald of before.
Þai ware as rughe as a resche þe bake & þe sidis;
Quen þai persayued of oure prince & slik a pake Armed,
Þan stode þai glorand on his gome with grisely mawis.
And he mas heraud & heres to hant for þe nanes,
And sett vp a scharp̄ schoute at all þe schaw ryngis.
And þai for skere of þe skrike in-to þe schaw fledd,
For þai hadd herd neuire of how ne of mans noyse;
And sex hundreth was slane & sesid with oure kniȝtis,
And foure and threti, as I flode was in þe fild drepid,
And iiij score on̄ þis side & seuen at was armed
Was with þe churles in þe chace choppid to deth.
Þus thre daies in þat thede thurgh-out þai lengid,
And dietis þam̄ with damysens & oþir dere frute.
Þan̄ ferd he furth to a flumme & sett þare his tentis,
And newly eftir þe none or nere þare-aboute,
Þare coms a bonde of a brenke & breed þaim vnfaire;
A burly best & a bigg was as a man̄ shapen̄,
Vmquile he groned as a galt with grysely latis,
Vmquile he noys as a nowte as a nox quen̄ he lawes,
Ȝarmand & ȝerand a ȝoten̄ him semed;
And was as bristils as a bare all þe body ouire;
Dom̄ as a dore-nayle & defe was he bathe,
With laith leggis & lange & twa laue eres;
A heuy hede & a hoge as it a hors ware,

247

And large was his odd lome þe lenthe of a ȝerde.
With þat comands oure kyng his kniȝtis him to take,
And þai a-saillid him sone bot he na segge dredis,
For nouthire fondis he to flee ne na fens made,
Bot stude & stared as a stott & stirred he na forthire.
Þan callis to him þe conquirour a comly mayden̄,
Bad hire be broȝt be-fore þe best & bare to be nakid.
And he be-held on̄ þat hend & hissis as a neddire,
He wald haue strangild hire streȝt ne had stiffe men bene;
He wald haue schowid on̄ þat schene had noȝt men halden,
And to þe prince pauelion̄ prestly him lede.
Quen̄ he had ferlied his fill on̄ his foule schapp̄,
He gers þaim bynde him at a braid & brent him to poudire.
Þen rade he fra þat reuir & remowid his ost
In-till a brade bent fild & bildid vp his tentis.
Þare fande he lindis on̄ þat lande þe lenthe of a spere,
And þai ware frett full of frute þe fairest of þe werde.
It ware to tere any tong to tell of þa trees kinde,
For þai wald sett with þe son̄ & with þe son̄ rise.
Fra morewane to þe mydday merely þai spring,
And þan discende þai doun as þe day passis.
Lo, þis was a wondirfull werk bot gods awen̄ will,
Þat þai suld wax soo & wane within a wale time.
For, fra it droȝe to þe derke ay till it dawid eftir,
It was bot vacant & voide as vanite it were.
Þe kyng in his caban̄ with his kniȝtis he ligis,
Tutand out of his tents & þe trees waitis.
A bad a berne of a bobb bring him a nappill;
Þan̄ bowis furth a bachelere his bedinge to fill;
And he was sodanly sesid & slane with a sprete.
With þat enverrouns all þe vale a voice fra þe heuen,
Said, “qua so fangis o þis frute bees fey in a stounde!”

248

Ȝit bred þar briddis in þa braunches at blith was & tame,
And if a man had þaim hent or with his hand touchid,
Þan floȝe þar flawmes out of fire before & be-hind,
And quare it liȝt on̄ his like it lichid him for euire.
Now bowis furth þis baratour & bidis na langire,
Vp at a maȝte mountane he myns with his ost,
And viij daies be-dene þe driȝe was, & mare,
Or he miȝt couire to þe copp̄ fra þe caue vndire.
Quen̄ he was comen̄ to þe crest his kniȝtis wald haue esid;
And namely a new note neghis on̄ hand,
Of dragons & of dromondaris & of diuerse neddirs,
Of liones & of leopards & othire laith bestis.
Þare was hurling on̄ hiȝe as it in̄ hell ware,
Quat of wrestling of wormes & wonding of kniȝtis.
As gotis out of guttars in golanand wedres,
So voidis doun þe vemon̄ be vermyns schaftis.
At oþir time of oure tulkis was tangid to dede,
And slayn̄ with þa serpents a sowme out of noimbre.
So hard þai hampird oure heere & herid oure erles,
Vnneth it chansid þaim þe cheke þe cheffire to worthe.
Quen he sckonfet & skerrid all þa skathill fendis,
Þen metis he doun of þe mounte in-to a mirk vale,
A drere dale & a depe a dym̄ & a thestir.
Miȝ[t] þare na saule vndire son̄ see to a-nothire;
Þai ware vmbe-thonrid in þat thede with slike a thike cloude,
Þat þai miȝt fele it with þaire fiste as flabband webbis;
With all þe bothom full of bournes briȝt as þe siluire,
And bery-bobis on̄ þe braes brethand as mirre.
Þus drafe þai furth in derknes a neȝen daies euen,
So lang þaim lackis at þe last þe liȝt of þe son̄.
Þan̄ come þai blesnand till a barme of a brent lawe,

249

Neȝe throtild with þe thik aire & thrange in þare andes.
Þai labourde vp a-gayn̄ þe lift an̄ elleuen dais,
& quen þai couert to þe crest þen clerid þe welkyn̄;
Þe schaftis of þe schire son̄ schirkind þe cloudis,
And gods glorious gleme glent þam e-maunge.
Þan̄ past þai doun fra þat pike in-to a playn̄ launde,
Quare all þe gronde was of gols & growen full of Impis,
A cubete lenth, sais þe clause cald was þe maste,
Quare-of þe feloure & þe frute as fygis it sawourd.
Þare fand þai Revers, as I rede ricchest of þe werd,
Þof it ware Ioly Iurdan̄ or Iacobs well;
Was neuir no mede ne no milke so mild vndire heuen,
Ne cliffe of cristall so clere at euire god fourmed.
A hundreth daies & a halfe he held be þa playnes,
Till he was comen till a cliffe at to þe cloudis semed,
Þat was so staire & so stepe þe store me tellis,
Miȝt þar no wee bot with wyngis win̄ to þe topp̄.
Ȝit fand he clouen̄ þurȝe þe clynt twa crasid gatis,
Ane to þe noke of þe north a-nothire to þe est.
Sire Alexander him a-vises & all him a-wondres,
And trowid it was wroȝt of na lede werkis.
With þat stairis he forth þe stye þat streȝt to þe est,
And seuen̄ dais with his men̄ he soȝt be þa costis.
And on þe aȝtent day eftire þe prime,
A Basilisk in a browe breis þaim vn̄-faire,
A straȝtill & a stithe worme stinkand of elde,
And is so bittir & so breme & bicchid in him-selfe,
Þat with þe stinke & þe strenth he stroyes noȝt allane,
Bot quat he settis on his siȝt he slaes in a stonde.
He vemons in þe vaward valiant kniȝtis,
Maistirs out of Messedone of Mede & of Persee;
Þai seȝe doun sodanly slane of þaire blonkis,
To step̄ & to stand-dede & in þe strete liggis.

