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.

¶ Sextus passus Alexandri.

Ashmole

Now airis he furthe with his ost · to Egist he thinkes; And clene all þe contre · quen þai his come herd, As he had bene a hiȝe gode · þai ȝode him a-gayn, Resaued him with reuerence · & to þar rewme lede. Line 1124 Þere entirs him þat Emperoure · & in þat erd findis Of Anec his awen sire · ane ymage of sable, A berne was of blake stane · all þe body hewen With conyschance of a kynge · with [Inserted at the end of the line.] coron & septere. Þan askis of þam Alexander · as he þar-on lokis, Line 1129 Quat maner of man apon mold · it was made efter? "Sire, Anectabus" · quod all with a steuen, "Þat all þe erth of Egipte · enerid vmquile." Line 1132 With þat þe flammand flode · fell in his eȝen, "Þat Anec," quod þis athil kyng · "was myne awen fadire." Þan fallis he flat on þe fold · & þe fete kyssis; On þe stane quare it stode · stilly he mournes. Line 1136 Syne in-to Sirie with his seggis · he soȝt at þe gaynest, And þai [Inserted at the end of the line.] as baratours bald · him bigly with-standis, Set on him sadly · & sloȝe of his kniȝtis; Bot ȝet ȝarely are he ȝode · þai ȝald him þe regne. Line 1140 Þan drafe he sa to Damac · with dukis & princes, And sone he sesyd all þat syde · & Sydoyne he takis, [folio 20a] And þen trussis him to Tyre · & þare his tentis settis Be-syde þe cite with a some · & in a sege lengys. Line 1144 Þare he lies with his ledis · lang or he foundes, Before þe burȝe with his bernes · & mekill bale suffirs.

Quat of ane, quat of [Inserted at the end of the line.] oþire · oft his oste pleynes, For wele wist þai þam nane · to wyn to þe cite, Line 1148 It was sa stiffe & sa strang · & stalworthly wallid, And [MS. And þai; but þai is better omitted.] so hedously hiȝe · it was a huge wondire, Tildid full of turestis · & toures of defence, Batailid & bretagid · a-boute as a castell. Line 1152 Þe wawis of þe wild see · apon þe wallis betis, Þe pure populande hurle [read perle.] · passis it vmby, It was enforced with sa fele · fludis & othire, Line 1155 It semed neuer sege vnder son · be saute it to wyn. Þan etils him sir Alexander · & belyue makis Be-side þe cite in þe See · to sett vp a loge, A hiȝe tilde as a toure · teldid on schippis, Þat miȝt na Naue for þat note · neȝe to þe cite. Line 1160 Quen he þis baistell had bild · vp to þe burȝe wallis, And tiȝt him as tyme was · þe toune to assaill, Slik mischife in þe mene quile · emang his men fallis, For megire & for meteles · ware mervaile to here. Line 1164 þar was Princes in poynt · to perisch for euire, Alle in doute to be dede · dukis & erlis, In fere to be famyschist · many fers kniȝtis, For þar is na wa in þe werd · to þe wode hunger. Line 1168 Þan pleynis him þe proud kyng · þe pete of his men, And sendis out his sandis-men · with selid lettirs, To ierusalem to Iaudis · at þe iewes teches, Line 1171 Þat was þe bischop in þat burȝe · breuyd in þa dais; [folio 20b] Him moneste as a maister · him [Inserted at the end of the line.] maynly to send Fresch folke for þe fiȝt · & fode for his oste, And all þe trouage þare to him · tittly to wayue, Þat he to Darius of dewe · was dangird to paye. Line 1176 And ȝit comand he þis clerke · þe kyng in his writtes, For any richas him redis · rathere to thole Þe mayntenance of þe Messedoyns & of þe meri Grekis,

Þan þaim [MS. þaiem.] of Persy to pay · or to plese authere. Line 1180 Þan takis þe bischop þe breue · & buȝes to a chambre, Resayued it with reuerence · & redis it [Inserted at the end of the line.] ouire, Gase him doun be degrece · a-gayne to þe sale, Swiftly to þe swiars · & þam his sware ȝeldis: Line 1184 "Sirs, airis a-gayn to Alexander · & all þus [MS. þ^us.] him tellis, Þat me was done many day · depely to swere, Neuer Persy to paire · to pas with myne armes In damaging of Darius · durand his lyfe." Line 1188 Sone as þe wale kyng wist · he writhis him vnfaire, "Now be þat god," quod þe gome · "þat gatt me on erthe, I sall anes on þe iewis · enioyne or I die, Line 1191 Sall ken þam quas comandment · to kepe at þam fall." Ȝit for na torfar him tid · Tyre wald he noȝt leue, Bot chese him out a chiftane · & charge[s] him belyue, A mody man, ser Meliager · a maister of his [MS. hio.] oste, To fande him furth with a flote · of fyue hundreth kniȝtis; Line 1196 A[nd] Ioynes him to Iosaphat · his iournay to [MS. to to; with former to struck out.] take, And all þe pastours & þe playnes · prestly to driue, And bring in all þe bestaill · barayn & othire, Þat he miȝt se on any syde · þe cite of Gadirs. Line 1200 Þan mouys he on, ser Meliager · þis miȝtifull prince With a soume of sekir men · & Sampson þam ledis, [folio 21a] A renke at in þa regions · had redyn oft sythis, And knew þe costis & þe kitthis · clene all-to-gedire. Þus ȝede þai furthe egirly · & entirs þe vaile, Line 1205 And slike a prai þam apreued · as pyne were to reken, Bryngis furthe, sayd þe boke · bestis out of nounbre, [MS. mounbre.] And trottes on toward Tyre · with taite at þaire hertis. Bot or þai meten ware a myle · þe meris with-outen,

