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

TJiey yield.
One Sicistru3
glad to see
Tliebes on ftre.
One Htsmon is
Surry to see it.
and begs
Alexander to
shew mercy.
The king is
wratli, and
is
destroys the city.
One Clytomaclius,
a Theban, follows
Lis host.
[FoL 89.]
An oracle says,
; "
THEBES IS BURNT TO THE GROUND. [Ashmole.
AH ]e biiTje at a braide was on • a bale kyndilcJ, 2231
And pSL^ pat sounde ware vnslayn • als sottes fam 3eldis.
J3an witA-out in oure ost as • fe buke tellis,
A Sire, at Sicistrus was • callid be name,
A meri man, a Messangere fat maynly was ioyd
•
To se fe cite be sa sone sindiJ to brandis. 2236
•
Anothre hathiH vndire hand pat Hismon was^ • callitJ,
Ane a maistre of musike ^a man *
of fe cite,'
Aires to ser Alexaiide' & • in bis hert wepis, 2239
As qua sai, " prince, of oure place
•
sui pete fou haue."
Jjan lokis fe lord to pe lede • said, " lettrid berne,
Quare-to feynys pou. fis fare for-wM myne e3en • ]
" Sire conquiroMr," (luod pe clerke
•
**30urecorage to bend*,
And in ridding of oure riche toun • ^our reutb for
to cali." 2244
wijtly comaundis
]3an was Je wale kyng wratli • &
To bete in-to J»e bare erth aH pe bur^e-walles
•
And quen all kynd was on colis & kast apon hepis,
•
J3an airis be on with his ost • mare honour to wynn.
A lentLU man full ioyles • io/irnau him eitir, 2249
Folo^es fare fare • ai on fote as Jjai ride,
A sege at of Je same tonn ' sire was & maistre,
Ane callid was Cletoraacus • to crie eftiV socure, 2252
His ledis at left ware o-lyue • a lite of Jje cite.
jjan askid at sire Appoline • al'* with a steuen,
" If euire it worthe sail to wee ' quen pe werd stancJ,
Oure bu[r]3e agayn for to bigg* • pat bretted is to no3t]"
)5an gales faire god • a-gayn & pus spekis : 2257
" pe tulke pat tiUd ^our tonn ' saH field vp & rere,
the man who is to SaH thre times haue pe thra • of snm threuyn gome
rebuild Thebes
will thric« conquer
in wrestling.
Of were ore of wristilling* • for fus has wirid shapen.
witAin a wale time,
And quen pat wi^sch^p is won
"
))an sail he sett vp him-selfe • pe cite as be-forne."
'
MS. &]}&, n-ith first a vnderltned.
* MS. was was ; the second was vnderlined.
*— ' Substituted in MS. for " & in his art wepis ; " see next line.
* Written above the line.