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

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Ashmole.] mikeries of the bbahmans. 241
As surquitry & sacrilag^ • &
othire sere tecches ;
Constrene 30W in-to cauatise to clame aH • fe werJ,
To rayme & to robry to rayme men • \ia.ivfi godis, 4563
Wailaway to wriches & wa • is 30W in erthe [FoI. 79.]
;
Herefore 36 hinge moii in hell quen • je ere hethen vc shaii dweii
I
"
in torment.
)5an was |je kyng of his carpe crabbid • vnfaire, Aiei. and Bind.,
For he was spetous of speche & spised • his dri3tins
Quen he had lokid on pe lyne • he lappid it to-gedire,^ Alex. tadDind.,
And notid to him a-nothire new • \iat now next fologhes.
Ficesimus primus passug ^Itxand^-u
e kynge crouned of kyngis ' lordi's aH othire, " Alexander, wn
of Ainmon,
]>
Ser Alexander Jje athelest of Amons • childir^,
And of \)e quene Olimpades • fat I was of geten, 4572
To fe best of b-agmeyns • blissing & hele^ !
toDindimn»,
Sire, be })is sothe at je say • of all seggis oute ifaiustroe, ye
3e may be sett be jow-selfe • for syn doo je nenire
Bot sothely slike a simpilnes • as me my saule demys,
It comes bot of acustoumes & of na clene thewes.
•
And owjiir ^e gesse at 30 be gods • for joure gud werkis,
Or deynes •with oure dri3tins • for^ Jjat we J)am dere hald.
men.
^e say 30 sawe neuire soile ' ne na citis biggis ; 4580 Alex, and Dind.,
How suld 36 telle wit/iouteii toles
•
or any tild rere 1
Is per non Instrument/s of Iren • in aH pat He founden, Ve have no iron.
Ne nakin metaH of to make • messelyne ne othire.
For-quy as bests on pe bent • 36 growe on pe greuys,
Eefete 30W with refuse • of rotis & of herbys ; 4585
pe same wyse dose a woIfe * pat wantw of his pray ;
a hungry woif
Quen he has faute of his flesch • he fallis to pe soile !
Lo, if me list in-to 30ure land • -with all my ledis entre,
Quat wisdom at 30Mr wricchidnes • or witt mi3t I lere 1
Jje, lede, is litiH to loue • pat leuys ay in sorowe, 4590
Bot mekill mare he is menskid • pat in a mene duellis.
'
ilS. to godir^. ' MS. helee. ' MS. inserts we, vnderlincd.
ALEXANDER.
R