þar metis þaim with a mekill flote · þe maister of þe playnes, He þat was duke of þe [Inserted at the end of the line.] droues · & of þe derfe hillis, Ane Theosellus, a tulke · þat tened þam vnfaire. Line 1212 He girdis in with [Inserted at the end of the line.] a ging · armed in plates, Alto-bruntes oure bernes · & brathly woundid, Fellis fele at a frusch · fey to þe gronde, And many renke at he roue · rase neuer efter. Line 1216 Þan was ser Meliager moued · & maynly debatis, Flingis out on a fole · with a fell spere, Gers many grete syre grane · & girdis þurȝe maillis, And many bernes at a braide · in his brath endis. Line 1220 And Sampson on anothire side · setis out belyue, Bruschis furth on a blonk · brymly he smytis, Betis on with a brande · broken was his lance, Hewis doun of þa hirdis · hurtis þam vn-faire. Line 1224 Arystes, ane athill man · ai elike fiȝtis, Spirris out with a spere · & spedis his miȝtis, And noyed of þare note-men · at þe nete kepid, And many bald, or he blan · broȝt out o-lyue. Line 1228 Caulus, anothire kniȝt · on a kene stede, On Theosellus in twa · his tymbre he brekis; And þan he dryfes to þe duke · as demys þe textis, And with a swyng of a swerd · swappis of hes hede. Line 1232 When he was drepid & dede · at þe droues ȝemyd, [folio 21b] Þe prekars of þe pastors · & of þe proude landis, All þe folke of his affinite · at fresch ware vn-wondid , Þat outhire fote had or fole · to þe fliȝt foundid. Line 1236 Þus Meliager with his men · þe menske has a-chevyd, For þe fairere of þar faes · & þe fild wonn; Raschis with rethere · & rydis bot a quyle, Þat ne neȝis þam a-nothire note · as new as þe first. Line 1240 Þare was a maister of þe marches · miȝtist of othire Ane Beritinus, a berne · as þe buke tellis, Come girdand out of Gadirs · out of þe grete cite,

With þe selcuthest soume · þat semblid was euire. Line 1244 Slik a mynd vn-to [to added in margin.] me · ware meruaill to reken, Thretti thousand in thede · of thra men of armes, Slike as was buskest on blonkes · in brenys & platis, And othire folawand on fote · fele with-outen nounbre. Þe multitude was sa mekill · as mynes vs þe writtis, Of wees & of wild horsis · & wapened prenys, Sa stithe a steuyn in þe stoure · of stedis & ellis, As it was semand to siȝt · as all þe soyle trymblid. Line 1252 Þan ware þe Messedones amayd · quen þa see [see added in margin.] sa many; Sire Meliager [was] in gret mynd · a man out to sende To ser Alexander belyue · þaire allire maister, Line 1255 To come & help with his here · or þai to hande ȝode. Þare was nane þat was glad · þat message to gange, Bot ilka lathire & othire · to leue þaire frynde, Fest þar forward in-fere · þat fewe at þai ware, To do as driȝten wald deme · & dyi all to-gedire; Line 1260 To telle þaire torfere entyre · it taryed me swythe. [folio 22a] Bot so þe mode Meliager · & his men feȝtis, Þat ser Beritinus þe bald · þai bretned to dethe, And Sampson on þis side · was slay þar-agaynys. Line 1264 Þen mournes all þe Messedones · & maynten him ȝerne, Makis þar mane for þat man · & many othire noble, For maistris & mynistris · menere & grettir, Line 1267 Þat was in morsels magged · & martrid a hundreth. And þat left ware on lyfe · bot a litill meȝne, Ware als malstrid [Sic.] & mased · & matid of þaire strenthes, Sa waike & so wyndles · & wery for-foȝten, Line 1271 Þat þai were will in þis werd · qwat þai worthe suld. Sire Meliager & othire maa · mayned were sare, All be-bled & to-brissid · þat neȝe þar breth failes, Þai were sa feble & sa faynt · & full of þaim-selfe, Þat all in fere was in fourme · þe fild for to ȝeld. Line 1276 Þan aires him forth Arestes · was augrily wondid, To Alexander onone · þas auntirs him tellis,