250

With þat areris all þe route & radly þai said,
“Þe writh of þe wale god vs of þe wai lettis.”
Þe kyng to knaw of þat case vp to þe cliffe wendis,
Saȝe quare þe same serpent slepit in a roke.
Þan̄ mas he bonds in a braide at sall na pepill pas,
In bole & in balan̄ buskes he his fotes,
A blason̄ as a berne-dure þat all þe body schildis,
And fiches in a fyne glas on̄ þe fere side.
Þe sc[h]rewe in þe schewere his schadow be-haldis,
And so þe slaȝtir of his siȝt in-to him-selfe entris.
Þan̄ cals oure kyng him his kniȝtis & comandis him to bryn̄,
And þai as sone as þai him saȝe him for his sleȝt thankis.
Sone as þis balefull best was broȝt out o lyfe,
Þan ridis furth oure riche kyng & remowis his ost.
And of þis way at he went sone worthis him a nende,
So at he flitt may na ferre ne his folke nouthire.
Þare was so hedous & so hoge hillis þam beforn̄,
Cloȝes at was cloude he clynterand torres,
Rochis & rogh stanes rokkis vnfaire,
Scutis to þe scharpe schew sckerres a hundreth.
Þan ȝaris he him ȝapely & a-ȝayne turnes,
And past in-to þe proud playn̄ I proued to ȝow first,
Þat all was brett-full of bowis & blossoms so swete,
Þat bawme ne braunche o aloes bettir was neuire.
Fra þens oure note men be northe nymes þaim þe way,
And þat þan̄ fonde all þe flote fiftene dayis.
And þai croke ouire crosse to cache þaim anothire,
Þat led þam to þe left hand & þat a lange quile;
And þus þai dryfe furth þe driȝt of daies foure score,
Till at þai come till a cliffe as þe clause tellis,
Ane egge þat was all ouire of Adamand stanes,
With, hingand in þe rughe roches rede gold cheynes.
Þan was þare graythed of degreces for gomes vp to wynde,

251

Twa thousand be tale & fyue trew hundrethe.
And þai ware sett so in soute of safers fyne,
Þat of þe noblay to neuen it neyd any cristen̄.
Þare logis þe leue kyng late on̄ an̄ euen̄,
Vndire þis maȝte mountayne & on̄ þe morne eftir,
Þare setts he furth of sere gods a selle nounbre,
Þat he honours & his ost & offirs ilk ane.
Syne tas he with him titly his twelue tried prince[s],
Gas him vp be degreces to þe grete lawe,
Trenes to þe topward þat touched to þe cloudis,
Þat he miȝt lend þar o-loft & waite eftir wondirs.
Vp-on̄ þe cop̄ of þe cliffe a closure he fyndis,
A palais, ane of þe precioussest & proudest in erth,
A bild, as þe buke sais with twa brade ȝatis,
And seuenty wyndows beside of serelepis werkes.
Þe ȝatis ware of ȝeten̄ gold ȝarkid of platis,
Þe windows on þe selfe wyse as þe writ schews;
And þai ware coruen full clene & clustrid with gemmes,
Stiȝt staffull of stanes stagis & othire.
Ȝit was a mynstir on þe mounte of metall as þe nobill,
Vmbe-gildid with a garden̄ of golden̄ vynes,
Was chatrid full of chefe frute of charbocle stanes,
With-outen mesure emaunge of margrite grete.
Þis hame at houes on þis hill was in þe hiȝe est,
Forthi ȝit hedirto it hat þe hous of the son̄.
It was so precious a place & proudly a-tired,
Þare was na place it a pere bot paradyse selfe.

Vicesimus tertius passus Alexandri.

Þen aires furth ser Alexander in-to þis athill temple,
With Caulus & with cleopas & othire kidd princes,
And fand a berne in a bedd bawnand alane,
Ane of þe graciousest gomes þat euire god fourmed.
All lemed of his letere þe loge as of heuen̄,

252

For it was gayly begane with golden̄ webbis.
A blewe bleaut o-bofe brad him al ouire,
Was browde all with brent gold full of briȝt aungels.
Þe testre trased full of trones with trimballand wingis;
Þe silloure full of Seraphens & othire sere halows,
With curtyns all of clene silke & coddis of þe same,
With cumly knottis & with koyntis & knopis of perle.
It ware to tere me to tell þe tirement to-gedire,
Or a nany clerke þe cost to de-vise;
And he þat ristis in þat rowme þe romance it tellis,
Was ane of þe borliest bernes þat euire body hade,
With fell face as þe fire & ferly faire schapen̄,
Balgh brade in þe brest & on þe bely sklendire.
His cheuelere as chauele for changing of eld,
And as blaȝt was his berd as any briȝt snaw.
Sone as oure prince with his peris his person̄ avyses,
He gesse him wele to be god & of na gome kind.
He knelis doun with his kniȝtis on þe cald erthe,
With haile him hailsis on̄ heȝe & oþir hend wordis.
Þe renke within þe redell þan raxsils his armes,
Rymed him full renyschly & rekind þir wordis:
“Haile, Alexander!” quod þis athill “at all þe erth weldis,
Þou ert welcum, I-wis & all þi wale princes.
Sire, þou sall see with þi siȝt slike signes, or þou passe,
As neuire segge vndire son̄ saȝe bot þine ane.
And þou sall here apon̄ happis or þou hethen founde,
Þat neuire hathill vndire heuen herd bot þi-selfe.”
“A! A! happy haly here man̄” quod þis hathill þan̄,
“How þat þou neuynes my name & þou me neuire kend?”
“Ȝis, sothly, ser,” saied þe segge “þi-selfe & þi werkis,
Or any drope of þi delume drechet had þe erd.
List þe noȝt loke on þe lindis þat leuys euire mare,

253

Þat has þe surname of þe son̄ & of þe mone alls;
Þat is to mene, bot of þe mone & miȝt has to speke,
And tell þe trewly all þe text quat tide sall here-eftir?”
“Ȝis, by my croune,” quod þe kyng & kyndly was ioyed,
“Þis word I wald, be ȝour will noȝt all þe werd leuir!”
“Ser, waite at þou be wemles for woman̄ touching,
Þan may ȝe leuely on̄ þam̄ loke & lesten ȝour wirdis.
For be ȝe pure of þat pliȝt ȝe may þis place entre,
Þat is þe sette of þat sire þat sett all þe werd.”
“Ser, I am clene of þat craft I knaw wele my-selfe,
Be þou oure gide to þe greuys apon̄ gods name.”
With þat bownes him þat berne & fra his bed ryses,
Cled all in clene gold kirtill & mantill,
A grym grisely gome with grete gray lokis;
Al glitered þe ground for glori of his wedis.
“Sirs, ȝe þat will has to wend ȝour wapens deuoidis,
Nymes of ȝour nethirgloue & nakens ȝoure leggis,
Pesan, pancere, & platis all to ȝoure preue clathis,
Iopon̄ & iesserand & radly me folows!”
Þe kyng at his comaundment with his kniȝtis him spoilis,
Puttis of to þe selfe serke senture & othire,
Takis with him ser telomew an̄ of his princes,
And Antiet, an̄ athill duke & eftir him wendis.
Þai ferd furth all in fere þir foure all to-gedire;
Þe lede at was þar ladisman þe lord & his kniȝtis
Went þurȝe a wale wode was wondire of to tell,
As it ware hiȝtild in þat hill with handis of aungels.
For þare ware tacchid vp trees þe triest of þe werd,
A hundreth fote to þe hede þe hiȝt was & mare,
Lyke oleues out of lebany & lores so grene,
With sichomures & sipresses & sedrisse e-blande.
Þar trekild doun of þa teres of iemmes,
Boyland out of þe barke bawme & mirre,

