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

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146
ALEXANDERS PARABLE
[Ashmole.
For Alexander aH-ways * or any of his erles, 2517
He helps himself."
Another says.
" he is of a lion's
kin."
" How so "
says Darius.
" Sir, I once went
to Philip's
court.
'Naytis liiin-selfe in ilke nede & ' so his name rysis."
"Quat sail I take of him my temes • tittire ])an he myne]"
" Sire, on my pereH, " quod a prince " he • passes all othire
pe wee wirkis ali be witt he worthis • |e betUV ; 2521
For-J)i of pe lion, as I leue • la3t is his birthe."
" Quat knawis pou pat " 1 qzwd fe kyng & • \)en f e kni3t
swaris :
"Sire, I was sent on a sand my-seH on a time, 2524
*
To Philip his fadere • to feclie oure trouage
Jjare had I si3t of fe segg his sapient I herde.
•
For-)ji plese it to jom* person 30ure princes a-semble,
•
Of Mede of Mesopotane • ])e men of Itaile, 2528
\)e pupiH of Appolomados *
fe panthis folke,
He heard that
many would come
to attack the
Greeks, and
remarked that
one wolf can
worry many
sheep."
Alexander has
200,000 men.
And ma ]>at houes to ^our best • a hundreth & fifti.
Lat vs gedire \)us oure gomes • oure gods wiH vs help
;
And quen he sesse vs sike a sowme • sare will he drede,
5a, bot a wolfe, quod a wee • wiH were many
flokkis,! 2533
And so fe grace of fe grekis • ouire-gos pe barbers."
Be ))is ser Ph[27/p] son pe fers • of fe3tand folk
•
Had semblidf ane vnsene sowme as Jje buke sais,
Twa C. mVe in thede • all: 2 of threuen krn^tis.
Eidis furth in aray • removis his tentz's
2538
2538*
[Fol. i4.]
He bathes in ,
cold river.
and has a fever.
Vn-to a watere he wendis • as fe buke tellis,
\)at wzt/i J)a marchesmen • Mociafi was batten; 2540
It was clerire pan cristaH & • cole as a cliiH
)5are-in couet oure kyng his cors *
for to bathe.
Viith pat fan wan of his wede & weschid hbn aH ouire,
•
Quare-J>ur3e he bent slike a barme • at batzVly him
greue(J. 2544
)5is chele eftir chaufing • enchafis so his hemes,
)3at be was fallen in a feuire • or he first wend.
'
MS. flolkis, i. e. flokkis. * Added in the margin.