Þe morth of all þe Messedone[s] · & of þe many grekis, Rekens him þar resons · þat reuthe was to here. Line 1280 With þat þe semely kyng · chacches his bernes, Semblis him a huge soume · & fra þe sege wendis, Þe toure of Tire & þe toune · titly he leues, And Ioynes him to Iosaphat · full ioyles he rydes. Line 1284 Ay he gretis as he gase · for grefe of his knyȝtis, Ay he pleynys as he passes · þe pite of his erlis, Ay he wepis as he wendis · for his wale princes, And soueraynly for Sampson · he sorowis ay elike. Line 1288 When he was tane fraward [MS. toward altered to fraward.] Tyre · toward þe vaile, Þe werke at he wroȝt had · þat water whyt-in, [folio 22b] Þat he had sett in þe see · þe cite with-out, þar-in he lefte had a lede · þe loge for to kepe. Line 1292 Bot þan ser Balaan, a berne · at in þe burȝe lengis, Ane of þe terands of Tyre · atyres him [MS. here inserts h, but it is struck out.] belyue, Buskes him in breneis · with big men of armes, Line 1295 With traumes & with tribochetis · þe tild to asaile. He bekirs out at þe bild · within þe burȝe-wallis, And þai without in þe werke · wiȝtly defendis, Schot scharply betwene · schomes [Read schoures.] of dartis; Weris wondirly wele [Added in the margin.] · werpis out stanes. Line 1300 Bot Balaa[n] in þe barmeken · sa bitterly fiȝtis, All to-combirs þam clene · with cast of engynes. Sone þe top of þe toure · he tiltis in-to þe watir, And all þe tulkis in þe tild · he termens o lyue; Line 1304 And þan in batis & in bargis · he bownes him swyth, To þe bothum of þe baistell · he buskis him with-out, Bretens doun all þe bild · & þe bernys quellis, Line 1307 Drenches hire in þe hiȝe see · & drawis hire on hepis. Quen it was smeten in small · with þe smert waȝes, Ilka gobet his gate · glidis fra othire. Þus [MS. þus was.] þe strenth ilk stike [MS. stilk stike; but stilk is struck out.] · was in a stounde wasted,

And Balaa[n] bowis in-to þe burȝe · & barris to þe ȝatis. Be þis oure kyng with his kniȝt[is] · is comen in-to þe vaile, Line 1313 Alexander with ane ost · his kniȝtis to help, Fyndis a fewe of his folke · feȝtand ȝerne, And ay a segge be him-selfe · sett all a hundreth. Line 1316 With þat Bucifalon his blonke · he brased [The a is ill-formed.] in þe side, Springis out with a spere · spillis at þe gaynest, Ridis euen þurȝe þe route · þar rankest þai were, Be rawe of þar rabetis · he ruschid to þe erthe, [folio 23a] Line 1320 He strikis all fra þar stedis · streȝt him be-forne. Was nane sa stiffe in þat stoure · miȝt stand him agayn; Quare althire-thickest was þe thrange · þurȝe þaim he rynnes, And makis a wai wyde enoȝe · waynes to mete. Line 1324 He laschis out a lange swerde · quen his launce failes, Threschis doun in a [Added in the margin.] thrawe · many threuyn dukis, Stirs him sa in a stonde · & his stithe erlis Þat þar was [na] berne on bent · bott bretened or ȝolden. Line 1328 Þe seggis on his awen side · þat he slayn fyndis, He mas to graue sum in grete · & sum in gray marble. And þa þat laft ware o-lyue · he lokis þar woundis, And faire fangis his folke · & fra þe fild wendis. Line 1332 Þan bowes he to þe baistall · & brymly it semblis, Gedirs of ilk glode · grettir & smallire, And prekis furth with his pray · & passes fraward Gadirs, And tiȝt agayne toward Tyre · to termen his sege. Line 1336 Quen he was dreuyn ouer þe dales · & drewe to þe cite, With þat he blisches to þe burȝe · & sees his bild voidid, Als bare as a bast · his baistell a-way, But outhire burde or bate · bot þe brade wattir, Line 1340

Line 1340 Þan mournes all þe Messadones · & maynly was sturb[i]d. [The i is illegible.] And Alexander also · was augrely greuyd, So ware þai troubild out of tone · quen þai þaire tild miste, Þat of þe taking of Tire · trest þai na langire. Line 1344 And so him-selfe in his slepe · þe same niȝt eftir, Him thoȝt he had in his hand · & held of a vyne A growen grape of a grype · a grete & a rype, Line 1347 Þe quilke he flange [MS. inserts of, but it is struck out.] on þe flore · & with his fete tredis. And quen he broken had þe bery · als þe berne semes, þar folowis out of fresche wyne · feetles to mete; [folio 23b] So largely & so delauyly · of licoure, him thinkis, Of ane rasyn to ryn · it was a ryfe wondire. Line 1352 Þe kyng callis him a clerke · kenely on þe [Added in the margin.] morne, Als radly as he rase · to reche him his sweuyn. "Sire, bees a-dred neuir a dele" · þe diuinour said, "I vndire-take on my trouthe · Tire is þine awen; Line 1356 For þe bery at ȝe brake sa · is þe burȝe euen. Þai sall be sesid þe full sone · & to þi-selfe ȝolden, For þou sall eft all on ernest · entire on þe wallis, And foulire [Read foule hire.] vndir þi feete · with-in a fewe days. Line 1360 Now compas kenely þis kyng · & castis in his mynd How he miȝt couir in any cas · to come to þe cite, Deuynes depely on dais · dropis many wiles, If he cuthe seke any sleȝt · þat him serue wald; Line 1364 And makis to sett in þe see [MS. inserts of, but it is struck out.] · riȝt in þe same place, þar as þe bild at he bi[l]did · biggid wasse first, To stable vp a grete strenthe · all on store schipis, Hugir be þe halfe dele · & hiȝere þan þe toþire; Line 1368 And þat he fiches & firmes · sa fast to þe wall, So nere, vnethes at ane eld · miȝt narowly betwene, And band hire, as þe buke sais · bigly to-gedire, Line 1371

