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.

¶ Quintus passus Alexandri.

Ashmole

Sone eftir in a seson · as þe buke sais, Come driuand fra Darius · þe deyne Empereure, Heraudis on heȝe hors · hendly a-rayed, To ser Philip þe fers · to feche þar trouage. Line 884 Litill kyngis þar come · as þe clause tellis, Liȝt doune at þe loge · & þar blonkis leues, Caires in-to þe curte · to craue him þar dettis, Touchis titly þar tale · & tribute him askis. Line 888 "Ȝa, caires hame," quod Alexander · "a-gayn to ȝour kithes, And sais ȝour maister, he make · na ma sandis; For sen Philip had a fresche son · þat fast now encressis, Line 891 Þat bees noȝt suffird, I supose · nane slike him to ȝeld. For sais ȝour lord, þe lefe hen · þat laide hir first egg, [MS. 'eȝe', corrected to egg.] Hire bodi nowe with barante · is barely consumed, And is Darius so of his dett · duly depryued; And be þis titill, him tellis · na tribute him fallis." Line 896 Þen merualid þam þe messangirs · mekill of his speche, His witt & his wisdome · wonderly praysed. Faire at ser Ph[ilip] þe fers · fang þai þar leue, Line 899 And syne clene of all þe curte · & cairis to þar landis. To þe palais of þe proude kyng · to persie þai went, Dose þam in to Darius · þar he on dese syttis, And telles him how his trouage · is tynt al-to-gedire, [folio 16a]

As Alexander awyn mouth · had þam all enfourmed. Line 904 ¶ Þen messangirs to Messedoyne · come in þe mene qwile To Ph[ilip] þe fell kyng · & freschly him tald, Þat all þe erthe of Ermony · Erles & princes, Þat suld be suget to him-selfe · wald seke him with armes. Line 908 And Alexander belyfe · as athil man suld, Vndirfangid to feȝt · for Ph[ilip] to wende, Gedirs him a grete ost · graithes him in plates, And aires toward Ermony · þat erd to distroy. Line 912 Þan was a man in Messadone · in þe marche duellid, A proued prince & a proude · Pausanna was hatten, A big berne & a bald · in brenys to ryde, Þe son of ane Cerastis · as þe buke witnes. Line 916 Þis freke all his franche · of Ph[ilip] he haldis, And was a suget to him-selfe · & serues him aȝt; Bot þan he depely many day · disired to haue þe quene, And lyes vmlapped with hire lufe · many lange wynter. And by [Inserted in the margin.] þat cause to þe kyng · he kest slik a hate, Line 921 Þat he desiris his deth · & diȝtis [him] þare-fore. All þe folke of his affinite · he freschly a-semblis, Line 923 And sekis furth with a hoge some · a-saile [h inserted before a-saile, but subpuncted.] him to ȝeld. Quen Ph[ilip] heris of þat fare · gret ferly him thinke[s], Ferkis furth with a fewe folk · him in þe fild metis, Seis þe multitude sa mekill · of men at he bringes, Braidis on his blonke toward þe burȝe · & þaim þe bak shewis. Line 928 Þen schrikis schilli all þe schalkis · & schoutis him at anes, And Pausanna þe prince · a-pon a proude stede Sprengis out with a spere · & spedis him eftir, And þurgh þe bac in-to þe brest · him beris to þe erd; Line 932

Line 932 . . . . . All ware he wondirly wondid · he wendis noȝt be-lyfe. [folio 16b] His men & all þe Messadones · full mavnly ware stourbed, Quat of doloure & dyn · quen þai him dede hopid. Pausanna þan for þe prowis · slike a pride hentis, Line 936 Vnethes wist he for welth · wirke quat he miȝt. He prekis in-to þe palais · to pull out þe quene, Wenys to wild hire at will · & away lede. Line 939 Þan comes Alexander in þat cas · þe cronaclis tellis, With a riall ost · of many able princes, Airand out [Inserted in the margin.] of Ermony · & had all þe erth won; Sees slike a rottillyng in þe rewme · & ridis al þe faster. Þan past vp þe proud quene · in-to preue chambre, Line 944 Wayues out at wyndou · & waytis a-boute, Saȝe be þe sygnes & be sike · as with hire son comys, And be þe alyens armes · at he was all maister. With þat scho haldis out hire hede · & heȝe to him callis, Line 948 "Quare is þi werdes, my wale son · þou wan of þi godis, Þou suld be victour & venge · & vencust [MS. vencustis.] neuire? If þou haue [MS. haue hafe, altered to haue.] any hert here · help now þi modire." Sone as pausanna þe prince · with-in þe palais heris Line 952 Þe comyng of þe kene knyȝt · he caires him agaynes, Presis out of þe palais · with a [Above the line.] pake armed, And metes him in þe myd-fild · with a mekill nounbre. And Alexander be-lyue · quen he on him waites, Line 956 He swyngis out with a swerd · & swappis him to dethe; And þe renkis, all the route · reches vp þaire wapen Vn-to þis kid conquirour · & cried eftir socure. Þan was þar ane in þe ost · on Alexander callis, Line 960 Sayd, "Ph[ilip] þi fadire · is in þe fild drepid." And he halis furth on hede · & halfe-dede him fyndis, Brusches doune by þe berne · & bitterly wepis.

