The buik of Alexander Or the buik of the most noble and valiant conquerour Alexander the Grit: By John Barbour ... Edited in four volumes, from the unique printed copy in the possession of the Earl of Dalhousie, with introductions, notes and glossary, together with the French originals (Li Fuerres de Gadres and Les Voeux du Paon) collated with numerous mss.: By R. L. Graeme Ritchie |
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 | The buik of Alexander |  |
Nixt Idorus was set Lyoun,
That throw his wit and his ressoun
And his wisdome was Marshale
Of Alexanderis hoste all hale.
Elyas to him said in hy,
“Schir, ȝe that, throw ȝour cheualry,
Of mony fare worship hes louing,
And quhen Alexander the King
Send furth seuin hundreth to forray
Besyde Gaderis in ane valay,
Thare come on ȝow the Duke Betys
With xxx thousand men of prys,
And for defalt of messingere
Ȝe had bene slane all but were,
And wald nocht ga for lufe nor threat,
Althocht ȝe saw the perell great!”
Full courtasly said Lyonell,
“My awin fare, sueit damysell,
It was perfurneist douchtely
With ane better all out than I!
His bowellis on his forther arsoun,
In the skirt of his habersoun,
Wounded throw the corps, I wis,
Fyue syse or sex, and ȝit he is
Leuand, I loif God! Lo quhare
He sittis, with the furrit mantill thare!”
Arreste than eshamed was,
And smait doun smartly with the fas.
Then leuch thay all that him can se,
And Elyot said, “shir, ȝe suld be
Cherest and honored attour all thing,
And of all haue lufe and louing.
Avowes ȝour avow, shir Lyonell!”
“I grant thareto, fare damysell!
And I avow and hechtis baith,
That sall perfurnist be full raith:
I sall me arme forouttin lete,
Now alssone efter the mete,
And all allane of this toun
Ryde to Clarus pauillioun,
And of his eldest sone ask iustyne!
This sall I do, quhat euer cum syne,
Althocht I suld tharefore be tane
Or with our fais defoulit or slane!”
Quod Cassamus, “be God of mycht,
This vow is gentill to my sicht!
Hes he nocht thocht to purches pryce
And to win honour at deuyce,
I hope this gate wald nocht be gane,
Na ȝit this veage vndertane!
But worship, treuth and laute,
That God hes geuin ȝow of plente,
And the great vertew of amour
Hes set ȝour will on that labour.
Tharefore ȝe sould haue cherisyng
With all men, and great louing,
As it is gude ressoun and skill;
And to our Goddis pray I will,
And to ȝouris alsua, that ȝe
Ay loued and honored be!”
That throw his wit and his ressoun
And his wisdome was Marshale
Of Alexanderis hoste all hale.
Elyas to him said in hy,
“Schir, ȝe that, throw ȝour cheualry,
Of mony fare worship hes louing,
And quhen Alexander the King
Send furth seuin hundreth to forray
Besyde Gaderis in ane valay,
Thare come on ȝow the Duke Betys
With xxx thousand men of prys,
And for defalt of messingere
Ȝe had bene slane all but were,
And wald nocht ga for lufe nor threat,
Althocht ȝe saw the perell great!”
Full courtasly said Lyonell,
“My awin fare, sueit damysell,
It was perfurneist douchtely
With ane better all out than I!
His bowellis on his forther arsoun,
In the skirt of his habersoun,
Wounded throw the corps, I wis,
Fyue syse or sex, and ȝit he is
Leuand, I loif God! Lo quhare
He sittis, with the furrit mantill thare!”
Arreste than eshamed was,
And smait doun smartly with the fas.
265
And Elyot said, “shir, ȝe suld be
Cherest and honored attour all thing,
And of all haue lufe and louing.
Avowes ȝour avow, shir Lyonell!”
“I grant thareto, fare damysell!
And I avow and hechtis baith,
That sall perfurnist be full raith:
I sall me arme forouttin lete,
Now alssone efter the mete,
And all allane of this toun
Ryde to Clarus pauillioun,
And of his eldest sone ask iustyne!
This sall I do, quhat euer cum syne,
Althocht I suld tharefore be tane
Or with our fais defoulit or slane!”
Quod Cassamus, “be God of mycht,
This vow is gentill to my sicht!
Hes he nocht thocht to purches pryce
And to win honour at deuyce,
I hope this gate wald nocht be gane,
Na ȝit this veage vndertane!
But worship, treuth and laute,
That God hes geuin ȝow of plente,
And the great vertew of amour
Hes set ȝour will on that labour.
Tharefore ȝe sould haue cherisyng
With all men, and great louing,
As it is gude ressoun and skill;
And to our Goddis pray I will,
And to ȝouris alsua, that ȝe
Ay loued and honored be!”
| The buik of Alexander | |