Line 1371 With þat scho flisch noþer fayle [MS. flay fayle; but flay is struck out.] · fyue score aunkirs. Quen he had tiȝt vp þis tram · & þis tild rerid, Hit had of bradnes abofe · to breue out of mesure; And to hede be a huge thing · hiȝere it semed Þan was þe wallis, sais þe writt · of þe wale touris. Line 1376 Þan Alexander all his ane · an-ane he ascendis, Closid all in clere stele · & in clene plates, And monestis ilk modire son · maynly & swyth, [folio 24a] Þat all be bowne at a brayd · þe burȝe to assaile. Line 1380 And all þe ost euyn ouir · he openly comandis To be [Added in the margin.] radly all arayd · & redy to fiȝt; And quen þai saȝe þat him-selfe [selfe added in the margin.] · þe cite was entrid, Wan vp wiȝtly on þe wallis · ilk wee him eftir. Line 1384 Now tenelis vp taburs · and all þe toūn rengis, Steryn steuyn vp strake · strakid þar trumpis, Blewe bemys of bras · bernes assemblis, Seȝes to on ilk syde · & a saute ȝeldis. Line 1388 Þare presis to with paues · peple withouten; Archars with arows · of atter envemonde [Sic.] Schotis vp scharply · at shalkis on þe wallis, Lasch at þam of loft · many lede floȝen, Line 1392 And þai ȝapely a-ȝayne · & ȝildis þam swythe, Bekire out of þe burȝe · bald men many, Kenely þai kast of · with kastis of stanys, Driues dartis at oure dukis · dedly þam woundid. Line 1396 Þan passe vp oure princes · prestly [MS. inserts er, but it is struck out.] enarmed, In-to þe baistell a-bofe · bremely ascendid, Sum with lances on-loft · & with lange swerdis, With ax & with alblaster · & alkens wapen. Line 1400 Alexander ai elike · augrily feȝtis, Now a schaft, now a schild · nowe a scheue hentis, Now a sparth, now a spere · & sped so his miȝtis, Þat it ware tere any tonge · to of his turnes rekyn. Line 1404

Line 1404 And þai with-in on þe wall · worthili with-stude, Fersly defend of · & fellid of his knyȝtis, Thristis ouir thikefald · many threuyn berne[s], Line 1407 And doun bakward þam bare · in-to þe brad wattir. [folio 24b] With þat oure wees without · writhis þam vnfare, Went wode of þaire witt · & wrekis þam swyth; For na wounde ne na wathe · wand þai na langir, Bot all wirkis him þe wa · & wrake at he cuthe. Line 1412 Sum braidis to þar bowis · bremely þai schut, Quethirs out quarels · quikly be-twene; Strykis vp of þe stoure · stanes of engynes, Þat þe bretage a-boue · brast all in soundire, Line 1416 Girdis ouir garettis · with gomes to þe erthe, Tilt torettis doun · toures on hepis, Spedely with sprygaldis · spilt þaire braynes, Many miȝtfull man · marris on þe wallis. Line 1420 And be þe kirnells ware kast · & kutt doun before, Be þat þe baistell & þe burȝe · ware bathe elike hiȝe, And all oure werke without þe wallis · weterly semed, Þe sidis of þe cite · to se to o fernes, Line 1424 Þan Alexander belyf [MS. bely, altered to belyf in later hand.] · on þam all entris, Bruschis in with a brand · on bernes a hundreth, Thrang thurȝe a thousand · þare thikest þai were, Wynnes worthly ouer þe wallis · with-in to þe cite. Line 1428 Þe first modire son he mett · oþire man outhire, Was Balaan þe bald berne · as þe boke tellis, And him he settis on a saute · & sloȝe him belyue, Line 1431 And werpid him out ouir þe wall · in-to þe wild streme. Sone as oure athils be-hind · saȝe þar he entred, His men & all þe Messedones · maynly ascendis, And þai of Grece gredely · girdis vp eftire, Thringis vp on a thraw · thousandis many. Line 1436 Sum stepis vp on sties · to þe stane wallis, [folio 25a] On ilka staffe of a staire [MS. repeats staire.] · stike wald a cluster;

And qua sa leddirs had nane · as þe lyne tellis, Line 1439 Wald gett þam hald with þar hend · & on-loft clyme. Sa freȝt ware þar othire · þat feȝtis within, For Balaan þar bald duke · þat broȝt was [Added in the margin.] of lyue, Þat all failis þam þe force · & so ferd worthe, Þat nothire with stafe ne with stane · withstand þai na langir. Line 1444 Sire Alexander with his athils · & his awen sleȝtis Þe toune of Tire þus he tuke · & othire twa burȝes, In þe quilke þe siriens of þis sire · so many soroȝes had, As wald bot tary all oure tale · þaire tourment to reken. Sone as þis cite was sesid · & slayne vp & ȝolden, Line 1449 Þen ridis furth þe riche kyng · & remowed his ost, Gais him furth to Gasa · a-nothire grete cite, And þat he settis on a saute · & sesis it be-lyue; Line 1452 And quen þis Gasa was geten · he graythis him swyth, And Ioynes him toward Ierusalem · þe iewis to distroy; And ȝe þat [MS. inserts kis; but it is struck out.] kepis of þis carpe · to knaw any ferre, Sone sall I neuen ȝow þe note · þat is next eftir. Line 1456

