## Kyng Alisaunder

### Publication Statement:

This file is part of the facsimile-edition of the Auchinleck Manuscript was co-edited by Professor David Burnley and Dr Alison Wiggins. The HTML versions of the resource are freely available at http://www.nls.uk/auchinleck/

### Notes:

This manuscript file was originally supplied as alisaunder.html and the header file was located in heads/alisaunder_head.html both of which were converted to TEI XML by Dr James Cummings of the Oxford Text Archive. The notes below were taken from the header file and each HTML paragraph placed in a separate note.

Scribe 1

Short couplets. Auchinleck contains only 259 lines plus fragments now in London University Library and St Andrews University Library. Lineation below matches Smithers' text based on Laud Misc 622.

Composed in the early-fourteenth century, probably in a London dialect.

Two other manuscripts:
Bodleian Library, MS Laud Misc 622 (formerly Laud I.74). S. E. Midland. c.1400. Fullest text (of 8021 lines).
London, Lincoln's Inn MS 150. W. Midlands, Shropshire. Late 14th (Kyng Alisaunder) and 15th centuries. 6746 lines. The Lincoln's MS also contains a version of Of Arthour and of Merlin.

Editions:
G. V. Smithers, Kyng Alisaunder, EETS OS 227, 237 (London: Oxford University Press, 1951, 1957; reprinted 1961, 1969).
G. V. Smithers, 'Two Newly-Discovered Fragments from the Auchinleck MS', Medium Ævum, 18 (1949): 1-11. (On the fragments found by N. R. Ker in the Library of the University of St Andrews).
G. V. Smithers, 'Another Fragment of the Auchinleck MS' in Medieval Literature and Civilization: Studies in Memory of G. N. Garmonsway, D. A. Pearsall and R. A. Waldron (eds) (London: Athlone Press, 1969): 192-210. (Includes a transcription of the fragment University of London Library MS 593).

Manual I, 105; 270. Index 683.

### Source:

The Auchinleck Manuscript (NLS Adv MS 19.2.1) is one of the National Library of Scotland’s greatest treasures. Produced in London in the 1330s, it provides a unique insight into the English language and literature that Chaucer and his generation grew up with and were influenced by. It acquired its name from its first known owner, Lord Auchinleck, who discovered the manuscript in 1740 and donated it to the precursor of the National Library in 1744.

### Kyng Alisaunder

### Including London University Library MS 593 (fragments: L ff.1ra-2vb)
and St Andrews University Library MS PR 2065 A.15 (fragments: S A.15 ff.1ra-2vb)

