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

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[Eomance of ^lexantier t!je (Great,]
[MS. Ashmole 44 ;
ful. 1.]
wHen folk ere festi(J & fed' fayn wald' bai here • Afiei- meals,
men like to hear a
Sui farand jjing* efter fode • to fayn fare liei[t], stoiy.
Or Jjai ware fo2«-med on fold! or • ))aire fadirs o\er.
Sum is leue to lythe be lesing of • Sayntis, 4 some like to hear
legends of saints,
\)ai lete fer lifis be lorne * for oure lordz6"^ sake otiiei-s lays of
And sum has langing^ of lufe • lays to herken,
How ledis for faire le»zmans • has langor endured'.
Sum couettis & has comforth • to carpe & to lestj-n 8
Of curtaissy of kny3thode of • cxaftis of armys,
Of kyngis at has conquirid' & oue'-comyn landis. • oti.ers stories of
•' ° ^
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kings and
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Sum of wirschip I-wis slike as • f
am wyse latt"*', conquerors.
And sum of wanton werkis • fa fat ere wild-liedidf ; 12
•
Bot if fai wald on many wyse a wondire ware it els
For as faire wittis ere wit/i-in • so fer wiH folowis.
And I forwit/i 30w aH: * ettillis to schewe i «iii trj- and wii
you about tlie
Of ane Empe-oure fe a3efullest • fat euer armys hauntid', most renowned
y>ai was fe athill Alexsandire • as fe buke tellis, 17 Alexander.
Jjat a3te euyn as his awyfi • aH the werd ouire.
For he recouerd quills he regnyd • e
f
regions aH clene,
And all rialme & f
e riches in-to • f
e rede est. 2U
I saH rehers, & 30 wiH, renkis rekyn • 302/- tougis,
A remnant of his rialte & • rist quen vs likis.
In llie land of
Egvpt lived the
]e wysest wees of the wertl! as I in writt fynd. 24 • wTsest men.
IT Oute in fe erth of Egipt • enhabet vmquile
For f ai f e mesure & f e mett of aH • f
e mulde couthe,
)3e sise of aH f e grete see & of • f
e gryni wawys
^ MS. lord! = loi^is perhajis.
ALEXANDER.