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

"
224 THE GYMNOSOPHISTS. [Ashmole.
Nouthire cites in to sytt • cellis, nor na tonnes, 4024
They live in caves, Bot crepis in-to creuesse & craggis on • hillis,
and go naked.
And ay is naked [as] a nediH as natowr fam schapis.
))e kyng of fot contra quen • lie J;e come heres
Of Jjis prince & his parray • J)is pistiH he him sendis.
They write to " We, corruptihle creatours & cald as be-fore, 4029
•
Alexander.
To pe mode man of Messedono aH • fus-gate I write.
Sire, it is sayd to onre-selfe vrith sere mens tongis.
•
How fou comes in-to oure kith-ward • to cuiLre vs
wit/i care, 4032
[Fol. 69 6.] And J)at Vs wondres, I-wis for wyfi may • 36 nouthire^
Nouthire gold ne na gude at euer gode fowrmed.-
'
" We have no Sen at we loy nouthire ge«mes ne luwels in • cofirs,
gems or jewels.
PeloM', pirre, ne pe-le ne na proude wedis, 4036
•
ISTe sauand bot to sustene vfiih oure aweii sary ' craftis,
What can ye win Quat
fiom us "
in fis time may je take • if ^q oure termes entre ]
If 3e witt seke in-to oure soile & sett vs agayne,
•
Oure simpilnes & oure sobirte forsake saH we *
neuire,"
Quen he had lokid ouire \>e lefe a • letfre he in-dities,
j)at he aproched aH with pes & in na plite • ellis.
Alexander finds Quen he was entrid far erde & sees Jjaim all nakid,
•
them living
miserably in And won as it ware wildirnes in wast/5 & greues,
•
caves.
Darke in dennes vndire dounes & in derne • holis.
And bath ])ar hridis & \ar barnes with bestes • oil J^e
fems,3 4046
and asks if they Jjan Alexander at ]jam askis & * all him a-wondres :
have no houses.
" Haue je na houses ne na hames ne holis in to bery ] •
And par fai schewid him in schurrys • to schellis & to
caues, 4049
Said, " here we ilka day duel! deuyse how 30W '
lik/*'."
He is sorry for
their poverty,
and offers them
wliatever they
like to ask.
Quen he faire simpilnes sees he soro^es in his • liert,
Pleynes of jjaire pouerte & profurs faim fuH • faire,
" Quat euire je wiH in all )je werd or • I wend, askis,
And I sail gladly 30W geue • wiili a gud wiH." 4054
Read neuir
* MS. foj/rmned.
* MS. fild fellis : corrected.