London Fragments Commence
.. e quen candace al [L f.1ra] [Image]
Sendeþ þe greteinges ... amour
Alisaunder dere s rie
Ouer al men y þe desire
Nim me to þ[i]n owen quen[6680]
Riche schal þi mede ben
Jchil charge saun faile
Wiþ bes .. s a þousand c ..
Jchil ȝiue þe ȝim .. beiȝes
... en þousand ca .. rs ...[6685]
[J]chil charge .... ....
Wiþ ....
..... ..... en
.... ..... mbardinges
.... .... inges[6690]
.... .... sand noble kniȝt
To þi w.... .... &
& .... d ....
Ful of .... der ....
Gold .... .... ....[6695]
Nomiȝt þe .... .... worþ
þou .... .... oceros ...
& v. c olifa .... ....
.... .... red ....
.... .... þousand ....[6700]
Olif .... .... pleyne
Strong .... .... of ....
& v. c ...... gold ...
.... lond .... w ld
& an hundred þousand gentil squiers[6705]
Þat [schal] þe se[r]ue in ich misters
... þousand maidens briȝt
For to serue þine kniȝt
Alle erles do[u]hters & barouones
Ful of sw .... .... teis wones[6710]
O Alisaunder riche .......
{ about 6 lines cut from the foot of the column }
Þer was cumen wiþ þem alang [L f.1rb] [Image]
A queint man a metalȝete[6725]
Þat couþe in al þing.
He avised þan [þ]e king
& þo he com ho[m] sikerliche,
He kest a fourme þe king y[l]iche
J[n] face in eiȝe in nose in mouþe[6730]
Jn lengþe in membres þat is selcouþ.
Þe quen it bischet in hir bour
& kept it wiþ gret honour.
Now rideþ Alisaunder in his iurnaiing
Wiþ michel ... de & singinge[6735]
Jn gr .... t & solasinge;
Listneþ ..... of his meting.
So þe king rode wiþ doukes & erls
He mett to hore cherls.
To þe nauel her berd hing,[6740]
Þus aresounde hem þe king
‘Say me now, ȝe eld hore,
Mani day is ȝe were ybore,
Wite ȝe owhar bi ani way
Oni meruaile in þis cuntray[6745]
Þat ich miȝt don in storie
Oþer men to memorie?’
‘ȝa .... .... fa ’ quaþen he
‘A gret meruaile we tellen þe
Þat is hennes an euen wey[6750]
Þe mountaun[ce] of ten iurnay,
Þou schalt finde trewes to;
Seint & holy þai ben bo
Her & in oþer cuntres alle
Arbe sec men hem calle,[6755]
ȝif þou wilt þe þider diȝt
Þou miȝt wiþ þe lede xl. m kniȝt
Wiþ hem þou miȝt þe wele were
Þat non wilde bestes schul þe dere.
Mo no miȝtow lede saun dotaunce[6760]
Bot þe faile sustenaunce.’
{ About 8 lines cut from the foot of the column }
‘Go to hem & aske an hert, [L f.1va] [Image]
Al þatow wilt cert
Oþer of frende oþer of ken[6770]
Oþer of strong men,
& þou schalt here þe soþe anon
... þou wilt þider gon.’
Þe king bi conseil of his best
Diȝt him þiderward on hast[6775]
& sent wiþ Porrus al his men
Jnto þe cite of Faacen,
Bot fourti þousand wiþ him he toke
So we finden writen in boke.
Alisaunder so rideþ & wendeþ[6780]
What he comeþ to þe trewes hende;
Now þe muge & þe cetewal
On hem smelleþ & þe galingale
Þe canel & þe licoriis
Swete odour ȝiueþ, ywis,[6785]
Gelofre, quibibbe & þe mace
Gingeuer, comin ȝeueþ odour of gras
& vnder sonne of alle spice
He ȝaue odour wiþ delice.
Þat lond was holy he vnderstode,[6790]
Þai liȝt of her destrers gode,
Þai ȝeden on fot & men hem mett,
Euerich oþer fair gret.
Of lyonus & of panteren
Alle her weden certes weren;[6795]
Han þai no wolle to spinne,
Her cloþes ben of bestes skinne.
Þe bischop þat was of þe lond
