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

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98 THOU THYSELF ART BUT A DWARF. [Aslunole.
Tliou art a
and a giiib.
And for ))e oddiste ' ilka ost lionoures oure name, 1751
•
arf And slike a dwinyng,^ a dwaje & • a dwerje as )i-selfe,
A grub, a grege out of grace ane * erdf-growyii sorowe,
WiH couet 3it as a king • "with caytefes to lyte,
To couir at combrid aH ))e kyngi's vndire • fe cape of
heue«
Eijt as a flaw of feU snawe * ware fallyn of a ryft^, 1756
[Fo.so 6.] Of a wysti wonn wagfee * with pe wynd blawen,
Thou thinkest to
do as thee list.
like rats or mice
So ^Yith a flote of Fresons folowand *
fi lielis,
j)o\i sekis fraward Sichim • J)i-selfe wrothir-haile,
And leuys as a loreli • ]jus oure lande to entire, 1760
And maa ])i lepis & J)i laikts & quat • ]>e liste ellis,
As ratons or ruje myse in a rowme chambre,
•
Aboute in beddis or in bernys • J)are baddis ere nane.
Bot I liaue wilily waited pi wiles & • J)i castis, 1764
And quen ])ou hopis aH-Jji> hiest
•
to haue aH far wiH,
Hut I shall slay I sail jjs Sett ou a saute & • sla fe [with] my handis.
For-J)i for pompe or for pride ' fi purpose a-vise, 1767
Turne ]je, trechoure, be-time • \)at ))ou na treson haue,
Return to thy And diawc a-gayfl to pi den • vndire fi dam wyng/s-.
Se quat I send to pe,^ son • J)i-selfe wit/i to laike,
A liatt & a hand-batt * & a herne-panne ;
1771
I send thee soine Slike presaudis to play with ' as pe"tine.s
^
to babbis.
playthings.
^ ^
"^
For ai a child mot him chess • to child ire geris ;
For mestire & miserie • vnneth may fou forthe
jpine awen caitefe cors * to clethe & to fede.
And supposis as a sott • to sese oure land^'.^t, 1776
And outhire darins to drepe • or dryfe fra his kythis !
Bot by Jje grace & fe gude • pat god gaue my fadire.
Our land is 80 So riued is J)e rede gold • oure regions with-in,
it outshines tiie J3at qua sa had it on a hepe ' haly to-gedire, 1780
'
MS. dwinnyg. MS. yt, altrred to \iQ.