254

Of scence & of othire salue as sechis out of wellis,
Þat rase neuire of Aromitike sike rekils in erth.
Þai fande a ferly faire tre quare-on̄ na frute groued,
Was void of all hire verdure & vacant of leues,
A hundreth fote & a halfe it had of leȝt large,
With-outen bark ouþir bast full of bare pirnes.
Þar bade a brid on̄ a boghe a-bofe in þe topp̄,
Was of a port of a paa with sike a proude crest,
With bathe þe chekis & þe chauyls as a chykin̄ brid,
And all gilden was hire gorg with golden fethirs,
All hire hames be-hind was hewid as a purpure.
And all þe body & þe brest & on̄ þe bely vndire
Was finely florischt & faire with frekild pennys,
Of gold graynes & of goules full of gray mascles.
Þan waitis on̄ hire þe wale kyng & wondire him thinke,
Was in þe figure of hire fourme noȝt ferlid a littill.
“Quat loke ȝe?” quod þe ladisman “do lendis on̄ forthire,
Ȝone is a fereles foule a Fenix we calle.”
Þan bowe þa forthe all ebland & to þire treis comes,
Þe plants of þe proud son̄ & of þe pale mone.
“Behalds now,” quod þis hare man̄ “to þir haly bowis,
And quat þou will of þaim to wete wis in þi saghe.
Appose þaim all in preuate bot make na playn̄ wordis,
And þou may swythe haue a sware at swike sall þe neuire.
Þan may þou gesse in þi gast it is a gude sprete
Þat sends þe sike asouerance & sees to þi thoȝtis.”
Þire boles was, as þe boke sayes borly & hiȝe,
Þe lind of þe liȝt son̄ louely clethid,
With feylour as of fine gold þat ferly faire lemes,
Þat oþir loken ouire with leues as it ware liȝt siluir.
Þan̄ Alexander at þis athill askis a demande,
“In quatkyn manir of lede sall me þir treis sware?”

255

“Sothly, ser, þe son̄-tree” said þe segge þan̄,
Entris in with yndoyes & endis in greke;
And mast-quat ay þe mone-tree þurȝe miȝt of hire kynde,
Quen it kithis vs any carpe þe contrarie spekis;
For scho begynes all in grew & endis in ynde,
And þus be twinlepi tongis tell þai oure wirdis.”
Þan knelis doun þe conquirour vn-to þe cald erthe,
And aithire bole eftir bole blithly he kissis,
And þoȝt if he suld with þe thra of all þe thedes wete,
If he suld move agayn̄ to Messedon̄ quare his modire duellid.
Þan̄ schogs hire þe son̄-tree & schoke hire schire leues,
And with a sweȝand swoȝe þis sware scho him ȝeldis:
“Sire, þou ert lele of ilk lede þe lorde & þe fadire;
Bot þi sire soile in na side see sall þou neuire.
For þi modire nor ȝit Messedon̄ þou seȝis þaim na mare.”
Þan̄ list him lithe of his lyfe & of his last ende:
“So maideux,” quod þe mone-tree “þi meere bees na langir
Bot out þis anlepi ȝere & aftir viij monethis;
Þan̄ sall he duale þe with a drinke at þou full dere traistis.”
Þan̄ makis he mournyng & mane & in his mynd thinkis,
Qua suld þat trecherous trayne of treson̄ him wirke.
He said, “hende haly tree” & halsid hire in armes,
“Quat person̄ sall do me depresse I pray þe me tell?”
“Sire, sothely,” said þe son̄-tree “if I þe sothe neuened,
Qua suld þe wite out of þe werd & þe þi werdis dele,
Þan suld þou slaa þe same segge & so my sawis faile;
And þat may worthe be na wai for ay my wordis standis.”
Þan̄ lokid on̄ him his ladisman̄ said, “lefe of þi wordis,

256

For writhing of þir wale treeis & willne þaim na mare.
Bot graythe þe, gome, on̄ gods behalue and a-gayn̄ turne,
For ouire þe lemetis of þir lindis may no lede founde.”
Þen bownes agayn̄ þe bald kyng baldly he wepis,
Þat he so skitly suld skifte & fra his skars terme.
So did his princes, sais þe prose for pete of him-selfe,
With ȝedire ȝoskingis & ȝerre ȝett out to grete.
Þan̄ bedis þaim þe barotour on̄ bathe þaire eȝen twa,
Þat þai suld neuire þis note to nane of his ost neuyn̄,
Quat þai beheld in þe hill & herd with þaire eres;
And he þan styntis of his stoure & steris his hert.
“If ȝe will gange,” quod þis gide “a-gayn̄ to ȝoure kniȝtis,
Moves ȝow to þe nethire-ward next I it hald.”
Þan passis he to þis proud place & oure kynge leues,
And he gose doun be grece a-gayn̄ to his tentis.
Þar logis he fra þe late niȝt till efte þe liȝt schewis,
With sare sighingis & sadd for sake of his wirdis;
Costreynes him with his contenance to with his kniȝtis play,
Bot þat bot sprang of þe splene þe sprite was vn̄-esid.
Sone as þe day-rawe rase he risis vp belyue,
Riches him radly to ride & remows his ost,
Driues on̄ with his dukis day eftir othire,
Till he was meten̄ to þe meere quare he þe monte entird,
Þat was þe proud playn̄ fild I proued ȝow be-fore,
Quare all þe face of þe fild was of fyne goules.
Þare piȝt he doun his pauylions & with his princes bidis,
And þe driȝt of a day he duellis in þa costis.
Betwene þa styes in a stound þat strekis þurȝe þe mountis

257

He mas twa pylars doun to pynche all of playn̄ marble,
And tacchis vp of treid gold a pelare in þe myddis,
With a prolouge in þat plate on̄ aithire post writen̄.
“I, Alexander þe athill eftire þe date
Of þe prince & Persye & Porrus þire pilars en-haunsid.
Qua list þis lymit ouir-lende lene to þe left hand,
For þe rake on̄ þe riȝt hand þat may na man̄ passe.”
Þis titill was of twa tongis tane out & grauen,
Of Ebru & of yndoys & of þire ald lettres,
Of latine & of othire lare & leues out of grece,
Proudly prikid all in prose; & here a pas endis.

Vicesimus quartus passus Alexandri.

Now strekis he furth with his stour & steris with his tentis,
He leuys all þe march-gats I neuend ȝow before,
And nymmes a-nothire on̄ þe north þe next to his kith,
Þat to þe marche of Messedone was him mast qweme.
Sone was he lent in a lande a large & a noble,
Preciosa, þe precious þe prose þus it callis;
And clene all þat contre quen þai his come wist,
With sike as provid in þa partis presentis him faire,
Sum fellis of fischis ferly to tell,
Was like as of lepards & lions skynnes;
Sum with lions on̄ lyue & lamprays sloȝis,
Þat sex cubettis clere was of clene lenghe.
Þar was a cite in þat side asisid all with gemmes,
With-outen lyme or laire a lady it kepid,
A worthi wedow & a wlonk with thre wale childire,
Þat qwene Candace þe clere was callid in þa bonds.
Now sall I sothely of hire son̄s say ȝow þe names;
Þe first wos Candoyle callid a kniȝt althire-fairest;
Þe medilmast of þe men̄ was Marcipy hatten̄;
Þe thrid Caraptus is cald þat kepid all hire landis.