Of þe kinges com haþ sond,
He diȝt him & went þe king oȝan.[6800]
Hereþ now of a selcouþe man,
Þe bischop hete Longis sikerliche,
He was boþe blac & griseliche
& rouwe & scheldred also,
His o fot was more þan þe oþer to[6805]
{ About 8 lines cut from the foot of the column }
Þe king wel fair he gret [L f.1vb] [Image]
Also sone so he him mett
& þe king him seyd bi gode resoun
Of his coming þere chesoun.[6815]
What helpeþ it long to telle?
Þe bischop him graunted al his wille
& schreueþ him & al þo
Þat wiþ him þider schuld gon.
Now is þe sonne ygon vnder,[6820]
Þe bischop ledeþ þe king to þis wonder
& þre hundred kniȝtes him mede
To þe trewes wiþ him ȝede.
No seiȝe he neuer so fair atour
No neuer smelled so swete odour.[6825]
At þe trewe of þe sonne
Her sacrifise þai bigunne.
Þe bischop to þe king seyd
& to alle his felawered
‘King’ he seyd ‘þis trewe onest[6830]
Asked offring of no best
No of broches no of ringes
No of no muþe crieinges
Bot in þine hert þenk al þi wille
& þou schalt finde it ful snelle,[6835]
For byheld vp þi steuen
Is yherd vp to heuen.’
Þe king seiȝe a leyt of fer brond
Fram þe trewe into heuen stond,
On knewe he gan anon to falle[6840]
& wiþ him his kniȝtes alle
& þouȝt ȝif he schuld þe warl[d] win forþ,
Est & west & souþe & norþ,
ȝif he schuld to Grece oȝain wende
To sen his moder & his frende;[6845]
Þat trewe him answerd oȝen
Jn language of Jnden
‘King Alisaunder, y telle þe cert
Of alle þe world þe þridde part
.... winne & ben of king[6850]
{ About 6 lines cut from the foot of the column }
London Fragments end and St Andrews Fragments commence
Ar þou ware in þi bieteinge [S A.15 f.1ra-b] [Image] [second image] [Image]
Of godes it was þi destininge
For al þis warld y sigge it þe
Oþer wise no miȝt it be.’
Þo þe king yherd þis[6860]
For diol he chaunged colour, ywis,
Wo was him for þat answare
.... .... so ....
Ac þo men miȝt se men anowe
Doukes & barouns falle aswowe[6865]
Her here teren, lesse & more,
Wrong her honden & wepen sore
& biwailed his pruwes,
His ȝingþe, his strengþe & his largesse.
Þe king siȝt swiþe sore[6870]
& bad hem be stille, lesse & more.
He hem solaced & bad hem be stille,
He most suffre þe godes wille
He hiȝt hem eiȝte & gret noblais
Þai schuld it hele & ben in pais.[6875]
He tok þe bischop anonriȝt
For it was after þe midniȝt
To þe trewe of þe mone
Þre kniȝtes he dede wiþ him go.[6880]
{Lines missing}
His kniȝtes of Grece & of Perce[6900]
Wo & sorwe gan reherce,
Wepen & her cloþes totare,
No man no seiȝe neuer swiche care.
Philotas sone to þe king kam,
Beforn hem alle þe tale he nam[6905]
‘Sir,’ he seyd vnderstond
.... wiþ þe .....
Jt no beþ nouȝt alle our frende
Þat ous beþ now hende;
We han mani priue fo[6910]
Þat wold of on harm to
& wil fond to greuen ous
Bot þou þe make vigrous;
Þat þou herdest þis fairie
No hastow hert & flesche hardy.[6915]
Lete be, sir, swiche morninge
& go comfort þi genge.’
King Alisaunder þei him were wo
He tok him gode hert to,
Vp he rist & to his folk goþ[6920]
& makeþ him bliþe & noþing wroþ
So he no ȝaue no þing þerof
For he made him bliþe & liȝt.
