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.

                                
                                  As he a hathill ware of his · behind him he stelis,
                                
                                  A briȝt brynnand brand · he braidis out of shethe,
                                
                                  And þurȝe-out þe helme in-to þe hede · he hurt him a littill.
                                  Line 2640 
                                
                                  And þe kniȝtis of oure cost · as þai þe cas saȝe,
                                
                                  Þan fange þai þis ilk freke · & be-fore þe kyng bryngis.
                                
                                  "Quat now? my worthi werreours?" · þe wale kyng said,
                                
                                  He wend wele at he ware · a wee of his awen,
                                  Line 2644 
                                
                                  "Qui has þou brest so my brayn · & with a brand wondid
                                
                                  Ȝour sekire seruant in same · all were I sire callid,
                                
                                  All ware I halden as for hede · ȝour helpere at nede?"
                                
                                  "Nay, hope ȝe neuire," quod þe hathil · "ser hiȝe emperoure,
                                  Line 2648 
                                
                                  Me any Messedone to be · þou ames of þine awen,
                                
                                  Bot of cruell kind · comen of barbres.
                                
                                  And þis I did for ser Darius · his doȝtir me hiȝt,
                                  Line 2651 
                                
                                  And cordid on þis condicion · to couple hire to wyfe,
                                
                                  And he went out of þe werd · to wild all his regne,
                                
                                  To hew þi hede fra þi hals · & anys it him shewe." [folio 46a] 
                                
                                  Þan callis oure kyng him his kniȝtis [The first i above the line.]  · þaire consaile to frayn,
                                
                                  "Quat sall be done him for þis dede?" · & þai bedene sware,
                                  Line 2656 
                                
                                  Sum, at he hangid suld be hiȝe · sum þe hede priued,
                                
                                  Sum bedis in a bale-fire · brin him to poudire.
                                
                                  "Quat has he fauted?" quod þe frek · "þof he him forced haue
                                
                                  Þe charges [MS. changs, with stroke above gs.]  of his chiftan · chefely to fill?
                                  Line 2660 
                                
                                  He þat him demes to þe dede · he dampnes him-selfe,
                                
                                  And diȝtis him his awen dome · & þat dare I proue.
                                
                                  For demed I any of my douth · ser darye to spill,
                                  Line 2663 
                                
                                  As ȝe þis gentill man enioyne · suld him be iugid þen."

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Title: 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.
Canvas: Page 154
Publication: London,: Pub. for the Early English text society, by N. Trübner & co.,; 1886.
Subject terms: Alexander, -- the Great, -- 356-323 B.C. -- Romances.

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Collection: Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse
Link to this Item: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/apa1967.0001.001
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Full citation: "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." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/apa1967.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 23, 2025.

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.

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