258

Sone as þe kyng of hire knew a clause he hire writis,
An̄ Image all of athill gold of Amon̄ hire sendis;
To mete him in þe montayns þat mild he be-sechis,
Þat þai miȝt sacrif[is]e samme þar to his sere driȝtins.
Sone as þis princes of pris þis pistill had deuysid,
Þan̄ sendis scho to him sandis-men with selid lettris,
With tribute & trouage & many tried giftis,
And þire þe wordis of hire write at on̄ þese wyse spekis.

“To þe kiddest kyng of kyngs all othire,
Sire Alexander þe athilest of Amons strinds,
I, Candace þe conquires coround of Mede,
To ȝour honoure with obeyaunce me ane I comaunde.
For it was purveid a-pert of þe kyng of heuen,
Pre-desteyned of his prouydence & of his pure miȝt,
Þat ȝe suld pas in-to Pers & prese it with armes.
Itale, Egipt, & ynde & all þire Iles ouire,
Ȝour wirschip̄ & ȝour worthenes [in] all þe werd sprong,
Ȝour curtassy, ȝour kniȝthede & all ȝoure clene thewis.
And þat with men̄ of þe mold noȝt melid vs alane,
Bot driȝtins & duesses ȝour dedis declaris.
Forþi like it to ȝour lordschip̄ & lathis noȝt my sawis.
We at ere voide ay of vice & vacant of syn̄,
Quat suld we moue in-to þe montts? þat mysters bot litill,
Outhire Appole to adoure or any othire driȝtins.
Bot sen̄ it syttis noȝt to oure simpilnes ȝour saȝe to with-stande,
Ne noþir to mele ne to mote ȝoure maieste a-gayn̄,
Ȝit sall I send ȝow fra my soile a sertan̄ of giftis,
For reuerence of ȝour rialte & of ȝoure rosid werkis.
I drysse ȝow here a diademe ȝoure druits to were,
Þe gaiest gift vndire god of gold & of stanes,
And to ȝow selfe of þe same o serelepy hewis,
A hundreth in a hale heere hiȝtild with crestis,

259

And twa hundret & ten̄ be tale at þe leste,
Of rekanthes of rede gold railed of gemmes,
With pellicans & pape-ioyes polischt & grauen,
With cambs & with coronacles all of clene perle,
Thretti goblettis of gold þe grattest in þe worde,
Fyue hundreth all of euyn̄ elde of Ethyops childire,
Rynoseros, a roghe best with raggid tyndis.
An̄ aȝte to ȝour empire I fra myn erd wayue,
Berrers of ane Ebyn̄-tree & brilles a thousand,
Foure hundreth Olifants in fere þis fardill to bere,
And thretti hundreth of my thede þat threuen ere & tame.
I presand ȝow, of panters full of proud mascles,
Foure hundreth fellis ȝit to fee þat fynely ere tewid.”
Of lepards & of lionesses þis lady him sendis,
A purtrayour in preuate scho prays with þam̄ to pas,
And his personele proporcions in perchemen̄ hire bring.
All was done as scho demed & he hire dere thankis,
And graithis hire giftis agayn̄ þe gaiest vndire heuen.
Þe payntour presentis his aport & shoo was proud þen̄,
For scho had depely many day desyrid him to see.
Þen̄ wendis furth hire dere son̄ a litill dais eftir,
Þat was ser Candoile þe kene þat was hire kidd aire,
His wife & his women̄ & with his wale feres,
Out of þe cite þai soȝt to solace þar hertis;
Þe kyng of Bebrike þe bald him on̄ þe bent metis,
With a company clene of kniȝtis enarmed,
Maynes many of his men̄ & him his make refis,
For he þat lady had loued many lange wintire.
He gers a berne on̄ a blonke hire bremely to cast
Before a bald bachelere on̄ a bigg stede;
Scho gaffe skirmand skrikis at all þe skowis range,
It miȝt a persid any hert to here how scho wepid.

260

Þan was ser Candoile in þat cas kenely distourbid,
Aires on̄ as bely[ue] to Alexander tentis,
Thoȝt he wald sewe to þat sire & seke him of grace,
If he wald helpe with his heere þat hend to reschowe.
Be he þe pauylion̄ a-prochid it past with-in euen,
And sone þe wacche-men̄ with-out quen þai him þare sawe,
Þai tuke him, & to Telomew titte þai him ledd,
Þe mast praysed of þe pers bot þe prince selfe.
“Quat dons man̄ ert þou?” quod þe duke “& quat dos þou here,
Quat is þe cause of þi come? do kith vs þi name.”
“Sirs, Candaces son̄ þe conquires & Candoile I hiȝt;”
And clene tald him [of his] care þe cause all-to-gedire.
Þan trines on̄ ser Telomew & fra his tent wyndis,
Comands ser Candoile to kepe in a kniȝtis warde,
Cairys in-to a cabayne quare þe kyng liggis,
Fand him slowmand on̄ slepe & sleely him rayses,
And tellis him of þat tithandis þe tale how itt standis,
How þar was comyn̄ slike a kniȝt to craue him of help̄,
Þe son̄ of Candace þe quene þe kepare of Mede;
And how þe Bebrik kyng had him his wyfe refid.
“Ȝa, aire a-gayn̄,” quod Alexander “in-to þine awen̄ tent;
Do on̄ þi hede a dyademe þe derrest at I haue,
A croun̄ all of clene gold & a kyngis mantill,
A-seȝee þe doun in my sege as þou my-selfe ware;
Lat com̄ a-boute þe my kniȝtis & call ye my name,
with liȝt lions latis as a lord suld;
Say þi-selfe is my-selfe & þan̄ my-selfe call,
As I ware Antioc þat athill non̄ aghe of me þou stand,
And I sall hiȝe to þi hest as [I] þi hathill ware.
Quen I com̄ to þi call & knele þe before,
Þou sall declare me þe cas of Candals auntir,

