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

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Dublin.] ALEXANDER GOES TO SICILY. 119
Bot on^ thynge, he sayd,^ he sawgh • fat solast liym
mekyH, 2072
Thai wer bot softe, he supposyd • for so fe sede preved."
j)en pullys hym vp J)e prouude gome' & on • Jje pcper tastez,
Sayd, als it toke hym be fe tong
" hys tulkes wer feH,
For, be hys knyglitez als kene • as me |je corne shewys,
AH pe werld is to wake • hys wrotlie to wit-stande." 2077
The worthy man amonta * jpan mellys pir wordes,
Sayd, " he lodes bot a lityH • lord, be your lefe
Thai er bot few at hym folows • of feghtand bernes, 2080
Bot more forcer on a feld • felle neuer of moder.
For I my-selfe with a soume • set hym agayns,
"With ])e p(-sens prouiide a pake out * of nowmbre.
Mo fen hys awne meyn3e be • full fyue thousand, 2084 Victoria con-
And 3it vs fell aH be fere • fe faynter to worth
ducm darij'.'
For fai he'' hedit of owr athellys
•
& a [hepe] woundftf,
And fey fallyn in fe feld mony ferce Erelez,
•
Betyn Done owr Bachelers my Barons aH distroyd, 2088 ' [Foi. 22,]
And a selly soume of my knyghte[s] in • fe feld slayne.
Whefer thre^ days out-forow • thraly we feyten,
Drafe dyntes derfe • deltyn & token,
And 3it fe law est at fe last • vs limpyd to be, 2092
Bot vnneth saued I my-selue • vnslayne of fair handes.
Bot trewly, sir," q/od fe duke • " grete tresour me thynke
At alexander fe atheH * for aH was he maiste',
Auancyd wiih wictory & vengyd on hys enmys, 209
•
"Was neuer fe helder of a haw • [his] hert full of pride.
For mekely ilke moderson • hys awne men & othre,
Als wele fe pure persens • as fe prouude grckez,
AH fe doghty be-dene fat was dede he Comandez 2100
•
To geder f aim vp ilke grome & • f aim in graue bring."
Now alexander & hys oste armyd on he • rydez,
And sone into cesyH he • vfith hys segez enters, 2103
'
MS. ony, corrected to on.
* he sayd repeated; but once ecrpinicted.
^ Aboce the line in MS. * Head haue.
* The r is above the line in MS.
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