Dublin

Now ayers he forth with hys Ereles, · to egip he wendes; And clene all þe cuntree · when þai hys comyng harde, Als he hed ben a hegh god · þai halden hym agayns, Resaved hym with reuerence · & to þair realm ledyn. Thare entrez hym þe Emperour · and in þat erth fyndez Of anec hys awne syre · ane ymage of sabyll, A berne was of blak stane · all þe body euen Line 1127 With conyshaunce of kyngez · coron and septur in hand. Than askys he þaim alexander · als he þar-on wates, What maner of man vpon mold · þat was merkyd after? "Sir, anec," quod all men · with a sterne steven, "That þe erth of egipt · enhered some tyme." Line 1132 With þat þe femand flode · flasshed in hys eghen, [folio 9a] "That anec," quod þis athell kyng · "my awne fadre was." Þan fallez he flatt on þe fold · & þe fote kyssez Of þat stane þat stode · & stylly murnez. Line 1136 Syne into surry with hys seggez · he soght þe ganest, And þai as baratours bald · hym bigly withstandyn, Set vppon hym sadly · & slew of hys knyghtez; Bot ȝarle or he ȝode · þai ȝolde hym vp þe realm. Line 1140 Than draue he so to Damask · with dokez & princez, And sone he sesys all þat syde · and sy[do]ne he takez, And þen he trussys hym to tyre · & þar hys tentes settes Besyde þe site with a somme · & in a sege lengez. Line 1144 Þair he lay with hys ledes · lange or he fondytt, Before þe burgh with hys bernes · & muche bale suffred.

What of o þing, whatt of oþir · ofte hys oste plenys, For wele trowde þai þan · none to wynne to þe cite, Line 1148 It was so stiffe & so strang · & so stalworthly wroght, And so hydusly hye · þat was A grett wondre, Tyldet full of torrettes · & towrez of defencez, Bateld & britagett · abowt as a castell. Line 1152 The wawes of þe wilde see · vpon þe walle betyn, The pure populand perle · passyd it vmbe, It was enforsed so wele · with flodez & other, Line 1155 þar semed neuer sege vnder þe son · by sawte it to wynne. Than etellez hym sir alexander · & als belyue makes Besyde þe cite in þe see · to sett vp a loge, A hye tylde as a towre · tyldet of shippes, Þat might no navy for þat note · negh to þe haven. Line 1160 When he þis bastell had byggyd · nere þe burgh walles, And tight hym as tyme was · þe burgh to assaylle, Such mischefe in þe meynne tyme · vppon þe men fallez, For meger & for metelesse · wer mervell to telle. Line 1164 Thare wer princez in plite · to perische for euer, All in dowte to [be] dede · dukez & Ereles, In fere to be famyshyd · mony ferce knyghtez, For þar is [na] wa in werld · to þe wod hunger. Line 1168 Than rewys hym þe prouude kyng · þe pyte of hys men, And sendys forth sendesmen · with selett lettres, [folio 9b] To Ierusalem to Iawdez · þat þe Iewes teches, [Epistola.] Þat of þat burgh was byshop · brevyd in þo dayes; Line 1172 He monyshytt hym as a minister · hym manly to sende Fresh folk for þe fight · & fode for þe folke, And all þair truage · tyte to hym wayfe, That he to Darius of dew · was dangert to pay. Line 1176 And ȝit command he þis clerke · þe kyng in hys writtez, For any richez he redes · rather to chese The mayntenaunce of massidons · & of þe mony grekez,

Þen þaim of perse to pay · or to please owder. Line 1180 Than takez þe Bishop þe breue · & to chawmbre bownes, Ressaves it with reuerence · & redes it ouer, Gase hym downe be degrece · ayayn to þe sale, Swythly to þe swyers · & þaim þe sware ȝeldez: Line 1184 "Sirres, ayres agayn to alexander · & all þus hym tellys, [Epistola.] That me was done mony day · deply to swere, Neuer perse to pare · ne passe with none armez In damagyng of darius · endurand hys lyue." Line 1188 When þe wale kyng wist · he wex wode wroth, "Now by god," quod þe grome · "þat gatt me on erth, I sall seche Iewres on þe Iewes · enys [read enioine.] or I dye, Sall kenne whoys commaundement · þat þaim to kepe fallez. Line 1192 Ȝit for no torfer þat he tyde · tyre wald he noght leue, Bot chesez hym owt a chiftane · & chargez hym belyue, A mody man, sir meliager, · a maister of hys oste, To founde forth with a flete · of fyfe hundreth knyghtez; And iniones hym to Iosaphatt · hys Iornay to make, Line 1197 And all þe pastours & þe playnes · prestly to [MS. de.] dryve, Bot bring in all þes bestes · baren & other, Þat he might see in ony syde · þe cite of Gaders. Line 1200 Than mefes on sire Meliager · þis mightfull prince Wyth a soume of syker men · & sampson þaim ledes, A renke þat in þa regions · had rydyn oft sythez, And knew þe costez & þe kythez · clene all-to-geder. Line 1204 Þus hyed þai forth egerly · & entird þe wale, And suche a pray þaim preved · als pyne wer to reken, Bringez forth, als says þe buk · bestes owt of nowmbre, [folio 10a] And trottes on toward tyre · with ioy at þair hertes. Line 1208 Bot or þai metyn hed a myle · þe mers with-out, [MS. were out.]

