The wars of Alexander: an alliterative romance translated chiefly from the Historia Alexandri Magni de preliis. Re-edited from ms. Ashmole 44, in the Bodleian library, Oxford, and ms. D.4.12, in the library of Trinity college, Dublin: by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat.

Ashmole

Now has ser Darie þe derfe · of dukis & princes Heued vp a hoge ost · & fyue hundreth kniȝtis Ere chosen to chiftans · & chargid þaim to lede; Line 2609 Trottis him on to Tigre [MS. Tirgre, corrected to Tigre.] · & þare his tentis settis; Þan mett þai on þe oþire morne · with a mekill nombre, Sire Alexander þe hathill · armed on blonkis. Line 2612 Þe multitude ware to me · meruaile to reken, Þat sammed was on aiþir side · many sadd thousand. Now ere þe baners out bred · & þe bate neȝis, Blew bemys of bras · buskis to-gedire, Line 2616 Þe crie of þe clarions · þe cloudis it persyd; For þe dewt [Read dowt.] of þe dyn · daunced stedis. Bathe þe twa batails · bremely assemblis, Line 2619 And aithire segg with his sowme · soȝt vn-to [vn in the margin.] othire. Kniȝtis on cursours · kest þan in fewtire, Taches in-to targetis · tamed þaire brenys. Þare was stomling of stedis · sticking of erles, Sharpe schudering of schote · schering of mailes, Line 2624 So stalworthly within a stond · sterid þaim þe grekis, [folio 45b] Þat of þe barb[r]yne blod · all þe fild flowis. Sone as ser Darie þe deth · of his douth sees, Þe pite of þe Persens · him prickis in his saule, Line 2628 Sees his meneȝe so mynesch · & his men fangid, A few þat fresch ware vndefoulid · & to þe fliȝt tournes. Ȝit was ane of his ost · ane odd man of strenth, A burly berne & a bald · as þe buke tellis, Line 2632 A segg at he ensurid had · to sese him his doȝtir, If he miȝt sla with any sleȝt · þe seniour of grece. He cled him all in clene stele · a conyschaunce ouire, Þat made was & merkid · on þe messedone armes, Line 2636 Aires him to ser Alexander · in all-þir-mast puple,

As he a hathill ware of his · behind him he stelis, A briȝt brynnand brand · he braidis out of shethe, And þurȝe-out þe helme in-to þe hede · he hurt him a littill. Line 2640 And þe kniȝtis of oure cost · as þai þe cas saȝe, Þan fange þai þis ilk freke · & be-fore þe kyng bryngis. "Quat now? my worthi werreours?" · þe wale kyng said, He wend wele at he ware · a wee of his awen, Line 2644 "Qui has þou brest so my brayn · & with a brand wondid Ȝour sekire seruant in same · all were I sire callid, All ware I halden as for hede · ȝour helpere at nede?" "Nay, hope ȝe neuire," quod þe hathil · "ser hiȝe emperoure, Line 2648 Me any Messedone to be · þou ames of þine awen, Bot of cruell kind · comen of barbres. And þis I did for ser Darius · his doȝtir me hiȝt, Line 2651 And cordid on þis condicion · to couple hire to wyfe, And he went out of þe werd · to wild all his regne, To hew þi hede fra þi hals · & anys it him shewe." [folio 46a] Þan callis oure kyng him his kniȝtis [The first i above the line.] · þaire consaile to frayn, "Quat sall be done him for þis dede?" · & þai bedene sware, Line 2656 Sum, at he hangid suld be hiȝe · sum þe hede priued, Sum bedis in a bale-fire · brin him to poudire. "Quat has he fauted?" quod þe frek · "þof he him forced haue Þe charges [MS. changs, with stroke above gs.] of his chiftan · chefely to fill? Line 2660 He þat him demes to þe dede · he dampnes him-selfe, And diȝtis him his awen dome · & þat dare I proue. For demed I any of my douth · ser darye to spill, Line 2663 As ȝe þis gentill man enioyne · suld him be iugid þen."

