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

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74 ALEXANDER ASSAULTS TYRE. [Asiunole.
and close against
them.
He ascends the
tower,
and bids his meu
be ready.
'With \)at scho flisch nofer fayle ^ fyue score aunkirs.
•
Quen he had ti3t vp fis tram & • J)is tild rerid,
Hit had! of bradnes abofe to breue out of mesure
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And to hede be a huge thing • hi3ere it semed
]an was |e wallis, sais ]je writt • of fe wale touris. 1376
}an Alexander aH his ane • an-ane he ascendis,
Closid aH in clere stele & • in clene plates,
And monestis ilk modire son • maynly & swytB,
pat all be bowne at a brayd • fe bur3e to assaile. 1 380
And aH je ost euyfi ouiV he openly comandis
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redy to fi3t
To be 2 •
radiy aH arayd &
He assaults Tyre; And queu ]jai sa3e fat him-selfe^ •
fe cite was entricV,
drums and
trumpets sound.
Archers approach
the walls.
The besieged
defend themselves.
The Greeks
ascend tlie tower.
Alexander
performs
wonders.
"Wan vp wi3tly on jje waHis ' ilk wee him eitir. 138i
Now tenelis vp taburs • and aH J^e toiin rengis,
Steryii steuyn vp strake • strakid par trumpis,
Blewe bemys of bras bernes • assemblis,
Se3es to on ilk syde & a saute • 3eldis. 1 388
)are presis to with panes * peple w/t^outen ;
Archars yvith avows • of atter envemonde*
Schot/i' vp scharply • at shalkw on fe waHis,
Lasch at fain of loft • many lede flo3en, 1392
And jjai apely a-3ayne " & 3ildis Jjam swythe,
Bekire out of fe bur3e bald men many,
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Kenely fai kast of • with kasti*- of stanys,
Driues davtis at oure dukis • dedly fam woundid*. 1396
Jan passe vp our^ princes ' prestly^ enarmedf,
In-to Je baisteH a-bofe bremely • ascendid".
Sum with lances on-loft & with lange swerdis,
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With ax & with al blaster & alkens wapen. 1400
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Alexander ai elike • angrily fe3t{«,
Now a schaft, now a schild nowe a scheue • hent^V,
Now a sparth, now a spere & sped • so his mi3tV,
\)at it ware tere any tonge • to of his turnes rekyn. 1404
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MS. flay fayle but flay is struch out.
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Added in the viargln. ^ selfe added in the margin.
* Sic. ^
MS. inserts er, hut it is struck out.