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

;
"
56
THE PROPHECY OF SERAPIS,
[Ashmole.
He answers,
" Nay."
Serapia prophesies
tliat
Alexander's name
shall enciure as
long as the
mountain.
Alexander asks
when his death
will come.
Scvapis says it is
better for him not
to know;
but he will be
poisoned while
still young.
Anotlier oracle
will tell Uiia
[Fol. 19 6.]
He calls liis
carpenters,
" May fou ojt, lede, fe 3onder lawe lyft on • fi schulder,
stable in a-nothire
And stire it cute of pe stede • &
*' Nay, qua mijt Ipat" qiiod ]e man • " for mede vndire
heueVil" 1092
" Sire, as 3one 3ondire hi3e hiH
•
saH: ay hald his place.
So sail ])i name fra now furth * be mywned in mynde,
And ay to fe day of dome ' J;i dedis be remenbrid."
)5an AlexayuJe)- belyue • hbn askis a demaunde, 1096
" I be-secbe Jje now, Syraphas • if pon me say wald^
]3e prophecy, or foil pas of aU my playn werdis, 1099
•
"
How me is destayned to dye & quera my day • fallis 1
" Sire, certayne," quod Seraphis • " as to my-selfe
thinkw,
For any hathiH vnder heuei
I hald for fe better,
1101
AVtt/iouten wa^ no3t at wete wathe of his ende
\)Q
]3en know ^ Jje cas or it come & ay in care lenge. 1104
Bot neue--]3e-les I salt ]pe neuen • seii pou me now prays,
}ou sail • be drechid of a drinke • a dra3te of vnsele.
And aH J)i 3eris ere 3eten 3are • & pi 3oathe fenyst,1107
Lange or pon. haue metefl pe merke • of Jji mydill age.
Bot quen ne in quat time • sal qwaite pe ))is aunte*,
Enquire me no3t pat question • for I queth pe it neuer.
Jjail Avaynest him ))is vayne god •
"For outhire out of pe orient saH openly here-efter
•
V^ndo pe drejt of fi days & * fi ded teH." 1112
& voidis ira pe
chambre.
)5e modi kyng on pe morne aH monand he ryses
"
\)e mast parti of his princes & of his proud ost
•
Hastis fam in-to Ascoiloym & par • |)ai him bydis. 1116
J)an callis he to him carpentaris & comaudz's pdim
•
swyjje
'
After 1. 1097 the MS. has a half-line, viz. ' For any hathiH
VDdire heuei.' This is really the former half of 1. 1102 below,
and is marked for omission in the MS. This accounts for the
omission of 1. 1098 in the numbering, which is made to agree
with Stevenson's edition.
' MS. to no^t at wete ; but either to, or at, mnst be omitted.
^ The w above the line. *
MS. sail sal.