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

'
MS. be before. ' Head meyiihe.
P 2
;
;
Ashmole.] porus has elephants with castles. 211
Wit^-outen bachelers on blonk;'^ & boAvmen on • fote,
Foure hundreth Olyfants in-fere folowid him enarmirj], He • ''ad 4no
•'
_
elephants,
'With ilkane bunden on liis bake • a borden casteH, each bearing a
And thretty tulkis in ilk toure • tired in platis. 3603
Oure mey-he^ out of Messedone * quew pai so many sa3e,
Jjan ware |5ai storbet of pat stoure • so was fe stythe
• [Foi. 62.]
Persyns.
AH be athils of sir Alexcmder was ar^ed ' in faire hertis Tiie Greeks are
dismayej.
To mache with sike a multitude • of men & of best/*'.
Jan was pir cliiftans chosen • cheualous kni3t/s 3608
\)at buskid ware on bathe halfe • fe bataiH to rewle.
With pat Jjai tuke vp pe trumpis • be thretty at ancs,
A-grydis grymly to-gedir pe grekes & • barbies.
Sire Alexander was armed & askis his stede 30 12 •
l)at was pe bald bocifalon & • oii his bake worthes ;
Mare fan a stanecast at a count be-fore • ^ his kni^t*; uH
He standis vp in his stereps • in starand maylis.
•
Jje men out of Medy he mas, & of Pers, 3616
To enverom alle pe vaward • of aH fie vile yndes,
And he was graythid [with] a ging' • of grekis kni3t«s
And maistres out [of] Messedone • pis meyhe^ to helpe.
be pepiH out of Persye • ware petusly woundid 3620
* ^ ^ •> . .
Of Olifaunt/s onir aH with horrible hurt/s
•
AU. at vnwerie(J a-way • wynnes in pe stoundis
Alexander mounts
Bucephalus.
The Persians are
wounded by the
elephants.
Durst neuir his face to his faes • eft on fold bide.
Sire Alexander hirn a-visis & ames in his witt/s 3624
•
How he mi3t bring it a-boute • fire best/s to devoide ;
And mas to beete aH of bras as bernes • it ware, Alexander makes
brazen men,
And fuU of gloranc$ gledis ' f aim to Je gorge lillis
aiied with flre-
Ane instrwment aH of iren • fare ymage to here, 3628
"Was compast on carte-wise & cursoures • f aim dre3e.
hire Olifantts of ynde quen • bai fare-on waite, The elephants
' ./-!//
attack these,
J3ai wend fai ware wees & wyndis faim agayfi
•
To drepe paim as faire first did
• disclosid fai fo
chaviles, 3632