Swiche day y schal hennes ten [S A.15 f.1va-vb] [Image] [second image] [Image]
{Lines missing}
& who schal mi traitour ben.’[6945]
Þe trewe answerd wiþ gret ire
‘Parfay, þou art a selcouþe sire
& askest þing oȝaines skil.
Now is þe time in Aueril;
Þou schalt libbe al þis ȝare,[6950]
Nouȝt wiþouten gret care,
Þou schalt wele ouercome,
Ac þin ending schal be nome
Jn þe next ȝare so y þe tache;
Þe four & XX day in Marche[6955]
Þou schalt ded bi puisoun þole,
Þi traitour schal ben forhole.
No mostow nouȝt wite þi fo
For Cloto, Lachesis & Antropo
Þe sustren it schopen þe.[6960]
Nomore ich hot no aske me,
Nomore no dar ich þe telle
Go out of our wode snelle.’
Þe kyng þe amonestement herd
.... quicliche þennes he ferde[6965]
So .... .... ....
At þe bischop his leue he tok
For he wot his certain day.
{Lines missing}
Aueril ȝeueþ miri schoures
Þe foules singgen, springeþ þe floures,
Mani hoket is in amoures,[6990]
Stedefast seld beþ lichours.
Hote loue oft after soureþ.
Fair iuwel is gode neiȝeboure,
Þe best þing is gode honoure.
Alisaunder nil nomore loure,[6995]
He hoteþ quicliche al his men
Trussen to grete Faacen
& seyd ‘lordinges, makeþ no tale
Of þe trowe wode gale.
ȝe witeþ wele þat Porre cert[7000]
Bereþ to me iuel hert;
He bereþ to me non amour
For ich binam him his tresour,
Qued & harm he wil me spie
Oþer par auentour me defie.[7005]
ȝif he wot of þis trigoldrie
Þat þis trewes cun lye
.... lle þe men þat ben of Ynde
.eneþ me a god to finde
Þerfore no dur þai saunfaile[7010]
Oȝaines me taken bataile.
ȝif þai wenden þat Ich man ware
{Lines missing}
Þe paþe of þe mountain was naru & stepe [S A.15 f.2ra] [Image] [second image] [Image]
& þe dales derk & depe;
Þe way was naru vp & doun
Among þe eddren & dragoun.[7035]
At þe seueniȝtes ende
He fond a folk gent & hende,
Sereses is her name
No cunnen hye of no schame
Þat ben trewe & stedefast[7040]
Mesurable, bonour & chast.
No schal þer non oþer biknawe
Bot it be bi riȝt lawe.
Her mete is brede, erbe & water,
Naked þai gon wiþouten hater;[7045]
Nis non of oþer agramed
No of nakedhed aschamed.
Wiþouten lust of sinne þai streneþ,
Alisaunder hem bimeneþ
Þat hye no hadde warldes manhed[7050]
To her oþer gode hede.
Þese vnderfeng þemperour
... deden to him al honour
& fonde . . him al despens
Jn mete & drink & reuerens[7055]
& ledeþ him bi siker pas
{Lines missing}
P[or]rus bileued at Faacen [S A.15 f.2vb] [Image] [second image] [Image] [7170]
& ofsent alle his men
Boþe doukes & barouns
Of alle Ynde regiouns
& seyd ‘Y pleni me lordinges
To ȝou of Alisaunder þe king.[7175]
He haþ afelled min honour
.... robbed al ......
He haþ taken mi castels,
He haþ afelled mi turrels
... is hi fallen chaunce hard[7180]
... haþ neiȝe lorn al his ferd
.... [w]ilde bestes hem haþ yslawe
His gode kniȝtes al todrawe
x .l. þousand almast
He habben yslawe wilde hast[7185]
... ow ichil him defie
... haue of him þe maist
Wiþ swerd him sle oþer wiþ kniue
Oþer out of mi lond driue.
Jch þe hot dan Torold[7190]
& . . r Phares þat ert so bold
. oþ wier mi feaute
y no kepe wiþ hi haue leaute
Siggeþ him ichim defie.
St Andrews Fragments end and London Fragments commence