"A! Alexander!" quod þe kyng · "now am I at [Inserted at the end of the line.] ane ende;" [folio 17a] Line 964 A litill liftis vp his liddis · & lokis in his face; "Bot ȝit it gladis me," quod þe gome · "to ga þus to deth, To se my slaare in my siȝt · be sa sone ȝolden, Line 967 A! wele be þe, my wale son" · & waged with his hede; "Þou has baldly on my bane · & bremely me vengid." With þat he bloþirs in þe brest · & þe breth stoppis, And in a spedfull space · so þe sprete ȝeldis. And Alexander ay on-ane · augirly he wepis, Line 972 And gretis for him as greuously · as he him geten hade. With barons & bachelers · him broȝt to þe cite, And erdis him in his awen erd · as Emperoure fallis. The day efter his deth · drerely him wendis Line 976 Alexander his aire · & syttis in his trone, A clene croune on his hede · clustird with gemmes, To se how him seme wald · þe sete of his fadire. He seis doune in þe sete · with septer in hande, Line 980 Makis a crie þat all þe curte · kniȝtis & erles Suld put þaim in-to presens · his precep to here. And all comyn at a kall · & on kneis heldis; Line 983 Þan blisches he to his baronage · & breues þir wordis: "Lo! maistirs of Messedone · sa miȝty men & noble, Ȝe Traces & of Tessaloyne · & ȝe þe trewe Grekis, How likis ȝow nowe ȝour lege lord? · lokis on my fourme, Line 987 And letis all ferdschip at-flee · & fange vp ȝour hertis, And aires for nane alyens · quils Alexander lastis. For with þe graunt of my god · I gesse, or I dye, Þat all the Barbare blode · sall bowe to my-selfe. Þare is na region ne rewme · ne renke vnder heuen, Line 992 Ne nouthire-quare na nacion · bot it sall my name loute. For we of grece sall haue þe gree · with grace ay to wild, [folio 17b] And anely be ouer þe werd · honourd & praysed.

And quilk of all myne athill men · þat any armes wantis, Line 996 Lat pas in-to my palais · & plates him delyuire, And he [Inserted at the end of the line.] at of his awen has · harnas him swythe, And make him boune ilka berne · to bataill to ride." Þan answard him with [a] voice · all his proud princes, And Erles in his Empire · þat ware in eld striken, Line 1001 Hathils of hiȝe age · Auncient kniȝtis, Barons & bachelers · & bryssid ware in Armes: "Sire, we hafe farne to þe fiȝt · & bene in fild preued With ser Ph[ilip] ȝour fadire · mony fele wynter, Line 1005 And now vs failis all oure force · & oure flesch waykis; For be þe floure neuer sa fresche · it fadis at þe last. Sire, all þe ȝeris of oure ȝouthe · es ȝare syne passid, And we for-trauailid & terid · þat now oure topp-haris, Al to heuy to be hildid · in any here-wedis, Line 1010 Or any angwische of armes · any mare suffire. For-þi, lord, with ȝoure leue · we lawe ȝow be-sechis We may noȝt stand now in stede · oure strenth is [to] febill. Wale ȝow oþer werriouris · þat wiȝt ere & ȝonger, Slike as ere stife in a stoure · strakis to thole." "Nay, be my croune," quod þe king · "my couatyng is elder Line 1016 Þe sadnes of slike men · þan swyftnes of childir; For barnes in þar bignes · it baldis þam mekill, Oft with vnprouednes in presse · to pas out of lyfe; For-thi ouer-siȝt of alde men · I anely me chese; Line 1020 Be connynge & be consaile · þai kyth ai þar werkis." Þe sleȝt of hys [þar, altered to hys.] sapience · þai selcuthely prayse, And clene a-cordis to his carpe · kniȝtis & othire. ¶ Þen dose him furthe þis dere kyng · a litill dais eftir, Alexander with ane ost · of many athill dukis, [folio 18a] Line 1025

