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

154 A PERSIAN WOUNDS ALEXANDER. [Ashmole.
He comes
behind the king.
and wounds him
ill tlie liead.
As he a hathiH ware of his * behind! him he stelis,
A bri3t brynnand brand he braidis out of shethe,
And pur^e-out Jje helme in-to f e hede • he hurt hii a
littiH. 2640
Alexander asks
why he hit liiin ;
the Persian being
dressed as a
Macedonian.
" I am no
Macedonia
I did this to
gain Darius'
daughter."
[Fol. 46.]
••Wlatsliall be
done to him "
says the king.
" Lei liini be
hung or burnt,"
answer his
counsellors.
" Nay, lie only
did as lip was
told to do,"
replies the king.
And fe kni3tzs of oure cost • as fai fe cas sa^e,
]jan fange ])ai fis ilk freke & * be-fore fe kyng hrjngis.
" Quat nowl my worthi werreowrsl" * jse wale kyng
said,
He wend wele at he ware * a wee of his aweii, 2644
" Qui has J)OU brest so my brayn • & ^vith a brand
wondid
^our sekire seruant in same aH were • I sire callid,
"
AH ware I halden as for hede ^our • helpere at nede 1
" ^ay, hope ^e neuire," qicod fe hathit " • ser hije
empe'oure, 2648
Me any Messedone to be • fou ames of fine awen,
'
Bot of cruell kind comen of barbres.
And )jis I did for ser Darii^s • his do^tir me hi3t, 2651
And cordid on Jiis condicion • to couple hire to wyfe,
And he went out of fe werd * to wild all his regne,
To hew J)i hede fra fi hals & anys • it him shewe."
)3an caUis oure kyng him his kn.i^tis'^ • })aire consaile to
frayn,
" Quat saH be done him for J)is dede ] " & ' J:ai bedene
sware, 2656
SiiJW, at he hangid suld be hije snm ' Jjb hede priued!,
8nm bedis in a bale-fire * brin him to poudire.
" Quat has he fauted " quod \>e frek ' ** Jjof he him
forced haue
pe charges 2 of his chiftan • chefely to fin 1 2660
He fat him demes to fe dede • he dampnes hii-selfe,
And dibits him his awen dome • & fat dare I proue.
For demed I any of my douth * se- darye to spiH, 2663
As 36 fis gentiH man enioyne • suld him be iug'd fen."
'
The first i above the line,
'
MS. Changs, n-ith stroke above ^s.