The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[Alexander the Great.]

¶ The storye of alysaundir is so comune [Alisaundyr] That euery wight that hath discrecioun Hath herd al or sumwhat of his fortune This wyde world as in conclusioun Line 3824 He wan by strenthe / & for his highe renoun They weere glad for pees vn-to hym sende The pride of man & beste he leyde a-doun Wheere so he cam vn-to the worldis ende Line 3828

Comparisoun myghte neuere ȝit been makyd By-twixen hym & a-nothir conquerour For al this world for dreed of hym hath quakyd He of knyghthod & of fredom flour Line 3832 Fortune hym made the heyere of hire honour Save wyn & wemen no thyng myȝte aswage His hye entente in armys & labour So ful he was of lyonyn corage Line 3836

[6-text p 276] [6-text p 277] Line 3836

What preys weere it for hym thow that I tolde [folio 360b] Of daryus & an hunderede thousent mo Of Kyngis Dukis. Erlys. pryncis bolde Whiche he conquerede & broughte in-to woo Line 3840 I seye as fer as men may ryde or go The world was his what schulde I moore deuyse For thow I wryte or tolde ȝow euere mo Of his knyghthod it myghte not suffyse Line 3844

Twelue ȝeer he regnede / as seyth Machabee Philippis sone of Macidonye he was That fyrst was kyng of grece the cuntre O worthi gentile Alisaundere allas Line 3848 That euere schulde fallyn swich a cas Enpoisounnede of thynne owene folk thow weere Thyn sys fortune hath turnede in-to aas And for the ne wepe sche neuere a teere Line 3852

Who schal me ȝeuyn teerys to compleyne The deth of gentilesse & of fraunchise That al this world weldede in his demeigne And ȝit hym thoughte it myghte nat suffyse Line 3856 So ful was his corage / of high empryse Allas ho schal me helpe to endyte ffals fortune & poysoun to dispise The whiche two of al this wo I wyte Line 3860