The Lansdowne ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

De Alexandro Magno Philippi Regis Macidonie filio

The storie of Alexander is so comune That euery wight þat haþe discrecione Haþe herd sum-whate or al of his fortune Þis wilde werlde as in conclusione Line 3824 He wān be strenkeþ or for his hihe renoune Thei weren gladde for pes vnto him sende The pride of man & beste he laide adoune Wher-so he came vn-to þe werldes ende Line 3828

¶ Comparison myht ȝite neuere be makede Be-tuex him & anoþer conqueroure For al þis werlde for drede of him haþe qwaked He was of kny[ht]hede and of fredome floure Line 3832 Fortune him maade þe heire of owre honour Saue wyne & wemmen no þinge miht aswage His hihe atente in armes & laboure So was he of loueinge corage Line 3836

¶ What pite were it to him þouhe .I. ȝowe tolde Of .Darius & an. C. M. mo Of Princes kinges Erles bolde Whiche he conquered & brouht hem in-to woo Line 3840 As fer .I. saie as man mai ride or goo þe werlde was his Whatt schold .I. more deuise For þouhe .I. write or tolde ȝowe euermo Of his knyhthode he miht not suffise Line 3844

[6-text p 277] Line 3844

¶ Twelue ȝere he regned as seiþe Machabe Philippus þe sonne of Macedo he was [folio 216a] That first was kynge of grece þe Contre O worþi gentil Alisander Alas Line 3848 þat euer schold falle suche a cas Enpoysonde of þi folke þou were Þin suster fortune haþe torne in-to an as And ȝit for þe ne wepped sche neuer a tere Line 3852

¶ How schal men ȝeue teres to compleyne The deþe of gentillesse & of frauncheys Þat al þe werlde weldede in his demeygne And ȝit him þouht it myht nouht suffise Line 3856 So ful was his Corage of hihe emprise Alace who schal me helpe to endite Fals fortune & poyson to despise The whiche tuo of al þes wo .I. wite Line 3860