Line 1025 Samed a vnsene somme · to saile he begynnes Ouer in-to ytaile · þa yles to distruye. In-to þe coste of Calodone · he comes him ouer first, And þar a cite he asailes · & [Above the line.] in sege lengis. Line 1029 Bot wees wiȝtly with-in · þe wallis ascendid, Freschly fendid of · & fersly with-stude. "Ȝe Calodoyns," quod þe kyng · he callis fra with|oute, Line 1032 "Outhire macches ȝow maynly þerto · or namely dies, And fiȝtis fast with ȝour fais · to ȝe fey worthe, Or ȝefes ȝarely vp þe ȝerde · & ȝeld me þe cite." So chaunses it þis chiftan · or he a-cheued þine, Line 1036 Þat fele he brenes of þa bernes · & þe burȝe wynnes, And caires so out of Calodone · quen he it couerid had, Ouer þe ythes in-to Italee · & þat Ile entirs. Line 1039 Þen ware þai [MS. þe.] [redles of] rede · all redd of his come, Prays him all of þe pees · & presandis him faire, Sexti thousand þai him send · of sekire besandis, Of clere gold of þaire kist · & coruns a hundrethe. Þare tuke he tribute þat tyme · þe titill recordis, Line 1044 Out euyn in-to þe occident · of all at þare duellid, Of qwilke þe erde & þe erthe · Europe was callid, And ames þan to Affrike · & all at esse leues. Þan raȝt he fra þa regions · & remowed his ost, Line 1048 Cachis in-to anoþire kythe · & crossis ouer þe stremes, Aires in-to Affrike · with many athill prince[s], Anoþer wing of þe werd · & wynnes it be-lyfe, Þat syde sodanly & sone · þat ser he a-cheues. Line 1052 For þar he fande bot fewe · þat felly withstude, Na ridars in þa [MS. na, corrected to þa.] regions · ne rebell bot littill; He laches it þe liȝtlyere · as was þe les wonder. Þan kaires he fra þo contres · & kerue[s] ouer þe stremes, [folio 18b] Line 1056 Furthe to Frantites he ferd · slike a ferre Ile,

Seches þar to a synagoge · him-selfe & his princes, Amon þar awen god · at þai honoure myȝt. Line 1059 And so to þe temple as he tiȝt · with his [At the end of the line.] tid Erles, Þan metis him myddis þe way · was meruale to sene, A hert with a huge hede · þe hareest on erthe, Was to be-hald as a harow · for-helid ouer þe tyndis; And þan comande him þe kyng · kenely to schote, Line 1064 Bot þar was na man so nemyll · þat him hit couthe. "A! hilla, haile," quod Alexander · & him a narawe hent, Droȝe, & at þe first draȝte · him dreped for euire. Fra þethen to þis ilk day · þan is þat ilke place, Line 1068 Þe stede þar þis stith man · strikis þis hert, Sagittarius forsoth · men gafe it to name, And will do for þat ilke werk · ay qwen þe werd turnes. Þen aires him on ser Alexander · till Amon temple, Offirs to his awen gode · & honours him faire, Line 1073 Geuys him garsons of gold · & of gud stanes, And hald hestes him to hete · him hettirly besekis. Þan passes he þethen with his princes · to sich a place wendis, Line 1076 Capho Resey we rede · þe romaunce it callis; And þar-in fyndis him þe freke · fyftene Burghes, And glidand to þe grete see · xij grym waters. Of ilka bild, sais þe buke · barred was þe ȝatis, Line 1080 Stoken stifly with-out · with staplis & cheynes. Þare lengis him lefe þe [At the end of the line.] kynge · & logis all a neuen, And sacrifyce þar efsones [Read eftsones.] · to many sere godis. Þe same niȝt in his slepe · Seraphis aperis, Line 1084 Anothire of his grete godis · in a grym fourme, [folio 19a] Cled in a comly clathe · of castans hewes, And silis euyn to him-selfe · & said him þir wordis: "Alexander, athill kyng" · & asperly spekis, Line 1088 Toward a miȝti montayne · him myntis with his fynger,