261

Befor his person̄ apert ilk poynt as he touchid.
Be noȝt a-baist quen I bow ne bede me noȝt to ryse,
Bot lat þi semblance be sadd quen þou þi saȝe ȝildis;
And sai þan̄, ‘Antioc, myn athill’ quen þou has all tald,
‘Latt se þi witt in þis werke’ & wysely me rede.”
Þan̄ trines furth ser Telomew & tyris him belyue;
In emperouris aparell his person̄ he clethis.
And Alexander as belyue in antioks name,
Quen he was callid, with a kniȝt he coms in a stounde.
Þan tellis to him ser Telomew þe tale all-to-gedire,
Be-fore ser Candale þe kene his consaile him askis.
“Ware it ȝour will,” quod þe wee “wale emperoure,
Þan wald I fare with þis freke his fere to reskowe,
And bid þe Bebrike on̄ bathe twa his eȝen̄,
Withouten bade to þis briȝt his brid to restore;
And say þat sire, on̄ þi be-half bot he hire sone ȝeld,
We sall his cite & him-selfe synge in-to poudire!”
With þat inclynes þe kniȝt & kyndly him loues,
Said, “antiok, of all men ay be þou Ioyed;
It semes þe, for þi sapience to sit in a trone,
And to be cled as a kyng with croune & with septir!”
Þan aires him furth ser Alexander as Antiok it ware,
Cairis on̄ with candoile & caȝt him his leue,
Soȝt furth þe same niȝt & to þe cite wan,
Quare þe Bebrik kyng with þe bird lengis.
Sone þe wacchis on̄ þe wallis þam̄ wiȝtly ascryes,
Qua þai ware, & of quethen & quat was þar errande.
“It is ser Candoile,” quod þe kyng “is comyn for his spouse;
And I am messangere made þat mild to delyuire.
Þe maistir out of Messedone ȝow maynly enjoynes,
If ȝe ȝoure cite will saue to sese him his brid.”
Þan was þe burgaige a-baiste & brest vp þe ȝatis,

262

Of þe palais of þe proud kyng his paramour him tuke.
Sire Candoile to oure conquirour carpis þire wordis,
And adoures him for his athill dede & Antiok him calls.
“I pray þe, prince, with me pas to my praysid modire,
Þat þou may merote haue & menske & mede for þi werkis.”
Þan was oure kyng of þat carpe kyndly reioyed,
For him had list on̄ hire to loke many lang wintir.
He said, “aire we to Alexander & askis him his leue,
And I sall fayn̄ with þe found & felsyn̄ þi will.”
Þan trines he to ser Telomew at in his trone sittis,
Laȝt his leue at þe lede as he his lorde ware.
Þis kid he for a coyntise & kest slike a wile,
Lest he ware knawyn̄ for þe kyng þe kniȝt for to blinde.
Þan caires he furthe with Candoile vp at a cliffe wyndis,
A hidous hill & a hiȝe þat to þe heuen semed,
Was loken all in lange lindis like to þe cedres,
Growand full of gernetts & gracious frutes.
Þare fand þai bery-buskis & braunches with grapis,
Þat vnnethes bere miȝt a berin a bole on̄ his schuldire.
With hesils hild of hodere cloud lang þa appills,
And all þe woddis full of wolfes & of wild apis.
Þai bow vp to a banke & þe burgh neȝes;
And Candace þe conquires quen scho þe cas heris,
How bathe hire barne & his brid was broȝt hame sond,
Þan was scho glad in hire gast & gretly reioysed.
In-to a chambre scho chese & changid hire wedis;
A Robe all of rede gold & þan a riche mantill,
A croune & a corecheffe clustert with gemmes,
And [cam] doun of hire closere with kniȝtis him to mete.
A grete gate be degrece agayn̄ þaim scho foundis;
“Kys me, ser Candoile” & clappis him in armes,

263

Said, “welcum be þou, wale son̄ & þou, my wale doȝtir!
And I am glad of ȝoure gest as gode geffe me ioye.”
Sire Alexander hire a-vises & all his hert liȝtis,
Him þoȝt hire like at a loke his lady his modire.
Scho was so faire & so fresche as faucon̄ hire semed,
An̄ elfe out of an̄-othire erde or ellis an̄ Aungell.
Hire palais was full precious þof it parades ware,
Plied ouir with pure gold all þe plate-rofes,
And þat was ioyned full of gemes & of ioly stanes,
With breme blasenand bemes briȝt as þe son̄.
Þe kyng with dame Candace þe castell he entres,
Silis in with þat semely in-to a somere-hall,
A strenthe, was stiȝtild all of stagis þe stithest of þe werd,
Was nane so comly a close vndire þe can[o]pe of heuen,
Þe bild was all of brent gold þe beddis of þe same,
Piȝt full of pentests & oþire proude stanes,
Of Onycles & orfrays & orient perles,
And with þire precious piers of paradise stremes,
Bathe þe benkis & þe bordis bett of þe noble,
Smeten̄ full of smaragdins & oþir small gemmes,
Of Acats & of Amatistis & adamants fyne,
Calcidoynes & crisopaces & oþir clere bees.
Þe pilars ware of purfire polischt & hewen̄,
With gomes grouelings of gold graythid for þe nanes,
Fondand on all foure on fote & on̄ handis,
Buskid vndire þe baisens to bere vp þe postis.
Þare ran a reuire, as I rede vndire þat riche hame,
Was neuir na cristall so clere as was þa clere strandis.
Þe kyng & Candace þe quene & Candeile hire aire,
Þe same day in þe sale was serued to-gedire.
Scho sesis him on þe secunde day [& sone] with him laches,
Raȝt him by þe riȝt hand & raikis to a chambre,
Was parraillid all of plate-gold pariet & oþire,
With stoute starand stanes þat stremed as þe son̄.

264

Was þar na leuyand lede ne lyfe bot þam ane.
And þan scho laches him be-lyfe & ledis him forthire,
In-to a clochere with a kay þe clennest of þe werde,
Was sammed all of sipris & seder-tables.

Vicesimus quintus passus Alexandri.

Þis selere was be sorsry selcuthely foundid,
Made for a mervall to meeue with engine;
Twenti tamed Olifants turned it a-boute,
Quirland all on̄ queles quen þe quene entres.
Quen þai ware sett þar in samen̄ on̄ silkin webbis,
Sone begynnes it to gaa & gretly he wondres.
“Ware slike a wondire in oure marche of Messedone,” he said,
“It ware a daynte to deme for any duke oute!”
Þan̄ answars him þis athill quene & Alexander him callid,
“Mekill grettir it ware to ȝow of grece & to gomes here.”
Þan stemes he with þe stoute kyng & stiggis with his name;
His chere out of chere hew it changis in-to pale,
Þan has þat hende him by þe hand & hent vp a laȝtir.
In to A preue parlour þai passe bathe to-gedire,
And þar in perchement depayntid his person̄ scho schewid.
Said, “se þi-selfe a sampill þat I þe sothe neuyn̄!”
As fast as he on̄ þis figour festid his siȝt,
All falowis his face & his flesche trimblis;
“Qui fadis so þi faire hew?” said þe faire lady
“Þe werreour of all þe werd & wastoure of ynde,
Þou þat has brettend on̄ þe bent þe barbrins folke,
Þe pepill out of Panty þe Persens & þe Medis.
Loo, now, þe here withouten hiȝt in-to my handis sesed,