King Alisaunder kneu ades [L f.2ra] [Image]
Boþe Torold & ek Phares[7215]
& seyd to hem ‘frendes onest
Telleþ on ȝour lordes hest,
Ben it foly, ben it wise,
Þe no schul haue bot curteisie.’
Torold seyd ‘þe king wroþ is[7220]
& seiþ ȝe don michel amis
Þat ȝe ȝou maken lord & sire
Fer & neiȝe of his empire,
Cites makeþ, walles rareþ;
He dredeþ him al to his care,[7225]
ȝe han him tviis ouercome
& alle his tresour him binome,
He wiþclepeþ al homage
& sendeþ ȝou bi ous sond gage
& deffiaunce bi our hond[7230]
& hoteþ ȝou remu out of his lond.’
Alisaunder ginneþ to leiȝen smale
& þus he ginneþ to hem his tale
‘Jchil proue wiþ spere & sword
Þat of þis lond icham lord.[7235]
Porrus weneþ ich be amaid
For his gviours me han bitraid
& of mi pople haþ forlore,
Jn þat cas he is forswore.
Al þe lere in him ich rett,[7240]
Y schal ȝeld him wele his dett.
ȝete ichaue aliue saun fable
Alle min xii. constable.
He haþ sponnen a þred
Þat is comen of iuel red[7245]
ȝete ichaue c. þusinde
Betters kniȝtes no ben in Ynde
Redi to proue wiþ vigour
Þat he is a vile traitour.
& ȝif he doþ also ichille[7250]
His no mine no schul spille
For aqueintaunce þat haþ ben
{Lines missing}
For his barouns & for mine [L f.2rb] [Image]
Þis were þe riȝtest liue
Þe to barouns he kneu baþe[7260]
He schewed hem al þe cuntray
Of his folk þe pite
& þe atire of þat cite
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....[7265]
¶ Þe messangers oȝain wendeþ,
Alisaunder his barouns ofsendeþ
& þis deffiinge hem telleþ.
Þai him conseild also snelle
Wenden swiþe after hem[7270]
Þat he weren at Faacen.
Þai trussen alle in þe daweinge
& makeþ swiþe after wendinge.
Torold & Phares beþ comen hom,
Oȝain hem com lord & grom[7275]
For to here what tiding
Þai brouȝten fram Alisaunder king.
Þe messangers beþ comen to halle
Bifor Porrus & þe barouns alle
& seyd ‘Porrus we ben ycome[7280]
Fram Alisaunder þat hende gome
& haþ afong þine deffiinge
& sent þe bi ous tidinge;
He nil ȝour barouns no his
Ne beren cark of alle þis[7285]
ȝete he may to bataile finde
Douhti kniȝtes xx þousinde,
He no wil nouȝt þine amere
No þat his þine adere
Ac ȝe to wiþ hors & scheld[7290]
Comen armed in þe feld
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
ȝif þou miȝt him parforce aquelle
His folk wil don þi wille[7295]
ȝe þat chalange al to habbe
Bitven ȝou deliteþ it wiþ dabbe
& wiþ spere & swerdes dent
Js Alisaunders jugement
Prince & douke baroun & kniȝt[7300]
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....[7305]
P[orrus] stode & was .... [L f.2va] [Image]
He no nouȝt .... ....
Colour he chaungeþ sumdel for d[rede]
& gret ire to hem he sede
‘Lordinges, ȝif ȝe weren gent[7310]
To me fel þe jugement;
Ac for ȝe recheþ of me lite
Of me ȝe habbeþ now aquited,
Ac naþeles ich wot þis
Strenger icham þan he, ywis,[7315]
& more in eueri lim also,
Oȝaines him y dar me do,
Falle it to nesche oþer to hard
No schal y neuer be coward.’
Bi þate þis was fuly sade[7320]
Alisaunder was in a made
Ycomen boldliche wiþ al his
Bifor þe cite of Faacen.
Þer was quic mani tent sett,
Mani cord to pauiloun knett,[7325]
Mani baner vp ypelt,