"May þou oȝt, lede, þe ȝonder lawe · lyft on þi schulder, And stire it oute of þe stede · & stable in a-nothire?" "Nay, qua miȝt þat," quod þe man · "for mede vndire heuen?" Line 1092 "Sire, as ȝone ȝondire hiȝe hill · sall ay hald his place, So sall þi name fra now furth · be mynned in mynde, And ay to þe day of dome · þi dedis be remenbrid." Þan Alexander belyue · him askis a demaunde, Line 1096 "I be-seche þe now, Syraphas · if þou me say wald [After l. 1097 the MS. has a half-line, viz. 'For any hathill vndire heuen.' This is really the former half of l. 1102 below, and is marked for omission in the MS. This accounts for the omission of l. 1098 in the numbering, which is made to agree with Stevenson's edition.] Þe prophecy, or þou pas · of all my playn werdis, Line 1099 How me is destayned to dye · & quen my day fallis?" "Sire, certayne," quod Seraphis · "as to my-selfe thinkis, Line 1101 For any hathill vnder heuen · I hald for þe better, Withouten wa [MS. to noȝt at wete; but either to, or at, must be omitted.] noȝt at wete · þe wathe of his ende Þen know [The w above the line.] þe cas or it come · & ay in care lenge. Line 1104 Bot neuer-þe-les I sall þe neuen · sen þou me now prays, Þou sall [MS. sall sal.] be drechid of a drinke · a draȝte of vnsele, And all þi ȝeris ere ȝeten ȝare · & þi ȝouthe fenyst, Line 1107 Lange or þou haue meten þe merke · of þi mydill age. Bot quen ne in quat time · sal qwaite þe þis aunter, Enquire me noȝt þat question · for I queth þe it neuer. For outhire out of þe orient · sall openly here-efter Vndo þe dreȝt of þi days · & þi ded tell." Line 1112 Þan waynest him þis vayne god · & voidis fra þe chambre. Þe modi kyng on þe morne · all monand he ryses; Þe mast parti of his princes · & of his proud ost [folio 19b] Hastis þam in-to Ascoiloym · & þar þai him bydis. Line 1116 Þan callis he to him carpentaris · & comandis þaim swyþe

In mynde & in memory of him · to make a cite, And neuens it his awen name · þat neuer syne changid, Bot Alexsander ay furth · efter him-seluen. [callid added in a later hand, at the end of the line.] Line 1120

Dublin

Sone aftir in a seson · als says me þe writtes, Come dryvand from sir darius · þe digne Emperour, Harraldes on hye horsez · hendly arayede, To sir philopp þe fers · to fett þair truage. Line 884 Kengez þar come · als þe clause tellez, Lightyd doun at þe loge · laftyn þar blonkes, Cairen fourth in-to þe courte · to crauen þair dett, Tochett titely þare tale · & tribute hym asked. Line 888 "Ȝa, ayres hame," quod alexander · "agayn to your kythez, And says your maister, to me · he make no moo sondez; For seth philop had a fressh sonn · þat fast now en|cresse[s], [The lines 890 and 891 are written after line 892 in MS.] Line 891 That beys not sufferd, I suppose · no suche to hym ȝeld. And says your lord, þe leyue henne · þat lade hir frist Egge, Hir body now with baraynte · is barely consumed, And so is darius of hys dette · dewly depriued; And be þis tale, hym telle · no tribute hym falles." Line 896 Than mervalett þes messyngers · mykyll of hys speche, Hys witt & hys wisdom · þai wonderly prasen. Faire at philip þe fers · þair leue þai fangen, And syne clene from þe courte · caires to þair landez. Line 900 To þe palass of þe prouude [king] · to perse þai wenden, And dyd þaim to sir darius · þare he on dese syttes, And tald hym howe is truage · is tyntt all-togedre,

