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

fuH
;
ANECTANABUS FLEES.
[Aslimole.
The king langlis.
He reproves tlie
prince, and
accuses him of
cowardice.
" Will not a lion
put to flight man}'
liarts "
He makes little
ships of wax.
and sees how the
Persians are
defeating his own
men.
[Fol. 3.]
Then he disguises
himself as a
clerk,
and takes with
him all things
tliat he requires.
^ j)en Anec onane rijt
A lowde latter he 1036 • &
efter fire wordis,
to ])e lede said, 96
" Haue ])ou. na care," quod J)e kyng • " hot kene to fe
marche.
As I have demyd fe to do & dxed • )ou na ferryre
For soth. it is vnsemelyi • slike sawis of a prynce.
I kan no3t knaw at fou carpis • as a kny^t sulcJ, 100
Bot as a frek at ware ferid & feynes • ri3t nowe.
Ert \)0U no3t hurtles & hale 1 • lat no3t ))i hert faile.
•
For vertu vailes no3t aH if \)oi\ avaied worthe, 103
Emang< fe multitude 2 *
of men quare mane ere togeder,
Bot ]>€>• aboute as J>ai ere blend ' with bignes of wiH.
If fai be folke bot a fa • oft tydis pam. pe better.
Or el is wate fou no3t wele • fe witles berne.
How it is comonly carped • in contries a-boute, 108
pat anelepy leon • pat ouer pe land rynnys,
WiH make to fange to pe fli3t • & flay many hert/s"
'With pat pe segge' all him selfe * silis to his chambre,
•
And in pe brasen boH [of] blak watere 112
He shapis him of shire Avax • litiH schipis many,
And 3apely 3arkid in his hand a 3erd of a palme.
•
Jjen con he chater & enchant • -with aH his chefe mi3t{^,
A-vj'sid him in pe vessett: & was avaied sone, 116
How pe powere out of Persy pellid doune his kny3tzs,
•
And how his land suld be lost vfithoxiten • lett mare.
When he was ware of ]3is wathe how • it worthe sulcJ,
)3an wendis he wi3tly furth & • his wede chang>,
Clede him aH as a clerke & • his croune shauys.
And with a bytand blade he • his bered voydis.
pen takis to him treso2