& mani scheld wiþ best ygelt,
Eten & drinken on aise apliȝt
& resten hem þat ich niȝt,
& beþ so warded alle about[7330]
Þat hem no stondeþ no dout.
Amorwe as ich haue ysade
Þis couenaunt was bitven hem made
Þat þe batail schuld ben
Porrus & Alisaunder bitven;[7335]
Who so oþer win miȝt
Jn batail wiþ strengþe of fiȝt
He schuld haue al Ynde lond
& al þat folk vnder his hond.
Alisaunder him gan affie[7340]
Jn his owne chiualrie,
He wist wel & soþ forhole
Þat he no schuld þat deþ þole,
[Þ]us affied him in his strengþe.
.... .... .... ....[7345]
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
Ostage ytake & treuþe yplit [L f.2vb] [Image] [7350]
Now hereþ of þe kinges fiȝt
G ... .... ere to be kniȝt
Ner.... ... t r ....
Wiþ me ... des to ... hende
No were aco ... es at ....[7355]
Swete is loue of da .....
Ac it askeþ ..... ....
Better is litel han .... se
Þan michel eiȝte in mal ai ,,,,
Who so is of dedes vntrewe[7360]
Oft it schal him sore rewe.
Alisaun[d]er .... comen to ... el
Wele y-armed vnder .....
On a stede wele ydiȝt
& suteþ to a noble kni[ȝt][7365]
He rit his spe. e br ....
Þe [p]ensel rateleþ wiþ þe ....
P[orr]us also comeþ flinge
Ygraiþed als a riche [kin]g
y ... wele on kniȝtes[7370]
Nis no nede hir armes ...
... oþer lete gon þe rein
.... gider w gre......
.... sheldes .....
& dassed ouer in þe felde[7375]
.... turn oȝan ....
Wiþ .... ,,,, ....
.... oþer leggeþ on ....
.... þe mass on þe .... ....
Ac as þai .... to .... ....[7380]
O er h .. slo ... hors .... ....
Þo mosten of .... aþe .....
De .... en her medlaye
Geteþ it ..... of rest to eche
Aiþer ginneþ oþer to seche[7385]
Wiþ asailinge & wiþ s inge
& ... epeþ hem wiþ fair wreyinge
We ... e þai .... en on þe ple ....
London fragments end
Kandidus wroþ went oway [f.278ra] [Image] [7760]
& no com oȝain nouȝt mani a day.
Þo þe cloþ was ydrawe
Þe waite gan a flegel blawe,
Alisaunder & Candace
To chaumber token her pas,[7765]
So we finden on þe boke,
Þat niȝt þe king his leue toke
He went to Ynde to his barouns
Bi wodes, bi dales & bi tounes;
Leue he had wiþ morni[n]ge[7770]
& went forþ in þe daweinge
Bi an heȝe way þat he kneu
Til þat he com to Tholomeu.
He was welcome mani siþe,
Alle his ost was wel bliþe[7775]
Þo þai hadde of him siȝt.
No bileued he bot o niȝt,
Amorwe he went wiþouten asoigne
To þe gret Babiloine.
Antiogus hadde þe form-gard[7780]
Tholomeu þe rereward
& Alisaunder þat riche sire
Passeþ Perce & ek Assire
To Babiloine, for men teld
Darries tresour was þerin held.[7785]
Membrot first a geaunt fel
Made Babiloine & ek Babel
Ac he no miȝt for God almiȝt
Fullich out it diȝt
For þer fel first for his vtrage[7790]
.LXII. diuers language.
Seþ þen a leuedi Amiramis
Alayd his bost & al his pris
& wan þe cite wiþ al þe honour
& XV. kingriches tut entour.[7795]
Þe cite is, so siggeþ men,
Bitven Tigre & Affraten,
An hundred pas is heiȝe þe wal
& an hundred gates al of metal.
Alisaunder of his regioun[7800]
Þouȝt þer make þe maister toun,
Jnto alle þe warld he sent message
& doþ arere newe tailage
On kinges, doukes, princes, erls, [f.278rb] [Image]
On barouns, kniȝtes, squiers & cherls[7805]
