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

:
108 DARIUS SAYS ALEXANDER WANTS A WHIPPING. [Ashmole.
Since Alexander
invades my lands,
I charge you to
Take this boaster.
that I may
scourge liim and
send liim to his
mother.
\)e souerajTiest of my seniowie • my
saroparis^ hatten,
Se here I send 30W my seele • -with salntis of ioye.
Fra Alexander J>e kyng • as I am in-foMrmed,
Is entrid with oure enmys an endles nounbre, 1916
•
])e Anglies of Asie & • has Jam aH stroye(J,
For-Jji of life & o lym my * lege men I charge
To prestli 30W apparaiH & • pas Jiam agaynes,
'With all Jje hathils & pe heris & * fe hi^e maistris 1920
])at ^e may semble in fe sidis • saudiowrs & othire.
J5en chese 30W furth my chiftanes & me ' J>e child take,
Laches me fis losengere & • ledis me him hedire,
j)at I may him skelp with a skorge & • fien 2 of ^ skire
porpure 1924
A side slauyn him sewe • & send him to his modire ;
He is only fit to
play at bowls."
A letter.
" Sir Priamtis to
Darius.
For now he proches for pride & propurly he wedis,
•
For-))i him bose to be bett * as a barne fallis.
For it^ aje no3t slik ane AsalcJ * nane ahletus to off
werres, 1928
Bot at fe bowlis as a brode • or with a baH playe."
Jjire princes, sone as fe pistill • was put fam in hand^,
)jan part fai ]:e proucf sele • ]>e printe fai adhouredi,
Vn-lappis li3tly pe lefe & • fe line redes, 1932
And jjus-gate agynwarcB • Jiai graithicJ him anothire.
"To jje kiddest kyng to a-count • of kjngis aH othire,
Sire Dari, with pi dere godis drised on • Jji trone,
Gouernoure of ilk a gome & god • all J)i-selfe, 1935
pi satrapairs, J)i seniours • w"t7i seruage obescheii
Sire, wetis it wele, 30ure worthines & wenys • it na
langire,
Tliis child, as you pat fis child, with his chiftans
•
pat ^e charge vs to take,
c.ill him,
has wasted our Has reden aH oure regions & raymed oure • landis, 1940
lands.
[Fol. S3 6.] Departid aH oure prouynco & purely • it wastiJ.
And we J»an lift vp a lite & • lent him a-gayne,
Ferd furth with a flote & him in pe fyld metis; 1943
•
'
Bead satroparis ; see 1. 1937.
' MS. f^en ]ie ; hit \>e is struck out.
' Inserted in the margin. * Written above the line in MS.