The Canterbury tales

De Alexandro

The storie of alisaundre is so commune Line 2631 That every wight that hath discrecioun Line 2632 Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune. Line 2633 This wyde world, as in conclusioun, Line 2634 He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun Line 2635 They weren glad for pees unto hym sende. Line 2636 The pride of man and beest he leyde adoun, Line 2637 Wherso he cam, unto the worldes ende. Line 2638

Line 2638 Comparisoun myghte nevere yet maked Line 2639 Bitwixe hym and another conquerour; Line 2640 For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked. Line 2641 He was of knyghthod and of fredom flour; Line 2642 Fortune hym made the heir of hire honour. Line 2643 Save wyn and wommen, no thing myghte aswage Line 2644 His hye entente in armes and labour, Line 2645 So was he ful of leonyn corage. Line 2646 What pris were it to hym, though I yow tolde Line 2647 Of darius, and an hundred thousand mo Line 2648 Of kynges, prices, dukes, erles bolde Line 2649 Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem into wo? Line 2650 I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go, Line 2651 The world was his, -- what sholde I moore devyse? Line 2652 For though I write or tolde yow everemo Line 2653 Of his knyghthod, it myghte nat suffise. Line 2654 Twelf yeer he regned, as seith machabee. Line 2655 Philippes sone of macidoyne he was, Line 2656 That first was kyng in grece the contree. Line 2657 O worthy, gentil alisandre, allas, Line 2658 That evere sholde fallen swich a cas! Line 2659 Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thou weere; Line 2660 Thy sys fortune hath turned into aas, Line 2661 And yet for thee ne weep she never a teere. Line 2662 Who shal me yeven teeris to compleyne Line 2663 The deeth of gentillesse and of franchise, Line 2664 That al the world weelded in his demeyne, Line 2665 And yet hym thoughte it myghte nat suffise? Line 2666 So ful was his corage of heigh emprise. Line 2667 Allas! who shal me helpe to endite Line 2668 False fortune, and poyson to despise, Line 2669 The whiche two of al this wo I wyte? Line 2670