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

Ashmole.] a great fight with griffins. 269
And euir ilka best was so bigge of body & • of wyng*, [FoI. m.]
j)at he mi3t bere away a blonke & • a knijt armed.
j)e kyng was on his couresere • to comforth his dvkis,
On
' be bald bucifalon eblande • bairn he rydis, Alexander mounu
. .
Prekis fra place in-to place • bad, " plukis
_
vp
Bucephalus,
^our
hertis," 5445
And cherischest his chiftans • wzt7t chelous wordis.
He baldi's of his bachelers & • his bowmen he cheris, ^^^ encourages
his archers.
To flay wit^ flanes of pe fowlis & • fe fell bestw. 5448
And it was done at his dome with-drewe • fai na langw*,
Bath archere & alblastis & • all paiin a-sailed.
j)e bataile on bathe halfzs • brymly begynnys, a great battle.
Oure seggis & Jje Synagyns • semblid vnfaire ;
Gripis gripis of oure gomes out • of gilt sadils, 5453 The griffins tear
_
men out of tlieir
Tuk ))am in faire talons & • titt fra J;aire blonkz's. saddles.
Bot 3it oure kyng with his knijtis • so kenely defendis,
And with his ginge out of grece • pat he Jje gree Wynnes.
Bot 3it was herid of his here • twa hundreth & ouire,
\)iis gafe vp pe gaste • with gold on Jai heles.
)3an ferd he furth tiH a flode • & bat a ferly hoge, 5459 The army comes
to a great river
Twenti forelang* & ferre • it had of fuH breede, fuu of reeds.
And ail pe strands of pe streme stode fuH • of stitB
reedis,
Quare-of he beds at a braid • him bargis to make.
Quera it was hewyn at his best with heggis * ouire-foldefi, which they cross
Jpan entzVs in of his erles & ouire pe • ee passis. 5464
And an pat kith of oure kyng • quera f
ai his come wist,
Jai perid to him wit^ presands be proudis of bat • lan(J. Alexander re-
. 1
r T
Sum spends on him of spon[gesJ ^ a • sparles nounbre,
ceives presents of
shells and seai-
Of mirre & of mekiH quat ' milke-quite^ 5468
Sum men muscles him mett • & with so mekiti schellis,
Jat sex pond mi3t of paise • haue ni of watre.
Sum of seelis of Jje see • sendis to him cotis,
'
MS. )j spon, followed iy a small blank space. The Latin
text has spongias.
* The line is incomplete ; add— '& purpre.' Latin text,
albas et pur[)ureas.