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

2GS THE VALLEY OF CROWNED SNAKES. [Ashmole.
[Fol. 93 6.]
Aud quare a-nothire grym god • was graythid on a sege.
"Sire, quat ert \>ou," said Jjesegge "ser " Sirapis, I-wis;
j)e grond & fe begininge • of all fe godis oute."
Alexander asks
Serapis who is to
•lay biin.
Serapis will not
teU him.
" N'ow I be-seke fe, Serapis," • said oure kyng* fan,
Quat segge is sett me to slaa pe sothe • fou me teH."
" Sire, I haue neuend fe or now • fat, ware fat note
knawen 5413
Till any douth of quat dome • fen died I for sorowe.
j)on has^ a blisfuH bm^e biggid to • fi name,
Quare many bernes sail debate & bald emperouxis,
•
)5are saH fi berynes be bildid & • f i body grauen," 5417
|)an come vp oure kidd kyng* and fra • fe knijt partis,
})us kaires he fro candele • bad, ' kepe wele him drijtin.'
Alexander and bis
men come to a
valley full of
snakes,
all with crowns
on their heads.
The snakes kill
some of his men.
Griffins also
appear.
Moues him on to his meny • &
on f e morne eftir
Jjan dryues he furth v;ith his dukis • in-to a deyne entris,
all of vile neddirs. 5422
A vale fuH: of verrayn & •
And f
ai ware crokid & coy/mt * wi't^ corouws on hede,
As it smytten [ware] aH of suiythis • of smaragdens fine.
3it ware fai pasturde of pepi'r • as fe prose tellis, 5425
Of gylofire & of gingere • els ioyed f aim na fodis.
For all ouire couercJ was f e coue claggid -with spices,
•
Jjat makis fire wormes so wele & wond • in f aire kyndis,
J3at ilka tvvelmonth a t^me • fai turnay to-gedire, 5429
Ilkane mellis -with his make • &
so fare many dies.
)3an pas fai thethen tiH a place • of perilous bestis,
With clouew clees, saia f
e clause • as kynd of f
e hoggs.
}3ai ware thike & threuei ^ wele • thre foote o brede,
Quare-wttA fai fa3t with in-fere • & fellid of his kiii3tw,
Jjai ware so brefe at a blisch
• borely & grym.
On ilka best a bares hede fuH • of breme tuskis, 5436
j)ics ware fai fowrmed aH be-fore & farand be-hynde
•
Like as it ware lepards & • lions with tailis.
3it was far gedird out of gripis & griffons emange,
•
\)at felly flappid at fe faces • of fe feH erles, 5440
'
MS. inserts biggid, struck through.
' MS. theeuew, altered to threue«.