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

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Dublin.] AN ANGEL APPEAKS TO THE BISHOP. 81
" For me lied leuer," quod. J>e lede * " bene letherly [FoI. is 6.]
forsworne
On aH J)e balydoms us opyn • are to nevyn,
Than onys haue greved ])is goine • or grocbed with bys
erand!
14G7
}5-euetf
And aH \>e lewes of leritsalem he iontly assemblez.
•
And\ "alexa2(ier is at hand & • wille vs aH combred,^
And we er vtte>-ly vndone bot dryghten vs • shelde." 1472
Than biddez J)e bischop ail fe burgh • hemes & ojier,
AtheHes of aH age bath elder & yonger,
•
Comand iche creature & cryed * jjorow \ie stretes,
TiH thre days on a thraw * wer threpelytt to-geder, 147G
And ilke freke & euery faunt* • to fast & to pray,
To occupy in jjair orisons & • offers^ in ))e temple,
And caUe vp with kene cry • vnto pe kyiig' of heuen,
And kepe faim witA ))is conqueroJtr • he comber J)aim
nener. 1480
Thai soght to ))air sinagoge • aH pe cite oner
Iche body to ])air hedes at in ' j)e burgh lendes
Putten ]jaim to prayers & pennance *
indurett,
)3e vengance of fis victor
•
to voyde if |)ai might. 1484
The thred nyght after |)is note as neiien me • \>q text*,
"When aH pe cite was slepe & sacrifese endytt, • appanoio
aageh
In ane habett of be ayre an angeH apperes • episcopo
leromo-
To laudes of levusalem and hym with • ioy grete*- : 1488 soiitano.
" I brynge fe bodworde of [blis] • sir bischop," he sayd,
" With salutez of solace am send fro • J)e trone,
Fro fe bye maister of mageste & pat mightfull • fadre,
A bydd&s pe noght* be abaysed he base • ))i bone herd
And I araonesh pe to-morne • als me was amoved, 1 193
j)at fou als radly as pou ryses • aray all ]i cite,
The stretes & aH stede^ ' stoutly & faire,
'
Read Said. ' Head combre. ^ Head offer.
ALEXANDER.
G