Alphabet of tales : an English 15th century translation of the Alphabetum narrationum of Etienne de Besançon, from Additional MS. 25,719 of the British Museum / by Etienne de Besançon

DXIV.
Mortis certitudo multum terret aliquos immortalitatem appetentes.

We rede in `Historia Dragmanorum,' how þat þies Dragmans, like philosophurs, beand in wyldernes, dispysyd aƚƚ werldly thyngis.

And kyng Alexander sent message vnto þaim & said̛, aske what þai wold̛ & þai sulde hafe it. And þai wrote vnto hym agayn̛ & said̛; "Grant vs þat we shaƚƚ nevur dy, for þat we desyre moste of aƚƚ." And he wrote vnto þaim agayn̛ & sayd̛; "When̛ I am̛ mortaƚƚ & mon̛ dy my selfe, how mot I graunt you þat ye saƚƚ nevur dye?" And þai wrote vnto hym̛ agayn̛ & sayd̛; "Sen þou knowis at þou mon̛ dye, whi duse þou so mekuƚƚ iƚƚ & puttis þi selfe in so many perels?"

• ...Mortis certitudo inducit hominem ad provisionem necessariorum post mortem. Infra de providencia, ij.
• ...Mortis certitudo confirmat hominem in bono inchoato. Infra de sortilegio.
• ...Mortui corpus aliquando vegetur MS. vegetatur. a demone. Infra de suffragijs.