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

;
252 THE SUN-GOD SALUTES ALEXANDER. [Ashmole.
For it was gayly begane • with golden webbis.
A blewe bleaut o-bofe • brad him al ouire, 4912
"Was browde all with brent gold • fuH of bri3t aungels. -
The bed is gorgeously
adorned.
j)e testre trased fult of trones with trimballand wing^s;
*
])e silloure fuH of Seraphens & • othire sere halows,
With curtyns aH of clene silke & coddis • of fe same,
WitJi cumly knottzs & with koyntits & knopis of • perle.
It ware to tere me to teH * pe tirement to-gedii-e, 4918
Or a nany ^ clerke • J)e cost to de-vise
[Fol. 85.]
The man's beard
is white as snow.
Alexander perceives
it is a god.
The god salutes
him.
Alexander is
surprised
to find
himself known.
And he fat ristz*' in pat rowme • Jje romance it tellis,
Was ane of fe borliest bernes • pat euire body hade,
With fell face as Jje fire & • ferly faire schapen, 4922
Balgh brade in pe brest & on • fe bely sklendire.
His cheuelere as chauele^ • for changing of eld,
And as bla3t was his herd • as any brijt snaw.^ 4925
Sone as oure prince with his peris • his person avyses,
He gesse him wele to be god & • of na gome kind.
He knelis doui with his kni^tis on * pe cald erthe,
With haile him hailsis on he^e & opir hend wordis.
•
j)Q renke within pe redeH • fan raxsils his armes, 4930
Eymed him fuH renyschly • & rekind pir wordis :
"Haile, Alexander/" quod fis athiH • "at* aH fe erth
weldis,
j)ovi ert welcum, I-wis & • all fi wale princes.
Sire, fou sail see W2t^ Jji si3t • slike signes, or pOM passe,
As neuire segge vndire son • sa3e bot fine ane. 4935
And pou. saH: here apon happis • or pou. hethen founde,
\}at neuire hathill vndire heuen herd * bot fi-selfe."
" A ! A ! happy haly here man " quod * f is hathill fan,
" How fat fou neuynes my name & • f ou me neuire
kend!]" 4939
" 3is, sothly, ser," saied f
e segge • " f i-selfe & f i wexkis,
" Do you wish to
Or any drope of f
i delume • drechet had fe erd.
List f e no3t loke on f e lindis • fat leuys euire mare,
'
Sic in MS. * Or chaaele indiftinct.
Substituted for swaw.
*
In the margin.
'