He latis þe Persyn in pesse · pas with his hele, Mekill for his mayn strenth · & for his miȝt praysed. As sone as Darye þe derfe · of þis dede heris, Line 2667 Þat he was [In the margin.] sauyd vnslayne · he semblis his knyȝtis, Vp to a miȝti montayne · his men þaire he schewis, And gessis him wele þare to degrayd · þe grekis maistir. Þan fandis he furth in-to þe fild · & fled als beliue, And Alexander with his ost · him asperly folowed Line 2672 Riȝt to þe bu[r]ȝe of Batran · & bildid þare his tentis, Mas him glad [MS. ginge glad, with ginge struck through.] with his ginge · & to his godis offirs. Þe cite þan he assailid · & sesid on þe morne, Line 2675 With all þe burȝes þare a-boute · & busked þare his sete. Þare fand he tresour vntald · & als þe trew spouse Of ser Dary, bath his dame · & all his dere childire. Now dose him fra Darius · a dereworth prince, Aires to ser Alexander · adoures him lawe, Line 2680 "I haue erdid with ȝoure enmy · ser emperoure," he said, "As soiet serued haue I þat sire · many sere wyntir; And all my trauaill I tint · for tuke I no gudes. [folio 46b] Bot wald it now ȝour worthines · to wend with my-selfe, Line 2684 A ten Mille vs take · of tulkis enarmed, I sall ȝow hete in ȝoure hand · to haue at ȝoure will Sire Dary, with þe mast dole · of his derfe erles." "Nay, leue, lat ane," quod þe lord · "þen leue I [MS. leuē þ^e; with þ^e altered to I.] no straungers, Line 2688 Þat þou be willi in þi witt · to werray þine awen, Ne tell þou me noȝt þat tale · I trow noȝt þi wordis." Be þis ser Dary fro his dukis · deuysid his pistill: Þe kyng of kyngs was callid · & clere god bathe, Line 2692 Þus, vndirstand I, was þe stile · & stiȝt in þare-eftir: [or estir.] "ȝour satrapaires, ȝour seruant · with seruand obeschen;

Sire, we haue wayued to ȝow writtis · ȝit write we þe same, How þis maistir of Messedone · has on oure marchis entrid, Line 2696 Brynd vp oure biggingis · bretted oure kniȝtis, And we ouire-sett be to sare · to suffire any langire. For-þi ȝour dignite bydene · we drerily be-seke, A gayns þe force of oure faa · vs forthire a quile." Line 2700 Quen he had red all þe rawis · for rancour he swellis, And out on-ane to Alexander · all þus he writis. "I, Dary, with þe dignite · þe diademe of Persee, Of all þe kyngis þe kyng · þat corouned was euire, Line 2704 To þe, my seruand, I say · as me was sent late, How þi lawnes & þi litillaike · þou lickyns to my hiȝt. Bot parde, þi prouidence · inpossible it semes, A heuy As to be houyn · vp to þe sternes, Line 2708 A thing threuyn is & thike · & þarnes þe wyngis, And fautis þe fethirhames · & þe fliȝt-loomes. For-þi þi mynd neuir þe mare · lat mounte in-to pride For chance of na cheualry · þat þou a-cheued hase. Line 2712 For vertu ne no victori · ne vant noght þi-selfe; [folio 47a] He þat enhansis [MS. ens enhansis; with ens expuncted.] him to heȝe · þe heldire he declynes. I haue herd of þi hendlaike · of heraudis & of othire, Of þi noblay now o newe time · a-nentes my modire. Bathe to my wyfe & to my barnes · quat bounte þou shewis, Line 2717 Quat curtassy & kyndlaike · I ken alto-gedire. Bot surely all þe seson · þat þou þam so pleses, Þou fangis me neuire to þi frynd · fyne quen þe likis. And if þou wirke þaim all þe wa · & wrak at þou may, Þe mare vnfryndschip þarfore · fall sall þe neuire; For-þi to put þam to pyne · I pray þe noȝt wande, Line 2723 For myn angire on þine arrogance · sall at þe last kindill." . . . . .

