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

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114 ALEXANDER SEXDS DARIUS SOME PEPPER. [Aslimole.
A letter.
" Alexaii ler to
D.irius.
I find I must
go home for the
present.
It is not for thy
boasts, but my
mother is ill.
I shall soon
return, with fresh
men.
TFol. 35.;
I send you a
purse, full
of
sharp pepper.
Alexander returns
home.
In Arabia he is
attai-ked by Duke
A'
Konus passus ^Uxandri.
lexsaundere pe athiH • aire oute [of] grece,
j)e son of Ph[i7//)] \ie fers & of his * faire lady,
Honoured Olimpadas • ]>e oddest vndire heuyn, 2008
To fe, ser Dari, on J)i dese • J)is dities I write.
sere letters,
For I am sent, be pe sure many •
And namly now on newe time fra myne awen • kitfi,
Out of Jie raarche of Messadone * fat mekill me greups,
AH o]>er wais to wirke & my will • likis. 2013
Bot I warne Jje, or I wyn(J & will at fou knaw,
•
j)at for na drede I wit/i-draw • ne doute of \)i pride.
For baisting of J)i bobance ne of • pi breme wordis, 2016
Bot for to se pat is seke my semely modire.
•
Bot wete Jou wele )5is, I-wis • wit7«-in a wale time,
Fra pat I fraist baue pat faire * of my fayre lady,
I saH pe seke with a sowme • of seggis enarmed, 2020
Ane ost to noy Jjus to neuyn • aH of new knyjt/^.
And for pe sake of Jji sede • pou. sent Wit7i fi le^^re,
powere to ken,
Loo, here a purse fuH of pepire • my
To se J)i-selfe a siiilitudfe • how all Jii soft grayns 2024
Sail vndire-put be aH pe pake • vn-to pir peper-cornes."
J3is pistill to Persyns he with *
his pept'r takis.
Partis prestly J)am to many proude • giitis, 2027
And fai haue la3t fam par leue & pe • lett/r fangis,
And passis on to Persy • Jje princes to schewe.
)3an Alexander belyue with ' his athiH dukis,
Rais him radly to ride & remowis *
his ost 2031
Fra pe streme of struma he strejtts & ' stiH moz/mes,
And mevis hin toward Messedone his modi'r to • visit.
He aires J)ur3e Arabie & armed par he • findis
A duke of Darys pe kyng* pat drafe him agayne,
•
A pere out of Persy & •
A maiste/- man in Jja marches Amont was hatten.
He ginlis him with a ging< pe grekis he • asailes.
prince of his ost, 2036