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.
Seþþen 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,
Seþþen 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 seþþen 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