Quen he [Above the line.] had lokid ouir þe lines · he laȝes at his wordis, And ditis agayn to ser Dary · þis dete þat foloȝes: ¶ "I, Alexander, þe eldest · & all myne ane Of kyng Ph[ilip] & his fere · þat frely lady, Line 2728 Honourd Olimpades · þat anely me fosterd, To þe kyng of Persy · þis prolouge I write: Sire, vanite & vayne-glori · & vices of pride Þa ere þe gaudis, as I gesse · þat all gods hatis, Line 2732 And ilka dedly douth · þai driffe þam to punesch, Þat has driȝten of vndedlynes · draȝen þaim to name. Þis similitude to þi-selfe · I say all-to-gedire, Þat a-suris so in þi surquitry · & sesis neuire-mare Line 2736 To bost ne to blasfeme · blyn will þou nouthire. Bot for þi gold & þi gudis · a god þou þe makis, Þou vp-braydis me for þe beute · þat I þi blod schewid, As to þi modire I mene · & to þi mery childir, Line 2740 Þare mas þou þe to malicole · & meenes for litill. I wroȝt it noþire for þi will · ne for þi [Above the line.] wale threte. [folio 47b] If I kid þam curtassy · it come fra my-selfe, Haly of oure awen hert · & of oure hynd thewis; Line 2744 Ne we prid vs for na prouwis · predestayned we ere, Oure gods gayn vs þare-to · þat gretly þou spises. Latt now þis lettre be þe last · & loke to þi-selfe, Line 2747 For sekire & on my surement · I seke [MS. se slk, blotted, and altered to seke in the margin.] ȝow agayns." Þis brefe he bedis þam to bere · þat broȝt him þe toþire, And takis þam of his tresoure · & twynnes with þaim faire. Line 2750 Quen þai to Persy ware past · a pistill he enfourmes, Wrate a writt of his will · so sendis to his princes, His seruandis & his seneschalls · out of sere rewmes, And þus comandis he þam clene · þe kyng his stile. ¶ "I, Alexander, þat as aire · avaunced is in grece, Þe son of Ph[ilip] þe fers · as I first tald, Line 2756 And als of Olimpades · myne honurable modire,

Þus send I to my satraparis · my princes & my dukes, My pers out of [MS. oft.] siphagoyne · salutis & grace, Of þe sele of Surry · my seggis & myn erles, Line 2760 My kniȝtis out of Capados · & all my kid lordis, Þe ledis out of Landace · & all þe landis out-by. I comand ȝow on þe clere faithe · þat ȝe my croune aȝe, Þat belyue to Alysaundire · þat is myn awen cite, Line 2764 Þat ilkane of ȝow send be your-selfe · of sere slayn bestis, Of fresch & of fyne wroȝt · fellis a thousand, Sum grayne to be neþire gloues · graythid to my kniȝtis, Sum pured pelloure depurid · to put in oure wedis, Line 2768 Lat kest þam apon camels · þat in þat kith lengis, And aires with þaim to Eufraten · þis erand haues in mynd." Þan was a man, as me mynes · in þe morne-qwile, [folio 48a] Was of ser Daris a duke · þe derfe Emperoure, Line 2772 Ane þat Nostanda was named · & a noble prince, Þat certified his souerane · þir saȝes in a pistill: ¶ "Sire Dari, duke of ilk a douth · & driȝten þi-selfe, Þe grete glorius god · graythid in þi ['þi' blotted in MS.] trone, Line 2776 Nostanday, to ȝour nobilnes · þat ay my nek bowis, With seruage to ȝour senurie · my-selfe I comand. It semed noȝt ȝoure seruand · sire, vndistreyned Vn-to ȝour mekill maieste · þis mater to write, Line 2780 Bot I am depely distressid · þis dede for to wirke, And made þis myscheffe to myn · malegrefe my chekis. For wete it wele ȝour worthines · þat of our wale [faes crossed through.] princes Twa of þe tethiest ere tint · & termynd of lyue, Line 2784 Þat lost was now þe last day · a litill fra Tygre, In batail apon bent fild · in-bland with þe grekis. Þare was I gird to þe grond · & greuously woundid, Vnnethe it cheuyd me þat chance [MS. can chance; can struck out.] · to chape to þe fliȝt [MS. filȝt.] ; And oþire many of oure men · miȝtfull kniȝtis, Line 2789