Als alex[ander] awne mouth · þaim all had enformed. Line 904 Þan messyngers to masydon · come in þe meyne qwyle, To philopp þe fell kyng · & felly hym toldyn, Þat all þe erth of ermony · Erelez [The MS. has & baron after Erelez, but crossed through and expuncted.] & princez, At suld be sogett to hym-seluen · wald seke hym with armez. Line 908 And alexander als beliue · als athell man suld, Vnderfonged þar þe feght · for philip his fader, . . . . . And ayers toward ermony · þat erth to distroy. Line 912 Then was a man in massidon · þat in þe marche dwellyd, [folio 6a] A proved prince & a proude · pausana he heght, A Bigg berne & a bald · in brenes to ryde, Þe sonne of one sorastes · als says me þe text. Line 916 This freke of all þe fraunches · of kyng philop haldes, And was sogett to hym-seluen · & seruage hym awght. Bot ȝett depely mony day · desirred he þe whene, And leued vnlappyd with hir loue · mony lang wynter. Line 920 And be þat cause to þe kyng · he kest suche a hate, Þat he desired hys deyde · & dight hym þarfore. All þe folke of hys affinite · he fresly assemblez, Line 923 And sekez owt with a hoge some · a-sawte hym to yelde. When philip herd of þis fare · grett ferly he thynkez, Ferkez forth with a few folke · & hym in feld metes, Seys þe multitude so much · of men þat he brynges, Line 927 Brades toward þe burgh on hys blonk · & hys bak shewys. Þan scrikes shilly all þe shalkys [all þe is repeated here, but expuncted in MS.] · & shotes at onys, And pausana þe prince · vpon a prouude stede Sprynges forth with a spere · & spedes hym after, And þorow þe bake in-to þe brest · hym berez to þe erth. Line 932

Line 932 He heldes doun in þe hey way · & halfe deyde liggez, Line 933* And was so wonderly woundit · he wenyd noght to leve. Line 933 Hys men & all þe masidons · full fowly wer stourblett, What for doloure & dyne · when þai hym dede hopen. Pausana for þees prowes · slike a pride hentes, Line 936 That vneth he [MS. hy, corrected to he.] wist for welth · what he wirke might. He prekes into þe palace · to pull owt þe whene, Wenes to wilde hir at will · & away lede. Þan comes euen onon · þe cronacles telles, Line 940 Alexander with ane oste · of mony able princez, Ayrand owt of Ermony · hed all þe erth wonne; [2^a victoria alexandri] Herd suche a rastelyng in þe realm · & rydez þe faster. Than passyd forth þe prouude whene · into a prevay chamer, Wayfez vp a wyndow · & waytes þar-owt, Line 945 Sees wele by signes · at hir sonne come, And by þe alyens armes · þat he was all mayster. With þat she haldez forth hir heued · & hegh to hym calles: [folio 6b] Line 948 "Whare er þi werdes, my wale sonn · þou wan of þi goddez, Thu suld be victour to venge · & venkest neuer? Yf þou haue ony hert her · help now þi moder." Sone as pausana in þe place · þis tale herys, Line 952 And þe commyng of þis kene knyght · he carys hym ayayns, Preses owt of þe palasse · with a pake enarmed, And metes hym in þe myd-feld · with a much nowmbre. Bot alexander als belyfe · as he on hym wates, Line 956 He swyngez owt a sharpe swerde · & hym to deth swappys; And þen hys renkez all in rowte · rechen vp þar waypynnez Vnto þis kyd conquerour · & cryen aftir socour. Line 959 Þen sayd þar an with-in þe ost · & on alexander calles, Sayd: "philip þi fader · is in þe feld drepyd." And he hyes þen fast forth · & halfe-deyde hym fyndez, Brushys doun by þe berne · & bitterly wepys.

"Aa! alexander, sonn!" quod þis athell · "[now] am I att on ende." Line 964 A lityll lyftes hys lendes · & lukes in hys face; "Bot ȝett me gladdes," quod þis gome · "to byde þus on lyve, To see my slaer in my sight · be so sone ȝholden. Line 967 A! wele be þou, wale son" · & wagged with hys heued; "For þou hase baldly on my bane · & bremely me venged." With þat he blothers in þe brest · & hys breth stoppys, And in a spedfull space · þe spirit he ȝeldez. Bott alexander euerelike · awgerdly pleynez, Line 972 And grettes for hym als grefully · as he hym gettyn hed. With barons & with bachelers · he bare hym to þe cyte, And erdes hym in hys awne erth · as emperour falles. The day after hys deth · þen durely he [read him.] wendes Line 976 Alexander hys ayre · vppe in hys awne trone, A clere croune on hys heued · clustird with gemmys, To se how he [read him.] seme wald · þe sete of hys fader. He sittes doun in þat sete · with septour in hand, Line 980 Makes a cry þat all þe courte · knyghtez & Erelez Suld come & be present · hys precept to here. And all þai come at hys calle · & on kneys heldit, Þan blyssez he vnto hys bernes · & breues þes wordez: Line 984 "Lo! maisterlynges of massydon · so myghty & so noble, [folio 7a] Ye tracez of thessalon · & ye trew grekez, How likez now you your leege lord? · loke on my forme, And lettes all ferdshipys [MS. frendshipys.] flee · & fongez vpp your hertes, And arghes for no aliens · whilse alexander lefys. Line 989 For with þe graunt of my god · I gesse, or I dye, Þat all þe barberon blode · sall bow to my seluen. Thare is no region ne realm · so riche vnder heuen, Line 992 Ne noþer-whare no nacion · bot sall my name lowte. For we of grece sal haue þe gre · with grace ay to weld, And only ouer all þe werld · be honourd & prassed.