265

Bot in a womans ward for all þi wale dedis!
Ser, wete it wele ȝoure worthenes þat for na wele here
Suld neuire no hathill vndire heuen [be] to hiȝe losed;
For all þe welthe of þe werd ware it a wee grantid,
It witis a-way at a wapp̄ as þe wynd turnes.”
Þan chawfis him þat chiftane & with him-selfe chidis,
All if he spared to spek his sprete he rehetis.
As any terand for tene he with his tethe gnaistes,
And hitterly on ilk side his heued he declines.
“Qui colkins þou, ser conquirour & crabbis so þi saule,
Quat may þi vertu now a-vaile & all þine vayn̄ pride?”
“I swete,” quod þe swete kyng “þat I na swerd haue,
For I na wapen̄ haue, I-wis my writh with to venge!”
“Now, bald baratour on̄ bent if þou a brand hade,
Quat prowis miȝt þi person̄ a-preue in þis stounde?”
“For I vnwarly,” quod þe kyng “am to ȝoure will taken,
I suld þe slaa þare þou sittis & þan my-selfe eftir!”
“Now, be my croun̄,” quod þe quene “as kniȝtly þou swaris;
Bot neuir-þe-lattir ȝit be liȝt & lete of þi sorowe.
For þou has broȝt my son̄ wife of bebricans handis,
And I sall surely þe saue vnsesid of þe berbrens.
For ware it knawen̄ of þi come þai walld þi cors schind,
For opressing of þe gud prince Porrus of Ynde.
And Caratros my kid son̄ has couplid him to wyfe
Þe doȝtir of þis dere kynge þat þou to dethe broȝt.”
With þat scho sesis þis sire & to þe sale ledes,
Sendis eftir hire sons & sobirly þam̄ tretis
Þis athill of ser Alexander as þai were all halden̄,
At þai suld menske him & mirthe & make him at esee.
“I knaw it wele,” quod Caratros “my comly modire,
Þat he my brothirs brid has out of bands leuird,
& how þe kyng, be þat cause has to þis kith sent;
Bot my wyfe will ga wode for wa bot I þis wee spill.

266

Ne ware he a messangere & ȝit mare for ȝoure-selfe,
Sure suld him sowe for his sake at him has sent hedire.
So sall his maistir, & I may be my dire saule,
For he þe fadire of my fere has in þe feld drepid.”
“A!” quod þis lade, “leue son̄ if we þis lede sloȝe,
Suld we vs nymme any name oȝt bot of sorowe?”
“Ȝa, Cartros,” quod Candoile “þis kniȝt has me saued,
And I sal lede him on lyue vn-to his lord tentis.”
‘Quat baitis þou me so, my brothire with þi breme wordis,
List ye we stryfe in þis stede & strike aithire oþir?”
“Þat kepe I noȝt,” quod Candoile “ȝit for na cas neuend,
Bot if þe langis to þat laike lo me here redy!”
þan callis Candace þe kniȝt in consaille him takis,
Sees hire sons wald him sla & radly scho pleynes;
‘Lord Alexander, þine are quare is þi wittis?
I prai þe for þi prouidence pesse now my childire.”
Þan bows þis baratour þire brethire to stere,
Fand caratros & candoile at knyfes to-drawen,
Bad, “blyns, bernes of ȝoure brathe & of ȝour breme wordis;
Ȝe fare bot with folite quare ere ȝoure fyue wittis?”
Þan carps he to ser Caratros & kythis on þis wyse,
Ser, if þou lessen my life na lowere þou wynnes.
For Alexander of his awen̄ has many athill kniȝtis
Þat ere mare sekire at a-say þan slike seuen̄ houndreth.
For if I ware fallen fey him forced bot littill.
For ware I a tresour to þat tulk trowe wele þi-selfe,
Þat me so sodanly þat sire had noȝt sent hedire,
With-outen wees me to warde nay, wene þou þat neuir.
Bot if þe list on̄ þat lede loke with þine eȝen,
Sire Alexander þe athill þine aldfadire bane,
Þe thare bot graunt me to geue quat guds as I craue,

267

And I sall prestly þat prince present in-to þi handis.”
Þan ware þire brethire full blithe þus ware þai bath pesed,
And Candoile callis to þe king & kindly him thankis,
“Had I ȝow ay with me here happy ware I þan,
Þan wald I wene with ȝour witt to wast all my fais.”
With þat scho kende him a croun̄ clustrid with gemmes,
With Amatists & Adamands & an athill mantill,
Sterind & stiȝt full of stanes sithin stelis to him cussis,
With othire preuates him plesis bad pas on̄ with hele.
Nowe aires furth oure conquirour & candoile him gidis,
Driues furth all þe dai till doun was þe son̄,
And so þai come till a caue was out of course hoge,
Be-twene twa hillis in a hope & herberd all niȝt.
“Sire,” quod candoile þe kene & to þe kynge said,
“All spritis in þis spelonk here speke þai to-gedire,
Here is þaire comon̄ consaile;” & þis þe kyng heris,
Makis he gracis to his goddis & þan þe grofe entres.
Quen he was doun̄ in þe depe he saȝe a dym̄ cloude
Full of starand sternes and stiȝtild in þe myddest
A grete grysely god on̄ a gay trone,
Þat liȝt lemand eȝen as lanterns he had.
Oure mode kyng was so maied myndles him semed:
“Haile, Alexander þe hende” quod þat hiȝe driȝtin.
“Sire, qua ere ȝe?” said oure ser “Synches I hiȝt;
And to my powere vndire-putt is all þe playn̄ werd.
For þi name a cite has þou sesid bot þou settis me na temple.”
“Sire, if I miȝt merke to Messedone a Maistir I þe hiȝte;
Sall nane be like it in na lede;” “nay, lange noȝt þar-eftir!
Þou sall neuir loke on þat land ga lawere & be-hald.”
Þan̄ kend him quare anothire cloude was full of briȝt sternes,

268

And quare a-nothire grym̄ god was graythid on̄ a sege.
“Sire, quat ert þou,” said þe segge “ser Sirapis, I-wis;
Þe grond & þe begininge of all þe godis oute.”
“Now I be-seke þe, Serapis,” said oure kyng þan̄,
Quat segge is sett me to slaa þe sothe þou me tell.”
“Sire, I haue neuend þe or now þat, ware þat note knawen̄
Till any douth of quat dome þen̄ died I for sorowe.
Þou has a blisfull burȝe biggid to þi name,
Quare many bernes sall debate & bald emperouris,
Þare sall þi berynes be bildid & þi body grauen̄.”
Þan come vp oure kidd kyng and fra þe kniȝt partis,
Þus kaires he fro candele bad, ‘kepe wele him driȝtin.’
Moues him on̄ to his meny & on̄ þe morne eftir
Þan̄ dryues he furth with his dukis in-to a deyne entris,
A vale full of vermyn̄ & all of vile neddirs.
And þai ware crokid & coynnt with corouns on̄ hede,
As it smytten [ware] all of smythis of smaragdens fine.
Ȝit ware þai pasturde of pepir as þe prose tellis,
Of gyloffre & of gingere els ioyed þaim na fodis.
For all ouire couerd was þe coue claggid with spices,
Þat makis þire wormes so wele & wond in þaire kyndis,
Þat ilka twelmonth a turne þai turnay to-gedire,
Ilkane mellis with his make & so þare many dies.
Þan̄ pas þai thethen till a place of perlious bestis,
With clouen clees, sais þe clause as kynd of þe hoggs.
Þai ware thike & threuen wele thre foote o brede,
Quare-with þai faȝt with in-fere & fellid of his kniȝtis,
Þai ware so brefe at a blisch borely & grym̄.
On̄ ilka best a bares hede full of breme tuskis,
Þus ware þai fourmed all be-fore & farand be-hynde
Like as it ware lepards & lions with tailis.
Ȝit was þar gedird out of gripis & griffons emange,
Þat felly flappid at þe faces of þe fell erles,