þar metes þaime a miche folke · þe maister of þe playnes, The duke of þe drafes · & of þe derfe fellys, One teosellus a tulke · þat tenyd þaim vnfaire. Line 1212 He girdes in with a gyn · grathed in playthes, All to-brountes þes bernes · & wykydly þaim woundes, Felles mony fey at a frush · fast to þe grunde, And mony renke þat he ouer-rade · rase neuer aftir. Line 1216 Than was sir meliager amoved · & manly debates, Flyngez forth on a fole · with a fele spere, And beres mony grett syre · þorow thike males, Line 1219 All fell bernes at [a] brayde · whilse his breth lastez. And sampson on ane other syde · settez on belyue, Brushes forth on a blonke · brathly he smytez, Betes on with a brande · for brokyn was hys launce, Hewes doun on þe herdez · & hurtez þaim vnfaire. Line 1224 Then arestes, an athell man · & [Better omitted.] ay clike feghtez, Sparres forth with a spere · & spedes hys mightez, . . . . . Mony bald or he blan · broght owt of lyfe. Line 1228 Than Caulus, an other knyght · on a ked stede, On thoosellus in twa · hys tembre he brekys; And þen he dryffes to þe duke · als tellys me þe texte, Bot with a swyng of a swerde · swappez of hys heued. When he was drepyd þus & dede · & þe drawes ȝemyd, Þe prekers of þe pasturs · & of þe prouud Landez, All þe folk of hys affinite · þat frehsse [Sic.] wer vnwoundet, Þat other fote hed or fole · to þe flyȝt foundez. Line 1236 Thus meliager with hys men · þe menske þar acheuett, Fellyd þe feirare [MS. feirhare.] of þar foes · and þe feld wonnez [Read wonn.] ; And rachen with þair route · & ryden bott a while, Bot þar neghyd þaim ane oþer note · als new as before; þar was a maister of þe marche · þe myghtiest of other. One beritinus, a berne · als þe buke telles, Line 1242 Come girdand furth of gaders · owt of þe grete cyte,

With þe selcouutest soume · þat semblyd was euer, Line 1244 With a mynd to me · wer mervell to rekyn, [folio 10b] A threti thouusand in thede · of thro men of armes, Suche as wer on blonnkes · in brenys & platez, And other folowand on fote · fele owt of nowmbre. Line 1248 The multitude was so much · as menys vs þe writtez, Of wyes & of wild horse · & of wapenned bernes, So styf a steuen in þe stoure · of stedes & enmys, As it was semand [to siȝt] · as þe son tremblyd. Line 1252 Þen wer þe masydons ameved · when þai so mony seen; Sir meliager was in grete mynd · a man owt to send To alexander als belyue · þaire aller maister, Line 1255 To Come to help with hys heir · or þai to hand rydyn. Bot þar was nane þat was made · þe message to fannge, Bot ilke lede elike loth · to leven þair frendes, And festned þair forwardez in-fere · þe few þat þar wer, To do as drighten wald deme · & dye all to-geder; Line 1260 To tell þair torfer in tere · it wald tary me to lang. Bot so þe mody meliager · & hys men foghten, Þat Sir bertinus þe bald · þai brityned to dede, And sampson was of hys syde · slayn þar-agayns. Line 1264 Þen murned all þe masydons · & meynyd hym swyth, Made grett mone for þis man · & mony oþer noble, For maisters & ministers · meyner & gretter, Line 1267 Þat wer in morsellys made · & martyred by hundrethis. And þat left wer on-lyue · bot a lytell meynhe, Wer also maistrett & masyd · & mated of þair strennthes, So wake & so wyndles · & wery for-fouughten, Þat þai wer wille in þe werld · qwat þai worth suld. Line 1272 Sir meliager & oþer mo · mayned wer sare, All to-bled & to-brysed · þat nere þair breth fayled, Thai wer so feble and so faynte · and full of þaim-seluen, Þat all in fere & in forme · þe feld for to ȝeld. Line 1276 Than ayres hym forth aristes · was augerdly woundett, To alexander anone · þees aunters hym telles,

