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

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234 THEY LIVE IN CAVES. [Ashmole.
Our wives wear
iKP finery of any
kind.
Alex. andDind.,
p. 17.
We never use a
bath except tlia
dew.
Oure paramoMrs vs to plese • ne pride ])a.vn bewenes,
Nouthire flfurrers, filetts, ne frengs • ne frettis of pe-le.
Is Jjam na surcote of silke • ne serkis of raynes,
'Ne kirtils of camlyn • bot as pam kynd leues. 4340
Ne ne3e we neuire pa,im on ni3t " to naite for na luste,
Bot for to sustayne oure sede & • syfl ay to voide.
Make we na salues for na sares ne na * somir-bathis,
Bot \fith J)e wale dewe • & witJi fe warme son. 4344
Howe durst any be so bald • to blemysclie for schame
Je hand-werke of put hije gode ' pat aH oure bappe
haues 1
All are equal
amongst us.
List vs na lordscbips lache • of ledis as oure-selfe,
For all oure libertes elike • ere lante vs & paysed ; 4348
And to sett him in-to seniitute a syn vs • it thinke,
\)at god bas fotirmed to be free & • to bis face licknud.^
Make we na vessatt of virre ne of na • clere silmV,
Ne store staned strenthis ne na • stitbe bames, 4352
Manere mynstre, ne mote ne marbryn *
werkis,
Bot duells here in disolatis • in dennes & in cauys
Ne noutbire bousing we baue ay • quils we bere dueH,
[Fol. 75 b.i
Alex, and Dind.,
p. 18.
We do not go to
sea.
Bot at is fetid of flescb & • of na frauncbe piers ;
\)ai is pe carious kistis • fat couers |>e saule,
A full faynt forcelett • & of fen makid.
We ere na sailers on ]je see • to sell ne to byi
Ne rede we neuire na retorik ne • rial to speke ;
Bot ce*tis in aH simpilnes • sett we oure wordis,
\)at l&tis neuire lesing * in oure lippis spring'.
4357
4361
We do not cultivate
learning.
We dislike play.
We only read
Ne folo^e we na ficesyens • ne pbilisophowr scolis,
As sopbistri & slik tbing • to sott with pe pepiH.
It is bot wiles & wrenkis • at Jjai with dele, 4365
And aH fare fete & par fare • in ^ falsbede it endis.
Lufe we no laike in oure lede • ne lajand mirthis,
Bot quen vs pleses to play • we passe & we rede 4368
Of pe actis of oure auncestoM's & • of pa7' atbill theAvis ;
And quen we gamen suld & glade • we grete & we pleyn.
'
Of lickird ; n-ith mhfvrmed n,
"^
Written abuce the line.