And whilk of all my athell men · any armour wantes, Line 996 Bot passe into my palasse · & plates hym delyver, And he þat of hys awne hase · harnes hym swith, And make hym bowne euerylke berne · to batell to wend." Þen answerd hym with a voyce · all hys prouude princez And Ereles of hys Empire · þat wer in elde stryken, Line 1001 Hatels [So in MS.] of hegh age · & auancet knyghtez, Barons & bachelers · þat bresyd wer in armys: "Sir, we haue faren in-to feld [MS. repeats feld.] · & ben in feld [MS. repeats feld.] preuett With sir philip your fader · many fele wyntre, Line 1005 And now vs falez all our force · & owr fleche wakens; For be þe floure neuer so freshe · it fades at þe last. Sir, all þe ȝeres of owr youth · bene ȝare syne passyd, Line 1008 And we for-traveld & for-tyred · þat now owr topp horez, All to hevy to be hold · with ony here wedes, Or ony awnterez of armes · to any more suffre. For-þi, lorde, with your leve · we loughly besekes, Line 1012 We may noght stande you in stede · our strenthez er to feble. Lat wale you other weriowrs · þat wight er & yonge, Sike as styffe er in stowre · strakez to dele." "Nay, by my Corone," quod þe kyng · "my covetyng is helder Line 1016 The sadnesse of suche men · þen swyftnes of childer; For barnez in þair bignes · þat beldez þaim to mekyll, Oft with vnpro[ued]nes [MS. vnprones.] in prese [MS. prorese, corrected to prese.] · passen owt of liue; For-þi ouersight of ald men [MS. almen.] · I anely me chese; Line 1020 By Connyng & consell · þai kythen ay þar Werkez." [folio 7b] So þe sleght of hys sapience · þai selcouthly prasen, And clene acordes to hys carpyng · knyghtez & othre. [MS. othree.] Than dose hym furth þe derfe kyng · a lityll days aftir, Alexander with ane ost · of mony athell dukez, Line 1025

Line 1025 Sampnez ane vnsene some · to sayle he begynnez Oure in-to Itale · þe ylez to distroy. In-to þe cost of calydon · he commez on first, Line 1028 And þar a cyte assalez · and in a sege lenges. Bot wies wightly with-in · þe wallez ascendyn, Freshly defendyng of · & fersly with-stondyn. "Yhe calodons," quod þe kyng · and [calles] from with|owte, Line 1032 "Owther mache yow manly [MS. maly, corrected by later hand to manly.] þarto · or maynly dyez, And feght fast with ȝouer faes · to yhe faye worthen, Or yevez ȝarely vp þe ȝerd · and gefes me vp þe cite." So chauncez it þat cheftan · or he achevet þine, Line 1036 That fele he britens of þa bernez · & þe burgh wynnez. Þen carez owt of calidon · when he it coueryd hadde, Owre þe ylez of ytale · & þa ylez entrees. And þai wer redles of-ragthe [So in MS.; both MSS. corrupt.] · of þis kengez commyng, Prayed hym all for þe pease · & present hym faire, Line 1041 Sexty thousand hym sendes · of sekyr besandez, Of clere gold of þair kystez · and corownez a hundreth. Thare tuke he tribute þat tyme · as þe text recordez, Line 1044 Owt onon into þe occident · of all þat þar dwellyd, Of þe whilke þe erth · of Ermony is callyd, And amez hym toward aufrike · & all at ease leues. Than raught he from þe regions · & rowmyd hys oste, Line 1048 Cachez into an-other kyth · & crosez ouer þe stremez, Ayrez hym into aufrik · with mony athell princez, An-other wynge of þe werld · wynnes it belyue, Þat syde sodanly & sone · þat sire hym achevys. Line 1052 For þar he fand bott few · to fersly hym withstonde, Ne ryders in þat regions · ne rebellez bot lityll; And he þaim laught all þe lighter · as was les wondre. Þen cairez he fro þoes cuntrees · & kerues ouer þe stremes, Line 1056 Forth to francides he fared · suche a ferme yle, [folio 8a]