The morte of all þe masydons · & of þe mony grekez, Rekens hym þe resons · þat reuth was to here. Line 1280 With þat þe comle kynge · chakez hys bernes, Semblett Hym A Hoge soume · & fro þe seige wendys, [folio 11a] The toure of tyre & þe towne · titely he levys, And ioynes hym to Iosaphatt · full ioyles to ryde. Line 1284 Ay he gretes as he goys · þe grefe of hys knyghtez, Ay he plenys as he passez · þe pite of hys Ereles, Ay he wepys as he wendes · for hys wale princes, And souerandly for sampson · he sorows euerilyke. Line 1288 When he was turnyd froward tyre · toward þe wale, The werk at he wroght had · þe water within, Þat he hed sett in þe see · þe cite withowte, Thare-in he left hed a lityll [Read lede.] · [þe] loge for to kepe. Line 1292 Bott þen sir balaan, a berne · þat in þe burgh lenged, One of þe tiraundez of tire · atired hym belyue, Buskes hym in brenes · with big men of armes, With trawynns & trebgetes [MS. trelgetes.] · þe towre to assaylle. Line 1296 He bekers owt at þe beld · ouer þe brade walle, And þai within [MS. withowt within.] þe werk · wightly defenden, Shoton sharply bytwene · swappyn owt dartez; Weres wondrely wele · warpyn owt stanes. Line 1300 Bot balaan in þe britage · so bitterly feghtez, All to-combers þaim clene · with cast of engynes. Sone þe toppe of þe toure · he typys in þe water, And all þe tulkez in þe teld · he termys þe lyve; Line 1304 Than in bargez & in botez · he bownes hym swyth, To þe bothom of þe bastell · he buskez hym withowte, Bretens downe all þe belde · & þe bernes whelles, Drenches hir in þe depe · & drawes hir on hepys. Line 1308 When it was smytyn so in small · within þe smert wawes, Ilke gobett fro oþer · glydes [MS. gydes, corr. to glydes.] fast þair way. Thus þis strenth ilke steke · in a stound wastyd,

And balaan bownes to þe burgh · & barres þe ȝatez. Line 1312 Be þat owr kyng with hys knyghtez · was comen to þe wale, Alex[ander] with an hoste · hys athell to help, Fyndes a few of hys folke · feghtyng full ȝarne, And a sege by hym-self · sett to a hundreth. Line 1316 With þat bucifelon hys blonke · he brochys in þe sydez, Spryngez forth with a spere · spyllez at þe ganest, Rides euen þorow þe route · þare rankest þai were, [folio 11b] The rawes of þair arayes · he rushes to þe erth, Line 1320 He strikez all þair stedes · streght downe hym before, Was none so styffe in þe stoure · to stand hym ayayns; Þar all þe thikest wer of thrange · thrugh þaim he rynnes, And makez a way wyde enogh · waynez for to mete. Line 1324 He lashes owt a lang swerde · when hys launce wantes, Thristez downe in a thraw · mony thryme dokes, Stirrez hym so in a stound · he and hys styff ereles, Þat þar ne was bern on þe bent · bot bryttynett or ȝolden. Line 1328 The segges of hys awne syde · all at he slayn fyndez, He makes to grave, some in grete · some in gray marbyll. And þo þat left wer on lyue · he leches þair woundez, And fair fangez he hys folke · & fro þe feld turnes. [3^a victoria alexandri.] Line 1332 . . . . . . . . . . Then prekes forth with hys pray · þus before gaders, And turnes agayn toward tyre · to terme hys seige. Line 1336 When he was dreven ouer þe dales · & drew to þe cite, With þat he blyshys to þe burgh · & seys hys beylde woydett, Also bare as ony baste · hys bastell away, Bout ony buske or borde · bot þe brode water. Line 1340

Line 1340 Than murnes all þe masidons · & felly wer trublett, And alexander was also · awgerdly grevyde, So wer þai turblett of þe towne · qwen þai þar tild myssyd, That of þe takyng of tire · tristed þai no lenger. Line 1344 And so hym-selfe in hys slepe · þe same nyght after, Hym toght [Sic in MS.] he had in hys hand · a held of a wyne, A growen grope of a gripe · a grett & a rype, Line 1347 Þe whilke he flonge of þe floure · & with hys fete tredes; And when he brokyn hed þe bery · als þe bern semys, þar flowe owt of fresh wynne · flodez enowe; So largly & so delavy · of liquor hym thynkez, Of ane raysyn to ryn · þat was a gret wondre. Line 1352 Þe kynge callez a clerke · kenely on þe morne, Als radly as euer he rose · to rachen hym hys swevyn. "Sir, beys dred neuer a dele" · þe devinour hym sayde, "I vndertake it on my trewth · tyre is þi nawne; Line 1356 For þe bery þat þou brake · þat is þe burgh euen, That shal be sesyd þe ful sone · & to þi-seluen ȝolden, [folio 12a] For þou sall eft in ernest · enter þe walles, And fell hir vnder fote · within a few days." Line 1360 Now Compas kenely þe kyng · & castes in hys mynd How he couth in ony case · come to þe cyte, Devynez deply on days · dropes mony willes, If he couht seke ony sleght · þat hym serue wald; Line 1364 And makes to sett in þe see · right in þe same place, Þair as þe tild þat he bild · bigget was frist, To stabill vp a strenth · all of store schippes, Hoger by þe halfe dele · & hyer þen þat oþer; Line 1368 And þat he feghys & fermes · so fast to þe wall, So negh þat vnneth a nedyll · myght narowly bytwene, And band hir, as þe boke says · bigly to-geder,

