The wars of Alexander: an alliterative romance translated chiefly ...

;
70 ALEXANDER COMES TO THE RESCUE. [Aslimole.
And Balaa[n] bowis in-to pe burje & barris to • J)e ^atis.
l>e fis oHre kyng wit/j his kni3t[/s] • is comen in-to pe
vaile, 1313
Alexander
arrives at the
valley.
spurs Bucefalus,
Alexander vfith ane ost * his kni^t/s to help,
Fjndis a fewe of his folke • fejtand 3erne,
And ay a segge be him-selfe • sett aH a hundreth. 1316
Wij't/i pat Bucifalon his blonke • he brased^ in pe side,
[Fol. 23.]
and overthrows
all before him.
He draws his
sword, and leaves
no foe unslain
except the
captives.
j)e seggis on his awen side pat he slayn • fyndis,
He buries his own He mas to g-aue sum in grete & snm in gray marble.
•
dead.
And pa pat laft ware o-lyue he * lokis par woundis.
And faire fangis his folke & • fra pe fild wendis. 1332
He leaves Gadirs,
and returns to
Tyre.
He sees his siegeworka
destroyed.
Springis out with a spere ' spilKs at pe gaynest,
Itidis euen J)ur3e pe route par rankest *
J)ai were.
Be rawe of par rabetis he ruschid • to pe erthe, 1320
He strikis aH fra par stedis • strejt him be-forne.
Was nana sa stiffe in pat stoure
• mijt stand hin.
agayil
Quare althire-thickest was pe thrange • Jjurje pdim he
rynnes,
And makis a wai wyde enoje waynes ' to mete. 1324
He laschis out a lange swerde quen his launce fades,
•
Threschis douw in a^ thrawe many threuyn dukis,
•
Stirs him sa in a stonde & his stithe • erlis
\)at par was [na] berne on bent
*
bott bretened or
golden. 1328
)3an bowes he to pe baistaH • & brymly it semblis,
Gedirs of ilk glode • grctt/r & smallire,
And prekis furth with his pray • & passes fraward
Gadirs,
And ti3t agayne toward Tyre • to t^rnien his sege. 1336
Quen he was dreuyn ouer pe dales & drewe to pe '
cite,
With pat he blisches to pe bur3e • & sees his bilJ
voidid,
Als bare as a bast • his baisteH a-way.
But outhire burde or bate • hot pe brad^ wattiV, 1340
1 T7ie a is iU-formed. ' Added in the margin.