Line 2789 And erlis of all ȝour empire [MS. emperire.] · enterely deuydid, Ȝoure lore & ȝour legaunce · lethirly forsaken, [MS. saken forsaken; with saken struck out.] Aires þaim to ser Alexander · & on-ane ȝeldis. Line 2792 And he þaim faire vndirfange · enfeffid þaim belyue, In palais, in prouince · in principall regnes." Þen to Nostanda on next · þus notis he a lettir, Line 2795 Þat he suld semple him a sowme · & set þaim agaynes. Anothire pistill lete he pas · to Porrus of ynde, To come & helpe with his here · & he [In the margin.] him þus swaris: ¶ "I, Porrus, þat possessid am · þe partyse of yynde, And am þe coron be kynd · of clene all þat Iles, [folio 48b] Line 2800 Sire Dary, with þi dyademe · drest on þi trone, To þe [In the margin.] þat salutis I send · þe sele of myn armes. Þou prayes vn-to my person · my powere to sempble, And ȝow enforce with my folke · ȝour faes to withstand; And I am boun at ȝour bode · & buxsom was euire, To heȝe & to help ȝour hest · quen I my hele lastis. Bot now a langour me lettis · þat I laȝt haue, Slike a seknes for-sothe · is on my-selfe halden, Line 2808 Þat I ne may streyne me ne stere · for stondis so hard, Bot lyse in langwysches & lokis · quen my lyfe [MS. lefe, corrected to lyfe.] endis. And as warysche I [of] my warke · þat I am in wonden, As me is wa for þi woȝe · & þi wrange bathe, Line 2812 I may noȝt ryde ȝow to reschow · my reuthe is þe mare. Bot I sall leue & be lechid · for-þi be liȝt-hertid; And I be couird of my coth · care for na grekis, Line 2815 Amay þe for na Messedoynes · ne men vndire heuen; For I sall hele all in hast · & hale to ȝoure kythis With ten legions at þe last · & all of lele knyȝtis." Be þis Rodogars þe riche · þat renewid lady, Þe dere dame of Dari · of þis dede heris, Line 2820 Þat hire awen child with Alexander · amed eft to feȝt, And sorowis selcuthly sare · & sendis him a pistill;

¶ "To kyng [MS. kynd, corrected to kyng.] dary [MS. 1 dary.] þe derfe · þe derrest of my childire, Rodogoras þe riche quene" · þis rauth scho him writis: "Bald baratour on bent · borne of my bosom, Line 2825 Here send I þe, my swete · salutis & ioy. Þou has heuyd vp þi huge ost · as I haue herd tell, Samed all þi saudiours · & semblid þi pupill, Line 2828 And etils to ser Alexander · eft to assaill. Wete þou wele it is noȝt worthe · ware þe be tyme; [folio 49a] For had þou gedird all þe gomes · I gesse, of þe werd, Ȝit to with-stand him a stonde · þi strenthe ware to littill. For godis prouidence apert · ay prestly him helpis, Line 2833 Sauys & sustenes him-selfe · & socurs him euire. For-þi hoo with þi hautes · & þine vnhemed wittis, A-vaile of þi vanite · & of þi vayne pride, Line 2836 Obey þe to þe baratour · þe best I con rede; Magnifie him with þi mouthe · & meke þi hert, For any hathill vndire heuen · þat at he ne hade may, Mare sekire it ware him to forsake · þen sewe any forthire; Line 2840 In pese & in pacience · possede at he miȝt, [Þan] Be excludit out of his erd · & euire-mare duell." . . . . . Quen he þis rawis had rede · he rewfully wepid, His eldirs & his ancestris · als he remembris; Line 2844 Þoȝt how pride þaim depriued: · & here a passe ende.