& doþ gader ost so gret,
Seþ þen was neuer non swiche ȝet,
For he þouȝt to Aufrike wende
After in þe somer hende
Ac him was ysent a sond[7810]
Of a iustise of his lond.
Antipater was his name,
Mani man he hadde do schame.
Þe lond folk beden þe kinge
Of him make remuinge,[7815]
Þe king him dede quic depose
Wiþ harm to his owen nose
For Antipater is to court ysent
Now hereþ þe kinges encumbrement.
In þis warld falleþ mani cas,[7820]
Gidi blis & schort solas.
Ypomodon & Pallidamas
& Absalon þat so fair was
Þai liueden here a litel ras
Ac sone forȝeten ich so was.[7825]
Þe leuedis schene also þe glas
& þes maidens wiþ rudi fas
Passeþ sone so flour in gras.
So strong no fair ner non nas
Þat he no schal passe wiþ allas.[7830]
Auentour so haþ turned his pas
Oȝaines þe king & rered mas,
Þat vnderstondeþ Olimpias
& sendeþ to Alisaunder bihas
Þat he him war in al wise[7835]
Fram Antipater his justise,
& Antipater vnderstondeþ wel
Þe king is feloun & cruwel,
Adred he is, he is wode neiȝe
Ac ȝif he is of art sleiȝe[7840]
Hou so it euer be
Þe king it schal abigge or he.
Venim he tempreþ wiþ win
Þe win hete Eleborin,
Jn þis warld abouen erþe[7845]
Nis win of so miche werþe
To þe king he it haþ ysent.
Þe king askeþ drink of þat present,
Men brouȝt it him in a coupe of gold, [f.278va] [Image]
Þe king drank oþer þan he schold;[7850]
Oway he þrewe þat gold red
‘Allas, Allas! ich am dede. [MS: line written at the foot of the column, its correct position marked by a-b and crosses.]
Drink no schal neuer eft more
Don to þis warld so michel sore
So þis drink haþ ydo.[7855]
Allas, allas! what me is wo
For mi moder Olimpias
& for mi soster þat so fair was
& for mi barouns al þing aboue
Þat ich mest in hert loue;[7860]
Þai be lordles & ich am ded
Þurth a traitour fals red.
What helpeþ it lenger yteld?
Þe þeues present me haþ aqueld.
Noman þat wil þis day passe[7865]
No drink þerof more no lasse.’
Wiþ þat word he gan to swouȝ,
About him com barouns anouȝ
& token him vp in her arm
& biwepen sore his harm.[7870]
Þer men miȝt reuþe ysen
Mani baroun her here to-ten,
Mani fest ywrong & hant
& mani riche robe rant,
Muchel defray, muchel gredeing,[7875]
Michel wope, michel wailing;
Oft bimene his pruesse,
His ȝingþe & his hardinisse,
His gentilirs his curteisie.
Al þai gunnen aloude crie[7880]
Opon Alisaunder þat nam þat was [MS: the first þat is superscript; the second is abbreviated as þt.]
Crid mani ‘allas, allas!’
Riche & pouer, lesse & more
Wrong honden & wepe sore.
To mile abouten men miȝtten here[7885]
Of gentil men þat rewely bere.
Þe king reuerted in þis gredeinge
& ȝaf hem al comfortinge
& seyd ‘bringeþ me to bed mine
& er ich in þis warld fine[7890]
Jchil biqueþe mi quide
To alle þo þat han ben me mide.’
He was ybrouȝt to bed anon, [f.278vb] [Image]
Þe barouns stoden about him ichon.
‘Lordinges,’ he seyd ‘of þis cuntray[7895]
Of Tire, of Mede & Sydoney
Þat han wide yserued me
& for me in miche wo be,
Rentes, londes so ich founde
Oȝain ich ȝou ȝeld hole & sounde,[7900]
& ich a þousand pounde & more
ȝour harmes for to astore.
O bele ami sir Perdicas
For mi loue in mani cas