Sekes þar to a synagoge · hym-selfe & hys princez, Amone þar awne god · þat þai adour mighten, And so to hys tempyll to-teght · all with hys tried Ereles. Than met þaim in myd way · was mervale to see, Line 1061 Ane hert with a hoge heued · þe aughfulest on erth, Was to behald as a harrow · foreheld ouer with tyndez; And þan Comandez þaim þe kyng · kenely to shote, Line 1064 Bot þar was no man so nemyll · þat hym hit couth. "A! euell hale!" quod alexander · & an arow hyntes, Drogh, and at þe frist draught · hym drepyd for euer. Fro þine þan vnto þis day · þan is þat ilke place, Line 1068 The stede þar þis styffe man · strikez þis hert, Sagittarius for soth · men seggen it to name, And will do for þat ilke deyd · ay to þe werld lastes. Than ayrez hym on sir alexander · to þe amonez temple, Offers to hys awne god · & honours hym faire, Line 1073 Gyffez hym garsons [MS. garfons.] of gold · and other gude stanez, And held hestez hym to hete · heterly besekez. Than passid he þine with hys princez · to siche a place wendes, Line 1076 Chaipho rosey we rede · þe romanys it telles; And þarin fyndez þe freke · fyftene burges, And glydand to þe grett see · twelfe gret waters. Off ilke belde, says þe buke · barred was þe ȝates, Line 1080 Stoken styfly withowte · with barrez of yren. Thare lengez þe leue kynge · & loges all an euen, And sacrified þar eft-sones · to mony sere goddez. The same nyght in hys slepe · serapys appered, Line 1084 An-other of hys grett goddez · & in a grymme forme, Clede in a clath · of castanez colour, And syles euen to hym-selfe · & sayd hym þees wordez: "A! alexander, atell [So in MS.] kynge" · and asperly spekys, And toward a myghty mountane · hym myntyd with hys fynger, Line 1089

Line 1089 "May þou oght, lede, yond[e]r low · lift on þi shulder, And stere it owt of one stede · & stablet in ane other?" "Nay, wha myȝt þat," quod þe man, · "for mede vnder heuen?" Line 1092 "Sir, as yonder hye hille · sall hald ay hys place, So sall þi name owt of nowmbre · be nomyn in-to mynde, [folio 8b] And vnto þe day of dome · þi dedes be remenbryd." Than alexander als belyue · hym askys a demande, Line 1096 "I beseke þe, sir serapys · yf þou me say wald [Line 1098 is omitted in the numbering; see note on p. 56.] Þe prophecy or þou passe · of all my playne werdes, Line 1099 How me is destanet to dye · & when my day fallez?" "Sir, certanly," quod seraphys · "als to my-seluen thynkez, Line 1101 To ony athell vnder heuen · I hald it for þe better, With-owtyn wa noȝt to witte · þe wothe of hys ende Ne knaw þe cause or it come · & ay in care lenge. Line 1104 Bot neuer-þe-lesse I sall þe neven · sen þou me prayes, Thu sall be drenchett with a drinke · a draught of vnclene, And all þe yherez þar · in þi youth fynyshytt, Lange or þou metyn haue þe merke · of þi medyll age. Bott when ne in what age or tyme · sall falle þis awentur, Inquire me noght þis question · I queth it þe neuer. Line 1110 For other owt of þe orient · sall openly hereafter Vnto [So; for Vndo.] þe droȝt of þi days · & þi deth to [Better omitted.] telle." Line 1112 Þan vanyshit þis wayn god · & woydez from þe chawmbre. The mody kyng on þe morne · all murnand he risez, Þe moste party of hys princez · & of hys proude ostez Bound to ascolon · and þar hym abydez. Line 1116 Than callyd he to hys carpenters · comand þaim swythe

In mynde & memory of hym · to make þar a cite, And after his [MS. myne; wrongly.] awne name · þat neuer syne chaungett, [MS. chaaungett.] Alexander ay forth · after hym-seluen. Line 1120