Lest sho flechett or faylett · with fyfe score ankers. Line 1372 When he hed tight vp þis trame · & þis teld reryd, It hed of bradnes aboue · to breue owt of mesour; And to hede by hoge þing · hegher it semyd Than was [þe walles], as þe writte says · of þe wale tourez. Þan alexander all [his ane] · a-none he ascendez, Line 1377 Closed all in clere stele · & in clene platez, And monyshit iche moderson · manly & swythe, Þat all be bowne at a brade · þe burght to asayle. Line 1380 All þe hoste [Better oste.] euen ouer · opynly he comandes Ȝarly all to be arraed · and redy to fight; And when þat þai see þat hym-selfe · þe cite was entird, Wynnen vpp vppo [Sic.] þe walle · ilke wy hym after. Line 1384 Now tynkyll vp taburnes · þat all þe towne ringes, Sterne stevyn vpon stroke · straked trompettes, Blew bemes of brace · bernes assembled, Sought to on ilk syde · & a saute ȝeldyn, Line 1388 To prese to with paves · a peple withowte; Archers with arowes · of atter enuenmonyd [Read enuenomyd.] Shoton vp sharply · at salkez on þe wallez, Lashe at þaim on-lofte · in mony lowd showte, Line 1392 And þai ȝopely ayayn · ȝeldyn þaim swythe, Bekeryng forth of þe burgh · bald men many, [folio 12b] Kenely þai kepe · with castyng of stanes, Dryves dartez at owr dukez · deply þaim wounden. Line 1396 Than passyd vp of princez · pristly enarmed, Into þe bastell abowne · bremely ascenden, Some with launcez on-lofte · & some with long swerdez, With ax & with awblester · & alken wapens. Line 1400 And alexander ay elik · awgerdly feghtez, Now a shafte, now a shelde, · now a swerde hentez, Now a sparth, now a spere · & sped so hys mightez, Þat it wald tere ony tong · hys tournays to reken. Line 1404

Line 1404 And þai within on þe wall · wightly withstondyn, Derfley defenden of · & fellez of hys bernes, Thraste ouer thikefald · mony thrifen knyghtez, And doun bakeward þai bare · into þe brade water. Line 1408 With þat oure wyes withowte · wrathen þaim vnfaire, Went ne wode owt of þar witte · & wrekes þaim swyth; For no wa ne no wound · waned þai no langer, Bot all wirkyd þaim wa · & wrake at þai couth. Line 1412 Som braden to þair bowes · & bremely shotyn, Whirres owt quarels · whikly betwene; Strike vp of þe stoure · stanes & [& written above the line; read of.] engynes, Þat þe britage abofe · brast all in sonder, Line 1416 Girdes ouer garrates · with gomes [MS. cunes; wrongly.] to þe erth, Typed torrettes doune · towres on hepes, Spedely with springaltez · spilten þair bernes, Many mightyfull man · merred on þe walles. Line 1420 And be þe kernels wer kest · & cut [MS. owt.] doun before, Be þat þe bastell & þe burgh · was bath elike hye, And all owre þe werke withowt · witterly semyd, The sydes of þe cite · to se to on fernesse, Line 1424 Than alexander als belyue · on þaim all entres, Brushes in with a brannde · on bernes an hundreth, Thrang þorow a thousand · þar as þai thikest wer, Wynnes wightly ouer þe wall · within to þe cite. Line 1428 The frist moderson þat he mett · or other man other, [folio 13a] Was balaan þe bald berne · as þe buke tellez, And hym he settes on a sawte · & slogh hym belyfe, And wappyd [Read warpyd.] hym ouer þe walles · in-to þe wild stremes. When þair hatels byhynde · saw þar heued entre, Line 1433 Hys men & all þe masydons · manly ascenden, And þai of grece gredely · girdes vp after, Thronge vp on a thraw · thousandez mony. Line 1436 Some spettyn [Read steppyn.] vp on styes · to þe stane walles, On ilke staffe on a stare · steke wald a clostre;

And who so ledderys couth lache · as þe line wittnes, Wald gett þair hald with þair hand · & on-lofte wynne. So friȝt wer þase other folke · þat foghten within, Line 1441 Fro [Read For.] balaan þair bald duke · þat broght was of liue, Þat all failez þaim þe force · & so ferd worthen, Þat nowder with staffe ne with stane · withstode þai no langer. Line 1444 Sir alexander with þoes athellys · & with hys awne sleghtez The toure of tire þus he tuke · and other ij burghez, In þe whilke þe sariens of þis syre · so many sorowys haddyn; All wald bot tary owr tale · þaire turment to reken. [Obsid[et] le tyre.] Line 1448 Sone als þis cite was sesyd · slayne vp & ȝolden, Þan rides forth þe riche kyng · & removes þe hoste, Gase forth to gaza · ane othre grete cite, And he settes on a sawte · and seses it beliue; Line 1452 And when þis gaza was gettyn · he grathes hym swyth, And ioynes hym toward Ierusalem · þe Iewez to distroy; And ȝe þat kepys of þis carpyng · to here any ferrer, Sone sall I neuen þou þe note · þat now is next after.