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

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Dublin.] THE SPARTANS RESIST HIM. HI
Bot whilke of yow as foundes frist* • on fote vs agayns,
SaH neuer voyde my dysdane ne my • derfe Ire. 241^4
And 36 at thynkys wykkydly
•
& wyrkys agayns
For as Jie grane is of ])e grase & * \)ar growez fe frute. .
The tebette* tulkyd^ vs with tene • atyred Jjaim in armys,
3itt for aH jjair riallte • resaued fai Jjair mede. 2428
And for strasagera fe stouf • je styfly me blame,
Thar as he giltyd me ayayns • I hym gradi't haue,
I wrate to you me to wafe ' ten wise clerkez ;
Yhe kest out Cowmandmentes • & knew noght my strenth.
I might* a-coup you of fat cause & * I it kyth wald ; 2433
Bot I forgyfe you aH fe gilf & grefez me no more.
•
For-Jji beys glade now, all fe pake • je salt no grefe sofre.
The Diuynour Domestyil • for je hys domes halden." 2436
And fro fai consaued hed pe clause • & construed ))e pistyH,
Thai wer fe meriest modersons • fat might on morne rise,
Now founder he furth fe fele kyng • & flitter hys ostez,
"Without fe burgh on a bank • beld^t he hys tentez,
And \!ar hym-self with a soume • in a sege lenge,.
))e 2 ledf5 out of lacydon • belyfe faim assembled,
2440
Sayd :
" bow we neuer to hys body • for bale vppon erthe,'
Ne letf vs neue' be so lethir • fat we leke worthen 2445 [Foi.i.]
To fise out [of] athens • for it wer opyn* shame
For fai wer basyf for hys beste • & ferd for noght*
Bot be we knyghtly & kene • oure corage to shew." 2448
"With fat f ai ^arken to 3ates • & ^oden to fe walles,
Some in lompons & in lesseiuuntez
platez.
A grayne of f e grete see • glad faim all vmbe ;
• som loned iu
For-fi buskys faime fe burgesse * a batale withowt', 2452
Pressen forth at posternes • vnto a place wenden,
Shalkez shotten into shippez • all in shire malys,
Arches with arows • Wit^ atterd barbes,
' Perhaps for tukkyd. » MS. To fe.
' MS. erthd. * MS. orpyn.