Þou hast yþoled & mani striif[7905]
& trewe ben in al þi liif
Y þe biqueþe Grece min hiritage,
Corinthe, Masidoine & Cartage,
Tebes & al þo oþer londes.
Kepe mi moder & awreke mi schond.[7910]
Tholomeu mi marchal
Þou schalt haue Portingal
& Egypt to flum Iordon
For better baroun no liues non.
Antioge ostage bi dome[7915]
Þou schalt haue riche Rome
& al Romaine & Lombardie
For þou hem canst as baroun gye.
Aymes of Archade so God me asoile
Þou schalt haue Calabre & Poile[7920]
& þe riche lond of Labour
& be Antioge neiȝebour.
Tiberie wiþ flesche hardi
Þou schalt haue þe lond of Sulie,
Acres, Japhes & Ierusalem[7925]
& Nazaret & Bedelem
& al þe lond of Galile,
Quicliche biqueþe y þe.
Marke of Rome belami
Esclauoie þat is so fri[7930]
Þou schalt haue & Costentine noble
& Limochious þat lond so noble
& Griffaine þat riche pece
Þat liþ to þe lond of Grece.
Philot þou schalt haue Caucasus[7935]
& alle þe lond to Mallenus
& al þe lond of Caspias [f.279ra] [Image]
To þe riche cite of Baudas
& alle þe idles of Taproban
Þat ich of Porrus the king wan.[7940]
Samson of Enuise for min amour
Þou hast yþoled mani dolour
Þou schalt haue al Albienne
& Armenie into þe fenne
& Orcanie & newe Alisaunder[7945]
Mi riche cite & newe of sclaunder.
Salome seþ þen Darri was ded
Þou hast me serued in mani red
Jn ich seruise wel redi
Trewe in bataile & hardy.[7950]
Þou schalt haue Perce & Mede
& Babiloine þat riche þede,
Darries blod for þou art next
Wiȝt & gentil & ek heiȝest,
Darries air y make þe[7955]
& sese þe wiþ al his fe.
Þis venim crepeþ vnder mi ribbe
No may ich no lenger libbe.’
Jn al þis ich gret dolour
He dede feche al his tresour[7960]
& ȝaue to kniȝt, swain & knaue
So michel so þai wolden haue
Of hors of cloþes of siluer wone
He made hem riche euerichon,
& riȝt also he hadde ydo[7965]
Þe liif he lete of bodi go.
Ac noman in soþ treuþe
No seiȝe neuer so michel reuþe
Of wope, of cri, of hond wringing
So was for Alisaunder þe king.[7970]
Now þe king js out of þis liue
Quic arises wel gret striue
For þe bodis biriinge
After þe sorwe & criing.
Salome seiþ wiþ al fare[7975]
He wil his bodi biri þare
Ac haue him wold þe douke Samsoun
To Alisaunder his riche toun,
Philote also y fynde
Him chalanges into Ynde.[7980]
{ Twelve lines lost where miniature cut out }
....barouns lete.... [f.279rb] [Image]
& doþ Godes hest biliue
Of his biriing no þink no redeþ
Ac in to Egypt him ledeþ,
Jnto Alisaunder þat cite apert[7985]
Þat he made in desert
Þo he destroid þe vermine.
Quic doþ hest mine.’
So þe foule went of siȝt,
Þe barouns dede so it hiȝt.[7990]
Þat bodi richeliche þai kept
& ledden it into Egypt
& laiden him in gold fin
Jn a temple of Apolin.
Nist men neuer heþen king[7995]
Haue so riche biriing.
Tholomeu haþ þe saisin
God ous leue wel to fin.
Þo þe king was bidelue
Jch douke went to himselue[8000]
& maden wo & contek anouȝ
Jch of hem neiȝe oþer slouȝ
For to haue þe kinges quide,
Michel bataile was hem midde.
Þus it farþ in þe midlerd[8005]
Among þe lewed & lerd:
When þat heued is yfalle
Acombred beþ þe membres alle.
Þus endeþ Alisaunder þe king
God ous graunt his blisseing. amen[8010]
Explicit