Early English versions of the Gesta Romanorum / edited by Sidney J.H. Herrtage

(HOW ARISTOTLE SAVED ALEXANDER'S LIFE.)

[ XXII. ] Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 35]

Story.

Alexander the Emperour was so stronge and myghty, that none in his tyme myght overcome hym; and this Emperour had̛ Aristotil to his maister, that taught hym in aƚƚ wysedom̛ and konnyng. ¶ That saw the quene of the Northe, and norisshed̛ her doughtir with venyme, fro the tyme of her birthe, that whan she come to lawfuƚƚ age, she was so faire, that she was lovesome to aƚƚ. ¶ After, she sent her to Alexandre, that she myght be his concubyne; and whan he saw her, anon̛ he was take in her love, and wold̛ have synned̛ witℏ her. ¶ That perseived̛ Aristotiƚƚ, and said̛ to hym, "Touche her not, for yf ye do, ye shaƚƚ be dede anon̛; For aƚƚ her lyf-tyme she hatℏ ben norisshed̛ witℏ venyme, and that I shaƚƚ prove anon̛. here is one that shaƚƚ be dede by the lawe; lette hym slepe witℏ her, and than shulle ye se whether I sey sothe."

and so it was done. anon̛ as he kissed̛ her̛, he fille downe dede. ¶ Alexandre praised̛ his maister, for he delyvered̛ hym fro the dethe.

¶ Declaracio.

Frendes, this Emperour may be said̛ every man that is stronge and myghty, by the vertu of the baptyme. The quene is habundaunce of tho thynges that seketℏ man to slee. ¶ The maide, that was venymed̛, is glotonye and lechery, by the whiche many are slayn̛. ¶ Aristotiƚƚ is reason̛, that seitℏ aƚƚ way ayenst synne. The man, that is dampned̛ by the lawe, is froward̛ man, that aƚƚ way synnetℏ witℏ glotonye and lechery. therfore it is to flee, that we be sobre in mete and [leaf 35, back] drynk̘, that we mowe come to everlastyng mede, the whiche is eternaƚƚ. Amen.

Second Version. 20.Cambr. MS. Kk. 1. 6.

[leaf 233]

Alexandre the Emperour was so myghty þat no man in his tyme myght ouercome hym, & had Aristotiƚƚ to his mayster, that taught hym aƚƚ wisdom̄ & konyng̘. that sawe þe quene of the northe & norisshed her doughter with venom fro þe tyme of her yong̘ age þat whan she come to lawfuƚƚ age she was so fayre a creature & louesom̛ to aƚƚ: After she sent her̛ to Alysandr̛ that she myght be his / & [he] wolde haue synned with her̛: þat perceyued Aristotiƚƚ & seyde to hym, "touche her̛ not, for if ye do ye shuƚƚ be dede Anone / for aƚƚ her lyf tyme she hathe be norisshed with venom / & þat shaƚƚ I preve Anone / here is one þat shaƚƚ be dede by þe lawe / let hym slepe with her, & þan shuƚƚ ye see wher̛ I sey

sothe" / & so it was don̄. Anone as he kyssed her he fiƚƚ down̄ dede / Alisaundre praysyd̛ his mayster for [he] delyuerd hym so fro that deþe.