269

And euir ilka best was so bigge of body & of wyng,
Þat he miȝt bere away a blonke & a kniȝt armed.
Þe kyng was on̄ his couresere to comforth his dukis,
On̄ þe bald bucifalon̄ eblande þaim he rydis,
Prekis fra place in-to place bad, “plukis vp̄ ȝour hertis,”
And cherischest his chiftans with chelous wordis.
He baldis of his bachelers & his bowmen he cheris,
To flay with flanes of þe fowlis & þe fell bestis.
And it was done at his dome with-drewe þai na langir,
Bath archere & alblastis & all þaim a-sailed.
Þe bataile on̄ bathe halfis brymly begynnys,
Oure seggis & þe Synagyns semblid vnfaire;
Gripis gripis of oure gomes out of gilt sadils,
Tuk þam̄ in þaire talons & titt fra þaire blonkis.
Bot ȝit oure kyng with his kniȝtis so kenely defendis,
And with his ginge out of grece þat he þe gree wynnes.
Bot ȝit was herid of his here twa hundreth & ouire,
Þus gafe vp̄ þe gaste with gold on̄ þai heles.
Þan ferd he furth till a flode & þat a ferly hoge,
Twenti forelang & ferre it had of full breede,
And all þe strands of þe streme stode full of stith reedis,
Quare-of he beds at a braid him bargis to make.
Quen it was hewyn at his hest with heggis ouire-folden̄,
Þan entirs in of his erles & ouire þe ee passis.
And all þat kith of oure kyng quen þai his come wist,
Þai perid to him with presands þe proudis of þat land.
Sum spends on̄ him of spon[ges] a sparles nounbre,
Of mirre & of mekill quat milke-quite
Sum men̄ muscles him mett & with so mekill schellis,
Þat sex pond miȝt of paise haue ni of watre.
Sum of seelis of þe see sendis to him cotis,

270

Sum bees at ware blode-rede & borely wormes
As large as a mans lege & lamprays of weȝt
Twa hundreth pond ay a pece & past it be fifty.
Ȝit was þar wonand in þis watir as women it semed,
Þat ferly faire ware of face with haare to þaire heelis.
Ouire-stride þar any strange man̄ or be þir strandis sailed,
Þai droȝe þam̄ doun in-to þe depe & drowned þaim for euire,
Or els þai tillid þaim to þe trees as þe buke tellis,
And gert þaim laike with þaim so lange till þaim þe life wantis.
Oure men̄ tuke of þaim twa was ten̄ foote of hiȝt,
Als blaȝt as any briȝt snaw & as biche sons tothed.

Vicesimus sextus passus Alexandri.

Þan aires furth ser Alexander & with his arte closis
Of terands of þir tartaryns twa & twenti kyngs.
He stekis þam̄ vp with þar stoures in a straite lawe,
And I sall neuen ȝow þar names if ȝe þaim neuire herd.
Gogg & magogg þe grete he with þir gomes pyndis,
Agekany & Anafrage & Almade bathe,
Sire Camour & ser Cacany with all þar kidd ostis,
And ane ser Clambert þe kene was kyng of þer ostis;
Gamarody þe goblyn a-nothire gryn̄ sire,
Marthyney þe miȝtfull & Magen his fere,
Appedanere, Olaathere & Alane þe grete,
And ane ser naþy onone he in þe nabb speris.
He lockis in ane ser limy with a laith mey[n]he,
And raryfey, a riche ray he in þe roche stoppis,
Sire Filies, a fell kyng with all his fers kniȝtis,
And ane ser Bedwyn̄ þe bald with many briȝt helmes.
Arteneus ane athill kemp̄ als-so he in-parkis,
And ane ser Tarbyn̄, a tulke with many toore thousandis;

271

Sire Saltary, a-nothire sire now is þe sowme reckend.
All þire he closis in þat cliffe & cairis on forthire
To þe occyan̄ at þe erthes ende & þar in an Ilee he heres
A grete glauir & a glaam of grekin tongis.
Þan̄ bad he kniȝtis þaim vnclethe & to þat kithe swym̄,
Bot all at come in-to þat cole crabbis has þaim drenchid.
Þan̄ sewis furth þat souerayn̄ ay by þa salt strandis
Toward þe settynge of þe son̄ in seson̄ of wintir;
Sexti dais with his sowme sadly he ridis,
Raȝt on̄ to þe reede See & rerid þare his tentis.
Þare was a miȝti montayne at to þe mone semed,
He gessis it gaynir to god þan to þe grounde vndire,
And slike a fonned fantasy þan fell in his hert,
How þat he liftid miȝt be fra þe lawe vn-to þe liȝt sternes.
Þan made he smythis to gaa smert & smethe him a chaiere
Of blake iren̄ & of bigge & bynde it with cheynes,
A sekire sege in to sitt & sett him on-loft.
And foure Griffons full grym̄ he in þat graythe festes;
He makis to hinge ouir þaire hede in hokis of iren̄
Flesch on ferrom̄ þaim fra at þai miȝt noȝt to reches,
To make þaim freke to þe fliȝt þat fode for to wyn̄,
For þai ware fastand be-fore halden for þe nanes.
Now is he won̄ þurȝe þar wingis vp̄ to þe wale cloudis;
So hiȝe to heuen þai him hale in a hand-quile,
Midil-erth bot as a mylnestane na mare to him semed,
And all þe watir of þe werd bot as a wrethen neddire.
Þe vertu of þe verray god envirounis him swythe,
And þan̄ þai fell on̄ a fild as ferre fra his ost
As any freke miȝt founde in fiftene daies,
And he vnhurt with mikill vnhome he to his ost wynes.

272

A-nothire wondirfull witt ȝit worthid in his hert,
How he miȝt seke doun sounde in-to þe see bothom̄,
To see quat selcuthe is seet in þe salt watir,
How many kind of creatours þat in þe cole duellis.
Þan gert he gomes for to gang & grayth him a tonn̄
Of grene glitterand glas with gerrethis of iren̄,
Þat he miȝt sitt in him-selfe & with his seȝt persee
Ane & othire & all þing at outwith it lengid.
Sone was it blawen at a braide & broȝt him be-forne,
All boun as he badd & bunden with cheynes.
Þan of his bald bachelers þe biggist out callis,
And raȝt to þaim þire rekenthis to rewle & to hald.
He makis a conand with his kniȝtis & kend þaim þe time,
Howe lange him likid fra þe lande to leng in þe depe,
In at a wicket he went & wynly it speris;
Princes pointid it with pik & he þe plunge entres.
Þare saȝe he figours of fischis & fourmes diuerse,
Þat kend he neuir so many kindis ne of so qwaynt hewis.
Sum ferd all on̄ foure feete & farand as bestis,
Bot quen þai blischt on̄ þis berne þan bade þai na langir.
And oþir sellis he saȝe at sai wald he neuir,
Þat ware vnlikly to leue to any man wittis.
Sone so þe setnes was gane þat him-selfe made,
Þai dreȝe him vp to þe drye & he na dere sufird.
Þan raikis he by þe reede see & rides ay þe sannd,
Ferly ferre with his folke & ficchid his tentis,
Þare fande he bestis on̄ þe brym̄ with bemes as sawis,
Þat ware as bitand breme as bladis of swerdis.
Þai sett in a sadd sowme & sailid his kniȝtis,
Porris doun of his princes & persys þar schildis,
Ȝit fellid his folke of þaim fey foure score hundreth,
And foure hundreth, & ferre be fifti, þai drepid.

