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

244 THE W0RTHLESSNE8S OP GOLD. [Ashmole.
Alex, and Bind.,
p. 38.
He who avoids
evil is God's
fi'iend.
And he pat wayues ay fe werst & • wirkis Jje betttV,
paf^ gome is gods gud frend & god neuire • fe hildir^.
And fis s^nilitude pat oure sede
•
pon settis my pistiH,
\)e same ensampiti, as me semes • in-to 30ure-self touches.
For so f
e qwele of qwistounes • joure qualite encreses,
Te say we are :
gods.
pat nopir gesse ^e gouernoMr • no god hot 30Mr-selfe !
3e brixsill our^ benignite oure bonerte * repreues, 4662
And beris a-pon vs blasfeme ' \>at neuire bale thojt.
All be we suggets in oure-selfe & simpiH *
oure la.t is,
Voide & vacand of vices • as virgyns it ware.
Nem>-)>e-les of a la3e hald we vs • dri^tins. 4666
But ye are so
rather,
being rich.
and gafly clad.
It is 30ure-selfe & nojt oure-self • pat ai pe self hant/s ;
Aboundance of Auoure 30W • all has englaymed,
For 36 bot fage ay pe flesche & felsen • it wele.
5e bide no besynes of bedis bot • to pe body clethe.
Els je may cast 30W to be coyit • 36 count for na ferr/r.
With soft serkis of silke 30ure • sidis vm-loke, 4672
Doubeletz's of damaske & sum of dere '
tars,
Wi't^ ilka fingire on 30ure fist • fillid fuH of ryngiV,
Schard al of shire ^ gold • as it a schryne were. 4675
Quat iprofetis 30W ])is paraOe & • all Jjis proud iettis
Gold feed» no one.
For nouthire saues it Jie saule • ne 30Mr-selfe fedis.
Bot we, pat knawis wele & ken • pe kynd of pe noble,
We spurn it.
Alex, and Sind.,
p. 39.
Quen we ere drinkeles & dry • we draw to pe hourne ;
And be par gold in oure gate • or any gud stanes, 4680
We do bot foulis it with oure fete • vs faynes it na more.
For nouthire pwrgis it oure plijt • ne priues it oure
hungzr,
Gold quenches
not thirst.
[Fol.81.]
Ne noujjzr salues it oure sares ne • sesis it oure thrist.
For folowid it slike a fraunchis • at it* vs fede wald,
J3e cursed laike o couatis ware * clene^ wt^ it drenchid.
3e vise 30W par-oi vesseH • for vanyte & pride ; 4686
As gud ware crestyns of clathe • Jje caryon to serue.
MS. ]>ate, with e expuncted. * MS. y>nr, altered to our.
' MS. schiv, altered to schir