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

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NOTES.
In the following notes some attempt is made to elucidate a few
passages in the text, especially where additional light is to be obtained
from comparing it with the original Latin, or with the other English
versions. In some cases phrases are explained, but the reader should,
in general, turn to the Glossarial Index for help with respect to the
more difficult words. The question of the various texts of the Alexander
Romance is more fully treated of in the Preface. It is sufficient to
mention here that the Latin text cited below is the "Historia de preliis,"
as printed (at Strassburg) in 1489. The English alliterative fragment
cited as " A." is that edited by myself in 1867 as an Appendix to William
of Palerne (E. E. T. S.) ;
whilst that cited as " B." is the text called
"Alexander and Dindimus," also edited by me in 1878. These two fragments
are allied to very different parts of the present text. A part of A.
resembles 11. 23—803* of our text, whilst B. resembles 11. 4019—4714.
Lines 1—22 are obviously original, and intended as a Prologue.
13. Bot if, unless. " It were a wonder else, unless they would in
many a way (desire to hear wanton works) ; for, as their wits are
within (them), so their will follows (those wits)."
15. Eltillis, I will endeavour, the present being used for the future.
Ettillis is the first person ;
and the suffix -is at once marks the dialect
as Northumbrian ; for further remarks on this point, see the Preface.
17. The buke, i. e. the Latin text here followed.
18. " All the world over" is a phrase still in use.
21. And ye will, if ye will. Jtenkis, men, hearers ; the story is
supposed to be recited or read aloud.
23. Here the Romance begins, and in order to shew clearly how
-the translator has treated his original, the whole of the first chapter of
the Latin text is here given, answering to the Primus Passus of the
translation, which ends at 1. 213. It should be further compared with
the corresponding passage of A., viz. 11. 452—573.
" [Sjapientissimi Egipcii, scientes mensuram terre vndasque maris et
celestiuni ordinem cognoscentes, id est, stellarum cursum, motum etiam
firmamenti, tradiderunt etiam vniuerso orbi per altitudinem *et per
noticiam artium magicarum. Dicunt enim de Anectanabo rege ipsorum
quod fuerit ingeniosus in astrologia et mathematica eruditus. Quadam
autem die dum nunciatura fuisset ei quod Artaxerses rex pcrsarum
cum valida manu hostium super eum veuiret, non mouit niilitiam neque
preparauit exercitum, sed intrauit cubiculum palacii sui ; et deprendens