273

Þan driues he þethin with his dukis in-to desert landis,
Is riȝt betwene þe reede see & Arrabie costis,
A wilsom wast & a wild & wons full of neddirs,
And þai ware hedously hoge & horned as Tupis.
Þai turred doun of his tulkis & with þar tyndis sloȝe;
Bot þe dreȝest deele of þaim died of his dukis handis.
Þan past he to a-noþir place & piȝt doun his tentis,
And fand a bataill of bestis as breme as þe first.
Þai ware of figour & of fourme as fendis of hell,
With heuy hedis & hoge as horses it were.
And þai ware tacchid full of tethe as tyndis ere of harows,
And fell flammes as of fire floȝe fra þaire mouthes.
A selly sowme of his seggis was slane or he wist,
And he þan̄ hertis his here biddis, “hewis on̄, my childire;”
And ferly ferd of his folke was in þe fild strangild.
Bot all þe dreȝe of þa deuels þai drenchid or þai past.
Þan fondis he furth with his folke in-to a fild entris,
And þar he logis with his lordis & lengis for a quile.
For slike a fell infirmite was in his hors bunden̄,
Bucifalon þe bald stede þat he for bale dies.
Þe berne blischis on̄ his blonke & seȝes his breth faile,
Sighis selcuthly sare & sadli he wepis,
For he had standen him in stede in stouris full hard,
Won̄ him wirschip in were fra many wathe saued.
Þe kynge to þis carion̄ he castis his eȝen,
Said, “fare wele, my faire foole þou failid me neuire!
Sall now þi flesch here be freten̄ with fowlis & with wormes,
Þat has so doȝtyly done? nay, driȝtin for-bede!”
Þan̄ bilds he þare a berynes þis beste in-to ligg,
Of schene schemerand gold as it a schrine ware,
A tombe as a tabernacle & tildis vp̄ a cite
In reuerence of þat riche stede & eftir him it callis.
Þan ridis he to a Reuere a ruyde & a hoge,

274

Detiraty þe depe þe men̄ þare it callis;
Fyue thousand Olifants in feree þa frithmen̄ him broȝt,
A hundreth Mille heuy chargis ware hewen̄ for þe were.
Þan pas he to a proude place a palas of ioye,
Of Sexis, at sum time was senyour of Persy.
Þar fand he garettis all of gold & gildin̄ chaumbres,
And many a miracle in þe mote þat miche ware to reken.
Þar fand þai bridis in þa bilds borely & quite,
Of feþir fresch as any fame as ere þir fedill dowfis,
Þat see wald of a sekeman̄ or any sorow ailid,
Queþir he suld warisch of þat waa or of þe werd turne.
For if þai blithly vp blenkid & blischt on̄ his face,
Þan̄ suld he couir of his care men knew by þe takens;
And if þai chaungid opon̄ chaunce his chere to be-hold,
With-outen̄ doute he was dede þan̄ durid he na langir.
Now bowis furth þis baratour & Babiloyn̄ he wynnys,
Brettenes þe bald kyng & bringis him of lyue,
Ane Nabizanda was named & a noble kniȝt,
Was ane þe proudest of his pirs & prince of his ward.
He lengis in lithis & in lee to his lyues ende,
A seuen monethis in sonde & sende out a pistill
To his modire in-to Messedone & to his maistir als
Of his auntours, of his angwisch & of his athill werkis,
And Aristotill be-lyue him anothire writis.
“To þe kyng of kyngis,” quod þis clerke “comande I myselfe.
Sire, quen I waitid on̄ ȝour werkis I wex all affraid
Sum grayne of godhede, I gesse was growen ȝow within;
For þou has said þat neuir did segge ne saȝe bot þine ane;

275

Ȝit miȝt neuir, I lofe oure lorde my lege, ȝow withstande;
Sire, blissid be all þi bachelers at þe in bales helpid!”
And now fynes here a fitt & folows a-nothire.

Vicesimus septimus passus Alexandri.

Oure bold kyng in Babiloun nowe bildis vp a trone,
Þe postis with all þe apurtynance as pure as þe noble,
Þat was so wondirly wroȝt of werkis diuerse,
Þat slike a sege vndire son̄ was neuire sene eftir.
So grete garisons of gold þe grekis in broȝt,
Þe Medis & þe Messedons many horsis chargid,
Þat þai out of ynde & els-quare with olifants lede;
It wald haue wlated any wee þat welth to be-hald.
Twelfe cubettis fra þe cald erth he castis it on̄ hiȝt,
And xij degreces all of gold for gate vp̄ of lordis;
And twyse sex Semylacris sesid he þar-vndire,
Þat held on̄ hiȝe with þaire handis all þir heuy werke.
And þar was grauyn in þos gomes with grekin letteris,
And titild in þe tried names of his twelfe princes.
With ilk a statute þat þar stude stoutely enarmed,
And euer-ilk a person̄ a prince payntid was eftir.
All þe sete of þe sege was smaragdyns fyne,
Off tried topaces & trewe tyrid was þe wawes,
A tabernacte ouir þe trone tildid vp̄ on̄ loft,
And þan with stanes of ilka state wall þe stoure clustrid.
A charbocle as a chasse was in þe chefe boll,
Þat brynt in bely-blind niȝt as briȝt as þe son̄,
With Imagis vndire in ilka nend & Impid in þe names
Of all þe prouynces & þe places þat he was prince ouire.
And þai ware visid all in versis in variant lettirs,
Sum in latens lare sum langage of grece,

276

Assisid all of sex foote & sett in betwene,
Ay thre paire on̄ a plate qware a poynt ristis.
Now sall I neuyn̄ ȝow þe names note ȝe þe wordis;

Þe pepill out of Panthi is plant in first,
Pruto, Picard, & Pers & Pamphalie bathe,
Portingale & Paiters it paies me trouage,
Arrabe & Artoyes and Assie þe mare,
Abbeon̄ & Aufrike & Acres anothire,
Effosym̄ & Ethiops þire ebrues folke;
All Ermony & Ewrope enterely me serues,
Ingland, Itaile, & Yndee & Ireland costis,
Meede & Mesopotayme & Massedoyne eke;
Turke, Tuscane, & Troy and Tartary clene,
Surre, Sysyll, & Saarde & Syres all ouire;
Gyane, Garnad, & Grece & Gascoyne I haue,
Baxe, Bayon̄, & Burdeux & Bretayn̄ þe graunt,
Capidos, & Calde þe Canony pepill,
Russe, Romayn̄ & Ramys a rent þai vs ȝeld.
All Calabree & Corwaile oure coroun obien̄,
Bathe naples & Norway þire Nauernes all,
Þe beeris out of Hungry & out of haythen Spayn̄,
Frigie, Flandres, & Fraunce & Femony vs loutis,
Ascalioun, & Arcagee all of vs haldis;
Tiree, & Tasse, & Tessale oure tributars ere,
Poliponens, & Pentapol & Palestyne þe riche.

[OMITTED]

[_]

The fragment in the Ashmole MS. ends here.