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

;
279
[The following epitome of the life of Alexander, in
English prose, is copied from the Dublin MS., beginning
on fol. 45, back.]
Alexander the grete, te sone of philip kyng' of Alexander begins
.
J
to reign.
macedon, which philip regned vij 3ere, and pe said
alexandfir began to regne in the xviij jere of hys age.
4 And he said to hys peple in bis wise :
"^ ^ ^ ^
" Fair lordez, I His address to
his lords.
will in no wise be cont-arye to your willes, ne to your
dedes. But I schewe to you fat I hate frawdez &
maleces, & as I haue loued you duryng my faders lyflf,
8 so will I do in tyme Coimyng. And I bothe councell •• Dread and obey
God;
& pray you that ^e drede god', obeye hym as soue-ayn
of aH, And chese hym for kyng ; & be most obeyssiant
to hym fat shall best pwrvay for Jje gude astate of hys
12 people, & fat shaU, be most debonar & mercifuH to
pure folkez fat beste^ woll kepe iustice & fe right of
be feble ayensf the mighty : hym also that shall best o^ey also Wm
dispoyse for fe publyke wele^ & for no dilectacion of care for the
16 wordly^ plesaunce shaH not be slowefuU to kepe &
defende you, and by whom 30 shall be defendytt, & aH
eueH & harmez by f
e meane of hys goode dedes shall
public welfare
be distroyed; And he fat most hardly shall put hym and him wh» best
endeavours to
20 in devour to distroy your enmys ; for suche ought to destroy your
be chosen kyng* and none other."
2
'
MS. \}at beste J^at best. ' MS. publyke like wele.
' A correct form.