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

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my-selfe
;
130 ALEXANDER HOLDS GAMES AT CORINTH. [AshmOle.
Alexander goes
tu Corinth,
and holds some
games.
Clytomachus
asks to be allowed
to wrestle :
and throws 1
uun thrice.
He is crowned,
and they ask hi
name.
^us answars |)am j^aire aid goJe & • osscs on )}is wyse,
And jjai als fayne, aH pe flote as foweH of pe day. 2264
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j)an aires on ser Alexander with • his athiH princes,
To \)e casteH of Corynthi he comes • -with his ost,
'With Jje Pers of fa partese ' to play on ]>e toures,
As aH ])G sires of pa. sidis him-selfe • had! required. 2268
)e multitude ware sa miche * of men for to rekefi,
pat jjare was semhild' & sett '
fat sijt to be-hald.
Q,uod Alexander bilyue • to aH at^ fare stode,
"Quat gome saH fis gammen begin apon * first" 2272
}5an comes forth Cletomacus & • to fe kyng swaris,
)pe tulke out of Thebie I • tald 30W be-forne,
*'
If it 30ure mekiH maieste mijt any thinge plese, 2275
•
I wald to wacken 30ure welth^ now wirstiH a turne."
•
\)a,n mas fe prince hii a place & prestly • hi7i matches,^
And he him girdes to fe gi'ounde & • fe gree Wynnes.
" Now faithly," quod fe feH kyng
• " faH fe so thrise,
])o\i sail be crouned, or I caire for kiddest of • f
e gamen."
)2an 3ede he* eftsones to & * his euei kastis, 2281
Thring/s to fe thrid time & • fe thra wynnys.
And fan comandis him f e kyng a coroune • oii hede,
As for f e prise of fe play putfuH of • stanes ;
2284
•
]3an bad him beddels belyue
*
: breue vs f
i name.' ^
" Sirres, by my sothe," qtiod f e segge • *' Sitiles I hi3t."
[Fol. S9 6.]
ITe says it i
City-less.
"Once I had a
city, but now
have none."
" Qwi so, my worthe werstillare ] " ' fe wale kyng said*,
" How tidis it f e & tou[n]les • i^ f toname is callidi" 2288
" Mi louely lorde," quod f
e lede & law him declines,
•
" Be-for 3e come slike a kyng & • f
e croune werrid*,
I had a cite & segges • I- nowe
And sethen 30 a3t f
is enpire • I am it aH priued." 2292
pan trowid trewly fe kyng • fat Theby he menycJ,
And beddels & bailyfs • he bad on brad crie,
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Added in the margin. ' MS. welah, altered to weltb,
^
MS. maches, altered to matches.
•
MS. he to ;
with to struclt out.
*
MS. name name ; the first struck out.
^
MS. yx ton ; ton struck out.
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MS. a li a cite ; with a h struck out.